Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29751, Cornelius Davis, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass-
Davis, cornelius
S 29751
CONTENTS

30.963 Massachusetts
Cornelius Davis of Bristol in the State of Mass a who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Bright in the Regt commanded by Col Hathaway in the Mass a line for 10 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 20 Dollars - 00 Cents per annu m to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Jan y 1837 and sent Hon. N. B. Borden Hoo. of Rep s !
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1836 $110.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Mar '37 10.00 $120.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by M c K Addison Clerk, Book C Vol. 2 Page 18

Commonwealth of Massachusetts } County of Bristol, ss. }
At a Court of Probate holden at Westport in the said County on the second day of August in the year Eighteen Hundred & thirty six, before the Hon. Oliver Prescott, Judge of the Probate & personally appeared Cornelius Davis a resident of Fall River in the County & Commonwealth aforesaid, aged ninety two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832, make the following declaration in answer to the interrogatories prescribed by the Secretary of War; to wit,
1. Where and in what year were you born?
Ans. I was born in Freetown in the County & Commonwealth aforesaid on the twenty fourth of January sixteen hundred & forty four.
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it?
Ans. My birth is recorded (somewhat imperfectly) on the town Records of said Freetown, an attested copy whereof is herewith forwarded.
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Ans. I was living in Freetown aforesaid when I entered the service, & since the war I have lived in said Freetown, in that part of Freetown now called Fall River (formerly Troy) in which last town I have lived for more than thirty years last past.
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom?
Ans. I was drafted, as I understood from Michael Chase, the individual who came to notify me.
5. State the name 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 service?
Ans. Capt. Henry Brightman had command of the company to which I belonged. The name of the Lieutenant of our company was Brightman as I believe; his first name I do not recollect. Capt. Brightman's Company belonged to Col. John Hathaway's Regiment as I understood. Col. Hathaway, I frequently saw & knew while I was in said company. I think also that I saw during the time I belonged to said company, Genl. Sullivan who had command of the Troops upon the Island of Rhode Island. Col. Joseph Durfee, I frequently saw and knew; he was, a part of the time with the troops where I was. At the time he was with us, he was either a Major or a Lieut. Col. I do not

now recollect any other officer except that Michael Shae the individual mentioned in my answer to the fourth interrogatory was either a sergeant or corporal in Capt. Brightman's company. He, S. Shae, came to my place of residence in Facetown and informed me that I was drafted to go & join Capt. Henry Brightman's Company, that if I would not go willingly, he had order to compel me. Either on the same day or the day following I took my gun, cartouch-box, a blanket, & such clothes as I could conveniently carry and went with S. Shae & joined Capt. Brightman's company which was then as I think in Little Compton in the State of Rhode Island. Col. John Heathaway was there at this time. I did not continue long in Capt. Brightman's company before I was taken out & set to work upon the barracks near Howland's Ferry in Tiverton R. I. the town adjoining Little Compton. I began to work on the barracks very soon after any were commenced and continued to work on them until all the barracks built there during the war were finished. During the time of my being at work there, early one evening an alarm was given. I immediately went and joined my Company (Capt. Brightman's) which was then near by. I asked Capt. Brightman what was the cause of the alarm. He said look on to the Island: The enemy have set that Burn on fire. And I am expecting to receive order to go on to the Island. He paraded in the highway & continued there until near midnight when Capt. Brightman told me to go to my lodging, as he should not go on to the Island that night. I accordingly returned to my lodging, & continued to work on the barracks for some time after this. After finishing the barracks, I again joined Capt. Brightman's company and continued with said company until I was again taken out and set to work on the public boats which were then being built in an old orchard near where the Village of Full River now is, for the purpose of carrying soldiers on & off the Island of Rhode Island. After finishing as many boats as were supposed to be needed I again joined Capt. Brightman's company, then being in S. Tiverton or Little Compton I am uncertain which. And I was afterwards employed in guarding the shore sometimes in Little Compton & sometimes in Tiverton according to my recollection until the British left Rhode Island. I was the only man belonging to Capt. Brightman's company who was a carpenter and was taken out & set to work on the barracks & public boats as above mentioned, for which service & for my service while in said company I never received any compensation as I recollect excepting that my gun which I took with me when I joined S. company was exchanged for one for one which was said to be better adapted to the service - as it would carry a larger ball. On account of my advanced age and consequent loss of memory I cannot swear positively to the precise length of my service as above narrated, nor to the day, month, or year when I left commenced or left the service of my country; but according to the best of my recollection I was drafted as before mentioned & was to continue in service for & during the time the British held possession of the Island of Rhode Island. It seems that I must have commenced my service in the fall of 1776 as appears by the deposition of Thomas Davis.

