Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,066, for Mitchell Richards, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Richards Mitchell
30,066
CONTENTS

5402
Maine Mitchell Richard
of Kennebec in the State of Maine who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain J. L. L. of the Regt. commanded by Col. Nichols in the Dept. time for 2 Years
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 24th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of February 1833 — and deaths  Abbie Augusta
Arrears to 14th of Sep. 1832 $ 120 Semi-ant. allowance ending Apr. '33 40
$ 160
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. C. B. Stiles , Clerk, Book D Vol. — Page 84

Michel Richard Maine
Brooks Mass. if found for 6 mo. in 80 may be adm'd full pension
cond
R. C. Vose Agent

BRIEF in the case of  Nicholas Richards  County of Kennebec  in the State of  Maine  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Judge  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? no  3. How old is he? 72  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     August In 1777 interior 1 Private Capt Doolittle Colo Nichols   Octo " " 2 " Capt Doolittle " Doolittle   April 1778 " 3 " Capt Smith Col Stearns   Aug. " " 1 " Capt Smith Col. Ward   April 1780 " 3 " Capt White Colo Burbank   Jan " " 6 " Capt Reed " Worth  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Battle of Bennington at the taking of Burgoyne  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Schenectady Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary and a document  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? no Clergyman nor any oaths given 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Dyer
Examining Clerk.

Mitchell Steward
found on Rolls
nom
2 years pro
80/6
R. C. Rose Augusta me

Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
STATE OF MAINE, } ss. KENNEBEC COUNTY, }
On this 13 th day of August A. D. 1832 personally appeared before the Hon. NATHAN WESTON, Jun'r, a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, of said State, Mitchell Richards a resident of Temple in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine, aged Seventy two years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1777 with Captain Jocelyn and served in Col. Nichols' regiment of the New Hampshire line or troops under the following named officers: viz. Jocelyn Capt
& Nichols' Col. That he enlisted in that company & regiment as a private for one month in August 1777 that he was in the battle of Bennington & after serving out the full term of his enlistment was discharged in September of the same year. That in October 1777 he again enlisted as a private for one month in Capt. Bellows' company in Col. Bellows' Regiment of the same troops; that he was at the taking of Burgoyne & discharged at Saratoga in November of the same year. That in April 1778 he enlisted as a private for three months in Capt. Murch's Company & Col. Stearn's Massachusetts regiment; that this period he fully served out at Dorchester, Mass s in building forts &c. & was discharged there in June of the same year. That in August 1778 he enlisted as a private for one year in Capt. Nathan Smith's Company & as he thinks Col. Wade's Mass s regiment, that he went on to Rhode Island & after serving out the full term of his enlistment was discharged at Newport in August 1779. — That in April 1780 he enlisted as a private for three months in Capt. White's Company in Col. Burbank's regiment of the same troops; that he served on Governor's Island in Boston harbor in building forts & was discharged at Castle William in June of the same year. That in June 1780 he again enlisted as a private for six months in Capt. [blank] company in Lt. Col. John Brooks' of the Mass s troops; served six months in [blank] the same year. And to the interrogatories propounded under the instructions of the war department, he answers:

That he was born in the year 1759 in Lunenburg, Mass'tts where he presumed his age is recorded. Where his home was during his revolutionary services, & until about thirty years ago when he removed to said Temple where he has ever since lived. That he enlisted was not drafted or received as a substitute. That he never but once received a written discharge. That he has named such of his officers as he now recollects. That he does not know of any one living who can testify to his services. That any of his neighbors will testify to his character for veracity & their belief of his services. He names Ebenezer Eaton Esq. & Robert Goodenow Esq. County Attorneys for said County of Kennebec. That from his service in Lt Col. Brooks' regiment he received a written discharge which he long since lost.
13th Augt.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any State
Mitchell Mitchell his Richard mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, B if one
Nathan Weston Nathan Weston not I.P.C.
And the said Judge does hereby declare his opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.
Nathan Weston

State of Maine.
KENNEBEC, ss.—I, JOHN A. CHANDLER, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts held within and for the County of Kennebec, hereby certify that the HON. NATHAN WESTON, Jun'r, before whom the within proceedings was had, is a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of said State; I also certify that the within contains the original proceedings of the said Judge, in the matter of the application of Mitchell Richards for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court, this sixteenth day of August
A. D. 1832,
J. A. Chandler

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 Mitchell Richards 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. 30,066
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Aug. 1777 1 mo. Pvt. Joslin ✓ Mass.   Oct. 1777 1 mo. Wells ✓ "   Apr. 1778 3 mo. John White Abijah Stearns "   Aug. 1778 1 yr. Nathan Smith Wade "   Apr. 1780 6 mo. White Buttick "   June 1780 6 mo. Beal St. Col. John Brown "  
Battles engaged in, Battles of Brandywine & Red Bank Residence of soldier at enlistment, Lyndeborough, Mass. Date of application for pension, Apr. 22, 1818 - Cl. al. Residence at date of application, Temple, Kennebec Co. Me. Age at date of application, born in Lyndeborough, Mass. 1759 - In 1818 age
Remarks: stated as fifty-nine yrs.  The above noted is the only soldier of this name found in the Rev. War pens. records.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

