Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31479, Benjamin Williams, New Jersey
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(8-1776)

SERVICE | NUMBER
New Jersey | Williams, Benjamin | S.31479

CONTENTS
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4253
To Illinois from New York

Benjamin Williams of Lewistown in the State of New York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Corey of the regiment commanded by Colonel Jaques of the New Jersey Line for 2years.

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 80 Dollars [crossed out: Cents] per annum, to commence on the Fifth day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of January 1833 and sent to John Williams, Lewistown, N.Y.

Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1832............$120.00
Semi-anl. all(owan)ce ending 4 Mar. 1833.....40.00
                                           =======
                                           $160.00

{Revolutionary claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Jno. Cromwell, Clerk, Book D; Vol. 5; Page 205.

See cer(tificate) tran(sfer) June 8th '35
Transferred from Albany to J. Maiden's 8 Aug. 1835 from 11 March 1833 & notification sent to pensioner White Hall.
See letter from pensioner Oct. 29, 1835
D(itt)o to D. Hay, Esq. May 4, 1836
D(itt)o to D. Hay May 30, 1836
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Application for a Transfer

State of Illinois
Greene County//

On this tenth day of July 1835 before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Greene, personally appeared Benjamin Williams, who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Thomas Mulford in the regiment of the New Jersey Militia commanded by Colonel Jaquish [Jaques], and in the period of the Revolution in the service of the United States, that his name as a private in the Revolutionary Army was placed on the Pension Roll of the State of New York from whence he removed in the month of May 1833 and has received no part or portion of his pension money from the United States since. That he now resides in the State of Illinois where he intends to remain and wishes his pension to be there payable in future as likewise the arrearages which may be due him, The following are his reasons for removing from Lewiston [Lewistown], Niagara County, State of New York, to the State of Illinois. His age, wounds and infirmities were pressing heavy upon him when his son, who had for many years resided in the State of Illinois, came to visit his aged parents. His representions [representations] of the beauty of its landscape the salubrity  of its climate, the richness of its soil, the abundant plenty and necessarily cheapness of all the needs of life, joined to his urgent solicitations induced him together with the mother to accompany him on his return to that State in May 1833 as before stated. And that since March of the same year, his pension remains due to him from the Agency of New York and which he wishes to be made payable to him by the Agency of the State of Illinois.
s/ Benj. Williams

Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid.
s/ Francis Smith, J.P.

State of Illinois
Greene County//

On this tenth day of July 1835 before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Greene, personally appeared John C. Williams, son of the said Benjamin Williams, who on his oath declares that Benjamin Williams, who has sworn and subscribed to the foregoing affidavit, is the identical person he has described himself. That he is a person of truth and veracity, a revolutionary pensioner of the United States on the pension roll of the State of New York, from which State he removed in the month of May 1833 to the State of Illinois with the deponent where he has ever since continued and intends to reside, that he is old...
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...lame and infirm and has not to this deponent's knowledge or belief received any part or portion of his pension from the Pension Agency of New York, either personally or by attorney since March 1833, as sworn to by him.
s/ John C. Williams

Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid.
s/ Francis Smyth, J.P.

State of Illinois
Greene County//

This may certify that I, Francis Smith, an acting Justice of the Peace for the County of Greene do not hesitate to declare both from personal knowledge and common repute that the above named witness, John C. Williams, is a person of truth and veracity whose evidence would be received in any Court of Judicature, but likewise from an inspection of the original Pension Certificate in the possession of the deponent, Benjamin Williams, believe him to be the identical Benjamin Williams named therein as entitled to receive in his old age the bounty of his Country for Revolutionary Services rendered by him and that he is so reputed in this County.

s/ Francis Smyth, J.P.
Dated July tenth 1835.

State of Illinois
Greene County//

I, Moses Bledsoe, Clerk of the County Commissioner's Court of Greene County and Ex-officio Recorder of Commissions of said County, do hereby certify that Francis Smyth, whose signature is to the foregoing affidavits and certificate, is and was at the date of the same an acting Justice of the Peace for our County of Greene, duly commissioned and qualified according to law and his official acts as such are entitled to due faith and credit - and the signature purporting to be his is genuine.

In testimony whereof, I, as clerk [illegible] as aforesaid, hereunto set my name [illegible] my Seal of Office affixed July 10th 1835.
s/ Moses O. Bledsoe, Clerk
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...lame and infirm and has not to this deponent's knowledge or belief received any part or portion of his pension from the Pension Agency of New York, either personally or by attorney since March 1833, as sworn to by him.
s/ John C. Williams

Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid.
s/ Francis Smyth, J.P.

State of Illinois
Greene County//

This may certify that I, Francis Smith, an acting Justice of the Peace for the County of Greene do not hesitate to declare both from personal knowledge and common repute that the above named witness, John C. Williams, is a person of truth and veracity whose evidence would be received in any Court of Judicature, but likewise from an inspection of the original Pension Certificate in the possession of the deponent, Benjamin Williams, believe him to be the identical Benjamin Williams named therein as entitled to receive in his old age the bounty of his Country for Revolutionary Services rendered by him and that he is so reputed in this County.

s/ Francis Smyth, J.P.
Dated July tenth 1835.

State of Illinois
Greene County//

I, Moses Bledsoe, Clerk of the County Commissioner's Court of Greene County and Ex-officio Recorder of Commissions of said County, do hereby certify that Francis Smyth, whose signature is to the foregoing affidavits and certificate, is and was at the date of the same an acting Justice of the Peace for our County of Greene, duly commissioned and qualified according to law and his official acts as such are entitled to due faith and credit - and the signature purporting to be his is genuine.

In testimony whereof, I, as clerk [illegible] as aforesaid, hereunto set my name [illegible] my Seal of Office affixed July 10th 1835.
s/ Moses O. Bledsoe, Clerk CCC Co.
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3786
New York

Benj(amin) Williams
3786

Admitted

2 years private
[illegible]
2.4.11.12.14.16.17.

Aug. 30, 1832
Oct. 31, 1832

Page 8.

John Williams
[crossed out: Benjamin Williams]
Lewistown, N.Y.
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3786

BRIEF in the case of Benjamin Williams - Lewistown, Co. of Niagara & in the State of New York.
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Judge

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

3. How old is he? 72 years.

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period. | Duration of Service. (Years, Months, Days.) | Rank. (As a) | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. (Gen.)
In 1776, Spring | "till latter part of Nov." | Volunteer | {Capt. B. Cory, Col. Jaques, Majors Halsey & Hays, Lieut. Mulford C. Williams}
Jan. 1777 | (blank) | Private | Capt. Jos Crane, Col. C. Dayton
"directly after this" | "till in June" | Private | (blank) | Capt. Jno. Craig
"While Staten Island was occupied by the British, frequent calls of a month at a time, under some one or other of Militia Officers of Essex county."
"After Gen. Howe left New Brunswick" in guarding against Tories &c."
Spring of 1779 | (blank time) | (blank) | Capt. E. Little or J. Clark

5. In what battles was he engaged? Elizabeth Town, N.J.; Westfield, Essex Co., N.J.; & Springfield.

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Essex Co., New Jersey

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? (blank)

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

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

"Shortly after his return" | (blank time) | as a substitute | (no off(icers) mentioned 
"Summer of this year" | D(itt)o | Col. Jaques |
"Late in the fall" | D(itt)o | Capt. N. Fitz Randolph
June 1780 | D(itt)o | Maj. McCrane

s/ W. Fawcett, Examining Clk.

[There is additional handwriting in the left-hand margin supposedly attempting to tabulate soldier's full account of months served but mostly it is illegible.]
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State of New York
Niagara County//

On this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty two, personally appeared [crossed out: in Open Court]before me, Robert Fleming, First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County and State aforesaid, Benjamin Williams, a resident of Lewiston [Lewistown] in the County of Niagara and State of New York, aged Seventy two years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th A.D. 1832. That he, the said Benjamin Williams, was born February 10th A.D. 1860 in Elizabeth Town township, County of Essex and State of New Jersey. That he entered the service of his Country, then United Colonies, directly after the battle of Lexington in the spring of 1775 by enrolling himself in a company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Cory, belonging to Col. Jaques's regiment of the Essex County Militia for the purpose of acquiring a knowledge of military maneuvers and exercise in which they were drilled weekly in anticipation that their services would be required in defense of their Country. That early in the spring of the year 1776, General Washington with the Continentals and Militia being actively employed in fortifying the harbor and approaches to the City of New York, it was deemed advisable and prudent to throw up a line of fortification along the New Jersey shore [crossed out: and] opposite Staten Island, (lying in New York Bay) for the purpose of commanding the passage called The Sound, which was very narrow between Essex County and the island. This deponent avers that as a Volunteer Private he was actively engaged in the erection of these fortifications and doing duty in or near them as guard &c. after their erection with some part or other of his regiment commanded by his Col. Jaques, Majors Daniel Halsey and Hays in his company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Cory, Liuets. Thomas Mulford and Cornelius Williams, and continued in the performance of such duty until General Howe with the British Army landed in the summer on Staten Island, which movement of the enemy placing them directly on the lines required additional vigilance from the Essex County Militia and as the enemy continued to occupy Staten Island with a considerable force after General Howe had crossed the main body of his Army on to Long Island in August, this deponent was arduous in the discharge of the duties of Guard Patrole Scout &c. under his officers during the whole period from the first landing of the enemy until the latter part of November following, during the time of General Washington's retreat from Long Island, New York, Haerlem [Harlem], White Plains and finally through New Jersey when the militia with whom this deponent had been serving were obliged to abandon their defenses along the old lines and retreated farther back into the Country, the pursuing enemy occupying the towns and County adjacent to the main road from New York to Trenton. This deponent returned home a distance of about two miles from Elizabeth Town (his mother being a widow) and here in the capacity of spy and active partisan, continued to communicate intelligence to such of the militia of his regiment that continued hovering in scattered parties a few miles back of the movements of the enemy and of such different excursions that from time to time, they continued to make from their detachment along the main road. Once on information communicated by him Capt. Jonas Wade of Connecticut Farms with a few militia, surprised five British Regulars, killed one took three and one escaped. While New Jersey was thus over run by the enemy and great numbers of the inhabitants were obtaining British protections, he disclined [declined] to apply for one. After the battles of Trenton and Princeton, the Militia of Essex County became more emboldened and in January, as he believes, 1777, this deponent marched in the Militia Company of Capt. Jacob Crane of Westfield with other militia companies under the command of their regimental officers and Col. Elias Dayton of one of the New Jersey Continental Regiments, to the attack of the British ports at Elizabeth Town, which after a smart skirmish, they succeeded in capturing, taking 72 Hessian Soldiers and 41 Highlanders prisoners with their stores, arms and baggage. Directly after this he served under the command of Capt. John Craig of Rahway with other militia in guarding and escorting enemies [enemy's] stores captured in that place or patrolling for the enemy who were in a state of alarm, concentrating their forces at New Brunswick. In the beginning of June, General Washington having left his quarters at Morristown and taken post at Middlebrook, a strong position, much nigher the enemy. The British were continually making excursions from New Brunswick, harassing and plundering the inhabitants of the surrounding country, one considerable body of them marching through Woodbridge penetrated to Westfield in Essex County, about twelve miles distant from Middlebrook. Here they were attacked by a body of American Continental troops and the neighboring militia...
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...The deponent was actively engaged with the enemy in this battle and recollects that Col Elias Dayton's Regiment of New Jersey Regulars were in the action after burning the meetinghouse and several private buildings. They commenced their retreat that night to New Brunswick. As Staten Island, lying in New York Bay, stretched along and opposite to that of Middlesex, Essex and Bergen Counties in the State of New Jersey and was constantly occupied by the British troops from the commencement to the close of the war. The patriotic militia of those Counties were detailed by their several Field Officers to perform tours of duty of a month at a time during the greater part of that period, among whom was this deponent often on detail from his Militia Company or at other times frequent as a volunteer and always prompt in case of alarm under the command of some one or other of the Militia Officers of Essex County. After General Howe left New Brunswick, the Tories and disaffected assembled on Staten Island and became, in conjunction with the British Regular force stationed there, very troublesome by the continued inroads and marauding parties they sent out. The deponent was actively employed with other militia, often under different Militia Officers either of his own regiment or of those of the neighboring Counties, in cutting off the communication between the disaffected in the County and the enemy, restraining their plundering parties and capturing provisions intended for their use, one yoke of fat cattle in particular intended for the enemy, he captured himself from one of the disaffected (although his opponent was armed with pistols) and which were confiscated by the legal authority; his activity and vigilance rendered him so obnoxious to the secret adherents of the enemy that he was privately fired at and various opportunities sought by the disaffected and Tories to capture him. These duties, whether as Guard Patrol or in case of alarm, either detached, on detail or acting as volunteer, this deponent directly avers that he performed more or less from the spring of 1776 until the spring of 1782 as his place of nativity and residence was continuous to the lines of the enemy. In the spring of 1778, his company, among whom was himself, commanded by Capt. Thomas Mulford of the Essex County Militia, hired substitutes by a general contribution from among the company and who joined General Washington's Army previous to the Battle of Monmouth. He, among others, remaining on the lines near Staten Island, continued performing different tours of duty more or less during the year and ensuing winter.

