Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14851, Benjamin Wilber, R.I.
Page 1

SERVICE
R. I.

Wilber, Benjamin

NUMBER
S. 14851

carded
Page 2

24.160

New = York
Benjamin Wilber
at Otsego Co. in the State of New York
who was a Private in the Compy commanded by Captain Tift of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Potter in the New York line for 10 months

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of Nov. 1833 - and sent to O. P. Granger Morrisville

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. '33   $83.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 M. '34  16.66
$99.99

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Go. C. Stiles Clerk
Book E. Vol. 4, Page 128.
Page 3

No. 19.748

Benjamin Wilber
Madison County
New York


e. i.

Admitted
Private 10 months


Otis P. Granger Agt.
Morrisville P. Office
Madison County
New York
Page 4

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 Benjamin Wilber Madison County N. York

Period when the service was rendered.
vol 1775 or 76
vol 1776
vol 1777
Draf 1777
Draft [illegible]
Draf do
Draf do
Draf do
Draf do (2 or 3 [illegible])
Draf do
service by Substitute
named Tucker Hall

Duration of the claimant's service.
admit 14 days
do 21 days
1 month
2 months
1 month
about 1 month
43 days
14 days
2 or 3 months
3 months

Rank of the claimant.
Private
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do

Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
Cap. Tifft
do
Cap. Clark
do
do
do
do
Cap. Tifft
Cap. Stanton

Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
Col. Potter
do




Gen. Kane
Col. Stanton

Battles in which the applicant was engaged.
none stated.

Country through which he marched.
From Richmond to Boston neck
do
do
Island of R. I.
to Point Judah

Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
76 years
Town of Richmond R. I.

Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary


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

Service by substitute not allowed
Page 5

                                 2

This entire page is the regulations under the Act of  June 7, 1832.
Page 6

                            3

This entire page is regulations, continued, for the Act of June 7, 1832.
Page 7

Benjamin Wilber
declaration


19748


send return to
Otis P. Granger, of
Morrisville Madison County
N. Y.
Page 8

State of New York
County of Madison Ss  on this 8th day of October 1832 before James B. Eldredge Nathan K. Fulton, Sylvanus Sebor, Elisha Randall & Barack Beckwith Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Madison, in the State of New York, personally appeared in open Court, now sitting, Benjamin Wilber, a resident of the town of Fenner in said County, aged Seventy six years on the 18 day of October last past, 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 7, 1832.
That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated.  In the year 1775 or 1776 at the town of Richmond in the State of Rhode-Island, he volunteered in Capt Thomas Tiffts Company of Militia & marched directly to Boston Neck in Rhode Island, & remained there on guard for about two weeks.  Col Thomas Potter of Little Rust Hill commanded the Regiment at that time at Boston Neck.  He thinks one Tifft was also ensign of the Company at that time.  In the year 1776 he again volunteered at the same place, & in the same Company & under the same officers went to the same place & remained there on guard about three weeks - 
In the year 1777 as near as he can recollect, at the same place he either volunteered or was drafted into the service & served in a company commanded by Capt Simeon Clark - went to Boston Neck & remained there on guard one month & then returned home.  In the same year he was again drafted into the Service at the town of Richmond aforesaid & again went to Boston Neck & served in the company of the said Capt Simeon Clark two months = He was agian drafted into the service at the town of Richmond aforesaid but in what year he cannot recollect, & served in Capt Samuel Stantons company for one month at Boston Neck aforesaid - He thinks at the time Simeon Clark commanded the Regiment as Colonel - He was again drafted in the militia service to go to Boston Neck at the town of Richmond aforesaid & served at that place about one month in Capt John Clarks company - The year he cannont recollect for certainty tho, he thinks it was in 1778 - After Sullivans expedition
Page 9

