Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1,143, Benjamin Bradley, Vt
Page 1

(3-1776)
Vt.  Bradley, Benjamin or Brady   R. 1,143

CONTENTS
Page 2

37,232
In the matter of Benjamin Bradley's Revolutionary services
Proof &c
Page 3

37.232
Benjamin Bradley
N.Y.
Act. 7 June '32
June 7, 1832
Page 4

United States of America} A Judge of Genesee County Courts State New York

State of New York
County of Genesee} ss: On this eighth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty six appeared before me the subscriber a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Genesee aforesaid Benjamin Bradley a resident of the Town of Pavilion in the County of Genesee and State of New York; aged eighty six in 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 provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832: that he volunteered, into and entered the service of the United States in the year 1777. (and about one month after the Battle of Bennington in the State of Vermont) under the following named officers, and served as herein stated, that is to say: that he entered at the time or about the time that be became of the age of sixteen years (it may have been a few days afterwards and he cannot definitely state the same.) that he became sixteen years old on the sixteenth day of September A.D. 1777. and that he continued in the service until the close of the war: that he served and held himself in readiness for service during all that time as a volunteer in the Vermont militia in the capacity  of a minuteman. that he served under Colonel Stephen Pearl. Captains Daniel Comstock, Samuel Hoyt, Eli Bronson & Gideon Bronson (who was afterwards a Colonel) militia officers. That General Enos, (whose first name the declarant believes was Ashbel) & Isaac Tichenor his aid-de-camp were in the service at the same time or during some portion thereof - that on seventeen different alarms he went in company with others in the service from his place of residence in Sunderland a distance of about forty five miles to Castleton the
Page 5

then head quarters of the  militia. om one occasion marched from Castleton to Fort Ann - was out with scouting parties on several different times as a spy. that on one such occasion he lay on Ball mountains so called in company with a Captain Joseph Starks. that on all such occasions he acted under orders from his superior officers. That at the time he entered the service he resided at the town of sunderland in the County of Bennington in the State of Vermont. That he cannot state the names or number of any of the contemporaneous regiments of the militia in the service at the time of the declarants service. nor can he now recollect the number of his regiment.  That this deficiency in this his declaration arises from his defective memory and great age - that he cannot now recollect the different periods which he served under the respective Captains above named but at different times he did service under such of them during the revolutionary war.
And this declarant further states that from his best recollection and as he verily believes he was in actual service under arms o the said several occasions, periods im all amounting to the term of six months or upwards: and in addition held himself in readiness as aforesaid as such minuteman during the whole of the war after his enrolment as aforesaid - 
And this declarant further states that he is in so feeble a state of health as to be unable and that he is from bodily infirmity unable to go to the place of holding the County Court or nearest court of record in and for said County of Genesee to make this his declaration, and has been so unable to attend thereat for the term of three years last past and believes he shall never be able to attend any Court of record in open court to make such declaration -
Page 6

And the declarant further states that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service during the war. - and by which he can prove the service in addition to his own verified statement and declaration as above contained - And he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present - and declare that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state in the Union - and further saith not - 
Benj'n Bradley
Sworn to & subscribed this 8th day of April A.D. 1846 Before me} Perrin M Smith
A Judge of Genesee County Courts &c

Genesee County ss: Horace Bradley being duly sworn doth depose and say that he resides in the town of Pavilion in the County of Genesee, is of the age of forty nine years, and is a son of the above named Benjamin Bradley with whom the said Benjamin Bradley now resides and upon whom he the said Benjamin is not dependant for his support and maintainance. And this deponent further says that the said Benjamin Bradley for several years until some two years last past has been in comparitive easy circumstances as to property. - but that he has since become indigent and in circumstances in which he cannot support himself without entirely depending o n this deponent: and this deponent further says that for about the term of eight years the said Benjamin Bradley has been
Page 7

such an infirm condition as to bodily health as to be almost exclusively confined to the house in which he resides. that the said Benjamin was not informed of the passage of the act of Congress of June 1832 in behalf of certain soldiers of the revolution until the same was brought to this notice by this deponent on or about the twenty fifth day of March last past as he verily believes that this deponent then received a copy of the recent collection of the pension laws as reported to the House of Represent ties by the Secretary of war under the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 31st of December last which was the first information or knowledge that this deponent had of the existence or passage of such act or the provisions thereof: and that this was the reason previous application on behalf of the said Benjamin Bradley for a pension has not been hereto fore made to the commissioner of Pensions. in pursuance of said act - Sworn to & subscribed this 8th day of April A.D. 1846 Before me Horace Bradley    
Perrin M Smith Judge of Genesee County Court &c
Page 8

