Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16107, Benjamin Ellis, Mass.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Mass.
CONTENTS
Ellis, Benjamin
NUMBER
S. 16107
carded
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3339
Indiana
Benjamin Ellis
of Fayette in the State of Indiana
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain - of the Regional commanded
by Col Ward in the [illegible]
line for 10 months from
1775
Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana
at the rate of 33 - Dollars 33- Cents per ann
to commence on the 4th day of March,1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of December
and sent to S. C.
Sample, Connersville Ind
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832
49.99
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar:33 16.67
$66.66 ┃
⎨ Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk
Book D Vol. 9 Page 182
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11.084
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(Ellis)
State of Indiana
Fayette County
Fayette Circuit Court Septr. Term 1832
On this fifteenth day of September personally
appeared in open court before the honorable [ name  and title is crossed out]  Edward Webb and William Miller
[crossed out] his associate, Judges of the circuit Court of the said county of Fayette now sitting Benjamin Ellis a resident of Harrison
Township in the County of Fayette and State of Indiana
and aged eighty two 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 act of congress
passed June 7 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the
following named officers and served as herein stated-
That at Ashfield in what is now Franklin County in the
State of Massachusetts on the third or fourth day of May in
the year 1775 [crossed out] and shortly after the British troops had
fired upon the Americans at Concord near Lexington this
applicant entered into a company commanded by Captain
Simeon Hazleton, as a volunteer for nine months, and immediately marched to the town of
Hardwick and there remained until we were provided with
arms, we then marched immediately to Roxbury near Boston,
and were there and at Dorchester stationed [crossed out] some time at the one fence and sometimes at the other during
his term of service. While at Roxbury the battle of Bunkers hill
took place, This applicant does not remember the name of
the Colonel that commanded the regiment to which he belonged,
the Colonel was not long with the regiment, applicant
thinks he was taken sick & returned home or went to some place
from the post  to recover his health ,Major Tupper he thinks commanded the regiment
a while, but was during the service taken to Cambridge
to act as Brigade Major of the troops at that place
that while at Roxbury he has commanded by Genl. Thomas.
He remembers two other regiments stationed at Roxbury
& Dorchester, one commanded by Colonel Ward and the
other by Col. Chapins. He in the latter part of January
following and about three or four days before his term expired 
was taken sick with the mumps and was unable
to return home with his [illegible] and remained behind
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at Roxbury, and while there Colonel Ward above named proposed to him, to enter his command until he could become able to return home, which he did, and Served under that officer for one month, at the expiration of which time he received from Colonel Ward a discharge for his whole service of ten monthly and returned home to Ashfield--He thinks there were no regular troops organized at that time, is of opinion that the troops that were in the neighborhood of Boston were no other than the Yeomenry of the country who spontaneously turned out to avenge their country's wrongs, but of this fact he will not speak positively--On his return home he put his discharge away among his other papers where it remained 5 or 6 years, when one day in the absence of himself and wife from home, his children who were then small got his chest open and, destroyed his discharge [word crossed out] and several others of his papers
  This applicant says he has no documentary evidence to prove his services (his discharge being lost) and fifty seven years having elapsed since he rendered the services, and living now near one thousand miles from the place where he performed them, he believes there is no person living by whom he can prove them, or if there be they are unknown to him-
  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 in open court, the day and year aforesaid
                    Attest--Wm Caldwell Clk }
                                                            }   Benjamin Ellis

The court now here propound the following interrogatories to  the Said applicant under oath and the answers by him made are taken down by the court and are as follows viz

Quest. 1. Where, and in what year were you born?
 Ans.  I was born in the town of Sunderland now Franklin
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lin [last syllable from word on previous page] county in the State of Massachusetts on the 18th day of May A. D. 1750

Question 2.  Have you any record of your age and if so, where is it?
Ans.  I have one at home made out from my own recollection about 35 years ago, which makes me born on the 18th May 1751, but Since I Seen the record of my age as made by the township clerk in [word crossed out] Sunderland which makes my birth on the 18th May 1750 which I believe to be correct

Question 3--Where were you living when called into Service  [next line has been crossed out] Where have you lived Since the revolutionary war, and where to do you live now?
Ans.  When I entered the Services I lived in Ashfield as before stated; [word crossed out] After the war, I removed to Deerfield in Massachusetts where I lived five years then to  Buckland where I resided 19 or 20 years, from thence I removed to Sempronius in Cayuga Cy. N. York where I lived until the year 1825 when I emigrated to this county (Fayette) where I have since resided and where I now reside

Quest. 4--How were you called into Service, were you drafted or did you volunteer, or were you a Substitute  and if a substitute for whom?
Ans.--I volunteered as before stated; although in that early day we called it enlisting.

