Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39981, Judah Benjamin, Continental (N. H. And N. Y.)

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SERVICE Continental ( N.H. and N.Y.)

Benjamin, Judah

NUMBER  S. 39981

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15, 762 R
From New York to Pennsyl
Judah Benjamin
of Hamilton in the state of New York  who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Sheldon of the Connecticut line, for the term of one year

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 18th of April 1818.

Certificate of Pension issued the 8 of Nov 1819, and sent to [illegible] Hamilton New York

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1819 - -  132
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Mar 1820 - 48.
[total] $180

 {Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.}

Continued

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Judah Benjamin
Schedule


Forwarded by F. H. Hubbard
Hamilton Mad [Madison] Co N.Y

15762

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Schedule
State of New York
Madison County SS.} On this twenty first day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty personally appeared in the court of common pleas of the said County of Madison in open court the said court being a court of record (established as such by the laws of the state of New York) for the said County of Madison Judah Benjamin aged sixty five years resident in Hamilton in said County who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows viz  that on or about the fifteenth day of July one thousand seven hundred & seventy eight he enlisted near white Plains in the State of New York in the Company of Cavalry commanded by Captain John Shether in the  Regiment of Colonel Elisha Sheldon on the Continental establishment, that he continued to serve in said Corps until some time in the month of November in the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy nine when he was discharged near the City of New York, and he further states that his original declaration bears date the Eighteenth day of April one thousand eight hundred & eighteen & that his pension certificate is numbered fifteen thousand seven hundred & sixty two
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that [end of page]

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I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed-- to wit
I occupy a log house built by me upon the highway in the town of Hamilton valued at $20.00
I own one cow valued at  - 12.00
3 young hogs - 3.00
1 table - 1.25
4 Kitchen Chairs - 2.50
1 wooden chest - 1. 00
1 [Jack?]  Wheel - 1.00
1 axe - 1.00
1 Pick axe - .75
1 hoe -  .50
5 feet iron drag chain - .63
1 iron trammel - .50
1 [?] - .31
1 Looking glass - .37
2 Small trunks - 1.25
1 fire shovel & pair of tongs - .50
1 [?] Kettle - .75
1 iron pot - .75
1 Bake pan - 1.25
1 iron spider - .37
1 iron Skillett - .25
2 Augurs - .50
2 chisels - .25
4 Earthen plates - .24
6 Cups & saucers - .25
1 Pewter platter - .50
1 [China?] - .44
2 wooden casks - 1.00
4 knives & forks - .3[ink blot]
4 Spoons - .25
2 Earthen Crocks - .25
2 milk pans - .50
2 wooden [?]- .50
[total] 54.99

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I owe Henry Water on Book acc & note 40.00
To David Rogers unsettled book acct  -   6.75
To Thomas Bull    ditto    ditto   -   -   -  - 8.00

I am by occupation a tanner & Shoemaker &  my ability to pursue the same is one fourth part that of an able bodied man.  
And  he further saith that his family consists of his wife Joanna Benjamin aged sixty years who is a feeble & infirm woman
[signed] Judah Benjamin
Sworn to & declared on this 21st day of June in 1820 open court
[signed] J. Nell Hurd Clk

I  Jabeth Nell Hurd Clerk of Madison County do hereby certify that the foregoing affidavit and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said Court and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in\ value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is fifty four Dollars & ninety nine cents
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court on this 21st day of June - 1820-
[signed] J. Nell Hurd
Clerk of the Court for the County of [end of page]

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State of New York
Madison County SS.   On this eleventh day of October one thousand eight hundred & nineteen, before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas of the County of Mason in the State of New York personally appeared Judah Benjamin age sixty five years resident in Hamilton in said County, who being by me first duly sworn, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war " that he the said Judah Benjamin enlisted for the term of one year on the first day of January one thousand seven hundred seventy six of Claremont in the State of New Hampshire in the Company of Captain Markey in the Regiment of Colonel Reed in the New Hampshire line, that he was at the siege of Boston, afterwards in a battle of White plains that he afterwards joined the Northern army & was in a battle between Montreal & Quebec\ he further saith that he was in the Battle of Stillwater & was at the capture of General Burgoyne and he further saith that on the thirteenth day of July one thousand seven eight he enlisted to serve during the war in a company of light Dragoons commanded by Captain John Sheather in Colonel Elisha Sheltons Regiment that this enlistment took place at white plains & he further states that he continued to serve in the said Regiment upon the Continental establishment until the twenty fifth day of September
[end of page]

