Morrison's Pensions


Pension Application for Nathaniel Perkins

(Donated by Rose Crosier)
W.2163
State of New York
Allegany County SS:
            On this 19th day of September 1832, personally appeared, Nathaniel Perkins a clergyman residing in the Town of Independence in the County of Allegany and State of New York at the dwelling house of Sheldon Brewster in the adjoining town of Andover in the county and state aforesaid before Asa S. Allen a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegany County aforesaid aged 70 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.
            That he entered the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution for the first time on or about the 8th day of August 1778 at the Town of South Kingston in the State of Rhode Island     at which place he then resided as a substitute for his father, Nathaniel Perkins (who also resided at that place in the Militia of the State of Rhode Island under the following named officers and served as herein stated to wit, Captain Paris Gardner, Lieutenant Parson Lift, and Colonel Thomas Potter, Marched immediately to ??? Hill, from thence to Bristol and from there to Livertown and from thence over to the Island of NewPort where this applicant was made first duty sergeant in the company and ??? on to Quaker Hill and from thence back to Livertown.  That the services which this applicant rendered at the several places before mentioned were the common duties of a camp of militia such in standing sentinel in practicing the manual exercises and in disciplining for an engagement which was expected to take place. 
            This service being in what is called Sullivan’s Expedition.  That he was dismissed at Livertown on or about the first day of September 1778 being after Sullivan’s retreat from the Island of NewPort, making a term of services according to the best recollection of this applicant as a substitute aforesaid of 20 days.
            That he entered the service of the United States in the War of The Revolution of the United States a second time at the town of South Kingston in the State of Rhode Island where he then resided as a volunteer for nine months in the Militia of The State of Rhode Island as first Sergeant under Captain Paris Gardner, Lieutenant Elisha Potter and Colonel Thomas Potter, on or about the first day of March 1779.  Marched immediately to ??? Dikes Newton and remained there several weeks exercising and disciplining and in the usual camp duties, marched from thence to the Island of NewPort near Lorning Hill where we pitched our tents and continued for several weeks in exercising and disciplining and in remaining the trenches and fort and marched from thence to Brinton’s Point and continued here several weeks in drilling and disciplining and common camp duties and marched from thence to the shore at Franklin’s ferry and remained there on camp duty in guarding the shore and in exercising and drilling until the expiration of the nine months for which he volunteered and was dismissed on or about the 1st day of December 1779.  Making a term of service under his second engagement in the War of the Revolution as first Sergeant of 9 months according to his last recollection.
            That he entered the service of the United States a third time in the War of the Revolution at South Kingston where he there resided as a volunteer as first sergeant for the term of three months in the Militia of the State of Rhode Island on or about the 6th day of December 1779 under the following named officers, Captain Paris Gardner, Lieutenant Parsons Lift and Colonel Thomas Potter and marched immediately to Point Judith and continued here for several days in guarding the shores, protecting the property of the inhabitants from the British and Tories and then marched to Franklin’s Ferry and remained there on duty in guarding the shores and the common duties of the camp until the expiration of the three months for which he volunteered and was then dismissed on or about the 6th day of march 1780.  Making a service under this third engagement in the War of the Revolution as First Sergeant as aforesaid of three months according to the best recollection of this applicant.
            That from the locality of South Kingston in the State of Rhode Island to the sea boards and continued disposition of the British to having about these shores during the remainder of the Revolutionary War this applicant was almost continually under arms from the last above mentioned times until the close of the Revolutionary War and the principal part of the time under Captain Paris Gardner and Colonel Thomas Potter and at all times as a volunteer and that the nature of the services were in guarding the shores and in protecting the property of the inhabitants from the plunder of the British and Tories, but from the lapse of time and the frequency of alarms and hurry and bustle usual on such occasions this applicant cannot now recollect particulars and times so as to properly distinguish them but well recollects that at the close of the Revolutionary War he counted when the time (whole line here, not able to read) the War of the Revolution a faithful he was a faithful militia soldier in the whole for three years and from six to ten months.
            That Barton’s Light Corps was in service some part of the time when this applicant was in service on the Island of NewPort, that this applicant knew Generals Sullivan Green, Lafayette and Colonel Barton at the time of his being on the Island of NewPort.  That he has no documentary evidence to prove the services aforesaid, and that he knows of no person living excepting Thomas W. Larkin a resident of the Town of Andover in the said county of Allegany who can testify to his services aforesaid.  That the said Thomas W. Larkin can testify to all or nearly all of them as he was a soldier with this applicant in all or a greater part of the services aforesaid.
            That William Briggs and Nathaniel Conel Esquire reside in his present neighborhood and can testify to his character and for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
            That he was born in the Town of Poughkeepsie in the State of New York on the 6th day of July 176?  That he has a record of his age in a book called William Bunket on the New Testament.  Was always a resident of South Kingston in the State of Rhode Island when he entered the service of the United States foresaid.  That he has lived since the Revolutionary War in Easton, Argyle, BroadAlbin in New York and now lives in the Town of Independence in the County of Allegany and State of New York where received my written discharge and that 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.  And that he was 15 years of age when he first entered the service of the Untied States.
            Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
(signed) Nathaniel Perkins

