Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15665, for Benjamin Stevens, Connecticut
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[form number] (S–1776)
[Header row] SERVICE |  | NUMBER
[Row 1] Conn. | Stevens, Benjamin | S. 15665
[Row 2] Continental |  | 
carded
CONTENTS
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Connecticut 27.955
Benjamin Stevens of Litchfield in the State of Conn who was a Dept Comy [superscript [Issues]] in the Company commanded by Captain Stevens of the Rg commanded by Burrall in the Con [[subscript] & Continental] line for 2 years 
assistant 
Dept Court (?) of Issues –
$400 – 
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 320 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of Sept 34 and [illegible] Wm M. Burrall, South Canaan Cn 
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 34   1126 - 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 (?) Mar 35.  160 –
---
[sum total] $1280
---
{ Revolutionary Claim, }
{ Act June 7, 1832. }
[torn page corner, text missing] Recorded State R [illegible] Clerk, 
[torn page corner, text missing] C2 Vol. 3 Page 39 –
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District of Connecticut ss. County of Litchfield, County Court. 
On this 5th day of July 1820 personally appeared in open Court, being a court of RECORD for said county in said district, having the power to fine and imprison Benjamin Stevens aged sixty six years resident in Canaan in said county, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: 
That he enlisted in Canaan aforesaid in the month of February 1776 into the company of Capt John Stevens & Regiment commanded by Col Charles Burrall in the Connecticut line on the continental establishment in the years service to commence on the first day of [illegible] February & that with [illegible] company joined the northern army in Canada at Montreal & that he was taken prisoner by the British & Savages & after being released from captivity and procuring clothing (for the savages had left the prisoners nearly naked) he joined the Regt on Mount Independence & he helped built the Fort on [illegible] Mount & that he served until his time of service expired & left the service with [illegible] Company on the first day of February 1777 that (?) he also served in the Militia about seven weeks in the autumn of 1777 that he also served as scalesman from the 6th day of March 1777 to the 15th day of November with Nathanial Stevens assistant commissary of issues & from the 15th day of Nov 1778 to the 31st day of March 1780 he served as Clerk to Hiland Hall assistant commissary of issues to the 1st Connecticut Brigade Commanded by Samuel H Parsons Brigadier General. I was then appointed of [illegible (assisting?)] commissary (?) to the Brigade where I served until had liberty (of... Col. Return?) Meigs who then commanded the Brigade to repair to Fishkill where I served as assistant Commissary of issues from the 17th day of April 1780 to the 31st day of April 1781. I was then ordered to Hartford in Connecticut to take charge of the Magazine & issuing store of provisions where I served untill 31st day of August 1782 (the whole time of Revolutionary service being more than five years and a half.) My original declaration was made on the 24th day of August 1818 before his Honor Judge Pettibone & my certificate for a pension was dated May 17th 1819 - the number is 10.725.– 
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provision of an act of Congress entitled ""An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War,” passed on the 18th day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property, or securities, contracts or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
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Schedule

[Table, left side, columns 1 and 2]
Our cow -------------------$17-00
5 lambs ---------------------2-50
2 swine ----------------------4-00
1 Brass kettle ----------------2-00
1 Iron Dº ---------------------1-00
1 Dish Dº --------------------"-50
1 High [illegible] -------------"-25
1 small kettle ----------------"-25
1/2 crosscut Saw ------------2-00
1 copper (?) [illegible]--------"-34
2 small old chains -----------"-50
1 chairs ---------------------1-50
2 Tables --------------------1-75
2 chests --------------------"-75
2 old Hogsheads ------------"-84
10 - Dº barrels --------------2-50
4 Dº [illegible] ---------------"-34
1 flax Hatchet ----------------1-50
2 [illegible] old andirons ------1-00
2 Dº Dº [illegible]--------------"-50
1 tin milk pan [pail?] -----------"-34
old pewter basins & platters --1-50
Dº [illegible] pan -------------"-75
Dº foot wheel ----------------"-75
______________________________
[total of column 2]                $44"36


[Table, right side, columns 3 and 4]
1 Iron bar -------------------------$2-00
1 Dº – pot -------------------------1-00
6 tea cups & saucers & sugar bowl "-40
7 old silver tea spoons ------------1-50
6 knives & forks -------------------"-25
1 qt Decanter ----------------------"-50
1 pt Glass -------------------------"-12
1 half pt Dº ------------------------"-08
1 Earthen platter ------------------"-12
8 Dº plates -----------------------"-48
9 small Dº ------------------------"-20
7 pewter table spoons ------------"-42
sundry old books -----------------2-50
2 Bath(?) Rings--------------------"-25
1 Storm (?) [illegible] --------------1-00
1 Draw knife -----------------------"-20
6 glass bottles ---------------------"-50
1 Iron basin ------------------------"-50
1 Dº tea kettle ---------------------"-50
9 Harrow [illegible] ----------------1-43
Tin pails ---------------------------"-58
6 Tin basins -----------------------"-67
___________________________________
[total of column 4]                           $15"20
[total of column 2]                             44"36
___________________________________
[sum total]                                           59"56

