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.