Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 21897, Benjamin West, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
West, Benjamin
R. 21897
CONTENTS

Benj n West
Benjamin West Colo Grafton Mf
Mas t ..
Nov. 23. 1820.
Ref- to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions Rejected, not having Served nine months under one enlistment on the con- tinental establishment War Dep. t
Pension Office Nov. 22. 1820.
Feby. 15. 1821
Report - leave to withdraw
16
Hon. W. Eustis, H. R.

State of Massachusetts
I Benjamin West a Citizen of the United States, now resident at Boston in the County of Suffolk in the State aforesaid, do on oath testify and declare, that in the War of the Revolution, on the month of May Anno Domini Seventeen hundred & seventy five, I think on the third day of May.
I entered and was engaged in the land service of the United States on the continental establishment, and served accordingly from that time to October Anno Domini Seventeen hundred & seventy six
as a private against the common enemy, without any interruption or absence: that I belonged to Col. Greaton's regiment in the Massachusetts line of the Continental army, till the month of September in the same year 1775, when I with others were detached to proceed on the expedition to Quebec, by the way of the Kennebec under Col. Arnold, & in Capt. Simeon Thayer's company, on which I went and that I left the service on October aforesaid, after being taken a prisoner on the storming the city, & being honorably discharged.
and that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life and poverty, I stand in need of assistance from my country for support, being now of the age of Sixty three years & upwards. I was detained a prisoner of war at Quebec about eight months. I have no other evidence now in my power, & know not where to go for any; by chance & mere accident, I procured the annexed deposition of a man, Charles Nutting, who applies for the same pension Col. Meigs I hear is living in the State of Ohio, & I know of no one else on the expedition to Quebec now surviving except Genl.
Dearborn who can testify no thing as to me.
And I hereby relinquish all claim to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States, if any may be or hath been so allowed.
Benjamin West
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen Pursuant to a law of the United States, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," made and passed on the 18th of March, A. D. 1818, personally appeareth before me
the Subscriber one of the Associate Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas within the State aforesaid & presiding pro hac vice the abovenamed Benjamin West
and after due examination and caution to testify and declare the whole truth, he maketh oath to the declaration aforesaid, and subscribes the same in my presence; and, on examination duly made by me the said Judge, it appeareth to my satisfaction that the said declaration is true. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my name & the seal of said Court.
June 22 d 1818. I also further certify that the within named Deponent is a credible and

disinterested witness that has been duly sworn
Wm Wetmore
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original document.]
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original document.]

I Charles Nutting of Watertown in Middlesex County, a private in Capt. Sim d Thayer's Company, in the month of September 1775, in the expedition to Quebec, by the way of Kennebec river, from Cambridge, under the command of Colonel Arnold, do testify & say that I very well knew one Benjamin Left now of Boston, who was in the same Company, was taken prisoner with me on the storming that City, & whom I left there a prisoner - he volunteered to go on that expedition with us from Cambridge & went accordingly - Charles Nutting
Sworn to before me
W m Wetmore Judge within named

In the House of Representatives of the United States
November 23. 1820
Resolved that the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions be instructed to inquire into the expediency of placing Benjamin West, on the pension list of the United States
Attest-
Thos. Congherty C.H.R.

Benj West
Hon. William Custer
FREE
Member of Congress.
Washington.

Hon. Wm. Easton.
Boston Dec 11. 1820
Dear Sir.
Having recd. a communication from the War Department dated Nov 20 th 1820, informing me that my claim to the Pension had been examin d and according to the construction given to the act of Congress, that my name was rejected; and observing by the newspapers that you had made a motion in Congress in my favour, I think it may not be improper to address you again on the subject. How How so many opinions in favour of my claim should exist, of which I could obtain a long list, who were living at the time of my service, seems to me singular. How I could be in the service, and not in the service, more singular still. Can it be supposed that Genl. Washington would have sent such a body of men, and so many brave officers, on an expedition to Canada, knowing that our time would be out as soon as We could arrive there. Whether enlistment or engagement means the same thing or not, I leave to your decision. I put my name to Capt. Thayers papers, and he gave me a certificate that I was his man, at the same time. It is well known to the Fathers of our country, what fair promises We had made to us at that time. These being no Hay settled at that time, though our sufferings were great, our risk of being treat.
ad

as traitors was greater, fortunately for us a Carleton had the Command. Five different Prisons I was cast into during the war, from 1775. to 1782, when I came from Newfoundland in a Flag Ship.
Altho I was in the War by Sea and Land, more than Six years. I can bring no other other claim for service at one time, than that which is now in the War department.
That so many are allowed the Pension for nine months service only, and I should be rejected, when I actually served at one time (or less in Prison) nineteen months, any reasonable man will think hard.
I think if you will take the trouble to lay my case before Congress, a bill will be passed ordering my name to be placed on the Pension list, from the time I first made application, which was in April 1818.
I presume it is unnecessary to add, that my circumstances in point of Property are very low, and had it not been for the aid I have rec d from some of my friends, who are in fact unable to do much towards the support of myself and family, I must ere this have been reduced to absolute distress, it is sufficient to add that I have no property whatever , the furniture (which is of little value) in the House I occupy, having been some time since apign d to other hands, for money rec d and expended.
I have intruded abovenly upon your patience, by being

being so lengthy, but I hope my sincerity, and support the justice of of my claim, will be my apology.
If any thing further is requisite for me to say, please drop me a line by mail. I am Sir, very
Respectfully Your Ob. Servt.
Benjamin West
th
in B.
I was a private, and am of course entitled to Twenty Six Dollars for year if any thing.
N.

The Hon d William Eustis Esq r Member of Congress Washington!

Benjamin West of Boston State of Massachusetts, being in the 67 th year of my age and very low circumstance thinking my- self entitled to the Pension as given in on the 2 nd day of April 1818 before Judge Wetmore, it is now in the Secretarys Office at Washington with my declaration & evidence - It seems there is no other objection but my being a Volunteer to go to Canada - What made me a volunteer more than others I do not know - but this I know men must have gone - I was already an enlisted soldier in Col. Greaton Regiment in the Eight months service till the 13 th of September when, by Gen Washingtons Order I was called upon to march under Col. Arnold to Quebec where by the loss of our Brave Commander our party fell into the Enemys hands, the particulars you will find as stated above - the whole time I was in the Service from Lexington Battle till my return to Boston was about 18 months in which time I lost the little all I had and came home naked. -
This I am advised to by our Governor and Gen Dearborn and many others - This I wish to be laid before the General Government - If it cannot be settled by the President or the Secretary at War.
I believe I am the only one of Arnolds men living to my knowledge at this day, I understand that Maj Meigs is living and Gen Dearborn was a Captain with us at that time. -
Boston 24 October 1820.
Benjamin West

The Hon d William Eustis Esq r
Boston 24 October 1820
Sir
You having been good enough to promise me your aid in obtaining for me the Pension allowed by Government to the old Soldiers - I annex you a statement of my case and a few ideas which will help to elucidate the matter - If any thing more should be wanting I hope you will be so good as to write to me for it - Respectfully I am your obedient
Yours from
Benjamin West

(3-223.)
No. 21.897
Rev REJECTED
, Ex'r.
OLD WAR INVALID.
Benjamin West of Mass
P. O. Fitch, Col. Greaton, Mf. Troops
Mass line
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____