Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21,653, Arnold Benchley, R.I.

Page 1

Service
R.I.

Benchley, Arnold
or
Benchly
Betsey

Number
W. 21,653

Page 2

4240
Rhode Island
[double underscore]
Betsey Benchley decd
widow of Arnold Benchley who died on the 
2nd Jany 1824 of (illegible) in the State of R.I. who was a private in the Co commanded by Captain [blank] of the  Reg
commanded by [blank] in the [illegible] line for [illegible few words]
[double underscore]

[At the top of the right hand column]
Payl to
Stephen__Nathaniel
William__Betsey and
Amy Benchley__Sally
Bly__Anna Babcock,
Lydia Angel__only [illegible]
Children.

Let to age 8 July--1845
Hon [illegible] Cleveland May 23 1850

[continuing in left column]
Inscribed on the Roll of R. Island
at the rate of 58 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of
March, 1834. Pending 20 April 1834
when she died
[double underscore the length of the -annual allowance ending ]
Certificate of Pension issued the 8" day of July 1845 and sent to B. Cowell, [illegible], R. I.
Arrears to the 4th of [blank] 
Semi-annual allowance ending [blank]
[two short double underscores]
Revolutionary Claim,
Act July 4, 1836
Section the [blank]
Recorded by [illegible signature] Clerk,
Book 1 Vol. [illegible] Page 88

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Betsey Benchley [last two letters illegible]
Widow of Arnold
R. I. No 6[?]388

Act 4 July 1836

[followed by faint writing of names and dates]

Page 4

State of Rhode Island
County of Providence
On this 26 day of November 1844
personally appeared before the principal
Court of the City of Providence William
Buckley of Smithfield in said County
who makes this application for himself 
& in behalf of the other children of Arnold Benchley late of said Smithfield & Betsey his wife for all arrears of pension which [crossed out: which] come due to his Mother Betsey Benchley at the time of her death under the act of congress of July 4th 1836. He declares and says that he has always understood & now believes that his father the said Arnold was a soldier of the Revolution & served in Col Hitchcocks regiment in 1775 eight months & afterwards served in Col John [illegible] Regiment, that his father & mother were married before said War, that he himself is now almost seventy three years of age that he was was born Feb 14 1773--that his father died January 24 1824 and his mother April 20 1837, that she left the following children, himself the eldest Stephen Benchley, Sally Bly, widow

Page 5

Anna Babcock widow Betsey Benchley
Lydia Angell widow Amy Benchley 
& Nathan Benchley, wherefrom he [illegible]  that the arrears of pension may be [illegible] to be [illegible] to them, pursuant to the provisions of the Acts of Congress.
William Benchley [signature]

In Municipal Court of the City
of Providence, November 26th, 1894,
[illegible] and sworn to by William Benchley in open court. 
Albert G. Greene, [signature]
Clerk

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I, Fenner Angell of the city and county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, aged eighty-eight years and [illegible] 
on oath, do depose and say that during the War of Revolution I lived in Smithfield, in said county and was well acquainted with Arnold Benchley and David Benchley. David served his time, near my father and moved to the State of New York near the end of the War. Arnold Benchley I knew very well. He married Betsey Tucker before the war began, as I have always understood and due verily believe. In the year 1775, he enlisted in Captain John Angell's company, in Col. Hitchcock's Regiment for eight months and he went down to Roxbury near Boston, and served out his time and returned. Captain John Angell was a near neighbor of ours and I knew when he enlisted him. Afterwards, said Arnold Benchley enlisted and served in Col. John Tophan's [?] regiment of Rhode Island troops. {illegible] he enlisted in said regiment soon after he came back from Boston.
Fenner his  X mark Angell
Witness to signature of 
Fenner Angell
Gamaliel L Dwight

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State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Providence [illegible] In Providence on this nineteenth day of November, A. D. 1844, personally appeared Fenner Angell, subscriber to the aforegiving deposition and made oath of the truth of the same before me, and I certify that said Fenner Angell is a credible witness. 
Gamaliel L Dwight [signature]
Justice of the Peace

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I George L Barnes of Smithfield in the county of Providence & State of Rhode Island do certify & say that I am town Clerk of said town & have by virtue of my office the custody of the records of the births & marriages which have taken place in said town & I further certify that I have examined said records, & that I cannot find any record of the marriage of Arnold Benchley & Betsey Tucker on [illegible]. I have examined all the [illegible] , between the years seventeen hundred and seventy& eighteen[ hundred. I also certify that I have reasons [blackened out word] to believe that many marriages have taken place in said town both before and since the war of the Revolution which have never been brought to said office to be recorded.
G L Marnes [signature]  Clerk [?]

