Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8449, for Benjamin Preston, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Preston, Benjamin Jane
R. 8449
CONTENTS

Jane Preston Application

State of Wisconsin Sheboygan County, ss. On this Fourth — day of August — in the year Eighteen Hundred and fifty four personally appeared before me Charles E Morris Esquire Judge of the County and State aforesaid. Sam Preston a resident of Lyndon in Said County and State aged seventy seven years, who being duly sworn accord- ing to law, doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7 th 1838, entitled An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows, and of the Acts of the 3 d of March 1843 & 17 th June 1844 and of all other Acts of Congress passed since the passage of the said Act of the 7 th July 1838 amending the same, that She is the Widow of Benjamin Preston deceased, who was a Revolutionary Soldier, that he was a Revolutionary During War Soldier, served in a New York Regiment, and received Bounty Land from the State of New York, which he sold about the year 1790, sold his land to some person in Albany as she understood and believes was true. She has heard her Husband relate his services tell of the hardships he endured and the names of many Officers under whom he served, but she does not recollect their names and cannot therefore give their names or a more particular account of his services, but she well recollects he was a During War Soldier and received his Bounty Land in what was then called the Cayuga Country which he sold for a small trifle, and which he always afterwards regretted. — She understood her husband served as a Soldier and does not know that he served in any official capacity

She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Preston on the sixteenth day of May, in the year Seventeen Hundred and Ninety Three. That her name before her said Marriage was Jane Owen, and that her Husband the aforesaid died on the Benjamin Preston died on the 17 th day of August 1827, in Canada that she was married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the Marriage took place previous to the first day of January Seventeen hundred and Ninety four, viz. at the time above stated, that she is still a widow and has not been married since the death of her said Husband. —
She farther says, that there was a family record of her Marriage and the births of her children made in a Book called the Methodist Discipline which was in the family until after the death of her Husband, which she fears has been lost or destroyed and which she has not been able to find. She farther says that the paper hereto annexed is a copy from the family Record mentioned, and she believes it to be a true record of the birth of her said Husband and his first wife, and of their children by that Marriage. She also knows that the record of the death of Dorcas Preston the first wife of the said Benjamin Preston is correct as to the date, and that the deponent was married to the said to the said Benjamin Preston in May following as before stated, that she had the care of the children and will recollect William Preston the youngest child of the family was only about 15 months old at the time of their Marriage, and from her knowledge

of the ages of the Children named in the said Copy annexed. She believes it to be a true Copy or Record of their Births and deaths of the said Benjamin and Dorcas Preston. And from an acquaintance with the said Benjamin Preston and his family she is able previous to the death of his wife Dorcas and her connexion with the family. She is able to testify to the date of her Marriage with as much certainty as she could from a record of the event, if it had been recorded. She was Married in Cambridge by a Man named Harris a Justice of the Peace. who as she has been informed is dead.
Jane her X Preston mark
Sworn to and Subscribed
the day and year above written. Before me
And I also certify that from bodily infirmities incident to old Age the said Jane Preston is not able to attend Court. and that I am not interested in this Claim or concerned in its prosecution.
Charles E. Morris County Judge
Sheboygan County, Wis.
Samuel Lake of Buffalo New York is hereby Appointed my true and lawful Attorney. To obtain my Pension Certificate and to whom I request the same to be forwarded. and also all Communications relating to the same.
Witness
Jane her X Preston mark
Charles E. Morris
James Preston

State of Wisconsin Sheboygan County, Ausborne  Lyrene being duly sworn according to law on her oath says She is personally well acquainted with Jane Preston, who has signed and sworn to the foregoing Declaration, that She is the identi- cal person therein described, that the deponent is sixty seven years of age and resides in Linden in said County, that She is the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Preston and was six years old when her Mother died, that She died in the town of Cambridge Washington County State of New York in the month of February Seventeen hundred ninety three, and her Father and Jane Curen were married in the Spring following. She believes in the month of May. She has a perfect recol- lection of these events, and recollects that when her Father and the said Jane Curen were married, Farmers were ploughing, and during the Spring work and She also remembers that the marriage having taken place so soon after the death of her Mother, the subject was frequently men- tioned by the Neighbors. The Deponent knows that the Record or Copy of the Record hereto attached was copied from the family record in the Book mentioned, and is true; that after the death of her Mother the deponent went to reside with an Aunt by the name of Murray, with whom She resided two or three years, in Arlington Vermont in the neighborhood and near and adjoining the town of Cambridge, and that the family was broken up for a short time, that after the marriage as above stated her Father

and the said Jane Owen moved back into the same place where he had formerly resided into a House owned by a Man by the name of M c Kee, with his children, and in about two years the deponent also went home, and that they resided in the place and her Father worked for M c Kee in the town of Cambridge until the year 1805 when he with his family, (and this deponent,) moved to Canada, and that her Father died at Haldimand in the province of Canada on the 17 th of August 1827, as she has always understood and believes is true, that her Father the said Benjamin Preston and Jane Owen lived together and sustained family relations until his death and that they had a large family of children and the deponent never had any doubt of their being legally married in the month of May 1793 as stated in the foregoing declaration. That the copy of the family record herewith annexed was taken from the Original soon after her Father's death and has been in her the possession since that time, about twenty five years, and she believes it to be a true Record, that at the time of the aforesaid marriage her youngest Brother William was a young child about fifteen months old. These facts are recollected by the deponent, and the date of the death and marriage is in accordance with the Record, her recollection of her own age when the events transpired and the births and ages of the children of the said Jane Owen or Jane Preston after her marriage. The Deponent further says that the said Jane Preston is still a Widow and has

not been married since the death of her said Husband, that she has no interest in making this affidavit or in the claim of the said Jane Preston for a pension. Sworn and Subscribed, mark  Ebenezer  Mark  Ansborne This fourth day of August 1854 Before me and I certify The deponent is a credible witness
Charles E. Morris County Judge Sheboygan Co. Wis.
State of Wisconsin Sheboygan County ss. James Preston being duly sworn according to law, on his oath says, that he is fifty — years of age and resides in Lynden in said County, that he is personally well acquainted with Jane Preston who has signed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, and that she is the identical person therein described.
The deponent is a son of the said Benja- min and Jane Preston and is the sixth child of the family, that his eldest sister is named Dorcas and is the wife of Nehemiah Vail as he believes, was born in Month of February 1794, that his Father the said Benjamin Preston died in Haldimand in the Province of Canada the 17 th of August 1827, and that his Mother the said Jane Preston is still a Widow and has not been married since the death of her Husband, that the deponent is not interested in making this affidavit or in the claim of the said Jane Preston for a pension Sworn and Subscribed James Preston

This fourth day of August in the year 1854 Before me and I certify the Deponent is a credible person —
Charles E. Morris County Judge Sheboygan Co. Wis.
STATE OF WISCONSIN, SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, ss.
I, A. H. EDWARDS, Clerk of the County  Circuit Court for the County and State aforesaid, do HEREBY CERTIFY that Charles E Morris Esq., whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of the proof or acknowledgement of the annexed instrument, and therein written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgement, an acting Judge of the County Court in and for the County of Sheboygan, duly elected and qualified, and authorized to take the same; and further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Judge, and verily believe that the signature to said Certificate is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County  Circuit Court this 7 th day of Aug A. D. 1854.
A. H. Edwards
CLERK.
Have the Clerk's Certificate fasten the Ribbon with a Wafer and Seal of his Office S. L.

Benjamin Preston was born August the 31-1762 Dorcas Preston was born January the 3-1766 Ebenezer Preston was born June the 26-1785 Syrene Preston was born Feb: the 12-1787 Martha Preston was born May the 6-1789 William Preston was born Feb the 10-1792 Dorcas Preston the wife of Benj. Preston Died Feb the 10-1793 Benjamin Died August the 17-1827

State of Wisconsin } Sheboygan County } ss
I James Preston Being July swam according to law on this oath says he is a son of Benjamin and Jane Preston. On examining the signature subscribed to the annexed Deed as Grantor he believes it to be the genuine signature of his Father and in his own proper hand writing, there appears an extra mark in making the P. But the name Benjamin Preston is in the hand writing of his Father as he always wrote it with a long letter P therein - the facts recited in the deed confirm the statement made by his Father and others in relation to his services in the Revolution and the receipt and sale of his Bounty Land in the Cayuga County. The Deponent resides in the Town of Linden Court of Sheboygan and State of Wisconsin is 51 years of age and is not inter- ested in the Claim of said James Preston for a Pension
Sworn and Subscribed this Thirtieth day of August 1855 Before me and I certify Deponent is a cordial Prisoner
James Preston
J. D. Wiggins Justice of the peace.

STATE OF WISCONSIN, } SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, ss.
J. Jacob Quintus
I W. R. Woodruff , Clerk of the CIRCUIT COURT for the County and State aforesaid, do HEREBY CERTIFY that J. D. Wiggin Esq., whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of the proof or acknowledgement of the annexed instrument, and therein written, was at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgement, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Sheboygan, duly elected and qualified, and authorized to take the same; and further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice, and verily believe that the signature to said Certificate is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Circuit Court this 31 st day of August A. D. 1855.
J. Quintus CLERK. By

Y.L.H. Rev. War Section.
October 16, 1920.
Mrs. C. C. Lucas, Athens, Alabama.
Madam:
In response to your letter dated the 24" of July, you are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. File No. 8,449 that Benjamin Preston was born August 31, 1763. His first wife, Dorcas was born January 3, 1766, and their children were: Ebenezer born June 26, 1785. Syrene born February 12, 1787, married William Ausborne. Martha born May 6, 1789 and William born February 10, 1792. His wife Dorcas died February 10, 1793, and soldier married May 16, 1793, at Cambridge, N. Y., Jane daughter of Benjamin Owen. They had a large family of children: James, 6" child, Dorcas born February 20, 1794 in Cambridge, she married Nehemiah Vail, and Benjamin Owen are the only names stated.
In 1805 soldier moved to Canada and died at Haldeman, Canada August 17, 1827, and his widow applied for pension August 4, 1854 while a resident of Lyndon, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, aged seventy-seven years.

It is alleged that he served in the First New York Regiment during the Revolution, dates of service are not stated.
The claim was not allowed for lack of proof of the alleged service.
Very respectfully,
F D Byington
Acting Commissioner.

Ex. EW Div Res War Resction
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C., Aug 18, 1920
The attached letter is respectfully returned with the information that the data furnished is not sufficient to enable this Bureau to make intelligent answer to the queries therein contained.
Please fill out such of the blank spaces below as the information in your possession will permit, and return to this Bureau.
No. of claim, _____ Full _____ Name of soldier, Benjamin Preston Name of Widow Jane Owen 2nd  Florcas 1st P.O. address of claimant, _____  Am not able to Company give Company Regiment or Reg. State where enlisted N.H. or Conn. Approximate dates of birth & death _____
If unable to furnish company and regiment give names of commanding officers.
Scout under Washington.
Return attached letter with reply.
F. D. Byington
Commissioner.
(over)

Benjamin P. Hudson was born in New York state about 1761 died in Haldimand Canada in Aug. 1827. It is said he has served all during the Rev War as a Scout in Washington's Army.
Mrs C. C. Lucas Athens Ala
Shaw Co. N.Y. Sept 11 1920

80 Preston V.B.
Watson } Preston for Lot N o 80 in the township of Scipio 600 acres 17 Mar 1790
Registered 1 May 1795- Page 164- 383 Pg 4!
Entered for Record December 24 th 1798
Benjamin Preston [Signature]
Preston, Benj. N.Y. R 7449

