Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17268, Joseph Benham, Conn.
Page 1

Conn.           Benham, Joseph      S.17268


                                                        carded
Page 2

788 Connecticut

Joseph Benham
of Hamden in the State of Con
who was a Pri in the Com commanded 
by Captain Stoddard of the Regt commanded 
by [blank] in the Con troops  
line for 9 mo

Inscribed on the Roll of Con 
the rate of 30 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 19. day of Sept
     [Year illegible]  and sent to Henry White New Haven

Arrears to the 4th pf Sept 32             $    75.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending Apr 4.30      15.00
                                                              _______
                                                           $   90.00
                                      {Revolutionary Claim
                                       Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by E D Bullock, Clerk
Book e   Vol. 3  Page 6
Page 3

                       Joseph Benham
                         14087
Page 4

State of Connecticut
County of New Haven} Js
on this 12th day of September personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for the district of New Haven and the State of Connecticut, being a court of record now sitting, Joseph Benham a resident of Hamden in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut aged 83 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 7,1832.  That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated.

That he was drafted in July AD 1776 to serve in the company of Connecticut militia, commanded by Lieutenant Isaac Cleveland, that he went with the company by water from New Haven to New York in a sloop, that while he was there General Washington went over to Long Island with the greater part of the army & some of the regiment to which the declarant belonged, that the declarant remained behind in New York with his company - that in the morning after the retreat from Long Island he saw some of the boats come over with the American [last word inserted] guard & some were taken by the British [last three words inserted]- that he was marched with the army from New York to Haarlem - that there the declarant thinks he was dismissed, the time for which he was drafted having expired. That he was dismissed the latter end of September or first part of October, having served three months at this time - that Major Strong of Farmington was an officer in the regiment to which he belonged & left on account of illness while declarant was in the service & Captain Amos Barns was another officer in the same regiment
Page 5

that in July  of the same year in which the enemy came to New Haven, on the day but one after, said declarant was drafted to go to Horse Neck in the company of Connecticut militia commanded by Captain Asa Bray - that he was marched from Wolcott in New Haven County where the declarant then resided to Horse Neck, near the State of New York - that the British had at that time possession of New York, that he was in an engagement at that time, but was called out once to Byram Bridge in expectation of meeting the enemy, but they did not advance, that the company to which he belonged was stationed in Dr Meads home - that after Capt Bray was promoted one Sergeant Andrews of Southington commanded his company, that the declarant [last word inserted] was discharged In September of the same year having served three months -

that immediately after Burgoyne came to Bennington. the month and year not recollected, but he thinks in 1777, he entered as a volunteer in the company of Connecticut militia commanded by Captain Stoddard of Bristol, that one Bronson was a Sergeant in this company - that he was marched from Wolcott where the declarant was living to Saratoga, where the army then was under General Gates, that Gen Burgoyne with the British army were near; that General Gates having received information that Gen Burgoyne was about to retreat, and to have a strong guard, sent the regiment to which the declarant belonged to attack this guard; but the information was untrue & Gen. Burgoyne was found there; that the declarant
Page 6

remained with the army at Stillwater until Gen. Burgoyne surrendered, on the 17th of October declarant thinks - that he served at this time three months - that he recollects that General Arnold was there - that he thinks Colonel Elsmore commanded the regiment to which the declarant belonged -That the declarant was born in Cheshire in New Haven County in the State of Connecticut on the 13th day of July AD 1749. Old Stile [sic], that he has been told by his father that there is a record of his age in the office of the town clerk of Wallingford at some distance from the present residence of the declarant, that he resided in Wolcott in sd New Haven County at every time in which he entered the service, & for a number of years after the revolutionary war, that thence he removed to Hamden in sd county, ithen [sic] a part of New Haven, in which town of Hamden he has resided ever since - that he never received any written discharge from the service, nor has he [last two words inserted] any documentary evidence of any kind -

that the declarant was engaged in the service of the United States at two other times which at first escaped his recollection, the first of which was when the enemy came to New Haven for a few days only - the other was when the enemy came to Danbury fora period about as long; that he served as a volunteer in the militia, on both of these occasions
Page 7

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not in the pension roll of the agency of any State. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
  Attest - Anthony P Sanford Clerk  
         [Signed]    Joseph Benham

We Abraham Alling a clergyman residing in the town of Hamden in the County of New Haven & State of Connecticut, and Jared Bassett a Judge of the County Court for New Haven County also residing in sd Hamden hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Joseph Benham who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be eighty years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion, that sd Benham was deacon in the Congregational church of which the sd Alling was formerly pastor until on account of his age sd Benham resigned. [last word inserted]
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. 

Attest [Signed] Anthony P Sanford Clerk
     [Signed]  Abraham Alling
                    Jared Bassett
Page 8

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatives prescribed by the war department that the above name applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states, And the court further certified that it appears to them that Abraham Alling who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Hamden in the State of Connecticut, & that Jared Bassett who also signed the same, is a Judge of the County Court for New Haven and that he is a credible person, & that their statement is entitled to credit

      [Signed]   Chas. A. Ingersoll
          Clerk of said Court.

I Anthony P. Sanford Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of New Haven, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding to the sd court in the matter of application of Joseph Benham for a pension.
In  testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 29th day of September 1832.

         [Signed}  Anthny P Sanford  CLerk
Page 9



 Mr. Henry White -
   New Haven
Page 10

State of Connecticut
County 0f New Haven}  Js

On this 15th day of June AD 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for the district of New Haven in the State {last three words crossed out] being a Court of record, now sitting Joseph Benham a resident of Hamden in the County of New Haven in said State aged 83, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in addition to & explanation of a declaration, heretofore viz, on the 12th day of September 1832, made by him before sd Court in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That in the month of July AD 1776 he was drafted to serve as a private soldier for three months in the company of Connecticut militia commanded by Lieutenant Isaac Cleveland - that he served as a private those months in sd company in the manner & at the places mentioned in his former declaration, & was dismissed in the latter part of September or beginning of October AD 1776 - that by reason of extreme old age & the consequent loss of memory, he cannot now remember the precise day of July in which he commenced his sd service, nor the precise day o September or October in which he left said service, but that he served at the above mentioned time, the full term of three months,

That in the same year in which Burgoyne was taken, and according to the best of his recollection in the summer or fall of the year 1777 he entered as a volunteer the company of Connecticut militia
Page 11

commanded by Captain Stoddard - that he served as a private soldier in his company three month in the manner and at the places mentioned in his sd former declaration - that be reason of his great age & enfeebled memory, he cannot recollect now the precise day, nor even the month in which he entered sd last mentioned company or was dismissed from sd company - but that according to his best recollection he entered sd company in the summer 1777, & served until after Burgoyne surrendered, which he thinks was in the fall of the same year - but that he remembers he served the full term of three month as a private at the time of this last mentioned company.

That in July of the same year in which the enemy came to New Haven, which the declarant thinks was in the year 1779 on the day but one after their descent, which according to the best of his recollection would be in the 5th of that month, he was drafted to go to Horseneck [sic] in the Company of Connecticut militia commanded by Ara Bray - that he served as a private three months in their last mentioned Company, in the manner & at the place mentioned in his sd former declaration and was discharged in September or October of the same year.  that he cannot for reasons above named, specify any more particularly the day on which he was drafted  specify upon sd service, nor the day on which he was discharged, but that he remembers having served three months at that time -
And the declarant would further state that he has in sd former declaration stated all the particulars of his sd several terms of service which he could then or can now recollect - that he has
Page 12

also states the names of al the general officers, & of all the regular officers, & of all officers of any description who were with the troops when he served, whom he can recollect, & also all the continental & militia regiment which he can now recollect.

That as it respects the two other times of service for a few days only mentioned in his sd former declaration, the recollection of the Declarant is so indistinct by reason of his great age as to the length of the time during which he was in the service at those periods, that he will not for the tour claim a pension but for the three several terms of service first mentioned of three months each, amounting in all to nine months, he claims a pension.

And in answer to the seven interrogatories presented by the War Department, the Declarant would in addition State, that he was born in the town of Cheshire in New Haven County in Connecticut, then being a part of the town of Wallingford - that there is  a record of his age in the office of the town clerk  of the town of Wallingford, by whom by law such records are to be made - a certified copy of which record is hereto annexed that by the record it appears that the Declarant was born on the 12th day of July AD 1750.- that until he had seen this record, it has always been the impression & belief of your Declarant, that he was born on the 12th day of July AD 1749 as he has stated in sd former declaration.  And for furthur answer to sd interrogatories the declarant refers to his sd former declaration  And the declarant further states that he know of no person living
Page 13

And the sd Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states in his sd supplemental declaration.  And the court further certifies that Hunn Munson, whose certificate of the record of the birth of the sd Joseph Benham is hereto annexed was at the date of said certificate Town Clerk of the town of Wallingford in the County of New Haven, in Connecticut and has by law the keeping of the record of marriages, births & deaths of persons in sd Wallingford, & that the signature of the sd Munson annexed to sd certificate is his genuine signature

         [Signed] Chas A. Ingersoll
         Judge of Probate
Page 14

I Anthony P Sanford Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of New Haven in Connecticut do hereby cerif. [cut off] that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the sd court in the matter of the supplemental application of Joseph Benham for a pension. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 15th day of June AD 1833
  [Signed] Anthy P Sanford  Clerk
Page 15

Joseph & Lois (illegible) & son & daughter of Joseph & Enid Benham, Born July 13th 1750.

The above & foregoing is a true Copy of Record from the (illegible) Records in the town of Wallingford County of New Haven & State of Connecticut.

Town Clerk's Office
Wallingford, October
5th 1832

                                  Certified by Herman 
                                   Munson Town Clerk
Page 16

                                        June 13, 1925

Harry W. Reynolds
Hartford, Box 987
CONN.

Sir:  

I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 1726, it appears that JOSEPH BENHAM, the son of Joseph and Em, was born July 13, 1750, old style, at Wallingford, Connecticut.

While a resident of Wolcott, New Haven County, Connecticut, he enlisted in July 1776 and served three months as private in Lieutenant Isaac Cleveland's Company, Major Strong's Connecticut Regiment.

He enlisted in the summer of 1777 and served three months in Captain Stoddard's Company, Colonel Elmore's Connecticut Regiment & he was at the surrender of Burgoyne.

He enlisted in July 1779 and served three months in Captain Asa Bray's Connecticut Company.

He also served a few days in the Militia when the enemy came to Danbury and to New Haven, officers not stated.
Page 17

     He was allowed pension on his application executed Sept 12, 1832, while a resident of Hamden, New Haven County, Connecticut.
   He had a twin sister named Lois.  There is no further family data on file.

                              Respectfully,

                               Wilder C. Metcalf
                                      Commissioner
Page 18

                               No. 14087
                          Joseph Benham


                                5.13.17



                           9 mo  private

                                   $30


        Henry White Esq
                   New Haven

Chas A Ingersoll Esqr  [these two lines crossed
New Haven Ct                          out]
Page 19

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Joseph Benham which require further proof or explanation.

1. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  Yes
2 Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  Yes
3. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?   [blank]
4. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  Yes
5. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?   No
6. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  Yes
7. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?  Yes
8.  Has the Court given their opinion?  Yes
9.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?  Yes
10.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?  Yes
Page 20

                             2.

11. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?  Yes
12.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  [blank]
13.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had [the last four words crossed out]?  No
14.  If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that hem she, or they are persons of credibility?  [blank]
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?  [blank]
15. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have personal knowledge of the applicant's service?  [blank]
16.  +Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  Yes
17.  re the seven interrogatories prescribed by the war department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  Not Satisfactorily-

                EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* Quere 5.  In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:  "Personally appeared before me, 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 the following grades:  For _____year _____ _____ months and _____ days, I served as a __________. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a __________, and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 21

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months [ the last five words in italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

QUERE 14.  Proof of Service

In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oath must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

QUERE 16.  Mode of authenticating papers.
in every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the  papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Claimant alleges ' I have been in the Service 
at "two other times the length and year not stated -
Page 22



        J. L. Edwards Esq
          Commissioner of Pensions
                     Washington
                          Dis of Col:
Page 23

  New Haven. June 25 1833

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions}

Sir,

    Accompanying this is the supplemental declaration of Joseph Benham an applicant for a pension, made in order to remove the objections to his former declaration. Also, the former Declaration with the  printed brief of objections. Please make any further communications that may be necessary on the subject to me at New Haven, Connecticut.

                                  I have the honor to be
                                     Very Respectfully
                                     Your obedient servant
                                          Henry White
Page 24

17.2 68
INVALID

(illegible left side)

Apr 8. 1904 His to A. C. Benham
New Haven Conn
___________________________________________
Matr, 13, 1906 History to Mrs. J. a. Crocker - MR.

_________________________________________________
1907 Feb 16 Mrs. J. A. Crocker as other Joseph Benham (illegible)
1920 Janyh 14, 20 Mr. Beulah Culber &
1921  (ilelgible)  Mr. Thos. E. Blackshear
_______________________________________________
1921, May 7 to Mn Edith B. Hotchkiss. En
__________________________________________
1924 March 25 Hist & Mr.s Geo. E. Purcue MCA
_______________________________________
1925 June 13, Hist. to Harry w. Reynolds MCA
Page 25

[This is on Daughters of the American Revolution letterhead]

265 Bassett St.-. New haven, Conn.
February 18, 1924.

Bureau if Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Will your bureau forward to the address below, a copy of the pension record of Joseph Benham, of Hamden, Connecticut, died Hamden, born Wallingford, prob. Cheshire parish 1751, had sister Lois of Burlington, Conn.

 Please send to his descendant (Mrs.) Ella Ida (Benham) Purdue, 410 Fountain St., New Haven, Conn.

[Signed] (Mrs.) Ella Ida (Benham) Purdue

[Stamp affixed]

    PENSION
           H
          FEB
    U.    21    S.  
         1924
       OFFICE
Page 26




    RECORD
APR 18  1921
    DIVISION
Page 27

Pension Bureau
   Washington D.C.

Please forward to me the Revolutionary Record of Joseph Benham of Connecticut who was a Pensioner.

                               Respectfully

                           Mrs. Edith Benham Hotchkiss 
4-13-21                        93 Whalley Ave
                                             New Haven
                                               Connecticut

Pension Office stamp follows, dated April 16, 1921
Page 28

Oval stamp:

  RECORD 
JAN 6  1921
 DIVISION



Round stamp:

PENSION OFFICE  A
JAN 5 1921
Page 29

210nCherokee Ave
Macon, Ga  Jan 2 -Rev Cn

Pension Bureau   [[illegible note inserted here]

Dear Sirs
  I am anxious to learn date of enlistment length of service and other information you may have of Joseph Benham, one of my ancestors who fought in the Revolution.  The fact of his service is given on page 654 - list of Pensioners 1832 - in "Conn. Men in the revolution".  His name also recurs on the Benham monument in Hamden
Page 30

Plains Cemetery (Conn.) & mentions his Revolutionary Service. I am filling out a supplementary D.A.R. paper & am anxious for the facts of service required.  A prompt reply will be greatly appreciated -
                 Yours -  
                   Harriet A Blackshear  
                      (Mrs. Thos E-)

P.S. - My genealogical chart gives Joseph Benham born 13 July 1 850  Wallingford Conn died Jan 25 -1836  Hamden aged 85 years
Page 31

607 Wilmot Ave
Bridgeport
Conn.

Dear Sir:-

Will you kindly give me information of Deacon Joseph Benham of Hamden who was a pensioner as late as 1832

 Yours truly
 Mrs. Beulah Culver

[Pension Office stamp follows, dated Jan 3 1920
Page 32

[Stamp in upper right corner] 
U.                          S.
OLD  WAR & NAVY
     FEB 27 1906
           FILES

12 University Place
New Haven, Conn.
Feb. 24, 1906

To the Commission of Pensions,

Dear Sir: -

Can you give one any record of Capt. Cornelius Brazee. who served in Rev. War. probably enlisted from Columbia Co. New York.  His father is said to have come from France with Lafayette when he enforced our cause.  Do not have the name of the father but-would also like to know if he served in the war or anything concerning him.

                Yours truly,             12 University Pl.
                Mrs. J.A. Crocker     New Haven,
(over)                                                Conn
Page 33

Would like also the War record of Joseph Benham Jr if such there be.  He was a Conn. Soldier. was born in 1730  His father Joseph was born in 1713 -were both soldiers

               Yours truly -
                    Mrs. J.A. Crocker
                       12 University Pl.
                            New Haven, 
                                      Conn

[Pension Office stamp appears in lower right corner with date of Feb 26, 1906]
Page 34

[Circular stamp]

PENSION OFFICE
U.  APR 1  1904  S.
Page 35

         Record and Pension Office,
               WAR DEPARTMENT,
        Washington, March 29, 1904.

Respectfully returned to

A.C. Benham,
    271 Bassett Street,
    New Haven, Connecticut

    The name Joseph Benham has not been found on the rolls, on file in this office, of any organization of Connecticut or Continental troops in service during the war of the Revolution.

    The collection of Revolutionary war records in this office is far from complete, and in view of your statement that Joseph Benham was a pensioner, it is suggested as a possibility that a statement of his military record can be obtained from the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C., who is the custodian of the pension records of the Revolutionary war.

[Stamped]    OLD WAR & NAVY
                         APR 4 1904
                               FILES

BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
    [Signed]  F.C. Ainsworth
           Chief, Record and Pension Office.
    Per [illegible initials]

(800a)
Page 36

[Rectangular stamp]
           RECORD & PENSION OFFICE
MAR 28           781486                     1904
                  WAR DEPARTMENT

New Haven, Conn.  Mch 26, 1904

[Round Stamp]
PENSION OFFICE
    APR 1 1904

Joseph Benham
  Conn. Rev. War

A.C. Benham requests'
record of service of the 
above named

[Rectangular stamp placed vertically next to the above] 

OLD WAR & NAVY
    APR 4 1904
        FILES
Page 37

[Round stamp, upper right corner.  Illegible except] 
           WAR DEPARTMENT    MAR 1904

                                      New Haven, Conn.
                                           Mar. 26, 1904

To the War Department -

    Can you furnish me with a record of the service rendered by Joseph Benham, of Hamden, Conn. during the war of the revolution?

He was pensioned in 1832. I want further record for D.A.R. papers.

                                 Yours Truly,
271 Bassett St.             A.C. Benham
Page 38

(seal on top left of page)
(written beside seal) Aus. 6/13/25 MCS
              
                   SONS OF THE REVOLUTION
                                    IN THE
                      STATE OF CONNECTICUT
                                 750 Main St.
                          HARTFORD, - CONN.

                            April 20th, 1925.

United States Pension Office,
             Washington, 
                    D. C.

Dear Sirs:

     I would like to obtain the information from the records of the Department of the Revolutionary Service upon which the claim for pension was allowed on behalf of Joseph Benham, of New Haven (or Hamden, Connecticut, then a part of New Haven), the pension number being S-17268.  This pension number is taken from the Record of Connecticut Pensions, a publication published in 1885, Page 123.

     This information is desired on behalf of Burton L. Lawton, a resident of East Haddam, Connecticut, a grandson or great-grandson of said Joseph Benham, and who is seeking this information as a basis for admission to the Society of the Sons of the Revolution, making his application on the strength of the Revolutionary services of the said Joseph Benham.  The pension list was the List of 1832, and Joseph Benham's name was included among the pensioners in 1832 residing in New Haven County,

     Trusting that I may see this information on behalf of Mr. Lawton, and on behalf of the Society, at an early date, I remain,

                         Yours very truly,
                                            
                        Harry W. Reynolds (signature)
                        Secretary
Page 39

                                                 April 20th, 1925.

United States Pension Office,
            Washington,
                            D. C.

Dear Sirs:

    I would like to obtain the information from your records of the Department of Revolutionary Service upon which the claim for pension was allowed on behalf of Joseph Benham, of New Haven (or Hamden, Connecticut, then a part of New Haven), the pension number being S-17268.  This pension number is taken from the record of Connecticut Pensions, a publication published in 1885, Page 123.

    This information is desired on behalf of Burton L. Lawton, a resident of East Haddam, Connecticut, a grandson or great-grandson of said Joseph Benham, and who  is seeking this information as a basis for admission to the Society of the Sons of the Revolution, making his application on the strength of the Revolutionary services of said Joseph Benham.  The pension list was the List of 1832, and Joseph Benham's name was included among the pensioners in1832 residing in New Haven County.

    Trusting that I may see this information on behalf of Mr. Lawton, and on behalf of the Society, at an early date, I remain,

                                Yours very truly,


                                              Secretary

(C.O.P.Y)            
     
                                  [Stamp affixed lower 
                                                right corner]
                                                                            
                                  PENSION OFFICE  
                                    JUNE 12 1925
Page 40

Seal of S.AR     SONS OF THE REVOLUTION
                                     IN THE
                          STATE OF CONNECTICUT
                 HARRY W. REYNOLDS, SECRETARY
                                     BOX 987
                              HARTFORD, CONN.

                                        June 10th, 1925.

UnIted States Pension Office,
         Washington, 
                      D.C.

Dear Sirs:
    
    I wrote to you about a month ago relative to the record of JOSEPH BENHAM [name underlined].  I had hoped to have a reply considerably before this in order that the matter might be acted upon at a meeting of the Society to be held this week.  If the opinion is to be of use to the Society, it will have to be obtained by that time, and I am again reminding you and earnestly asking you if this matter cannot receive attention so that I can have a reply from you by the middle of next week.

                                Yours very truly,

                          [Signed]  Harry W. Reynolds
                                         Secretary

(Enclosed is copy of previous letter)

                     [Pension Office stamp in lower 
                              right corner, 
                             dated June 12, 1925]
Page 41

Madam:  

I have to advise you that from the paper in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 17268, it appears that Joseph Benham, the son of Joseph and Em, was born July 13, 1750, old style, at Wallingford, Connecticut.

   While a resident f Wolcott, New Haven County, Connecticut, he enlisted in July 1776 and served three months as private a Lieutenant Isaac Cleveland's Company,  Major Strong's Connecticut Regiment.

He enlisted in the summer of 1777 and served three months in Captain Stoddard's Company, Colonel Elmore's Connecticut Regiment; he was at the surrender of Burgoyne.

He enlisted in July 1779 and served three months in Captain Asa Bray's Connecticut Company.  He also served a few days in the Militia when the enemy came to Danbury and to New Haven, officers not stated.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 12, 1832, while a resident of Hamden, New Haven County, Connecticut.
Page 42

He had a twin sister named Lois.  There is no further family data in file.


          Respectfully,

 
                                         Commissioner
Page 43

In reply to your request of [blank], received [blank] for a statement of the military history of Joseph Benham a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, , you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) [last three words crossed off] application for pension on file in this Bureau.       S. File 17,268

[Note; A chart follows with five main headings]
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT
LENGTH OF SERVICE
RANK
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS 
     RENDERED   CAPTAIN   COLONEL   
STATE

July 1776    3 months  Private  Captain Isaac 
     Cleveland    Major Strong      Conn.
January  1777    3 months  Private   Capt. 
     Stoddard      Col. Elsmore         Conn
July 1779   3 months   Private   Captain Asa 
     Bray        Col.  Elsmore      Con
Served  [ink faded, Length of Service & Rank] 
    are illegible in  Militia when the enemy came 
    to Danbury and New Haven

Battles engaged in, Danbury [?], Burgoyne
Residence of soldier at enlistment,  Wolcott, 
         New Haven Co., Conn.
Date of application for pension,  Feb.12 1832 
           His claim was allowed
Residence at date of application, Hamden, 
          New Haven Co, Conn
Age at date of application,  82 years, all below
      Remarks: soldier and his twin sister Lois 
      were born at Wallingford, Conn/ July 13, 
      1750 O.S., children of Joseph and Em 
      Benham. No further family data.

     Respectfully,



Commissioner.
Page 44

Record Division.

                               February   10, 1909
Mrs. J.A. Crocker
      12 University Place
          New Haven, Conn.

Madam:

In reply to your letter dated the 1" and received the 3" instant, you are advised that the Revolutionary War pension records fail to afford any information in regard to Salmon or Zalmon  Bradley described therein, or any other Joseph Benham than the one whose record  was furnished you March 13, 1906.

                                    Very respectfully,



                                         Commissioner.