Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,539, Joel Benson, New York
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(3--1776)
SERVICE  New York  Benson, Joel
NUMBER S. 23,539
CONTENT [section empty]
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[left side of page] [printed form with written responses]
24.314  New York
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Joel Benson Chatauque in the State of New York who was a Private in the Comp. commanded Captain Van Teukes of the Regt. commanded Col. Van Haich in the New York for 2 Years ---
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Inscribed on the Roll of New York the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
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Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Nov. 1833 ---- and Sent to A Smith Westfield
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Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '33 $ 200
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 M. '34 $ 40
-----
$ 240
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{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by G.C. Stiles Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 4. Page 90

[right side of page]
ies [paper missing] Hon C. Naylor H.R. 24 March 1838.  Same person 8 May 1838.
Dead Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6th April 1838 from 4 Sept 1836 to 17 March 1837. the day of his death. Agt notified 20 Oct 1838.
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Letter to Mrs Alice B. Mann 3rd. August 1846
----
1891 July 17 W.B. Mann history .
B Mann history Prior
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leration [first part of word missing] of 
[word covered over] Benson & 
fidavits [first part of word missing], Containing 
oof [first part of word missing] of Services -- for 
nsion [first part of word missing] under act of June 
[day missing] 1881 
------------ 
Austin Smith Westfield N. York
Page 4

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832
State of New York County of Chautauqua } Ss.
On this twelfth day of October personally appeared before [crossed out] in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common pleas held in the Court house in the Village of Mayville held [crossed out] in & for the County of Chautauqua now sitting Joel Benson a resident of Ripley in the County of Chautauqua & State of New York aged 81 years, who being first [inserted] duly sworn according to law doth on his oath [inserted] make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States as a private Soldier under the following named officers; and served as herein stated, to wit; that about the first of February 1776 at Albany in the State of New York, he enlisted for one year or during the pleasure of Congress, under the condition that he was to perform whatever duty might be required of him either in the capacity of a Soldier or artificer, & went immediately into the service as a carpenter under the command of Capt. Jacob Van Doozer, Gen. Schuyler, Col. Abram Van Schaick, Major Peter Cole --  there was no lieutenant or ensign attached to the company to which he belonged. At the time he entered the service he lived in Schatekoke then in Albany County in the State of New York. Immediately after he enlisted, the company was marched to Saratoga where he worked as a carpenter till sometime in July of the same year he was then marched to Ticonderoga, where he worked as a carpenter till the army retreated to Half Moon Point, where Gen. Gates met them with 2 regiments. In their retreat they lost their tools. He was then removed into the ranks, under Capt. Van Orman ["d" added then crossed out] or Norman ["d" added then crossed out], but does not recollect the name ["s" added then crossed out] of his lieutenant or ensign he was under the same field officers as when he enlisted. He was engaged in various skirmishes with the enemy.
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[right margin has some writing showing from the page underneath this one]

He was present at the taking of Burgoyne in October 1777 in which battle he received 3 wounds, two on the hand and one in the leg. Soon after the company to which he belonged marched to Cattskill into winter quarters, where they were engaged in getting wood for the American Army then lying at West point. In the spring following he acted as guide to a company sent out against the Tories & Indians. He marched to Servier's Settlement 19 miles South of Schoharrie, where they found & captured 19 Tories & Indians. From thence they went down to the Mohawk river at Coghnewaga, at first of snow fall, where an express met them from Johnstown, which place was infested by a party of Tories & Indians, which retreated before they arrived; they pursued them & over took them at the mouth of Wood Creek on Oneida Lake where they had a smart battle with them. here lieutenant Butler of the Brittish army formerly from Johnstown, was killed. From thence they went into winter quarters at Albany. In the Spring he went with about 30 men, as guide to Lake Champlain when they found the boats of a party of the enemy which they destroyed. Supposing they had gone to Johnstown, they proceeded to that place but did not find them there. From there they returned to Albany. 
In the fall some of the company were discharged, but the mechanichs of whom he was one, were set to making waggons & hay screws & continued so to work during one summer & one winter, but subject to do military duty whenever they should choose to put him into the ranks, and while thus employed he was discharged sometime in October by Col. Morgan Lewis. All the time he served making four years and eight month.
He says the company in which he served enlisted for one year or during the pleasure of Congress under the Congress, under the condition that they were to perform whatever duty might be required of them, whether in the capacity of Soldiers or [crossed out] artificers but when employed as an artificer.
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He received the same and no more wages than when acting as a soldier.
He says he has lost his discharge supposing it to be of no use to him & does not know where it may be found
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid_ James B. Lowry Clerk Joel Benson.

