Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15954, for Amos Richards, New Hampshire
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copy 90
Amos Richards 
No. 13853
✓ Continued
21 July 1819
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STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
HILLSBOROUGH, SS. 
At a Court of Common Pleas for the first district, holden at Amherst in said county of Hillsborough, on this fourth day of [blank] July, 1820, [blank] being a court of record; having power of fine and imprisonment, and unlimited Jurisdiction in point of amount.
PRESENT
The Hon. {JOSHUA DARLING, JEDIDIAH K, SMITH,} Justices. 
Personally appeared, in open court, Amos Richards aged Sixty one years, resident of Goffstown 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, to wit: - that he enlisted in Capt Samuel Richards' Company in Colonel John Stark's Regiment in the New Hampshire line and served one year. that he served two months after his term of enlistment expired he was discharged by Col. John Stark the time of the enlistment was in Nov. or Dec. 1775. That he served two other short enlistments one in 1777 the other 1778 and both about six months that he was in Battle of the Three Rivers in Canada he was in Battle at Bennington and at the taking of Burgoine (Burgoyne) he was not other evidence in his power the date of my original declaration was on the fourth day of April Anno Domini, 1818 I have received a pension, the certificate of which is numbered 13.853 on the back thereof. 
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States 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 provisions of the act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land or naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, passed on the 18th 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 following schedule, by me subscribed. 
4. Fowls .64 1 Dish Kettle .75 1 [illegible] pot .80=1.89
1 Swine 3.50 1 platter .30 2 pewter plates .25=4.05
2 Wood Bowls .25 pitcher .12 Earthen Bowls .18 plates .13=.68
Sundry articles of House Furniture 11.27
$17.89
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State of New Hampshire
Merrimack County}
on this twenty ninth day of August eighteen hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before me me Benjamin Wadleigh Esquire a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Merrimack Catharine Richards of Salisbury in said County of Merrimack formerly of Goffstown in said State aged seventy eight years who being first 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 July 7 1838 entitled an act granting half pay to certain widows and pensions 
That she is the widow of Amos Richards late of said Goffstown deceased who was a private in the army of the Revolution he was a pentioner of the United States under the act of Congress passed 18th March 1818 in the New Hampshire agency at the rate of eight dollars per month for evidence of his service she refers to the Rolls in the war department and to the evidence accompanying his original application for a pention under the  aforesaid act of March 18 - 1818 and to such other evidence as shall accompany this declaration
she further declares that she was married to the said Amos Richards on the first
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day of August seventeen hundred and eighty that her husband the aforesaid Amos Richards died on the twenty fourth day of November in the year eighteen hundred and thirty that was not married to him prior to his leaving to his leaving said service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety four viz. at the time above mentioned
The word 'accompanying' interlined ['signed and sworn' crossed out] before signed and sworn
/s/Catharine Richards
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
/s/Benjamin Wadleigh {Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Merrimack
I hereby certify that the applicant above named from bodily infirmity is unable to attend Court and for that reason her declaration was taken out of Court at her residence in Salisbury before me Benjamin Wadleigh Justice as aforesaid
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We Charles Ayer & Sarah W. wife of said Charles depose & say, that, we are the daughter & Son-in-law of Amos Richards late of Goffstown in the County of Hillsborough N.H. dec'd, that the said Amos Richards died at said Goffstown in the month of November 1830. that, at the time of his decease he was in the receipt of a pension from the U.S. in the New-Hampshire agency at the rate of Eight dollars per month - that since decease of the said Amos Richards, his widow, ['the' crossed out] Catharine Richards, ever have attended to, & contributed to the support & maintenance of the said Catherine, without the aid of her other children. that she is now in our family in Salisbury  N.H. & remains the widow of the said Amos Richards, not having intermarried with any other man since his decease.
/s/Charles Ayer
Sarah W Ayer
State of New-Hampshire
Merrimack County, ss.} September 7th 1838
Then personally appeared the above named Charles Ayer & Sarah W. Ayer wife of the said Charles Ayer (and daughter of Amos & Catharine Richards) and who are both of high respectability & character, and made oath in due form of law, that, the above affidavit, by them severally subscribed was true 
Before me /s/Israel W. Kelly Justice Peace
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The birth of the Children of Lt Amos Richards and his wife Catharine are as follows - 
Benjamin Worthen Richards was born March 1st 1781
Joseph Richards was born January 25th 1783
Lavina Richards was born June 1st 1785
Jenny Richards was born November 3d 1788
Susanna Eaton Richards was born March 30th 1790
Amos Richards was born August 24th 1791
Daniel Richards was born February 6th 1794
Naoma Richards was born February 12th 1796
Lucindy Richards was born April 8th 1798
Sinthey Richards was born April 8th 1798
Sarah Walker Richards was born April 10th 1800
[illegible] Richards was born August 26th 1802
Catherine Richards was born July 2nd 1804
A true Record - attest /s/John Gilcrest, Town Clerk
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy from the Record of the town of Goffstown of Marriages, Birth, &c which is expressed in fair legible words and figures as above stated. and coppied word for word and figure for figure - 
Goffstown January 3d 1839 - Attest, /s/Moses Poor, Town Clerk 
I Moses Poor above named, depose and say I hold the office of Town Clerk in the town of Goffstown in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire and that the above is a true extract from the Record of said town as certified by me - 
/s/Moses Poor, Town Clerk
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough SS. January 3rd AD 1838
['Sworn and Subscribed' crossed out] Personally appeared the above named Moses Poor who I certify as Clerk of the Town of Goffstown and made oath in due form of Law that the foregoing extract & certificate by him subscribed in my presence, were true - 
Before me /s/Isaiah Richards Justice of the Peace
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Records of Marriages in the town of Litchfield Country of Hillsborough and State of Newhampshire as given in by the Reverend Samuel Catten and recorded by Jonathan Parker Town Clerk one thousand seven hundred and eighty August the first Amos Richards to Catharine McCartney
A true copy of the records with the exception of the date which is expressed in the records in fair legible figures as follows
1780 August 1st /s/Joshua Marsh
I Joshua Marsh above named depose and say that I hold the office of town clerk in the town County and State aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the said records with the exception above named as certified by me 
/s/Joshua Marsh town Clerk
State of New-Hampshire
Hillsborough ss. LItchfield January 4th 1839
Personally appeared the above named Joshua Marsh (who I certify is Clerk of said Town of Litchfield) and under oath in due form of Law that the foregoing extract & certificate by him subscribed in my presence is true - 
Before me /s/Sam'l Catten Jus Peace
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[typewritten letter]
Rev. and 1812 Wars Section [initials: MMHF.)