as also from the depositions of Col Joseph Durfee & Ezekiel Chace the two last of whom for the time when the barn on Rhode Island was burnt, and I continued as will also appear from the deposition of said Thomas Davis in active service until the spring of 1778: And after this I was required to be in constant readiness & was employed in guarding the shore though not so constantly as in the same part of my service, being permitted in the latter part to go home occasionally. But according to my recollection my service & obligation to be in constant readiness continued until never was received that the British had left the Island. The time when the British left the Island is ascertained to have been the twenty ninth day of October 1779, - this making a period of three years during which I was either constantly in the service of my Country or liable to have been called upon at any moment to render such service. As however I am unable to adduce any direct & positive testimony of my service after March 1778, I now claim a pension for Seventeen Months Service only , and for proof of that I refer to the positive testimony of the S d Thomas Davis Robert Miller George Read and to the corroborative testimony of Col Joseph Durfee, Philip Hathaway, Ezekiel Chace & James Chace which is all the testimony deemed material which I have been able to procure. I have no documentary evidence.
6. Where you a soldier or an officer? if a soldier, did you ever receive a discharge from the service; if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? if an officer, did you ever receive a commission, if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? Ans I was a soldier. I never received any written discharge. The said Capt. Henry Brightman w ch I think informed me that the never had been received that the British had left the Island and I was discharged by him verbally.
7. State the names of the persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your service as a soldier of the Revolution.
Ans. In addition to the names of Joseph Durfee, Philip Hathaway and Ezekiel Chace the first of whom was a Col. & the two last soldiers in the war of the Revolution, whose affidavits are herewith forwarded I think every individual now living with whom I have been acquainted for ten years last past, & upon that time up to the time of the war, would, if requested testify in favor of my character for veracity to their belief that I performed active service as a soldier in the war, but of those whose attendance testimony it had been most convenient for me to procure at Court I would name Rev. Simon Clough and William Nichols both of Fall River in the County of Bristol aforesaid.
And the said Cornelius Davis doth further declare that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present, & that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Cornelius Davis His Mark
Witness
A. Gassett

Sworn to subscribed the day & year first above written
Oliver Prescott Judge of Probate.
We Simon Clough a Clergyman residing in S d Fall River and William Nichol, residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Cornelius Davis, who had subscribed & sworn to the declaration aforesaid; that we believe him to be ninety two years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Simon Clough
W m Nichol
Sworn to subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Oliver Prescott Judge of Probate.
And the S d Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter & 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 Simon Clough who had signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in said town of Fall River and that William Nichol, who has also signed the same is a resident in S d town, is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Oliver Prescott Judge of Probate.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Bristol ss.
I Asahel Bassett - Register of the Court of Probate in the said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Cornelius Davis for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court the day & the year first above written.
A Bassett

To Mr William Nichols.
Stratton July 29 th 1830.
Sir. yours of the 28 th has just come to hand, in compliance with your request have copy d (Verbatim) from an ancient record the following. To Wit.
Silas Davis the son of Jonathan Davis, and born of Sarah his Wife January 1 st 173½. Jonathan Davis the son of Jonathan Davis, and Sarah his Wife was born May 26 th 1736. Joseph Davis, the son of Jonathan Davis, and Sarah his Wife, was born September 20 th 1738 Richard Davis, the son of Jonathan Davis, and Sarah his Wife, was born February 1 st 1741.
Cornelius Davis the son of the same Parents was born January 24 th 174¾.
A true copy taken from record, Book N o 1, page 179 West Shurain Winslow, Clerk of Stratton.
P.S. The dates above as you will see 173½ and 174¾ are no mistakes of mine. it so stands on record.
Yours Truly E Winslow

No 33597 Cornelius Davis
34, 35, 36, 387. 1. 5.
Let Hon. N. B. Borden Dec 30. 36
Mosbach's Note Ent Aug 1980 0.2.0 not a letter for 1980
above to mofre 20 ff
Hm. N. B. Borden 19/2

