Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 774, George Bensell, Penn.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE | | NUMBER
Penn. | Bensell, George | R. 774.
| Mary
CONTENTS
[blank]
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Certificate of 
Marriage between
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I do hereby Certify, That George Bensell M.D and Mary
Robeson
were joined in the Bands of Holy Wedlock, according to 
the Rites of the Protestant Episcopal Church, by me, on 
the twentieth - day of October - in the year
of our Lord, one thousand [inserted] seven [/inserted] [crossed out] eight [/crossed out] hundred and ninety five.
Given under my hand and seal, at Philadelphia, this
25th day of December 1840.
Ja's Abercrombie DD.
Minister of the Protestant Episcopal
Church.
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City of Philadelphia
State of Pennsylvania } Ss.
On this eighteenth day of November AD
1848 Personally appeared
before me one the judges of the Court
of Quarter Sessions of the City and County
of Philadelphia Mary Bensell a resident
of Roxborough in the County of Philadelphia
aged Eight three Years who being
duly affirmed according to Law, doth on
her affirmation make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the provision
made by the Act of Congress passed
twenty ninth of July 1848 - That her
husband the late Doctor George Bensell
was as affirmant fully believes an officer in
the Revolutionary army - that all the documents
relating thereto are now or [illegible] in the possession
of Mr. Theodore Kane of and in Washington
City D.C. Said documents will
more fully establish the facts in this respect
& better than can be done by affirmant
from recollection -
She further declares that she was married 
to the Said Doctor George Bensell
on the twentieth day of October in the Year
Seventeen Hundred and ninety five, as is
recorded in the Certificate of [illegible]
that in that certificate the name is misspelled
it should have been spelled
Bensell instead of Bensal. That her
husband the late and above mentioned Doctor
George Bensell Died on the twenty first
day of December in the Year - Eighteen
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hundred & twenty seven in the Borough of Germantown
County of Philadelphia and his remains
are now interred at the burial ground in the
lower end of Said borough - that she was
not married to him prior to his leaving
the Service - but the marriage took
place previous to the Second day of January
Eighteen Hundred Viz as the time above
Stated - She further declares that She
is now the widow of the Said Doctor George
Bensell and that She has never before
made any application for a pension
Mary Bensell
Affirmed to and subscribed on the
day and Year above written
Before A. V. Parson Judge
of the Court of Common Pleas and
Quarter Sessions of said county -

I John Thompson Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions
of the Peace for the City and County of Philadelphia
do certify that the Honorable Anson V. Parsons, by
whom the foregoing attestation is made, whose name
is thereto subscribed was at the time of the Making
thereof and Still is a Judge of the Court of Quarter
Sessions of the Peace for the County of Philadelphia
duly Commissioned and Sworn to all whose Acts as
such full faith and Credit are and ought to be given
as well in court of Judicature as elsewhere.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed my official Seal
this Twenty first day of November 1848
at Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania
John Thompson Clerk
Court Quarter Sessions
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No 1144
Mary Bensell
Pa
Wid of George
Let 13 Sept 1852 to Theo.
Kane
Same Oct 27.1853
29. July 1848
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I George Know now of the City of Phil'a was born
in Germantown in the County of Phil'a in the year
1761. Consequently am now in the 91st year of my
age. I continued to reside in Germantown up to and
a considerable time after the Revolutionary War or after
the declaration of Independence, and establishment
of the U States Government, I recollect perfectly the
late Dr. George Bensell, that he was born and lived
in Germantown, where he was well known as a highly
respectable Physician, and it was understood by
his neighbours & friends that during the Revolutionary
War in some way employed by the Government,
and was frequently spoken of there in Connexion
with his name. And have myself no doubt of the
fact of his having been so employed; but as at that
time I had nothing to do with Military Affairs, being
a member of the Society of Friends, I took no particular
note of things connected with Military Affairs.
Writings by my hand this 21st day of 9th Mo (September)
1852 
George Know
Witnesses
Joseph T. Mathew
Sarah H. Nice
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July 8th 1852
Incl'd in case
of Mary Bensell
wid: of George

