Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21815, Stephen Hefferman, R.I.

SERVICE
R. S.
NUMBER.
Hefferman, Stephen
S. 21815
CONTENTS

Rhode Island 608
Stephen Hufferman of Kingston in the State of R.I. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Piller of the Regt commanded by _____ in the R.I. Militia line for 20 months
This Certificate issued in lieu of one dated March 1 st 1833 cancelled
Inscribed on the Roll of R.I. Pension at the rate of 66 Dollars 67 1/2 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of June 1834 and sent to the Barnes House of Neps
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $166.66 Semi-annual allowance ending March 24, 33 33 33 $200.00
{ Revolutionary Claims Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by _____ Clerk Book _____ Vol. 3 rd Page 116

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations  County of Washington ss -
On this 11 th Day of October 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Supreme Judicial Court of said State, now in Session in South Kingstown, within and for the County of Washington, now sitting, Stephen Giffeman, now resident, in North Kingstown, in said County, aged Seventy Four 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 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated. He was born in South Kingstown, in 1758, but has no record of his age, at the commencement of the war of the Revolution, he resided in South Kingstown, but for the last thirty years, he had resided in North Kingstown. Previous to the British taking possession of the Island of Rhode Island, there were many British bodied on the Coast, and in Narragansett Bay, and the friends of said British, were in the habit of landing on the shore, and making depredations, he then lived in the vicinity in the vicinity of the sea shore, and was a private in the Company of Artillery, of which Samuel Potter was Captain, Samuel Sagar was Captain Colonel of the Regiment, to which the Company belonged, he does not now recollect any other Officers, he was often called out in alarm, which were very frequent,

and his impression is, that he was called out, with part of the company, to which he belonged for the purpose of guarding the shore, and to stand guard three months . The British took possession of the Port of Newport and Island of Rhode Island the latter part of the summer or first part of the Fall of 1776, and a continual guard was kept up along the shore of the Bay, until their departure, in the Fall of 1778, which guard was composed of the Continentals, and he was often detached to stand guard, which he did as often as his turn came, and also performed duty for one Daniel Shearman, in whose family, he resided, whenever his turn came, his tours of duty were always one month, he does not now recollect how many tours of duty, he thus performed, nor the various places, at which he was stationed, but he remembers being stationed at South Kingston at Tower Hill in South Kingston, for the term of two months, when he and his comrades, quartered at the House of John Watson, Mary Sands was then Colonel of the Regiment, he also recollects being stationed one month afterwards, at the same place, when the quarters were at the House of Joseph Hull, he also recollects being stationed at the House of Abiah Shearman, in said South Kingston one month, whilst there a party of Men, were detached from the Company, to collect a fine of one Trunker, for non-appearance, to do military duty, and he refusing to pay the fine, they attempted to distrain his stock, & he resisted and was shot dead. He also recollects of being stationed at the South Ferry, in South Kingston, three months, when the quarters were at the Smith House situated, and also of being stationed there another month afterwards, when he and his comrades quartered at the House of Anna Gardner, after the British Frigate Lyre, ran on an shoal at Point Judith and was taken by the Americans, he and some others, were detached to stand guard, and protect the property taken from her, about one

month and a quarter at the House of Henry Greene, it was in the Fall of 1727. He does not remember any other place where he was stationed, but remembers of being marched with the Company, to which he belonged to Wallkill, in North Sharytown from thence they went across the Bay to Bristol, and thence were transported over to Rhode Island, the British then had possession of the fort of Newport, but the Americans had possession of the north end of Rhode Island, and occupied the Fort at Bristol Hill. Charles Dyer was Colonel of the Regiment of Militia, to which he belonged, he does not recollect exactly when this took place, nor how long he was detained, but should think that the time occupied in getting on the Island, and staying there and returning home would make nearly a month. After the Enemy evacuated Newport, the Company of Militia, to which he belonged was called out, and transported to Rhode Island. Thomas Potter was then Colonel of the Regiment. The Regiment was stationed on Brenton's Neck, where Fort Adams is now situated, he was detained one month, at the end of that month he was placed into a Company of Militia, belonging to North Kingstown, of which William Jones was Captain and served another month. Although he is now unable to state with precision, all the times and places, at which he served, and the various Officers, under which he did duty, yet he is confident and positive, that actually served twenty months in the whole, during the war as a Pirate. Henry Smith, James  Williams  Williams , William Younger and Joseph  Williams , are now living, and were with him, at the same of the times above specified, and are testimony to his coming as a Pirate. He never had any written discharge, nor yet he any documentary evidence of his service. There is no clergyman in his vicinity, who can now attest how it was convenient, to refer the Court, to Debs, Wheeler and William Greene - who are acquainted with him, and

