Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L. Wt. 2029-500, Richard Gridley, Continental (Mass.)

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (Mass.) Gridley Richard
B.L. No. 2029-500
CONTENTS

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk ss.
At a probate court held at Boston within and for the County of Suffolk, on Monday the twenty fourth day of February A.D. 1834.
Before the Hon ble Joseph Hall - Judge -
Be it known that by the testimony of two lawful witnesses - to wit - Thomas Kilby Jones and Joseph May - of Boston aforesaid - it was proved to the satisfaction of the court - that Samuel and Scarborough Jane, Rebecca and Mary, were the children and only heirs at law of Richard Fritchey of Boston aforesaid, Esquire - deceased - and who in his life time - was a Colonel of Engineers or Artillery during the war of the Revolution: And that his said children, Samuel, Scarborough and Abner died without leaving issue: That the said Mary married a Mr Leonard - and had one child only which died in infancy and she, said Mary, has been long since dead. That

That the said Jane married William J. Kilby by whom she had one daughter named Hannah, who intermarried with John Welsh, formerly of said Boston, deceased, which said Hannah was her sole lawful representative: and that they the said John Welsh and Hannah - his said wife - are both deceased, leaving Jane Kilby Welsh, her only child - surviving - and who is now of full age and unmarried - and is according to the laws of this Commonwealth - the sole legal representative of said Colonel Richard Grilly, deceased -
Given under the hand of me said Judge - and seal official this twenty fourth day of February A.D. 1836 -
Joseph Wall - Judge of Probate

Probate Office, Suffolk County. February 25 th A.D. 1834.
The undersigned Register of probate of said County - hereby certifies that the Indexes to the several volumes of Probate records in this office - have been carefully examined from the year 1776. and no will of either of the persons named in the annexed certificate of the Judge of Probate is to be found therein - from that date to this.
Given under my hand at Boston the day and year aforesaid and under the Seal of said Probate Court.
John Howard Junr.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Suffolk County.
Joseph Hall, Esquire, Judge of the Court of Probate of Wills and granting Administrations, in and

for said county, hereby certifies, that John Ward Jr. Esquire, is the Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Suffolk, aforesaid, and that full faith and credit may and ought to be given to the certificate and attestation by him before subscribed and that the same is in due form. —
Given under my hand and seal official at the City of Boston, this twenty fifth day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty four. —
Joseph Wall —
Judge of Probate, Suffolk County.

No. 1.
Mr James H. Austin
Rec. Mar 4. 1834

I have Thelby Welch of the City of Boston and State of Massachusetts but now at Brookfield in the the County of Worcester of said State do do upon oath testify and declare to the best of my knowledge and belief that my late Great Grandfather Meechard Gridley was a Col of Engineers in the war of the Revolution. and served as such until the close of the war or until permitted to retire by resolve of the 26th of February 1781 Also I further declare that I have never at any time received a warrant from the United States for the bounty land due my said Great Grandfather neither do I believe that he ever during his life received said warrant or transferred his right to any one
Therefore I know all men by these presents that I Jane Kelley Walsh as aforesaid do hereby constitute and appoint Lawyer. H. Cameron Esqr of Washington City my true and lawfull attorney with powers of substitution for me and in my name to ask demand and receive from the Secretary of War of the Uni- ted States a warrant for the Patent land due me in right of my said deceased Great Grandfather Richard Griedly and my said attorney is hereby authorized and empowered to deposit the said warrant when so received with the Commissioners of the General Land Office at Washington City and to ask demand and receive the Certificate or Land Scrip due thereon under act of Congress of 30th of May 1830 or of any subsequent act and to endorse trans- fer or make sale of the same and to do and perform all man- ner of things touching the same which I myself might do were I personally present. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this 21st of February 1834 Jane K. Walsh Witness
Ebenezer Heman
Baeten Barnes

named June Wilby. With signed and sealed to the foregoing power of attorney and acknowledged the same to be her voluntary act and deed for the purposes therein named also being duly sworn under oath to the truth of the statements set forth by her at the head of the foregoing power of attorney. I was subscribed and acknowledged before me this 21st of February 1834.
Ebenezer Merriam Just. Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, ss.
I, Joseph G. Kendall, clerk of the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Worcester, do certify, That Ebenezer Merriam, Esquire, above named, is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County - and that his signature, as above, appears to be in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof, I hereto set my hand, and affix the County Seal, at Worcester, this twentyfirst day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirtyfour.
J. G. Kendall Clerk

Richard Gridley
N o 2029.
Rev War
Albany
L. G.