30 066 INVALID.
Revy
1911 July 26 - Hist. 15 Miss M.B. Fairbanks
File No. 30,066
Witchell Richards
His Rev. Wm
Act: James Y m 89"
Index: Vol. 2 , Page 341
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Mitchell Richards. pr. Col. Brook, Map. Reg. June 1780. 9 mo
April 22. 1800
Projected - served only 6 months in '80

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
To the Honorable the Secretary of the Department of the United States.
I the subscriber, being a Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Second Eastern Circuit of Massachusetts, comprising the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset, do hereby certify to your Honor, that Mitchell Richards , a citizen of the United States, now resident in Temple , in the said County of Kennebec , in the District of Maine, on the twenty second day of April , A. D. 1818, made application to me to receive his declaration under oath, and such other evidence, as was in his power to produce; and to transmit the same, and the proceedings had thereon, to your Honor; that he might be placed on the pension list of the United States, agreeably to the provisions of an Act, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war," passed March 18, A. D. 1818, which declaration, and the other evidence produced by said applicant are hereunto annexed.
And I do further certify to your Honor, that after a full examination of the said applicant, and a careful consideration of the evidence in the case, it appears to me that the said applicant did serve as a private in the war of the revolution, against the common enemy, upon the continental establishment, for more than nine months, as stated in his declaration aforesaid; and that from his reduced circumstances he needs the assistance of his country for his support.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the Seal of the said Court to be hereunto affixed, this 27th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
Josiah Stebbins.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
KENNEBEC, ss.
I THE Subscriber, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts, held within the said County of Kennebec, hereby certify that the Honorable JOSIAH STEBBINS , Esquire, before whom the annexed proceedings were held, is a Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Second Eastern Circuit of Massachusetts, comprising the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset; and that by the direction of the said Judge, I have affixed unto this certificate bearing his signature, the seal of the said Court in which he presides.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand:—Dated at Augusta, in said County of Kennebec, this Twenty seventh day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
Th. Dutton

I Mitchell Richards of Temple in the County of Kennebec and District of Maine, aged fifty seven years, a resident citizen of the United States, desiring to obtain the provision made by the law 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", and to be placed upon the pension list for the District of Maine, do on oath testify and declare, That at Lunenburg in the State of Massachusetts in May or the first of June 1780 I enlisted for six months in the company commanded by Capt. Read, in Col. John Brooks' regiment on the continental establishment, in the Massachusetts line, in the war of the revolution. This term of six months I fully served out, and was not discharged, but remained and served in the same company more than three months longer as a substitute for one whose time was not expired being more than nine months, in the whole; after which I received a regular discharge, I presume my discharge is lost I have no recollection of it for more than twenty years past, and it is not in existence to my knowledge. I was at the Bennington battle, and at the taking of Burgoyne. I do not know of any person that can testify to my services if any exist I have no knowledge, or reason to be believe that they are so near that I can now find them and obtain their testimony. By reason of my reduced circumstances in life I am in need of assistance from my country for support - Mitchell Richards

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Second Eastern Circuit.
On the twenty second day of April, A.D. 1818, the aforesaid Mitchell Richards, having been duly examined and cautioned, made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him signed: Before me, Josiah Stebbins, a Judge of the C.C.C.P. for said Circuit.

Apr. 22. Rose.
Pl.

State of Maine.
We Ebenezer Eaton of Wilton Goodnow
a Clergyman residing in the town in the County of Kennebec and Robert residing in the same town, of Farmington hereby certify, that
we are well acquainted with Mitchell Richards who has sub- scribed and sworn to the annexed declaration; that we believe him to be seventy two years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Ebenezer Eaton R. Goodnow
State of Maine.
Kennebec ss.—Sworn and subscribed this Sixteenth day of August
A. D. 1832
Before me,
Wm. Noard
Justice of the Peace.
William Noard Esq is a Justice of the Peace and Ebenezer Eaton Esq of Wilton  Farmington and Robert Goodnow Esq of Farmington , Attorney for the state for Kennebec, are credible persons, and this statement entitled to be believed.
Nathan Weston Esq

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, November 26/1832.
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 Michael Richards is borne on a Pay Roll of Captain John White, company in Col. Abijah Stearns Regt. of Artillery in the State of Massachusetts, doing duty at and near Boston from the April 19 2 day of July 1778. and had for three months four days service as a private.
And that there are no Rolls of Captain Minchs Company of Col. Stearns Regiment, or of Captain Smiths Company of Col. Wadsworth Regiment of the Massachusetts Militia, to be found in this office.
Edward D. Bangs, Secy.

July 18 1911 Commissioner of Pensions, Sir:—
I have the honor to request from your office the complete Revolutionary Record of Mitchell Richards He was a pensioner of the U. S. living in Temple Maine in 1840 aged 81 years. He probably enlisted from Lunenburg Mass. I wish to know if there were two soldiers of the name as ages do not correspond. His Christian name appears as Michel or Mitchel or Michell. Respectfully
Miss M. B. Fairbanks 432 Broadway Cambridge Mass.

Act July 22 1911c PENSION U. S. JUL 19 1911 OFFICE.