Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. F. 46885, Reuben Chase, Navy
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Navy
CONTENTS
Chase, Reuben
Mass. residence and agency
NUMBER
S.F. 46885
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7205    4   File #46885

Massachusetts

Reuben Chase [illegible]

mf

Nantucket in the state of Massachusetts
who was a midshipman in the
the Goodmar Richard 
for the term of nine months.

Inscribed on  the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of eight Dollars per month, to commence on
the 13th of May 1818.

Certificate of Pension issued the 5th of March 1819
and sent to Nathum Mitchell
Plymouth, Massachusetts

Arrears to 4th of March 1819.             $77.96
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4th Sept 1819.  48.00
                                                            $125.96

(Revolutionary claim, 
Act 18 March, 1818. )

Continued

Notification sent January 3d 1801 to
 Hon Walter Folger Jr. of Reps W. S. 

Certe to Hon. H. R. 
Farris, Aug 19, 48

Aug. 24, 1904 Hist to
Capt. F. W. Mitchell, Wash. D.C.
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Reuben Chase
Nantucket
Midshipman
Good man Richard
commanded by
Jno Paul Jones
March 1779 to latter
part of Decr 1779
official character and
signature of the Magistrate 
not attested by County
Clerk
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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Plymouth ss.
On this 13th day of May 1818, before me
the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas,
for the Southern Circuit, personally appeared Reuben Chase of Nantucket
Co. of Nantucket aged sixty three years, resident in
the said Circuit, who being by me first duly cautioned according to law, on
his oath made the following declaration, by him signed, 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," viz. that in the month of March
1779 he entered into said naval service on board
the Bonhomme Richard (or the goodman Richard)
under Capt. Paul Jones Commander in chief of
the American Squadron then in Europe, at
L'orient in France, as a Midshipman, and
was master of the first prize, which was a
Brig from Ireland bound to London, which
Prize he carried into L'orient & there waited
for the return of said ship till December, when
he heard she had sunk in the North sea, after
fighting and capturing the British Ship Serapis
of 50 guns and carrying her into Holland -
that he received wages for more than nine month
and received his prize money in 1786 or 1787
from the Agent in Boston.-- and that he
Page 5

from his reduced circumstances needs the
assistance of his country for support. -
said Chase's statement at large, & also
Gardner Hammond's and Robert Calder's -
affidavits are forwarded herewith /-
And I, the said Judge, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction,
that the said Reuben Chase did serve in the
revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common
enemy, for the term of nine months, on the continental establishment;
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, and he is poor and
needs the assistance of his country for
support.
Nahum Mitchell
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
SS.   1818,
I HEREBY CERTIFY, That
is one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Southern
Circuit, consisting of the Counties of Plymouth, Norfolk, Bristol, Barnstable,
Dukes and Nantucket in said Commonwealth - that the same Circuit Court
of Common Pleas is a Court of record -- that the signature to the above certificate
is the true signature of the said Judge, and that the seal thereunto
affixed is the seal of the said Court.
Clerk of the Judicial
Court for the County
of
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Reuben Chase
Nantucket
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I Reuben Chase of Nantucket in the County of
Nantucket and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful
age to give evidence, do testify and say, that in the
month of March in the year of our Lord one thousand
Seven
hundred and seventy nine, I entered on board
the ship called the Bon Homme Richard, or the Good
Man Richard, with Captain John Paul Jones Commander
in Chief of the American Squadron then in Europe,
said Ship then being in L'Orient in France - and
after fitting said ship sailed from L Orient in the
month of June or July on a cruise - that I was
a Midshipman on board the said ship and Master
of the first prize, which was a Brig from Ireland
bound to London - which prize I carried into Lorient
in France, and waited the return of said Ship Bon
Homme Richard until the latter part of December
and until I heard the fate of said Ship, which went
down in the North Sea, after fighting and capturing his
Britanic Majesty's Ship Sarappis of fifty guns and
carrying her into Holland - I do further testify that I
received Wages from said Ship for more than nine
months, and have since received my prize
money of Judge Wendell in Boston, agent to
said Ship about in the year 1786 or 1787 -
I do further certify that by reason of my reduced
Circumstances in life, I stand in need of assistance
from my Country for support -
Nantucket May 13th 1818
Reuben Chase
Sworn to May 13. 1818. Before me
Nahum Mitchell Judge
aged 68
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Reuben Chase 1st
7.205
Sept. 1819

