Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16186, Nathaniel W Benton, Conn.
Page 1

SERVICE
Conn
Benton, Nathaniel W.
Susannah
NUMBER
W.16186
CONTENTS
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Notification sent Nov1. 15. 1820 to Cyrus Hecose  Lyons N. Yk.
10.259 R
New York
Nathaniel W Benton
Ontario Coy in the state of New York who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Meigs of the Connecticut [illegible], for the term of three years 1780
inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 11 of May 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 of May 1817 and sent to Ezra Jewell [illegible] Canandaigua New York
Arrears to 4th of March 1918 $78.44 
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1819 48.
$126.44
{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.}
Continued
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Albany 4911
Susannah Benton widow of Nathaniel Benton who was a pensioner under the Act of March 1818 and who died on the 3d September 1828 of Wayne Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain N. Y. of the regt. commanded by Colonel Meigs in the Cont. line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 80 Dollars [Cents struck through] per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of January 1840 and sent to Wm. Sisson Lyons, N. Y.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 39 280
Semi=annual allowance ending [illegible] 40.00
$320.00
Act July 7, 1838.
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk
Book A.  Vol. 2. Page 68
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Proceeding in the place of Nathaniel W. Benton
[illegible]
Nathaniel W. Benton, Private
Ontario County, N. Y.
Col. Meigs and Butler's reg'ts. Conn't line - 1780 to 1783
11. May, 1818
Admitted
Ezra Jewell, judge,
Phelps,
Ontario County, N. Y.
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State of New York
Ontario County Ss
On the eleventh day of May
one thousand eight hundred and eighteen personally
appeared before me the subscriber one of the judges ┃
of the Court of Common Pleas of said County
Nathaniel Benton aged [illegible] eight years a resident
of [illegible] in said County who being by me first
duly sworn according to law doth on his oath
make the following [illegible] in order to obtain
the pension made by the late act of Congress
entitled an act to provide for certain [illegible]
in the land and naval service of the United
States in the Revolutionary War That the said
Nathaniel Benton enlisted into the fourth
Regiment in the Connecticut line of [illegible] which
Regiment [illegible] a part of the time commanded
by [illegible] 
Col Butler That he may not Remember the
name of his captain as he served all the
time of his service as an armourer
[illegible] forge and only mustered with the
company once a month That he continued
to serve in said Regiment in [illegible]
[illegible] the time of his enlistment which was
some time in the month of July the exact
Day he does not Remember, in the year 1780
untill the [illegible] in the month of July
[illegible] a [illegible] of the year when he
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served in the Revolution of the United States when he was regularly discharged at West Point in the state of New York. That this discharge has long been gone from him and he believes it lost. He further states that he is in very reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and that he has no other evidence of his service, in his power now to obtain. Declared before me this 11th day of May 1812.
Ezra Jewell Judge as aforesaid

I Ezra Jewell one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the county aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the above named Nathaniel Benton did serve in the Revolutionary War against the Common Enemy and also that I am personally acquainted with the said Nathaniel Benton and know him to be in very reduced and destitute circumstances and I now transmit the proceedings and evidence taken and had before me to the Secretary of the War Department pursuant to the before mentioned act of Congress.
Given under my hand at Lyon in said County the day and year before mentioned.
Ezra Jewell
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N. W. Benton copy
of original declaration
under the Law of Congress
of the 20th May 1820


