Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8449, for Benjamin Preston, New York
Page 1

SERVICE
New York
Preston, Benjamin
Jane

NUMBER
R. 8449
Page 2

Jane Preston
Application
Page 3

State of Wisconsin 
Sheboygan County [illegible]. On this fourth day of August in the year Eighteen Hundred and fifty four personally appeared before me Charles E Morris Esquire Judge of the County and State aforesaid Jane Preston a resident of Lyndon in said County and State aged seventy seven years, who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7th in 1838, entitled An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows, and of the acts of the 3d of March 1843 & 17th June 1844 and of all other Acts of Congress passed since the passage of the said act of the 7th July 1838 amending the same, that she is the widow of Benjamin Preston deceased, who was a Revolutionary Soldier, that he was a revolutionary During War Soldier. Served in a New York Regiment, and received Bounty Land from the State of New York which he sold about the year 1790. Sold his land to some person in Albany as she understood and believes was true. She has heard her husband relate his services tell of the hardships he endured and the names of many Officers under whom he served, but she does not recollect their names and cannot therefore give their names or a more particular account of his service, but she will recollect he was a During War Soldier and received his Bounty Land in what was then called the Cayuga Country which he sold for a small trifle, and which he always afterwards regretted.-- She understood her husband served as a Soldier and does not know that he served in any official capacity
Page 4

She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Preston on the Sixteenth day of May, in the year Seventeen Hundred and ninety three, that her name before her said Marriage was Jane Owen, and that her Husband the aforesaid [crossed out died on the] Benjamin Preston died on the 17th day of August 1827, in Canada that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January Seventeen hundred and Ninety four. viz. at the time above stated that she is still a widow and has not been married since the death of her said Husband. 

She further says, that there was a family record of her Marriage and the births of her children made in a Book called the Methodist Discipline which was in the family until after the death of her Husband, which she fears has been lost or destroyed and which she has not been able to find. She further says that the paper hereto annexed is a copy from the family Record mentioned, and she believes it to be a true record of the birth of her said Husband and his first wife, and of their Children by that marriage. She also knows that the record of the death of Dorcas Preston the first wife of the said Benjamin Preston is correct as to the date, and that the deponent was married to the said to the said Benjamin Preston in May following as before stated, that she had the case of the children and will recollect William Preston the youngest child of the family was only about 15 months old at the time of their marriage, and from her knowledge
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of the ages of the children named in the said Copy annexed she believes it to be a true Copy of Record of their Births and deaths of the said Benjamin and Dorcas Preston, and from an acquaintance with the said Benjamin Preston and his family [crossed out text She is able] previous to the death of his wife Dorcas and her connexion with the family. She is able to testify to the date of her Marriage with of as much certainly as she could from a record of the event, if it had been recorded. She was married in Cambridge by a man named Harris a Justice of the Peace, who as she has been informed is dead. her mark X Jane Preston

Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year above written. Before me And I also certify that from bodily infirmities incident to old age the said Jane Preston is not able to attend Court, and that I am not interested in this claim or concerned in its prosecution.  
Charles E. Morris 
County Judge 
Sheboygan County, Wis.

Samuel Lake of Buffalo New York is hereby appointed my true and lawful Attorney to obtain my pension certificate to and to whom I request the same to be forwarded, and also all communicating relating to the same.
Witness 
Charles E. Morris
James Preston

her mark X Jane Preston
Page 6

State of Wisconsin 
Sheboygan County, [illegible] being duly Sworn according to law on her oath says she is personally well acquainted with Jane Preston, who has signed and sworn to the foregoing Declaration that she is the identical person therein described that the deponent is sixty seven years of age and resides in Linden in said County, that she is the daughter of Benjamin and Dorcas Preston, and has six years old when her mother died, that she died in the town of Cambridge Washington County State of New York in the month of February Seventeen Hundred ninety three and her Father and Jane Owen were married in the spring following. She believes in the month of May. She has a perfect recollection of these went, and recollects that when her Father and the said Jane Owen were married Farmers were ploughing and doing their Spring work and she also remembers that the marriage having taken place so soon after the death of her mother. The subject was frequently mentioned by the neighbors. The deponent knows that the Record or Copy of the Record hereto attached was copied from the family record in the Book mentioned, and is true, that after the death of her mother the deponent and to reside with an Aunt by the name of Murray with whom she resided two or three years in Arlington Vermont in the neighborhood and near and adjoining the town of Cambridge, and that the family was broken up for a short time, that after the marriage as above state her Father
Page 7

