Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21446, for Joseph Rice, Rhode Island
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21217
Rhode Island
Joseph Rice of County in the State of R Island who was a [illegible] in the Company commanded by Captain Johnson of the [illegible] commanded by Col. Varnum in the Rhode Island line for 8 mos & 15 days [illegible] 8 42 [illegible].

Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island at the rate of 81 Dollars 71 Cents per annum, to commenced on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension Issued the 24 day of Aug 1833 and sent Wm. G. Bowen at [illegible] R.I.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833  $163.42
Semi-annu. allowance ending 4th     40.86
   $204.38
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by D. D. Addison, Clerk
Book E, Vol. 2  Page 127
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14170
Joseph Rice

William G Bowen
E Greenwich R I.
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office in said Country, That when he was called into the service of the United States as herein after stated he resided in said Country now united then during said war except when in said service as length stated and has resided in said County ever since said war,
That about the middle of May 1775 this applicant enlisted as a private in a company under the command of Cap.t Edmond Johnson in Col James M. Varnan's regiment of Brigader Gen.l Nathaniel Green's Brigade of troops [illegible] by said state for the term of Eight months, that soon after said enlistment, he marched with said company to form the army near Boston, said company and the first company of said regiment which arrived at the main army - That he served [said crossed out] the whole of said eight months in said company and regiment, and was honorably discharged from said service on the last day of December 1775.  and during said time he was stationed at Roxbury, Winter Hill & Prospect Hill in the vicinity of Boston & that in first of year 1775 he was at Roxbury, at the time of the battle at Bunker hill and saw Charleston Burnt, and that Jonah Gibbs and Lieu.t of s.d company & John Holden Ensign,___Babenk was Lieut. Col of the regiment & Christopher Green and Major --
That on the first day of January 1776 he enlisted in a company commanded by Cap.t Thomas Cole in Col James M. Varnum's regiment of Brig. General Nathaniel Green's Brigade of troops [illegible] by said state of Rhode Island on the continental establishment as a regiment in said company for one year, and was stationed in new Cap.t Coles company at said Prospect hill until the British evacuated Boston April 1776.  That he was on guard the day, when the British evacuated Boston, which was the sevententh day of March 1776. and that in the fore part of April 1776, he marched in said Cap.t Coles company with the army from Prospect hill for New York, and about the middle of said April this applicant engaged one Elias Blanch and to serve in his com for the remainder of new year for which he enlisted as above stated; and Col Varnum received said Blanch and as a substitute for this applicant, and he believes said Blanch and served out said time as a Sergant - and this applicant believes that he served under said last mentioned enlistment for three months and a half _ the Leu.t of said Cap.t Coles company was Isaac Holden and Timothy Lock was the Ensign of the Leu.t Col of said regiment was Archibald Crary, & the Major was Christopher Smith - 
That about the first of December 1776 when the British took possession of Rhode Island, the Militia was Generally called into service, and this applicant there belonged to the fourth company of militia in said Country and was [illegible] sergeant of said company in a regiment in said county of Kent under the command of Col Nathaniel Brown.
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boats were [illegible] to Kickemull river, and from thence con't in the night to Howland ferry and landed in Trenton, and remained in said Trenton in said Cap.t Roys company during the attempt or expedition of Gen.l Spencer against the enemy on Rhode Island for one month, most of this service was in the month of October -

That in the Summer of 1778 he was drafted for twenty days service, and in a company of said Country Militia under Cap.t Asaph Bennet in a regiment under the command of Col Thomas Holden, con.t onto Rhode Island in the first division of the Militia in Sullivan expedition against the British in August, He marched from said Country to Providence from thence to Slades ferry, thence to Howlands ferry and crossed over to Rhode Island, and was in said [Rhode Island in said crossed out] service for twenty four days, and [word crossed out] during the August a French Storm so called and served as a duty sergeant of said Cap.t Bennets company - 

That in the Summer of 1780 this applicant was Lieutenant of Cap.t Asaph Bennets company of militia in said Country, and marched in said company in a regiment under Col. Kasson to British in said state and was on service for twenty days, quartered at said British, and served during said twenty days as Lieutenant as aforesaid __

That while in said service at Bristol he knew Genl Washington, Putnam Sullivan & Lee, his knowledge [word marked out] of said Guards was derived from his being a waiter for Col Varnan a part of said time, who quartered with Gen.l Greene and said officers am frequently at said quarters_ He also knew Gen.l Greene very well-
He has no documentary evidence in relation to this subject except the commission hereto annexed ---
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2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another responsible citizen as in their belief respecting his age and the general belief to his revolutionary service?  {illegible}
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not be produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. 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? 
XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?  Yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? Yes
XV. Does is 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?  Yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulation directs?  Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not answered? 