10.258
Sept 1819
Cyrus Hecok
Lyons
Nov 15, 1820
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State of New-York
Ontario County   } ss.
ON this 19th day of August 1820, personally appeared, in open court, being a court of record for the said county, viz a Court of Common Pleas Nathaniel W Benton aged 62 years, resident in the town of [unk] in said county, who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows:
That he enlisted as a private Soldier for the term of three years, In the year 1780 In July but does not recollect his Captains name that he was first in Col Meigs regiment then in Col Butlers regiment in the 4th Connecticut Regt. That he was discharged in July 1792. That the date of his original application for Pension was the 11th day of May 1818 and that his pension certificate is numbered 10,259.
And 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 any part thereof, with interest thereby so to diminish it as to being myself within the provisions of act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the revolutionary war," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed and I do further solemnly swear that my occupation is that is a blacksmith and that by reason of the loss of eye sight and bodily infirmities I am thereby rendered unable to pursue my said occupation and that my family consists of my wife Susannah aged 64 years. She enjoys tolerable good health and that we are dependant on our children in a great measure for our support.
Nathaniel W Benton
Schedule
Real Estate none     Bed & Bedding all necessary
1 cow       12.00
1 swine      3.00
1 broken pot  0.75
1- 2 pail kettle 1.50
1 small table   0.350
4 kitchen chairs 2.00
6 earthen plates 0.25
6 tea cups & saucers 0.20
                 ----------------
                      20.20
amount bro; up 20.20
1 tea kettle  1.00
1 blk earthen tea pot  0.25
6 knives & forks old  0.50
1 little wheel       2.50
1 quilt de               1.00
1 small smelting iron  0.25
1 pine chest           2.00
1 spider without legs   0.28
1 water pail            0.38
                    -----------------
                          $28.46
Nathaniel W Benton
Sworn to, and declared, on the 19th day of August 1820 before me
Micah Brooks a Judge of Ontario Common Pleas
I, John Van Fossen clerk of the said Court do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is 28 dollars and 46 cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this 19th day of August 1820.
John Van Fossen
Clerk of the Court for the County of Ontario
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I, Fanny Chamberlain of Middletown in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, widow of Theodore Chamberlain decd being now sixty five years of age, and having been duly cautioned to speak the whole truth, do depose an say, that I am the daughter of Israel Fuller who formerly resided in Berlin in the County of Hartford in this State. My father was a blacksmith by trade and had several journeymen and apprentices among whom was Nathaniel Benton. A girl by the name of Susannah Wallace I very well remember did house work in the family some four or five years and while Mr. Benton was learning his trade of my father. After his time of service had expired and he had learned his trade he was married to the said Susannah Wallace. I was then young and living at home with my father but I have a very distinct and clear recollection of the marriage at which I was present. They were married at my father's house in said Berlin by the Revd. Nathan Fenn then a settled minister of the Gospel in that Town when I was about nine years old and according to my best recollection in the fall of the year. The family were all present at the marriage and perhaps a few of the neighboring young people. They lived in  our family a short time after the marriage until my father built a blacksmith's shop and hired a part of a house for him in Wethersfield in said County of Hartford, a Town adjoining Berlin where they resided
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several years and he followed the trade of a Blacksmith. They subsequently removed from Wethersfield but to what part of the Country I have no personal knowledge. I understand however that he died some eight or ten years ago and that his widow Susannah Benton above named is now living and resident in Wayne County and State of New York. In closing my deposition I would remark that according to my best recollection Mr Benton while in my father's employ was absent one or more times by draft or otherwise as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, but the length or precise time of his service I cannot state. And further the deponent saith not. The word "County" on this page above, interlined before signing. Dated at said Middletown the 15th day of June AD 1839.
Fanny Chamberlain
witness Alexander C Huestis
State of Connecticut
Middlesex County ss. Middletown 15th June 1839
Then personally appeared Fanny Chamberlain, well known to me the subscriber to be a person of truth and veracity and a credible person, and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the foregoing deposition by her subscribed, before me
Stillman K Wightman
Justice of the peace
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I Levi North of Berlin in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut being now seventy nine years of age and having been duly cautioned to speak the whole truth, do depose and say, that I was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and am a pensioner of the United States. I was formerly well acquainted with Nathaniel Benton who resided in the Revolutionary War and I understand was at the time of his decease some eight or ten years ago in Wayne County in the State of New York a pensioner of the United States. He was a blacksmith by trade and was an apprentice to Israel Fuller then of said Berlin since decd. Susannah Wallace resided in Israel Fuller's family at the same time and when his time was out as an apprentice with Mr Fuller she was married to Nathaniel Benton as I understood and have no doubt although I was not present at the marriage. I lived within about one half a mile of Mr Fuller's and say Mr Benton and his wife Susannah often. Sometime after their marriage they left Mr Fuller's family and moved to Wethersfield in said Hartford County a Town adjoining said Berlin, where Mr Benton set up his trade as a blacksmith and where they lived together as man and wife for several years and were generally reputed
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to be man and wife and the fact was never disputed. They afterwards moved from Wethersfield, but to what place I cannot say. I understand however that his widow Susannah now resides in Wayne County in the State of New York. And further the deponent saith not. Dated at Middletown in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut the 15th day of June 1829.
Levi North
witness
Alex'r C Huestis

State of Connecticut
Middlesex County ss. Middletown 15th June 1839
Then personally appeared Levi North, well known to me to be person of truth and veracity and a credible person, and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed.
Before me Stillman K. Wightman
Justice of the peace
State of Connecticut
Middlesex County } I John Fisk Clerk of the County Court of sd County of Middlesex do certify that Stillman K Wightman Esq is a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Middlesex as sd coms on file in my Office & that his name subscribed to the preceding certificates marked A. B. are his proper hand writing & signatures.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & affixed the seal of sd Court this 17 day of June AD 1839.
Jno Fisk Clk
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State of New York
Wayne County   } ss.
On this twenty sixth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine personally appeared before William Sisson First Judge of the County Courts of the County of Wayne aforesaid Susannah Benton, a resident of the town of Lodus in the said County of Wayne aged eighty two years on the twenty eighth day of June 1839 who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7. 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows:" That she is the widow of Nathaniel W. Benton who was a private in the service of the United States in the revolutionary war. She cannot state the periods or length of service of her said husband during the revolutionary war, having been married to him after he left the service. She declares that her said husband the said Nathaniel W. Benton was a pensioner of the United States under the act of Congress of the 18th day of March 1818, and had a certificate under said act, dated, as she is informed and believes to be true, on or about the fifth day of May 1819, signed by J. C. Calhoun Secretary of War, under and by virtue of which he drew pension in his life time and at the time of his death, that said certificate was taken by her son after the death of the said Nathaniel W. Benton, for the purpose of procuring the back pay due at the time of his death & she does not know what has become of it, but she expects it was surrendered or sent to the pension officer. She refers, in support of her claim to a pension, to the Declaration and proofs, made by said Nathaniel W. Benton, upon which the said pension certificate was granted to her said husband, and which she expects and believes are now in the War department or pension office at the City of Washington. The information respecting the
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date of the said pension certificate, she has derived from a gentleman who resides at Lyons & who was a Justice of the peace and some times employed to make out his papers & power of attorney to draw his money under said certificate, who states that he has a paper purporting to be and believed by him to be a true copy of said certificate.
She further declares that she was married to the said Nathaniel W. Benton according to the best of her recollection and belief in the month of April in the year 1784, but is not positive as to the precise time & it might have been in the preceding fall, he was in the service at or until about the close of the war, when he came home and they were married a short time after his return home. They were married at the house of Israel Fuller in Berlin in the State of Connecticut by the Rev'd Nathan Fenn a settled clergyman residing in that town, the said Nathaniel W. Benton had previously to the marriage lived with said Fuller & learned the Blacksmith trade & she the declarant lived at the time of the marriage & had for some years before, with the said Fuller, at whose house they were married, that her husband the aforesaid Nathaniel W. Benton died on the third day of September in the year eighteen hundred and twenty eight, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place long previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz: at the time above stated. She further declares that her maiden names was Susannah Wallace & that she is the same person of that name mentioned in the accompanying affidavits of Fanny Chamberlain and Levi North, and that the said Nathaniel W. Benton her late husband is the same person mentioned in the same affidavits by the same of Nathaniel Benton.
She further declares that she has no record o her marriage with the said Nathaniel & that she
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does not know of any record of said marriage.
NB The words "not" & "name" interlined before execution.
Susannah Benton her mark X
witness
Roger Benton
Sworn to and subscribed (by making her mark) on the day and year above written by Susannah Benton, before me. And I certify that she cannot write from old age, trembling & dimness of eye-sight, and I further certify that she cannot from bodily infirmity attend court to make her Declaration above written.
Wm Sisson First Judge of Wayne County Courts
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State of New York
County of Wayne} ss. Roger Benton of Arcadia in said county being duly sworn doth depose and say that he will be sixty nine years of age in the month of August next (1839)- that he was well acquainted from his earliest recollection with Nathaniel W. Benton deceased, to the time of his death, he the said Nathaniel being an Elder brother of this deponent- that said Nathaniel was between ten & eleven years older than this deponent and was a Blacksmith by trade & deponent, when a boy lived with him & learned said Blacksmith trade, this deponent recollects of being at the house of the said Nathaniel in the year seventeen hundred & eighty five in the town of Weathersfield in the State of Connecticut that the said Nathaniel had been previously married to Susannah Wallace, now the widow of the said Nathaniel and they were then living together as husband and wife at said Weathersfield, and then had one child who was afterwards scalded & died as I afterwards learned. In the year 1786, in fall, I went to live with said Nathaniel to learn the trade. I have ever since that time been acquainted with the said Susannah to the present time, and with the said Nathaniel until his death. That the said Nathaniel & Susannah lived together as husband & wife until his decease, that the said Nathaniel W. Benton died at the town of Port Bay now Huron in the said county of Wayne on the third day of September in the year eighteen hundred and twenty eight, and that the said Susannah Benton who is now applying for a pension is the widow of the said Nathaniel W. Benton, that she has not been married since the death of the said Nathaniel, but has ever since remained his widow. The words "as this deponent been informed" obliterated & figure "6" in 1786 above above mentioned from 5 before execution.
Roger Benton
Subscribed & sworn this 26th day of June 1839 before me
Wm. Sisson First Judge of Wayne County
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I certify that I am personally acquainted wit the within Deponent Roger Benton and that he is a person of good character, is a credible witness & that his statement is entitled to full credit.
Wm Sisson First Judge of Wayne County

State of New York
County of Wayne} ss. I certify that William Sisson before whom the above deposition purports to have been sworn, and whose signature appears to the above certificate was at the dates thereof First Judge of said County duly commissioned & qualified and that his signature to the above certificate and Jurat, are genuine.
Given under my hand and seal of Office this twenty seventh day of June 1839.
Cullen Foster Clerk Wayne County N.Y.
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October 19, 1938
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BA-J/MCS
Nathaniel W. Benton
W. 16186

Mr. Homer J. Schieber
1031 West 90th Street
Los Angeles, California

Dear Sir:

The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, W. 16186, based on the military service of Nathaniel W. Benton.

The date and place of birth of Nathaniel W. Benton and the names of his parents are not shown.

While serving as an apprentice at Berlin, Hartford County, Connecticut, he enlisted in July, 1780, served as armorer in Colonels Meigs' and Butler's Connecticut Regiments and was discharged in July, 1783.

He was allowed pension on his application executed May 11, 1818, at which time he stated he was fifty-eight years of age and he was then living in Sodus, Ontario County, New York. In 1820 he stated that he was sixty-two years of age.

He died September 3, 1828, at Port Bay, Wayne County, New York.

This soldier married in 1784 in Berlin, Connecticut, Susannah Wallace, who was born June 28, 1757.

In 1785 they were living in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, having moved there from Berlin.

