Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8,380, for Richard Potter, Rhode Island
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Service
RI
Potter, Richard (colored)
or Dick
Number R8380
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17,337 Richard Potter Washington Co. R.I. 8th Novem. 1819.

Col. Christopher Greene's regiment, Rhode Island line, 3 years
Amos Crofs, agent, Westerly, R.I. 1st Sept. 1820.
The testimony, on oath, of two or more disinterested and credible persons, certified as such, by the judge, proving explicitly from their own knowledge, the service of the applicant, 9mos in continuance on [illegible] Establ. designating the Col.'s name and line, is required.
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Washington County State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
On this eight day of November1819, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Washington personally appears Richard Potter a man of [illegible] aged fifty nine years, resident in Charles town in the said district, who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war:" That he the said Richard Potter enlisted in Charles town _ _ _ in the State of Rhode Island in the company commanded by Captain [Flagg] Col Christopher Greene Regiment of the Rhode Island [illegible]: that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States, for three years [illegible] for enlisted for  , when he was discharged service at East Greenwich in State aforesaid , that he was in the battles of [Red Bank & Mudd Fort illegible] and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of assistance of his country for support: and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services. except the corroborating [illegible phrases after that]. Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year aforesaid. Amos Croff G.J.6.6, Phar
I, Amos Croff, Judge , cc, as aforesaid, do certify, That it appears, to my satisfaction, that the said Richard Potter did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned Act of Congress. Given at nine thirty This 8th day of Nov 1819 Amos Croff GJ66. I further testify that if approved 2 my satisfaction that the above [illegible] Richard Potter is in indigent circumstances and [illegible] of his Country for his support. Amos Croff GJ66
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State of Rhode Island 
Washington County 
At westerly on the
22" day of February [illegible]22 In his proper person name Richard Elias Dick Potter before the Subscribed who made the
foregoing Declaration who on his oath saith
that in addition to what he has
declared in his previous Declaration to which this amendment is attached that he enlisted at Charlestown in said County Washington in
the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War according to his best recollection in the month of May 1776 for three years that after Captain Flagg was promoted and according to his
best recollection he served under Captain Lewis & Clark that the Regiment to which he belonged where from the southward & were on Rhode Island during Sullivans Expedition that this Declarant continued to serve faithfully in said Regiment from the time he enlisted until the three years expired at which time said Regiment was at East Greenwich in the State of 
Rhode Island that this declarant further saith that the reason why he has not renewed his application before is on account of his being absent from this State for more than one year
Sworn to the day & year first
mentioned Before Amos Cross C.J.C.C.
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State of Rhode Island
Washington County Ss.
Clerks Office Court Common Pleas
& General Sessions of the Peace
February 2 AD. 1820.
I certify that the Hon'ble Amos Cross Esquire
whose Signature is hereto affixed is Chief
Justice of the Court aforesaid Legally Chosen
and Qualified as the Law Requires
That full faith & credit ought to be given to
his certificate throughout the United States and elsewhere
And that the Seal here impressed is the true Seal of the Courts aforesaid
Hlm. Sam Helme Clk
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Rich (alias Dick) Potter.
Sched:
nothing
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State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
At the Court of Common Pleas being a Court of Record hehttps://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.pngld at South Kingstown in the County of Washington February Term 1822 personally came before this Court Dick alias Richahttps://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.pngrhttps://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.pngd Potter of Charleston in the County of Washington a soldier in the Revolutionary army claiming a pension under the Acts of Congress of March 18 AD. 1818 and May 1820 whose original papers are herewith transmitted and who exhibits on oath a schedule of all his property and in persuance of the Act of Congress passed May 1st 1820. I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by Gift Sale or in any manner whatever disposed of my property or any past thereof with which thereby so to diminish is as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary was passed on the 18th day of March
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1818. And that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed 
Dick alias Richard Potter his mark X
Wit’ss Sam’l Helme 
A. Schedule of Property and Income (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) of Dick alias Richard Potter who saith that he has no property. no family nor no trade and almost past Labour from age and Infirmity and should he not be able to obtain my any Assistance from his Country he must very soon resort to public or private Charity for Support 
Dick alias Richard his mark X
Wit’ss Saml Helme 
Sworn to and declared on the Sixteenth day of February 1822 before said Court. Wit’s Saml Helme Clerk of sd Court.
