Morrison's Pensions
Pension Application for Philip Cannon
W.18863
State of Massachusetts
Bristol
On this
thirtieth day of August A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open court before
the Judge of the Court of Probate, now sitting at Diahton (by Adjt) in the
County of Bristol & state of Massachusetts, Philip Cannon of New Bedford
in said county aged seventy-four years on the 11th day of September 1832, who
being duly sworn according to law, doth on oath make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That
he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served
as herein after stated, viz.
That in
the fall of 1776, when the British first came to Newport, Rhode Island, he
then being of Dartmouth, now New Bedford, was drafted with several others,
Levi Jenny was one, to go for a guard at & near Howland’s Ferry in
Tiverton, in R. Island State; that we were marched to & mustered at Esqr.
Durfees in Freetown, the town adjoining north of said Tiverton & there
was put into a company composed all or chiefly of men from said Freetown that
the name of the captain was Benjamin Hathaway & was from Freetown that
he was at [?] places up & down the rivers & bay with two or three others
as guards that he was private and that Col. Hathaway commanded the troops there
about.
That he
was drafted for four months & served that term of time that said Jenny
is dead & that he knows no one living who was in that service. That
he was dismissed in February following, but received no written discharge that
he recollects.
That in
the fall of 1777, he thinks in October or November, he served on month in R.
Island near Fogland’s Ferry in Tiverton in a company commanded by Capt.
Brett of said Dartmouth; that men were called for at the time to assist in
an expedition proposed against the British then on R. Island to be commanded
by Gen’l Spencer & nearly a whole company went from Dartmouth, as
volunteers; at least that they consented to go on said expedition under said
Capt. Brett, who was a popular man. He remembers, that they were three
times called upon, while at their station near Fogland’s ferry to prepare
to go to the Island at R. Island in boats. That so often they went down
to the shore to embark, but were again ordered back.
That in
1778, he served two months under Capt. Kempton on Clark’s Point in said
Dartmouth about two miles south of the Village of Bedford. That he enlisted
in 1778 for eight months & served for & during that period in an artillery
company commanded by Capt. Peter Cushing, being a regular state corps, & being
stationed most of said time in & near the Village of Bedford. Then
Gordon was a lieutenant & one Metcalf was a lieutenant in said company. Said
company was stationed for the defence of Bedford.
That during
said eight months service, the said company was ordered to R. Island for the
defence of that island, it being the time Gen’l Sullivan commanded there
in August 1778, (as he thinks) & was there about two weeks. Was in
the battle there & afterward was stationed a little while on the neck leading
to the ferry & remembers Gen’l Lafayette coming for one of the field
pieces belonging to Capt. Cushing’s Company.
That the
day after the retreat from the Island, Cushing’s Company returned to
Dartmouth & Bedford & the day following the British landed there & marched
up to the head of the river & burnt great part of Bedford Village. That
said artillery company retreated but in the retreat, the enemy were near & often
fired on them & killed Lieut. Metcalf, who was shot in the head, who was
a brave officer.
That he
also went to Naushon Island, one of the Elizabeth Islands below Bedford, with
the greater part of two companies one time & at two other times with a
less number to drive off the British who were there plundering the people of
sheep, cattle, etc.
That on
one of the said times he & those with him had a skirmish with the British,
when two of the enemy were killed. Capt George Claghorn commanded in
the principal of these last said expeditions; which according to my recollections
took up about a week each time & the whole time preparing therefore was
at least one month in the whole.
That also
during three or four months, after that he, as well as others in the village & company
of militia, alternately kept watch or guard at Clark’s Point; that he
went every seven or eight night in and for said service, but attended most
of said time in the days to his usual business. The time of this last
service being about four weeks, as near as he can recollect. That he
also went three different times, besides what is before stated to Elizabeth
Islands, twice & under said Kempton in order to take one, John Slocum who
resided chiefly on one of the said Islands & who furnished the British
with sheep, cattle & provisions & who was ordered by the government
to be taken up & that the last time we did take said Slocum &delivered
him up to a committee.
That I was
born in Dartmouth now New Bedford & resided there when called into service
as performed. That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension
except the present & declares that his name is not borne on any of the
pensions rolls of the agency of any state.
(signed) Phillip Cannon
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year heretofore written.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
Commonwealth
of Massachusetts
On the twenty-first
day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight personally appeared
before Oliver Prescott, Judge of the Court of Probate in and for the County
of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Phebe Cannon a resident of New
Bedford in the said County of Bristol aged eighty years, who being first 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
July 7, 1838 entitled “An Act Granting Half Pay and Pensions To Certain
Widows.”
That she
is the widow of Philip Cannon late of said New Bedford deceased who was a private
soldier in the War of the Revolution, and served in the militia.
She further
states that her husband the said Philip Cannon was a pensioner of the United
States under the Act of Congress of June 7, 1832 and she refers to his declaration
there and to the rolls for proof of his said services.
She further
declares that she was married to the said Philip Cannon on the twenty second
day of July seventeen hundred and eighty. That her husband the aforesaid
Philip Cannon died on the twenty-four day of August in the year eighteen hundred
and thirty-five. That she was not married to him prior to his leaving
the service, but that the marriage took place previous to the first of January,
seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz, at the time afore stated.
(Signed with her mark) Phebe Cannon
Witness Nathl Cannon
Sworn to & subscribed
on the day and year above written before me, Oliver Prescott.
She was
granted as the widow of Philip, pension at the rate of 63.33 per annum to commence
on the 4th day of March 1843. Certificate of Pension issued the 12th
day of Sept. 1843 and sent to S. Bassett, Taunton, Mass. [Act of March
3, 1843] Recorded in Book A; Vol. 1; Page 39.