The widow, Susannah Benton, was allowed pension in her application executed June 26, 1839, at which time she was living in Sodus, New York.
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2

In 1785 Nathaniel W. and Susannah Benton had one child (name not given) who died when a child. In 1820 reference was made to their children but no names were given. In 1839 the widow referred to her son but did not give his name. The soldier's brother, Roger Benton, was born in August, 1770, and in 1839 he was living in Arcadia, Wayne County, New York. The papers in this claim contain no further data relative to the soldier's family.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 20

Ref WIDOW, &c.
File No. 16186
Susannah Benton
widow of
Nathaniel Benton
Pri Rev War
Act July 7th 38
Index:- Vol. a, Page 52
[Arrangement of 1870]


1911 May 27 Hist to Mrs Henry E Fowler letter in R File 87 Elijah or Elisha Benton
1933 Oct 26 hist to Miss Emily E Taylor see letter in Rev cl Elihu Bradley W. 16864
1938 Oct 19 hist to Mr Homer J Schieber see his letters in Misc. File under Schieber
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October 19, 1938 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
BA-J/MMHF/MCS
Nathaniel W. Benton,W. 16186
Thomas Allison, 8.22079

Mr. Homer J. Schieber 
1031 West 90th Street 
Los Angeles, California 

Dear Sir: 

Reference is made to your letters in which you request the Revolutionary War records of John Allison who served in the Pennsylvania troops, Thomas Allison, a pensioner in 1835 in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, Jacob Bartlett who received a pension in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and died in 1828, David Benton who received a pension in 1840 in Jackson County, Indiana, Jonathan Benton, a pensioner in 1840 in Columbia County, New York, Nathaniel W. Benton, a pensioner in 1820 in New York State, Susan Benton, a pensioner in 1840 in Ontario County, New York, and Andrew Sands, a pensioner in 1840 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. 

Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information, it has been impossible to comply in full with each request pertaining to soldiers of the Revolutionary War, which requires so much time and research, no matter how great the desire to do so. 

In the effort to aid you in part, the record of Thomas Allison is furnished you herewith, and that of the only Nathaniel W. Benton found on the Revolutionary War pension records. His widow was Susannah and may have been the other pensioner referred to in your letters, as no other Susannah or Susan Benton has been found on those records as the widow of a Revolutionary War soldier and an applicant for pension.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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October 26, 1933
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BA-J/MCS

Miss Emily E. Taylor
355 Wilson Street
Clarksburg
West Virginia

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your request for information in regard to Nathaniel W. Benton, Elihu Bradley and Isaac Bradley, soldiers of the Revolution.

Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon the military service of soldiers in that war. A search of this records fails to show such claim on file on account of the service of an Isaac Bradley.

The records of Nathaniel W. Benton and Elihu Bradley are furnished you herewith.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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October 26, 1933
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Nathaniel W. Benton
W. 16186
BA-J/MCS

Miss Emily E. Taylor
354 Wilson Street
Clarksburg
West Virginia

Dear Madam:

The data which follows were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, W. 16186, based upon the military service of Nathaniel W. Benton.

While serving as an apprentice at Berlin, Hartford County, Connecticut, he enlisted in July, 1780, served as armorer in Colonels Meigs' and Butler's Connecticut Regiments and was discharged in July, 1783.

He was allowed pension on his application executed May 11, 1818, at which time he stated he was fifty-eight years of age and he was then living in Sodus, Ontario County, New York. In 1820 he stated that he was sixty-two years of age.

He died September 3, 1828, at Port Bay, Wayne County, New York.

The soldier married in 1784 in Berlin, Connecticut, Susannah Wallace, who was born June 28, 1757.

In 1785 they were living in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, having moved there from Berlin.

The widow, Susannah Benton, was allowed pension on her application executed June 26, 1839, at which time she was living at Sodus, New York.

In 1785 they had one child (name not given) who died when a child. In 1820 reference was made to their children but no names were given. In 1839 the widow referred to her son but did
Page 24

not give his name. The soldier's brother, Roger Benton, was born in August, 1770, and in 1839 he was living in Arcadia, Wayne County, New York. The papers in this claim contain no further data relative to the soldier's family.

