Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9278, Joseph Beckwith, Conn.
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Conn.       Beckwith, Joseph       S.9278
 
                                                     carded
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32.938
New York, Albany
Joseph Beckwith 
of Ostego Co. in the State of N.Y.
who was a teamster in the compy [company] commanded
by Captain ~ of the Regs commanded
by Col ~ in the Revolution
for two years Conn Line Records corrected D&C 12/04 S
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany
at the rate of 8.0 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of Nov.
1837 and sent to H. Hubbard
arrears to the 4th of Norwich N.Y.
Semi-annual allowance ending

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}

H.R. Weightman Clerk

1886 Aug 19 Paul Beckwith present history
Les W. G Wade 
Juy 14/53

Les F. E. Hassler
Feb 17/55
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30488
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Declaration In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832

State of New York   )
Otsego County       )  Ss

On this 4th Day of February 1834 personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now siting Joseph Beckwith a resident of Butternuts in the County of Otsego and State of New York aged seventytwo 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 into the team service of the United States in March 1780 at Lyme in the County of New London and State of Connecticut for two years under Captain Roswell Ransom Capt. of a team Company is not sure whether one enlistment for two years or two enlistments of one year each but thinks but one enlistment for the two years the same teams and teamsters served in the Company both years he drove a team of six oxen furnished by Joshua Beckwith his father marched in the month of April and joined General Washingtons Army at Peckskill & was employed transporting military stores provisions hay & - During the summer, in the fall drew logs & boards for Barracks and in the winter went to Colchester adjoining the town of Lyme where the teams were wintered & he attended to the teams During the winter and in April 1781 In with the same Capt. & Company & teams returned to Peekskill & served till the Army went to Yorktown in Virginia.  Went from
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Peekskill to Philadelphia & swam to the head of Elk where he left one pair of his oxen & so on by land to Yorktown  the Army went by water from the head of Elk an arriving General Washington by entrenching & Gen Lafayette by water cut off the communication of the Enemy & they were shut in at Yorktown for about Eight Days.  He assisted in Drawing & placing cannon at the entrenchment & was at the Battle when Lord Cornwallis surrendered saw the British Army march out between two lines formed by Gen. Washington troops and Gen Lafayettes troops & stack their arms & surrender Prisioners of War - was in no other Battle While at Peekskill and was taken   while stationed at Yorktown all the Oxen died with Bloody mussen.  The Company returned to the head of Elk where they remained some time & returned by way of Philadelphia & Peekskill to Lyme and he was discharged (?) in April 1782 having served two years under said Capt Roswell Ransom
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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
He has a record of his age in his possession was born on the 16th of June 1761 is seventy two years of age has no written discharge and knows of no living witness when he entered the service lived at Lyme in the County of New London and State of Connecticut since resided in Palmer in the State of Massachusetts for 15 years then at Butternuts until 1827 County of Otsego and State of New York then at Hamby Stueben County then at Preston & Smyrna
in Chenango County & State of New York and
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for the last year at Butternuts in the County of Otsego and State of New York where he now reside
Elder Samuel Wakefield  Archibald Dickson and Levi Judson Danielson reside in his neighborhood and can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services in the Revolution

That he was born in the town of Lyme in the State of Connecticut -

That he entered the United States Service by enlistment and that he never served as a Substitute for any person

and that know of no documentary evidence to prove his services by

and that he never recd a written discharge from any officers

that he saw and knew General Washington, Lafayette, Knox and Huntington was in the Battle at Yorktown and saw the Brittish Surrender -
    Joseph Beckwith
Horace Lathrop, Clerk
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I Samuel Wakefield a Clergyman residing in the town of Butternuts County of Otsego and State of New York herey certify that I am acquaianted with Joseph Beckwith of said Town of Butternuts  That I believe him to be seventytwo years of age  That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution in the team service of the United States and I concur in that opinion.
  Samuel Wakefield
Sworn & Subscribed this 31st
day of January 1834 Before me
(he being known to me & unable to
attend Court.)
             Alfred A Coye ) Com