George A Iver } Apraisers 
Augustus P Pease } under oath 
Litchfield County ss Canaan June 29th 1820 
Personally appeared George A Iver & Augustus P Pease & made solemn oath that he would appraise such property as should be shown to them by Benjamin Stevens of said Canaan according to its time & just value in money before me Nathl Stevens Justice of Peace 
One of my sons owns a piece of land near where I live that was last year appraised at $135 and since I received my pension certificate he has given the use of it to his eldest sisters to assist them in supporting their aged parents during life - I have a deed of a piece of land in Vermont given to indemnify me for receipting property to the Sheriff and Constables & other sums I had paid for William Kingsbury including notes I had undersigned for Sd. Kingsbury to the amount of six hundred seventy one dollars & eight cents all of which debt I have paid out of what little property I then possessed except what is hereafter mentioned (the last payment I made was in May 1817) on the tenth of Decr. 1814 there was due to Joseph Battell Esqr which I had signed for Sd. Kingsbury which is now in two executions against me
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besides Interest & cost --------------- $104-18 
A note due Col. Abram Burtt which I undersigned for said Kingsbury which on the first day of Jany 1815 was ----- 8-00 
A Note due Saml Robbins which I undersigned for Sd Kingsbury including Ints. to Sd. 1st day of Jany 1815 ----- 23-60 
Also a Note which I undersigned for said Kingsbury in favour of Benajah Douglass Esq. which is in execution against me besides Int. & last since Jany 1st 1815 about ----- 146-00
Also a note in favour of Elijah Rockwell for which I am bound for said Kingsbury which is in execution against me besides interest & cost which was due on Jany 31st 1817 ----- 44-94
The interest on the above dates(?) amounts to something more besides cost ----- 102-00 
––––––––––––
[total] $428"72

The most I have had a prospect for selling said land is for ----- 427-00 
& cannot get such pay as the creditors will take ----- 59.56 
––––––––––––
[total] 486.56

I was brought up to work on a farm & has always been my employ when able to labour except sometimes I have worked at Brick making & lime burning but am now unable to labour of consequence I was not able to chop my wood at the door the winter past but part of the time the most I have done the spring & summer is taking care of a small garden I have been troubled with the Rheumatism more or less for these fifteen years past– My family consists of myself & wife a feeble woman in her sixty fourth year We live in a small house belonging to our two eldest daughters their names are Daphne & Jane Stevens (both single women) the eldest is almost 37 years of age the other in her 35th year Sometimes one Daughter & sometime the other live at home to assist their mother & when one is at home the other is generally at work out by the week.– My children have helped me all they are able without distressing themselves I have paid my daughters not anything for the use of their house which we have lived in more than 9 years past.– 
Benjamin Stevens
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The deposition of Seth Andrews of Canaan in Litchfield County & State of Connecticut of Lawful age is as follows that I have for some years past had the care in part of disposing of a farm in Charlotte in the State of Vermont containing two hundred & sixteen acres of land and formerly belonging to William Kingsbury, forty two acres of which land belongs to Benjn [Benjamin] Stevens of Canaan aforesaid and that we have offered the whole of said farm for the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ready pay which sum we have not been able to obtain for it & further the deponent saith not. 
Seth Andrews 
Sworn before me this 5th day of July 1820 
Nathl [Nathaniel] Stevens Justice of Peace 
Sworn to and declared on the 5th day of July A. D. 1820 before said Court 
Frederick Wolcott, Clerk

I, Frederick Wolcott, Clerk of the County Court, in the county of Litchfield, and State of Connecticut, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court, that the total amount in value of property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is four hundred eighty six dollars and 56 cents. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this 17th day of July 1820 [strikethrough [Clerk of the County Court for the County of Litchfield]] 
Frederick Wolcott, Clerk

[It appears there may have been a seal affixed to the bottom left corner of the page]
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State of Connecticut ⎬ Court of Probate County of Litchfield ⎬ District of Sharon- 
On this 9th day of June AD 1834 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate within and for the District of Sharon now sitting Benjamin Stevens a resident of the Town of Canaan in the district of Sharon County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut aged Eighty 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 7th 1832. 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated. 