both to the goodness of his character for truth, and to the report and belief in his neighborhood, of his having been a Revolutionary soldier. He hereby acknowledges 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.
In witness whereof the said party has hereunto set his hand the day and year aforesaid — in Open Court H. Matthew Weir Esq.
Stephen Jefferson
We Beleg Weeder residing in the Town of North Platte, and William Greene residing the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Stephen Jefferson, who has submitted an answer to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy four years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that we concur in that opinion —
In witness whereof the said parties have hereunto set their hands the day and year aforesaid in Open Court H. Matthew Weir Esq.
Beleg Weeder Wm Greene
As the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the

gum -
Sum to g submit the day and year whereof in open Court Matthew Weeks Clk
Rebecka Needham Wm Greene
In the said Court, do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter , after putting the interrogatories to the said Department, that the above named Applicant was a plantation soldier and he served as he states. In the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Rebecka Needham, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident of North Kingston, and that William Greene who has also signed the same, is a resident in
North Kingston — and one credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Matthew Weeks Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, for the County of Washington do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the Application of Stephen H. Sherman for a Pension — In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court, this 18 day of Octo 1882.
Matthew Weeks Clk
40 NT

Resolutions
21 8 15 INVALID.
File No. 21,815-
Stephen Hofferman
Prs Rev War
Act: June 7 th 822.
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 178
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Application of Stephen H. Herrman
18990
all communications respecting the within Application, are requested to be made to Sylvester G. Sherman Wickford State of Rhode Island
S. G. Sherman
Mr Pearce

16,990 Stephen Kefferman
credibility
Kingston
Private
12 Months
840
Adm
Private 24 months
Dec. 11th
Adm?
to be issued so soon as the Certifi shall have been transmitted to this office
Hn. D. J. Pearce H.R.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Stephen Hofferman which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? [Handwritten line] IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? No  some V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? 14 or 15 precisely 20 in all No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? No  Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
Yes
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. †If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
NO - have
no
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
Yes
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
NO -
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
Yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days. I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate. except one

I William Torrey of South Kingston, in the County of Washington, on oath do testify and say, that I am now eighty one years of age, during the war of the Rebellion. I was acquainted with Stephen Hopper, then a resident of South Kingston, now residing in North Kingston. He belonged to the same Militia Company with him, and served with him as a private at various times five months a month each time, & stationed at various places on the shore of South Kingston. Samuel Leger was Captain first and afterwards Samuel Potter. I have no doubt from reports which I heard during the war, that he was there, but have no distinct recollection. —
Subscribed and sworn to in Open Court this 11th day of October 1882 Walter S. Matthews Clerk U.S.
William + Torrey Mends
William Torrey and Ebenezer Smith are persons of good character for veracity and the signature of M write the Clerk of the Court to these two depositions is his own handwriting Victor J. Pease
Washington Feb 20 1883

Wickford January 7 th 1894 J L Edwards Esq
Sir
Herewith I send to you the Pension Certificate of Stephen Chapman as required in your letter of the 2 nd of December 1893. Please forward the new certificate to me when it is signed.
Yours truly J. G. Chapman

6389 Rhode Island
See letter to S. G. Shear- man Oct 27. 1833
Stephen Hefferman of Kingston in the State of R.I. who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Potter of the _____ commanded by _____ in the R.I. Island line for 12 Months
Allow 20 months $66.67
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 40 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of March 1833 and sent to Hon J. D. Pearce Sec. Re.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832  $60.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 March  20.00
Yas. D. Pearce $80.00 Noye R
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Daniel Day Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 3 Page 116

Payments to be made at Providence R.I. by the Pres t of W. B. Banks Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of Rhode Island
Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk, in Book I st Vol. 3 page 116

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 7th June, 1832, Stephen Hafferman of the State of Rhode Island who was a private in the Army of the Revolution
is entitled to receive Forty dollars and _____ cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually, on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this _____ First day of March one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three
Lee Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned. }
J L Edwards