I Chaster Danielson a Resident of the town Butternuts in the Said County of Otsago and State of New York hereby certify that I am acquainted with Joseph Beckwith of said town of Butternuts that I believe him to be Seventy two 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 I concur in that I concur in that opinion
          Chester Danielson
Sworn in Open Court
before J C Watworth
                 Judge
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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 said Courts further certifies that it appears to them that Samuel Wakefield, who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman Residing in the town of Butternuts and that Chester Danielson who has signed the preceding Certificate is a resident in the same place is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
   J. C. Watworth   )
   J. O. Moore        )    Judges
   Elisha Foote       )

State of New York  )
Otsego County Ss. )
  I Horace Lathrop Clerk of said Court of Common Pleas - and Clerk of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of the above named Joseph Beckwith for a Pension -.
I also certify that Alfred A Coye, before whom the within named Affidavit of Samuel Wakefield purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same a Commissioner of Deeds, in & for the said County, duly appointed & certified, and authorized by Said to take Affidavits:  And that James C Walworth, before whom the within Affidavit of Chester Danielson purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same, one of the Judges of Otsego County Courts:  And that I am acquainted with the handwriting of the said Judges, and of the said Commissioner, and verity believe their signatures to said Affidavits to be genuine  Witness my hand and seal of Office the 10th day of February 1834 -
        Horace Lathrop, Clerk
[seal affixed]
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Joseph Beckwith
Plea
No. 1.
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I was born in Lyme June 1761 in the County of New london State of Connecticut and I lived there untill the end of the revolution war and when I was in my nineteenth year & one  Rosel Ransom of Colchester joining Lyme of said County received orders to enlist ten ox teams for the Continental Service under general Washington and my father Joseph Beckwith of Lyme inlisted a team of six oxen and cart wich was prized and went into the Continental Service for one year under the command of Rosel Ransom and Joseph Beckwith the son of Joshua Beckwith inlisted to drive said team for his father Captain Ransom told that were intitled to a cook and we might have a cook or cook ourselves and know the cooks wages and rations and we agreed to cook ourselves and the company chose me to cook and I should have the wages and company the rations and so I did and received the pay for cooking and driving the team and as soon as the spring opened we were ordered to march and join the army at pitsgill and was with the army through the sumer drawing provisions clothing and amanision and ever were called we obeyed through the sumer and I was with the army when arnald proved to be a traiter in the fall.  when the Soldiers were going to winter quarters we drew logs to the mill and Boards for the Barricks and when there was no more for us to do we were ordered back into the Country where we could find fodder for our teams and it was our bisness to tend our (?) through the winter and in the spring said Ransom raised the same teams for another year and the same team (?) and I ingaged to drive the same team and work as I did the year Before.
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early in the Spring we were ordered to march and join the army where we left there in the fall and so we joined army and the duty that we did the year Before untill general Washington marched to vigina at the taking Cornwallas then I was loaded with bagage for the army and march with them and Before we got the head of elk we onloaded and took Boats and carried to the head of Elk for the army then were ordered to go to yorktown in vigina to meet the army where we lay through the seige & carried one Brass feildpeace into the intrenchment after wallas surrender & see him march out Between the amaricans and the french armys on a plain and left their arms and marched Back into the City
Our oxen all Died with the murin then we were ordered to return Back so that I served two years in the Defence of our fredom and liberty and, think myself intitled to a pention as well as others
         Joseph Beckwith
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                       Rose New York
                           May 26th 1853.

Sir,
     On or about the 28th of Dec 1852 I filed the application of Joseph Beckwith for an increase of his pension for services as a Teamster with Ruswell Ransom, wagon Conductor, - he is pensd as a Teamster for services with said Ransom, the only question is, - whether Ransom was one of the Conductors under Wadsworth and Hubbard. the certificate frrom the Hubbard papers enclosed, establish this question, - therefore the Pension certificate is returned for correction. -
            I am Respectfully
            Your Obt Servt.
             W G Wade

Hon L P Waldo
   Comr of Pensions
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Norwish, Chenangola, N.Y.
Oct 6, 1851

Hon. J. E Heath
Comr of Pensions

   Herewith I send you the declaration of Joseph Beckwith for a pension as teamster.  Should a certificate be issued please direct it to me.
Yours Respectfully
H Hubbard
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Washington D.C.
Dec'r 22nd 1852.

Sir,

As the attorney of Joseph Beckwith pensr New York, Act 7th June 1832.  I respectfully request in his behalf a reexamination of his papers upon which he was pensioned, that his claim may be adjusted according to the service rendered as a continental Teamster at the rate of $16 per month.

By reference to certified copies of Original documents with papers of Bissel Phelps pensd '32 Vermont, and the papers of persons who have been pensioned for services as Teamsters, at $16. per month referred to in the enclosed memorandum, it will be seen that Roswell Ransom was one of the conductors, whose men have been admitted to the pension list as Continental Teamsters, which is respectfully asked may be done in the claim of Joseph Beckwith, Power of Attorney with papers. -

I am Respectfully,
Your Obt Servt,
W G Wade

J E Heath Esqr
  Comr of Pensions.
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1854

Morris   Novem 18

Mr F. E. Hassler
of Washington City

Dear Sir

Your letter has just come to hand & I hasten to reply, I was glad to receive one from that source as I had much confidence in Mr Wades recovering that pension which ought to of been recovered years ago - & I believe if he had of lived would obtained it before this.  I wish you to continue it, and I agree to the same terms as Mr Beckwith did, that is one half of what you recover - and Mr Wade was executing it on the same terms for me after Mr. Beckwiths death as I was appointed sole administrator for him and have letters of administrator from the Surrogate of this Co. Authorizing me fully to act as such
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I hope you will be sucessful in your undertaking which would render a lasting Benefit to those that are needy and who will ever remember you with gratitude.  hoping you will be prospered in this and others, I subscribed my self

Yours truly

Thomas Mottram

F E Hassler

(?)  Please direct your letters to Butternutts, N.Y. as our mail comes there and I should get them sooner  Please inform me soon
         T Mottram
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Washington City DC
Feby. 10th 1833.

Hon. L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir,

I would ask that the papers of Joseph Beckwith, N.Y. admitted may be examined, & pension allowed as a teamster, to sustain this I refer to such evidence as you may find in the Hubbard papers on file in your office.

I am respectfully

F E. Hassler
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Butternuts, Otsego Co. N.Y. July 14, 1848

Hon. J. L. Edwards,
Commissions of Pensions

Dear Sir,

On reading that the House of Representatives of the U.S.A. Have resolved to extend Pensions to the "Ordnance Corps,"  Permit me to inquire whether this Act (if it has become an act) refers to Revolutionary Pensions. -

And I would inquire further whether it respects Teamsters in the Revolutionary war in such a manner that Cm. Joseph Beckwith who has forwarded some papers to your office would be likely to be benefitted?

If convenient, will you please inform me in relation to the case, and you will confer a favor on you - decided yes absent final

E. Baldwin
Pastor Baptist Church
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Butternuts, Otsego Co. N.Y.
June 3d 1847.

To the Honorable, The
Commissioner of Pensions,&c

Dear Sir,

In behalf of Mr. Joseph Beckwith of Bitternut aforesaid - I commence aiding him in obtaining a pension for his services as Teamster in the Revolution.

He is a good old Deacon aged 86, and we shall make plain what he says in the case.

Will you be so kind as to send me a copy of the law in such cases.

He enlisted under Captain Roswell Ransom in the town of Lyme in Connecticut in 1780, and served two years.

Will it be admissible to inquire for his name on the Rolls in your office?

May this aged relic of the Revolution find favor at your office.

Most Respectfully your Obedient
Servant -

Elijah Baldwin
Pastor Baptist Ch.h Butternut
N.Y.
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State of New York  )
Otsego County      )  S.S.

