Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S.21097, Coggeshall Butts, Navy R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Navy P.d.
Butts, loggeshall
S. 21097
CONTENTS
leaded

21. 19 th Rhode Island Drogueshire Butts Pension in the State of R. Island he was a Pr. M te Ship man in the State Colonies in comm d Captain Hopkins of the S hip commanded in the R h Island due for 1 mo 15 days S ervice 10 " Midshipman
Incribed in the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 65 - Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of Aug 1832 and sent to Bullock Instol R.I.
Arrears to the 4 th of March 1833 $130.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Sept. 32.50 $162.50
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. } Recorded by H. H. Weston Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 Page 103

Declarations
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations County and town of Bristol ss.
On this first day of October A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges of the Court of Probate for the town aforesaid, now sitting at Bristol aforesaid, Coggeshall Butts, a resident of said town & County of Bristol, aged eighty one years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed, June 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated, that he was born in Portsmouth on the Island of Rhode Island, on the 27 th day of April 1751—that at the commencement of the Revolutionary war he was residing in and sailing from the town of Newport, that in the month of October 1775 as near as he can recollect, Commodore Hopkins wrote to Newport that he was in want of fifty men for a naval expedition then preparing at, or near Philadelphia, Commodore Hopkins then being at Providence, that upon this information, he the said Butts, went immediately to Providence and there insisted to perform the contemplated expedition as a midshipman on board the American vessel of war called the Columbus under the command of Abraham Whipple, which ship with the Alfred and several other smaller armed vessels made up the squadron, commanded by Commodore Hopkins; that he was to receive twelve dollars per month.

during the expedition; that he repaired immediately for the then at Philadelphia, and afterwards dropped down to Squadron and sailed from a place, called Reedy Island, in the Delaware River, after all things had been got ready which did not take place until very cold weather, nor until we had been frozen in for a considerable considerable time, say until some time in February 1776, in the course of which month as near as he can recollect the squadron sailed for New Providence, where they landed and captured a number of cannon, and other articles of war, which they brought away together with the Gov- ernor & several other public officers, all which were landed at New London; that said Squadron also captured on their way home a British Brig & Schooner, the first of which was a vessel of war, they also had an engagement with an English Ship of War off Block Island, in which the squadron lost several men and among them, wounded was a son of the Com- modore, that the Squadron remained in New London a number of weeks, when it was ordered to Providence to refit and he the said Butts continued on board and in the service of the United States until late in July 1776, when he was honorably discharged but he has no recollection of taking any written discharge. One Rhodes & one Arnold were Lieutenants on board the Columbus, the Boatswain's name was Baker; Cornells Gill Granston were midshipmen with myself. The English ship we engaged was called the Glasgow - The said Butts further declares that in the Fall, he thinks in September 1777, he volunteered as a soldier in a company of Militia, under command of Captain - Church and of which Matthew Coggeshall was Lieutenant to join the army

in General Spencer's expedition to drive the British from Newport, the company was made up of young men mostly belonging to Newport and was marched to Howland's Ferry where he joined the army under General Spencer, and he the said Butts with a number of other soldiers crossed the Ferry to R. Island in two whale boats for the purpose of supressing the Hessian Guard, two of whom we captured & conveyed to Col. Cooke at Tiverton, that he was then engaged as a volunteer about six weeks, when the expedition was abandoned, that he has no documentary evidence of his services & has no record of his birth, nor any written discharge, that the whole of his services was equal to at least one year as near as he can recollect.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Attest, Wm Shrop. Probate Clk.
Coggeshall Butts,
We, Henry Wight, a clergyman residing in the town of Bristol and, Martin Bennett residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Coggeshall Butts who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty one years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day aforesaid.
Attest, Wm Shrop. Probate Clk.
Henry Wight Martin Bennett
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Henry Wight, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the town of Bristol and that Martin Bennett who has also signed the same is a resident in the said Town and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Attest, Wm Shrop. Probate Clk.
I Wm Shrop Clerk of the Court of Probate for said Town of Bristol do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Coggeshall Butts for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this first day of October 1832.
Wm Shrop, Clk.

Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace for the County of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island &c. Coggeshall Butts of Bristol in said County who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that by reason of old age & the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service in the Revolutionary war, but he is positive he served not less than the periods mentioned below & in the following grades; for ten months I served as a midshipman on board the vessel of war called the Columbus, Abraham Whipple Commander in Commodore Hopkins's Squadron in the Expedition to New Providence & back to New London & Providence Rhode Island, that I was not discharged from said vessel till long after the crew which performed said Expedition were discharged, said vessel having been left in my care & that of Midshipman Cornell; for one month & a half I served as a volunteer & private soldier in a Company raised by Capt. Church & of which Matthew Coggeshall was Lieutenant; this service was performed in Spencer's Expedition at Tiverton and about the Eastern shores of the Bay during which two periods of ten months & one month & a half I was not engaged in any kind of civil pursuit, & for such services I claim a pension.
Bristol Jo. Bristol July 15 th 1833
Subscribed & sworn to before me and I certify that said Butts is a man of veracity, J. M. Blake
Just. Peace
State of Rhode Island &c. Clerk's Office Court of Probate of the town of Bristol in said State - July 18 th , 1833.
I hereby certify that Joseph M. Blake, whose signature is affixed in his own proper hand writing, to the taking of the foregoing deposition, is a Justice of the Peace for said town of Bristol, duly commissioned under the seal of said State, and engaged therein according to Law, and further certify that the above deponent Coggeshall Butts is personally known to me and sustains a good character for truth and veracity. In Witness

whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of our said Court, this 18 th day of July in the year of our Lord, 1833. And of American independence the fifty eighth.
Wm Shrop Prob. e Clk.

Coggeshall Butts to whose declaration for a pension under the act of June 7 th 1832, this is annexed doth hereby declare, that in consequence of the loss of memory and the great lapse of time, he is unable to state with precision, or positively swear to the exact time of his several revolutionary services, but that according to the best of his recollection, he served from the first of October 1775 to the last of July 1776 in the expedition to New Providence, computing from the time of his enlistment as a midshipman at Providence Rhode Island to the time of his discharge there, and continued attached to the Columbus until she sailed on another service, which he thinks was on a dispatch to France, making a period of two months; That he served in the expedition under General Spencer, at least six weeks; That he was called out on guard a number of times and several times retained on guard a week and once more than a month at a time, down at Brentons Neck, and at other places in the vicinity of Newport, making the whole of his services amount to a year and something more and for which services he claims a pension Coggeshall Butts
The State of Rhode Island
Bristol this the 21 st day of January A D 1833
Personally came Coggeshall Butts subscriber to the above declaration and made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me, and I further certify that I am acquainted with the said Butts and that he is a man of truth, veracity and that full credit is due to his declaration
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand the day and year above written
Sam Allen
Notary Public

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Clerk's Office, Court of Probate, of the Town of Bristol, in said State - January 21st, A. D. 1833.
I Herby certify that Samuel S. Allen, whose signature is affixed, in his own proper hand writing, to the afore- going Deposition is a Notary Public, for the County of Bristol in said State, duly commissioned under said States seal, and engaged therein according to Law.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of our said Court this twenty first day of January in the Year of our Lord, Eighteen hundred and thirty three And of American Independence the Fifty seventh.
William Throop Probate Clerk
Cogswell PMS 23663

23/11/63 Cozyhall Butts Rhode Island
7 Midshipman 10 1/2 Pants 1 15-
5 06
600 5 605
N Bulloch Bristol Rhode Island

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Coggshall Ball  County of Town of Bristol Rhode Island
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Enlisted 1776 Time Not stated Midshipman Comd Stephen's 81 years ?   Vol. 1777 about Ship's Carpenter Capt. Whipple Newport Traditionary   Olden Capt. Church Rhodes Evidence land   Col. Cook. and Living Witnesses  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this                      day of                      personally appeared ( a ) before A. B. a resident ( b ) of                      in the county of                      and State, Territory or District of                      aged ( c )                      years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year ( d )                      , with                      and served in the                      ( e ) regiment of the                      line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. (This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.)]
He hereby relinquishes every claim ( f ) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion ( g ) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I                      of the Court of do hereby certify ( h ) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of                      for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office ( i ) this day of                      &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note ( j ) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
( k ) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the                      and C. D. residing in (the same)                      , who has hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with                      , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the                      and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the                      and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,                      Clerk of the Court of                      do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this                      day of                      &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, ( l ) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[t] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Invalid WIDOW, &c.
Navy
21097
File No.
Cooper Hall Putnam Pr. 2nd Midshipman Ship Columbia U.S.N. Rev War
Act June 7. 1832.
Index: Vol. 2 , Page 103.
[Arrangement of 1870.]

J. L. Edwards Esquire Commisioner of Pensions Washington

Bristol, July 19 th 1833.
Sir, Having removed the objection suggested upon the application of Coggershall Butts, I herewith return his papers for re-examination and am, Sir, very Respectfully Your obdt Servt.
N. Bullock
J. L. Edwards, Esquire, Commissioner of Pensions

