Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15319, Elias Bennitt, Conn.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
Conn

Bennitt, Elias
or Bennett

NUMBER
S. 15319

carded

CONTENTS
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[illegible]
[C]onnecti[cut]

[E]lias Ben[nett]

[illegible] on the State of Connec[ticut]
[???] a private in the Company comman[ded]
[Cap]tain Andrew of the regt commanded
______ on the _____
7 month private

[in pencil] Conn. [illegible] 30230

[Insc]ribed on the Roll of Connecticut
[at a] rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
[com]mence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

[Cert]ificate of Pension issued the 22d day of Oct 1835 and sent to Benj [illegible]

[Arrears] to the 4th of March 1835  $73.32
[se]mi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept  11.66
[Grand Total]                                     $84.98

Decd Feb. 17. 1842 

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

[Record]ed by Dan Boyd Clerk,
E2 Vol. 3 Page 5
Page 3

State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield
Weston Probate District

On the 3d day of August 1832
personally appeared before the Court of Probate now in session at Weston in for the District of Weston in said County, in open Court, & being a Court of re[???], Elias Bennett a resident of said Weston, aged
about eighty years, who being first duly sworn
according to law, doth on his oath make the
following declaration, in order to obtain the
benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th
1832 - namely -
---
That in the year 1776 he was a
Soldier enrolled in a company of Militia of the
State of Connecticut in the and County of
Farfield in said state commanded by Captain
John Andrews, that in the spring or summer of
that year, he with the rest of the company to which he belonged was called, with the companies of the Connecticut militia, by General Sillerman[?] to go to the City of New York, to defend against the British; that he accordingly went with the rest
of the Company under Captain Andrews, the Company in which he was took
[passage?] to New York in a [???]
& faild out of some of the harbours in Greenwich
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in the town of Fairfield [illegible] and armed at New York, when he & [illegible] of the Company to which he belonged remained until the enemy took the City, which was in September 1776. That he was support in said tour in the service of the United States, in a company of Connecticut Militia for the term of two months- that he was then first dismissed to come home former New [illegible] [illegible] who belonged to the same company, an that account. He had the Comp. Distemper was attended  by Doct'r Chopman.