Theodore Kane
Present
774
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Extract from the Register of Marriages
of the United Episcopal Churches of
Christ Church and Saint Peter Church
in the City of Philadelphia. The Right
Reverend William White D.D. Rector
Book A.
George Bensal to Mary Robeson
I Benjamin Dorr Rector of Christ
Church in the City of Philadelphia
do hereby Certify that the above Extract
from Book A. Register of Marriages
of the United Churches of Christ Church
and St. Peter Church in same City is
a true copy of the records; with the exception
of the date, which is expressed in the
records in fair legible figures as follows
October 20th 1795
October twentieth Seventeen hundred and
ninety five
OCTOBER XXth MD.CCXCV.
Benjamin Dorr
Rector of Christ Church
I Benjamin Dorr above named declare
and say, that I hold the office of Rector 
of Christ Church in the City of Philadelphia
and state of Philadelphia, and that the above
is a true extract from the Records of Said Church
or (Churches) with the exception above named
as certified by me -
Benjamin Dorr
Rector of Christ Church
Sworn & Subscribed
this fifth day of
December AD. 1848
Before me
M. [?] Swift
Mayor -
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Mayor office Philadel'a
November 15th 1848
Jonathan Robeson
Being duly affirmed
according to Law declares and Says
That he was well acquainted with 
Doctor George Bensell late of Germantown
Philadelphia County declared
that the Said Doctor George Bensell
was affirmant Uncle by marriage &
has often heard his Uncle Bensell
Say that he was in the army of
of the Revolution but in what capacity
is to the affirmant unknown
that he was frequently at the
residence of Doctor Bensell [crossed out] frequently [/crossed out]
during his last [illegible] - that he was
attended in that [illegible] by Doctor
John Moore of Philadelphia that
he the Said Doctor George Bensell
died on the 21st of December 1827
(twenty first of December Anno Domini
Eighteen hundred and twenty seven*)
and was buried in [illegible] burial
ground in the village of Germantown
there, now the Borough of Germantown
and further affirmant Saith not
Jon'a Robeson
Affirmed and
Subscribed this
15th Nov 1848
*"Dr. Geo Bensell departed this life December
21 1827 in the 72nd Year of his age - at
11 o'clock P.M.
Extract from the family Register of"
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July 8 - 52
Addl: Case of
Mary Bensell
wid of George.
Penn'a
Act 29 July 1848
Act 13 Sept 1852
8th July
Theodor Kane.
Present.
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Be it known that before me the subscriber a
Justice of the Peace - in and for the county aforesaid
personally appeared John L. Watson and Charles J. [crossed out] and [/crossed out]
Wister - both known by me to be
credible witnesses, and make affirmation [crossed out] oath [/crossed out] in due form of law,
that they do personally and well know Mary Bensell,
who is the widow of George Bensell, and that she is
the identical person, she represents herself to be in her
application, for a pension on account of the services,
in the Army of the Revolution, of her husband the
said George Bensell and that they have known the
family and intimately for and during the last thirty
eight - years and that she has not intermarried
but continues the widow of the above mentioned George
Bensell and that they are disinterested witnesses
John L. Watson [circled] Seal [/circled]
Charles J. Wister [circled] Seal [/circled]
Affirmed [crossed out] Sworn [/crossed out] to and subscribed
this twenty first day of
June 1852. before me
Joseph King Jr.
Justice of the Peace

State of Pennsylvania
COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA, ss.
I, GEORGE CARPENTER, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, Do Certify,
that Joseph King Jr
before whom the annexed Affirmed was made is an Alderman and ex officio
Justice of the Peace of the County of Philadelphia, duly commissioned and qualified to
administer oaths and affirmations, and to take acknowledgments, &c. and to all whose acts, as such,
full faith and credit are and ought to be given, as well in Courts of Judicature as elsewhere, and that
his signature thereto is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said
Court, this Twenty second day of June A.D. 1852
Geo. Carpenter PROTHONOTARY.
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- Extract -
From the original paper on file in this Office
entitled "A Return of the Staff Officers of the following
Batallions of Phila. County Militia
Seventh Batallion
Chas. Bensil - Surgeon
George Bensal - Adjutant
I do certify the above to be a true Return Received
by me
Mr. Coats Lieut C.P.
Philada. Augt 7, 1780

Secretary's Office
Pennsylvania ss.
[outline of seal]
I do hereby certify that the
above is a true and correct
extract from the original
paper entitled "A Reture of
the Staff Officers of the following
Battallions Philada.
County Militia" as the
same remains on file in this office
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my Hand and caused the
Seal of the Secretary's Office to the affixed
at Harrisburg this twelfth day of June
in the Year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-two and
of the Commonwealth the seventy-sixth
E. S. Goodrich
Depy. Secy. of the Comlth
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Oct. 17, 1853.
Add ev in
case of Dr.
George Bensell
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State of Pennsylvania
County of Philadelphia, ss.
On the 6th day of June 1853
personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of
the Peace for the County of Philadelphia, Thomas
Burk of Germantown and county aforesaid, who being
sworn deposed and says:
I am ninety-five years of age.
I served in the United States Army as a private from 
the year 1776 to 77. I was well acquainted with Doctor
George Bensell late of Germantown, deceased. He went into
the United States Army as Aid De Camp to General Huster
in [crossed out] the [/crossed out] 1776 and was in the army about two years, and
further deposed saith not.
Thomas his x mark Burk
Sworn and subscribed to
the day and year aforesaid }
Joseph King Jr
Justice of the Peace
Witness to Thomas Burk, deposition
Charles Weiss

State of Pennsylvania,
COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA, ss.
I, GEORGE CARPENTER, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, Do Certify,
that Joseph King Jr
before whom the annexed Affidavit was made is [crossed out] Alderman and ex officio [/crossed out]
Justice of the Peace of the County of Philadelphia, duly commissioned and qualified to
administer oaths and affirmations, and to take acknowledgments &c. and to all whose acts, as such,
full faith and credit are and ought to be given, as well in Courts of Judicature as elsewhere, and that
his signature thereto is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said
Court, this Seventh day of June A.D. 1853
Geo. Carpenter Prothonotary.
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Ex'r. INVALID.
REJECTED [?]
No. 774
[crossed out] Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873. [/crossed out]
Mary Bensell
P.O. _____
_____
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____. 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
_____
Re-enlisted: _____
_____
Attorney: _____
P.O. _____
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[outline of seal]
In the NAME and by the AUTHORITY of the FREEMEN of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
The SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
of the said Commonwealth,
To George Bensell Gent.
We, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct
and Fidelity, DO, by these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be
Adjutant of the first Class of the
[crossed out] Battalion [/crossed out] of Militia, in the County of Philadelphia You are therefore carefully and
diligently to discharge the Duty of Adjutant by doing and performing all
Manner of Things thereunto belonging. And We do strictly charge and require all Officers
and Soldiers under your Command to be obedient to your Orders as Adjutant
And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions as you shall from Time to
Time receive from the Supreme Executive Council of this Commonwealth, or from your
superior Officers, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, and in Pursuance of the Acts
of Assembly of this State. This Commission to continue in Force until you Term, by the
Laws of this State, shall of Course expire.
GIVEN under the lesser Seal of Commonwealth, at Philadelphia, this
twenty seventh Day of May in the Year of our
Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and seventy seven
Tho Wharton Jun Pres
ATTEST.
T Matlack Secy
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R. 774 Penn.
George Bensell
An order addressed to Adjutant Bensell
signed Dan. Huster Jun. Col. dated
Bristol June 8. 1777
✓An order adressed to a number
of officers, signed George Bensell
Adj. dated Corrells [Coryell's] Ferry, July 10. 1777
A return of the 1st Battl'n Philadelphia
County Militia commanded by Col
Dan's Huster, Jun. signed G. Bensell
Adj. dated Lincoln Gap June 29. 1777 ✓
These papers have been removed
from this case and will be sent 
to the War Dept.
M.B.H.
June 20. 1911
Sent to War Dept.
Jan. 16, 1913.