Newport ss. } I Thomas Coggeshall, of Newport in the County of Newport and State of Rhode-Island &c. on Solemn Oath, do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Coggeshall Butts of said Newport, and am distantly related to him, said Butts lived in Newport, and in my neighbourhood until he lost his wife about seven years ago since which he has lived with his daughter at Bristol, and I further testify that I remember said Butts was engaged in the public service during the revolution, I remember he was a Midshipman on board of one of our armed vessels commanded by the late Commodore Stephens, he was in the Expedition that was undertaken to New-Providence, and was an officer, I think a Midshipman in that service, I have often times conversed with him about that Expedition in the course of the last fifty years and he is believed in the neighbourhood here to have belonged to it, I have no doubt of it myself, —
State of Rhode-Island & } ss. Thomas Coggeshall County of Newport. — Sworn and Subscribed, this twenty- fourth day of December 1832. —
Before me. E. Brewster Justice of the Peace.
Newport ss. I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Mr Thomas Coggeshall, the signer, of the above Deposition, and that he is a Gentleman of veracity and a Reputable witness, to whose testimony full faith and credit is due, and ought to be given.
In testimony whereof I have, on the day and year above written, hereunto set my hand.
E. Brewster Justice of the Peace.
True on this 20th.
Probate Office Bristol Jan. 22 d 1833. I hereby certify that these papers containing the Declaration of Coggeshall Butts for a pension, and the Depositions of Thomas Coggeshall Henry Tuck, and John Williams, were attached or annexed together by me, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office Attest. Wm Throop Probate Clerk

State of Rhode Island de.
Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas for the County of Newport, 24 th December 1832. I certify that E. Frewett, Esq. whose signature is affixed, in his own proper hand writing, to the within attestation, is a Justice of the Peace for the Town of Newport, in the County aforesaid, duly Commissioned under the Seal of said State, and otherwise qualified as such. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court, the day and year above written.
H. J. Cranston Clerk

I Henry Tew, of Newport in the County of Newport and State of Rhode-Island, Jr. Mariner, on solemn oath do testify and say that I am acquainted with Mr. Coggeshall Butts, of said Newport, and that said Butts, lived in Newport until after the death of his wife a few years since; some that time. I have been told he resided in Bristol with his daughter; and I further testify that I remember said Butts was engaged in the public service - during the revolution, he was I believe a Midshipman on board of one of our armed vessels, commanded by Com. Hopkins, he was in the expedition that was undertaken to New Providence, and was an Officer, I think a Midship-Man. I have had conversation with him on this subject, several times within the last fifty years, and he is reputed and believed here in his neighbourhood, to have been in said Expedition, I have no doubt of it myself. - I further testify that said Butts was a Soldier, at Howland's Ferry, some time during the war - while the English had possession of Newport, I think it was after his expedition to New Providence
State of Rhode-Island } ss. County of Newport, - } Sworn and subscribed this twenty-seventh day of December, 1832. Before me, E. Trewitt, Justice of the Peace,
Henry Tew.
Newport ss. I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Captain Henry Tew, the signer of the above deposition, and believe him to be a Man of veracity, and a reputable witness, to whose testimony faith and credit are due, and ought to be given. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, on the day and year last above written.
E. TREWITT, Justice Peace -
Free yrs. etc.)

State of Rhode Island &c
Clerk's office County of Newport, Pleas for the County of Newport, 26 th December 1832. I hereby certify that E. Everett G. whose signature is affixed, in his own proper hand writing, to the within attestation is a Justice of the Peace for the Town of Newport, in the County aforesaid, duly commissioned under the Seal of said State, and otherwise qualified as such.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court, the day and year above written.
H. J. Brandar Clerk

I John Williams of Newport in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island do on solemn oath do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Coggeshall Butts formerly of Newport but now of Bristol and have been acquainted with him from my youth, that while said Butts lived in said Newport which was until about seven years past I lived within fifty rods of him and was always in the habits of intimacy with him and I further testify that said Butts was a Midshipman in the squadron under Commodore Hopkins which made an expedition to New Providence in the early part of the Revolutionary War I well recollect when he left Newport to engage in that expedition and recollect when he returned after the expedition was over, we were young men together and our companions used to laugh at said Butts in a joking way for suffering one of the British ships with which they had an engagement escape from them I cannot pretend to say how long said Butts was engaged in said expedition but it strikes me he was absent something like a year
State of Rhode Island } ss. County of Newport, } John Williams, Sworn and Subscribed, this twelfth day of December 1832 } Before me, G. M c Witt Justice Peace
Newport ss. Newport Dec. 12. 1832. I do hereby certify that I, am personally acquainted with John Williams the signer of the above deposition, and know him to be a Gentleman of truth, and a reputable witness, to whose testimony, full faith and credit are due, and ought to be given. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, G. M c Witt Justice Peace

J. John
State of Rhode Island &c
Clerks office Court of Common Pleas for the County of Newport, 12 th December 1832.
I certify that E. Trewett Esq. whose signatures, in his own proper hand writing, are affixed to the within attestations is a Justice of the Peace for the town of Newport, in the County aforesaid, duly commissioned under the Seal of said State, and otherwise qualified as such.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court the day and year above written.
H. Cranston Clerk