And he further says that after her returned from New York, and about the first of October  1776, he entered the service of the United States by entering in a Company of Connecticut State troops, for the term of six months, at said Fairfield under Joseph Bennett of said Fairfield whether said Bennett was a Captain at that time or only a Ensign or Lieutenant, he cannot say but he had enlisting under, & commanded the shore guards stationed at Compy, in said Fairfield, & their declarent enlisted & served under said Bennett  the full term of six months, commencing about the first of October 1776- & was then verbally [illegible] & honorably discharged, who the Main officers were he cannot say - [illegible] the term, he with others
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had previous engagements with the boats of the British & Tories which came [illegible] and to [illegible], nothing [illegible] armed nowhere in non Petty Contests with the British, occassionally a man would be killed, they were driven off, sometimes they would land in June [illegible] of the where & plunder and he further says that [illegible] often he left Captain Bennetts Company & in the same timing, he enlisted in the Commonwealth service, Connecticut State Troops in a Company of whose guards for the term of one year under  Captain Eliphalet Thorp of said Fairfield, and was stationed on the coast to guard the shore, at Green Farms in the town & County of Fairfield aforesaid. [Illegible] he served during full term of his said enlistment & was honorably discharged, but verbally discharged, right after this he remained with his family from Company where he had been living, look into the County about five miles into  the County of Norfolk in Said County, & was enrolled in a company of Militia of Connecticut commanded by Captain Daniel Gofrey, and while in the company last mentioned & as he believes in the year of 1779 he was captain for one month to go to New York
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to guard the shore at that place, being in the County of Fairfield aforesaid, and he accordingly went & served one month, the term for which he was drafted, and then returned, he served at Bradford under the said Captain Godfrey & Lieutenant Damens. The above time making in the whole twenty one months her served in the war of the revolution in defense of the Country against the common enemy, in the continental line, & Connecticut State Troops, & Militia, in the service of the United States. That he knows of no persons living who served with him, and who can testify as to his service except Pinkney Beers & Joshua Couch, whose affidavits are hereto annexed, that he has procured the best full the evidence he can. In the following interrogatories propounded by the Court he gives the [unk] subjoined (viz) My the Count- Where & in what year were your born  answered by Declarant- he was born in the town & county of Fairfield aforesaid on the 10th day of May 1752 as he always understood & believes.
My the Count- Have you any record of your age & if so where is it?
answer- I have no record in his own possession, about twenty five years ago, he had a record of his age.
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in his Father's hand writing, in possession of his sister who lives now, at a distance, & he supposes his sister still has the record, but cannot say.
My the Count- Where were you living when called in service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war & where do you now live?
answer- That he was living in said Fairfield, that all the time from the revolutionary war, he has lived in Weston in said County of Fairfield
My the County- How were you called into service
answer- That he has stated how he was called into service in the body of his declaration
My the Count- State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such continental & militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.
answer- He has stated most of the officers whom he can recollect. He believes Dimon was Colonel of the regiment he was in, when he went to New York and to what regiment the shore guards belonged, he cannot tell, in regard to the current tours which occurred during the war in which he was present as engaged, there were not many of importance
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He was in Captain E [unk] company of shore guards as aforesaid when the enemy landed at camp & went to Danbury & burnt the public stores. We went with Capt Thorp
s company in pursuit of the enemy, followed them through Weston & Redding, when in Redding, Captain Thorp received intelligence that the enemy were in Ridgefield, & we marched for that town and he was in the battle at Ridgefield, where General Wooster was killed, we then passed the enemy back through Wilton to the shore at Campo when they went on board, General Silliman commanding a body of militia met the enemy near the bridge over Saugatuck river, Silliman was on the west side & the enemy on the east side, they had crossed the river at some distance above, & the enemy by firing upon the bridge prevented the militia from hoping over until they had gone by, & Silliman following in their rear, a few shots however threw the militia into disorder, and they were of but very little service. He further says that the enemy when they landed at campo as aforesaid, passed his home & plundered it, his wife, in a delicate situation had made off [unk] with her a boy of [unk]
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the enemy mistook her, stripped her of all her clothes but her shirt, took her home & left her in the streets [unk] when she was taken in trench, by capture however she succeeded in getting to a town, nearly naked & in distress. The officers under whom he served are all dead as he believes.
My the Count- Did you ever receive a discharge from the service
answer- He never did receive a written discharge. He was always discharged verbally when his time was out.
By the Count- State the names of persons, to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, & who can testify of your service as a soldier of the revolution.
answer- The names [unk] Cropman, Revd John Boyes, Jeremiah Rowland, Joseph H Andrews

and the said Bennett further says that he has no documentary evidence; that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Elias Bennett
Sworn & subscribed on the day & year aforesaid in open Court.
Attest Oliver C. Sanford Clerk
Page 10

We Jeremiah Rowland & Joseph H Andrews of the town of Weston in the county of Fairfield hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Elias Bennett who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be of the age which he purports in his first declaration, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, & we concur in that opinion. That he has always sustained the character of a man of truth & veracity among his neighborhood & we considered him a man of truth.
Jeremiah Rowland
Joseph H Andrews
Sworn & subscribed on the day & year aforesaid in open Court.
Attest Oliver C. Sanford Clerk
I Pinkney Bears of the town of Weston in the county of Fairfield aforesaid aged eighty one years, being duly sworn, depose & say that I have been acquainted with Elias Bennett who has sworn to the [unk] the above declaration, ever since he was a boy. That I was in the service with said Bennett in the year
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1776 in New York, under Captain John Andrews when the city was taken I went down to the city with him in the same company. I was fone as near as I can recollect about two months, on this tour, I believe said Bennett came away a few days before me, sick-almost all Captain Andrew's company had the camp distemper.
Pinkney Beers
Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year aforesaid in open Court.
attest Oliver C Sanford Clerk
I Joshua Couch of the town & county of Fairfield, aged seventy four, being duly sworn depose & say that win the latter part of the spring or the beginning of the summer of 1777 I enlisted into the service of the United States in Captain Elipht Thorp's company of Connecticut State Troops, to guard the coast in said Fairfield, Elias Bennett who has sworn to [unk] the foregoing declaration was enlisted in the same company when I entered it, & said Bennett served as part of the whole of the time I was in said guard,  I left said guard I believe the Nov next following my said enlistment, how long said Bennett had served in said company before I entered said company I cannot say.
Joseph Couch
Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year aforesaid in open Court.
attest Oliver C Sanford Clerk
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I John Nayes of the Society of Norfield in the Town of Weston County and a clergyman, being duly sworn depose & say that I was settled as a minister in said County in
1786, M A has long and common report in & about the neighbourhood when I live, that almost was more capable of bearing arms, in the time of the revolutionary war, and living in and [said County & the woosan (words are blurring because the document has been folded at this part)
about, was in the service, somewhere, a part of the time during the revolutionary war, but I am not a part of the time, during the revolutionary war, but I cannot say what I can distinguish. for as to say, that any one particular individual is reputed & believed to have been in the service, more than others, except some preface who obtained previous some years ago, I was not living in said County during the war, which is probably the realm I cannot make such distinction, I had long time we acquainted with said Bennett, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration & he sustains a good character for truth & veracity
Sworn to & subscribe
on the day & year of said
in open Court
John Noyes
Att Ohren C. Sanford Clerk

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and for putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above & before named applicant was a revolutionary
Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Jeremiah Rowland & Joseph H. Andrews are resident in the Town of Weston who have signed the proceeding certificate and John
Noyes who has signed the above certificate is a Clergyman resident in said Town and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit 
Bedford Winton Judge of said Court

I, Oliver Sanford Clerk of the said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Elias Bennett for a Pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto at my hand and seal of Office this 3rd day of August 1832
Att Oliver C Sanford Clerk
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State of Connecticut, County of Fairfield, SS. Weston June 17th  1853. I Oliver C. Sanford Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Weston in (illegible) Fairfield County hereby certify that the Rev. John Noyes who has signed the (illegible) certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Weston, and a man of the first (responsibility?). That the signature of his name is his genuine signature and that his Deposition is entitled to (illegible).  I further certify that Joshua Couch and Pinkney Beers who have subscribed and sworn to two Depositions hereto annexed are both credible persons that the signatures of their names to (illegible) Depositions on genuine and that their Depositions are  entitled to full credit.  I further certify that Bradford Winton is Judge of the Court of Probate for the District aforesaid and that the (forgoing?) signature of his name is his genuine signature in testimony whereof I have (illegible) (illegible) my hand  and seal of Office of said Court on the day and year aforesaid.
Oliver C. Sanford Clerk
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I Wakeman H Dikeman a clergyman resident if Bridgepoint in Fairfield County Connecticut, formerly of the town of Weston in said County hereby certify that I have long been acquainted with Elias Bennett of said Weston who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration that I have always lived in the neighborhood of declarant untill within three and a half years past, that I believe him to be of the age as stated in the body of his declaration, that he has long been reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion.
Wakeman H Dikeman
State of Connecticut
County of Fairfield} ss. in Fairfield in said County personally appeared Wakeman H Dikeman signer of the above deposition & made oath to the truth of the same by him subscribed. I further certify that the above named Wakeman H Dikeman is a clergyman residing as said Bridgeport but a [unk] of said Weston and a person with whom I have long been acquainted &a gentleman of respectability & that his deposition is entitled to full credit.
Weston Probate District
Nov 19th 1833
Certified by
Bradford Winton Judge of the Court of Probate for the District aforesaid
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Elias Bennett Fairfield County
Connecticut
admit
7 mo $23.33

brother brad

Tomlinson
Page 16

WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office
                                 183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive  that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace,(thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, showing the Service of Elias Bennett Fairfield County Connecticut

Period when the service was rendered: Enrolled 1776
Duration of the claimant's service: 2 months
Rank of the claimant: private
Names and rank of the Field officer under whom he served: Genl Sullivan, Cap ANdrews
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service: 80 yrs, Fairfield County Connecticut
Proof by which the declaration is supported: Traditionary evidence certified credible, Clergyman certificate, and two witnesses not certified credible, papers not properly attached

Period when the service was rendered: Enlisted Oct. 1776
Duration of the claimant's service: 6 months
Rank of the claimant: "
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served: Cap Bannett

Period when the service was rendered: Enlisted 1777
Duration of the claimant's service: 1 year
Rank of the claimant: "
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served: Capt Thorp

Period when the service was rendered: Enrolled 1778
Duration of the claimant's service: 1 month
Rank of the claimant: "
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served: Cap Godfrey

Battle of Ridgefield

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions


May 77    7
Sent Feby 11 1780
Case Oct 22 1781 to Jany 28 '82

Then papers I believe are not perfect.
E Swift
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2
Regulations under the act of June 7, 1882.

