Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21134, Benjamin Cole, R.I.

SERVICE
Red.
Bole, Benjamin
NUMBER _____
S. 21134
Carded
CONTENTS

21.565 Midd Island
Benjamin Cole of Bristol in the State of R.I. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Amher of the Gt commanded by Col. Martin in the R.I. line for 12 mos. & 25 days service
Inscribed on the Roll of Midd Island at the rate of 66 Dollars 11 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30th day of Sept 1833 and sent to Widow Warren
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1833 $115.28 Semi-ant. allowance ending Mar 34 - 33.06
$198.34
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. C. Allen Clerk Book 2 Vol. 2 Page 105

Declaration
In order to attain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June the 7 th 1832.
The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations, County of Bristol ss. On this fourth day March A.D. 1833, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Probate for the Town of Warren in said County of Bristol, being a Court of record now sitting at said Warren, Benjamin Cole, a resident of Warren in said County of Bristol in said State, aged seventy three 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 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That in the forepart of the month of December in the year 1776, he was enrolled in Captain Ezra Osmbee's Company of Militia in said Town of Warren, and at this time the British Troops having taken possession of the Island of Rhode Island said Company of Militia were drafted or ordered to guard the shores about Bristol in said State, and served through that winter and until some time in the spring of the year 1777, after said Company had been in said service about a month a part of the Company were relieved from service for a period of time and then took the place of the other part of said Company, and in this way the members of said Company served by turns during the time aforesaid; and he said Benjamin Cole served as a private soldier in said Company in guarding the shores about said Bristol from the forepart of the month of December 1776, to some time in the spring of 1777 three months or more. From this time to the end of the year 1777 said Company of Militia were drafted or ordered out from time to time to guard the shores in said County of Bristol, and he served as a private soldier in said Company whenever the same were ordered out, he cannot recollect the precise period of each service, but is confident that he served in said guard service five months more in the year 1777. Smith Brown was Lieutenant of said Company -
Said Company belonged to Colonel Nathaniel Martin's Regiment of which Thomas Grey was Lieutenant Colonel, and Benjamin Bosworth was Major.
In the fall of the year 1777 he was drafted and served as a private soldier twenty days in Captain Daniel Bradford's Company of Militia, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Cook, in Major General Spencer's expedition. said Company marched to Livenston in said State & there joined said Regiment & served during said term. Robert Carr was Lieutenant, Curtis Cole was Ensign and Ichabod Cole was first Sergeant of said Company.
In the spring and summer of the year 1778, he, said Benjamin Cole was drafted or ordered out in said Captain Osmbee's Company of Militia at different times, and he served as a private soldier in said Company in guarding the shores in said County of Bristol four months at least in the spring and summer of the year 1778. On or about the 25 th

day of May 1778, the British troops landed, marched to said Warren, and burnt a large number of boats which had been prepared for the public service, and the meeting house, magazine and other buildings, and he turned out with said Company and pursued the enemy.
On or about the 6 th of August A.D. 1778, he was drafted in said Company of militia for twenty days, and he served as a private soldier in said Company during said term of twenty days in the expedition of Major General Sullivan against the British troops on Rhode Island. Curtis Lule was at this time Captain of said Company, Thomas Easterbrooks was Lieutenant and Ichabod Bale was Ensign, and said Company were attached to Colonel Nathan Miller's Regiment.
Immediately after the expiration of said twenty days said Company were again drafted or ordered out, and he said Benjamin Lule served as a private soldier in said Company about fifteen days at Bristol in said State, and said Company were then relieved by a Regiment of State troops.
From this time until late in the fall of the year 1779, said Company of militia were drafted or ordered out to guard the shores in said County; a part of said Company were ordered out and served for a period of time, and were then relieved by the other part of said Company and in this way the members of said Company served by turns; he said Benjamin Lule does not recollect the precise length of each term of this service, but he is confident, that he served as a private soldier in said Company in guarding the shores in said County of Bristol from the fall of 1778 to late in the fall of the year 1779 under different drafts more than five months. Curtis Lule was Captain, Thomas Easterbrooks Lieutenant, and Ichabod Lule Ensign of this Company during this time.
On or about the 6 th day of March A.D. 1780, the French Fleet having arrived at Newport, he, the said Benjamin Lule was again drafted, and served as a private soldier one month in Captain Vial Allen's Company of militia in Colonel Peter Church's Regiment on Rhode Island.
Soon after the expiration of this term of service, and some time in the spring of the year 1781 he enlisted as a carpenter on board the armed Sloop George, of which Thomas Champlin was Commander, and sailed from said Warren and cruised against the enemy; and said Sloop was taken by a British armed ship of twenty guns, and he, said Benjamin Lule was carried into New York, and was there imprisoned three months as a prisoner of war in the British prison ship, called the Jersey, where he endured much privation and suffering; he was exchanged as a prisoner of war in the latter part of the summer of

