Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8755, for Thomas Rice, [Blank]
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(3 - 1776)

SERVICE

Rice, Thomas
NUMBER
R.8755
Penn residence of heir in 1854

Contents
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Thomas Rice

Application of Mrs. Rebecca Knox daughter of Capt. Thomas Rice for,
Pension.

Illegible

Illegible
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State of Pennsylvania
County of Montgomery:

On this 20th day of June A. D. One thousand eight hundred and fifty four. Before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, personally appeared Mrs. Rebecca Knox a resident of the Borough of Morristown in said county of  Montgomery aged 76 years, who being duly affirmed according to law, doth declare and say that she is the Widow of Andrew Knox Esquire late of said County deceased and a daughter of Captain Thomas Rice late of the city of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, deceased who served in the American Army during the whole War of the Revolution of part of the time as second Lieutenant, part of the time as first lieutenant of Infantry, and the rest of the time as Captain of artillery. That he commanded the artillery of the Battle of Red Bank in the state of New Jersey, and also commanded the Fire Brig Tarter sent to attack the English ships at the mouth of the Delaware River, and succeeded in blowing up the British ship Augusta, in the sweeps of which she was severely and Dangerously Wounded. Capt. Rice Passed the winner with General Washington at Valley Forge and partook of all the hardships of that ever memorable campaign and see this declared leaves that he also served at the Battle of Trenton and at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown and that he performed other eminent services in Aid of the Revolution which achieved the independence of our country.
That said Captain Thomas rice was married at Philadelphia in the year 1776, to miss Penelope Justice, and with her lived in the relation of husband and wife, until the decease of Mrs Rice in or about the year 1789. That two children were the issue of this marriage is Sarah and Rebecca Rice. That said Sarah died unmarried and without
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Leaving only this declarant the said Rebecca now Rebecca Knox still living.
That after the decease of the said Penelope Rice the said Capt. Rice again married in or about the year 1792, at the city of Savannah, in the state of Georgia, where he was then residing to Miss Elizabeth Dews, and with her live together in a relation of husband and wife up to the time of his deceased at the city of Savannah before said in or about the year 1818. That his widow the said Elizabeth Rice survived her said husband and died at the city of Savannah in or about the year A. D. 1825.
That six children were the issue of this last marriage, whose names were, John, Thomas, William, George, Mary, and Martha Rice. Of  whom Thomas and George died without [illegible] living. Mary was married to Colonel E. S. Reese of Darian in the state of Georgia, but has since died leaving, viz.Henry, Elizabeth, and Matilda Reese, who are still living.
The said John William and Martha Rice are also still living. So that the legal heirs of said Captain Thomas Rice dead. Now living are Rebecca Knox ( this descendant) John Rice, William Rice, and Martha Rice Children, and Henry Reese, Elizabeth Reese and Matilda Reese grandchildren.

She this declarant further states that her father the said Capt. Thomas Rice, nor his widows nor heirs ever applied for or received any Pension or Bounty Land from the United States Government for his services in said war. 
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining such Pension Pay or half pay as the heirs of said Capt. Thomas Rice may be entitled to receive under any act or acts of Congress granting the same for such services.

[Illegible] present.

Affirmed and Subscribed to before me the day
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And your first herein before written. and I do hear by certify that I will know the said Rebecca Knox, and that I believe she is of the age before stated, and that her statement is credible, and worthy of belief. 
[Illegible signature] possibly William Rossiter
Justice of the Peace. 

State of Pennsylvania
 Montgomery County

 I Nathaniel Jacoby,[illegible] Of the Court of Common Pleas of said County in the state of aforesaid do certify that William Rossiter Esquire before whom the forgiving declaration and affidation of Rebecca Knox was taken and made was as the time of taking the same and now is a Justice of the Peace in for said County of Montgomery in the state of aforesaid duly elected commissioner and qualified and legally authorized by the laws of said state to administer both and affirmation for general purposes and to take acknowledgment of deeds and other Testaments of writing does the signature [illegible] To the foregoing certificate is genuine and is the proper handwriting of said William Rossiter Esquire and that said court is a [illegible] of record.

