Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 3,602, for John Rich, New Hampshire

Page 67

Affidavit of
Moody Rich

Applcation No 228559
Zeruiah Rich
Widow of John Rich jr

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I Moody Rich of Maidstone County of Essex and State of Vermont -- Testify and say that I am seventy eight years old and am the brother of John Rich jr, late of Maidstone, formerly of Haverhill New Hampshire deceased - that said John Rich jr was a soldier in the war of the Revolution - that Zeruiah Rich, formerly the wife now the widow of said John Rich jr has made application for Bounty land under the act of March 3rd 1855 an account of the services of said John Rich jr in said war - that I have frequently heard my brother John Rich jr give an account of his services in the Revo
[fold in paper ]
& that he is a credible person & that I have no interest in the claim of Zeruiah Rich for Bounty land
Marcus A. Webb Justice of the Peace
State of Vermont
Essex County ss
I William H Hartshorn Clerk of the County & Supreme Courts within and for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that Marcus A. Webb Esg before whom the above & foregoing affidavit was subscribed and sworn to and at the time of so doing an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned & qualified to in that capacity & that his signature thereto is Genuine - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said County Court at [illeg] in said County this 7th day of June A.D. 185[blot]
Wm H. Hartshorn Clerk

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I Moody Rich of Maidstone County of Essex and State of Vermont -- Testify and say that I am seventy eight years old and am the brother of John Rich jr. late of Maidstone, formerly of Haverhill New Hampshire deceased - that said John Rich jr was a soldier in the war of the Revolution - that Zeruiah Rich, formerly the wife now the widow of said John Rich jr has made application for Bounty land under the act of March 3rd 1855 an account of the services of said John Rich jr in said war - that I have frequently heard my brother John Rich jr give an account of his services in the Revolution, that I have hear my said broth say that served under Capt Joseph Hutchins of said Haverhil for two months - that he then enlisted under Capt Young and served a short time - that he served under Lieut James Ladd of said Haverhill about three months - that I often heard my broth John Rich jr speak of this service rendered by him in the Revolutionary War - I further say that Zeruiah Rich was the wife of my said brother John Rich jr and lived with him as his wife about twelve years and had a [illeg] of his [children?] and is
[last line obscured by fold in paper]

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Concord N.H. August 20. 1859
Sir
Permit me to call your attention to the claim of Zeruiah Rich No 299822 for bounty land under the Act of March 3d 1853.
The application was forworded to your office & its receipt acknowledge in your letter of about the first of May last. As the applicant is a pensioner I am unable to see why any delay is made.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sert
L D Stevens

Hon. Geo G. Whiting
Commr of Pensions
Washington
D.C.

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[verso]

299.822

circular stamp: Pension [blur]
A[blur]
1859

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Concord N.H. April 28 1859
Sir
I herewith forward the application of Zeruiah Rich a Pensioner of the U.S. under the Act of July 29. 1848 for bounty land under the Act of March 3. 1855. Her name is on the Roll of the Bradford Vt. Pension Agency.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sert
L. D. Stevens

Hon. Geo. C. Whiting
Commr of Pensions
Washington 
D.C.

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[printed form filled in by hand]

1249
Vermont Bradford
[rule]
Zeruiah Rich
widow of John Rich
who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a private
[rule]
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
23 Dollars 44
Cents per annum, to commence on 
the 4th day of March, 1848.
[rule]
Certificate of Pension issued the
9th day of April 1859
and sent to 
L. D. Stevens
Concord
N.H.
[rule]
Recorded on the Roll of Pensioners under act
July 29, 1848, Page 174 Vol. H

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[written upper right at top of page]:
288.559

[written vertically along left margin]:
Treasr for the State of N Hampshire

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State of New Hampshire.
Secretary of States office
I hereby certify that from examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this office, it appears that the name of "John Rich is borne upon Vol 3 Page 28 & 29" -- "Pay Roll for Capt. Benj Whittier's Compy of Militia in Col. Nichols's Regiment raised in the State of New Hampshire in July 1780 for the defence of the United States -- "Names, "John Rich" "Rank" "Private" "Wages for month [pound symbol] 134.[illeg] "Time of Englishtment" "July "6" "When discharged" "Octo. 24" Whole Time in Service" "3 mo. 18 days" "Whole amount of Wages" [pound symbol" 482.8/--- Also is borne upon Vol 3 Page 55 N. "Pay Roll of a party of men raised by order of the Court of New Hampr for the defence of the western Frontiers at Haverhill Coos, "Names" "John Rich" "Rank" "Private" Commencement of pay "1782" "28th Jany" "Time of Service" 2 mo 12 days "Amo of pay"
4.16 --- Also is borne upon Vol 4 Page 388, Haverhill 15th November "1782" Sir Please to pay Lieut James Ladd the full of our wages due to us for our services as Soldiers from the 28th of Jan. last until the 9th of April following & his Receipt shall be a Discharge in full from your obedt Hum[ble] Servants.
Nicholas Gilman Esq.
Teasr for the State of N Hampshire

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[following names written in 2 columns]

"Jonathan Ladd"
"Noah Moulton" "Reuben Lock"
"William Lock"  "Joseph Ladd"
"Elisha Lock" "Asa Ladd"
"Avery Sanders"
"John Rich" Jun.
"Aaron Putney"
"Michl Johnston"

Also is borne upon Book of Orders &c Page 189 A "State of New Hampshire
"Exeter Novr 23rd 1782
"To Nicholas Gilman Esq. "Treasurer 
"Pursuant to an act of the General Court of the 16th of January 1782 Pay by discount out of the tax for the current year to "John Rich Bearer four pounds sixteen shillings, Lawful money being for Wages &c in the Coas Service in the year "1782"
[pound symbol] 4"16"0"-- "M Weare" "President".
Also is borne upon Book of Orders &c Page 223. C. "Haverhill "Novr 3d 1781"
"Sir," "Please to send by Charles Johnston the wages which is due to me as a Soldier in Capt Whitcher's Company in the Continetal Service in 1780 and oblige your Humble Servt
"To the Honble Nicholas Gilman Esq"
"Treasurer for the State" "John Rich"
In testimoney whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said State this 11th day of Feb. 1858. 
Nathan W. Gove Dep. Secretary of State

[written vertically on left margin next to line beginning "Pursuant]:
on back thereof "O Barrow"

[written vertically on left margin next to line, "being for Wages &c in the Coas Service in the year 1782"]:
"Rich"

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Concorn N.H. Dec 31. 1858
Sir,
I herewith forward additional evidence in support of the claim of Zeruiah Rich wido of John Rich Jr. for pension under the Act of July 29 1848, I have used my best endeavor to comply with the requirements contained in the letter from your Office under date of Nov. 17. 1849 and I fee confident that you will find it satisfactory.
The official character of Marcus A. Webb having been duly certified heretofore in this case I supposed it not necessary to get another certificate
I am Very Respectfully
Your Obt Svt
L. D. Stevens.
Hon Geo C. Whiting
Commr of Pensions
Washington
D. C.

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Plymouth July 28 1857
Gents
I write to ask you to send me the land account to which Zeruiah Rich is entitled. [illeg] her application No 288.559  a pension has been [illeg] her upon her claim on account of the son of her husband John Rich & his application for bounty land is still before the department. Please give their case its proper attention - I am [illeg] reply -- Yours truly
Jos. Clock
Plymouth N.H

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[verso]

circular stamp: Pension Office Jul 28 1858

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Concord N.H. Dec. 2. 1858
Sir
I herewith forward additional evidence in Support of the claim of Zeruiah Rich widow of John Rich Jr. for pension under the Act of July 29. 1848 on account of the Services of her husband in the war of the Revolution.
The claim was presented in 1849 but was suspended for further proof. The atty who filed the claim having received an appointment for a clerkship in the U.S. Treasury has never attended to the case since its suspension.
I now adduce proof of the marriage from the records of the town of Piermont N.H. also the testimony of Caleb Stevens a neighbor of Capt Hutchins who knew applicant & her husband; also the testimony of Moody Rich a brother of claimant husband of Sophia Morse both of whom have heard John Rich Jr speak of his Services in the Revolution This evidence will doubtless satisfy you that this claim should be allowed without any argument of mine, therefore I forbear to comment upon it
I am very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
L. D. Stevens

Hon. Geo. C. Whiting
Commr of Pensions
Washington
D. C.

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Concord N.H. Sept. 30th 1861
Sir,
With this I forward the application of Zeruiah Rich widow of John Rich Jr for an increase of her pension under the Act of Jucly 29 1848 for Service performed by her said husband in the year 1779 in the Rev. War.
At the time the applicant originally presented her claim no evidence of her husband's service could be found for the year 1779 although she believed that he served longer under Col. Bedel that she was able then to show.
Within a few weeks I have discovered evidence for service of applicants husband in the year 1779 in a book entitled "Register of the Certificates issues by John Pierce Esquire Paymaster General and Commissioner of the Army Accounts for the United States" comprising four Vols which were left in my care by a friend who has left the State for some length of time (over)

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[second page of 9.30.1861 letter]

I presume these Books must be in the Pension Office and I therefore beg leave to call your attention to the 4th Vol. which contains the evidence of which I have spoken - Col. Bedel's name does not appear on this book and the reason is this as I conclude. Col. Bedel was then indebted [to?] the Government for money advanced to him for which he had not accounted and I think never did account in full.
But the names of his Staff and his Captains and privates do appear and they were paid by the Government.
Certificate No. 93261 was issued to Thomas Hubbard Adjutant in Col Bedel's Regt Then follows the name of James Lucas, Paymaster, George Eager Surgeon, Samuel Hale, Asst. Surgeon, Jacob Baily Quarter Master - after that follow the names of the Captains in Bedels Regt and a long list of Privates and among these you will find at No 93514 the name of John Rich Jr. [name underscored]
As all the names are found on the Rolls of Col Bedels Regt there is I think no doubt about the fact that the husband served and

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[third page of 9.30.1861 letter]

was paid for his service in 1779-
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
L. D. Stevens.

Hon. Jos. H. Barrett
Commr of Pensions
Washington D. C.

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[verso of letter]

circular stamp: Pension Office Oct 3 1861

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Concord N.H. March 1. 1859
Sir,
Your letter of the 17th of January last relative to the claim of Zeruiah Rich for pension under the Act of July 29. 1848 was duly received. I now forward evidence of the precise date of the birth of John Rich Jr. and also the dat of his death and that of his father John Rich. By this evidence it appears that John Rich Jr was seventeen years old at the time the first Service was performed in 1777, which settles the question as to his being old enough to do duty: as it can be easily shown that many of our soldiers entered the service at Sixteen ["sixteen" underscored].
The closing remark of your said letter to wit: "It is obvious that there were two men of the same name who served in the revolutionary war" induces me to crave your indulgence while I State my views of the evidence adduced in this case touching the point of identity or in other words whether the service shown in the certificate of the Secretary of State of New Hampshire was performed by the claimants husband, John Rich Jr., or by his father John Rich for one or the other must have performed it, there being no other person of

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[second page of 3.1.1859 letter]

the name known in this state.
John Rich, the father, is not shown to have been in service at all by any of the witnesses who have testified in this case - he was not reputed to have been a soldier any where either at Haverhill or Maidstone and he was never heard to say a word respecting service  performed by him in said war-
Moody Rich swears positively that his father did not perform the service shown in said Certificate & if he is not old enough to testify from recollection of the fact, yet I submit that the fact to which he swears in one which he must in all probability have known - I believe there never was a soldier of the Revolution who did not at some time and especially in old age often speak of the war and of his service and the fact he (Moody Rich) states are derived as he tells you in his affidavit of Nov. 22 1858 from what his brother, John Rich Jr., told him.
I have taken great pains to find out what Susannah Brainard would say, a woman who lived eleven ["eleven" underscored] years in the family of John Rich and now furnish you with her affidavit -  I think you will be satisfied when you read her affidavit that John Rich Senior was never in the Revolutionary war - Elizabeth Dean and Caleb Stevens all support the fact that the father performed no service.
Is is true the name John Rich appears on

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[third page of 3.1.1859 letter]

Rolls but fortunately in this case once circumstance explains the record. On the Roll of James Ladd's Co. the name John rich appears but when the soldier receives his pay or order the payment of it, it proved to be John Rich Jr. ["jr." is underscored] - the presumption there is that John Rich Jr is the man who appears on other Rolls as John Rich- in fact he told his brother Moody that he served under the same Captains mentioned in the Secretary's Certificate - see Mood Rich's affidavit of Nov 22 1858. Sophia Morse heard John Rich Jr. speak of his services in the Revolution - and he was reputed a soldier both in Haverill and in Maidstone and believed to be the the very man who performed the Services stated in the Certificate of the Secretary of State.
The statements made by applicants husband as to his Service are reliable, for no Pension Act had then passed or been talked of & he could have [illeg] to make other than true statements.
I trust that upon review of the evidence in this case you will be satisfied, as I fee confident every candid mind must, that the applicant is

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[fourth page of 3.1.1859 letter]

untitled to the small pittance which she now in her old age asks of the Government.
I am very respectfully 
Your Obt. Servt
L. D. Stevens

Hon. Geo. G. Whiting
Commr of Pensions
Washington D.C.