Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12640, Samuel Currie, Navy (R.I.)

SERVICE
Navy (R.I.)
burrie, Samuel
NUMBER
S 12640
carded
CONTENTS

10,593  Rhode Island  Samuel Currie
of Providence the State of R I who was a Seaman in the Frigate Warren commanded by Captain Hopkins of the ★ commanded by ★ in the ★ line for 16 years
★ 26 40  Navy. Records corrected Nov 21/45.
Inscribed on the Roll of R I at the rate of 64 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of Oct 1833 and sent to Hon Burgess Providence R I
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $ 128 — Semi-ant. allowance ending 2 Sept " 32 — $160 —
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H B Blair Clerk, Book 2, Vol. 2, Page 104,
let to Hon J L Tillinghast Dec 7. 1842. — do. to Hon. Tristan Burges Nov. 10. 1845
New certificate issued 7 March 1866 and sent to Hon. Tristan Burges, Providence, R. Island
29 July 28

Samuel Currie — Fl. 1882

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Rhode-Island District, sc. August Term 1832
County of Providence On this 8 th day of October A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, being a resident Samuel Currie District Court of the United States within and for said District, now in session— Samuel Currie a resident of Providence in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island aged 71 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 Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832, viz.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
He was born Dec r 1760 in Providence had no record of his birth, & always has lived in Providence and this applicant further states that in May 1778 he entered on board of the Frigate Warren as a seaman a ship of War belonging to the United States under John Hopkins Esq. commander & sailed on a cruise to the West Indies & from there to Newfoundland and then returned to Boston where he arrived in Sept r or Oct r following the being sick with the fever was sent to the hospital & remained there nearly a year, but never had a discharge from the ship, the reason why he did not go on the Penobscot expedition was because he was sick —
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 and year aforesaid.
Samuel Currie Benja Cowell Clk
I Job Page of Smithfield aged 76 years on oath do testify & say that I have known Samuel Currie who is now before me more than 60 years I do know that he was a seaman on board the Frigate Warren of which I was a midshipman he entered on board of her in May 1778 & continued on board of her until Sept following when he was taken sick & me being in Boston he was sent to the hospital Oct 18 th 1832 Job Page
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Benja Cowell Clk
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 Job Page who has testified who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident in the for the d. applicant and that who also signed the same is a resident in the as he states and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, BENJAMIN COWELL, Clerk of said District Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Currie for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 22 nd day of December 1832
Benjamin Cowell Clk

No 18882
Samuel Currie Providence County Rhode Island
Seam on 16 March
$ 62.
Hon. J. Bangs Providence R I
B. Currie Providence Rhode Island

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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. These 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 Samuel Currie Providence County R. Island
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Ship'd 1778 May - 4 - Seaman Frigate Warren Capt Hopkins Sailed to The W. Indies & N. Found Land & then to Boston, in October 1778 being sick with Scurvy was sent to the Hospital & remained there nearly 12 months. 71 years Providence R. Island Traditionary & 1 living Witness certified credible no clergymen's certificate & no reason given  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

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 }
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) , who has hereby certify, that we are well acquainted-with 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 day 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 not 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.
The notes from [a] to [i] 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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Rev. 1870
12.640 INVALID.
File No. 12.640
Samuel Currie Frigate Warden. Seaman. William
Act: June 7th 1832.
Index :—Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Dec 7. 42.
J. L. Tillinghast
Hon. J. L. Tillinghast H. D. G.
Col. Jas. L. Edwards Commr. of Pensions Pension Office Washington D.C.
Ans. W. L. G.

Washington Dec. 5. 1842
J. L. Edwards Esq Commissioner Pensions,
Dear Sir,
I am requested to ascertain from the records of your Office whether Samuel Moore, formerly a seaman of the Ship Warren, built in Rhode Island & taken into the Continental Service in the war of the Revolution, is on the list of Pensioners, and if so, where he resides, or receives his pension. Will you have the goodness to examine or cause to be examined, the pension list for that purpose and advise me accordingly?
Samuel Currie was in the same ship with Moore, John Hopkins Commander, on a cruise from Boston. Currie's Certificate is recorded in Book E. Vol. 2. page 104.
Very truly & respectfully I am Sir Yr ob t Servt
Joseph L. Tillinghast
2188
10593

I have new copyright on this letter by order of [unclear] J. D. Wilson
Hon. James L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C. 13.
Sam Burns R. D. 124 for new [unclear]
Wm T. Bugg Providence R. D.

