Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L. Wt. 40677-160-55, for Benjamin Rice, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Rice, Benjamin Betsey
B.L.Wt. 40677-160-55.
CONTENTS

187. 310 Act Mar 3/55 Aug. 2/55
Betsy Rice m.d. 9 Benjamin Rice Asso
Capt. Spencer Col. Starkweather Mass Vol Private Mass Mil Rev. War
184 180 Papers 10. 160 ac Sept 2/56 Dodge
(Large stylized letter C or G)
G. F. Starkweather Keene N.H.
Let G. F. Starkweather Aug 6/56
Vol No = 76

State of New Hampshire
Cheshire County ss. - On this twenty third day of July in the year Eighteen hundred and fifty five, Personally appearing before me a justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid in the State aforesaid, Betsey Rice a resident of said Roxbury, in said County aged Seventy eight years, who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of Benjamin Rice, deceased, who was a Private in Captain Nyes Company, Col. Sparkes's Regt. and also under Capt. Benjamin Phillips, Col. Robinsons Regt. That he served at several different periods in the war of the Revolution, in the year 1777. and more than one month and was honorably discharged. That he was enlisted in Worcester County in the State of Massachusetts, that she is not able of her recollections to state the service minutely.
She further states that she was married to the said Benj. Rice in Rutland, Massachusetts on the thirtieth day of May A.D. 1802 & that her name before said marriage was Betsey

Oliver, & they were joined in marriage by Hezekiah Goodrich Pastor of the Church.
That her said husband died in Roxbury N. Hampshire aforesaid, on the twenty first day of June in the year eighteen hundred & thirty five, and that she is now a widow and has never before applied for nor received bounty land. That she makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act of Congress approved March 3. 1855 — and appoints G. F. Starkweather of New her attorney in the premises.
Betsy Price

We Nathan bridge and Earle Clark residents of Roxbury in the County of Cheshire & State of New Hampshire upon our Oaths declare that we well know Betsey Rice and that she signed & acknowledged the foregoing declaration in our presence and from her appearance and statements we believe her to be the identical person she represents herself to be in said declaration.
We further declare that she is a widow and that her husband Benjamin Rice died in this town Roxbury, June 21, 1835 as she has stated.
Nathan Bridge Earle Clark
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons: that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be. And that I have no interest in this claim.
Seth Kingsbury
Justice of the Peace

State of New Hampshire
County of Cheshire ss I Leonard Bisco. Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, of said State, for said County, do hereby certify that Seth Kingsbury before whom the foregoing declaration and affidavit were made, was, at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly authorized by the laws of this State to take depositions and administer oaths, and that his signature thereto is in my belief genuine.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this thirtieth day of July A.D. 1855.
Leonard Bisco. Clerk.

177. 311
Betsy Rice claim Act March 3. 185.
By her Attorney G. F. Starkweather Keene N.H.

State of Massachusetts, County of Worcester, Town of Rutland
Benjamin Rice and Betsey Oliver both of Rutland married May Thirtieth one Thous- -and eight hundred and ten.
The above persons joined in marriage by me
Hemeniah Goodrich Pastor of the church in Rutland
I certify that the above is a true copy of the Records, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the Records in fair legible figures as follows — "May 30 th 1812"
Zadock W. Gates Town Clerk
I Zadock W. Gates above named, do hereby certify, that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the town county and state aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy from the records of said town, with the exception above named, as certified by me
Zadock W. Gates Clerk of said Town
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcester ss May 11. 1855. Subscribed and duly sworn to - Before me Jos. A. Denny Jur. Pac.

I William Rice of Roxbury in the County of Berkshire & State of New Hampshire aged 35 years, on oath say that I am a Son of Betsey Rice an Applicant for Bounty land under the act of 1855. That I was about twelve years old when my father Benjamin Rice died, That I remember of hearing him relate the incidents he witnessed in the war of the Revolution that before my Mother made application for Bounty. She told me what she remembered of my father's services as she understood it from him. And she not being able distinctly to fix on his officers etc. I at her request called on the Secretary of Massachusetts, and in my presence he examined the records. I saw the record of the services of others bearing the name of Benj. Rice, and all had performed more service than my Mother or myself thought that my father had done. My father was a native of Rutland Mass. and as I have ever been informed his father was a resident there in time of the war, my parents were married there as it will appear, and taking all the circumstances into consideration it was my belief at the time my Mother made her declaration, and now is, that the certificate by the Secretary of Massachusetts, shows the service of my father in said war.
William Rice
Sworn to and subscribed before me this twenty first day of August 1856 And I certify that said Affiant is a credible person and that I am not interested.
Lewis Campbell — Justice of the Peace

State of New Hampshire, County of Cheshire I George W. Sturtevant Register of Probate in and for said County, hereby certify that Lewis Campbell whose signature is affixed to the within Certificate is a justice of the Peace for said County duly author- ized by law to administer oaths &c. and that full faith and credit are due to his official acts as justice aforesaid. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this twenty first day of August 1856
Geo. W. Sturtevant Regr.

187313 10:22 AM Rice M rs Benjamin
PAID
Hon. J. Minot Comm. of Pensions Washington D.C.
Additional Evidence Act 1855. No. 187.311

5 40.677
} New Ames

187.311
FREE
Hon. S. P. Waldo Comm. of Pensions Washington D.C.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, July 29 th 1855
I Hereby Certify , That at the date of the attestation hereunto annexed,
Joseph A. Denny was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Worcester
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
T. M. Wrigley Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, July 28 th 1855.
I Hereby Certify , That from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the Name of Benjamin Peir is borne on pay roll of Capt. Benjamin Nye's Comp. Col. Stark's Regt. who marched to reinforce the Continental Army at Bennington under Command of Gen. Stark. Aug. 20. 1777. 10 days. Also on pay roll of Capt. Benjamin Nye's Comp. Major Jonas Wilder's Regt. in the Northern Army from Sept. 26 th to Oct. 18. 1777 29 days as private. Also on pay roll of Capt. Benjamin Phillips Comp. Col. Timothy Robinson's Regt. from June 11. to July 27. 1777 1 month 13 days. as private. Roll dated in Garrison at Leominster July 24. 1777.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
E. M. Wingate Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Mr. Anthony's letter to the Honorable Thomas R. Roff M.C. march 9 th 1820
Benjamin Rice
Rev -160-55 ne of H.F. 40.677 Recorded vol 4 folio 75

War Department The Honorable Thos R. Ross.— Section of Bounty Lands March 9 th 1820.
Sir —
The enquiry you were pleased recently to make at this office, relative to a claim of Benjamin Rue, for Military Bounty Land, claimed by him for revolutionary services, — has received due attention.— It is found that said Rue once held the commission of an Ensign in the Army of the Revolution: that he was nominated to the command of a Gondola on the Lakes, under Benedict Arnold; from whom he received a Discharge from the service. — and it does not appear that he ever rejoined the Continental Army, of course is not entitled to the bounty land.— I have the honor to be, Sir, very Respectfully, y r obedt. humble servant (Signed) Wm. Butting.—

Keene N.H. August 21. 1856 Dear Sir.
I send herewith the affidavit of a son of the widow Rice. I shall not be able to prove by persons living the service of Benjamin.
I might add that from what I can learn, we claim under the Benjamin who served the least time. Others, it seems served long enough to entitle them to pension. We set up a claim for the short service because we believe we are not entitled to more, and that we are entitled to a warrant upon this. I hope to be informed early, what evidence will be required further if any.
Very truly Yours G. F. Starkweather
Hon. J. Millet }