United States of America
State of New York
County of Genesee } ss: John F. M. Bradley of the town of Pavilion in the County of Genesee in the State of New York being duly sworn says that he is a cousin of Benjamin Bradley of the same place an applicant for a pension under the foregoing application and declaration. That he this deponent was born in the town of East Guilford in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut and the same town in which the said Benjamin Bradley was born. That during the war of the revolution. this deponent resided with his father in the town of Sunderland, County of Bennington in the State of Vermont about a mile distant from the then place of residence of the said Benjamin Bradley and family: That this deponent was born in the year 1768 and was too young to be engaged in the revolutionary war, but was then old enough to be acquainted with some of the events and characters with transpired during the revolution: that this deponent knows of the said Benjamin Bradley being in the service for a considerable period during the war. but that not being in the service himself he this deponent cannot from his personal knowledge state the length of time that the said Benjamin Bradley was in the service but that in the family and amongst the neighbors of the said Benjamin and this deponent it was always understood that the said Benjamin was in the service during the revolutionary war as above declared by him and this deponent from his recollection and from what was talked in the neighbourhood at about the time has no doubt but the said Benjamin Bradley was in the service of the country during the revolutionary war for the
Page 9

length of time above in that declaration set forth. and this deponent further says that he is well acquainted with the said Benjamin Bradley and with his character for truth and veracity and that his character for truth and veracity is good, unsullied; unimpeachable and stands far more unexceptionable than that of many of his contemporaries; that the said Benjamin Bradley has uniformly through life been a person of excellent and unexceptionable moral character and this deponent further says that he has heard the foregoing declaration made and subscribed by the said Benjamin Bradley read and knows the contents thereof and that he verily believes that the same is in every respect just and true. And this deponent further says that he well recollects. (though at the time a boy) of the incident set forth in said declaration in answer to the interrogatories as to the rescue of Captain Hines and William Blanchard prisoners taken by the Brittish and the capture of about seventeen of the Brittish by the said Benjamin and the party with whom he acted on that excursion with the captured and recaptures in custody as prisoners of war. this deponent saw them: and believes all the incidents connected therewith stated by the declarant the said Benjamin Bradley as above are true. And further saith not - 
John F. M. Bradley
Sworn to & subscribed this 8th day of April A.D. 1846 Before me} 
Perrin M. Smith A Judge of Genesee
Page 10

United States of America } County Courts &c
State of New York
County of Genesee } ss: We William Watkins Preacher of the methodist church, and Chester Hannum both residing in the town of Pavilion in the County of Genesee in the State of New York do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Bradley who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. that we believe him to be about eighty six years of age. that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution: and that we concur in that opinion and that he is a man of good character for truth and veracity. 
Wm Watkins
Chester Hannum
Sworn to & subscribed this 8th day of April A.D. 1846 Before me - 
Perrin M Smith A Judge of Genesee County Courts &c

And I, the said Perrin M. Smith a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas a court of record in and for the county of Genesee in the State of New York do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting interrogatories prescribed by the war department, that the said Benjamin Bradley the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states: and I do further certify that it appears to me that William Watkins who has signed the preceding certificate, is a preacher in the methodist church residing in the town of Pavilion in the county of Genesee and State of New York and that Chester Hannum is a credible person: and that their statement is entitled to credit: and I do further

in Sunderland a distance of about forty five miles to Castleton the
Page 11

then head quarters of the militia. on one occasion marched

certify that from bodily infirmity the said Benjamin Bradley is unable and in any opinion will be unable from such bodily infirmity to attend the next term of the County Court in some next or any other Court of record in the County in open court to make his declaration for a pension: And I do further certify that the said Benjamin Bradley cannot without too much expense and inconvenience produce in open court at such court of record two respectable persons from his immediate neighborhood to testify as to the character of the said Benjamin Bradley and their belief as to his revolutionary services, and I the said Judge do further certify that I have long been personally acquainted with the said Benjamin Bradley, the said applicant for a pension, Horace Bradley who has made and subscribed to the foregoing affidavit & John F. M. Bradley who has also made and subscribed the affidavit herein above set forth and that they are respectively persons of good character for truth and veracity, and credible as witnesses. and that their respective statements hereinabove set forth and contained are in my opinion entitled to credit and belief: And I do further certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings had before me as such Judge as aforesaid in the matter of the application of Benjamin Bradley the above named applicant for a pension - 
Given under my hand at the town of Pavilion aforesaid this eighth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and forty-six. - Perrin M Smith A Judge of
Page 12

