Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 25392, Benjamin Carpenter, New York

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Service: New York
Carpenter Benjamin
Margaret
Number: W.25392

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5089
New York city 
Margaret Carpenter, widow of Benj. Carpenter, N.Y.
who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private
Inscribed on the Rollvat the rate of 36 Dollars 44 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of Sept 1849 and sent to 
John W. Martin, Mount Hope, N.Y.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 42 Vol. 4
R.W. Cushman.
[right side, written vertically]
Death not on A.B.

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State of New York, Orange County ss}
On this fourteenth day of December Eighteen Hundred and thirty nine personally appeared before the undersigned a Judge of the court of Common Pleas in and for Orange County 
Margaret Carpenter a resident of the town of Deerpark in the County of Orange aged Seventy one years 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 7th 1838 entitled An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows, that she is the widow of Benjamin Carpenter who was a private in the Militia of the state of New York and belonged to a company under Captain Thompson and in the Regiment commanded by William Allison as Col. Benjamin Justen Lieut Col and John Decker Major in the town of Goshen County of Orange and State aforesaid, And as she has been informed and believes her said husband Benjamin Carpenter sometime in July or the beginning of August 1776 volunteered into a company of five months men under the command of Capt John Wood and in the Regiment commanded by Col Nichols the said company on or about the first of August Rendezvoused at Goshen and went from thence to New Windsor from New Windsor they went on the River to Fort Montgomery where they remained a short time from that place they went by watter to a place called Tarytown where they landed from the boat and went by land to Kingsbridge where the company was stationed untill after the battle on long Island when they were ordered to retreat towards the White Plains and was in sight when Gen McDougall was attacked from the White Plains they retreated

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to Peekskill where they remained untill the first of January 1777 when her said husband Benjamin Carpenter was discharged after having faithfully discharged his duty for the term of five months.
That as she has been informed and believes her said, husband, Benjamin carpenter in July 1777 was drafted to go to the forts along the Hudson River for the term of three months and that some time in July of the said year her said husband rendezvoused at Goshen with the rest of the drafted men under Capt John Wood and went by land to New Windsor from thence by watter to Fort Montgomery where they were placed under the officer then in command of Forts Montgomery & Clinton and served untill Fort Clinton was taken and that her said husband remained in the Fort as long as resistance was in their power when he made his escape out of the back side of the fort and made for Fort Montgomery, but coming to the creek that run between the two forts and being unable to ford the creek he made up the creek through a deep ravine and made his escape and returned home and reported himself to Capt Swezy in whose company he belonged and went immediately with the said company to Murders creek and followed the British shipping up the river towards Kingston and back to New Windsor under she thinks Col Tusten and Major Decker in this service he was out one month and in the service previous at Forts Montgomery and Clinton he was out for two months. That her said husband Benjamin Carpenter was as she has been informed and believes was out to Fort Dewitt on the west side of the Shawangunk Mountain on the frontier of the County of Ulster in 1778 under Captain Swezy and served in the said company seven months in the Regiment commanded by Col Newkirk.

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That in the spring of 1779 in the beginning of May Capt John Wood raised a company of Levies for nine months to serve on the western frontiers against the Indians in the regiment commanded by Col Pawling, that the said company rendezvoused at Goshen in the beginning of May of the said year and marched across the Shawangunk Mountain to her this deponents fathers fort called Major Deckers Fort who was then Major and Col Allisons Regiment and the said company remained at her fathers fort untill the twentieth day of July, when the Indians made a decent on the frontiers and burnt, Minisnik[?] an alarm was made and the Goshen regiment was called out and Captain Wood went with the said Regiment under Colonel Tustin in pursuit of the Indians and followed them to a place called Beaver Brook where they were overtaken and a most dreadful battle ensued and the whites were defeated. Colonel Tusten was killed and Captain Wood was taken prisoner. That, at this time, her fathers fort and house was burnt and all the property thereon contained was destroyed. She further declares that her said husband Benjamin Carpenter from her own personal knowledge, belonged to Captain Woods company at her fathers fort from the first of May 1779 untill the 20th of July of the said year and started with Captain Woods Company in pursuit of the Indians after the company had gone about four metes her said husband with two others were sent in pursuit of Powder they obtained the Powder and started in pursuit of the Regiment under Col Tusten after they had gone some distance they lost the track in the woods and was obliged to return after Captain Wood was taken prisoner the men who belonged to his company that was not killed returned and encamped at Van Ettens Fort and done duty their untill her father Major Decker had another Fort built when the company went

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to the said Fort and remained in the said Fort and in the neighbourhood of the said Fort and along the Hudson River doing duty under officers whose names she does not recollect for the term of their enlistment and was discharged at her fathers fort about the last of January 178. She further declares that she thinks that the said company after the battle was commanded by a Lieutenant and by her father Major John Decker who had command of the Fort that her said husband was at least Eleven weeks under Capt Wood before he was taken prisoner that her said Husband served from time to time along the frontiers during the years 1780, 1781, 1782 and the beginning of 1783 as a class man and on alarms but from old age and loss of memory she is unable to state the exact periods or the officers that he served under but she has no hesitation in saying that it is her full belief that her said husband Benjamin Carpenter served more than two years during the said war. She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Carpenter on the ninth day of April Seventeen Hundred and Eighty sevin by the Rev Mr Van Benschocten then Pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church in Minisink that her name before marriage was Margaret Decker and that her said husband Benjamin Carpenter died on the 26th day of February 1820. That she was not married to him prior to this leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January Seventeen Hundred and ninety four Viz at the times above stated That from old age and the infirmities  attendant thereon and the great distance she lives from the court house she thinks she ought to be excused from attending the sitting of the court of Eurora[?] in the said County 
Sworn and Subscribed before me The day and year above written
Margaret Carpenter [her signature]
Hulet Clark a judge of Orange County Com Pleas

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State of New York Orange County } ss
I certify that Margaret Carpenter who made and subscribed the foregoing Declaration is a woman of Respectability and her statements made are entitled to full credit and belief.
Hulet Clark
State of New York Orange County}
Benjamin Carpenter of the town of Deerpark being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is thirty six years of age and that he is the son of Benjamin and Margaret Carpenter and that his father Benjamin Carpenter died on the twenty sixth day of February Eighteen Hundred and Twenty and that his mother Margaret Carpenter has ever since remained a widow.
Benjamin Carpenter [his signature]
Sworn and subscribed this fourteenth day of December 1839 before me and I certify that his is a creditable witness.
Hulett Clark a Judge of Orange County

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I Cornelius C Etting pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church of Deerpark do certify that the following is a true copy from the marriage record of the church of Deerpark vis
"Benjamin Carpenter, Margaret Decker } 
get Ap 9 1787 '
said date carried out on full in letters is married April the ninth. seventeen hundred and eighty seven
I Cornelius C Etting above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church of Deerpark, in the town of Deerpark Orange County and state of New York and that the above is a true extract rom the records of said church, with the exception above manner as certified by me
Cornelius C Etting [his signature], pastor of sd Church
Sworn and subscribed before me the 14 day of December 1839 and I certify that he is a creditable man
Hulet Clark a Judge of Orange County

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State of New York Orange County ss }
I Albert S Benton Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Orange Do Certify that Hulet Clark before whom the foregoing declaration of Margaret Carpenter and the within affidavit of Cornelius C Etting were subscribed and sworn was at the time of taking the same a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County – and further that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Said Court the 7th day of January 1840
A. S. Benton Clerk

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February 10, 1937 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
BA-J/MCS 
Benjamin Carpenter 
W.25392 
Laural W. Clark 
Box 94, Massena, New York 
Dear Sir: 
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, W.25392, based upon the military service of Benjamin Carpenter. 
He enlisted in July or August, 1776, and served at various times until sometime in 1783, amounting in all to at least two years as private with the New York troops under Captains Thompson, John Wood and Sweazy, Major John Decker and Colonels William Allison, Isaac Nichols, Tusten, Newkirk, Pawling and Hathorn. [margin note: "per N.Y. Archives for correct spelling"] The troops he served with rendezvoused at Goshen. He was at Fort Clinton when it was captured, was in a severe battle with the Indians at Beaver Brook on the Delaware River and was at Major John Decker's Fort on the west side of Shawangunk Mountain along the valley of Neversink River when it and the house of Major Decker were burned by the Indians. 
He married April 9, 1787, Margaret Decker who was the daughter of Major John Decker noted above. 
Benjamin [C]arpenter died February 26, 1820. His widow, Margaret Carpenter, was allowed pension on her application executed December 14, 1839, at which time she was living at Deer Park, Orange County, New York, and she then gave her age as seventy-one years. In 1849 she was living there and gave her age as seventy-nine years. 
In 1839 their son, Benjamin Carpenter, was living at Deer Park, Orange County, New York, aged thirty-six years. There are no further data relative to the family of the soldier. 
Very truly yours 
A. D. Hiller Executive Assistant to the Administrator

