Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 36676, for Benjamin Kelsey, Connecticut
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SERVICE   Conn.
Kelsey, Benjamin
NUMBER  S. 36676
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6190
Connecticut 4
Benjamin Kelsey
of Killingworth in the state of Connecticut who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Swift of the Connecticut lien for the term of one year ‘77
Inscribed in the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 2d of June 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 1st of Feby 1819 and sent to Stephen Titus Hosmer, Esqr Middletown Connecticut
Arrears to the 4th of Septr 1818 3 3/30    24.80
Semi-anl all’ce ending 4th March 1819  48.00
$72.80
{Revolutionary Claim, Act 18th March 1818}
Continued on the roll under the law of 1 May 1820
Notification sent to John Fisk Esqr
5 July 1820
Middletown, Connecticut
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No. 126
Benjamin Kelsey
Killingworth
No. 6190
Issued 1 Feb 1819
Continued
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State and District of Connecticut, ss. 
On this 23 within and for the County day of June 1820 personally appeared in open Court, before a special County Court holden at Middletown within and for the County of Middlesex in said State, on the 23 day of June 1820, the same being a court of record, proceeding according to the course of common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having power of fine and imprisonment, Benjamin Kelsey aged 62 years resident in the town of Killingworth and State, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war, as follows: That he the said Benjamin Kelsey enlisted for the term of three years of the forepart of Jany in the year 1777 in Killingworth in the State of Connecticut in the company commanded by Captain Aaron Stevens in the regiment commanded by Colonel Heman Swift in the line of the State of Connecticut on the continental establishment: That he continued to serve in the said corps until January 1780 when he was discharged from the said service at West Point in the State of New York That he made a declaration to obtain a pension under the law of the 18th of March 1818, as nearly as he  can recollect, having no minutes, on the 2d day of June 1818 and had transmitted to him a Certificate for a pension from the Secretary for the Department of War, No. 6190 
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled, "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War;" and that I have not, nor has any person, in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. 
I do further solemnly swear, that I was in the battles of Monmouth, Flatbush, Harlem Heights and many skirmishes.  
That am by occupation a Day Laborer
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That the number of my family residing with me is none  
That I am crippled in my left Knee,  That I lost the sight of one eye when in the army from the small pox - That I support 1 myself principally by my pension and that if it was taken away I must come on the Town in which I have a Residence for support  
Benjamin Kelsey x his mark   
Sworn to and declared on the 23rd day of June 1820, before the Court of Common Pleas for Midx Co. 
Jno Fisk Clk of Ct.
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Schedule Annexed to the Declaration and Oath above made and taken before the – Court aforesaid.
One hoe            70 cts
Scythe heath  1.00
Axe                1.00
Rock hoe        0.7
Scythe            0.50
Frying pan      0.75
Jack knife       0.60
Cash reming [remaining] of my Pension   27.00
$31.10
Benjamin Kelsey x his mark
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I John Fisk Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for Mx Co aforesaid do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and Schedule annexed, are truly copied from the record of said Court. And I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is Thirty One dollars and Eighteen cents. 
IN TESTIMONY whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this 23d  day of June 1820  
Jno Fisk Clerk of Court
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[on Kelly]
Benjamin Kelsey
Private
Swifts Connt Regt
1777 1 year
2d June 1818
Admitted
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A
State of Connecticut Middletown
On this 2d day of June 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Superior Court for the State of Connecticut, personally appears Benjamin Kelsey of Killingworth aged 60 years resident in Killingworth in the said State who being by me first duly sworn according to Law doth on his Oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled, “An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war.”  That he the said Benjamin Kelsey enlisted on or about the 1st day of February 1777 in Killingworth in the said State for three years in the company commanded by Capt Aaron Stevens in the Regiment commanded by Heman Swift Esq in the Brigade commanded by Samuel H. Parsons Esqr. That he served in the service of the United States in manner following That in April 1777  and by direction of the
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Capt Aaron Stevens at Middletown foresaid to was inoculated for the Small Pox by Sergt John Dickinson at the hospital, with the policy, by reason of which he was left in a bad state of health, and by licence of Capt Stevens aforesaid he  remained at Killingworth aforesaid for a year & more. That Joseph Willcox the Ensign of said company born in Killingworth aforesaid required of the said Benjamin that he should in the army or find a man to take his place and being unable to join the army the said Benjamin Kelsey, then hired Steven Watsons of Say Brook in the said State to take his place and be his substitute in the army for the residue of the said three years which said Steven Watsons was accepted as the Substitute of the said Benjamin him by the said Joseph Willcox and immediately joined the army and died in the service in the said Company a few months
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before the expiration of the said three years; That he, the said Benjamin Kelsey has ever since been in a feeble state of health by reason of his inoculation as aforesaid for the Small Pox, and has now become cripple, has lost almost entirely the sight of one of his eyes by the Small Pox & is totally destitute of property.   
