Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11018, Benjamin Waldron, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Waldron, Benjamin
R. 11018
CONTENTS
2

Pension Papers.
In the matter of the Application of Benjamin Waldron
27/13.
The Commissioner of Pensions will please send instruction to Joseph H. Jackson Poughkeepsie New York.
80 80/2
A

Deed on _____ of Con- -gress, passed June 7th. 1832.
State of New York
Dutchess County ss: On this twenty fifth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Common Pleas, now sitting Benjamin Waldron a resident of the Town of Fishkill, County of Dutchess and State of New York, aged seventy three 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 Act of Congress, passed June 7th. 1832. That he was born on York Island in the year 1759 on the 5th day of February & is 73 years of age as appears by his family record now in the possession of his nephew, Peter Ackerman in the Town of Fishkill & County & State aforesaid. That he entered the service of the United States in New York City as a volunteer in 1775. That since the age of 14 he had belonged to an uniformed company of volunteers, associated for the purpose of military exercise & discipline. That a few days after the Battle of Bunker-hill, he, with most of his company volunteered to guard the city & prevent communications with the Asia and Phoenix, British Vessels. That he was under the command of Captain _____ Lott, Major Andrew Stockholm, & Col _____ Lasher. That at that time there were only 2 battalions together. That there were 4 companies in the battalion to which he belonged & in the battalion first named he remembers as associated with him in service Col _____ Malcolm. That he remained in service in the City aforesaid until the British entered in September 1776, thence retreating was marched to Harlem Plains, where on the next day he was engaged in a short skirmish with the British forces, thence retreating was marched to Valentine's Hill about one mile north of

Hings Bridge, where he remained a few days, thence to White Plains, where, a few days before the battle of White Plains at the instance of Col —— Lasher he received a verbal discharge that he might visit his sister and widowed mother who had a few days before fled into Dutchess County and who were unprotected as your applicant's two brothers were then volunteers in the same company with your applicant.
That he again entered the service as a volunteer in the Town of Fishkill, County of Dutchess and State of New York early in 1777 under Captain William Austin in Colonel —— Brinckerhoff's regiment, was marched to a hill a few miles north of Pechskill, where he remained & until his company was discharged about two months. That he cannot remember the particulars of his service during said two months, but recollects as there associated with him in service Captain Jacob Griffin, Captain Thomas Storm & Captain John Brinckerhoff.
That he soon after again entered into the service in Fishkill aforesaid as a volunteer under Captain Matthew Van Benschoten, Lieutenant Isaac Trail & Ensign Samuel Centwater in Colonel —— Brinckerhoff's regiment. That he marched to Pechskill hollow, where he remembers as associated with him in service Captain John Brinckerhoff, Captain George Brinckerhoff & Captain Janis Van Benschoten. That Colonel —— Livingston's regiment then lay at Pechskill hollow. That thence he marched south a few miles beyond Croton river, thence back to Pechskill hollow and was discharged after a service of about one month.
That he soon after again entered the service in Fishkill aforesaid as a volunteer under Captain Benjamin Rosecrance, Lieutenant John Adrians in Colonel —— Brinckerhoff's regiment & was engaged in guarding the stores at the Barracks in Fishkill for about one month & until dismissed & then remembers as associated with him in service Col Bedel of the standing army.

That he soon after again entered the service at Fishkill aforesaid as a substitute for Jacob Baerens as Quarter Master Sergeant under (as he believes) Captain Matthew Van Benschoten in Colonel Brinckerhoff's regiment & was engaged in guarding the stores at the barracks in Fishkill for about one month & until dismissed.
That late in the summer or early in the fall of 1777 he joined as a volunteer a company of sixty under Captain John Dorland. That with said company he went on board a Sloop at Fishkill landing as a guard for General Gates, who then was on his way to take command of the northern army. That George Clinton was on board the same vessel until they arrived at Esopus where he landed. That their vessel ran aground at the Ourslaugh near Albany, whence General Gates was taken in a small boat to Albany on the same evening. That from Esopus with the vessel went to Albany the next day & remained three or four days whence he returned to Fishkill & was discharged after an absence of about two weeks.
That in October 1777 he again entered the service as a volunteer in Fishkill aforesaid under Captain Matthew Van Benschoten, Lieutenant Isaac Peck in Colonel Brinckerhoff's regiment. That he was engaged at Fishkill landing in guarding the lines for about one month and until he was discharged. That he remembers as there associated with him in service Captain Thomas Storm, Captain John Brinckerhoff, Captain George Brinckerhoff & Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Griffin.
That in the Spring of 1778 he again entered the service as a volunteer in Fishkill aforesaid under (as he believes) Captain Benjamin Rosecrance. That he was marched to Fort Constitution & cruised the river to West Point where he was engaged (at a Fort then building) for about three months & until discharged. That he cannot remember the names of any service Officers who were associated with

him in service at West Point. That (to the best of his knowledge & belief) he never received any written discharge. That he now resides in the Town of Fishkill, County & State aforesaid. That he has no discharge & cannot produce any documentary evidence of his service. That he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service other than Daniel Annin whose affidavit is herunto annexed. That he knows of no clergyman who can make the certificate required by the War Department & therefore he produces other witnesses to wit: Joseph J. Jackson one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Dutchess & Abraham Myers of the same County & State aforesaid Sheriff.
And your Applicant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to, and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Harry Mason Clerk
Benjamin Waldrun

State of New York.
Dutchess County ss: Daniel Armin, a resident of the Town of Fishkill, County & State aforesaid, being duly sworn, doth, depose and say that he was engaged in the service of the United States in Fishkill aforesaid in the fall of 1777. That during said Fall he became acquainted with Benjamin Waldron, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That said Benjamin Waldron was in the service of the United States in another company of the same regiment. That said Benjamin Waldron with this deponent were engaged in guarding the lines at Fishkill Landing before the return of the British after the burning of Kingston. That said Benjamin Waldron with this deponent remained in service as aforesaid about one month in Colonel Brinchehalffes regiment & until both were discharged and further says not
Sworn to & subscribed the 21 st day of October A.D. 1841 Daniel Armin
open Court Robt. Livingston
We Joseph J. Jackson, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Dutchess & State of New York & Abraham Myers, Sheriff of the same County, residents of the Town of Fishkill in said County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Waldron, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
& we further certify that Daniel Armin who has sworn to & subscribed the above declaration is a person entitled to credit & has been sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open Court
Joseph J. Jackson Abraham Myers

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above-named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Joseph I. Jackson who has signed the preceding certificate is one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Dutchess & that Abraham Myers, who has also signed the same is Sheriff of the same County, That they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Henry J. Traver Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Dutchess & State of New York, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Waldron for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this twenty-fifth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Henry J. Traver Clerk

I, Robert S. Livingston one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Dutchess do hereby certify that on the twenty fifth day of September in open court Daniel Annin made an affidavit of the actual service of Benjamin Waldoon in the war of the revolution, that I administered the oath to the said Daniel Annin, and that his affidavit so taken as aforesaid is herunto annexed and forms a part of the original proceedings in the matter of the application of said Benjamin Waldoon for a pension. And I further certify that said Daniel Annin is a credible person & that his statement is entitled to credit. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this fifth of June one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
ROBT. S. LIVINGSTON
State of New York:
Dutchess County: ss: Personally appeared before me, the undersigned a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County, Benjamin Waldoon, who being duly sworn, deposes & saith, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For one month I served as Quarter Master-Sergeant as a Substitute for Jacob Boerum. For one year, five months and a half I served as a private; and for such service I claim a pension.
Sworn to and subscribed the fifteenth day of - June, 1833 before me - Jos. J. Jackson.
Benjamin Waldoon
I, Joseph J. Jackson one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Dutchess & State of New York do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Benjamin

Waldron who before me this fifteenth of June 1833 made the within affidavit, that said Benjamin Waldron is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of June, one thousand eight hundred & thirty three.
Jos. J. Jackson
State of New York.
Dutchess County ss: I Henry J. Traver, Clerk of said County do hereby certify that Robert S. Livingston, who made the within certificate was at the time of making the same a judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County; and I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said judge and verily believe his name subscribed to said certificate to be his proper handwriting & signature, And I do further certify that Joseph J. Jackson, before whom the within affidavit purports to have been taken & who made the above certificate was at the date of the same a judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County; and that I am well acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit and certificate to be his proper handwriting and signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand, and seal of office the seventeenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
Henry J. Traver Clerk

11.018.
P. O.
Benj e Waldron
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

New York Revol.
Benjamin Waldron Suspended
See letter to
Jos. H. Jackson 30 th Sept 1833.
11018
Act 7 June 1832

Benjamin Weldran
Benjamin Weldran
Benjamin
wrote to B. H. to B. H. Weldran

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Benjamin Wolaveren  Dutchess  NYork which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? us
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? us
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? no
V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension
he is entitled? no  Applicant must state specifically the date & length of each tour of service, with the names of the officers under whom rendered, and furnish the best evidence he can obtain to support his declaration.
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? us
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? us
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? us
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? us
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? us

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? no XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? yes XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? no Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.