I Chloe Chase of Fall River in the County of Bristol & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Widow, of lawful age to give evidence do testify & say that I am the daughter of Cornelius Davis, of said Fall River, that I believe myself to have been sixty seven years old the first day of April last, that I recollect that my father, the s. Cornelius Davis, was absent from home a good deal during the war of the Revolution. I well recollect that my mother would send for my aunt Sarah Davis who was a near neighbor to come & stay with her nights and for others of her female acquaintances for the same purpose as she was timid about staying in the house alone night with her small children. I also well recollect that my mother appeared to be afraid when she heard the firing of guns for fear that father would be killed. I also recollect that upon one occasion during the war many soldiers & officers came into the meeting house one Sunday while I was at meeting. This was in Preston where I then lived. I recollect that my father came home several times during the time he was in the war. We then had a good time & were glad to know that father was not killed. On account of my youth at that time, being then probably between the ages of seven & ten years, I cannot state how long father was absent from home at any one time. I think he was absent both in warm & in cold weather but I cannot state as to what length of time. I am the oldest of my father's children now living. And further the deponent saith not.
Fall River July 28. 1836.
Chloe X Chase mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss. July 29. A.D. 1836. Then the above named Chloe Chase, who is a credible witness, personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement by her made & subscribed with her mark. Before me, Chas Williams, Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss. I Anselm Basset Register of the Court of Probate in for said County, do hereby certify that Elias Williams and James Ford are Justices of the Peace in for said County of Bristol and that the signatures to the foregoing affidavits, not purporting to be theirs are genuine —
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & the Seal of said Court of Probate this second day of August eighteen hundred and thirty six — A Basset

29 757 INVALID. Revg
File No. 29,757
Cornelius Davis
Rev War
Act: June 7 th 89"
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 109
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I George Read of Fall River in the County of Bristol Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy three years do testify that I have been acquainted with Cornelius Davis now of Fall River for more than fifty years last past, and that I saw the s d Cornelius Davis at work upon the Barracks which were built at Howlands Ferry (so called) in Linton in the State of Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War, the year that in which the s d Barracks were built, I do not recollect. in which I saw the s d Davis at work upon them The s d Cornelius Davis has ever since my acquaintance with him sustained a good character for truth & veracity & is believed to have been a soldier in the war of the Revolution & further said deponent saith not. Fall River August 1 st A.D. 1836-
George Read
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Bristol ss. August 1 st A.D. 1836. Then the above named George Read, who is a credible witness, made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement by him made & subscribed.
Before me Eliab Williams, Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss July 30 th A.D. 1836. Then the above named Ezekiel Chace who is a credible witness, personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement by him made & subscribed, Before me, Eliab Williams, Justice of the Peace.

I Robert Miller of Fall River - in the county of Bristol & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy three years, do testify & say that during the war of the Revolution & just about the time of Sullivan's expedition to the Island of Rhode Island I was employed in carting provision from Slade Ferry to Durfee's barn in Fall River & afterwards from said barn to the Quaker Meeting house in Tiverton in the State of Rhode Island near Howland's Ferry, and that during the time of my being so employed I saw Cornelius Davis now of Fall River at work upon the public boats then being built in the orchard of said Durfee near where the Village of Fall River now is. This was the same year with the August storm which was, I think, in the year 1778. I have always resided where I now live and have known the s d Cornelius Davis ever since I was a boy and he has always sustained a good character for truth & veracity & is reputed to have been engaged in guarding the shore as a soldier during the war of the Revolution. The said Cornelius Davis was a carpenter by trade. And further the s d deponent saith not. July 30. 1836. Robert Miller.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Bristol ss. July 30 th A.D. 1836. Then the above named Robert Miller, who is a credible witness, personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement by him made & subscribed. Before me Eliab Williams, justice of the Peace.

I Joseph Durfee of Taunton in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts, Esquire, aged eighty six years do testify & say that I recollect when the barn on the Island of Rhode Island near near Howlands Ferry was burnt by the British during the time they held possession of Rhode Island in the time of the Revolutionary War. Said barn was burnt, as I believe, the same fall that the British took possession of R d Island which was the fall of 1776. The barracks at R d Howlands Ferry in Tiverton R.I. were built the same fall or in the course of the winter & spring following. I further testify & say that I well knew Capt. Henry Wrightman late of Fall River assisted in R d County, deceased. And I knew him to have command of a company in active service in R d war. His company was, I believe, attached for a part of the time at least to Col. John Washburn's Regiment. Said Regiment was employed in guarding the shore in R d Tiverton & in Little Compton in the State of Rhode Island. I do further testify & say that R d shore was guarded during the whole time the British held possession of R d Island. I do further testify & say that I have known Cornelius Davis now of Fall River for sixty years last past. I suppose him to be five or six years older than myself. The R d Cornelius Davis has ever sustained a good character for truth and I have reason to believe that he was employed as a soldier in active service in guarding the shore in R d Little Compton and Tiverton and I also know that he was a carpenter by trade, and believe him to be entitled to a Pension. Taunton July 20. th 1876.
Joseph Durfee
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Bristol ss. July 30. th A. D. 1876. Then the above named Joseph Durfee, who is a credible witness, made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement by him made & subscribed. Before me Eliab Williams Justice of the Peace