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one thousand seven hundred & seventy nine when he was honorably discharged at Litchfield in the State of Connecticut & he further states that the discharge he received at that time above mentioned, was burnt in the house of [his?] the said Judah in the year 1804 at Geneseo in the County of Ontario & State of New York, he further says that he was in a battle at Poundridge that he is reduced &  indigent circumstances & stands in need of the assistance of his county for support & that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services except the affidavit of Capt John Sheather heretofore forwarded to the war department. He further states that he made a similar declaration on the 18th day of April 1818 before George Scott Esquire then being an associate Judge of the County of Bradford in the State of Pennsylvania
[signed]  Judah Benjamin
Sworn to & declared before me this 4th day of October 1819.
[signed] Samuel Payne Judge of Madison com pleas

State of New York
Madison County SS.
I Samuel Payne one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas of the County of Madison, do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Judah Benjamin did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy for the term of nine months
[end of page]

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at one time in the Continental establishment & I now transmit the proceedings & testimony taken & had before me to the Secretary for the Department of war pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.  I am also satisfied that he needs the assistance of his Country for support.  I also certify  that he made a previous declaration before George Scott Esquire associate Judge of the County of Bradford in the State of Pennsylvania, (where he the said Judah then resided) on the 18th day of April 1818.
Date Oct. 11, 1819. [signed] Samuel Payne Judge

State of New York
Madison County ss   On this 11th day of October one thousand Eight Hundred & nineteen Personally appeared before me Samuel Payne a Judge of Madison common pleas Squire Benjamin and being duly sworn saith that he is personally acquainted and has been for a number of years with Judah Benjamin of the Town & County aforesaid and knows him to be in reduced circumstances and further saith not
[signed] Squire Benjamin
Sworn to and subscribed this 11th day of October 1819
before me [signed] Samuel Payne Judge

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Madison ss.  I certify that the within named Squire Benjamin is a person of truth & veracity &
disinterested in the application of the said Judah Benjamin
[signed] Samuel Payne Judge

State of New York
Madison County Clerks office} ss   I certify that it appears of Records in this Office that Samuel Payne Esquire was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County at the time the foregoing annexed instruments appear to have been taken and certified duly authorised to take and certify the same and that his signatures thereto are in his proper hand writing
Witness my name and the seal of said Court the 12th day of October 1819.
[signed] William J Hough
Dept. Clk.

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State of Pennsylvania
County of Bradford ss.
On this twenty ninth day of March AD 1826 before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Bradford personally appeared William Keeler who on his oath declares that he well knows Judah Benjamin the pensioner, whose affidavit is hereto annexed to be the same person described in the said affidavit
[signed] Wm Keeler
Sworn and subscribed to before me the day & year aforesaid
[signed] Burr Ridgway Jus. Peace

Bradford County ss
I Burr Ridgway the Justice of the peace before whom the above affidavit is taken do hereby certify that William Keeler the above named deponent is a person of truth and veracity. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty ninth day March AD 1826
[signed] Burr Ridgway, Jus. Peace

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State of Pennsylvania
Bradford County ss.
I George Scott Prothonotary of the court  of Common pleas in and for the said County of Bradford do hereby certify and make known that Burr Ridgway esq. is and was at the time of taking the within affidavit of William Keeler, and administering the oath to said Keeler and certifying and signing the same, a Justice of the peace in and for said County duly Commissioned and sworn and that full faith and Credit are due to his official acts as such and that the name Burr Ridgway thereunto  Subscribed is of his own proper hand writing.
In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Towanda this 31st day of March AD. 1826
[signed] George Scott   Prothonotary

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APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.
State of Pennsylvania
County of Bradford ss
On this twenty ninth day of March 1826, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Bradford personally appeared Judah Benjamin who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded
by Captain John Sheather in the regiment commanded by Colonel Elisha Sheldon in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the state of
New York from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the state (district, or territory,) of Pennsylvania where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable, in future; and that his reasons for removing to the state of Pennsylvania are that his children reside in the last mentioned State and he thought to better his condition by living near them [signed] Judah Benjamin

Sworn and subscribed to, before me, the day and year aforesaid.}
[signed] Burr Ridgway, Jus. Peace

\
NOTES. -- The oath to be taken before a duly qualified magistrate, whose official character and signature must be authenticated by the certificate of the proper officer, setting forth that the person taking the testimony is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
The pensioner's oath must be supported by the evidence of another person as to identity. The person must swear that he well knows him to be the same person described in the above affidavit. The magistrate must certify that the deponent is a person of veracity. This oath must also have the authentication as above required.

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State Pennsylvania
Bradford County ss.
I George Scott Prothonotary of the Court of Common pleas in and for said County of Bradford do hereby certify and make known that Burr Ridgway esquire is and was at the time of taking the within deposition and administering the oath to Judah Benjamin and signing the same a Justice of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn and that full faith and credit are due to his acts as such and that the name Burr Ridgway thereunto Subscribed is of his own proper handwriting.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Towanda this 31st March A.D. 1826
[signed] George Scott  Prothonotary

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In reply to your request of [blank] received [blank] for a statement of the military history of Judah Benjamin a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.   S.F.39981

Jan 1, 1776 - 1 yr - Pri - Capt Marcy - Col. Reed - NH

July 18, 1778 to Nov 1779 - Capt John Sheather - Col Elisha Sheldon - Conn.

Battles engaged in, Siege of Boston; Battle of White Plains; between Montreal and Quebec; Stillwater and Capture of Burgoyne; Poundridge 
Residence of soldier at enlistment, {1. enl. at Claremont, N.H. 2. enl. at White Plains N.Y.
Date of application for pension, Oct 11, 1819 His cl was al.
Residence at date of application, Hamilton, Madison Co, N.Y.Orange Co. Vt 
Age at date of application, 68 yrs
Remarks : In 1820 his wife Joanna was 60 years old. Children referred to in 1826 as living in Pa, names not stated.

Respectfully, Commissioner.

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[along left edge]
Papers in the case of
Judah Benjamin
a Revolutionary Soldier


Judah Benjamin
Private
July 78 to July 79
[Thewen Cowned?]
Regr

on Roll
Admitted

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State of Pennsylvania
Bradford County ss.
I George Scott Prothonotary of the Court of Common pleas in & for the County of Bradford do certify that on or about the  Eighteenth day of April AD 1818 Judah Benjamin made his declaration & affidavit before me the said George Scott (then acting in the office of Associate Judge of said County) in order to obtain a pention [pension] agreeable to an act of Congress &c. & that I directed the same to the Hon J.C. Calhoun Sect at War City Washington & deposited it in the post office of Meansville.  Witness my hand & seal of office this 28th day of Sept AD 1819
[signed] George Scott Prothy

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Towanda Pa
Apl 4

Free

War Department
Pension Office
Washington City

[written along the left edge]
Judah Benjamin
[illegible]
[?] April 1818
B. F. Barstow
[Towanda?] Pen

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Towanda Penn. April 4th 1826
J L Edwards Esq
Sir
I herewith enclose Judah Benjamin [illegible] application for a transfer of his name from the rolls of the State of New York to that of Pennsylvania.  Will you be good enough to inform me when the transfer is made so that he may know when to apply to the Office in Philadelphia for payt [payment] of his pension
Yours respectfully
[signed] D F Birstow [Bustow?]

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This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services. Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.
O. W. & N. DIV.

REVOLUTIONARY.
L..W. [?]
I 39981

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
April 28, 1898.
Sir: -- Replying to your recent communication you are advised that information as to date of death of Judah Benjamin can probably be obtained upon application to the Hon. Auditor for the Interior Department  Treasury Department, this city, furnishing the soldier's service as set forth in this Bureau's letter of the 18th inst., together with the following data: Cert. No. 15752; New York Agency (transferred to Penna. Agency); Act of March 18, 1818.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

E. B. Baker, New Haven, Conn.
c/o Southern New England Telephone Co.

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This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services. Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
L.[?][?]
I 39981.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
April 15 1898.
Sir: -- Replying to your recent communication you are advised that Judah Benjamin made application for pension to October 11, 1818, at which time he was [?] years of age and residing at Hamilton, N. Y., and his pension was allowed for one year's actual service as a private in the Conn. troops, Revolutionary War;  in part of the time he served under Col. Sheldon.  He enlisted at Claremont, N. H.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Mr. E. B. Baker,
New Haven, Conn.

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[stamp]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE.
D
OCT 18 1917

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Sons of the Revolution
in the State of New York
Frannces Tavern
Corner Broad & Pearl Street
New York City
October 16, 1917,

Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen: --
Will you kindly send me the Revolutionary service of Judah Benjamin, who was born in Hampton, Conn., on July 8, 1755, and died in Pike Township, Bradford County, Pa., on August 16, 1834, and who is recorded as a pensioner under the Act of 1818, at which time he resided in New York.
Yours very truly,
[signed] Henry Russell Drowne
Secretary.

