Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15954, for Amos Richards, New Hampshire
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(3-1776)
[column headings: SERVICE|[blank]|NUMBER|]
N.H.|Richards, Amos|W. 15954|
[blank]|Catharine|[blank]|
[end of columns]
CONTENTS
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[verso]
1531
New Hampshire Concord
Catharine Richards widow of Amos Richards who served in the Revolutionary war, as a private N.H. 
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 49 Dollars 78. Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of August 1848 and sent to Dan'l Abbot Nashville N.H. 
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 121 Vol. 1. 

[recto]
Reported
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12, 853 R
New Hampshire
Amos Richards of Goffstown in the state of N. Hampshire who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Stark of the N. Hampshire line, for the term of 1 year
______
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Hampshire at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 4th of April 1818 - 
______
Certificate of Pension issued the 21st of July 1819  and sent to David L. Morril, Esqr. Goffstown, N. Hampshire
______
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 - 10 27/30.4/31 88:23
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept. 1819 - 48.00
$136:23
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.}
[illegible] Hillsborough Co'y:
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N.H.
Amos Richards (Goffstown)
Col. Stark's N. Hampshire Reg't 
Nov'r 1775 - 1 year - 4th April 1818. 
Stark's Reg't [illegible] on the Continental [illegible] at the time within [illegible] - 
The original commission must be sent to the War Department
Col. John Stark's com'r dated in 1776.
Admitted - 
Mr. E.
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I, Amos Richards of Goffstown in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, and formerly of the same Town Gentleman depose, that in November AD. 1775 I enlisted as a Private Soldier into Capt. S. Richard's company and Col. John Stark's Regiment in the New Hampshire line in the Continental service; and there served against the common enemy till December AD 1776: again in AD. 1777 I served two months in the same line again in AD. 1778 I served two months more - and at the end of all these services I was honourably discharged - 
I further depose, that I have never received any Pension from the United States: am now fifty eight years old; have a large family; and quite destitute of property - 
and from  my reduced circumstances need assistance for support from my country - 
Apr. 4th 1818 /s/Amos Richards 
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough ss. April 4, 1818. Then personally appearing the above Amos Richards made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed before me
/s/Levi Woodbury As. Jus. Sup. Ct.(N.H.)
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I, Aaron Howe of Goffstown (N.H.) depose, that I know Amos Richards of sd. Goffstown and that his circumstances in life as to property are quite reduced and that he needs assistance from his country for support - 
April 4th, 1818 /s/Aaron Howe
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough ss. April 4, 1818. Then personally appearing the above Aaron How(e) made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed - 
Before me s/Levi Woodbury As. Jus. Sup. Ct. (N.H.)
I, Nath'l Stevens of New Boston (N.H.) depose, that I am well acquainted with Amos Richards of Goffstown (N.H.) & that I well remember his enlisting & serving as a Private Soldier against the common enemy one year in the Revolutionary war at one period in the New Hampshire line in the Continental Services and that he is mow very poor - & needs assistance from his country for support - 
Apl. 6th. 1818 /s/Nathaniel Stevens
State of New Hampshire Hillsboro ss. April 6th 1818 Then personally appearing the above Nathaniel Stevens made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed before me - 
/s/Levi Woodbury As. Jus. Sup. Ct. (N.H.)
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State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough ss. April 6, 1818. 
I hereby certify that the within declarations of Amos Richards, Aaron Howe and Nathaniel Stevens - subscribed & sworn to before me hath fully satisfied me, that the within named Amos Richards served against the common enemy during our Revolutionary War in the New Hampshire Line in the Continental Service, as a Private Soldier, longer than nine  months at one period; and from his reduced circumstances needs assistance from his country for support - 
/s/Levi Woodbury As. Ju. Sup. Ct. (N.H.)
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My occupation is that of Day Laborer I have not sufficient ability to pursue it on account of old age & ill health my principal infirmity is the Rheumatism which renders me incapable of laboring at times at all 
My family consists of is a Wife 61 years old and can not labor. & one daughter 25 years old 
/s/Amos Richards 
Sworn to and declared in open court, on the 5th day of July Anno Domini, 1820. 