June 16 th 1775. Resolved that there be one Chief Engineer of the Grand Army, and that his pay be $60. per month. That there be one Chief Engineer for the Army in a separate Department, and that his pay be $60. per month
Septem r 20 th 1775. Resolved that M c Gridley , have a commission as a Colonel of Artillery
Novem r 17 th 1775. Whereas it is become necessary to appoint a Colonel of the Regiment of Artillery in the room of Col o Gridley on account of his advanced age , Resolved that this Congress will indemnify Col o Gridley for any loss of half pay which he may sustain in consequence of his having been in the service of the United Colonies. The Congress then proceeded to the choice of a Colonel of the Reg t of Artillery, and Henry Knox, Esq r . was unanimously elected
Jan y 16 th 1776. Resolved that, if General Washington thinks proper, Col o R. Gridley , be continued Chief Engineer in the Army at Cambridge
March 11 th 1779. Resolved, that the Engineers in the service of the United States, shall be formed into a Corps and styled the "Corps of Engineers", and shall take rank, and shall enjoy the same rights, honors and privileges, with the other Troops on the Continental establishment — That the Engineers shall rank in their own Corps according to the dates of their respective Commissions. That the pay and Subsistence of the Engineers, and of the Officers and Men of the Companies of Sappers & Miners shall be the same with those of Officers of like rank, and of the Men, in the Artillery of these States
Nov r 14 th 1780. Resolved that the Commander in Chief be directed to lay before Congress, a return of the Officers of the Engineering Dept t including those of the companies Sappers and Miners, and distinguishing such as, in his judgment, it will be necessary to retain in service, in order that

the Officers of that Department, who shall be continued in service may be put on an equal establishment with the Officers of the line , and that provision be made for such as shall be reduced
By the Resolves of Congress of the 3 d & 21 st Oct r . 1780. the supernumerary and reduced Officers (under said Resolutions) were entitled to grants of Land at the close of the War, agreeably to the Resolutions of Congress of Septem r . 16 th & 18 th 1776. and to half pay for life. And, by the Resolves of 22 nd March 1783. the half pay for life promised to the Officers who retired under the Resolves of 3 d & 21 st Oct r . 1780. was converted for five years full pay
Feb y 26 th 1781. Congress took into consideration a report from the Board of War, on a Memorial of Col o R. Gridley and thereupon, Resolved, that it be recommended to the State of Mass ts to make up to Rich d Gridley, the depreciation of his pay as Engineer at $60. per month from the time of his appointment to the 1 st day of Jan y . 1781. in like manner with other Officers in the Continental Service , and charge the same to the U. States -
That from and after the said 1 st day of Jan y 1781. Colonel Gridley , be considered a retiring Officer and be entitled to receive from the United States 4444 2 / 5 Dollars per Annum, in virtue of the Resolutions of Congress of the 17 th Nov r . 1775. on the subject of his indemnification for any losses he might sustain by entering into the Service of the U. States
March 6 th 1783. Ordered, that the letter from the Superintendent of finance respecting the half pay due to Col o Richard Gridley , with its enclosures, be referred back to the Superintendent of finance, and that he be directed to take order therein, having regard in settlement with Col o Gridley , to any grants made to him by the State of Mass ts , on account of his half pay, the same