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Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C
Dear Sir:-
I hope you will pardon me for troubling you again in regard to the military record of Judah Benjamin of Connecticut.  In the certificate which I am returning, there are statements which conflict with each other, and also with the official records.  There seem to have been three Judah Benjamins in the army and probably two of them were pensioners
I enclose the data which I have obtained from the New Hampshire Rev. war Rolls. The service is not the same
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as given in the certificate, but probably the latter service was not recorded.
You will notice that the Judah Benjamin of N.H. was about 5 feet in height with light complexion,-- residence Cornish N.H. The Judah Benjamin of Conn (Record of Connecticut -  Men rtc.p. 279) who enlisted in Col. Elisha Sheldons Reg't. July 10, 1778, is described as 5 ft.7in in height, with dark complexion, residence, Milford.  Evidently these were two different men.  On p.535 occurs another Judah Benjamin who served also from July 78, a short time on the Hudson under Col. Moseley.
There is also another discrepancy in regard to the battles engaged in. The Judah Benjamin of N.H. enlisting Jan. 1. 1776 could have been present at
[end of page]

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the latter part - of the siege of Boston; he might have accompanied Washington to New York and been engaged at the Battle of White Plains, but he must have been in service in 1775 in order to have taken part in the Northern Campaign and the battle of Stillwater and capture of Burgoyne occurred in Sept. and Oct of 1777, the year intervening between the two enlistments given in the certificate.
It appears to me that the service of the two men has become mixed in some way  It is at least unintelligible, and useless [illegible] of the service of Mrs. Steeles ancestor, Judah Benjamin.  Please can I have your assistance in solving the problem?
The date of application, age, residence and remarks are all correct according to family records, and it is only the ser-
[end of page]

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vice which seems contradictory.
He was barely of age when he was broke out and it is highly improbable that he was then in N.H.
Thanking you in advance for any light you may be able and willing to throw on this subject, I am
Sincerely yours
[signed] Mrs, Mary F. Martin
30 High St
Bristol Corn
May 15, 1914

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[stamp]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE.
O
APR 22 1914

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The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C
Dear Sir:-
I am in receipt of your letter of April 17th with Pension Certificate of Nathaniel Merrills enclosed.
Mrs. Steeles other gr.gr. grandfather was Judah Benjamin not Judah Benjamin Merrills,  In the notes which Mrs. Steele sent me I find that he was pensioned under Act of 1818.
He was born in Hampton Conn. July 8 [1755?] and died in Pike Township, Pa.

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Aug. 16, 1834. applied for pension when a resident of New York.
I do not see how I came to make a mistake in his name, but I trust Judah Benjamin will not be hard\ to find.
Very sincerely yours
[signed] Mary F. Martin
30 High St
Bristol, Conn
April 10 1914

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[stamp]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE.
D
MAY 18 1914

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Judah Benjamin enlisted in Capt. Davenport Phelps Co. under Col. Thomas Bedel Esq. Feb. 20, 1778 for 1 mo. 10 days.
New Hampshire, Rev. War Rolls Vol.4 p.118

Description of Judah Benjamin on page 120 same vol. calls him about 5 feet, light complection [complexion], 20 odd years old - place of abode Cornish. New Hampshire

Judah Benjamin called "of Claremont" in Pension Bureau. Washington
Revolutionary War Rolls. N. Hampshire, Vol. 4. p. 249

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[left side illegible]

39981
Revy 
INVALID.
File No. 39981
Judah Benjamin
Pri Rev War
Act: 18th  March 18
Index-Vol 3, Page 33
[in brackets] Arrangement of 1870.

[right side] 
Apr. [?]  '91
[813 Baker?]
New Haven
[illegible]
1914 Apr 24 Hist to
M Mary F. Martin fw
1914 May 19 [illegible] History above referred to [?] no personal description in claim fw 
1917, Oct 22 History to  Henry R. Downey  fw

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Rev. War Section.
May 19, 1914,Mrs. Mary F. Martin.
30 High Street,
Bristol, Conn.
Madam:
In response to your letter dated the fifteenth instant, you are advised that Judah Benjamin, a history of whose claim, Sur. File No. 39,981. Rev. War, was furnished you on April 24, 1914, is the only soldier of that name found in the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau, Said history comprises a full statement of his services as sworn to by him in his application for pension, and in which he fails to state the names of the officers under whom he served in the Northern campaign and in the battles of Stillwater.
There is no personal description of said soldier in the claim, therefore this Bureau is unable to aid you in regard to his identification with the various soldiers of that name reported on the printed records of New Hampshire and Connecticut, whose services you quote.
Very respectfully,
[signed] G. M. Saltzgaber
Commissioner.