Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 40,888, for Benjamin Joy, Connecticut
Page 1

SERVICE   Conn.
Joy, Benjamin
NUMBER  S. 40888
Page 2

17215
Vermont 
Benjamin Joy 
of Berkshire in the State of Vermont who was a Sergeant in the regiment commanded by Colonel Ward of the Connecticut line, for the term of 3 years 
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 18 of June 1818 
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 of May 1820 and sent to Joseph D Farnsworth Judge of the County Court of Franklin St. Albans Vermont 
Arrears to 4th of March 1820 20 mos   163.49
13/30 & 4/31
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1820}   48 – 
$211.49 
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.} 
Cont’d [continued] Oct 16. 1823 sent to J. D. Farnsworth Esq Fairfield, Vermont
Page 3

District of Vermont Franklin County ss 
On this 18th day of June 1818 before me the subscriber chief Judge of the County court for the County of Franklin in said District personally appeared Benjamin Joy aged 67 years resident in Berkshire in said District who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision  made by the late act of Congress entitled "An to act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war".   That he the said Benjamin Joy enlisted in Killingly in the State of Connecticut as a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Benoni Cutler in the regiment commanded by Colonel Ward of the Connecticut line. In May 1776. That he continued to serve in the said Corps & in the service of the United States as a sergeant until sometime in Feby. 1777. Then he was promoted to an ensign & received an Ensigns commission.   In June 1777 Col. Johnson took the command of the Regiment.  That he continued to serve as an Ensign until May 1779 when he was discharged from service in Chatham in the State of New Jersey.  That he was in the battle at White plains at Trenton & at Princeton and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services having lost his Commission but the accompanying Depositions.   
Benjamin Joy   
Sworn to and declared before me the day and aforesaid 
Joseph D. Farnsworth Chief Judge Franklin County Court
Page 4

I Joseph D. Farnsworth Chief Judge of the County Court for the County of Franklin in the State of Vermont as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Benjamin Joy did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy for the term of nine months on the Continent establishment, at one period and I now transmit the proceedings & testimony taken & had before me to the Secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress - And I further certify that the applicant is in reduced circumstances & quite infirm. In testimony whereof I have caused the Seal of the County Court for County of Franklin to be hereunto affixed at Fairfield this 27th December AD 1818.   
Joseph D. Farnsworth
Page 5

Andrew Ward Esqr Col. of a Regiment of Foot raised by the Thirteen United States of North America - Reposing To Benjamin Joy Junr Greeting- 
Reposing Especial confidence in your courage skill and good conduct, I do by these Presents, constitute and appoint you the said Benjamin Joy Junr to be the first Sergeant in Capt Benoni Cutlers Company in the Regiment, now under my command - you are therefore faithfully and diligently to exercise the several acts and duties of said office, in a strict and carefull discharge of the same, and you are to observe and obey all such orders as you may from time to time receive from me or other your superior officer and to instruct said Company in the use of arms, and all necessary duty, Commanding them to obey you as their Sergeant, for which this shall be your sufficient Warrant.   
Given under my hand this 20th Day of Novr Anno Domini 1776 
Andrew Ward Col
Page 6

Benjamin Jos
Declaration
Copy of Record
Page 7

Revolutionary Claim, under Act of Congress, May 1, 1820. 
STATE OF VERMONT
Franklin County ss }  ON this 24th day of September 1823 personally appeared in open Court being the Court for the County of Franklin and a Court of Record for said County, having the power of fine & imprisonment   Benjamin Joy aged 74 years, resident in Berkshire in said County, who being duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath, declare that he served in the revolutionary war, as follows: -- 
he enlisted in the year 1776 in May in Capt Benoni Cutlers company Col Wards Regiment Connecticut line and served three years and was discharged at a place called Chatham in the Jerseys.  The number of the certificate which I rec'd placing me on the Pension list of the U.S. is 17,215 Dated 24th May 1820 
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818; 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 provisions 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, 1818; 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. 
I have no property real or personal except my clothes.  I have no family, am by occupation a farmer but totally unable to do any kind of labour.  
Benjamin Joy 
[Sworn to] and declared on the 24th day of Sept 1823 Before the Court Horace Janes 
STATE OF VERMONT, 
Franklin County ss} 
I Horace Janes Clerk of Franklin County Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of said court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is nothing.   
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court, on this 24 day of September 1823 
Horace Janes CLERK
Page 8