We Jedidiah Prendergast ---- residing in the town of Chautauqua & County of Chautauqua and [crossed out: Alvin Hunt] Thomas Burch [underlined] residing in Ripley in said County ---- do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joel Benson, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; That we believe him to be eighty one years of age; That he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that [crossed out] we concur in that opinion. 
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. James B. Lowry Clerk  Jedh. Prendergast  & Thomas Burch

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 above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier & served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Jedediah Hunt [crossed out] Prendergast __ who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident of Chautauqua Chautauqua Co. and is a credible person --- and that Thomas Burch --- who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Ripley in said County 
[the following words crossed out: and is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit.]
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and is a credible person, and that this statement is entitled to credit.

I, James B. Lowry clerk of the court of common Pleas for the County of Chautauqua do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Joel Benson for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twelve day of October one thousand eight hundred & thirty two. James B. Lowry Clk [signature] 

[written in bottom left corner of page, vertically from bottom towards top of page] 
Declaration of Joel Benson Pension under the act of 7th June 1832 
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18110
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State of New York Chautauqua County } Ss: 
Joel Benson a Revolutionary soldier, a resident of Ripley in said county who on the 12th day of October last, made the foregoing declaration before the Judges of the court of Common pleas of said County being duly sworn deposes & says, That he is eighty three years of age, and not eighty one only as stated in said declaration, & he thinks he was misunderstood when [crossed out] as to his age by the said Judges: that he was born in Frederichsburgh in Dutchess county in October 1749. That he has no record of his age. That by reason of the infirmities of age and consequent loss of memory he can not state more particularly than he has did in his original declaration the circumstances of his service, nor the names of any more regular officers, except that he saw General Arnold at the battle of Bemus Hights. About the same time he also saw Gen Fellows of the Vermont [inserted: Mass] line. Gen. Linchan and Cols. Warner from New England, but from which state he can not remember _ all of whom were engaged in the same expedition against Burgoyne. Also Cols. Ira Allen brother of Ethan Allen. He can not distinctly remember any of the regiments which he knew or saw during the war. He remembers also Gen. Brewer of the Vermont [inserted: Mass probably] line in the campaign of 1777 --
He says that he is acquainted with Thomas Burch, Jedediah Prendergast, Martin Prendergast, Thomas Prendergast & Alvin Hunt in his neighborhood who can testify as to his character &c. 
Joel Benson By John H. Davis

Sworn before me this 19th day of June 1833 -- and I do Abram Dixon J.Peace }
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State of New York Chautauqua County } Ss. 
Alvin Hunt a resident of Mina in said County aged 73 years, being duly sworn deposes & says that he has been acquainted with Joel Benson who made the above deposition 58 or 60 years. He first new him in Schatikoke, then in Albany County N.Y. when this deponent and the said Joel lived as neighbors about 35 years. Twenty three years ago they both removed to the said County of Chautauqua where they have lived ever since.
This deponent says that during the revolutionary war he was frequently called into service as a militia man, that some time in the year 1776 he went on a tour to Saratoga, where he found the said Joel Benson attached to the army and at work as a carpenter. In the next year when the militia were called out to meet Burgoyne, this deponent went again, and on joining the army he found the said Joel in the service as a Soldier. And this deponent recollects that he saw the said Joel in the service of United States in the year 1778. This deponent further says that the said Joel was absent from his home during a great part of the revolutionary war, and as he understood & believes he was all that time in the service of the United States: that he believes the said Joel to be eighty three years of age, and that he has always been called a revolutionary soldier and a man of truth and veracity. This deponent knows that said Joel was attached to the Regular army. but he cannot state the manner in which he entered, not having been present when he enlisted nor the mode of his discharge. He remembers that said Joel was at one time under the command of Col. Van Schaick, but he can not name any other regiment, to which he belonged, nor the name of any captain. Dated June 19: 1833 
Alvin Hunt  Alvin

Sworn before me this 19th day of June 1833 -- and I do certify that I am acquainted with this deponent Alvin Hunt & that his character for truth & veracity is good & that the above deposition is entitled to credit. }  A. Dixon J. Peace [signature]
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State of New York Chautauqua County Ss. }
I James B. Lowry Clerk of the said County Do hereby certify that Abram Dixon before whom the annexed Affidavits was [crossed out] were taken, was on the nineteenth day of June 1833 & now is a Justice of the peace in the town of Westfield, in said County, duly Elected & sworn and that his name subscribed to said affidavits is genuine__ Witness my hand and seal of Office this 26th day of October 1833
Jas. B. Lowry Clerk [signature]
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[printed form with written responses] 
WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, 183
Sir: The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew [show] what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
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A STATEMENT, shewing [showing] the Service of Joel Benson, Chautauqua county N.York.
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[table with 11 columns and 2 rows including row of column headings]
[column headings] Period when the service was rendered [written vertically bottom towards top of page] | Duration of the claimant's service. Years. | Months. | Days | Rank of the claimant. | Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. | Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. | Battles in which the applicant was engaged. | Country through which he marched. | Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. | Evidence by which the declaration is supported. |

Enlisted 1776 Continental | 4 | 8 |  | artificer and private | Capt. Van Dooser Captain Van Osman | Col Van Shaick Maj. Cole General Schuyler | taking of Burgoyne Woodwork | Saratoga Ticonderoga Catskill to Johnstown Lake Champlain | 81 Albany co. NY. | tradition

I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of County of } ss.
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provion [provision] made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [graphic of a hand pointing to the right:] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.] [square brackets in original]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A.B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.] [square brackets in original]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.

If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.] [square brackets in original]

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 above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation [application] of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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State of Pennsylvania Philadelphia County
Be it known that before me George Eretz one of the Alderman in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared Alice Benson Mann and made oath in due form of law that she is the daughter of Joel Benson the identical person who was a pensioner and is now dead and to whom a certificate of pension was issued a copy of which she is unable to set forth, having made diligent search for the original without having obtained it -- the certificate having been lost -
That the deceased pensioner resided in Chataugue County in the state of New York for the space of twenty five years before his death; and that previous thereto he resided in Washington County near the Hoosach river in Schaticoke Township which she believes was [inserted: then] a part of Rensselaer County in the State of New York- 
Alice B Mann [signature] 
Sworn and subscribed this 31st of July 1846 before me 
George Eretz Alderman [signature]
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Pennsylvania, PHILADELPHIA COUNTY, ss.
I, John Smith Esquire, Prothonotary, of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, do CERTIFY, that George Erety before whom the annexed affidavit was made and who hath thereto affixed his name in his own proper hand writing was at the time of so doing and still is an alderman of the County of Philadelphia and ex officio a Justice of the peace duly commissioned and qualified to all whose acts as such full faith and credit is and ought to be given as will in Courts of Indenture as thereout -
IN TESTIMONY whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, the first -- day of August eighteen hundred and forty six --  John Smith [signature] Prothonotary.

Pennsylvania, PHILADELPHIA COUNTY, ss.
I, EDWARD KING, Esq. President of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, and presiding Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Orphans' Court, and Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the County of Philadelphia, do Certify, that the foregoing Certificate and Attestation made by John Smith, Esquire, Prothonotary of the said Court of Common Pleas, whose name is thereto subscribed, and Seal of Office affixed, are in due form and made by the proper officer. 
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, the first day of August -- eighteen hundred and forty six -- Edwars King Pres Judge [signature] 

PHILADELPHIA CITY AND COUNTY, ss.
I, John Smith, Esquire, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Philadelphia, to CERTIFY, that the Honourable, EDWARD KING, Esquire, by whom the foregoing Attestation is made whose name is thereto subscribed, was at the time of making thereof, and still is, President Judge, of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, and presiding Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Orphans' Court and Court of General 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 Courts of Judicature as elsewhere. 
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said Court, the first day of August eighteen hundred and forty six ---  John Smith [signature] Prothonotary.
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[top left corner of page, vertical bottom towards top of page: Adm] 
[printed form with written responses] 
O. W. and N. Division. 3--525. 
S.F. 23539 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C., ____, 190___ 
In reply to your request of ___ , received ____ for a statement of the military history of Joel Benson [underlined] a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired formation as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

[table with 6 columns and 3 rows including row of column headings]
[column headings] DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. | STATE.

|  |  |  | Jacob Van Doozer or {Van Orman Norman | Abram Van Schaick | N.Y.

Feby 1776 | 4 yrs & 8 mos | Prvt. | Abner French | Hays or Lewis |

Battles engaged in, Taking of Burgoyne when he was wounded the hand, & leg Wood Creek on Oneida Lake. 
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Schaghticoke Albany Co. N.Y.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 1. 1828. His cr. was al. 
Residence at date of application, Clymer, Chautauqua Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application { b in Fredericksburgh, Dutchess Co. N.Y Oct. 1749. & Mrh. 17 [inserted: 15 or so] 1837 in Chautauqua Co. N.Y.
Remarks: Wm B. Mann who lived in Phila. in 1846 was the son of Soldiers daughter Alice Benson Mann &c other family data.
Very respectfully, Commissioner.  31793b5m10-07
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1161. [top right corner of page] 
[Not Allowed Act 1828 -- handwritten across top of page] 
[printed form with written responses] 
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.
----
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.  3 Nov 1828.
Joel Benson of Clymer in the County of Chautauqua in the State of New York has applied to the Secretary of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled "An Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution,” approved the 15th of May, 1828. He states that he enlisted in the Continental line of the army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and continued until its termination, at which period he was a private in captain Abner French's company, in the regiment of the New York. line; and that he received a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars, provided by the resolve of the 15th of May, 1778; and further, that he was not on the 15th day of May, 1828, on the pension list of the United States, and that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of March, 1826, nothing.

The Third Auditor is requested to report how far the several statements are corroborated by the records in his office.  By Order of the Secretary F A Dickins.

Good 23539 OK [written vertically bottom towards top of page in center of left margin of page]

TREASURY DEPARTMENT. THIRD AUDITOR'S OFFICE, 7th November 1828
[It appears by the records in this office, that a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars has been issued to in the -- sentence crossed out] 
It further appears that Joel Benson is [now -- crossed out] [not -- inserted] on the pension list of [the -- crossed out] any agency, and has [not OK -- inserted] been so since the 3d. March 1826 [at the rate of dollars per month -- crossed out] 
The name of Joel Benson cannot be found among those of the New York line, to whom Certificates for the gratuity of eighty Dollars were issued -- Peter Hagner  And
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War Depart: Bounty land Office
The records of this office do not show that Joel Benson of the N. York line ever received or is entitled to bounty land of the United States
Robert Taylor  28 April 1829_
Page 18

Revolutionary Cla
Hon Richard 
Secretary of 
Mayville Oct 2 Wa
Page 19

Mayville Chau. Co. N.Y. Oct 1st 1828
Sir
At the request of Joel Benson I herewith send you his declaration of enlistment & service in the Revolutionary army in conformity of the act of May last. He requests that the pension certificate may issue & sent by mail to me. If any thing more is required from him before it issue please inform me. 
I am Very Respectfully Your Obedient Servant.  A. Potter 

[2 lines X'd out] 
Hon Richard Rush Secretary of the Treasury
Page 20

State of Pennsylvania County of Philadelphia } Ss
I John Smith Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia holden at Philadelphia in and for the County of Philadelphia do hereby certify that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to said Court that Joel Benson was a pensioner of the United States at the rate of Eighty Dollars per annum. was a resident of the County of Chautauqua in the State of New York and died in the County of Chatauqua in the State of New York in the year 1837 on the 15th day of March __ that he left a daughter whose name in Alice Benson Mann

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Philadelphia this first day of August A.D. one thousand Eight hundred & forty Six (1846) 
John Smith Prothy 

[seal affixed in bottom left corner of page with initials JS]
Page 21

Joel Benson __  Albany N.Y. __ 7 June 1832
$80 per annum
To what time last paid pd to 4 Sep 1836 -- Sept. 38 not [illegible]  
JH [initials] 
Pension Office 8 May 1838
Page 22

284 North Third St, Philad-a August 1st. 1846
Sir.
Accompanying this application are the proofs required in the Department of my relationship to Joel Benson decd who was a pensioner of the United States. He was placed on the Pension Roll of New York under the Act of the 7th of June 1832 at $80 dolls per annum on the 31 November 1833 and drew his pension from the 4th March 1831 to 4th September 1836. He died on the 15th of March 1837 and there is now due a balance for 6 months & 11 days at $80 per annum. As I am the only surviving child I believe that under the pension laws I am entitled to this balance. If I am entitled to it an order for the amount may be transmitted to me in the care of my son William B Mann No 284 N. Third Philadelphia, where I shall be a few days.
Very Respectfully yrs  Alice B Mann
To J. L. Edward Esqr Commissioner of Pensions. }
Page 23

FORMERLY ALEXANDER & MAGILL --- RUBY R. VALE --- BENSON MANN  J. EDGAR WILKINSON  WALLACE BROMLEY 

LAW OFFICES 1540 LAND TITLE BUILDING BROAD AND CHESTNUT STREETS PHILADELPHIA

BELL. TELEPHONE SPRUCE { 4961  4962 

June 8th 1912
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:  Will you kindly give me the following information concerning Joel Benson who served in the Revolutionary War as a member of Col Peter Yates'  Regiment New York Militia.
1, name of parents
2. " " wife 
3. Date of death
4. [crossed out: name of] location of residence at time of enlistment. 
and any further information your records
may contain.
Very Truly Yours Benson Mann
Page 24

[top left corner of page: Histy U. Pn] 
Revolution [written vertically from bottom towards top of page] 
[printed form with written responses on left half of page] 
23539 INVALID.
-----
File No. 23539 Joel Benson Pri Rev War
-----
Act: June 7" 32"
Index: --Vol. 2, Page 31 
[Arrangement of 1870.] [square brackets in original] 

[on right half of paper] 
Sept 27-1900- 
Harry Rogers, Phila
1912 June 13 Hist. V.L.M. to Benson Mann
Page 25

House of Rep U States. Washington March 24. /38.
Dear Sir.
Will you be kind enough to answer the enquiry of the enclosed Letter and send the same with the letter to me?
Respectfully Yrs Charles Taylor

To J L Edwards Esqre Com of Pensions
Page 26

2539
Joel Benson
-----------------
Oct. 12, 1832  Ripley Ny _ 83
------------------
July 1. 76 Albany NY.  Capt. Jacob Van Doozen. Col. Abraham Van Schaick Cap Van [illegible] 4 Years & 8 mos
------------------
Born Fredericksburg Dutchess Co [insert: Oct] 1749
-------------------
Battle Bemis heights recd 3 wounds two on the hand & one in the leg -- [illegible] may skirmishes 
--------------------
Page 27

Treasury Department, Second Comptroller's Office,
October 19 -- 1838.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," The children of Joel Benson deceased a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany, N.Y Agency, at the rate of eighty Dollars [and: crossed out] " ----- " -- [Cents: crossed out] per annum, under the law of the 7th. June 1832 have been paid at this Department, from the 4th. of Sept. 1836 to the 17th. March 1837, the day of his death. -- 
Respectfully, yours, Albion K Parris [signature] 

To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.
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1161 [in top right corner of page] 
For the purpose of obtaining the benefits of the act entitled "an act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the army [crossed out: of the army] of the of the revolution approved on the 15th of May 1828 I Joel Benson of Clymer in the County of Chautauqua in the State of New York do hereby declare that I enlisted in the continental [inserted: line] of the army of the revolution for and during the war [underlined] and continued in the service until its termination at which period I was a private in Captain Abner French's Company in Col Hays or Col Lewis Regiment of the New York line.
And I also declare that I afterwards received certificates for the reward of eighty Dollars to which I was entitled under a resolve of Congress passed the 15th of May 1778 And I further declare that I was not on the fifteenth day of May 1828 on the Pension list of this United States. Witness my hand this first day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred & twenty eight. 
Signed by an old man with trembling hand Joel Benson [signature]

Before me Ansilu Potter a Justice of the Peace in the County Chautauqua in the State of New York personally appeared this day Josiah Morse and Martin Prendergast of the said County who did severally make oath that Joel Benson by whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed is generally reputed & believed to have been
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a soldier in the army of the Revolution in manner as therein stated.
Josiah Morse [signature]  Martin Prendergast [signature] 

Witness my hand this first day of October in the year 1828 Ansilu Potter J.P.

I John Dexter Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Chautauqua do hereby certify that Ansilu Potter before whom the foregoing affidavits were sworn was at the time a Justice of the Peace and duly empowered to administer oaths. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court this first day of October 1828 
John Dexter, Clerk [signature]  

[written vertically top towards bottom in bottom right corner of page: Amd #23,539]
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HARRY ROGERS, 2216 DE LANCEY STREET. PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 18th 1900_ 

Commissioner of Pensions. Washington, D.C. 
Sir, Please send me copy of the application of Joel Benson for Revolutionary pension. [underlined]
He is mentioned as serving in the Regt. of Col John Knickerbocker, Albany Co. N Y. Militia: also in Capt. Haddocki Co. Col Yates Regt: and in Capt. De Gurmis Co. Col Van Rensselaer's Regt.
I wish this information for genealogical purposes, and would be obliged for all the facts pertaining thereto.
yours respectfully Harry Rogers [signature] 

[round stamp under signature: PENSION OFFICE U S  K AUG 20 1900]
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Bo ct 1749 at Fredericksburgh, Dutchess Co NY & (Died March 17 1837) Joel Benson 
In Oct 1828 of Clymer Chautauqua Co NY 
Enlisted for the war & at the end discharge from Capt Abner French's Compy & Col Hayes [or Lieves -- inserted] NY regt as a private. When he applied for pension Act 1832 in Oct 1832 he was living in Ripley Chautauqua Co NY [aged 82 years -- crossed out] 
During the war he lived in Schatehoke then in Albany County (may be intended for Schaghticooke now in Rensselaer Co)  NY Removd to Chautauqua about 1810
Alice B Mann of Phil' in Augt 1846 only surviving child probably wife Wm B Mann. Formerly lived near Hoosick river in Schaticoke township
Enlisted Feby 1776 at Albany NY or during the pleasure of Congress & went into Service as a carpenter or artificer under Capt Jacob Van Dooza & Col Abram Van Schaick NY regt. Marched to Saratoga where he worked as a carpenter until July 1776 then proceeded to Ticonderoga NY (as carpenter) until the army retreated before the advancing British to Half Moon Pond where he met Genl Gates & was put into the rank under Capt Van Ormand (or Normand) but with same Field Officers as when he enlisted He was engaged in various Skirmishes Present at taken [at Bemus Heights -- inserted] of Burgoyne Oct 17, 1777 in which battle he recd 3 wounds - 2 on the head & one in the leg
Went into winter quarters at Cattskill In the Spring he acted as guide of to a Com Sent out [against -- inserted] Tories & Indians going to Serocer's Settlement 19 miles South of Schoharie where they captured 19 Tories & Indians At first snowfall an [illegible] met them there from Johnstown (now in Fulton Co NY) Futterly) that the place was infested by Tories & Indians who retired before their arrival but were pursued & overtaken at mouth of Wood Creek on Oneida Lake where they a severe battle.  Buttes of the British army formerly from Johnstown was killed (probably Walter Oct 29. 1781)  Went into Winter Qrs at Albany  In the Spring with 30 others he went as guide to Lake Champlain, destroyed some boats, from there to Johnstown in pursuit of the party using the boats without success & returned to Albany where employed as artificer for about a year. then discharge by Col. Morganstern