March 5, 1924

Honorable J. J. McSwain
House of Representatives

My dear Mr. McSwain:
In response to your letter of the 1st instant, with the enclosed letter of Mrs. W. B. May, Carlisle, South Carolina, I have the honor to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 15954 it appears that Amos Richards enlisted in December 1775 and served fourteen months as a private in Captain Samuel Richards' Company, Colonel John Stark's New Hampshire Regiment; was at the battle of Three Rivers.
He enlisted in 1777 and served ten weeks in Captain McConnel's (McConnell) Company; was at the battle of Bennington and at the taking of Burgoyne.
While living for a short time at his grand-father's (name not stated) in Atkinson, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, he enlisted in 1778 and served six weeks as Corporal in Captain Jesse Page's Company and was in
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[typewritten letter continued]
Sullivan's Expedition to Rhode Island.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 4, 1818 while a resident of Goffstown,
Hillsborough County, New Hampshire aged fifty-eight years. He died in said Goffstown November 24, 1830.
Soldier married August 1, 1780 in Merrimack, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Catharine McCartney or McCantney who was allowed pension on her application executed August 29, 1838 while living in Salisbury, Merrimack County, New Hampshire aged seventy-eight years. In 1848 she was a resident of Nashua, New Hampshire. Their children were:
Benjamin Walker Richards born March 1, 1781.
Joseph  "  "  January 25, 1783. 
Lavina  "  "  June 1, 1785.
Jenny  "  "  November 3, 1788.
Susanna Eaton  "  "  March 30, 1790.
Amos  "  "  August 24, 1792.
Daniel  "  "  February 6, 1794.
Naoma  "  "  February 12, 1796. 
Lucinday  "  "  April 8, 1798.
Sinthey  "  "  April 8, 1798.
Sarah Walker  "  "  April 10, 1800, married Charles Ayer. 
(illegible)  "  "  August 28, 1802 
Catherine  "  "  July 2, 1804. 

Sincerely, 
[blank] Commissioner.
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V.
Catharine Richards
Wid of Amos 
N. Hamp
Svs. ltr I. W. Kelly
Nov 30 1838
Act 7 July 1838
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V 4994
New Hampshire Con'd
Catharine Richards widow of Amos Richards who was a private in the N. Ham're Line
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 49 Dollars 78 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 23d day of Feby 1844 and sent to D. Clark Manchester N.H. 
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1 Page ['254' crossed out] 257
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In Congress. 
The Delegates of the United Colonies of Newhampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, the counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Caroline, and South Carolina, to John Stark Esq 
We reposing especial trust and confidence in your patriotism, valor, conduct and fidelity, Do by these presents, constitute and appoint you to be Colonel of the 5th Regiment, of [illegible] in the army of the United Colonies, raised for the defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof. You are therefore carefully and dilligently to discharge the duty of Colonel by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And we do, strictly charge and require all officers and Soldiers under your command, to be  obedient to your orders as Colonel. And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time as you shall recieve from this or a future Congress of the United Colonies, or Committee of Congress, for that purpose appointed, or Commander or chief for the time being of the Army of the United Colonies, or any other your superior officers, according to the rules and discipline of War, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. 
This Commission to continue in force until revoked by this or a future Congress. 
By Order of Congress,
/s/John Hancock, President
Attest /s/Chas Thompson Secy
January 1, 1776.
We the subscribers hereby certify that the above is true Copy from the Original Commission 
/s/Frederick G. Stark
/s/John G. Moor
/s/Thomas Pollard Jr.
/s/John Stark jr 
Hillsborough ss. The State of Newhampshire March 6th 1819 - then personally appeared the above named Frederick G. Stark, John G. Moor, Thomas Pollard jr and John Stark jun and made solemn oath to the truth of the above certificate by them subscribed - before me - 
/s/S. P. Kidder Jus Peace 
State of New Hampshire - County of Hillsborough - Goffstown, March 12th 1819. - 
I hereby certify that the above named Frederick G. Stark, John G. Moor, Thomas Pollard Jun'r and John Stark Jun'r are men with whom I am acquainted, and are persons of truth & veracity; and that Sam'l P. Kidder, is a Justice of the Peace, for the County and State aforesaid. - 
/s/David L. Morril, S. United States.
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State of New-hampshire.
Office of Secretary of State.
I, Thomas P. Treadwell Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Daniel Clark is an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Hillsborough duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the twenty first day of May 1839 and will expire on the twenty first day of May 1844 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine. 
[state seal affixed] Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this twenty sixth day of July 1843. 
/s/Thomas P. Treadwell Secretary of State.
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Hon J. L. Edwards
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[handwritten letter]
Salisbury N.H. January 11th 1839

Hon J. L. Edwards
Sir, 
By making a journey of forty five miles & making a personal examination of the town records of Leytchfield I am enabled to forward you the record evidence of the Marriage of Amos Richards & Catharine McCartney & also the record evidence of the birth of their children in Goffstown - 
I also forward you the affidavits of Caleb Richards & William Page, to six weeks serving of the said Amos Richards in Capt Page's company at Rhodeisland in the year 1778, as a volunteer which added to the fourteen months previously proved will make fifteen & a half months service.
In one of your letters you say, that the claim of Hannah Robinson, widow of Otis Robinson admitted and her certificate will be forwarded immediately, which has not yet been rec'd-  
The case of Lydia Greenfield, widow of James Stone was accompanied by a certificate from the Register of Probate from Merrimack County proving the children & heirs of the said James Stone