/s/M. Eastman Clerk
I MOSES EASTMAN, Clerk of the above named Court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing declaration and oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied 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 foregoing schedule, is D17..89
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court, on this fifth day of July, 1820.
/s/M. Eastman} Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Hillsborough.
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[handwritten letter]
Hon J. L. Edwards
Sir.
The applicant in this case, is of very precarious health, subject to sudden attacks which seem to threaten immediate dissolution. it her special desire, that her case may have an early examination & return. Please inclose her certificate to me at Salisbury N.H. 
Very respectfully Yours &c
/s/Israel W. Kelly
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Catharine Richards
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Catharine Richards
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I, Caleb Richards of Atkinson in the County of Rockingham & State of New-Hampshire seventy one years old next month, depose & say that, Amos Richards, late of Goffstown N.H. deceased who Married Catharine McCartney, was my cousin that I well recollect in haying time 1778 the said Amos was at work for my Father helping to get hay; that when volunteers were called for to go to Rhode island, to reinforce the army under Gen Sullivan, the said Amos turned out as a volunteer under Capt. Jesse Page of this Town, & went with a number of others from this town - to wit - Lot Little, Benaiah Clement, & Doctor Wm. Cogswell &c. they were gone six weeks - when the said Amos was discharged from service he returned to my father's in Atkinson aforesaid. the above service was in the War of the Revolution - 
/s/Caleb Richards
[margin note: Amos Richards on roll 28d, Vol. 2 Capt Page]
I, William Page of Atkinson above mentioned, seventy four years of age depose & say that Capt. Jesse Page named above was my Father, that I well recollect that my Father commanded a company of volunteers at Rhodeisland assisted by Caleb Richards in the above affidavit, & also that Amos Richards belonged to his company and went & returned as stated by him in the above affidavit - 
/s/William Page 
State of New Hampshire
Atkinson ss. December 13th 1838. 
Personally appeared the above named Cobb Richards & William Page (both of whom are well known to me as credible witnesses & their statements entitled to full credit) severally made Oath in due form of law, that, the foregoing affidavits by them personally subscribed were true - 
Before me. /s/John Vose Jus Peace
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[verso]
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 15954
Catharine Richards widow of Amos Richards
Pri Rev War
Act Feb 2d '48
Index: Vol. M, Page 163
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[recto]
1924 Mch. 5 - Hist. to Hon. J. J. McSwain for Mrs. W. B. May. MMHF.
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[verso]
2305
Concord N. Hamp're
Catharine Richards widow of Amos Richards dec'd who was a pensioner under the Act of 1818 and who died on the 24th November 1830 of Merrimack Co in the State of N.H. who was a Private in the Comp'y commanded by Captain [blank] of the Reg't commanded by Col. Stark in the N.H. line for 14 mos & 28 days
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Inscribed on the Roll of Concord N.H. at the rate of 49 Dollars 78 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
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Certificate of Pension issued the 9th day of Apl. 1839 and sent I. W. Kelly Salisbury N.H.
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Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 39 $149.34
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 24.89
$174.23
{Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk,
Book A Vol. 1st Page 53

[recto]
2
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State of New Hampshire
Secretary's office
[state seal affixed] I hereby certify that at the date of his attestation John Vose was a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Rockingham and Benaiah Richards and Samuel Center at the time of their attestations were Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Hillsborough duly constituted and commissioned and that to their acts and attestations as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the State this fifteenth day of January Anno Domini 1839. 
/s/Jno Whipple Depy Secy
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State of New Hampshire
Secretary of State's office
[state seal affixed] I hereby certify that the within named Benjamin Wadleigh is a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Merrimac(k). Israel W. Kelly is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Merrimack and Moses Poor is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Hillsborough duly qualified and their signatures are genuine. 
In testimony whereof I have this 10th day of Sept Anno Domini 1838 caused the seal of the State to be hereunto affixed.
/s/Jno Whipply Depy Secy
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V 1661
Catharine Richards
wid of Amos. 
N.H. 
Act 7 July 1838
Married 1780
died 1830
Allow 14 Mo 28 days pri $49.78 per ann.
I. W. Kelly
Salisbury NH
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I Charles Ayer of Salisbury County of Merrimack & State of New Hampshire ['depose' crossed out] aged [blank] years depose & say, that Catharine Richards, (formerly Catharine McCartney) widow of Amos Richards, late of Goffstown N.H. is the mother of my wife, she is residing in my family and has resided with me at Salisbury aforesaid for the space of [blank] years last past, that after the death of her husband, the aforesaid Amos Richards, she was infirm & feeble, & totally destitute of means to support herself, I brought her to my house in Salisbury & have supported her ever since - 
I say that the aforesaid Amos Richards at the time of his death, was in the receipt of a pension on the New-Hampshire agency at the rate of eight dollars per month - 
The aforesaid Catharine Richards is still living, and remains the widow of the aforesaid Amos Richards, not having intermarried with any other ever since his decease
State of New Hampshire
Merrimack, ss. } Salisbury September 1st 1838
Then personally appeared the above named Charles Ayer, (whose is of good reputation for truth & entitled to full credit) and made oath in due form of law, that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true before me -
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I Eliphalet Richards of Goffstown in the County of Hillsborough & State of New Hampshire seventy seven years of age last June depose & say that Amos Richards was married to Catharine McCartney at Merrimack in said Cpunty about the month of August 1780. they were married by the Rev. Mr Cotton then minister of Leytchfield (Litchfield) N.H. I was present & saw them married; he then resided in Goffstown N.H. - the said Amos Richards died in said Goffstown in the month of November 1830. & left the said Catharine his widow and she now remains his widow - 
The said Amos Richards enlisted some time in the year 1776. as I believe for one year or more & went to Canada & there had, ['the' crossed out] as was said the small pox, he was then in a company commanded by Capt. Samuel Richards [illegible] was ['Ensign' crossed out] Lieut in the company & died of the small pox as was said at the time - [margin note: Amos Richards on McConnell's roll 2 mo.]
In 1777 the said Amos Richards in a company commanded by Capt. McConnel (McConnell) & marched to Bennington, was in the battle there under Gen'l Stark his enlistment was for two months, but he was out ten weeks - I was in the same company at the same time & know the said Amos was there as a private two months or more - 
['In 1778 the said Amos again volunteered in a company commanded by Capt. Aiken of Bedford N.H. in the Reg't commanded by Col. Kelly' crossed out]
In 1778 I went as volunteer to Rhodeisland in Capt Aiken's company in Col. Kelly's Reg't was
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out six weeks, when we got to R. Island the Amos Amos was there as a corporal I do not recollect the company or Reg't he was in, he  went from the town of Atkinson N.H. where he was then staying for a short time his grandfather - 
The said Amos Richards was my brother and I am certain that he was  at R. Island & was a corporal & that we were both there six weeks or about that time - 
/s/Eliphalet Richards
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough ss. Goffstown August 2nd 1838 - 
Then personally appeared the above named Eliphalet Richards, whose reputation for truth is beyond impeachment, and made oath in due form of law that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed was true - 
Before me - /s/Moses Poor, Justice Peace

V 1661
Catharine Richards
wid of Amos.
N.H.
Act 7 July 1838
Married 1780
died 1830
Allow 14 Mo 28 days pri $49.78 per ann.
I. W. Kelly
Salisbury NH
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The original hereof filed with the Muster Rolls -
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Application of Wid'o Catharine Richards. 
adm'd 
admitted
Dan'l Abbott
Nashville NH
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DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of 2d February, 1848, entitled "An Act making further provision for surviving Widows and Soldiers of the Revolution. 
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
County of Hillsborough ss.} 
ON THIS twenty seventh day of June 1848. personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, Catherine (Catharine) Richards resident of Nashua in the County of Hillsborough aged Eighty Nine years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed on the 2d February, 1848, granting pensions to Widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War: That she is the Widow of Amos Richards who was a private in the Army of the Revolution, and drew a pension during his life time of ninety six dollars per annum, as will appear by the Books of the Department - and that after his decease, she was a pensioner & received a pension of Forty nine dollars & seventy eight cents per annum, which she drew under the Act of 17. June 1844 - 
She further declares that she is still a widow. 
/s/X her mark Catherine (Catharine) Richards
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written - Before
Attest /s/Benj'n H. Wadleigh}
Cyntha Wadleigh} Dan'l Abbot Justice of the Peace. 
State of New-Hampshire.
Hillsborough COUNTY, SS. 
I, Perley Dodge Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Daniel Abbot is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the twentieth day of May 1844 and will expire on the nineteenth day of May 1849 and that his signature above written is genuine. 
[county seal affixed] Given under my hand, and the seal of said County, this first day of July 1848
/s/Perley Dodge CLERK. 
Sold by John F. Brown, 171, Main-Street, Concord, N.H.
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 3d of March 1843. granting pensions for one year to certain widows who have received pension under the act of July 7th 1838. 
State of New Hampshire - Hillsborough ss - 
On the twenty fifth day of July A.D. 1843. personally appeared before the subscriber, a justice of the Peace for said County, Catharine Richards a resident of Manchester in said County of Hillsborough aged eighty three 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 act of Congress, passed on the 3d of March 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of Amos Richards who was a private in the Revolutionary army - and that she rec'd a pension under the act of July 7th 1838. amounting to $49.78 per annum. 
She further declares that she is still a widow - 
/s/Catharine Richards 
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before the subscriber, and I further certify, that the above declarant is personally known to me  - 
/s/Dan'l Clark Justice of the Peace
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[handwritten letter continued]
as the widow has deceased, I know not how the arrears are to be obtained by the children but trust that you will see the evidence of heirship placed before the proper authority & let me be informed in due season, how ['and' crossed out] they may obtain it - it is their wish that it be paid in New-Hampshire - 
I would also like to hear how the claim of Mary, widow of Nath'l Flanders and Tabitha widow Simon Gilman stand - 
With much respect & esteem Your obt. Serv't
/s/Israel W. Kelly
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[addressed envelope]
[postmark: LITCHFIELD N.H. FEB 14] FREE
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D.C. 
[margin notes: Catharine Richards  March 3 1843
$49:78 per ann D. Clarke Manchester N.H.]
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[handwritten letter]
J. L. Edwards
Dr Sir,
I send you the declaration of Catharine Richards for a pension under the act of 1843. Any communication on the subject may be made to me - 
Yours respectfully 
/a/Dan'l Clark
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[typewritten letter]
SIXTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS. 
JULIUS KAHN, CALIF. CHAIRMAN. 
JOHN C. MCKENZIE, ILL.
JOHN M. MORIN, PA.
HARRY E. NULL, IOWA.
W. FRANK JAMES, MICH.
HARRY C. RANSLEY, PA.
JOHN PHILIP HILL, MD.
HARRY M. WURZBACH, TEX.
LOUIS A. FROTHINGHAM, MASS.
B. CARROLLREECE, TENN.
JOHN C. SPEAKS, OHIO.
J. MAYHEW WAINWRIGHT, N.Y.
PERCY R. QUIN, MISS.
HUBERT F. FISHER, TENN.
WILLIAM C. WRIGHT, CA.
DANIEL. E. GARRETT, TEX.
JOHN J. MC SWAIN, S.C.
ISAAC R. SHERWOOD, OHIO.
JOHN J. DOYLAN, N. Y.
LISTER HILL, ALA.
ELMER L. GERAN, N. J.
DAN A. SUTHERLAND, DELEGATE FROM ALASKA.
HOWARD F. SEDGWICK, CLERK.
THERESE PIERSON, ASSISTANT CLERK.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS
WASHINGTON, D. C.
March 1, 1924.

Hon. Washington Gardner,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

My dear Mr. Commissioner:
I enclose herewith communication from Mrs. W. B. May, Carlisle, S. C., wherein she asks for certain information regarding military service of person mentioned therein.
Please furnish me all information available about the soldier, and return her letter with your reply.
Yours very truly,
/s/J. J. McLinden
Page 44

[receipt stamp: OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER U.S. BUREAU OF PENSIONS MAR 3 1924