State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, }
TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE, WARREN, March 4 th 1833.
Benjamin Cole son of Ebenezer Cole , and Prudence , his wife, was born on the 3 rd day of December A. D. 1759.
A true copy of record.
Witness Samuel Randall Town Clerk.

the year 1781, the precise time he cannot now recollect
Some time in the winter of the year 1782, he the said Benjamin Cole was taken in an American Brig belonging to Newburyport by a British seventy four gun ship, and was carried into Kingston in Jamaica, and he was there imprisoned, as a Prisoner of war four months.
And he, the said Benjamin Cole further declares, that from the peculiar nature of his aforesaid services, & the great length of time which has since elapsed, and by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear more positively as to the precise times and length of his services, than he has before stated; but according to the best of his recollection he served as a private soldier in the militia, in the manner before stated, not less than nineteen months and twenty five days, and that he was imprisoned as a Prisoner of war not less than seven months, in the manner before stated; and for such service he claims a pension.
He further declares, that he was born in the aforesaid Town of Warren on the third day of December A.D. 1759, his birth was recorded in the Town Clerk's office in said Town of Warren, a certificate of which is hereto annexed.
He lived in said Town of Warren when he entered the service; and he has always lived in said Town, except when he has been at sea or in the public service, and he now lives in said Town of Warren. He received no written discharge from said services, but was verbally discharged by the commanding officer at the expiration of each of the aforesaid terms of service. He has no documentary evidence of his service. He knows of no person but Chabad Cole Esquire & Mr. James Mason & Mr. Canby 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 truth and veracity, and their belief of his services, as a soldier of the Revolution, viz Rev. John C. Welsh and John Pease Esq. of said Warren.
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
Benj. Cole
and year aforesaid.
Samuel Randall Probate Clerk
We John C. Welsh, a clergyman residing in Warren aforesaid, and John Pease, residing in said Warren, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Cole, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be upwards of seventy three years of age; and that he is reputed 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 and year aforesaid.
John C. Welsh John Pease
Samuel Randall Probate Clerk

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 Benjamin Cole, the aforementioned Applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states, and the Court further certify, that it appears to them, that John C. Welsh, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in said Town of Warren, and that John Pearce, who has also signed the same is a resident in said Town of Warren, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Samuel Randall Probate Clerk
I Samuel Randall, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the town of Warren in the County of Bristol aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Benjamin Cole aforementioned, for a Pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office This fourth day of March 1833.
Samuel Randall Probate Clerk

23649
Benjamin Cole Rhode Island
Evidence must be produced to show that the "Sloop George" was a public, & not a private armed vessel.
506 40 March 19 Mar 25 May
 553  55   2.78 60 63 33   2.78  66.11 1/2   13 2 22  3 3 06   1 65 28 
Levi H. Hale Warren 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 subjoined 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 Benjamin Calo Bristol City of 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.     Enlist 1776 — 3 — priv Capt Armsbee 72 years Traditional Evidence and Living Witnesses   Disch 1777 “ 5 “ “ Lieut Brown Bristol   “ 1777 “ — 20 “ Col Martin Rhode Island   “ 1778 “ 4 “ prob capt Capt Bradford “ “   1778 “ “ 20 “ Cob. Cook   “ “ about 10 “ Capt Armsbee   1779 “ 5 “ “ Genl Sullivan “ “   1781 “ 1 “ “ Cob. Miller   “ “ “ “ “ Capt Cole “ “   “ “ “ “ “ Capt Allen & Church “ “   “ “ “ “ “ Capt Chaplin “ “    no time + Carpenter on Board the Sloop George.  I am, respectfully,  Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
1776

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 } ss.
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) 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 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 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.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Rev. War Section.
AW 7.
July 27, 1923.
Mrs. A. C. Hewitt, 810- 10th St., c/o Mrs. E.G. Briggs, Sioux City, Iowa.
Madam;
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 21134, it appears that Benjamin, son of Ebenezer and Prudence Cole, was born Dec. 3, 1759 in Warren, Bristol Co., R. I. and while residing there enlisted Dec. 1778 and served as a private at various times until the Spring of 1781, in all 19 months and 25 days, under Captains Ezra Omsbee, Daniel Bradford, Curtis Cole, Vial Allen and Colonels Nathaniel Martin, John Cook, Nathan Miller, Peter Church in the R. I. militia. He was in Sullivan's Expedition in R. I.
In the Spring of 1781, he enlisted and served as a carpenter on board the Privateer "George", commanded by Thomas Champlin, was taken prisoner and carried to New York and held on British prison ship "Jersey", three

months, when exchanged.
Winter of 1782, he again enlisted and went to sea, was taken prisoner and carried to Kingston, Jamaica and held 4 months.
He was allowed pension on his application executed March 4, 1833, while a resident of Warren, R. I.
It is not stated that soldier ever married.
Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.

The State of Rhode Island &c) County of Bristol } ss.
On this second day of September A.D. 1833, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Probate for the Town of Warren in the said County of Bristol, being a Court of record now sitting in said Warren, Benjamin Cole, a resident in said Warren, aged seventy three years and upwards, who is an Applicant for the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832, entitled "An Act supplementary to the Act for the relief of certain surviving officers & soldiers of the Revolution," and who made his Declaration before said Court on the fourth day of March A.D. 1833, and being sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, depose and say, that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot now state the precise time of the commencement and termination of each period of his Revolutionary services, but he is confident that he did serve not less than the periods mentioned in his declaration, and not less than the periods herein after mentioned; and that the several statements in his said declaration are correct and true; and he doth further depose and say, that during the period of the Revolutionary war mentioned in his declaration, on account of the peculiar exposure and liability of said state, and especially of the said County of Bristol to the sudden encroachments of the Enemy, the Militia of said County were kept constantly armed and equipped, and were held liable to be called out at a moment's warning to guard the shores or repel the Enemy, and that in addition to the regular drafts the militia in said County were ordered out on alarms, & served for short periods of time & that they were constantly harassed & deprived almost wholly of the privilege of engaging in civil pursuits; and that during said period the company of Militia in said Town of Warren were drafted or ordered out to guard the shores in said County, a part said Company was drafted or ordered out for a period of time and then was relieved by the other part of said Company, that half of said Company was usually ordered out at a time, and the drafts were generally for one month each; the members of said Company, which were drafted or ordered out, were held to military service during the time for which they were drafted, drew rations, in the same manner as the regular troops & were not engaged in any civil pursuits; and he, the said Benjamin Cole further deposes and says that he was drafted or ordered out by competent authority and served in the rank of a private soldier in an embodied corps, and according to the best of his recollection during the whole of the following period, during which he was not engaged or employed in any civil pursuit, and that he drew rations the same as regular troops, viz. from the first part of December 1776 to some time in the Spring of 1777, the precise time he does not recollect, he served as a private soldier three months under three different drafts he thinks, in Captain Ezra Brainerd's Company in Colonel Waterman's Regiment; he served in guarding

shores about Bristol: from some time in the spring to the close of the year 1777 he served not less than five months as a private soldier in said Captain Ezra Osbee's company in Col. Nathaniel Martin's Regiment, from the best of his recollection he served under five different drafts of one month each; he served a part of the time at Bristol and part of the time in guarding the shores of the Bay in Bristol creek. In the fall of the year 1777, he was drafted & served as a private soldier twenty days, in Capt. Daniel Bradford's company of militia in Col. John Cook's Regiment, at Kingston in said State. Between the first of January and the first of August 1778, he was drafted or ordered out and served as a private soldier four months in Captain Osbee's company of militia, from the best of his recollection, he served under four different drafts of one month each. Col. Martin at Kingston commanded the Regiment at that time, he served in guarding the shores about Bristol and Bristol creek. On or about the 8 th of August 1778, he was drafted and served twenty days, in Captain Curtis Cole's company of militia in Colonel William Miller's Regiment on Rhode Island. After the expiration of said twenty days, he was drafted and served in said Capt. Cole's company & Col. Miller Regiment not less than fifteen days, as a private soldier at Bristol. From that time to late in the fall of the year 1779, he served as a private soldier in said Captain Curtis Cole's company & Col. Miller's Regiment not less than five months. He cannot recollect the precise times, but from the best of his recollection he served under five different drafts of one month each; he served at Bristol, and at different places on Bristol creek. From on or about the 8 th of March 1781 he was drafted & served one month in Capt. Vital Allen's company of militia in Col. Peter Church's Regiment on Rhode Island; he served as a private soldier. And he further deposes that he served, during the period aforesaid, as a private soldier not less than nineteen months & twenty five days; and that he was imprisoned as a prisoner of war not less than seven months in the manner stated in his said declaration. And he further deposes, that the ship George mentioned in his said declaration was a private and not a public armed vessel.
And the said Benjamin Cole further deposes and says, that in addition to his aforesaid service in the militia he was frequently ordered out on alarms served as a private

soldier in the said company of militia of said Town of Warren for short period of time, the precise length of each period he cannot recollect, & he has not not embraced this service in the aforesaid period of regular service. "
Benjamin Cole
Sworn to and subscribed by the above named Benjamin Cole, in open court this Second day of September A.D. 1833.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said court Samuel Randall Clerk

810-10 St. Sioux City Iowa
June 13th 1923.
Bureau of Pensions; Washington D.C. Gentlemen;
When writing for Mrs Ada Cole Hewett Apr 2nd. for war record of Benjamin Cole. I wrote as she dictated.
It should of been as follows. Benjamin Cole b. 1759 - 1837. on the Pension Roll, of Rustol Co. 1831 R. H. Militia, R. I. he was a private. I note the correction in yours of May 2nd.. address Mrs Ada Cole Hewett, 810-10 St Sioux City Iowa &, Mrs E. G. Briggs.
Respectfully,
Mrs Ada Cole Hewett

Resolutions
21134 INVALID.
File No. 21134
Benjamin Cole
Pre Rev War
Act: June 7" 39"
Index: —Vol. 2 , Page 77
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1923-July 27-Hist to Mrs. G.C. Hewitt aut.

Beij n bali
23549

I William Barr, a resident in Warren in the County of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations, of the age of sixty nine years & upward being sworn according to law, do testify and say, that Benjamin Cole, a resident, in said Warren, on or about the 8 th day of March A.D. 1781, was drafted and served as a private soldier one month in Captain Vial Allin's Company of Militia. He served on Rhode Island, the French Fleet having arrived at Newport at that time. Said Company belonged to Colonel Peter Church's Regiment. I served as a private soldier in said Company, during said term of one month.
And I further testify and say, that some time after, in the Spring of the year 1781 said Benjamin Cole enlisted aboard the armed sloop George commanded by Thomas Champlin, and sailed from said Warren to cruise against the Enemy; said Sloop was captured by a British ship, and said Benjamin Cole was imprisoned as a prisoner of war in the British prison ship called the Jersey at New York about three months, as I have ever since understood; he did not return to Warren until the latter part of the summer of the year 1781; and it has ever since been reported in the neighbourhood where he lives that he was a prisoner of war in the prison ship Jersey and I believe that such was the fact. In the year 1782 said Benjamin Cole went to sea again and was absent a considerable length of time, and it has ever since been reported in the neighbourhood where he lives, that he was captured by a British man of war and carried into Kingston Jamaica & there imprisoned as a prisoner of war about four months; I have never heard this report contradicted & believe it was so. I have been well acquainted with said Benjamin Cole for more than sixty five years; I have always lived in the same neighbourhood with said Benjamin Cole.
Wm Barr
The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations. Bristol ss. in Warren March the 4 th A.D. 1833. This day the above named William Barr, personally appearing before me, the subscriber and being sworn according to law, made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition, to which he subscribed his name in my presence; taken at the request of Benjamin Cole a resident in said Warren, to be used in his application for the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832, entitled "An Act supplementary to the 'Act for the relief of certain surviving officers & soldiers of the Revolution,'" and I hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with said William Barr, and that he is a credible person & his statement is entitled to credit.
Attest Levi Hoyle Justice of the Peace.
The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations. County of Bristol ss. Clerk's office of the Court of Probate in Warren, I Samuel Randall Clerk of the Court of Probate for the Town of Warren in said County of Bristol, a Court of Record, do

hereby certify, that Levi Hoail, who has certified the taking of the aforewritten deposition is a justice of the peace for said Town of Warren in said County of Bristol, authorized by law to take depositions, and that the signature to the aforewritten certificate of caption purporting to be his, is in his proper hand writing.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this fourth day of March A.D. 1833. Samuel Randall Clerk

I, Schabool Cole, a resident in Warren in the County of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations, of the age of eighty four years and upwards, being duly sworn according to law, do testify and say, that Benjamin Cole, a resident in said Warren, according to the best of my recollection, was enrolled in Captain Ezra Ormsbee's Company of Militia in said Town of Warren in the fore part of the month of December A.D. 1776 and from this time to some time in the spring of the year 1777 said Company was drafted or ordered out to guard the shores about Bristol in said State, and said Benjamin Cole was drafted or ordered out and served as a private soldier in said Company from the said time of his enrollment to some time in the spring of 1777, three months or more. After said Company had been in said service about one month, a part of said Company were relieved from duty for a time & then took the place of the other part of said Company and in this way the members of said Company served by turns; from the spring to the close of the year 1777, said Company were drafted or ordered out from time to time to guard the shores in said County, and said Benjamin Cole served as a private soldier in said Company, whenever he was drafted or ordered out, I cannot recollect the precise period of each service, but am confident, that he served as a private soldier in said Company in guarding the shores in said County of Bristol from the spring to the close of the year 1777 five months more. I served as first sergeant of said Company from the commencement of the war of the Revolution to the 1st day of August A.D. 1778. Said Company belonged to Colonel Nathaniel Martin's Regiment. Thomas Grey was Lieutenant Colonel and Benjamin Bosworth was Major of this Regiment. In the Fall of the year 1777 said Benjamin Cole was drafted and served as a private soldier twenty days in Captain Daniel Bradford's Company of Militia, in Colonel John Cook's Regiment, in the expedition of Major General Sullivan; said Company were stationed the principal part of the time at Tiverton in said State: I served as first sergeant of said Company during this time. Robert Carr was Lieutenant and Curtis Cole was Ensign of said Company. In the spring and summer of the year 1778, said Benjamin Cole served as a private soldier in said Captain Ormsbee's Company, under different drafts, according to the best of my recollection four months, or more. On or about the 5th of August 1778, said Benjamin Cole was drafted in said Company of Militia, and served as a private soldier in said Company twenty days, in the expedition of Major General Sullivan against the British troops in Rhode Island; I served as Ensign of said Company during the same time. Curtis Cole was Captain & Thomas Easton was Lieutenant of said Company, & said Company at this time belonged to Colonel Nathan Miller's Regiment. After the expiration of said twenty days, said Company were again drafted or ordered out and served about fifteen days at Bristol in said State & were then relieved by a Company of State troops; said Benjamin Cole served as a private soldier in said Company during said fifteen days. From this time until late in the fall of the year 1779, said Company were drafted or ordered out to guard the shores in said County of Bristol, and the members of said Company were ordered out by turns to perform said guard service; and said Benjamin Cole served when

