Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 148, for Benjamin Paul, New Jersey
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Continental N.J.
Paul, Benjamin
Bethenia
Number W. 148
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1886 March 19. E J Paul with her long Prior
[illegible]
4018
New Jersey
Bethenia Paul, widow of Benjamin Paul, who died on the 6 January 1817 of Monmouth in the State of N. Jersey who was a Sgt. 72.M Sgt. in the Comp: commander by Captain Randolph of the reg commander by Col Martin in the Revolution, line for 2 years.

Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey, at the rate of 120 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension ifsued [issued] the 21 day of May 1844 and sent to Hon. W.L. Dayton, Senate U. States.

Arrears to the 4th of March '44 - 1560.00
Semi=annual [semi-annual] allowance ending 60. $1620.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3rd}

Recorded by Fleming L. Swann, Clerk, Book C. Vol. 1. Page 144,
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11154 April 6 1844
Declaration of Mrs Bethenia Paul
act July 4, 1836
from New Jersey

on [illegible]
Martin [illegible]
[illegible]
2 [illegible]
$120
Wm L Dayton
[illegible
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State of New Jersey
Monmouth County

On the ninth day of March in the year Eighteen Hundred and forty four personally appeared before the Subscriber one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Monmouth and State of New Jersey Bethenia Paul a resident of Stafford in said County of Monmouth and State aforesaid in the Eighty ninth year of her age who  being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the Benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July the fourth A D 1836" That she is the widow of Benjamin Paul who was a private in the militia in the County of Monmouth in the service of the United States in the year 1776 under Capt Reuben Randolph and other officers While he was in the militia. deponent's oldest ^child^ Sarah Paul, died early in the spring of 1777 to the best of deponent's recollection In the month of April her Husband Benjamin
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Paul enlisted under Capt Wicoff of Monmouth for three years was soon after transfered to Capt John Burrows Company and remained in Monmouth County having their head quarters at Freehold that summer where her husband was appointed Quarter Master Sargeant. Early in the Autumn he march with his company to Red Bank on the Delaware where they remained a short time and then crossed the Delaware into Pennsylvania and joined the main army under General Washington as this informant has often heard him say and was attached to General Maxwell Brigade it was only a few days before the Battle of German Town. in which her said Husband was engaged after the Battle her Husband [illegible] with the army into winter quarters at Valley Forge Sometime in June 1778 General Washington advised General Maxwell with his Brigade to cross into Jersey and [illegible] of the Enemy who had left Philadelphia and going through Jersey towards New York He was engaged in the Battle of Monmouth when charged as he always [illegible] of the whiskey
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and other things-he then went with army to Elizabeth Town and remained there and at Middlebrook during that winter and sometime in April or May of 1779 he Marched with the army under General Maxwell and all under the Command of General Sullivan against the Indians the incidents of that Campaign he had told Hundreds of times he then returned by the way of Easton some time in October and then went into Winter Quarters with the army at a place Called Mendham about five miles from Morris Town where he remained till some time in April when he received his discharge and returned home having served out his three years for which time he Enlisted She also declared that her son William Paul was Born on the 15th day of September 1777 as her Husband left in the Spring She further disclosed that she was married to the said Benjamin Paul on the - [dash indicating a blank space] day of January Seventeen Hundred and Seventy five by Parson Croosby [Crosby] a Baptist Minister who has left no Record of his marriages having [deceased] many years ago. She attached the Bible record which is true and in the Hand Writing of her said Husband
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Benjamin Paul and which has always been in her possession that her Husband the aforesaid Benjamin Paul died on the sixth day of January Eighteen Hundred and Seventeen and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by the reference to the proofs hereto annexed. Was further [blacked out] that her Husband kept an Journal of his services in the army and that she hath made diligent search for it but cannot find it

Sworn and Subscribed the day and year above written in the Presence of Samuel Moore Before me