Genesee County Courts &c

United States of America
State of New York
County of Genesee} ss: I, Hezekial H. Carpenter Clerk of the County of Genesee and Clerk of the County Courts or Court of Common Pleas in for said County and which is a court of record, do hereby certify that Perrin M. Smith, the person before whom the foregoing application & declaration for a pension signed by Benjamin Bradley and the foregoing affidavits of Horace and John F. M. Bradley & the certificate of William Watkins and Chester Hannum were taken was at the day of the date thereof a Judge of the said court and duly authorized to administer oaths: and I do further certify that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Perrin M. Smith Judge as aforesaid. and that the foregoing signatures of the said Perrin M. Smith as such Judge to the answers to the foregoing interrogatories, the declaration of the above named Benjamin Bradley, the affidavits of Horace Bradley and John F. M. Bradley and the certificates of William Watkins and Chester Hannum as well as at the end of the foregoing certificate of said Judge at the foot of the last and head of this page, are genuine as I verily believe, and the proper signatures of said Perrin M. Smith.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas at Batavia in the County of Genesee aforesaid this 13th day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty six.
M. G. Soper Dep Clerk of the County 

in Sunderland, a distance of about forty five miles to Castleton the
Page 13

United States of America
State of New York
County of Genesee} ss: Interrogatories proposed to Benjamin Bradley of the town of Pavilion in the County of Genesee and State of New York an applicant for a pension for his revolutionary services in the State of Vermont as a volunteer militia man. and the answers thereto taken upon oath by the subscriber at the residence of said Benjamin Bradley in the town of Pavilion aforesaid o this eighth day of April A.D. 1846. that is to say:
First Interrogatory - where and in what year were you born? Answer. I was born i East Guilford in the State of Connecticut on the sixteenth day of September A.D. 1760 - 
Second Interrogatory. Have you any record of your age? and, if so, where is it? Answer. I have no record of my age except as contained in an ancient bible, and which has been continued by entires of births of my father, my own and my children's families for more than thirty years past I own to the present time: that I believe the record of my age was copied from an old bible in which the same was originally entered, and that such original record has been lost: and I have no other except that above
Third Interrogatory: where were you living when called into service? where have you lived since the revolutionary war? and where do you now live? Answer. when called into the service I resided in the town of Sunderland, bennington County in the State of Vermont, and continued to reside there until after the close of the war ['only a short time' crossed out]. that soon after the close of the revolutionary war, I moved to the town of St. Albans in that State, and resided there until the close of the last war about the year 1814 when he moved to the County of Genesee State of New York and have resided there ever since - 
Fourth Interrogatory. How were you called into  service. were you draughted. did you volunteer, or were you a substitute: and if a substitute, for whom? 
Answer. I was a volunteer and so entered the service, as a minute man about the middle of September A.D. 1777 and was so enrolled & held in readiness for service and did service during the remainder of the revolutionary war as such minute man.
Fifth Interrogatory. 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? Answer. I recollect while rendevouzing at Castleton
Page 14

