Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 22061, for Lemuel Richards, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Richards Lemuel Rebecca
N. 22061
CONTENTS

See letter to Asa W. Jackson A. R. - 14 th Feb 1837
464 Massachusetts Rebecca Richards Norfolk in the State of Mass a was a Chap n in the command of the widow of Samuel Richards late a Lieutenant in the Revolution
Granted on the Roll of Mass a at the rate of 86-Dollars 22 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 th day of Feb y 1837 and sent E. W. Sampson, Dover Mass a
Amount to the 4 th of Sept 1837 $474.00 Pension allowance ending 4 th March 37 43.11
$517.11
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by M ch l. G. d'ison Clerk, Book 7. Vol. Page 64

Rebecca Richarols Application for a Pension
N o 524
3. Sec.
Adm d as Legal 6 mo 14 days $86.22 per ann. comm d March 1831
Rev d Rich d name not found on roll. Rev d Shaw on roll with the company, on roll 22. p. 193. from an abstract of pay due his Co. his much a pay roll cannot be found. Sustained by evidence A 18/3
Elb Sampson Rebecca Richarols Dor. Mass. one clerk Co. only Norfolk Co

Application of Rebecca Richards for a Pension under the U.S. Law of July 4 th 1836.
State of Massachusetts ) County of Norfolk SS. On this nineteenth day of October in the year of Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six, personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable John A. Williams, judge of the Court of Common Pleas, now sitting at Dedham in and for said County of Norfolk: Rebecca Richards a resident of Dover in said County, aged ninety years, who being first sworn according to law - doth on her Oath, make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4 th A.D. 1836.
I Rebecca Richards of Dover in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts widow, being ninety years of age, declare that I am the Widow of Lieutenant Samuel Richards late of said Dover die. Who rendered military services both as a private and Lieutenant of Infantry, to the United States, during the Revolutionary War, which services according to my best recollection and belief were performed as follows.
When the Revolutionary War commenced April 19 th 1775. the said Lieut. Samuel Richards my late husband, belonged to a company of Minute men commanded by Capt. Joseph Guild, our place of residence was then and afterwards, in that part of said Dedham, which is now the town of Dover, on the day above mentioned when the alarm of Hostilities at Lexington arrived, the said Samuel Richards instantly turned out joined the soldiers of Capt. Ebenezer Battle's company and left the town for the scene of action at Lexington and was exposed to the enemy, fire on that occasion, I suppose he joined Capt. Joseph Guild's minute company at, or before they arrived at the conflict of the day. In the first three weeks of this war, said Samuel Richards rendered two weeks service in arms at the Camp at Boston lines and returned home - again in the month of June 1775. The said Samuel Richards my late husband left home armed and equipped, and marched to the Camp at the Boston lines, and was under arms in that quarter at the time of Bunker Hill Battle June 17 th 1775 and some days after that event, during this month I think he was in this service at least two weeks more, between the months of June and December of the same year, there were many alarms and the said Samuel Richards went in arms many times to the Camp and performed short tours of military duty, and then returned home, - again in the month of February or March 1776. The said Samuel Richards was called to the Camp at Boston lines and remained there in military service three weeks, I recollect this service more distinctly, because some of our children were very sick at that time, and I went to the Camp for my husband the said Samuel Richards, and he immediately returned to our home. His service as I understood at the time, was something about fortifying or the preparation to fortify Dorchester Heights, whether this tour of service and some of the preceding ones, were performed in the company and under the direction of Capt. Joseph Guild, Capt. Ebenezer Battle or Capt. Aaron Guild I cannot say with certainty, I remember that their Officers at one time or another, called at our house about the military operations of the first year of the war. I would just remark here, that the first year of the Revolutionary War in this quarter, was attended with much confusion and alarm, as well in domestic, as in military concerns; at this time we had a family of small children whose constant care and protection devolved on me, and much of our out of door concerns demanded what attention I was able to spare, in the absence of my said husband, under these circumstances, I have described the services

of my said Husband Samuel Richards, as correctly as possible from memory and a few dates in my possession, and that the military service under arms rendered during the first year of the revolutionary war by my said husband, was not less than ten weeks service, exclusive of much other service and absence from the family in the same cause when not under arms. I believe that all the military service ever rendered to this country by said Samuel Richards was performed voluntarily.
It may not be amiss to mention one circumstance which freshly occurs to my mind at this moment, I happened to be at the house in my neighborhood, where and when the same aforesaid Samuel Richards volunteered and enlisted into the service of (what was then called) his King and Country - he soon moved to Fort William Henry at Lake George, and served a campaign under Generals Amherst and Abercrombie A.D. 1758-1759 - I mention this merely to show, that my late husband had some knowledge of Camp service before the revolutionary war began.
Again about the first of June A.D. 1776, the Continent called for men to reinforce the Northern Army at Canada; before the month of June had expired, Capt. Timothy Stow and the said Samuel Richards began, and enlisted many soldiers for that service, my said Husband Samuel Richards, enlisted from nine to sixteen men in our immediate neighborhood; very soon, my said Husband received a Lieutenant's Commission in this service under said Capt. Timothy Stow in Col. Eraine Wheelock's Regt. dated July 18 th A.D. 1776 - The term for which these troops engaged was according to my recollection for eight months service, if not sooner discharged. Towards the close of July 1776, My said Husband moved with this Company from Dedham with the expectation of going to Canada and went to Charlestown N.H. in the State of New Hampshire, thence from some cause unknown to me, this Company turned their course more westward, crossed the territory now Vermont by way of Rutland, to the post of Ticonderoga in the State of New York, at this post, Capt. Stow left this Company and took command of Artillery, the said Samuel Richards remained, where additional data devolved on him on account of the Captain's absence I suppose for several months. During his service at this Post, my said Husband Samuel Richards was several times attacked with the lake fever, the last attack was very severe and unfitted him for military duty, I was advised of his situation and that he had obtained a furlough and might leave the Army if any proper means could be provided for his return home, I then engaged a man to go to that Post a distance of more than two hundred miles to aid his return as soon as he might be able, after several weeks absence the man returned with my said Husband Lieut. Samuel Richards who was in a very feeble and much emaciated state of body; from my recollection at the time, I do not remember the precise time of his arrival, but think it was in the month of November of the same year, at this time we had four Children and two of them very young, my said Husband remained in very low and feeble state of health for several weeks after his return, and so soon he was sufficiently recovered to go out some little distance from home, which I believe was in the early part of January A.D. 1777, I went with him in a carriage to Medfield (a distance of about five miles) and was present when the said Col. Ephraim Wheelock at his own house, gave said Samuel Richards my late Husband, an honorable discharge from this Ticonderoga engagement; this discharge has been kept till since the year 1818, and some person in pursuit of testimony to obtain a pension, I believe borrowed this discharge, and has not returned it, I regret that this paper cannot now

be produced in aid of my claim, I have always understood the soldiers who served in this Campaign were allowed for five months service, and the said Lemuel Richards I suppose was entitled to the same amount of service, and even an additional month when under Parolough up to the time of his discharge in January 1777.
Again I think in the Winter of 1778 the said Lemuel Richards went from Dedham aforesaid as the Officer of a party or detachment of soldiers and proceeded to Cambridge near Boston and there performed military duty for one month to guard General Burgoyne's troops then Prisoners of War at that place and returned home to said Dedham.
Again in the month of July the same year 1778 the said Lemuel Richards was called out and went to Watertown a little distance from said Cambridge and rendered service at that place as the Officer of a detachment to guard public stores or works in that quarter, how long he served at this place I have no means to determine precisely, but believe it was two weeks. What Col. he was under in these last services at and near Cambridge I know not, but no doubt he acted under the superior Officer of the Guards at Cambridge while said Prisoners remained at Cambridge. It is believed that one or both these tours of guard service was under Capt Eben Battle.
Thus it is seen, by the most correct statement in my power to make as above, that the amount of Military service rendered to the United States during the Revolutionary War, by said Lemuel Richards my late husband, is nine months service, and if the time he allowed while under Parolough up to January 1777, one month more should be added.
These services were rendered in what I suppose was called state service. I have not yet been able to procure any other documentary evidence in aid of my claim, than is herewith communicated and I have no knowledge that the said Lemuel Richards ever received any pension or annuity from the United States or any State for Revolutionary Services.
And I the said Rebecca Richards further declare, that my maiden name was Rebecca Chickering, that I was lawfully married to the aforesaid Lemuel Richards on the fourteenth day of June, in the year One thousand seven hundred and sixty four, and that my said husband the aforesaid Lemuel Richards died on the sixth day of February — eighteen hundred and twenty one — and that I have remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
October 15 th 1836
Sworn to, and subscribed on the day and year first above written. Rebecca Richards
Before Ezra W. Sampson Clerk John M. Williams } in open Court J. B. C. Plass }
I Ezra W. Sampson Clerk of the County in and for the County of Norfolk do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the proceedings of the Court of Common Pleas being a Court of record for said County in the matter of the application of Rebecca Richards for a Pension under the act of Congress of July 4 th 1836. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office on this thirty first day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred & thirty six.
Ezra W. Sampson Clerk

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK ss.
Ezra W. Sampson
I, JAIRUS WARE , Clerk of the Judicial Courts, being Courts of Record, within and for the County of Norfolk, hereby Certify that William Ellis Esquire,
a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Norfolk aforesaid, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified to discharge the duties of said office, and that his signature to papers numbered 1, 2, 3 annexed to annexed is genuine and true.
In Witness Whereof, I have subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid at Dedham, this thirty first day of October A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty Six .
Ezra W. Sampson Clerk

I, Aaron Whiting of Dover, in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, being ninety years of age, hereby testify and say, that I was well acquainted with Lieut Lemuel Richards late of said Dover dec. some years before the revolutionary war and afterwards till his death some time in the month of February A.D. 1821.
With regards to the military services rendered by said Lieut Lemuel Richards, I will recollect, that, at the first Alarm from Lexington April 19-1775, - the said Lemuel Richards turned out armed and equip'd and marched with myself and others in Capt. Ebenezer Battle's Company of Infantry from that part of Dedham (now Dover) to the scene of action and met the Enemy on his retreat from Concord & Lexington at west Cambridge, and there had a sharp conflict with him, one of our Company (Bless Haven) was killed in that conflict, I should think that the said Lemuel Richards was under arms at the Camp at Cambridge and Roxbury near Boston two weeks during the first four weeks of the war - after the first four weeks of the war there were frequent alarms the soldiers frequently turned out, the said Lemuel Richards turned out in arms and marched to the Camp sundry times during the summer and autumn of the year 1775 but I can not determine how long he served in the field at each time or whether he was under Capt Joseph Guild or others on those occasions, I also remember that the said Lemuel Richards was under arms as a soldier several weeks (I have no means to determine how many) in the months of February and March 1776, at the Camp at Boston lines when preparations were making to fortify the Heights of Dorchester, I was present at the time the Heights were finish'd, and in the morning was taking my cart from the works, and had not proceeded far before a cannon shot from the Enemy cut off a part of a Locus tree which fell directly into my cart where I was sitting but did wound me, my cattle took fright and left the field with much speed but this is not essential -
I well recollect that in the month of June or July A.D. 1776 the said Lemuel Richards raised a number of soldiers in this town, and marched under Capt Stone to Tienduraga, and was absent some months, that he returned in a feeble state of health and remained in a very feeble state of health several weeks after he returned home but I did not serve in this Campaign with him -
And I further testify and say that when the prisoners of Gen t Burgoyne's Army arrived at Cambridge near Boston in the month of November or December 1777 - I was then a Bazaar waggoner under the direction of General Goddard and

and was called upon to transport hay, wood and many articles for supplies at Cambridge for said Prisoners and these troops I think remained prisoners of war at Cambridge till the spring of 1778. That while the troops were at Cambridge I well remember of seeing the said Lieut Samuel Richards at said Cambridge as a guard to said Prisoners. I think he acted as an Officer of that Guard, how long the said Richards served as that Guard I cannot say, but from the several times I saw him there in the winter of 1777 and 1778, my belief is that said Lieut. Samuel Richards must have rendered more than two months military service in that Guard duty at Cambridge.
And I further testify and say, that I have been personally acquainted with Rebecca Richards the widow of said Lieut Samuel Richards, dec. - from my youth up to the present time she has always lived in my neighborhood, she is a woman of uncommon powers of body and mind for a person of her age, she has been a very industrious woman & brought up a large family, and truly stands in need of any relief the country can justly bestow upon her -
October 25 - 1836 -
Aaron Whiting
State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss. October 25 th 1836. Then Aaron Whiting known to the subscriber for the last thirty years as an intelligent man of sound memory, and a credible witness. subscribed to, and made oath, that the matter set forth in the foregoing statement is true, according to his best recollection and belief. Before me Wm. C. Ellis Justice of Peace

No 2 I Ralph Sanger of Duxbury in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, the only resident Clergyman in said Duxbury, hereby certify and say, that I have at this time the custody and keeping of the Clerical and Church Records of said Duxbury, and that on said Records it clearly appears, that Samuel Richards and Rebecca Chickering both of Duxbury (now Duxbury) were married on the fourteenth day of June Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and sixty four by the Rev Benjamin Lapham my immediate predecessor in the Church of this place.
And I further certify & say, that I was personally acquainted with said Samuel Richards some years previous to his death, that he died in the month of February A.D. 1821 — that I attended his funeral — and that his widow (Rebecca Richards) with whom I am well acquainted has remained a widow from that to the present time.
Duxbury Dec. 25 1836
Ralph Sanger
(State of Massachusetts) County of Norfolk ss. October 25 th 1836. Then the Rev. Ralph Sanger a credible
Witness, swore to, and subscribed, the foregoing Certificate
Before me W. G. Gullis Justice of Peace