Benjn Oliphant Judge

Bethenia Paul  X  his mark

I do Hereby Certify that Bethenia Paul is personally Known to me as a person of Credibility and truth and on account of old age and bodily infirmity is unable to appear in open Court the County Seat being from forty five to fifty miles distant from this place and that the belief is in the neighborhood that her Husband Benjamin Paul was in the Revolutionary [Army] is [illegible] and [illegible] Seen and [illegible] Before me Benjn Oliphant Judge
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Sarah Paull was Born February 7 1776
William Paull was Born Sept 15 1777
Sarah Paul was Born March [11] 1781
Benjamin Paull was Born June the 26th 1785
[part of page containing first name missing] Paul was Born [part of the page containing the month is missing] 23 1787
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State of New Jersey
Monmouth County [illegible]

On the nineteenth day of March in the year of Our Lord Eighteen hundred and forty four before the Subscriber a justice of the Peace in and for Said County Personally appeared Benjamin Paul a resident of the Township of Stafford in Said County in the Fifty ninth year of his age, a person of Credability and truth who being duly affirmed according to law (he being conscientiously Scrupilous of taking an oath) On his affirmation Said that he is well acquanted with the hand writing of his Father Benjamin Paul, and that he is well Satisfied that the paper here unto annexed is the writing of his Father and that he found the Same amongst his Fathers papers

Affirmed and Subscribed before me the day & year above written

F.P. Peckworth justice

Benjamin Paul
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And the said Bethenia Paul further declares that the Petition on herewith attached to General Washington dated Fbry [February] 15th 1778 at Valley Forge is in the handwriting of her said Husband Benjamin Paul and has been in the pocession [possession]of the family ever since his disceased [decease] sworn and subscribed before me this Second day of April eighteen hundred and fourty four

Benjn Oliphant [Jury]

Bethenia Paul
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State of New Jersey
Monmouth County

On the ninth day of March AD 1844 Before the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for said county personally appeared Samuel Bennett of Stafford in the County of Monmouth and State of New Jersey in the eighty seventh year of his age a person of credibility and truth and a pentioner of the United States at the rate of ninety six dollars per year who being duly sworn according to Law on his oath deposeth and saith. That he enlisted under Capt Wicoff. and was soon after Transfered to the Company of Capt John Borrows dept enlisted in the month of may AD  1777. for three years deponant was well acquainted with Benjamin Paul who lived at the same place (Stafford) and was a brotherinlaw to deponant  having married his sister Bethenia Bennett said Benjamin Paul enlisted some short time before deponant under Capt Wicoff and was likewise Transfered to the Company of Capt John Borrows which Company remained in Monmouth County
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till the fall of 1777 or the latter part of summer. While in Freehold the said Benjamin Paul was appointed Quarter Master Sargant in said Company-Deponant well recollects that Benjamin Paul enlisted also for three years and belonged to the same Company he marched with us from Freehold to Red Bank from there we crossed the Delaware and joined General Washingtons Main Army a short time before the Battle of GermanTown in which Battle the said Paul and Deponant were engaged under General Maxwell we went into winter quarters at Valley Forge and there remained all winter we continued in General Maxwell Brigade Followed the British from Philadelphia in June 1778 was at the Batter of Monmouth on the 28th of June but on account of being lame in one of my arms I was with the Baggage Wagons, from Freehold we marched to Elizabeth Town and Middlebrook where we remained all winter 1778/9 we march sometime in May from Elizabeth Town 1779 said Paul & deponant being in Maxwells Brigade under the command of General Sullivan against the Indians called the Western Campaign we had five Brigades
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in all I well recollect when we reach a village called French Catherine the Indians had all left Except an old squaw supposed to be an Hundred years old She was [illegible] on Horseback by order of the General and ordered to follow her own people with a letter but the [illegible] to ride one [illegible] was spared and a plenty of provision was left for her and all the rest destroyed despondant helped to cut down a large apple orchard and [illegible] to destroy fields of corn [illegible] and Indian Towns-we also took a white woman kept her until we returned and then sent her to Wyoming from whence she had been captured We returned from that Campaign and went into winter quarters at a place called Mendham near Morristown N.J. and then in the month of May 1780 Despondant was discharged having served his three years Enlistment out-Dest well recollects Benjamin Paul enlistment expired at the same place and was discharged a few weeks before Dest during all our Campaign he belonged to the same Company and was Quarter Master Sergt. dest and Benjamin Paul lived in the same neighborhood Said Paul departed this life Sometime in the year
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[text at top of image, partially cut off. May be from a different page]
Paul and
[illegible] County & State aforesaid

