Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt. 1039-200, Benjamin Hopkins, Continental (Vt.)
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Continental (Vt), Hopkins, Benjamin B.L.WT. 1039 200
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1039
The heir of Benjamin Hopkins
Adam lamb
Marney Regiment
1040 Annulled 
mamanl ihd April 24: 1822
1910 July 18 Hist Lo 
Mrs.E.T. Stone V.L.M.
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March 25th. 1822. 
The Hero.
Rollin. C. Mallory
In Georges
No 1040 Annulled Washington
No. 1039
Revolutionary Case 
How. Rollin . C . Mallory
Benjamin Hopkins
Paper for Thorevy
No 1040 Annulled
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No 1040, Annulled
Paper for Thorevy
Benjamin Hopkins 
How. Rollin C. Mallory
Revolutionary Case. 
No. 1039
Washington No 1040 Annulled
In Georges
Rollin. C . Mallory
The Hero
March 25th, 1822.
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Bennington March 11, 1822
My dear Sir,
In the early part of the last Session of Congress
Erastus Safford Esq. of Fairfax requested my assistance in enabling him to obtain the Bounty Land for the Heirs of Benjamin Hopkins an officer in the Regt commanded by Col. Seth Warner.  It will appear from the evidence
that will be transmitted to you that Hopkins entered the Regt. as adjutant in April 1777 - was afterwards promoted to the Rank of Capt in the Regt. & continued in service until the 6th of September 1779 when he was assured by the
enemy & his Commission destroyed. The want of this Commission and his name not appearing on any record in war office is the alleged reason for rejecting the Claim- See Col Cutting's Letter to me 5th Feb 1821 - If however, it had occurred to me that the deceased, accounts had been adjusted by the Lieut. & Col of the Regt (Samuel Safford) at the Treasury Department as I am informed was the  case. I might, perhaps have
found his name in that office of Record which with my affidavit his rank & service would have
found his name in that office of record which with my affidvant of his rank & service, would have been sufficient evidence to justify in allowance of the claim.
The widow of the deceased is very aged & inform and for many years, solely dependent in her son in law Safford for support-He was desirous, in case the land could not be  obtained short of an act of Congress, that the Grant should be made to the widow & with this view he will enclose to you her petition. I have written to him that the Petition is incorrect, as it respect the Rank the Deceased held at the time of his death-- besides there will not be sufficient time to carry the Petition through the two Houses
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Col Cutting, who has the superintendence of the business relative to bounty lands, was very obliging in cases which I occasionally submitted to him. If you and make it convenient to show him the papers in this case - he could at once decide whether the Claim could be allowed short of a special act for the purpose-- surely the loss of the Records, & Commission
ought not defeat the right of the Heirs,
when they produce undoubted evidence of the rank & service of the deceased?-- the proof in this case is brought within of the rule adopted by the War Department in Sept .1814-

Col John Chipman of Middlebury & Lieut.
Jacob Safford one I believe the only surviving officer of that Regt- the affidavit of Safford is enclosed that of Mr. Chipman he informs me will be sent ton Mr Leyman, who will deliver it to you.

To my friends in Congress, I make no apology
for troubling them with the concerns of the widows & orphans of the soldiers in our Revolutionary War- I know in this case it will give you pleasure to assist them. I have to informed them.  I am still an invalid, & can only add
that with much respect.
Your Respectfully,
Isaac Siphenor
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Probate Certificate
for heirs of Benjamin Hopkins
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State of Vermont}
Georgia District  ss}

I Seth Wetmore Judge of the Court
of Probate within & for the District of
Georgia & State of Vermont do hereby
Certify to whom it may concern that
it appears from legal evidence deposited
in this Office that Horace Hopkins
Rudd Hopkins, Gamaliel Hopkins,
Benjamin Hopkins, Jerusha Cushman
Clarasa Safford & Lavine Webster are the Legitimate Heirs at Law of Benjamin Hopkins late of Bennington in of the County of Bennington & State aforesaid-
Given under my hand & Seal of Office at the
Probate Office in St Albans in said District the 8th day of January AD 1821-
Seth Wetmore Judge
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State of Vermont  
Franklin County Personally appeared Mary Beeman and Rhoda Beeman and being duly sworn
do depose and say that they and each of them are person
by acquainted with Erastus Safford and Clarissa Safford
his wife and well know them to be the same persons
described in and who executed the above power of
attorney, and who subscribed the same
Sworn and subscribed before me this
12 day of April 1822
Joseph Beman Justice of the peace
Mary Beerman,
Rhoda Beeman
Joseph Beeman is a justice
of the peace and the above
his handwriting
R C Mallory
Rep in Congress
Easter & Clara
Sufford power
of attorney
to
J. C. Mallory
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Know all Men by these presents that we Erastus Safford Clarisa Safford both of Fairfax County of Franklin and State of Vermont heir at Law of Captain Benjamin Hopkins clues - late sergeant  and Captain in the regiment commanded by Col Seth Warner- in the Revolutionary War have made, constituted and appointed the Hon Rawlin C Mallery of Castleton in the County of Rutland and State aforesaid, now a member of Congress-- our true and Lawful attorney for us and in our names to ask for, demand and use of and from the commissioner of the Land office of the United States, or such other person as
may be appointed or duly authorized by Law, to grant the same , a Land warrant to which we are entitled to as the Legitimate heir at law to the said Benjamin Hopkins, deceased and the aforesaid Rawlin C Mallery is hereby authorized for us and in our names to Rept for the same, and all other writings necessary duly make and execute that we could do were we personally present - and we father authorize the said R.C Mallory to appoint one or more substitutes or attorneys under him for the purpose of carrying into affect the much on of this instrument and at please to revoke the same and whatever our said attorney or his substitute shall Lawfully do in the premises we hereby ratify and conform - in testimony where of we have set our hand and Seal this 12th day of April AD 1822

In presence of
Mary Bearman
Erastus Safford
Joseph Bearman
Clarisse Safford

State of Vermont ⎬ Fairfax April 12th 1822
Franklin County ⎬
Personally appeared Eraster Safford and
Clarrisse Safford to me personally known and being duly sworn doth depose and say that they are the same individuals described in the above power of the attorney that the same in their own free act and deed for the purpose there in mentioned Sworn and subscribed
before me
Joseph Beman Justice of the Peace
Erastus Safford
Clarrissa Safford
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Record Division,
Mrs. E. F. Stone,
6181 McPherson Avenue,
Madam;
St. Louis, Mo.
July 18, 1910.
In reply to your letter dated the 4"" and received the 6"" instant,
you are advised that it is shown by the records of this Bureau, that
Benjamin Hopkins served as Adjutant and Captain in Colonel Seth Warner's
regiment until September 6, 1779, when he was massacred by the enemy at
Fort George near Lake George.
On January 8, 1821, Horace Rudd, Gamalie, Benjamin, Jerusha Cushman,
Clarissa wife of Erastus Safford, and Levine Webster, are referred to as
the legitimate heirs-at-law of Benjamin Hopkins, late of Bennington, Vera
mont. In 1822 the widow is referred to as being very aged and in
her name is not stated.
The above named heirs were allowed bounty land on account of the sole
dier's service, but a careful search of the records of this Bureau fails
to show that a claim for Revolutionary War pension was ever filed by the
widow of any soldier named Benjamin Hopkins.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
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Col Cuttings Letter
5th Feb. 1821- in
the Case of adj Hopkin
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War Department.
the Hon Isaac Titchener.
Sir,
Section of Bounty Lands Feby 9th 1821.
past 3. P.M.
I this moment open your Letter inclosing a Letter with
the Signature "Erastus Safford "address to yourself, and covering a Certificate of Heirship in a
Claim for Military Bounty Land in Right of Benjamin Hopkins, said to have been an Officer
in the Revolutionary War. Your former note on the same subject, was received at this office
on the 24th ult, and the case was immediately investigated; your State with the Regate of the
examine inscribed upon it, was filed for Reply; but such has been the multiplicity of a
plication at this office during the present Session of Congress, that the term of years has
not arrived yet, by a long roll of Dates. However, I seize a moment to say that since the
Conflagration of the War Office in 1800, this Department has only all in the
names of Officers who were living at the close of the Revolutionary War; but not those who were
slain by the Enemy, excepting such whose Representatives had their accounts adjusted
at the Treasury Department of the U.S. Every existing Record of the Military Service
that Day known at this Office, has been examined; but the name of this Benjamin Hopkins
is nowhere found. Some Records of both the New Hampshire & of the Massachusetts Lines
were sent from the Archives of this State respectively, to substantiate same claims for
Pension to Revolutionary Soldiers: they Remain in the Pension Office in this Dept
Recourse has been had to these Rolls; but the name of Benjamin Hopkins
not appear on them, at any period of the War
Under these circumstances, I do not know any Regulation of the War Dept. that can
admit this claim; nor do I know any president for its admission.
It seems to me
the only Remedy left for the Heirs, is a memorial to the Sovereign. Under this
impression, I now return you Mr. Safford's Letter, with the Probate Certificate it covers.
and have the honor to remain, very respectfully, Sir, Your most obedt Servt
Nat. Cutting.
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Hon. R.C. Mallory M.C.
Transmitting the Evidence that Benjn.
Hopkins, was "Slain by the Enemy" in the
Revolutionary War of the U.S.