State of New York
Allegany County SS:
            We Jabez Spicer a clergyman of the Town of Sudaver and William Briggs and Nathaniel Covel Esquire of the Town of Independence and John L. Sheanmon of Andover hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathaniel Perkins a clergyman of the Town of Independence who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 70 years of age as stated in the above declaration that he is a man of veracity and that he is respected in the neighborhood and town where he now resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
(signed) Jabez Spicer, William Briggs, Nathaniel Covel, John L. Sheanmon.
            Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

State of New York
Allegany County SS.
            On this twenty second day of February in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty personally appeared before the County Court of the said County of Allegany in open court, Martha Perkins a resident of the town of Independence in the said county aged eight-two years and upwards who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed the 29th of July 1848, that, she is the widow of Nathaniel Perkins who was a Soldier of the Revolution and a Sergeant in the Revolutionary Army.
            She further declares that she was married to the said Nathaniel Perkins at the Town of Richmond in the State of Rhode Island on the thirteenth day of March in the year seventeen hundred and eighty-five by Elder Charles Boss, a clergyman of the Baptist order, that her husband the aforesaid Nathaniel Perkins died on the fifteenth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty since and that she still remains his widow, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place prior to the second day of January eighteen hundred, viz. at the time above stated. 
            She further swears that she is now a widow and that she has never before many any application for a pension, and she also declares that she is unable to specify the particular service performed by her said husband and for such service she refers the department to the records of the evidence addressed by her said husband on his application for a pension which was granted him in the year1832 at the rate of one hundred and twenty dollars per annum.
             And she further swears that there is no record or documentary evidence to her knowledge of her marriage with the said Nathaniel Perkins except a certificate made and signed by the aforesaid and Elder Charles Boss at the time of the said marriage which was then delivered by him to this declarant and the said Nathaniel Perkins and which she has ever since preserved and kept which certificate bearing date the 13th day of March 1785, is annexed to this declaration, and she further swears that there is not living witness or witnesses by whom she can prove the said marriage. 
            She also states that the said Nathaniel Perkins kept a family records in which is entered the time of the births and deaths of the children of the said marriage which family record can be provided if required by the department and which is not ever forwarded by reason of the injury it would cause to a book in which it is written to attach the same from said book.  The said book has been kept in the family of the ancestors of her said husband for several generations as she is informed and believes and is regarded as a precious relic and that she is unable to write her name.
(her mark) Martha Perkins.
Sworn and subscribed the 22d day of February 1850 before me in open court.
W. G. Augel, County Judge
            I certify that by reason of age and infirmity the above named Martha Perkins is unable to write her name and that the foregoing declaration was carefully read over to her and she understood the same at the time she swore to it.  W. G. Augel
State of New York
Allegany County SS
            Russell Moore of the Town of Independence in the said county being duly sworn says that he is forth six years of age and that he has been personally acquainted with Nathaniel Perkins and his wife Martha (who is not his widow) for the last thirty six years, that he married a daughter of the said Perkins and wife, that from the time of his first acquaintance with them they lived together and habited as husband and wife until the death of the said Nathaniel Perkins which took place on the 15th day of July 1849, and that during all the time he was acquainted with them they were regarded and trusted as husband and wife by all their neighbors and acquaintances.
(signed) Russel Wood
Sword & Subscribed this 22d day of February 1850.
W. G. Augel, County Judge

State of New York
Allegany County SS
            Martha Wood of the Town of Independence in said county being duly sworn says that she is the wife of the above named Russell Wood and is forty five years of age, that she is the daughter of Nathaniel Perkins and Martha his wife (the said Martha now being the widow of said Nathaniel).  That she was brought up by the said Nathaniel and Martha and lived with them in their family until she was married and that the said Nathaniel and Martha lived and cohabitated together as man and wife and were so reputed from her earliest recollections.
(signed) Martha Wood
Sworn and Subscribed this 22d day of February 1850. 
Before me W.G.Augel County Judge.

State of New York
County of Allegany
            On this tenth day of January A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty six personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the county and state aforesaid, Martha Perkins, aged eight- eight years a resident of the town of Independence, County of Allegany and State of New York.  Who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of Nathaniel Perkins deceased who was a Sergeant of Patrol in the War of the Revolution but in what company or regiment she does not recollect and has no means of knowing except from the papers now on file in the Pension Department and that her said husband went into said war from the (part here is very faint and hard to read, not sure about it) lower of South Kingston, State of Rhode Island on or about the years one thousand seven hundred and eighty and served to the close of the War.  At this time he was honorably discharged but at what place she does not know and whether he enlisted volunteered or was drafted she des not know.
            She further states that she was married to the said Nathaniel Perkins on the thirteenth day of March one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five by Elder Chares Boss and that her name before her said marriage was Martha Johnson that her said husband died at the town of Independence in the County of Allegany and State of New York on the fifteenth day of July A.D. one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine and that she is now a widow.
            She further said that here is no public record of her said marriage to her recollection but that there is a private record in her said husbands Bible but that her said Bible was willed by her said husband to one Benjamin Perkins who now resides in the State of Pennsylvania and that the said record is not under her control and she further states that she had a marriage certificate which is now at Washington in the Pension Department.  She further says that she is now a pensioner as a widow of her said Nathaniel Perkins deceased and that said marriage certificate was sent to Washington as aforesaid to assist her in procuring said pension as such widow.  And that her said husband Nathaniel Perkins served in the Revolutionary was a period of more than fourteen? Days.
            She makes this declaration for the purpose of claiming the bounty land to which she was entitled under this act approved ??? 1855.
            (her mark) Martha Perkins
            We, Russel Wood and Martha Wood residents of the Town of Independence County of Allegany and State of New York upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Martha Perkins in our presence and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicants that she is this identical person she represents herself to be.
(signed) Russel Wood, Martha Wood

Nathaniel Perkins born Wednesday July 6th 1763 in Poughkepsie NY.  Martha Perkins born Sunday August 19, 1767 Richmantown Rhode Island and was married March 13 1785 on Sunday in Richmantown.
(signed) Martha Wood

Letter with the Pension Application.
December 19, 1930
Mrs. Arthur Rhodes
Albion, New York.
Dear Madam;
            You are advised that this bureau is unable to furnish the history of a soldier of the Revolution, unless a claim for pension or bounty land has been made to the Untied States, on account of his services.
            A search of the records fails to show such a claim on file on account of the services of Nathaniel Perkins who was born January 1, 1739.
            You are furnished herewith the record of one Nathaniel Perkins of Rhode Island.
            From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 2163, it appears that Nathaniel Perkins, the son of Nathaniel, was born July 6, 1762 or 1763 in Poughkeepsie, New York.
            While residing in South Kingston, Rhode Island (his father also lived there at that time(, he enlisted, August 8, 1778 and served as a substitute for his father, as a private and sergeant in Captain Paris Gardiner’s Company, Colonel Thomas Potter’s Rhode Island Regiment, was in Sullivan’s expedition to Newport and served twenty days.
            He enlisted March 1, 1778 and served nine months as first sergeant in Captain Paris Gardner’s Company, Colonel Thomas Potter’s Regiment; and enlisted December 6, 1779, and served three months as first sergeant in same company and regiment.
            He stated that he continued to serve at various times to close of the war, usually under Captain Paris Gardner and Colonel Thomas Potter.
            He was allowed pension on his application executed September 19, 1832, at which time he was living in Independence, Allegany County, New York.  At this time he was referred to as a clergyman.
            After the Revolution, he lived in Easton, Argyle and Broadalbin, New York.
            He died July 15, 1849 in Independence, New York.
            The soldier married March 13, 1785 in Richmond, Rhode Island, Martha Johnson.  She was born August 26, 1767 in Richmond, Rhode Island, and was the daughter of Ezekiel Johnson.
            She was allowed pension on her application executed February 22, 1850, at which time she was living in Independence, New York.
            In 1850, their daughter, Martha, then the wife of Russell Wood of Independence, new York was aged forty-five years, Russell Wood at that time was aged forty-six years.
            In 1855, Martha Wood stated that her brother, Benjamin, was living in Pennsylvania.
            Other children are referred to, no names designated.
Very truly yours,
E. W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner.

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