Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19276, Wendle Davis, Navy Maine Residence In 1839

SERVICE
NUMBER
Navy
Davis, Wendle
S. 19276
CONTENTS
carded
Maine residence in 1839.

31635.
Machine - 316.
Wendle D. C.
of Somerset in the State of Maine who was a Main in the Sloop common by Captain P. over  the  the  the  the by Capt. Rathbun, in the the  the  the time for 7 months Navy
Inscribed on the Roll of Machine at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of July 29, and said John Allen, Norridgewock, Maine
Arrears to the 4th of March - $186.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 11.66 $198.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by R. Burdick Clerk Book 6 - Vol. 1 - Page 12.

Wendell Davis' app n . for pension
7 months service as Marine in 1778 Sloop of war Providence Capt. M c Rathburn (Commander)
Evidence
Jarson Butler who served at same time and Deposition of David Davis who was knowing to his en- listment
Returns to be made to the applicants at "Norridgewock me care of Wm Allen Jr

State of Maine } ss. County of Somerset } ss. On this eighth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty six personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court now sitting at Norridgewock in and for the county of Somerset and State of Maine, Wendell Davis now resident of Industry in said county of Somerset aged nearly seventy five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, and answers to the questions propounded to him by the Court pursuant to the instructions from the War Department, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the naval service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, and answers the interrogatories as follows:
1. That he was born at Edgarton in Dukes county in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the fifteenth day of September A.D. 1761.
2. That he has a record of his age in a family bible and he presumes that his birth is on the town records of Edgarton.
3. That he was living at said Edgarton when he was called into the service of the United States that he continued to reside there till 1792 when he removed to the State of Maine and settled in New Vineyard and for two years past has resided in said Industry.
4. That he entered said service as a volunteer, that
5. That he enlisted and shipped on board the public armed sloop of war Providence , under Capt. John Peck Rathburn.
— Howes was 1st Lieutenant, John Stranton was 2 d Lieutenant — Webster was boatswain.
That he has no means of determining the precise day or time of his enlistment, that on account of his old age, infirmity and loss of memory he cannot recollect the day of the month, but from the best of his recollection it was the 10th 11th of March A.D. 1778; That he enlisted for a summer's cruise and went immediately on board the above vessel and is confident that he served as a marine did duty on the quarter deck in time of action, at other times on the main deck on board the Providence the full term of seven months and
was then was discharged by Capt. Rathburn at Boston.
That the Providence carried twelve long English guns and had a complement of seventy two men and boys; was considered equal to a common ship of sixteen guns; That she sailed from Edgarton harbor soon after he entered on board.

for the coast of Nova Scotia and cruised off that coast and near Halifax during the season; that they had an engagement with a large English ship for six glasses; had three men wounded, none killed a storm and night coming on they lost sight of her: that they captured a brig from Glasgow bound to Halifax loaded with porter which was afterwards retaken by the enemy: That the Providence sprung her mast and bowsprit in a gale of wind and went into Port Rosier to repair took several boats and small vessels at that place and embargoed them to prevent information of their situation being given to the enemy at Halifax while they were getting a new mast and making repairs - after completing their cruise on that coast they sailed for Boston where they arrived late in the fall and the crew were then discharged after having served seven months as above stated, that he had no written discharge and has now no documentary evidence of the above service: But that Capt. Larson Butler, who enlisted, shipped and served the same time on board the Providence is now in Court and can testify as to his service; that he has also the affidavit of Capt. David Davis as to his enlistment and all his neighbors and acquaintances are ready to testify as to their belief of his having served as above stated.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a any pension or annuity, except the present: and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. That he never made but one application, which before for a pension; which was two years ago; which application was rejected by the War Department on account of some defect or want of evidence; that he has not been able since that time till now to renew his application on account of the bodily infirmity of him .
William Davis
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court this day and year aforesaid Attest Joshua Gould, Clerk,

I Saron Butler aged seventy four years now residing in New Vineyard in the county of Somerset, State of Maine formerly of Edgarton in Massachusetts depose on oath in open Court and say that I have been well acquainted with the within named Wendell Davis from infancy to the present time: I know that he enlisted and served seven months on board the public armed Schooner of war called the Providence, commanded by Capt Rotherham in the summer and fall of 1778, I enlisted at the same time and served as a marine and part of the time as a cook in the storage during the cruise which was seven months, and we were both discharged here in the fall in Boston.
Saron Butler
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court this day and year aforesaid.
Joshua Gould Clerk
I William Allen Jr of lawful age depose and say that I have been well acquainted with the within named Wendell Davis for more than forty years last past: That he has always been considered a man of strict integrity and unquestionable veracity, I fully believe that he was in the service of the United States as stated by him.
William Allen Jr
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court this day and year aforesaid.
Joshua Gould Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department; that the above named applicant was in the marine service in the Revolutionary war, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that Saron Butler and William Allen Jr who have signed the preceding certificates are credible persons and that their statements are true to the best of their knowledge.
Nathan Weston
C. Justice S. J. Court

I Joshua Gould Clerk of all the Judicial Courts in the county of Somerset State of Maine do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Supreme Judicial Court aforesaid in the matter of the application of Wendell Davis for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Norridgewock this eighth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six
Joshua Gould Clerk
June 8. 1836

State of Maine } County of Somerset } ss. On this seventeenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight. Before Personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Asa Redington a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in open Court now sitting at Norridgewock in and for said county of Somerset Wendell Davis a resident of Industry in the county of Franklin, late Somerset in the State aforesaid aged seventy seven years who being first sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following supplementary declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7. 1832 That he was born as he before stated at Edgartown in Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts on the fifteenth day of September Seventeen hundred and sixty one, that there is a record of his birth in his family bible and he presumed in the town records of Edgartown; that he was in the United States service in the war of the Revolution from the last of February  March Seventeen hundred & seventy eight to the last of October in the same year being a term of seven months that he enlisted as a seaman on board the public armed ship of war called the Providence of twelve guns and a complement of seventy two men & boys commanded by John Peck Rathbun — Howes 1st Lieutenant John Stratton 2 d Lieutenant — Webster Boatswain; That he resided at said Edgartown at the time he enlisted: that Capt Rathbun came into the harbor in the winter of Seventeen hundred & seventy eight from a cruise to obtain a recruit of men; and that this declarant and nineteen others enlisted at the same time, being as he has recently ascertained in the month of February, that he first came in that he enlisted for a cruise and served seven months as he has above stated, did duty as a seaman or sailor on the main deck on ordinary occasions and in time of action did duty with the marines on the main deck; that they sailed from the Vineyard in March soon after he enlisted but is not able to state the precise day of his enlistment or sailing; that they cruised first in a southern latitude to intercept the English merchantmen and then off the coast of Nova Scotia and was in a severe engagement with a large ship which lasted six glasses had three men wounded & eight killed them; captured a Brig
Wendell Davis's Supplementary Decl n . for a Pension under the act of June 7, 1832

from Glasgow; that they went into Port Rosier the onerous part to repair; embargoed several vessels while they were repairing their mast and arrived in Boston as he has recently ascertained about the middle of September and remained at that on duty place, till the last of October having completed full seven months service and was there verbally discharged till he should be again called for; that he enlisted as a volunteer; and never received any written discharge; and was not called upon by the officers of the Providence after discharge as above. That all of the twenty who were his intimate acquaintances and enlisted at the same time to make up the stoops comple- ment are dead except himself and Sarsen Butler who is now a United States pensioner having been placed on the pension list in consideration of services on board said vessel at the same time: and can testify to the truth of his statements; that he has no documentary evidence but refers to the public newspapers of the time and the naval history of the war for some account of the above vessel & of his service; He also particularly refers to the papers in the War Department filed in the case of said Sarsen Butler N o 37,542 — He hereby as before relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or any annuity except the present; and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State: That he has twice made application for a pension before the Supreme Judicial Court but his claim was rejected in consequence of his failing to recollect the dates correctly; that he has since been able to obtain the dates with more certainty; that owing to bodily infirmity old age and poverty he has not till now been able to get to Court since rejection of his first applications in 1836 — He further states that he removed from Edgartown in Seventeen hundred and ninety two to a place now called Industry in Somerset county that he has resided in that town & in New Bedford in said county ever since that time. Wendle Ball's The word "March" "that the vessel came in," on duty "himself and his interview before signed — Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid
All Hildreth, Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.