  On this 29th day of September 1851 before me Chester Jarvis a Justice of the Peace, duly authorized by Law to administer oaths, personally appeared Joseph Beckwith of Morris, Otsego Co. NY, who being duly sworn according to law deposes & says that he is the identical person who was in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain, and for further information he refers to papers already on file in the pension office -  Now the object of this declration is to obtain from the United States a pension for his Services as Teamster and Cook while in the Service of the United States, under Such Acts & Resolutions of Congress as may be applicable to his case and to which he believes himself entitled -
Joseph Beckwith
Sworn & Subscribed before me   )
this 29th day of Sept 1851.           )
     Chester Jarvis Justice &c

[attached seal:]
State of New-York.  )
Otsego County        )
Clerk's Office.           )

I, SAMUEL NORTH, Clerk of said County, do hereby certify, that Chester Jarvis Esquire, was on the 29th day of Septr 1851 a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Otsego, duly authorized to act as such, and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice, and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal of the said County, at Cooperstown this 2d day of October 1851

   Samuel North Clerk.
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State of New York  )
Otsego County      )  S.S.

We the undersigned citizens of the County and State aforesaid, Certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Beckwith of Morris, in the county of Otsego, State aforesaid, that he is universally reputed to have been a soldier in the war of the Revolution, in the capacity of Teamster, and that his character for truth and in all other respects is irreproachable - Dated Morris 6th November 1851.

Hiram Kinne Surrogate
  of Otsego Co
Jno. H. Gilbert, Merchant
Joseph R Gilbert Merchant
  and have known him for forty five years
H Sturges
  Atty at Law
J. N. Adams
  Paster of the Bap Church in
  Butternuts
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February 5, 1851

Hon. J.E. Heath,
  Commssr of Pensions

Sir,

Any information or suggestions which you may deem proper to communicate touching the case of Joseph Beckwith, whose petition is enclosed, will be acceptable to the committee.

Very respectfully
Your obdt sevt


Geo. W. Jones
Chr Com Pens
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Sir  in answer to your inquirey whether I was under the penelty of the marshal law for any crime commited while in the service of the united states Captain Ransom and his teams were united with the army and under the command of general orders and were informed if we commited any crime we must suffer the penelty of that law there was a time when we came into camp loaded with clothing and aminition there was a complaint to the offisers by one of the inhabatance of stolen property and was a search amongst our teams but nothing was found  we knew that if we commited crime we must suffer for it and then when the teams entered the service they were all prized by men appointed for that bisness and if lost in the service the states holen to make them good and when I went to yorktown under the command of general washington at taking cornwallas I left one yoke of oxen at the head of elk and took two yoke to yorktown where all the teams died and my father Joshus Beckwith Received pay for all that was lost

Joseph Beckwith
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State of New York   )
Otsego County Ss   )

On the (blank) day of (blank) Personally appeared before me Charles C. Noble first Judge of the County Courts in and for the County of Otsego & State of Newyork Joseph Beckwith of the Town of Butternuts in said County of Otsego & State of Newyork aged Eighty six years who 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 of June 1832 - that some time in the year 1780 he the said Beckwith enlisted into the Service of the United States in the Town of Lyme in Connecticut for the term of one year under Captain Roswell Ransom of sd Town of Lyme who then commanded a Company of Teams in the service of the United States  - that the said Beckwith was elected the Cook for said company and that he served in capacity of Cook and received pay and rations as such and also served as Teamster with the assistance of some of said company to whom he gave the half of his rations for said assistance - that about the first of April the said company were overed to Peekskill State of New York that he continued in the said service with said company princeply in the State of New York Drawing provision for the Army untill fall when the Army went into Winter quarters and said company was ordered into the Country to recruit their Team - that after serving out the said term of one year - he sd Beckwith enlisted again under the same Captn Roswell Ransom for the like term of one year in the same company and service and immediately joind the army and continued with them Drawing provisions Bagage &c untill the surrender of the Army of Cornwallace at York Town in Virginia and was discharged after serving two full years faithfully in the Continental Team Service as aforesaid