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 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 _____months and _____ days, I served as a ______; and for such service I claim a pension.
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I Edmond Jordan of Coventry in the County of Kent and state of Rhode Island being duly sworn do testify and say that I resided at Coventry aforesaid at the time of the Revolutionary war and was then well acquainted with Joseph Rice of said Coventry and have ever since been well acquainted with him __ That in the month of December 1776 about the first of the month I was called upon to do duty in the militia at East Greenwich in said County of Kent in Capt Asaph Bennetts company  And that the said Joseph Rice acted as orderely Sergeant of said Company And that our term of service at that time was about two months - - October 1777 we served one month at Trenton_ he then said Joseph Rice who in the above said capacity of orderly sergeant in a company commanded by Capt. William Roy, (in what was called Spencers expedition, - 
In the summer of 1780 soon after the French army arrived at Newport the militia from our neighborhood were called out _ Joseph Rice entered as Lieutenant in Captain Bennetts Company in Col Archibald Kassons Regiment -- our company was stationed at Bristol and our term of service at that time was about twenty days - - And can further say that I never knew the said Joseph Rice to neglect his duty when called upon during the Revolutionary war
[signed on right] Edmond Jordan
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State of Rhode Island
Kent Ss _
At Coventry 20th August 1832
The within deposition was taken and sworn to before me __ And I certify that the deponent is a person of a good character for truth and veracity -
[signed] Samuel R Hopkins Justice Peace

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Kent Ss  I Christopher Johnson Clerk of the Superior Judicial Court of said State within & for said County of Kent hereby certify that Samuel r. Hopkins whose name is above written is a Justice of the peace in Coventry in said County of Kent and that the signature above written purports to be his is the proper signiture and hand writing of said Hopkins and that full faith and credit are due to the official attestations of said Hopkins
In Witness whereof I have unto set my hand and seal of said Court this 8th day of October AD 1832 at East Greenwich in said county
[signed] Christopher Johnson Clerk
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By his Excellency William Greene Esquire,
Governor, Captain-General, and Commander in Chief, of
and over the State of Rhode-Island and Profidence Plantations.

TO Joseph Rice Gentleman, GREETING,

You the said Joseph Rice being by the General Assembly of this State elected and chosen to the Place of Office of Lieutenant of the Fourth Company or Trained Band of the Town of Coventry in the County of Kent in the State aforesaid, are hereby, in the Name of the Governor and Company of the said State, authorized, empowered, and commissioned, to exercise the Office of Lieutenant of and over the Company aforesaid:  And to command, guide and conduct the fame, or any Part thereof:  And in Case of an Invitation or Assault of a common Enemy to infest or disturb this Plantation, you are to alarm and gather together the Company under your Command, or such part thereof as you shall deem sufficient, and therewith, to utmost of your Skill and Ability, you are to resist, expel, kill and destroy the time, in order to preserve the Interest of the good People in their Parts.  You are also to follow such Instructions, Directions and Orders, as shall from Time to Time, be further given forth, either by the General Assembly, the Governor and General Council or other your Superior Officers.  And for your so doing, this Commission shall be yoour sufficient Warrant and Discharge.

GiVEN under my Hand and Seal of the said State, the Tenth Day of May in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-nine.

By his Excellency's Command,
Henry Ward Secry

[signed on right] W. Greene
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MHF

Archibald Kasson's Regiment, Rhode Island Troops; June 1777 fifteen days, Orderly Sergeant in Captain Asaph Bennet's Company; September 1777, fifteen days, Sergeant in Captain Langford Weaver's Company; last of September 1777, one month, Sergeant in Captain William Ray's (or Roy's) Company, Colonel John Waterman's Regiment; summer 1778, twenty-four days, Orderly Sergeant in Captain Asaph Bennet's Company, Colonel Thomas Holden's Regiment and on May 10, 1779 was commissioned Lieutenant and in 1780 served twenty days in Captain Asaph Bennet's 4th Company or Trained Band of Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island in Colonel Kasson's Regiment. He was in Generals Spencer and Sullivan's Rode Island Expeditions.

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 3, 1832 while a resident of Coventry, R. I. He died May 29, 1835. There is no family data on file.

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

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