This Indenture,
Made the Seventeenth
day of Nov r in the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and ninety
BETWEEN Benjamin Breton
Late a Soldier in the first New York Reg t
of the first part, and
Marah Watson of the City of Albany merchant
of the second
part WITNESSETH, That the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of fifteen pounds
to him in hand paid, by the said party of the second part,
the receipt whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged; HAS granted, bargained, sold, remised, released, aliened and confirmed unto the said party of the second part, in his actual possession now being, by virtue of a bargain, sale and lease, to him thereof made, by the said party of the first part, by indenture, bearing date the day next before the day of the date of these presents, and by force of the laws for transferring of uses into possession, and to his heirs and assigns for ever,
ALL that certain tract or Lot of Land situate
lying & being in the township of Scipio in the County of Montgomery known & distinguished on a map of the said township filed by the surveyor General in the Secretarys Office of the State of New York agreeable to Law
containing Six hundred Acres
as by Sitten patent May
dated 8 th July 1790
TOGETHER with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, remainder, rents, issues and profits thereof; and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim and whatsoever, of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity, of, in and to the above bargained premises, with the said hereditaments and appurtenances. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, the said hereditaments and appurtenances hereby granted unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, to the sole and only proper use, benefit and behoof of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns for ever.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, the said hereditaments and appurtenances hereby granted unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, to the sole and only proper use, benefit and behoof of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns for ever. In witness whereof, the parties to these presents, have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals, the day and year first above written.
IN WITNESS whereof, the parties to these presents, have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals, the day and year first above written.
SEALED and DELIVERED, } In the PRESENCE of }
Ebenezer Williams In Manselaer
Benj r Breton

Be it known that on the Twenty Eighth Day of November One Thousand Seven hundred and ninety One appeared before me Jeremiah Lansingh one of the Notaries in Chancery for the State of New York Jeremiah Lansingh - who being sworn deponeth and saith that he saw Benjamin Piston sign seal and deliver this Instrument for the Purposes therein mentioned and that he this Deponent together with Ebenezer Williams signed the Same as Witnesses and I having examined the same and finding no Ragures or Interlineations therein do allow the Same to be recorded Jer. Lansingh
And I further certify that on the Twenty Seventh day of September One Thousand Seven hundred and ninety Eight appeared before me Jeremiah van Renselaer aforesaid to me known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing Instrument Benjamin Piston the Grantor to be the Person within described and that executed the Same. Jer. Lansingh

May 29/ 30-

Pension Office
May 29 1855
Sir
The application of Jane Preston widow of Benjamin of Wisconsin has been examined and filed under the act of July 7 1838.
She must be clearly identified as the widow of the soldier of her husband's name, either by the testimony of witnesses who served with him and can satisfactorily describe his services or the land which he received from the State of NY and from the U State must be so traced as to show conclusively that her husband was its recipient.
Samuel Lake Esq Buffalo NY

Pension Office
October 9 1855
Sir
The additional evidence forwarded by you in the case of Jane Preston of Wisconsin has been fixed examined and filed with her papers under the Act of July 7 1838.
It is not sufficient to justify the allowance of the case. An assumed similarity of handwriting is very slender proof, for that may be purely accidental, but I certainly can not consent to allow a case upon the supposed resemblance of a signature to a Deed with remembered writing, when it is not pretended that the witness had any specimens for comparison. I would consent to rely upon the judgment of other people in such cases, the specimens must be presented before me for inspection. I do not hesitate to say that I do not place much reliance in such testimony. —

I want direct proof of the service for which a pension is claimed or I want the land so clearly traced that there can be no reasonable doubt as to the identity of the parties,
1838 NY Wisconsin,
Samuel Lake
Feb. 9. 1835.
Samuel Lake Esq
Buffalo NY

Jane Preston Rev. C. Clance Act 1838 Additional Testimony

U. S. BOUNTY LAND AND PENSION AGENCY, No. 156½ Main Street,
Buffalo, Sept. 27. 1855.
J. Minot Esq Comr. of Pensions
Sir - I send you herewith the Deed from Benjamin Preston for his Bounty Land received of New York for Revolutionary Service, with proof of his hand writing, also an affidavit of two owners of part of his lot, I hope this additional proof will be satis- factory, and that the claim will be allowed - The Report upon this claim is dated 29 May last - The Deed is obtained by me as Special Deputy Clerk and which I wish returned when the claim is decided allowed -
Respectfully Yours Samuel Lake

No 1529
Jane Preston
Widow of Benjamin
Wisconsin
San Lake May 29 185.
Jan 1853
Hon. C. Billingshurst
Apr 16/58
8449
July 7 1838

Benjamin Preston to Elkanah Watson Deed dated 17 th November 1790 Consideration 15 Pounds Conveys Lot Number 80 80 Township of Scipio County of Cayuga, Containing Sixty acres Six hundred acres, as by letters Patent dated 8 July 1790
Filed 1 May 1795
State of New York Cayuga County Clerk's office fr: I do hereby certify that the above is an abstract of a deed on file in my office In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and official seal this 15. day of May 1855. Edwin B Marvin Clerk Cayuga County

1920 Oct. 16 Fish. To Mrs. C. C. Lucas.
REJECTED
8449.
P. O. _____
Ann Preston
Service: widow
Benjamin Preston
Enlisted: N. Y. service, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: Claim filed too late to be on printed list
Re-enlisted: of Rejections.
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contr.
May 11 98
Miss R A Berry
Minneapolis Minn.

Pension Office, April 16. 1858.
Sir,
In relation to the claim for pension of Jane Preston, widow of Benjamin, I have the honor to state that all the evidence now on file, having been before my predecessor at the time he disallowed the claim, I do not feel authorized to disturb his decision. Mr. Lake also refers to other evidence bearing upon the question of identity, the point at issue. Upon filing such evidence the claim will be carefully reexamined and the result reported. I herewith return, agreeably to your request, the papers sent by you, including the letter from this office of the 9 th October 1855, which gives the reasons for the suspension of the claim. by at that time.
C. Hon. Billinghurst House of Reps.
With great respect Y o C

U. S. BOUNTY LAND AND PENSION AGENCY, No. 156½ Main Street,
Buffalo, May 16 1855.
S r . Waldo Esq. Com r . of Pensions
Sir — I forward herewith a claim for Widows Pension which I believe is a fair claim and have no doubt on that point. I think it probable the department may require more proof in relation to the personal identity of the man — It is very difficult to prove ordinary transactions more than 60 years past where there are no records, but in this case so far as the marriage is concerned I think it is very clearly proved by the testimony of witnesses who were in a position to know the facts to which they testify, and which are in close connection with records of other events of that period that shows the witnesses to be correct as to the dates and corroborate the statement of the Applicant —
The McKie family were wealthy farmers at the close of the Revolution, and the witnesses Mrs. Reid and John McKie are as intelligent and respectable persons as are found anywhere — From the testimony of the Applicant and Mrs. Ausborn I think there can be no doubt that the record attached is a correct record of the events stated, and the witnesses are all reputable members of Christian Churches —
Altho Mrs. Reid and Mrs. Ausborn were young their connection and situation were such, that, death, a 2 d marriage, and births of children, particularly those

with whom they were connected and intimately acquainted, on events that would be very likely to be remembered, and which would leave a durable or strong impression upon the mind of such, probably as durable as at any other period of life. And they are playmates and school mates from infancy to womanhood -
I hope for a favourable report, and if further proof is required will endeavour to procure it
Respectfully Yours Samuel Lake

State of New York Cayuga County
William Stewart and Robert Stewart being duly sworn according to Law on their oaths say that William Stewart is 67 years and that Robert Stewart is 71 years of age. reside on and own a part of lot 80 in the town of Ledyard (formerly Sapiac) in said County. that the whole lot contained 600 acres and is in the New York Military tract, so called. allotted and patented to Soldiers for services in the Revolutionary War. That the Land owned by the deponents was purchased by Robert Stewart, the Father of the deponents, who is now dead, of Elkanah Watson of Albany the deed is dated the 14 th day of March 1795. The deponents always understood the lot was patented to a Soldier and have been informed by the Clerk of said County of Cayuga that there is a deed on record in his office from Benjamin Preston late a Soldier of the 1 st New York Regiment to Elkanah Watson of the City of Albany for Lot 80 dated 17 th November 1790. The deponents never had any personal knowledge of the said Elkanah Watson or Benjamin Preston and are not interested in making this affidavit Sworn and subscribed
this 22 nd day of September 1835 before me And I
Certify that the deponents Robert Stewart are Credible Witnesses
H. W. Dayton Justice of the peace in and for the County of Cayuga

