Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 3,116, for David Richards, Delaware
Page 1

[printed card with handwriting]

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Del.
Richards, David
Comfort
NUMBER
W. 3.116
CONTENTS
Page 2

[printed form with handwriting]

Let to [?] agt Sept 18 1839
1715 Pennsylvania
Comfort Richards
widow of David Richards dec
[illegible lined out]
and who died on the 7th January 1813
of Philadelphia in the State of Pa
was a Private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Mitchell of the ___ commanded by ___ in the Pa
line for 10 mos
Delaware Mil

Inscribed on the Roll of Pa
the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 26th day of Jany
1839 and sent C. J. Jack Philadelphia Pa.

Arrears  to the 4th of Sep 1838 $83.33
Semi-annual allowance ending Dollar. 39, 16.66
$99.99
{Act July 7,1838.}
Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk,
Book A Vol. 2 Page 164
Page 3

[handwritten]

Joshua Richards departed this life
March the [?] in the year of our
Lord 1775 in the 40 year of
his age
D
David Richards and Comfort his
Wife was married the 2 day of
in the year of our Lord 178

Patience there Dauter [sic] was
Born January the 20 in the
year of our Lord 1783 on Mon
---
Deborah Richards their Dauter [sic]
Was Born December the 22 day
in the year of our Lord 1784
on Wend [lined out] Whinsday [sic]

Abijah Richards their Dauter [sic]
was Born February the 17th
Saturday Day in the year of our Lord 178
and Departed this life the
day of November in the year
of our Lord 1805
aged 12 years 8 months and
3 Days
Page 4

[handwritten]

Barak Richards their Son
was Born Dead [underlined] March the
19th Day in the year of our
Lord 1789

Elizabeth Richards their
Dauter was Born the 28th
day of August in the year
of our Lord 1798 on Saturday

Huldah Richards their dauter
Was Born December the 16th
Day in the year of our
Lord 1792 on Sunday

Mary Richards their Dauter was
Born September the 13th
in the year of our Lord 1795
on Sunday 1795
-
Temperance Richards their
Dauter was Born January the
11th day in the year of
Lord 1800 on Saturday
Page 5

[printed form with handwriting]

Pension Case No. [blank] under Act of
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA,
COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA, SS.
Declaration of Mrs Comfort Richards
PERSONALLY APPEARED IN OPEN COURT OF COMMON PLEAS,
Before the Honourable [blank]
on this 27thday of October AD. 1838
Mrs Comfort Richards
a resident of Philadelphia in the county of Philadelphia
aged seventy eight 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 provision
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 David Richards,
who was a Soldier of the Revolutionary war, and first entered
the army as a private in Captain William Perrys company
in the month of March or April 1779. He enlisted
therein for the term of twelve months and continued
Ten Months when he was discharged with the rest
of the Company. That he enlisted as deponent was
often informed by him and verily believes afterwards
in Captain Mitchells Company, and as she was imformed
for the term of Six Months. That he marched from
Sussex Delaware State in this Last Company in the year
1777 to Staten Island in the State of New York -
and was in the Battle of that Island under General
Sullivan - He is by some that he was out two terms
first out for 12 months and then Six Months. She thinks
the first service was in the State of Delaware
when he belonged and lived, and the other in
the State of [Delaware lined out] New York But she has no papers or
any documentary evidence to prove this [illegible] -
Deponent was married in the second day of April
1781. By Squire Dingle then a Justice of the Peace
in the State of Delaware he is a long time deceased -
She never had any marriage Certificate
nor did she think at the time that the war
Page 6

[printed and handwritten]

necessary. The only record she has of her marriage is the
leaf taken from her family Bible hereto affixed - the
writing of which was by her said husband in his lifetime -
and that the certificate of the Reverend H A Bondman in
his own proper hand writing as hereto affixed
And that the ages of her children contained on said
leaf are correctly set [?] -

She further declares that she was married to the said David Richards
on the second day of April in the year seventeen hundred
and Eighty two; that her husband, the aforesaid David Richards 
died on the Seventh day of January 1815 - ; that she
was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous
to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz: at the time above
stated, and that she has never since been married to any other person.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written,
before me, in open Court of Common Pleas.}
John Richter Jones Judge C.P.
Compet & Richard
Comfort her X mark Richards
Page 7

[printed and handwritten]

Personally appeared in open Court of Common Pleas, before the Honourable
John Richter Jones Deborah Richards
on this 27th day of October AD. 1838
who being duly sworn according to law, doth depose and say, that she is well acquainted
with the above named Comfort Richards and also with
David Richards her husband now deceased ^[insert] being her parents; that said parties lived
together and were generally reputed to be man and wife ['for' lined out] during all deponents life ['years' lined out], to this deponent's knowledge; That the said Comfort Richards
wife of the said David Richards is still his widow, never
having married again to deponent's knowledge -- That the said Comfort Richards
--- is a woman of truth and veracity, worthy of belief upon her oath.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, in open Court as aforesaid.}
Court as aforesaid.
J. Richter Jones
Deborah Richards
Page 8

[printed and handwritten]

CERTIFICATE OF JUDGE
I John Richter Jones a Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas for the City and County of Philadelphia, do hereby CERTIFY, That the above named
Comfort Richards - has been duly proved before me, to be a woman of
truth and veracity, and worthy of belief upon her oath. as ac[?] the said Daniel Jester
- Witness my hand this twenty seventh day of October 1838.
and I further certify that all the actuating and
in[?] contained in said Paper hereto
affixed were made before the said Parties here
sworn and subscribed their names -
John Richter Jones

Pennsylvania
Philadelphia County ⎬Ss
I Robert Morris Prothonotary of
the Court of Common Pleas of said County Do 
certify that the Hon John Richter Jones Esq. before
whom the annexed declaration on Oath of Mrs Comfort
Richards was this day made in open Court of
Common Pleas and by whom the aforegoing certificate
and attestation were made and given and
who in his own proper hand writing has thereunto
severally subscribed his name was at the time of 
sending and now is a Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas which is a Court of Record truly
commissioned and qualified to all whose acts as such
full faith and credit and ought to be given
as well in Courts of [?] thereout
In Testimony whereof I have here
to set my hand and affixed the 
Seal of the said Court Philadelphia
this 27th October 1838
R M Morris
Prothy

[appears vertically]
2816 Comfort Richards Pa.
Admitted
Pa $33.33/100
Jan 21
C J Jacke
Phila
Page 9

[handwritten]

Personally appeared in open Court of Common Pleas
before the Honorable [blank]
Deborah Richards who in addition to her other
testimony already given in this case after being duly
sworn [?]. That she is the Daughter of the said
David & Comfort Richards. That the leaf hereto
affixed was taken from her fathers Bible. That
she often heard her father speak of being [?]
the Revolutionary War -That he was out twice
in the State of Delaware. When he lived and [?]
in the State of New York when he was in the
Battle of Staten Island under General Sullivan
- That she is well acquainted with Daniel
Jester whose deposition is hereto affixed
that he is a Methodist Preacher and has been
to many years. That he is well on thy off
and credit from his on the Settlement
fifty four years of age being born on the 22nd
day of December 1784 as appears from said Hill
Lord
Sworn to and subscribed
Deborah Richard
before me in open Court
as a part
John Richter Jones
Page 10

[printed and handwritten]

June 2, 1905 Hist to
Mrs. Dr. C. B. Miller
Cedar Falls, Iowa
REV
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 3116
Comfort Richards
Widow
David Richards
Pri Rev. War
Act: July 7. 1838
Index:- Vol. M, Page 161.
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 11

[handwritten]

This may certify that Mrs. Comfort Richards [underlined]
has been since 1830 a member
of the church under my care. She
informs me that it is about forty
years since she first made a profession 
of religion. Her character & walk
have been exemplary & consistent
during the whole period of my acquaintance 
with her. I consider
her as a worthy excellent woman
entitled to the utmost confidence
& greatly in need, amidst the infirmities 
of old age, & of the pensionary
aid which she is seeking from
the Pension Fund of the Federal
Govt.-
H. A. Boardman
Pastor Tenth Presb
Church, Philad
Philad. Oct. 26th. 1838.
Page 12

