Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2,569, Aaron Culver, Conn.

Page 1

(9-1776)

SERVICE
Conn.

Culver, Aaron
Phebe

NUMBER
R. 2569

CONTENTS

Page 2

13.035  
R
New York
Aaron Culver
of Hague in the state of N.York
who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Swift of the Connecticut
line, for the term of the war.  1777 in
Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on
the 13th of October 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 28th of July 1819
and sent to G. Slow, Esquire
Elizabeth T  (illegible)  N.York
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 - 5. 23/31 45.93
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4th Sept. 1819 - 48.00
                                                          =====
5                                                         $  93.93
                                                          ======
Dead. See letter to P. Agt
Oct. 30. 1835
Letter to 3 an (illegible) .  B. Van
Benthuysen. 19. April 1839
Paid at the Treasure under the 
Act of the 1st April 1838 from 
the 4th Sept 1833 to the 25 




Oct.

Page 3

5486

Phebe Culver
Aaron

N.Y.

act 7 July 38.

X
m92d33.
"

2569
B.V. BenThuysen Esq.
Chester
N.Y.

Page 4

State of New York
Warren County

On the Eighteenth day of May A.D. 1839 personally appeared before the undersigned one of the Judges of the said County Phebe Culver a resident of Horicon in the county of Warren aforesaid aged Seventy one Years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following dictation in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed July 7, 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" that she is the widow of Aaron Culver who was a private in the revolutionary War and served in the third Regiment of the Connecticut Troops under Donnal Lincoln and that he served under Colonel Swift and that the company in which he served was commanded by Captain Watson and that he went into the service at the commencement of the said War as a volunteer and served during the whole war he served five Years in Captain Watsons company and is unable to say under whom he served the remainder of the term, and was in several engagements, and is unable to say when all of them were he was in Monmouth Battle, Red Bank, Sullivans Island, Princeton, Bunker Hill, Newton, and others not recollected. And that he lived in Connecticut, when he entered the service. cannot say through what country he marched and that he once had a written discharge from the commanding officer under whom he served and that it was burned in his house when that was burnt and that she has no documentary evidence in support of her claim except the affidavit made by Captain Watson when Aaron Culver obtained his pension and that said

Page 5

Captain Watson froze to death nine Years ago last winter while crossing Green Mountain in the state of Vermont and she further declares that she was married to the said Aaron Culver in the month of December (A.D. 1792) one thousand seven hundred and ninety two and that her husband the aforesaid Aaron Culver died on the twenty fifth day of November one thousand Eight hundred and thirty three, that she was not married to him, prior to his Leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four (viz) at the time above stated and that she has not been married since the death of said Aaron Culver

Phebe Culver
X
her mark
(Attest)
John H. Van Benthuysen
Tho. A. Leggett
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and Year above written
before me
Thos. A. Leggett Judge

I certify that above named Phebe Culver could not write her name, never having Learned to write but made her mark and that she is a Woman of truth and veracity--
Thos. A. Leggett Judge

I also certify that the said Phebe Culver is no able to appear in open court and has not been for several months by reason of bodily infirmity and is now confined to her bed

Thos. A. Leggett, Judge

Page 6

State of New York
Warren County

I Thomas Archibald Clerk of the Said County do certify that Thomas A. Leggett before whom the annexed affidavit purports to have been Sworn was at the date of the Same One of the Judges of this Said County and that I am acquainted with the hand Writing of the Said Judge, and verily believe his name Subscribed to the Said affidavit, to be his proper hand Writing and Signature

Witness my hand and Seal of Office this 20th day of May AD 1829

Thomas Archibald Clerk

Page 7

State of New York
County of Warren

ss

On this thirteenth day of September one thousand eight hundred & eighteen before me the subscribed first Judges of the Court of Common Please in & for the County of Warren in the state of New York personally appears Aaron Culver of Hague aged Seventy four years last April a resident of the town of Hague in the said County of Warren who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress intitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War--That he the said Aaron Culver about the Month of May ----in the year 1777--at Canaan --in the state of Connecticut, enlisted for & during the War, as a private in a company commanded by Captain Titus Watson, in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Heman Swift in the Brigade of General Jedidiah Huntington in the Connecticut line of troops-- that he continued to serve in the said corps or in the service of the United States until about the Month of September in the year 1782 ([crossed out]) when this deponent was honorably discharged at Nelson's Point in the state of New York, but his discharge has since been accidentally consumed by fire--that he was in the battles of Germantown--Red bank--Mudisland & Monmouth--that he hath no further evidence now in his power of the aforesaid service--that an accident

Page 8

by which one of his legs was broken & shattered about three years ago joined to the common infirmities of old age has rendered him in a great measure unable to perform his labor,--though labor is his only resource & means of support--& further that by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he stands in need of assistance from his country for support.