[top of page]
Eighteen hundred and Seventeen his
widow is still living and has not married
since the death of her Husband the said
Benjamin Paul. She was married before the
Revolutionary War to said Paul and had
children all those who knew him before his
death often heard him tell of the difficulties
they had whilst he was in the army and
He took delight in telling the occurances
of the different Battles in which he was engaged

Sworn & Subscribed the
day & year above written
before me 
William G Hooper [illegible]

Samuel Bennett [signature]

Second Pennet
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State of New Jery
Burlington County

On the fourteenth day of March AD 1844
before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared James Willitts of the County and State aforesaid, a person of truth and veracity
who being duly affirmed according to Law being conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath in his affirmation saith that he is in his eighty first of his age, and was well
acquainted with Benjamin Paul, and will recollects hearing the said Benjamin speak of his being in the three years service in the army of the revolution, and heard him name many thrilling incidents that occured to him
in the army, recollects hearing him say he was in the Battle of Monmouth and had charge of the [liquor?], recollects hearing him say he was in General Maxwell's Brigade, and further heard him say that he served
against the Indians under Genl Maxwell, Recollect that he died many years ago, and that his widow Bethenia Paul is still living and is the widow of the said Benjamin Paul.

Subscribed and official
the day and year above
Written before me
Thomas Page
J. P. [Justice of the Peace]

James Willits [signature]
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State of New Jersey
Monmouth County//

On the Sixteenth day March in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Forty four before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared Jarvis Hazelton, a resident of the Township of Stafford in said County in the Sixty eighth year of his age, a person of credibility and truth who being duly affirmed according to law, he being conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath, on his affirmation saith that he was acquainted with Benjamin Paul and heard him say he served three years in the Army of the Revolution. That he was in the Battle of Germantown and that the army was there defeated and in their retreat they passed through an orchard and he stopped to pick up an apple and there was a bullet struck near him and he then hurried out of the way of the enemies. That he said he was in a campaign after the Indians under General Sullivan in the western part of the State of New York. They came upon the Indians by surprise and routed them. They left their vittals ready cooked and our general gave us orders not to eat any of it for fear of poison. It is well known to me that he was in the Army of the Revolution and that he served three years. And it is well known to me that Bethania Paul is the widow of the said Benj(amin) Paul. And that she is now living in the Township of Stafford, County & State aforesaid.
s/ Jarvis Hazelton

Affirmed & subscribed before me the day and year above written.
s/ I.P. Peckworth, Justice
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State of New Jersey
Monmouth County//

On the Sixteenth day of March A.D. 1844 before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Benjamin Letts, a resident of the Township of Stafford in said County in the Seventy third year of his age, a person of credibility and truth who being duly affirmed according to law (he being conscientiously suspicious of taking an oath) on his affirmation saith that he was well acquainted with Benjamin Paul and well remembers he served three years in the Army of the Revolution. that during the time the said Benjamin Paul was absent in the army, his family consisting of his wife and child lived with this affirmant's father as I well remember when he returned all his old friends come to the house to see and welcome him back. Samuel Bennett, his brother-in-law, was in the same [crossed out: company] service and returned home shortly after the said Paul. I also well and distinctly remember to have seen his journal, which he kept of his campaign in the revolution. It had a canvass cover, from which he often read to affirmant and others as he was fond of doing. His widow, Bethania Paul, is still living in this neighborhood, very aged and infirm. Samuel Bennett, her brother, is also living nearby and is drawing a pension for his services in the revolution. The said Benjamin Paul died many years...
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...ago.
s/ Benjamin Letts