[handwritten]

Daniel Jester of Broadkill Hardee in the
County of Sussex in State of Delaware aged eighty
two years being solemnly sworn upon the Holy Evangelist
of Almighty God by me G. A. Ewing J.P.
one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County
and State aforesaid depose and says that he was well
acquainted with David Richards late of the
County aforesaid - that said David Richards with this
deponent entered into the service of the United States
in the Army, in the month of March or April, A.D.
seventeen hundred and seventy seven - that said Richards
enlisted in the infantry company commanded by Capt.
William Perry that said Richards enlisted for the period
of twelve months and continued in said service for the
period of ten months when he was discharged with the
rest of said company in consequence of the departure
of the British fleet from the Delaware Bay in the ['fall' lined out]
winter for better harbors and security-- that during his
said Richard's service he with his company was often
engaged in skirmishes will the enemy but no regular
engagement - that the said Richards entered into same
service he resided in Indian River [?] in
the County and State aforesaid that he was a volunteer
as aforesaid and with his said company was stationed
at Lewiston in said County to guard the coast from
Missipillion [sic] creek to the inlet of Indian River through
the County leading to and from which places and
Richards and his said company frequently marched
that there is no documentary evidence to the knowledge
of this deponent, in support of the claim of the evidence
of said Richards. That said Richards after his
return for the said company at the period of his
said discharge aforesaid, married to certain
Comfort Brereton who hath survived him - that
said Richards died at his residence in said [?]
but at that time this deponent does not recollect
hearing ^[insert] to survive his said widow Comfort, who is still living
and never has to the knowledge of this deponent since
the death of her said husband, married. 
That [?] David Richards and Comfort Brereton were married
after the expiration of the pensions last period of his
Page 13

Service
Del (Delaware)
Richards, David Comfort
Number W 3.116
Page 14

[printed and handwritten]

16
3 - 068.
(Old No. 3 -- 049. )
Bureau of Pensions.
David Richards
Act 18 1838 - 78
Phila, Pa
Mar or Apl 7 Sussex Co Del
Capt. Wm Perry
Pvt - 10 m
79 Capt Mitchell Del
Col -
Pvt - 6 m
[illegible lined out]
Mrs Comfort Brereton
apl 2, 1781 Delaware
Jany 7 1813
several skirmishes
Page 15

[handwritten]

J L Edwards Esq
Page 16

[handwritten]

Dr Sir
Enclosed with this I send you the papers of
Mrs Richards for a Pension. Her husband was 
out twice in the Militia or volunteers of the State of
Delaware - I prepared putting now the
discrepancy which you will note occurring both to
date and since between Her and Her witness
as She seemed to believe her version the most
correct - As I promised I send you the certificate
of Judge Jmes as to the credibility of [?]
Ann Miller - in Mrs Walkins case - I hope I [?]
receive his pension certificate in that delay for
the 8 Months for the reasons already given
J L Edwards Esq
Com of Pensions}
Your Obt Servt
C J Jacke
act 27. 1838
taken out & handed to William W
Page 17

[handwritten]

O. W. & N
Cedar Falls Ia
May 16 1905.
To the Pension Bureau
Washington D. C.
[ink stamp] MAY 20 1905

Will you please inform
me as to the military history
as a soldier in the Rev. War
of any or all of the following persons
James Allen of
London Grove
Chester Co.
Tenn.
Page 18

[handwritten]

David Richards
Half Moon Valley
Tenn
John Way
Mill Creek
Del.
Jeremiah Starr

[ink stamp]
U PENSION
Page 19

[handwritten]

Thanking you very
kindly for your [?]
and for any information
you can give me in
regard to their married
persons [?]
Yours-
Mrs Dr C.B. Miller
222 W. 4th St.
Cedar Falls
Iowa

[ink stamp]
MAY 18 1905
US PENSION OFFICE