Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5,945, for Benjamin Power, Maryland
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE | NUMBER 
Md. | Power, Benjamin | S. 5,945
Penn.
and Wayne's Indian War
carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania 29,661

Benjamin Power 
of Allegany Co. in the State of Penna.
who was a Private in the company commanded 
by Captain Cressup of the [blank] commanded 
by [blank] in the [struck out: Maryland} *
line for 18 months
*Md. and Pa. 
Records completed
May, 16, 1904.

Inscribed on the Roll of Pittsburgh 
at the rate of 60 Dollars [struck out: Cents] per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 26th day of Jan. 
1835 and sent to Hon. H. 
Denny H. R.

Arrears to the 4th of Sepr. '34. 210.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March '35. 30.00
$240.00
======

{ Revolutionary Claim, }
{ Act June 7, 18[page torn] }

Recorded by D. Brown Cler[page torn]
Book E-2, Vol. 5 Page 130
Page 3

State of Pennsylvania }
County of Allegheny } Ss

On the twenty fourth day of 
September A.D. 1832 personally appeared Benjamin Power, aged 
about seventy nine years in open Court, before the Honorable Charles Shaler, Esqr
President and his associates Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the 
County of Allegheny now sitting at Pittsburgh. The said Benjamin Power 
being a resident of Ross Township in the County and State aforesaid, and 
he being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath 
make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act 
of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That he was born in Prince William County, Virginia about the year 
1753, but he has no record of his age, nor does he know of any in 
existence.  That he enlisted in the winter or spring 1775 in the Independents 
Rifle Companies in the Maryland Line for one year under Captain Cressup 
and Lieutenant Rollins &c and marched for Boston crossed the Susquehanna, 
at [blank] Ferry and the North River at Peekskill went towards 
Boston and were stationed at Roxberry [Roxbury].  The Battle of Bunkers Hill 
was fought before their arrival there, though they heard the firing of cannon 
and marched that day about forty five miles, shortly after their arrival 
and when going to Roxberry [Roxbury] they were fired upon by the British.  The 
company commanded by Captain Cressup was one hundred and thirty four strong.

After their term of service had expired, they were marched to New York 
where declarant received his discharge from his Captain Moses Rollins who 
succeeded Captain Cressup.  That after having been discharged, he the 
Declarant travelled to the Westward as far as Lancaster in the State of 
Pennsylvania where he understood Colonel Cunningham was making up 
a regiment of enlisted for one year and a private in a rifle company and 
under Captain Boyd for one year, and Captain Boyd having died, he served 
under Captain George Graff.  He marched with the regiment to Long Island 
and the While Plains after which he was sent to Staten Island 
where they attacked a British vessel called (he believed,) the "Asea" 
with their rifles and succeeded in capturing her tender with about 
twenty eight iron bound casks and some other matters.  
General
Page 4

General Hard, after having appointed Brigadier General, had the command of 
Cunningham's Regiment.  Declarant during this period of service frequently 
saw General's Washington, Wayne, Robadeau, Lee, Putnam and other officers 
whose names he now forgets.  After having been on Statten [Staten] Island 
for some time Declarant with the detachment was removed to Rawway [Rahway]
where he fell sick and from thence to Princeton, and when the Hessians 
threatened that place (he being still very stick) was removed to the barracks 
at Philadelphia where he remained until he secured his discharge from 
Captain George Graff after having served in said Independent Rifle Companies 
and the said regiment under the aforesaid two enlistments for at least 
two years Declarant further states at the time of his enlistment in the 
Independent Rifle Companies as above stated he resided in Washington 
County Maryland, that soon after his discharge by Captain George Graff 
he went to the place where he enlisted Washington County Maryland 
where he remained about four years He then removed to Fayette 
County Penna. where he remained about six years and afterwards 
came to the vicinity of Pittsburgh, where he has ever since 
resided.  That about the time of the Indian War with the 
destruction of other property he lost his two discharges, that 
he has no documentary evidence of his services and that he has 
no knowledge of any in existence, that he knows of no person 
whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services 
except the witnesses whose depositions are herewith produced. 

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.  Benjamin Power 
Sworn to and subscribed } 
the day and year aforesaid }
Wm M. Candless Pro }
Page 5

We Willaim Woods and Lazarus Stewart --
residing in the County and State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted 
with Benjamin Power who has subscribed and sworn to the above 
declaration, that we believe him to be about seventy nine years of age; 
that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] where he resides 
to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in 
that opinion.  Will Woods
Sworn to and subscribed } L. Stewart
the day and year aforesaid }
Wm McCandless Pro 

I the subscriber resident of Butler County in the State of Pennsyl
vania, brother of Benjamin Power, the above named applicant for 
a pension, do hereby certify that he was present at the time the 
said Benjamin enlisted in the Independent Rifle Companies under 
Captain Cressap in Washington County Maryland. That this deponent 
knew that the said Benjamin marched in the said Companies 
for Boston, and from the best information he could obtain 
he performed his tour of duty namely one year in said 
Companies; that he knows of his own knowledge that he 
enlisted in Col. Cunningham's Regiment for one year, and returned 
sick at the expiration of the two years 
Sworn & subscribed } Esli his X mark Power
the day and year aforesaid }
Wm McCandless Pro

I, James Power of Allegheny County Pennsylvania 
on his solemn oath, that he is also a brother of Benjamin 
Power, above named, that he knows the facts stated by Esli 
Power to be true, and further that he saw his said brother 
Benjamin at the barracks in Phia. sick and still in the 
service of the United States:
Page 6

Sworn to and subscribed }
in Open Court the day }  James Power 
and year aforesaid }
Wm McCandless Pro

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 
[repeated: that] William Woods and Lazarus Stewart who have signed the preceding 
certificate, are residents of the City of Pittsburgh 
and that Esli Power and James Power the witnesses 
above named are all credible witnesses, and that their 
statement is entitled to credit.
Wm McCandless Pro

I William McCandless Prothonotary of the Court of 
Common Pleas of Allegheny County State of Pennsylvania do 
hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings 
of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin 
Power for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have 
hereunto set my hand and seal of 
office this twenty fourth day of 
September AD. one thousand eight hundred 
and thirty two.
Wm McCandless Pro

[Written vertically left margin]
Name not on Rolls 
at Annapolis
S. Kingston Agt
Pittsburgh
Pa.
Page 7

August 4, 1937.

xxxxxxxxx

Zora W. Melton | BA-J/ady
740 Kayton Avenue | Benjamin Power 
San Antonio, Texas | S.5945

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter relative to soldiers of the 
Revolutionary War.

Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained 
from claims made to the United Sates for pension and bounty land 
based upon the military service of soldiers in that war.

A careful search of the records fails to show such a claim on 
file on account of the services of Levi Salmon, all spellings of the 
names searched.

The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on 
file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.5945, based upon 
the military service of Benjamin Power in that war.

Benjamin Power was born about 1753, in Prince William County, 
Virginia, day, month, and the names of his parents are not shown.

While a resident of Washington County, Maryland, Benjamin 
Power enlisted in May 1775 and served one year as private in 
Captains Cresap's and Moses Rawlings' Independent Maryland Rifle 
Companies.  He then enlisted, served as private in Captains Boyd's 
and George Graff's Companies, Colonel Cunningham's Pennsylvania 
Regiment; was in the battles of Long Island, White Plains and Mile 
Square; length of service one year.  He also served in the Indian 
War under General Wayne, no further details of this service given.

After service he lived in Washington County, Maryland, about 
four years, then moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where he 
resided about six years, then moved to the vicinity of Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 24, 
1832, at which time he was a resident of Ross Township, Allegheny 
County, Pennsylvania.
Page 8

In 1832 soldier's brother, Esli Power, was living in Butler 
County, Pennsylvania, his age not given.  In 1832 soldier's brother, 
James Power, was a resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, his age 
not stated.  There are no further family data.

Very truly yours,

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator

[Note right margin]
Soldier's 
name not 
recorded 
on A. B.
Page 9

1940, Oct. 16-Summary to 
Mrs. W. F. Phillips MHB
Page 10

[Circular mail receipt stamp]
PENSION
H
APR
U. 24 S.
1899
OFFICE.
Page 12

OW&N
ECS

HEADQUARTERS
COMMANDERY-IN-CHIEF

SONS OF VETERANS, U. S. A. 

[struck out: Cincinnati, O.] 1896
LaCrosse Ks June 1

Chief of Record & Pension 
Office

Respectfully, returned 
with the suggestion that 
the name of Benjamin 
Power must be on the 
Pension rolls, as he 
drew a pension from 
about 1832-to-1838.

Yours respectfully,

WH Russell 
Comdr in Chief
Page 13

[Does not appear to be any text to transcribe on this image]
Page 14

HEADQUARTERS
COMMANDERY-IN-CHIEF

SONS OF VETERANS, U. S. A.
[struck out: Cincinnati, O.] LaCrosse Kans June 11/1896

[Circular mail receipt stamp]
PENSION
L
JUN 
U. 15 S.
1896 
OFFICE.

The within request for 
information regarding 
the service of Benjamin 
Power as a Revolution
ary soldier is respect
fully referred to the Honor
able Commissioner of 
Pensions with the re
quest that a certificate 
of the service of said 
Benj. Power be furnish
ed the undersigned.
W. H. Russell
Commander-in-Chief
LaCrosse, Kans

[Rectangular mail receipt stamp]
OLD WAR & NAVY 
JUN 18 1896
FILES
Page 15

Record and Pension Office, 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Washington, June 4, 1896.

Respectfully returned to 

Mr. W. H. Russell,  
Commander-in-Chief, 
Sons of Veterans, 
La Crosse, [struck out: Wisconsin] Kansas

The within request should be 
addressed to the Commissioner of Pen
sions, Washington, D. C., who is the 
custodian of the pension records of 
all wars, and whose office is sepa
rate and distinct from the Record 
and Pension Office of the War Depart
ment.
[Circular mail receipt stamp]
PENSION 
L
JUN
U. 15 S.
1896
OFFICE.

BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:

F. L. Ainsworth
Colonel, U. S. Army, Chief of Office.
Per
(300a)
Page 16

[Two panels]
[Left panel]

[Written vertically left margin] 
Rev War

5945
✓INVALID.

File No. 5945
Benjamin Power 
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th "32

Index:--Vol. M, Page 299

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]

[Right Panel]

[illegible] 2/95 Hist. to Geo. S. 
Room 415 Old Colony Bldg.
Chicago Ill. MEC
____
June 25 '96 sol
[illegible] W
W H Russel  
La Crosse
[illegible]
May 20 99
Miss AC Trub
Painesville O
1918 Dec. 20 Hist to Laura Guempelein
___
1937 Augt. 4. Hist. to Zora W. 
Melton A.D.Y.
Page 17

Suspended 
Pennsylvania 
Benjamin Power 

See Letter to S. Kingston 
Augt. 14. 1833
do to Hon H Denny
13 May 1834 do. 15 May '34
do. 23 Dec '34 
refd. to Mr. E.

Suspd under deci
sion Circuit Court Ken

allowd by Mr. E. - 18 mos. per

Hon H. Denny
Page 18

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.  3-525.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
S. F. 5,945  Washington, D. C. ___, 19__

In reply to your request of ___, received ___
for a statement of the military history of Benjamin Power 
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired 
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen
sion on file in this Bureau.
======================================================
DATE OF | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. |
ENLISTMENT OR | LENGTH OF | ___________________________ | STATE.
APPOINTMENT. | SERVICE. | RANK. | CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. |
_______________ | ___________ | ___  | _____________________ | _____
May 1775 | 1 year | Pvt. | { Cresaps | Independent File Co. | Md.
{ Moses Rawlings}
1776 | 1 year | " | { Boyd | Cunningham 
{ George Graff

Battles engaged in, Long Island, White Plains, Mile Square.

Residence of soldier at enlistment, Washington County Md.

Date of application for pension, Sept. 24, 1832. His cl. was al.

Residence at date of application, Ross Twp. Washington Co. Penn

Age at date of application, born in 1753 in Prince William Co. Va.

Remarks: 
This not stated whether he had a wife or children.

Respectfully, 

brothers Esli & James 

Commissioner.
Page 19

740 Kayton Avenue 
San Antonio, Texas
July 21, 1937

Veterans' Bureau 
Washington, D. C. 

Gentlemen:

Please send me any information that you may have available 
in regard to Benjamin Power, born in 1753 in Virginia 
and enlisted in the Revolutionary War from Washington County, 
Maryland, also Levi Salmon who was born in Delaware, about 1740 
near Georgetown.

Yours very truly,

Zora W. Melton 
ZWM:d

[Circular time and date receipt stamp]
Arrow pointing to 11
RECEIVED 
JUL 24 1937
MAIL SUB-DIV.
VETS. ADM.
READER # 5
Page 22

[Letterhead - Heading 3 columns]

[Left column]
ELWOOD T. CARR, 
Senior Vice Commander in Chief 

[Seal Sons of Veterans, U.S.A.]
C. BORIN
H. V. SPEELMAN,
Adjutant General

[Middle column]
W. H. RUSSELL, 
Commander-in-Chief

HEADQUARTERS 
COMMANDERY-IN-CHIEF
Sons of Veterans, U.S.A.

[Right column]
W. R. COOPER,
Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief

[Form of shield with staff names]
STAFF:
C. BORIN
H.V. SPEELMAN, | R. LOEBENSTEIN, 
Adjutant General | Quartermaster General 
FRED C. STILLSON, | R. B. OGLESBEE,
Inspector General | Judge Advocate General 
DR. DAN S. GARDNER, | REV. FREDK. B. COLE,
Surgeon General | Chaplain-in-Chief
COUNCIL-IN-CHIEF
R. M. BUCKLEY,
D. F. GOULDING

[Text of letter]
La Crosse, Kansas May 18th, 1896.

Chief of Record & Pension Office, 
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:--

Will you kindly furnish me with [struck out: the] a certificate of the 
service record of Benjamin Power, a revolutionary soldier, enlisting 
from Penn., about June 1776, in what was known as the "Flying Camp," 
commanded by Capt. Boyd, afterwards by Capt. Geo. Graff, in a regiment 
under command of Col. James Cunningham.  He also served in the " First 
Company of Maryland Rifles" commanded by Capt. Mike Cresap, afterwards 
by Capt. Moses Rollins.  He was a pensioner from about 1832 to 1838, 
living then at Sharpsburg, Allegheny Co. Penn.

Thanking you in advance, I remain, 
Yours very truly,

W. H. Russell.
Commander-in-Chief.
Page 24

[Rectangular mail receipt stamp-appears upside down on image]
OLD WAR & NAVY 
JULY [illegible] 1896
FILES

July 16 '96
File with 
case. [initials illegible]
___
Answd former 
letter June 25 '96

[Circular mail receipt stamp-appears upside down on image]
PENSION 
JUL 
U 2 S 
1896
OFFICE.
Page 25

[Letterhead - Heading 3 columns]

[Left column]
ELWOOD T. CARR, 
Senior Vice Commander in Chief 

[Seal Sons of Veterans, U.S.A.]
C. BORIN
H. V. SPEELMAN,
Adjutant General

[Middle column]
W. H. RUSSELL, 
Commander-in-Chief

HEADQUARTERS 
COMMANDERY-IN-CHIEF
Sons of Veterans, U.S.A.

[Right column]
W. R. COOPER,
Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief

[Form of shield with staff names]
STAFF:
C. BORIN
H.V. SPEELMAN, | R. LOEBENSTEIN, 
Adjutant General | Quartermaster General 
FRED C. STILLSON, | R. B. OGLESBEE,
Inspector General | Judge Advocate General 
DR. DAN S. GARDNER, | REV. FREDK. B. COLE,
Surgeon General | Chaplain-in-Chief
COUNCIL-IN-CHIEF
R. M. BUCKLEY,
D. F. GOULDING

[Text of letter]
La Crosse, Kansas June 29th 1896.

Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:--

Some two weeks ago, I forwarded to you a request for a 
statement of the Service record of one Benjamin Power a revolutionary 
soldier, who was a pensioner from 1832 until his death in 1838.  He re
sided during the time he was a pensioner, in Sharpsburg, Penna.

I forwarded this to you at the suggestion of the Chief of the Pen
sion and Record Office, who said that the rolls of the revolutionary 
soldiers were in your office.  I want some official statement of the 
service of the soldier to enable me to join the Sons of the Revolution, 
as this Benjamin Power was my great-grand father.

Kindly look up and answer at your early convenience, and oblige.

Yours very truly, 

W. H. Russell 
Commander-in-Chief.
Page 26

[Circular mail receipt stamp]
PENSION 
O. 
OCT
U. 26 S. 
1895
OFFICE.
Page 28

Pension Office

Hon. H. Denny
House of Representatives
Page 29

War Department 
Pension Office 
December 23, 1834

Sir, 

The case of Benjamin Power has been 
examined and the papers have been placed on our files. 
If the fact be that he was a continental soldier for one 
year, it is probable that he would have applied for a 
pension under the act of March 18, 1818.  In all such 
cases as this, we require the applicant to give a satisfactory 
reason for not making earlier application for a pension.  An 
explanation is requested.

I have the honor to be 
Very respectfully 
Your Obet. Servt.
J L Edwards
Page 31

To
J L. Edwards Esqr
D Sir

As considerable delay 
occurs in communicating by letter 
with Mr Benj. Powers, and indeed some 
of the letters from me to him have been 
returned to me as dead letters, allow 
me to give a reason for his not applying 
for a pension sooner under the act of 1818. 
I have known Mr Powers personally for 
many years, and may state that in 
1818 he was making a comfortable living 
by hard work on a farm in Allegheny 
County.  A number of years have elapsed 
and age & infirmities have made it 
incumbent on him to obtain [words struck out]
the aid to which he thought he 
was entitled under the late pension 
law, for his services in the revolu
tionary war.  His infirmities are such 
as rendered it difficult for him to attend 
at Pittsburg to make the necessary statements 
in support of his claim.

Yours Respectfully 
Harmar Denny 
Jany. 13. 1835
Page 32

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Page 34

H.R. Decr 19, 1834

Dr Sir

I enclose to you the additional 
affidavit of Benj Power in sup
port of his claim for a pension. 
In further corroboration of the 
testimony adduced in this case 
permit me to refer you to the 
papers on file (of which I spoke to you 
a few days since) in the case of Michl
Little formerly a pensioner. 

Little's affidavit & Genl Lanne Hill's 
contains a reference to Benj Power 
The papers are numbered 18,315 under 
the act of March 1818.

I know Mr Powers very well personally 
& have known him for many years 
I have the fullest confidence 
in his statement, and for integrity
Page 35

honesty & truth he is not surpassed 
by any of his neighbors.  He has 
always maintained a highly respectable 
character. 

I hope the application will now 
be favorably received & your early 
attention given to it will oblige.

Yours Respectfully 

Harmar Denny 

J. L. Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions
Washington
Page 36

Pittsburgh July 9th 1833

Sir

Enclosed you have the appli
cation of Benjamin Power for a pension. 
It is to be hoped that all the rules 
necessary have been complied with. 

Mr. Power is well known in this County 
to be a man of truth & veracity & no per
son doubts in this neighbourhood [neighbordhhod] which he 
resides but that his statement is correct.

He took a conspicuous part in the  
Indian War under Genl. Wayne and 
on sundry occasions showed himself to 
be a well disciplined officer & soldier 
His name was generally pronounced and 
written Poor, but his proper name is such 
as he has written it (Power) On examination 
of the roll you may find Poor instead of 
Power.  Be pleased to correspond with 
S. Kingston Esqr. of the City of Pittsburgh

Yours Respectfully 

To J. L. Edwards Esqr } Thomas Lee 
Commissioner of Pensions }
War Department. }
Washington
Page 38

State of Pennsylvania }
[struck out: City of Pittsburg] } Ss.
County of Allegheny }

Before me a [struck out: alderman in] Justice of the Peace in & for said [struck out: City] County personally 
appeared Benjamin Power an applicant for a 
pension as a soldier of the revolution, who being 
duly sworn according to law doth depose & say that he joined 
in the month of May 1775 the independent Rifle 
company commanded by Capt. Cressap, and 
marched with said company as a volunteer in the 
service of the country, from Old Town in Washington 
County, Maryland, to Roxbury in Massachusetts 
where said deponent remained doing duty in said 
company until the summer of 1776, and after ser
ving one year in said company was discharged on 
Staten Island by Captain Rollins who succeeded 
Captn Cressup in the command of the said independent 
company.  When at Roxbury the said company 
performed duty with the independent companies 
commanded by Captains Price & Stinson. 
[Note in left margin: 1 year] Shortly after his discharge received from Capt. Rollins 
this deponent joined at Lancaster Pennsylva
nia the company of Captn George Graff belonging 
to the Regiment commanded by Col. Cunning
ham of Pennsylvania militia, marched to New 
York thence to Long Island, and thence into Jersey 
was in the engagements on Long Island, at White 
Plains & Mile Square.  When in Jersey this deponent 
was taken ill and after being in that condition for
Page 39

[Duplicate of prior image] 

State of Pennsylvania }
[struck out: City of Pittsburg] } Ss.
County of Allegheny }

Before me a [struck out: alderman in] Justice of the Peace in & for said [struck out: City] County personally 
appeared Benjamin Power an applicant for a 
pension as a soldier of the revolution, who being 
duly sworn according to law doth depose & say that he joined 
in the month of May 1775 the independent Rifle 
company commanded by Capt. Cressap, and 
marched with said company as a volunteer in the 
service of the country, from Old Town in Washington 
County, Maryland, to Roxbury in Massachusetts 
where said deponent remained doing duty in said 
company until the summer of 1776, and after ser
ving one year in said company was discharged on 
Staten Island by Captain Rollins who succeeded 
Captn Cressup in the command of the said independent 
company.  When at Roxbury the said company 
performed duty with the independent companies 
commanded by Captains Price & Stinson. 
[Note in left margin: 1 year] Shortly after his discharge received from Capt. Rollins 
this deponent joined at Lancaster Pennsylva
nia the company of Captn George Graff belonging 
to the Regiment commanded by Col. Cunning
ham of Pennsylvania militia, marched to New 
York thence to Long Island, and thence into Jersey 
was in the engagements on Long Island, at White 
Plains & Mile Square.  When in Jersey this deponent 
was taken ill and after being in that condition for
Page 40

some time was removed with others Princeton & thence to the barracks 
at Philadelphia.  The reason for this removal 
from Princeton was the approach of the British 
& Hessians after remaining in the barracks at
Philadelphia for a month or six weeks was discharged 
from further service.  This was in the winter of 
1776-1777.  This deponent receive his discharge 
from his second tour of service from Captn
George Graff with whom he had enlisted or 
engaged.  This deponent further states that his 
discharges have been lost, and that by reason 
of old age & the consequent loss of memory he cannot 
swear positively to the precise length of his service 
but according to the best of his recollection & belief 
he served not less than one year as a volunteer 
in the Company of Captn Cressup afterwards Rollins's as he 
joined it in May 1775 & was not discharged by Rollins 
until after the Declaration of Independence and that 
he served afterwards under his engagement with Graff 
as stated until discharged by reason of his illness 
in the winter of -76-77- and in the grade of a private 
making in the whole at least eighteen months, of 
service by this deponent as a private and for such 
service he claims a pension.  This deponent further states 
that Captn Cressups company was not to the best of his 
knowledge a part of the Maryland line of State troops, which 
was inadvertently stated, but an independent company 
of volunteers.  This deponent further states that 
he is the same identical Benjamin Power of Ross 
Township, Allegheny County in the State of
Page 42

Personally appeared in open Court being the 
Court of Common Please held in the city 
of Pittsburgh in and for the County of 
Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania Benjamin 
Power an applicant for a pension under 
the annexed Declaration and Statement 
who being duly sworn deposeth and saith 
that by reason of old age and the consequent 
loss of memory, he cannot swear positively 
as to the precise length of his service 
but according to the best of his recollection 
he served not less than the periods men
tioned below and in the following grades

That he enlisted as a private in the Indepen
dent Rifle Companies in the Maryland 
Line in the year 1775 under Capt. Cressap 
and Lieut. Rollins &c to serve for one year 
That he performed service as stated in his 
Declaration hereunto annexed under said enlistment for and during 
the period of one year at least.  That he enlist
ed in Lancaster Pennsylvania in a Rifle Regiment 
commanded by Colonel Cunningham in Genl. 
Hand's division. about two weeks after his first
Page 43

term of service had expired, under Capt 
Boyd to serve for one year and that under 
this enlistment he served as stated in 
his said Declaration during the period 
of one year at least, making under the last 
several enlistments the service of two years 
and for such service this deponent claims 
a pension.  Deponent further saith that 
the reason he assigns for not obtaining and 
producing a Clergyman's affidavit to prove that 
he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] 
where he resides to have been a soldier of the 
Revolution is, that the Revd. Mr. Stockdon 
who was the Clergyman acquainted with deponent 
could not attend Court and that the product
tion of any other Clergyman as a witness 
for him would be attended with too much 
inconvenience and expense to him.
Sworn to in open Court } Benj Power
this fifth day of July in the } 
year of our Lord A.D. 1833 } 
Wm McCandless Pro
Page 44

Allegheny County }
State of Pennsylvania } Ss

I William McCandless 
Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and 
for said County do hereby certify that the 
foregoing contains the original proceedings 
and supplementary affidavits before the 
Court of Benjamin Power in the matter 
of his application for pension under the 
Act of the 7th June A.D. 1832.
[Blurred seal of office] In testimony whereof I have 
hereunto set my hand and seal 
of office this ninth day of July 
in the year of our Lord 1833.
Wm McCandless Pro