Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,326, for James Richards, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Richards, James
S. 31326
CONTENTS

Massachusetts
6172
James Richards
of Hampshire in the State of Mass. who was a Pvt. - in the Comp. commanded by Captain Snow - of the Regt. commanded by Col. Bailey - in the Mass. line for 7 mo. 20 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass. at the rate of 25 Dollars 55 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Feby. 1833 and Sec. Hon. G. A. Briggs, Sec. Rep.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1832 38.32 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4th Ma. 33 12.78 51.10
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Nathan Rice - Clerk, Book (D) Vol. 2 Page 96.
Dammar
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6. April 1838 from 4 March to 4 Sep 1840. Agent notified 22 June 1841.
Paid as above from 4 Sep 1840 to 4 March 1841. Agent Notified 25 Feb 1842.
Hampshire

James Richards's Declaration for a Pension
No 5351.
22.30 2 22 20 75
332
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DECLARATION, in order to secure the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Hampshire COUNTY OF Worcester , ss.
ON this twenty eighth day of August in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court, before Hon. Samuel Dinsmore Judge of the Probate Court now sitting James Prichards a resident of Plainfield in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy five 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 1832.
THAT he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
I James Prichards of Plainfield aforesaid, do furthermore declare and say that, I was born at Abington in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth aforesaid, the 31 st day of May 1757, yet having no official record of my birth, but suppose it on record in the Town Clerk's office at Abington aforesaid, where I resided until I was thirty one years of age, and while all my revolutionary services were performed. The last forty four years of my life I have resided in Plainfield aforesaid, my present residence. I first entered the service, except on alarms, in Dec 1775 for one month and a half, by a voluntary enlistment into a company of Mts. Militia commanded by Capt. Nathan Snow , and marched through Weymouth & Dorchester Mts. to Roxbury near Boston Mts. and were then placed under the command of Col. John Bailey and Brig. Gen. Thomas , where I performed the said 1 1/2 months service by standing sentinel in my turn. At this time the British had possession of Boston, and Gen. Washington with the main Army was at Cambridge. I again entered the service near the close of the year 1777, I think in the fore part of Dec, for three months by enlisting into a company of Militia, raised to guard the shores of the State of Rhode Island , commanded, I think, by Capt. Heith , but the company being divided I was under the immediate command of Lieut. Joshua Shaw of the same company. We marched from Abington , through Taunton Mts. and Providence R. I. to North Kingston R.I. where we served the said three months, except a few days when we were called to guard the General Assembly of that State while in session, and two days when we were called to Point Judith at the time the frigate or Brig. Columbus was burnt at that place by the enemy, who were in possession of Rhode Island in that State, at that time. I next entered the service in the last of July or first of August 1778, for one month and a half, at the time of Sullivan's expedition on Rhode Island , by enlisting into a company of militia commanded by Capt. Nathan Packard (The Col. did not recruit) under Brig. Gen. Lovett , marched from said Abington into the State of Rhode Island and crossed the ferry over on to the Island of Rhode Island , where we remained, encamping and standing sentry in our turns, until the battle in the latter part of August, in which action I was assisted in carrying off one Solomon Nash , a wounded soldier, while retreating from the enemy. I helped hold the said Nash while the surgeon was taking off his leg and took the whole care of him for twelve days and nights, and did not leave him until two days after my company was dismissed. I did service during the several terms for which I enlisted, but never received any written discharge. I also belonged to a company of minute men before the commencement of hostilities, and attended every alarm to which I was called. For all these services I have no documentary evidence and

nights, and did not leave him until two days after my company was mustered. I did service during the several terms for which I enlisted, but never received any written discharge. I also belonged to a company of minute men before the commencement of hostilities, and attended every alarm to which I was called during the war, but of these services I have no documentary evidence and know of no man living who can testify relative thereto. Viz. I was called with the company to which I belonged, and commanded by Capt William
Preed, and Regt by Col. John Bailey, to Roxbury Ms. April 20th the morning after the commencement of the war, and was on duty three days. Four or five days after I was called, with the said company and under the same officers, to Marshfield Ms. and was on duty six days. I was again called late in the Autumn of 1776 on alarm to Bristol Ms. near the shores of Rhode Island to guard said shores, where the company to which I belonged under the command of Capt. Gabb remained two weeks or more, and were then dismissed on condition that three of said company would consent to stay until the expiration of five weeks from the commencement of said service, and Jesse Remington and Elijah Ford, both of whom are dead, together with myself volunteered and performed the said five weeks service. I also went out on four other alarms and did duty amounting in the four to about a week and a half, which was performed by guarding the shores of Massachusetts, which together with my other services amounts to seven months and three fourths, at least, and probably to eight months.
I knew no regular officers who were with the troops where I served except General Sullivan, unless Gen. Lovell was one, I am known in my present neighbourhood to nearly all the inhabitants of said town of Plainfield. Viz to Rev. Moses Hatch and Rev. David Hinkball, to John Mach Esqr, Post Master, John Hamilton Esqr, Doct Samuel Shaw, Deacon Robert Beals and Mr. Joseph Shaw, and Mr. Jacob S. Dyer & Asa Dyer, Deacons all of Plainfield aforesaid. I am also known to the Hon. Samuel Hinkley of Northampton, Judge of Probate for the County of Hampshire, and Hon. Isaac C. Bates of Northampton aforesaid and Hon. G. N. Briggs of Leamington in the County of Berkshire, Representatives to the Congress of the United States, any or all of whom can testify relative to my character.
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.
James Richards Before me Samuel Hinkley Judge of Probate for P. County

We Moses Hattock a Clergyman residing in the Town of Plainfield and Jason Richards & Jacob Nash residing in said Plainfield hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Richards & Jacob Nash who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy five years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Moses Hattock Jason Richards Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate  Jacob Nash
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 above mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Moses Hattock who signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the Town of Plainfield and that Jason Richards & Jacob Nash who has also signed the same are residents in the said Plainfield and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate
I Saml. F. Lyman Register, 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 James Richards for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of said Court this 10th day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two.
Saml. F. Lyman Register

31326 Ruy INVALID.
File No. 31,326
James Richards Pi Rev. Dad
Act: June 1 st 32'
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 341
[Arrangement of 1870.]

No 5551
James Richards
Maja
G. N. Briggs. An R. S. Krat MR

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James Prichards 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? yes 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?
XIV. †If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? yes one, no one Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 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, deposeth 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 the 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.
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 authenticated 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 end 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.

16 Feby 1833
Sir
Enclosed I send you the papers in James Richards case. Mr Bates has made a certificate as to the credibility of Arch d Richards one of the witnesses - If admitted please send me the certificate -
Yours G N Briggs
Col J L Edwards
The name of the claimant is James Prichard

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
June 17 th 1841.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," James Richards — a Pensioner on the Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of Twenty five Dollars and 55 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 1 st of March, to the 1 st Sept. 1840.
Respectfully yours,
William B. Waite
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

Aug. C.P.P. dockets.
N o 3 S. Henshaw vs Grace Dana
11. Same L. Howe vs Same
19. Hamp. Bank vs Same L. A. Taylor J. P. Pills
12 Jan. 1832
J. P. Pills vs Same
S. J. Lyman Esq.
As the assignee of real estate will be unable to make any provisions for any part of the demands for which the above action was brought, they leave the action with you to be disposed of as you may think proper.
C. Strong
Aug. 20. 1832

This may certify that I Jacob Snow of Windsor in the county of Windsor and Commonwealth of Massachusetts was acquainted with James Richards in the time of Revolutionary War, also that I know the said Richards now in New Hampshire in the County of Hillsborough and Commonwealth aforesaid. I also testify that the said James Richards enlisted in Capt. Fitch's Company in Col. Sproat's Regt. for three months - late in the year of 1777 and was honorably discharged in the forepart of the year 1778. Capt. Fitch's Company was discharged. Capt. Fitch's Company on the part of Lt. Joshua Snow - Commanding the other part - said Richards was under the immediate command of Lt. Snow. I also testify that I was with said Richards during the above campaign.
I also testify that the said James Richards was at Rehoboth Island, at Sullivan's expiration that he enlisted into Capt. Nathan Packard's Company - Col. Carpenter's Regt. - Gen. Lord's Brigade for a term of six months - in the summer of 1778 and that the said Richards was honorably discharged after the expiration of his enlistment. According to the best of my recollection. I also testify that I was with the said Richards during the above campaign.
Jacob Snow
New Hampshire ss - Aug 2 nd 1832
The personally appeared Jacob Snow above named - and took oath to the truth of the above statements. I also certify that the above Jacob Snow is a man of truth & veracity.
John Mark, Just Peace

Jacob Snow Deposition for James Richards Esqr

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire
I Solomon Stoddard Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth for the County of Hampshire do certify that John Mark Egle whose signature is affixed to the within Certificate was at the date thereof one of the Justices of the peace within and for said County duly commissioned and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity and that the signature to said certificate is known by me to be the hand writing of the said John Mark
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas for said Commonwealth this fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two
S. Stoddard Clerk

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
Jan'y 17 th 1842.
Sir:
Under the date of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," James Richards, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of Twenty five Dollars and 55 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 1 st of Sept. 1840, to the 4 th March 1841.
Respectfully, yours,
William B. Parris
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions.
Present.

Nehemiah Richards Deposition for James Richards
N. Richards for James Richards

I Nehemiah Richards of Cummington in the county of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do testify and say that I have knowledge of services done in the war of the revolution by James Richards of Plainfield in the county above said. The first of his services were performed at Roxbury in the immediate vicinity of Boston by an enlistment into a company commanded by Capt. Nathan Snow for six weeks in the Regiment commanded by Col. John Bailey said services commencing near the close of the year 1775. I also have knowledge of services done by the said James Richards at North Kingston in the state of Rhode Island by an enlistment into a company commanded, I think, by Capt. Heath, but the part of the company in which he served was under the immediate command of Lieut. Joshua Shaw said services commenced near the close of the year 1777, and continued for the term of three months as I believe having served with him the last half of that term of time.
I furthermore know of his services performed on Rhode Island in Sullivan's expedition in the summer of the year 1778, according to my best recollection for six weeks by an enlistment into a company commanded by Capt. Nathan Packard I believe, and in the Brigade commanded by General Lovell. The means by which I obtained knowledge of the abovenmentioned services was by doing service with him at the same times and places.
Nehemiah Richards
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampshire to wit Plainfield August 6th 1832 Personally appeared Nehemiah Richards of Cummington in said county and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed before me
John Mack
} One of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Hampshire
Nehemiah Richards above named is personally known to me & is a man of worth & of good character in all respects -
J. C. Bliss M.C.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampshire ss.
I Solomon Stoddard Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth for the County of Hampshire do certify that John Mack Esquire whose signature is affixed to the within Certificate was at the date thereof one of the Justices of the peace within and for said County duly Commissioned and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth - and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity and that the signature to said certificate is known by me to be the hand writing of the said John Mack —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas for said Commonwealth this fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two
S. Stoddard Clerk