Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17362, John Comer, R.I.

SERVICE
R. I.
NUMBER
Boomer, John or boomer
S. 17362
CONTENTS
carded

3143 Rhode Island
John Corner of Bristol in the State of R.I. who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain [blank] of the Regt commanded by Col. Austin in the R.I. line for 11 years 12 days
Inscribed on the Roll of R.I. at the rate of 37 Dollars 92 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of Dec 1832 and sent Levi Staile Warren R.I.
Arrears to 4th of Sep 1832 $56.88 Semi-ann. allowance ending 2 Mar 33 18.96 $75.84
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H [blank] Clerk Book D. Vol. 3 rd Page 106

2242

Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations. County of Bristol ss. On this Twenty eighth day of July A.D. Eighteen hundred thirty two, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges or Justices of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting at Bristol within and for the County of Bristol in said State, John Gomer a resident of Bristol in said County of Bristol in said State, aged seventy seven years and upwards, 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 the 7 th 1832. That he entered into the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated viz. on or about the 5 th of December A.D. 1776 he was drafted in Captain Daniel Bradford's Company of Militia in said Town of Bristol in Colonel Nathaniel Martin's Regiment, and he served as a private soldier in said Company under different drafts from on or about the 6 th of December A.D. 1776 to about the last of May or first of June A.D. 1777. He served during said time in guarding the shores in said County of Bristol. He served as a substitute for his Father John Gomer two months of said time, his Father having been drafted in said Company; the rest of said time he was drafted as a member of said Company. Joseph Reynolds was Lieutenant & Benjamin Bosworth 2 d was Ensign of said Company; and Thomas Grey was Lieutenant Colonel and Benjamin Bosworth was Major of said Regiment. He does not recollect the precise period of each draft but is confident that he served nearly six months in said Guard service.
On or about the first of September A.D. 1777 he was drafted in Captain William Throop's Company of Militia, and served as a private soldier in said Company at Tiverton in Major General Spencer's Expedition; Joseph Reynolds was Lieutenant & Benjamin Bosworth 2 d was Ensign of said Company. Said Company was attached to Colonel John Cook's Regiment. He served six weeks in said Company.
In the fore part of the month of May A.D. 1778 he was drafted in Captain William Throop's Company of Militia and served as a private soldier in said Company two months in guarding the shores in said Bristol County. Joseph Reynolds was Lieutenant and Benjamin Bosworth 2 d was Ensign of said Company.
Some time in the month of July A.D. 1778, the precise time he cannot recollect, he was drafted, and served in Captain Triall Allen's Company of Militia as a private soldier twenty days on Rhode Island. And after the expiration of said twenty days, he was drafted in Captain William Throop's Company of Militia and served as a private soldier in said Company on Rhode Island during said last term of twenty days. He was in said service during the great storm

of August A.D. 1778. Joseph Reynolds was Lieutenant and Thomas Pearce was Ensign of said Captain Tharp's Company. Said Companies belonged to Col. Nathan Miller's Regiment. Major General Sullivan commanded the troops on Rhode Island at that time.
On or about the 1st of September A.D. 1778 he voluntarily joined the Army of the United States in Colonel Angel's Regiment in Brigadier General Varnum's Brigade in the Continental line, and he served as a Teamster in transporting provisions, military stores and other articles for said Regiment and Brigade during the whole of the time for the term of six months, and he was under the command of the officers of said Regiment and Brigade. He drew rations regularly in the same manner as private soldiers in said Regiment.
In the Spring of the year 1781, the precise time he does not recollect, he was drafted and served in Captain Vial Collins's Company of Militia as a private soldier one month on Rhode Island. Joseph Reynolds was Lieutenant and Benjamin Wardwell was Ensign of said Company.
He was born in Bristol aforesaid May the 8 th A.D. 1765. He has no record of his age; he has searched the records in said Town of Bristol and cannot find any record of his age or birth.
He lived in said Bristol when he entered said service, and he has lived in said Bristol since the Revolutionary war and now lives in said Bristol. He received no written discharge from said service; he was discharged verbally by the commanding officer at the expiration of each term of service. He has no documentary evidence of his service; and he knows of no person but Joseph Munro,
whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service. He is known to the following persons in his neighbourhood who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution viz Rev. Doct. Henry Wight and John Flowe Esq of Bristol.
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 & year aforesaid.
Atty. John Lucas Dean's Clerk.
John Lomer
We Henry Wight a clergyman, residing in the Town of Bristol aforesaid, and John Flowe residing in said Town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Lomer, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, and we believe him to be upwards of

seventy seven years of age; that he is reported and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Attest Ichabod Dyer, Clerk.
Henry Wright John Flume
And the said Court hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that John Flume, the above named Applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certify, that it appears to them, that Henry Wright, who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in Bristol aforesaid, and that John Flume, who has signed the same is a resident in the said Town of Bristol, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Attest Ichabod Dyer, Clerk.
Ichabod Dyer, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Flume for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have set my hand and seal this 28 th day of July 1842.
Attest Ichabod Dyer, Clerk.