he was drafted or ordered out, and from the best of my recollection said Benjamin Cole served as a private soldier in said Company of Militia under different drafts from the fall of 1778 to late in the fall of 1779 not less than five months. From the peculiar nature of said service and my advanced age I am not able to recollect more distinctly the precise period or circumstances of said service, but from the best of my recollection said Benjamin Cole served as a private soldier in the Militia in the manner before stated not less than Eighteen months & twenty five days. I further testify and say that I have been acquainted with said Benjamin Cole from his childhood & have always resided in the same neighbourhood. That some time in the spring of the year 1781 said Benjamin Cole enlisted on board the Armed Sloop George commanded by Thomas Champlin, & sailed from said place on a cruise against the Enemy; and as I understood at the time said Sloop was captured by a British Ship, & said Benjamin Cole was imprisoned in the British prison ship called the Jersey at New York about three months. He did not return home until the latter part of the summer 1781, it has ever since been reported in the neighbourhood where said Benjamin Cole lives that he was a prisoner in the prison ship Jersey I have never heard it contradicted. In the year 1782, said Benjamin Cole went to sea & was absent several months, and I have ever since understood, that he was captured by a British ship & carried into Kingston Jamaica & there imprisoned as a prisoner of war. I do not recollect how long he was imprisoned, but it was a number of months, it has been the general report in the neighbourhood that he was so imprisoned.
Isaac D r Cole
Sworn to and Subscribed in open Court this fourth day of March 1833.
Witness Samuel P. Randall Probate Clerk

I James Mason, resident in Warren in the County of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations, of the age of seventy seven years and upwards, being duly sworn according to law, do testify and say, that at the commencement of the war of the Revolution I was enrolled as a private soldier in the Company of Militia in said Town of Warren, and that I served as a private soldier in said Company whenever the same were drafted or ordered out, and during all the drafts of said Company from the commencement to the close of the war of the Revolution; and that said Company was from time to time drafted or ordered out to guard the shores in said County of Bristol; and I further testify and say, that Benjamin Cole a resident in said Warren was enrolled as a private soldier in said Company of Militia in the fore part of the month December A.D. 1776, and from that time to the year 1780 said Benjamin Cole served as a private soldier in said said Company whenever said Company were drafted or ordered out; and from the best of my recollection said Benjamin Cole served as a private soldier in said Company under different drafts or orders not less than the following periods being in the whole more than eighteen months; viz from the fore part of December 1776 to some time in the spring of 1777 he served in guarding the shores about Bristol in said County three months or more; and from this time to the end of the year 1777 he served as a private soldier in said Company in guarding the shores in said County not less than five months more. Ezra Ormsbee was Captain & Smith Brown Lieutenant of said Company at this time; & said Company belonged to Colonel Nathaniel Martin's Regiment, of which Thomas Grey was Lieutenant Colonel & Benjamin Bosworth was Major. In the spring & summer of the year 1778 he served as a private soldier in said Company under different drafts in guarding the shores in said County of Bristol four months at least. On or about 6th of August A.D. 1778 he was drafted in said Company and served as a private soldier in said Company twenty days, in the expedition of Major General Sullivan in Rhode Island; Curtis Cole at this time commanded said Company, and Thomas Eastonbrook was Lieutenant and Ichabod Cole was Ensign. After the expiration of said twenty days, said Benjamin Cole was again drafted and served about fifteen days as a private soldier in said Company at Bristol. From this time to late in the fall of the year 1779 said Company were from time to time drafted or ordered out to guard the shores in said County of Bristol, the Members of said Company being ordered out by turns, and said Benjamin Cole served in said Company as a private soldier in said guard service from the fall of 1778 to late in the fall of 1779, under different drafts more than five months. Curtis Cole was Captain, Thomas Eastonbrook Lieutenant & Ichabod Cole Ensign of said Company at that time.
James Mason Sworn to & Subscribed in open Court this fourth day of March 1833. S. Randall Probate Clerk

The Court hereby certify, that it appears to them, that William Carr, Schabod Cole and James Mason, who have signed and sworn to the within and aforewritten depositions, are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.
Attest Samuel Randall Probate Clerk.