I was born in the Town of Canaan aforesaid on the 25th day of June AD 1754 and continued to reside with my Father in said town untill the month of February 1776 when I enlisted in a company in the Continental service Connecticut line commanded by Captain John Stevens and in a Regiment commanded by Col Charles Burrall and with this company & regiment I joined the northern army at Montreal, was taken a prisoner, and after being released again joined the army at Mount Independence and served untill [crossed out: his] my years service had expired and was discharged in February 1777. For this service I now receive a pension from the United States of Ninety six dollars per annum in conformity with the law of Congress of the 18th of March AD 1818, after this I served seven weeks in the militia in the Autumn of 1777 and also in 1778 as an assistant in the Commissary department. And on the 13th day of April AD 1780 I was appointed Assistant Commissary of Issues, in the Middle department, and was then attached to Gen. Parson's brigade, and was stationed at Westfield in the State of New Jersey, and soon after was ordered to Fish Kill on the Hudson river, and was attached to the army then lying at West Point under the command
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of Genl Arnold. I continued at Fish Kill in the performance of my duties as an Assistant Commissary untill about the first day of May AD 1781 when I was ordered to Hartford in Connecticut where I continued in the service untill the 31st day of August 1782 at which time I was discharged and this discharge. I delivered to Jonathan Burrall a - Commissioner appointed by Congress to settle the accounts of Commissaries and for this and other vouchers I [illegible due to ink spot] said Burrall Rect. dated February 27th 1786 and wh [illegible due to ink spot] is hereto annexed together with my Commission and other papers as proof of my service 
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present which I claim for my services as an assistant Commissary and I declare that my name is not on the pension roll of any State only on that of the agency of the State of Connecticut 
Benjamin Stevens 
Sworn to, and subscribed. the day and year aforesaid 
William M. Burrall Judge of Probate 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. 
And this Court after having examined the several written instruments hereunto annexed, and heard the evidence offered in support of the same. Doth find that the Commission of the applicant, and the several Receipts and letters annexed to this Declaration are genuine, and original documents, and that they were written, and executed at the time when they purport to bear date, and that they were signed the several persons whose names are as subscribed to the ^ same. This Court doth therefore receive the said several writings as evidence, in support of this declaration of the applicant and doth order the same to be annexed thereto. And I further Certify that the applicant sustains a fair character & is a credible Witness. 
William M. Burrall Judge of Probate
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I William P Burrall, Clerk of the Court of Probate within and for the District of Sharon in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of this application of Benjamin Stevens for a pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 9th day of June AD 1834 
William P Burrall, Clerk
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Rev. War Section. 
April 13, 1916.
Mr. Edward Barnes, 
Office of the Collector, 
Customs Service, New York. 
Sir: --  In response to your letter dated the fourth instant, you are furnished the history of the only Benjamin Stevens of the Connecticut troops, found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau. 
Sur. File No. 15,665 Rev. War, Benjamin Stevens was born June 25, 1754 at Canaan, Litchfield County, Connecticut, where he resided when he enlisted February 1, 1776, as Fourth Sergeant in Captain John Stevens' company, Colonel Charles Burrall 's regiment, joined the Northern Army under Arnold in Canada; he was captured at the battle of The Cedars and held prisoner nine days, rejoined his regiment at Mount Independence, and served until his year expired on February 1, 1777. In the fall of 1777, he served seven weeks in the Militia, no officers mentioned. 
He next entered the Commissary Department and served from March 6, 1778 to November 15, 1778, under Nathaniel Stevens, Assistant Commissary of Issues; from November 15, 1778 to March 31, 1780, under Highland Hall, Issuing Commissary to the
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First Connecticut Brigade; from April 13, 1780 to April 30, 1781, as Assistant Commissary of Issues of the Middle Department, to the First Brigade; and from April 30, 1781 to August 31, 1782, he was in charge of the Magazine and Issuing Store of provisions at Hartford, Conn. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 24, 1818, at which time he was a resident of Canaan aforesaid. In 1820, he referred to his wife .... in her sixty-fourth year and two eldest daughters Daphne about thirty-seven years Jane in her thirty-fifth year, both single. Soldier died April 3, 1838, leaving five children his only heirs; two sons and three daughters, Richard P. Stevens, Arthur Stevens and Delia Burt (Bent?), only names stated. 
Very respectfully, 
G M Saltzgaber
Commissioner. 

Stevens-2.
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Stevens, Benj.
Conn. S15665
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[Two pages side by side]
[Page on left side - edges are torn so some text is missing]
27,955 (?)Benjamin Stevens, dec 
Litchfield in the State of Connecticut 
an Asst. Commissary in the company comma[nded] 
[Benjam]in Stevens of the regt. comman[dedby]
Burrall in the Connt. & Continental 
for 2 years. & Continental
_____
Enscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 600 Dollars –– Cents per annum 
Increased from $480. 
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. & terminating 3d April 1838, when he died 
_____
[Ce]rtificate of Pension issued the 10th day of June 1842 and sent to A. Ray Present 
_____
[Ar]rears to the 4th 
Semi-anl. allowance ending
[pa]yable to Richard P. Stevens }
[adm]inistrator of said deceased }

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}
[Rec]orded by D. Brown Clerk, 
E. 2 Vol. 3. Page 40 
whole amount of the payments heretofore to be deducted. 