Sworn the 13th day of July 1818 before me


William Robards
first Judge
of said Warren Common Pleas

State of New York
County of Warren

ss
Joseph Dunn of Warren County and Peter Rice of Essex County aforesaid being duly sworn severally depose & say that they are personally acquainted with Aaron Culver who made the foregoing declaration--that he the said Aaron is a very indigent man, suffering all the infirmities common to advanced age--& that by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he stands in need as these deponents verily believe of the assistance of his country for support. 

Joseph L. Dunn
Peter Rice

Sworn the 13th day of [crossed out; "July"] October 1818 before me
W Robards first Judge of said Warren Common pleas

William Robarts first Judge

Page 9

of the Court of Common Pleas held in & for the County of Warren in the State of New York so certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said above named Aaron Culver did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration, against the Common Enemy; & I further certify that it further appears to my satisfaction from the foregoing oaths of the above deponents being [illegible] & credible persons that the said Aaron by reason of his reduced circumstances in life stands in need of assistance from his country for support as stated in both the foregoing declaration & affidavit; & I now transmit the proceedings & testimony taken & had before me to the Secretary of the Department of War, pursuant to the direction of the aforementioned act of Congress dated [illegible] 13th, 1818.
W. Robards, first judge as stated above.

State of New York
County of Warren Ss} I Myron Beach, Clerk of the County of Warren do hereby certify that William Robards whose name is subscribed to the foregoing declaration, affidavit & certificate, was, at the time the same purport to have been so subscribed, was first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Warren & that the same name & several signatures are I verily believe to be the proper hand writing & signatures of him the said Judge.
In testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my name & affixed the seal of the said county the fourteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred & eighteen.
Myron Beach Clerk

Page 10

Schsoon Lake. N.Y.
Septs 16th/34
C. L. Blanchard,
Recd. Sept 30th/34
Ans. same day
Re[ ???????????]
to the Com. of
Pensions. [?]
the [???????] so
informed
3 Auditory offer
Sept 20 AD41
Rd Johnson
Auditor

Mr. Randall

Page 11

Sehraan Lake Sept 16th/54

To Jas. S Gullier Esq 3d auditor

Dear Sir,

i am informed by Hulda & Thirza Culver that their brother James Culver is, as they believe, about to defraud them by collecting & obtaining moneys from Government, that belongs to the airs of Aaron & Phebe Culver. The facts as will appear by affts as is follows. Aaron Culver was a soldier in the Revolution War married Phebe Culver, his wife, had seven children to wit- Lewis, Sally, James, Huldam Horatio N., Thirza (& John Culver now deceased who has children living). The father Aaron Culver drew a pension during his life time, his widow lived about six years after his death. Aaron Culver died in now twenty two years ago. The widow made out papers for a pension shortly before her death, but never drew nor any one for her, as her death occurred before the principle facts in the case. Now James Culver is prosecuting the claim of the heirs above named, in a secret & clandestine manner- & appears to be prosecuting the said claim with intent to defraud the other airs. You are requested to inform me if any such claim has been presented, and to withhold the shares or portions of Thirza Culver & Hulda Culver, who now reside in the town of Schroon, Essex County, New York, untill duly ordered

Page 12

to pay the same upon the best evidence of
their identity of the power of attorney purports
to come from them. As they have ordered or
empowered no one to act for them or to
receive moneys for them.
Yours

Cyrus S. Blanchard, Atty.
Schroon
Essex County
New York

Page 13

Aaron Culver

13035
Sept 1819

Seth C. Baldwin Secr Caldwell
Warren Co N. Y. Agent

Page 14

STATE OF NEW YORK

At a Court of Common Pleas held at the Court-House, in the town of Caldwell, in and for the County of Warren, on the 14th day of September, 1820:
Present, their honors, Halsey Rogers-Esquire, First Judge
Norman Fox-
Henry Spencer-Esquires, Judges.
(possessing powers of fine, imprisonment, & jurisdiction to an unlimited amount)