and the said Jane Owen moved back into the same place where he had formerly resided into a house owned by a man by the name of McKee, with his children, and in about two years the deponent also went home, and that they resided in the place and her Father worked for Mr. McKee in the town of Cambridge until the year 1805 where he with his family, (and this deponent), moved to Canada, and that her Father died at Haldemand in the province of Canada on the 17th of August 1827. As she has always understood and believes is true, that her Father the said Benjamin Preston and Jane Owen lived together and sustained family relations until his death and that they had a large family of children and the deponent never had any doubt of their being legally married in the month of May 1793 as stated in the forgoing declaration. That the copy of the family record hereto annexed was taken from the Original. Soon after her Fathers death and has been in her sole possession since that time, about twenty five years, and she believes it to be a true Record, that at the time of the aforesaid marriage her youngest Brother William was a young child about fifteen months old. These facts are recollected by the deponent and the date of the death and Marriage is in accordance with the Record, her recollection of her own age where the events transpired and the births and ages of the children of the said Jane Owen or Jane Preston after her marriage- The Deponent further says that the said same Jane Preston is still a widow and has
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not been married since the death of her said Husband, that she has no interest in making this affidavit or in the claim of the said Jane Preston for a pension. Sworn and subscribed, her mark X Syrene Ausborne this fourth day of August 1854 Before me and I certify the deponent is a credible witness.
Charles E. Morris 
County Judge
Sheboygan Co. Wis 

State of Wisconsin
Sheboygan County ss. James Preston being duly sworn according to law, on his oath says, that he is fifty years of age and resides in Lynden in said County, that he is personally well acquainted with Jane Preston who has signed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, and that she is the identical person therein described.

The deponent is a son of the said Benjamin and Jane Preston and is the sixth child of the family, that his eldest sister is named Dorcase and is the wife of Nehemiah Vail & as he believes, was born in Month of February 1794, that his Father the said Benjamin Preston died in Haldemand in the Province of Canada the 17th of August 1827, and that his mother the said Jane Preston is still a widow and has not been married since the death of her Husband, that the Deponent is not interested in making this affidavit or in the claim of the said Jane Preston for a pension.
Sworn and Subscribed 
James Preston
Page 9

this fourth day of August in the year 1854 Before me and I certify the Deponent is a credible person.
Charles E. Morris 
County Judge 
Sheboygan Co. Wis 

STATE OF WISCONSIN, 
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, SS. I,
I, A. H. EDWARDS, Clerk of the Circuit  for the County and State aforesaid, do HEREBY CERTIFY that Charles E Morris Esq., whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of the proof or acknowledgement of the annexed instruments and therein written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgement, an acting Judge of the County Court in and for the County of Sheboygan, duly elected and qualified, and authorized to take the same; and further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Judge, and verily believe that the signature to said Certificate is genuine. 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Circuit Court this 7th day of Aug A. D. 1854. 
A.H. Edwards CLERK. 


[handwritten note at bottom of page]
Have the Clerks Certificate fasten the Ribbon with a wafer and seal of his Office. S. L.
Page 10

Benjamin Preston was born August the 31, 1762

Dorcas Preston was born January the 3, 1766 

Ebenezer Preston was born June the 26, 1785

Syrene Preston was born feb the 12, 1787

Martha Preston was born May the 6, 1789

William Preston was born feb the 10, 1792

Dorcas Preston the wife of Benj. Preston died  feb the 10 1793

Benjamin Died August the 17, 1827
Page 11

State of Wisconsin 
Shobegan County

I, Jane Preston Being duly sworn according to Law [illegible] his oath say a son of Benjamin and Jane Pike amining the signature Subscribed to the annexed deed as her to he believes it to be the grain signature of his Father and in his own proper hand writing, there appears on a part in making the P Be the name Br Preston is in the hand witne of his Father is he always prote with a long letter of therein the act recited in the deed confirm the statement made by his Father and others in relation to his service in the Revolution and the Receipt and sale of his County Land in the Cayuga County, the Deponent resides in the Town of Linden Court of Sheborgan and State of Wisconsin is 51 years old and is not inters ted in the Claim of said June Preston for a Pension and Subscribed the Thirtieth day of August 1833 June Preston Before me and I certify Deponent is a credible person J.J. Wiggin - Justice of the peace
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STATE OF WISCONSIN, 
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY.  