The Tories and enemy capturing a considerable number of the inhabitants of Essex and the adjoining counties conveyed them to the Sugar House Provost Prison &c. in the City of New York. To check these depredators required considerable vigilance and activity in the militia in which this deponent largely partook. General Washington was encamped during the winter at Middlebrook to the best of his remembrance. In the spring of 1779, this deponent in a company commanded by Capt. Eliakim Little or Thomas Clark of the militia - he cannot at present say which - marched with others in pursuit of the enemy through Newark, Bellville, and Aquacanac [Aquackananonk], where crossing the Passaic River into Bergen County they had a pretty smart skirmish with the enemy at a place called The Cedars, who were compelled to retire to Hackensack. Shortly after his return, he became a substitute for one William Richardson on a secret militia expedition; officers names not recollected except David Thurston, who was adjutant. They marched from Morristown to Whippany, thence to Paramus toward Bergen County but was taken sick and returned home on furlough. Sometime in the summer of this year, a large body of British Regulars and Green Coats (who were Tories) crossed from Staten Island to the Elizabeth Town salt marshes in the night, pressed on to the town where they were met and opposed by a strong militia force under General Wynes. The deponent was in his regiment commanded by Col. Jaques and had a pretty severe skirmish with them when they marched by Newark, crossing the Passaic River into Bergen County, followed and harassed by the militia all the route with considerable loss to the enemy from Bergen. He thinks they recrossed to Staten Island. The Whig Militia of the Counties in New Jersey contiguous to the City of New York and that seaboard at the commencement of the war had formed themselves into a body styling themselves, "Minute Men" who when not on
detailed duty as Guard &c. were ever ready to turn out and meet the enemy, night or day. To this body of men this deponent belonged until the cessation of hostilities and marauding parties of the enemy found frequent employment for them in repelling their inroads. In the winter, General Lord Sterling, with a body of regulars and militia provided with artillery, crossed on the ice from Elizabeth Town to Staten Island (this being what is termed the hard winter) for the purpose of attacking the British ports. This deponent, in his company commanded...
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...by Capt. Thomas Mulford of the militia, accompanied this expedition. After some slight skirmishing, the enemy abandoned their outposts and retreated to their fortifications at The Narrows, which were deemed too strong to be forced. After burning their barracks at Ryerson's Ferry, the American troops retired, bringing off their captured stores. The troops under General Washington laying at Morristown this winter and in a suffering condition. The deponent voluntarily turned out with his own team and transported forage and provisions raised among the inhabitants by contribution to their relief without receiving, or expecting to receive, any remuneration for the same. Late in the fall previous to this, he crossed with other volunteers under Capt. Nathaniel Fitz Randolph of Middlesex, to the surprise of the British Guard on Staten Island and succeeded in capturing four, the remainder eight made their escape; it being night and they engaged at the moment of surprise in relieving guard.

In June 1780, General Kniphausen landed at Elizabeth Town in the night with a large British force and marched with silence towards Morristown, the American Head Quarters. They were discovered by the deponent and others while yet in the town and he lost no time in communicating intelligence of their movements to Col. Elias Dayton of one (of) the New Jersey Regular regiments who was stationed at no great distance and himself joined the assembling militia under the command of Major William Crane, in firing upon and harassing the enemy on their march, who were likewise vigorously opposed by Col. Dayton's Regulars. At Connecticut Farms they were held in cheek by the Continental Troops aided by the militia with a piece of artillery in charge of Captain Eliakim Little, after setting fire to the meetinghouse and more than half of the buildings in the place and with other outrages, shooting Mrs. Caldwell, wife of the Rev'd James Caldwell, the Presbyterian Clergyman and a noted Whig, while her child was in her arms and in her own house. They retreated that night to Elizabeth Town after having sustained a very considerable loss, harassed continually by the militia on their retreat. In this battle he saw Lieut. Moses Ogden of the New Jersey Regulars lying dead in the road, shot thru [through] the head. The enemy fortified in Elizabeth Town where they remained a week, during which time the neighboring militia, among whom was this deponent, were continually employed in harassing their outposts and watching their movements. At the expiration of that time having been reinforced, they once more marched in the night toward Morristown in two divisions, one moving on main direct, the other on the Vauxhall Road, a harassing fire was kept up on them by the militia until their arrival at Springfield where they were met and opposed before and after their entrance into the village by a large regular force, detached by General Washington from Morristown for that purpose. They were commanded by General Green, to the best of this deponent's recollection. This force with the militia checked their further progress and after burning the meetinghouse and nearly every building in the place, they commenced a rapid retreat to Elizabeth Town and thence during the night to Staten Island, harassed by the regulars and militia, their loss was very considerable. This deponent was actively engaged with the enemy during this action and retreat and saw Captain Nathaniel Fitz Randolph of the militia shortly after he was mortally wounded by the enemy, among other regular officers in these engagements, many of whom at this distant day are forgotten, were Col. Elias Dayton of the New Jersey Line, Capt. Henry and Lieutenant Edmund Thomas. During the remainder of the year of 1780 through the course of the year 1781, and especially after the American Army left New Jersey for Yorktown, and in fact until the spring of 1782, this deponent continued to be detailed for duty by his officers, standing guard patrolling and pursuing the Tories and enemy's parties, who were making continual inroads as usual in one of which they burned the meetinghouse, courthouse and other buildings in Elizabeth Town. At other times carrying off some of the best Whig inhabitants or plundering and destroying others so that this portion of New Jersey near their lines was in a continual state of alarm and suffered very severely from their secret predatory excursions, especially those of the Tories, who were well acquainted with the country, keeping the Essex Militia of which this deponent was one active and vigilant. After the spring of 1782, a kind of a cessation of hostilities took place and continued until peace, very much to the relief of the militia and inhabitants.

This deponent avers that the foregoing statement contained only some of the most prominent facts relative to his services for the United States during the Revolutionary War, as he was at various times and places too numerous to particularize under some one or other Militia Officer and much oftener with some of his brother militia men engaged with scouting parties of the Tories...
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...and enemy, repelling their inroads or in seizing and capturing cattle, provisions &c. destined for the enemy by the disaffected, which were confiscated and cutting off as much as possible all communications with the British lines. And that these duties and fatigues, when not ordered on others by his officers, he was frequent in the performance of, both in the day and night time, from the first landing of the enemy on Staten Island until the cessation of hostilities. He likewise avers that the aggregate time employed by him in performing tours of duty of monthly detail, on guard, garrison duty &c. by command of his regimental officers and in different expeditions, battles, skirmishes &c. with the enemy at various times from the commencement to the close of the Revolutionary War, would considerably exceed two years of active service rendered by him to the United States in the cause of liberty as a soldier.

That he was well acquainted with Col. William Washington of the cavalry and Caleb Huet, Joseph Gathen and Daniel Smith, belonging to this corps at one period while quartered in New Jersey, the year he cannot recollect. He was likewise acquainted with Col. Elias Dayton, Col. Matthias Ogden, Col. Barber, Captains Neal, Pratt, Pierson, Jeremiah Ballard, Joseph Bloomfield and Aaron Ogden; both which last have been governors of New Jersey since then, likewise with Lieutenants Edmund Thomas, William Shute, Jonathan Bucastle, Ephraim Whitlock, Shepard Bollock and Capt. Jonathan Dayton, since Speaker of the House of Congress. Many of whom belonged to one or other of the New Jersey Continental Regiments and with most of whom he has been engaged in some one or other engagement with the enemy in New Jersey. They holding as nigh as he can recollect the rank by commission he has affixed to them. Many of their given names at this distance of time he cannot remember. He served under or was well acquainted at that period with General Wyndes, Col. Jaques, Majors Daniel Halsey, Hays, John Craig, William Crane, Captain Benjamin Cory - lieut. afterwards - Capt. Thomas Mulford, Capt. John Scudder, Capt. Thomas Clark, Capt. Jacob Crane, Capt. Anthony Morse, Capt. Brant, Capt. Jonas Wade, Capt. Joshua Horton, Capt. Samuel Meeker of the cavalry, Capt. Eliakim Little of the artillery [crossed out: and] Capt. Matthias Meeker and Lieut Cornelius Williams of the Essex County Militia, Col. Ellis Cook of Morris and Capt. Nathaniel Fitz Randolph of Middlesex, with many others whom he cannot recollect. He was likewise well acquainted at that period with Abraham Clark, one of the Representatives in the Congress and William Livingston, the Patriotic Governor of New Jersey. That at this present time he knows of no surviving witness he can bring to substantiate those services except John Cook, who saw him at the Battle of Springfield in 1780 and whose affidavit of that circumstance is forwarded with this statement. Most of those who served with him or with whom he was acquainted during that arduous struggle for independence being dead, or if living at the present time, are residing in places beyond the knowledge of this deponent. That he has no discharge from the service, it not being deemed requisite nor was one ever demanded. That he continued to reside in Elizabeth Town, County of Essex and State of New Jersey until the year 1821 when he removed to Monroe County and since to Lewiston [Lewistown], Niagara County, State of New York, where he has resided ever since and still continues. That the record of his age from his earliest recollections was entered in his father's Family Bible, a transcript from which a number of years since he carefully entered in his own where it remains among the records of his own family. That he is well acquainted with Major Benjamin Barton, Leonard Sheppard, Isaac Colthan and Lina H. Colvin, Esquire, inhabitants of Lewiston [Lewistown], Niagara County and State of New York, who can testify as to his
character for veracity and their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution. 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.
s/ Benj. Williams

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me.
Sworn to and subscribed this 27th day of August 1832 before me.
s/ R. Fleming, First Judge Niagara Common Pleas
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In reply to your request of (blank), received (blank) for a statement of the military history of Benjamin Williams, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his [crossed out: (or his widow's)] application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. File 31,479

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. | CAPTAIN/COLONEL. | STATE.
Enlisted directly after Bat(tle of) Lexington and served monthly tours every year to 1782 amounting to... | 2 years | Private | Benjamin Cory, Jacob Crane,  John Craig, John Scudder, Jesse Clark, Elijah Squire, Thomas Mulford, Joshua Horton, Mattias Potter, Thomas Clark, Nathaniel Fitz Randolph ┃ Jaques, Elias Dayton | N. Jersey

Battles engaged in, Elizabeth & Mon(mouth).
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Elizabeth Twp., Essex Co., N.J.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 27, 1830; Allowed.
Residence at date of application, Lewiston [Lewistown], Niagara Co., N.Y.
Age at date of application, b(orn) Feb. 10, 1760, Elizabeth Twp., Essex Co., N.J.
Remarks: In an app(lication) ex(ecuted) in Greene Co., Ill. July 10, 1835, soldier's son, John C. Williams, stated that his father removed to Illinois in May 1833. No further family data.
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3786

State of New York
Niagara County//

On this 27th day of August 1832, personally appeared before me, Robert Fleming, First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Niagara, Benjamin Williams, the within named applicant and it satisfactorily appearing that he is unable to appear in Open Court on account of bodily infirmity, I hereby declare my opinion after the investigation and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that he was a Revolutionary Soldier as he states. And I, the said Robert Fleming, Judge as aforesaid, further certify that Benjamin Barton, Zina H. Colvin, Isaac Colt Jr. and Leonard Shepard, who have signed the within affidavits, are residents at Lewiston [Lewistown] County of Niagara and State of New York and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to full credit.
s/ R. Fleming, First Judge Vice Com. Pleas

State of New York
Niagara County//

I, Henry Cartin, Clerk of the County and of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Robert Fleming, before whom the foregoing declaration & certificate in the case of Benjamin Williams for a pension were sworn to and subscribed is First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for this County and that Lothrop Cook, before whom John Cook's deposition was taken in said Williams' behalf, is one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the same County and that their signatures as annexed to the declaration, certificates and deposition aforesaid, are their own respective genuine signatures. As witness my hand and Seal of Office this Twenty ninth day of August A.D. 1832.
s/ Henry Cartin, Clerk 
Lockport
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First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Niagara County.

State of New York
Niagara County//

We, Benjamin Barton Isaac Colt Junior & Lina H. Colvin, inhabitants of the Village of Lewiston & Town of Lewiston in the County & State aforesaid, being duly sworn do severally and each for himself respectively doth depose & say that they have been personally and individually well acquainted with for the last five or six years with Benjamin Williams, the person making the declaration to which this deposition is annexed, and further that he is, in our opinion, a man of truth and veracity and worthy of credit and to be believed under oath. And also that the said Williams is very old and infirm, and should think his age to be about seventy years.
s/ Ben Barton 
s/ Isaac Colt, Jr.
s/ L.H. Colvin

Subscribed & sworn before me this 27th day of August 1832.
s/ R. Fleming, First Judge Niagara Common Pleas

State of New York
Niagara County//

I, Leonard Sheppard, residing now in Lewiston, in the County and State aforesaid, hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Benjamin Williams who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration. That I believe him to be Seventy years or upward of age. That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to be a person of truth and veracity, and from conversations I have held with him several years past relative to the events of the revolution and the services rendered by him at that period, I am fully of opinion that the foregoing statement of his services as a Revolutionary Soldier as sworn to by him ought to be believed and is entitled to full credence.
s/ Leonard Sheppard

Subscribed and sworn before me this 27th day of August 1832.
s/ R. Fleming, First Judge Niagara Common Pleas
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State of New York
Niagara County//

I, Cornelius Mars, a Clergyman residing in Lewiston Township in the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that I have seen well acquainted with
the within named deponent, John Cook of Clarkson, Monroe County and State of New York, for a considerable number of years past. That he is an elderly person and reputed to be a man of truth and veracity and such I believe him to be and entitled to full credence.
s/ Corners Mars

Sworn and subscribed this 28th of November before me.
s/ R. Fleming, First Judge Niagara Common Pleas

State of New York
Niagara County//

I, Robert Fleming, First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Niagara County and State of New York, do hereby certify that Cornelius Mars, who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding certificate before me, is a reputable Clergyman residing in the township of Lewiston, County and State aforesaid and that he is a person of truth and veracity.
s/ R. Fleming, First Judge Niagara Common Pleas
November 28th A.D. 1832

State of New York
Niagara County//

I, Henry Catlin, Clerk of the County and of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Lothrop Cook, before whom the foregoing deposition of John Cook was taken in behalf of Benjamin Williams for a pension, is one of the Justices of the Peace in and for this County of Niagara and State of New York. And that Robert Fleming, before whom the foregoing deposition of the Rev'd Cornelius Mars was taken, is the First Judge of the Court of Common Please in and for the same County. And that their signatures as annexed to the foregoing depositions and certificate are their own respective genuine signatures. As witness my hand and Seal of Office this Fifteenth day of December in the year our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty two at Lockport
s/ Henry Catlin, Clerk
Page 16

State of New York
Niagara County//

I, John Cook, of the town of Clarkson in the County of Monroe and said State, being duly sworn says that he is well acquainted with Benjamin Williams of the town of Lewiston in the said County of Niagara. And this deponent further says that he first saw the said Williams to know him on the day of the battle between the British and American forces at Springfield in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey during the Revolutionary War. On the day of that engagement, this deponent saw the said Williams procuring cartridges [crossed out: from] at the time he first saw the said Williams he had the appearance of having been engaged in the heat of battle. And this deponent further says that it was generally reputed & believed by the neighborhood when the said Williams resided, that he had been connected with the army or militia during the Revolutionary War. And further this deponent says not.
s/ John Cook

Sworn this 17th day of July 1832 before me.
s/ Lathrop Cooke, Justice of the Peace
Page 17

State of New York
Niagara County//

On this Twenty eighth day of November in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty two, personally appeared before me, Robert Fleming, First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County and State aforesaid, Benjamin Williams, a resident of Lewiston in the County of Niagara and State of New York, aged Seventy two years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in amendment of a former declaration made and sworn to by him, the said Benjamin Williams, before me the Twenty seventh day of August last past in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th A.D. 1832. That he, the said Benjamin Williams, was born February 10th A.D. 1760 in Elizabeth Town township, County of Essex and State of New Jersey. That he entered the service of his Country by enrolling himself as a private soldier in a company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Cory, belonging to a regiment of Essex County Militia command by Col. Jaques in the spring of the year 1775. That by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in all of them in the grade of a private soldier. That in the year A.D. 1776 during the months of April and May, he served in his company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Cory, Lieutenants Thomas Mulford and Cornelius Williams in erecting fortifications and performing guard and other military duty in his regiment commanded by Col. Jaques on the New Jersey shore opposite Staten Island in New York harbor. That on or near the first day of June, he obtained leave of absence from his commanding officer for three weeks, at the expiration of which time he returned to duly by joining his company and continued in the performance of such duty as guard &c. under his officers before mentioned and others until the 20th or 25th of the November following when they were obliged to abandon their defenses to the enemy. During the last month he was under the command of Capt. Jacob Crane of Westfield, who retiring into the country from the main road employed him, this deponent, in discharging the duties of a spy for the purpose of reconnoitering intelligence of the moment of the enemy, and in this capacity he served the remainder of November, December and a few days in the January following.

The whole period that he served as a private soldier and spy during the year 1776 , being eight months and a week in July of this time, he was under the command of Capt. John Scudder of Westfield. In August and September under that of Capt. Jesse Clark of Westfield, in October under that of Capt. Elijah Squire of Canoe Brook and in November and December under that of Capt. Jacob Crane, as before mentioned, all belonging to the Essex County Militia. The first part of the time quartered in Brighton Reynold's house at the point and the latter part encamped [crossed out: in] near Rickett's Farm, a half mile distant. Part of this period he served as a volunteer private, the remainder on draft from his company. In the year A.D. 1777, the first week in January, he continued to act as a spy. When discovering that the British force in Elizabeth Town were about leaving it in dismay, having received intelligence of the battles of Trenton and Princeton, he communicated such information to his commanding officer, Capt. Jacob Crane, and marched in his company with the neighboring militia accompanied by a body of Continental Troops under the command of Col. Elias Dayton of the New Jersey Line to the attack of that post and succeeded in capturing 52 Hessian soldiers and 41 Highlanders with their stores, arms and baggage. The attack, guarding and escorting of these and other stores taken at Rahway, occupied a week more of service, being two weeks of actual service performed by him in the month of January.

In the April following, he being drafted from his company then commanded by Capt. Thomas Mulford, served as a private soldier one month in Elizabeth Town under the command of Capt. John Scudder of the Essex Militia and in May he was ordered by his Capt. Thomas Mulford to join a body of militia under Capt.
John Craig of Rahway, employed in checking the foraging parties of the enemy from New Brunswick, in which service he was engaged for a week. In June on the alarm being given, he engaged the enemy at Westfield in the company of Capt. John Scudder and was employed in such duty three days in going to, engaging with and harassing the enemy and returning back.

In October he performed a tour of duty of one month under Capt. John Scudder in Elizabeth Town, being drafted out of his own company. The period of active service as a private soldier performed by him under the command of his officers during the year A.D. 1777, being two months and Twenty four days. In the year 1778 in June, his company being called out on a draft to join General Washington for a month's tour of duty, each squad of six being required to furnish one man, he with squad hired a substitute who joined General Washington previous to the Battle of Monmouth. In the month of July he performed a tour of duty for a month under the command of Capt. Joshua Horton of Springfield at Elizabeth Town point, being drafted for such purpose out of his company commanded by Capt. Thomas Mulford...
Page 18

...In the month of December he performed a tour of duty for one month at Elizabeth Town point under the command of Capt. Matthias Potter of Connecticut Farms, being drafted to such service, making his whole period of active service under the command of his officers as a private soldier during the year 1778, two months independent of the hiring a substitute to join General Washington, before mentioned. In the year 1779, having joined a Militia Artillery Company under the command of Capt. Thomas Clark of Essex County. In April and May he performed a two months tour of duty as a private in the same, stationed in Elizabeth Town and at the point a greater part of the time, annoying the enemy's vessels and approaches. The latter end of May he marched with this Artillery Company under the command (of) Capt. Clark and the neighboring militia to or near Hackensack in Bergen County where they had a skirmish with the enemy. In July an alarm being given that the Green Coats had crossed from Staten Island, this deponent in the Militia Company of Capt. Thomas Mulford was engaged with them, supported by the neighboring militia, the enemy being very considerable, marched by Newark and Bergen, followed and harassed by the militia. That affair occupied five days of actual service rendered by him as a private soldier. In September he engaged as a substitute for one William Richardson for a month's tour of duty and after performing three weeks service he was taken sick at Paramus and returned on furlough, having withdrawn his name in the fall from the roll of the Artillery Company. 

In November [crossed out: having been] he was drafted out of his company commanded by Capt. Thomas Mulford, he performed a month's tour of duty under Capt. Jesse Clark in Elizabeth Town and at the point as a private, serving this tour of duty he went with a party of militia under Capt. Nathaniel Fitz Randolph on to Staten Island where they surprised and took part of the British Guard. The whole period of service performed by him as a private soldier under the command of his officers during the year 1779 was three months and five days, independent of the time he served as a substitute for Richardson, as aforesaid.