I Nathaniel Chickering of Dover in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, being eighty six years of age hereby Testify and say, that I was personally acquainted with Lemuel Richards late of said Dover decd, some years before and after the revolutionary war began, I was present at the marriage, when he the said Lemuel Richards and Rebecca Chickering were married in the the month of June A.D. 1764. That she the said Rebecca, the widow of said Lemuel Richards is still living in said Dover.
And I further Testify and say that in the month of June in the year 1776. Capt Timothy Stow and said Lemuel Richards began to enlist men for a company of soldiers to serve in the Northern Army, that I myself enlisted into that service. I well recollect that in the month of July 1776. the said Lemuel Richards in the capacity of Lieutenant under said Capt Timothy Stow marched with said company from this part of the Country by way of Charlestown N o 4. in New Hampshire and through the territory now the State of Vermont to the Post of Ticonderoga in the State of New York - this Company belonged to Col Ephraim Wheeler's Regiment. At this Post or in its vicinity the said Lieut Lemuel Richards performed military service till about the first of December last - my belief is that said Lieut Lemuel Richards rendered not less that five months service in this campaign, he was however sick some of the time when in this service, and that I performed soldiers duty in said Timothy Stow's company in the same term of Service.
October 25 th 1836
Nathaniel Chickering
State of Massachusetts
County of Norfolk ss. October 25 th 1836 - Then Nathaniel Chickering known to the Subscriber as a man of veracity and a credible witness. I swore to, and subscribed the foregoing statement.
Before me
Wm Ellis
Justice of Peace

Document in aid of Rebecca Richards Application for Pension E. Thompson
80 = 68
70 / 1333 1/4 c 120 13
43110 4311 47421

14 Feb Dear Mr. Jackson m/s 3 Richard Richards
James Evans L. Edwards Esq Com. Pension.

House of Reps. Feb. 13. 1837
Dear Sir
In a letter addressed to by William Ellis Esq of Dedham Mass ts I find the following "I should like to hear from the application of Rebecca Richards & Mary Richards forwarded to the Department about three months ago, and if their claim have been rejected to inform me of the grounds for so doing"
Will you do me the favor to direct to me the information asked for above and much oblige
Very respectfully
Your O bt Serv t
William Jackson
James L. Edwards Esq
Rec d & not acted on

276
462
434 222 957 98
577 5 71
111 11.5
1 0 45 0 = 81
11 0 241
12 0 105 0
17 - 0 81 0 113
19 - 0 124
22 0 193 0
25 0 27 0 = 157
26 0 262

Samuel Richards.
— 148
19 ap. 75. Capt. Guild.
19 ap. 75. Capt. Tull. - and out several other times same year. Same officers
Mar. 7 th Cap for Guild. E Battle or a Guild
L.K. g. g.
June 76. " slow bed wheelock - 2.3 attachment as
2- { perhaps at 1. c
 Commanded detachment as guard - { Capt 4   14 " Battle commanded "  14 
Battle commanded 4 — 14
Sept. 6. 14
Winnipeg as to most of the service
marriage proved

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 22061 Rebecca Richards widow of Lemuel Richards Lieut Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 16 , Page 164
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay.]
The Major Part of the COUNCIL of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England,
To Lemuel Richards Gentleman, Greeting.
YOU being appointed Second Lieutenant of a Company in a Regiment to be raised in County of Suffolk & part in the County of Middlesex for the Service of the Continental Congress agreeable to a Resolve of the General Court whereof Ephraim Wheelock Esq r is Colonel By Virtue of the Power vested in us, WE do by these Presents, (reposing special Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage, and good Conduct,) Commission you accordingly — You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a Second Lieutenant in leading, ordering, and exercising said Company in Arms, both Inferior Officers and Soldiers; and to keep them in good Order and Discipline: — And they are hereby commanded to obey you as their Second Lieutenant and you are yourself, to observe and follow such Orders and Instructions as you shall from Time to Time receive from your Superior Officers.
Jer: Powell B Greenleaf
Caleb Cushing J. Winthrop Cushing S. Hotten Jabez Fisher B White Wm Phillips Bery Cushing Dan e Davis Jos: Cushing Hopkins D. Sewall John Taylor
GIVEN under our Hands and the Seal of the said Colony, at Watertown, the Eighteenth Day of July in the Year of our Lord, 1775.
By the Command of the Major Part of the Council.]
John Lowell D py Secy