Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15241, for John Richards, Massachusetts
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Mass.

Richards, John
Sally

NUMBER
W.15241

CONTENTS
Page 2

(hand written number) 14734
Massachusetts
John Richards
of Adams, in the State of Massachusetts who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel H. Jackson of the Masst. line for the term of three years

Inscribed on the roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 8 dollars per month, to commence on the 7th of May 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 6th of Septr. 1819 and sent to the Hon H Shaw Lanesborough Massachusetts

Arrears to 4th of Sep 1819 - $127.51
Semi-Anl. All'ce ending 4 March 1820 $48.00
Total $175.51
18 months 28/31 4/30

Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March,, 1818
Continued

(right side written vertically)
 Notification sent to Parker L. Hall Esq 
Lenox, Mass. 6th Sept 1820
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John Richards
H. Jackson's Mass. Regt
Page 4

Commonwealth - [crossed out "District" of Massachusetts
BERKSHIRE COUNTY, ss
On this 7th day of May in the year of our Lord 1818 before the subscriber Samuel Putnam Superior Judge of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts personally appeared John Richards aged 57 years, resident of Adams in the county of Berkshire aforesaid, in the said District- who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provisions made by the late act of Congress, entitled  "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war" That he the said Richards enlisted in the town of Rehoboth in the State of Massachusetts in the company commanded by Captain Watson, Col Henry Jackson Commandant of the 7th Regiment for three years in December 178[?]
That he continued to serve in the said corps, in the service of the United States, until the year 1783 in the month of November when he was discharged from service at Snakes Hill in the state of New York
That he was in the battle of taking Lord Cornwallis under Col Scammell so called ;-and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support; and relinquishes all claim to any other pension but this - And that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services.
John Richards

Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid.
S. Putnam Just.
S. J. Court of Masst

I Samuel Putnam Judge as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said John Richards did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration,, against the common enemy, and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken, and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.
Given under my hand & seal of said Court the  7th May 1818 - 
S. Putnam Just
S. J. Court of Massts 

I JOSEPH WOODBRIDGE, Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court within & for the County of Berkshire do certify and attest, that the abovenamed Samuel Putnam is one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court aforesaid and that the foregoing is his signature. IN testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court, the day and year first above written.
Jo. Woodbridge Clk
Page 5

I Asa Dean of Adams Physician do certify that I have known John Richards & have no doubt but his notation is true
Asa Dean

Berkse. May 7 1818
Sworn to by the said Asa Dean before S Putnam J. S. C.
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(7)
John Richards
14734 September '19
Mar '20
Page 7

District of Massachusetts, ss:
On this 3d day of July 1820; Personally appeared in open Court before the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, begun and holden at Lenox, within and for the County of Berkshire, in the Western Circuit, on the 4th Monday of June 1820, the same Court, being a Court of record for said Circuit; proceeding according to the course of the common Law, with a jurisdiction, unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, John Richards, aged 60 years, resident in Adams in the County of Berkshire aforesaid, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served  in the Revolutionary war as follows; that he enlisted in the company commanded by Captain Hunt in the regiment commanded by Colonel Henry Jackson in the line of the State of Massachusetts on the Continental establishment. That his original declaration is dated May 7, 1818 and that his pension certificate is numbered 14,734.

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 an Act of Congress entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons, engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war," passed on the 18thd day 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 schedule, hereto annexed, and by me subscribed- schedule of property, necessary clothing and bedding excepted - to wit:
1 cow sick - 11.00 
1 hog - 5.00 
1 iron pot - 41
1 tea kettle - 40
2 old spinning wheels 1.00
1 reed - 2.25
1 pine table - 1.20
1 pail - 50
6 cups & saucers - 25
1 milk pail 15
4 old chairs - 1.00
1 meat tub - 1.30
2 tin cups & six plates - 56
Knives & forks & spoons - 1.00
1 dirt kettle & spider - 1.50
1 axe - .75
one old chest - .50
1 old barrel .30
2 sives - 40
1 earthen pot - .25
1 flat iron - 20
1 Bible - .75

The cow & hog I bought with my pension money that I recd. last March, I had before lived on the charity of the neighbourhood. That I am by occupation Labourer & that I am  troubled with the (illegible) & fitts that unable to labour that the number of my family residing with me is 5 that their names and ages are as follow: Sally - my wife aged 56 - & mother aged 80 - she is supported by the Town of (illegible) Mass - one son aged 16 - has always been unable to labour - named Andrew - also one named Hiram - aged twelve years
(signd.) John Richards 

Sworn to, and declared on the 3d day of July 1820, before the said Court
Parker L Hall, Clk protem.

I Parker L Hall, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Berkshire do hereby certify, that the foregoing 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 aforesaid schedule is thirty dollars and thirty seven cents.

 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court on this ninth day of August 1820.
Parker L. Hall CLERK OF THE COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE.
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(left side)
Massachusetts 7203
Sally Richards
Widow of John Richards who was a 
Private in Massachusetts Revolution

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of eighty Dollars -- Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.

Certificate of Pension issued the eighth day of August 1844 and sent to Nial Pease Esq Lenox Mass

Act of March 3, 1843.
& 17 June 1844

Recorded in Book A Vol. 2 Page 37

(right side) 
Letter to Pension Agent and N Pease Sept 5, 1845.

Paper copied & sent to Hon J Rockwell Jany 26 1848.

Copy of Peter Johnsons Affidavit sent to Hon J Rockwell March 2nd 1848 with letter to same

(List of copies set
Page 9

Sally Richards
Petition for Pension