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[first of 3 panels]
Carpenter 
V.L.M.
[2nd of 3 panels]
Reg
Widow, &c.
File No. 25.392
Margaret Carpenter
Widow of Benj. Carpenter
Priv. Rev War
Act Feb. 2 1848
Index: Vol A, Page 122
[Arrangement of 1870.]
[3rd of 3 panels]
1908 Mar. L. Hist. to H.G.[rest cut off]
1926. Aug. 23. Hist to Mrs Imo Davisson AW
1937. Feb. 10. Hist. to Laurel W. Clark. MCS

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New York 4170
Margaret Carpenter widow of Benjamin Carpenter who was a Private in the New York line for 10 mo 28 days
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 36 Dollars 44 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3d day of January 1844 and sent to John W Martin Otisville New York
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A Vol 1 Page 104

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New York 4912
Margaret Carpenter widow of Benjamin Carpenter 
[following 8 words struck] who was a pensioner under the Act of
and who died on the 26 Feb. 1820 of Orange Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Wood of the regt commanded by Col. Nichols in the N. York line for 10 months & 28 days
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 36 Dollars 44 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of January 1840 and sent to Hon. Nath'l Jones, H.R.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 39: 127.54
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 March 40: 18.22
[total of both] $ 145.76
{Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by D. Brown, Clerk, Book A, Vol. 2, Page 73

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N. York
Margaret Carpenter
let. to Hon. N. Jones 16 Jan. 1840
Act July 1838

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6570
Married 9th Aprl 1787
Husband died 20 Feb 1820
Col Nichols, Capt John Wood } N.Y.
Admitted
Private 10 months & 28 days
Hon. Nath'l Jones HR

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State of New York Orange County } ss
Thomas V Wood of the town of Minimick in the said County being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is in the Eighty Eight year of his age and that in the war of the Revolution he belonged to the militia of the County of Orange in the State of New York and done duty through the whole of the war in the militia and volunteers of the said State He further saith that in the latter part of July 1776 he volunteered into a company of volunteers under Captain John Wood and in the Regiment commanded by Isaac Nichols that the said company rendezvoused at Goshen about the first of August of the said year and from thence they went to New Windsor from thence they went by Sloops to Fort Montgomery from thence to Tarrytown when a head wind prevented them from sailing they then went on shore and went by land to Kingsbridge where the company lay for some time when they got marching orders and the commenced a retreat towards the White Plains where they had an engagement with the enemy from the White Plains they retreated to Peekskill where the Regiment untill the first of January 1777 when the men were discharged after a service of five months. In this service he was well acquainted with Benjamin Carpenter who was a private in Captain John Woods

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Company and served in the said company the full term of Five months and was discharged with the rest of the said company.
That in the latter part of July 1777 there was a draft made of a company of men from the Goshen Regiment to serve for three months the said company to be commanded by Captain John Wood that on or about the first of August of the said year the said company rendezvoused at Goshen and went to New Windsor and from thence by watter to Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton that after the said company had been two months at those forts Captain Wood was detached with a company of selected men to go for one month into the neighbourhood of Rammapoo. He further saith that Benjamin Carpenter was drafted into the said company and went with the said company to Fort Montgomery and was left at fort Clinton by Captain Wood when he left for Ramapoo and was in fort Clinton when it was attacked and remained in the said fort untill he saw that resistance was useless when he made his escape out of the back side of the fort crossed the bridge toward fort Montgomery and made his escape through a deep ravine in the service Benjamin Carpenter was out two months under Col Allison who was taken prisoner
That in the Spring of 1779 Captain Wood raised a company of Levies for the term of nine months in this company Benjamin Carpenter

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enlisted for nine months and rendezvoused with the said company at Goshen about the first of May of the said year and from thence the said company marched to Major Deckers Fort on the West side of the Shawangunk Mountain and along the valley of the Neversink River and remained there from the first of May untill the twentieth of July of the same year being at least  Eleven week when an alarm was made and the company turned out and joined the militia belonging to the Goshen Regiment under Colonels Hathorn and Tusten and followed the Indians to a place called Beaver brook on the bank of the Delaware River where a most dreadfull battle ensued and the whites were defeated Captain Wood was taken prisoner and that portion of his company that escaped the dreadfull massacre returned to their former headquarters and served out the nine month under Lieutenant Westfall and were discharged at the expiration of the said term of nine months and he further saith that the said Benjamin Carpenter served the full term of nine months under Capt Wood and Lieutenant Westfall and in Col Pawlings Regiment and further this deponent saith not
Thoms V Wood [his signature]
Sworn and subscribed this 21st day of September 1839 before me Simeon M Stoddard Commissioner of Deeds