Theheirs of Adjutant
Benjamin Hopkins of
the Revolutionary War
Warners Regt.
Wt. ipd 1039
Mar. 30th 1822
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Mr. Mallery report to Mr. Cutting and enclose the
Depositions with certificate required-
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Col John Chipman
affidavit
I certify that Joel
Doolittle on the 13th March
1822 was a Judge of said
Court of Vermont and
Justice of the peace of Office
through the said Hall and
that the signature of
Joel Doolittle is in his
handwriting.
R C Mallary
Rep of congress
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I John Chipman of Middlebury in the County of Addison and State of Vermont, of lawfull being duly sworn depose and say, that in the year 1776 I was a first Lieut. & afterwards a Captain, & commanded a company in Col. Seth Warners Regiment, a continental Regiment, in the Revolutionary war.  and I further depose & say that I was well acquainted with Benjamin Hopkins who belonged to said Regiment, and was a commissioned officer, to wit, the adjutant of said Regiment, and that he continued in said office until he was slain by the common enemy near Fort George in the year 1779 or 1780 in September- a Lieut. Coon was killd [killed] at the same time, & Colo. Warner was wounded.
I know that the said Benjamin Hopkins had a commission, which I well recollect to have seen,  and I have reason to believe that it was taken from him by the enemy, after he was slain, as he was, by then, striped [stripped] of every thing he had, even his clothing -
Said Hopkins continued in said Regiment, to the best of my recollection, nearly three years, & was adjutant the whole time -
That Regiment was raised in what was then called the New Hampshire Grants - now State of Vermont, and commissioned by Congress
John Chipman
Sworn
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Sworn and subscribed at Middlebury in the County of Addison & State of Vermont this 13th day of March 1822 - 
before me
Joel Doolittle Judge
Supreme Court Vermont.
And I certify that Colo. John Chipman the above Deponent, is a person well known to me, and is a credible witness -
Joel Doolittle Judge
Sup. Court V.T.
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Isaac Webster's Deposition to the Military Service & Death of B. Hopkins.—
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The Deposition of Isasc Webster of Bennington in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont, who testifies & says that on the first day of March in the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy seven he enlisted for three years, as Serjeant [Sergeant] in the Regiment commanded by Capt. Seth Warner, & continued in said Regt - untill the expiration of his term of service - your Deponent further says that that [sic] he was well acquainted with all the officers of said Regt - and well knows that Benjamin Hopkins of Bennington in April 1777 was the Adjutant of said Regt - untill one Pain, whose Christian name I have forgotten was appointed to that office, which your Deponent believes took place in the latter part of 1778 or the beginning of 1779.  when the said Benjamin Hopkins received the appointment of Captain in sd. Regt as was understood, & the said Benjamin Hopkins continued in that office, & did the duty of a Captain untill he was slain by the Enemy near Lake George in September 1779.
Isaac Webster
Bennington March 11th 1822 -
Sworne [sworn] to before me
Aaron Robinson Justice of peace
Aaron Robinson was on 11th March 1822 justice of the peace for Bennington County Vermont & the above signature of Aaron Robinson is in his hand writing
R L Mallary Rep
from Vermont
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Jacob Safford's Deposition to the Military Service & Death of B. Hopkins.
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The deposition of Jacob Safford of Bennington in the County of Bennington & State of Vermont, late a Lieut. in the Regt. commanded by Colo. Seth Warner - who testifies & says that Benjamin Hopkins of the same Bennington, in April 1777 - was the adjutant of the said Regt. - & continued in the said office & Rank untill the appointment of one Pain as adjutant, when the deponant understood that the said Benjamin Hopkins received the appointment of Captain in said Regt. & continued in that rank untill he was killed by the Enemy, near Lake George in the fall of the year 1779--
Jacob Safford
Bennington March 11th 1832 -
Sworne [sworn] to before me
Aaron Robinson Justice of peace
Aaron Robinson was on 11th March 1822 justice of the peace for Bennington Coy. Vt - the above signature is in his hand writing
R I Mallory Repr.
from Vermont
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N. B.  After Mr. Stewart has perused Govr. Tichenor's Letter, he will probably recollect having heretofore examd. this Case thoroughly.  Perhaps some other Records may have been since recd. at the Pension Office
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3—871
RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by A. Ward 13/7/10
Claim No._______________________________
Certificate No.__________________________
Claimant died in Service
Soldier Benjamin Hopkins
Service Vt.
Additional Service Rev.
REMARKS:
No Inv. No.
"  Wid.  "
"  Rej.  "
1039-200-Rev.
No pension claim for the widow of any soldier named Benj. Hopkins in the Rev.
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JUL 12 1910

6181 McPherson Ave -
St. Louis Mo -
July 45h 1910
Bureau of Pensions
I wrote regarding a Pension a week or so ago - it was paid to Zaresh Rudd Hopkins widow of Benjamin Hopkins of Bennington Vermont - he was killed by Tories of
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indians while carrying dispatches - he was Captain in one of the Continental regiments he was l[i]eutenant in[crossed out] adjutant in Col Seth Warners regiment of Green Mountain Boys at first, and afterwards made Captain -
I have seen a record
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which stated she (Zaresh Hopkins) received more pension than she was entitled to and returned part of it to the government -
Perhaps this may had to finding a record of the Pension -
I am desirous of joining the "Daughter" and I should be
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very greatful [grateful] should it be possible to have this attended to -
The dispatches were being carried between Forts Henry and George
Very Respectfully
Mary E. Stone
6181 McPherson Ave.
St. Louis MO.
(Mrs. E. F. Stone)

Two round stamps:
RECORD DIVISION
JUL 7 1910

PENSION U.S. OFFICE.
E
JUL 6 1910