 Witness my hand and the Seal of said court at June 20th A. D. One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, 1854, 

Signature of Nataniel Jacoby [illegible] notary
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Rev. and 1812
Wars Section.
March 6, 1939
Mrs. Donald G. Mitchell
5 Granite Street
New London, Conn.

Madam:
I advise you that in the papers in the Revolutionary 
War pension claim, R. 8755, it is alleged that Thomas Rice
served during the whole War of the Revolution as Second
Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, and Captain of Artillery, was
in the battle of Trenton, that he commanded the Artillery
at the battle of Red Bank, also commanded the "Fire Brig
Tarter" when they attacked the English ships at the mouth
of the Delaware River, was wounded when the British ship
Augusta was blown up and was at the surrender of Cornwallis.
It also appears in said claim that Thomas Rice married
in 1776 at Philadelphia, Miss Penelope Justice, who died
in 1789 leaving two children Sarah, who died unmarried
and Rebecca, who married Andrew Knox. Thomas Rice again
married in 1792 in Savannah, Georgia, where he was then
living, Miss Elizabeth Dews. He died about 1813 in Savannah, 
Georgia, and his widow, Elizabeth, died about 1825 in
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said Savannah.
They had six children, John, William, Martha, Thomas and George, who were both dead in 1854 and left no children, and Mary, who married Colonel E. S. Reese of Darian , Georgia, she was dead in 1854 and left three children- Henry, Elizabeth, and Matilda. 
Mrs. Rebecca Know, widow of Andrew Know, while resident of the Borough of Morristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, aged seventy-six years, applied for pension June 20, 1854 (on account of the services of above mentioned Thomas Rice, her father), for herself and other heirs- John Rive, William Rice, Martha Rice, children of said Thomas Rice, and Henry Reese, Elizabeth Reese, and Matilda Reese, grandchildren of said Thomas Rice. 
The claim was not allowed as Thomas Rice and his widow Elizabeth, both died before the passage of the Acts providing for pensions for the services it is alleged that he performed.

Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
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No: 38,777
Thomas Rice 
Pa
8755
Act June 7, 1832
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1929 Mch 6 Hist to Mrs. Donald G. Mitchell
1929 June 20, 2 copies of hist forms Mrs. Donald G. Mitchell
Her letter included of Benjamin Lloyd.
W. 8052 - M.E.E.

8755
P.O. Thomas Rice
REJECTED

Service:
Enlisted:
Discharged:
Application filed:
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
Recognized.
Contract
Cert. of Dis. 
Searched for
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Mrs Donald G Mitchell
6 Granite Street.
New London Conn.
June 12 1928.
address above

U.S. Pension Office
War Department
Washington D.C.

I should like to find
if there is a record in your files
of Pension for Revolutionary
Soldier Capt Thomas Rice, Oct 22 1777
who served as first Lieutenant in
2nd Co. Captain John Agborn in
command of Artillery Batalion
of City of Phila - Aug 10 1780
Capt Thomas Rice was wounded
at the Battle of Red Bank -
also, for Record of Pension
for David Rees - Price - in
Capt Isreal Morris Co. Fourth Battalion
Chester Co. Militia, Penn.
General Staff. Judge advocate in Continental
Line of George Brigade 1776, 1777
kindly oblige. Yours truly
Mary Rees Mitchell
address above.
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Pension Office,
June 30, 1854.
Sir,
I have received and examined the Declaration communicated
by you of Rebecca Knox, who claims pension
 as the daughter of Captain Thomas Rice, alleged revolutionary soldier.
There is nothing due on this case. Captain Rice
died before the passage of the act of June 7, 1832,
the only act providing for pensions for the services he
is alleged to have performed, and his widow appears
to have died before the passage of the act of July 4, 1836, the first act granting pensions to
widows of revolutionary soldiers-
I have the honor noted.
Very respectfully,
SC
Hon. J. McNair
House of Reps