Comstock Hoyt Bronson     Stark
Colonel Ethan Allen was then on several occasions and other of the regular officers whom I cannot recollect or name - that I was out seventeen different times, marched from my then place of to Castleton a distance of about forty five miles. that being headquarters for the militia with whom I served. I was under the commands of Colonel Stephen Pearl, captains Daniel Comstock, Samuel Hoyt & Eli Bronson & Gideon Bronson (afterwards a Colonel) consecutively during the war. Salmon Coggswell was commissary or Quarter master at Castleton. that during the war I marched from Castleton to Fort Ann about forty miles. that on one occasion I marched from Sunderland to Arlington in Vermont in company with some fifteen companies of the Vermont militia, and rescued Captain Hines and one William Blanchard who a party of about seventeen Brittish & tories had taken prisoners and were hurrying off to Canada, and at the same time took as prisoners of war the party of Brittish who were so taking away said Blanchard which prisoners the party with whom I was took to Sunderland & kept under guard for a few days, where they were taken to Bennington and exchanged for American prisoners of war. That during the time of rendezvousing at Castleton I recollect being out on several occasions as a scout or spy. and was once so out with Captain Jo. Stark of the Vermont militia, and Raid on Ball mountain so called. and that I can not from my recollection state the precise length of time that I was out at any one time except in general terms. that on one occasion I was in actual service about a month. and I verily believe that I have rendered during the war considerable over six months several other times, the number of which I cannot state specifically, I was in the service of the country during that war      
Sixth Interrogatory. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service? and if so, by whom was it given? and what has become of it? Did you ever receive a commission or warrant as an officer? and if so by whom was it signed? And what has become of it?      
Answer - I never received a regular discharge after the close of my service, and have none - I had a warrant as second sergeant, which was signed by Gideon Bronson then my Captain, and which I held until the close of the war and until some three years since when I last saw it, but which has been mislaid or lost so that it cannot be found although diligent search has been made for it under my direction recently and verily believe that the same cannot be found and is irretrievably lost.      
Seventh Interrogatory. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution? Answer. I am acquainted with John F. M. Bradley, Chester Hannum, Reverend William Watkins & many others who can testify to their firm belief as to my character for truth & veracity and my revolutionary services -       
The foregoing answers were taken on oath before me this 8th day of April 1846 Perrin M Smith
Page 15

March 10, 1932
BA-J/MCS

Mrs. Thomas W. Larkin
16 Trigon Park
LeRoy New York

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter of March 5, 1932, requesting information in regard to Benjamin Bradley, a soldier of the Revolution.
The data contained herein are obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, R. 1143, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Benjamin Bradley.
He was born September 16, 1760, in East Guilford, New Haven County, Connecticut.
He alleged that while a resident of Sunderland, Bennington County, Vermont, he enlisted in 1777 and served at various times until sometime in 1782, on seventeen different alarms, as a minuteman in the Vermont Militia.
Soon after the close of the Revolution he moved to St. Albans, Vermont, and about 1814 he moved to Genesee County, New York.
He applied for pension on April 8, 1846, at which time he was living in Pavilion, Genesee County, New York. His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish sufficient proof of six months service as required by the pension law. 
In 1846 he referred to his children and their families but no names were given. 

Very truly yours, 

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
Page 16

blank page
Page 17


do its Jany 21.
act 7 June.
Page 18

June 30, 1926 hist to Hon. Thos. M. Bell M.C.A.    
1932.Mar.10. hist. to Mrs Thomas W. Larkin. M.C.A. 
1938, Feb 7, hist. to De. E. Brownson. M.C.A.   
1143. REJECTED     
P. O. Benjamin Brady 
The printed list of 1852 gives cause of sus - pension as: "Documents not sufficient to establish as much as six months service"
Page 19

State of Vermont
Secretary of States' Office    
Burlington May 9. 1846.     
I J Mc M Shafter Secretary of State of Vermont hereby certify that upon an original pay roll of revolutionary service on record in this office of Capt Abraham Jackson's company occurs the name of Benjamin Bradley with an allowance to him for five days service Oct 14 - 1781 5  in service at Castleton. I also certify that upon another like recorded pay roll of Capt Eli Brownson's company occurs the name of the said Benj'a Bradley with an allowance to him for five days in "the taking of tories"  5   in Jany 1782. I also certify that upon another like recorded pay roll of Capt Abraham J'ns company, commencing Nov 7- 1778. - occurs the name of the said Benj'a Bradley with an allowance to him for seven days service.   7
Page 20

I also certify that upon another like recorded pay roll of Capt. Dan'l Comstock occurs the name of the said Benj'a Bradley with an allowance to him for twenty days 20 service in the month of October 1781.
I also certify that upon another like recorded pay roll of Capt Abraham J'ns Co'y occurs the name of Benj'a Bradley with an allowance to him for eighteen days service "in the month of October 1780"  18
I also certify that upon another like recorded pay roll of Capt Eli Brownson's Comp'y, occurs the name of Benj'a Bradley with an allowance to him for twenty days service in said company X20 
 "that marched to Castleton - October 10-" "1781"
I also certify that upon a like recorded pay roll of Capt Dan'l "Comstock company for two days 20 service done 
in" "April 1778. by order from Gen Chittenden" occurs the name of Benj'a Bradley with an allowance to him for the said term or time. 
95/3-5
Page 21

[seal] In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of this office on this 9th day of May AD 1846.
J. Mc M Shafter

Dues $3.
Page 22

May 15/48

Benjamin Bradley for a pension

Hon H Putnam 
H. Rep's
Page 23

House of Rep
May 11, 1848

Hon. J. L. Edwards, 

Sir, I am requested by his attorney to ask your attention to the papers in the case of Benjamin Bradley for a revolutionary pension. It is claimed by him, yet with great respect to the opinion of the Commissioner. that the proof establishes a clear case of service for at least six months. At his request I have examined the papers. I make no pretensions to a very familiar acquaintance with the laws and rules of evidence relating to Pensions, but so far as I can judge, it does appear to me that the position of the Attorney is well sustained. The certificate of the Secretary of Vermont establishes 95 days. In addition to this evidence is the deposition of Daniel B. Mead, of 86 years of age, who swears that he was in the service with Bradley, and that Bradley served "more than the term of six months in the aggregate" - He also swears he never knew any other Benjamin Bradley. 
Also Elisha Bartlett deposes that he is 93 years of age, - was in the service with Bradley
Page 24

who served he says "six months or upwards." 
He also identifies this Bradley as the one in question. The credibility of these two witnesses is sustained by the officers before whom the depositions were taken - If it is not asking a favor, forbidden by any existing rules of your office, may I be permitted, in behalf of the applicant to request a review of the evidence; hoping that you may find this positive evidence of two witnesses of service of six months or over, satisfactory to the rules of evidence in such cases. 
The applicant is now about 88 years of age and is poor - the balance of his life must be short, viz continuance on the pension list of course very limited should his application be granted - 
I am personally and well acquainted with Chester Hannum late member of assembly, New York, who swears to the good character of the applicant - Mr. H's representation is entitled to full credit - and gives strength to the deposition of the applicant - Judge Smith is also entitled to equal credit - Knowing as I do most
Page 25

favorably the character of the Atty who has made up the papers. C. F. Bissel Esqr, I am sure he would not present or argue a case for your consideration unless he had confidence in its justice, and opinion that it was sustained by the evidence - 
With this letter I remit to you the letter if Mr Bissel to me, please examine the same as he refers to the points in the case which you have suggested - The evidence to my mind is strong in most of 6 months service. If it was not so I would not trouble you with this letter.
I am with great respect Your Obt Servt
H. Putnam - 

P. S. You will please remit to me the letter of Mr Bissel - H.P. -
Page 26

United States of America
State of Vermont
Franklin County } ss: Daniel B Meigs of St. Albans in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont being duly sworn doth depose and say that he is of the age of eight four years or thereabouts, and is well acquainted with Benjamin Bradley who now resides in the town of Pavilion in the County of Genesee and State of New York. 
That he knew the said Benjamin Bradley and was intimately acquainted with him when he resided at Sunderland in the State of Vermont and at the commencement and during the continuance of the revolutionary war. and that the said Benjamin Bradley performed military service during that war in the regular army or State troops in the defence of the country at various times and from time to time during the years 1778, 1780, 1781 & 1782 to the knowledge of this deponent. that this deponent together with the said Benjamin Bradley rendezvoused at Castleton in the said State of Vermont at various times during the years above mentioned. That this deponent at that time resided in the same town with the said Benjamin Bradley was attached and belonged to the same regiment in the service; and knows that the said Benjamin Bradley was in the regular service of the country from time to time during the years above named as a volunteer at Castleton aforesaid and at other places under various and different officers in regular command amongst whom this deponent recollects the names of Captains Daniel Comstock & Eli Brownson - And third deponent further says that from the time of his enrollment in the year 1778 during the continuance and until the close of the revolutionary war he the said Benjamin Bradley was in the service at all
Hon A. Smith HR.
Page 27

(E)
regular calls for military service in the State of Vermont, and was in actual service during that time and during the years therein above mentioned more than the term of six months in the aggregate - 
And this deponent further says that he never knew any more than one Benjamin Bradley the one herein referred to, in the military service in the State of Vermont. and that had there been any other person of the same name under either of the Captains above named he this deponent would have been likely to have known it. And this deponent further says that Elisha Bartlett who now resides in the county of Franklin aforesaid was also in the service in the said State of Vermont during some part of the time during the revolutionary war and at the same time with this deponent and the said Benjamin Bradley
Dan'l B Meigs

State of Vermont
Franklin County ss} St Albans January 4th 1847
Personally appeared Daniel B. Meigs a person with whom I am well acquainted who subscribed and made oath to the above & foregoing deposition and that he is a man of truth and veracity before me
William Bridges Justice of the Peace
Page 28

I hereby certify that the subscribing deponent is a credible witness, being a respectable person William K. Warner Justice Peace

State of Vermont Franklin County} ss: Elisha Bartlett of the town of Georgia in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont being duly sworn doth depose and say that he is of the age of ninety-three years or thereabouts and was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. that during the years 1778, 1780, 1781 & 1782 he this deponent belonged to the State troops called into service from the State of Vermont and rendezvoused at Castleton in said State. And this deponent further says that at the commencement & during the continuance of the war he was well acquainted with Benjamin Bradley who resides at Sunderland in the State of Vermont and who was in the service of the country as a volunteer minute man, in the said State troops during the years above mentioned, and who now resides in the town of Pavilion in the County of Genesee and State of New York as he this deponent is informed and verily believes to be true. And this deponent further says that he recollects and knows that the said Benjamin Bradley from sometime in the year 1778 when he became old enough to be enrolled and entered the service, was from that time during the continuance and until the close of the war in active and actual service at all regular calls of the militia as well at Castleton aforesaid as at other places in the said State of Vermont and amounting in the aggregate to the term of six months and upwards. And this deponent further says that Daniel Meigs now of St. Albans was in the service as aforesaid at the same time with this deponent and the said Benjamin Bradley      Elisha Bartlett      
Sworn and subscribed before me at Georgia Franklin County Vermont the 2nd day of January AD 1847}      
Wm K Warner Justice Peace I hereby certify that the subscribing deponent is a credible witness, being a respectable person /s/Wm K Warner Justice Peace
Page 29

State of Vermont
Franklin County ss} I Joseph H. Brainerd Clerk of the County Court for the County of Franklin aforesaid do hereby certify that William Bridges by whom the preceding Deposition of D. B. Meigs was taken & Certificate there to was made And also that William K. Warner by whom the preceding Deposition of Elisha Bartlett was taken & Certificate thereto was made are Justices of the Peace in  & for the County of Franklin aforesaid for the year ending November 30th AD. 1847 that I am acquainted with the Signatures of Said justices and verily believe that the Signatures purporting to be Signature of Said Bridges & Warner are genuine & that full faith & credit ought to be given to their official acts 
[seal] In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of said County Court & subscribed my name officially at St Albans in the County of Franklin aforesaid this fourth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty Seven
Joseph H Brainerd Clerk
Page 30

( Copy)

United States of America.
State of Vermont
Franklin County } ss: Daniel B. Meigs of St. Albans in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont being duly sworn doth depose and say that he is of the age of eighty four years or thereabouts and is well acquainted with Benjamin Bradley who now resides in the town of Pavilion in the County of Genesee and State of New York. That he knew the said Benjamin Bradley and was intimately acquainted with him when he resided at Sunderland in the State of Vermont and at the commencement and during the continuance [margin note: (c)] of the continuance of the Revolutionary war and that the said Benjamin Bradley performed military service during that war in the defence of the country at various times and from time to time during the years 1778, 1780, 1781. & 1782 to the knowledge of this deponent That this deponent together with the said Benjamin Bradley rendezvoused at Castleton in the said State of Vermont at various times during the years above mentioned. that this deponent at that time resided in the same town with the said Benjamin Bradley was attached & belonged to the same regiment in the service and knows that the said Benjamin Bradley was in the regular service
Page 31

