Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 5700, for Jeptha Rice, North Carolina
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[3-1776]

SERVICE
N. C.

Rice, Jepha
Nancy

NUMBER
W.5700

CONTENTS
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] 3502
Tennessee Nash:
Nancy Rice decd [deceased]
widow of Jeptha Rice 
who died in the year 1822 of NC in the state of [blank] who was a serg. [Sergeant] Lieut. [Lieutenant] Ens.t. in the [blank] commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by [blank] in the Revolution line for increased pr. $60 

Inscribed on the Roll of Nashville at the rate of 262 dollars 78 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831 & end 19th October 1844 

Certificate of pension issued the 27th day of February 1853 and sent to R N Young

Arrears to the 4th of [blank]
Semi-annual allowance ending Present 

{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836 Section the [blank]} 

Recorded by G T Getty;
Book D Vol. 2 [Page]

[right side] Smith & Jones, March 16, 1855
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Declaration of Nancy Rice - In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed in 1836 allowing a pension to the widows of the officers and soldiers of the Revolution who were married during the Revolutionary war.
State of Tennessee} 
Sumner County} Circuit Court October Term A.D. 1838 
On this 19th day of October eighteen hundred and thirty eight [1838] personally appeared in open Court (before the Honorable James Rucks one of the Judges of the Court of Law for the State of Tennessee now holding Court in the County of Sumner in the town of Gallatin at the October Term eighteen hundred and thirty eight [1838]) Nancy Rice a Resident of the County of Sumner in the said State of Tennessee aged seventy-five or seventy-six years – her precise age she cannot state having no family Record of the Same 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 the Act of Congress passed the 4th of July 1836 and of the Act explanatory of the Same – That she was married to Jeptha Rice in the County of Caswell State of North Carolina as well as she remembers in the year 1781. She knows distinctly that they were married a short time before the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis her Husband the said Jeptha Rice entered Revolutionary Service as well as she remembers either in the company commanded by his Father Captain Hezekiah Rice or the company commanded by Captain Winn Dickson and was attached to the Regiment commanded by Col. Henry Dickson [Henry “Hal” Dixon] of the North Carolina line her said Husband Enlisted for seven years or during the War soon after he entered the Service he was promoted to the
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the Rank of First Lieutenant which Grade he held until about the Close of his service when she was informed he took the Rank of Captain – in what way he was promoted to the Rank of Captain this Declarant does not know so it is she knows that about the close of his Service he was called Captain Rice – the most of his service was however performed as first Lieutenant – he entered the service as before stated for seven years or during the war and continued in the service until the end of the war – her said Husband was taken sick and was Furloughed and came home while on this visit home he and Declarant intermarried before his term of service expired after their marriage which was as before stated as well as she can remember was on the 27th day of August 1781 – her said Husband went on one tour of Duty to the Army after their marriage and after his return home he held himself in Constant readiness to return to the Army whenever called on until the whole Revolutionary Soldiers were disbanded – her Husband the said Jeptha Rice performed much hard service in the Revolutionary War he was in the battle of the Eutaw Springs [September 8, 1781] – in Gates Defeat [Battle of Camden, August 15-16, 1780], in the battle of Gilford [Guilford Court House, March 15, 1781] and several other engagements she thinks he was in the battle of Brandywine [September 11, 1777] and Monmouth [June 28, 1778] the last two battles she has not so distinct a Recollection as the other three engagements before named – She remembers however to have heard him often speak of being engaged in a severe engagement which was fought on a warm day when many of the soldiers were overcome by the excessive heat and while in this condition drank freely of cold water – from which several of them died – and she thinks this battle of which her Husband spoke was the battle of Brandywine – but in this however she may be mistaken – in one of those engagements he was wounded in the fleshy part of his breast the scar of which was visible to the
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day of his death. Declarant and her said Husband lived in the County of Caswell North Carolina after their marriage until the year 1812 when they moved to Tennessee he was then too old to enter the service of his country a second time it was with difficulty however that his family could dissuade him from it and nothing would satisfy him but the determination of his three sons that they would join the Army which they did and one of them continued in the service for five years – Declarant’s Husband continued to reside in Sumner County Tennessee until the year 1822 when he died – Declarant has continued to reside in the same County ever since and has never married again. Since the death of the Husband Declarant was informed that a grant had issued from the State of North Carolina for twenty-five hundred and sixty acres of land – as a compensation for the military services of her said Husband – she employed Major James Blackmore of this County to attend to the business for them and Declarant and her children have obtained this land which is located in the Western District of Tennessee – it is however of but little value being an indifferent Location. She however mentions this fact as furnishing conclusive evidence that her said Husband was a soldier of the Revolution with the Rank of first Lieutenant – Declarant has no family Register of her marriage – and she has been informed that no record of marriages were kept in North Carolina at the early day at which she was married – She knows of no person by whom she can prove her marriage except by the testimony of Mary Byson of this County and perhaps Susan Dern of Wilson County she is confident that Mrs. Byson was at her
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marriage – Declarant asked for a Pension under the provisions of the Act of Congress made for the benefit of the officers and soldiers of the Revolution and she hereby releases and relinquishes all right or claim to a pension whatever except the present. 
[Signed] Nancy Rice {Seal}
Sworn to & Subscribed in open Court 19th October 1838 
J W Baldridge Clerk 

State of Tennessee} 
Sumner County} 
On this day personally appeared in open court Mary Byson about sixty seven years of age who is a citizen of Sumner County who says that she has been well acquainted with Nancy Rice who has made the forgoing declaration She has known her all her life that she knows that the said Nancy Rice married Jeptha Rice that she remembers (though a small girl at that time) her distinctly to have been present when the said Jeptha Rice and the said Nancy were married which marriage took place in Cornell County North Carolina the year she does not remember and the said Jeptha and the said Nancy lived together as man and wife up to the time of his death about the year 1822 - said Rice has always been called a soldier and reputed to be a soldier of the Revolution and she knows that his widow and his hers have obtained a grant for a batch of land for his military services - since his death 
Sworn to & Subscribed in open court 19th October 1838 
Mary [her x mark] Byson {Seal}
J W Baldridge Clerk
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1 
John Lawrence 
application for service
Aug. 23. 1821
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State of North Carolina} 
Carteret County} This may certify to all whom it may concern that John Lawrence came personally before us George Gillikin & Elijah Whitehurst two of the acting Justices of the County aforesaid and made solemn oath that he was well acquainted with Hezekiah and Jeptha Rice brothers and sons of Hezekiah Rice Senior a Welshman who settled in the State of Virginia prior to the revolutionary war he was a neighbor to my father and had three children Hezekiah, Gideon & Jeptha Rice, Gideon was lame with the white swelling in his right knee, Hezekiah Jr & Jeptha Rice received commissions in the Continental line of this State in the revolutionary war against England Hezekiah died in the service with the smallpox. Jeptha was said to be killed he never returned. Gideon Rice had two children Churchwell and Dempsey. Dempsey was lost at sea without issue, Churchwell is now the only surviving heir of said Hezekiah and Jeptha Rice provided the six children of Titus Leach who married the widow of Gideon should not be considered as lawful heirs. I have lived in the neighborhood of the above Rices and moved from Virginia with Gideon Rice and his family to this State and further this deponent saith not. 
[Signed] John Larauce {Seal}
Sworn to and subscribed} 
before us Augt. [August] 23, 1821}
E. Whitehurst, J. P. 
George Gillikin, J. P.

This will certify that we have been for a member of
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 of years acquainted with John Laurence of this state & county and have always found time to be a man of integrity and honesty. Given under our hands and Seal, this 25th August 1821 
Jachonias Pigott {Seal}
E. Whitehurst J. P. {Seal}

State of North Carolina}
{Seal} Carteret County} 
I certify that Jachonias Pigott and Elijah Whitehurst are acting justices of the peace for said county 
Given under my hand and seal of office this the 25th of August 1821
G Rumley C. C.

State of North Carolina 
Secretary of State’s Office 
I William Hill Secretary of State in and for the State of North Carolina do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the evidence on which the Commissioners appointed pass upon all applications for military land warrants for services performed in the revolutionary war, ordered a Warrant to be issued to the Heirs of Jeptha Rice and Ensign No. 958 for 2560 Acres. 
Given under my hand at Office in Raleigh 16 November 1840
Wm Hill
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Declaration of Joseph H Rice Adm'r [Administrator] of Nancy Rice decd [deceased] late a Revoly [Revolutionary] Pens'r [Pensioner] Act 4 July 1836, 
on Nashville Tenne Roll 
June 14 1853 

Claim for Increase of pension 

Presented by [crossed out - Smith & Jones Attys Nashville Tenne] Evans & Faut Washington City
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State of Tennessee County of Carlton SS
Be it known that on this the 14th day of June AD. 1853, personally appeared before me Felix R. Cheatham Clerk of the County Court of said County which is a Court of Record & has by law a seal. Joseph H Rice aged forty nine years, with whom I am well acquainted and who I certify is a man of veracity and good repute, a resident of Sumner County Tennessee, and made the following declaration in order to obtain the Increase of Pension due under Act of 4th July 1836, 3d Section to himself and the other children of Nancy Rice deceased: That he is the Son & Administrator of the said Nancy Rice, who was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States at the rate of Sixty Dollars ($60) per annum under act of 4th July 1836, and drew her Pension at Nashville, State of Tennessee, on account of the revolutionary services of her husband Jeptha Rice who was declarants father. That he has often I heard his father, the said Jeptha Rice Speak of his services in the Revolutionary war; that at the beginning of the war, he was living in Caswell County, in the State of North Carolina, and that he entered the service in said County and State, in the Company commanded by his father Hezekiah Rice, this was at the commencement of hostilities in North Carolina, this service was performed as a Private, as declarant thinks; that sometime during the year subsequent to his first enlistment, to wit in or about the year 1776, as declarant thinks, his father was promoted to Ensign, and soon thereafter to Lieutenant in the Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Henry Dixon, who had been promoted from Captain; That his father continued to serve as a Lieutenant in said Regiment for several years, that after his father's death, to wit in the year 1825, a suit was brought by the heirs of his father, the said Jeptha Rice, to recover 2560 acres of land, being the amount of Warrant No 958, issued in the name of his father the said Jeptha, and which had been located by some person or persons for
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the "University of North Carolina," the Court decided that they were the heirs of the said Lieutenant Jeptha Rice, and adjudged them the title thereto, and a grant No 25456 was issued for the 2560 acres to Baldwin Rice, Levi Smith & Polly his wife, [Kenal or Henas] Rice, William Rosea & Elizabeth his wife, Matthew Rice, Elisha Gibson, and Patsy his wife, Joseph Rice, - Smith and Axey his wife & Henry Rice, this land was located in Hardin & McNairy Counties Tennessee, and a portion of it is now in the possession of some of the children, who reside thereon. Declarant will endeavor to procure a certified copy of the Court Record of the suit, and present the same as proof.
That the application of his mother for Pension was made on her behalf by one Robert M Burton, who drew up her papers, and who, as she believed and often said, did injustice to the claim, and did not procure for her the amount of Pension to which she was justly entitled. That she continued the Widow of the said Jeptha Rice up to the day of her death, which occurred in Sumner County Tennessee on the 19 day of October in the year 1844, and that she left the following named and only children who still survive, to wit, Axey Smith, (formerly Axey Rice), Matthew Rice, Patsy Gibson (formerly Patsy Rice) Henry Rice and Declarant and no others. 
He further declares that he believed an error occurred in the allowance of only sixty Dollars per annum to his mother, as that allowance appears to have been made to her as the Widow of Jeptha Rice, who was a private, and he never understood that his father served as long as one year in that capacity, that his service as a private was performed in the first part of the War, after which as before stated he was promoted to a Lieutenancy and served as such for several years, as he always understood from his father, after which and during the latter part of the War, he was appointed Quarter Master, and in that capacity continued to serve but for what length of time, he is unable to state, but he is fully satisfied that his mother the said Nancy Rice was the widow of the Jeptha Rice, who was Lieutenant & Quarter Master; in support of which he will endeavor to procure a copy of the proceedings and records of the Court in the suit referred to above, 
He therefore prays that the Increase of Pension be allowed and made payable
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to him as Administrator of the said Nancy Rice for the benefit of himself and the other children and that the Certificate of Pension be delivered to Smith & Jones of Nashville Tennessee, who he hereby authorizes and empowers to present and prosecute said claim and to receive the Certificate hereby ratifying all their lawful acts in the premises as his attorneys 

[Signed] Joseph H Rice Administrator {Seal} 
Sworn to & Subscribed before me} 
the day & year first above written}
F R Cheatham Clerk}
of Davidson County Court}

State of Tennessee} 
Davidson County} S.S.
It is hereby certified that satisfactory proof has been exhibited before me F.R. Cheatham Clerk of the County Court of said County, which is a Court of Record to prove & did prove to my satisfaction that Nancy Rice was a Revy Pensioner of the United States Act 4 July 1836, at Sixty Dollars per annum, and drew at Nashville Tennessee that she died on the 19 day of October 1844, and left that following named and only surviving children to wit Axey Smith, Patsy Gibson, Matthew Rice Henry Rice and Joseph H Rice, who is also her Administrator, that they still survive.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & Seal this 14th day of June AD 1853
F. R Cheatham Clerk
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Payment to be made at Nashville Te [Tennessee], by J. W. Smith Agent for paying pensioners in the agency of Nashville 

Recorded in the pension Office in Book D Volume 2 Page 416 by R. McRae Clerk.
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
Claim for Military Service. 

I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 4 July 1836, Nancy Rice deceased, who was widow of Jeptha Rice an E Sergt [Sergeant] Ensign & Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War, was entitled to a pension of [^ $262.78] Two hundred & ninety one dollars ten cents, per annum, commencing 4 March 1831 & ending 19 October 1844. when she died –
And that the amount due at the above rate, deducting therefrom former payments under the same Act at sixty dollars per annum, is payable to Joseph H Rice, administrator of said Nancy Rice, for the use & benefit of Axey Smith, Patsy Gibson Matthew Rice, Henry Rice, & Joseph H Rice, only surviving children of said Nancy Rice deceased. 

Given at the Department of the Interior this 17th day of August one thousand eight hundred and fifty four 

Examined and} Secretary of the Interior
Countersigned.} 
Acting Commissioner of Pensions
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

BRIEF IN THE CASE OF Nancy Rice wid. of Jeptha Sumner County and State of Tennessee act July 4 1836. 

CLAIM, (“original”, of “for increase”.) 

PROOF EXHIBITED, (if original.) (Increase) 

Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance. 
Recved [Received] evidence that Jeptha Rice served in the Line of North Carolina as an Sarge & Lieutenant. 

Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what? 
Consulted the acting Commissioner, who after an examination of the testimony decided to admit the claim. Aug. 17 1854.

Name and residence of Agent 
R. W. Young Present 

Examining Clerk. 
Ogden Nile
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State of Tennessee} 
Davidson County} On this 24 day of October 1853 personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the peace in & for said County Joseph H. Rice and makes oath to the following Statement of facts in order to show as far as possible of what family of Rice he is of & in order to recover from the United States the ballance [balance] of pension that is due the heirs of his father Jeptha Rice & his wife Nancy decd [deceased] which is claimed in his former declaration now on file at the pension office which facts be will give from what he has always understood from his father & Mother in their life time & others (viz) that he is the 9th child of his father & Mother the said Jeptha & Nancy Rice that his father was a son of Hezekiah Rice of Caswell County North Carolina that his grandfather the said Hezekiah Rice was as affiant always understood was one of the first Lieutenants (he thinks) that was appointed by the authorities in Congress or in North Carolina that he was under Captain Henry Dixson at the commencement in the Revolutionary war that he shortly afterwards was promoted or stated Captain from Caswell Co North Carolina that after which his son Jeptha Rice
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affiants father entered the service in the regular army under his father Hezekiah Rice that he was an Ensign at the time he first entered that he continued to serve as Ensign then was promoted to a Lieutenant and then to the Rank of a Quarter Master or Gr. Master Sergeant that he continued to fill some one of these offices untill [until] nearly the close of the war but the length of time that he held either of these portions affiant cannot State them fully affiant has often heard his father State affiant further state that as an evidence of his relationship to Hezekiah Rice he will refer to the evidence on file in the Secretary office of this State wherein he at the last session of the legislature applied for and was paid 12½ cents per ann [annum] for 3840 amt of land which warrant No 741 was issued by his Grandfather Capt. Hezekiah Rice for his service as aforesaid in said Revolutionary war that his Grand father & his family in the time of the Revolutionary war was living in Caswell County North Carolina that he never heard his father or mother speak of any other heirs who held office of any grade in said Revolutionary war that from what he always understood
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from his said parents he has no doubt but that his father did serve as Ensign Lieutenant & Quarter Master or Gr Master Sgt. that his father was a grate [great] part of his time as is natural to suppose under his father Hezekiah that he served the Grater [greater] part of the Revolutionary war he would further state that his father Jeptha Rice was a brother of old Ibzan Rice of Caswell County who continued in said County of Caswell untill [until] he died which was only a few years ago affiant would further state that he has Record of his father’s age or birth nor has he any other documentary or war proof in support of his claim except some letters of Hon & Mr. Ewing & others which has [he] has received while in present of the Land bounty of his father & Grand father same years ago 
Sworn to & subscribed this date above within 
Joseph H Rice 
J H McEwen {JP}

I [blank] a Justice of the peace in & for said County do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Joseph H Rice who has this day made oath to the above that he is intitled [entitled] to full credit & belief & I further state that I am not interested in said claim this 24 October 1853
J H McEwen {JP}
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State of Tennessee}
Davidson County} I F. R. Cheatham Clerk of the County Court of said County, do hereby certify that Jos H McEwen above name is signed to the within affidavit is now, and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly elected, commissioned and qualified and that the signature thereto purporting to be his is genuine. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at office in Nashville this 24th day of October A.D. 1853
F. R. Cheatham Clerk 
By J. W. Yeatman DC [Deputy Clerk]

[written sideways] Joseph Rice Oct. 24, 1853
Page 21

also from page 103, as a Segt. [Sergeant] and also the name of Jeptha Rice Lieutenant 
Jan. 29

Rice, Jeptha
N. C. W.5700

[written sideways] Memoranda – case of Jeptha Rice widow.
Page 22

Jeptha Rice, the claimants husband lived in Caswell C. N.C. for some 37 years after the termination of the revolutionary war. There were two of that name one a commissioned and one a non commissioned officer. The non commissioned officer it is believed lived in Caswell Co. because a final settlement certificate was issued in his favor and delivered to John Hall, of Caswell Co. as appears from a printed list of the payments made to the N. Carolina troops in this office page 203. The name of Jeptha Rice is also found among the 12 months drafts page 161. A pension can be allowed therefore for one years service. He was a G. M. Sergt. [Sergeant]. His name is
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[duplicate] also from page 103, as a Segt. [Sergeant] and also the name of Jeptha Rice Lieutenant 
Jan. 29

Rice, Jeptha
N. C. W.5700

[written sideways] Memoranda – case of Jeptha Rice widow.
Page 24

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Revy WIDOW, &c. 

File No. 5700 
Nancy Rice 
Wid. of 
Jeptha Rice 
Lieut. Rev War 
Act: July 4th/836 

Index:-Vol. M, Page 162 

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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3509  
Nancy Rice decd [deceased] 
Widow of Jephthah, 
Ten 
Let [Letter] Evans & Faut Oct 7/53 
To same Dec 22/53 

For increases - adm [Administrator]
Act July 4 1836
Page 26

[circular stamp] RALEIGH N. C. 18 AUG.
[stamped] FREE
S. Cole Esqr. 
Acting Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.

[written sideways] Jeptha Rice Col. Niles
Page 27

N 13. I cannot forbear in this time of great political for me to state - that [Success?] is absolutely safe on the side of Democracy I have been much der the State butting in the cause - and will leave this place tomorrow to join Gen Polk in a [Illegible] of appointments to continue up to the day of Election if ever York will do her duty towards her distinguished I am the Victory is certain! 
R. M. Burton
Page 28

[left side] let 21 July 18[cut off] to R. M. Burton
let 25 July 1840 to Hon. W. B. Campbell 
let: 11 Nov to Robert M. Burton ’40
let to R. M. Burton & W. Hill Nov 20 1840
lot, 22 Dec 40 Hon. W. B. Campbell 
78 

[right side] Nancy Rice Tennessee Suspended 
See let 18 May ‘39 R. M. Burton & William Hill
do to W. Will 25 May 1839, let 27 May 39
Hon. W. B. Campbell
do 1 June 1838 
let 18 July 29 Hon. A. Kendall 
let R. M. Burton 23d Nov. 39 
let 16 Jan 1840 Hon. W. B. Campbell 
Act 4 July 1836 / over)
Page 29

Hon: L. P. Waldo 
Comr. [Commissioner] of Pensions

[written sideways] Nancy Rice Ad. 36 Ten.
S. Cole
Evans
Page 30

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] 3,509
Tennessee N
Nancy Rice decd [deceased]
widow of Jeptha
who died in the year 1822 of [blank] in the state of [blank] who was a Ens.t. & Lieut. [Lieutenant] in the [blank] commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by [blank] in the line Revolutionary War

Inscribed on the Roll of Nashville at the rate of 291 dollars 10 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831 & ending 19 Oct. 1844 

Certificate of pension issued the 17 day of August 1854 and delivered to R M Young Present

Arrears to the 4th of [blank]
Semi-annual allowance ending [blank]

{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836 Section the [blank]} 

Recorded by R. McRae, Clerk
Book D Vol. 2 Page 421

[right side] See N A. Aug. 18/54
Page 31

Raleigh 7th of September 1854 
R. McClelland Esq.r [Esquire] Secretary of the Department of the Interior 

Sir
Your letter on the subject of Jeptha Rice’s Services in the revolutionary war is received, and I will now give you a statement of the manner in which his name stands on the muster rolls of the Continental line in the Office of the Secretary of State, and a printed book of settlements of the Army Accounts. – In the 9th Regiment, Jepha Rice [sic] Ensign entered the service 15 March 1777 “not mustered after January 1778” – 10th Regiment Jeptha Rice Qr M Serg. [Quarter Master Sergeant] 15th May 1781. Nothing more said of him on the Rolls. 
On the printed book of settlements, Jeptha Rice was allowed for services as a Lt. [Lieutenant] by a Board of Commissioners at Halifax, which set in 1783 & 4 £339.16.4, drawn by Abisha Thomas. At the same time and place, Jeptha Rice Sr. was allowed £38.10.4 drawn by Tilman Dixon [Tilghman Dixon]. In payments made in 1782 to the 12 mo.s [months] Drafts $30. was allowed for the services of Jeptha Rice, paid to the Treasurer. In a list of final settlements certificates issued by the Comptroller in 1785 is one to Jeptha Rice for $30. delivered to John Hall of Caswell County. This
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This is all that appears on the muster rolls or book of settlements respecting Jeptha Rice.
I am entitled to fees for my services, and think I have laboured [labored] enough in this case to earn $5. 
Yours respectfully 
Wm Hill [North Carolina Secretary of State] 

P. S. The Comptroller has much evidence of revolutionary services not to be found in the Office of the Secretary of State. 
Wm Hill