Person:Joseph Champlin (9)

Joseph Champlin of Charlestown, Rhode Island, lived much of his life in South Kingstown, Rhode Island.

He served on several occasions during the Revolutionary War and was known by friends and neighbors as "Revolutionary Joseph." During one enlistment, he was shipwrecked off the coast of Virginia and nearly died. In another enlistment, he fought at Howland's Ferry Bridge during the Battle of Rhode Island. He served in both the Massachusetts Militia and the Massachusetts Continental Line as a Private.

Joseph Champlin was put on the roll of pensioners on 16 August 1833 at age 73, and received an annual pension of $50, commencing 4 March 1834. He applied at South Kingstown on 18 July 1833. The affidavit taken by the Justice of the Peace in the pension application (Revolutionary War Pension File S 21,693) reads:

Washington, State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantation, South Kingstown, July 18th,1833:

"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in the town of South Kingstown and State of Rhode Island, Joseph Champlin of South Kingstown aforesaid who is an applicant for a pension who being duly sworn before it and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he can not 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 in the following grades:

For & in the year 1774 one month I served as a private in Capt. Samuel Segar's company of militia.

In the year 1776 two months as a private in Capt. Samuel Potter's company of militia, omitted see the original declaration of the draftsman.

In the year 1777 five months I served as a private in Capt. Samuel Potter's company of Militia.

In the year 1778 one month I served as a private in Capt. Timothy Lock's Company of Militia in Col. Charles Dyer's regiment in Sullivan's expedition under the command of Gen. Sullivan on Rhode Island.

In the year 1780 six months as a private in Capt. Daniel Dexter's company in the Continental Army, the regiment commanded by Col. Green. Samuel Hurd Lieut. Col. and ---- Flagg Major of the regiment.

Making in the whole fifteen months and for such service I claim a pension.

Witness W. Updike his to J. Champlin's signature Joseph + Champlin

                                                                     mark

State of Rhode Island & Washington Co., So. Kingstown July 18th, 1833

"Personally appeared Joseph Champlin the abovesaid deponent & before deposing as aforesaid was by me carefully cautioned examined & sworn to testify to the truth the whole truth & nothing but the truth. Which said affidavit was by me reduced to writing in his presence and by him agreed in my presence. I also certify that the said Joseph Champlin is well known to me and retains a fair character for truth ... and that his affidavit is entitled to full & implicit order."

William Updike, Just. Peace

On 4 September 1833, Joseph Champlin, a resident of South Kingstown aged 73 years, testified in the Court of Common Pleas in Washington County, Rhode Island. He recounted his service record, and several others testified on his behalf. The court declared their opinion that the applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.

Joseph Champlin of South Kingstown wrote a will dated 14 February 1850, which was proved 12 August 1850 (South Kingston (RI) Town Council Records, 1704-1943, Volume 6, page 262, clerk's copy from FHL Microfilm 0,931,838). The will reads (transcribed by the author):

"Be it remembered that I Joseph Champlin of South Kingstown in the County of Washington &c Yeoman being advanced in years and infirm of body but of sane mind deo make and ordain this my last Will & Testament.

"Principally and first of all I recomend my Soul to God and my body to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors hereafter named and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner, viz:

"1st My Will is that all my just debts & funeral expenses to be paid out of my personal estate as soon after my decease as is possibly convenient.

"2nd To my daughter Francis Tucker (wife of Nathan Tucker Jr.) I give and bequeath the interest arising on the sum or share in my estate which I hereafter give to her daughter Amy Tucker to be paid by my executors hereafter named) to said Francis yearly and every year during the time of her natural life.

"3rd To my daughters Phebe Kenyon - Polly Willcox - Amy Oatley - Elizabeth Hazard and to the children of my daughter Nancy Kenyon decd (who are to have the same share in my estate that their mother would have were she living) and to my sons Joseph Champlin Jr, John H. Champlin, and George H. Champlin and my daughter Abby Kenyon and my Grand daughter Amy Tucker I give devise and bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate real and personal to my said children and grandchildren and to their heirs and assigns forever.

"And lastly I hereby nominate and appoint my sons Joseph Champlin Jun. and George H. Champlin the executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and annulling all former or other wills by me made. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at South Kingstown aforesaid this fourteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty 1850.

"Signed, sealed, published pronounced and declared by said Joseph Champlin as and his for his last will and testament in presence of us Joseph X Champlin (seal) who at his request and in his presence and signature in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses to the same.

   Benj. Hull
   Wager Weeden
   George G. Church"

On 12 August 1850, the will was presented to the Court of Probate of South Kingstown for probate and approval and all the subscribing witnesses were present and testified that they saw Joseph Champlin sign and seal the will and heard him declare it to be his last will and testament, and at the time he appeared to be of sane disposing mind and memory. The clerk approved and allowed the will, and it was recorded on 23 August 1850.

On 12 August 1850, The Probate Court also appointed Joseph Champlin and George H. Champlin to execute the last will and testament of their father, having accepted the trust and given bond as the Law directs. They were empowered to recover all debt and take possession of the estate and to administer the estate according to the Law and the will.

The Inventory of the Goods and Chattles, Rights and Credits which were of Joseph Champlin of South Kingstown deceased, shown and set forth to us by (his sons) Joseph Champlin and George H. Champlin - Executors of the last Will and Testament of said Joseph Champlin, taken and appraised by us by virtue of appointment by the Honourable the Court of Probate of the town of South Kingstown, dated 12 August 1850, by Hezekiah Babcock, George C. Babcock, and William S. Perry.

The inventory included:

• On e note signed by John E. Weeden as principal &

Wager Weeden as surety at Westerly 25 March 1848 for six hundred and one 74/100 dollars @ 5 pc of 601.74 Interest to 12 August 1850 71.62 ......................................... 673.36

• One note signed by Benedict Kenyon South Kingstown

Oct 2 1845 for one hundred fifty eight dollars 158 interest as above $46.08 ................................................................ 204.08

• One note signed by Joseph Champlin Jr. South Kingstown

March 25 1850 for seven hundred dollars with interest @ 5 percent 700 Interest as above 13.32 ............................... 713.32

• One note signed by Joseph Champlin the 3rd So. Kingstown

April 2 1849 for fifty four 14/100 dollars with interest @ 5 pr ct .. 47.13

• One note signed by Joseph Champlin 3rd So. Kingstown

March 25 1850 for one hundred and seventy dollars with interest at 6 per cent after March 25 1850 after March 25 1851 = 170 discount 6.32 ........................................................... 163.68

• One note signed by Joseph Champlin 3rd So. Kingstown

March 25 1850 for one hundred dollars with interest at 5 percent 6 after March 25 1851 100 Discount 3.08 ............................ 96.92

• Cash on hand in the hands of Joseph Champlin one

hundred and twenty 36/100 dollars ....................................... 120.36

• Cash on hand in the hands of George H. Champlin to

four hundred and one 25/100 dollars ..................................... 401.25

                                                                 Total Amount      2420.10

• Also a mortgage deed from Samuel Champlin to Joseph

Champlin dated So Kingstown April 6 1850 for four hundred and twenty five dollars purporting to be surety for a certain note which was not presented.

• Fees for taking inventory George C. Babcock 3.00

and attending court Wm S. Perry 3.00

                                             Hezekiah Babcock    2.00

The foregoing inventory was presented to the Court on 9 September 1850 and was approved on 11 September 1850.

On 11 August 1851, Samuel Champlin appealed the will of Joseph Champlin to the Supreme Court of Rhode Island meeting at South Kingstown. The entire will and the Court orders made on 12 August 1850 were entered into the record (page 304ff). After reviewing the court records, the original will, and hearing the testimony of witnesses, the Supreme Court upheld the last will and testament of Joseph Champlin and the actions of the Probate court. This was certified on 25 September 1851 (recorded 1 November 1851).

An account of the estate of Joseph Champlin was filed by the executors on 9 October 1854 (page 403). In addition to the notes itemized above, additional funds were received from pension money, court costs for the lawsuit, rent of the home farm for three years, from Mary Willcox, from sale of home farm, interest on notes, cash and sale of land. The total funds in the account before expenses was %5214.78. Money was paid to Joseph Champlin and George H. Champlin for compensation, services, travel and expenses, and council and clerk's fees. The total remaining in the account was $4755.73.

No distribution of the estate is recorded in the Probate Court records. Presumably, the four named daughters received one third of the estate (the share their mother would have received - about 1/12 of the estate each), and the three named sons, daughter Abby Kenyon and granddaughter Amy Tucker received equal shares of the balance (that is, one fifth of the two thirds balance, or 2/15 of the estate each).

The Samuel Champlin who brought the lawsuit before the Supreme Court is probably the eldest son of Joseph and Nancy (Kenyon) Champlin. It is unknown why he was not provided for in the will - perhaps he had already received his portion of the estate or perhaps he was disowned by his father. Note also that the youngest daughter, Alice (Champlin) Tucker was not named in the will for some reason.

1. ↑ (i)South Kingstown (Rhode Island) Probate and Town Council Records(/i)
   Volume 6 (1704-1943), page 262, clerk's copy from FHL Microfilm 0,931,838.

   Joseph Champlin of South Kingstown wrote a will dated 14 February 1850, which was proved 12 August 1850