In the year 1780 in January, he being with his company commanded by Capt. Thomas Mulford with other militia companies and Continental Troops, the whole under the command of Lord Sterling, crossed on the see [sea] to the attack of the British posts on Staten Island, which he performed three days of service. In February, he volunteered with his horses and wagon to transport voluntary contributions to the American Army, then in a suffering condition. In the month of March he served one month at Elizabeth Town point under the command of Capt. Matthias Potter of Connecticut Farms, being drafted thereto out of his company. In June, General Kniphausen invaded Essex County, New Jersey, during which time he burned Connecticut Farms Village and Springfield. He, this deponent, was one among the first who discovered and fired upon them in the night after their landing and gave the alarm. He was engaged with them in the battle of Connecticut Farms and a week after in the Battle of Springfield, harassing them both in their advances and retreats and while in their quarters at Elizabeth Town, under the command of Major William Crane, his battalion officer, and Thomas Mulford, his captain. On this service he performed ten days tour of active duty. 

In October, he served one month at Elizabeth Town point under the command of Capt. John Scudder being, drafted to such tour of duty out of his company, making the whole period of active service performed by him as a private soldier under the command of his officers during the year 1780, two months and thirteen days, independent of the transportation of supplies to the army, before mentioned. In the year 1781 in April, he served one month as a private soldier at Elizabeth Town and the point under the command of Capt. Thomas Mulford, being drafted for such tour of duty out of his company. The American army having left the Jersey's for Yorktown, the duties and vigilance of the Essex Militia became more severe and accordingly he performed in September and October, a six weeks tour of duty at Elizabeth Town and the point as a private soldier under the command of Capt. Benjamin Williams of Elizabeth Town, being drafted to such tour of duty out of his company commanded by Capt. Thomas Mulford, making the whole period of active duty performed by him as a private soldier under the command of his officers during the year 1781, two months and two weeks.

In the spring of 1782, a cessation of hostilities took place. That he, always during the war belonged, when not on detail as draft to Capt. Thomas Mulford's Company of Essex County Militia in the regiment commanded by Col. Jaques Major Daniel Halsey and William Crane, except in the beginning of the war. Capt. Benjamin Cory commanded the same company and in 1779 he belonged for a few months to the Artillery Company of Capt. Thomas Clark of the same regiment. That the different tours of duty performed by him as a private were under the officers, as nigh as he can recollect before mentioned, who either belonged to his regiment commanded by Col. Jaques or to that of Col. Samuel Potter of Westfield, Majors John, Craig and Hays of the same County under the command of all which field officers he has served. That he has mentioned in the former declaration, to which this is an amendment, the continental and militia officers with whom he...
Page 19

...was acquainted and with whom he served at the different periods of the Revolutionary War, to which he refers for their names and rank more particularly. And the deponent further on oath declares that he served not less than the periods herein before specified at the times and under the command of the officers as mentioned by him, making an aggregate of Twenty one months and three days service performed by him as a private soldier, independent of his service as a substitute for Richardson, his hiring with his squad in his company, a substitute for one month to join the American Army previous to the Battle of Monmouth and the various services entered by him as a volunteer Minuteman in suppressing the inroads of the British and Tories interacting the communication between them and the disaffected in the country and cutting off their supplies and which is more particularly set forth in his former declaration, to which this is an amendment and for which services he cannot affix any precise length of time, as they were rendered by him at different times on different days, more or less during the Revolutionary War. 

To the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, he answers: 
I   - He was born in Elizabeth Town township in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey on the 10th day of February A.D. 1760.
II  - That the record of his age was entered in his father's family Bible; a transcript from which upwards of twenty year past was entered in his family Bible where it is now to be seen.
III - That he lived in Elizabeth Town township County of Essex and State of New Jersey when called into service and continued residing there until the year 1821 when he removed to Monroe County and since that to Niagara County, both in the State of New York, where he now resides.
IV  - He was a volunteer, a drafted person, and a substitute for one William Richardson at the times and for the periods set forth in this declaration.
V   - He served at different periods when Col. Elias Dayton and Col. Matthias Ogden with their Continental Troops of the New Jersey line were acting in concert, as likewise Capts. Neal, Pratt, Pearson, Lieuts. Edmund Thomas, William Shute, Ephraim, Whitlock, Huet again (the last of which he saw both before and after he was killed at Connecticut Farms) and others mentioned in his former declaration. He recollects Col. Elias Dayton's Regiment of
New Jersey Continentals being often on duty with them. Col. William Washington's Cavalry and Capt. Huet's company of Continental Artillery, Col. Seeley's militia regiment from Morris County and Col. Jaques's and Col. Samuel Potter's Militia Regiments of Essex County, State of New Jersey. Under the officers belonging to these two last regiments, he principally performed his different tours of duty as set forth in this and his former declaration.
VI  - That he never received any discharge from any officer under whom he served from the service, none being demanded by him or deemed exquisite by them as this deponent and his officers resided in the same County and were well acquainted with each other.
VII -  That now as in his former declaration he says that he is well acquainted with Major Benjamin Barton, Isaac Colt Jr., Zina A. Colvin, Esq., and Leonard Shepard, who annexed to his former declaration have testified to his character for veracity and Leonard Shepard to his belief in his revolutionary services [crossed out: and]. Although there is no settled Clergyman in Lewiston, since the making of his former declaration has ascertained from the Reverend Cornelius Mars, an aged Clergyman residing in the township of Lewiston and Niagara County, and who was acquainted with him many years in the State of New Jersey. That he will testify to his character for veracity and belief of his services as a Revolutionary Soldier, to which he, the deponent, adds John Cook's affidavit with the proper attestation of his character for veracity. That he yet knows of no surviving witness except John Cook, by whom he can prove his actual service during or in the war. That he is poor and infirm and not able to undergo any great expenses in searching for such testimony but that he has reason to believe most part of those with whom and under whom he served are dead or residing in places out of his knowledge. 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 any State whatever and referring to his former declaration for particulars not contained in this amendment, further saith not.
s/ Benjamin Williams

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid.
s/ R. Fleming, First Judge Niagara Common Pleas
Page 20

State of New York
Niagara County//

I, Cornelius Mars, a Clergyman residing in Lewiston township and County of Niagara aforesaid, do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Benjamin Williams, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration and a former one to which this is an amendment made and sworn to by him the Twenty seventh of August last past, and that I have been acquainted with him fifty years past while residing in Elizabeth Town, Essex County, State of New Jersey. That I believe him to be Seventy two years of age. That he has ever been reputed and believed in his neighborhood in the State of New Jersey where he resided for a great number of years to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and I, the said Cornelius Mars, being now Sixty three years of age and born in the State of New Jersey, was well acquainted with many of the events and most of the officers set forth in the foregoing declaration and do believe the said Benjamin Williams to have been a Soldier of the Revolution as he has set forth and a person of truth and veracity.
s/ Cornelius Mars

Sworn and subscribed the Twenty eighth day of November A.D. 1832 before me.
s/ R. Fleming, First Judge Niagara Common Pleas