The following regulations have been adopted: This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteer," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops-in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.

State, Territory, or District of
County of } ss.

On this          day of            personally appeared (a) before          A. B. a resident (b) of  
             in the county of and State, Territory or District of           aged (c)           years who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)         , with         and served in the         (e) regiment of the         line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [hand pointing to the right] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
 Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I              of the Court of                         do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application      
              of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this       day of 
           &c.

# ( If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in           the and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with          , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the                and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the                             and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,                           Clerk of the Court of                                do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of                               for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this        day of  
        &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his 

#we remark in claims of Jonathan Godfrey. If the re
there is the more necessity that those who claim to have enlisted
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3 
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. 
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia. 
1. Where and in what year were you born? 
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? 
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live? 
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? 
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
6. {To a Soldier {Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? 
To an Officer. {Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant. 
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates. 
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. 
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. 
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. 
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure , taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter. 
____________________________________________

 [a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance. 
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned. 
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served. 
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For year months days, I served as a . For months and days, and I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension." It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. the use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit. 
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. 
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required. 
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case. 
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers. 
Mode of authenticating papers. 
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate. 
Proof of Service. 
[j]In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records or department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the with the character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 
[image of hand with index finger pointing right] The notes for [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia Men, Volunteers and State Troops The proof required by rule is note [j] applies to continental troops only. 
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. 
[l]If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

handwritten at bottom
Reputation is that the whole population occasionally bore arms d la iberife serin I actually served in the field a garrison produce proof
Page 19

November 29, 1832
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Amos Bennett, W. 3377
Elias Bennett, S. 15319
BA-J/MLB

Adele D. Barr
Box 41
Red Bank, New Jersey

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letters of recent date, relative to Amos and Elias Bennett and Philip Pelton, all soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims for pension and bounty land made to the United States based upon the military service of soldiers in that war.

A careful search of the records fail to show any such claims on file on account of the service of a Philip Pelton.

You are furnished herein the records of Amos and Elias Bennett as shown by the data on file in their claims for pension based upon service in the Revolutionary War.

AMOS BENNETT,  W. 3377

Amos or Ames Bennett was born in 1758 in the township of Norwich, New London County, Connecticut.

While a resident of Plainfield, Windham County, Connecticut, he volunteered May 9, 1775, and served until December 15, 1775, as a private in Captain Waterman Clift's company, Colonel Samuel H. Parson's Connecticut regiment. He enlisted at Roxbury, Massachusetts, in February, 1776, served as a private in Captain Edmond's company, Colonel John Tyler's Connecticut regiment, was transferred to Captain Christopher Darrow's company of rangers and was engaged in watching the British along Long Island Sound; length of this service twelve months. He volunteered May 26, 1781, at New London, Connecticut and served between three and four months as a private in Captain Avery's company, Colonel Ledyard's Connecticut regiment. During his service he was in the
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cannonading of Dorchester, in the battle "on York Island" and in several skirmishes on the day of the battle of White Plains.

After the Revolutionary War, the soldier resided for about a year in Preston, New London County, Connecticut, from which he moved to Charleston County, New Hampshire, and remained for about ten years; the moved back to New London County, Connecticut, for seven years; from there he moved to Norwich, Chenango County, New York, where he resided for three years; from there to Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, where he lived about five years; and from thence to Auburn Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 10, 1832, while a resident of the township of Auburn, Pennsylvania, where he stated he had lived twenty-two years.

He died April 18, 1840, in Auburn, Pennsylvania.

Amos (or Ames) Bennett married April 29, 1792, in Preston, Connecticut, Wealthy or Welthy Safford; they were both of said Preston, Connecticut.

Soldier's widow, Wealthy or Welthy Bennett, was allowed pension on her application executed February 8, 1841, at which time she was aged sixty-seven years and living in Auburn Township, Pennsylvania. In 1849 she was still living in that place and stated that she was "seventy-seven years old in May, last"; no explanation made of the discrepancy in her age. In 1855 she was still residing in the township of Auburn, Pennsylvania.

