Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,654, for Solomon Richards, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Richards, Solomon
S 17,654
carded
CONTENTS

21.4.80 Massachusetts Solomon Richards of Charleston in the State of Mass who was a 2d Ensign in the Company commanded by Captain Cook of the Rgt commanded by Col Gainer in the Mass. a line for 8 mos & 10 days service 7. Ensign
Recd. Oct 29. 1833
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass. at the rate of 97 - Dollars 78 - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of Sept 1833 and sent R. F. Child Boston Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $244.45 Semi-annual allowance ending 4th Mar '34 48.89 $293.34
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. H. [Signature] Clerk, Book [Signature] Vol. 2. Page 73

4724.
Solomon Richards
Charlestown
Meals
Meals 8 Mns 10 days
Range 7 14.4 16 08
21 Oct 1832
26.69
1.11
70.00
97.78
195.56
48.89
244.45
9500
3 Boxes
May

BRIEF in the case of Solomon Richardson of Charleston in the State of Mass (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 80 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.     In 1770-74 — 7 10 As a privt Genl. Cook Col Gardner   76 May — 7 — Ensign " Harrington Col Brown   Lieut  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Lexington  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Newton  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence with 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.
J. H. Blain Examining Clerk.

Solomon Richards

4744.
Solomon Richards

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Middlesex ss. On this Twenty second day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Judge of the Probate Court — now sitting at Charlestown in and for said County, Salomon Richards a resident of Charlestown said County, aged eighty — 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 act of Congress passed June 7th, A. D. 1832.
THAT he was born at Newton on the eighteenth day of December A. D. 1758, and that there is a record of his birth in a Family Record at his house in Newton that he was in the United States service from the nineteenth day of April A. D. 1775, to the first day of January A. D. 1776 (Pm 10d) as a private in the Massachusetts State troops : that he was residing at said Newton when he entered the service ; that he enlisted on the first day of July 1775 with Capt Cook and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Generals Ward & Washington in the company of said Cook in Col Gardner's Regiment and Lt Col Bond & Major Michael Jackson were of the same Regt and Lt Warren & Ensign Richardson were of the same company : that he marched from Newton to Lexington & thence to Cambridge : that he served with Col Gerrish's Regiment of State of the regular troops ; and Generals Greene, Lee, Washington & Ward were known to him : that he was in no battle
but not in writing : that he left the service on said first day of January and that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at said Newton where he now resides.
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from the first day of May A. D. 1776, to the first day of December A. D. 1776 from [Pm 10d] as an Ensign & Lieut in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at said Newton when he entered the service ; that he entered the service as a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Gen Gates in Capt Harnett's company and Col Brooks Regt : that he marched from Newton to Concord & to Ticonderoga, New Hampshire and Vermont : that he served with none that he particularly recollects of militia of the regular troops ; and Capt Stow and Major Stevens militia and regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
that at the end of his service he received a discharge but not in writing and left the service on said first day of January — and has no documentary evidence of his services or of any part thereof.
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from the first day of A. D. 17 — , to the — day of A. D. 17 — as a — in the — that he was residing at — when he entered the service ; that he — and served for the period aforesaid under the command of — : that he marched from —
: that he served with — of the regular troops ; and — regular officers were known to him ; that he was in — battle
that at the end of his service he received a discharge and left the service on —

The general circumstances of his service were as follows; to wit; When the alarm came on the 19th of April 1775, we met at the meetinghouse at Newton and at Watertown joined the regiment. We met the British at Lexington. We emerged from a wood upon a hill a little S.W. of Lexington meeting house, and as soon as we were seen by the enemy, who were halted on the common and resting themselves, they immediately opened a fire of grape shot from two field pieces upon us. We immediately broke run. We formed again on the South west side of the hill and when the British came down, we again encountered them and from that time we kept up a fire upon them until they arrived at Cambridge. This service was in Col Gordinier's Regiment. Our regiment was not ordered into the battle of Bunker Hill until quite late and we did not get quite up to the breast work before our friends began the retreat. The Somerset Men of War fired upon us as we passed Charles town neck and killed one of our men. At Secondoga our Capt died about the middle of our town and I was promoted to Lieutenant. I had no commission but it was read in orders. While I was there Arnold came from his battle on the lake quite wounded. I saw him when he landed; his craft were anchored just under Fort Independence where I was. Total Service 15m 10d.
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.
Solomon Richards
Recapitulation under Capt Cook Pm 10d 4 " " Herring 10d 4 Total 20d 8
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
We Jonathan Homer a Clergyman residing in the town of Newton and Joseph Grafton a Clergyman residing in said Newton hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Solomon Richards who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty 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.
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid.
Jonathan Homer  Joseph Grafton
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears to them that Jonathan Homer who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the town of Newton; and that Joseph Grafton a clergyman who has also signed the same is a resident in Newton and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. P. P. S. P. P. S.
I Isaac Fiske President of the Court of Probate of Newton do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Solomon Richards for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Isaac Fiske

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By His Excellency LEVI LINCOLN , Esquire, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over said Commonwealth.
To all whom it may concern:
Know Ye, That David S. Child Esq , is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk; and that William Jackson Esq , is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex; in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commission- ed, and that to their 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 caused the Public Seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed, this thirtieth day of January A. D. 1833, and in the Fifty Seventh Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
By His Excellency the Governor.
Edward D. Bangs Secretary of the Commonwealth.

17654 INVALID.
File No. 17654
Solomon Richards
Richings Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 442
[Arrangement of 1870.]

JUL 26
6
D L Childs Esq
Boston Mass.

Pewee July 25-1833
Dear Sir, As my information are such, and the persons whom I might gain more information from, respecting my demand as a pensioner, live at a distance from me, I have made up my mind to be content with allowing the term or term to be five months. That is my term to the Northward. I am on deroga-
Yours Respectfully, Simon Richard
P.S. I wish you to proceed in the business according to the best of your judgement without any further information from me. S. R.

To the Hon Lewis Cap Sec'y of War
Boston July 30 th 1833
Sir,
Lt. Solomon Richards, writer of the enclosed letter, is a very venera- ble and honorable man. You will appre- ciate the difficulty of his remembering dates accurately after the lapse of fifty seven years . He thinks still that he was out on the service Canada and Ticonder- oga expedition from 7 to 9 months. However he concludes in consequence of the deficiency of rolls, and the difficulty of obtaining proofs , to waive all but five months . Have the Department no records of the Ticonderoga or northern service in 1776? The additional certificate of the Sec'y of War is which is annexed to the

declaration ^ and marked (6) will show how accurate Lt. Richards was in respect to his Captain and in respect to the year .
You will also see by the same certificate (4) that there are no rolls of the companies, indicated in the roster referred to in the preceding part of the certificate, are to be found in his office.
Before closing this letter I beg leave to request that the cer- tificates may be sent to me . In many cases the applicants have not the means of advancing any thing, not even for fees of court; and in such cases I have often made advances for them or have become responsible and have rec d nothing for myself. If the certificate goes directly to the pensioner he forgets frequently to call and pay the fees. Ag d men are forgetful. In point of fact I have rec d nothing for many days work in

examining records and taking evidence or looking for it; and this in consequence of the certificate being sent to the pen- sioner. As their pension money is not subject to attachment there is a peculiar necessity for retaining the papers. It is however best justice to the old soldiers to say that there a very large majority are true and conscientious in regard to the payment of reasonable fees for preparing their papers.
I am, Sir, Most Respectfully Yr Obedt Servt D. Seebeck
P.S. Aug 22 d This case has been detained with the hope of still obtaining means of fix- ing definitely the terminus of Secondeborg service. But I have not been able to accomplish that. I trust that five months at least may be allowed for that service. But I hope that the Department have some evidence in their archives more exact and com- plete on that subject. D. S. G. S.

P n Office
FREE
War Department Washington

Boston Oct 25, 1833
Hon Lewis Cap
Sir, I have rec d the Certificate of Solomon Rich- ards an Ensign & private in the Reg n but his name is not on the books of the Pension Agency of at this place .
Respect ly My O b t Son D. L. Child

Solomon Richards
I Isaac Foster Minister of the Court of Probate in and for the county of Middlesex do hereby certify that the notes accompanying this certificate contain the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Solomon Richards for a Pension I also certify that William Jackson whose own proper deposition is written on the back of the depositions of Garrison Flyde Elisha Brattle and George Cheney the hereto annexed is a justice of the peace within said county of Middlesex.
In testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the fourth day of February A.D. 1833
Isaac Foster

I Garrison Hyde of Newton in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy five testify and say that I was a soldier of the revolution and served eight months at Cambridge under command of Col Gardner and Col Bond, in D 1775, Capt Cook's company; and that Solomon Richards was also a revo- lutionary soldier, and served with me at the same place during the same time, and in the same company, always doing his duty as a faithful & good soldier. Garrison Hyde
Suffolk ss Boston August 10. 1832
Subscribed and sworn before me This witness is a credible person } D Lee Child Jus. Reace
* See certificate of Secretary of Massachusetts accompanying application of John Hale.

Middlesex ss. Newton Jan 23. 1833
I certify that Gershom Hyde of said Newton who has subscribed to foregoing affidavit is a credible person and his statement entitled to credit
William Jackson Justice of the Peace
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I Eliza Bartlett of Newton in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy nine years testify & say that I was a soldier of the revolution and served in Capt Joseph Warren company at Ticonderoga in the year 1776; and that Solomon Richards then and ever since of said Newton was an Ensign and served at the said  the same time & place during the same period, which was five months, doing his duty as a faithful and good officer. I further testify and say that I cannot for the time that said Richards served, I can only say that I saw him there frequently in the service and further say not
E. B. Bartlett Subscribed
Suffolk ss Boston Aug. x 10 1832. — and sworn before me
D. Leachfield
Jus: Peace*
* See certificate of Secretary of Massachusetts accompanying application of John Hill

Middlesex ss Newton Jan 23 d 1833.
I certify that Elisha Bartlett of Dorchester who has subscribed and sworn the foregoing affidavit is a credible person and his state- ment entitled to credit.
William Jackson Justice of the Peace

I Ebenezer Cheney of Newton in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy three years testify and say, that I am well acquainted with Solomon Richards and have been from early life both of us having resided in said Newton and been neighbors from that period to the present; that there was a call for troops to go to Secon- deroga in 1776; that they beat up for volunteers and said Richards did volunteer among many others myself among the rest, but I did not go because my father was opposed to it, & procured a substi- tute for me. I further say that said Richards was elected Ensign in the company to which he be- long before the company marched from said Newton. My impression is and ever has been that the proposed term of service was eight months.
Subscribed before me Ebenezer Cheney Personally appeared Ebenezer Cheney who is well known to me as a man of credibility & made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him submitted before J. P. Gay Notary

Modlexaff Newton Jan'y 23. 1889
I certify that Ebenezer Cheney of Newton Esquire who was subpoenaed and sworn the forgoing affidavit is a credible person and his state- ment entitled to credit
William Jackson Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, June 4 th 1833.
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
the by a Roster of Colonel Thomas Gardner's Regiment, dated in the year 1775 that Phinehas Cook was Captain Josiah Warren S d & Aaron Richardson Ensign of a Company in said Regiment Also that in the year 1776 thirty four men were raised by enlistment in the town of Newton county of Middlesex, and that one from said County company marched under Capt Edward Harrington for the purpose of reinforcing the army in Canada on the 25 th day of July of said year 1776.
Edward D. Bangs. Secy

(4) I further certify that there are no rolls in this office of companies, whose offices appear in the aforesaid Roster.
Edward D Bangs Secy