Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16,840, Preserved Betts, Mass.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
Mass.

Betts, Preserved
Elizabeth

NUMBER
W. 16,840

CONTENTS
Page 2

I Ruth Baldwin of Guilford of New Haven County and State of Connecticut do certify that I was present at the marriage of Preserved Betts and Elisabeth Elliot which took place in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety one (1791) on the 16th day of January  They were married a the house of Abigail Elliot who was the mother of sd. Elisabeth and widow of Wyllys  Elliot They were married by the Revd. Amos Fowler then Pastor of the first congregational Society of sd. Guilford

Ruth Baldwin
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4403
New York

Elizabeth Betts
widow of Preserved Betts
who died on the 31st Jany 1818.
of (blank) in the State of Mass.
who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Rathbun of the detatt. commanded by Major Hyde in the Mass. Militia Mass

Inscribed on the Roll of New York City at the rate of 50 Dollars ____Cents per annum, to commence on the 25. Decr 1843.

Certificate of Pension issued the 29. day of Aug
1846. and sent to Pensioner No 10. State Street NY

Arrears to the 4th of March 1846     $59.70
Semi annual allowance ending 4 Sep 25.00
                                                          _______
                                                          $84.70

Special Act 8th Aug 1846.

{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the}

Recorded by Mr Wood Clerk,

Book C  Vol. 1.  Page 107.

(Written sideway in right margin:)
Rolls of Capt Amos Rathbun's compy in Col Benjn. Simond's detacht. of Mass. [illegible]
from Decr. 16th. 1776 to Mar 23d, 1777 and from July 8th to 26th 1777 taken from the files in this case to be bound with the other mila. rolls of Mass. -
Page 4

Lydia Parmele's
Affidavit
Copy
of
Preserved Bett's
Pension -
Page 5

United States of America
Southern District of New York ss: Lydia Parmele being by me duly sworn deposith and makes oath, that she is wife of Roger Parmele of Flatbush, Kings County & State of New York, and daughter of Samuel C. Betts formerly of Richmond, Berkshire County and State of Massachusetts and sister of Preserved Betts formerly of Richman aforesaid, and who died at the home of this deponent in Orange County, according to the best of her recollection and belief, in the winter of 1818. And that she if now in the eightieth year of her age This deponent lived in the family of her father in Richmond aforesaid until her marriage in the year 1786, she then being about nineteen years old.  
The deponent well recollects that her brother Preserved, who was then unmarried and lived in his father's family, was during the Revolutionary war, several different times in the militia and marched with the militia to join the army, but this deponent cannot recollect in what year he was so in the Service, and how long he was in service at any one time, or how long all together, the particulars having been gone entirely from her memory, and this deponent had also other brothers who were in the army with the militia at various periods of the revolutionary war, - and being then a child she cannot well recollect, where or how long any one in particular of them served.
This deponent well remembers that her brother Preserved Betts was wounded whilst he was out in the service: she and the family first heard that he was shot by the Indians in a battle or skirmish somewhere, [illegible] to his frequent [illegible], not for from Saratoga and that he had been brought wounded to Albony and was placed in a hospital: She well recollects her father fitting up
Page 6

a covered waggen (wagon) (and has heard he had a feather bed in it also), to bring her brother home, but it has now escaped her memory whether he was then brought home or not: She well recollects his being at home at her father's house disabled with his wound, and lame and suffering for a long time, but she is unable now to say how long he was confined by his wound or what was the particular consequence of it to him, farther than that she remembers he continued quite lame for about five years, when the ball was cut out of the side of his leg near the calf - witness was in the room with him at the time: The ball had entered above his knee and nearly at the middle of his thigh: and then worked down to the calf of his leg: - 

This deponent is the only surviving member of her father's family, except one brother who is now a member of the Society of Shakers. & she cannot recollect the time he joined the Society, but it was sometime before she was married, and deponent has understood that her brother last referred to, says he knows no fact about the service of her brother Preserved.

The deponent further saith, that her said brother Preserved was married in the year 1791, and that his widow is now living and is in the 79th year of her age
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and destitute of property or means of support except by aid of her children and has almost entirely lost her eye sight.

Lydia Parmele

Subscribed and sworn to, by this Deponent, before me this 20th day of December 1865
Saml R Betts
[illegible] Judge
Page 8

29th CONGRESS,
1st Session.

