Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1381, Benjamin Bryant, New Jersey
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(3-1776)
Service:  New Jersey
Bryant, Benjamin  
or Briant
Number:  R.1381
Contents:  Blank
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7th, 1832

State of New Jersey
Hunterdon County
On this third day of November eighteen hundred and thirty seven personally appeared before me John Savidge, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Hunterdon, Benjamin Bryant, aged eighty one years last February who being 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 entered into the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
that he entered the service some time in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven, can't say in what month certain, but thinks it was in the spring; knows that it was in the season of breaking ILLEGIBLE; thinks that Col Chambers and Col. Frelinghuyser at different times commanded the Regiment, but can't say positively, nor can he  say what regiment he was in; recollects perfectly well serving under Captains Odgen, Guile, Mott, Phillips, John Hunt, and Titus also under Captain Haughten before his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel: That he continued in the service to the close of the war, but can't say in what month or year
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year he was discharged; I think it was in the fall of the year; and the time of his enlistment he lived where he now does, being ILLEGIBLE 3/4 of a mile of the somerset Line; he was a volunteer; was in a slight skirmish with the enemy at Elizabethtown, in which Capt. Locke of Kingwood was killed; can't say in what year it was; he was then serving under Capt Guile; at other times he was marched to the Great Falls of the Passaic; ILLEGIBLE the Blazing Stars to South Amboy and other places, can't say which of the foregoing captains commanded his company in these marches; has no documentary evidence of his service, and knows of no person whom he can procure to testify of his service.  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 Bryant (His Mark)
Sworn and subscribed before me, this thrity first day of November 1837.  
John Savidge, J of Peace

Hunterdon:  Personally appeared before me, the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Hunterdon Christopher Suydam and John Rowe, of the county of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey, who being duly sworn in their several oaths
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say that they are well acquainted with benjamin bryant who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration; that they believe him to be eighty one years of age; that his and has always been respected believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that deponents are of that opinion .
Christopher Suydam
John Rowe
Sworn and subscribed to this sixthe day of November 1837 before me.
John Savidge, Justice of the Peace
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State of New Jersey:
I James D. Westcott Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that John Savidge Esq before whom the foregoing affidavits were made and who hath attested the same, was at the  time thereof and is now a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Hunterdon in said State duly appointed commissioned and sworn and that full faith and credit are and ought to be given to his official acts. Given under my hand and seal of office at Trenton this first day of December A. D. One thousand eight hundred and thirty seven (1837)
James D. Westcott
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No. 1)
A roll of men enlisted in Capt. Andrew Myers company in the army of the United States and in the 1st regiment Jersey commanded by col. Matthise Ogden
Men's name:  Benjamin Bryant
When enlisted:  April 6th
By Whom Enlisted:  Jno. Cape
When died:  Blank
When deserted:  Blank
Where supposed to be:  At Morristown with small force

The entry under the head "When Deserted" error.

No. 2)  Return of the non commissioned officer and privates of the first Jersey regiment in service in January 1781, with the sums due to each on account of the depreciation of their pay agreeably to an act of the Legislature passed Jany 6, 1781.
Capt Ogden's Company
Names:  Benj. Bryant
Rank:  Private
Term of Service:  April 9, 1777 to Aug 1st 1778
Pay per month:  2.10.0
Amt of ILLEGIBLE:  83.12.4
State Stores:  4.0.0
Cash Rec'd of Commis:  1.17.6
Paid Due:  77.14.10

Recorded in Book A of Auditors Accounts page 4

No. 3)  "Jersey Camp January 30th 1781"
"the commissioners appointed to quiet the uneasing in the Jersey brigade respecting the terms of their enlistments met"
"Present Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Freelinghuysen, Mr. McKelm"
"Mr Caldwell was appoint to act as chariman of the committee, Mr. Freelinghuysen as secretary"
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"Friday February 2nd 1781  The Committee met
Jonathan Crane of the first Regiment was discharged on the certificate Jno. Cape
Ake oath of Samuel Minteen"
"Benjamin Bryant, enlisted during the war"

No. 4) Return of the non commissioned officers and soldiers of the first regiment of New Jersey who claim a discharge in consequence of having served the term for which they enlisted Jany 30th 1781
Name:  Benjamin Bryant
Company to which they now belong:  Capt Ogdens
By whom there were enlisted:  John Cape
At what place they were enlisted:
 Somerset
Determination:  During the war

No. 5) We the subscribers non commissioned officer and soldiers in the first regiment of the New Jersey Brigade acknowledge the receipt of five dollars each exclusive of interest from Colonel Frederick Frulinghunysen commis service being in part of the money due to us on account of the depreciation of our pay.  Jersey Camp  Jany 19, 1781
Men's Names:  Benjamin Bryant
Company:  Ogden
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No. 6)  Return of Capt Aaron Odgen's Company of light infantry being a detachment from the First New Jersey Regiment commanded by Lieut. Col: Barter stated "Camp Hed of Elk April 11, 1781"
Named:  Benjamin Bryant
Rank:  Private
From Whose Company Drafted:  Capt Ogdens

State of New Jersey
I James D. Westcott Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey do hereby certify that the foregoing Muster No. 12345&6 are true extract from certain books and papers now remained in my office, as taken from and compared with the records and originals.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at the City of Trenton this twenty third day of November A.D. eighteen hundred and thirty seven (1837)
James D. Westcott
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Benj Bryant
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Supplemental declaration of Benjamin Bryant in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June 7, 1832.
Hunterdon ILLEGIBLE: personally appeared before me John Savidge, one of the Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Hunterdon, Benjamin Bryant, who being duly sworn on his oath saith: ILLEGIBLE owing to the ILLEGIBLE of memory he can make but few statements in addition to advance for in this previous declaration;  that he know he served in the regular service, as also in the militia but cannot particularize further than he has already done, as to the officers, character and place of service; recollects that upon one occasion while in the Army he applied to be discharged, but was ILLEGIBLE upon the grounds that the term for which he had enlisted had not expired; is confident that he served to the close of the war; does not recollect the name of the Lieut. under whom he enlisted, it might have been Cafoe, but  would not like to say positively it was or not; his memory has become very bad, and being very hard of hearing, he is not sure he always understand my questions put to him, but answers the best he can.
Being informed that the Department required satisfactory ILLEGIBLE for not applying for the benefit of the pension laws before-he says: that many years ago being informed that Congress had provided for old revolutionary soldier, he endeavored to collect proof of his services: that upon two several occasions
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he went to Flemingotn, having heard that a number of old soldiers would be there to prepare their papers and draw pensions, and expecting to find some one who would know him.  There must have been five or six years ago; most who were there were principally militia men, and none of them knew of his service although one or two said they had heard of him.  this discouraged him and he did nothing further until about two years ago, when he employed William Marshall Esquire of Hopewell, again to undertake getting his pension.  He supposed that under Mr. Marshall this matter was progressing until he, Marshall left this country for the West, some eight or nine months age.  Not having heard about it, he again gave the matter up, until a short time ago he heard that his name was on the record at Leuton.  Mr. Hester informed him of this which induced him to employ Mr. Hester to conduct the present application for him.  These fact explain why his papers have not been laid before the Department before, when as this deponent is ILLEGIBLE of explaining.
Benjamin Bryant (His Mark)
Sworn and subscribed before me this 22nd December 1837.
John Savidge, Justice
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Hunterdon:
Personally appeared before me John Savidge, a Justice of the Peace in and fore the County of Hunterdon, Daniel Bryant, who being duly sworn on his oath Saith: That he is in his eighith year of age, has always, since his birth, lived upon a farm adjoining the land in which Benjamin Bryant the foregoing deponent now resides; that the aid Benjamin Bryant has been well known to the deponent for fifty years past, at least and during all that time the said Benjamin has made his home where he now lives; that form his boyhood up, this deponent  has heard the said Benjamin speak of his service as a revolutionary soldier, and has never had a doubt on his own mind, or heard me expressed by any person acquainted with the said Benjamin, whether residing in or out of the neighborhood, but that said Benjamin must have served some five or six year in the war of the Revolution. This deponent is related to the said Benjamin, the father of this deponent and the said Benjamin having been first cousins.  This deponent well knows that for more years back the said Benjamin has been endeavoring to collect proof of his revolutionary services, and has consistently expressed disappointment at his want of success.  Benjamin Bryant's memory is very defective and he is also quite hard of hearing.
Daniel Bryant
Sworn and subscribed before me this 22nd day of December 1837.
John Savidge, Justice
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Hunterdon ILLEGIBLE
Personally appeared before me, John Savidge, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Hunterdon, Israel Hunt who being duly sworn on his oath saith:  that he is now eighty years of age, that he hath resided within a few miles of Benjamin Bryant, the foregoing deponent, and hath know the same Benjamin ever since he was a boy. That the said Benjamin then resided and hath ever since continued to reside on the same piece of land where he now does, near the Somerset line.  That he does not know of his own knowledge that the same Bryant was out in the war of the revolution, but hath always understood that he was, and so believes.  some years ago this deponent was at Flemington, with other revolutionary militia men, and there he met the said Bryant, in the office of Andrew Fuller Esq, Attorney at law, who was endeavoring to ascertain from the statements of said Bryant, whether a case could be made who submitted to the Department for a pension for  the said Bryant; and  this deponent then understood that sufficient proof could not be found.  So far as the revolutionary service of the said Bryant have been talked about in the neighborhood of this deponent he has never heard it disputed but that he the said Bryant was out in the war.  This deponent craws a pension for his services as a militia man, and when during the war he was at Elizabethtown, some of the soldiers pointed to some bullet holes in the fence and told him "there was where Captain Locke was killed".  This had happened some time before.
Israel Hunt
Sworn and subscribed before me this 22nd December 1837
John Savidge, Justice
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I John Savidge, one of the Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Hunterdon, State of New Jersey,whereby certify that Israel Hunt and Daniel Bryant, who have made and subscribed the foregoing depositions are well known to me are persons of integrity, veracity and good general character.  Dated December 22nd, 1837
John Savridge
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December 19, 1939

BA-J/AWF
Benjamin Bryant
R. 1381

Miss Sydney S. Green
265 Highland Avenue
Trenton, New Jersey
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Benjamin Bryant, who served in Captain Aaron Odgen's New Jersey Company in the Revolutionary War, and died in 1801.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in claim for pension, R. 1381, based upon service of Benjamin Bryant in the Revolutionary War.  This is the record of the only Benjamin Bryant (Briant) found on file in the Revolutionary War pension records of this office, who served with the New Jersey troops.
Benjamin Bryant was born in the month of February , 1756, place not stated, nor are the names of his parents given.
While a resident of Hunterdon County, New Jersey, about three quarters of a mile from the "Somerset line", Benjamin Bryant applied for pension November 3, 1837, and alleged that while living at the same place where he now lives, he enlisted in the spring of 1777, served at various times in the New Jersey troops, under Captains Ogden, Guild, Mott, Phillips, John Hunt, Titus, Houghton, Colonels Chamber and Frelinghuysen, was in a skirmish at Elizabethtown, and continued in the
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service until the close of the war.
The claim for pension was not allowed as proof of service as required by the pension law was not furnished.
Daniel Bryant in 1837 in the sixtieth year of his age, stated that he had lived always a near neighbor to the soldier, Benjamin Bryant, and that his father and the soldier were first cousins.
The papers on file in this claim contain no further discernible family data.
Very truly yours
A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator
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1939 Dec 19  Hist to Miss Sydney s. Green AWG

1381
Rejected
P.O. Benjamin Bryant

Alleges:  List of rejected claims printed in 1852, shows cause of rejection as follows: "He was not the Benjamin Bryant of the rolls."
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N. Jersey
Benjamin Bryant
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J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
City of Washington, D. C.

Ben Bryant
ILLEGIBLE
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Trenton  March 12th 1839
Sir
It is with satisfaction I acknowledge the receipt of your letter this day accompanied by the papers relating to the pension claim of Benjamin Bryant which I will return in due time.
Your very respectfully
John D. Hester
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15 Dec. 1837
O C
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War Department
Pension Office
Dec 15, 1837
Sir
The papers of Benjamin Bryant have been examined and filed.  The claimant from his account of his revolutionary service doe not appear to have been the Soldier in the 1st Regt of the Jersey Line described in the certificate of the Secretary of State nor is there any satisfactory evidence of his having served until the close of the war; some of the Captain under whom it is aleged he served under in the militia - if the claimant served in the Jersey line until the close of the war he should give a satisfactory reason for not having applied for the benefit of the act of March 18, 1818 and for having so long delayed his application under the act of 1832.
The claimant being unable to appear in a Court of Record, he should be sworn before a Judge of a Court of Record. 
End.
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War Dept
Pen. Off
Jany 8, 1838

Sir
the addl. statement and evidence in the case of Benjamin Bryant have been examined and filed with the other papers.
the case has been presented under circumstance which of themselves would discredit the claim but the attempts to prove the service upon which it is based shew very clearly that he is the individual of that name who served in the N. Jersey line.
It may be safely affirmed that there is not an individual who serviced as much as 6 mo in the N. Jersey militia or line who cannot now produce abundant proof of it from surviving neighbors and comrades or that there is a single survivor of the N. Jersey line who has not ILLEGIBLE since seek the bounty of the pension laws.  The Benjamin Bryant of the 1st Regt. N. Jersey line was never under
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the militia officer of whom claimant speak and having served from Apr 6 '77 tp June 1783 could if he were alive identify himself not only by the tradition are ILLEGIBLE of so ILLEGIBLE an act of enlistment service but by many of the recipients of pensions for service in that line.  That Benjamin Bryant received the gratuity of a years pay at the time of his discharge by Genl. Washington was honored with the "badge of merit" an was entitled to all, which the laws provided for the most meritorious private of the Revol. Army.  The contrast of a claim such as he would assert, with that ILLEGIBLE by the papers of the claimant ILLEGIBLE the rejection of it.

Jos. C Potts
January 9, 1838

Jos. C. Potts Esq
Trenton
N. J.
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War Dept
Pension Office
March 8, 1839
Sir,
The power of attorney in the case of Benjamin Shreve has been placed on file, agreeably to your request.
The paper of Benjamin Bryant are hereunto enclosed, and I have request that you will return them after an examination.  Be pleased to acknowledge the receipt of them.

John D. Hester, Esq
Trenton
N. Jersey
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Benj bryant 1st N. Jersey Regt wars
man-did he receive Bounty land?
When + to whom issued?


Land Case No. 8141 for 100 acres issued the 22ndf April 1790 to Benjamin Bryant, who was a private in the New Jersey line
Bounty Ld Office
Jany 8, 1838
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Benj. Bryant
N. J. case
hts 28 Feb ILLEGIBLE

James L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
City Washington
D. C.
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Trenton  February 16th 1839
Sir
I hereby transmit to you a power of Attorney executed to me the eighteenth of July eighteen hundred and thirty seven by Benjamin Shreve which I request may be filed in your office and all due respect paid thereto and to the appointment and when necessary I will communicate further.
You will confer a favour on me if you will enclose to me the papers connected with the case of Benjamin Bryant and upon an examination thereof I will return them.  I would not ask the favour but in your answer you stated that you could not give me a copy of them for several weeks yet, and it is important that I should see them.
Very Respectfully Yours
John D. Hester

James L. Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
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Hon. D. Hester, Esqr.
Trenton, N. Jersey
Feb. 15, 1839
O C
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War Dept
Pension Office
Feb 15, 1839
Sir,
such is the prep of ILLEGIBLE at this time in this office, that it will be entirely out of my power to have the papers of Benjamin Bryant copied for many week.  The papers of Benjamin Shreve are not now in this office.

Hon D. Hester, Esq
Trenton
N. Jersey
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Trenton, N. J.  Dec 30th 1837
Comm. of Pensions,
The letter of the acting commis. of the 15th inst. is before me, containing the information that "Benjamin Bryant, from his account of his revolutionary service, does not appear to be the soldier in the Regiment of the N. J. line described in the certificate of the Secretary of State; nor is there any satisfactory evidence of his having served to the close of the war.  some of the Captains under whom it is alleged he served were in the militia. If the claimant served in the Jersey line until the close of the war, he should give a satisfactory reason for not having applied for the benefit of the act of March 18 1818, and for ILLEGIBLE so long delayed his application under the act of 1832".  And "further, that if unable to appear in a court of record he should be sworn before a Judge of a Court of Record."
To meet the first objection, in part as it is within the power of the applicant, his supplementary declaration and accompanying affidavits are enclosed.  He can find no living witnesses who knew him to have served as he has set forth.  This has been the ILLEGIBLE difficulty with him, ever since the bounty of congress was opened to relieve the wants of the old and infirm soldiers of the revolution.  It was this that deterred his application so long and had not his name been named among the ILLEGIBLE and broken record, in the office of the Secretary of State, the Department never would have been troubled with his application, because no one would have advised such a course with out proof.  But upon the recent discovery of documentary evidence sufficient to make out the service of a Benjmin Bryant, for more than two years, it was thought the applicant, upon producing testimony sufficient to ILLEGIBLE even a ILLEGIBLE
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able presumption of his personal identity, could hardly fail.  In my apprehension his case as now predictive not only guides that reasonable presumption, but even a violent one.  A Court of law after the inspection of a muster roll, and finding the name of B.B. thereon, upon oath made by B.B, that he served in the same company, under the same Captain, at the same time, as set forth in the roll, would presume that he was the man, but Bryant goes farther.  He  ILLEGIBLE to a circumstance which the record shew took place - in which he was the actor - which is as strong circumstantial proof of identity as can be made out or imagined.  In addition, he brings the testimony of credible persons who have known him for half a century, and that his history and constant declaration are entirely consistent with his statement submitted.  To the department, broken intellectual powers - in and of memory etc.  necessarily deprive us of those clear and striking details, which, in testimony are as ILLEGIBLE desirable - but no reasonable tribunal could always expect these from deponents of eighty winters.
In his declaration, he states that he served under other captains, who were in the militia, as well as under Captain Ogden, who was of the line.  but this is not an inconsistent allegation. It may have been and ILLEGIBLE, was so, there is no positive proof of his militia service - indeed, apart from his own oath, there is no proof of all of them.  that is, if at all ILLEGIBLE, his misfortune.  He has sought for proof, but without success; I presume not an ILLEGIBLE case, but there is evidence that he served in the line, from April 1777 to august 1780, a
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period sufficiently long to entitle him to the full benefit of the act of 1832.
ILLEGIBLE that the testimony he has addressed does not demonstrate that "he served to the  close of the war" as alleged in his declaration.  that this fact is proved, is not pretended - but it is true nevertheless: and does not by being alledged, impeach the correctness of his story.  But that he enlisted for during the war, the record shows, and as far as that goes, support his declaration.
The cause of delay in making this application is set forth in the supplemental declaration, and will be found satisfactory.  Would the department require, under its rules, that the declaration and supplement should be sworn before a Judge of our Common Pleas, or higher Courts upon returning them, they will be resworn to before such officer.  In this State our Justice Courts are considered Court s of Record but there can be no objection to making the oath before any functionary whose presence can be procured at the residence of the applicant.
The helpless, and poverty stricken condition of the applicant who is daily enduring privations as present as those he suffered for his county in youth, although forming no ground for the Judicial action of the Department in his case. Yet are proper suggestions why this matter should be speeded ILLEGIBLE early conclusion.
very respectfully
Your Obt Svt
Jos C. Potts

J. L. Edward, Esq
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265 Highland Avenue
Trenton, New Jersey
November 25, 1939

Pension Department
Veterans' Administration
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
do you have on file any record of a pension granted to a Benjamin Bryant (or Briant) who served in the 9th Company of the First Regiment of New Jersey during the Revolutionary War?  The Captain was Aaron Ogden of Essex County.
Is there any record of a pension granted to Benjamin Bryant's widow Elizabeth?  They lived in Westfield or Springfield, Essex County, New Jersey during the war, probably the latter place, and he died 1801 at Springfield.  If you do have such information
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May I please have a summary of the record which might (in the case of the widow especially) list names of children and other data.
very truly yours, (Miss) Sydney S. Green