Affirmed and subscribed before me the day and year above mentioned
s/ Isaac P. Peckworth, Justice

Benjamin Letts
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State of New Jersey//

I, Charles G. McChesney, Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey, do hereby certify that Benjamin Oliphant, before whom the declarations of Bethania Paul were taken, was at the time of the doing thereof a Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Monmouth in said State. That Isaac P. Peckworth, Esq., before whom the affidavit of Benjamin Paul, Jarvis Hazleton and Benjamin Setts were taken. William G. Hooper, Esq., before whom the affidavit of Samuel Bennett was taken, were at the time of the doing thereof Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Monmouth. And that Thomas Page, Esq., before whom the affidavit of James Willetts was taken, was at the time of the doing thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Burlington in said State. All duly appointed, commissioned and sworn. That full faith and credit are to be given to their official attestations. And that the signatures thereto are in the proper handwriting of the said Benj(amin) Oliphant, Isaac P. Pickworth, Wm. G. Hopper & Thos. Page, Esq.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed my Seal of Office at Trenton in said State this fourth day of April A.D. Eighteen Hundred
and Forty four.
s/ Charles G. McChesney, Sec(retary) of State
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November 4, 1930
Mrs. Sara B. Hernberg
Barnegat
New Jersey

Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W.148 [underlined], that Benjamin [underlined] Paul [underlined], while residing in Stafford, Monmouth County, New Jersey, enlisted in 1776, and served in Captain Reuben Randolph's New Jersey Company, length of service not given.
He enlisted in April, 1777, served as a private in Captain Wikoff's New Jersey Company, was transferred to Captain John Burrowes' Company, served as quartermaster sergeant, was in the battle of Germantown, was at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777 and 1778, was in the battle of Monmouth, and in General Sullivan's Western Campaign against the Indians, and served three years.
He died January 6, 1817. His age is not given.
The soldier married in January, 1775, Bethenia Bennett.
She was allowed pension on her application executed March 9, 1844, at which time she was in the eighty-ninth year of her age and resided in Stafford, New Jersey.
The following appears on the family record:
Sarah Paull  born February 7, 1776. (Died early in the spring of 1777)
William Paull "[born] September 15, 1777.
Sarah Paull "[born] March 11, 1781.
---min Paull "[born] June 26, 1785.
----ne Paull "[born] --ly 23, 1787.
Phebe Paull "[born] May 21, 1790.

[handwritten in margin] Did not say Capt Burrowes' NJ Co because he was in Col  [illegible - Tarman?]'s additional Continental tho name of Col is not in the claim.
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In 1844, son Benjamin Paul was living in Monmouth County, New Jersey and was then in the fifty-ninth year of his age. 
Very truly yours
E.W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner.

Date of death of widow not on AB. [handwritten]
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To His Excellency George Washington, [illegible] Gen'l Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the United States of America.

The petition of the soldiers of the State of the New Jersey humbly sheweth that where as we enlisted to fight for the right and privilege of our country, which our grandfathers handed down to us, earned and [illegible] and for this we ever been ready to [illegible] our lives in the high places of the killed for doing of & as promised by articles of enlistment, fifty shillings per month, one suit of cloths & sundry other articles of clothing therein specified.