Washington Sc. Clerks office of the Court of Common pleas AD. 1822. I Samuel Helme Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Washington in the State of Rhode Island &c. do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly Copied from the Records of said Court And I do further certify that it is the opinion of the ^ said Court that the amount of in Value of the property
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Exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is nothing in testimony whereof I have hereunto ss my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this Sixteenth day of February AD. 1822
Sam Helme Clerk of Courts
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Acts of July 14, 1862 and March 3, 1873 (a line is drawn through the  text) 
8380
P.O.
Richard Potter
Service:
REJECTED (is stamped across document)
Enlisted: ,18
Discharged:, 18
Application filed:  , 18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized. Contract
Cert. of Dis.   Searched for  ,18
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[illegible name] a man of Collour, of Hopkington in the county of Washington of lawful age on oath testifieth and saith that he enlisted in a company commanded by noth Elijah Lewis Col Christopher Graves Regiment during the war for the Rhode Island line [illegible] while in said Regiment he was well acquainted with one Richard alias Dick Potter a man of Collour who belonged in the same regiment. This deponant and the said Richard were together in said Regiment for about two years 
[illegible name] a + mark on document as signature
Witness Amos Cross
State of Rhode Island in
Washington County to certify on the eight day of September [illegible] personally appeared the above named [illegible name] and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him subscribed [illegible] Amos Cross CJCC Pleas
I certify that I have known Primer Bend a man of collour and residing in the town of Hopkin
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Ihttps://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.png certify that I have known Primer Bent a man of collour now residing in the town of Hopkinton in the county of Washington for many years, that after the Revolutionary was he lived in the family of my late father Col. Thomas Hayes [illegible] several years that during that period of time who of that time as far as has come to my knowledge that he has been very generally respected for his honesty, sobriety, and for his health and vertuity
Signed Thomas Noyes
State of Rhode Island
Washington County

out westerly on the 20th day of November 1820 personally came Thos Noyes subscriber to the pending certificate and on solemn oat
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J. L. Edwards Esquire
Washington
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Westerly Feby 23 1822 
Sir,
I now forward to the Dep’t of War the papers of Richard Alias Dick Potter a man of collour who claims a Pension Certificate for services rendered in Col Christopher Greens Regiment. His original Declaration was forwarded to the Secretary of war in 1819 and returned as informal which would have been amended and returned to the war department before but was prevented by Dicks absence from this state. I now have amended his Declaration which with his other proof of service accompanies this Letter. I hope I shall not obtrude when I take the liberty to mention to you the situation of this Indigent applicant.
He is now very mearly clad, so much so as not to appear decent and has no means of subsistence except what he can deserve from the little labour he is able to perform I mention this that in case you should consider him entitled to the provision of the late act of Congress, that an early decission on his case which if proves favourable will be the only remedy that can rescue him from publick or private Charity
I am very Respectfully 
your obt Srvt
Amos Cross
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Jonathan Marson of Richmond in the County of Washington & State of Rhode Island on Oath testifieth and Saith that in the year 1776 and according to his best Recollection was in the month of May this Deponent Enlisted one Richard Alias Dick Potter a man of Collour who then resided in Charlestown in said County of Washington for three years to serve in the Revolutionary War   That the said Richard was one of the Quota that were raised by the said Town of said Richmond That after ^said enlistment [crossed out: at aforesaid] this Deponent returned the said Richard to Lieut Rheuben Whitmarsh who was attached to Col Christopher Greens Regiment     That the said Richard when he first commenced service under said enlistment belonged to Capt Flaggs Company in the aforesaid Regiment, That this deponent well remembers that the Regiment to which the said Richard belonged was on Rhode Island during Sullivans expedition 
Jonathan Maxson
State of Rhode Island &c Washington County SS} at Richmond this 20th day of February 1822 In his proper person came Jonathan Maxson Esquire subscriber to the preceding deposition who made solemn ^oath to the truth of the same 
Before Amos Cross C. J. C. C. Pleas
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I hereby certify that I [crossed out: have been] ^am personally aquainted with Jonathan Maxson Esquire subscriber to the within Deposition who was an officer in the States service in the Revolutionary war and who is a Gentleman of the first respectability and of the most undoubted truth and Veracity - Dated at Westerly this 22 day of February 1822 
Amos Cross C. J. C. C. Pleas
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Guy Watson of South Kingstown in the County of Washington & State of Rhode Island &c on oath testifieth and saith that he enlisted in [crossed out: illegible] the Revolutionary ^war in a Company commanded by Capt Elijah Lewis afterwards commanded by Capt Zephaniah Brown in Col. Christopher Greens Regiment ^ In the Rhode Island line, and that said Enlistment was during the war,  That about one year after the Enlistment of this deponent he [crossed out: was [illegible] well remembers that one Richard alias Dick Potter a man of Collour who now resides in the Town of Charlestown in the State aforesaid Joined said Regiment (while stationed in some part of the State of New York), as a private soldier who the Deponent understood enlisted for three years, and this Deponent further declares that he well recollects that the said Richard Alias Dick Potter served in said Regiment faithfully Fifteen months but he is inclined to think the time was longer say about two years, when the said Richard was wounded and he does not recollect seeing him afterwards 
Guy Watson his mark +
In presence of Amos Cross
[faint writing] (On roll – Green’s Reg’t.)
State of Rhode Island &c
Washington County ss
At South Kingstown on this 18th day of November 1820 Personally appeared Guy Watson subscriber to the preceding declaration and after being duly cautioned made solemn oath to the truth of the same Before Amos Cross C.J.C.C. Pleas
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Levi Totten of South Kingstown in the County of Washington in the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations of lawful age on oath do testify and say, that within five years now last past, I have known Guy Watson within named, called into Court on the part of the Plaintiff, and sworn as a material witness at two several times before a Jury on the Trial of a real action pending before the Court in this County; that his veracity was not impeached; that I was present during the whole time of both Trials, and that said ^cause was defended with great Industry and Spirit on the part of the Defendant. 
Levi Totten
State of Rhode Island &c Washington County ss Personally appeared Levi Totten subscriber to the preceding declaration and made solemn oath to the truth of the same 
November 1820 before Amos Cross C. J. C. C. Pleas
State of Rhode Island & Prov Plantations 
Washington County ss} Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas & Gen. Sessions of the Peace Nov 18. 1820
I certify that the Honble Amos Cross Esq. whose Signature is hereto affixed is Chief Justice of the Court aforesaid Legally chosen and qualified as the Law requires that full faith & credit ought to be given to his certificate throughout the United States. & that the seal here unpressed is the true Seal of the Court aforesaid 
Witn’ Sam. Helme Clk of sd Courts I certify that I am personally acquainted with ^the above named Levi Totten Esqr who is a respectable attorney at law and that full faith & credit ought to be given to his Testimony as a Gentleman of undoubted truth & veracity Dated at westerly this 20th day of November 1820 
Amos Cross C. J. C. C. Pleas
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Westerly Feby 23’ free
Hon. John C. Calhoun
Secy of War
Washington

[sideways writing from left side]
Richard Potter
Amos Cross
Washington R.I.
Rec’d 4 Mar 1822
Rejected
Deserted
8380
[illegible]
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Westerly Feby 22’ 1822
Sir Herewith I transmit Mr
[illegible line] otter
[illegible] a pension for [illegible (services)] rendered
In Col Greenes Regiment
I am sir, your obt srvt
Amos Cross