I, Jacob Quintus, Clerk of the CIRCUIT COURT for the County and State aforesaid, do HEREBY CERTIFY that J. D. Wiggin Esq., whose name is subscribed to the Certificates of the proof or acknowledgement of the annexed instruments, and therein written, [illegible] the time of taking such proof or acknowledgement, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Sheboygan, duly elected and qualified, and authorized to take the same; and further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice, and verily believe that the signature to said Certificate is genuine. 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Circuit Court this 31st day of August A.D. 1855.
J. Quintus, Clerk.
Page 13

[initials in upper left corner, J.L.H.?]

Rev. War Section. 

October 16, 1920.

Mrs. C. C. Lucas, 
Athens, Alabama. 

Madam: 
In response to your letter dated the 24th of July, you are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. File No. 8,449 that Benjamin Preston was born August 31, 1762. His first wife, Dorcas was born January 3, 1766, and their children were: Ebenezer born June 26, 1785, Syrene born February 12, 1787, married William Ausborne. Martha born May 8, 1789 and William born February 10, 1793. His wife Dorcas died February 10, 1793, and soldier married May 16, 1793, at Cambridge, N. Y., Jane daughter of Benjamin Owen. They had a large family of children:  James, 6th child, Dorcas born February 20, 1794 in Cambridge, and married Nehemiah Vail, and Benjamin Owen are the only names stated. 

In 1805 soldier moved to Canada and died at Haldeman, Canada August 17, 1827, and his widow applied for pension August 4, 1854 while a resident of Lyndon, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, aged seventy-seven years.
Page 14

It is alleged that he served in the First New York Regiment during the Revolution, dates of service are not stated. 

The claim was not allowed for lack of proof of the alleged service. 

Very respectfully, 
F D Byington 
Acting Commissioner.
Page 15

3-049. 

Ex. [added by hand “Ew”] Div. [added by hand “Rev. War section”] 

Department of the Interior, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
WASHINGTON, D. C., [added by hand “Aug 18, 1920”]

The attached letter is respectfully returned with the information that the data furnished is not sufficient to enable this Bureau to make intelligent answer to the queries therein contained. 

Please fill out such of the blank spaces below as the information in your possession will permit, and return to this Bureau. 


No. of claim, 
[added by hand “Full”] 

Name of soldier, Benjamin Preston 
name of Widow Jane Owen 2nd 1 of
Dorcas 

[crossed out “P.O.”] address of Claimant,  
[added by hand “am not able to”]

Company [added by hand “join Company]
Regiment [added by hand “or Reg.”]

State where enlisted [added by hand “N.Y. or Conn approximate dates of birth and of death.”]

If unable to furnish company and regiment give names of commanding officers.
[added by hand “Scout under Washington”]

Return attached letter with reply. 
[added by hand “F D Byington”]
Acting Commissioner.
(over)

6-2469
Page 16

Benjamin Preston was born in New York State about 1761 died in Haldemand Canada in Aug. 1827. the in and to have served all during the Rev War as I sent in Washington's Army.
Mrs C C Lucas 
Athens 
Ala 

[handstamped “RECORD DIVISION SEP 10 1920”]

[handstamped “PENSION D U.S. OFFICE SEP 9 1920”]

[ illegible handwritten note at bottom]
Page 17

[illegible] N.15
Preston 

E Watson 
for Lot No 80 in N 
township of 
Scipio 600 acres
17th Nov 1790

Registered 1 May 1795 
Page [illegible]

Entered for Recording 
December 24th 1798 

Ben Ledgord [illegible]
Page 18

This Indenture, Made the Seventeenth day of Nov. in the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and ninety BETWEEN Benjamin Preston Late a soldier in the first New York Regt. [illegible] of the first part, and Elkanah Watson of the City of Albany [illegible] of the second part WITNESSETH, That the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of fifteen pounds to him in hand paid, by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged: HAth granted, bargained, sold, remised, released, aligned and confirmed; AND by these presents, DOth grant, bargain, sell, remise, release, alien and confirm unto the said party of the second part, in his actual possession now being, by virtue of a bargain, sale and lease, to him thereof made, by the said party of the first part, by indenture, bearing date [illegible] day next before the day of the date of these presents, and by force of the laws for transferring of uses into possession, and to his heirs and assigns for ever, [handwritten “all that certain tract or Lot of Land situate lying & being in the township of Scipio in the County of Montgomery known & distinguished on a map of the said township filed by the surveyor General the Secretary’s Office of the State of New York agreeable to Law, by Lot Number as by Letters patent [illegible] 8th July 1790”]

TOGETHER with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto [illegible] any wife appertaining, and the reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues and profits thereof; and all the estate, right, title, interest, [illegible] and whatsoever, of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity, of, in and to the above bargained premises, with the said hereditaments and appurtenances. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said hereditaments [illegible] granted [illegible]  part thereof to the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, to the sole and only proper use, benefit and behoof of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns for ever. 

IN WITNESS whereof, the parties to these presents, have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals, the day and year first above written. 

SEALED and DELIVERED
In the PRESENCE of 
Ebenezer Williams
Jer Monsselaer

 Benj Preston
Page 19

Be it Remembred that on the Twenty Eighth Day of November One Thousand seven hundred and ninety one appeared before me Jeremiah Lansingh one of Matters of Chancery for the State of New York Jeremiah Harmon: [illegible] who being sworn deposeth and saith that he saw Benjamin Preston sign seal and deliver this Instrument for the Purposes therein mentioned and that he [crossed out “this”] Deponent together with Ebenezer Williams signed the Same as Witnesses and I having examined the same and finding no Rasures or Interlineations therein do allow the same to be recorded 
Jerh. Lansingh 

And I further certify that on the Twenty Seventh day of September One Thousand Seven hundred and ninety Eight appeared before me Jeremiah Van Rensselaer aforesaid to be known who being sworn further saith that he knew Benjamin Preston the Grantor to be the Person within described that executed the same.
Jerh. Lansingh
Page 20

May 29/30
Page 21

Pension Office 
May 29 1855 

Sir
The application of Jane Preston widow of Benjamin of Wisconsin has been examined and filed under the act of July 7 1838.

She must be clearly identified as the widow the soldier of her husband's name, either by the testimony of witnesses who served with him and can satisfactorily describe his services on the land which he received from the State of NY and from these States must be so traced as to show[illegible] by that her husband was its recipient.

Samuel Lake Esq 
Buffalo 
NY
Page 22

Pension Office 
October 9 1855 

Sir 
The additional evidence forwarded by you in the case of Jane Preston of Wisconsin has been [crossed out] examined and filed with her papers under the act of July 7 1838.

It is not sufficient to justify the allowance of the case. A [crossed out] similarity of handwriting is very slender proof, for that may be purely accidental, but I certainly can not consent to allow a case upon the supposed resemblance of a signature to a Deed with remembered writing, where it is not pretended that the witnesses had any specimens for comparison, nor would I consent to rely upon the judgment of other people in such cases, the specimens must be presented before me for inspection, I do not hesitate to say that I do not place much relevance in such testimony.
Page 23

I want direct proof of the service for which a pension is claimed or I want the land so dearly traced that there can be no reasonable doubt as to the identity of the parties.

1838 
[crossed out “NY”] Wisconsin 
Samuel Lake Esq
Buffalo NY 
Oct 9. 1838
Page 24

Jane Preston 
Revd Claim 
Act 1838
Additional testimony
Page 25

U.S. BOUNTY LAND AND PENSION AGENCY, No. 1565 Main Street, 
Buffalo, Sept. 27, 1855. 