Personally appeared in open court, being a court of record, held in and for the said county of Warren, Aaron Culver residing in the town of Hague in said county, and being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, declare, that he is now a pensioner of the United States, under the act of Congress of the 18th of March 1818: that his Pension Certificate is numbered 13,035 and that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows,

I enlisted in the town of Canaan in the County of Litchfield, State of Connecticut, in May of 1777 to serve during the War, and was discharged a Ter Planke Point in 1783 by Col. Herman Swift, my discharge has since been burnt by accident. I applied for my pension on the thirteenth day of October 1818 before Wm. Robards Esq first Judge of the County of Warren, that I have rec'd my pension from the 13th day of October 1818 to the 4th March 1820.

And in pursuance of the Act of Congress of the 1st of May, 1820, I Aaron Culver 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 being myself within the provisions of an 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," passed on the 18th day of March 1818; and that 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.

Subscribed and sworn, this fourteenth day of September A.D. 1820, in open court.} 
Aaron Culver
Seth E Baldwin Clerk

Page 15

A Schedule of the Property, together with an account of the Estate and circumstances of the within named Aaron Culver under the Act of Congress of the 1st May 1820.

Real Estate none - 
I live on a piece of land the owner not known to me. I should not be able to pay any rent were the owner to claim it. I have no title to it in any way.

Personal Property - 
1 set knives & forks $1, 6 iron spoons 30 cts    =$1.30
1 tea kettle 75 cts, frying pan 50 cts, broken iron pott 50 cts   = 1.75
Crockery $2, 2 chairs $1, 1 old chest 62 1/2 = 3.62 1/2
1 old table 25 cts, old canoe 1.25 = 1.50
1 three pail kettle $2, 1 [illegible] kettle 50 cts = 3.50
_____________
$11.67 1/2
Note below 4.35
__________
$16.02

Debts I owe - 
to Aaron Warren note $37.00
Doctor Cushman note 27.00
Couns Traver note 7.00
Ezra Smith note 5.00
Asa Lawrence note 2.50
Samuel Landon note 5.50

Debts due me - 
note against Asa Lawrence for $4.35

I was born in the town of Litchfield & county of Litchfield state of Connecticut, and now reside in the town of Hague, County of Warren & State of New York - aged 77 - not able to labor in consequence of a broken leg & old age - have a wife who is 45 years of age, who is able to labor but can do little toward our support. My children, 1 boy 16 years, 1 girl 14 years, blind since she was one month old, 1 boy 12 years, 1 girl ten years. All in good health. I was supported by the town for more than one year before I drew my pension, since which I have been enable to make shipt to live.
(signed)
Aaron Culver

Page 16

State of New York
Warren County, SS.
Aaron Culver
I, Seth C. Baldwin, Junior, Clerk of the court of common pleas of said county, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the scheduel thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said court- and, by order of the court I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court, that the total amount, in value of property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule. Is sixteen dollars and five cents- and also, that this is the first court of record held in and for said county, at which this application could have been made, since the knowledge of the act of congress of the 1st of may, 1820- in testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this fourteenth day of September 1820.
Gettie Baldwin Jr Clerk.

Page 17

[?????]
Aug. 28/49
Saml C. Dickinson
Chesterton      Lser
ny 31 Augt   Relative to the claim
to a pension of the heirs
of Arron Colvin
Revolutionary Soldier
[readable under bold writing]
To the Hon. the Secretary of War
Washington City
Mr Amer's D.C.
Immediate attention
Phebe Colvin
Com. of Pensions
Dept. of the Interior
Sept: 4th 1849

