Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29537, Benjamin West, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
West, Benjamin
S. 29537
CONTENTS

32.416.
New York.
Benjamin West, of Oneida (in the State of N. York) who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Woodruff of the Regt. commanded by Col. Mead in the Vermont line for Army Conn
Repo 26 —
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 20 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 d day of January 1846 and sent to A. Joy Present.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept: 1845 $290.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 11 March 10.00
$300.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. Stewart Clerk, Book D. 2, Vol. 4 Page 83.

State of New York Rensselaer County ss. Thomas West of Grafton in said County being duly sworn deposeth and says that at the commencement of the Revolutionary war that he was ten years old and lived in Hartford County in the state of Connecticut - and that during said war Benjamin West brother to this deponent was called into the service of the United States for the purpose of guarding the shores & said Benjamin West was drafted (and went to Horse Neck and served the summer and a part of the fall - at another time the said Benjamin was drafted for one year as a minute man (and that he the said Benjamin was called out several times during said year - This deponent recollects that said Benjamin was called out several times thinks he was at Herkwick when the town was Burned This deponent thinks he was called once at New London (and once at New Haven The said Benjamin made his home at his father's and in the same family with this deponent during said war except the times when he the said Benjamin was in the service as aforesaid - and from the means of this deponent had of knowing of the war and hiring seeing & knowing of his being drafted (and going has no doubt but he the said Benjamin was in the actual service of the United States as above stated This deponent thinks at the time the said Benjamin was called at Horse Neck he was gone five or six months thinks the name of the Capt. as this deponent understood at that time was Woodrough or something like it. This deponent thinks he was ten years old at the com- mencement of said war & was sixteen or eighteen years of age at the end of said war - cannot say what year or years the above services were rendered, but some time in said war said services were rendered Sworn & subscribed before me This 20 th April 1837 G. P. Burdick Justice Peace
Notes
Thomas West

I hereby certify that they within named Thomas West personally came before me on the 20 th April 1837 and subscribed his name to the within affidavit and made oath to the truth thereof - and I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said Thomas West that he is a good moral character and that his affidavit is entitled to credit
Grafton April 20 th 1837 J. P. Burdick Justice of the Peace
State of New York Re: Rensselaer County ss: p: Henry R. Bristol
Clerk of the said County do hereby certify that Gibbulon P. Burdick Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavit appears to have been sworn was at the date of the same a Justice of the peace in & for the said County of Rensselaer duly appointed sworn - Also that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice & verily believe his signature above written to be genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said County the 21 st day of April A.D. 1837
Henry R. Bristol Clerk
Benjamin Wells Notary
Rev. Mr. Penn

State of New York Onondaga County
¶ Came before me James West Who being duly sworn deposes and says, he is now in his Sixty Seventh year, that he is a brother of Benjamin West of Verona in Said County, that he well recollects of his brother's serving in the War of the American Revolution Several times - but how long he does not positively recollect - At one time he was drafted and went to Horse Neck and served for several months - but this deponent cannot say how long as he was quite young - but the fact of his service, he very well remembers.
Sworn before me this 5th May 1837
I certify the said James West is a man of truth & veracity
Ralph Bingham S.P.
And this deponent further says he well recollects the time the said Benjamin West's house was burnt was present at the time it was burning there was no paper was on any thing else of any amount and that the said Benja- min at that time with his wife was from home
James West
I Ralph Bingham Justice of the Peace do hereby certify that Joseph A. Potter and David West who were sworn before me on the 5th of May instant are men of credibility truth & veracity.
Ralph Bingham S.P.

34418 Benjamin West. Onondago N.Y. Under act 1832.
W. Johnson Genl. Rome Onondago Co N.Y.
34418 Benjamin West N.Y.
Act of Jan 1832
adm d 6 mo pri 20
Arad Foy - Esq Present.

State of New York Oneida County
On this 9 th day of May 1837 personally appeared before the Court of Sessions, and in and for said County, Benjamin West a resident of Verona in said County aged 75 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he was drafted in the spring of 1779 in Capt Woodruff's company, in Col Meads Regt for part of the time the latter part under Col Hookey, and served at Horse Neck, Rye, Mamaroneck &c - and served there for the term of 6 months , and received a discharge in writing signed by Capt Woodruff which has been burnt about 20 years since - In the year 1780. Was drafted as a Minute Man for one year, in Capt Yale's company of Farmington and served at New Haven for sea cost Three months . at New London Two months . - Was at Norwalk about over Two months . - The service at New London was some time after the service at New Haven & Norwalk and in the fall of 1781 - Thinks Capt Brannell at New London had charge of the militia - Capt Yale had command at New Haven - And served in the whole about fourteen months - Rec d a discharge from Capt Yale which has been burnt.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of any agency in any state, and that the reason why he has not sooner made application for his pension is - because his discharge was burnt and his property was such that under the act of 1818 & 1820 he could not draw -
Sworn to & subscribed this day of year aforesaid John D Leland Clerk
Benjamin West
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier as described in the Statute John D Leland Clerk

I John D. Leland Clerk of the Court of the Sessions do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin West for a pension.
Seal here
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 9th day of May 1855
John D. Leland Clerk
Questions -
1. Where & in what year were you born? Answer - In Hopkinton R.I. In 1762.
2. Have you any record of your age and if so where is it? Answer - Yes. In family Bible.
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war & where do you now live? In Farmington Hartford Co. - Since the war. In Corn many Albany Co. then Kinderhook Col Co - then Grafton Rm Co - then Verona Oneida Co - where I now live -
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute, for whom? - Was drafted first time - also as a minute man - The other three terms of service as within State.
5. State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you served etc.
Recollect. Adjutant Wadsworth - Col Mead & Col Hooker and they only militia. Capt Woodruff Falls. Brunnell - a discharge - and also by
6. Did you ever receive a discharge - and if so by whom - give what has become of it? Yes from Capt Woodruff - which was burnt about 38 years ago - when my house burnt -

also one from Capt Yale which was burnt at the same time
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood & who can testify to your character -
Rev d Dyer D. Ransom. Willet Stillman Esq. & Ralph Binham Esq. Garrison Bishop Town Clerk of Vermont -
Benjamin West
from a subscription the day from aforesaid
John & Leland D. Clark

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after passing the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served in the States. And the court further certifies, that it appears that Dyer D Ransom who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the town of Verona in said county, and Willett Stillman Esq. who has also signed the same is a resident of said town, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
John D. Leland Clerk.

State of Connecticut Comptroller's Office
Not found 31 Oct r 1815.
I certify, that on application for evidence of the service of Benjamin West in the War of the Revolution, I have examined the documents remaining in this Office relating to that War, for the service of Captain Bunnell & Yale with whom he is alleged to have been, and do not find any Pay-rolls of their Companies, but the following evidence of their service — A paper headed
"List of Pay Rolls exhibited & lodged with the Pay Table on account of the Militia who were ordered for the defence of the towns of New Haven, Fairfield & Norwalk, on the Alarm occasioned by the descent of the Enemy, July last" — Which account, as appears by the endorsement of the Committee of Pay Table was Audited June 12. 1780. In which list of Pay Rolls appears that of Cap. Nathaniel Bunnell, amounting to £180.18.10 — And also that of Cap. Asa Yale, amounting to £125.10.0 —
A. Carington, Comptroller

Comptrollers Office, Connecticut Hartford August 12-1845
An application for evidence of the service of Benjamin West in the war of the Revolution I certify that I have examined the documents in this office in relation to that war and find no pay rolls of the Capt under whom he claims to have served, but find the following evidence of their service in said war.
1779
War
Dr
Augt 5 To order on Treasurer Capt Judah Woodruff his Company Horsemen - 2174-11-2
To do Col H. Hooker pay abstract field & Staff his Regt Horsemen 655-17-6
Among the list of Capt who were at New Haven is the name of Capt Samuel Brooks. In the pay table books are the following entries.
1779
War
Dr
Sept 27 To order on Treasurer Capt Samuel Brooks pay roll his Co H. H. Artillery 374-2-6
No 2 To order on Treasurer Capt Samuel Brooks to Cash Guards 6554-3-10
A. Harrington, Comptroller
Aug 16

This appears to be an original card. Mel. y.
Oct 1832
W. B. West.
Rev. Dr. Samuel John Quincy Papa's friend of Samuel Quincy Boston
FREE

Ames N.J. May 29 1833
Dear Mr. Edwards
Mr. Edwards and the papers of Rev. West under act 1832. Return are requested to the subscribers at Rome on or before May
I am very respectfully your most obedt Servt
R. W. Johnson

Sept. 11. 1895.
Washington D.C.
John H. Schuch General Manager Washington D.C.
Very faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page.
Very faint text at the bottom of the page.

Ovid N.Y. Sept 8th 45
Sir
I enclose Comptroller Cuff in case of Benj West, whose application is on file as I am informed under law of 1832 - of this case I am not much informed, nor whether the enclosed certificate goes to support his declaration, or not, I know not, one thing I do know, that is, if it does not support his declaration, I do not ask it to apply in support of his claim therefore I submit it as it is only ask it to receive it, just due, pension, or no pension!
Hon J L Edwards Compt. of Pensions Washington D.C.
Respectfully Your Most Obt Servt Abad Joy

Ovid Nov 5th 1845
Sir
I enclose Compt Cuff in the case of Benjamin West, of the service of his officers as required by yours of the 8th Oct Hon. L. Edwards Comt. of Pensions Washington D. C.
Respectfully Your Ob st Servt Abad Joy
My letter of Oct 3 rd in the case of Lucy Chapin correcting as I suppose, an oversight in your dep - artment in her case has not been answered, her application is under the law of 1838, others mailed at that & since it, have been answered

Jan
Mr. 8, 1845 Addl to the Census of Washington D.C. J. L. ... Prof. ...
Hon
My letter of Oct 20 to Mr. ... concerning the ... of the ...

Ovid N.Y. Dec 12. 45
Sir
Yours of the 8th Oct & Dec 4th in the case of Benjamin West, do not I think agree, the last certificate of Comptroller of Ct had nothing to do with the service admitted in yours of the 8th Oct, but so far as was correct was to be added to it, I judge when you see the case as it really is, that you will allow, not only for the 6 Months named in yours of Oct 8. but all that you consider correct, in the other Certificate, of which yours of Dec 4th is an answer - be pleased to address in "Washington D. C." I ask only what is justly due to the poor old man
Respectfully
Your Ob st Servt
Asa Gray
Hon J L Edwards Comt. of Pensions

June 20 '64
Mr Adams
FREE
Wm Lloyd Edwards Comm. of Pensions Washington D.C.

Verona June 18th 1842
Hon I. L. Cawoods (Comm of Pensions) Sir
In behalf of an aged, needy, and truly worthy old gentleman, of the place - permit me to address you -
The name of said person is, Bengie West , who made application some years since from this (Oneida) County, for a pension. But being unable to establish his service to your perfect satisfaction - (your honor claiming that the witnesses were too young at the time of his service) his case was suspended. - after having made diligent search for record proof of such service in the state where he served - having caused the records to be searched two or three successive times, being so confident of his service etc. and after making thorough search for companions in service, and failing in each effort both of finding record proof and of companions in arms. - He very respectfully asks the Department to consider the difficulty & impossibility of finding proof of that kind - and further that if we will furnish them with the affidavits of ten or fifteen - (any number you wish) of the most respectable people in the town county or state that they have been well acquainted with said Bengie West for

twenty thirty or fifty years, that they have always from their first acquaintance understood and fully believed that said Benjamin West had been a soldier in the war of the Revolution - that it is so understood & believed by all that know him - that he said Benjamin West is a man of the most undoubted truth & veracity - that the most implicit confidence is, and should be placed in his statements - Will you not, can you not, consider his case more favorably - This does truly appear to be the best possible proof to be furnished at this late day.
We very respectfully submit to your decision.
I have the honor to be Very respectfully Your Obedt Servt W. G. Wade
Hon J. L. Edwards Washington D. C.

29537 INVALID. Ready ————— out
File No. 29537
Benjamin West
Rev War
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index: — Vol. 2 , Page 443
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Sturminster Newton Dun 9th
page 5
Dear Sir, I am Yours truly Ovid

Dec 18. 1895
Recd
Prof. H. West.
J. L. Edwards Coun. of Pensions Washington D.C.
10