J. Minot 
Comr of Pensions 
Sir — I send you herewith the Deed from Benjamin Preston for his Bounty Land received of New York for Revolutionary Service, with proof of his hand writing, also an affidavit of two owners of part of his Lot, I hope this additional proof will be satisfactory, and that the claim will be allowed— The Report upon this claim is dated 29 May last— The Deed is obtained by me as Special Deputy Clerk and which I [illegible] when the claim is [crossed out “decided”] allowed —
Respectfully Yours 
Samuel Lake
Page 26

No. 15298 
Jane Preston 
widow of Berjamin 
Wisconsin 
Saml Lake May 29 186[missing text]
same 1003
Hon. C. Billinghurst 
Apl 16/58 
8449 
July 7 1838
Page 27

Benjamin Preston 
to
Elk and Watson

Deed dated 17th November 1790
conveys Lot Number 80 Township of
Scipio County of Cayuga, Containing
[crossed out “Sixty acres of”] Six hundred acres 
as by letters pattent dated 8 July 1790

Filed 1 May 1795 
State of New York
Cayuga County Clerks office for I do hereby certify that the above is an abstract of a deed on file in my office. In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and official seal this 15 day of May 1855. 
Edwin B Marvin Clerk 
Cayuga County
Page 28

1920 Oct. 16 Hist. [illegible] 
C.C. Lucas

May 11 98 
Miss R A Berry 
Minneapolis Minn 
REJECTED 
8449.
P. O. Jane Preston 
Service: widow
Benjamin Preston
Enlisted: N.Y service, 18 
Discharged: ,18
Application filed: ,18
Alleges: Claim filed too late to be on printed list
Re-enlisted: of Rejections.
Attorney: 
P. O. 
Recognized. Contr.
Page 29

Pension Office, April 16. 1858. 
Sir 
In relation to the claim for pension of Jane Preston, widow of Benjamin, I have the honor to state that all the evidence now on file having been before my Indecessor as the time allowed the claim, I do not feel authorized to disturb his decision. Mr. Lake [crossed out illegible word] refers to other evidence bearing upon the question of identity, the print at issue. Upon filing such evidence the claims will be carefully reexamined and the result reported. I herewith return, agreeably [illegible] request, the papers sent by you, including the letter from this office of the 9th October 1855, which gives the reasons for the suspension of the claim [crossed out illegible words]  or that time. 
With great respect 
J C
Hon. C.  Billinghurst 
House of Reps.
Page 30

U. S. BOUNTY LAND AND PENSION AGENCY, No. 1565 Main Street, 
Buffalo May 16 1855 
L P. Waldo Esq 
Comr of Pensions 
Sir — I forward herewith a claim for Widows pension which I believe is a fair claim and have no doubt on that point. I think it probable the department may require more proof in relation to the personal identity of the man — It is verry difficult to proove ordinary transactions more than 60 years past when there are no records, but in this case so far as the marriage is concerned I think it is verry clearly proved by the testimony of witnesses who were in a position to know the facts to which the testify, and which are in close connection with records of other events of that period that shows the witnesses to be correct as to the dates and corroborate the statement of the applicant—
The McKie family were wealthy farmers at the close of the Revolution, and the Witnesses Mr Reid and John McKie are as inteligent and respectable persons as are found any where— From the testimony of the Applicant and Mrs Ausborn I think there can be no doubt that the record attached is a correct record of the events Stated, and the Witnesses are all reputable members of Christian Churches—Altho Mr Reid and Mrs Ausborn were young their connexion and situation were such, that, death, a 2d Marriage and births of children, particularly those
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with whom they were connected and intimately acquainted, are events that would be very likely to be remembered, and which would leave a durable or strong impression upon the mind of such probably as durable as at any other period of life. And they were playmates and school mates from infancy to womanhood—
I hope for a favourable report, and if further proof is required will endeavour to procure it
Respectfully Yours
Samuel  Lake
Page 32

State of New York 
Cayuga County 
William Stewart and Robert Stewart being duly sworn according to Law on their oaths say that William Stewart is 67 years and that Robert Stewart is 74 years of age Reside on and own a part of Lot 80 in the town of Ledyard (formerly Scipio) in Said County, that the whole Lot contained 600 acres and is in the New York Military trust, so called, allotted and patented to Soldiers for services in the Revolutionary War. That the Land owned by the deponent was purchased by Robert Stewart, the Father of the deponents, who is now dead, of Elkanah Watson of Albany the deed is dated the 14th day of March 1795. The deponents always understood the Lot was patented to a Soldier and have been informed by the Clerk of Said County of Cayuga that their is a deed on Record in his office from Benjamin Preston Late a Soldier of the 1st New York Regiment to Elkanah Watson of the City of Albany for Lot 80 dated 17th November 1790. The deponents never had any personal knowledge of the Said Elkanah Watson or Benjamin Preston and are not interested in making this affidavit
Sworn and Subscribed 
this 22d day of September 
1855 before me And I 
Certify that the deponents
are credible Witnesses