May it please your Excellency, we not are sensible that we have broken the obligation on our part in any shape to forfeited our wages as we have been ever
ready to obey the orders given us and follow our officers wherever they lead us, if it was onto the point of the enemy's bayonet or enter into the mouth of their cannon, and yet altho(ugh) we have been enlisted ten months, we have not been paid but one month's pay and but breast of our clothing, by reason of which we frequently suffer both hunger, thirst and cold and what graves us still more is by this means our dear wives and children are brought up in ignorance in a land of light and knowledge and while we are fighting [illegible]...
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...by poverty and ignorance, the worst of tyrants instead of his caring and death he sees onto curse us to the latest cruelties, we humbly conceive that this is their sum mistake or neglect of junior under officers, of which your Excellency is intimately known & we therefore beg your Excellency to take our case into consideration and see that we have our just due and our humble petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray.

Comm(ander) Valley Forge, Feb. the [illegible], 1778.

For justice, free and soldiers fighting.

To Benjamin Paul for his order, the just sum of ten pounds good and lawful Army of New Jersey to be paid in shares of thereafter U. States with interest till paid as witness by my Hand this Tenth day of November 1778. [illegible]

Soldier of Capt. Brennan, Company Comm(ander) of [illegible].

[illegible]
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For justice, free and soldiers fighting.

To Benjamin Paul for his order, the just sum of ten pounds good and lawful Army of New Jersey to be paid in shares of thereafter U. States with interest till paid as witness by my Hand this Tenth day of November 1778. [illegible]

Soldier of Capt. Brennan, Company Comm(ander) of [illegible].

[illegible]
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148
Rev(olutionary War)
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 148
Bethania Paul, widow (of) Benjamin Paul, 2nd In(fantry) Ser(geant) Rev(olutionary) War.
Act: July 4, 18326.
Index: -; Vol. M; Page 108?

{Arrangement of 1870.}

1930 Nov. 4 - Hist(ory sent) to Mrs. Sara B. Hemberg. E.E.L.
1930 Nov. 28. - Photos delivered to Jessie M. Casanova & Fin. Dist. not(ified). A.D.Y.
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November 12, 1930
Bureau of Pensions,
Rev.&1812 Wars Section. 541
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rev. War claim for pension of Benjamin
Paul, File No. W. 148.
Actual
1 of each page
Jessie M. Casanova,
731 Kennedy Street, N. W.,
Washington, D. C.
XXX
60¢................4 pages
Kindly leave margin of 1 [and] 1/2 
in. at top of each page and return
papers in each case in folder with
corresponding name and number.
The word omit written in
pencil on those pages which are not
to be copied.

Chief, Rev.&1812 Wars Section,
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November 12, 1930.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Please furnish photostatic copies of four pages
from Revolutionary War pension claim of Benjamin Paul, W. 148, certified.
Very truly yours,
Cash - 85 cents [handwritten]
FINANCE DIVISION
[illegible] KEEPER'S DESK
NOV 14 1930
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Jessie M. Casanora [handwritten]
731 Kennedy St. N.W. [handwritten]
Washington D. C. [handwritten]
Received payment
85¢
November 12, 1930.
Ada DeYoung,
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
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List to Mrs. Casanova:
Benj. Paul's affid(avit) Mar. 9, 1844........1 page.
Bethania Paul's affid(avit) Apr. 2, 1844.....1 page.
Petition of the Sol. of N.J. Feb. 15, 1778...2 pages.
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Please have certified and return to Revolutionary & 1812 Wars Section, Room 1143.

Photostatic copies of four pages from Revolutionary War claim for pension of Bethania Paul, widow of Benjamin Paul, Widow File No. 148.
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Ans(wered)?

OCEAN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MRS. SARA B. HERNBERG, HELPING TEACHER
BARNEGAT, N.J.
TEL BARNEGAT 34-R-12

July 15, 1930.

Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

My dear Sirs:

In connection with securing some data relative to proving my eligibility to join the D.A.R., I need to know the name of the wife of Benjamin Paul (born 1751, died 1817) who fought in the Revolutionary War.

The Adjutant General has given me the widow's number who made claim for a pension. Her number was 148. I need to know her name and the names of her children. Can you help me?

I will appreciate this favor very much.

Very truly yours
s/ Sara B. Hernberg