Page 18

Chestertown Warren County New York
August 24th 1849I 
Dear Sir
I was at Caldwell last week to
present a pension case before the Circuit Court of this
County and while there I saw Mr Ephraim Manchester
who informed me that in the case of Elizabeth Manchester
his mother the Comissioner of Pensions had decided that she
was not lawfully married and therefore not entitled to
a Pension and that she had appealed to you from that
Discussion and you had reversed it, I had advised me Mrs Manchester
 while the case was in suspence to write to you on the
subject from a belief that old Rough and Ready (as the
President is familiarly called among us) had selected a
Cabinet (as far as he could Judge of men) who in the discharge
 of their official duties would be governed by the
Principles of Justice and equity -  and that belief has been
strengthened by your interposition in Manchesters Case
and I am thereby induced to present another case for
your consideration. Aaron Cole was 7 years in
the Continental army in the Revolution and a pensioner
under the act of 1818 and Died (if my memory serves me
between the years of 1832 and 1836 leaving a widow
who was married to him prior to 1st Jan 1794 and in
making out her papers under the act of 1838 Col Benthuisen
procured the affidavits of one or two persons who were
at the marriage and sent them with her Declaration
to the Pension office without the evidence that there
was no record of the marriage and Col Edwards wrote
back that "Record evidence of the marriage was indespeneably
necessary to establish the claim" this put a [??]
on Benthuysen and knowing that such evidence could
not be obtained the proceeded no further untill I hold
him that Col Edward Conguaye was too strong that if
he sent evidence that there was no record of the marriage
the claim would be allowed but before he perused such ┃
the widow died leaving several children and one of them

Page 19

is blind these children imployed me to prosecute the Claim
for them but in order to go sure I got Judge Baldwin of Caldwell as being better known at Washington than myself
to write to Col Edwards inquiring whether (if the marriage
should be be proved) the children were not entitled to the Pension, the substance of Col Edwards answer was
that the Children were not entitled to the Pension from
the fact that the widow died before the passing of the
joint resolution of Congress of the 16th of August 1842
at length I found that resolution and for the life of me
I could not see how that resolution baned them from the
pension untill I obtained Document No 95 ordered to be
Printed by Congress on the 31st of January 1846 and in that I
found how "they wraped it up" Attorney General Legane
under date of May 31st 1842 expresses in opinion that widows
whos husband, died after the passing of the act of 7th June 1832
were not embraced in the act 1834 re page 76 of the above [???]
rement on the 16th of August the same year Congress seeing
that this opinion frustrated their benevolent design
passed the resolution above apened to the page 29 at page 79
under date of September 2nd 1842 mr Legane gives another
opinion in which he gives as the foundation of his former opinion
on the inconvenience of double pensions and reluctantly gives
up for the pension office to be governed by the acts of congress
at page 166 Mr Edwards rejects the Claims of some children
on the ground that their Mothers died before the passing of the
of the Joint resolution and mr Colton appearts from that decision
to the Secretary of war who confirms the decision of Mr Edwards
see page 167 now the question in my mind is whether the impedment spoken of by Mr Spencer existed in the original Law of1838
or in the executive Construction of that law it is evident to
me Edwards had not discovered the impediment when Phebe
Colvers Papers were presented and I have no doubt but that ┃
many pensions were granted under just such circumstances

Page 20

[prior to 1st Jan 1794]
and I believe that all the widows who proved their marriage to Pensioners
under the act of 1818-1820 and 1832 who died prior to 4th March
 [were entitled and]
1836 had five years pension awarded to them under the act of 7th
July 1838 and that Leganes opinion of the 31st May 1842 was a forced
Construction of the act of 1838 to prevent Double pensions and that the
joint resolution of the 16th of August 1842, was the Declarative
Construction of Congress on the act of 1838 to counteract Leganes
Construction and that the Decision of Mr Edwards in the
case above refered was unjust - in behalf of the Children
of Phobe Colver I wish you would be so kind as to consult the
Present Attorney General on this subject and inform me whether
if I should present their claim there is a prospect of succeeding
I am very Respectfully
Your obedient Servent
[page is torn allowing the partial showing of writing]
Saml C. Dickinson

Hon
Secretary of War
Washington City
D. C.

Page 21

This letter to Mary E. Lewis who asked for more than one. Her letter in cl.
S. 13136 of Hooker Gilbert -
February 8, 1838 while living in Berlin, Connecticut.
He died December 5, 1840.
It is not stated whether he ever married.
●●●●●●●
From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 2569 it appears that Aaron Culver was born in April 1744 in Litchfield, Litchfield County, Connecticut.
He enlisted at Canaan, Litchfield County, Connecticut in May 1777, served as a private five years or more in Captain Titus Watson's Company, Colonel Heman Swift's Connecticut Regiment and was at the battles of Germantown, Red Bank, Mudd Island and Monmouth,
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 13, 1818 while a resident of Hague, Warren County, New York. He died November 25, 1833.
Soldier married in December 1792 in Waterford, Saratoga County, New york, Phebe Doty. She died June 20, 1839 in Horicon, Warren County, New York, aged seventy-one years.
They had the following children: Lewis, Sally, James, Hulda, Horatio N., Thirza and John. The last named not living in 1854.
●●●●●●●
From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension

(sideways right side) did not use after battle the widow married as ????? ??? ??? not in the soldier said to be request?  ???? they ????

