Richard Gunderway (abt. 1750 - 1820)

Born about 1750 in Pembroke, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Husband of Betty (Clift) Gunderway — married 7 Mar 1785 in Pembroke, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States

Descendants

Died 21 Feb 1820 at about age 70 in Pembroke, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Richard Gunderway is a part of US Black heritage.

Richard Gunderway was born about 1750 in Pembroke, Massachusetts^[1] He was a free Black man in a time when slavery was legal and common in Massachusetts. He passed away in 1820.

Richard was a Revolutionary War veteran and is the great-grandfather of three Civil War soldiers who served in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. They are Benjamin Franklin Lee (abt.1844-), Warren F. Freeman (1845-1868), and William Henry Freeman (1841-1891)

Revolutionary War Service

Below is the complete transcription from both of Richard Gunderway's entries in "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War":

Descriptive list dated Hutts, New Boston, May 13, 1782; Capt. James Tisdale's (4th) co., 3d Mass. regt.; age, 32 yrs.; stature, 5 ft. 9 in.; complexion, negro; hair, black; eyes, black; occupation, yeoman; residence, Scituate; enlisted Aug. 15, 1782; enlistment, 3 years; also. Private, Capt. James Tisdale's co., Col. John Greaton's (3d) regt.; muster roll for Oct., 1782; balance of term of enlistment unexpired, 33 months 6 days.

… Capt. James Tisdale's co.. Col. John Greaton's (3d) regt.; muster roll for Sept. 1782; reported sick in camp; also, Capt. Tisdale's (3d) CO., 3d Mass. regt. commanded by Lieut. Col. James Mellin; muster rolls for Jan. and Feb.1783; also, Capt. James Tisdale's (4th) co., 3d^[2]

Richard Gunderway's service spanned about one year. His Revolutionary War pension file can be read at the National Archives.^[3]

Probate File

Richard Gunderway's probate file shows that selectmen of the town of Pembroke petitioned for guardianship over Richard's estate because his "excessive drinking" required "maintenance and support" from the town of Pembroke.^[4] This should be investigated further as it seems fair to suspect that this was a scheme for the town to swindle the Gunderway family.

Sources

1. ↑ See image #13 of Richard's Revolutionary War pension file for an affidavit from John Turner stating that Richard was born and raised in Pembroke.
2. ↑ Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State. (1896-1908). "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War: A compilation from the archives". Boston: Wright and Potter Printing Co., State Printers.
3. ↑ Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24320, Richard Gundeway, Mass.
4. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967". online:FamilySearch.org. microfilm: Probate case files 1686-1881 no 8734-8790 > image 418 of 934; State Archives, Boston.

• FamilySearch.org: Sources. Richard Gundaway|MVT5-HPV
• Massachusetts. Treasury Department. "An Account of the state of the Treasury of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts"] [S.l.: The Treasurer].
• National Daughters of the Revolution. (2012). "Forgotten Patriots: African American and American Indian Service in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783". Washington, D.C. .pdf
• Pembroke (Mass.). (1911). "Vital Records of Pembroke, Massachusetts, to the year 1850". Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, at the charge of the Eddy town-record fund.
• Plymouth (Mass.) First Church. New England Society in the City of New York. (19). "Plymouth Church Records, 1620-1859". New York: [New England Society in the City of New York].
• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 14773, Alexander Garnet, Mass. See images #46 & #47
• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24393, Daniel Hartwell, Continental Mass. See image #22.
• United States. Pension Bureau. (1836). "... Pensioners of Revolutionary War--struck off the roll". Washington: Blair & Rives, printers.
• United States "Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872" database with images, FamilySearch: 22 September 2016, 17-vol P Widow pensions > image 126 of 408; citing NARA microfilm publication T718 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1962).
• United States "Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783", database with images, FamilySearch: 21 December 2016), 36-Massachusetts (jacket 4-8) > image 283 of 545; citing NARA microfilm publication M246 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1980).