Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,957, for Benjamin Ludden, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Ludden Benjamin
S 18,957
Carded
CONTENTS

75 Hand
10.084 X Massachusetts
Benjamin Ludden of Williamstown in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Thayer of the Regt. commanded by Col. Gill in the Mass time for 7 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 23 - Dollars - 33 - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 th day of March 1833 and Lieut. Genl. Wm. L. Ludden Northampton Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $46.66 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 33 11.67 $58.33
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. K. Atkinson Clerk Book D Vol. 2a Page 119

45 Benjamin Ludden Natick
Ms 2665
1745

DECLARATION, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS OF THE 7TH OF JUNE, 1832. STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss. COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE. }
ON this Eight day of August 18 32 personally appeared in open court, before Hon. Samuel H. Hildreth  Judge of the court of Probate now sitting, Benjamin Suddon a resident of Williamstown in the County of Hampshire, and State of Massachusetts, aged 73 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 provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
He enlisted at Braintree Mass. in the forepart of December 1775 for till the 1 st of April the next year to make up the deficiency which was likely to happen from the "8 months men" time being about to expire & served till the evacuation of Boston 17 March. three months & over when the company was dismissed. He belonged to Capt Thayer's company, no regiment. It was stationed in Braintree guarding the shores. In 1777 he enlisted at said Braintree as a volunteer in Capt Stephen Pemeniman's Company for 4 months from 1 st August & served till the 1 st of December. He marched through Worcester Belchertown, Northampton, Williamstown, Worthington, Bennington, where cartridges & provisions were drawn, thence to Saratoga, thence under Gen Lincoln's command to Stillwater, where his regiment was collected under Col. Gill. He got to Bennington the day after the battle. The day of the battle of Bemis Heights, he was on Captain's guard, which consisted of about a hundred men about \frac{1}{2} a mile from the battle. Was one of the fatigue party to repair the bridge that Burgoyne broke down on his retreat. Stayed at Stillwater till prisoners had been removed after Burgoyne's surrender & till Gen Lincoln whose leg had been broken was well enough to be removed. Thence to Albany, thence down the river to "Goput", thence to Windsor he thinks, where his regiment took batteaux, the others sloops, down the River to Tarrytown, thence marched to White Plains, afterwards New Rochelle, Fort Independence. To White Plains where tents were pitched. All the discharge he had was an order to his regiment to bring thing  any they had belonging to the "continent" to the Colonel's tent. He carried a kettle & axe. He was born at Braintree on August 25, 1758. He has a record of his age in his family register & on town records at Braintree he supposes. At the age of 21 he removed to said Williamstown & has since resided there. He knows of nothing which to prove said services.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State, or (if any,) only on that of the agency in the State of
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Benjamin Suddon
We, Elias Root residing in the town of Williamstown and Abiah Root residing in Williamstown hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Suddon who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be

that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State, or (if any,) only on that of the agency in the State of
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Benjamin Luddon
We, Elias Root residing in the town of Williamburgh and Abadiah Skiff residing in Williamburgh hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Luddon who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Elias Root
Before me
Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Elias Root who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in Williamburgh and that Abadiah Skiff who has also signed the same, is a resident in Williamburgh and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate
I, Samuel F. Lyman Register Clerk of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Luddon for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
thirty two
Samuel F. Lyman Register
We, Henry Lord residing in the town of Williamburgh and Abadiah Skiff residing in Williamburgh hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Luddon who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy four years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Henry Lord
Hampshire So Dec 3 1832 Then personally appeared the above named Henry & made oath to the truth of the foregoing certificate by him subscribed. I further certify that said Henry is a clergyman of said Williamburgh & a credible person -
Joseph Bodman Justice of the Peace
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Benjamin Luddon who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in Williamburgh and that Henry Lord who has also signed the same, is a resident in Williamburgh and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. That he cannot be produced in open court without too much inconvenience & expense.
Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate
I, SAMUEL F. LYMAN , Register of the Court of Probate, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Luddon for a pension. That said Joseph Bodman is a Justice of the Peace for said County & duly qualified at the above signature pertaining to the last is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this eighteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Samuel F. Lyman
Register.

2665
Brigs Luddden.
7 mths
7 Mths
Adm
No Clergyman's Certificate produced & no reason given for why one cannot be obtained
Hon. J C Bales
Northampton
Mass
Charles P. Huntington
Northampton
Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Benjamin Ludden  of  Williamburgh in the State of  Massachusetts  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Thirty Three Years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1775 to 76 3 " Private Gen. Capt. Shayer   " 4 " " Col. Gill  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Nine States  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Braintree Mass 
by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? by document proof, by traditionary evidence,  or Clergymans evidence no living witness, proof, &c.
 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Life char  inform: no witness &c &c &c 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
S. A. Atkinson Examining Clerk.

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
Ans
February 4, 1929
Mrs. Charles H. Irvin Big Run, Pennsylvania.
Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 18957, it appears that Benjamin Ludden was born August 25, 1758 at Braintree, Massachusetts.
While residing at said Braintree, he enlisted in December 1775 and served three months in Captain Thayer's Massachusetts Company. He enlisted in August 1777 and served four months in Captain Stephen Penniman's Massachusetts Company.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 8, 1832, at which time he was living at Williamsburg, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.
There are no data as to family.
The above noted Benjamin Ludden (all spellings searched) is the only soldier of that name found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

MRS. CHARLES H. IRVIN BIG RUN, PENNSYLVANIA
April 30.
Pension Dept. Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
Have you any records of pensions being granted to following persons, and any additional data concerning.
1. Gen. Robert S McCoy, - born in Ireland, int'd Rev. was then having residence in the United States. Participated in Battle of Trenton and Princeton. Was with Washington in Valley Forge. Later lived in New Jersey. Name of wife, - Phoebe Burge. 2: Ambrose Kelley, - I think he was a Virginian. Name of wife Mary Ann dedos. 3. Benjamin Luddington of Chesterfield Mass. (or Braintree, Mass.) wife, Esther Calken, Great grand daughter of John and Priscilla Alden. Should be pleased to receive any record of above.
Sincerely Frances W. Irvin, (Mrs. C. H. " )

Benjamin Luaden Williamsburgke Map No 26 65.
clergman

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 Luddan which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? He did 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? He has 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? He has VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? He has VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? He has VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes, in his favor IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes 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? yes, yes,

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? no 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? yes, none living that he is aware of- XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? 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? 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, they all are-
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.
† 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
‡ 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.

P 18954 INVALID.
File No. 18957
Benjamin Ludden
Dis. New York
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 231
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1929- Feb. 4- H. S. to Mrs. Chas. H. Invin. Aug.