Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 13591, for Richard Knight, Rhode Island
Page 14

The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Providence
Clerks Office Supreme Court
May 18th AD 1846
I Walter Paine Junior Clerk of said Court for said county of Providence being a court of record do hereby certify that Moses Potter is a Justice of the Peace within and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified: and that the signature on the oposite side of this page purporting to be his is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court the year and day above written
Walter Paine jc Clerk
Page 15

I Nathan Miller of Warwick in the County of Kent and State of Rhode Island being in the ninety fifth year of my age do testify on oath and say I was acquainted with Richard Knight of Situate and have seen him on duty in Colonel Crary Regiment in the fifteen months service and who in  the two subsequent enlistments of one year each. I belong to the Kentish Guards apart of the time and apart of the time in the Militia but not in the same regiment I cannot be particular as to the time of Service of said Richard. In the year 179 and 1780 the said Richard Knight left the State and went to Massachusetts after which I have no knowledge of his doing any duty
Attest Wm Harrison
his mark
Nathan Miller

State of Rhode Island
Kent County In Warwick the 1th day of May 1846 then Nathan Miller the above deponant made oath to the truth of the above deposition subscribed by him in my presence and i further certify that he is a credible witness
Wm Harrison Justice of the Peace
Page 16

The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Providence Jc
Clerks Office Supreme Court
May 18th AD 1846
I Walter Paine Junior Clerk of said Court for said county of Providence, being a Court of record do hereby certify that William Harrison is a Justice of the Peace within and for the county of Kent in the aforesaid State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, duly commissioned and qualified and that the signature on the opposite side of this page, purporting to be his, is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court the year and day above written
Walter Paine Jr Clerk
Page 17

Commonweath of Massachusetts
Berkshire Co. Js July 15, 1846
I avid darling of Adams in said county aged seventy eight years to testify and say that I was acquainted with Richard Knight and his family that I lived a near neighbor to them for many years in the said town of Adams. said Richard Knight died on or about the 29th day of March
Eighteen Hundred twenty two at said Adams I was present and attended his funeral.
and I further say that Lillis Knight widow of said Richard Knight now resides in said Adams and has not married but still continues the widow of the sd Richard Knight late of said Adams deceased. David Darling
Commonweath of Massachusetts
Berkshire Co. Js July 15, 1846
Then personally appeared David Darling above named and made oath to the truth of the above.
Before me. W.E. Brayton Justice of the Peace
Page 18

Mrs. Archibald McKie
166 Post Road
Fairfield, Connecticut
Dear Madam:
April 11, 1935
XXXXX

Richard Knight-W.13591
BA-J/AWF
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you
request information in regard to Captain Richard
Knight of Rhode Island, War of the Revolution.
The Revolutionary War record of Richard Knight
which follows was obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, W. 13591, based upon his seriesian [service in] that war. This is the record of the only Richard Knight found on file in the Revolutionary War records of this office.

The date and place of birth of this soldier
are not shown in the claim, nor are the names of his parents given.
While residing in Scituate, Rhode Island, Richard
Knight enlisted in December, 1776, was sergeant major thirty-one days in Captain Samuel Wilbur's company, and private in Colonel Archibald Crary's Rhode Island regiment until March 16, 1779, and was in General Sullivan's Expedition.
After his service he moved to Connecticut and
while residing in Killingly, Connecticut, he married, February 1, 1789 in Adams, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Lillis Chase of said Adams. Richard Knight died March 29, 1822 in Adams, Massachusetts.
His widow, Lillis Knight, was allowed pension on
Page 19

Mrs. Archibald McKie
166 Post Road
Fairfield, Connecticut
Dear Madam:
April 11, 1935
XXXXX
Richard Knight-W.13591
BA-J/AWF
Reference is made to your letter in which you
request information in regard to Captain Richard Knight of Rhode Island, War of the Revolution.
The Revolutionary War record of Richard Knight which follows was obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, W. 13591, ation in regard to Captain Richard Knight of Rhode Island, War of the Revolution.
The Revolutionary War record of Richard Knight which follows was obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, W. 13591, based upon his serviesian [service in]
that war. This is the record of the only Richard
Knight found on file in the Revolutionary War records of this office.
The date and place of birth of this soldier
are not shown in the claim, nor are the names of his parents given.
While residing in Scituate, Rhode Island, Richard Knight enlisted in December, 1776, was sergeant major thirty-one days in Captain Samuel Wilbur's company, and private in Colonel Archibald Crary's Rhode Island
regiment until March 16, 1779, and was in General Sullivan's Expedition.
After his service he moved to Connecticut and
while residing in Killingly, Connecticut, he married, February 1, 1789 in Adams, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Lillis Chase of said Adams. Richard Knight died March 29, 1822 in Adams, Massachusetts.
His widow, Lillis Knight, was allowed pension on
Page 20

her application executed October 14, 1846, at which time she was eight-four years of age and living in Adams, Massachusetts. She continued to reside there in 1851.
There is no reference to children.
Very truly yours
A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 21

The objection to the testimony of the witnesses who have testified to the services of Richard Knight pointed out in the letter to the Hon. J Rockwell of 17th Jany 1848 is that the witnesses state that said Knight "enlisted twice into Crary's Regt. for one year in 1777 & 1778."
Now so far from this being an objection it is a strong circumstance in favor of the truth of said testimony. All the soldiers of said Regiments were enlisted three times 1st for 15 months ending 19th March 1778 then for 1 yr ending 16th March 1779 and then for 3 years ending 16th march 1780. (See "Sherit of '76 in Rhode Island, page 63)
The witnesses state that they knew said Knight in the fifteen months service, and in service under two subsequent enlistments, of one year each, in Crary's Regiment. As this is all in perfect harmony with the history of said Regiment and
Page 22

is said Knight is shown to be one of the persons who received depreciation for service in said Regt. I can see nothing in the objections made by the office heretofore, to the allowance of the claim.
The fact that the witnesses in 1846 gave an account of the enlistments in said Regiment - ( the true history of which was not then known to the Pension Office) - which is fully confirmed by said Book published only last year, is entitled to great weight.
Very Truly
J.J. Coombs
Page 23

June 20th 1857
Add Evi in case
of Lilly Knight
Lillis Knight

Dickins & Coombs
Present
Page 24

Rev 12 May 1851   1044

Pension Office
May 9, 1851
Gents:
I have re-examined the claim of Lillis Knight, widow of Richard Knight, for the benefit of the act of July 7, 1838, and have decided to aomut it for two years service as a private. But before I can direct a certificate to be issued it is necessary that a certificate be filed in this office from a Court of Record hearing that the said Lillis is still living.
Very Respectfully, Your Obt Svt
F S Evans
Jr Com of Pension
Missrs
Dickins & Coombs
Present
Page 25

Feb 22/87
Additional evidence
care of Lillis Knight
widow of
Richard Knight dc
D lf Mass
Cole
filed by Dickins & Coombs
Page 26

Washington 21 Feb. 1851
Sir, Enclosed we have the honour to present to you further evidence in support of the claim of Lillis Knight widow of Richard Knight dc late of Mass
Yours very respectfully
Dickins & Coombs
James E Heath Esq
Comm of Pensions
Page 27

I Edward Vernon of Adams in the County of
Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts
of Lawful age do depose and say that on
this Eighteenth day of June in the year of our
Lord one thousand Eight hundred and fifty
one Lillis Knight a Resident in the
Town of Adams in said County appeared
before me,- That she is well known to
me and alive and is the same person who
made a declaration in the year 1846 and forwarded to the War Department in 1847, for a
Pension under the act of 7th July 1838
as the Widow of Richard Knight late
Adams deceased, on account of services
rendered by the sd Richard Knight in
the War of the Revolution
Edward Norman
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Berkshire SS. 18 June 1851 personally appeared
Edward Norman and made oath to the truth
of the above Statement by me made before me
and well known to me. B. T. Robinson Justice of the Peace
& a credable Witness

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Berkshire jp
I William S. Tucker Clerk pro tem
of the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the County of Berkshire do certify that B T Robinson Esq was
on the 18 of June inst know is one of
Page 28

the Justice of the Peace in & for said County
duly Commissioned & qualifed
and that the foregoing signature
purporting to be his is genuine
In testimony whereof
I have hereto set my
hand & affixed the seal of
said Court this twentieth
day of June 1851.
Wm Tucker Clerk, pro tem
Page 29

Hon J Rockwall M C
Please present to Mr Edwards Esq
N Pearse
Lenox
S Hisedge of Lillis Knight

widow of Richard Knight
these depositions left at
Pensions office of the
Revolutionary war to Dec 24 1846
by request of Neil Pearse
Page 30

I Fenner Angell of North Providence in the County of Providence in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, being ninety one years of age on Oath depose
and say, I was in ten different expedition as a soldier in the Revolutionary Army and on that account I am a pensioner of the United States, and in the time of the Revolutionary war I was acquainted with all the inhabitants of Providence, Cranston, Scituate and several other towns and I also knew Richard Knight of Scituate and I did not know of any other person by that name in the State of Rhode Island, and I was
acquainted with him for many years before and in the time of the Revolution and I think he was in the fifteen months service and in 1777 and 1778, he enlisted in to Colonel Archibald McCrarys Regiment belonging to the States
Service for one year each I think March or April 77 and 78, I see him at different periods and conversed with him at different times while in the Army, according to the best of my recollection he must have been in the service of his country three years or more. he afterwards went to New Providence so called at that time in Massachusetts, and now called Adams as
I have been informed
his mark
Fenner
Angell

Providence jc
Subscribed and sworn to in the City of Providence this 4th day of November A.D. 1847 and the deponent appears to
be a credible witness
Before me James C. Hidden
Justice of the Peace
Page 31

The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Providence jc 
Clerks Office Supreme Court
November 7th AD 1847
I Walter Paine or Clerk of the Supreme Court
of the State of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations for said
County of Providence do hereby certify
that James C Hidden Esquire is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County duly commissioned and qualified, and
has acted as such, and that the signature on
on the opposite side written purporting to be his is genuine
In testimony whereof I hereunto set
my hand and affix the seal of said
Court the day and year above written
Walter Paine J Clerk
Page 32

I Pardon Burlingame of the Town of Cranston
in the County of Providence and State of Rhode
Island aged ninety years, do depose and
say that I was an Enlisted soldier at
two diferent times and was a soldier at
different periods of the War of the Revolution,
and on the account I am now a pentioner
of the United State; And I do further
depose and say that both before I was a
soldier in the Revolution and while I
was a soldier in said Revolution I was
well acquainted with Richard Knight
of Scituate who lived in three or four miles
of me at that time and I knew no other
Richard Knight in those parts, and the said
Richard Knight was a soldier in the
Revolutionary Army and in December 1776
he enlisted into the fifteen months service
and in 1777 he enlisted into Colonel Archibald McCrareys Regiment and served
one year and in 1778 he enlisted into the same
Regiment for one year and at the
expiration of that year or in 1780, I think
went to Connecticut and afterwards to
New Providence in Massachusetts with many
others and which place is now called
Adams as I have been informed
Attest his mark Pardon Burlingame
Page 33

Providence County Sc In Cranston this 4th day
of November A.D. 1847. Then personally
appeared Pardon Burlingame Subscriber
to the aforegoing instrument and made oath
to the truth of the same and a credable
witness
Before me Ambrose B Bailey
Justice of the Peace
The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Providence
Clerks Office Supreme Court
November 5th AD 1847
I Walter Paine Jr Clerk of the
Supreme Court of the State of Rhode
and Providence Plantations for said County
of Providence, do hereby certify that
Ambrose B Bailey Esquire is a Justice of the Peace within and for said county duly commissioned and qualified and has acted as such, and that the signature above written
purporting to be his is genuine
In testimony whereof I hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal
of said Court the day and year above
written
Walter Paine Jr Clerk
Page 34

I Esek Roberts of the town of Cranston in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island of lawful age, do depose and sat that I was some years a soldier in the Revolutionary army and on that amount I am now a Pensioner of the United States. And I do further depose and say that both before I was a soldier and while I was a soldier in the Revolution I was well acquainted with Richard Knight of Scituate and who for the space of dearly two years in 1777 & 1778 the said Richard Knight served in a Regiment Commanded by Colonel Archibald Crary and I think he was a part of the time in Colonel Topherms Regiment and I was a part of the time in Colonel Tophams Regiment and a part of the time in Colonel William Bartons Regiment in said Rhode Island, and about the close of the Revolutionary War the said Richard left the state of Rhode Island and moved to the State of Massachusetts as I was informed and I have not seen him since to my recollection. his mark Esek Roberts
Attest Ambrose B Bailey
Mary Roberts mark
Page 35

County of Providence Jc In Cranston
this 29th day of September A.D. 1847 -
Then personally appeared Esek Roberts
Signer to the within Instrument and
made oath to the truth of the same and
a credible witness before me
Ambrose B Bailey
Justice of the Peace
The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Providence jc
Clerks Office Supreme Court
September 30th AD 1847
I Walter Paine & Clerk of said Supreme Court
for said County of Providence do
hereby certify that Ambrose B Bailey
Esq is a Justice of the Peace within and
for said County duly commissioned and qualified, and has acted as such, and that the signature above written purporting to be his is genuine
Given under my hand and the seal
of said Court the day and year above written
Walter Paine Jc Clerk
Page 36

Pardon Burlingame of Cranston in the
County of Providence & State of Rhode Island being Ninety Three years of age & a soldier of the Revolution on Oath do testify & say I was an
enlisted soldier at two different periods of service in said war & was also a soldier in the
militia service of this State being draughted for
shorter periods of service and on which account
I now draw a pension from Government-
I further testify & say I was formerly
acquainted with Richard Knight of Scituate
and I know no other Richard Knight in Rhode
Island he lived within three or four miles of me
the said Richard Knight was a soldier in the
Revolutionary Army, enlisted in Dec. 1776 in the fifteen months service and in 1777 he enlisted
in Col Archibald Crary's Regiment of State
Troops & served one year and in the years 1778 and 1779 he served and before the close of the war I think he moved to the state of Connecticut and from thence to New Providence as it was then called on the Hoosic River in the State Massachusetts with many others who moved from this State, and I further certify that about Forty five years ago I was out at New Providence now called Adams and was at the house of said Richard Knight who was at the time keeping a public house at
Page 37

said Adams - And the said Richard & myself conversed freely on many subjects in
particularly in the subject of the Revolution
and he enquired after may of his old friends & acquaintances from Rhode Island and I know
him to be the person who served in the aforesaid Col Crary's Regiment at the time above
mentioned and I further testify that I am of the opinion that the said Richard did serve
a portion of the time in what was called the
"Capt. Garad's Cavaliers" for the County of Providence- his mark Pardon Burlingame

Witnesses
William
Kittle
Jcb McMlester
Providence js
In Cranston this 28th
day of January A.D. 1851. Then personally appeared the within named Pardon Burlingame and made Oath to the truth of the written
deposition by him signed in my pres
and I certify that he is a credible witness

Before me
Emer Smith
Justice of
the Peace
Page 38

The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Providence JC
Clerk Office Supreme Court
February 11th AD 1851
I Walter Paine a Clerk of the Supreme Court of said State for said county of Providence, do hereby certify that Elmer Smith Esq is a Justice of the Peace within and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified and has acted as such, and that the signature on the opposite side of this sheet purporting to be his is genuine
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court the day and year above written
Walter Paine Clerk
Page 39

11.150
Massachussetts
Sillis Knight
widow of Richard
who died on the 18 march 1822
of Berkshire in the State of Mass
who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain - of the Reg commanded 
by Col - in the R. I. line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Bofton
at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents
per annum, to commence on the 4t day of
March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22th day of 
July 1857 and sent to 
Dickens & Coombs
Arrears to the 4th of
Semi-annual allowance ending present
{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 7, 1838}
Recorded by HR Weightman Clerk, Book D Vol. 1 Page 61
Page 40

J. L Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner
Pensions
Washington City
D.C.

The deposition of David Darling was left out & attached after wards left off by mistake
Respectfully yours
Nial Pease
Page 41

Lensx September 21st 1847
J.L. Edwards esq.
Sr
I send you the Declaration of Lillis Knight the widow of Richard knight & the proof of her marriage & the proof of his service - I perceive in the objections raised by the Pension Department that the widow Averys Declaration was forwarded upon the Certificate of the Comptroller of Connecticut - that was not so in her case for I drew up her Declaration very near a year or quite so before I knew whether she could subsanciate her claim by any record proof or before she knew of any such proof the widow went to Greenfield to make oath & the Judge was sick & had gone to the seaside for his health - and then the became unable to go out and it was several months before she could get the Judge to call & se her & there was nearly a year packed in that operation, & Also in the case of the Widow Knight her Declaration was made 18 months before I could get the Judge to go to her house, living in hopes of her being able to attend open court, but the great trouble was it would take an extra day I had geting to her house and a little unwell himself & not energy to do it - and at the time the Declaration was written she nothing where to to obtain her proof although she knew her husband was in the service same years by his own story & some slight knowledge of her own as she permanently lived in Rhode Island & became acquainted with him in her younger days
Page 42

The deposition of David Darling was left out & attached after words left off through mistake
Respectfully yours Nial Pease

J.L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D. C.
Page 43

9041
Massachussetts
Sillis Knight
widow of Richard who was a private in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at a rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd day of July 1837 and sent to Dickens & Coombs
Present

[Acts of March 3, 1843, & June 17, 1844.]
Recorded in Book a
Vol. 2, Page 32
Page 44

Map Roll
Lillis Knight
widow of Richard who was a private R. Island trnf
Act 2 years
$80 per an
Act '38, '43, '44, '48
To can March 4, 1836
Page 45

W 13463
Sillis Knight
Map
Set to Nial Pease
Oct1 9 '49
Hon J. Rockwell
Jan 417 '48
Set to Same may 8th '48
Set Drakes & Cooms May 1/51
Set D
Page 46

Rev Widow, &c.
File No. 13591
Lillis Knight
Widow
Richard Knight
Pri. Rev War
Act: Feb 2, 1848

1925 Aug 12 Hist to Mrs. Geo W. McCoy aw 
1935 April 11 Hist to Mrs. Archibald McKie gcy
Index:-Vol. a, Page 408
[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 47

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
Mrs. G. W. McCoy,
314 S. Manhattan Place,
Los Angeles, Calif.
Madam:
August 12, 1925.
I have to advise you, that from the papers in
the Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 13591, it appears that Richard Knight resided in Scituate, Rhode Island, when he enlisted in December 1776 and served as a private for fifteen months, officers not stated.
He served for thirty - one days, ending April 6, 1777, as Sergeant-Major in Captain Samuel Wilbur's Company of Scituate, Rhode Island Militia.
He enlisted in April 1777, served two years in Colonel Archibald Crary's Rhode Island Regiment and was in General Sullivan's Rhode Island Expedition.
While a resident of Killingly, Connecticut, he married February 1, 1789, at Adams, Berkshire County, Mass. Lillis Chase of said Adams and he died there March 29, 1822.
She was allowed pension on her application executed October 14, 1846, while living at Adams, Massachusetts, aged eighty-four years.
Page 48

There is no further data on file re to family and the date and place of soldier's birth are not on record.
The above noted, is the only Richard Knight found on the Revolutionary War records of the Bureau.
The Bureau has no records of services rendered in the colonies before the Revolution.
Respectfully,
Winfield Scott,
Commissioner.
Page 49

Mrs. Archibald McKie 166 Post Road
Fairfield Conn.
March 26 - 1935

To the Rev Wars Burearu
Dear Sirs - Can you send me information about Captain Richard Knight who I think was a officer in the war of the Revolution?
He was born in Cranston Rhode Island about 1737.
If you have any data concerning Captain Knight I should appreciated getting it very much many thanks for your interest in an earlier request.
I am Yours very truly
Ema W. McKie
Page 50

Mrs. George W McCoy
314 South Manhattan Place
Los Angeles, California
June 22, 1925

Rev. War Section, 
Bureau of Pensions,
Dept. of the Interior,
To the Commissioner,
Dear sir; - 

Have you any record of the Rev. services of Richard Knight Jr. of Cranston, R. I.? The civil and Mil. Lists of R. I. state that he served in the 3rd Cranston co. in 1761 and 1762.
Very truly yours.
Mrs. George W. McCoy