No children of the soldier, Amos Bennett, and his wife, Wealthy, appear in the claim except a son, Daniel F. Bennett, who in 1841 was residing in Auburn, Pennsylvania.
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ELIAS BENNETT, S. 15319
Elias Bennitt or Bennett was born May 10, 1752, in Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut.

While a resident of Fairfield, Connecticut, he belonged to Captain John Andrews' company of militia, under Colonel Dimon,
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and in the spring or summer of 1776 was called out to defend New York City against the British and remained in that city until it was taken in September, 1776. He enlisted about October 1, 1776, and served six months as a private in Captain Joseph Bennett's Connecticut Company (relationship to soldier not stated). He volunteered the following spring and served as a private in Captain Eliphalet Thorp's Connecticut company, was stationed on the coast to guard Greens Farms, Fairfield County, Connecticut, and was in the battle of Ridgefield, length of this term one year. He enlisted in 1779 and served one month as a private in Captain Daniel Godfrey's Connecticut company.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 3, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Weston, Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Elias Bennitt or Bennett died February 17, 1843.

During soldier's service, the enemy plundered his house and captured his wife, name not given, but she was taken ill and assisted to a house bear-by.

In 1832m the soldier referred to his father and to a sister but did not state their names.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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Department of War
Pension Office
June 24, 1834
Sir:
The proof in the case of Elias Bennett is far from being satisfactory. He alleges to have entered the service under Capt. Bennett in October 1776- of this service however he has furnished no proof. He further says that immediately after leaving Bennetts company he entered for one year under Capt. E. Phelps. From the certificate of Mr. Phelps, it appears that E. Thorp was not appointed a captain until November 1776 and that his company was called out to serve only to the 15 March 1777 and that on the 30 May 1777 the United States was charged with this expense. He might have therefore served with Capt Thorp from November or December 1776 to March 15, 1777, say 4 months but it is clear that he could not at the same time have served in Bennetts Company at the same time.
The testimony of Joshua Couch, places the service under Capt. Thorp, in 1777, but it cannot be received at being the fact, while the records show that it was in 1776.
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I return the papers in order that these discrepancies may be corrected.

I have the honor to be your obt servant
J L Edwards



Hon: Gid Tomlinson
U. S. Senate
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Comptrollers Office
February 18th 1834
I Elisha Phelps Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Connecticut do certify that it appears by the journal of the Council of Safety, that on the 11th day of August 1776 the 1-2-4-6-9-10-13-15-16-17-18-19-22 & 23 regiments of Militia were order to march to New York for defense of the place; & on the 1st of September 1776 the 3rd-5-8-11-12-20-21 & 25 regiments were ordered to march to New London & embark for Long Island, & on the 5th day of September to march for New York. And by the books of the Pay Table it appears that all these regiments were in service as the defence of these charged to the United State. No roll of these regiments has been found, or list of officers, other than the commandents of regiments, or evidence how long they served.
That the pay roll of Lieut Joseph Bennet is charged on the books of the Pay Table to the United States under date 11th February 1780.
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But no roll of his company, or evidence when, or how long it served, has been found.
It appears by the records of State that the General Assembly in Nov 1776 ordered four battalions to be raised, & to serve until the 15th of March 1777; appointed Samuel Whiting Col Samuel Canfield Lt. Eliphalet Thorp a Captain.
The books of the Pay table show that the pay rolls of Capt. Eliphalet Thorp, Whitings Regt was charged to the United States under date May 30th 1777; but no roll of the company has been found, or other evidence how long it served.
(The records of State show that the Genl. Assembly in May 1777 ordered two battalions to be raised & to serve until the 1st of January 1778- appointed Roger Enos Col. James Arnold Lt Col or Seth Smith Lt Col of it, & ELias Buell or John Davenport Major of it, & Stephen Thorp one of the captains.
The pay roll of Capt. Stephen Thorps company, Enos Regt is charged on the books of the Pay Table to the United States under date May 27th 1778; but no roll of this company has been found or other evidence of the term of service.
E. Phelps
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October, 1774. This Assembly do establish Elijah Abel to be captain of the first Company or Trainband in the town of Fairfield.