I Joseph Champlin of South Kingstown, in the County of Washington, on a certain day and twenty three years of age, during the Revolutionary War, I knew Stephen Hetherman, now an Apprentice for a Benzin, who then was in South Kingstown, but who now lives in North Kingstown, and I was present in the same Company of Militia in South Kingstown, in 1776 after the Enemy took possession of Newport, the company was called out and stationed at the House of Silas Ganchrow, South Kingstown to stand guard and remain there two months. That is part of the company which was drafted, and said Hetherman I saw the two months. Samuel Dyer was Captain then. I was afterwards with him a month or two at the House of Joseph Hull in South Kingstown, and another month at the House of Silas Ganchrow. I also know that it was at the House of Silas Ganchrow, with some other men, as Parker was killed, I was with him at the House of Henry Greene in Point Judith, where we and our comrades stood guard over the property taken from the British Troops when they ran on shore at Point Judith, I was afterwards with the Americans, I was with him a month or two at the House of Godfrey Hazen in Point Judith. I am unable to state with precision any more of his services, as I passed into the Continental line and were some time. But I understood at that time, that he did duty for himself and one Daniel Hetherman, and from the reports and belief in the mind after the war, I have no doubt he was paid more, than I have stated.
Witness John D. Browne
Joseph Champlin Mark

I Benjamin Carpenter of South Kingston  on the docket says on that in the County of Washington, am Scots  Scotch eighty years of age, during the Revolutionary War, I knew Stephen Halsey an Officer of a Company, who then resided in South Kingston, but who now lives in North Kingston. During the war, he belonged to a company of Militia, as a private, of which Samuel Potter was Captain, and I served with him, some in open Company, I should think three or four months, sometimes going as a Militia Man, he was part of the time for himself and part of the time for Daniel Shearman. Whilst stationed at the House occupied by the mother of Abial Shearman, a Mr. Tucker was killed by some Men, who were sent to apprehend him, or to distrain stock for a fine, the Men were detained from our Company. After the Enemy evacuated Newport, the company was called out and marched over to Rhode Island, and stationed on the Island, and with the rest of the Regiment, and I saw him Halsey there, but do not know how long he then served. I have no further positive recollection of his service, but as he lived near the shore throughout the war, I suppose he served much more - Benjamin Carpenter
Washington Is. In South Kingston - October 26th 1892 -
Deponent appeared before me, the above subscribed Benjamin Carpenter, and Joseph Champlin, Subscribed to the annexed Deposition, and after being examined sworn and gave the Deposition, which they have subscribed, which were read to me in their presence, and to them unknown in my presence - and I further certify that the said Benjamin Carpenter and Joseph Champlin are well known to me, and that their character for truth & veracity are good, and their statements entitled to credit.
John D. Brown Just. Peace

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
W. Kingston 16 Under office Supreme
to Judicial Court October 27 1832
I hereby certify that John
D Brown Esq is one of the Justices of the Peace for the County Town of South Kingstown in the County aforesaid that the within and foregoing signature of his Name is his own hand writing and that he is truly & legally qualified to act in said capacity in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court
Witness Matthew Write Clerk
I certify that John D Brown was at the time of taking these Oaths a Justice of the Peace
John J. Pease
Please allow whatever time is stated with sufficient precision reserving the rest for further proof
John J. Pease

I Deborah  Ebenezer , Smith of South Kingston, in the County of Washington, on oath do testify, and say, that I am now Seventy Five years of age, during the War of the American Revolution, I was acquainted with Stephen Hopperman, then a resident in South Kingston, but now a resident in North Kingston, I know that he served three months, in 1775, as a private soldier, in a Company of Militia, in South Kingston, which was stationed on the Coast, to guard against landing of the British as many of their vessels, were then on the Coast, and the Enemy landed twice on the Coast, whilst we were stationed there, I belonged to the same Company and served with him, Stephen Hopperman was Captain of the Company, & Asa Hopperman had the three months duty here in July August & September. Afterwards Afterwards I served with him as a private know that he served another Month, in a Company of Militia, which was stationed at the House of Joseph Hall, - at Fort Hill in South Kingston, this was in October 1775, In 1778 I know that he served a Month at Fort Hill on Rhode Island, under Colonel Charles Dyer, I then belonged to Colonel Greene Continental Regiment, & was near Hopperman there. I lived in the same neighborhood with him during the war and some time afterwards, and always understood that he served most during the war -
taken before me and sworn to in Open Court this 11 day of October 1832 W. Matthew Weymouth
Deborah X Smith mark

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Heffernan, Thomas GRADE Private LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 9647 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED June 29, 1791 To not shown
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.