Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S., Benjamin Basford, N.H.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
N.H. 
 
Basford, Benjamin

NUMBER
S.  

CONTENTS 
Martha Basford, widow of above soldier, received pension as former widow of John Bean, N.H., W File 5, 791. See papers in said claim.
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State of Vermont      )
Franklin County fs.   )

On this 29th day of May 1818 before me the Subscriber one of the Judges of the County Court within and for the County of Franklin and State of Vermont personally appeared Benjamin Bafford of Georgia in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont aged sixty three years resident in Georgia aforesaid 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 Congrefs intitled an act to provide for certain persons ingaged in the land and Naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War that he the said Benjamin Basford about the first day of May 1775 inlisted at Concord in the State of Newhampshire for the term of eight months in the Company of Captain Gordon Hutchens and in the regiment Commanded by Colonel John Starks and brigade Commanded by General Sulivan and at the same time marched to Winter hill and Continued to serve in the said Corps or in the Service of the United States until the expiration of the term for which he inlisted and then at the request of General Sulivan ["Starks" stricken out] tarried and did service as aforesaid until the first day of February 1776 and then was discharged but had no written discharge and this Deponent further says that in the last of February 1776 he again inlisted for the term of six months under Captain James Shepard in the regiment Commanded by Colonel Wyman for six months and served the full time for which he inlisted and then was discharged at Ticonteroga but had no written discharge and this Deponent Says that he served [ink blots out some words] Battel at Bunker Hill and that he is now in reduced cirumstances and stands in need of the afsistance of his country for support and that
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I have no knowledge whatever of the afsertions of the within declaration tho it is pofsible that I might have known something of it at the time, I think I have had several conversations with Mr Basford on the subject of his claim, of a later date & my imprefsion is that I made out a declaration for him but do not now recollect that I was ever informed that it was ["ever" stricken out] acted on at the Pension Office; indeed I do not think that much dependence can be placed on any imprefsions which I have on the subject
Apl. 29. 1836.
B. Swift

[written vertically in center of page]
Ret to Hon B Swift 

[stamp] 
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES
Page 4

Vermont -- 30702
=======================
Benjamin Basford de.
of Franklin Co. in the State of Vermont 
who was a Private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Hutchins of the Regt. commanded by ----- in the N. Hampshire 
line for 14 months

died 13 November 1833, wid.
Martha
===========================
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont 
at the rate of 46 Dollars 66 Cents per ann. 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
===========================
Certificate of Pension ifsued the 17" day of June 1832 and forwarded to Wm Bridges,
St albans
===========================
Arrears to the 13th of Nov. 33 --------320.98
Semi-anl. allowance ending ------------------
.............................................................................320.98
............................................................................=====
[stamp]
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES

(Revolutionary Claim,  )
(Act June 7, 1832.        )

Recorded by R Burdine Clerk.   
Book E2 - Vol. 3 -     Page 55 -
Page 5

08 3/4

Mr. Benjamin Basford
Georgia
Frankin Co.
Vermont

[written vertically on left edge of page]
Benja Bafford 

[illegible stamp to the left of the above address]
Page 6

State of New York   )
Ulster County         )  fs:

James Basford of the town of Olive in the County of Ulster and State of New York aged 70 Years, being duly Sworn deposes and Says that his brother Benjamin Basford of the town of Georgia ch in the State of Vermont.  Served in the New Hampshire troops at the battle of bunker hill in the year 1775 but this deponent does not rembereber how Long

And this deponent further Says that he this deponent Served during the Revolutionary war in the Said troops in the 1776 and that the Said Benjamin also Served in the Same Service at Ticonderoga in the State of New York for the term of Eight month, in the Capacity of an orderly Sergeant, that this deponent Saw Said Benjamin in the Said Service for the full term of Eight Month, and until he was discharged.  And further Says not.--
James Basford

[following paragraph written under the above signature with a box drawn around it]
Brother Benjamin when you get your money you must Send me a $5. bill in a letter.  I have been at considerable expense for these writings for you are rich and I am poor--

Sworn this 1st day of July 1833
before me
P.V. Gaasbeek Jr.
Jus Peace

Ulster County fs.
I do hereby certify that I am acquainted with the above James Basford.  that he is a person of credit and that his statements are Entitled to  credit--
P.V.Gaasbeek Jr
Jus. Peace.

State of New York
Ulster County Clerks Office)  fs:
I, Jacob Snyder Clerk of the County of Ulster and of the Court of Common pleas of Ulster County do hereby certify that Peter VanGaasbeek Junior was on the date of the above affidavit a Justice of the peace in and for said County authorised to take affidavits &c and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of Said Justice and verily believe his signatures to the certificates of Said affidavit to be genuine.--

In Testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and Seal of office this first day of July 1833.
Jacob Snyder
Page 7

3 ref. & Co: 1 pres: fall. 25 or 6.

See 2d old case on death,
to be put up with this.

"30 yr th."

Papers in support of
Benj'a Basford Claim--
Page 8

No 33139

Vermont
________________________
Benjamin Bafsford
________________________
Suspended
__________________________
Let to Wm Bridges 25 July 35
"......."...Hon B Swift 13 Oct... "
"......."..."........."...."......3 May 1836


Not Complete
Page 9

Senate Chamber   Apl. 29. 1836.

Sir:

I have lately rec'd the inclosed papers and ask your early attention to the same.  Amongst the papers of Mr Basford deceased I find your letter addrefsed to me of the 12th of Oct last and being unable to reply to it in a manner to benefit the heirs of Mr Basford, I handed it to George Bridges.  Seeing it now and reattesting that I did on a former occasion write you on the subject of the claim, at the instance of Jesop Bridges.  I have made a certificate, that my silence might not be misunderstood.
Respectfully
yours &c
B Swift
Page 10

State of Vermont      )
Georgia District  fs.   )

Be it remembered that at a Probate Court holden at Fairfield in Sd district on the 7th day of June AD 1836

I Joel Barber Jr Judge of the Court of Probate, in and for the District aforesaid, do hereby certify that it was most satisfactorily proved to Sd court, that Benj'a Basford late of Georgia, county of Franklin and State af'd, died on the thirteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three, and that Martha Basford now living in Sd town of Georgia is the lawfull widow of the said Benjamin Basford aforesaid deceased--

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Fairfield in said District the day & year af'd
Joel Barber Jr  Judge

[illegible seal affixed to the left of the above paragraph]
Page 11

Benjamin Basford



Hon. B. Swift,
Senate US
Page 12

War Department
Pension Office
October 12th 1835

Sir

I have the honor to enclose herewith a paper purporting to be the declaration of Services of Benjamin Basford in 1818.  If you have any knowledge of its execution and authenticity or of any jurat which may have been attached to it and since destroyed, you will confer a favor upon the Department and claimant by stating it on the back of it.  This is indispensable by the rules before it can become available evidence in the case

I have the honor to be
Respe'y Your Obt Servant
J L. Edwards

Hon B Swift
St Albans
Vermont
Page 13

[stamp]
ST. ALBANS, VT.
AUG
10

Vt.  B.
Aug 17.
Benja Basford--

Act 1832

[written vertically on page]

FREE

Hon J.L. Edwards
Commifsioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 14

St. Albans   Augt 5th 1835

Hon J.L. Edwards

Sir

Enclosed is the memorandum refered to in your letter of the 24th July which is all the evidence of service rendered by Mr Basford in the Revolutionary war that I know of.

It appears by the enclosed that he enlisted in Concord, N.H. and I think probable that his name is borne on the roll of that state.

I have written the Secretary of State and received for answer that the rolls of that State have been transmitted to the War Office, therefore could give no account of the services of the soldiers who served in the N.H. line.  In regard to the character of Mr Basford, should the Depart't require any evidence on that point it can be furnished, and his character established beyon a doubt.  He is well known in this vicinity, and has ever sustained an unimpeachable character--
Page 15

St. Albans   June 10th 1836

Hon J L Edwards

Sir

I enclosed the certificate of the court of Probate, respecting the Pension of Benja Basford late of Georgia deceased.  You will please examine the same and in due time forward an answer--

Yours with Due
Respect--
Wm Bridges

Hon J. L. Edwards
Comm'r of Pensions--
Page 16

Vt.
Benjamin Bafsford


may be adm'd [stricken out]

adm'd
for
14 mo pri--
________________
46.66 from 4 march '31 to 13 Nov. '33 day of his death to Martha Basford widow

Wm Bridges Esqr
St. Albans
Vermont.
Page 17

St. Albans   July 3d 1835

Hon J.L. Edwards

Sir

In reply to yours of the 23d of May, addrefs'd to me in relation to the claims of Joseph Waller and Benja Bafsford, I have to say that immediately after the receipt of the same I sent a copy of so much of your letter to Mr Waller as related to his claim.

As it respects the declaration of Benja Bassford, I have conversed with the Hon B. Swift on the subject and you have his letter enclosed, containing his views, relative to the making of the declaration, and the evidence of the general tenor of the same

At the time of the making of the declaration Mr's Swift and Bassford came in to my office, for the purpose of obtaining my certificate, and I am very sure that I made a certificate on the declaration being personally acquainted with the applicant.

I do not recollect what Mr Bassford said at that time respecting his having petitioned under the act of 1818, and whether his declaration was sent to the Department for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of that act I am unable to say.  But I do recollect that at the time his declaration was made under the late act that he said he aught to have had a pension long before, that he had rendered more actual service to his country in the Revolutionary war than many others who was then on the pension roll, and further observed that he should be able to prove
Page 18

his service to the satisfaction of the Department if any further proof was required than that of his own declaration.

I told him that it was my opinion that further proof would be required, and advised him to make sure of his evidence while it might be had.

I am very sure that all this took place previous to my receiving the Pamphlet containing the regulations for carrying the late act into affect.

I should say that previous to the time of making the declaration of Bafsford there had not been more than one declaration sent from this county.

On or about the time Mr Swift made the declaration of John Austin of Swanton, which was certified by me, I should say that the application of Austin was made and sent the first of any one from Franklin County and that Bafsfords was sent soon after.

The foregoing is according to the best of my recollection.  

Soon after the declaration of Bafsford was sent he again call'd on me and requested tht I would take the deposition of William Boyd; I took the deposition of Boyd and Bafsford wish'd me to forward the same to the War Department immediately.  I told the applicant it would not be proper, that it would be a confution of papers, that he had better wait until he rec'd an answer from the Department.

No answers having been returned, the old gentleman became impatient and again call'd and Mr Swift and myself to know whither we had rec'd any information.  I told him not to be impatient, that I had rec'd information from the com'r of pensions that all applications would be
Page 19

be attended too as speedily as the nature of the case admit off.

In the mean time the applicant wrote and procured the aff't of his Brother, and again requested that the evidence might be sent, which I declined doing for the reasons before mentioned.  In the fall of 1834 Mr Bassford died, his widow call'd on me last winter to know the situation of the businefs.  I wrote Mr Swift about the same during the sefsion of Congrefs, but he for the some reason or other forgot to mention the subject to you.  I have been particular in stating the subject that you may understand why the matter has been so long delayed.

Enclosed I send you the evidence of James Bafsford and Wm Boyd, and should the declaration be found, and allowed upon the evidence enclosed, I will furnish the evidence of the death of the applicant, and such other evidence with proper certificates as is required by the Department.

Since the death of the old gentleman (Bafsford I have been furnished with the memorandum alluded to by Mr Swift which I will forward if required.
Very respectfully
your Obt Serv't
Wm Bridges

Hon J L. Edwards
Comm'r of Pensions
Page 20

on Roll of Shepherd's
compy  Nymans Regt
advance wages & sundry

L 9:18--
________________

Gordon Hutchins  Col
Stark reg in 75--
8 mos
Page 21

St. Albans  June 18th 1833.

Sir,

I think that shortly after the pafsage of the Pension Act of 1832, I made a declaration for Benjamin Basford late of Georgia in this County since deceased, by which he claimed a pension under said Act.  The declaration was (I think) forwarded to the War Dept. by judge Bridges.

From a memorandum now before me and which was used on the occasion Mr Basford claimed (as I believe) that he enlisted into the Service of the United States as a soldier of the Revolutionary War about the 1st day of May 1775 at Concord Newhampshire, for eight months.  That the company into which he enlisted was commanded by Capt. Gordon Hutchins.  That he belonged to the Regiment of Colo John Starks and the Brigade of Gen'l Sulivan, that he served the full term of eight months and at the request of Gen'l sulivan continued in service untill the 1st day of February 1776, and was then discharged.  That in February 1776 he again enlisted into said service under Capt. James Shepard in Colo Wymans regiment and served the full term and was discharged at Ticonderoga.  That he was engaged in the battle at Bunker Hill &c &c.

I have made the above statement at the request of Judge Bridges and for the correctnefs of the facts stated in the declaration I rely wholly on the aforesaid memorandum which was made out and sworn to by Mr Basford shortly after the pafsage of the Pension act of 1818, and by which I think I was governed in making his declaration in 1832.

With great respect
Your Obed't Serv't.
B Swift
Page 22

Wm Boyd's aff't
in support of Benja
Basford claim to
a pension-----
Page 23

I William Boyd of St. Albans in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont, aged seventy eight years, do testify and say, that I am personally acquainted with Benjamin Basford of Georgia in the Count and State af'd, formerly of Alaxandra, in the State of New Hampshire.  That in the month of May 1775, I was knowing to the Sd Basford, and several others enlisting under Capt Gordon Hutchins for eight months, and marching from Concord New Hampshire, to Winter Hill, near Charlestown, in the State of Mafsachusetts, where he was stationed until a day of two previous to the battle at Bunker Hill.  Sd Basford was in that engagement and continued in service until his time expired.  And at the earnest solicitation of his officers he stayed some time after his time was out for which he first enlisted.  The circumstance of his having stayed after his term of eight months had expired I well recollect being with the said Basford in the same campaign.

Soon after Sd Bafsford was discharged, he again enlisted under Capt James Shepard, for six months, and marched from New Salsbury New Hampshire to Ticonderoga, in the State of N. York where we were both stationed until our time expired, and I think we were both discharged nearly at the same time.
William Boyd

Sworn to and subscribed this 31st day of July 1832.
Before me   Wm Bridges Judge of Probate.

I further certify that the deponent is a credible witnefs
Wm Bridges   Judge of Probate
Page 24

State of Vermont         )
Georgia District fs.      )

I John Gates Clerk of the court of Probate in and for the district aforesaid do hereby certify that Wm Bridges who has affixed his name to the within, is Judge of the Court of Probate in and for Sd district and that the same is his genuine signature.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of Sd Court at St. Albans this 31st day of July AD 1832.
John Gates Ju'r   Register

[illegible seal affixed to the left of the above paragraph]