Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31281, for Benjamin Ogden, New Jersey
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
New Jersey
CONTENTS
Ogden, Benjamin
NUMBER
S. 31281
Page 2

1535

KENTUCKY

Benjamin Ogden
of Caldwell in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the company commanded
by (blan k) in the N. Jersey
line for 2 years from 1779

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 80 Dollars --Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day oof March 1831

Certificate of pension issued the 6th day of Nov. 1832 and sent to A.Harpending Millville KY

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1832.            120-
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4                  40-
      March 18 1833                                _______
                                                                    $160-

 {Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk
Book D Vol. 9 Page 53
Page 3

8049

Benj. Ogden

from 1779
two years private
_______
$80
Page 4

(hand writing transcribed)

Brief in the case of Benj'a. Ogden
8049 County of Caldwell in the State of Kentucky

1) Court

2) (blank)

3) 68

4) Service:
      Period: in 1778 or '79 entered at Elizabeth Town New Jersey.
Apl. 1780 enlisted
Jany. 1781 enlisted and send
        Duration: not precisely stated but more than 3 mo.
                           9 / 12
        Rank: Private 
        Names under whom served:
             Cap. Mitchell / Cap. Freeman
                      same officers

5) Battles: Smokum Point

6) Elizabeth Town New Jersey

7) Traditionary

9) Correct


   T. Waugh Examining Clerk
Page 5

State of Kentucky County of Caldwell

     On the 20th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before Mess'r. (blurry writing) MA Jerf, Rucking Moasel Galoway Ratlife Marshall and Weller (here presiding Justices crossed out)Justices of the County Court of Caldwell County (being a court of record) now sitting Benjamin Ogden a resident of the County of Caldwell andState of Kentucky aged 68 years last April 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 viz:
     More than 68 years of my life has passed through many sore afflictions by which my recollection is so much impaired that I cannot -?- to quote names of persons and dates with precision -  I  will also state that I have no record of my age only what I have by tradition which I have reason to believe is nearly correct as to the month and year - I was born at Baskenridge Morris County State of New Jersey near the spot where Gen'l Lee was taken by the British) early in April 1764 - and lived most of my time in that vicinage adjoining Lord Sterling's property until the first of January (as well as I can recollect) of 1778 or '79 when part of the Jersey troops lay in Elizabeth Town - when and where I first enlisted in Captain Mitchell's company ( the Capts. first name, the Lieutenant's name and every field officers name Battalion and Regiment are all forgotten neither do I recollect but one of the men's names (Conrad York) a former comrade of mine and servant to Lord Sterling that I served until the winter broke and latter part of April following, when a certain Maj. Wm. Davidson (to whom my Guardian had bound me an apprentice) heard when I was and came down with his witnesses and demanded my release; and my being too young to be enrolled the board of commandeering officers gave me up to when I was said to be 16 years old and was put on the muster roll at which time I enlisted with Capt. M. Freeman who was recruiting men to serve in the State troops for 12 months and stationed at Woodbridge between Amboy and Rahway, on the opposite shore to Staten Island - the brave Asher Randolph Lieut. - The terms were that the men found their own clothing, fire arms, and all necessary accoutrements and were to have been paid by the State (was well as I recollect) $13.00 per month - when this company was first organized I do not know -  whether it was attached to any Battalion or Regiment I never knew - Or if it was under the command of any field officers I know not.  I never seen any - we never were associated with any other troop on parade - I knew of no commissioned officers but.....
Page 6

(continued from previous page)

...Capt. Matthew Freeman and Lieut. Asher Randolph, under whom I served until January 1781 when I again enlisted for 12 months more in the same company and under the same offices  and served on the same terms until after Cornwallis was taken and my country had no further need of my services - under the last enlistment (as well as I recollect) we were not dismissed from the service until January 1782 the time when our 12 months expired - The first battle that I was in, I think was in May 1780. the enemy  landed in the night and were detected by our patrols - the militia called by three signal guns; the gun and whale boat company under the command of two of the bravest officers I ever new; whose names I should be grateful to remember after the lapse of 52 years - all joined in battle between break of day and sunrise, near the road from Woodbridge to old Blazing Star ferry - the enemy retreated to their gun boats at Smokun Point (by which the battle was named) where we received their heavy metal for near two hours - the 2nd Battle I think was in September following - commenced also early in the morning in Amboy commons - we drove the enemy into the town and from our shore - under a heavy fire from their gally   - their guardships in the bay and their gun boats.  The 3rd Battle commenced near where the first did sometime I believe in July 1781 (or about two weeks before Rye harvest) - they retreated to their vessels near Hog Island above the mouth of Woodbridge Creek, when we again received their heavy metal for more (I think) than one hour - near a Rye field on the shore of the sound - the 4th Battle was as well as I recollect, late in September following and about the first night after Gen'l. Washington left New York with some of the French troops to meet Cornwallis.  the Capt. of our gun boat company Lieut. Randolph and some of the militia went on the island in the night to take Cuckhold town fort in the absence of the British troops which had been drawn off to graves and asset New York - but to our surprise had returned the evening before - we were discovered and the contest began just before day and we had to fight hard to gain and keep a bridge just under the fort and across the Kills, to our boats which waited for us at the new Blazing Star - the contest continued I think for more than three hours before we left their shore with prisoners, horses and other soils of the enemy - Those are all the battles I was in except some skirmishes with their gun boots as the passes near our shore in the sound - The War Department requests me to say where I have lived since the Revolutionary War and where I now live - .......
Page 7

(continued from previous page)

           Page 3

....In answer I say that in the fall of 1783 I moved to Baltimore in Maryland and lived with my brother Col. Amos Ogden near the mouth of the western rung, until the spring of 1784 I enlisted under Capt. Immanuel in the different warfare and equipped with different armor in the fall of 1785 I received a commission to sound the alarm in Zion and joined a band of soldiers called Methodist Itinerant Preachers and continued through the winter of 1786 with them in the state of New Jersey - returned to Maryland in April when the Methodist Conference under Dr Coke and Bishop Asbury sent me and one other brave soldier on a mission to Kentucky and in 1787 to the Tennessee - Since then I have Itnerated from the North River to the west of the Mississippi, and from Charleston in S.C. to the shore of Lake Erie;  as and when my circumstances and health permitted - My family since 1791 have been located in different parts of Kentucky but for near 12 years in the vicinity of Eddyville and Princeton, in Caldwell County KY -  Your applicant further says that he never had a written discharge and that he has been 46 years from the place of service and knows of no one person by whom he can prove his services as all the officers are dead, and he solemnly  declares that he is not for ever was on any pension roll whatever in any of the United States - your applicant further states that he believes that he served under the first enlistment more than 3 months, and under the second about 9 months, and under the third at least 12 months, making in all more than two years - Your applicant also prays the attention of the War Department to the terms of his last enlistments - That he found his own clothing, firearms, and necessary  accouterments - and that they were to have been received from the State of New Jersey (as well as he now recollects) Thirteen Dollars per month and that he actually lost a valuable firelock in the first battle which bursted in his hands.
B. Ogden
Ja. L. Dallam D- ?-

We John Barnett  FR Crossitt JH Rackerby A Harpending and John Mercer residing in the County of Caldwell State of Kentucky hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the Rev. Benjamin Ogden who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 68 years old that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in the opinion and believe him to be a man of veracity.     Sworn to and subscribed the day and year afore said before me
Jas L. Dallam D-?-
John  Barnett 
F.R. Crossit
JH Rackerby
A. Harpending
John Mercer
Page 8

(continued from previous page)

...And the said Court do herby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that them above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states - And the Court further certifies, that it appears to the that F.R,. Cossitt, John Barnet, who has signed the preceding certificate are clergymen resident in the County of Caldwell, and that Asbury Harpending John H.  Rackerby and John Mercer who have signed the same, are residents in the same County and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.

   I N.Smith Dallam clerk of the Court of Caldwell Count do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Ogden for a pension - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Caldwell County Court, This 21st day of August 1832
        (No. 8049)  N.S. Dallam

       B. Ogden
             De--?--

(This section VERY faint)      I William Lander presiding magistrate in and for Caldwell County Kentucky duly commissioned and qualified do hereby certify that the foregoing attestation of N.S. Dallam who is clerk of said Count, is in due form of Law.  Given under my hand at Princeton this 21st day of August AD 1832
          Will. Lander
Page 11

(left side)

31281

Rev'y. INVALID

File No.  81281
Benjamin Ogden
Pri  Rev War

Act: June 7th '32

Index: - Vol. 2,  Page 306

(right side)

June 1 1897 - History to Mr G.A. Hobbs 813 Scott St. Covington, KY
_________

1930 - Hist. to Mrs S. De Poster    ILL
Page 12

vertically at left: 8049  Sep 25

(top left) Mollville KY
Aug 23rd.   -?-

Hon. Lewis Cass
War Department
Washington City
     D.C.
Page 13

Millville KY Aug 23rd 1832

Hon'l Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
  Dear Sir
    The Rev'd Benjamin Ogden desired me to enclose to you his application for a Pension which you will please find herewith, permit me to hope that Mr. Odgen's application will meet with a favorable reception as I am sure he is deserving.
               I have the pleasure to be
                   Your Obt. Serv't.
                          A. Harpending P.M.
                                 Millvile KY
Page 14

(Transcription of hand written parts)

Benjamin Ogden

I. yes

II. yes

III.  (blank)

IV. yes

V. yes

VI. yes

VII. NO

VIII. yes

IX. yes

X. yes

(very faint) It is stated that he never was on any pension roll or agency, however -?- is presumable that the relinquishment is accidental.
Page 15

(transcription of hand written parts)

         2

XI. No clergyman but resident citizens

XII. no

XIII. no

XIV. ( blank)

XV.  (blank)

XVI. yes

XVII. yes
Page 17

2 ink stamps at top left:
   1) W. & N
        May 17 1897
         RECEIVED

    2). Pension Office
          U.S.
          May 14 1897

May 12 - 1897

to the commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

    Dear Sir: - Have been referred to you by the War Department for the Revolutionary Record of Benjamin Ogden granted a pension from Caldwell Co. Ky. under Act 1832.  He was with the N.J. troops.

                 Yours respy.
                   G. N. Hobbs
                     813 Scott St.
                     covington,KY
Page 18

Veteran's Bureau
c/o E.W. Morgan, acting Commissioner
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir:
      I am tracing the line of one Benjamin Ogden - a Private in the Revolutionary War from the state of N.J. Will you please kindly send a copy of his war record.
          Very truly yours,
            (Mrs) Shelly DePoyster

this Benjamin Ogden later received a pension, and was a pioneer Methodist preacher in Ly.

(ink stamp)


Deputy Commissioner
 Nov. 12 1930
Page 19

Ogden, David    Private      New York 

7563                  July 30, 1792
                          to - not shown -----