William Stewart
Robert Stewart 

H W Taylor Justice of the peace
in and for the County of Cayuga
Page 33

State of New York
Cayuga County Clerk's Office as I do hereby certify that Halsey W. Taylor Esq was at the time of taking the foregoing affidavit a Justice of the Peace in and for Cayuga County and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice and verily believe the foregoing to be his signature —
In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and official seal this 24th day of September 1855.
E B Marvin Clerk 
Cayuga County
Page 34

[handwritten note in upper right hand corner illegible]
Athens, Ala. July 24th 1920 
Will you please look up the Rev. War record of Benjamin Preston my great grandfather who went I think York State. It is handed down that he served as a scout for Washington. Mrs Francis Landon of Minneapolis and Mrs Esther Ostrander of Plymouth are D.A.R. members through the same ancester. 
I am anxious to know also if I can get a time on my father's a time side. He was a Peck of N.Y. and his mother was a Thorn.
Very Sincerely yours 
Mrs. C. C. Lucas

[stamped on bottom left “US PENSION OFFICE D JUL 26 1920”]

[stamped on bottom right “US PENSION OFFICE D SEP 9 1920”]
Page 35

State of Wisconsin 
Sheboygan County 
William Ausbourn being duly sworn according to Law on his oath says that he resides in the Town of Linden Sheboygan County and State of Wisconsin and is Seventy Eight years of age, that he became accquainted with Benjamin Preston the Husband of Jane Preston, now residing in this County in the year 1805, that he was well acquainted with him for many years and had Business transactions with him and was well acquainted with his hand writing. The deponant always understood that the said Benjamin Preston had been a Revolutionary Soldier and had recieved and sold his Bounty  Land and recollects conversation with him in relation to the same. The Deponent has examined the signature to the annexed Deed and verily believes the same subscribed as the Grantor is the genuine Signature of Benjamin Preston and has no doubt of the fact, that the fact recited in the deed in relation to the Service and the location of the Bounty Land in the Cayuga Country confirm the report and information received from Mr Preston and the family during the first years —
Page 36

— of his acquaintance with them The Deponent has been intimately acquainted with the family having Married Cyrene Preston, a Daughter of the said Benjamin Preston by his first wife, in the year 1805 that the family formerly resided in Cambridge Washington County New York from which place they went to Canada where he said Benjamin Preston died many years past The Deponant has no interest in making this deposition or in the claim of Jane Preston for a Pension 
Sworn and subscribed this ⎬ William Ausbourn Thirtieth day of August 1805
[illegible] and I certify the deponant is a credible Person
J.D. Wiggin Justice of the peace.
Page 37

State of New York 
Washington County [illegible] Sarah Reed being duly sworn according to law on her oath says, that she now resides in Arguyle in said County was born the 26th of November 1785 according to the family record of her Fathers family, and therefore is nearly Sixty nine years of age, that she is the Daughter of James McKee and during her minority she resided in Cambridge in said County with her Father & Mother, that she well remembers Benjamin Preston who was a tenant and resided in a house owned by her father for many years and worked for her father, and a part of the time tended his [illegible]. The deponent remembers the children of the family they were Ebenezer, Cyrene, Martha and William the youngest, who was a baby about a year old at the death of Mrs Preston; that Dorcas Preston, wife of the said Benjamin Preston died while living in the House owned by her Father and she well recollects the circumstances attending the death, that it occurred in the winter where the snow was deep, but she has no means of ascertaining and cannot state the date of the death that the said Preston then took his children to his friends thinks he took them to a Mrs Murray a Sister of Mr Prestons and they left the neighborhood for a few months —
In the Spring following the deponent [illegible] all debts that Mr Preston came to her Fathers and informed
Page 38

him that he had driven his cow back and wanted to move back into his house which he had heretofore occupied and work for him as usual, or as he had done, that he there informed them that he had married Jane Owen, commonally called Jenney, and that the deponent recollects from her own knowledge that the marriage took place in the Spring after the death of his first wife, and that Mr Preston stated that it was necessary [illegible] that his children required a mother; and that the marriage, so soon after the death occasioned talk in the neighborhood at the time — that from that time they lived together and sustained the relations of Husband and wife and had several children before they removed from the place. The deponent says that the first child of this Marriage was named Dorcase after the first wife, that she sees born in the winter after the marriage; that the deponent had a sister born September 18, 1793 named Elizabeth, as appears by the family Record of her fathers family, and that these two children were nearly of the [illegible] size and age and the deponent believes there was but a few months difference in their ages, but has no means of ascertaining the exact date of the birth of the child Dorcas Preston— That they resided in said town and on the farm of the Father of this Deponent
Page 39

many years and then moved to Canada as the deponent was informed and believes was there, and that when they moved away Cyrene was a young wooman Sixteen or Seventeen years of age and the deponent was about 18 or 19 years old, that from comparing the age of the children of said Preston with those of her Fathers family which are recorded in their family record, and according to her own reccolections of the events she believes the Marriage of the said Benjamin Preston and Jane Owen took place in the Spring of the year 1793, but she has no means of arriving at the date of said Marriage more particularily than as above stated — that she has no interest in making this deposition or in the pension claimed by said Jane Preston

Sworn and Subscribed
this 5th day of July 1854

Sarah Reid 

Before me —
E C Campbell Justice of the peace 
 I certify that I am personally acquainted with the Deponent, that she is person of good character and a credible Witness-- --- ---
E C Campbell J P
Page 40

STATE OF NEW YORK, SS.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, 
I, NATHANIEL B. MILIMAN, Clerk of said County, do hereby certify that E. C. Campbell Esquire, whose name is subscribed to the certificate & Journals [crossed out “of acknowledgment of”] annexed instrument in writing, was on the day of the date of the said certificate, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly elected and sworn and qualified by law to take the proof and acknowledgment of deeds, &c., and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice, and verily believe the signature to said certificate to be genuine. [crossed out “And that the annexed instrument is executed and acknowledged according to the laws of this State.”] 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said County, this 7th --- day of July --- in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four 
N B Milliman Clerk.
Page 41

State of Wisconsin
Sheboygan County ⎬ S.S.

Dorcas Vail being duly sworn according to law, on her oath says, that she resides in the Town of Lyndon in said County, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Jane Preston, and is sixty years of age according to the knowledge she had from her mother, and as always understood and believed by the deponent, having been born the 20th day of February 1794, in Cambridge Washington County, State of New York [following text underlined “(and that her age is so recorded in her own family record)”] that she is the Eldest child of the said Benjamin and Jane Preston, that her father died in Haldermand in the Province of Canada on or about the 17th day of August 1827, the deponent attended his funeral, that her mother Jane Preston is yet living in said County of Sheboygan and is still a widow, is unmarried, and has not been married since the death of her said husband.

The deponent is not interested in making this affidavit or in the claim of the said Jane Preston for a pension

Her mark [ hand drawn X] Dorcas Vail

Sworn & subscribed this 
9th, day of September 1854 
before me, and I certify 
the deponent is a credible 
person—
Charles E. Mooris
County Judge
Page 42

STATE OF WISCONSIN,
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, SS.
I, A. H. EDWARDS, Clerk of the COUNTY COURT for the County and State aforesaid, do HEREBY CERTIFY that Charles Morris Esq., whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of the proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument, and therein written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgement, an acting Judge of the County Court in and for the County of Sheboygan, duly elected and qualified, and authorized to take the same ; and further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Judge, and verily believe that the signature to said Certificate is genuine. 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County Court this 18th day of November A. D. 1854. 
A. H. Edwards CLERK.
Page 43

State of New York 
Washington County ⎬ 
John McKie being duly sworn says on his oath that he resides in the town of White Creek (formerly Cambridge) in said County where he was born on the first day of June 1789 and was sixty five years of age last June, that he was acquainted with Benjamin Preston and his family from early childhood, that he the said Preston was a tenent of this deponents father and resided in house owned by and near to this deponent father's residence, that said Prestons Eldest childrens names were, Ebenezer, Syrene, Martha and William, these were his children by his first wife, who died while this deponent was young, and this deponent does not recollect any circumstances attending her death This deponent recollects that William Preston was younger, and Ebenezer and Syrene were older than this deponent, that after the death of his wife Mr Preston married Jane Owen (who was usually called Jennie Owen) that their first child by this marriage was named Dorcase, the second Benjamin Owen after Mrs Prestons father This deponent has a perfect recollection of these children and the circumstances relating to the same, having been brought up together & attended the same schools with them, and labored on his fathers farm with them Although this deponent does not remember the death of Mr Prestons first wife, he does remember that with his earliest recollection, he understood and believed
Page 44

that the mother of the elder children died at the same house that they lived in afterwards, and that the family continued to reside upon the property of and labor for the father of this deponent, until he and his family moved from the place to the Province of Canada, some few years after the year 1800. It was well remembered and believed that Benjamin Preston, had been a revolutionary soldier, and at this day this deponent remembers well, the deep interest he felt in the history of the revolution and the Indian war which followed as related by Mr Preston, in which he participated, and this deponent never had any doubt of the facts he related, relating to the war, as he was a man of strict integrity, and good moral and Christian character. This deponent further says that he has his fathers family record, and that a sister of this deponent named Elisabeth was born September 18th 1793. and that the birth is recorded as follows, “Elizabeth McKie was born September 18th 1793.” and that the birth of this deponent is also recorded as follows “John McKie was born June 1st 1789” — and that it is the true record of the family as this deponent believes—
And this deponent further says that Dorcas Preston the first child of Jane Preston was born a short time after the birth of his sister Elizabeth, and he knows there could have been but a few months difference between their ages, they were infants
Page 45

together, and this deponent well remembers these facts, and having reference thereto and the recorded dates so far as regards his own family, he believes the said Benjamin Preston & Jane Owen were married in the year 1793, and now has no doubt of the fact, that he has no interest in making this affidavit, or in the claim of Jane Preston for a pension—
Sworn & subscribed this 
5th day of March 1855 
John McKie 

Before me—
Herman G Sharbe 
Justice of the Peace 

I also certify that the above deponent is a man of good character and a credible witness, also that I have examined the family record, referred to in the foregoing affidavit, that the extrats as above stated are truly copied therefrom, & I believe it is a genuine family record, & that I have no interest in the claim—
Herman G Sharpe 
Justice of Peace

STATE OF NEW-YORK,
WASHINGTON COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE SS.  
I do hereby certify that Herman R Sharpe, Esquire, whose name is subscribed to the Affidavit & Certificate hereto annexed, was on the 5th day of March 1855, the date thereof, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly elected, sworn and qualified by law to act as such and that the signature of said Justice subscribed thereto is genuine. 
WITNESS my hand and seal of said County this 17th day of March A.D. 1857 
N B Milliman Clerk.
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State of New York 
SECRETARY'S OFFICE
Albany Dec. 2d 1834. 
I certify that it appears from the Military Register of the New York Continental Line in the army of the Revolution, remaining in this office, that Benjamin Preston enlisted in Capt Swartwout Company in the Third Regiment on the 8th day of February 1779. To serve for three years, and mustered to the end of the war. 
A. G. Johnson 
Dep Sec of State,
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State of New York
SECRETARY’S OFFICE
Albany Dec. 2d 1834.
I certify that Benjamin Preston, a soldier in the Newport Continental Line of the Army of the Revolution, in Capt. Swartwout Company 3d Regiment, received bounty land from this State, and that Lot No. 80 in township No. 12 of the Military tract containing Six hundred acres was allotted to him, and a patent for the same was issued to him July 8. 1790, which is recorded in Book of Military patent No. 6 at page 2.

Given under my hand and seal of office at the City of Albany this 2d day of December 1834. 
A. G. Johnson 
Dep. Sec of State,
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES 
Form VAM-51
12 - 5 - 41  

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

NAME [handwritten “Preston, Benjamin”]

GRADE [handwritten “Private”]

LINE [handwritten “New York”] 

WARRANT NUMBER [handwritten “7626”]

ACREAGE [handwritten “100”]

ISSUED “[handwritten “Jan. 5, 1791 to— not shown—“]

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of “Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800” which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.