Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30678, for Samuel Rice, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Rice Samuel
S. 30678
Vt. (Green Mt. Boys)
CONTENTS

15.650
Massachusetts
Samuel Rice
of Franklin in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Becke of the Regiment commanded by Col Easton in the Vermont line for 2 years
N H Cont't + Mil.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massa at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of July 1832 and sent to E. Alwood Frankfield Mass
Arrears to the 14th of Mar 1832 $116.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 40.00
$200.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Ladd Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 2 Page 72
80 Dollars Franklin

Samuel Rice Charlemont
22297
Samuel Rice -

I Samuel Taylor of Buckland in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawfull age do testify and say that Samuel Rice of Charlemont in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid entered a Company under my command on the tenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven and marched from Charlemont aforesaid to Saratoga in York State and from there to Bennington and joined a Reg. commanded by Col. Porter the Army retreated from there to Stillwater said Samuel Rice served thirty eight days and were all discharged
Sam. Taylor
Buckland August 14 1832
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss. August 14 1832 Personally appeared Samuel Taylor Esq. and made oath that the above Deposition by him subscribed is true being known to me as a person of truth and veracity
Before me Joseph Greenfield Justice of the Peace
He further deposes that he was in the service of the Continental Congress in the year 1777 and was taken prisoner by the enemy in Canada and remained until 1780 when he made his escape from the Isle of Orleans and returned to his Colonel the 24th of June, making more than five months service. He was born in Charlemont Mar. 1753 and no record of his birth is to be found. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Samuel Rice
Previous to my first enlistment I had resided about three years in Bennington aforesaid - after I left the service I returned to said Charlemont where I have lived ever since. I know of no person now living who was in the service with me whose testimony I can procure except that of Capt. Samuel Taylor. I know in my present neighborhood the Rev. Joseph Field, Mr. Alexander P. Maxwell and Mr. Rufus Barber who will testify to my character for truth and veracity and their belief of my services as a soldier in the Revolution.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand and amxed the Seal of the said Court, this day of in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty
He therefore proceeded to the dwelling house of the said Applicant in Charlemont aforesaid and there took his said declaration and examination under oath as aforesaid.
R. E. Brainerd
Judge of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
FRANKLIN COUNTY SS.
ON THIS  third day of September A. D. 1832, personally appeared Richard E. Newcomb  the  Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the  Peabody  said Commonwealth, residing at Greenfield within and for the said County of Franklin, Samuel Rice a resident of Charlemont in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
That he resided at Bennington Vermont in the year 1775 which then called the New Hampshire grant that he enlisted in a company of militia at Bennington early in the fall of 1775 and served under the following named officers Col. John Brown - Major John Brown - Adjutant Wm. Saterly. Capt. Sam l Herrick - He was marched to Ticonderoga and Crown Point and was there stationed for a space of eight months when he was honorably discharged but has lost the paper that he then enlisted under Capt. Buel and was engaged in the service of transporting provisions from P'keepsieburgh to the Highlands for the space of three months and was discharged but has no written evidence and that in the autumn he was engaged in an expedition up Mohawk river commanded by Gen l Schuyler in the company of Capt. Samuel Robinson and marched to Johnston in which service he was engaged two months - that from this expedition he enlisted for eight months under Col. Seth Warner - Major Robert Coffin - Capt. Wm. Hopt and was principally engaged in the northern frontiers & in Canada & was discharged by General Wooster but has no discharge in writing which he can find - that he then enlisted at Charlemont in Mass. in company commanded by Capt. Samuel Taylor which marched for the relief of the Northern Army on the retreat from Ticonderoga and was engaged in said expedition thirty eight days In January 1778 he volunteered under the command of Col. Samuel Herrick and was in a private company  on a Scout to St. Johns , he was taken prisoner in Canada & detained until 13 th May when he made his escape from St. Johns and returned to his  his  Colonel the 24 th of June, making some more than six months service - He was born in Charlemont Mass 1753 and no record of his birth is to be found - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. R. E. Newcomb Judge of Probate
Samuel Rice
WE, Joseph Field - Clergyman - and Alexander P. Maxwell and Rufus Barber ,
residing in Charlemont hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Rice who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy nine 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. That said Rice of Charlemont Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
N. S. Newcomb J. Probate
Joseph Field Clerk A. P. Maxwell Rufus Barber
And the said Court doth hereby declare his opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Joseph Field who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman residing in the said Town of Charlemont , & that A. P. Maxwell & Rufus Barber who have also signed the same, are residents in the said Town of Charlemont & are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit, and the said Judge further certifies that the Applicant is not, from bodily infirmity, able to attend the Court and that
I, ELIJAH ALVORD, Clerk of the said Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, this day of  the eighth hundred and thirty in the year of our Lord one thousand
be therefore proceeded to the dwelling house of the said Applicant in Charlemont aforesaid and there took his said declaration and examination under oath as aforesaid.
R. E. Newcomb Judge of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Franklin ss I Elijah Alvord, clerk of the Register of the Court of Probate for the said county of Franklin do hereby certify that Richard E Newcomb Esq. before whom the within proceedings were had is the the Judge of Probate for said county; and that he personally delivered the said proceedings to me, and the within attestation to the same was made by him in my presence. I also certify that Joseph Griswold Esq. before whom the annexed affidavit of Samuel Taylor purports to have been sworn to and a Justice of the Peace for the said county; and that his name subscribed to the same appears to me to be his genuine signature. Witness my hand and the seal of the said Court of Probate at Greenfield on the third day of September A. D. 1832 E. Alvord. Reg. Probate

No 22294 Samuel Rice Franklin County Massachusetts
Rev. Dyer
in the form annexed.
Alvah Greenfield Mass.

County Franklin  BRIEF in the case of Samuel Rice of Franklin in the State of Massachusetts (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?  3. How old is he? 79 years  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.     Enlisted In 1775 — 8 — — As a Private Gen. Wooster , Col. Sa d Easton , Major D. Brown   Enlisted " " — 3 — — Private Col. Buel   " " — 2 — — Private Genl. Schuyler , Col. Sa d Robinson   Enlisted — — — 8 — — Private Col. Sa d Warren , Major Rob t Coffin   Enlisted Vol — 1778 — — 15 — 8 Private Col. Sa d Easton , Col. Sa d Herrick  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bennington Vermont  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
 Rich d H. Pratt Examining Clerk.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Samuel 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.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Fall 1775 8 mos Pvt. Samuel Herrick James Easton VA   3 " Paul "   2 " Samuel Robinson "   8 " Walt Hopkins Eth Warner "   July 10 1777 38 days Samuel Taylor Porter Mass   Jan 1778 was cap. in Canada but escaped May 13, 1778 Samuel Herrick VA  
Battles engaged in, _____
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Brownington Vt & Charlemont Mass
Date of application for pension, Sept 3, 1832. His claim was ab.
Residence at date of application, Charlemont Franklin Co Mass
Age at date of application, about Charlemont Mass in 1753
Remarks: There is no data on file as to family
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

30 678 Rev INVALID.
1920 Feb. 27. Heist to Mrs A.O. Mason Jr. aw-
File No. 30,678
Samuel Rice
His Rev Rev
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 8-41
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Rev Sec 440 Glencoe Ave. Highland Park, Ill. Feb. 10 - 1920.
Commissioner of Pensions;
Dear Sir:-
Kindly send me the pension record of Samuel Rice , Franklin Co., Mass., pensioner of the Revolution. He was placed on the roll July 2, 1833, pension commenced March 4, 1831.

Very truly yours Doris Moody Mason (Mrs. A.C. Mason Jr.)

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Samuel Rice which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? the Judge has IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? Witness
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? Yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? the Judge has
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? Yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeh and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
†QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
☞ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.