Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 41295, Benjamin Walker, Continental Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental Mass.
Walker, Benjamin S. 41295
CONTENTS
This soldier's widow Eunice was pensioned as former widow of John Garyl, Mass. W 5193

7453 /  Vermont
Benjamin Walker
of Barre — in the state of Vermont who was a Lieutenant in the regiment commanded by Colonel Baileys — of the Massachusetts line, for the term of 1 year
scribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on the 4 th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th of Mar 1819 and sent to Judge Paine of Williamstown Vt.
Arrears to 4th of Mar 1819 10 mo 27 1/20 220.58 semi-ann. all'ce ending 1 Sep 1819 — 120.00
$340.58
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 4th March, 1818. }
Discontinued Description confirmed by Secy of War 19 Feb 1821
Informed Feb 14, 1822 that he could not be restored — sent to Hon J. Matthews H. Reps see letter to Hon. Elias D. Hayes No. Reps Mar. 11, 1823
Information sent to the Hon Mr. Crafts Nov 1820, H. Reps

Benjamin Walker's Schedule
7453
Sept 1811
Benjamin Walker
744 1811-1818

State of Vermont } On this 29th day of June 1820, personally appeared in open court, Washington County } being a court of record, to wit, the honorable Supreme Court of Judicature, holding their session within the County of Washington aforesaid. Benjamin Walker aged sixty eight years resident in Barre in said County who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows. — From the the first of May 1775 to the first of January 1776, as an orderly sergeant in Capt. Andrew Pease's company in Col. Joseph Reed's regiment in the Massachu- setts line at which time, at which time I was promoted to an ensign in the same company & regiment aforesaid. I served until the first of January 1777 in the continental establishment in the Massachusetts line, in B o capacity as ensign. On the first of January 1777, I was promoted to a lieutenant & served in that capacity until the latter part of the month of February 1778 in Capt. Isaac Warren's company & Col. John Bailey's Regiment, & Gen. Leonard's Brigade, at which time I was honorably discharged. — that the date of my original declaration is the 14th of April 1818

my pension certificate issued 6th day of March 1819. —
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 & 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 to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land or naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war" passed on the 18th day of March 1818. & that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or se- curities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed & by me subscribed. to wit. —
Sixty five acres of land together with the buildings thereon. one horse — one ox — 2 cows — 2 two year olds — 2 yearlings. 12 sheep — swine — farming tools — 4 tables — 1 Desk — chest of drawers — one clock — 2 trunks — 15 chairs light stand — 2 looking glasses — crockery & glass ware — brass kettle. — Iron ware — Dogs Tin ware — wooden ware — bundle sticks — shovel & tongs — knives, forks, & spoons 3 calves, old waggon, 1/2 old sleigh. — A list of notes & demands due from Benj n Walker to sundry persons. — as follows (to wit). —
  Vote due to Benj n Walker Jun r dated July 21 st 1814.  principal & interest. — $176. 18    Do. " to Willard Cargill " July 6 th 1815. —  principal & interest 51. 24    Do. " to " " " 1818.  1. 00  

Do " do to Judge ... to Gen. Chamberlin " July " 1818. 106.23 Do " " " to John Walker " April " 1819. - print " & Interest 160.00 Do " " " to Elijah Abbott " April 5. 1818. " " " " 12.80 Do " " " to Dr. Paddock " about nine years standing. 8.00 Do " " " to Dr. Bill " of about 7 years standing 30.00 Do " account to Ira Day. 78.90 Note due to Allen Cole. dated March, 1815 print & interest 15.00 Note due to Joseph Browning Jan. Nov. 1819. " " " 5.75 Do. account to Peter Johnson $692.54 
All the above debts now on demand
Three notes to Daniel Walker bearing date May 1819 for $62.50 each. one payable December 1820. one Do. 1821. & one Dec. 1822 & interest. - $187.50 one years interest 11.25 Due to Osamas Walker for work. - 20.00 Totals $911.29
That I am by occupation a house carpenter - that my health for a number of years past has been such that I am unable to perform any labor towards the support of myself or family. that my wife Eunice is in

our fifty ninth year & second year of my confinement. one daughter named Mary aged fourteen years - one grand daughter name Mary Walker aged six years. The grand daughter being a fatherless & motherless child. And that unless I have the indulgence of my creditors, the assistance of my relations or friends or the assistance of my Country. I am not able to support myself & family.
Benjamin Walker.
Sworn to & declared in open court, on this 29th day of June 1820
Before the Court. - George Rich, Clerk
State of Vermont } Washington County } I George Rich Clerk of the Supreme Court do hereby certify that the foregoing oath & the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said Court. & I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is six hundred & seventy six dollars. - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court on this 19th day of July 1820.
Geo. Rich, Clerk.
I further certify that it is the opinion of the Court that the above named Applicant is really insolvent & deserves no money.
George Rich, Clerk.

Dec 18/49
18 months
Gen. J. L. Edmunds
Com. of Pensions
Mr. Wiley will answer Mr. Washington City
R. M. Young

Washington City Dec 18 th 1829.
Sir,
Enclosed I send you the letter of James M Campbell Esq of McDonough County Illinois, on the subject of a pension supposed to be due to the heirs of Benjamin Walker, who was a soldier in the Massachusetts Line during the war of the Revolution - Will you please examine the letter and favor me with a reply as early as may be convenient.
I am very Respectfully Your ob td . Serv t
Richard M Young
Hon. J. L. Edwards Comm ee of Pensions Washington City.

See Benjamin Walner for A. P. P. P.
My love -
2nd Bally Reg. Condensed
1st
2nd
Concord
Adm.
Adm. ~ ~ ~
The following are just as seen

To the Hon ble Elijah Paine Esq re District Judge for the District of Vermont —
I Benjamin Walker of Barre in the County of Washington and State of Vermont —
do depose and declare that I am a Citizen of the United States and ever have resided therein and that I was formerly from Mendon in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that I am now about Sixty Seven years of Age — and I do declare that I served in the Army of the United States against the Common Enemy in the late Revolutionary war against Great Britain in the Continental Establishment in the following Campings — do declare that I Enlisted as a Serjeant in Captain Andrew Peters Company in Col o Joseph Read Regiment about the first of May 1775 and served in that Capacity untill the first of January 1776 at which time I was promoted to that of Ensign in the same Company and Regiment afterward and did serve as Ensign untill the first day of January 1777 at which time I was again promoted to that of Lieutenant in Capt. Isaac Warren Company in Col o John Bayley's Regiment then called the first Massachusetts Regiment and did serve in the Capacity of Lieutenant untill the 23 rd day of February 1778 at which time by reason of bad health did ask liberty to resign his Commission and obtained liberty and was Honourably discharged from the Army at Valley Forge by his Excellency the Commander in Chief —

I furthermore do declare that by reason of my reduced Circumstances & old Age and Bodily Infermitites do stand in need of my Country for Support Barre April 14 th 1818 — Benjamin Walker
United States } April 14. 1818 Sworn to Vermont District } before me Elijah Paine Judge of the Vermont District
I Elijah Paine Judge of the District Court for the Vermont District do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Benjamin Walker did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the pre- ceding declaration against the common enemy for the term of nine months on the continental establishment; and I now transmit the proceedings & testimony had & taken before me to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the Act of Congress entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war"
Elijah Paine
I Elijah Paine Judge as aforesaid do certify to the Secretary of War that from the testimony exhibited to me I am satisfied that the said Benjamin Walker is in reduced circumstances & in need of assistance from his Country for support
Given under my hand at Williamstown February 11. 1819 Elijah Paine

Hon J. C. Calhoun, Secretary of War.

I have one grand Daughter providentially fell into my hands about six years of Age fatherless and Motherless by the name of Mary Walker I have not any help but what I hire nor have I had for ten years past I have a son that owns a part of the farm who has a Considerable number of Small Children four in number which is as much as he can do to maintain his own family I have not had any help from a son but what I have paid as much as any other man I have to keep a hired man the whole of the time as I am not able to do any thing of labour myself from the products of the farm will not pay my hired man and the interest money on running Considerable be kind hand Every year I believe I can safely say that I have ever been considered a very temperate man through the whole course of my life and laboured as long as my health and strength would admit. I have yet a small property in my hands but it is at the Option of my Creditors and has been for several years I consider the time very short that I shall stand in need of help from Government or friends but at present under my reduced circumstances do feel myself under needy Circumstances a particular statement of my services will be found in the Secretary of war Office with my Discharge & other papers I have wrote this with my own trembling hand and fear it will trouble you to read it from your Hum ble Servant
Waver June 27 th 1820-
Benjamin Walker
Hon ble J. C. Calhoun Esq ry Secretary of war at Washington City
State of Vermont } at Montpelier June 30 th 1820 Washington County } Personally appeared Benjamin Wal- ker sign of the foregoing statement and made solemn Oath that the same contained the truth and nothing but the truth before David Harrington Justice of Peace

I Benjamin Walker of Barre in the County Washington and State of Vermont do testify and say that according to record I was born in Rehoboth in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the fourteenth day of August in the year of Our Lord 1757 and at the Age of 16 years was put an Apprentice to learn the Harse Carpenters trade in the Town of Providence in the State of Rhode Island and followed my trade in that town until about the first of February 1775 and at that time and for a long time before expecting Hourly that a rupture would break out between America and our Mother Country which caused almost an total stagnation of business at my trade removed to Mendon in the County of Worcester and Com- =monwealth of Massachusetts and the war breaking out on the 19 th of April following turned out with the rest in the Class and about the first of May following Enlisted as an Orderly Sergeant for the term of Eight Months and likewise took a young man with me who was an Apprentice to me about Eighteen years of Age had lived with me about two years and at Roxbury in the Summer 1775 my Apprentice was taken sick with the Camp Distemper and died we was in Capt. Andrew Peters Company in Col. Joseph Pike's Regiment in the Massachusetts Line Served until the first of January 1776 at which time I was promoted to that of an Ensign in Capt. Peters Company in Col. Pike's Regiment as aforesaid and served in the Capacity of Ensign until the first of January 1777 at which time I was then promoted to that of first Lieutenant in Capt. Searle Warren Company in Col. John Bayley's Regt in the Massachusetts Line in the Continental Establishment

I served as Lieutenant in said Company and Regiment until the latter part of February 1778 at which time by reason of sickness of the fever and Ague and other bodily infirmities rendered by the same fatigues and hardships which I underwent during said term of time that I was in the service which rendered my Constitution incapable of serving my Country any longer and was unable to labour but a very little for almost one year Afterwards which was the only reason of my getting a Discharge from the Army that I might regain my health I had an Honorable recommendation from the field Officers of my Regiment to the Commander in Chief who gave me an Honorable Discharge at Valley Forge which discharge is now in the Secretary of War Office I volunteered my services for about two months afterwards with the Militia one month on Rhode Island in what was called Sullivan's Expedition about August 1778 and one month in the fall of the same year guarding the Shore near Rhode Island while in the service was principally at Grotonbury adjoining Boston the whole of the Campaign 1775 and at Dorchester near Boston until about the first of April 1776 at which time marched to New York went on to Long Island as a reinforcement in the month of August and on the same night retreated Back again to New York and about the 13 th or 14 th of September Retreated off from New York Island then crossed the north river into New Jersey side and marched down to Bergen Opposite New York Stationed there nearly a month then marched up north and crossed over the north river into New York side again had a brush with the Enemy at what was called Frog Point on the East river where they landed to get to the white plains was in sight of the Battle on the white plains was another flight about Nov r crossed the north river again and marched through the Jerseys and crossed the Delaware river into Pennsylvania then about the 25 th of December crossed the Delaware again into the Jerseys and marched again to Trenton where when we took Hessian and from there to Princeton our times were out

in the first of the year 1777 set about recruiting a new Army after recruiting Marched our recruits to Boston thence Ordered on to Albany thence to Stillwater and on the 19 th of September had the first Engagement with Burgoyne's Army the Second Action was on the 7 th of October I was in Arnold's Division and took the Command of the Company in that Action as the Captain was Absent and after the Capitulation of Burgoyne's Army Marched to the main Army under General Washington in Pennsylvania and after much fatigue about the 25 th of December commenced building our huts for winter at Valley Forge I would beg leave to suggest one thing further to the Honorable Secretary of war that is that my Hon d Father died the first part of the Revolutionary war and left me a small sum out of his Estate that together with same I had Earned myself amounted to about one hundred pounds Lawfull money the Currency of our Continental money soon began to depreciate the General Assembly of Massachusetts in order to keep it good passed a law that the then paper money should be a tender on all demands and it was tendered on my notes while I was in the Service and lay untill I returned out of the Service and in the year 1778 took the whole of it to purchase a Medling Cow. followed my trade as a House Carpenter untill I was about forty two years of Age having a large family Eight in number of Children found it hard to support them with my trade removed to the State of Vermont and purchased me a piece of wild land not being able to work on it much myself concluded to hire and work same at my trade had a log building that I improved as a work shop unfortunately for me it took fire and burnt up together with all my tools value about $150 - being uniform as to my health concluded not to purchase another set of tools about the year 1803 - under took to serve as Sheriff made about two years

and was very unfortunate in that living near the Bands of Canada several persons made their Escape from me into Canada where I never could get any thing from them which involved me about one thousand dollars in debt that I had to pay for them and never have got any of it since nor never expect to which has caused me much cost and trouble and had it not been that by the help of friends had loaned me some money and other property which they nowadays stand very much in need of themselves I should have been stripped of all property long before this time which is out of my power to pay them I have been paying 12 p ct Cent for about four hundred dollars which I was obliged to borrow to pay an Execution that and Cost Est like a Common worm what Govern- ment has already let me have has reduced me in part of that I have drawn twice from the 4 th of April 1818 up to the 4 th of September 1819 from thence up to the 4 th of March 1820 which I am Thankfull for and now as to my health if I live to August next I shall be 69 years of Age not long after I left the Army I was troubled once in a while with a Rheumatism Complaint across my Back and hips but not hinder me from work but as I grew older it increased and exercised more with pain and grew in years and for about twelve years past have not been able to do but little or no labour for a number of years have not been able to do any kind of labour several years could not walk one step without a crutch and a staff the pain was so severe that it has dislocated my left hip and lacerated and stretched my left leg but it is some better so that I can walk a little with only a cane on the account of my hip I have not been able to ride on horse back nor have I been on a horse back for ten years past. I can ride in a wagon or stage with much ado to get in or out and as to my wife she is about 59 years of Age and Complaints much of Old Age and other bodily infirmities my youngest child's daughter Lucy Walker about fourteen years of Age tolerable well and is some help —

I have one grand Daughter providentially fell into my hands about six years of age father left and Mother left by the name of Mary Walker I have not any help but what I hire nor have I had for ten years past I have a son that owns a part of the farm who has a considerable number of small Children four in number which is as much as he can do to maintain his own family I have not had any help from a son but what I have paid as much as any other man I have to keep a hired man the whole of the time as I am not able to do any thing of labour my self from the products of the farm will not pay my hired man and the interest money am raising considerable be kind hand Every year I believe I can safely say that I have ever been considered a very temperate man through the whole course of my life and laboured as long as my health and strength would admit. I have yet a small property in my hands but it is at the option of my creditors and has been for several years I consider the time very short that I shall stand in need of help from Government or friends but at present under my reduced circumstances do feel myself under needy circumstances a particular statement of my services will be found in the Secretary of war Office with my Discharge & other papers I have wrote this with my own trembling hand and fear it will trouble you to read it from your Hum ble Servant
Waver June 27 th 1820-
Benjamin Walker
Hon ble J. C. Calhoun Esq ry Secretary of war at Washington City
State of Vermont } at Montpelier June 30 th 1820 Washington County } Personally appeared Benjamin Wal- ker signor of the foregoing statement and made solemn Oath that the same contained the truth and nothing but the truth before David Harrington Justice of Peace

41 295 Rev  INVALID.
File No. 41 295 Benjamin F. Fikes Lieut Gen Fm
Act: 18 March 18 n
Index:—Vol. 8 , Page 535
[Arrangement of 1870.]