Benjamin Joy 2d of Underhill aged fifty seven years being duly sworn depose and say that I am well acquainted with Benjamin Joy now residing in Berkshire in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont, and that I lived with the said Joy in the year 1776 in the Town of Killingly in the State of Connecticut and know that he was appointed an Ensign in Capt Benoni Cutlers Company in a regiment belonging to the Connecticut line and that he the Said Benjamin Joy Continued in the service in capasity for three years in the Revolutionary War  and the said Benjamin Joy being now present I know him to be the same man whom I have testified to have served as Then related above.  
Benjamin Joy the 
Richmond Decr the 25th 1818  
State of Vermont
Chittenden County ss}  Day and date above personally appeared Benjamin Joy 2d and made Solemn Oath that the above affidavit by him Subscribed contained the whole truth and nothing but the truth before me Joel Brownson Just  Peace    
I further certify that the above Deponant is a credible witness 
Joel Brownson Just peace
Page 9

David Joy
Deposition
Page 10

I David Joy of the age of sixty five year testify and say that I was acquainted with Benjamin Joy who is sixty seven years of age  & know of his serving in the Revolutionary war of the United States against great Britain for the term of three years, a part of the tune as a sergeant, the remainder of the time an Ensign.   Said Joy is a truth and [unreadable] and  further sayeth not Berkshin Jun 10 &c &c 
David Joy 
Franklin County [unreadable] June 10th AD 1818 the above sworn to before me
[unreadable] Just Peace
Page 11

It does not appear that Ward commanded a regiment in the Connecticut line on continental establishment 
Rejected 
25 May 1819 
Col. Johnson commanded in 1777 
Admitted as a Sergeant 
[unreadable] 1776  Wards Regiment disbanded 1 June [unreadable]
Page 12

Benjamin Joy's Declaration &c 
Please to enclose the certificate to  J. D. Farnsworth 
Benj’n Joy of Berkshire, an Ensign in Col Ward's regt Conn’t line, 1776 for 3 years.  
War Dept 23d 
Not Continental Establishment
Page 13

At the request of the applicant this case is returned again to the War Department - he feels a confidence that the Regiment in which he served was continental the Warrant which he received as Sergeant would seem to establish that.  & he begs that his claim may be reconsidered as he is truly needy & infirm 
J. D. Farnsworth Judge
Page 14

MCS
OWN
Rev. & 1812 War Section 
February 10, 1925
Miss Marion L. Holden 
108 Grove St.
Putnam, Conn. 
Madam:  
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.40888, it appears that Benjamin Joy enlisted at Killingly, Connecticut, in May 1776, served in Captain Benoni Cutler's Company, Colonel Andrew Ward's and Johnson's Connecticut Regiment, was appointed First Sergeant November 20, 1776, and commissioned Ensign in 1777, was in the battles of White Plains, Trenton, and Princeton, and was discharged in May 1779. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed June 18, 1818, while a resident of Berkshire, Franklin County, Vermont, aged sixty-seven years. 
It is not stated that the soldier was married. 
Respectfully, 
Acting Commissioner
Page 15

April 17 1896
Please send communication to Mr John D. Sabine 
A.G.O. War Dept. 
A Govt publication, in 3 Vols. gives list of pensioners, by States and counties, up to 1834. 
In volume containing Vermont, Franklin County, page 44, is Benjamin Joy, Sergeant, pension $96  per year, total payment $831.44 
Placed on pension roll May 24, 1820 
Commencement of Pension June 18, 1818. 
Age 81 years. Suspended under Act of May 1, 1820, continued commencing Sep. 1823 
Desired. His service. 
His home at time of payment pension 
Date of Death 
Place of Death. 
Can copies of papers be made at my expense
Page 16

O. W. & N. Division.  
L. W. B. 
1. 40888. 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
Bureau of Pensions, 
Washington, D. C., April 28th, 1896. 
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history Benjamin Joy, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. May 1776   LENGTH OF SERVICE. 3 years RANK. Sergt. & Ensign.   OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. Benoni and Cutler  COLONEL. Ward and Johnson   STATE. Conn. 
Battles engaged in, White Plains, Trenton, Princeton. 
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Killingsley, Conn. 
Date of application for pension, June 18th, 1818. 
Residence at date of application, Berkshire, Vermont. 
Age at date of application, Sixty - seven. 
Remarks: Promoted to Ensign in 1777. 
Very respectfully, 
Commissioner
Mr. John D. Sabine, Adjutant General's Office, War Department, City
Page 17

Rec’d Oct 14 1823
Vermont
Benjamin Joy
Schedule
Under Act May 1 1820
Fairfield Oct 2 Free
Hon John C. Calhoun 
Secy of War 
Washington
[unreadable]
Page 18

40888 
INVALID. 
File No. 40.888 
Benjamin Joy 
Serg Rev War 
Act: 18 March 18th , 
Index: Vol 3 Page 260 
[Arrangement of 1870.] 
Apr 28 ‘ 96 [unreadable] to Jno D Sabine War Dept 
1925 Feb. 10 Hist. to this Marion L Holden See letter filed in case Ebenezer Joy S 22337 MCA