State of New York
Niagara County//

On this Twenty eighth day of November A.D. 1832, personally appeared before me, Robert Fleming, First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County and State aforesaid, Benjamin William, the within named applicant and it satisfactorily appearing that he is unable to appear in Open Court on account of bodily infirmity. I hereby declare my opinion after the investigation and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department and the answers to which are embodied in the within declaration. That he, the said Benjamin Williams, was a Revolutionary Soldier as he states. And I, the said Robert Fleming, First Judge as aforesaid, do further certify that Cornelius Mars, who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding certificate is a reputable clergyman residing in Lewiston township, County of Niagara and State of New York and that he is a credible person and his statement entitled to full credit.
s/ R. Fleming, First Judge Niagara Common Pleas

State of New York
Niagara County//

I, Henry Catlin, Clerk of the County and of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Robert Fleming, before whom the foregoing declaration and certificate in the case of Benjamin Williams for a pension were sworn to and subscribed is First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Niagara and State of New York and that his signature annexed to the declaration, deposition and certificate  aforesaid is the genuine signature of the said Robert Fining, First Judge as aforesaid. And further that I have connected this declaration with a former one made by the said Williams the Twenty seventh day of August last past with the certificate of the said Robert Fleming and the depositions of Benjamin Barton, Isaac Colt Jr., Zina A. Colvin, Esq., and Leonard Shepard with my certificate annexed together with the deposition of John Cook and that of Cornelius Mans accompanied with the proper certificates of the said Robert Fleming, First Judge as aforesaid, and myself. All which I have joined together with piece of ribbon and sealed the ends thereof with my Seal of Office. - As witness my hand and Seal of Office this Fifteenth day of December A.D. 1832 at Lockport.
s/ Henry Catlin, Clerk
Page 21

Free

J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Commission of Pensions
Washington City, D.C.

Jan. 18
Benj. Williams
U.S | N.Y. | 4253
Page 22

State of Illinois
Greene County//

Be it known that before me, Dixon H. Kennett, a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Benjamin Williams, and made oath in due form of law that he is the identical person named in the original certificate in his possession of which (I certify) the following is a true copy:
"War Department - Revolutionary Claim"
"I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June 1832, Benjamin Williams, of the State of New York, who was a private in the Revolutionary Army, is entitled to receive Eighty Dollars per annum during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March 1831 and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September in every year. Given at the War Office of the United States this 17th day of January, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty three.
{Seal}
(signed)
s/ Lew Cass, Secretary of War

Examined and countersigned,
s/ J.L. Edwards

That he was placed on the Pension Roll of the United States at the agency in Albany, State of New York, from whence he received his pension up to the 4th of March 1833. He then resided at Lewiston in the State of New York and from thence he removed in the month of May 1833 to the State of Illinois, Greene County. Soon after his arrival in Illinois, he made an effort to obtain his...
Page 23

...pension, but not being well acquainted with the steps necessary to have his name transferred from the agency in New York to the agency in Illinois, he failed to obtain his pension or any part of the same so that he has received no pay since the 4th March 1833; that he is old and infirm and unable to make his applications as promptly and in as proper and legal form as his circumstances require. 

These are the principal reasons that he has not drawn his pension for the last two and a half years. He therefore prays that an order be granted directing the agent in Illinois, on the production of the proper vouchers, to pay the pension. Given this Second day of January A.D. 1836.
s/ Benjamin Williams

Subscribed and sworn to before me.
s/ D.H. Kennett

State of Illinois
Greene County//

I, Dixon H. Kennett, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, certify that I have the most satisfactory evidence, the oath of the individual. That he is the identical named in pension certificate No. 4253 dated 17th January 1833 and signed Lew Cass, Secretary of War. And the said Benjamin Williams, before me, signed and was sworn to the truth of the statements contained in the foregoing affidavit. Witness my hand and seal this 2nd day of January A.D. 1836.
s/ D.H. Kennett, J.P.
Page 24

State of Illinois
Greene County//

I, Moses O. Bledsoe, Clerk of the County Commissioner's Court of Greene County and ex-officio Register of Commissions in said County, hereby certify that D.H. Kennett, whose genuine signature is to the foregoing, is and was at the time of making the certificate an acting Justice of the Peace in and for our said County of Greene, duly commissioned and qualified according to law, and his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my name and affix my Seal of Office this Second day of January A.D. 1836.
s/ Moses O. Bledsoe, Clerk CCC Co.

J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Herewith are some of the reasons why B. Williams has not drawn his pension. He has to my knowledge sought diligently to obtain it but not by the most proper means. It is hoped an order will be granted according to his prayer. It is desirable that he receive notice of the result, which he can do by a
communication to me.

Very respectfully yours,
s/ Moses O. Bledsoe
Page 25

James L. Edwards, Esquire
Commission of Pensions
War Department
City of Washington 

June 15
M. Bledsoe

E. Ames
June 11, '35
Benj. Williams
Page 26

E. Ames
June 11, '35
Benj. Williams

James L. Edwards, Esquire
Commission of Pensions
War Department
City of Washington
Page 27

Mech(anics) & Farmers Bank
Albany Pension Agency
June 11, 1835

James L. Edwards, Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir,

In reply to your letter of the 8th inst(ant), I have to state that Benjamin William was last paid, as appears by our books, to 4 March 1833.

I am, Sir, very respectfully your Obe(dient) Ser(vant),
s/ Tho. McConley
Page 28

Newport, Ky.
Sept. 19, 1911

Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir:

Will you please examine your books and see if you have any record of Benjamin Williams of Essex Co. (probably Westfield Twp.) New Jersey, who served in
the Revolutionary War.

I should like to have all the information you can...
Page 29

...give me regarding him and particularly any family data.

I should also like to have the record of Col. Otho H. Williams of the 6th Maryland Regiment. He died in 1794.

By complying with the above, you will greatly oblige.

Yours sincerely,
s/ Clara A. Searing
708 Washington Ave.
Newport, Ky.
Page 30

Benj. Williams
Ill.

Whitehall, Ill.
Oct 13th

Benj. Williams
Jus.
4253
Page 31

free

Hon. J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
United States Pension Office
City of Washington
District of Columbia
Page 32

White Hall, Greene County, Illinois
Oct 12th 1835

Respected Sir,

It is with no small degree of reluctance that I feel myself compelled to draw your attention once more to my pension, which has been due me since the 4th of March 1833 but the enclosed letter which I received a few days since from Daniel Hay, the [illegible] State Pension Agent for Illinois must be my apology for the present intrusion. After having made my application in conformity with the regulations of the War Department for a transfer from the Roll of New York to that of Illinois, satisfactory to the department as appears from your letter to me dated August 8th 1835 advising me that on that day, I had been transferred from the Roll of Albany to that of Illinois to take effect from and after the 4th of March 1833. I anticipated no further obstacle in obtaining the pension due me from government since said 4th of March 1833, but from Mr. Hay's letter it appears that the payment of two years and half, pension money now due me up to the first of September last past, cannot be paid to me by the Illinois Agent without an order direct from you to him to that effect, for reasons you will find contained in the enclosed letter. So that not withstanding the transfer has been made from Albany to Illinois to take effect from and after 4th March 1833. Without your department will have the goodness to advise Mr. Hay of the same and issue an order to him for the payment, I must remain in destitution of those very means my country intended for the relief of my infirm, disabled and destitute old age.