State of New York Cayuga County Clerk's Office ss I do hereby certify that Halsey W Taylor Esq was at the time of taking the foregoing affidavit a justice of the Peace in and for Cayuga County and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said justice and truly believe the foregoing to be his genuine signature.
In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and official seal this 24 th day of September 1855 E D Marvin Clerk Cayuga County

Rev Sec Athens, Ala. July 24 th 1920
Will you please look up the Rev. War records of Benjamin Preston my great grandfather who went I think from York State. It is handed down that he served as a scout for Washington. Mrs Fannie Sanderson of Minneapolis and Mrs Esther Ostrander of Plymouth are N. A. R. members through this same ancestor.
I am anxious to know also if I can get a line on my father's side. He was a Peck of N. Y. and his mother was a Thorne.
Very Sincerely Yours Mrs. C. C. Lucas

State of Wisconsin } Sheboygan County ss }
William Ausbourn being duly sworn according to Law on his Oath says that he resides in the Town of Linden Sheboygan County and State of Wisconsin and is Seventy Eight years of age. That he became acquainted with Benjamin Preston (the Husband of Sarah Preston now residing in this County) in the year 1805, that he was well acquainted with him for many years and had Business transactions with him and was well acquainted with his hand writing. The deponent always understood that the said Benjamin Preston had been a Revolutionary Soldier and had received and sold his Bounty Land, and recollect conversation with him in relation to the same. The Deponent has examined the signature to the annexed Deed and verily believes the same subscribed as the Grantor is the genuine signature of Benjamin Preston and has no doubt of the fact, that the fact recited in the deed in relation to the Service and the Location of the Bounty Land in the Cayuga Country confirm the report and information received from Mr Preston and the family during the first years -

- of his acquaintance with them The Deponent has been intimately acquainted with the family having Married Cyrene Preston, a Daughter of the said Benjamin Preston by his first wife. In the year 1805 that the family formerly resided in Cambridge Washington County New York from which place they moved to Canada where the said Benjamin Preston died many years since. The Deponent has no interest in making this deposition or in the claim of Jane Preston for a Pension.
Sworn and Subscribed to William Husbourn Thirtieth day of August 1800 Before me and I certify the Deponent is a credible person J. D. Maggin Justice of the peace.

State of New York 2 Washington County ss. Sarah Reid being duly sworn according to law on her oath says, that she now resides in Argyle in said County, was born the 24 th of November 1785 according to the family record of her Father's family, and therefore is nearly sixty nine years of age, that she is the Daughter of James McKee and during her minority she resided in Cambridge in said County with her Father & Mother, that she well remembers Benjamin Preston who was a tenant and resided in a House owned by her father for many years and worked for her father, and a part of the time tended his Gristmill, she does not remember the children of the family they were Ebenezer, Cyrus, Martha and William the youngest, who was a baby about a year old at the death of Mr. Preston; that Dorcas Preston, wife of the said Benjamin Preston died while living in the House owned by her Father and she well recollects the circumstances attending the death, that it occurred in the winter when the snow was deep, but she has no means of ascertaining and cannot state the date of the death that the said Preston then took his children to his friends, thinks he took them to a Mr. Murray a sister of Mr. Preston and they left the neighborhood for a few months — In the Spring following the deponent well recollects that Mr. Preston came to her Father and informed

him that he had driven his cow back, and wanted to move back into his house which he had heretofore occupied and work for him as usual, or as he had done, that he there informed them that he had married Jane Ourn, (commonly called Jennie), and that the deponent recollected from her own knowledge that the marriage took place in the Spring after the death of his first wife, and that Mr. Preshow stated that it was necessary at time to marry that his children regained a mother, and that the marriage, so soon after the death occasioned talk in the neighborhood at the time - that from that time they lived together and sustained the relations of husband and wife and had several children before they moved from the place. The deponent says that the first child of this marriage was named Dorcas after the first wife, that she was born in the winter after the marriage; that the deponent had a sister born September 18, 1793 named Elizabeth, as appears by the family Record of her father's family, and that these two children were nearly of the same size and age and the deponent believes there was but a few months difference in their ages, but has no means of ascertaining the exact date of the birth of the child Dorcas Preshow - That they resided in said town and on the farm of the father of this deponent

many years and then moved to Canada as the deponent was informed and believes was true, and that when they moved away Cyrene was a young woman sixteen or seventeen years of age, and the deponent was about 18 or 19 years old. That from comparing the ages of the children of said Preston with those of her father's family which are recorded, in their family records, and according to her own recollections of the events she believes the marriage of the said Benjamin Preston and Jane Owen took place in the Spring of the year 1793, but she has no means of arriving at the date of said marriage more particularly than as above stated — That she has no interest in making this deposition or in the pension claimed by said Jane Preston Sworn and subscribed this 5 th day of July 1854      Sarah Reid Before me —
E Campbell justice of the peace
I certify that I am personally acquainted with the the Deponent, that she is a person of good character and a credible Witness. — — — — —
E Campbell JP

STATE OF NEW YORK, } WASHINGTON COUNTY, } ss.
I, NATHANIEL B. MILLIMAN, Clerk of said County, do hereby certify that E. C. Campbell Esquire, whose name is subscribed to the certificate of acknowledgment of  of Small on the annexed instrument in writing, was on the day of the date of the said cer- tificate, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly elected and sworn and qualified by law to take the proof and acknowledgment of deeds, &c., and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice, and verily believe the signature to said certificate to be genuine. And that the annexed instrument is executed and acknowl- edged according to the laws of this State.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said County, this 7th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty- four
N B Milliman Clerk.

State of Wisconsin Sheboygan County } S.S.
Dorcas Vail being duly sworn according to law, on her oath says, that she resides in the Town of Lyndon in said County, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Jane Preston, and is sixty years of age according to the knowledge she had from her mother, and as always understood and believed by the deponent, having been born the 20 th day of February 1794, in Cambridge Washington County, State of New-York, (and that her age is so recorded in her own family record) that she is the eldest child of the said Benjamin and Jane Preston, that her father died in Waldernand in the Province of Canada on or about the 17 th day of August 1827, the deponent attended his funeral, that her mother Jane Preston is yet living in said County, of Sheboygan and is still a widow, is unmarried, and has not been married since the death of her said husband.
The deponent is not interested in making this affidavit or in the claim of the said Jane Preston for a pension. Sworn & Subscribed this 9 th day of September 1854 before me. And I certify the deponent is a credible person -
Dorcas her Vail marks
Charles E. Morris County Judge

STATE OF WISCONSIN,
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, ss.
I, A. H. EDWARDS, Clerk of the COUNTY COURT for the County and State aforesaid, do HEREBY CERTIFY that Charles F. Morris Esq., whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of the proof or acknowledgement of the annexed instrument, and therein written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgement, an acting Judge of the County Court in and for the County of Sheboygan, duly elected and qualified, and authorized to take the same; and further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Judge, and verily believe that the signature to said Certificate is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County Court this 28 th day of November A. D. 1854.
A. H. Edwards
CLERK.

State of New York Washington County } John McKim being duly sworn says, on his oath that he resides in the town of White Creek (formerly Cambridge) in said County where he was born on the first day of June 1789 and was sixty five years of age last June, that he was acquainted with Benjamin Preston and his family from early childhood, that he the said Preston was a tenant of this deponents father, and resided in a house owned by and near to this deponent's father's residence, that said Preston's eldest children's names were, Ebenezer, Syrene, Martha and William, these were his children by his first wife, who died while this deponent was young, and this deponent does not recollect any circumstances attending her death. This deponent recollects that William Preston was younger, and Ebenezer and Syrene were older than this deponent, that after the death of his wife Mr Preston married Jane Owen (who was usually called Jennie Owen) that their first child by this marriage was named Dorease, the second Benjamin Owen after Mrs Preston's father. This deponent has a perfect recollection of these children and the circumstances relating to the same, having been brought up together & attended the same schools with them, and labored on his father's farm with them. Although this deponent does not remem- ber the death of Mr Preston's first wife, he does remember that with his earliest re- collection, he understood and believed

that the mother of the elder children died at the same house that they lived in afterwards, and that the family continued to reside upon the property of and labor for the father of this deponent, until he and his family moved from the place to the Province of Canada, some few years after the year 1800. It was well remembered and believed that Benjamin Preston, had been a revolutionary soldier, and at this day this deponent remembers well, the deep interest he felt in the history of the revolution and the Indian war which followed is related by Mr Preston, in which he participated, and this deponent never had any doubt of the facts he related, relating to the war, as he was a man of strict integrity, and good moral and Christian character.
This deponent further says that he has his father's family record, and that a sister of this deponent named Elisabeth was born September 18 th 1793, and that the birth is recorded as follows. "Elisabeth McKie was born September 18 th 1793" and that the birth of this deponent is also recorded as follows "John McKie was born June 1 st 1789" and that it is the true record of the family as this deponent believes -
And this deponent further says that Ireas Preston the first child of James Preston was born a short time after the birth of his sister Elisabeth, and he knows there could have been but a few months difference between their ages, they were infants

together, and this deponent well remembers these facts, and having reference thereto and the recorded dates so far as regards his own family, he believes the said Benjamin Preston & Jane Owen were married in the year 1793, and now has no doubt of the fact, that he has no interest in making this affidavit, or in the claim of Jane Preston for a pension -
Sworn & subscribed this John M cRae 5 th day of March 1855
Before me -
Herman K Sharpe
Justice of the Peace
I also certify that the above deponent is a man of good character and a credible witness, also that I have examined the family record, referred to in the foregoing affidavit, that the extracts as above stated are truly copied therefrom, & I believe it is a genuine family record, & that I have no interest in the claim -
Herman K Sharpe
Justice of the Peace
STATE OF NEW-YORK, WASHINGTON COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, } ss.
I do hereby certify that Herman K Sharpe Esquire, whose name is subscribed to the Affidavit & Certificate hereto annexed, was on the 5 th day of March 1855, the date thereof, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly elected, sworn and qualified by law to act as such
and that the signature of said Justice thereto is genuine.
Justice
subscribed
WITNESS my hand and seal of said County this 17 th day of March A. D. 1855
A B McMillan Clerk.

State of New York
SECRETARY'S OFFICE
Albany Dec. 2 nd 1834.
I certify that it appears from the Military Register of the New York Continental Line in the Army of the Revolution, remaining in this office, that Benjamin Boston enlisted in Capt. Sanitwood's Company, in the Third Regiment, on the 8 th day of February 1779. to serve for three years, and mustered to the end of the war.
A. G. Johnson, Dep. Sec. of State,

State of New York
SECRETARY'S OFFICE
Albany Dec. 2 d = 1854.
I certify that Benjamin Preston, a soldier in the New York Continental Line of the Army of the Revolution, in Capt. Swartwout's Company, 3 d Regiment, received bounty land from this State, and that Lot No. 80. in township No. 12. of the Military Tract, containing six hundred acres, was allotted to him, and a patent for the same was issued to him July 8. 1790, which is recorded in Book of Military patents No. 6. at page 2.
Given under my hand and seal of office at the city of Albany this 2 d day of December 1854.
Alb. J. Johnson, Dep. Sec. of State,

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Preston, Benjamin GRADE Private LINE New York
WARRANT NUMBER 7626 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Jan. 5, 1791 to — not shown —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.