Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,946, for Peter Richards, Rhode Island

SERVICE
NUMBER
R. I.
Richards, Peter
S. 21946
CONTENTS

21. 912. Rhode Island Peter Richards Bristol, in the State of Rh. Island was a private in the Comp. commanded Captain Carr of the Regt. commanded Col. Gray in the Rho. Island for 19 months — " — " —
See letter to John C. [?] March 20, 1834 —
scribed on the Roll of Rhode Island the rate of 63 Dollars 83 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
ertificate of Pension issued the 18 day of Nov. 1833 — and sent to Mrs. Cross Portsmouth
years to the 4th of Sep. 33 $158.00 interest allowance ending Apr. 34 31.66 $189.99
Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. } recorded by G. [?] Clerk. Book E. Vol. 2. Page 127.

Peter Richards R.I.
Private 19 months adm'd
John Crop Esq Plymouth R.G.

State of Rhode Island
County of Bristol ss.
On this 24th day of August 1833 personally appeared before the judges or justices of the Court of Probate of Warren, in the county of Bristol, a court of records, Peter Richards a resident of said Warren, in the county of Bristol, and State of Rhode Island, aged Seventy Eight 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 7. 1832. He entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. Namely - In the year 1776 I belong to the Militia company of Warren, then under the command of Capt. Brinsbee - We had been, for a long time before, subject to be called out for short periods of time, in the alarms made by the enemy's armed ships in the Bay. In December 1776 the enemy took possession of Newport and the whole Island of Rhode Island, and our Militia service became regular and certain - Our company were classed off into two parts, and we relieved each other by turns - each class serving for one month at a time - Owing to old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively, 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 grade of a private - Namely: In December 1776 he was detached from D. Company for one month, and was stationed near the river in Barrington Under Capt. Brinsbee he served his time out and was discharged - In February 1777 he again served one month in Barrington under Capt. Brinsbee - In April 1777 he served one month in Barrington this month he thinks under Capt. Barr. In June 1777 he served one month in Bristol Town Lt. Easterbrook he thinks had the command - in August 1777 he served again one month under Lt. Easterbrook in Bristol town - at both of these times in Bristol he saw State troops of Col. Crary's Regt. there, he also remembers to have seen Col. Crary - In October 1777 he was again detached from D. company for one month and marched to Tiverton (Near Fogland Ferry), at this time our part of the company was put under the command of Capt. Bradford of Bristol, who commanded the senior class - when his month was out, he was discharged at said Tiverton - he then immediately volunteered for one month at D. Tiverton into a company, which was quartered near Fogland Ferry - he does not remember the company officers, but the company was under the command of Col. Brinsbee - after this last month was out, he was discharged and he returned.

home in December 1777 - In this service while he was at Tiverton he remembers Col. Barton, and Genl. Spencer, and Genl. Cornell - In February 1778 he served one month in Warren, in guarding the shores towards Bristol Neck. under Capt. Ormsbee - In April 1778 he served one month, on Mason's Neck which is on the east side of Little's Narrows, on Mount Hope bay, under Capt. Ormsbee - In June 1778 he served one month, on Mason's Neck, under Lt. Eastbrooks - In August 1778 in said company, under Capt. Cole who had now become the Capt. - during this month's service he was marched on to Rhode Island under Genl. Sullivan - Capt. Cole commanded our company under Col. Nathan Miller - after my month was out - I volunteered for one month into Capt. Allen's Company, he was on the Island during the Battle and marched off with the Army at Tiverton on the last day of Aug t - he staid here at Tiverton till his month was out, when he was discharged and he returned home - during this service on Rhode Island I saw Genl. Lafayette, and Col. Greene, and many others whom I do not now remember - In November 1778 he served one month at Pecks farm, or Pecks Rocks so called, on Bristol Neck, under Capt. Cole - In January 1779 one month again at Pecks farm, on Bristol Neck (there was a guard post) under Capt. Cole - In March 1779 he served one month, at the fort at Bristol ferry under Lt. Eastbrooks - In June 1779 he served one month, in Bristol Town under Capt. Cole - In August 1779 he served one month on Mason's neck under Lt. Eastbrooks - In October 1779 he served one month in Bristol under Capt. Cole - In September 1781 he was drafted from 3 d Company of Militia for one month and was marched to Newport, and was quartered near Easton's beach at this time he was put into Capt. Thomas Allen's company (who was afterwards a General of Militia in Barrington) he does not remember any other officers name, as they were all strangers to him - The officers of our said company were Capt. Ormsbee Thomas Eastbrooks Lieutenant and Ichabod Cole Ensign - In the summer of 1778 Capt. Ormsbee resigned and Capt. Cole took the Command of the company - It belonged to the Regiment of Col. Nathan Miller - Church was Lt. Col. and Dea. Heath was major -
And said Richards solemnly declares that he believed for at least, the time afore mentioned, making in all, Nineteen months, as a private, and that during all of that time, he was not engaged in any civil business
And he further declares that he was born in Newport in this state on the 9 th day of April 1755, and that he hath no records of his age, that since he was seven years of age he has resided in 3 d Warren, and not elsewhere - That he never received any written discharge from said service but was verbally discharged by his commanding officers - That he has no documentary evidence of said service - That besides the accompanying

depositions he refers to Col. Benjamin Lole & John Pearce Esqrs who are his neighbours and citizens of said Town of Warren, who testify to his character for veracity and to their belief that that he was a soldier of the Revolution. —
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 & subscribed the 5 day and year aforesaid
Peter Richards
Samuel Randall Probate Clerk
We Benjamin Lole residing in s d Warren, and John Pearce residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Peter Richards, who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be Seventy Eight years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to & subscribed the 5 day & year aforesaid
Benj in Lole John Pearce
Samuel Randall Probate Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & 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 certify, that it appears to them, that Col. Benjamin Lole & John Pearce who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in s d Warren, and are credible persons, and that their statements, is entitled to credit. —
I Samuel Randall Clerk of the Court of Probate, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Peter Richards for a Pension
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and Seal at Office. This twenty fourth day of August Eighteen hundred thirty three.
Samuel Randall Probate Clerk

I Joseph Munro of Bristol in the County of Bristol, and State of Rhode Island &c. aged Seventy two years under solemn oath depose.
That I have long been acquainted with Peter Richards of Warren in said County, who is an applicant for a pension for Military services in the War of the Revolution. During said War the militia in this town and vicinity were in a continual state of alarm, particularly so, while the British held possession of our neighbouring Island, (Rhode Island) which was from Dec. 1776 to Nov. 1779.
Such being our situation, our Militia was divided into two classes, and did duty by Monthly turns, whereby one half were on duty all the time. said Richards belonged to the Company in Warren aforesaid, and myself in the Militia in this Town; but in consequence of our our domicils at that time being very near each other, we were well acquainted, and at divers times I saw him on duty in his said Company.
I served with him one month on Masons neck in said Warren, and one or two tours in this town, also was with him in Spencer's Expedition in Scituate in this State in 1777 and on said aforesmentioned Island, in the expedition under General Sullivan in August 1778. and from my knowledge of his services do hereby testify that he was in the public service at least sixteen or eighteen months during the said war.
Joseph Munro
State of Rhode Island &c. Bristol ss. At Bristol Sept. 12th. 1833.
Personally came Joseph Munro, the abovenamed Deponent, and made solemn oath to the truth of his foregoing deposition and subscribed the same before me.
And I further certify that said deponent is personally known to me, and sustains a good character for truth and veracity.
Wm Throop Justice Court Common Pleas.

I Ichabod Cole of Warren in the County of Bristol and State of Rhode-Island &c. Aged Eighty four years, under solemn oath depose.
For the last sixty years I have been well acquainted with Peter Richards of said Warren, who is now an applicant for a pension for Military services in the War of the Revolution.
From the situation of this and the neighboring towns of Bristol and Barrington during the time the British held possession of the Island of Rhode-Island in said War, said Richards belonged to the Militia Company in said Warren as a private soldier and according to the duty which our said company of Militia performed, during the time the British held said Island which was from December 1776- to November 1779- that he performed at least Sixteen Months services. Our services were at that time in guarding our own shores, and at Bristol and Barrington; on the Island of Rhode Island in 1778, in Sullivan's Expedition, and at Tiverton the year previous, in Spencer's Expedition, I myself belonged to said Company the whole of said War, and in the latter part of it, held a Commission.
Ichabod Cole
Bristol ss At Bristol Sept. 12th A. D. 1833.
Personally came Ichabod Cole, the abovenamed Deponent and made solemn oath to the truth of his foregoing Deposition and subscribed the same, before me.
And I further certify that said Deponent is personally known to me, and sustains a good character for truth and veracity -
Wm Throop Justice Court of Common Pleas -

I Grindal Chase of Barrington in the County of Bristol, and State of Rhode Island &c aged Seventy five years, under solemn oath depose,
I have long known and have been well acquainted with Peter Richards of Warren in said County who is now an applicant for a pension for military services in the War of the Revolution,
During the said war I belonged to the Militia Company in Warren aforesaid under Capt. Armsbee, and said Richards likewise. Our services were rendered in Warren, and in Bristol, on duty in guarding the exposed points in said places against the British, who then had possession of Newport and the Island of Rhode Island, as to the length of time said Richards served in said Company, with me I am unable to state, but according to the best of my recollection not less than three or four months, and I have no doubt but that said Richards was engaged in the service in those days, as the rest of Militia in this vicinity were, which was one half the time the British had possession of our capital which was from the fall of the year 1776 to Dec. 1779. by monthly turn, and we were continually in a state of alarm. Grindal Chase
State of Rhode-Island &c. Bristol ss At Bristol Sept. 12 th 1833
Personally came Grindal Chase the abovenamed Deponent and made solemn oath to the truth of his foregoing Deposition and subscribed the same, before me.
And I further certify that said deponent is personally known to me and sustains a good character for truth and veracity
Wm Throop Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.
State of Rhode Island &c.
Clubb's Office Court of Common Pleas for the County of Bristol
I hereby certify that, Wm Throop, whose signature is affixed in his own proper handwriting, to the taking of the foregoing Depositions of Joseph Munro, Ichabod Cole and Grindal Chase, is Chief Justice of the Court aforesaid, duly commissioned under the seal of said State, and engaged therein according to Law.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand

and affixed the seal of our said Court this thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord 1833. and of American Inde- pendence the fifty eighth.
Wm Bradford Clegg.

Prostitution
21 946
INVALID.
File No. 21,946
Peter Richards
W. Rev. Nat
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 357
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Dec. 18-1903 - W. P. Clark - Rec
H. 5 to cent

Portsmouth R.I. Sept. 16. 1833
Dear Sir -
I herewith enclose the declarations, of Ezra Brainerd and Peter Richards, both of Warren in Bristol County, for pensions.
The case of Mr. Ormsbee, you will perceive is a very meritorious one - but he is unable to procure in this state, any witness except Judge Loomis of Warren, who saw him on the day of the battle of Bunker Hill, his services were performed, mostly, in New York and Vermont. , and I hope his name will be found on the rolls of the Army - He is now in the poor house, friendless and destitute - I am told by members of the Court of Probate of Warren that they both are, and always have been, men of unblemished character -
I am, with great respect - your Most obedt -
John Cross
Hon. J. L. Edwards Comr. of Pensions Washington City

Portsmouth R.I. Mar 5
for
March 10. 1834
Hon James L. Edwards Comm. of Pensions Washington City

Portsmouth Rd March 1. 1884
Mr. Lee
I have just been informed by Mr. H. B. King one of our Senators in Congress, that a pension certificate has been issued, in favour of Edward Woodman of Littleton, and enclosed to me on the 16th day of Nov. last. This certificate has never come to hand.
I also apprehend that the Application of Peter Richards of Warren, in this state, may have been mislaid in the Department, or that the certificate has miscarried. It was enclosed with Mrs. Ormsbee's and forwarded to your department on the 16th day of Sept. last. Since which I have not heard anything from it. I have re: your letter in Mr. Ormsbee's case, and as these cases were sent together I infer that Mr. Richards was re: at the sep.
Will you have the goodness to inform me of Mr. Richards case, and if you will send another for Mr. Woodman, or what must be done in his case.
Permit me to ask your indulgence, once more, when I call your attention to the services of Gideon Gifford of this town whose claim was in the first instance rejected on the ground that he was a boy and too young for service - but the claim was disallowed on the ground that Gifford was too young to have been a soldier on the Land - but his services were on board of a National vessel where he fully proved to your Honours, that he filled the place of a man, and rec: the pay of a Marine

during all the time that he was in the service - a reference to his last will. I hope will fully convince you, that he did not only perform substantial services but of a very meritorious character - and suffered much during the War - said Gifford is a man, on whose statements, entire reliance may be placed, and whose patriotism has never been doubted -
I am with great respect Your Obdt Servant
John Cross
Hon. J. L. Edwards Comm. of Pensions W. City

Wilson H. Clark Award Jan. 21/57 Pete Richards - Rev
21.946
Sur
Rev? Jan 13/57

New Haven Conn January 10. 1857
Sir.
Mr Levi Richards, son of Peter Richards, a Revolutionary Soldier - wishes to know if his father was entitled to Bounty Land for services in the Revolutionary War & and if so, whether the same was ever obtained -
I am informed that Peter Richards was pensioned under the act of 1818 - and drew a pension until his decease, which was about the year 1832. He was placed on the Roll of the Connecticut agency, and lived at Norfolk in Litchfield County in this State - Your reply will greatly oblige
Yours most Respectfully Wilson H. Clark
To Hon. Geo. W. Whiting Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

Indicted Jan 76 for 1 year at White Plains High Court line over issue at White Plains at the expiration of said indictment —
Wilson H. Clark Answered Jan 21/57 Peter Richards - Rec
21.946 Sur
Rec: Jan 13/57