Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8651, for Benjamin Reed, Connecticut
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SERVICE   Connt
Reed, Benjamin
NUMBER  R. 8651
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SERVICE Connt
Reed, Benjamin
NUMBER R. 8651
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Jared Griswold Clerk Co. Co. Hd Co. Conn 
to Hon Lewis Cass 
[unreadable] of War 
Washington City 
Benjamin Reed
5614
8651
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State of Connecticut County of Hartford 
On this twenty third day of August AD 1832  Personally appeared in open Court before the County Court for said Hartford County, now in session Benjamin Reed a resident of the town of Granby in said County, aged seventy five 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 7. 1832.  
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated; that he entered said service in a Regiment commanded by Colo. Jonathan Pettibone in the Compy of Capt. Ozias Pettibone, Lieut Joel Hays & Ensign Obed Holcomb, & went to N. York on a tour of three months in August 1776 & was at the Battle at that time & place & assisted in bringing off the wounded the night after the battle.  He further declares that in the spring the year 1777 he again entered the service of the United States as a volunteer or minute man, in a Regiment commanded by Colo. Jonathan Humphrey for a term during the continuance of the war & held himself in constant readiness to go out on a minutes warning in the said service as soldier in defence of his country & served as a volunteer or minute man until the close of the war in 1783, during which time he was often called out and often in the dark of night, when
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there was an alarm & also at all the times & went & performed short terms of duty with others of the same Regiment for a few days or weeks, and sometimes longer, that in this time he was at New Haven, East Haven, Danbury, & Stamford & other places in Connecticut, & at Bennington in Vermont & other places around & near Bennington & also at Boston Massachusetts & Fishkill in the State of New York. He further states, that after the lapse of so many years it is impossible for him to remember how much time he actually spent in these several tours of duty as a soldier, but as he thinks & verily believes it could not be less than one year & he thinks more. He further declares  that he was a resident of Simsbury now Granby, at the time he performed the several services as before stated, that from all the aforesaid terms of service he was regularly dismissed or discharged, but has not any written discharges to shew & that he has no documentary Evidence of his aforesaid services, & that his officers & contemporary soldiers are dead, & consequently out of his power to shew by living witnesses the precise times of his services as above stated.  
And to the Interrogatories put by the Court & prescribed by the war department the said Benjamin Reed on oath answers as follows viz: 
1 He was born at said Granby, a part of Simsbury
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Hartford County on the 22 day of March AD. 1838 1757  
2. That he has no record of his age. 
3. That he lived at said Granby when called into service as by him stated,  always have resided in Granby. 
4. That the first time he was called into service he was drafted, at the other times he volunteered & at all times served for himself. 
5. He recollects the names of no other officers, except General Putnam & other Genl. Officers 
6 He cannot say whether he ever recieved any written discharge; if he did, he has lost them. 
7 He would mention Calvin Dibble, James Lewis,  Joshua R. Jewett, Lewis Holcomb & Truman Allyn who can testify about his character for truth & veracity, & also their belief in his Revolutionary services.   
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency of any State 
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. 
(*1757 altered before signing)
Benjamin Reed
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We Calvin Dibble and James Lewis both residing in Granby in Hartford County herby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Reed of said Granby who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy five years of age; that he is reputedt & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.  
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid 
Calvin Dibble 
James Lewis 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the Investigation of the matter, and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the war part that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states and the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Calvin Dibble & James Lewis, who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in said Granby, & are credible persons, & that their statement is entitled to credit.   
I Jared Griswold Clerk of the County Court for Hartford County in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Reed for a Pension.   
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this twenty third day of August AD 1832 
Jared Griswold Clk Co Col Ha Co Court
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We Truman Allyn, Lewis Holcomb &  Joshua R. Jewitt of Granby in Hartford County do depose & say that we are acquainted with Benjamin Reed of said Granby, an applicant for a Pension under the act of Congress of June 7, 1832, that we reside in the same neighborhood with him; that he possesses a fair character for truth & veracity, 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.  
Truman Allen 
Lewis Holcomb 
Joshua R. Jewitt 
Sworn & subscribed this 23rd day of August AD. 1832 Nathan Johnson Just of Peace 
Filed in Connt. Co. Court August Term 1832 August 23. 1832. 