Your attention and kindness hitherto manifested toward an old soldier however afford me strong assurance that such advice and order will be promptly given by you to Mr. Hays, the U. States Pension Agent for Illinois.

With sentiments of the highest respect I remain your friend,
s/ Benjamin Williams

To the Hon. J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 33

Carmi, Ill.
20th April

Free

Hon. James L. Edwards
Commission of Pensions
Washington City

May 2nd
Benj Williams
[illegible]

Ans(wered) May 4, 1834

4253
[illegible]
Page 34

Carmi, Ill.

Pension Agent Office
19 April 1836

Sir,

Application is made by the attorney of Benjamin Williams, a pensioner under the Act of 1832 at $80.00 per annum. He was transferred from New York last fall, and there is now three years pay due him. It is stated in a letter to his attorney here that a letter from you informed him that an order had been sent to me to pay him on his filing with me the proper evidence &c. But no such order has been received by me as yet.

I must therefore withhold payment until I hear from you. Mr. Williams applied last fall or winter for payment but payment was there withheld for want of an order. I can suspect nothing unfair in his claim, his handwriting convinces me there is no deception.

Very Respectfully,
s/ Daniel Hay

James L. Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 35

Carmi, Ill.
15th May

Free

Hon. James L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

May 28
Benj. William
[illegible]
Page 36

Carmi, Illinois

Pension Agents Office
17th May 1836

Sir,

I received by last mail your letter of the 4 inst. together with a copy of your letter to Benjamin Williams of the 29th October last. I have now before
me your letter of the 29th January 1836 addressed to Moses Bledsoe, Esq., which I presume you had not adverted to when writing to me on the 4 inst.

However, I now enclose to you for your inspection the vouchers upon which Mr. Williams claims to draw his pension for the last three years. From your letter to Mr. Bledsoe it appears that Mr. Williams has made sufficient affidavits to authorize the order for the payment of his pension, but had the order been issued, I suppose it would not have been proper for me to have made the payment without first sending the vouchers to you, as the application was delayed until after the 4 March, making then 3 years pay due him.

Very respectfully,
s/Daniel Hay

J.L. Edward, Esq.
Page 37

White Hall, Ill.
July 25th
Page 38

free

Hon. J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pension
United States
Pension Office
City of Washington D.C.

Aug. 8
Allowed.
Page 39

White Wall, Greene County, Illinois
July 25th 1835

Enclosed in this I have the honor of transmitting to your department the affidavits and official certificate, duly authenticated and rendered necessary by your regulations, in order to obtain a transfer of the pension of Benjamin Williams. I have endeavored to comply as near as possible with the instructions I lately received from your office. Being very old and infirm, I was obliged to send the affidavits and Justice's Certificate to the County Clerk's Office, ten miles from this in order to have them authenticated under his Seal of Office, but as this was not at first done in a satisfactory manner, I was obliged to return the same to him for amendment, which occasioned the interlineation you will find in his certificate. I trust that they will prove satisfactory to you and that such a transfer will be made as to enable me to draw all the pension money due me from the 1st March 1833 up to the 1st of September 1835 from the Illinois Agency.

My age, wounds and infirmities need great assistance and the bounty of my country would afford a welcome relief to my necessities. If my application should meet your approbation and I should not be thought too troublesome, a few lines from you informing me of the fact and that I may draw on the Agency of Illinois on the 1st of the coming September will be gratefully received.

With respect I remain yours,
s/ Benjamin Williams
Page 40

Benjamin Williams

Albany to Illinois

Ans(wered) June 6, '35 (presented instant as claimed)

Mr. Bledsoe
Page 41

White Hall, Ill.
May 21st

+5

Hon. J.L. Edwards
Secretary of Pensions
U.S. Pension Office
Washington
District of Columbia
Page 42

White Wall, Greene County, Illinois
May 19th 1835

To the Hon. J.L. Edwards
Secretary of Pensions

Respected Sir,

Old and infirm as I find myself, I am obliged to resort to the assistance of a friend in addressing you at this time on the subject of my pension, which was granted to me in consideration of my Revolutionary services, by an Act of Congress dated 7th of June 1832, in a Pension Certificate of which the following is a true copy.:

War Department
Revolutionary Claim

I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June 1832, Benjamin Williams of the State of New York, who was a private in the Revolutionary Army, is entitled to receive Eighty dollars per annum during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March 1831 and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September in every year.

Given at the War Office of the United States this 17th day of January, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty three.
s/ Lew Cass, Secretary of War

Examined and countersigned,
s/ J.L. Edwards

(Endorsed)
Payments to be made at New York by the Pres(ident) H.J.Br. Bank Agent for paying pensioners in the Agency of New York.

Recorded by Jno. Cromwell, Clerk, in Book D; Vol 5; page 205.

(Numbered 4253)

While I resided in Lewiston, Niagara County, New York, from the Agency of New York by Power of Attorney the pension due to the 4th of March 1833 and in May following of the same year, I removed to Greene County, State of Illinois, where I have continued to reside and owing to sickness, debility, lameness ...
Page 43

...and lack of the necessary information how to proceed in obtaining a transfer from the Agency of New York to that of Illinois, I have never received any part or portion of my pension since it was paid up to 4th of March 1833 as before mentioned.

The object of my present application is to obtain such transfer so as to enable me to receive from the Agency of Illinois that portion of my Country's bounty, which she had thought proper to bestow on me for the support of my very inform and declining years and for the want of knowledge in obtaining which I am reduced to great want and poverty. Believing you to be the proper organ through whom I must apply to obtain such transfer, I have taken the liberty accordingly of addressing you with a full belief that you will be so kind as to interest yourself for a poor, old, needy Revolutionary Soldier and place his pension in such a situation that he may be able to receive it in Illinois and that you will have him advised of that fact and the mode to proceed in obtaining the same.

With sentiments of the highest respect I remain your friend,
s/ Benjamin Williams

N.B. I should be extremely obliged to you for an answer from you to this directed to me at this place.
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Pension Bureau 
Revolutionary Records Dept.

Dear Sir:

I will be greatly obliged to you if you will send me the records of Benjamin Williams, who was on the Pension List, 1831, from Niagara Co., N.Y.

Yours truly,
s/ Mrs. James Charters
540 Walden Ave
Buffalo, N.Y.

Jan 1, 1911.
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S31479

4254, send to Ill.
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31479
Rev(olutionary War)
INVALID.

File No. 31,479
Benjamin Williams
Pri(vate) Rev(olutionary) War

Act: June 7th '32

Index: -; Vol. 2; Page 455

{Arrangement of 1870.}

1911 Jan. 25 Hist(ory sent) to Mrs. James Charters ¢
1911 Sep. 26, Mrs. Clara A. Searing ¢