Ques. 5--State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served; such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your Service.
Ans.  At the time of my services I think there were no regular Soldiers. (it was at the commencement of the war,) If there were any regular officers I have forgotten them--I well remember a regiment of [crossed out word] militia stationed with us at Roxbury commanded by Col. Chapins-The circumstances of my service are principally above stated--my entry into service was as follows--On a Sabbath day in the late
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[lat] ter part of April in the Year 1775 while at church, an express from Boston rode up to the door crying "turn out  turn out" and gave [two words crossed out] the first notice in the neighborhood of the British having fired upon their countrymen at Concord.  The people with one accord did turn out, the company to which I belonged assembled at Hardwick where we remained until we got armed, when we proceeded to Roxbury and were there and at Dorchester Stationed during my service forming a part of the army which invested Boston during the winter following my entry in to Service,[word crossed out] I was stationed at Roxbury [word crossed out] when the battle of Bunker hill took place, I remember seeing the battle.  After my discharge in about a week after I got home to Ashfield the British evacuated Boston.

Question 6th    Did you ever receive a discharge from the Services and if so by whom was it give and what has become of it-
Ans.  I received a discharge from Col. Ward, but it was destroyed by my children about 5 or 6 years after I received it as above stated

Quest 7  State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your Character for veracity and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
Ans--I name [two names are crossed out]  Minon Mecker, Joshua Wightman and Lewis Robinson there being no clergymen in my immediate vicinity and none whose attendance I can procure, who can testify as to [two words crossed out] their belief in my Services.

We
 residing in in the county of Fayette in the vicinity of Benjamin Ellis do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the Said Benjamin Ellis who has  Subscri-
                                                                ["subscribed" continued on next page]
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[Subscri] bed and Sworn to the above declarations, that we believe him to be eighty one years of age   that he he is respected 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

Attest
       Wm Caldwell   Clk  ]  Joshua Wightman
                                      } Lewis Robinson


I Moses Ellis of Fayette County, aged fifty two years, do hereby certify that {twos crossed out words] I lived in the Towns of Deerfield and Buckland in Franklin County Massachusetts with my father Benjamin Ellis  the applicant above named, [two crossed out words] until l was 20 years of age  That while there I knew and conversed with many persons who were comerades with him in the Service of the United States during the revolutionary war,  that it was at that day a well known fact there that he had performed revolutionary Service
       Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
       Attest                    ] Moses Ellis
      Wm Caldwell  Clk   }   

And the Court so hereby declares their Opinion after the investigation of the matter and aforesaid 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 there is no Clergyman Residing in the neighborhood of the Said applicant and that Lewes Robinson, Joshua Wightman and Moses Ellis
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Who have signed the preceeding certificates are Residents of the County of Fayette and of the neighbourhood of Said applicant and are Credible persons and that their statements are entitled to Credit

I William Caldwell clerk of the circuit court of Fayette County do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original Proceedings of the Said court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Ellis for a Pension
     In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto
     Set my hand and the Seal of the Said circuit
     Court this 18th day of September 1832  [year is underlined]
      Wm Caldwell  Clk by  [illegible]  Asample   his depty.
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      11, 084
Benjamin Ellis-
Indiana.

from 1775 private
ten months, 
   $33.33 1/3
                /100
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                                                                                                            11,084.

BRIEF  in the case of Benjamin Ellis
 of Harrison township, Fayette County in the State of Indiana.

1. Was the declaration made before a Court of a Judge?  In Open Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he?  82 years.

4. State his service, as directed the the form [hole in paper]
                                                                                    Officers under whom he served
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Period.               Duration of Service .           Rank.     Names of General and Field
____________________________________________________________________________________________               
                     |Years, Months, Days.          | As a    | Gen.
Volunteered |   Served 10 months           |            | Capt Simeon Hazelton,
3 or 4th of    |                                           |            | Col. Ward
May in 1775 |                                           |            |
                                                                                    
5. In what battles was he engaged?

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Ashfield, now Franklin County, Massachusetts

7. In his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  traditionary evidence

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?

   [crossed out] Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.     
                                                                          Examining Clerk.
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                                                                                                                Aug
                                                                                                                Our
Rev. and 1812 War Section
 
                                                                     October 18, 1936

Mrs. J. W. Moore
135 Downey Ave
Indianapolis, Ind

Madam:

      I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 16107 [another number crossed out] [claim # is underlined], it appears that Benjamin Ellis  [name underlined] was born May 18 1750 at Sunderland, Massachusetts.

     While residing at Ashfield, Massachusetts, he enlisted May 3, or 4, 1775 and served nine months as a private in Captain Simeon Hazeltine's Company a part of the time under Major Tupper, and immediately after served one month under Col. Ward, [ several words are crossed out] Massachusetts Troops.

     He was allowed pension on his application executed September 15, 1832, while a resident of Harrison Township, Fayette County, Indiana.

     His wife and children are referred to, only name stated being, son, Moses, who was living in Fayette County, Indiana in 1832, aged fifty-two years.
                               
                                                      Respectfully,
                                                          WINFIELD SCOTS
                                                          Commissioner
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                                                                              Indianapolis, Ind.,
                                                                                     Sept. 15, 1926.


Commissioner of Pension,
Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir:

     Can you give me information regarding my ancestor, Benjamine Ellis, who was born at Sunderland, Mass. in 1851, d. 1834, married Ruth Pike in Ashfield,, Mass. in 1774 and enlisted probably from Ashfield or Deerfield, Mass. He was in the army for several years.

      His father was Reuben Ellis b. 1728.  His mother was Mahitable Scott b. 1722.

     The following are children of Benj. Ellis and Ruth Pike: Stephen, Livienca , Moses, Daniel, Benj. J., Reuben, Mahitable, Chelometh.

     Also can you give me the record of Reuben Ellis b. 1828 m. Mehitable Scott at Sunderland, Mass. in 1749, d. 1786.

     The following are the children of Reuben Ellis: Martha, Benj. J, Reuben, Johnathan, Submit, Richard, David.
     
     Thanking you for this information, I am

                      Respectfully,
                                 Mrs. J. W. Moore

125 Downey Ave.,
Indianapolis, Ind.   
                                         [here a round , black inked stamp]
                                                             
                                                        PENSION
                                                               S
                                                            SEP
                                                     U.      17     S.
                                                            1926
                                                         OFFICE
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                                                                                Indianapolis, Ind
                                                                                  Aug 30, 1926

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir:--
     Can you give me information concerning revolutionary records of Benjamine
Ellis who was born in Sunderland, Mass in 1752  d. 1834 married Ruth Pike in Ashfield Mass. in 1774 and enlisted probably from Ashfield or Deerfield, Mass.  He was in the army for several years.
     His father was Reuben b 1728.   His mother was Mehitable Scott b 1722.
     The following are children of Benj. Ellis and Ruth Pike    Sephen--Livienca--Moses--Daniel--Benj. J.--Reuben--Mehitable--Chelometh.
     Also can you give me the records of Reuben Ellis b 1728  m Mehitable Scott at Sunderland, Mass  in 1749. He died in 1786
     The following are his children.
     Martha-Benj. Reuben-Johnathan-Submit-Richard and David.
     Thanking you for this favor I am,
                              Respectfully
                                    Mrs. J. W. Moon
125 Downey Ave
Indianapolis, Ind
                                                             [Here a circular, black inked stamp]
                                                        
                                                                         PENSION
                                                                                 S
                                                                               AUG
                                                                        U.    31     S.
                                                                             1926
                                                                            OFFICE
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[Written vertically on left side of fold]
1926-Oct. 18- [illegible]  to Mrs. J. W. Moore [illegible]

[Written horizontally on the form]

            p.    16107
               INVALID
     _________________________________
File No. 16,107
Benjamin Ellis
Pri  Rev War

Act: June 7th 32
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 113
     
        [Arrangement of 1870.]
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                                                                                                                                      11,084

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Benjamin Ellis which require further proof or explanation.

I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  yes

II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes

III.  If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there 
      any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  yes

V.  * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in 
    which  he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to 
    what amout [amount] of pension he is entitled?   yes

VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the 
      regulations?  yes

VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one 
       under the Act of June 7, 1832?  yes

VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion?  yes

IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes

X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be 
     distinguished from any other seal?  yes and has a device.
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                                                                   2

XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen  as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Certified by two Citizens.

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  yes. --There is no Clergyman in the neighborhood.

XIII.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in hi [ paper is torn] that such proof cannot be had? yes

XIV,  + If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
      Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under the seal of office?

XV.  Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

XVI ++ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?   no

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if no, which of them is not so answered?  yes
      ___________________________________________________________________________

                        EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V.  In a case where the applicant cannot, be reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
     " Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, etc. A. B. 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 mentioned below, and in the following grades:  For _______ year _____________months and ____________ days, I served as as ________.  For ___________ months and __________________days, I served as a __________; and for such service I claim a pension."
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                                        3

   It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service.  The use of the phrase [here in italics] about three of four months [end italics] is too indefinite and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

+QUERE XIV. [ In italics]  Proof of Service.
    In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper [page is torn] his seal of office.

++QUERE XVI.  [In italics] Mode of authenticating papers.
    In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
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                 Connersville  22d Sept 1832

To the Honorable Sec. of War

                              Herewith are sent the declarations of Benjamin Ellis- Philomen Conner- John McCormick and Samuel Iles alias Samuel Iles- who severally request any communications from the department to be directed to my care-

    Their address is Connersville Fayette county Indiana

                                 I am respectfully h [illegible]
                                        Samuel C Sample.

Hon Sec. of War