Rep. No. 4583

Ho. of Reps.

ELIZABETH BETTS.
[To accompany bill H. R. No. 335.].

MARCH 27, 1846.

Mr. SEAMAN, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made the following
REPORT:
The Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of Eliabeth Betts, of the city of New York, report:

The petitioner states she is the widow of preserved Betts, who was a soldier of the Revolution, and offers in proof of such service, the affidavit of Lydia Parmlee, the sister of Preserved Betts, who swears positively that her brother was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, but cannot recollect the time he served; but she distinctly recollects that he was wounded while in the service, and was disabled by such wound five years: this affidavit is sustained by the affidavit of Roger Parmlee.  The marriage is satisfactorily proved.

The only question in this case is, how long the husband served.  Two pay rolls are produced, which show a period of actual service of four months.  This does not embrace a period of sickness occasioned by a ball wound, for which he was entitled to pay.  If two months are allowed for this, the petitioner is entitled to six months' service of her husband.  But the period from the commencement of one of these rolls to the termination of the other is seven months; to which add the two months for sickness, and the whole time for with he ought to be allowed is nine month.

The receipt signed by hem, with many other soldiers, on the 30th March, 1776,) is also produced, which furnishes some evidence that he was still in the army, and had been since the date of the first pay roll, (16th December, 1776,) a period o one year and three months.  The committee think that the evidence offered entitles the petitioner to a pension; and they therefore report a bill for her relief, granting her a pension, to commence the 25th day of December, 1843, at the rate of sixty dollars per annum.
Ritchie & Heiss, print.
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Petition of Mrs
Elizabeth Betts
H
Page 10

State of New=York
City & County of New=York ss: Elizabeth Betts of the City and State of New York an applicant for a pension under the laws of the United States being duly affirmed says that about the middle of January in the year one thousand seven hundred & ninety o-one she was married to Preserved Betts of the town of Waterford in said state at Guilford in the state of Connecticut; that the said Preserved Betts departed this life on the thirty first day of January one thousand eight hundred and eighteen - that the affirmant has remained since the said death unmarried and still continues the widow of the said Preserved Betts - and further the affirmant says not
Elisbeth Betts

Affirmed to before me this 28th day of September in the year 1844
Edw. W. Cone
Commr. of Deeds
City & County of New York
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STATE OF NEW-YORK,
CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK,} ss.

I, James Conner, Clerk of the City and County of New-York, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Edw W. Cone before whom the annexed deposition was taken, was, at the time of taking the same, a Commissioner of Deeds in and for said City and County, duly commissioned and sworn, and authorized by the laws of this State to take same; and that I believe the Signature of said commissioner thereunto subscribed is genuine.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said County, the 28 day of Sep 1844

James Conner Clerk.
Page 12

26 Aug 1846
Letter to Secy State &
Clk Ho of Rep 26 Aug
1846

(Written sideways on page:)
James L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C. -
Page 13

New York. Aug. 20th.. 1846

Mr. Edwards

Sir
Bu late act, my mother, Elizabeth Betts of New York City, widow of Preserved Betts, is entitled to a pension of $50 yearly, commencing 1843, three years back.  Mr. Irving having informed me that her name had not been transmitted, and having suggested the propriety of writing to you, will you do my mother the kindness to let her know, at her present residence No. 10 State Street New York City, by what made of application, she may have her name placed on the list here, of otherwise, realize the sum coming to her, and oblige, 
Yours, respectfully
Maria E. Betts

James L. Edwards, Esq.
Page 14

Rev 16,840
WIDOW, &c.

File No. 16840
Elizabeth Betts
widow of
Preserved Betts
Pri Rev War

Act: July 4th 36
Index: - Vol. A., Page 52

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 15

Town Clerks Office Guilford Dec 25th, 1843

This may certify that I have carefully examined the Records of this Town and cannot find the record of the marriage of Preserved Betts & Elizbeth Elliott, and I am confident, that there is no such record on the Books -
H.W. Chittenden
Town Clerk
Page 16

4403. Error

Massachusetts.
Elizabeth Betts, Widow of Preserved Betts, a Private in Captain Rathburn's company of the Mass. Militia, Maj. Hyde's detachment.

(Written sideways:)
Error
Error

Inscribed on the Roll of New York City at Fifty Dollars per year to commence on the 25th. December 1843. - 

Certificate of Pension issued the 29. of August 1846. - and sent to this
Pensioner, No 10.
State Street, New York.

Arrears to 4th of March 1846 -     59.70
Semi=anl. all'ce ending 4th Sept.  25.~
                                                      ______
                                                     $84.70

Act of the 8th August 1846.

Book 10, Vol. 1 Page1


Repd.

No
Elizabeth Betts
NY
Letter to Hon. F. Bringle 8. Jan. 1865

on Roll Act of 1836.
Page 17

Elizabeth Betts, widow of Preserved Betts Private of Cat. Amos Rathburn's company of Massachusetts militia, Major C. Hyde's detachment.

Place on roll among 4' July '36 Pensions.

$50 per annum commencing 25 December 1843.

Act August 8. 1846

New York City - 
Roll

Sent: to the Pensioner at
No. 10 State Street
New York
Page 18

HR - 335
Elizabeth Betts
Page 19

United State of America

Southern District of New York ss:  Roger Parmele, now of Flatbush, County of Kings and State of New York, being duly sworn, doth depose and say, that he is now in the eightieth year of his age, and that whilst a boy he resided with his parents in Richmond Berkshire county and Stat of Massachusetts; That he well recollects that alarm created in that neighborhood at the approach of Burgoyne's army during the Revolutionary war, and that there was a general call for all able bodied men in the militia to turn out and join the American forces: At that time Preserved Betts, about five years older than deponent, resided in said Richmond with his father and was a near neighbor to this deponent: This deponent knew him well and continued  intimately acquainted with him
Page 20

to the time of his death, which was about
the year 1818. according to the best of deponent's recollection and belief.

That the said Preserved Betts at the time
turned out with the militia and marched to join
the American army under Genl Schuyler: This
deponent cannot recollect how long he was absent, but well remembers that news came to
Richmond that said Betts had been wounded in an engagement with the Indians, near
the two armies and that his Father went for him and that he was brought home disabled with a gun shot in his thigh, and that the ball was extracted from the calf of his leg, about five years after his return home: -

This deponent at the time heard all the particulars of the fight and the names of officer in command but has now forgotten his name: he was informed at the time and believes
said Betts was ordered out on a picket guard, about a
Page 21

mile from the American camp, with twenty-four other men under the command of a Lieutenant: They were stationed at a log house, near a spot of woods, and on an alarm from a sentry that Indians were approaching, the guard turned out and was immediately attacked by a body of about four hundred Indians; and twenty two out of the twenty five militiamen were immediately cut down; said Betts and a militia man by the name of Burt (also from Richman, and the Lieutenant ran - the Lieutenant was shot down in a few minutes, but Betts and Burt escaped by leaping down a bank into bushes, and running till they met the reinforcements marching up, when Betts fainted, and was carried to the Hospital, where he lay till taken home by his father: He received his would after he leaped down the said bank. - This deponent about nine years afterwards married the sister of said Betts, which has kept him always well acquainted with said Betts.
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Said Betts left at his decease his widow, Elizabeth Betts, now nearly eighty years old, and now living in the City of New York, having never married again: He also left two daughters, who are also now living and unmarried.
Roger Parmele

Sworn this 29th day of December AD 1843 before me 
Saml R Betts
Judge of the United States for the Southern District of New York 

(Written sideways at bottom of page:)
Parmele
affidt.
Page 23

Elizabeth Betz
Documents relating
to the case of
pension

Jany 11th 1845
[illegible] on Revy
pension

Dec 17. '45 Rev. Pensions

March 27. 1846. Bill 335



W W Campbell
Rev War
Page 24

I E Edwin Hall Pastor of the first Congregational church and Society in Guilford in New Haven County and State of Connecticut and Keeper of the Records thereof do certify that Such past of the Said records as were made previous to the year one thousand eight hundred (1800) among which were those of the Revd. Amos Fowler formerly Pastor of Sd. church and Society are lost and that no records of a previous date to that above mentioned are in my keeping or in the keeping of any other person to my knowledge
E. Edin Hall

State of Connecticut}
New Haven County} ss Guilford
Be it known that on the 25th day of December AD 1843 before me Alvah B Goldsmith Notary public in and for the State of Connecticut Personally appeared E Edwin Hall known to me as the Pastor of the first Congregational church and Society in Sd. Guilford and made Solemn oath to the truth of the above certificate by him Subscribed in my presence
In testimony whereof I have hereunto Subscribed my my name and affixed my Seal of office on the day and year above written
Alvah B Goldsmith
Notary public
Page 25

I Reuben Elliot of Guilford in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut do hereby certify that I was present at the marriage of Preserved Betts of Richmond in the State of Massachusetts and Elisabeth Elliot of Sd. Guilford. They were married in Sd. Guilford at the House of her mother Abigail Elliot widow of Wyllis Elliot in the winter of the year one thousand Seven hundred and ninety one (1791) the month and day of the month I do not recollect
Reuben Elliott

State of Connecticut}
County of New Haven} ss Guilford
Be it known that on the 25th day of December AD 1843 before me Alvah B Goldsmith of Sd. Guilford a Notary Public in and for the State of Connecticut Personally appeared Henry W Chittenden well known to me as Town-Cleark of Sd. Town of Guilford Reuben Elliot and Ruth Baldwin all well known to me as persons of good reputation for truth & veracity, and made Solemn oath to the truth of the above and annexed certificates by each of them Severally Subscribed in my presence

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Subscribed my name and affixed my Seal of office on the day and year above written
Alvah B Goldsmith
Notary Public
Page 26

John W. Gilbert
Affidt.
I
Page 27

John W. Gilbert of the city of Washington Dist. of Columb. being duly sworn deposes & says, tht the papers herewith submitted. viz, 1. a Pay Roll from which it appears that Preserved Betts received pay from the 8th. July to the 26th. same 1777. 2. a receipt dated 30th. March 1778. of pay for same time 3d. a list signed among others by Preserved Betts of Payment in part for service from 16 Dec. 1776 to 22. Mar. 1777. 4th. a receipt in full for the same period. 5th. a pay roll for the same time. 6th a muster roll in which his name appears dated at Ticonderoga Feb. 25. 1777. were found by him a year ago last September among the papers of some revolutionary soldiers who had joined the Shakers in Berkshire County Mass. These persons were drawing pensions & had preserved many papers relating to military matters in that part of the county
Page 28

There were no regular files, nor were they in any regular order, but he was allowed to select such as related to Mr Betts from a confused & imperfect solution.

The want of these and other papers has prevented & earlier application for a pension.

this Deponent further says, that in 1824 he married a niece of Said Preserved Betts and that since that tie & for some years before he has been intimate in the family & with the relatives of the said Betts. - That it has always been a tradition in said family, which has never, to his knowledge been denied or debated. that in early life said Preserved Betts was a soldier in the revolutionary army and was severely wounded and that he remained at home for three or four months sick with his would, & then went out again, & joined the army.  That he served as a soldier more than two years. This he has repeatedly heard from different members of the family - Especially
Page 29

from his wife's father, brother of said Betts (who was engaged as a soldier more than a year) & who is now dead
John W. Gilbert

Sown to, before me this 22d. Dec. 1845, 
D.A. Hall
Commissioner of Deeds
Page 30

An act for the relief of Elizabeth Betts of the City of New York.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War [illegible] and he is hereby, authorized and required to place the name of Elizabeth Betts on the revolutionary pension roll at the rate of fifty dollars per annum, for fifteen months service of her husband Preserved Betts; and that her pension commence the twenty-fifth December, eighteen hundred and forty-three.
Approved August 8, 1846.

Department of State
August 25th 1846.

I certify that the above is a true copy of "an act for the relief of Elizabeth Betts of the city of New York, "transcribed from and compared with the original roll on file in this Department
N.P. Tritt Chief Clerk
Page 31

N. 11,569
Elizabeth Betts
widow of Preserved
NY
act of July 1838


(Written upside-down on page:)
Col J. L. Edwards
Comr. of Pensions
Page 32

House Rep. Jany 4th '45

D Sir

The enclosed papers, it seems to me,
shew that Mrs. Elizabeth Betts, widow of
Preseved (Preserved) Betts is entitled to a pension. Will you be kind enough to Examine the same & inform me whether she is entitled to a pension. If she is not, you will return the enclosed papers to me -

Your Obt sevt
Frances Brengle


Col J. L. Edwards
Comr. of Pensions