[Page on right side]
Reported 
Dead. 
Paid at the Treasury 
the act of April 6th 1838 [illegible, text missing] fro 
March 1838 to April 8th 1838 
[No]tified July 21st 1842 
Hon Chas E. Stuart, 
March 13/58.
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Stevens, Benj.
Conn. S15665
Page 15

I Frederick Wolcott, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, or County Court within the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut certify that William M. Burrall and Nathaniel Stevens, Esquires, both of Canaan in said County, now are, and for three years last past have been Justices of the Peace within said County, legally commissioner and qualified as appears by the Commissions of the Civil authority of said County lodged with the files of said County – Witness my hand and the Seal of said Court at Litchfield in said County at twenty seventh day of May AD 1823. 
Frederick Wolcott, Clerk
Page 16

Benjamin Stevens 
Sur File 15665 

An order signed Charles Stewart, Commissary Gen. of Issues, dated New Windsor May 31. 1781, addressed to Benj. Stevens A.C. of Issues has been removed from this case to be forwarded to the War Department 
AW 
Dec. 30. 1908 
Sent to War Dept. Jan. 16, 1913
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Benjamin Stevens Con. 320$ when last paid. Act 7 June '32 
[signature/initials [GMC]?]
Died 3d April 1838 /0% that period
JH
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Payment to be made at Hartford, 
by A. H. Pomroy Esqr 
Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of Connecticut 
Amount due on this certificate paid at the Agency 
3d Audition Offc 
June 9th 1842. 
Benj Stevens [illegible]
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book E2 Vol. 3 
Page 40 by Theo L Moody Clerk.
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WAR DEPARTMENT. 
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM. 
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 7th of June 1832: Benjamin Stevens, deceased, of Connecticut, who was an Assistant Commissary was entitled to receive Four Hundred and Eighty dollars per annum, during his natural life commencing on the 4th March 1831, but having died on the third day of April Eighteen and thirty eight, the amount due up to that time is payable to Richard P. Stevens Administrator of the Estate of said Benjamin Stevens deceased. 
Former payments at the rate of Three hundred and twenty dollars per annum to be deducted. 
This certificate is issued in lieu of one dated the third day of January Eighteen Hundred forty two which is cancelled. 
Given at the War Office of the United States, this Fifteenth day of January one thousand eight hundred and forty two.
[seal at bottom left]
Examined and }
Countersigned. }
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Hartford Ct 
Jan 12, 42 
Letter of A. H. Pomroy giving notice of application without report of the case by Mr Addison 

Jan 15, 1842
Benj. Stevens decd.
[illegible]
[illegible] to pay

J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
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Pension Agency 
Hartford January 12. 1842 
Sir
The Administrator on the estate of Benjamin Stevens decd late a pensioner under the Act of 7th June 1832 as assistant Commissary, has this day applied for payment of an increase of pension on a new certificate 
Instructions from your Department authorizing the increase have not been received at this Agency 
I am Very Respectfully 
Your Obt. Servant 
AH Pomroy Agt.
J L Edwards Esq 
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington
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WAR DEPARTMENT. 
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.  
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 7th of June 1832. Benjamin Stevens decd of Connecticut who was an Assistant Commissary was entitled to receive Four hundred and Eighty dollars per annum during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March Eighteen hundred and thirty one and having died on the third day of April Eighteen hundred and thirty eight, the amount due up to that date is payable to Benjamin P. Stevens, Administrator of said deceased. Former payments at the rate of three hundred and twenty dollars per annum to be deducted. 
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 3d day of January [missing text]
Page 23

James L Edwards Esq.
Com of Pensions

June 6. 1842
Benj. Stevens decd

A Ray
Pred
Page 24

Washington
June 6. 1842
Sir
I have taken the liberty to enclose a letter you wrote me May 29. 1841. With the hope, you will give the case of Benj. Stevens further examination before your decision is made up. I think you will find that Lippett and Stevens served the same years as assistant commissary of Issues:
I respectfully ask a return of the letter enclosed and am very respectfully 
Your Obt. Serv.
Alex. Ray

