Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 46412, for Benjamin Tallmadge, Connecticut
Page 1

Tallmadge, Benjamin
SERVICE
Conn
Continental

NUMBER
S46412
B.L. Wt. 2171-400-Major
Issued Oct. 7, 1789
No papers.
Page 2


[left side]
[3 -- 230.] Cert
Re-Issues 
Revy [illegible] 
No. 164
46412
Name: Benjamin Tallmadge
Rank: Major. Comp'y:
Reg't  2nd Cavalry. Contnl Line
Continental & Conn
Agency
RATE PER MONTH, AND DATE OF COMMENCEMENT.
1st Issue. Comm'g
2nd Issue. Comm'g
3d Issue. Comm'g

DATE OF CERTIFICATE, AND TO WHOM SENT.
---
1st Issue. Sent to
2d Issue. Sent to
3d Issue. Sent to
Allowed ACT 1828
[crossed through] Act 14th July, 1862,
 Bk. G. Vol. Page
Registering Clerk.
Disability.
[right side]
1929 Oct. 17 - Hist to Mr. Grant S.
Youmares
Page 3

166
No of orig Pay 164     181
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
[handwritten] Allowed Act 1828

10 July 1828
Benjamin Tallmadge of the town and in the County of
Litchfield in the State of Connecticut has applied to the Secretary
of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled ""An Act for the relief of certain surviving
officers and soldiers of the army of the Revolution, approved on the 15th of May, 1828.
He states that he was as an officer on the Continental line, and served as such to the end
of the War,
at which period he was a Major of the second Cavalry regiment of the Continental
line; and that he received commutation certificates for the five years full pay granted by the resolve
of 22 March, 1783; and, further, that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of March,
1826, Nothing
[crossed out] dollars, paid to him by the agent
in the State of

The Third Auditor is requested to report how far these several statements are corroborated by the records in his offrice.

By order of the Secretary,
A Dukins

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
THIRD AUDITOR'S OFFICE,
11 July 1828

It appears by the records in this office, that final settlement certificates have been issued for
the commutation of five years full pay to Benjamin Tallmadge, Maj. of Cavy in 
the Connecticut line, amounting to thirty six Hundred dollars.
It further appears that Benjamin Talmadge is Benjamin Tallmadge is ^not^ now on the pension list of [crossed out the] any agency
, and has ^not^ been since the 3 March 1826
[crossed out at the rate of per month]
 Peter Hagner Aud
No record Rcd Nov 13/80
Page 4

Revolutionary Claims.
[A.]
Form of a Declaration to be made by the Officers.
For the purpose of obtaining the benefits of an act, entitled ""An act for the relief of
certain surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution,” approved on the
15th of May, 1828, Benjamin Tallmadge
the Town Litchfield in the county of Litchfield, of the State of Connecticut
do hereby declare that I was an officer in the Continental Line of the Army of the Revolution, and served as such* in the line of the Cavalry from
the 14th of Decr 1776 to the End of the revolutionary War
at which period I was a Major
in the second
regiment of the way of Dragoons, County line
And I also declare, that I afterwards received certificates (commonly called commutation
certificates) for a sum equal to the amount of five years' full pay; which sum
was offered by the resolve of Congress, of the 22d of March, 1783, instead of the half
pay for life, to which I was entitled under the resolve of the 21st of October, 1780.
And I do further declare, that I have received of the United States as a pensioner
since the 3d day of March, 1826, not one cent
Witness my hand, this Sixteenth day of June in
the year of our Lord 1824
Benj Tallmadge
Before me, Asa Bacon a Justice of the Peace
in the county of Litchfield
in the State of
Connecticut
personally appeared, this day,
Julius Deming Esquire and Charles
Deming
of the said county, who did severally make oath that Benjamin Tallmadge,
by whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed, is generally reputed and believed to
have been an officer in the Army of the Revolution, in manner as therein stated.
Witness my hand, this Sixteenth
day of June
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & twenty eight
Asa Bacon Justice of Peace
-
I Frederick Wolcott
Clerk of the Court of the county of Litchfield
in the State of Connecticut do
hereby certify, that
Asa Bocon before
whom
the foregoing affidavits were sworn, was, at the time, a Justice of the Peace for
said County
and duly empowered to administer oaths.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the
said Court, this Sixteenth day of 
June one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight
Frederick Wolcott Clerk of the
Court of the County of Litchfield as aforesaid -[illegible]
To the end of the War, or (as the case may be,) to the time when the arrangement of the Army [paper folded]
the resolves of Congress of the 3d and 21st of October, 1780, was carried into effect, and that I was [paper folded] that arrangement.
The sum of [blank]
dollars, paid to me by the agent for paying pensions in the State [blank]
If the claimant has not been a pensioner, this part of the declaration [folded paper]
Justice of the Peace, or other magistrate duly empowered to administer oaths, as the case may be.
[Illegible paper seal attached]
Page 5