And I hereby certify, that said Nathan Johnson is a Justice of the Peace for said Hartford County, & the signature purporting to be his is genuine 
Jared Griswold Clerk Co Court Hartford County, Connecticut
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I Theodosia Reed of Granby in Hartford County of Lawfull age Depose & say that in the Summer of 1776 Benjamin Reed of said Granby was draughted as a soldier for the term of three months. He left from Home & was absent during that time as I have always understood in the Service & was at the time of the Battle of Long Island. [unreadable]  after he returned home from this tour he  Entered into a company of Volunteers or Minute Men in a  Regt command by Col. Jon’n  Humphrey for a term during the continuance of the War & at Various times after raising of company until the of the close of the War the said Benjamin Reed was called into the service & went  short tours of Duty.  I remember his going to New Haven, East Haven, Danbury  & Stamford & Various other places but the said times of them I cannot Remember but should say home that he was from on these tours as much or more than one year. He at all times after his joining said Company held himself in readiness to go in a Minutes Warning &  & did actually go at all times when called upon.  Granby August 25. 1832  
Theodosia Reed
Jonathan Church 
Truman Allen 
Sworn and subscribed to before me to this day and [unreadable] at a home
Jonathan Church Justice of Peace
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I Isaac Dewey of Granby in Harford County of Lawfull age depose & say that Benjamin Reed of Granby was Draughted in to the Company of Lt Joel Hays a Militia Officer in the Summer of 1776 & went to New York at the time of the engagement on Long Island.  He was in the service at this time three months.   I was Draughted into the Same Company.  We went from Home according to the best of my Recollection the 13 of Augt & Returned home aout the 13 of Nov.   After our return home a Company of Volunteers or Minute men was formed in this place under the command of Capt Ozias Pettibone, Lt. Joel Hays & Obed’a Holcomb for a term during the war.  I know that Benj Reed  was in the service at Various times after the formation of said Company but the time of service & when he performed the same I cannot now Remember, but believe he made tours to New Haven, East Haven, Danbury, Stamford and other places during the War.  
Dated the Granby August 25, 1832 
Isaac Dewey x his mark
Joshua R Jewitt 
Jonthan Church 
Sworn and subscribed to before me to the day and date as above 
Jonathan Church Justice of Peace 
I hereby certify that Isaac Dewey is a creditable witness 
Jonathan Church Justice of Peace
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Isaac Dewey for B. Reed
State of Connecticut 
County of Hartford } ss I  Jared Griswold, Clerk of County Court for said County certify that Jonathan Church before whom foregoing affidavit of Theodosia Reed & Isaac Dewey were taken, was on the twenty fifth day of August AD. 1832, a Justice of the Peace for said County, & that I verily believe the signatures purporting to be his, are genuine.  
In Testimony whereof I have set my hand & seal of Office this Twenty seventh day of August 1832 
Jared Griswold Clerk Co. Co. N. Co Conn
Benjamin Reed
5614
8657
To the Hon Lewis Cass 
Scty of War 
Washington City
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Granby Ct. Jany 13th 1855
Hon Loren P. Waldo 
Washington D.C. 
Dear Sir 
In May 1832 I was imployed by Benjamin Reed of this place, my Grandfather, to assist him to procure a pension.  His application was made before the County Court for Hartford County which was forwarded to the Department at Washington and for some cause rejected, which was a great disapointment to the old Gent,  as others had their claims allowed who had done less service then what he had.   I would inquire if theyr has been any new laws or decisions of late which would bring his claim or his heirs within the rule. I here received several letters from different gents who request to be imployed, and state that there is sufficient proof to establish this claim if this is not convenient for you to make this Examination, please to give me the name of some Gent who would do it for a small fee. I would say that all the papers concerning this matter were procured at my expence and that no agent has been authorised to act in this matter that would be recognized one of the Gents that wrote me in 1852 is S.M. Knight & gives refference at the Pension office  
Respectfully Yours 
Lewis Holcomb
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Benjamin Reed
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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 shew 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 Reed 
Period when the service was rendered. 1776   Duration of Claimant’s Service.  3 Months  Rank of the claimant. Pri Names and rank of the Company Officers under whom he served.  Cap Pettibone  Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.  Battles in which the applicant was engaged.  N. York   Country through which he marched.  Hartford to New York   Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.  Granby  75 years   Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   
Spring 77 Entered for the balance of the War
I am respectfully 
Your obedient servant 
JAMES L. EDWARDS, 
Commissioner of Pensions.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.            
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 "volunteers," 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 in stance, 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 A.B. a resident (b) of personally appeared (a) before in the county of and State, Territory or District years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the in 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) 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. 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 that of 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 hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter 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 hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be and C.D. residing in (the same) who has 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 day 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 contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. 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  alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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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 Town officer 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 he 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. 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 enquiry 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 Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed 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 declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the person 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 , and days , I served as a - months and --- days, I served as 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 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two 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 of the 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 witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in 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.
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5614 
Connecticut 
Benjamin Reed 
rejected 
3 mo. actual service
6  years service as minute man under the engagement 
See letter to claimant 
17 April 1833 
To Lewis Holcomb Jan 25 / 55.  
Benjamin Reed
Conn 7 1832
Hon Loren P. Waldo Com of Pensions
Washington D. C.
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8651
Benjamin Reed
REJECTED