J. L Edwards Esqr
Page 25

James L. Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions
War Department

Apl 21. 1842
Benj. Stevens

A. Ray
Pres
Page 26

Washington April 20. 1842 
Sir,
I have this moment received your letter yesterday in the case of Benj Stevens decd late of Connecticut your State " as most of the assistant Commissaries of Issues - appointed from the State of Connecticut received $40 in specie it was believed that the department would be justified in allowing his pension to be paid at that rate" and, "[an?] additional allowance can be granted unless it be clearly shown that he was in the receipt or more than $40 per month in specie while in service." 
I would beg to state, since Oct. 1840, I have been in correspondence with the Messr Stevens of Connecticut upon the subject of this claim. On the receipt of the first letter I obtained all the information the Washington papers could afford, as to the appointment and duration of the service of Benj Stevens as an assistant Commissary of Issues. He served under Saml Gray Dep. Commissary [illegible] of Issues. Under John Frith and one of the other [illegible] Com Generals - and had supposed such evidence had been furnished in support of the claim. But should [illegible]  not, from your letter, when you state, "Most of the assistant commissary of Issues appointed from Connecticut received $40 a month." Altho Ben Stevens may have been appointed from Connecticut, I can state that, his name appears among the [request?] appointed issuing commissions under Samuel Gray and other Dept. Comr. Generals in the State Department, and regularly returned with the names of Five other assistants whose cases you admitted for me for $600. per annum within the last 18 mo. You made no objection to the full allowance except, in the case of Reuben Stiles of Connecticut, who. service was not two years; but your being furnished by the State Department of the time has performed as assistant commissary of Issues the pension was rated accordingly. 
The five which have been allowed all served under Dept Commissary Saml Gray and were regularly returned with
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Benj Stevens as assistants. The latter, with other performed duty in different Brigades, some in the County other in the Mags[?] line. 
I can not conceive, therefore, why, unless because you have not the appointment of Benj Stevens before you, He is refused the same allowance extended to other Issuing Commissaries who performed the same service - at the same time - from the same state - and under the same Deputy Commissary General of Issues,-.
For this evidence, will you be so so kind as to request of the Secretary of State, a research to be made of the appointment and services of Benj Stevens as an assistant Issng Commiss. I am very respectfully your Obt. Serv. Alex. Ray 

James L. Edwards Esqr.
Court of Pensions
Page 28

James. L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Apl 1. 1842
Benj Stevens
[illegible] for increase.
Page 29

Washington 
April 1. 1842
Sir/ 
I have just received, the enclosed application, with a letter from Richard P. Stevens administrator upon the estate of his Father, who appears to have been a pensioner during his life time under Act 1832. on the Connecticut roll, at the rate of $320. Mr Stevens further states, through the Hon. Truman Smith of the House of Representations the pension has been increased to $480 per annum. But he is not satisfied with such a disposition, and now ask a further increase at the rate of $600. Will you be pleased to have the further allowance made. I am very respectfully Alex. Ray 
J. L. Edwards Esq. Court of Pensions
Page 30

State of Connecticut }
Litchfield County } 
On this 28th day of March 1842 personally appeared before me John Elmore Jnr. a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid Richard P Stevens a resident of Canaan in sd County who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath state that he is one of the surviving children and the administrator upon the Estate of Benjamin Stevens late of sd. Canaan deceased who was a pensioner of the United States under the act 7th June 1832 at the rate of three Hundred and twenty dollars per annum on the Connecticut roll for his revolutionary services as an assistant Commissary of Issues and died on the 3d day of April 1838.– Now the object of this application being made is in order to obtain through my Agent W. Alex Ray an increased rate of pension at the rate of six hundred dollars per annum and the payment of arrears [illegible] on from the 4th March 1831 March up to the 3d day of April 1838 the period of my Father said Benjamin Stevens death in lieu of the recent augmentation at the rate of four hundred and eighty dollars and all other claims to a pension or annuity except the present is hereby relinquished 
Sworn to and subscribed to on the day and year above written 
Before me Richd P Stevens Admistrator John Elmon Jnr. Justice of Peace
Page 31

TRES
J. L. Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions
City Washington D. C.

Mar 12. 1842
Mr Evans
Page 32

Sir 
Yours of the 21st Febry has been received in which you say that it appears from the Books of the Third Auditor of the Treasury that there is due Arthur Stevens and Delia Burt two of the Children of Benjamin Stevens decd $5.33. each and that the same is payable at the Treasury under the act of the 6th April 1838 you also say that the enclosed printed instruction should be strictly complied with. and I presume those instructions you intended to have sent me but they were omitted and I am ignorant of their nature – you will confer a favour by forwarding them. immediately 
Yours Respectfully 
Canaan C.5 March 1842 
Richd P. Stevens
J. L Edwards Esq. 
New
Page 33

Canaan A Thu(?)[illegible]
Feb 11
J L Edwards Esq.
Commission of Pensions
Washington (City)

Feb 14
Mr Evans
Page 34

Sir
Some three years since there was on allowance made at the pension office of $25 to the heirs of Benjamin Stevens deceased a pensioner at the rate of $320, and the money paid at the pension agency in Hartford 3/5 of which was drawn out and the remaining 2/5 I am informed by M. Pomroy Pension agent has been accounted back to the Pension Office and consequently a new certificate wanted. Please forward on– Canaan CT. 9th Feby 1842 
Yours [illegible]
Richd. P. Stevens Administrator