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I certify that Thomas V Wood who made and subscribed the foregoing affidavit is a creditable witness
Simeon M Stoddard Commissioner of Deeds
State of New York Orange County ss }
I Albert S Benton Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do certify that Simeon M Stoddard is a Commissioner of Deds as above and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the said County this 7th day of January 1840
A S Benton Clerk

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State of New York Orange County } ss
On this 2nd day of July 1849 personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid Margaret Carpenter a resident of Deerpark in the County of Orange and State of New York aged 79 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 2d day of February 1848 granting [next two words crossed out] /halfpay and/ pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war  That she is the widow of Benjamin Carpenter who was a private in the militia of Orange County and State of New York and belonged to Col Allisons Regiment  That she received annually under the act of 17th June 1844 Thirty six dollars and forty four cents  She further declares that she is still a widow
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written before me
Eli Van Inwegen Justice of the Peace
[her signature] Margart Carpenter
I certify that Margaret Carpenter above named is known to me personally and I know her to be the same person that she represents herself to be in the above declaration
Eli Van Inwegen Justice
[obscured word] The words half pay erased and the word widow interlined before signing
Eli Van Inwegen Justice

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[upper half of sheet is duplicate of previous page and will be ignored]

[this small slip of paper is affixed to the bottom of the previous page]
State of New York Orange County } ss.
I, Joseph W. Gatt, Clerk of the County of Orange, Do hereby certify that Eli Van Inwegen whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the proof or acknowledgement of the annexed instrument, and thereon written was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment, a Justice of the Peace for said county, dwelling in said county commissioned and sworn and duly authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of such Justice and verily believe that the signature to the said Certificate of Proof or Acknowledgment is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said county the Eleventh day of September 1849
J.W. Gatt Clerk.

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Margaret Carpenter
$36.44 per an
John W. Martin
Otisville N. York
[in pencil] 4170
104

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Otis Ville New York
Oct 9 1843
D'r Sir
With this letter I send to your care the declaration of Margaret Carpenter made under the act of Congress passed March 3 1843 Please forward certificate to me
your Obl Svt
John W Martin
Hon James L Edwards
Comm of Pensions

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[reverse side of handwritten sheet]
4449

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State of New York Orange County } ss.
On this 13th day of July 1843 personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County Margaret Carpenter a resident of the town of Deerpark in the County of Orange and State of New York aged seventy two years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 3d of March 1843 granting pensions to widows or persons who served during the Revolutionary war
That she is the widow of Benjamin Carpenter who was a private in the Militia of Orange County and belonged to the Regiment commanded by Col William Allison and served in the Militia under Col Allison and in the Levies under Capt John Wood and Col Pawling untill the close of the war  That her annual amount of Pension which she drew from the Goverment was Thirty Six Dollars and forty cents  That she still remains the widow of the above named Benjamin Carpenter
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written before me

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State of New York, Orange County } SS. I, LEBBEUS L. VAIL, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County of Orange, Do HEREBY CERTIFY, That Abraham J. Cuddeback before whom the foregoing officiant was subscribed and sworn, was at the time of taking the same Justice of the Pease in, and for said county: and further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe that the signature to be said affidavit and certificate is genuine.  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of the said County the 10th day of October 1843. 

Lebbeus L. Vail, Clerk

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War Department
Pension Office
January 16, 1840

Sir,
The papers of Mrs. Margaret Carpenter, widow of Benjamin Carpenter, have been examined and files. It is alleged that amongst other tours of service the claimants husband served seven months in 1778 under Capt. Sweezy, and a number of tours after 1779; but there is no satisfactory proof except of 5 months in 1776, three months in 1777 and two months and 28 days in 1779. If it be decided to accept a pension for that term, a certificate will be issued accordingly. 

I have the honor to be
Very respectfully
Your Obedient Servant,
J. L. Edwards

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NY
Margt. Carpenter
[ ?]
No. 4912

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H. R. 
January 13, 1840

To the Commissioner of Pensions
Sir- I send for your favorable consideration the enclosed papers of Mrs Margaret Carpenter, widow of Benjamin Carpenter, who claims under under [?] of July 1838. Be pleased to give tto the papers as early attention as your [?] may permit and offer. 

Your friend and servant,
Nathaniel Jones

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H.G. Carpenter
Ithaca, NY

2/22/08

Chief of Bureau of Pensions
War Department
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir
I am desirous of securing a copy of whatever the Department may furnish relative to a Pension or Land Bounty Right of Benjamin Carpenter a soldier of the Revolution from Albany County and other counties in New York State.

He was my great grandfather and I wish this information to enable me to become a member of the society of the "Sons of the American Revolution."

I am, Sir
Respectfully Yours,
H.G. Carpenter

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E.H. Addison  C.A. Smedal
Addison & Smedal
Attorneys At Law
Nevada, Iowa

June 30, 1926

War Department
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen: 

Re: Benjamin Carpenter,
4th Regiment, Orange County
militia, New York.

For the purpose of joining the D.A.R. I am desirous of obtaining the date of enlistment, date of discharge, rank and any other information your records may disclose concerning the above named. Enclosed is a copy of letter received from the State Historian, Albany, New York.

Tradition is that Benjamin Carpenter married Margaret Decker, daughter of a Major Decker, New Jersey, and I ask if you can give me any record of Major Decker.

Upon receipt of statement remittance for this service will be promptly mailed you.

Yours very truly,
Imo Davisson, nee Carpenter

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Box 94
M[?] N.Y.
January 28, 1937

Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs-
I should like to receive information as to the military record of a certain Nathaniel Hitchock born at Wilbraham, Mass. May 13, 1732. He married in 1755 Sarah Severance both of Springfield, Mass. 

The military record of a Jerrah Hitchcock of Dekalb who fought in the war of 1812. He was born Oct. 7, 1794 and married Abigail Wilson born Sept. 21, 1804 at Dipeyster, N.Y. 

Would also like the name of the Revolutionary soldier upon whose war service Margaret Carpenter who was living with her son Benjamin Carpenter at Deer Park, Orange Co. N.Y. in 1840 received a pension.

Very truly yours,
Laurel W. Clark

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Information as contained in his (or his widow's application for pension on file in this Bureau. Benjamin Carpenter  [?] 25392

[?] 
July or August 1776 to 1783

Length of Service
Served at various times in NY militia
10 months and 18 days

Rank
Private

Officers Under Whom Service Was Rendered
Captain 
Thompson
John Wood
Swazy

Colonel
William Allison
Isaac Nichols
Tuston
Newkirk
Pawling
Hathorn

State
NY

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February 10, 1937

Benjamin Carpenter #25392
Jerrah Hitchcock, v.c. 32388
BA-J/ MCS

Laurel W. Clark
Box 94
Massena
New York

Dear Sir: 
Reference is made to your letter of January 28th, requesting information relative to Revolutionary War soldiers, Nathaniel Hitchcock who was born at Wilbraham, Massachusetts, May 13, 1732, and --- Carpenter whose widow, Margaret Carpenter, was pensioned while living at Deer Park, New York and War of 1812 soldier, Jerrah Hitchcock who married Abigail Wilson.

The Revolutionary War records of this office fail to afford any information in regard to a Nathaniel Hitchcock who was born May 13, 1732, at Wilbraham, Massachusetts. 

You are furnished herewith, the records of the Revolutionary War soldier, Benjamin Carpenter, W. 25392, and the War of 1812 soldier, Jerrah Hitchcock, W.O. 32388.

Very truly yours
A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator

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Rev & 1912 Wars Section

August 23, 1936

Mrs. Iso Davisson
Box 736, Nevada, Iowa

Madam:
I have to advise you, that from the papers in the pension claim W. 25392, it appears that Benjamin Carpenter enlisted in July, or August 1776 and served until 1783, at various times, amounting in all to ten months and twenty-eight days, as a private, under Captains Thompson, John Wood, and Swazy and Colonels WIlliam Allison, Isaac Nichols, Tuston, Newkirk, Pawling, and Hathorn, in the New York Troops.

He married April 9, 1787, Margaret Decker and he died February 26, 1820. She was allowed pension on her application executed December 14, 1839, while living in Deer Park, Orange County, New York. [?] aged seventy-one years. Their son Benjamin was thirty-six years old in 1839.

The names of the parents of soldier and his widow are note stated.

If you wish a search of the records for any particular officer of the Revolution named Decker, in addition to his full name, some of the following data should be fur

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nished: approximate dates of his birth and death, places of residence at enlistment and after service, given name of widow.

Respectfully,
E.W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner