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Facts and Events
From Revolutionary War Pension application affidavit, accessed from Footnote.com on Jan 7, 2010:
- I Daniel Riddley aged fifty nine years a citizen of the United States born in Harpswell district of Maine - now a resident of Bowdoin in said District on oath Certify and Declare that I entered into the Continental Army during the revolutionary War. -upon the ____ establishment against the common enemy in February 1777. for the period of three years into the commanded by Cap John Reed and Col Alden's regiment of the Massachusetts line served until Dec 24, 1779 and obtained a furlough from my my Col Brook, for forty days with permission to return home on account of my want of clothing having just returned from the Indian expedition under General Sullivan, in which expedition I ___ the whole time. My Cap. John Reed, now deceased informed me he would bring my discharge. I afterwards ___ my Captain after his return, he informed me he had my discharge, but I never have been able to obtain, and it is not now to my knowledge in existence --
- ...I was in the Battle at Cherry Valley and at Battle with the Indians under Gen. Sullivan. -- From my reduced circumstances in life I am in need of the bounty of Government for my support. I do hereby relinquish all claim to any pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States, if any, but I am not to my knowledge borne any pension list whatever -- I request that I may be placed upon the pension list for the District of Maine.
Written 10 Apr 1818. A certificate of pension was issued for $8/month.
In 1820, the Kennebec County court found the value of his property to be $420, after debts (20 June 1820). In his affidavit of property is the following:
- I have in possession but do not own by a good title about ten acres of land with an unfinished house and barn thereon. my right to the possession, improvement and buildings is of the value of three hundred dollars. One horse of the value of thirty dollars. Three cows of the value of forty five dollars, one yoke of oxen of the value of forty Dollars, one yoke of two year old steers of the value of twenty dollars. Two yearling Heifers of the value of ten dollars. Ten sheep and four lambs of the value of nineteen dollars. Three swine of the value of nine dollars. Old household furniture of the value of ten dollars, a few old implements of husbandry, of the value of seven dollars. I have no debts due me that can collect and I owe as much as seventy dollars. The income of the above property does not exceed more than twenty dollars a year.
- My occupation is that of a farmer, but from infirmity am able to do but little work. my family resident with me consists of myself, my wife Hannah, aged fifty nine years able to do but little work, my daughter Rachel aged twenty-three years and my son Thomas aged eighteen years.
- Except the foregoing property and necessary beding and clothing, I have no estate or income whatever."
Sworn on 10 Jun 1820.
Daniel Ridley was apparently dropped from the rolls. From 1822 to 1824 affidavits from William Sampson, Isaac Ridley, and the Selectmen of Bowdoin are collected indicating that Daniel Ridley has 1) sold property to pay debts (William Sampson); 2) did not own the yoke of oxen cited in his affidavit as they were owned by Isaac Ridley (Daniel's son), and 3) that said Daniel Ridley has no real property, very little personal property, and will depend on the town for support without the benefit of his pension.
28 Apr 1825 John and Rachel Wilson supply an affidavit indicating that Daniel Ridley does not own the property of which he is possessed, and remains there only through the sufferance of the owners (one of which is the Wilsons). Daniel Ridley's 2 May 1825 affidavit says he has no property except "old household stuff, an old axe & hoe and one swine." Ridley is now 67.
Finally, Daniel Ridley makes an affidavit 6 Oct 1829 "In order to be restored to the Pension List."
- On this sixth day of October 1829 personally appeared in open Court, before the Supreme Judicial Court of said State of Maine, being a Court of record. Daniel Ridley, resident in said County, aged seventy years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of COngress, of the 18 March 1818 and the 1st May 1820 that he, the said Daniel Ridley, enlisted for the term of three years on the eighth day of February 1777 in the state of Massachusetts, in the company commanded by Captain John Reed, in the regiment commanded by Col. Alden in the line of the State of Massachusetts, on the continental establishment, that he continued to serve in the said corps until December 1779, when he was discharged from the service at West Point, in the State of New York, that his name has been placed on the pension list, and dropped there from on account of his property, that he was in the battle at the taking of Burgoyne & in the Battle at Cherry Valley & that his pension Certificate is no 6286.
- And, in pursuance of the acto f the 1st May, 1820, I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or my property or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring my self within the provision of an Act of Congress...and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or security, contracts, or debts due to me; nor have I any income other what is contained in the schedule hereunto annexed, and by me subscribed.
- Schedule of the Real and Personal Estate (necessary clothing & bedding excepted) belonging to me the subscriber _viz_ No Real Estate. And no personal except a few articles of old household stuff, besides bedding _ viz. 5 Chairs. 1 Table, 1 old chest of drawers, 1 Iron kettle, 1 old Pot, 1 Tea Kettle & a few articles of crockery ware - 6 knives & 5 forks and 6 old Iron spoons, all not worth more than six dollars $6.000
- Except the above & my necessary bedding & clothing, I have no estate or income whatever -- that since the exhibition of my first schedule the land which I only hold by possession as a "Squatter" has been taken from me by the proprietors, as I have before stated and the personal property I have sold and disposed of to pay just debts against me & for the support of myself and family as will also appear by my 2nd Schedule made April 1823. I am now old & very infirm & wholly unable to labor. I have lived with my son for upwards of six years & have no family except my wife Hannah aged sixty nine years & upwards. I have made many small debts [illegible] under the expectation of getting my pension & unless I receive my pension I am wholly unable to pay. Sworn to and declared on 6 Oct 1830.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ridley, Daniel, in United States. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files. (Washington D.C.)
Pension Number: S 37339, 1818.
Publication Number: M804
Publication Title: Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files
State: Massachusetts
Service: Mass.
- ↑ Daniel Ridley, in Cox, Rachel Townsend. Vital records of Bowdoin, Maine, to the year 1892. (Published under authority of the Maine Historical Society, 1944-1945)
Online database, FamilySearch Record Search, Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900, Accessed 11 Sep 2010.
Name Daniel Ridley
Gender Male
Birth Date 04 Apr 1759
Birthplace BOWDOIN,SAGADAHOC,MAINE
Father's Name James Ridley
Mother's Name Mary Bacy
Indexing Project (Batch) Number C50294-1
System Origin Maine-ODM
Source Film Number 962279
Note: This is from the Bowdoin compilation of vital records, but may not indicate the actual location of birth.
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