I, Thomas Davis of Fall River in the county of Bristol and state of Massachusetts, of lawful age to give evidence, do testify and say, that I am well acquainted with Cornelius Davis of Fall River in the county and state aforesaid, that I knew him during the War of the Revolution, and knew him to be engaged in the service of his country in that War - The said Cornelius Davis was drafted and served as a soldier in Capt. Henry Wightman's company of Infantry and Colonel John Hathaway's Regiment - He was stationed with said Wightman's company at Howland's Ferry, so called, in Tiverton in the state of Rhode Island in October in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and seventy six - and continued on duty there and at Little Compton, the town adjoining Tiverton aforesaid, until March of the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight, seventeen months, at least - I knew when the said Cornelius Davis commenced his service as aforesaid - I frequently saw him while he was there and knew also when he returned - And further they deponent saith not.
Thomas Davis
State of Massachusetts Bristol ss. June 19 th 1836 - Then personally appeared the above named Thomas Davis, a disinterested and credible witness, and made oath to the foregoing statement by him made and subscribed - Before me James Lord Justice of the Peace

I Philip Hathaway of Freetown in the County of Bristol State of Massachusetts, aged eighty years, and a Clergyman in said town having officiated as such for thirty three or four years, do testify & say that I am well acquainted with Cornelius Davis now of Fall River, having known him for about forty years last past. The said Cornelius Davis was a member of my Church for, I should think, thirty years. He has ever sustained the reputation of a man of truth and veracity, and is reputed to have been a soldier in the war of the Revolution. I should be glad to attend Court & certify there to the above facts, but on account of my, age & infirmities I think I should not be able so to do.
Freetown July 30 th 1836.
Philip Hathaway
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Bristol ss. July 30 th A.D. 1836. Then the above named Philip Hathaway, who is a credible witness, made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement by him subscribed, Before me, Eliab Williams, Justice of the Peace.

Maps - Care, 4 July '36
In ab
Hon. N. B. Borden ~ AR. Dec 17 th

The situation of the papers proving the Service of Capt Mitchell, also of Cornelius Davis, which were forwarded some time since
Wath B Batten

trans map app. encl
Memorandum for the Hon. Nathl. B. Borden
Hon. A. B. Borden
HR

Mr. Canellus Davis of Fall River, a person over ninety years of age made a Declaration before Judge Prescott at a Probate Court in Westport as long ago as August last, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. I understood from the Register of Probate that he forwarded said declaration with the accompanying papers to Washington the same month (Aug.) Yet no information has to this time been rec d of any action upon the application of the said Canellus Davis. As he is quite needy, as well as aged & Virginian, he manifests a good deal of solicitude in relation to his application. The proof of his services was, if I rightly recollect, direct & positive. Will you have the goodness to ascertain if his application has been acted upon, & if not to expedite the business as much as it can be, & as soon as may be to inform me of the result of your inquiries.
Hon. Nathl. B. Borden
Yours Respectfully C. Williams.

FREE
John M.
Hon. Nathaniel B. Borden.
Hon. A.B. Borden HN
Mrs.
Member of Congress Washington D.C.
Thomas Davis.

Fall River January 5. 1837.
Dear Sir,
Your favour of the 31 st ult. enclosing communications from the War Department relative to the claims of Cornelius Davis and Wid. Shearman, was received this afternoon. Mr. Davis is in town, and I called upon him at his residence where I found him confined to his bed by sickness. He stated that he thought it rather hard after having suffered so much in the cause of his country & waiting so long, he should now be allowed so little: As he had forwarded all the testimony he was able to procure, as his principal witness (Thomas Davis) is not now living, & as his present situation is such as to render it inexpedient to delay even for a day, he concludes to rest his claim upon the evidence already furnished. - Of which please have the goodness to inform Mr. Edwards, that he may make out a Pension Certificate & deliver it to you to be forwarded to me as soon as possible -
As to the case of Wid. Shearman, I believe her claim as stated in her declaration can be made out to the entire satisfaction of the War Department; but as, in order to do this, it may be expedient, if not necessary, to take some depositions, I will now make no further remarks on her case, but will write to you again as soon as those depositions can be obtained enclosing them that every doubt in reference to her claim

may be removed -
Very respectfully, Yours &c. Hon. Nathl. B. Borden. Eliab Williams.
P.S. I herein enclose the communication relating to the case of Mr. Davis & retain the other to be forwarded in my next. C.M.