Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11779, Benjamin Wood, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Wood Benjamin
R. 11779
CONTENTS
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37717 Benjamin Wood, 2 nd NY
Act 7 June 1832
Depositions of Benj Wood & Jas Palmer, relative to B.W.'s services in the revolutionary war - & depos n drop to the character of B. Wood etc.

State of New York Oneida County J. D. -
On this 6th day of November One thousand eight hundred and forty nine, personally appeared before the Recorders  Society Court of the City of Utica in the  County of Oneida in the State aforesaid Now sitting in the City of Utica, Benjamin Wood, a resident of the town of Litchfield in the County of Herkimer and State aforesaid, Aged Ninety  One years who being 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 in the town of Windham in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut on the 12th day of April One thousand seven hundred and fifty eight, And that he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as hereinafter stated. - to wit: - First Term of Service , Claimant declares that on or about the first day of May in the year 1777 he enlisted at Windham, in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut. (or was enrolled) with fourteen others to guard a quantity of Powder, brought up from Norwich or New-London to Windham, he was enlisted or enrolled by Elizur Dutton , for the term of six months. - The said Dutton, had the charge of the powder which was brought to Windham for safe keeping, it was Officer's (Dutton) we received our pay and from him we received orders and whose directions we followed. - he was, at the time a Judge of Windham County, Claimant remained in said service so employed as aforesaid until on, or, after the first day of November of same year, when he was discharged and returned home, Claimant further saith he never received any Discharge (written) or any written memorandum of the service performed as aforesaid.

Second term of service , Claimant further saith that on or about the first day of October in the year 1778 - he took the place of and served as, a substitute for John Wood in Captain Moseley's Company, in Colonel Ely's Regiment and General Tyler's Brigade, at New London in the State of Connecticut aforesaid, until on or after the 13th day of May in the year 1779, when he was dismissed and returned to his home, he did not receive a written discharge or any written memorandum of the services performed by him as aforesaid.
Third term of service , Claimant further saith that on or about the first day of July in the year 1779, he was drafted, and went to New London, joined and served in the Militia Company commanded by Captain Tinker of and from Windham (my own town). The Ensign's name was Samuel Dake. The Lieutenant's name was Thomas Fuller, a part of the time we were at New London and after at Fort Ticonderoga repairing Fort Griswold, and engaged in active service until the first or after the first day of September 1780 - when he was discharged and returned home, he did not receive a written discharge or any written memorandum of his services aforesaid.
Claimant on his oath further declares that he has not now, nor ever had at any time, any Documentary evidence of his services as aforesaid. Nor has he any certain knowledge that there is now living any person or persons by whom he can substantiate this his declaration, but he is informed that there is now living in the County of Oswego and State aforesaid a man of the name of Joseph Palmer, who, during the time the foregoing services were performed, resided in the town of Windham County and State aforesaid and who was one of Claimant's nearest neighbors during the whole time.

of his Service as aforesaid and whom declarant thinks must have some recollection of him and the Service he performed as aforesaid Declarant further saith he has no record of his age other than that copied by himself from the family Bible of his father in the year 1814 - Declarant further saith that he continued to reside in Windham aforesaid until the year 1801. when he moved to Litchfield in the County of Herkimer and State of New York where he now resides and has resided upon the same farm for the last forty eight years, or about that time - Declarant also further saith, his principal Service was, during all his terms of Service, what might, and probably would be denominated Garrison duty - and further that the reason why he has not before ap- peared for a pension, is because he was not, until a short time since, informed that there was any law authorizing the granting of pensions in cases like his, and that the reason why this his declaration is made before a Court of a County other than that in which he resides, is because he resides on or near the County line between the County of Onida and the County of Herkimer in which he resides, that he is as well or better known in the County of Onida than the  as the one in which he resides. That there is a plank road nearly all the way from his residence to the Court before which this declaration is made, and that the roads from his residence to the place where the Courts of his County are held are, at this season of the year very bad, and he could not stand the fatigue of so long a journey over such rough roads - Declarant further saith that during his terms of Service as aforesaid he was not engaged in any civil pursuit and that each and every of his terms of Service were performed in an embodied Corps called into Service by Comptroller authority, and further that the reason why he does not produce and present here with the testimony of the clergyman of the church to which he belongs is because said Clergyman

has been recently settled in said church and is comparatively a stranger. And he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State for (The word 'merely' in the foregoing declaration was sworn to and subscribed before me {written over the word 'lightly before signing'} the day and year above written Benjamin Wood Annus H. Kellogg Recorder of the City of Utica
We William Cary and John Ingalls residing in the town of Litchfield in the County of Herkimer and State of New York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Wood who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be Ninety one years of age; that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion - they having been acquainted with him upwards of fifty years - Sworn to and subscribed before me { the day and year aforesaid - Benjamin Wood Annus H. Kellogg William Cary Recorder of the City of Utica John Ingalls
Oliver Wilson of the City of Utica in the County of Oneida and State of New York aged seventy five years who being duly sworn according to Law saith he was formerly pastor of the Presbyterian Society or church called the "Morris Society" in the town of Litchfield in the County of Herkimer and State of New York, of which Benjamin Wood above named was then and as appears from the records of said or said Church, had been for a long time since previous a member and a deacon of said Church in good standing

I have been intimately acquainted with him for the last thirty years or more, he has always sustained and maintained the character of an honest upright man and a good Christian and I regard his statements contained in his declaration aforesaid as entitled to full and entire credit. I have conversed with him frequently within the last thirty years in regard to his services in the Revolutionary War. — Their conversations were had principally previous to the year 1830 and I have no doubt but he was engaged in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary War as in States.
Sworn and subscribed before me.
the day and year above mentioned
Aaron Hackney
Recorder of the City of Salem
Oliver Wetmore
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department, That the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as in States, And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Oliver Wetmore who has signed the preceding certificate was a clergyman resident in the town of Litchfield as in States and that William Gary and John Ingersoll are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to full credit.
Aaron Hackney
Recorder of the City of Salem

I, Dextrin Gilmore the of the Records Court of the City of Utica in the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Wood for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 6th day of November 1829
D. Gilmore Clerk &c

State of New York Oswego County ss
On this day of November One thousand eight hundred and forty nine before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State above mentioned personally appeared Joseph Palmer aged ninety years a credible and disinterested witness who being duly sworn according to Law deposes and saith he was born and brought up in the town of Windham in the county of Windham and State of Connecticut and continued to reside there during the Revolutionary War, in the immediate neighbourhood of Benjamin Wood who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed Declaration and with whom he was personally and intimately acquainted. This deponent further saith that during the Revolutionary War to wit: in the early part of the year One thousand seven hundred and Seventy seven, the said Benjamin Wood was drafted or otherwise called into the service into the Service of the United States with ten or fifteen others to guard a quantity of Powder brought to Windham from New London or Norwich for safety, and thinks said Wood remained in such service about Six months Judge Devotion was Commissary and had the care or supervision of this Powder. This deponent also recollects that the said Benjamin Wood took the place of and served as a substitute for John Wood, this service commenced in the fall of the year 1778 and lasted for Six months, he served in Capt. Mosly's company in Colonel Ely's Regiment and in General Styler's

Brigade - This deponent also further saith that in the Summer of 1779 the said Benjamin Wood was drafted in the Militia and went to New London and served in Captain Tinkers Company and continued to serve until the next year, this deponent does not recollect the length of this term of service, but recollects it was much longer than the ordinary term of Militia service, this deponents best recollections are that he served upwards of one year at this time, this deponent saw the said Wood frequently during this term of service at New London and at Fort Griswold - this deponent also saw the said Wood frequently during his other terms of Service -
This deponent further saith he continued to be acquainted with, and the said Benjamin Wood continued to reside in the town of Windham aforesaid until about the year 1800 when he went 'west' to Sitchfield in the State of New York - this deponent further saith he is disinterested.
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written Ambrose Morgan Justice of the peace Joseph Palmer his mark
State of New York, OSWEGO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. } ss.
I, D. H. Gilbert Clerk of the County of Oswego, hereby certify that Ambrose Morgan Esq. whose name is subscribed to the jurat of affidavit of Joseph Palmer hereto annexed, was, at the date of said jurat a Jus- tice of the Peace in and for the said county, dwelling in said county, and duly elect- ed and qualified to act as such; that I am well acquainted with his hand-writing, and verily believe his signature to said jurat is genuine.
WITNESS my hand and the seal of the Court of Common Pleas of said county this 17 th day of Nov
A. D. 184 9
D. H. Gilbert Clerk.

Petition of Benjamin Wood a Revolutionary Soldier for an act granting to him a pension.
11779 Dickey G W Jones 11780 Talmadge Elley
110 vice Secretary.
20 R.W. Clms
To Mr. T. S. Seward
No. 56
31 Cong. 1 Sess. 3
Petition
of Benjamin Wood, a Revolutionary Soldier, praying a pension.
1850 Jan'y. 14, Referred to the Com: on Rev. Claims.
Jan'y. 23, Disch'd & referred to the Com: on Pensions Apl. 25, Report adverse. June 24, agreed to.
Cole Error Com
5
Mr. Seward.

Dec. 20. 1849
J. L. Edwards
about Benjamin Wood
Pension Claimed

To The Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled,
The undersigned your petitioner begs leave respectfully to represent to your Honorable bodies that, he was a Soldier in the War of the Revolution, that during that war he resided in the town of Windham, in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut, and continued to reside there until the year 1804 when he removed to the town of Litchfield in the County of Herkimer and State of New York where he now resides. That in the month of November last he made his declaration under the Act of June 7 th 1832, setting forth his services in the War aforesaid, accompanied by the certificates and affidavits of credible Witnesses in support of the same which said declaration and accompanying papers was, by his Attorney, forwarded to the Commission of Pensions at Washington - which said Commission has caused his said claim to be examined, the result of which will more fully appear from the letter of said Commission bearing date the 20 th December 1839. and is herunto annexed, and from which it will appear, that your petitioner, before his said claim can be allowed must produce "some satisfactory reason for the delay in presenting his claim," and "the alleged service under Capt. Mosely in Col. Ely's Regt. as a substitute for John Wood and under Capt. Tinker should be established by the records in the office of the Comptroller of Connecticut or by testimony of two or more witnesses, who were themselves with Wood, and who can state the time of his entering and

the time and manner of his leaving his Reg t &c - In answer to the requirement first above named, Your petitioner would respectfully say that, he has fully and truly stated his reasons, in his aforesaid declaration, for his not sooner presenting his claim, and in reply to the second he would further respectfully say that his Attorney has consulted the Comptroller of Connec- ticut, which said Attorney is informed by said Comptroller that the name of your petitioner does not appear upon the records of his Office - and your petitioner would further res- pectfully represent and say that he is not aware that there is now living any person who served with him during any one of his terms of Service, and therefore out of his power to produce the testimony required by the Honorable the Commission of Pensions - Your petitioner would also further respectfully represent that he is now on the last stage of his earthly career, that in his youth he served his Country faithfully and now as he is about to go hence and be here upon earth no more he has reason to hope that the Bounty of Government will not be withheld from him, but that your honorable bodies will at their present Session pass an act granting him such relief as will enable him to spend the remainder of his days comfortably and quietly.
Your petitioner would further say that in consequence of his advanced age and bodily infirmity he has intrusted the management of his claim to his Attorney Mr John. C. Dickey of Sackett Harbor N.Y. and your petitioner -
would respectfully request that his declaration and papers on file with the Honorable the Commission of Pensions may be withdrawn from the Office of said Commission and be used as evidence of the facts upon which your petitioner relies in support of his claim - And, as in duty bound, your petitioner will ever pray -
Dated December 29 th 1829
Benjamin Wood

Pension Office,
December 20 th 1849.
Sir:
The papers in the case of Benjamin Wood D , who claims a pension under the Act of 7 th June 1832, have been examined and filed.
Some satisfactory reason for the delay in presenting this claim should be given, and the alleged service under Capt Mostey of Col. Fly's Regiment as a substitute for John Wood, and also under Capt Penker, should be established by the records in the office of the Comptroller of Connecticut, or by testimony of two or more witnesses, who were themselves in the same service with Wood, and who can state the date of his entering, and the time and manner of his leaving his Regiment, with the names of the Company and field officers, under whom the several tours were performed.
The alleged tour in 1777 under Judge Devotion who was a civil officer guarding the ammunition at Windham, was not military service, and therefore affords no grounds for a pension. Joseph Palmer was not if appears himself in service, his testimony cannot be received as evidence of the service, of Benjamin Wood.
Very Respectfully,
Your Ob t Serv t
J. L. Edwards
John O Dickey, Esq Sacketts Harbor N.Y.

Rev. and 1812 War Section.
awf
October 1, 1925
Martie W. Durand 718 Garland St Flint, Mich.
Madam:
I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 11779, it appears that Benjamin Wood was born April 12, 1758 in Windham, Connecticut.
While residing in said Windham, he alleged that he enlisted October 1, 1778 and served in Captain John Mosley's Company, Colonel Ely's Connecticut Regiment until May 15, 1779, after which he served in Captain Tinker's Company until September 1, 1780.
He applied for pension, November 6, 1849, while a resident of Litchfield, Herkimer County, New York, but the claim was not allowed, as he failed to furnish specific proof of his service, as required by the pension law.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.

In the Senate of the United States,
January 14. 1850
Resolved, That the Commissioner of Pensions be directed to transmit to the Committee of the Senate on Revolutionary Pensions the papers on file in his Office touching the application of Benjamin Wood a Revolutionary soldier for a pension.
Attest
Albany Britton - Secretary

Pension Office January 18. 1850
Sir,
In obedience to a Resolution of the Senate, of the 14 th instant, directing the Commissioner of Pensions to transmit to the Committee of the Senate on Revolutionary Pensions, the papers on file in this Office touching the application of Benjamin Wood a Revolutionary Soldier for a Pension, I enclose herewith the original papers of said Wood, of the State of New York.
I have the honor to be very respectfully your obed t serv t .
J. S. Edwards
Comm r of Pensions
Hon: G. W. Jones Chairman of the Committee on Pensions Senate U. S.

Affidavit of John N. Smith

John W Little of Cape Vincent Jefferson County & State of N. York being sworn testi- fies & says that on or about the 20 th of Feby 1840 this Deponent in company with his lady went to pay a friendly visit to the family of Benjamin Wood of Lionfield Ontario Co & State aforesaid, and this Deponent says that whilst there Benjamin Wood informed me of having served in the Revolutionary War, and the scenes of that eventful Period in which he was engaged, upon which this Deponent informed him that Congress had passed Laws for the relief of such cases, & this Deponent was of the opinion that his case was one of those provided for by Law, and urged him to make his application for a Pension although said Wood thought that the brief Period he was engaged in the War, would not entitle him to a pension
Sworn & subscribed before me this 7 th day of January 1850
J. W. Little
C. H. Hinrichs Justice of the Peace of the County of Jefferson in the State of New York

Office Secretary Senate U.S.
January 17. 1850.
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 16th inst requesting to be furnished with such information as will enable you to identify the Benjamin Wood mentioned in the resolution of the Senate of the 14th inst, I am directed by the Secretary of the Senate to say that he is of the State of New York. It may, perhaps, aid you in answering the resolution to add that his agent or atty is a Mr. Dickey at Sackett's Harbor.
I am Sir,
respectfully
Your Ord. Serv t
W. J. McDonald Clerk
James L. Edwards Esq. S. S. S.

Hon. J. L. Edwards Commission of Pensions
Sachob Harbor N.H. 20th Decr 1849
Sir,
Your letter of the 20th inst in regard to the claim of Benjamin Wood, a Soldier of the Revolution, to a Pension is recd. - In reply permit me respectfully to say that the only reason Mr Wood can assign for his not sooner presenting his claim is stated in his declaration - it can be substantiated by the testimony of other witnesses if required - In regard to proof of service you will permit me also to say, I have consulted the records of the State of Connecticut, and am informed that the name of Benjamin Wood does not there appear and probably would not for the time he served in the place of John Wood or for any other term, of the nature claimed by him, to have been understood - Your Honor will bear in mind that it is now upwards of seventy years since these services were performed, and that but few - very few men are now living who were then on the stage of action, it is not probable and hardly possible that there is now a man living who served with him except it may be Joseph Palmer who testifies in the case - whether he served with him or not is entirely unknown to me as I did not draw his affidavit or dictate it - and having never seen or conversed with him I am, myself entirely ignorant, of what further (if any thing) he knows on the subject - In the neighborhood where Deacon Wood resides he is regarded as pure and upright a man as ever emanated from the hand of his maker - I regard it as utterly and entirely out of his power to furnish the proof

required. If anything for thee in the present, whether my work can be done, I shall have great pleasure in doing it - I am Sir, with great respect,
Thy m. obedt Servant,
John. C. Dingley

Sackets Harbor N.Y. Nov. 20th 1849
Sir,
Herewith you have the claim of Benjamin Wood to a pension under the act of June 7th 1832 — I respectfully ask early attention to the claim and am, Sir, with great respect
Yr very obedt Servant John C. Dickey
Col. J. L. Edwards Govt of Louisiana Washington City

Sackets Harbor N. Y.
January 2, 1857.
Sir,
Herewith I hand you the Memorial of Benjamin Wood to Congress, for a pension for services rendered during the Revolutionary War. The evidence in support of his claim is on file in the Office of the Commissioner of Pensions. Since his papers were transmitted to the Pension Office - I am informed that there is an other witness residing in Canada, and whose testimony I expect, shortly to obtain, as I have sent for him to come into the United States, so that his testimony can be taken, which, when obtained, I shall transmit to you,
I am Sir, with great respect,
Your. Abdt. Servant
John O. Dickey
Hon. Wm. H. Seward
U. S. Senator
Washington City

John the O. Disney Esq 3 rd Jan. 4 1850

Pension Office January 3 rd 40
Sir
In answer to your letter of the 25 th ult o respecting the case of Benjamin Wood 2 nd  do , I have to inform you that the evidence furnished in support of his Claim has been again examined, and, for the reasons stated in my communication to you of the 20 th  supreme month, is not deemed at all sufficient long to authorize us to grant him a pension
John Q. Dickey Esq. Sackett's Harbor NY

Pension Office Decemr 20 th 1849
7 in
The papers in the case of Benjamin Wood Wood 2nd who claims a pension under the act of 7 June 1832, have been examined and filed.
Some satisfactory reason for the delay in presenting this claim should be given and the alleged service under Capt. Mosley of Col. Ely's Regiment as a substitute for John Wood, and also under Capt. Tucker should be established by the records in the Office of the Comptroller of Colonial and by the testimony of two or more witnesses who were themselves in the same service with Wood, and who can state the date of his entering and the time and manner of his leaving his regiments with the names of the Company and field officers under whom the several works were performed.
The alleged term in 1777 under Major Dorton who was a Civil Officer guarding the Ammunition at Windsor was not Military Service and therefore affords no ground for a pension.
Joseph Palmer testified was not at asphyx himself in service his testimony

Can not be received as evidence of the sense of Benjamin Wood.
John O Diskey Esq 20 Dec 1849
John O Diskey Esq Suckels Harbor NY

No 37717
Benjamin Wood D r NY
Sitw John O. Dibley at P r 1849  sum 3 Janf. 1850 " to A. Dickins, Sec. Senate January 18. 1850 to Hon. Geo. W. Jones Secy. U.S.
act 7 June 1832

1925: Sept Oct 1- Hist to Maria W. Durand see letter in Benja- min Wood S.40732
11.779.
P. O. Benjamin Wood  copy Service: Br Col Engrs Comp
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
REJECTED
Application filed: _____, 18 The printed list of 1852- shows reasons for suspension
Alleges: "suspended for further proof which has never been furnished, and papers placed before Congress
Re-enlisted: Jan. 14-1856
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18