of the country from time to time during the years above mentioned as a volunteer at Castleton aforesaid and at other places under various & different officers in regular commission amongst whom this deponent recollects the names of Captains Daniel Comstock & Eli Brownson - and this deponent further says that from  the time of his enrollment in the year 1778 during the continuance & until the close of the revolutionary war he the said Benjamin Bradley was in the service at all regular calls for military service in the State of Vermont; and was in a actual service during the time [margin note: (c)] and during the years above mentioned more than the term of six months in the aggregate and that he never knew any more than one Benjamin Bradley  the one herein referred to, in the military service of the State of Vermont and that had there been any other person of the same name under either of the Captains above named he this deponent would have been likely to have known it. And this deponent further says that Elisha Bartlett who now resides in the County of Franklin aforesaid was also in the service
Page 32

in the said State of Vermont during some part of the time during the revolutionary war and at the same time with this deponent and the said Benjamin Bradley - 
Dan'l B. Meigs

State of Vermont
Franklin County} ss: St Albans January 4, 1847. Personally appeared Daniel B Meigs a person with whom I am well acquainted who subscribed and made oath to the above & foregoing deposition and that he is a man of truth & veracity before me
William Bridges
Justice of the Peace

State of Vermont
Franklin County} ss: Elisha Bartlett of the town of Georgia in the County of Franklin & State of Vermont being duly sworn doth depose & say that he is of the age of ninety three years or thereabouts and was a soldier of the revolutionary war. that serving the years 1778, 1780, 1781, & 1782, he this deponent belonged to the State troops called into service from the State of Vermont and rendezvoused at Castleton in the said State, and this deponent further says that at the continuance of the war he was well acquainted with Benjamin
Page 33

Bradley who resided at Sunderland in the State of Vermont and who was in the service of the country as a volunteer minute man in the said State troops during the years above mentioned and who now resides in the town of Pavilion in the County of Genesee and State of New York as he this deponent is informed and verily believes to be true - And this deponent further says that he recollect & knows that the said Benjamin Bradley from sometime in the ['same' crossed out] year 1778 when he became old enough to be enrolled and entered the service was from that time during the continuance and until the close of the war in actual & actual service at all regular calls of the militia as well at Castleton aforesaid as at other places in the said State of Vermont amounting in the aggregate [margin note: (d)] to the term of six months & upwards and this deponent further says that Daniel Meigs now of St. Albans was in the service as aforesaid at the same time with this deponent and the said Benjamin Bradley - Elisha Bartlett
Sworn & subscribed before me at Georgia Franklin County Vermont this 2nd day of January AD 1847} - William K. Warner Justice Peace (Clks Certificate &c)
copy aff'ots
Page 34

DR. E. R. BROWNSON
LOCK BOX 422
MAYVILLE, N. D. 

RECEIVED JAN 26 1938 MAIL SUB-DIV. VETS ADM READER #35

January 22d, 1938

furnish

Pension Department, 
Washington, D. C. 
McRey Ray

Gentlemen: - 
Under the date if January 18th, 1938, the Adjutant General of the State of Connecticut writes me in reply to my inquiry as to the military services of one JAMES MCRAY - 
"You are advised that the name of JAMES MACKRAY appears on the records as follows: enlisted May 15, 1775 as private in 4th Company, Captain David Dimon's from Fairfield in 5th regiment, Colonel David Waterbury commanding, discharged December 10, 1775."
Will you kindly review your records to ascertain if this man ever drew a pension and give as much of his records as to this family and place of residence as is consistent with the usual procedure in such cases in your office.
Also have you the name in any different form, as James MCCray, or JAMES McRay and if others will you give data of them also?
Also did John Lee of Jerico, Vermont or perhaps Sunderland, Vt., ever apply for a pension or any of this family? based upon his military service in Vt. or Conn.?
Also the same information of Benjamin Bradley' of Vermont. His name appears many times in the military records.?
Thank you. 
Very sincerely, 
Dr. E. R. Brownson
Page 35

MRS. THOMAS W. LARKIN
16 TRIGON PARK
LeROY, NEW YORK

March 6 1932.

Bureau of Pensions,
Washington D.C. 