Rev [?], In Smithfield Nov 18, 1844 personally appeared before me the above named George L Barnes known to me as the town Clerk of Smithfield & sworn oath to the [illegible] certificate of [illegible] 
Gamaliel L Dwight and [illegible]
Justice of the Peace

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I David Benchly of Fairfield in the county of Herkimer and State of New York aged eighty nine years and nine months on oath do testify & say that I was born in Smithfield in the State of Rhode Island and lived then until the year A. D. 1781 that I have a brother Arnold Benchly who, was a soldier of the Revolution. I have a distinct recollection that my brother married Betsey Tucker of said Smithfield before the war began. He married her as early as the year 1772 and had a family of children.
In the year 1775 I well remember my said brother Arnold Benchly enlisted as a soldier nine months in Capt John Angels company and Col Hichcocks regiment of Rhode Island troops and went down to Roxbury near Boston and served his time. After this service my said brother served in Col Taphonus [?] Regiment of Rhode Island troops in Capt Williams Whipple company as much as fifteen months.
David Benchley [signature]

Herkimer County
Town of Fairfield     November 5th 1844

Personally appeared before me the above named David Benchly and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him, signed, and I furthermore certify that said David is a creditable witness.
John Green Justice of the Peace  [sign]

State of New York,
Herkimer County, ss
[seal] I, Erwin A. Munson, Clerk of the County of Herkimer, do certify that John Green Esquire, whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the proof or acknowledgement of the annexed instrument in writing and endorsed thereon, was at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgement a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, dwelling in the said county, and duly authorized to take the same; and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and verily believe his name subscribed to the said certificate to be his genuine signature.
In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and hand and affixed the seal of the said county.
November 14, 1844
E. A. Munson Clerk

Page 10

State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Providence [illegible] 
Municipal Court of the City
of Providence, in the County of 
Providence, and State of aforesaid,
examining Probate jurisdiction,
December 3, 1844

Be it remembered that satisfactory testimony has been produced before this Court, that Arnold Benchley late of Smithfield in said County of Providence, deceased, was married to Betsey Tucker of said Smithfield before the war of the Revolution, to wit, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy two; that they lived together as man and wife, until his death, which took place on the twenty-fourth day of January A.D. 1824; and that the said Betsey continued his widow and unmarried until the twentieth day of April A.D. 1834, when she died, leaving the following named children, to wit, William Benchley and Stephen Benchley, both of said Smithfield, Sally Bly, widow, of Cumberland in said county, Anna Babcock, widow, Betsey Benchley, and Lydia Angell, widow, all three of North Providence in said County, Amy Benchley of said City of Providence, and Nathan Benchley of Windham  in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut; and that all and each of said children are now over twenty one years of age.
And be it further remembered that satisfactory testimony has also been produced at this Court, that said Arnold Benchley was a soldier of the Revolution; that he served eight months in the year 1775, in Captain John Angell's company

Page 11

and Colonel Hitchcock's regiment; and afterwards served fifteen months as corporal, in Captain William Whiffle's company and Col. John Topham's regiment.

In attestation whereof, I have here unto set my hand and have hereunto set my hand and have applied the Seal of said Court.
And I do hereby certify that Gamaliel L. Dwight who has signed the annexed Certificate to the Depositions of Fenner Angell and George L. Barnes, was on the days of the dates thereof, a Justice of the Peace within and for said City of Providence, and a Public Notary within and for said County of Providence, duly elected.

Albert G. Greene [signature]
Clerk of said Court

Page 12

[ No text on this page]

Page 13

The Names & Ages of the Children of William Dabrah Benchley
Arnold Benchley was born Feby 5th 1751
David Benchley was born May y 11th 1755
Joseph Benchley was born August y 23th 175 [illegible]
Lydia Benchley was born Jan [illegible] th, 1760
Samuel Benchley was born May [illegible] st 176[illegible]
Isaac Benchley as born August y st 1766
Stafford Benchley was Born July y th 1773
[illegible] Wm B [signature?]

55 [on left and right side of page]

Page 14

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION 
3-525
-----------
.......       DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
.......            BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
[illegible] 21653  Washington, D. C., .... 
.......
......
......
     In reply to your request of ......, received ...... for a statement of the military history of  Arnold Benchley or Benchly a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his son's [words his (or widow's) crossed out] application for pension on file in this Bureau.
[column headings follow] 
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE
[first line] 1775 8 months blank Captain John Angell [illegible] Colonel [blank] Hitchcock R. I.
[second line] [check mark] Corpl Captain William Whiffle Colonel John Topham 
Battles engaged in, [check mark]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, not stated
Date of application for pension, by son Wm Nov 16, 1844 [illegible] I was at 
Residence at date of application, of son Wm. Smithfield Providence Co. R. I.
Age of son Wm. at date of application, born Feby 14, 1773
 Remarks: Soldier was born Feb 5 1751 and was the son of Wm & Dabrah Beasley.[illegible] war about the year 1772 Betsey Tucker of Smithfield R. I. She died Apr 20, 1837, leaving the following children William, Stephen, Sally Bly widow, Anna Babcock widow, Betsey, Lydia Angell widow, Amy and Nathan
Respectfully, 

Commissioner.

Page 15

Rev WIDOW, &c.
      -----------

File No. 21653
Betsey Benchley
Wid [widow] of 
Arnold Benchley
Corprl. Rev. war

Act: July 4th    /36
Index: Vol. A [?], Page 64

Arrangement of 1870

Page 16

No 6388 [underscored]
Betsey Benchley decd
R. I.
[illegible] to [illegible name] Feb 4. '45
"    "    same Apl 11 '45 [all crossed out]
"    "    same Apl 12 '45



Act 4 July 1836

Page 17

I Anna Arnold of Smithfield in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island
do testify and say, that I am now in the
seventy eighth year of my age, that I am well acquainted with William Benchley of 
said Smithfield and was also well acquainted with his father Arnold Benchley and his mother, Betsey Benchley, I have always lived in the same neighborhood, I have always known William since his  Boyhood. He is now over seventy years of age. I therefore think as much as seventy two or three, judging from my own age.

Anna Arnold [signature]

Providence R. I.  Feb 11th 1845
Personally appeared before me, the
above named Anna Arnold and made solemn affirmations to the truth of the above affirmations -- by her signing, I also certify, she is well known to me, and she is a credible witness

Richard S. Scott J. P.

Page 18

I Deborah Arnold of Smithfield in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island on Oath do Certify and say that I am now eighty five years of age, or shall be on the twenty sixth of March next. I have always been acquainted with William Benchley the son of Arnold and Betsey Benchley late of said Smithfield deceased. I have been acquainted with him ever since he was a little boy, having always lived a neighbor to him. He is only about ten or twelve years younger then I am. 
Said William Benchley is now over seventy years of age - about seventy two according to my best knowledge and belief.
Deborah Arnold [signature]

Providence RI. In Smithfield Feb12th, 1845 [blank] Personally appeared before me the above named Deborah Arnold and made solemn affirmation to the truth of the above affidavit by her signed and I further certify she is a credible witness.
Richard S. Scott J.P. [signature]

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State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations.
Providence R. I. I, Albert G. Greene, Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Providence in the County of Providence in said state, do hereby certify that Richard S. Scott, who has signed the two preceding certificates, was on the days of the dates  thereof , a Justice of the Peace, within & for the town of Smithfield in said County, duly elected.

In accordance whereof, I have [illegible] my hand, and have affixed the seal of said Court, this 14th day of February A.D. 1845.
Albert G. Greene, Clerk [signature]
[black round seal]

Page 20

[blank page]

Page 21

State of Rhode Island
Providence  [illegible] Clerk's office, Court 
of Common Pleas
I, John W. Smith clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the county of Providence & State aforesaid being a Court of Record, do hereby certify that Lemuel Angell Esquire, before whom the aforegoing affidavits were sworn is a Justice of the Peace for the town of North Providence in said county, and in his said capacity is authorized & empowered by the laws of this State to administer oaths & take depositions; that the foregoing two signatures are the genuine signatures of said Lemuel Angell. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of the said Court at the City of Providence this twenty fourth day of May AD 1845
John W. Smith clerk 
[swirl marks]

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(8-1776)
SERVICE R.I.
Benchley or Benchly, Arnold
NUMBER W.21,653
Betsey

Page 23

I Elisha Angell of Springfield in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island on oath do testify and say that I am now seventy five years of age, that I was formerly well acquainted with Arnold Benchley and his wife and family, and we were always near neighbors during his lifetime. He has been dead a number of years and his widow is now also dead. I am also well acquainted with William Benchley their eldest son, we were boys together and I have known him ever since, he is now nearly as old [as] I am, of this I am positive he is now over seventy years of age. I am sure, I have always understood said Arnold Benchley was a soldier of the
Revolution [.]
Elisha Angell [signature]

Providence [R. I.]
     In Smithfield May 22 A.D. 1845 personally appeared the above named Elisha Angell and made oath to the above affidavit by him signed, and further certify that he is well known to me and he is a creditable witness
[space] before me Lemuel Angell [illegible] office of the Law

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State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations 
Secretary's office Feb. 12, AD 1845

I Henry Bowen, Secretary of said State, do certify that Benjamin Corvele has this day submitted to my examination a Book in manuscript headed as follows "names of officers and soldiers commanded by Colonel Tophams, Crary & Elliott, in the Rhode Island State service, with their balances of Depreciation so called, reported to be due by a Committee in October 1785."
and it appears that the name of Arnold Bently [Benchley?] is on the list of names in Col. Tophams Regiment as corporal and the sum of 17.12.1 [English pounds] due him as depreciation.
     In testimony whereof I have
     hereunto set my hand and
     affixed the seal of said State 
     at Providence, the day and 
     year first above written.
        Henry Bowen [signature]

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Providence May 26 1845

Sir 
In answer to your letter of the 12th respecting the claim of Betsey Benchley deceased widow of Arnold Benchley, I herewith enclose the affidavits of William Angell & Elisha Angell who have always lived in the neighborhood of William Benchley & were boys together & they both corroborate the statement respecting his age & that Arnold & Betsey were married before the war of the Revolution. The witnesses are wholly disinterested neither relation to the Benchley family or to each other.
You observe in your letter, that Arnold Benchley served 10 months 27 days as a private & 6 months & 3 days as a corporal. I presume this was  Col. Tophaus Regiment in the "fifteen months," service & is also presumed that he served eight months in 75 by two witnesses in Col. Hitchcocks regiment, and in order further to corroborate the testimony of David Benchley I herewith enclose an old paper containing a record of of the Births of Arnold Benchley & his brothers & sisters. It will be seen that Arnold was born Feb. 5 1751 and

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and David May 11, 1755. This corroborates David evidence respecting his own age and as his own evidence respecting his brothers service is corroborated by your Rolls in Topham's Regt, so it ought, as respect to his services in Col. Hitchcocks and also as respects the marriage.
Hoping & expecting this 8 months service will be allowed & a certificate granted.
     I am respectfully your ob[edien]t se[rva]nt
     Benja Cowell [signature]

Page 27

Providence Feb 14 1845 [page center]
Sir

In answer to your letter of 4th sent respecting the case of Betsey Benchley I regret to say that William Benchley has no family record by which to prove his own age, But enclosed are two affidavits of witnesses who have always lived near neighbors to him ever since he was born; & they both testify that he is over seventy and as much as 72 or 73 years of age. This corroborates his statement that he was born in 1773, and I take the liberty to say that from his personal appearance I have not the least doubt of the fact. There is no record of the marriage of Arnold & Betsey Benchley. This is already shown by the certificate of the town clerk of Smithfield which was sent with the papers -- I also enclose, agreeably to your direction, a certificate of the Secretary of State showing the amount of depreciation of Arnold Benchley as corporal in Col Tophams Regiment from the book in my [illegible].
Besides the service in above regiment, Arnold Benchley served 8 months in 75 in Col Hitchcocks Regiment which is proven by two witnesses. Hoping & expecting

Page 28

the claim will now be allowed I have to request a certificate for the amount of service proved.
I am very respectfully your obt sevt [obedient servant?]
Benja Cowell







J. L. Edwards Esq.

Page 29

No. 6388
Betsey Benchley dec.
Widow of Arnold
R. I. 
a.d. 4 July 1836

[illegible]
10 mo 24 d. priv[ate]         $36.00  
[illegible] corpl [corporal]    22.33
                                            58.33
from 4 March 1831 to 20 April 1837 the day of her death payable to Stephen Benchley, Sally Bly, Anna Babcock, Betsey Benchley, Lydia Angel, Amy Benchley, Nathaniel Benchley and William Benchley only surviving children.

Benja Cowell
Providence R. I.

Page 30

Providence Dec 6 1844
Sir

     I herewith enclose the claim of the children of Betsey Benchley widow of Arnold Benchley for arrears of pension under the act of July 4 1836 in addition to the evidence enclosed I refer you to the roll of Col Topham, of those officers & soldiers who were allowed depreciation of pay. Under the Roll, which I have in my possession I find the name of Arnold Benchley & the sum of 17,12,1 [pounds] allowed him & in said Roll, he is [illegible] as "Corporal". It will be recollected that this regiment was first raised for 15 months commencing in December 1776 & afterwards for two successive tours of 12 months each.  From the amount allowed as depreciation I infer he was in 15 months service as certified by David Benchley.
     I am respectfully your obt svt [obedient servant]
Benja Cowell

Page 31

Washington May 9, 1850
Hon. J.L. Edwards

Dear Sir, 
Will you do me the favor to answer the required in the record with I have above. 
Yours
C.F. Cleveland
M.C. 


P.s. Please send the enclosed to me C.F. C.

Page 32

[the only mark on this page is the round stamp of the U S PENSION OFFICE APRIL 30 {year illegible} in the lower right corner.

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Rev 1 [illegible]
                       1012 [illegible] St.  NW.
                        Washington D.C.

Pension Office
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir
     I am anxious to secure the information regarding Arnold Benchley of Smithfield R. I. an officer in the Revolution died Jan 19, 1823.

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I am anxious to learn who his children were also his record. 
Thanking you 
     I remain
          Very truly
          Bessie Carter
April 29, 1917