Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4108, for Jesse Richards, Pennsylvania
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(3-1776)    

SERVICE   Penn.

Richards, Jesse

NUMBER   S. 4108

carded

CONTENTS 
[blank lines]
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7874
Ohio Pittsburgh
Jesse Richards
of Wayne Co. in the State of Ohio,
who was a Private in the Company, commanded
by Captain Pyne, of the Regt. commanded
by Col. A. Wayne in the Penna. line for six months

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio Pittsburgh at the rate of 20. Dollars 00. Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 13. day of April, 1833 and sent to E. Dean Wooster, Ohio.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833.   40.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Septr '33.  10.00
$50.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Wm R Palmer Clerk, 
Book E Vol. 8.  Page 125.
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No. 20163
7874

Jesse Richards
Wayne County
State of Ohio

Adm for 6 months from 1775 or 1776

E["zra" crossed out] Dean ["John Sloane" crossed out] Clerk

Wooster, P. O.
Wayne County
State of Ohio
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183

Sir:

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined 
and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A Statement, shewing the Service of Jesse Richards Wayne County, Ohio

Period when the service was rendered
Vol 1775

Duration of the claimant's service.
Years.      Months.        Days.
                 6

Rank of the claimant.
Private

Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
Captain Samuel Puc   Lieutenant Mordica Morgan  Ensign Miles  1st Sergeant Wm Reed

Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
Colonel Anthony Wayne  Major John Bartholomew

Battles in which the applicant was engaged.

Country through which he marched.
To Phiad.  Trenton new Jersey  Prince Town  Amboy to Philadelphia

Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
76 years  Chester County Pennsylvania

Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
Tradition

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:

This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia" and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c, Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION,

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of County of } ss.
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers,) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. , A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.

I of the Court of do hereby certify (h)
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.

If on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative
with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principle means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a Soldier: Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
To an Officer: Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants are required to submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, be reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot 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, and in the following grades:
For _____ year, _____ months, and _____days, I served as a _____. For _____ year, _____ months, and _____days, I served as a _____, and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c.
without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is
highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispenable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] the clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can distinguish
from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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Application of Jesse Richards for a pension
20163
Page 8

State of Ohio
Wayne County ss

On the first day of October AD 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the court of Common pleas now sitting in and for the County of Wayne and state of Ohio, Jesse Richards a resident of East union Township in the County of Wayne and State of Ohio aged seventy five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his 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 and served as herein stated  In the spring of the year 1775 as near as he can now recolect [recollect] he volunteered in the militia of the state state of Pennsylvania for the term of six months under the command, of Colonel Anthony Wayne (who was afterwards promoted to a general) and Major John Bartholomew The company to which he belonged was commanded by Captain Samuel Pu[illegible] Mordica Morgan was the Lieutenant and --- Miles was Ensign and William Reed was the first Sergent [Sergeant] ---
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That at the time he entered the service he resided in Redner [Radnor] Township Chester County and state of Pennsylvania That he marched with his company to the city of Philadelphia in the spring of 1775 or 1776 as near as he can now recolect [recollect] where he remained for about three weeks from there he marched to Trenton New Jersey, where he remained for several weeks, and from thence he marched to Prince Town [text crossed out] and from thence to Amboy where he remained for several weeks, and from Amboy the Troops were marched back to the City of Philadelphia where his time of service having expired he with the rest of his Company was disbanded  That there was no written discharge given to this deponent nor has he any documentary evidence of his service nor does he know of any person who can testify to his service That after he returned from the Army he resided in Chester County Pennsylvania for about fifteen years.  He then moved to Fayett [Fayette] County Pennsylvania where he resided about fourteen years and from thence he removed to Steubenville in the state of Ohio where he remained about about seven years.  He then removed to the County of Wayne Ohio where he now resides  He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state
Jesse Richards

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
J Sloane Clerk

We Philip Smith & Philip Smith Jr residing in the County of Wayne and state of Ohio hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jesse Richards who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy six
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years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion and that he sustains a good character for truth and veracity
Philip Smith Jr
Philip Smith

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
J. Sloane, Clerk

And the said court do hereby declaim their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War department that the above applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Philip Smith Jr & Philip Smith who signed the proceeding certificate are resident in the County of Wayne and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I John Sloane Clerk of the court of Common Pleas of Wayne County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Jesse Richards for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this first day of October AD 1832
J. Sloane  Clerk

