Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,981, for Benjamin Miner, New Jersey
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
New Jersey

Miner, Benjamin

NUMBER
S. 18,981
carded

CONTENTS
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[left side]
Died Jan. 13, 1835 (AB)

[right side]
Vermont 18629
===
Benjamin Miner of Addison co. in the State of Vermont who was a Captain [lined out: in the commanded by Captain] of the Reg't. commanded by Col. Cook in the N. Jersey ma [militia?] line for 2 years
===
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 480 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
===
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Sep'r 1833 and sent to Capt. Benj Miner, Bridport, Addison co. Vt
===
Arrears to the 4th of Sep'r. '33 $1200.00
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar. '34 240.00
[total] $1440.00

{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by E W Brown Clerk
Book E Vol. 3. Page 78
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No 4206
Declaration of Benjamin Miner
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STATE OF VERMONT,
Addison County SS.
I, EDWARD D. BARBER, Clerk of the County Court for the County of Addison, do hereby certify that the annexed documents contain the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application Benjamin Miner for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this 12th day of July A.D. 1832
Edward D. Barber Clerk
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W
Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7 June 1832

State of Vermont
Addison County ss, On this 3d day of July 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the County Court now sitting, being a Court of Record, Benjamin Minor a resident of Bridport in the County of Addison, aged ninety years, who first being 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 the 7th June 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States in the month of December 1776, as a first Lieutenant, in a company of which Capt Kingsland was Captain in a Regiment commanded by Col. Cook, and afterwards by Col. Seeley; in general Wines' Brigade, in the New Jersey militia. And in the year 1777, he was appointed Captain, in the same corps, and did duty as such four years, and in September of 1780 he received a commission as Capt under the signature of Gov'r. Livingston of New Jersey, and continued in the said service to the close of the War, that he was in the battle at Green brook, in the Jersies, and at Springfield, in which he served with a Continental Regiment commanded by Col. Angell of the Rhode Island Troops, and at Elizabethtown, at Hackquackanac [Acquackanonk]  bridge, at Newark, and at Hackensack.

That he receives no pension, & claims none, except the present, that he is a citizen of the United States &
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and has always been a citizen of the United States.

That he has no dockumentary evidence of his said service, except his capt commission signed by Wil: Livingston Gov'r of New Jersey and dated the 7th Sept 1780
[signed] Benj Miner

Sworn and Subscribed the day and year above written
[signed] E. D. Barber Clerk

And said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states after the instigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department, and the Court further certify, that, from personal acquaintance with the said Benjamin Miner as well as with the said Windsor Johnson and Benjamin Miner Jr., whose affidavits are herewith transmitted, they consider them persons of veracity and entitled to credit, and that said affidavits were sworn before a person having competent authority
[signed] Edward D Barber Clerk
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I Windsor Johnson of Bridport in the County of Addison & State of Vermont, do testify & say,
That I am well acquainted with Capt. Benjamin Minor of the same Bridport, and have been acquainted with him for sixty years or more, and know that he was a Captain & commanded a Company in the New Jersey Militia, in the Revolutionary War, and I further say that I belonged to & did duty in the Company under his command, one year, during said war, and was with him in the battle at Elizabeth town, & at Springfield, at which we served with a Continental Regiment under command of Col. Angell of the Rhode Island troops; and I further say that I know that he was in active service against the common enemy, more than three years, during the Revolutionary War, and I believe he was in said service more than four years, during said war.
Windsor Johnson X his mark
[illegible] J. Doolittle

Sworn before me Joel Doolittle Just. Peace
July 3d 1832
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Windsor Johnson's Affidavit
Benj. Miner's Case
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I Benjamin Miner Jun'r of Bridport in the County of Addison & State of Vermont testify & say, that I know that my Father Benj'n Minor, served several years in the Revolutionary War, and according to my best recollection, four or five years, he was a captain, & commanded a company of Militia in New Jersey, and am confident that he served at least four years, against the common enemy
[signed] Benjamin Miner Jun'r

Sworn before Joel Doolittle Just. Peace
3d July 1832
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Benj. Miner's Affidavit
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Nathaniel Son of Clement Miner was born April the Last 1732
Hempsted Son of Clement Miner was born August 14 1733/4
William Roe Son of Clement Miner was born March 7th 1736
Abigail Daughter of Clement Miner was born April the 3d 1740
Benjamin Son of Clement Miner was born June the 14th 1742
Mary Daughter of Clement & Abigail Miner was born June the 1st 1744

The above is a true Copy of Stonington Record
Jesse Dean T. Clerk

1825 [-] 1742 [=] 83 years old my Father the 14 day of June 1825
1829 [-] 1742 [=] 87
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Stonington Records of My Father and his Brothers & Sisters Ages
brought up hear by Mr Jonathan Eldridge
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Benjamin Miner
Additional Declaration & Evidence.
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State of Vermont
District of Addison ss } On this ninth day of May A.D. 1833 personally appeared before the Probate Court for the said District of Addison, being a Court of record, Benjamin Miner resident in Bridport in said District, aged ninety years the 14th day of June last, and being duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration, in addition & explanation of his former declaration, made before the County Court for the County of Addison on the 3d day of July 1832, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832:- That his former declaration was made in great haste by the Attorney imployed for that purpose, and he was not aware of the importance stating particularly as to his service, and on account of his age & consequent loss of memory, he finds on further recollection, that a few particulars are not exactly correct:- that he has now endeavored to recollect more minutely the facts connected with his service in the Revolutionary war, and the following is a statement of the most material facts, within his recollection --

The latter part of January 1776, I was appointed first Lieutenant in a company commanded by Captain Edmond Kingsland, in a regiment commanded by Col. Cook, & afterwards by Colonel Seeley in General Wines brigade. Immediated I went into the service, & was stationed & served one month & two days, at Green-Brook in New Jersey; there were about three hundred militia stationed at that place. On the first day of March 1776, I was chosen by the above mentioned company, a captain of said Company, and had the command of that company to the close of the war -- the said Captain Kingsland having resigned:- For some reason my commission was delayed & I did not receive it until 7th September 1780. It was owing to the neglect or hurry [?] of Judge Silas Condit, who was intrusted with the business of furnishing the commissions to the officers chosen:- when I received the commission, I entered upon the back of it, the time of my appointment, which remains there still.
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so that I cannot be mistaken as to the time:- On the 16th of April 1776, I again entered the service, and was in actual service as Captain of said company, for the term of six months [2 words underlined], at the same place, Green Brook. We were employed in keeping guard, there being about three hundred militia at the place. While we were stationed at this place & during the last mentioned service, our troops were attacked by a foraging party of the British, and a severe engagement took place. At the end of six months we were relieved by other militia to the same number & returned home. After I had been at home 8 or 10 days, Captain Bailey, who commanded a company of militia, among the troops who had come to relieve us, being sick & unable to perform service, I took his place & commanded his company, and continued to serve in that capacity for six months [2 words underlined] more, excepting the 8 or 10 days, during which I staid at home as above mentioned. After being at home a few days, near the last of May 1777, I entered the service, & served as captain & in command of my company, at Hackquackinac [Acquackanonk] bridge, for one month & two days. In this case, & in the case of the service first mentioned & some others, I entered the said service for one month, but we were obliged to remain until we were relieved by other troops, which was the occasion of the service being continued some days longer. Here we had also about 300 militia & were stationed there to guard the bridge. After we had been relieved, & had been at home about two weeks, I received an order to march my Company to Newark, for the purpose of keeping guard at that place Here I continued in the service one month & two days [period underlined], having a guard of about 300 militia. About the last of July 1777, a large body of British troops, about three thousand, came out from the City of New York, and the whole body of militia were called out, to meet & repel them, in which we succeeded. On this occasion I was in the service ten days [2 words underlined], as Captain. After remaining at home four days, I was again ordered to Newark with my company, to keep guard, and re-
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[re]mained in the service at this time one months & three days [period underlined]; Here our guard consisted of about 300 militia. The last of October 1777, the British came out again from New York, three or four thousand strong. And the whole militia were again ordered out to meet &repel them, and ^we had an engagement with them [inserted: at Elizabethtown] and took some Hessians & British prisoners, and drove the enemy back. I was engaged in this service eight days [2 words underlined]. In February 1778, I received orders to march with my company to Newark, with a corps of about 300 militia to keep guard. At this time I was in the service, as a Captain, three months & five days [period underlined]. In July 1778, the British again came out [lined out: again] from New York, three or four thousand strong, the militia were again ordered out, en masse [2 words underlined]; on which occasion I was in the service, at Newark, nine days [2 words underlined]. In October 1778, the British again came out in considerable force, for the purpose of procuring cattle, horses, grain &c and I turned out with the whole body of militia, and continued in the service eight [underlined] days. The last of the same month or first of November 1778, I received orders to march with my company to Elizabethtown to keep garrison. Here I continued in the service, as captain of said company, three months [2 words underlined], when we were relieved. In March 1779, I was stationed with my Company, 15 days at Fort Lee & 16 days at Hackquackanac [Acquackanonk] Bridge, making my service at this time, as captain, one day over one month [5 words underlined], the period, for which I was ordered out. A few days after the expiration of this service, I took the place of Captain Bailey again, who was sick, and commanded his company as their Captain, and continued in this service one month [2 words underlined] at Springfield; during this service, I was in the battle at that place. The British had come out from New York for the purpose of seizing the American Stores at Morristown, procuring [?] provisions &c. They were opposed by our Militia troops & a regiment of Continental troops from Rhode Island under Colonel Angell. The American troops fought until the
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ammunition was exhausted, and then fell back, until reinforced. After which, the British were driven back.