Hon James L Edwards Providence March 2 d 1846 Comm ee of Pensions My dear Sir
My good old friend
Capt Samuel Currie, when he applied to me to write to you to obtain an enlargement of his pension, placed in my hands his Pension Certificate yesterday he applied down for it. I have made the most diligent search for it; but it is no where to be found. It was wrapped up in a piece of old newspaper; & I suppose that I carelessly & own left it on the table where I wrote to the domestic (Irish) who kindled the fire the next morning must have taken it to be Waste paper & lighted the fire with it. I can account for it in no other way for it can be of no use to any one except Capt Currie & so it cannot have been stolen. In this state of things I must pay him his pension or you must issue to him another Certificate. I pray of you to cause this to be done. I would send my affidavit of the above facts but I reside out of town & no magistrate near & to send for one would delay the letter one mail but the 4 th is pension day & the old soldier must fast till you send the Certificate. I pray of you not to forget him or My dear Sir most truly yours Preston Burgess

Nov. 10. 1845
Rev. James Currie, Commr.
Rev. James L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington

Watchemoket Farm near Providence November 7 th 1845
James L. Edwards Esqr
My Dear Sir, I had untill lately thought that I should never again trouble you with a letter of importance; but by the request of my old & esteemed friend Capt Samuel Currie of R Island, I am induced once more to write to you. I denominate this good old man Capt Currie not because he held a Commission in the service of his country in the revolutionary war but because he has in earlier life commanded a packet sailing between Providence & New York. He was the owner of this Packet & of several other vessels but eventually them to other men they were lost & finally all his property was swept away by misfortunes so that now being 84 years old he is entirely destitute of all means of subsistence except a small pension of $5 a month. It is the object of this letter to convince you that Capt Currie was placed on the pension roll under a wrong statute & that his pension should have been $8 a month in stead of five. You must remember that the monthly pay of Seamen or Mariners as they are called in the journals of Congress was $8 as established by the Old Congress Dec r 12 AD 1775. You also know that pensions have been granted to volunteers Indian Spies & Militia men who served in the revolutionary army a certain number of months continuously or at different times & that

Those engaged in the Naval Service were placed on the same footing. It is expressly so in the Statute of June 7: 1832. Now Capt Currie was engaged in the Naval Service either State Continental or private during the whole war except when he was a prisoner to the enemy. Providence was a very hotbed of Privateers & did more to annoy the British than all other ports in the U States. The Independence was the first of these from this port commanded by Jacob Whipple Esqr. Capt Currie then a mere boy was on board this vessel. He next sailed in the Montgomery then in the Pickering then in the Fanny & then in the Hendrick in which ship he was captured carried to New York then transferred to Jamaica. Imprisoned here he escaped with eleven more & travelling across the Island found a ship bound to another Island & finally reached Providence again. He then enlisted into the U States Naval Service for two years on board the Warren Capt John B Hopkins commander. He sailed in this ship & was attached to her during two years altho his previous hardships & sufferings rendered him a part of the time unable to do ship duty. After his term had expired his health was restored he again entered the private service & altho twice captured he escaped & continued in that service till the close of the war. When the first pension law was enacted March 18 AD 1818 Capt Currie was possessed of property which rendered the aid of his country unnecessary for his support; nor was he compelled by need & poverty to apply for that aid until 1833. Then by some strange fatality Mr Secretary C

forgetting his two years service in the Warrenton which brought him within the Statute of March 18: 1878, scales down his total service which were in truth during the whole war to merely five eighths of two years; & placing him on the roll under the law of June 7 1882 at $5 a month when he should have been enrolled under that of March 18: 1878 at $8 a month. The old man two days ago in recounting to me his whole warfare his tales be utterly captivating hairbreadth escapes & all his endurances, said it was indeed too cruel to be cut down to $5 a month when the B would hardly keep soul & body together - his whole frame quivered with emotion till the tears rolled over those straggly pale features which had so often looked on the cannon's mouth - Indeed it was a sad sight & I could not avoid playing the weeper with him - He begged of me to write to you of whose justice & good feelings to the old starving veterans of the revolution I knew so much & he had heard so much; & till you that his service on board the Warrenton & his other service entitled him to a pension of $8 a month from the time he was placed on the roll giving him from this time that amount & restoring to him the omitted three dollars a month from the time of his enrollment until now - This said he will enable me to live the few years which God may continue my life & bury me when I am dead without it I must go to the poor house. I think a simple petition will enable you to save him a highly gratifying My Dear Sir with great respect your obedient servant Walter A. Brewster