Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 45,588, Abijah Benton, N.H.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE|[blank]|NUMBER
N.H.|Benton, Abijah|S.45,588
CONTENTS
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11.906 R
New Hampshire
Abijah Benton of Surry in the state of New Hamp.
who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Beedle (Bedel) of the New Hamp. line, for the term of 1 year
Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 6th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 15th of June 1819 and sent to Nahum Parker Esqr
Fitzwilliam N.H. 
Arrears to 4th of Mar: 1819 10 mo 25/30 4/31 87.69
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sep: 1819 48. 
$135.69
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.}

[recto]
A new certificate was issued in this case  and sent to Salma Hale, Esqr. Keene, N. Hampshire on the 5th June 1820 E.S.
Notification sent July 17, 1820 to Salma Hale Keene, N.H.
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Abijah Benton
Surry
11,906
Continue
Sept 1819
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STATE OF NEWHAMPSHIRE,
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.
CHESHIRE COUNTY SS. 
ON this fourth day of July 1820  personally appeared In open Court being a court of record for said county, proceeding according to the course of the common law, having a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, and keeping a record of its proceedings, Abijah Benton aged sixty seven years, resident in Surry in said county, who being first duly sworn, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows: From January first 1776 to the last day of December the same year both days included in the company commanded by Capt Jason Wait Col Beedles (Bedel) Regiment New Hampshire
The date of my original declaration in order to obtain a pension is the sixth day of April 1818 The number of my pension certificate is 11,908 
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818: and that I have now, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war," passed on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have  not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed. I am a Farmer  by occupation and have as good health as men generally do of my age. My family ['consists' crossed out] are four in number ['my daughter Rhoda [illegible] who keeps my house' crossed out] my self my daughter who keeps my house and her two small children Aaron Clark aged 10 years Hiram aged 7 years who are dependant on me for their support at present but all enjoy tolerable health
/s/Abijah Benton 
Sworn to and declared at Keene in said County, on the fourth day of July 1820 before R. Vose {Judge of said Court.
I, SALMA HALE, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Cheshire, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property in the aforesaid schedule, is eleven dollars and twenty five cents. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court on this eighth day of July A.D. 1820
/s/S. Hale
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SCHEDULE, 
Of the whole estate (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) and income of Abijah Benton of Surry in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, Applicant for a Pension under the act of Congress of May 1st, 1820.
1 pig 1 Ax 2 Scythes & snaths 1 drawing knife 
1 shovel & tongs 1 table 1 Iron Pot 1 Kettle
all of the value of $11.25.
/s/Abijah Benton
We the Subscribers testify and say, that we have viewed the property contained in the above Schedule, shewn to us by [blank] above named, as his property; and are of opinion that the sums set against the respective items are their true  value. 
Cheshire ss. [blank] 182[blank] Personally appeared, [blank] above named, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, by them subscribed. Before me, [blank] Justice of the Peace. 
I certify, that [blank] above named, are disinterested and credible witnesses. 
[blank] Justice of the Peace.
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I  Abijah Benton of Surry in the County of Cheshire and State of Newhampshire Testify and declare That I entered the Revolutionary Army on the Continental establishment on the first day of January in the year Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and seventy six for the term of one year in Capt. Wait's Company and Col. Bettle (Bedel) Regiment in the Newhampshire line and served one year in said Regiment and about the first day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven I was disbanded but I have lost my discharge and that from my reduced circumstances I stand in need of assistance from my Country for support
/s/Abijah Benton
State of Newhampshire
Cheshire ss.} Be it remembered that on this sixth day of April A.D. 1818 pursuant to a law of the United States entitled An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war made and passed the 18th of March 1818 personally appeared before me the subscriber Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Cheshire aforesaid the above named Abijah Benton and after due examination & caution to testify and declare the whole truth he maketh oath to the declaration aforesaid and subscribed the same in my presence and on examination, duly made by me the said Judge it appeareth to my satisfaction that the said declaration is true
/s/Nahum Parker
State of Newhampshire
Cheshire ss.} I Nahum Parker Judge &c as aforesaid, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Abijah Benton is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support
/s/Nahum Parker
Fitzwilliam May 29, 1819
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Abijah Benton Declaration
private
New Hampshire Line 
1776 - 1 year
Further evidence required.
Adm'd
Wanting judge's certificate of reduced circumstances of the applicant
I Salma Hale Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas  for the County of Cheshire hereby certify that the Hon Nahum Parker whose proper hand is within written is one of the Justices of said Court duly commissioned and that no particular impression is used as a seal of said Court 
[court seal affixed] In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed a seal in form as and by said Court this 26th day of June A.D. 1818
Fitzwilliam, N.H.
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45588
Revy INVALID. [initials: own]
File No. 45588
Abijah Benton 
Pri Rev War
Act: 18 March 1818
Index: - Vol. 3, Page 35
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Nathan Fay deposition
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I Ephraim Stearns of lawful age testify and say that in the month of December 1775 or January 1776, I enlisted as a private in Capt Jason Wait's company in Col. Bedel's Regiment in the Canada expedition for one year, & continued to serve till I was Discharged, which was in Nov'r 1776; I was discharged at that time in consequence of ill health. I further testify & say that Abijah Benton, then of Surry, inlisted with the same company, to which I belonged, about the same time that I enlisted, & that we both marched from Walpole in January or Feb. 1776, & that we drew pay from the first day of Jany. 1776. I further testify that said Abijah Benton enlisted for a year, that he continued in the service till or short time before I received my Discharge, as above stated, when, as I believe, he obtained a furlough, but I cannot recollect the particular time, when he obtained his said furlough. In the winter following, we met at s'd Walpole to receive our pay. I  received pay for a year & I am very confident that s'd Benton also received for a year. I also testify that I am not interested in making the above statement. 
/s/Ephraim Stearns
State of New Hampshire
Cheshire ss. April 21, 1819. Then the above named Ephraim Stearns, who is personally known to me, the subscriber personally appeared, & made solemn Oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit, by him subscribed.
Before me /s/Roger Vose, Jus. Peace
And I, the said Roger Vose, hereby certify that the said Ephraim Stearns is a credible person, & full faith ought to be given to his testimony.
/s/Roger Vose Jus. Peace
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Cheshire May 28 1819
I Salma Hale clerk of the Judicial Courts in said county certify that Roger Vose is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County and that the within is his signature. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I hereunto affix the seal of our Superior Court of Judicature
/s/S. Hale
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I Silas Mack of Marlow of lawfull age testify and say that sometime in the Month of February in the year 1776 I was at Charlestown in the County of Cheshire ss and there I saw Abijah ['With' crossed out] Benton pass Muster and was joined to Capt. Jason Wates (Wait's) Company in Col. Bedel's Regiment in the Canaday Expedition and it was then stated that that Company was inlisted for one year and in the fall of the same year I was called out in a to a laram (alarm) and marched to Mountindependence and there saw said Benton in Said Company and when I left the Army i left him there and i have no Reason to doubt but that he served his term out
I also Certify that i am not any interested in  making the above statement
/s/Silas Mack 
State of Newhampshire
Cheshire ss. May 13th 1819 Then the above named Silas Mack made Solemn Oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed contain the truth and nothing but the truth Relative to the case for which it is taken taken 
Before me /s/Elisha Huntley Justice peace
and I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the foregoing Silas Mack and he is a man of truth and Varasaty
/s/Elisha Huntley Justice peace
Cheshire ss. May 28 1819 
I Salma Hale clerk of the Judicial Courts in said County certify that Elisha Huntley is a Justice of the Peace in & for said county, & that the foregoing is his signature
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I hereunto affix the Seal of our Superior Court of Judicature
/s/S. Hale Clk
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I Nathan Fay of lawful Age Testify and say that Sometime in the Month of January in the year 1776 I inlisted Abijah Benton of Surry in the County of Cheshire for one year and was with him when he pased Muster and am (k)nowing that he joined Capt Jason Wates (Wait's) Company in Coln. Bedel's Regiment in the Canada Expedition and in the fall of the same year I was called out in a laram (alarm) and marched to Mountindependence and there saw said Benton in Said Company and when I left the army I left him thare and I have no reason to dought but that he served His term out
I also certify that I am not interested in making the above statement
/s/Nathan Fay
State of Newhampshire
Cheshire ss May 13th 1819 then the above named Nathan Fay made Solemn Oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed Contains the truth and nothing but the truth Relative to the case for which it  is taken taken before me 
/s/Elisha Huntley Justice peace
I hereby certify that I am well aquainted with the foregoing Nathan Fay and he is a man of truth and Varasaty
/s/Elisha Huntley Justice peace
Cheshire ss. May 28th 1819. 
I Salma Hale clerk of the Judicial Courts in said county certify that Elisha Huntley is a Justice of the Peace in & for said county and that the foregoing is his signature
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I hereunto affix the seal of our Superior Court of Judicature
/s/S. Hale
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Abijah Benton
15 June 1819
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Abijah Benton's
APPLICATION FOR A NEW CERTIFICATE.
STATE OF NEWHAMPSHIRE.
County of Cheshire, ss. 
ON this twenty second day of May 1820; before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Cheshire, personally appeared Abijah Benton who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Jason Wait in the regiment commanded by Colonel Beadle (Bedel) in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New Hampshire; that he received a certificate of that fact, under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War; which certificate, on or about the eighth day of March, 1820, ['was' crossed out] be delivered to Nahum Parker, Esquire, accompanied with a power of attorney, authorising Amos A. Parker to receive the money due on said Certificate the 4th of March last; to deliver to said attorney and that he believes said Certificate is now lost. by being stolen from said Attorney at Keene on the night of the 15th of April 1820 by which theft he has lost this Certificate.
/s/Abijah Benton
Sworn and subscribed to, before me, the day and year aforesaid.} 
/s/Nahum Parker, Jus. Peace.
STATE OF NEWHAMPSHIRE.
Cheshire ss. 
ON this 24th day of May., 1820, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Cheshire, personally appeared Amos A. Parker, and made oath that the abovementioned Certificate was stolen from his possession at Keene in said County on the night of 15th of April, 1820, and has not since been recovered. 
/s/Amos A. Parker
Sworn and subscribed to, before me, the day and year aforesaid.}
/s/Nahum Parker Jus. Peace.
STATE OF NEWHAMPSHIRE.
Cheshire ss. I, Salma Hale, Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature in and for said County, certify that Nahum Parker is an acting Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned, and the above is his signature. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my and affixed the seal of said Court, this 30th day of May 1820. 
/s/S. Hale Clerk.