Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,210, Benjamin Wilbur, Mass. R.I.
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SERVICE
Mass.
R.I.

Wilbur, Benjamin

NUMBER
S.30,210.
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[left side]
AB
Dec. 26 – 1840
46
78
Bristol

[right side]
21.882
Massachusetts
Benjamin Wilbur of Bristol in the State of Massa who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Trafton of the Regt commanded by Col Topham in the Rhode Island line for 13 months & 45 days
RI State Troops

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 45 Dollars – Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of Nov 1833 and sent to A Bassett Taunton Massachusetts
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $112.50
Semi-anl. Allowance ending 4 Mar 34 – 22.50
$135.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by D D Addison Clerk,
Book 1 Vol 2d Page 94
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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, BRISTOL, SS.}
AT a COURT OF PROBATE holden at Norton in and for said County on the second day of July one thousand eight hundred and thirty-[crossed out: two] three, before the Honorable HODIJAH BAYLIES, Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared Benjamin Willbur a resident of Mansfield in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy six years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress. passed June 7th, 1832, make the following declaration. 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers served as hereinafter stated under the fifth interrogatory- 
and further declares as follows, in reply to the interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of War; to wit 
1. Where, and in what year were you born? 
Ans. That he was born in Raynham in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven on the 14th of June of that year. 
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it? 
A. He has no record of his age. He only knows his age by what his parents told him 
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? 
A. He lived in Taunton when called into service - since which time he has resided in Trenton, Raynham Norton & Mansfield all in said County of Bristol 
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? 
A. By voluntary enlistment and by being drafted 
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.
On the fifteenth or Sixteenth day of March Seventeen hundred and seventy eight, he enlisted as a private soldier in a Company of militia or State troops, commanded by Capt. Philip Trafton in Col. Tophams Regiment, for one year and was marched to Howlands Ferry in the State of Rhode Island and afterwards on to the Island of Rhode Island-- That he was in Sullivans expedition at Butts, so called, on Rhode Island in August Seventeen hundred and Seventy Eight. That he did duty in this company until the Sixteenth day of March Seventeen hundred and seventy nine ^and was then as he believes discharged verbally --- For proof of this service he refers to the deposition of Preserved Harkins & to the certificate of William Williamson Esqr hereunto annexed
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afterwards according to the best of his recollection in Seventeen hundred and Seventy nine and as he believes some time in July of that year he was drafted to serve one and a half months in a company of Militia commanded by Ichabod Leonard of Taunton in a Regiment commanded by Cpt. Carpenter - That he served as a private in said Company one and a half months - said company were stationed a part of the time in the land of Rhode Island and a part of the time at Pawtuxet in said State of Rhode Island - That he was discharged in September 1779 from said draft
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Benjamin Wilbur
27020
Bristol County

Mass --

Private 13 Mos 15 days
Capt Trafton's Compy Colonel Topham's Regt RI

4333
1.67
45.00
=
9000
22.50
112.50

A Bassett Esq
Taunton
Mass
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6. Were you a Soldier or an Officer? if a Soldier, did you ever receive a discharge from the service and, if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? if an Officer, did you ever receive a commission, [and] if so by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
A. A soldier. He believes he received a verba[l] discharge only 
7. State the names of the persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution. 
A. The Revd Richard Briggs & Dort. Benjamin Billings whose certificate is hereunto annexed. He the said Wibur being too poor to procure the attendance of said Briggs Billings at said Probate Court. He also refers to the Reverend Nathaniel Stone & Mr Mason Cobb both of Mansfield in said County of Bristol
And the said Benjamin Wilbur doth further declare that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State, [crossed out: or (if any) on that of the agency of the State 
Witness A Bassett  Benjamin       Wilbur his mark +
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
We Nathaniel Stone a Clergyman - residing in Mansfield and Mason Cobb residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Wilbur who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy six years of age; 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 that opinion.
Nath Stone Junr   Mason Cobb
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
AND the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Nathaniel Stone who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Norton in said County of Bristol, and that Mason Cobb who has also signed the same is a resident in said town, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, BRISTOL SS.} I Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Wilbur of Mansfield in said County, for a Pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said Court the day and year first above written. Anselm Bassett
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WASHINGTON October 8, 1931.

Mr. Benjamin F. Wilbour          BA-J/ILL
Little Compton, Rhode Island. 
Dear Sir: 
Reference is made to your letter relative to Benjamin Wilber, a soldier of the Revolutionary War. 
The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 30210, based upon his military service in that war. 
Benjamin Wilbur was born June 14, 1757 in Raynham, Bristol County, Massachusetts. 
While a resident of Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, he enlisted March 15 or 16, 1778, served one year as a private in Captain Philip Traffan's Company, Colonel Topham's Rhode Island Regiment and was in Sullivan's Expedition to Rhode Island. [arrow pointing to a note in the right margin] and in the battle. [/note] He enlisted some time in July, 1779, served as a private in Captain Ichabod Leonard's Company, Colonel Thomas Carpenter's Massachusetts Regiment and was discharged in September, 1779, length of service one and one half months. 
After this, the soldier lived in Taunton, Raynham, Norton and Mansfield, all in Bristol County, Massachusetts. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed July 2, 1833, while a resident of Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts. 
He died December 26, 1840. 
The above history is that of the only soldier named Benjamin Wilbur, under any spelling of that surname, who served from Taunton, Massachusetts, and was pensioned from that state found on the Revolutionary War records of this office. 
Very truly yours, 
A. D. HILLER. 
Assistant to Adminsitar
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I Preserved Harkins of Taunton in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Seventy one years, testify and say that in June previous to the Sullivan's expedition to Rhode Island which I think & believe was in 1778 I enlisted into a company of Militia or State troops as they were then called, which company was commanded by Capt. Nathan Olney, in Col. Craig’s Regiment & served therein untill the Sixteenth day of March following - during this time I served [crossed out: with] at Bristol, Howlands Ferry and in Rhode Island ^&c. That previous to said time I was acquainted with Benjamin Wilbur, now of Mansfield in said County of Bristol. That soon after I enlisted as aforesaid but how long after cannot now say, I saw said Wilbur who was a soldier in Capt. Philip Taftens company in Col. Tophams Regiment and I frequently saw him in said Company untill the 16th of March following, doing duty therein as a soldier—Taken testify and say that said Wilbur was living in said Mansfield within this years last past.
Witness A Bassett   Preserved Harkins his mark +
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss. June 1, 1833. Preserved Harkins, who is a credible person in my opinion, subscribed and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit 
Horatio L Danforth Just. of the Peace
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William Wilkinson of Providence R.I. on Oath testifies That he served in the War of the Revolution in the Rhode Island Brigade. The Brigade was composed of two Regiments of Infantry commanded by Col Crary & Topham and one of Artillery by Col. Elliott. The Brigade was first raised for fifteen months from December 16. 1776. Then for one year from March 16. 1778 and then for one year from March 16. 1779. That he has in his possession the copy of a list of the names of those who served in said Brigade which by an act of the Legislature of Rhode Island in Oct. 1785 was made from the Pay Rolls in order to ascertain the amount of the Depreciation of their wages but no time of service is specified therein. The Copy in his possession was made in 1792 and he fully believes from his own personal knowledge and other sources Bery that it is substantially correct. The name of ^Benjamin Wilbour as a Soldier in Topham's Regiment is on said list with the sum of £17.5.2 Lawful Money attached thereto so that he probably served but one of the Three Terms specified above for which the Regt was raised. The Deponent has no personal knowledge of said Benjamin Wilbour.
William Wilkinson 
Sworn to this 8th day of September A.D. 1832 befor by the above named William Wilkinson who is a credible witness before me
John Pitman 
District Judge US 
for Rhode Island Dist.
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I Nathan Andrews of Norton in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts being Seventy two years of age do hereby testify & say that I have long been acquainted with Benjamin Wilbur of  Mansfield in said County and that he the said Wilbur Served as a private soldier in the army of the American Revolution one Campaign of one & a half months in a company with me. Said Company was commanded by Captain Ichabod Leonard of Taunton & in the Regiment of Col Thomas Carpenter of Rehoboth, we entered the service at this time according to the best of my recolection & belief, in the month of July 1779 & were discharged in the month of September of the same year, we were stationed a part of the time on the Island of Rhode Island and part of the time at a place called Pawtuxet in the State of Rhode Island, & we were called Militia or State troops as I understood
Dated at Norton July 2d 1833. Nathan Andrews his mark +

witness William Lane Jr
Silvestore Newcomb
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol County ss, Before me one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County of Bristol personally appeared Nathan Andrews Subscriber to the within affidavit and made oath that the same is true in all its parts. In testimony whereof I have I have hereunto subscribed my name & quality this 2nd day of July 1833. 
Croml Leonard Justice Peace 
Bristol July 2nd 1833 I certify that Nathan Andrews who signed the within affidavit is in any opinion a disinterested & credible witness 
Croml Leonard Just Peace
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We Richard Briggs a Clergyman residing in Mansfield and Benjamin Billings of the same Mansfield in the County of Bristol Mass. hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Wilbur, who has resided for many years in Mansfield; that we believe him to be about seventy five years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the Neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion 
Richard Briggs 
Benjn Billings 
Bristol ss Feby 4th 1833 
The above named Richard Briggs & Benjn Billings made oath to the truth of the above statement before me Solo. Pratt Justice of the Peace 
I Anselem Bassett do hereby certify that Richard Biggs is a Clergyman settled & residing in Mansfield as above stated – I have been acquainted with him many years 
July 6. 1833. Anselem Bassett
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Bristol ss. I Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Probate in & for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that Horatio L. Danforth, Cornwell Leonard and Soloman Pratt are Justices of the Peace in for said County and that the signatures to the foregoing certificates purporting to be theirs are in my opinion genuine-- 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this third day of July Eighteen hundred and thirty three- 
Anselm Bassett
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[left side]
1931 - Oct. 8 - Hist to Benjamin F. Wilbour - JLL.

[right side]
30210
INVALID.
Revy

File No. 30,210
Benjamin Wilbur
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32"
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 455

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Little Compton, R.I.
Sept 17 1931.

Bureau of Pensions,
Dear Sirs:-        [handwritten note] – only sol. of Taunton Mass. Is pen. fr. Mass – [/note]
Please send me the pension record of Benjamin Wilbor of Taunton Mas a soldier of the Revolution who died. January 31, 1829-30. Giving all family records contained. 
Very truly yours, 
Benjamin F. Wilbour.

[oval stamp]
REVOLUTIONARY & 1812 WAR
SECTION
SEP 21 1931
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