The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations. Bristol Sc. in wares, November the 27 th A. D. 1832.
This day personally appeared before me, the undersigned a justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Bristol in said State, John Corner, a resident in Bristol in said County, who on the 28 th day of July A. D. 1832, made his declaration on his oath before said Court in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June the 7 th 1832, and being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear more positively as to the precise length of his service, than he has stated in his said declaration, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, in the war of the Revolution in the manner stated in his said declaration, and in the following grades: For eleven months and twelve days, I the said John Corner served as a private soldier; and for six months more I served in the capacity of a Teamer, making my whole service seventeen months and twelve days; and for such service I claim a pension.
John Corner
Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written Daniel Bosworth Jus. Court of Pleas
The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Bristol Sc. I Ichabod Davis Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Bristol in said State, do hereby certify, that the above named Daniel Bosworth who has certified the above written affidavit, is Chief Justice of said Court, and that the signature above written is the genuine signature of said Daniel Bosworth. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Bristol in said County this 27 th day of November A. D. 1832.
I. Davis Clk.

2242
Mr Connor
R.I.
Mr E
The 5 interrogatory not complied with & papers not properly authenticated
Levi Haile
Warren R.I.
(H)

2242  BRIEF in the case of  John Corner  Bristol, Bristol Co  in the State of  Rhode Island (Act 7 June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? dearnt  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? —  3. How old is he? 77  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     about 6 th Dec r In 1776 till last of May or 1 st June 1777 on or about 1 st Sept r 77 — 5 or 6* — private Gen. Capt. David Bradford - Col. Martin Under different drafts   fore part of May '78 — 1 12 private Capt. Wm. Throop - was in Spencer's expedition level. cook   sometime in July '78 - & Augt '78 — 2 — " same company   about 1 st Sept r '78 — — 40 " 2 terms of 20 days - Same Comp y .   Spring of '81 — 6 — Teamster Col. Angel & Continental   — 1 — private Capt. Allen Militia  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bristol  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? One living Witness — Tradition  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? They are sewed together but the clerk has signed each paper 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
M. C. Eaton Examining Clerk.
* he served as a substitute for his father in 1776 2 months paid time — guard service
* in translating provisions he says he voluntarily joined the army

17362 INVALID.
File No. 17362
John Palmer
Br. Rev. Mr.
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. / , Page 445
[Arrangement of 1870.]

2242
Mr om  Conner
Punch
11 M rs & 12 days
Atm
$37.92.
Miss Knapp
Waverly R.F.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of the Conner which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? _____ IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. *Has he mentioned 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? No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?  Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? 
XIV. †If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?  Yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?  Yes
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  Yes 
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the 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 the 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.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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.

I Joseph Murno, resident in Bristol in the County of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantation, aged seventy years upwards, on solemn oath do testify and say, that I have been well acquainted with John Coomer resident in said Bristol ever since I was a child; that said John Coomer on or about the 6 th of December A.D. 1776 was drafted in Captain Daniel Bradford's Company of Militia in said Town of Bristol in Colonel Nathaniel Martin's Regiment, and he served as a private soldier under different drafts, from that time until about the last of May or first of June 1777. He served during said time in guarding the shores in Bristol County in said Company. He served two months of said time as a substitute for his Father John Coomer. The rest of the time he was drafted as a member of said Company. I do not recollect the precise period of each draft, but am confident that he served nearly six months in said guard service, as I served in said service during the same time.
On or about the 1 st of September A.D. 1777 he was drafted in Captain William Throop's Company of Militia, and he the said John Coomer served as a private soldier in said Company at Tiverton six weeks in Major Genl. Spencer's expedition. Said Company was attached to Col. John Cook's Regiment.
In the fore part of the month of May A.D. 1778 said John Coomer was drafted in Capt. William Throop's Company of Militia and served as a private soldier two months in guarding the shores in said County of Bristol. Some time in the month of July A.D. 1778 said Coomer was drafted & served in Captain Vial Allin's Company of Militia as a private soldier twenty days, on Rhode Island; and after the expiration of said twenty days, he was drafted in Capt. William Throop's Company of Militia and he served as a private soldier in said Company twenty days, on Rhode Island: I was in the public service on said Island during said forty days & twenty days in the same Company. On or about the 1 st of September A.D. 1778 said John Coomer voluntarily joined the Army of the United States in Colonel Angel's Regiment in Brigadier General Warner's Brigade, and he served as a Seaman in transporting provisions, military stores and other articles for said Regiment and Brigade during the whole of the time for six months, & he was under the command of the officers of said Regiment & Brigade & drew rations regularly in the same manner as private soldiers. I served in the same service during the whole of said time.
In the Spring of the year 1781 said Coomer was drafted and served as a private soldier in Capt. Vial Allin's

Company of Militia one month on Rhode Island. I served in the same Company during the same time
JOSEPH HARRIS
Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 24 day of July A D 1862
Attest Richard Davis Clerk

The Court hereby certify, that it appears to them, that Joseph Munro, who has subscribed and sworn to the aforewritten deposition is a credible person & that his statement is entitled to credit.
Her John D. Davis Clerk