Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4090, for William Rice, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (Penn.)
Rice, William
S. 4090
{ B.L.W. 1821. 300. Capt. Issued Mar. 25. 1790 No papers. carded
CONTENTS

Pennsylvania Petition of William Rice.
Petition of Capt. W. Rice To Congress Jan. 12. 1809
1809 Jany 21 H B Wood history Prior April 23 do correcting error Prior
18 th January 1809. referred to the Secretary of War.
Placed on the pension list.
referred to May 2 d 1809
W. Wilson
Act D 22 d 1809

To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, the Petition of Capt. William Rice of the late German Regiment in the service of the United States of America respectfully represents
That your petitioner entered in the above Regiment early in the Year 1776 as a first Lieutenant, and at the Battle of Germantown on the 4th Day of October 1777 he received a wound by a Musket ball which passed in an Oblique direction through his right hand, Shortly after this Action, Your Petitioner received a Captain's Commission and in that Capacity he served to the end of the War, after which your petitioner returned into private Life following his Occupation as a House Carpenter until the Year 1803, when the Wound in his hand rendered him unable to pursue his professional business and consequently unable to obtain his livelihood by his Industry, he was therefore under the necessity of applying to the Honorable Richard Peters, Judge of the District Court at Philadelphia who was pleased to recommend him as a fit object for half pension; But nevertheless as Your Petitioner advances in Age his debility occasioned by the Wound increases, and he is now no longer able by Industry, to contribute any degree towards his livelihood and must, consequently without full relief, become burdensome to his friends and to the Community, wherefore Your Petitioner therefore prays that your Honorable body will be pleased to place him on the pension list from the reduction of the Continental Army as understands a number of his brother Officers and Soldiers are. Your petitioner though fast declining with age still professes the spirit of a Soldier, it would therefore be a truly mortifying circumstance to become burdensome to his friends or any part of the Community, being conscious that he has purchased with his own blood bread enough for the few remaining days that may be allowed to him, and perhaps some to spare. Your petitioner, therefore prays that your honorable body will take his case under your serious consideration, and grant him such relief as you may in your Wisdom think proper. And Your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray;
Germantown January 12 th 1809
Wm Rice

In the House of Representatives of the United States, Wednesday 18 th January, 1809.
M c Nelson presented a petition of William Rice, captain in a German regiment in the service of the United States, during the revolutionary war with Great Britain, praying relief in consideration of a wound received at the battle of Germantown on the 4 th of October, 1777, whilst a lieutenant in the said regiment which hath rendered him incapable of obtaining a livelihood by labor.
Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the secretary of War, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon, to the House.
Extract from the Journal
Patrick Magruder Clerk.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C., _____, 190__
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of William Rice a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ( or his widow's ) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
S. file 4090
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Early 1776 appointed Lieutenant of the "German Regt." and sustained a gunshot wound of the right hand in the battle of Germantown, soon after which he was appointed Captain in the same regt., and served until the close of the War.  
Battles engaged in, Germantown.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, not stated.
Date of application for pension, Jany. 12, 1809.
Residence at date of application, Germantown, Pa.
Age at date of application, not stated.
Remarks: His claim was allowed at the rate of $80 per annum for said disability — There is no family data on file
{ B.L. records show 1821-300 Capt. Wren regt. issued Mch. 25, 1790. Pap. burned. { See old Inv. book p. 110 — see 1835 List, "Phila. Agencies unknown" p 50. }

1911 Mch. 20. Hist. to Mrs. Laura A. Madden. P
Rev War
4090
INVALID.
File No. 4090
Wm Rice
1st Lieut. Rev. War
Act: _____
Index:—Vol. A , Page 315
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Continental Service. Records v. 1. Mar 13 '11

Box 8 Primrose P.O., Westchester Co. New York November 12 th 1890.
Gen. Green B. Mann Com't of Pensylvania -
Sir: Will you give me the date of the Commission of Captain William Rice - Pennsylvania Line - of the Army of the Revolution the arm of service and length of the same - My maternal Great, Great, Grand Father - Also the rank, arm, and length of service of Nicholas Baylies and of Hodijah Baylies Aid-de-camp to Gen. Benjamin Lincoln and later in the war to Gen. Washington The two latter maternal Ancestors of my father, now deceased -
I want the facts for a book of Genealogies now being prepared by the State Librarian of Penna. My native state. Respectfully
Henry B. Wood ver!