This is the history of the only Nathaniel W. Benton that is found in the Revolutionary War records of this office.

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
Page 25

In reply to your request of            , received             for a statement of the military history of Nathaniel W. Benton a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (an his widow's) application for pension. W. File 16186

Dates of enlistment or appointment: July 1780 to July 1783
discharged West Pint, NY
Rank" armorer
Officers under whom service was rendered: Colonel Meigs & Butler
State: Conn.
Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment,
Date of application for pension, May 11, 1818 alld.
Residence at date of application, Sodus, Ontario Co, N.Y.
Age at date of application, 58 yrs: in 1820 claimed to be 62 years
Remarks: Sol born Berlin, Conn. Apl 1784 Susannah Wallave to June 28, 1757- he d. Sept 3, 1828, Port Bay, Wayne Co, NY & she was allowed pension of her application June 26, 1839 res. Sodus, NY
Page 26

Box 373
Guilford, Conn.
May 18th 1911
Pension Bureau Elisha Benton a pensioner of Conn. Rollin Revolution, residing in New Hampshire in 1818. Please send me his record as on Pension Rolls.
Address
Mrs. Henry Eliot Fowler
Guilford, Conn.
W16186
also of Nathaniel W. Benton residing in New York in 1818
Page 27

Box 373
Guilford, Conn.
May 18th 1911
Pension Bureau
Elisha Benton a pensioner of Conn Roll in Revolution, residing in New Hampshire in 1818. Please send me his records as on Pension Rolls.
Address
Mrs. Henry Eliot Fowler
Guilford, Conn.
W 16186
also of Nathaniel W. Benton residing in New York in 1818
Page 28

J. L. Edwards Esq
Comr of Pension
Dear Sir,
Inclosed I send you the declaration & papers of Susannah Benton widow of Nathaniel W. Benton, for a pension, under the act of Congress of July 1838. I hope you will find because sufficiently supported, to entitle her to full pension & that she may receive it immediately for she is in extreme want. Please to the result to me as soon as consistent with your rules & oblige yours
Wm Sisson
Lyons July 1, 1839
Wayne Co. N.Y.
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Dec. 21, 1839



J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D. C.
Page 30

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Comr. of Pension
Dear Sir,
Respecting the case of Mrs. Susannah Benton widow of Nathaniel W. Benton, for a pension under the act of Congress of July 7, 1838. you say in your letter of 9th Oct. last, that it must be shown that there is no record of the marriage in the Church or town Clerks office of Berlin, before parole evidence to that fact can be admitted. I now send you the affidavit of Rev. Joseph Whittlesey the present clergyman that there is no record found among the Church Records, & stating that he is satisfactorily informed that the Records of Marriage celebrated by the Rev. Mr. Fenn were destroyed after his death, also the affidavit of Chas. A. Goodrich Town Clerk of Berlin that he does not find any record of the marriage of N. W. Benton & Susannah Wallis & presumes there is none, as it was customary for the clergyman to keep his own record of Marriages & that he is informed that the records kept by Rev. W. Fenn have been destroyed.
These affidavits establish the facts, that there is now no record of the marriage, either in the records of the Church or Town Clerks Office. That it was customary for the clergyman to keep his own records of marriages & that of Mr. Fenn kept a record in this case it has been destroyed.
I do understand by your letter that you deny the sufficiency of the proof accompanying the declaration, as to the marriage, in case no record proof exists or can be had. As to the marriage, you have the affidavit of Mrs. Fanny Chamberlain, who says she was present, & the affidavits of Levi North & Roger Benton touching the same fact. I hope you will not be satisfied to grant her a pension upon the case as it now stands & send to me a certificate without delay. She is in the 83 year year of her age & very needy & destitute & has no children able to support her
over-
Page 31

Yours respectfully,
Wm Sisson
Lyons N.Y. Decr. 14, 1839

P.S. Mrs. Chamberlain does not fix the precise date of the marriage but it is evident from her affidavit & the other affidavits, that it was prior to Jany 1, 1794, & after the services of her husband were performed, as they were not married until after the close of the war. Mrs. C. states that soon after their marriage they moved to Weathersfield. Mr. North stated he lived near Fuller's when they were married, under stood they were married, and saw them afterwards as husband & wife& that some time after the marriage they moved to Weathersfield and Benton worked as a blacksmith. Roger Benton states that in 1785 he was at their house in Weathersfield where they then lived as husband & wife & that in the fall of 1786 he went to live with them to learn the blacksmith trade. It appears to me that the proof is abundantly sufficient. It can hardly be expected that a witness should remember the precise day, month, & year of such an occurrence unless there was a record or memorandum made of it or some thing, fact, or circumstance to impress it upon the mind.
WS
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I Joseph Whittlesey of Berlin in Hartford County & State of Connecticut, depose & say that I have not found among the Church records, in my possession, any records of Marriages, celebrated by the Rev. Nathan Fenn, the former minister of Worthington Parish; but I am credibly & satisfactorily informed, that, the Records kept by the Rev. Mr. Fenn were after his death destroyed & forever lost.
Joseph Whittlesey} Pastor of the 3d Congregational Church & Society in Berlin

State of Connecticut, Hartford County ss Berlin
October 24th 1839. Personally appeared Rev. Joseph Whittlesey, to me well known for truth & veracity, who subscribed the foregoing affidavit in my presence & made solemn oath to the truth of the same.
Before me, Horatio Gridley Justice of Peace

I Charles A. Goodrich of Berlin in Hartford County & State of Connecticut, do depose & say, that I cannot find on the Record Books of the Town, any Record made of the marriage of Nathaniel W. Benton to Susanna Wallis; and presume there is none, as it was formerly  customary for the clergyman to keep his own records. I am credibly informed that the Records of marriages kept by the Rev. Mr. Fenn, the first minister of Worthington Parish; were inadvertently destroyed after his death.
Charles A Goodrich Town Clerk

State of Connecticut, Hartford County ss. Berlin Oct. 24th 1839
Personally appeared Charles A. Goodrich, to me known as the town clerk of the town of Berlin; who subscribed the foregoing affidavit in my presence, & made oath in due form of law to the truth of the same.
Before me, Horatio Gridley Justice of Peace
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State of Connecticut
Registers Offices ss. Berlin Oct 24 1839} I hereby certify there is in my office a certificate duly signed by the Secretary of the State of Connecticut and sealed with the seal of his office declaring Horatio Gridley to have been appointed a Justice of the Peace for the Town of Berlin by the General Assembly which held its session at Hartford on the 1st Wednesday of May 1839.
Certified by Charles A Goodrick
Town Clerk
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I, ROYAL R. HINMAN, Secretary of the State of Connecticut, and keeper of the Seal thereof, do hereby certify and make known to whom it doth or may concern, THAT Horatio Gridley Esq is and for more than six months last past, has been a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Hartford in said State, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified, having full power and authority, by the laws of said State, to take the acknowledgement of Deeds and to certify the same; also to administer oaths to witnesses and to take Affidavits and Depositions our of Court, and to give certificates thereof; and that full faith and credit may and ought to be given to the official acts and attestations of said Gridley in Court and Country.
In testimony whereof, i have, in my capacity of Secretary as aforesaid, hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of said State, at the City of Hartford, in said State, the fifth day of Dec. in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and 39. And I certify that the signature of Gridley hereunto annexed is genuine.
N N Hinman Secretary
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New York
act July 7, 1838
Susannah Benton 
married April 1784
Husband died 3 Sept 1828
let. to Wm Sisson 9 Oct. 1839
Col Meigs- Connt Line
Admitted
Private 2 years
William Sisson Esq
Lyons
New York