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
AWF/HMM
October 17, 1929.
Mr. Grant S. Youmans
3736 Chicago Avenue
Minneapolis
Minnesota.
Dear Sir:

I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension
claim, S. 46412, it appears that Benjamin Tallmadge served in the
Connecticut Levies as an officer, no details given.
He was commissioned December 14, 1776 Captain in Colonel Elisha
Sheldon's Second Regiment of Light Dragoons; was commissioned April
7, 1777 Major in the same regiment and served to the close of the war.
He was brevetted Lieutenant Colonel under the Act of Congress
of September 13, 1783.
He was allowed pension on his application executed June 16,
1828, at which time he was residing in Litchfield, Connecticut.
His age is not stated and there are no data as to family.
Due to the very large number of requests similar to yours, and
the lack of a clerical force available for the purpose, the Bureau
is unable to make a series of investigations and reports pertaining
to soldiers of the Revolution for one person. Two histories are
furnished each inquirer.
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.
Page 6

Rec 7 July 1828
Litchfield July 3d. 1828
Honble. [Honorable] Sect. of the Treasury
Sir,
Your favor of the 20th ulto [ultimo] was recd. by the mail of last evening, & I hope to be excused in making a few months in reply, in as much as I have no acknowledgment from your Department that my letter of the 3d. [illegible] has ever been received. Believing as I do, that I am the only surviving field Officer of the Line of the Cavalry, I feel it to be a Duty incumbent on me to present the Claim of both Officers & Soldiers in such a manner that it may be well understood.
In examining the late law "for the relief of certain surviving Officers & Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution," I find the words chosen to designate the amt. of pay to be so forcible, that it would seem difficult to misconstrue them. In the 1st. Section, every Officer is authorized to receive "the amount of his full pay in said Line." And in the 3d. Section, every surviving non Commd. Officer "shall be entitled to receive his full monthly pay in said Service"
Page 7

With words so plain & explicit, we have next only to examine what was the monthly pay of Cavalry, which being ascertained, the question would seem to be settled. By consulting the Journals of Congress of March 14th, 1777 (Vol. 3rd page 6 [missing text page torn] the pay of the Cavalry & Light Dragoons (which in our service were convertible terms for the same troops) was settled & continued the same through the War. Hence I infer & trust you will join me in the conclusion, that this highest monthly pay receivable under the present Law, being that of a Captain, is fifty dollars; & the lowest, being of a private soldier, is eight dollars & 1/3d.
I certainly feel no disposition to trespass on the time of the Heads of Department, but aware of the importance of it, setting first principles correctly, & knowing full well that important decisions have sometimes been made by a subordinate Officer, who may have had charge of a particular Department, I have deemed it my duty, as I now avail myself of the privilege, to [illegible] the Case fairly & fully before the  Secretary of the Treasury, who alone is responsible for a faithful construction of the Law.
I have the honor to be with great respect, your most Obedt. Servt.
Benjn. Tallmadge
Page 8

Commission in favor of Benjmn Tallmadge  as Captain of Light Dragoons under Lt. Col. Shelon dated 15 Dec 1776.
Comm for same as Major in 2 Regt. of Light Dragoons to rank from 7 April 1777, & dated 18 Dec 1779
Brevet Lt. Col. per act 13 Sept 1783
Page 9

Litchfield Connt. June 6th 1828
Hon.  Sect. of the Treas.
I now enclose my application for my two years pay in the Line of the Cavalry, from March 3d 1826 to March 3d 1828, at $50 Month, which was the monthly pay of a Captain of Cavalry thru' [through] the revolutionary war. I can entertain no doubt that this has been your decision also, if you examine the Journals of Congress referred to in my letter of the 3d instant.
I shall enclose my three commissions, on examination of which I presume you will find that my Claim is correctly stated. Your engagement to return those papers accords entirely with my own wishes. My Commissions for previous service, in the Levies, before the Continental Army was formed, I presume
Page 10

are not wanted
I am very respectfully
Your most Obedt. Servt.
Benj. Tallmadge
P.S. A son of Capt. Webb, whom I reported in my last, as a surviving Officer of the Revolution, has just called on me to say that his father died on the 18th of Apl. last.
The signature of Frederick Wolcott, Clerk of this Court, has been made in his bed, to which he has been some time confined by severe indisposition. I am requested to make the same remark respecting his signature to Elisha Horton's papers, which were forwarded a few days ago. B.T.
Page 11

U. States of America
To Benjamn Tallmadge Dr
To 2 years full pay as a Captain in the Line of the Cavalry.
From March 3d. 1826 to March 3d. 1828
24 Months at $50. Month... $1200
Page 12

Benj Tallmadge
Litchfield Connt. 3 June 1828
Recd 7 June
3Reg. 3A. 1B. 4C.
10 June
Page 13

Litchfield Connt [Connecticut] June 3d 1828
Honble Sect. of the Treasury
Sir
Having noticed by the late Act of Congress providing for the officers & Soldier of the
revolutionary Army, that it is made the duty of the of the Sect of the ^Treasury^ to decide upon the validity of their claims to such
Compensation, I take the liberty to make a few remarks upon this subject, with a view to aid you in the Investigation. Altho' [although the most important article (for the money) must come from the Treasury Department, yet I presence [present] all the existing vouchers to
substantiate the claims of the Army, now in the
possession of the Government, must be in the
War Department. Having had frequent occasion while I was in Congress, to examine the records of the Revolutionary Army. I found there was a great deficiency in original Documents & Return of the Army which was doubtless to be traced to the unfortunate destruction of the War Office in the year 1800. When the late pension law was passed, knowing how little original Evidence was to
Page 14

found in the Department of War, & holding a compleat [complete] roll of all the Officers and Soldiers of the 2nd Reg. Lt. Dragoons, on the Continental Establishment, I informed the then Sect. of War (Mr. Calhoun) of this fact; who immediately requested one to furnish him with an amended copy of the same. This I did, & I learn that it [illegible] to detect many [illegible] applications. I trust the same document, or a copy of it, can now be obtained, if you should need it. I know it to be correct, as it was kept by me alone from the first formation of that Regt. in the year 1776, until the termination of the Revolutionary war in 1783, having served in it without one day [illegible] from its commencement to the close.
Being the only surviving field Officer of this Regt. (& Col. Ebenr Huntington & myself, I believe, as the only field officer now living, belonging to the Contl [Continental] Line) applications are frequently made to me from various Quarters, both by Officers & Soldiers, to learn the course they must pursue to obtain their respective compensation. I have therefore to request that you will please to inform me what rules you propose to adopt to obtain the necessary evidence, & also when & where the payments will be made. If I can be of any service to you, in this business, I will cheerfully afford my aid.
Page 15

For the present I would state that the four following names compose the entire list (as I suppose) of all the surviving officer of the 2nd Reg. Lt. Dragoons, commanded by Col. Elisha Sheldon, who served to the close of the war 
viz. Benj Tallmadge Major April 7, 1777, of Litchfield, Connecticut. 
John Webb Capt. Jan 7, 1778 Canaan [illegible]
Jedediah Rogers Lieut. June 2d, 1778, City of New York
Joshua King. Lieut. Novr. 20, 1779. Ridgfield Connt.
Isaac Bronson Surgeon ^Mate^ " 14, 1779 - City of N. York
As it may be important for you, in establishing the rule for the payment of the Officers &c of the revolutionary Army, to understand that the three great Divisions of the Army viz.+ the Artillery, Cavalry & Infantry, rec'd different grades of monthly pay, so it will be necessary to examine the Journals of Congress when this pay is established. As an officer of Cavalry I shall only call your attention to the pay of that Corps which ^was^ established by Congress March 14th, 1777 & continued thru' [through] the War. See journals of Congress Vol. 3 page 68 of the above Date. From this it is manifest that a Captain's monthly pay in the Cavalry (& no Officer can obtain higher pay than a Captain) is fifty dollars per month, while a Captain in the Infantry rec'd forty. 
I would further remark, that Lieut. Elijah James was the last Paymaster of our Regt., among whose papers
Page 16

doubtless may be found evidence of the payment of commutation to the Officers, as well as the eighty dollr [dollar] bounty to the Soldiers Lieut. Janes resided at Lansingburgh in the State of N. York, when he died some years ago; but I presume his Widow or Executor, must be in possession of his papers.
I am, Sir, most respectfully, 
Your most Obedt. Serv.
Benjn. Tallmadge
Page 17

THE INTERNATIONAL YEAMANS-YEOMANS-YOUMANS GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY
1926-FOUNDED AND ENDOWED BY GRANT S. YOUMANS - 1926
3736 CHICAGO AVENUE
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
July 29, 1929.
U. S. Pension Bureau, 
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
I am a descendant of a Tallmadge, or Talmadge line and feel certain that a Benjamin Tallmadge, or Talmadge of Connectticut [Connecticut] served as a soldier and officer in the Revolution.
I would like very much to have you send me the Pension Record, if any, of the said Benjamin Tallmadge, or Talmadge.
I will appreciate the data. 
Respectfully, 
G S Youmans
Grant S. Youmans
[Black round stamp:]
U.S. Pension Office U.S.
AUG 1 1929
MH
Recd 2 if elig [illegible]