In July 1779, I was again called out with the militia on an alarm, to repel the British, & was in an engagement with them, and continued in the service seven days [2 words underlined].

Immediately after this, I was ordered into the service for one month, and was stationed keeping guard, at Brunswick, and continued in this service, with a guard of 180 men, one month & two days [period underlined]. Immediately after this service, the British came out from New York, & the whole militia again turned out, and was in the service, on this occasion, in command of my company seven days [2 words underlined]. At this time we had an engagement with the enemy, and took some prisoners; Colonel Seeley, who commanded our regiment was wounded in this engagement. Joseph Ervin, Andrew Conner & myself carried him off the field & saved his life. Not long after this, I was ordered out for one month [3 words underlined], with my company, and served for that period, keeping guard at Elizabethtown. Soon after, served one month [2 words underlined] at Second River, as Captain, under an engagement for that period. Here I was employed in keeping guard, with a body of 300 militia. After this I served half a month [3 words underlined] at New Windsor on the North River. I am not able to recollect any other particular periods of service; but there must have been some others. I resided during the whole period of the Revolutionary war, at Pequanack [Pequannock] in Morris County, New Jersey, about sixteen miles from Newark, when the Country was constantly exposed to the invasion from the British at New York, was constantly subject to alarms, so that I was in the service, with small intermissions, the whole time. I am not able to recollect the dates of some of the last periods of Service, but have endeavored to state them in the order of their occurrence. I was born at Stonington, Connecticut, on the 14th June 1742, and a record of my age was made in the Town Clerks
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office, a copy of which, obtained some years since, is hereto annexed. In the year 1786, I removed to Bridport Vermont, where I have ever since resided. I never received a written discharge. I refer to Deac. Phineas Kitchel, Rev. Dana Lamb, Abner Wilcoks, James Fletcher, Paris Flecher Esquire, Divers other man of standing in the town of Bridport - Hon. Horatio Lyman, late of U.S. Senate, Hon. William Slade of U.S. H. of Representatives, who can testify to my character for veracity & their belief of my services, as a soldier of the revolution.