(sideways left side)
I need not refer to ages as given in 1818 as I did not know to when they applied.

Page 22

1924 - Nov. 20 - Hist To Mary -
E Lewis. Her letter in Ch-
8. 13136 of Hooker Gilbert - MM/AtLaw

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
2569. REJECTED
P.O. Phebe Culver
Service:  Widow of Aaron
Enlisted: ,18
Discharged: ,18
Application Filed: , 18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized. Contract
Cert. of Dis Searched for ,18

Page 23

[this page had three different notes, for ease of 
transcription, the notes are top, middle and bottom]

Serz B. of Benthuysen ┃
Ace8th. 1st '39 -  to N. Tubbs
Nov: 16.39. do to Charles
Higley July 10. 1840. do to
S. C. Baldwin May [ink blot] 1844
16


N York
Phebe Culver
let to Hon. D. Rufull 25. Feb. 39
"     " B. Van Benthuysen May 7. 39.
Ad. evidence
Decl. not rec?
let to S.C. Baldwin May 6 44
15


No 5486
Phebe Culver
ns
Let to Hon D. Rusell 25 Feby 39
  "     " B Van Benthuysen May 7, 39
  "     "   uo        uo           Aug 15, 39                                                                                   
  "     "  N Tubbs               Nov 11, 39
  "     " Charles Higley       July 10, 40
  "     " S. C. Baldwin          May9, 44
  "     " Saml. C. Dickerson  Sept 11,49
C. L Blanchard[?] ?4          Sept 18, ?4

Act 7 July 1838

Page 24

Were the arrears of Aaron Culver under the act
March 1818 paid to Phebe Culver or to
atto: ? If to the atto, what was his name?
15 Nov '39 SMC

A. K. Parris esq
2 Compton
Ans: Under the act 18th March 1818
paid to Phebe Culver care of Barnet Benthuysen
Chestin, Warren Co., N. York. Reg. dated Apr. 27 '39
S 21.86.

Page 25

101
99
Aaron Culver
Connect line
Col Swift Regiment?
May 1777 war
Roll.
99
October 18 1818
Admitted
18
5
90

Page 26

Titus Watson Being Duly Sworn before and Saith that Aaron Culver was an Enlisted Soldier in my Company and that he Enlisted in the Spring of the year One thousand Seven hundred Seventy Seven in the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut in Col. Herman Swifts Ridgment and General Redich Huntington Brigate in the Coneticut Line and Served as a Good and faithfull Soldier against the Common Enemy for the term of five years or more and was in Sundry Battle was in the Battle of Germantown the Battle of Monmouth and Sundry other Small Engagements - Titus Watson then a Captn in F Regt.
Sworn and Subsribed to before me the 18th day of September 1818 - 
Bushniell Benedict Justice Peace

Page 27

Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office
April 27th, 1839

Sir:
    Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838 entitled "Son act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," (The Widow) of Aaron Culved, dead, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany, N. York, Agency, at the rate of eight - Dollars and _____ cent (struck out) per month, under the law of the 18th March, 1818, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1833, to the 25th November 1853, the day of his death. 
Respectfully Yours,
 Albion K. Parris
Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pardons
Present.

Page 28

Evilina Meeker resident of the village of Waterford and County of Saratoga ^ and state of New York being duly sworn says that she this deponent was present at the marriage of Aron Culver to Phebe Doty that said marriage took place in the village of Waterford sometime between the years 1790 and 1893 that said marriage was duly and legally solemnized the the Rev. John Close a regularily licensed Minister of the Reformed Dutch Church in the aforesaid village And further this deponent say not
                                     her
                             Evilina X F Meeker
                                      mark

Sworn before me this 28th day of 
December 1838
J. Cramer 2d
Commissioner of Deed
for sd ct.

Page 29

State of New York
Saratoga County Clerk's Office Sir, I Alpheus Goodrich Clerk of the county of Saratoga do Certify that John Cramer 2 before whom the written affidavit purports to have been Sworn was at the date of the same a Commissioner of deeds in and for said County duly authorized by law to take affidavites, and that I am acquainted with his had writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature
Witness my hand and seal of the Office this fifteenth day of January 1830
        A. Goodrich Clerk

Page 30

Office Bank W Gates
New York 23rd Oct 1835
Sir,
I enclose for your examination the claim in the case of Aaron Culver Dec: two years having expired since last payment. The attorney is from warren county and is desirous to have the difficulty as to the date of the power removed.
I am respectfully
your obedient servant,
Isaac Lacorenes Less.
Acting as agent for _____
J L Edwards Esq
Commish of Pensions

Page 31

SERVICE
Conn.

Culver, Aaron
Phebe

NUMBER
R. 2569

CONTENTS

Page 32

Cherstertown, Warren Co. New York
9th Nov. 1839

Dear Sir
I received a communication from you in July last in which you say that Before a satisfactory answer can given to my enquiry (refering to my letter asking whether I could then draw the amount due Aaron Culver a deceased pensioner) it will be necessary for me to say whether Aaron Culver had ever applied for a pension and under what law, and also to give the date of my letter which contained the papers to which I alluded in my letter, also what papers where enclosed in my letter -
  Aaron Culver commenced drawing a pension probably from fifteen to twenty years ago at ninety six dollars per year - My application is for the balance due the deceased from the time of his last drawing previous to his death to his demise, as an agent authorized by the widow of said Aaron Culver, which facts you will see upon reference to the papers enclosed in my letter - Enclosed in the same package with my letter were papers and a letter from Barent Van Benthuysen of this term with regard to an application for a pension for said widow Culver under a late pension law. I do not now recollect the precise date of my letter but think it was in March last - As soon as it may be convenient, after you shall have

Page 33

examined my papers and determined upon them, I should be pleased to hear from you with regard to the subject _
   The circumstances under which I have anything to do with this business are these - a few months prior to the decease of Aaron Culver, as I was in the mercantile business, and Mr. Culver requiring necessaries for himself and family in advance of his pension, he put his certificate into my hands for me to draw his pension and I furnished him with provisions and other articles necessary for the maintenance of his family _ The result was that at the time of his demise, I had advanced him twice as much as the amount due him _ I was at considerable expense and employed a lawyer to attend to the business and he kept the papers so long in his possession that the time had expired for drawing in this state _ Not being acquainted with the pension business myself I neglected attending to it, after learning that I could not draw it in this state, until last spring_ and now if, after having been so much expense, I could draw the small amount due I should be glad _ and that would pay but a part of the amount I have paid out in the business _
I am Sir, very Respectfully
Your Obt. Sert.
Nation Tubbs
Hon. J.L. Edwards

Page 34

Phebe Culver resident of the town of Horicon and County of warren and State of New York being duly Sworn says that she this deponent was married to Aaron Culver, that the said marriage took place in the village of Waterford in the year of ^ our Lord 1792 that said marriage was duly and legally solemized by the reverend John Close a regularly licensed minister of the Reformed Dutch Church in the afforesaid village and further this deponent says not
                                         her
                                Phebe X Culver
                                         mark
Susbcribed and sworn before me the 5th day of January 1839
Charles Higley Justice
The above named Phebe Culver is as I believe a person of truth and veracity 
C. Higley

Page 35

H. D. Rubell HR
State of New York
Warren County Ss}
I Thomas Archibald Clerk of the Saw County do certify that Charles Higley Esq before whom the written Offidavit purports to have been Sworn was at the date of the same one of the justices of the Peace in and for said County and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name Subscribed to the said offidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature
Witness my hand and seal of office this 5th day of January 1839
Thomas Archibald Clerk

Page 36

Free
The Hon. Joes R. Poinsett
Secretary of War 
Washington D.C.
Chesterton
W.T. 5th July