N.B. I am referred to you by the Hon. W. H. Hart Auditor Resp. H. F. M.

Henry B Wood NY
Nov 12 1890
Capt M Rice Paw I W Nicholas Bay Light found in Com W office Kozaksh do } all Ex W I

UNITED STATES POSTAL ONE CENT NOTHING BUT THE ADDRESS TO BE ON THIS SIDE
NY 11-21-08 11 PM
SAN FRANCISCO 11-21-08
Personal
Gen. Green B. Ramm Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

Primrose P.O. Westchester Co., New York November 20 th 1890.
Hon. Green R. Root Comr of Pensions
Sir: Some three weeks ago I recd. a letter to the Dept. in wh. I solicited the following information to wit:
"Please give me the date of Commission of Captain William Root, length of service in the Army of the Revolution. Pennsylvania Line. Maternal g. g. grand father. Also the rank, date of Commission and of service & length of same of the two brothers Nicholas and Hodijah Baylies Massachusetts Line. I know nothing of Nicholas, but Hodijah Baylies served as aid-de-camp on the staff of General Benjamin Lincoln and later in the war on the staff of Gen. Washington one was my g. grand father. the other g. grand uncle on my father's side. The information is desired for a work of genealogy nearly completed by the Penna. State Librarian."
I beg General. Your personal influence to expedite the matter.
Resp. your obedt. Servt.
Henry B. Wood

Primrose P.O.  Etchever Co. N.Y. Feby. 9. 1891
Gen. Green B. Raun
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir: I am the recipient of a letter and a brief history of Captain William Rice of the Penna. Line, in the War of the Revolution from your Department and herewith thank you for the courtesy extended.
I beg to quote a few lines from the history and ask for an explanation; since it does not seem clear to me.
"Old War Div. S. A. P. Eyr." dated
"Washington D. C. Jan'y. 21. 1891.
"This is all the information in his petition, but the name is in the list of those who were allowed 'Donation Land' by the State of Penna. with the rank of Captain and he was allowed 300 acres of land by the United States as Captain March 25. 1790 but those papers were burnt Nov. 1800, in the War Department with also about all the military rolls of Penna."
Also - "That early in 1776 he was first Lieutenant in the German Regiment and was in the battle of Germantown Oct. 4. 1777 when he received a wound from a musket ball which passed obliquely through his right hand. Shortly after this he received a Commission as Captain and in that capacity served to the end of the war"
Also - "No 'Donation Land' - or bounty land by U. S. appears to have been granted, nor his name in the lists in file."
I desire to know whether or not the 300 acres of "Donation Land" was ever claimed and received by Captain William Rice from the United States - Respectfully Holmes B. Wood

FEB 19 1891 PILSON
PENNSYLVANIA U.S. FEB 9 1891

Pierce Archives 5 th series - Vol 1 - p 619. 1778 - 1782 -
Pierce Navy. William Rice -
May 26 - 1780. The Armed Boat Friendship Belonging to Philip Moore & Co -
p 630 Granted to William Rice the Armed Boat
* Experiment - 24 men Belonging to William Rice and Henry Murfitt.
p 631. - William Rice Captain of the age of 27 years. - 5 feet 7 inches - Sandy hair and of a brown complexion.
Ins 4090 disab.
MAR 16 1911

Penn Archives 5 th Series. Vol 8.
p 425. County of Northampton A. Return of the officers of the 6 th Battalion of Militia in the County of Northampton with the rank of the Companies. - Major John 3 G 0  Gaston .

MAR 18 1911

546 M 124 th st - New York City March 15 - 1911
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir -
I find in the Penn Archives the following notices (enclosed) Will you please let me know what service was performed by the organizations to which these men belonged -
e. l. Mayor John 3 Gaston and William Rice and others Yours Very Respectfully Laura A. Madden.

MAR 16 1911

Record Division.
March 20, 1911.
Mrs. Laura A. Madden, 546 West 124th Street, New York City.
Madam:
In reply to your letter dated the 15" and received the 16" instant, you are herewith furnished a statement concerning the only William Rice of Pennsylvania found on the Revolutionary War pension records, and advised that said records fail to afford any information relative to John Gaston described by you.
This Bureau is unable to furnish the history of military organizations.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.