Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,029, for Benjamin Stacy, Massachusetts
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Service: Mass.
Stacy, Benjamin
Number: R. 10,029
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Mass.
Benjamin Stacey
10029

Hon. G. Grennell Jr
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
County of Franklin ss. 
On this third day of February A.D. 1835 personally appeared in open court before Richard E. Newcomb Esquire, Judge of the court of Probate within and for said County of Franklin, Benjamin Stacy a resident of New Salem in said county, aged seventy three 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 on the 7th day of June 1832. 
That he entered the army of the United States, the first of June 1778 as a substitute for William Knight, a private, and continued in the service as such substitute, until the first of May 1779, when the said Knight resumed his place in the army; and at roll call, always answering to the name of William Knight. 
When he entered the service, was a resident of New Salem county of Hampshire, State of Massachusetts. Marched first to Springfield, Mass, from thence in company with Lieutenant Aaron Holden & [blank] Carter, to Albany in the State of New York, joined a company commanded by Lieut. Thorp in the Regiment of continental troops commanded by Col. Alden, of which Regiment William Stacy was Lieut. Col. and [blank] Whiting Major. remained at Albany a few weeks, Marched from thence to Cherry Valley in the State of N.Y. where the Reg. was stationed, said Regiment was not attached to any Brigade during the time in which he was in service, as he recollects. Col. Alden was the senior officer in command at the post. He knew Captains Ballard, Reed, Warren, Day and Lane; Lieutenants Trowbridge, Buffington, Holden & Carter. 
On the eleventh day of November 1778, the post at Cherry Valley was attacked by the indians under the command of Brandt [Joseph Brant], in the
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battle. Col. Alden was killed, and Lieut. Col. Wm. Stacy, (who was the father of the present applicant), was taken prisoner, the place, [excepting?] the fort, was burnt, and most of the inhabitants slain or captivated [sic]. He never had a discharge, having left the service when said Knight, whose substitute he was, resumed it. He was born in said New Salem, and has resided there, principally since. 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state. 
[Signed] Benj Stacy 
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. 
[Signed] R. E. Newcomb Judge of Probate 

We Alpheus Harding, a clergyman, residing in the town of New Salem aforesaid and William Whitaker residing in the town of said New Salem, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Stacy who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we belive [sic] him to be seventy three years of age; that he is reputed and belived [sic] in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
[Signed] Alpheus Harding
[Signed] WIlliam Whitaker
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
R. E. Newcomb Judge of Probate 

And the said Judge doth hereby declare his 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
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Soldier, and served as he states. And the said Judge further certifies that it appears to him that it appears to him that Alpheus Harding who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of New Salem in said county; and that William Whitaker Esq. who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit 
[Signed] R. E. Newcomb Judge of Probate 

I Elijah Alvord, Register of Probate for the said county of Franklin do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said probate court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Stacy for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five.
[Signed]  E. Alvord Reg. Prob 

I certify that the foregoing proceedings were had at the time therein contained; that I was requested to return them in my office until other depositions should be produced in aid of the claim of the said Benjamin Stacy for a pension; that they with the deposition which I herewith transmit were mislaid in my office and could not be found until one day last week -- That Depositions in aid of said claim were afterwards produced, which I forwarded to the proper department at Washington through the Hon. Mr. Grennell, hoping that it would turn out that I had forwarded the original proceedings. I make this certificate to explain the case.
[Signed] E. Alvord Register of Probate for the county of Franklin
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Samuel Pearce's afft.
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I Samuel Pearce of New Salem in the county of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty three years, on oath testify and declare, that I lived in the neighbourhood of, and was well acquainted with Benjamin Stacy, of said New Salem in the year 1778, and have always known him since, and that said Stacy entered the service of the United States as a private solder sometime in the spring or early part of the summer of 1778, as a substitute for William Knight who had enlisted in the service in the previous year, and that the said Stacy was reputed to have remained in the service until said Knight again returned to the army, sometime in the spring of the year 1779 and that it was understood and believed that said Stacy was actually in the service for the time aforesaid, in the neighbourhood when he and I then lived.
[Signed] Samuel Pearce 
Subscribed and sworn to, before me, the fourth day of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty five.
[Signed] William Whiteker Justice of the peace 

I hereby certify that Samuel Pearce subscriber to the foregoing declaration, with whom I am well acquainted is a man of good character for truth, and is a disinterested witness. 
[Signed] William Whitaker, Justice of the peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss.  I Elijah Alvord Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Franklin do hereby certify that William Whitaker Esq before whom the foregoing and annexed affidavits purport to have been verified was at the several times of their date and still is a Justice of the Peace for said county duly commissioned and qualified, that full faith and credit are and ought to be given to his acts and attestations in his said office, and that his attestations to the captions of the said several affidavits are in due form and in his proper hand writing. 
Given under my hand and the seal of said court at Greenfield this third day of October A.D. 1835. 
[SEAL]
[Signed] E. Alvord Clerk
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Left side:
Benjamin Stacy 
E. Alvord Esq Clerk &c within named assures me and I doubt not the fact is so, that the within papers were duly returned to his office & by him overlooked until recently. The fault is probably his as he admits.  I have no reason to doubt the applicant is [alive?].
[Signed] Geo. Grennell Jr
M.C
June [?] 19 1835 
Geo Grennell Jr
M.C