being founded on a special Contract with Col o Gridley at the time he relinquished his half pay in the British Army, to enter the service of the U. States —
Papers filed in the case and numbered S. D. D. & H.
N o . 1. Contains the Declaration, Power of Att y , and evidence of heirship of the applicant — N o . 2. The letter of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Mass s . conveying a copy of the Account of Col o Gridley as settled by that State up to the 1 st Jan y 1781. N o . 3. The letter of the 3 d Auditor, by which it appears that Col o Gridley received pay as "Chief Engineer", $60 per month from the 1 st 1776. to 1 st July 1778, and $110. per month for pay and subsistence from the 1 st July to the 30 th Sept r 1778. and $125. p r month from the 1 st Oct r 1778. to the 31 st May 1779. and that in June 1779. he received $2000. dollars on account of pay due to himself and his son as Assistant Engineer, without the period of service being stated, and that at a subsequent period he received $250. the date of which payment is not stated in the Ledger, and the Journal which would show the particulars, has been lost —
The Resolve of Congress of 16 th Jan y 1776. shows that Col o Gridley, was acting as "Chief Engineer" at that period, and prior thereto, as they direct his continuance in that station, provided Gen l Washington, thought it expedient to do so.
The Account of the State of Mass s with Col o Gridley. shows that his depreciation pay at the rate of $60. per month, was paid up to 1 st Jan y 1781. hence, it is inferred from that fact and from the entries in the Army books in the Office of the 3 d Auditor, that he was in constant service as "Chief Engineer" from Jan y 1776 to 1 st Jan y 1781.
If, by the Resolve of Congress of 17 th Nov r 1775. Colonel Gridley, was deprived of his rank of "Colonel" in the line of the Army, and that during his five years subsequent service as "Chief Engineer" he was considered as holding no rank in said line, then, he would not have acquired

a right to the bounty land now claimed by his legal representative. If, on the contrary, it should be believed, that the increased monthly pay which he received in the years 1779. & 1780. (being that of a Colonel of Artillery) and his being recognized by Congress in their Resolves of the 26 th Feb. 1781. as a "Colonel," and as a "Retiring Officer", furnished evidence of his rank in the line of the Army, then, it is presumed, no doubt could exist in relation to his right to bounty land —
Bounty Land Office April 29 th 1834

June 22, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/MCS Richard Gridley B.L.Wt. 2029-500
Mr. E. A. Bigelow 15 William Street New York City
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Jabez Bigelow, Richard Gridley and Samuel Gridley, also the record of Joshua Gridley who served in King Philip's War.
A search of the Revolutionary War records has been made and no claims for pension or bounty land found based upon service of the Jabez Bigelow described by you or of any Samuel Bigelow.
This office has no record of services rendered in the Colonies prior to the Revolutionary War, therefore, it has no record of the Joshua Gridley named above.
The record of Richard Gridley, as found in the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for bounty land based upon this soldier's service, is given below.
Richard Gridley of Boston, Massachusetts, entered the service in 1775, served as Colonel and Chief Engineer of the Continental Artillery and was retired January 1, 1781.
He had a son, name not designated, who was Assistant Engineer.
Richard Gridley died June 20, 1796, and was survived by the following children: Samuel, Scarborough and Rebecca, all three died prior to 1834 without issue; Mary who was dead in 1834 and she married ---- Leonard and had but one child who died in infancy; Jane who married William T. Kilby and had a daughter,

Hannah, who married John Welsh of Boston, Massachusetts. Hannah and John Welsh were dead in 1834 and their only surviving heir was a daughter, Jane Kilby Welsh, who was then living in Boston.
On account of the Revolutionary War service of Richard Gridley, Warrant 2029 for five hundred acres of bounty land was issued on May 8, 1834, to the above mentioned Jane Kilby Welsh.
In order to obtain the location of this land it is suggested that you address The Commissioner of the General Land Office, Interior Department, Washington, D.C., furnishing the warrant number, the date of issuance of the warrant and the acreage.
One Thomas Kilby Jones was living in Boston in 1834 but it was not stated that he was related to the soldier's family.
No charge is made for furnishing this information.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator
See Ptg. Ld. Books for date of issuance

Dr Richard Gridley, Engineer General, Eastward Department. Cr
  1779      To 36 months wages paid him by the Continent at £18 per month, £648. Value . . . . .  $161. 15. 6  By his service from January 1, 1777 to Dec. 31, 1779 is 36 months, at £18 per month, for which the nominal sum has been paid    To Balance . . . . .  486. 4. 6     Dec 31. 1779  £648 0. 0  £648. 0. 0.  
The above Balance £486. 4. 6 multiplied by 32 1/2 to make good the Depreciation, is in current money, £15802.. 03 } Ex o T. W. Certified July 6. 1781  "A. B. Col o Gridley is made up agreeable to a Resolve of the General Court of June 21. 1781."
Dr Richard Gridley, Eng r Gen l East er Department Cr
  To Cash paid by the Commonwealth on account of his service in 1780  Specie £ 186. 0. 0  By his service from the 1 st day of January to the 31 st December 1780, is 12 months at £18 per month. £ 216. 0. 0.    1780 } Old Money $ 2000 is $ 50      April } New emperion 250 — 136  186. 0. 0.     1781 } Hand } Specie emperion 250 — 136      Dec. 31 To a Certificate for the balance  30. 0. 0.  April 15 th 1783.    "Given as due to him in the last three months of 1780 & balances his acct."   Made up agreeable to Resolve of Court of June 21 st 1781."     £ 216. 0. 0.   
The above are true Copies from two Books of "Accounts of Commissioned and Staff Officers." — M c . Edward D. Bangs. Supt of Commonwealth.

Treasury Department 3 d Auditors Office 25 th April 1834
Sir,
In reply to your request that I would furnish you with a copy of Col o Richard Gridley's a/c as it appears on the books of this office, or such an Abstract thereof as will show the rank, monthly pay, and duration of service of said Officer, I have to state, that the Ledger of accounts of the Revolutionary Army, on file in this office, show various sums of money to have been charged to Col o Richard Gridley prior to July 1776. The particulars of which, owing to the loss of the Journal for that period, cannot be ascertained - On the 16 th of July 1776, the Journal shows that he received pay as "Chief Engineer" for April May and June of that year, at the rate of $60 per month, and at which rate he continued to be paid till the 1 st July 1778 as Chief Engineer and Engineer - He appears to have received the sum of $330 in full for his pay and Subsistence as Engineer from the 1 st of July to the 30 th of September 1778 - In January 1779 he received the sum of $375 in full for his pay and Subsistence as Chief Engineer, for the months of October, November and December 1778 - From the 1 st of January to the 31 st of May 1779 he was paid at the rate of $125 per month, as Chief Engineer - In June 1779 he received $2000 on a/c of pay due to himself and

his son, as Assistant Engineer, without the period of service, being stated - He subsequently received $250 but the date of payment is not stated on the Ledger, and the Journal, which would show the particulars, has been lost -
All of the foregoing enumerated sums were carried to the debit of his original account, as Colonel, which appears to have been opened in the Ledger in September 1775 -
By the Resolution of Congress of the 17 th of November 1775, Col o Gridley was superseded as Colonel of Artillery on account of his advanced age - No rank appears to be attached to his services as Engineer -
Respectfully, Your Obedt Servt Peter Hagner Secy
Mr William Gordon Bounty Land Office

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, March 26. 1837.
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 that Richard Gridley Esquire , was Engineer General in the Continental Army. His rank is supposed to have been that of Colonel, inasmuch as he is designated by that title in the body of Records. It appears from his accounts that he was in service in that capacity, at least from January 1. 1777 to January 1. 1781.
Edward D. Bangs. Secy

Treasury Department
Register's Office Mar. 20. 1834
Sir,
I find on examining the account of payments under the old and present Government, on account of pensions, annuities & grants, that Col o Richard Grissly received the annual sum of £444. 40. up to the 20 June 1796, the day of his death.
I am, Respectfully Your Hon or G. H. Housse
Mr Gordon Esq r

Extracts from the Books of Rob t Morris Supdt of Finance viz
1783. Aug t 5 Paid Col Rich d Gridley $ 138.86 for his nominal pay 90  " " " paid Col Richard Gridley for his annuity from 1 st Jan y 1781. to 31 st Dec r 1782 pursuant to an act of Congress of 26 th Feby 1781. 888.72  1784 March 26. Paid Col Rich d Gridley for his half pay granted by acts of Congress of 17 Nov. 1775 & 6 March 1783. 444.36
Dear Sir
I send you the above extracts from the acct s of Mr Morris, I shall be glad to find them any way useful in Mr Gridley's case
Yours affec ly M c Morris 19 March 1784

A grant of Two hundred pounds to Richard Gridley Esq. March 1 st 1781.
On the petition of Richard Gridley Esq.
Resolved, That there be paid out of the public Treasury of this State, to Richard Gridley Esq.; the sum of Two hundred pounds in the new emission of money, he to be accountable for the same upon the settlement of his pay, agreeable to a resolution of the continental and Provincial congress.
A Copy of Record; att. Edu d D. Bangs Sec y of Common th of Massachusetts.
Resolve granting a pension to Col. Richard Gridley, during his natural life, as a compensation for losses sustained in entering into the service of the United States. Feby 9 th 1782.
On the petition of Richard Gridley, praying that this court would take such measures as that he may for the future receive the pension allowed him by congress, agreeable to a resolution passed at Philadelphia, February 26, 1781, recommending it to the State of Massachusetts to make up to the aforesaid Gridley the depreciation of his wages, in like manner with other officers in the continental service, and to charge the same to the United States; and further to consider the said Gridley as a retiring officer, and entitled to receive from the United States, Four hundred and forty-four dollars and two fifths of a dollar per annum, in bills of the new emission, in virtue of the resolutions of congress of the 17 th of November, 1775, on the subject of his indemnification for any losses he might sustain by entering into the service of the United States.
Resolved, that there be paid to the aforesaid Richard

Gidley Esqr.; during his natural life, as a compensation for any losses he hath or may sustain by reason of his entering into the service of the United States, the sum of One hundred and twenty-one pounds thirteen shillings and four pence, annually, to be paid to him in half yearly payments, commencing from the first day of January, 1781; and his Excellency the Governor, with advice of council, is hereby requested, to grant warrants on the Treasurer accordingly in favour of the aforesaid Gidley, to be charged to the United States and , to be annually deducted from the requisitions of Congress on this Commonwealth.
A copy of Record At. Edward D. Bangs. Secy of Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Please have copies of the papers here enclosed copied & send to me Col. Wm Seward Gridley. Jackson. Mich.

Ernest A. Bigelow Harold D. Beatty
Bigelow and Beatty Counselors at Law 15 William Street New York
Cable Address "EABIG" Telephone, HANOVER 9607 9608 9609 9610
May 15, 1933.
Veterans Bureau, Washington, D.C.
Sirs, -
I shall be obliged if you will send me the details of the enlistment and army service of the following named soldiers in the American Revolution, if you have record of the same, viz:
Lieutenant Jabez Bigelow , who died in 1822 and was in service at West Point at the time of Arnold's treason. notes
Major General Richard Gridley , who served at Louisburg and Quebec in 1759, and under General Washington at the siege of Boston in 1775.
Captain Samuel Gridley , who was in service in February 1776.
If your records include the Colonial wars with the Indians, please send me the details of the service of Joshua Bigelow who was wounded in King Philip's War and received a grant of land from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
As I am not informed as to the methods of the Bureau, please let me know what fees are required for furnishing the above details.
Respectfully,
Ernest A. Bigelow E.A. Bigelow

useless papers In this case -
The within is a copy of of the statement as furnished Wm Seward Gridley Nov 19 1881 Jackson Michigan
Friar

The Judge of the Probate Court of Suffolk Co, held at Boston Mass Febry 24 1834 by Tho d Kelty John & Joseph May that it was proved to the satisfaction of the Court that Samuel Scarborough Jane, Rebecca & Mary were the children & only heirs of Rich d Gridley of Boston deceased who in his life time was a Col o of Engineers or artillery during the war of the Revolution, & that his said children Samuel, Scarborough & Rebecca died without having issue; that Mary mar d a Mr Lebnard had one child which died in infancy & the s d Mary has been long since dead; that the said Jane mar d John T. Kelby by whom she had one daughter named Hannah who interm d with John Welsh formerly of Boston, deceased, which said Hannah was her sole lawful representative & that they the s d John Welsh & Hannah his s d wife are both deceased leaving Jane Kelty Welsh her only child Surmary who is now of full age & unmar d is according to the laws of the Commonwealth the sole & legal representative of said Col o Rich d Gridley deceased
The Register of Probate for Suffolk Co certifies Febry 25 1834 that the indexes to the several Vols s of probate records have been carefully examined from the year 1776 & no will of either of the persons named in the annexed certificate (as above) of the judge of Probate is to be found therein, from that date to this

By act of June 16. 1775 Congress authorized one Chief Engineer of the Grand Army with pay at $60 00 per month & that there be one Chief Engineer for the Army in a Separate Department with pay at $60 00 per month. & Subsequently authorized a Com te Mr. Gridley to have a Commission as a Col o of Artillery. Later, Col o Gridley, on account of his advanced age, was succeeded by Col o Henry Knox Esq r . It was resolved by Congress that if General Washington thinks proper Col o R. Gridley be continued Chief Engineer in the Army at Cambridge.
In 1779 It was resolved that the Engineers in the service of the United States, shall be formed into a corps & styled the "Corps of Engineers" & shall take rank & shall enjoy the same rights, honors & privileges with the other troops of the Continental establishment & rank in their own Corps according to the dates of their respective Commissions - That the pay and subsistence of the Engineers & of the officers & men of the Companies of Sappers & Miners shall be the same with those of officers of like ranks, & of the men, in the Artillery of these States.
Later, Congress directed the Commander in Chief to make a return of the officers of the Engineer Department (including those of the Sappers & Miners, distinguishing such as in his judgement to retain it will be necessary to retain in service.
In 1781 it was recommended to the State of Mass t  on the memorial of Col o R. Gridley to make up the depreciation of of Col o R. Gridley his pay as Engineer from the time of his appointment & was paid by that State to 1781 when he was retired.
In 1783 the Superintendent of Finance was directed in the settlement with Col o Richard Gridley relative to half pay, to take order therein of any grants made to him by the State of Mass t on account of his half pay the same being founded on a Special Contract with Col o Gridley, at the time.

He relinquished his half pay in the British Army to enter the Service of U. States -
The foregoing is a copy of what was sent to Mr Seward Gridley of Jackson Michigan, Nov 19. 1881 -
Print

Ernest A. Bigelow Harold D. Beatty
Bigelow and Beatty Counselors at Law 15 William Street New York
Cable Address "EABIG" Telephone, HANOVER { 9607 { 9608 { 9609 { 9610
June 19, 1933.
Veterans Bureau, Washington, D.C.
Sirs, -
As I seem to have had no reply to my letter of 15th May I write to inquire if the same was received. My inquiry concerned Lieutenant Jabez Bigelow, Major General Richard Gridley and Captain Samuel Gridley, Colonial officers in the American Revolution. Please favor me with a reply, for which I enclose a stamped envelope.
Yours faithfully,
Ernest A. Bigelow E.A. Bigelow.
Stamped env. att. O.K.

Ernest A. Bigelow Harold D. Beatty
Bigelow and Beatty Counselors at Law 15 William Street New York
Cable Address "EABIG" Telephone,
HANOVER (9807 9608 9609 9610)
June 30, 1933.
BA-J/MCS Richard Gridley B.L.Wt.2029-500
A. D. Hiller, Esq., Assistant to Administrator, Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
This is to thank you for your letter of 22nd June conveying the information requested in my letter of 19th June.
Very truly yours,
Ernest A. Bigelow
E.A. Bigelow