Sworn to & declared before me the day & year aforesaid  S. Titus Hosmer
B
State of Connecticut ss Middletown 
On this 2d day of June 1818 before me the Subscriber one of the Judges of the  Superior Court for the State aforementioned, personally appears Bezaleel Bristol of Killingworth in the said State who being by me first duly sworn according to law,  doth on his oath, declare and say That he is well acquainted with Benjamin Kelsey of said Killingworth, the person who made the preceding declaration on oath
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and has lived in the same neighborhood with him forty six years; That he has heard the preceeding declaration of the said Benjamin Kelsey given in in Oath & except in relation to the death of the said Stephen Watkins that all the facts therein stated, to the personal knowledge of the said Bezaleel Bristol are truly & correct by Stated  
Sworn to by declared before me the day & year aforesaid 
S. Titus Hosmer 
C
I Stephen Titus Hosmer a Judge of the Superior Court for the State of Connecticut do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Benjamin Kelsey did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the proceeding declaration against the common enemy that he is in reduced circumstances wholly destitute of property, that I am personally acquainted with the aforesaid Bezaleel Bristol Esq, & consider him to be a man of character and integrity & I now transmit the proceedings testimony had & taken before me, to the Secretary for the department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress
Connecticut  Middletown June 2d 1818 S. Titus Hosmer
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I John Fisk Clerk of the  Superior Court for the State of Connecticut do Certify that the Hon Stephen Titus Hosmer of Middletown in the said State is one of  Judges of the said Court and that his name Subscribed to the preceeding declarations & certificates marked A. B. C. is his proper hand writing and signature.   
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the Said Court at Middletown aforesaid on this 4th day of June 1818 
Jno Fisk Clk
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information as contained in his (or his widow’s) application for pension on file in this bureau.  
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT   Jany or Feby 1777  LENGTH OF SERVICE Apr 1777  when he became ill and returned home and was discharged Jany 1780
RANK.  Pvt.   OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  Captain Aaron Stevens   Colonel Heman Swift   STATE.   Conn
Battles engaged in,  Harlem Heights, Flatbush, Monmouth
Residence of soldier at enlistment,   enlisted at Killingworth Conn
Date of application for pension,  June 2 1818, his cl. was al [his claim was allowed]
Residence at date of application,  Killingworth Conn
Age at date of application,   60 yrs
Remarks
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36676
Revy INVALID
File No. 36,676
Benjamin Kelsey
Pri Rev War
Act: 18” March 18
Index: Vol 2, Page 220
[Arrangement of 1870]
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Apl. 20 - 1903 - Hist. to Benj R. Kelsey Waterbury Conn 
May 22, 1903 to above- name of wife not stated, nor date of his death. How to get date of last payment, Copy of application cannot be furnished 
1912 Jany 11 Hist to Mrs. Edward D. Reed, V.L.M. Letter sent to Record Div for answers to Civil War Inquiry
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O. W. & N. Div.
Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Washington, D. C. 
Respectfully returned to
Commissioner
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36676
Benj. Kelsey 
June 2 1818 Ct.
Killingworth Conn 
Feby 1 77 Killingworth Ct  
Cap Aaron Stevens
Col Heman Swift 
Pvt – 1 yr
[unreadable]
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Department of the Interior
April 11 1903
Respectfully referred to the Commissioner of Pensions
M. W. Miller
Asst Secty
[stamp] RECEIVED APR 8 1903 BOARD OF PENSION APPEALS
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BENJ R. KELSEY
WATERBURY CONN
OW & N  ALJ
April 4, 1903
[stamp] U.S. PENSION OFFICE  O APR 8 1903
Hon. Secy. of the Interior,
Washington, DC 
Sir:- 
Is it possible for me to obtain a copy of the Pension record of Benjamin Kelsey, a private in the Revolutionary War? 
Very respectfully, 
Benj R Kelsey
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BENJ R. KELSEY
WATERBURY CONN
[stamp] U.S.P.B. OLD WAR & NAVY FILES APR 29 1903
April 24, 1903
[stamp] U.S. PENSION OFFICE  O APR 27 1903
T.R.W.
I 36676
Rev War
Commissioner Dept of the Interior,
Washington, DC 
Sir:- 
Does pension record of Benjamin Kelsey, private in the Revolutionary War contain any reference to name of wife, date of death, or when pension ceased, or if continued to the widow?  Is it possible to obtain a complete copy of the application for pension, and all matters pertaining thereto?   
Very respectfully, 
Benj R Kelsey
Inv. 36676