Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5306, Benjamin Brink, Penn.
Page 1

(3-1776).   
SERVICE.                                               NUMBER

Penn.   Brink, Benjamin.                        S.5306
————.      ————————————    —————-

===================================
CONTENTS

15 lines left blank
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[left-hand column of page]
Pennsylvania 277 [illegible due to torn page]
[New York crossed out]
(9.)
Benjamin Brink
Tioga Co in the State of New York who was a private in the com[pany] commanded by Captain Shoemaker of the regt. commanded by Col Chambers in the Pennsylvania line for two years private
27709
----------------------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of New York 
at the rate of 80 dollars xx cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
-----------------------------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 day of October, 1832 and sent to L Robinson, Elmira.
------------------------------------
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 34 280.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 35 40.00
$320.00 [double underlined]

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.      }

Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk
Book 82 Vol 4 Page 5

[right-hand side of page]
See cir Tr. Mar 13th 1835
---------------------------------
Transf. to Pennsylvania from 
4th Sept 1834- Apr 1st 1835
--------------------------------
Page 3

At a court of common pleas holden at the court house in the village of Elmira in and for the county of Tioga in the state of New York commencing on the fourth day of September 1832; present Hon. Grant B. Baldwin, Hon. Judges John R. Drake, David Bentley, Joseph L. Darling, Elijah Shoemaker Esq. judges.

State of New York}
Tioga County       } Ss

On this 4th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court before the judges aforesaid, being a court of record because made so by the Constitution and laws of the state, having by law a (illegible) and seal, now sitting, Benjamin Brink, a resident of the town of Elmira in the county of Tioga and state of New York, aged sixty-nine years the twenty-ninth day of August last, 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 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated; that he enlisted in the company commanded by Captain Henry Shoemaker in the spring of the year 1780 for the term of during the year that the nature of his service and the duties performed by him were confined to the line of fortification upon the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River to protect the settlements from the Indians and Tories.  He was employed in garrison duty building and repairing
Page 4

forts; to being his regular tour in mounting guard on sentry, spies and scouts.  The col. John Chambers had the general command of the troops in Northampton County at the time this deponent enlisted and that Col. Jacob Stroud commanded the forts up the river toward towards the mission and the river link; that about the time he enlisted two additional companies were sent by Gen. Washington to their assistance, one of which Capt. Sheonders continued during the remainder of the tour; that he continued in the service aforesaid till the latter part of the year 1783 when he was discharged.

That he has no documentary evidence of his service but has two living witnesses to them who are Samuel Shoemaker and George Horton. 

And in answer to the several interrogatories put to him by the court he says that he was living in the town of Kingwood, county of Morris and state of New Jersey on the twenty-ninth day of August in the year 1763.  He has no record of his life; that his parents had the date of his birth set down in their Dutch Bible and well remembers looking at it after he came to years of discretion and has no doubt that he retains it correctly in his memory; that at that time he entered the service aforesaid he lived in the town of Lower Smithfield, county of Northampton and state of Pennsylvania.
Page 5

(2)
After the close of the Revolutionary War he continued to live in Smithfield aforesaid several years.  Then lived at Sheshequin, Bradford County some time, then at Elmira, his present residence; that he entered the service as one of the volunteer militia; that he was acquainted with Col. Chambers, Col. Stroud and Col. Bond and the troops generally under their command and Capt. Hoover's company; that he never received any other discharge than a verbal dismissal from the service; that he would refer to Col. John Hendy and Captain Samuel Shoemaker of Elmira aforesaid as persons who are well acquainted with his reputation for truth and veracity and who can testify to their belief in the truth of the foregoing declaration; that 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.
Signed:  Benjamin Brink

Sworn to and subscribed   }
the day and year aforesaid}
Signed:  Green M. Tuthill, Clk.
Page 6

We Simeon R. Jones a clergyman residing in Southport and Samuel Shoemaker of Elmira all in the county of Tioga and State of N. York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Brink who has subscribed and sworn to the above declarations that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion-
Simeon R. Jones [signature]
Saml Shoemaker [signature]

Sworn & subscribed }
the day & year aforesaid }
Green M Tuthill Clerk

State of New York}
Tioga County  Ss  }
Samuel Shoemaker of Elmira in the County and state aforesaid aged seventy years and upwards being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that Benjamin Brink who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration enlisted in the spring of 1750 in the company of Capt Henry Shoemaker in the county of Northampton and state of Pa for the term of during the war and at the time of his enlistment Col. John Chambers commanded. This deponent was Lieutenant of the Company till some time in the fall of that year and well remembers that the said Brink served in the said Company up to the time last mentioned and understand that he continued in the service till the close of the war in the fall of 1783 and has no doubt of that fact.
Saml Shoemaker [signature]
 
Sworn & subscribed this 4th day}
of Sept 1832 before me              }
Green M Tuthill Clk
Page 7

State of Pa
March 3d
[Mar 7 sideways in left-hand margin]

Hon Lewis Cass
Secretary at War
Washington DC

Benjamin Brink
101
(To Pennsylvania)

Care of J L Edwards}
Commissioner        }
of Pensions             }
Page 8

Application for a transfer (7)
County of Bradford State of Pennsylvania  Ss-
On this 13th day of February 1835 before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Bradford personally appeared Benjamin Brink who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Henry Shoemaker in the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Chambers in the service of the United States, that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New York from where he has lately removed, that he now resides in the State of Pennsylvania where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable in future.
The following are his reasons for removing from the State of New York to the State of Pennsylvania.  says that he may spend the remainder of his declining years with his son who may [illegible] the attention of his son to station & comfort in him in old age--
Benjamin Brink [signature]

Sworn & subscribed 
before me the day & year 
aforesaid 
CD Comstock JP
Page 9

State of Pennsylvania }
Bradford County        } Ss

I personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County Ebnezer Sgar to me well known as a person of truth and veracity who being duly sworn doth declare & say that he is well acquainted with Benjamin Brink and that the person who has subscribed the foregoing affidavit is the identical Benjamin Brink named in an original Certificate now in his possession which said pension certificate was granted to the said Benjamin Brink by the War Department of the United States the eighth day of October AD 1834--
Ebnezer Sgar [signature]

Sworn & subscribed
before me this 15 day
of Febry 1835
Charl Comstock JP [signature]

Bradford County Ss
I, James P. Bull, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Bradford County do certify that Charles Comstock whose name is above subscribed is a Justice of the Peace appointed March 6th 1823 to continue during good behavior; and that I am acquainted with his signature and believe the above to be genuine
Witness my hand and official seal this 2d day of March A.D. 1835.
J. P. Bull [signature]
[seal appears on left-hand side, but is not distinguishable]
Page 10

Dr [dear] sir
Herewith I send you Benjamin Brinks application for a transfer.
When the same shall have been authorized you will please to inform Mr. Brink addressing him at Athens Bradford Co Penna to my [illegible]:
& oblige you my humble servt
L S Ellsworth [signature] [seal]

Hon
D. Cass
Secretary of War 
Washington
Page 11

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section                                   (10)
MWHF/eel
                                                     July 25, 1929

Mr. A.E. Austin
Wood burn
Oregon

Dear Sir:
     I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.5306, it appears that Benjamin Brink was born August 29, 1763, in Kingwood, Morris County, New Jersey.
     While a resident of Lower Smithfield, Northampton County, Pennsylvania he enlisted in the spring of 1780 and served as a private in Captain Henry Shoemaker’s Company, under Colonels Jacob Stroud and John Chambers until late in 1783.
     Several years after the Revolution he moved from Smithfield to Sheshequin, Bradford County, Pennsylvania and from there to Elmira, Tioga County, New York where he was allowed pension on his application executed September 4, 1832.  In 1835 he was living in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with his son’s name not stated.   There are no further family data on file.
                  Very truly yours,

                  EARL D. CHURCH 
                  Commissioner.
Page 12

Benjamin Brink
Declaration
10707-

20md
24 mo  pri
————
80$
Direct to the care of 
James Robinson Agent
Elimira Tioga Co.
N York
Page 13

(3)
State of New York }
Tioga County Ss   }
I George Horton of the town of Tioga in the County and State aforesaid aged seventy one years and upwards being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that Benjamin Brink who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration enlisted in the company of Captain Henry Shoemaker under Col John Chambers in the spring of the year 1780 for a term of during the war and  served therein till in the fall of 1783 when the company were dismissed--that he this deponent served in the same company during all of the said period but at times were stationed at different posts from each other--
George Horton [signature]

Sworn & subscribed         }
this 4th day of Sept. 1832 }
before me -----------------}
Green M Tuthill, Clk [signature]
Page 14

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 it appears to them that Simeon R. Jones who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Southport and that Samuel Shoemaker who has also signed the same is a resident in Elmira and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit-
And the Court further certifies that Samuel Shoemaker and George Horton who have sworn to the foregoing affidavits are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to full credit--
G. B. Baldwin [signature]
Court Judge

I Green M. Tuthill Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Brink for a pension--
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and
seal of office this 10th day
of Septr 1832--
Green M. Tuthill [signature]
[seal appears left-hand side]
Page 15

Affidavit of Bn Brink
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(5)

State of New York }
Tioga County Ss   }

On this fourth day of February 1831 personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said county Benjamin Brink who being duly sworn doth depose and say in addition to and in explanation of his declaration for a pension that although at the time of his enlistment he did belong to the Regiment of Col. Jacob Stroud and that after his entering the service in the spring of 1780 for during the war the company in which deponent served was mainly commanded by Col John Chambers, who lived in our neighborhood during the whole of the Revolutionary War and on mature reflection this deponent cannot recollect that the said Col Chambers had any other commands than at the place and in the vicinity of which this deponent served-
And this deponent further says that near the time of his enlistment as aforesaid Capt. Phillip Shrader's company  of three years men were ordered to the same station and continued there under the same command and there was also one company of nine months men and that we were furnished by the order
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of Gen. Washington with a supply of powder and lead camp kettles and other munitions

Benjamin his X mark Brink

Sworn & subscribed by the  }
said Benjamin Brink to me    }
known to be a credible         }
witness this 4th day of          }
February 1834----------------}
Wm. Dunn, J. P. [signature]

State of New York }
Tioga County Ss   }
I Green M Tuthill Clerk of said County do hereby certify that William Dunn before whom the foregoing affidavit was subscribed and sworn was at the date thereof one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and know his signature subscribed to the said Affidavit to be genuine---
Witness my hand and seal of
office this 2nd day of September
1834
Green M Tuthill [signature]
Page 18

Elmira September 2nd 1834
(6)
Sir,
The case of Benjamin Brink has been suspended for that it did not appear that the company in which he served was a permanent and standing corps.
The supplemental affidavits of Mr. Brink is transmitted to show that fact; besides there is attached to his original declaration on file the evidence of Samuel Shoemaker and George Horton (the former was his Lieutenant) both of whom have been admitted to the pension rolls upon the same principle as well as David McCormick-all three  of whom served together with Brink in the same company of Capt Henry Shoemaker and under the general orders of Col. Chambers who was stationed at Easton upon the Delaware for that purpose--I give this brief explanation to show why Mr. Brinks thinks his case strongly supported and why he feels somewhat deprived in the reflection that three of his companions in army should be favorably considered and he any longer suspended--
I have the honor to be
very respectfully
Your obt. Servant
J. Robinson

The Hon.
J. L. Edwards
Commr. of Pensions
Page 19

[left-hand side of page]
Rev war
5306
INVALID
~~~~~
File No.—————- 5306
Benjamin Brink
Pri. Rev. War
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Act:—June 7" 1832
Index:-Vol. M , Page 43—-

[Arrangement of 1870]

[right-hand side of page]
1913 Sept 15 Hist to Mrs 
Helen M Powell M.B.H
——————————
1915 Sept 25: history to Mrs 
L M Bostwick, and Hon.
L. T. McFadden advised of 
the above M.B.H
————————————————————
1916 May 19: history to Mr 
G.H. Grubb. M.B.H
————————————————————
1923 Act 25 history Mrs. W.A. Van Namels
1929- July 26- Hist to AE Austin
MNS
Page 20

-------------------------
Benjamin Brink
-------------------------
New York (8)
Act of June 1832 -
-------------------------
Suspended - See letter
to James Robinson
January 10. 1833

[stamped]
National Archives of [rest of stamp is faded]
Page 21

[document showing through page but unreadable and backward]

[stamp]
PENSION OFFICE
U. S.
Sep 17 1923
Page 22

[this page is what appeared backward on prior page]

3-049
---------------
Ex. aw [initials] Div. REV. WAR SECTION
---------------
Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C., Aug. 28, 1923-

The attached letter is respectfully returned
with the information that the data furnished is
not sufficient to enable this Bureau to make 
intelligent answer to the queries therein contained.
Please fill out such of the blank spaces below as the information in your possession will permit,
and return to this Bureau.
First name of widow
Elizabeth Brink
Name of soldier.  Benjamin Brink.
P. O. Address of [claimant crossed out] soldier at enlistment & after service Sheshequin, Pennsylvania 
Bradford Co.
Regiment -------------------
[checkmark] State where enlisted ------------
Date of [enlistment crossed out] birth ----------1763
Date of [discharge crossed out] death
Dec 31, 1845
If unable to furnish company and regiment
give names of commanding officers.
Return attached letter with reply.
Washington Gards
Commissioner.
6-2463
Page 23

Miss Helen W Powell 
[arrow pointing downward]
the desk of Miss
Powell Finance DW

207 Pine St
Towanda
Pa
[faded and illegible stamp]

Personnel mgt Sept 9, 1913

Rev. War -
Benjamin Brint - a pensr. Pa or Del or N.J.
Papers have been seen
Page 24

[stamp]
U. S.
PENSION OFFICE
May 
16
1916 [ink smudged]

[stamp]
U. S.
PENSION
OFFICE
May 
6
1916
Page 25

Rev:-1 C.B. JC [initials]
[small checkmark]

Kalispell, Mont.  May 12-1916
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir: -
I am enclosing a letter of mine to the Adjutant General asking for information concerning Benjamin Brink, who was in the Revolutionary War & he has refered [sic] me to you, so I am enclosing both letters.
Kindly help me with any information you may find.

Yours Respectfully -
Mrs. G. H. Grubb
419 - 4th Ave E.
Kalispell, Mont
Page 26

Sept 15: 1915.

Hon. L. T. McFadden
Canton, Pa.

Dear Sir: -
Since first writing you, I have received the information I believe is desired by the Dept. of the Interior, namely Benjamin Brink was born Aug. 29, 1763 at Kingwood, Morris Co. N. Y.

Married Elizabeth, daughter of Elijah Horton 
At enlistment lived Lower Smithfield, Northampton Co. Pa.
1780 enlisted as private Capt. Henry Shoemaker.
Col. John Chambers regiment

Trusting this will meet 
all requirements and thanking
you sincerely for the interest shown

Mrs. L. M. Bostwick
317 Madison St.
Sayre, Pa.

[stamp at lower left-hand corner]
PENSION OFFICE
U. S.
G
SEP
22
1915
Page 27

A. G.[raised s] report returned to Mrs. Grubb.

[faded stamp in right-hand center of page]
[very faded]
The National Archives ....

[stamp at bottom of page - upside down]
U. S.
PENSION OFFICE
MAY
6 
1916
Page 28

Kalispell, Mont.
May 2 - 1916.

Adjutant General,
War Department,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir: -

I would like to have the record of one Benjamin Brink-by volume and page - in order to confirm the record that I already have.

He fought in the Revolution (according to this record at hand) having enlisted in 1780 as a private in the company commanded
Page 29

by Captain Henry Shoemaker & Colonel John Chambers Regiment for the term during the war.

The nature of his services & duties preformed [sic] by him were confined to the line of fortifications upon the Pennsylvania side of the Deleware [sic] River to protect the settlers from the Indians & Tories.

He received his honorable discharge the latter part of 1783.

The record, according to Vol. & Page will be greatly appreciated as my daughter wishes
Page 30

to become a Daughter of the Revolution & I would like to confirm this record [report crossed out] that the family have kept.

Yours Respectfully,
Mrs. G. H. Grubb,
429 - 4th Ave. E.
Kalispell, Mont.
Page 31

[two stamps intertwined]

[left-hand stamp]
LAW DIVISION
SEP 22 1915
RECEIVED

[right-hand stamp]
U. S.
PENSION OFFICE
G
SEP
22
1915
Page 32

L. T. McFADDEN
14th Dist. Pennsylvania  

[number 3 written at upper right-hand corner]

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES U.S.
Washington, D. C.

415 House Office Building
September 21, 1915.

Hon. G. M. Saltzgaber,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
[very faded stamp appears to the right of the address]

Dear Sir:

With further reference to your favor of the 9th instant, I enclose herewith a letter received by me from Mrs. Bostwick, which may assist in securing the data desired.

Very truly yours,
L. T. McFadden [signature]

Enclosure
Page 33

Rochester, N. Y.
July 11, 1923.

Bureau of Pensions,
Washington D.C.

Sir:

Kindly give me the records of Benjamin Brink who served in the Revolutionary War.

Thanking you
I am,
Very truly yours,
Mrs. W. A. Van Namee,
51 Federal St.
Rochester, N. Y.

Elizabeth Brink his widow buried at Sheshequin, Penna born Jan. 31, 1830 died at age of 65 years 6 mos. 2 days

I am not able to give the month and day of Benjamin Brinks birth, the year being 1763.

[two stamps appearing on the left-hand side of page]

[upper stamp]
U. S. 
PENSION OFFICE
JUL
14
1923
[lower stamp]
U. S.
PENSION OFFICE
SEP
17
1923
Page 34

A. E. AUSTIN
Dealer in
DRY GOODS, FURNISHINGS, HATS, CAPS, AND SHOES
WOODBURN, OREGON

4 - 11 - '29
Bureau of Pensions
Washington D. C. :-

Will you kindly give me the information your records contain of Benjamin Brink 1763-1845, a private in Capt. Shoemaker's company, Col. Chamber's Regt. Penna troops in War of the Revolution,
In History of Tioga Co. Penna, he is mentioned as a pensioner, He appears to be in the line of my ancestry and for that reason I want the information,

Yours very truly
A.E. Austin

[faded stamp at bottom of page]
U. S.
PENSION OFFICE
APR
17
19 [rest of year illegible]
Page 35

[Illegible Initials]
Rev. War Section.

3 -- 1865

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
WASHINGTON

September 9, 1915.

Hon. L. T. McFadden,
Canton, Penn.

My dear Mr. McFadden:
In response to your letter dated the seventh instant, requesting information for Mrs. L. M. Bostwick, 317 Madison Street, Sayre, Pennsylvania, I have the honor to advise you that this Bureau has only a record of individual claims for pension and bounty land, made on account of services rendered the Government, and in order to determine whether such a claim was ever filed for Mrs. Bostwick's ancestor, in addition to his name, it is essential that she furnish some of the following data: the names of some officers under whom he served, his places of residence at enlistment and after service, approximate dates of his birth and death, given name of his widow,

Very truly yours
S. M. Saltzgaber
Commissioner.

[Stamped]
U. S. 

PENSION OFFICE
G
SEP 
22 
1915

[Stamped]
LAW DIVISION
SEP 22 1915
Page 36

M.B.H.
Rev. War Section.

September 23, 1915.

Hon. L. T. McFadden,
415 House Office Building.
House of Representatives.

My dear Mr. McFadden:

In response to your letter dated the twenty-first instant, I have the honor to advise you that the history of Benjamin Brink, sur. File No. 5, 306, Rev. War, has this day been furnished to Mrs. L. M. Bostwick, 317 Madison Street, Sayre, Pennsylvania.

Very truly yours,

Commissioner.
Page 37

In reply to your request ---------, received ------------ for a statement of the military history of
-------------- a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you  will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
S.5306, Benjamin Brink
----------------------------------------------------
[First column]
Dates of Enlistment or appointment.
Spr 1780

[second column]
Length of Service.
Late in 1783

[third column]
Rank.
Pvt.

(fourth column's heading]
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
Captain
Henry Shoemaker
Colonel.
2{ Jacob Stroud [initials C.F.]
John Chambers

[Fifth column]
State.
Penn.

Battles engaged in, -------------- (checkmark meaning none)
Residence of soldier at enlistment, (Lower) Smithfield, Northampton Co. Pa.
Date of application for pension, Sept. 4 1832.  His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Elmira, Tioga Co. NY
Age at date of application Aug. 29. 1763 in Kingwood, Morris Co. NY
Remarks: ^ After rev he lived ^ in 1835 soldier resided in Bradford Co. Pa. with a son, name not stated.  No further family data.
Date of death not  on AP (initials)

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

6-2856
Page 38

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section
[Initialed at upper right-hand corner]

October 25, 1923

Mrs. W. A. Van Namee
51 Federal St.,
Rochester, N. Y.

Madam:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 5306 it appears that Benjamin Brink was born August 29, 1763 in Kingwood, Morris County, New Jersey.

While a resident of Lower Smithfield, Northampton County, Pennsylvania he enlisted in the spring of 1780 and served as a private in Captain Henry Shoemaker's Company, under Colonels Jacob Stroud and John Chambers until late in 1783.

Several years after the Revolution he moved from Smithfield to Sheshequin, Bradford County, Pennsylvania and from there to Elmira, Tioga County, New York where he was allowed pension on his application executed September 4, 1832. In 1835 he was living in Bradford County, Pennsylvania with his son, name not stated. There is no further family data on file.

Respectfully,

Commissioner.