October, 1776. This Assembly do appoint, Robert Walker, Eliza Abel, Samuel Keeler, Joseph Hart, Silvanus Brown, Noble Benedict, Phineas Beardsley, Jabez Botsford, Ezekiel Sanford, Albert Chapman, to be Captains in the eight Battalions now ordered to be raised in this State.

May, 1777. This Assembly do appoint Elijah Abel, Esq. to be Major in the fourth Regiment of Militia, in this State, in the room of Maj Jonath'n Dimon promoted
    _________________________
January 1778. This Assembly do establish Joseph Bennett to be Lieutenant, of the 6th Company or Trainband, in the 4th Regiment in
this State.

November 1780. This Assembly do establish Joseph Bennett to be Captain of the 6th Company or Trainband, in the 4th Regiment in this State.

May 1771. This assembly do appoint Jabez Fitch, Esqr to be Lieutenant Colonel, of the 11th Regiment of Militia in this Colony, in
the room of Lt. Col. Ebenezer Williams preferred by this Assembly to be Colonel of said Regiment.

May 1779. This Assembly do appoint Elisha Brewster, Abner Wilson, Marcus Cole, Joseph Hull, James Clark, Bezaleel Brown, Jared Robinson, Ezekiel Lewis, Thomas Stevens, John Francis, Samuel Smith, Josiah Miller, Isaac Geer, Timothy Cleaveland Jr. Orlando Mach, Jabez Fitch, to be Lieutenants in the two Regiment now to be raised in this State
---
January 1780. This Assembly do appoint Samuel Granger, Edward
Payne, Israel Converse, John Lewis, Jacob Whitmore, James Fitch, Lee Say
John Morgan, Nathan Chapman, Ezekiel Sanford, David Olmsted, Nathaniel Wales, 3rd,  Joshua Bottom, Peter Curtiss, Gershom Hewitt, & Benjamin Mills, to be Captains of the two Regiments of Troops, now ordered to be
raised to continue in service until the first day of January next
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November, 1776. This Assembly do establish Daniel Godfrey to be Captain of the 14th Company or Trainband in the fourth Regiment in this State
May 1772. This assembly do establish Jabez Gregory, to be Lieutenant of the first Company or Trainband in the first society in the town of Norwalk. December 1775. This Assembly do establish James Gregory to be Captain of the second Company or Trainband in the ninth Regiment in this Colony
---
May 1777. This Assembly do appoint Ebenezer Hill to be Captain of the eighth company or Trainband in the 4th Regiment in this
State.

October 1781. This Assembly do establish Daniel Lacy to be Captain of the 3rd Company or Trainband in the 4th Regiment in this
State.

May 1773. This Assembly do establish Matthew Mead to be Captain of the Company or Trainband in Wilton Parish, in the Town of
Norwalk

May 1773. This Assembly do establish Matthew Mead to be Captain of the new erected Company or Trainband in the town of
Greenwich,

May 1779. This Assembly do appoint Matthew Mead, Levi Wells, to be Lieutenant Colonels in the Regiment of Militia now to be raised in this State.

October 1773. This assembly do establish Eliphalet Thorpe to be Ensign of the second Company, or Trainband, in the town of Fairfield October 1774, this Assembly do establish Eliphalet Thorp, to be Lieutenant of the second company or Trainband, in the town of Fairfield

May 1776. This assembly do establish Eliphalet Sharp, to be Captain of the 4th Company or Trainband, in the fourth Regiment in this Colony

November 1776. This assembly do appoint the following officers to the following office, in the four Battalions, ordered by this Assembly to be raised for continental service, until
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the 15th day of March next and are arranged as follows, viz
This Assembly do appoint Eliphalet Thorp in Capt}
George Burr 1st Lieut.}
Gamaliel Taylor 2nd. Lieut.}
Seth Bradley Ensign} of the first Battalion

The above and foregoing are true Extracts from the public records of the State of Connecticut, examined and certified under the Seal of the State, by