Page 37

9, July
H248.
July 9.1840.
Pension Office.
Phebe Culver
NY, NY
14

Page 38

Chester July 3rd 1840
Sir, by request of a part of the Heirs of Aaron Culver deceased, I now address you, said Culver was a revolutionary pensioner, and his Widow Phebe Culver was entitled to a pension under the act of Congress application was made on her behalf, and the proper authorities (as I am informed) decided that the said Phebe Culver was entitled to a pension, now the object of this letter is to enquire whether a Certificate has ever been granted in her favor. It is said by some persons claiming to know the fact that a certificate was received by one of the Heirs on the day of his mothers death (which took place something like a year ago) and that the money has been received by him in a Clandestine manner, to the injury of the rest of the Hears. I presume you will therefore not withhold the necessary information (viz) whether the certificate was granted, whether the money was paid and to whom. if it was paid there must have been a fraud in obtaining it. as the Heirs ^ supposed with the exception of one, know nothing about it. such information as you think necessary will be thankfully recd if any questions proposed are not within your province to answer please refer me to the proper authority for information. P.S. the said Pheve Culber at the time application was made for her and at the time of her decease was a resident of the town of Horicon Warren Co. N.Y. ... Charles Higley

Direct to Chestertown P.O. N.Y.

Page 39

Caldwell Warren Co. N. York
April 24, 184
Col. Edwards
Sir
In 1839 Phebe Culver, widow of Aaron Culver late a pensioner (revolutionary) of Chester in this county dec'd., applied for a pension under the act of 7th July 1838_ I learn this by information from her children and also by your letter now before me to Col. V. Benthuysen of the 7th May 1839._
Phebe Culver never rec.d any pension Certificate. _ the last communication on the subject was a letter from Col. Van Benthuysen to Col. Edwards the 19 June 1839. 
Phebe Culver died the 20 June 1839. _ her husband Aaron Culver died several years before _ a balance of part of a year's pension was due at his death. _ An application was made thro' Col. Van B. for the balance, but she did not get that_
The children of Aaron and Phebe Culver think they are entitled to the balance of the pen'n. due at their ^ Father's death and to the amount of pension which would have been due their mother at her death. that is from the 4th of March 1830 to the 20th June 1839. _
Some of the children reside at a distance, out of the state & it is not here known exactly where _
1st Can the children now here receive the bal'e of pen'n due at their father's death without the other children?
2nd Can the children now here be permitted to show the necessary facts that would have entitled their mother to her certificate (from which she was cut off by her death and also the death of Col. Van Benthuysen soon after) and thus obtain the pension due her as above?
The original papers of Phebe Culver are now at the department and it is supposed that all the deficiency is in the proof of the marriage _ it is thought this can be satisfactorily & legally supplied_
Your early reply will oblige 
I am respectfully your obt servt
Seth C. Baldwin

Page 40

Chester May 24th 1839
J. L. Edwards, Esquire
Dear Sir
enclosed is Mrs. Phebe Culvers declaration. I hope they may be satisfactory and ^if it is not trespassing on your time as you must necessarily by much occupied with similar applications, to give me as early an answer as may be after an examination of Mrs. Culver's claims will much oblige me, her situation for daily support is very pressing to my certain knowledge is a reason for my taking an interest in her favor and shall acknowledge it as a particular favor if you should give this application as early ^an examination as the matter of the case will permit
Very Respectfully your
Obedt. Servt.
B. H. Benthuysen

Page 41

Chester May 2nd 1839 Warren Co
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Dear Sir
I received your communication of the 19th of April last in relation to the case of Aaron Culver dec'd, which you have the goodness to say is refer'd to the 3rd Auditor etc. I have this day seen Mrs. Phebe Culver the Widow of Aaron Culber. she beged me to write again in her behalf for fear of transgressing on your patience I almost felt reluctant, but having been acquainted with ^her for this 30 years past, ad knowing her circumstances to be destitute of support and has now become very feeble and a blind daughter to support, is the reason that I have taken an interest in her case I should acknowledge it as a particular favor, to be advised whether the affidavits and papers in your possession are sufficient for her to establish her claim as the Widow of A.C. to receive Pension pay from Government or War Department, or if in your opinion, any further document or evidence is necessary for her to receive pension pay and if so and you will please to give it your attention and have the goodness to advise me of the same I will do myself the pleasure of affording all the necessary assistance that her case requires. If this is in the limits of your duty as a public officer, I shall esteem it a particular favor to be advised as early as may be
I am Sir very Respectfully your Obt. Servt.
Barent Van Benthuysen