Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1352, Thomas Brownell, R.I.

SERVICE
R. I.
NUMBER
Brownell Thomas
R. 1352
CONTENTS

Declaration of Thomas Brownell, a Revolutionary Soldier, made in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the seventh day of June A.D. 1832. Intitled "An Act supplementary to the "Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution."
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Newport Ye - At Newport, on this twenty sixth day of March A.D. 1839. appeared before the undersigned, Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the said county of Newport, said Court being a Court of record, Thomas Brownell , of Portsmouth, in said County of Newport, and a resident in said Town of Portsmouth, the said Thomas, being seventy-seven years of age on the 16 th day of December A.D. 1838. who having been first duly sworn by me, the undersigned Judge, 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 7 th A.D. 1832 - - - - - intitled "An Act supplementary to the "Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution." That he is now in the seventy-eighth year of his age: - that Jonathan Brownell, who raised the first company of Militia in said Town of Portsmouth was brother to this declarant, but older by several years; that his said company was raised and organized some time before the battle of Bunker-Hill: that he the said Thomas, served in said company, as waiter to his said brother, Captain Jonathan Brownell, from the time the said company, was raised, until the British forces evacuated the Island and the waters of Narragansett Bay in Dec. 1778. That the services rendered by said company, were principally confined to watching the movements of the British forces by sea and by land, by night

Declaration
by night and by day, and guarding such points as were most likely to be attacked: — That he believed that his name was all that time on the Muster Roll of said Company, and that his pay was Five Dollars per month: that in this service he verily believed that he was engaged about two years and a half: That after the British left this State and Bay, he this declarant, served under another officer Brother, Oliver Brownell, who was a commissary under the United States, as a waiter and messenger, having charge of certain stock and other property left on the Island of Rhode Island and when the British Troops evacuated that place for about Five Months — making the whole period of his services according to the best of his recollection, just about Three years: — that he was with his said Company on the Island of Prudence, when the British attacked and fired that Island: — he was also on Hog Island when a descent was made on that place: and he was also with his Company at Tiverton on the Mainland. — He was large framed and able bodied for one of his age, and always did duty with the Company, except a few days one time when he was sick: — That hitherto this declarant, has never made any application for a pension, trusting that his own health, strength and earnings, would without the aid of the Government, support him to the end of his life: — but such does not prove to be the case, and he feels driven to apply, as he now does for aid and relief.
Thomas Brownell
Subscribed & sworn to by the above Thomas Brownell, whose character for truth is good, on the day & year above written at Newport aforesaid, before me,
Joseph Tosten, 6. Jus. C. C. Pleas, Newport.

Disposition of Thomas Durfee

I Thomas Duffee of Portsmouth, in the County of New Port, and State of Rhode Island, now in my seventy second year of age, do depose and say, that I have been acquainted with Mr. Thomas Brownell of said Portsmouth ever since I can remember, we were boys together, the land of his father and that of my father joined; and our houses were so near to each other that we could hear from the one to the other: — I resided at my Father's on the Island all through the Revolutionary War and know that Captain Jonathan Brownell, early in 1776, certainly before the Battle of Bunker Hill raised and commanded a Company in Portsmouth and was with his company at the Battle of Bun- ker Hill aforesaid; and Thomas Brownell his brother, though several years younger than Jona- than, served with him, and tended him, as his servant or waiter, all the time until the Brit- ish got full possession of the Island of Rhode Island; their principal service was in watching the motions of the British forces by sea and land: and were pretty much all the time in motion; up and down the Island and were also on Prudence when the British fired that shot and also on Hog Island, and I think over in Diviston on the mainland: I was myself at that time quite young, and my father was one of those, called in those days, Tories, I suppose he would be called a Whig now, but I know that Thomas Brownell, served in the way I have mentioned two years, or more, I should say more; — I think a man named William Shaw was a Lieutenant in Brownell's Company, and was killed in the Battle of Bunker Hill: I well recollect that that old Wallace took off of Hog Island, then improved by my Father, Seven Feet Oxen, and never paid for them, and he was doing some sort of mischief all the time. Mr. Joseph Brownell the father of Jonathan and Thomas, had a large family of children, and some of them were many years older than others, Thomas was the youngest child but one, and that was a girl named Rebecca. — For the last ten or

or Eleven years, I have until lately been but very little in Rhode Island, or in the state, having most of the time resided out of it in Massachu- setts.
Thomas Durfee
State of Rhode-Island } ss at Newport, County of Newport, }
August 11 th A.D. 1838 — Then personally came the above written Thomas Durfee and subscribed the foregoing deposition and made oath to the truth of the matter therein con- tained, before me, and I believe his char- acter for truth and veracity to be good.
Joseph Fosberg, C. Jus. C.C. P. H., Newport,

April 8, 1938
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Thomas Brownell, R.1352 BA-J/MCS aw
Miss Jessie M. Kelley 440 Welch Avenue Ames, Iowa
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your request for information relative to the Revolutionary War service of Thomas Brownell of Rhode Island.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, R.1352, based upon the service of the only Thomas Brownell that is found in the Revolutionary War records of this office.
Thomas Brownell, the son of Joseph, was born December 16, 1761. The place of his birth was not given.
While living in Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island, he applied for pension on March 26, 1839. He stated that sometime before the battle of Bunker Hill, his brother, Jonathan Brownell, who was older by several years, raised the first company of militia in Portsmouth and that he served in said company as waiter to his brother, Captain Jonathan Brownell, for two and one half years from the time the company was raised, was in the battle of Bunker Hill and was engaged in watching the movements of the British in Rhode Island and in Narragansett Bay. He also stated that after the British left Rhode Island he served five months as waiter and messenger to another older brother, Oliver Brownell, was was "a commissary under the United States".
Thomas Brownell's claim for pension was not allowed as the service he rendered was not in a military capacity.
It was stated that Joseph Brownell had a large family, that Rebecca was the youngest and that Thomas was next to the youngest. There are no further family data.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator
He said served til British left R.I. in Dec. 1778. According to Losania it was the fall of 1779. that British left R.I.

1938 Apr. 8. Inst. to Thico Jessie W. Kelley mcs
1852
ELECTED
P. O. Thomas Brownell
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18 1852 list gives fol. reason for suspension: "He did not serve in a military capacity."
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.

George W. Clark
July 24 th '39
0.6

Ms. A. 9. 2. 20 Mar 30. Thos Brownell ac 1832.
D. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.

Newport R.I. March 26. 1839.
A. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir
I have the honour of enclosing to you, the declaration, and other evidences, of Thomas Brownell of the Town of Portsmouth in this County, a soldier of the Revolution, and now for the first time an applicant for a Pension:.. and trust that they will be favourably considered, and speedily acted on:—
They appear to prove:—
1 st The actual service:— 2 nd The period of time of about 3 years & 3 rd That the applicant, is not & never had been on any pension Roll.
I am with great respect,
Your obedient servant George Morris

Deposition of Susannah Anthony
34.796
Thomas Brownell R. 9 a
Act 7 th June 82
Rejected
1352

I Susannah Anthony of Providence in the County of Providence & State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations being formerly of Portsmouth in the said State & now 87 years old do depose & say.
In the year 1776 I lived in Portsmouth a short distance from Thomas Brownell of said Portsmouth. I was living in said Portsmouth in the beginning & end of the Revolutionary war. I also knew Captain Jonathan Brownell who was a likely officer & who had a company which he marched out very often on the alarms. I have no doubt that Thomas Brownell the brother of said Jonathan served with him in said company in the capacity of a waiter. They were watching the British all the time to see where they landed & to repel their attacks. I recollect that the British once came after said Thomas Brownell for him to shew them where the ports were about the Island that they might land in safety. But Thomas feigned sickness & would not go.

I recollect that Thomas Brannell went with his brother Jonathan Company to Boston, & they were both as I always understood, in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Of this I have no doubt.
Susannah Anthony
Providence Is County of Providence & State of Rhode Island.
Personally appeared Susannah Anthony subscribed to the preceding deposition and made oath to the truth of the facts as stated in her deposition. And I further certify that said Susannah I believe to be a person of truth & veracity.
attest. Henry L. Drown. Justice Peace.

R. Ja
Lot No. 1000, July 24:
39-
Act. 7. June 32

440 Welch Avenue, Ames, Iowa March 21, 1938.
A.D. Hiller, Ex. Assitant, Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir :
U.S. War Department letter dated March 5, 1938 states that Thomas Brownell served in the Revolutionary War in Lieut. Stephen Whitman's Company, 2d R.I. Regiment. His name appears on a roll dated Exeter Kings County, Sept. 17, 1776, which shows that he enlisted September 17, 1776 for 3 months. Will you please refer to your records and send me further data about Thomas Brownell?
This information is desired for D.A.R. records. I shall appreciate your assistance with the Brownell records.
Very truly yours,
Jessie M. Kelley Miss Jessie M. Kelley