State of Maine 2 County of Somerset ss. Court of Common Pleas at Norridgewock Nov Term 1838
William Allen, Jr. a resident of said Norridge- -wick aged fifty eight years personally appears in open Court and on oath declares that in the year seventeen hundred and ninety two he removed with his father family from North Berwick in Massachu- -setts to Farmington Maine and that he at that time became acquainted with the within named Wendell Davis who removed about the same time and settled in an adjoining town that he ever since that time has been intimately acquainted with said Davis and verily believes him to be of the age of seventy seven years; that he has always been esteemed as a man of the strictest veracity and unspotted reputation that by reason of sickness and old age he has been unable to transact much business or to leave his house a considerable part of the time for four years past; and although now quite infirm none of his neighbors have any reason to doubt the truth of his statements in relation to his services in the Revolutionary war as he has stated; but all are of opinion that he served on the cruise as he has stated for a term exceeding six months; and this deponent concurs in that opinion —
William Allen, Jr.
Subscribed and sworn to in open Court by the above named deponent a person by me well known, from long acquaintance, to be of the highest order of credibility.
H. Hemenstone, Justice of the
Court of Common Pleas.
Cyrus Fletcher Clerk of the Judicial Courts in and for the county of Somerset do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court of Common Pleas in the matter of the application of Wendell Davis for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this Eighth day of March A.D. 1839 Cyrus Fletcher Clerk

We Timothy Johnson a Clergyman residing in Farmington in the county of Franklin State of Maine aged sixty four years and Ephraim Norton residing in the same town aged Eighty six years hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Wendell Davis who has subscribed and sworn to the within declaration in order to obtain a pension, have both of us known him for more than fifty years; and the said Norton has known him from his infancy, and we believe him to be of the age of seventy seven years; that he is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resides in our vicinity to have been a seaman of the the Revolution and served on board the United States Sloop of war Providence in the Revolutionary war, and and we concur in that opinion: His reputation for truth and veracity has always been undoubtably good.
Ephraim Norton
State of Maine, County of Franklin Jo.
Timothy Johnson
On this sixth of March A.D. 1889 Personally appeared the above named Ephraim Norton & Timothy Johnson a Clergyman by me well known, said Norton being a respectable citizen of said county also by me well known from my infancy and entitled to full credit and severally made oath to the above certificate by them subscribed before me, Cornelius Norton Justice of Peace
I Cornelius Norton above named a magistrate of the county of Franklin State of Maine do also certify that I have known the within named Wendell Davis for nearly sixty years, having always lived very near him: That his reputation for truth & veracity has always been good; and that no man in the community has sustained a fairer reputation or better moral character: That the infirmities of age have impaired his memory, but I have entire confidence in what he now relates as a matter of fact, and I fully believe that he served on board the Sloop of War Providence in seventeen hundred & seventy eight in the manner & during the term as he has stated in his within declaration, I have heard several persons known for truth & veracity often say that they knew that he was in the United States service in the Revolutionary War in the Sloop of War Providence who are now dead
Cornelius Norton
State of Maine County of Franklin Jo.
I Frances G. Butler Clerk of the Judicial Courts in & for the county of Franklin aforesaid hereby certify that Cornelius Norton Esq above named is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county and that the above signature is genuine, that he has been duly commissioned and qualified
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said county this sixth day of March in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred & thirty nine.
F. G. Butler Clerk

19276 INVALID.
am
File No. 19,276
Wendle Davis
Mariner Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 100
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Maine
Wendell Davis
Sussex
adm? John Allen Jr.
June 15 th 1836

RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by S. C. Hayes
Claim No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant _____
Soldier Wendle Davis
Service _____
Additional Service _____
Revolution - Navy
No. _____ claim, State records _____, 190____
No claim, combination records _____, 190____
REMARKS:
No other claims than S. F. 19276

originals June 14 Ms. NORFOLK JUNE
Gen. Lewis Caps Secy of War Washington City District of Columbia
Revolutionary Claims

Worthington June 8. 1836
Hon Lewis Cass Secy of War
The enclosed applications for pensions are forwarded for examination at the request of the applicants Wendell Davis & Saron Butler: with a hope that the cases may receive an early attention; as they have hitherto been delayed from sickness or infirmity of themselves or those their Agents.
If further testimony is required, it can be readily furnished if the applicants are notified thereof.
Please address to me at this place to care of your att Servt
William Allen Jr

Deposition in the case of Wendell Davis
No
Act 19 June 32.
adm. D
Ymo Thmas
122 33/40
Wm Allen St 35
Hendryse St
No 2
James J. Bellamy Court of Sessions New Bedford March 10. 1832
The undersigned of the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts do hereby certify that the within is a true and correct copy of the original thereof now on file in the office of the Clerk of said Court.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this 10th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.

State of Maine County of Somerset ) Be it known that before me William H. Allen a Justice of the Peace in the county aforesaid at my dwelling house in Norridgewock in said county on the fifteenth day of March A.D. 1839 personally appeared Sanson Butler a Revolutionary Pensioner aged seventy seven years residing in New Bedford, in Maine, who being first sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he has been well ac- quainted with Wendell Davis of Industry in Maine an applicant for a pension from his infancy; that he is of the same age and that they were born & brought up in the same town, on Martha's Vineyard, that both of them shipped at the same time on board the public armed ship vessel Providence in March seventeen hundred and sixty eight under Capt Rathbun and served on board said vessel till the last of October of the same year; said Davis did duty as a seaman generally & in time of action duty as a mariner, both of us served seven months and were then honorably discharged at Boston - after the war we both removed to New Bedford Maine & have always lived near each other - one wood crossed & then understood Sanson Butler
Sworn and subscribed the day and year above written, and I certify that the deponent is a credible witness, before me William H. Allen, Jr.

State of Maine County of Somerset
I Cyrus Fletcher Clerk of the Judicial Courts in the County aforesaid, do hereby certify, that William Allen is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the twenty fourth day of December, 1838, and will expire on the twenty fourth day of December 1843
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas for said County at Norridgewock, the fifteenth day of March 1839.
Cyrus Fletcher Clerk

Worthington March 15, 1839
James L. Edwards Esq Comm r of Pensions Sir
After several unsuccessful attempts and a long delay Wendell Davis has succeeded in getting Sason Butler's Deposition in the matter of his application for a pension and requests me to forward it to you to be filed in his case wishing you to communicate the result of his application to me at this place and forward his certificate to me
I am Sir
your obed Servant
William Allen
P.S. A Supplementary declaration of Wendell Davis was forwarded from here to the War Department last week
W A

me Joseph Wendell Davis
Revolutionary Claim under the Act of June 7. 1832
Col. James L. Edwards Comm. of Pensions Washington City Dist Columbia
Agreed M. Allen Morrill G. Merrill me

Sturtevant March 9. 1839
Col James L Edwards Comm ee of Pensions
De Sir
At the request of Wendell Davis I enclose you his 2 d Supplementary Declaration with such evidence as he has been able to obtain in support of his claim to a pension under the Act of June 7. 1832. On account of bodily infirmity and situation he has been unable to go about to look up evidence and has therefore let his claim remain in a neglected state till this time. He now hopes that the evidence enclosed together with the evidence furnished heretofore and the papers filed in the case of Sason Butler who served with him for the same time who was placed on the Pension Roll in Oct r . last, will be satisfactory to the Department. Please to let me know the result of his application as soon as it shall be acted on
I am De Sir
your ob t servant William Allen
Sturtevant Mass
P.S. Mr Davis has made three applications to get the Department of Sason Butler but was not able to get them before a major vote to satisfy the Department refers to her former Depositions & his supplementary Declarations and the case of Sason Butler No 31. 542