C J Calhoun Esqr
Secretary of War
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Nantucket Ss
Circuit C.C. Pleas Novem term 1820
On this Eleventh day of Nov- 1820 Personally
Appeared in Open Court being a Court of Record for the
said County 
of Nantucket in sd. County Reuben Chase
aged sixty six years resident in said Nantucket
in said County who being first duly sworn according 
to law doth on his oath
Declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows
He served as a Midshipman on board the ship
called the Bon Homme Richard Capt. Paul Jones
Commander in Chief of the American Squadron
He entered said service in March 1779
And continued in the served more than nine months
as will more fully appear by his Original
Declaration made
the 13 day of May 1818 for wich service he received
a Pension Certificate No. 7205 date 5th of May 1819
and I do solemnly affirm that I was a resident Citizen
of the United Sates
On the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not
since that time by
gift sale
or in any manner disposed of my property or any part
thereof with intent thereby so to Diminish it as
to bring myself within the Provision 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 War
Passed on the 18th day of March 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 subsribed
Reuben Chase
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affirmed and Declared on the Eleventh day Novr 1820
before James Ware Judge of C.C.C. Pleas
Circuit
I Benjamin Gardner clerk of the Circuit Court
of Common Pleas for Southern Circuit do hereby certify that the foregoing oath
and
the Schedule thereto annexed are truly coped
from the
record of the said Court and I do further
certify,
that it is the opinion of the said
Court that the total amount in value of the property
Exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule
is One hundred Sixty four dollars and fifty cents
In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand,
affixed the seal of the said Court
On this Seventeenth day of Novr 1820
Ben Gardner
Clerk of the Court for the County
Nantucket
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Schedule of the property of Reuben Chase
of Nantucket a Pensioner of the United States
under the act of Congess of the
18th March AD. 1818
Real Estate
A House of Twenty one Rods of Land 
valued at --- $150
Personal Property
one Deck --- $5
18 old Chairs --- 7
Crockery --- 1
Cooking Utensils --- 1.50
$164.50
I am Sixty six years and
infirm I have a wife who is sixty one
years of age I have one son Seventeen
years of age I have followed the Sea as
Long as my health would permit and
am now wholly dependent upon my
Labour for Support I am lame & have been for
years been lame in my right knee and
Hip
Reuben Chase
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I Robert Calder of Nantucket in the County of
Nantucket Yeoman, of lawful age to give evidence
do testify and say, that Reuben Chase of Nantucket,
was in 1779, a Midshipman on board the ship
called the Bon Homme Richard, or the Goodman Richard
commanded by John Paul Jones Esq Commander
in chief of the American Squadron then in Europe,
that the said Reuben Chase was master of the first
Prize captured by the Bon Homme Richard, which was a
Brig from Ireland bound to London, which Prize
said Chase carried into L'orient in France -
I do further testify that the said Reuben Chase,
by reason of his reduced circumstances in life,
stands in need of assistance from his Country,
for support, and that in my opinion he is
entitled to the pension provided by the late
act of Congress-
Robert Calder
Nantucket April 6. 1818
13th
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Plymo. Ss. May 13th 1818 Personally appeared before me, the
within named Robert Calder and made oath to the truth
of the within Deposition by him signed - who is a credible
Witness -
Nahum Mitchell Judge &
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Pension Office
3 Aug 1853
This case is respectfully refered to
the 3d Auditor for certificate of
death of Pensioner and of last
payment -
Very Respectfully
S. Cole
Chief Clerk
1889
(See other side.)
D. McC.
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Reuben Chase, 1st act 1818.
Died 15th Feby. 1824. Paid
to his death.
F. Burt
Auditor
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wid Ry 1889
Reuben Chase
Nantucket, Mass.
13, 1818.
66 yrs in 1820.
Died Feb 15. 1824.
Mch. 1779 Capt. John
Paul Jones "Bon
Homme Richard"
Midshipman
over 9 mos.

61
33
94

(wife 61,
1 son age 17 in 1820)

69 in 1853.
Feb 19 1847.
mar. Dec 22, 1816.
Polly Nickerson
Yarmouth, Mass.
in 1853.
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I Gardner Hammond of Boston Mariner
declare & say that being a Seaman in the
United States Frigate Alliance, in
the year 1779, we sailed from L Orient
in France in company with the Bon
Homme Richard John Paul Jones Commander,
on a cruise - That I well knew Reuben
Chase of Nantucket, to be a Midshipman
bound of the Bon Homme Richard, and
that he was master of the first Prize.
G Hammond
Suffolk Ss. Boston 12th May 1818 - Then
personally appeared Gardner Hammond
made solemn Oath to the truth of the
above deposition by him subscribed
before me Wm Alline Jus
peace
Plymouth ss. May 13. 1818. The above named Wm.
Alline is a magistrate authorized to administer oaths &
from the best information I have had the said Gardner
Hammond is a credible witness
Nahum Mitchell
Judge