Where, and in what year were you born
Answer  I was born in Chester County in the state of Pennsylvania on the 10th day of February AD 1756.
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Have you any record of your age and if so where is it
Answer } I have no record of my age, but I have seen it as written in my Father's bible

Where were you living when called into service  Where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live
Answer } I lived in Radnor Township in the county of Chester and state of Pennsylvania where I entered the army and resided there for fifteen years after the war  I then moved to Fayette County in the State of Pennsylvania where I resided for about fourteen years.  I then removed to Steubenville in the State of Ohio where I remained about seven years.  I then removed to the County of Wayne Ohio where I have resided ever since

Question  How were you called into service  were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if substitute for whom 
Answer } I was a volunteer

Question }  State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served.  Such continental and militia regiments as you can recolect [recollect] and the general circumstances of your service
Answer  Anthony Wayne was Colonel, John Bartholomew was Major  Robert Love was General.

Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it signed
Answer  I never received any written discharge
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Question  State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and good behavior and services as a soldier of the Revolution

Answer.  Philip Smith  Valentine Smith  Thomas J. Jones  Genl. Reason Bealle 
Jesse Richard

Sworn and subscribed in open court, this first day of October AD 1832
J Sloane  Clerk

State of Ohio 
Wayne County ss.

I John Sloane Clerk of the court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing is the original proceedings in the case of the application of Jesse Richards for a pension  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal the 20th day of October AD 1832
J. Sloane   Clerk
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October 5, 1937.

BA-J/ILL      am
Jesse Richards
S. 4108

Mrs. Mabel Goebel
Edgerton  - Box 254 -
Ohio.

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of your ancestor, Jesse Richards, who died in Wayne County, Ohio.

The record has been found of one Jesse Richards who lived in Wayne County, Ohio, at the time he received pension for service in the Revolutionary War. The data given herein were found in his claim, S. 4108, as it may interest you.

Jesse Richards was born February 10, 1756, in Chester County, Pennsylvania; the names of his parents are not shown.

While a resident of Radnor Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, Jesse Richards enlisted in the spring of 1776, and served six months as private in Captain Samuel Pue's (Pugh's) company, Colonel Anthony Wayne's Pennsylvania Regiment, during which he marched from Philadelphia to Trenton, afterwards to Princeton, thence to Amboy, and
back to Philadelphia, where he was discharged.

the affidavits submitted regarding service.  The name Pugh is given in Pa. [illegible] of Radnor Tape 

The soldier returned to Chester County, Pennsylvania, and resided about fifteen years, moved then to Fayette County, Pennsylvania,
and remained about fourteen years, then moved to Steubenville, Ohio, and resided about seven years, then moved to Wayne County, Ohio.

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 1, 1832, at which time he resided in East Union Township, Wayne County, Ohio. The soldier made no reference to wife or children.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name
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of person paid, and, possibly, the date of death of this pensioner, you should address the Comptroller General. General Accounting Office,
Records Division, this city, and furnish the following:

Jesse Richards
Certificate #7874
Issued April 13, 1833
Rate $20 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832.
Ohio Agency.

Very truly yours,

A. D. HILLER,
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.

2.
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Hist. to Mrs. Mabel Goebel - J. L. L.

4108
Rev War

INVALID.

File No. 4108.
Jesse Richards
Pri.  Pa. Line

Act: June 7, 1832
Index:-Vol. A, Page 315

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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        Free

Wooster
Dec 7   To the Hon. Lewis Cass
Secretary at War
Washington D C

Dec. 12.
O.
2016263
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Wooster Ohio
Dec 7, 1832

To the Hon Lewis Cass Secretary at War

Sir

Inclosed I send you the application of Jess Richards and Clement West for pensions

Yours Respectfully
E Dean
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Rev & 1812       Sep. 22, '37

Veterans Administration,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sirs,  I am not sure I am writing to the right place, but I am trying to get information about my great-great grandfather, Jesse Richards who was a Revolutionary Soldier.

I think he inlisted [enlisted] in Ohio but their [there] is a possibility that it was Pa. or N. Y. state.  He died in Wayne Co. Ohio, near Wooster & is buried somewhere around there.  I would like all dates & all available information about him if possible.  Would there be any cost for such favor?  Stamp inclosed.  Please answer  Thanks.
Mrs. Mabel Goebel,
Edgerton, Ohio.

ret. Sept 25
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[time stamp on the rear side of Document 18 in this folder]

RECEIVED
SEP 24 1937
MAIL SUB-DIV.
VETS ADM 
READER #8
[time stamp with arrow pointing to 1:30]