he was again drafted into the service to go on to the Island of Rhode Island for the purpose of repairing the forts, what had been destroyed by the British = He was drafted at the town of Richmond aforesaid & served on the Island in Capt John Clark's company of Militia for six weeks, was engaged all the time in repairing the forts.  He recollects that General Keene commanded the troops on the Island at this time - He was from Providence & was a Scythe maker - At the time the French were on the Island.  He was again drafted into the service at the town of Richmond & went to Point Judah & served in Capt Jeremiah Tifts company of Militia two weeks He cannot recollect the year - Afterwards he was drafted two or three times at the town of Richmond to go to Boston Neck, & he served at that place a month at each time in Capt Jeremiah Tiffts company of Militia - The last time he was drafted into the service, he was drafted for three months, but does not recollect to what place he was drafted to go = He hired a Substitute by the name of Tucker Hall, who went in the place of applicant, but did not return - then the said applicant cannot recollect distinctly, the different years he served, nor the month in what he volunteered or was drafted - In regard to times, he has stated his services as fully as a poor memory will permit - He recollects distinctly that he served under five different Captains as above stated to wit, Capt Thomas Tiffts, Capt Simeon Clark, Capt Samuel Stanton, Capt. John Clark & Capt Jeremiah Tifts, & that he was out in the service as aforesaid, as a private, at different times, between ten & twelve months.  Before he went on to the Island as above stated, General Joseph Stanton of Charlston commanded the troops & after that time, General Keene of Providence commanded - He the said applicant was born on the 18 day of October 1755 at the town of Exeter in Rhode Island = A Record of his age may be found with the town Clerk at that place.
Page 10

He was living at Richmond in Rhode Island at the time he was called into the Service, & since the Revolutionary war, he lived at Richmond until about thirty years ago, when he moved into the State of New York, & resided one year in Brookfield in this county & then moved to Bridgewater Oneida County, remained there about two years & then moved to Paris Oneida County & remained there about one year & then moved to Sangerfield, Oneida County, & remained there about three years & then moved to Smithfield in this county & lived in that town & in Fenner, what town was taken from Smithfield, ever since - He was drafted & was also a volunteer in the Service.  He cannot recollect the names of any of the regular officers, or of any of the continental Regiments = He never received any written discharge from the service.  Major Wilcox, Samuel P. Wilcox, Samuel Saylor, Abraham Dodge George Stewart & Elder David Blakeslee are neighbors of mine & can testify to my character for veracity & as to their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution - He has no documentary evidence of his services, & he knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his services.  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.
Benjamin Wilber
Sworn to & Subscribed, the day & year first aforesaid
A. S. Sloan Clk.

We David Blakeslee - residing in the town of Eaton - in said county aforesaid hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Wilber who has Subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy six years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
David Blakeslee
Major Wilcox
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
A. S. Sloan Clk -
Page 11

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states.  And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that David Blakeslee who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Eaton aforesaid & that Major Wilcox who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Smithfield in said county & is a credible person -
& that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Andrews S. Sloan, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Madison, in the State of New York, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Wilber for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 9th day of October 1832.
A. S. Sloan Clk.

[seal affixed to page]
Page 12

January 20, 1939.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


BA-J/CC
Benjamin Wilber
S.14851

Mrs. C. A. Stein
245 E. Princess Street,
York, Pennsylvania.

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Benjamin Wilber, who served in 2nd Company, Richmond, Rhode Island, during the Revolution.

The data which follow were obtained from the papers in pension claim S. 14851, based upon service in the Revolutionary War of Benjamin Wilber.

Benjamin Wilber was born October 18, 1755, in Exeter, Rhode Island.  Names of parents are not shown.

While a resident of Richmond, Rhode Island, Benjamin Wilber enlisted in 1775, and served as private at various times until sometime after General Sullivan's Rhode Island expedition, amounting in all to between ten and twelve months, under Captains Thomas Tifft, Simeon Clark, Samuel Stanton, John Clark, and Jeremiah Tifft, and Colonel Thomas Potter, in the Rhode Island Troops.

October 8, 1832, Benjamin Wilber stated he lived in Richmond, Rhode Island, "until about thirty years ago" when he moved to New York, lived one year in Brookfield, Madison County, New York; two years in Bridgewater, Oneida County, New York; one year in Paris, Oneida County, New York; moved to Smithfield, Madison County, New York "and lived in that town and in Fenner, which town was taken from Smithfield, ever since."

Benjamin Wilber was allowed pension on his application executed October 8, 1832, while residing in Fenner, Madison County, New York.

There are no family data shown.
Page 13

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of Benjamin Wilber, you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following:

Benjamin Wilber,
Certificate #24160
Issued November 6, 1833,
Rate $33.33 per annum,
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832,
New York Agency.

Very truly yours,



A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator.
Page 14

Affidavit of 
Benjamin Wilber
amending his
declaration.




Otis P. Granger
aft. Morrisville
Madison County N.Y.
Page 15

State of New York
Madison County Ss  on this 28' day of May, 1833 personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace of Said County of Madison, Benjamin Wilber, who being duly sworn, deposeth & saith, that by reason of old age & the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear particularly as to the precise length of his service, but, according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the period mentioned below, & in the following grades:  For five weeks during the year 1775 & 1776 I served as a private in Capt Thomas Tiffts company.  For three months in the year 1777, one month at one time, & two months at another, I served as a private in Capt Simeon Clarks company.  For one month in the year 1777 or 1778 & which I cannot precisely state, I served as a private in Samuel Stantons company.  For one month in the year 1778, I served as a private in Capt John Clarks company.  For six weeks, soon after Sullivans expedition on the Island of Rhode Island, I served as a private in Capt John Clarks company.  For two weeks I served as a private at Point Judah in Capt Jeremiah Tiffts company, but cannot state the year.  In addition to the service stated above, I served at least two months in Capt Jeremiah Tiffts company at two different times as a private at Tower Hill in South Kingston, but I cannot state with any degree of certainty the year - & for that service I claim a pension.  And this deponent further says, that his memory has been much impaired in consequence of having a fit of the numb Palsy, & further says not
Benjamin Wilber
sworn & subscribed before me this 28 day of May 1833.
R. B. Root Justice Peace

I certify that I am acquainted with the Said Benjamin Wilber & that he is a credible person & that his statement above is entitled to credit, May 28 1833
R. B. Root Justice
Page 16

State of New York
Madison County Clerk office Ss
I Andrew S. Sloan, Clerk of the Said County of Madison do hereby certify that Royal B. Root before whom the written affidavit of Benjamin Wilber & also whose name appears to the within certificate, was at the date of the same, one of the Justices of the Peace in & for said County, & that I am well acquainted with his hand writing &  [illegible] believe his name subscribed "R. B. Root" to the said affidavit & certificate to be his proper hand writing & signature.  Witness my hand & seal of office this 24 day of August 1833.
A. S. Sloan Clk.

[seal affixed to page]
Page 17

May 17 / 96 Soldier pensioned
[illegible], Brooklyn, N.Y.
M.E.C.

1939 - Jan 20 Hist to Mrs. C. A. Stein
Ce


Rev War
14851
INVALID.

File No. 14. 851
Benjamin Wilber
Priv. Rev. War

Act:  June 7" 1832

Index :--Vol. 1, Page 412

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 18

[stamped]
RECEIVED
DEC 5 1938
MAIL SUB-DIV.
[rest too blurry to read]


[Letterhead]
PURD A. GEESEY
SECRETARY

OFFICE:
41 E. KING STREET

YORK, PA.   Dec. 7, 1938

Mr. Veterans Bureau
Washington, D. C.


Gentlemen:

I am very desirous of receiving information concerning the service and family/of Benjamin Wilber who service in 2nd Co. Richmond, R.I. during the Revolution.  I believe the name of his wife was Lucy Larkin.

Very truly yours,
Mrs. C. A. Stein

Address:
Mrs. C. A. Stein
245 E. Princess St.
York, Pa.
Page 19

O. W. & N. Div.
F. S.
M. E. C.
I. 14851.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 17, 1896.


Sir:

In returning herewith your letter of February 23, 1896, you are advised that Benjamin Wilbur made an application for pension on October 8, 1832, at which time he was residing in Fenner, Madison Co., N. Y., and seventy-six years of age, and his pension was allowed for ten months actual service as a private in the New York troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time served under Capt. Tift and Col. Potter.

The original muster and pay rolls of the War of 1812 are on file in the War Department, to which branch of the public service requests for the military record of soldiers who served in that war should be addressed.

Very respectfully,


Commissioner.



Mr. L. Young,
201 Hull St.,
Brooklyn, N. Y.