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.

On endeavoring further to recollect in relation to my service I am more satisfied, that I have not stated the whole of my service. I have now a distinct recollection, that I was in the service on guard at Elisabethtown, for a period of one month [2 words underlined] when news of the treaty of peace arrived And from the commencement of the war to this period, I was out of the Service only short intervals, for the whole period.
[signed] Benj'n Miner

Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid,
Sam'l. Swift Judge

Personally appeared Windsor Johnson resident in Bridport in the County of Addison, ^who being duly sworn deposes & says, that in addition to his affidavit made before Joel Doolittle Esq. a Justice of the peace on the 3d. day of July 1832, that he is this day 71 years of age, & on the 9th day of May 1778, I was sixteen years of age. And then & until the close of the war I lived at Hanover, Morris County New Jersey, within about four miles of the residence of Capt Benjamin Miner who has signed the above declaration.
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The same week that I was 16 years of age, I was enrolled in the militia, & was ordered into the service for one month & served for that period in a company commanded the said Capt. Benjamin Miner - and I was out in the service, at two other periods of one month each, under the said Benjamin Miner and at five different times, I was called out on alarms, and in an engagement each time with the British, and said Benjamin served as Captain. The above mentioned periods of service were performed at Hackquackanac [Acquackanonk] Bridge, Elizabethtown, & Newark, & one of the above battles was at Elizabethtown & another at Springfield. In the Spring of the year 1780, I entered the Continental service, & served to the close of the war. But I know that the said Benjamin Miner served as a Captain through the whole of the Revolutionary war, and frequently in actual service. And was out of the service but a short part of the time.
Windsor Johnson X his mark

Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Sam'l. Swift, Judge

Benjamin Miner Jun resident in Bridport in the County of Addison personally appeared, and being duly sworn deposes & says, that I was born on the 27 day of August 1767, that although less than nine years old, I was present when my father Benjamin Miner, who has made application for a pension, was chosen a Lieutenant in a company of New Jersey Militia, under the command of Capt. Edmond Kingsland I recollect that it was quite the beginning of the war, but could not fix the date. After he was thus chosen Lieutenant, he went into the Service & served
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one month, and immediately after he returned, Captain Kingsland, having resigned, my father was appointed Captain of the same company, and served as such to the close of the war. I was present when he was elected Captain, & although very young practised some at fifing, with which I was much pleased. I know that from that time he was in the Service the greater part of the time to the close of the war. I have the strongest impressions of his being in the Service, from the circumstance, that the care of the family devolved [?] upon my mother & myself, and both of us were much agitated by an apprehension that he would be killed; knowing that the tories was particularly hostile to him, on account his active zeal in the service of his Country. I several times went with my father, when he went into the service, for some miles to help him on his way, and several times went after him at the expiration of his service. I went after him, I well recollect, once when he was stationed at Newark & once when he was at Elisabethtown. I well recollect the time, when he took the place of Capt. Bailey, who was sick, on account of the strong opposition my mother made, thinking, as she said, that it was enough for him to perform his own service. I do not now recollect the length of service he performed, as a substitute for Capt. Bailey, but my impressions would lead me to think it a period of many months, if not a year. I recollect that my father, on his return home, stated the circumstances of the battles in which he was engaged, at Elizabethtown, Newark, Springfield &c., and a circumstance, which made a strong impression on my mind, was the manner, in which a musician belonging to his company by the name of Dana, was killed. From the close of the war to the present time, I have often heard my father converse about the circumstances of his service, & the battles in which he was engaged
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and until within a few years past, his [lined out: memory] recollection was very minute & accurate; but for a few years past his memory has much failed. I have often heard him say that he was in the service for six months, in the early part of the war; and I myself well recollect his being absent in the service, for that length of time, the fore part of the war besides the time he served as a Substitute for Capt Bailey.

[signed] Benjamin Miner Jun'r

Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid,
Sam'l Swift Judge

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 & served, as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that that Windsor Johnson & Benjamin Miner Jun, who subscribed & sworn to the foregoing affidavits are credible witnesses.
Sam'l Swift Judge.
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I Stephen Baldwin of Bridport in the County of Addison and State of Vermont in the Eighty sixth year of my age do testify and say that I have been acquainted with Capt Benjamin Miner who now resides in said Bridport for more than fifty Eight years[.] I belonged to the same regiment and brigade in the Newjersey Militia that the said Benjamin Miner did; that we entered the service of the United States in January or February 1776 I was knowing the said Miner was appointed first Lieutenant about this time in a company commanded by Capt Edmond Kingsland, about this time he and the company he belon[g]ed was ordered to Greenbrook; heare [here] he served a little over one month ^and the company he belonged they was releaved by another detachment and they returned home: in March 1776 the said Miner was appointed captain in the same corps and did duty as such until the close of the revolution war; in April 1776 the said Miner was ordered by his superior officers to Greenbrook with his company heare [here] he served a little over six months; I was knowing that the said Miner was on a tower [tour] of one month or more at Hackquackanac [Acquackanonk] with his company in May or June 1777 the said Miner and my^self and our company was on duty at Elisibethtown two months at Hackquackanac bridge one month at second river one month at Woodbridge two months Amboy one month Westfield one month Connecticut farms three miles west of Elisibethtown two months, I was out with the said Miner in Seven Alarms when the british would come out from the city of Newyork three or four thousand strong and go in to the country as far as possable after provisions of every kind the Militia would all turn out fight them and drive them back heare [here] we was out at least two month as it would average about ten days at each alarm &c in 1778 I was knowing that the said Miner with his company was and did duty at Newark three month or more and three months at Elizabethtown where a garrison was stationed there was a garrison kept at Greenbrook of three Hundred Militia at Hackquackanac bridge three Hundred Militia at Elizabethtown three hundred Militia at Brunswick one Hundred and Eighty militia these garrisons was kept by the militia when their times were out, then releaved by the same number the said Miner and myself and every man that could carry a gun was in the battle at Springfield the continental regiment commanded by Col Angell of the Rhode Island with us I know that the said Miner served his contry through the revolution war and more places than I can remember I being so old and infirm and blind
Stephen Baldwin X his mark

Sworn before me Benjamin Miner Jun'r Justice peace
May 8th 1833

I do hereby certify that the above Named Stephen Baldwin is a credible witness.
Benjamin Miner Jun'r Justice peace
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State of Vermont
Addison County ss } I Samuel Swift, Clerk of the County Court for the said County of Addison do hereby certify, that Benjamin Mines Jun. before whom the within affidavit of Stephen Baldwin was made was at the time, a Justice of the peace for said County, and his name thereto subscribed is his own signature.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this ninth day of May 1833.
Sam'l Swift
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State of Vermont
District of Addison ss } I, Harvey Bell, Register of the Probate Court for the said District of Addison, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Miner for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this ninth day of May 1833.
[signed] Harvey Bell Register
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THE STATE OF NEW-JERSEY,
TO Benjamin Miner Esq GREETING:
WHEREAS it hath been certified to His Excellency William Livingston Esquire, Governor and Commander in Chief of this State, that you have been duly chosen by the Electors of a Company of Militia in Pequanack in the County of Morris (being the eighth Company in the Eastern Regiment of the said County, whereof Sylvanus Seeley Esquire, is Colonel) to be Captain of the said Company; you are therefore to take the said Company of Militia into your Charge and Care as Captain thereof, and duly to exercise both Officers and Soldiers of the said Company in Arms: And as they are hereby directed to obey you as their Captain you are likewise to obey and follow such Orders and Directions, from Time to Time, as you shall receive from your Colonel or other your superior Officer or Officers; and for your so doing this shall be your Commission. IN TESTIMONY whereof the Great Seal of the said State is hereunto affixed: Witness William Livingston Esquire, Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief in and over the State of New-Jersey, and Territories thereunto belonging, Chancellor and Ordinary in the same, at Morris Town the Seventh Day of September in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty

[signed] Wil: Livingston

By His Excellency's Command,

[signed] Bours Reed Sec'y
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Be it Remembered that this Capt Benjamin Minor Personally appeared before the Subscriber and took the oaths of objuration & allegiance as by Law directed and also an oath for the due execution of his office as Captain of a Company of Militia September 7, 1780. Sworn before me - Silas Condit

Benjamin Minor A Pinted Cap'tn in March 1776 .......{..

Benjamin Miner
[illegible] 18981
New Jersey

[hexagonal stamp] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES
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I have long been acquainted with Benjamin Miner of Bridport in the County of Addison in this State, applicant for a pension and know him to be a man of the most undoubted veracity and that he has always been reputed to have served as an officer in the Revolutionary war. The clergyman of the Parish which Mr. Minor resides, who officiated in that capacity for some thirty years died about two years ago
[signed] William Slade M.C.
[signed] Horatio Seymour
Middlebury Vermont
May 10. 1833
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[center]
18981
INVALID.
OM
File No. 18,981
Benjamin Miner
Capt Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index:-- Vol. 1, Page 260
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right side, wrapped to left]
Feb. 21, 1896 Mil. Histy to
Paris Fletcher Esq.
St Paul, Minn.
Page 29

18981-J [?]
REVOLUTIONARY SERVICE.
O. W. & N. Div.
MEMORANDA.
M
Please supply as much as possible of the data called for below.
Full name of soldier: Benjamin Miner
born in Stonington Conn. June 17 1742
Place of residence before service: (Town, county, and State, if possible.)
Stonington New London Co Conn moved to Morris Co. in 1769
Place of residence after service: (Town, county, and State, if possible.)
Removed to Bridport Allison Co Vt. 1786
Date of death (as near as possible):
Died at Bridport Jan 13" 1835
Christian name of widow: Anna Champlin dau. of Col. Joseph C. of Stonington Conn who served in French & Indian War 22 1820
She died Apr 22 1820
Did either he or his widow receive a pension?
Pensioned Act Mch 18th 1818 dropped from the rolls under Act May 1 1820
Remarks: Pensioned again under Act June 7, 1832 See New England States Pension roll Page 88 Annual Allowance $480.00 Benjamin Miner Capt. Militia Eastern Battalion Morris Co see page 401 Officers & Men of N.J. in Revolutionary War
Your name and address:
Paris Fletcher
303 Jackson St
St Paul
Minn

[round stamp] U. S. PENSION OFFICE L JAN 21 1896
6--870
Page 30

[Letterhead]
CHR. PREUSSER, PRESIDENT.
INCORPORATED 1852.
ADOLF J. CRAMER SECRETARY.
MILWAUKEE MECHANICS' INSURANCE COMPANY,
MILWAUKEE, WIS.

St. Paul Minn Nov 27th 1895
Com'r of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:
Will you kindly send me Revolutionary record of my ancestors Joseph Champlin I think from Conn. and Benjamin Miner (or Minor - Minard) N.J.
Yours respectfully
Paris Fletcher

[rectangular stamp] U. [S.] P. B. OLD WAR & NAVY FILES. JAN 23 1896
[round stamp] U. S. PENSION OFFICE L JAN 21 1896
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War Department
Pension Office
26. April 1833.

Sir,
The papers in support of your claim to a pension have been examined. The mere fact of your belonging to the Militia does not bring your case within the provisions of the act of 7. June 1832. Such periods as you were engaged in actual service can only be computed, which must be distinctly set forth with the circumstances required by the regulations, a copy of which is herewith enclosed with your papers.

I am, respectfully
your ob't Servant
J. L. Edwards

Benjamin Miner, Esqr
Bridport, Vermont.