Richard Gridley (1731 - 1796)

Born 12 Jul 1731 in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Died 20 Jun 1796 at age 64 in Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Major General Richard Gridley served with Massachusetts Line during the American Revolution.

Richard Gridley was born 12 Jul 1731 in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He passed away 20 June 1796 in Massachusetts.

"A Boston native, he was the chief military engineer for the Continental army during the Revolutionary War. He was appointed Chief Engineer of the New England Provincial army. He laid out the defenses at Breed's Hill, was wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill and led the construction of the fortifications that forced the British to leave Boston in March of 1776. George Washington named him Chief Engineer of the Continental Army in 1775. " ^[1]

Served with Captain Edward Burbeck Burbeck-15

Sources

1. ↑ SAR https://sarpatriots.sar.org/patriot/display/170590 accessed 13 April 2024

• Gridley, Richard. Return of the staff of the Engineers and Artillery, dated Cambridge, June 16, 1775; said Gridley reported as " Chief Engineer and Coll. of Artillery, who always Ranks with Generals & ought to be so expressed in his Commission ; " also, Chief Engineer and Colonel ; pay roll of field and staff officers of the Artillery in the Provincial service made up to July 31, 1775, as returned by said Gridley, sworn to Jan. 24, 1776; entered service April 26, 1775; service, 3 mos. 5 days ; also, Colonel and Engineer General of Eastern department ; Continental Army pay accounts for service from Jan. 1, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1780; also, petition dated Jan. 30, 1781, signed by said Gridley, Chief Engineer, stating that he had received no pay for 18 months ; that before entering into the service of the United States he had received 5 shillings per day as half pay from the Crown; that he had been promised by the United States that he should suffer no loss by the forfeit of his half pay ; that he had received no clothing since entering the service ; and asking that he be allowed the clothing and money due him ; also, report of the Committee of the General Court on the petition of Richard Gridley, stating that it appeared that said Gridley had been appointed Chief Engineer by a resolve of the Provincial Congress of April 26, 1775, and by a later resolve of May 19, 1775, he had been commissioned Chief Engineer and Colonel of Artillery with rank of Major General ; that although by a resolve of the Congress of the United States passed Nov. 17, 1775, it had been resolved to make good the loss of pay which said Gridley had formerly received from the British government, he had been paid no money subsequent to Nov. 7, 1779 ; resolved accordingly, March 10, 1781, that back pay be allowed said Gridley.

MA Soldiers https://archive.org/details/masssoldiers06bostrich/page/874/mode/1up?view=theater