Right side:
Upside down:
Hon. G. Grennell Jr

Crosswise:
Wm. Knight W. 31 Ma 77 -[illegible]
3 feb '80 dis [illegible] 80
Wm Knight 3 [illegible] Nov 76  om [?] 1 Jany 80
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I David Childs of New Salem in the County of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, aged seventy four years, on oath testify and declare, that Benjamin Stacy of said New Salem, was for a period of time in the service of the United States as a private soldier, but for how long a time, or in what year I cannot now recollect, but that I remember that it was in the same year in which Col. William Stacy, father the said Benjamin Stacy, was captured by the indians, and that this said Benjamin was then with his said father in the service, and was reported at the time escaped from the indians by running away from them, and further saith not. 
[Signed] David Childs 
Subscribed and sworn to before me the tenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and thirty five 
[Signed] William Whitaker Justice of the peace 

I hereby certify, that David Childs, subscriber to the foregoing declaration, with whom I am well acquainted sustains a good character for truth, and is a disinterested witness. 
[Signed] William Whitaker, Justice of the
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I Sally Felton of New Salem in the County of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, aged seventy three years, on oath testify and declare, that I was a near neighbor to, and was well acquainted with Benjamin Stacy of said New Salem, in the year 1778, and that I have been acquainted with him the said Stacy to this time, and that the said Stacy entered the service of the United States, (as a private soldier as I believe) in the winter or spring of 1778, as a substitute for William Knight, who had returned home from the service, and that the said Stacy remained in the service for some considerable time, but I cannot say how long. I know that it was in the year 1778 that the said Stacy went into the army, because I well remember that it was the year before I was married; and further saith not. 
Sally Felton (X her mark)
Subscribed and sworn to, before me, the tenth day of April one thousand eight hundred and thirty five. 
[Signed] William Whitaker Justice of the peace 

I hereby certify, that Sally Felton who has subscribed the foregoing declaration, with whom I am personally acquainted, sustain a good character for truth, and is a disinterested witness
[Signed] William Whiteker Justice of the peace
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Hon. G. Grennell Jr
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I Nymphus Stacy of Prescott in the county of Hampshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy one years, on oath testify & declare that Benjamin Stacy of New Salem in the County of Franklin, applicant for a pension under the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 - in the fore part of June 1778 left his home in New Salem to enter the army of the U.S. as a substitute for William Knight, who had enlisted for three years, and that he was absent, and I verily believe in said service, until the said Knight returned to the army in April or May 1779. 
[Signed] Nymphus Stacy 

Franklin S. February 2nd 1835. Then personally appeared Nymphus Stacy, and made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him subscribed, Before me, [Signed] William Whiteker Justice of the peace  

I hereby certify that the said Nymphus Stacy, with whom I am well acquainted, is a credible and disinterested witness. 
[Signed] William Whitaker, Justice of the peace 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Franklin ss. 
I Elijah Alvord, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Franklin do hereby certify that the above named William Whitaker Esq. is a Justice of the Peace for said county duly commissioned and qualified and that full faith and credit are & ought to be given to his acts and attestations in his said office and that the above attestations purporting to be his are done in his own proper hand writing. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court this fifth day of February A.D. 1835 
[Signed] E. Alvord Clerk
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Rejected
[recd?] Letter to Hon. G. Grennell
July 1836
Hon G Grennell Jr
July 9 1836
Same feby 17 1837
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10029
Benjamin Stacy
REJECTED
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July 5
JM-at. [?]
Hon Geo Grennell Jr

Crosswise:
James L. Edwards
Commr of Pensions
Washington
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Washington July 4 '36
J.L. Edwards Esq.

Sir
Since writing you, yesterday, I found that I had overlooked one of the papers in Benj. Stacy's case. It has been in my hands several months.
Please, reexamine the case with all the new evidence
Yours with Great respect
Geo. Grennell Jr
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Crosswise:
Benjn Stacey -
look for addl. evi.

[Postmark illegible, except "Greenfield"]
f[ree]
Hon George Grennell Jr
Member of Congress
Washington City
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Greenfield June 14, 1836 
Dear Sir
You will recollect that some months since I forward through you to the war department some evidence in aid of the claim of Benjamin Stacy for a pension and that it turned out that his claim had never been presented-- Those depositions were filed in the proper office to await the application. 
The original application was mislaid in my office and after much search I was never able to find it until last week. I have at length found the application and proceedings of the Probate Court and also a deposition which was at the time delivered to me. I forward them to your care. I have subjoined a certificate explaining the delay -- I hope the delay which has taken place will be no impediment to the consideration of the claim upon its merits. 
I should like to know what is the location of Mr Hooker, I mean particularly his delivery. I believe he is not to be settled at Park Street. 
Very respectfully yours 
[Signed] Elijah Alvord
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J.L. Edwards Esq
Comr Pensions

Sir
I have rec'd some papers in the case of Benjamin Stacy. Mr Alvords letter enclosed explains the cause of delay. His certificate is entitled to full confidence
I am Sir
respectfully yours
[Signed] Geo. Grennell Jr
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Crosswise:
Benjn Stacy July 5
Jm-at. [?]
look for addl. evic.
Hon G. Grennell Jr

James L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington