Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4092, for Jason Rice, New Hampshire
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Continental
Mass
N. H
Rice, Jason
NUMBER
S. 4092
carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

Ohio
19873
Jason Rice,
of Athens Co in the State of Ohio
who was a private in the com commanded
by Capt Whitcomb of the commanded
by Col Reed in the Mass
for 22 Mons
& Continental
Mass. & N.H. Line Records corrected
Inscribed on the Roll of Oh
Mary
at the rate of 73 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Sept
1833 and AG Brown
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 183.32
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 36.66
$21998

Revolutionary Claim,
Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk,  
Book E Vol. 7
Page 22
Page 3

The State of Ohio
Athens county
On this thirteenth day of Octboer one one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the judges of the court of common pleas of said county now sitting Jason Rice a resident of Ames township in the county of Athens and State of Ohio aged seventy six 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.
The names of the officers under whom I first served as a substitute for Joseph Kneelen, under Brigadier general Sullivan, Col James Beed, Major Hail; Capt Whitcome of the state troops of Massachusetts. he does not recollect the day or month when he entered but recollects that it was after the battle of Bunker Hill and before the arrival of general Washington at Cambridge and left this service at that time as well as he recollects in the month of January or February of seventeen hundred and seventy six.
He then immediately after enlisted for one month under Capt Oliver of the same Brigade & regiment and served out the month. In 1777 in the month of May he volunteered at FitzWilliam Cheshire county Newhampshire. He does not recollet the name of the officer under whom he volunteered but well remembers marching to Charlston Newhampshire when we did [illegible] over the green mountains to Castleton in Vt.
from there through Hubbardton to Mount Independence on LakeChamplain Colonel Mooney & Major Banister are officers recollected at Mount Independence, he served on this tour two months. From thence he went to Brookfield Mass from whence in July 1777 he volunteered under Capt Gilbert Lieutenant Cory of the militia and marched to Bennington Vt there drew provision and ammunition and marched on to the hudson river at half moon. after a short stay marched back to Bennington arrived there the day after Bennington Battle, stayed at that place about two weeks and was dismissed and returned to Brookfield about the first of Sept having served about two months. In two days after my return to Brookfield I enlisted with Lieut John butler of Brookfield for a five or six months tour and marched to Reed island and served under Col Keyes. Captain Wilson Lieut. Belknap, and Ensign Seevers. Wintered at that place and was dismissed at Providence in the spring 1778 after the river broke up. In May 1778 enlisted into the regular army for nine months and marched to Lawton Mas
Page 4

where he was mustered into the army marched under Silas Ball who was appointed to conduct the unit to the army then marched through Springfield, Sensbury, and Litchfield to Fishkill where we were mustered by Muster master Gilbert, Marched from there to west point and received by Leut Pike, Ensign lines, and did duty under them untill general Washington arrived at the White plains from the southward. They were then marched on to the white plains and was appointed to gen Nicksons Brigade and Col Nicksons Regiment Capt Jabish Lanes co commanded by Lieut M. Chambs and Ensign Porter the Capt being absent, remained at White plains untill fall then marched to Danbury in Con thence to Woodbury Conn thence back to the north rivers into the highlands between Peekskill and Fishkill and there wintered untill sometime in Feby when they were call for wood choppers below Peekskill I went with others to chopping whence we were allowed to chop a certain quanty of wood in lieu of serving the balance of our time which was done to the acceptance of the proper officers I was then discharged and received order for my pay which I received. By whom the discharge on order was signed or what has become of them I cannot recollect but I know I had them.
[signed] Jason Rice
I do hereby relinquist every claim to a pension or annuity except the present. and declare that my name is not on any pension roll in this State or any other of the United States.
Questions by the court
1st Where and in what year were you born? Ans I was born in Brookfield Mass May 14th 1756
2nd Have you any record of your age if so where is it Ans there is a record I believe in Brookfield Mass I have non in my possession - 
3rd Where were you living hwen called into the service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
Ans I lived when called into service, in Fitzwilliam in the county of Cheshire and state of Newhampshire in 1780 I removed to Poulty in Vt where I lived untill 1800 when I removed to Washington County Ohio in 1804 I removed onto Federal neck where I now reside in Athens county Ohio.
4th How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute And for whom?
ans The first term of service stated in my declaration I went as a substitute for Joseph Keeton, the balance of time I served as a volunteer I never waited to be drafted
5th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental and militia regiment as you can
Page 5

recollect and the general circumstances of your service
Ans There were Col Stark, Col Poor, Quartermaster Fey, Lieut Col Gillman
Major Hale, Lieut Pike, Ensign Lines and many others. I do not
recollect the No of any Regint. As to the general circumstances of the
service I dont know that I could state them any better than I have
in the body of my declaration
6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom
was it given, and what has become of it
Ans I had a discharge in writing from my nine months tour but by whom it was signed or what has become of it I do not recollect
7th 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 good behavior your services as a soldier of the revolution
Ans
There is Ephm Cutler, Elijah Hatch, George Walker, and John Brown
can all testify as to my character. I know of none now living that were
acquainted with my revolutionary services
[signature] Jason Rice
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Henry Bartlett Clk C.C. P. County

We Ebenezer Hebard a Clergyman residing in the County of Athens and
State of Ohio and Elisha Hubbard residing in (the same) hereby certify
that we are well acquainted with Jason Rice who has subscribed and
Sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy six 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 to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid [signature] Eben Hebard
[signature] Henry Bardell Clerk C.C. A County
[signature] Elisha Hibbard
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
Ebenzer Hebard, who has signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman
resident in the County of Athens and State of Ohio and that Elisha Hibbard
who has also signed the same is a resident of the same place and is a credible
person and that their statement is entitled to credit
I Henry Bartlett Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said county do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the
Application of Jason Rice for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto
at my hand and seal of office this 13th day of October 1832
[signature] Henry Bartlett Clk. C. C. P. A. County
Page 6

Jason Rices declaration for pension filed Oct 13 1832
N.Bartlett Clk

Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice
of the Peace in and for the County of Athens and State of
Ohio, Jason Rice to me personally well known, who being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by reason of old
age and consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear
positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection, and this he thinks he is not
mistaken, he served not less than the periods mentioned below
and in the following grades: For not less than six
months from some time between the 17th of June & 3rd of
July 1775, to some time in Jany & Feb. 1776 I served as a
substitute for Joseph Kneeland as a private in a
company of State troops command
by Capt Whitcomb, Col. Jas Reed's Regt Sullivan's
Brigade: For one month, immediately succeeding
the above mentioned six months, I served as a
any was
volunteer in the grade of a private, in Capt
Oliver's Company, same he and Brigade. For
Two months from some time in May 1777 till July
same as a volunteer, in the grade of a Private in a
company, or signed said at Fitz William New Hampshire
morning attendance of Burgoyne at
recollect the names of the company officers, served, after arri
ing at Mount Independence, under Maj Banister & Col. Mooney.
For Two months, commencing in July, same year (1777) as a
less than five months, and I think it was more I served as a
volunteer from Brookfield, in the grade of a private in about
company of Massachusetts Militia, commenting the early part of Sep.
1777, within two days after my return from my preceding tour
at Bennington & Company commanded by Capt Wilson
Lient Belknap, Ensign Sever, Col. Reyes Regt enlistment under
Lient Culler: For nine months, from May 1778, when enlisted
at Brookfield Mass mustered and marched under Silas Ball I
served in the Regular army as a Private mustered the joining
the army by Muster makes Gilbert remained a time at West Point
under Lieut Pike & Ensign lines, and was afterwards arranged
into Capt. Jabez Lane's Co. generally commanded in his absent
Marthias Chambers Nixons Regt &
[illegible] brigade
and for such service I claim a pension. I have no documentary evidence and I know no person now living by whom
I could make positive or direct proof of my services. in the ever  
in not time of my first [illegible] in Fitzwilliam [illegible]in the Mass St troops is on account of my difficulty of seeing & hearing.
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 18th day of June 1835. and I testify that have been personally acquainted with the said Jason Rice for more than twenty years past that he sustains a good character for veracity that he has always been reputed as a Revolutionary soldier and I have no doubt of the truth of his statements in the foregoing deposition
[signature] Jason Rice
[signature] A.B. Brown

I Henry Bartlett Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of
Athens County in the State of Ohio, hereby certify that
A.B. Brown is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County
duly commissioned and sworn and that the foregoing
signature purporting to be his is genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
affixed my official seal this 18th day of July, 1833
[signature] Henry Bartlett Clerk.
Page 7

4092
INVALID
File No. 4092
Jason Rice
Privt Rev War
Act: June 7 1832
Index:-Vol. A, Page 315

Rev War
Page 8

Will Hist. J. K. Mower
[illegible]
Page 9

Jason Rice
Ohio
Athens, Co
from private
22 months
$73.33/100
[illegible]
on roll
lon 6 month
60
20
1373
7533
[illegible]
Page 10

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Jason Rice
which require
further proof or explanation.
1. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes in cases
V. Has he mentioned 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 amout of pension
he is entitled? No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
yes in 5 cases no in one
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832? yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal? yes
Page 11

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
tionary service? yes
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolu-
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain
ing it?
VIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under
his seal of office?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by 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 recolelection
he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: Foryear
-- months and --- days, I served as a -. For - months
and days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 12

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment, company, and line to which be 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.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the
certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being in
properly attached to the certificate.
Page 13

James L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 14

Athens July 19.1833
Sir
Mr Jason Rice of Ames township (13 miles distant) in this county called upon me yesterday for the purpose of amending his Declaration, some time since returned from your office with objections. I have known the said Rice from my boyhood and have often heard him in conversation with my late father Capt Benja Brown relate [illegible] of his services in the Revolutionary War and the fact of his having served a considerable time was never doubted. The [illegible] his declaration he always volunteered he never waited to be drafted being character of the man He has always been considered a man of [illegible] integrity & veracity. His declaration with such amendments & explanations who has been able to make, is a [illegible] for consideration. for convenience sake [illegible] make pass through my hands; and my suggestions from the department for the benefit of [illegible] will be cheerfully attended to by me.
Very respectfully
A.B. Brown

J.L. Edwards
Com of Pensions
Page 15

MOWER & MOWER
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW,
21 1/2 E. Main Street

J. K. MOWER.
C. K. MOWER.

Springfield, Ohio, Feby 14 1895

To the Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D.C.

Dear Sir
Jason Rice born May 14 1756 died Dec 31st 1843 in Ames Township Athens County State of Ohio - He drew a pension for several years probably as a private - He was my wifes grand-father and she is desirous to know what the Pensions Rolls show as to his Reg Co standing [illegible]
If this information is forwarded she as well as the writer will be much obliged
Very [illegible]
JK Mower
Page 16

[stamp] U.S.PENSION OFFICE FEB 18 1895