Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11780, Benjamin Wood, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Wood, Benjamin
R. 11780
CONTENTS
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State of New York Ulster County } ss
be it known that personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace in and for said County John Wood a resident of said County aged 48 years and made oath in due form of law & deposeth and states that he is a son of Benjamin Wood a resident of said County who recently made an appli- cation for a pension under the act of Congress passed the year of 1832 and that he this deponent has understood that his claim is suspended by the former owner of pensions and requires a further statement as to the particulars of his services
This deponent further states that his Father lives with him and is not capable of making a correct statement of his services on the account of old age and infirmities and that he has failed in his recollection for a short time past, this deponent further states that he has heard his father Benjamin Wood speak of his services in the earlier part of his life time & that he served on the Western frontiers in Ulster County and on the Northern army and on the Hudson River and that he always bore the character of a soldier of the war of the revolution all of which this deponent believes to be true Sworn and subscribed
Attest, 27th day of January
1845
Abel T. Smith S.P.
John Wood
I the said justice do certify that I am personally acquainted with John Wood the son of Benjamin Wood and that He bears a good character for truth and is entitled to the fullest credit and am also acquainted personally with Benjamin Wood the above named applicant and know him to be a man of an exemplary character Abel T. Smith S.P.

Benjamin Wood, applicant. under act of 1832. additions al proof. to papers on file.
Joseph Ellis. agent. Bloomington. Sullivan- County. New York.
The arrest was sent me some time ago by Mr Wood. and I have delayed sending it until now.
I have made some inquiry as to his claim. he bears the character of having served at various times during the Revolutionary war. which induces me to present the claim again.
Mr Wood is poor & needy.

If he should be found entitled to a small pension it would be very acceptable. There may be some records of his services in your Department yours &c Joseph Ellis

State of New York Ulster County } ss
be it known that person alled appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace in and for said County Derrick Westbrooks a Resident of said County aged 45 years and made oath in due form of Law and States that he is acquainted with Benjamin Wood a Resident of said County and that he is a man that bears an excellent character and that he bears the reputation of having served as a soldier during the war of the rebellion and that he has been acquainted with him for about 28 years past.
Derrick Westbrooks
Sworn and Subscribed
Before me this 28 th Day of January 1845
Seloh I. Jordan J.P.
I the said justice do here by certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Derrick Westbrooks and that he bears a good char- acter for truth and veracity and entitled to the fullest credit
Seloh I. Jordan J.P.

STATE OF NEW YORK, } ss. ULSTER COUNTY.
I, JOSEPH H. TUTHILL, Clerk of the County of Ulster, do hereby CERTIFY, that Sech D. Jordan. whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument, 1 and thereon written, was at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County afore- said, dwelling in said County, elected and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of such Justice, and verily believe that the signature 2 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 Fourth day of February 184 6.
J. H. Tuthill
Clerk.

35 62 1/2 Benjamin Wood. N.Y.
act 7 June '32.
11780
Am N.P. Tallmadge Small N.Y.

in the year of 1780 on alarms at West Point and at other places on the Hudson River and that, during the time of the Revolutionary War he resided in the Town of Cornwall and County of Orange in said State and lived in the tent of Captain Christopher Van Dusen's Company, and that, in the year of 1781 he entered the service under Captain Grisdell on the Western Frontier in Ulster County. He commenced his services in the Spring of that year and served until Fall, and that he was out once before under Captain Grisdell, but he cannot with certainty state the time and place, and that he was out several other times on alarms during said War, but that he cannot recollect on the account of his old age and the loss of his memory, he further states that he has kept no records of his services and that he must rely on what ever record evidence that may be found by the Pension Commissioner in his Office to support his claim to a Pension, and further that he is unable to labour and that he is poor and destitute and is now supported by the charity of his friends. He further states that the reason he has not applied before for a pension is that he could find no one living to prove his services by and that he has now no hope of finding any one living, the name John Nichols, on an erasure before, executed before me and subscribed before me by affirmation Benjamin Wood at the time above stated
R. H. Hair : Judge of Ulster County courts I the said Judge do hereby certify that the above applicant Benjamin Wood is not able to attend the sitting of the County court and the account of old age and infirmity R. H. Hair Judge

State of New York Ulster County } 33.
On this fifth day of January 1844, personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Judges of the court of common pleas in and for the county of Ulster in said state, Benjamin Wood a resident of said county aged sixty three years and made oath and affirmed and made the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832 and states that he entered the service early in the spring of 1776 and served until late in the fall of that year in Captain Mackenney's company of carpenters at and in the neighborhood of Fort Montgomery, Fort Constitution and West Point, and that in the spring of 1777 he entered the service and served under Capt. Mackenney at Fort Constitution and West Point at the carpenter business, and that he helped to build the Chevaux-de-frise while under Captain Mackenney and that he was once out under Captain Sanderson at Hackensack in the state of New Jersey several weeks but cannot state the year, and that in the year of 1778 he was out and served under Captain William Falkner at West Point and at other places on the Hudson River building and repairing the fortifications, some part of the time he served under Captain John Nichols and other officers whose names he does not recollect, and that he served the greater part of the summer and Fall of that year, and that in the year of 1779 he was out under Captain Van Clief at Fort Constitution and West Point and served a different times that season, and that he was out under Captain Van Clief

in the year of 1780 on alarms at West Point and at other places on the Hudson River and that during the time of the Revolutionary War he resided in the Town of Cornwall and County of Orange in said State and lived in the boat of Captain Christopher Van Dusen & Company, and that in the year of 1781 he entered the service under Captain Frusdell on the Western Frontier in Ulster County. he commenced his services in the spring of that year and served until Fall, and that he was out once before under Captain Frusdell. but he cannot with certainty state the time and place. and that he was out several other times on alarms during said War. but that he cannot recollect in the account of his old age and the loss of his memory. he further states that he has kept no records of his services and that he must rely on whatever record evidence that may be found by the Pension Commissioner in his Office to support his claim to a Pension, and further that he is unable to labour and that he is poor and destitute and is now supported by the charity of his friends.
he further states that the reason he has not applied before for a pension is that he could find no one living to prove his services by and that he has now no hopes of finding any one living. the name John Nichols. on an erasure before executed sworn to and subscribed Benjamin Wood before me by affirming at the time above stated
W. H. Hain Judge of Ulster County courts to the said Judge do hereby certify that the above applicant Benjamin Wood is not able to attend the sitting of the County court and the account of estate and infirmity.
W. H. Hain
Judge

State of New York
Putnam County } ss Timothy Wood Sworn in the town of Cornwall Orange County, State of New York. Now a resident of Phillipsburg in said County and a Revolutionary Pensioner being duly sworn says that he has a cousin by the name of Benjamin Wood residing in the town of Warwarsing in Ulster County State of New York and that this deponent lived a near neighbor to the said Benjamin Wood during the whole of the Revolutionary War in the town of Cornwall aforesaid and was familiarly acquainted with him seeing him almost every day during the time above stated - and this deponent further says that in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven he this deponent worked on a Chequodage built across the Hudson River at New Windsor and that the said Benjamin Wood also worked on the same Chequodage at the same time & as near as this deponent can recollect he this deponent and the said Benjamin Wood worked at the said Chequodage during the most of the time from April to October in said year 1777 - And this deponent further says that his this deponent and the said Benjamin Wood's services at the said Chequodage at the time above mentioned they were under the command of Captain Matchin said Capt. Matchin had command of the building of the said Chequodage - And this deponent further says that during the latter part of the Revolutionary War and while he this deponent and the said Benjamin Wood resided in the town of Cornwall aforesaid that they this deponent and the said Benjamin Wood belonged to a company of Militia under Captain Vandusen - And this deponent further says that he this deponent and the said Benjamin Wood with as near as this deponent can recollect some 13 or 14 others of said Capt. Van Dusen's Company set themselves apart from said Company as Minute Men and that they the said Company as Minute Men always held themselves in readiness whenever there was an alarm given that the enemy was approaching - and this deponent further says that several times during the latter part of the Revolutionary War alarms were given and that this deponent and the said Benjamin Wood with the 13 or 14 others as Minute Men volunteered their services and once or more times went as far as Fort Montgomery as volunteers under arms -
Sworn & subscribed this 5 th day of November 1847 before me Isaac B. Purdy Justice of the Peace
Timothy Wood

3524
Benjamin Ward
Concord
St. & W. R. Palmer
Feb. 19. '44
to Joseph Ellis, May 13, '44
Rev. S. H. Hildreth
7 June 1832

Ellenville Ulster Co - N.Y. Oct - 18 th 1860.
Secretary of the Pension Office Washington D.C.
Sir - I am a Clergyman, and write in behalf of one of my parishioners - who needs - and deserves your kind attention to the matter of my letter. Mr John B Wood is the son, for whom I write, of the deponent whose affidavit is enclosed. The deponent Mr Benjamin Wood - who was a Revolutionary Soldier - but being a Quaker, after the war, he refused from principle to apply for a pension, untill 17 years ago - Three years before his death - he made application through one Joseph Elliot - justice of the peace - then living - and still remaining at Bloomingburgh, New York. To him he committed all his papers - promising to give him a liberal fee for his services - or should he fail to get it - he should receive nothing. Said Ben Wood The deponent is now dead, and the said Joseph Elliot retains

The papers. J. B. Wood, being the son and rightful heir - desires to obtain the pension, and believing that he has been cheated out of it - and that said Ellis - has drawn the money - he desires information from Gov. Wood has repeatedly applied to Ellis for the papers - on the money. Ellis - affirms that the papers are on file in Washington - and that he has not obtained the money. The said Wood - being a Quaker - and a quiet inoffensive man has allowed himself thus to be put off - until he can wait no longer without injury to his family and disregard of the memory of his venerable Father.
Now Sir - Will you give a little attention to this matter, I have sent you such incidental proof as remains in the hands of the family. Enclosed you will find an

by Timothy Wood
affidavit - also a note from Ellis to Wood Wood, and Wood's Wood's reply. also a note from B Wood to Ellis asking for the money.
Will you please, look 1 st if the said Ellis has drawn the pension 2 nd If not, if the papers are on file in Washington.
3 rd - If they are - please tell the said J B Wood how he can get his Father's pension.
4 th If the pension has been paid to the said Ellis - what was the sum he recieved with the date of payment. Also such instructions as will help him to realize his rights - whether from Government or from Ellis. I have no interest in the matter personally - beyond a desire to see justice and right prevail. Mr Wood is a good man - a quiet citizen - and can easily be cheated. He is poor - and needs - whatever is due to him. While the said Ellis is rich - and able

to pay whatever he has withheld.
You will have done a noble and worthy act - if you shall attend advise to this matter - and will certainly secure the gratitude - of a whole community who attest to the justice of this matter.
Please address -
Rev John Parker Ellenville Ulster Co New York. I Oblige, yours J Parker.
I fully accord with the above statements made in my behalf by the Reverend J Parker
John B Wood Son of Benjamin Wood
Please return the enclosed Affidavit

Newpitz April - 14 - 1844
Sir pleas pay the bearer my pension that is due me and in so doing you will oblige your friend &c P. D. C. Joseph Ellis Benjamin

Timothy Wood perhaps may state in his affidavit the distinct terms and places and the names of the officers in that Bangorian Wood Servant under

on monday oct 6 th 1757 fort montgomery was taken capt. Matchen

Geddes, Woodley
Rev Ex
Benjamin Woodley Oct 24 - Nov 1, 1832
Washington
Jensen Bureau

11780
P. O.
Benjamin Wood
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
REJECTED
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized.
_____ Contr
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18