Gentlemen:
We are needing the record of service of Benjamin Bradley who lived in St Albans Vt. during the war of the Revolution and gave service.
The family have a letter dated May 23 1848 and signed by J. L. Edwards, in which Benjamin Bradleys application for pension was refused because he lacked a few days of the required service
We would very much appreciate a copy of the service of this Benjamin Bradley whose service is wanted for a D.A.R application paper. I am writing for a grand daughter of this Benjamin Bradley, she wishes to know the charge for a copy of
Page 36

the service or military history of the man mentioned.
There was a Benjamin Bradley of Sunderland, an uncle.
The wife of Benjamin of St Albans Vt. and Pavilion N.Y. was Sally Brownson also from Vermont.
Hoping you may be able to give us this record, 
Very truly yours
Celia G. Larkin
(Mrs. T. W.) Registrar
Tecamawunna Chapter D.A.R.

RECEIVED MAR 9 1932 [illegible] SERVICE PENSION FILES [illegible] DIVISION
Page 37

THOMAS M. BELL
9TH DISTRICT GEORGIA

House of Representatives
COMMITTEE ON POST OFFICE AND POST ROADS
Washington, D. C. 

June 28, 1926.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
Please advise me if you have any record of Benjamin Bradley of Vermont, who later resided in New York State. He was in the Revolutionary or War of 1812.
Very respectfully,
Thos. M. Bell

U.S. PENSION OFFICE H JUNE 29 1926
Page 38

February 5, 1938.

BA-J/ILL      own

Dr. E. R. Brownson
Lock Box 422
Mayville, North Dakota.

Dear Sir;
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of John Lee of Jerico, Vermont, Benjamin Bradley of Vermont, and James MCray, (Mackray, McRay, etc.) and cite a James who service in the 5th Connecticut regiment under Colonel David Waterbury.
A search of the Revolutionary War records has been made and no claim for pension found based upon service of the John Lee cited by you, mor of any James a, under any spelling of that surname. The record has been found of a Benjamin Bradley of Vermont. His record is furnished you herewith from pension claim, R. 1143.
Very truly yours,

A. D. HILLER,
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
Page 39

February 7, 1938

xxxxxxxxxx

Benjamin Bradley
R. 1143
BA-J/MCS

Dr. E. R. Brownson
Box 422
Mayville, North Dakota

Dear Sir:
The data contained herein were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, R.1143, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Benjamin Bradley.
He was born September 16, 1780, in East Guilford, New Haven County, Connecticut. The names of his parents were not given. 
While living in Pavilion, Genesee County, New York he applied for pension on April 8, 1846, He alleged that while living in Sunderland, Bennington county, Vermont, he was a minuteman in the Vermont military and was in actual service on seventeen different alarms, commencing about the middle of September, 1777, and ending in 1782, amounting to over six months in all, and was under Captains Daniel Comstock, Samuel Hoyt, Eli Brownson and Gideon Brownson (who was later a colonel) and Colonel Stephen Pearl. His claim was not allowed as he  failed to furnish proof of the alleged service in accordance with the requirement of the pension law.
Soon after the close of the Revolution he moved to St. Albans, Vermont, and about 1814 he moved to Genesee County, New York.
In 1846 he referred to his children and their families but the only name given was that of a son, Horace Bradley, who was forty-nine years of age in 1846 and with whom the soldier was then living.
Page 40

The soldier had a cousin, John F. M. Bradley, who was born in 1768 in East Guilford, Connecticut, and was living in Pavilion, New York, in 1846.
There are no further data relative to the family of Benjamin Bradley.
This is the only Benjamin Bradley of Vermont that is found in the Revolutionary War records of this office.
Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 41

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
M.C.S.

June 30, 1926

Honorable Thomas M. Bell
House of Representatives

My dear Mr. Bell:
In response to your letter of the twenty-eighth instant, I have the honor to advise you that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 1143, that BENJAMIN BRADLEY WAS born Spetember 16,1760, in East Guilford, New Haven County, Connecticut.
He alleged that while a resident of Sunderland, Bennington County, Vermont, he enlisted in 1777 and served at various times until sometime in 1782, on seventeen different alarms, as a minute-man in the Vermont Militia.
He applied for pension on April 8, 1846, at which time he was living in Pavilion, Genesee County, New York. His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish sufficient proof of six months service as required by the pension laws.
In 1846 he referred to his children and their families but no names were given.
The above noted is the only Benjamin Bradley of Vermont and New York that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau and there is no record of a Benjamin Bradley having claimed pension for service im the War of 1812.
Very truly yours,

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner