Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt.47987-160-55, for Benjamin Stillman, Rhode Island
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SERVICE
R.I.

Stillman, Benjamin

B.L Wt. 47987-160-55
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[vertical writing over the other writing] W 47987 isd Nov 24/56

89246 
Act March 3/55
April 23/55

Benjamin Stillman priv
Private
R.I. Mila
Rev War

N.Y. no papers

Ad. 160 ac. Nov 18/56
Boynton Dodge
Vol 82. Page 94

Josiah Clark.
Brookfield
Madison Co NY.

[right side]
Exd P
Cir of Clark Nov 20/55
6657-160
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Bounty Land
Act 3d March 1855
Benjamin Stillman
presented by Joseph
Clark Brookfield
Madison County
NY
Agent

89246
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State of New York County of Otsego} ss On this tenth day of April AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace within and for the County and State aforesaid Benjamin Stillman aged ninety one years a Resident of Edmeston County of Otsego and State of New York who being duly sworn according to law declares that he is the identical Benjamin Stillman who was a private in the company of Drafted Militia in a company commanded by Captain whose name is not recollected in a Regiment commanded by [null] in the Revolutionary war with Great Britain. That he was drafted at Westerly in the State of Rhode Island for the term of one month and continued in actual service in said war for the term of thirty days and was honorably discharged at New Port on or about the day of August 14 AD 1781 he makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he may be entitled under the act approved March 3d 1855 He also declares that he has not received a warrant for bounty land under this or any other act of Congress nor made my other application therefore 
Benjamin Stillman 
I Benjamin F. Burdick and Edwin S. Maxson residents of Edmiston in the State of New York upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Benjamin Stillman in our presence and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that he is the identical person he represents himself to be 
Benjamin F Burdick 
Edwin P. Maxson 
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons that the claimant is the person he represents himself to be and that I have no interest in this claim 
O. B. Arnold Justice of the peace
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State of New York County of Otsego} ss Benjamin Stillman Jr being duly sworn says he is Sixty two years of age resides in Edmeston County of Otsego & State of New York is the son of Benjamin Stillman who was a Revolutionary soldier that his father now resides with him. That he has always from childhood lived either in the house with his father or near by him and that he has always understood from his father from his contest recolection that he was drafted into the service of the United States in the State of Rhode Island for one month and was stationed at New Port Rhode Island and remained in the service one month while the French Fleet was stationed at New Port but does not recolect the officers name who he served under that he has always told of this same service to him but from extreme old age his father is unable to give the name of the officers he served under 
Benjamin Stillman Jr 
Sworn to and subscribed before me this tenth day of April AD 1855 further certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Benjamin Stillman Jr who is a credible witness and a man of the finest respectability 
O. B. Arnold Justice of the peace
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State of New York Otsego County} SS We Joshua Maxson and John S. Coon reside in the town of Edmeston in said County being duly affirmed do severally depose and say that we have been well acquainted ^with Benjamin Stillman for many years and know and believe him to be a person of a good moral character and has as we believe always been esteemed as a man of truth and veracity and that he would not present an unjust claim or demand
Joshua Maxson 
John S Coon 
State of New York County of Otsego} ss Be it known that before me Otis B. Arnold a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid duly authorized by law to administer oaths personally appeared Joshua Maxson and John S. Coon both being by me duly Affirmed by me and who Signed their respective names to the foregoing Affidavit in my presence and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible witnesses and persons of the first respectability and that I had have no interest in the claim for which these papers are presented 
Affirmed and subscribed this 11th day of April 1855 before me
O. B. Arnold Justice of the Peace
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Hon. L. P. Waldo Commissioner of Pensions
Please send my land warrant to Joseph Clark of Brookfield. Madison Co. N.Y. who is my authorised agent
Benjamin Stillman
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STATE OF NEW YORK. Otsego County Clerk's Office.}I WILLIAM C. FIELDS, CLERK of said County, and of the Court of Record therein, do hereby certify that O B Arnold Esquire was, on the 10th day of April 1855 a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Otsego, duly authorized to act as such, and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice , and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine. 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal of the said County and of said Courts, at Cooperstown, this 14th day of April 1855 
Wm C Field Clerk.
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March 1, 1940.
Edward H. Stillman
Medical Department Detachment 
157th Field Artillery 
New Jersey National Guard 
Camden, New Jersey.
 
BA-J/ILL
Benjamin Stillman
B. L. Wt. 447987-160-55

Dear Sir:.
[in reference to duplicate] We sent on orig & one carbon copy]
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record, in [circled] duplicate[/circled], of Benjamin Stillman, who served from Westerly, Rhode Island. 
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in the claim for bounty land based upon service of Benjamin Stillman in the Revolutionary War. 
Benjamin Stillman enlisted in Westerly, Rhode Island, and served one month as private in the Rhode Island militia, during which he was stationed at Newport at the time the French fleet was there; he did not state the names of the officers under whom he served. 
This soldier continued to reside in Rhode Island after his service and moved from that state to Brookfield, Madison County, New York, about the year 1805. Shortly before April 1855, he moved to Edmeston, Otsego County, New York, which town was just on the county line between Madison County.
Benjamin Stillman applied April 10, 1855, for the bounty land which was due under the Act of March 3, 1855 on account of his service in the Revolutionary War. He was then aged ninety-one years; the date and place of his birth and the names of his parents were not given. He was allowed one hundred sixty acres of bounty land on Warrant #47987. 
This soldier lived then with his son, Benjamin Stillman,
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Junior, in Edmeston, New York. The name of the soldier's wife was not given, nor the date and place of their marriage.
In April 1855, this son, Benjamin Stillman, Junior, gave his age as sixty-two years; he had lived from childhood in the same house with his father, or near him. Reference was made to the family of this son, but no names were given.
If you desire information in regard to the location of the land which was granted on account of service of Benjamin Stillman in the Revolutionary War, you should apply to the Commissioner, General Land Office, this city, and furnish the following data: Warrant #47987, 160 acres, Act of March 3, 1855. 
Very truly yours, 
A. D. HILLER, 
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator.
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free
Hon. J. Minot 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

W. Edemeston
Ny Feb 15

[left side vertical]
Benjamin Stillman
No papers in file
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7 checkmark x 2
47.987

[illegible]
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[handwritten] Free
[stamp x2] FREE
Hon. L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
DC

[postmark] BROOKFIELD N.Y. [illegible] 21

[left side vertical]
89246
Page 14

Benj Stillman Sr
Free
Boynton

[vertical]
Hon. J. Minot
Com. of Pensions
Washington
D.C.
Page 15

[top left corner] free

Hon. J. Minot
Commissioner of pensions
Washington. D.C. 

W. Edemeston
N.Y. Mar 1

[left side vertical]
89246
Benjamin Stillman
[C with two lines through it]
Boynton
S
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Information related to a suspended claim
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West Edmeston Otsego Co. N.Y. Feby 14/56 
Hon J Minot Commissioner of Pensions 
Dear Sir-- Joseph Clark my Father’s Agent requested me to write to the secretary of State of R.I. for record evidence. I therefore send the Secretary's answer for your perusal. The probable reason that Father cannot remember the names of his officers is; the long time elapsed since his service in the war, and his duty being to stand sentry at night, with permission to work out in the day time and was not with his Officers but very little of the time and his extreme old age. Father is poor and destitute In as much as the record of his service probably burnt at Washington. I humbly trust you will grant ^his petition. 
Yours very Respectfully
Benjamin Stillman Jnr
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P.S. If you do not grant his claim please send back his papers to me
B Stillman Jnr
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MEDICAL DEPARTMENT DETACHMENT [checkmark in front]
157TH FIELD ARTILLERY
NEW JERSEY NATIONAL GUARD
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
[stamp mostly illegible] FEB 13

Feb. 12, 1940
Mr. A. D. Hiller
Exec. Asst. to Administrator
Veterans Administration
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir: 
Your name has been given to me as the proper one to write to concerning Revolutionary records. I am contemplating joining the S.A.R. and placing my daughters in the C. A. R. and need such a copy of the records for this purpose. Any data that can be furnished as to the one I find to be one of my direct ancestors will be appreciated. 
The name and data that I have found is as follows: Benjamin Silliman -- Born 1764 (?) enlisted Westerly, R.I. In militia in 1781. I can find no record of his marriage nor death. Probably this will be on file: also to whom was made his last payment of pension, if any. 
If it is possible to send me [underlined]two copies [/underlined and noted above: OK if here] of this data as soon as possible, I will be deeply grateful. While there is no urgent need of haste after one hundred and fifty years, as long as I have started the ball rolling, I would like to finish the papers which I have begun shortly. 
Thanking you, I am, 
Very truly yours, 
Eugene Stillman
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Feb. 25. 1856
Benj. Stillman Sen.
Adm Feb. 25/56
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State of Rhode Island, &c. 
Secretary's Office, Providence. 
February 8th 1856
 Dear Sir:
My occupations with our Legislature, now in session have prevented me from making the examination requested by you for evidence of the service of Benjamin Stillman in the war of the Revolution. 
The revolutionary records of this office are very meager. We have records of the appointment of all officers, but no muster rolls, or lists of their men. These rolls, which are evidences of service, were sent to Washington previous to the year 1800 ^& were subsequently destroyed, when the army office was burnt. I have examined the lists which remain of several regiments but cannot find the name of Benjamin Stilman on them. Of men who served in the militia, which I presume was the case with your father, it is more difficult to find record of service than regular enlistments. 

Yours my respectfully 
John R. Bartlett 
Secretary of State
 
To
Mr Benjamin Gillman Jr
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Pension Office,
Feby. 25. 1836

Sir, 
I have filed the letter of the Secretary of the State of Rhode Island which accompanied your note of the 14th inst. relative to evidence of the service of your father Benjamin Stillman, Sr., but as I cannot discover a claim filed by him on the files of suspended claims for pensions, received from New York. I am at a loss to determine the character of the claim asserted by him. Was his claim for Bounty Land or for Pension? Also furnish me with a copy of a letter addressed to Mr Clark on the subject, or with any information which will give me a clue to the case. 
Respectfully &c
 R. McRae Benjamin 
for Commissioner.
Stillman Jr. West Edmeston, Otsego County, N. York}
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 West Edmeston Feby. 29th 1856
Otsego Co. N. York

Hon
J Minot 
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir 
I called on Mr Joseph Clark (my father’s agent) this morning, he requested me to send the letter which you called for, also the one that you sent to me. 
Yours Respectfully 
B. Stillman Jr
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ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855. 
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS. 
PENSION OFFICE, 
Nov. 20 1855. 
Sir:
The claim of Benjamin Stillman for bounty land under the act of the 3d of March, 1855. No. 89. 246 has been examined and suspended. 
The revolutionary service of [null] the husband of the applicant, does not appear of record in this office. -- Does not state under what officers he served apply to Secy of State of R. I. for record evidence)
The 3d section of said act requires a service of "FOURTEEN DAYS" to be established by "RECORD EVIDENCE.”
Upon the production of such evidence of service, the claim will be favorably considered.
Very respectfully
J. MINOT,
Commissioner.
 
Josiah Clark Esq 
Brookfield 
Madison Co 
N. York
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West Edmeston Otsego Co. NY. Sept 24/56 
Dear Sir:
It is so long since I sent you Mr Clarks letter which you called for and the one you sent me, that I fear they have not reached you. I therefore again send you a copy of both letters.
Yours Respectfully
B. Stillman Jr
 
J. Minot 
Com. of Pensions 
Washington D.C.
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Act of March 3d 1856 
Revolutionary Claims 

Pension Office 
Nov. 20 1855 
Sir
The claim of Benjamin Stillman for bounty land under the act of the 3d of March 1855. No. 89.246 has been examined and suspended, (Does not state under what officers he served. apply to secretary of State of R.J. for Record evidence,)
Very Respectfully 
J. Minot
Commissioner

Joseph Clark 
Brookfield 
Madison Co 
N. York.
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Pension Office 
Feby. 25. 1856 
Sir
I have filed the letter of the Secretary of the State of Rhode Island, which accompanied your note of the 14th Inst. relative to evidence of the service of your Father Benjamin Stillman Sr., but as I cannot discover a claim filed by him, on the files of suspended claims for pension received from N. York. I am at a loss to determine the character of the claim asserted by him. Was his claim for bounty land or for Pension? Also furnish me with a copy of a letter addressed to Mr. Clark on the subject, or with any information which will give me a clue to the case. 
Respectfully &c
R. M. Roe
for Commissioner 
B. Tillman Jr 
West Edmeston 
Otsego Co. N.Y
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Brookfield April 20th 1855 
Dear Sir 
I inclose the application of Benjamin Stillman for bounty Land under the act of March 1855. I have done it by particular request of his son short as I suppose of your general notes from the first that I have been personally and fortunately acquainted with the old gentleman his son and family from child hood I was born in R. Island & lived until 10 years old his near neighbor more than fifty years past my father moved into this town Benjamin Stillman moved here about the same time & have lived a neighbor to him here more than 50 years and have had deal with him during that time he has lately moved into the adjoining town of Edmister lovely over the line In has been known by the appellation of honest Benjamin from the fact of his always being very correct in all of his act & his word is the words of truth & honesty so universally considered his son who has testified as followed in the footsteps of his father the son sent for me to assist him but I discovered he could not recollect his officers on the particular period of his service but that he was drafted for one month & served one month at New Port Reland while the French Fleet was there. I left him without making his declaration but his son since has requested me to make his papers as full as I could from his declaration together with the son I know if you knew him as well as I you would not doubt one word of his declaration his simple word here
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sufficient evidence, he has lived out a small but respectable inheritance & now wholy [sic] supported by his son who has as much as he can do to support his family. If he is allowed his bond I shall rejoice at the result, if not I shall be satisfied but with regret
Very Respectfully your humbled servt
Joseph Clark 
Hon L. P. Waldo