Thomas Day Secretary
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We the undersigned residents of the Town of Fairfield and Weston in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut hereby certify that we have been long acquainted with Elias Bennett of said Weston, who has subscribed and sworn to the accompanying declaration - and that the said declarant sustains, and has ever sustained
a fair character for truth and integrity, and that we would believe him on his oath. And we further certify that he has long been reputed in this vicinity to have been a soldier in the war of
the revolution and to have served his Country faithfully. And we would further state over entire belief that the declaration, by him subscribed and sworn to is substantially correct

Dated at Fairfield
the 26th day of June A D 1835
Emt Jessup
Henry Sherwood
David Redmond
Levi Coley
Samuel Rowland
Jeremiah Rowland
Alvin Gray
Levi T. Downs
Chas. Jessup
Elipht Swift
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Payments to be made
at Hartford
by James Dodd Esqr
Agent for paying Pension=
ers in the Agency of 
Connecticut

Recorded in the Pension Of=
fice, in Book #2 Vol. 3
page 3 by Dan Boyd
Clerk
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WAR DEPARTMENT
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.

I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Elias Bennett
of the State of Connecticut who was a private in the Army of the Revolution.-- is entitled to receive Twenty three dollars and  (blank) cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing
on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi=
annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.

Given at the War Office of the United States
, this Twenty second day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five

Lew Cass
Secretary of War.


Examined and
Countersigned.}
J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
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15319
INVALID

File No. 15.319
Elias Bennett
Pri Rev War

Act June 7 1832
Index:  Vol. 1, Page 31
[Arrangement of 1870.]

opposing page
1901 July 21 Hist to
Dr. F. A. DeMois from catalogue
1909 Aug 21 Date of soldier's death m.b.h.
1932 Nov. 29 Hist to Adele D. Barr    M.L.B.
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Box 41, Red Bank
New Jersey
Nov. 17/32

Director of Pensions,

Dear Sirs
Will you kindly give me the Revolutionary Record of my great, great grandfather Philip Pelton who served in the commissary department of the American Army. He came from Putnam Co. New York. Thanking you, I am,

Sincerely yours,
Adele Duffie Barr
Philip Pelton born at Hempstead, L.I.
March 13, 1745. Died about 1799
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round stamp
RECEIVED
NOV 22 1932
[3 lines of text illegible]

BA-J/M.L.B

Box 41. Red Bank
New Jersey

Nov. 21/32

Veterans Administration

Dear Sirs,

In reply to your letter of November 18th in regard to Amos and Elias Bennett.
Amos Bennett was born in Norwich Township in Connecticut and died in Auburn Pennsylvania. He served as Private in the 4th Connecticut Regiment. I cannot give you the dates of his birth or death, or who his widow was. According to the History of Susquehanna Co. Pa by Blackman both of these men resided there for a time, I presume after the war.
Elias Bennett was born either
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in Fairfield Connecticut or Westport Connecticut. 1752 and died at Auburn Pennsylvania. He also
was a Private in the 4th Connecticut Regiment, also he was a Fifer. His first wife was Anna Grossman
I am trying to trace the lineage of these two men, as the family Bible was destroyed by fire,
thanking you, i am,

Sincerely yours

Adele D. Barr
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MANHATTAN CHAPTER
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN NEW YORK
MRS. G. HARVEY SELF, REGENT
203 PARK PLACE, BROOKLYN. N. Y.

Nov. 25, 1932

U.S. Pension Commissioner
Pension Office
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
May I have the Rev. Pension record of Amos Bennett, and name of widow who also received a pension?

Respectfully,
Louise H. Rainey

Mrs. Hugh H. Rainey
7 West 96th Street,
New York, N. Y.

Round stamp
RECEEIVED
NOV 26 1932
[2 illegible words]
PENSION FILES [illegible word]
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Record Division..

August 21, 1909


Dr. F. A. De Mois,
101 South 7th Street,
Allentown, Pa.

Sir:
In response to your letter dated the 30"" ultimo and received the 3 " instant, you are advised that the records of this Bureau show that Elias Bennett, Sur. File No. 15,319, War of the Revolution, died February 17, 1843, but the date of his marriage and names of his wife and children are not given.
For the name of the person to whom the arrears of his pension were paid, apply to the Auditor for the Interior Department, U.S. Treasury Department, citing the following data: " Elias Bennett, Certificate No. 30 , 230, issued October 22, 1835, under Act of June 7, 1832, at the Connecticut Agency."

Very respectfully,



Acting Commissioner.