J L Edwards Esq
Page 35

Jan 15. 1842
Benj. Stevens decd.
Cert into [?][illegible] for correction
Mr Addison

J L Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington

Canaan Cont
Jany 12, 1842
Letter of Richard P. Stevens correcting the enclosing certificate sent by Mr Addison
Page 36

Canaan January 12. 1842 
Sir
In the certificate of pension herewith transmitted an error has arisen by the insertion of the name of Benjamin P. Stevens instead of Richard P. as administrator on the estate of the Pensioner - will you please cause the necessary alteration to be made and return the same to me directed to Canaan Comit. 
I am Very Respectfully 
Your Obt. Servt.
Richd. P. Stevens
J L Edwards Esq 
Commissioner of Pensions Washington
Page 37

Benj. Stevens decd
Look for Nathl Stevens case
A Ray
Prest
May 12. 1842.
Page 38

Memorandum. 
On the 26 Oct 1840, Nath. Stevens of Canaan Con. informed me, that "his Father Nath. Stevens was a Deputy Commissary of Issues, his mother the widow of Nath. was under the rect of a pension at $464 per anum, And Benj. Stevens was one of his assistants, my father if I mistake not was paid $104 per mo, and the assistants under him was paid 60 $ per mo." and added the had forwarded his father papers generally to your office with his mothers application. 
On the 23d Oct 1840, Richard P. Stevens (the applicant) wrote me, "his father was appointed in April 1780. and was paid up to the 31 Aug 1782. at the rate of 60$ p [text missing] 
Assistant Com Henry Grigg of Connt wrote [missing text] he served under Nath Stevens D.C.S. and recd 60$ per mo. his case you admitted for me on the 11 June last. $600 
Asst. Commissary William Shute of the City of New York informed me orally, he was paid 60$ pr mo. and served under Nath Stevens D.C.S.. his case you admitted in 1833. for 600$ 
Will you be pleased to examine the papers of
Page 39

Mr Nath. Stevens under Act 1838. Your views may then be in form of the allowance asked.
Page 40

FREE
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissr of Pensions
Washington D.C

NORFOLK
DEC 17
Ct.

Dec 22 1841
Ch.

Refree (?)
Page 41

Canaan Litchfield Co Cont. 
Dec 16 1841–
Hon J L Edwards
Sir I have received your fav.(?) of the 3d instant, under the instructions therein contained I have procured the Certificate of the Judge of Probate for this district # that I am the administrator on the estate of my father Benjamin Stevens deceased, & in that capacity hereby apply for the increase of pension to which he was entitled at the time of his death being, according to the allowance by the Pension department, one hundred & sixty dollars per annum from the 4th of March 1831 to the 3d of April 1838 the time of his death. Your early attention to this request is respectfully solicited– 
With high consideration I am yr Obt. Servt 
Richd P. Stevens
Administrator
# The certificate of Administratorship is herein enclosed }
The writer of the above is Wm. Lawrence who is known to the Hon. Truman Smith who will recognize the signature of the Hon C. F. Sedgwick Judge of Probate. if further proof is necessary.
Page 42

Benjn Stevens decd
Con:
Act 7 June '32
for Increase

admd.
2 yrs Asst Comy of Issues
480$
from 4 March 31.
to 3 Apl 38 the day of his death– to Richard P. Stevens admr. of Benjn Stevens decd

Mr. Benjn P. Stevens admr &C Canaan Connt.
Page 43

I Charles F. Sedgwick Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Sharon in the State of Connecticut, do hereby certify that Richard P. Stevens of Canaan in said District, is the Administrator on the estate of Benjamin Stevens late of Canaan in said District declared duly appointed by said Court, and that full faith and credit are to be paid to the accts of the said Richard P. Stevens in the matter aforesaid– Given (under my hand and the seal of said Court. at Sharon in said District this 15th day of December 1841  
Chas. F. Sedgwick Judge
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31. Aug 1841.
Hon. Truman Smith H. R.
Page 45

Sir 
I send enclosed the original account of Benjamin Stevens as kept by him while acting as Commissary in the revolutionary war, by it you will learn that he was to receive from government sixty dollars per month as he then understood the compensation to be allowed him you will please make such use of the Book and accompanying depositions as you judge will best [illegible] ^to the ^[illegible] claim of his heir to a farther allowance on his former pension – you will have the goodness to attend early to the business and communicate if any thing farther is wanted to substantiate the claim – you undoubtedly recollect. that. it is claimed in the letter addressed you by Mr. Edwards that his compensation for services per month must be fifty dollars or more and I believe the account then kept by him will prove satisfactory on that subject. 
Yours Respectfully 
John Elmore Jr. 

25. May 1841 
Honble Truman Smith
Page 46

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D. C.

Nov 23. 1841
Cl
Benjn Stevens
Page 47

Canaan Litchfield County 
Connecticut November 19th 1841 
Sir
Having forwarded to your office some time back by the Honerable Truman Smith Member of Congress from this district, an application in behalf of myself and the rest of the Heirs of Benjamin Stevens deceased (late a pensioner of the United States, and who was an assistant Commissary in the War of the Revolution and whose pension for that service was put at $320 per annum) for an additional alowance of pay, and understanding from Mr Smith that an additional alowance was agreed upon by the pension department you will confer a particular favor on me and the rest of the heirs by informing me by mail soon the amount of such additional alowance per month per year or the gross amount alowed Also the propper way of making out the necessary proof and papers to obtain the same, there is two sons and three daughters the only heirs to the Estate of said Benjn Stevens 
Most Respectfully 
your Obt Servant 
Richd P. Stevens 
Attorney for heirs and one of the heirs 
Hon. J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C
Page 48

Norfolk Ct.
Dec. 1
for
Hon. Truman Smith
Member Congress
Washington D.C

Hon. T. Smith
HR

Cl
Benj Stevens
Ct [illegible]

Hon T. Smith
HR
Page 49

With sentiments of great respect Cl [illegible]
your Obt. Servant
N. Stevens

Hon. Truman Smith
Member 
Congress
Washington
Page 50

Canaan Connecticut Decm 1 1840 
Dear Sir
We have concluded to wait the decision of [text covered by ink] application of Benjamin Stevens, heirs claim for back pay due to him as claimed by them and M. Alexander Ray before we present our claim which I spoke to you about and perhaps some one of our family may go on to Washington during the Winter, having some other business to transact and a claim of a different nature to prefer against the Government in Either case however whether we go on or send we shall be glad to avail ourselves of your aid and services for which we shall expect to pay a fair compensation as we have an interest in the decision of the claim of Benjamin Stevens heirs, and having given the subject some attention perhaps you will not take it amiss for me to state what information I have on the subject in aiding your investigation, although I have communicated the same material facts to Mr. Elmore who has perhaps communicated the same to you Benjamin Stevens was an assistant Commissary of Issues appointed by my father who was a Deputy Commissary General of Issues, their being the departments or classes of Commissaries belonging to the Army of Equal Rank and pay one denominated Purchasing and the other for Issuing. It may be propper to state that when I forwarded the papers to obtain my mothers pension I forwarded all the papers I found appurtaining to the subject and among them the printed Resolutions of Congress authorising the department of Commissaries. If I mistake not of both departments or classes of Commissaries. the Resolves Established their Rank pay rations and duties & the papers ought to be found If necessary
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In the pension office where they were sent and never have been returned. Mr. Ray states that the board who established the grade of pensions (which the Law did not) and left discretionary disregarded the Resolutions aforesaid and and fixed the rates of pay as they saw fit by what authority the board disregarded the Resolutions or Law aforesaid more than a Resolve or Law establishing the pay of any other officer is more than I can tell by the resolution aforesaid my fathers pay was I think $102 pr month and the assistants $60 per month The Law passed in June 1832 under which B. Stevens drew his pension provides that in substance that all Soldiers and their widows married during the War should receive the same pay for full service proved as they received in the time of the War tonit[illegible] $80 pr year or in that proportion of time proved down to 6 months 2 years being full service, it also provided that all officers should receive pay according to Rank in proportion to time proved in no case exceeding the full pay of a Captain, this then is the highest rate we can go and which the board to whom the subject was left consisting according to Mr Ray of the pension Agent Secretary of War. fixed at $40 pr month now without the aid of Mr Ray I think there cannot be a reasonable doubt about the Recovery on any principle of Justice and taking the rate of pay as established by the board of B. Stevens heirs to the difference between about $26.66 pr month alowed to sd Stevens and $40 pr month as Established by the board as the pay of a Captain for it would seem to me to be at war with common sense and justice to reduce an officer whose rank and pay for the service exceeded by one third the pay of a Captain below that grade and by what mode of reasoning the board came to the conclusion they did I cannot discover this recovery it seems to me to me ought to had without the aid of Mr. Ray or any one else except that the board or pension agency should revoke their decision, and decide that all officers whose pay and Rank ware in the Service about that of a Captain should at least have the same pay a Captain had. The only point claimed by Mr Ray which I do not fully understand and recognise as just and reasonable is how he makes of the pay of a Captain at $600 or $50 per month. This he can only do by showing that a Captains pay was and should be $50 pr month instead of $40 per month as established by the board. How he finds his proof for this is a secret in his own possession for all me though I suppose he has evidence to this effect or he would not claim and If so the question a can that fact be established in any other way except by the employment of Ray but I think If you should be obliged to employ or use Ray in this case there will be no necessity of using him in the first case herein suggested amounting to more them one half of their claim Our claim will come under a different head somewhat our pay was established at $464 annum. our Commission bearing date but 22 months only before the breaking up of the department, though we proved 29 months service in that capacity and no fault of ours that the Commission was not granted sooner. The remaining time or previous time being in the Capacity of Assistant Commissary consequently our Recovery under this claim will depend on the Establishment of the fact that a Captain should receive $50 instead of $40 pr month the remaining part of our claim comes under a supplementary Act passed in 1836, the act under which we now draw was passed in July 1838
over
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and is the same in all its provisions as the Law of 1832 Will thank you to let us know your progress in the business if not to much trouble and hope you may ^ find some facts If you take the trouble to wade through my letter which will aid you, 
The pension Law passed July 1838 for the benefit of Widows and expires 4 March next it being for a period of 5 years commencing 4th March 1836. I wish to call your attention to that subject and although some of the widows perhaps ours among the number have recd a sum with which our Mother might get along though she is entirely helpless and at great expence still the case is far different with most of the widows under that Law. Those under the Law of 1832 are of course continued during Life. but those under the law of 1838 are of course grown more needy since the Law was passed – being old and growing feebler every day and most of them draw a mere pittanc. The individuals whoom most of them could prove their services being dead. but few of them could prove more than one half or one quarter of Service actually performed and most of the pensions granted were upon the former certificates of their deceased husbands when it was only necessary to prove 9 or 12 months ^ service to obtain a pension and should Congress grant a continuance of these pension during life they will not in my opinion draw more money from the Treasury than 5 years pay for service actually performed, though my mothers pension may be considered somewhat liberal she would not by any means know how to do without it and should a Law for continuance take place. we do not expect it would exclude any heretofore enjoying its benefits I think this subject should receive the Early attention of Congress as it would renew the hopes of a good many who depend upon it for a subsistance Yours– N. Stevens
Page 53

Sir 
At the request of Richd P. Stevens one of the heirs of Benjamin Stivites late of Canaan deceased and who while in life did receive a pension of $320 from Goverment for services rendered as Asst Commissary of Issues several years before his death and the sd Richard having received communications from Alex Ray Esq of the City of Washington who keeps an agency office for the purpose among other business of establishing claims to pension for revolutionary services and who in his communications has induced the heirs of the sd Benjn to believe that an increase of pay may be obtained for the services as afsd rendered by the sd Benjn and have therefore requested me to address you on the subject and for the purpose of placing the matter in the clearest light I shall forward you the communication of Mr. Ray which are as follows viz 
To the Representative of Benj Stevens deceased 
Agency Office Washington Oct. 23. 1840
From several years residence in this City and my experience in the prosecution of pensions and claims against the Gen Goverment and before Congress I have not only acquire much important information but have also accumulated valuable revolutionary documents from various sources- 
In the case of a Commissory who received a pension of $480 under the act 7 June 1832 and who has for several years made inefectual application himself for an increase of his pension to $600 per annum I have have established his claim to the full amount entirely upon documentary proof I possessed as to the amount of his monthly pay while in the line of duty-- By a printed list of revolutionary pensions which I also have I find the name of Commissary Benjamin Stevens pension at $320 and altho he
Page 54

now deceased I am inclined to the opinion I may succeed in establishing the right to a pension of $600. from 4 March 1831 up to the period of his death the arrears to be paid to the widow if no widow then to the children 
If therefore the heirs are disposed to communicate with me their letter will receive my early and respectfull attention– the increase however I cannot promise unless the services as Commissory was performed in the division of the army embraced by my documents- 
There will be no charge made if my effort prove unavaling but should I establish the amount of pension (as I hope to do) and obtain the back pay. In that event I feel sure the sins or widow will take pleasure in remunerating me for my trouble and research– 
I remain with great respect your obt Srv 
Alex Ray
The second communication from Mr. Ray on this ^ subj. is in answer to a letter addressed him by R. P. Stevens and is as follows viz- Agency Office
Washington Nov. 5. 1840 
Sir
I have the pleasure to ack. the receipt of your letter of the 27 [illegible] and am glad to perceive you understand my letter as intending to give no position assurance of my being able to obtain an augmentation to the full amt of $600 pension. It was in the case of a Commissary that I succeded in establishing the rate mentioned. Your deceased father was an asst. Commissory of Issues consequently he was not at so great an amount of pay as the full Commissory of a higher grade I nevertheless hope to effect the increase– The point now to be established is not the period of services that may have been performed that having been proven and made satisfactory to the Pension Office when the Pension was granted But the actual amount of pay he received