Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21934, for Benjamin Peckham, Rhode Island

SERVICE
NUMBER
P. d
Peckham, Benjamin Mary
N. 21934.
CONTENTS

Isaac 31.20
Mary Peckham
Widow of Benjamin Peckham R.I. who was a pensioner under the Act of 18 March 18 and who died on the 31 st Oct 1823 at Washington in the State of R. Island who was a P er in the County commanded by Captain An d of the R gt commanded by L t Col t in the R. Island time for 12 mo.
Inscribed on the Roll of R. Island at the rate of 40 Dollars - Cents per annum to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th day of June 39, in the 4 th year of J. W. Knight Secretary, R. Island.
Arrears to the 4 th of March - $120.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 20.00 $140.00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by R. Purvis Clerk, Book A Vol. 2 Page 19.

Rhode Island 17.785 P.
Benjamin Peckham, of Wash n Co ty in the state of Rh: Island, was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Lippett, of the Rhode Island line, for the term of one year.
Inscribed on the Roll of Rhode Island , at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 11. of April, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18. of Sept. 1820, sent to Amos Cross, agent, Westerly, Rhode Island.
  Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1820.  $: 230.40    Semi-ann. all ce ending 4. March  48 "    28 mo. \frac{24 \text{ } 9 \text{ } 1821}{30.}  278.40  
{ Revolutionary claim, { Act 18th March, 1818. }
continued
Notification sent 28th June 1821 to Amos Cross, Westerly, R.I.

May Peckham R.I.
at July 38
msd 23-
about 12 mo pri 40 P
no deduction
J. W. Knight Westerly R.I.
with
Matthew White Webb

War Department,
PENSION OFFICE, No. 17,785 June 28 th 1821.
SIR :
You are hereby informed that the Schedule of your property has been examined, and the Secretary of War has directed your name to be continued on the Pension Roll.
You will be paid, at the ensuing semi-annual payment in September next, the sum that may be then due from the time of suspending your pension. Funds for the purpose will be transmitted at that time; but no arrearages will be paid previous thereto.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards
To Mr. Benjamin Peckham, of Westerly, R.I. Care of Amos Croft, Esq. Westerly, Rhode Island.
on the thirty first day of December, eighteen hundred

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7 th July 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
State of Rhode Island } County of Washington } ss.
On this eight day of January A D 1839 personally appeared before George D. Crops Esq. one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas for the County aforesaid being a Court of record and having a Clerk and Seal Mary Peckham, a resident of Westerly in the County of Washington aforesaid, aged eighty six years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838. entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows." That she is the widow of Benjamin Peckham, who was a Soldier of the Revolution and late of said Westerly deceased; that her said husband, the said Benjamin Peckham enlisted (as this declarant is informed and believes) into the company of Capt Thomas Jenckes and in the Regiment of Col. Sipsit, in the winter of the year 1776, and served in said Company and Regiment during the term of one year, and that he was a pensioner of the United States under the Act of Congress of March 18 th 1818, and received a pension of eight dollars per month from the eleventh day of April 1818 to the fourth day of September 1821, since which time no payment has been received, and her Husband's certificate is herewith annexed. She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Peckham on the eleventh day of June seventeen hundred and eighty five, that her husband, the aforesaid Benjamin Peckham died on the thirty first day of December, eighteen hundred

twenty three; that she was not 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 before stated.
William York George D. Cross
her Mary J. Peckham mark
Sworn and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before George D. Cross Justice Court Common Pleas-
I also certify that the said affiant, Mary Peckham, is known to me, that she is a person of veracity and in my opinion her testimony, and the preceding declaration are entitled to credit; and that I have taken the preceding declaration of the said Mary Peckham at her residence in said Westerly, because by reason of her infirm health, she is unable to go abroad to attend a Court of Record
George D. Cross Justice of the Court Common Pleas

Nathan Bliven of Westerly in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island, being duly cautioned and sworn, deposeth and saith, that he is seventy seven years of age, that he was acquainted with Benjamin Peckham of Westerly, now deceased; that he was at the house of said Peckham at the time of his death, which occurred, according to deponents best recollection some time in the month of December, fourteen or fifteen years ago; that he attended his funeral, the day after his death, but cannot be positive as to the precise time.
Deponent further says, that, he well knows Mary Peckham, widow of said Benjamin Peckham, that she now resides in Westerly, and has not married since the death of her said husband, but now remains his widow.
Nathan Bliven
State of Rhode Island
County of Washington } ss. January 8 th 1839.
Personally appeared the above named Nathan Bliven who gave and subscribed the preceding deposition and made solemn oath to the truth of the same.
I certify that the said Nathan Bliven is well known to me, that he is a person of veracity, and that his testimony is entitled to credit.
Ed. W. Knight Justice of the Peace

Mary Bliorn of Westerly in the County of Washington and State of Rhode Island, being duly cautioned and sworn, testifies and says, that she is sixty five years of age; that she was acquainted with Benjamin Peckham late of Westerly, now deceased; that said Peckham lived a near neighbor to this deponent at the time of his death, and deponent was at his funeral, which was fifteen years ago, the fore part of this winter; this the deponent knows by the age of her grand-daughter, Nancy Willcox, who was born in the August before said Peckham's death, and she was fifteen years old last August. Deponent further says, that she well knows Mary Peckham, widow of said Benjamin Peckham, that she now resides in Westerly aforesaid, that she has not married since the death of her said husband, and now remains his widow.
Mary Bliorn
State of Rhode Island }
County of Washington } ss. January 8 th 1839.
Personally appeared Mary Bliorn, subscribed to the foregoing deposition, and made solemn oath in due form of Law to the truth of the same. I also certify that said Mary Bliorn is a person of truth and veracity, and that her deposition is entitled to credit. —
Ed. W. Knight Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify that Benjamin Peckham son of Mr Isaac Peckham and Mary Ball daughter of Mr Isaac Ball both of Westerly in the County of Washington were Lawfully joined together in Marriage "on the eleventh day of June Anno Domini One Thousand Seven hundred and eighty five. By me the subscriber Joseph Brandal Justice Peace
Entered June 12 th 1785
W. Joseph Brandal Town Clerk.
State of Rhode Island } ss Westerly January the 7 th A.D. 1839. Washington County — } I Jesse Manson Clerk of the Town of Westerly in the County of Washington aforesaid do hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the Record with the exception of the date of the year which is expressed in fair Legible figures as follows. (P g ) "1785"
Certified By Jesse Manson Town Clerk.
I Jesse Manson above named depose and say that I hold the Office of Town Clerk of the Town of Westerly above mentioned and that the above is a true extract Taken from the Records of said Town, as certified by me
Attest Jesse Manson Town Clerk
Sworn to before me
Decc. W. Knight Justice of the Peace

4523
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Newington ss Clerk's Office Courts of Common Pleas January 11 th 1839
I hereby Certify that George D Cross Esquire is one of the Associate Justices of the Court of Common Pleas for the County & State aforesaid and that the foregoing Signature purporting to be his and attached to the Declaration of Mary Pickham are Genuine, I also Certify that Gideon W Knight Esq r is one of the Justices of the Pleas for the Town of Westerly in the County aforesaid and that the foregoing Signature purporting to be his to the Certificate to the Deposition of Nathan Oliver and Mary Oliver and to the Certificate of John Maxon as Town Clerk of Westerly are Genuine. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Court the Day and Year Above written
Matthew Write Clerk

State of Rhoadstone Washington county Pa on this 11 th day of April A D 1818 before me the subscriber one one of the judges of the court of commonpleas for the county of Washington and state of Rhoadstone personally appeared Benjamin Peck Peckham Resident in the town of Westerly and county Aforesaid, being aged and infirm who being by me first duly sworn accord- ing to Law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval services of the United States in the revolutionary war that he the said Benjamin Peckham enlisted in the town of Westerly in the state of Rhoadstone in the month of Janua- ry, A D 1776 under Ensign Thomas Sages in the company com- manded by Capt Agustus Stanton in the Regiment commanded by Col Henry Babcock afterward the Regiment was com- manded by Col Christopher Lippet in the Rhoadstone line and joined the army at Newport Rhoadstone and from thence to New York, encamped at Harlem heights under general Washington for a time West Chester White Plains & was in the battle at the white plains and from thence to the Peekskill hills and there remained until he was discharged in January A D 1777 that he is now in reduced circumstances and unable to labour and is now supported by charity and needs the assistance of his country for support Sworn to and Declared before me the day and year above said Col Thomas Sages also testifies and says that on oath that the foregoing statement is all true as he was a Lieutenant in the same company at the same time — I Daniel Babcock judge &c as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Benjamin Peckham did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the foregoing Declaration against the common enemy

Enemy and I now transmit the testimony and proceedings had and taken before me to the Secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the directions of the Act for the maintenance of Congress.
Given under my hand and seal of office the day and year above said Daniel Babcock Judge of the court of Common Pleas
I certify that Daniel Babcock Esq. is one of the Justices of said Court of Common Pleas, and that the Seal here impressed is the true Seal of said Court.
May 5. 1818 Witness Thomas R. Wells Clerk of said Court
Moses Peckham
State of Rhode Island & Washington County S.S. I hereby certify that Benjamin Peckham who made the within declaration now is a very poor man and is in indigent circumstances, has been for some time confined to his bed and has been assisted by the Green Westbury for several years past in the support of himself & family. Dated at Westbury this 21 st day of July 1820. Amos C. G. C. B. Peckham
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations } Washington } Clerk's Office Court. Common Pleas. July. 21. 1820
I certify that the Honorable Amos C. G. Esq. whose signature is hereunto affixed is Chief Justice of the Court. Aforesaid legally chosen and qualified as the law requires that full faith & credit ought to be given to his certificate throughout the United States & elsewhere. & that the seal here impressed is the true Seal of the Court. Aforesaid. Witness Sam. Helm Clerk of said Court.
Moses Peckham

Benjamin Peckham
17.785 2 March 1821
Can D.E.

State of Rhode-Island & Providence-Plantations.
Washington County sc — Court of Common Pleas , Supreme Judicial Court. April Term, A. D. 1821
ON this Twenty eighth day of April 1821, personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of Record within and for the County of Washington in the State of Rhode-Island, &c. Benjamin Pickham aged about eighty four Years residing in the Town of Westerly in said County who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his Oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows:—
That he served in Capt. Thomas Arnold's company in Col. Christopher Ssepette's Regiment in the Rhode Island line one Year.
That he made a previous Declaration on the Eleventh Day of April 1818, and that he has received a Certificate for a Pension, being No. 17,785 — And in pursuance of the Act of Congress, passed May 1st, 1820, I do solemnly swear, That I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; And that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Witn: Saml. Helme
Benjamin his X Pickham Mark
A SCHEDULE of Property and Income, (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) of
Benjamin Pickham — 1 Old base draws without Trimming 1 Loom and Tackling Reel Wheel and Swifts Warping Bars 6 Old Flat Back Chairs 2 Chests 1 Box 1 Table 2 Stands 1 Iron Shovel 1 pair bellows 1 Carpenter board 2 Wash Tubs 1 Dye Tub 2 Old barrels 1 Old Axe 3 Iron pots (small) 1 Tea Kettle 2 Sugar Boxes 1 Wooden Bowl 1 powder fluter 3 powder plates 4 powder Pans 6 Earthen plates 1 Earthen Platter 6 Cups & Saucers 5 Knives & forks 6 powder horns 1 bottle 1 Motor Wood 1 pair flat Irons all the above Articles an Old amounting to $11.95 6 1/4 And this declarant further says, that he is a Common Labourer but has been part-Labour for many Years that his family consists of a Wife Aged Sixty Eight Years who is growing very infirm that they have been partly supported by the Town of Westerly for a Number of Years past previous to his receiving a pension and should that be taken from him he must resort to the same means for the support of his family.
Witn: Saml. Helme
Benjamin his X Pickham Mark
Sworn to and declared, on the Twenty eighth day of April 1821 before the Supreme Judicial Court of State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Washington , sc. Clerk's Office of the Court of Common Pleas . Supreme Judicial Court A D 1821
I John Segar Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas  Supreme Judicial Court for the County of Washington in the State of Rhode-Island, &c. do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the Records of said Court; — And I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the amount in value of the Property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, is Eleven Dollars, and Ninety Five Cents. —
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this Twenty eighth Day of April 1821
John Segar Clerk of said Court.

Winstery April 30 th free
Hon. John C. Calhoun
Secy of War
Washington
162 P.O. P.O. 44 1234
John

Woburn April 30 1821
Sir,
I herewith transmit to the Subj of near the Declaration of Brigs Parker here for a renewal of his pension with every mark of respect I am Sir, Your Obedient Servant

Payable on the 4th March and 4th September of each year, by the U. S. Branch Bank, in Providence, R. Island, No pension is payable until the arrival of one or the other of the above dates, after the issue of a Certificate.
Payable up to the 4 th of March, 1820 - Before any payment thereafter, a schedule of property must be exhibited.
Registered, by J. H. Henshaw Clerk, in book B, volume page 23

War Department.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I CERTIFY that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, Benjamin Peekham, of Washington County, Rhode-Island, _____ " _____ late a private _____ " _____ in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Rhode-Island Agency, at the rate of Eight dollars per month, to commence on the Eleventh day of April , — one thousand eight hundred and Eighteen .
GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this Eighteenth day of September , one thousand eight hundred and twenty .
J. C. Calhoun
Secretary of War.

17, 248.
Benjamin Peekham, Washington Co: R. I.
11. April, 1818.
Col: Christopher Siprett's reg t R. I. line, one year, 1776.
Service proved by the testimony of two credible witnesses.
Admitted.
Amos Croft, agent, Westerly, R. I. Rec d . 11. Aug t . 1820.

New London County ss. 3 Personally appeared Billings Burtch of Stonington, county aforesaid, and being cautioned and sworn, deposeth and saith that he enlisted in the month of January in the Year 1776, a Sergeant in Capt Augustus Stanton's Company afterwards Capt Thomas Arnold's Company in the Regiment commanded by Col. Henry Babcock afterwards commanded by Col. Christopher Lippitt of the Rhode Island Line, and that Benjamin Peckham of Westerly State of Rhode Island, enlisted on or about the same time a Private in the same Company and served one year with the deponent when they were both honorably dis- charged at Peekskill State of New York. - This fifteenth day of July A.D. 1820.
Before me
Isaac Treadwell Justice of the Peace
I certify that Billings Burtch the above named de- ponent has resided a number of years, and now resides in Stonington, State of Connecticut. That he is a man of integrity and veracity, and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his affidavits. - Dated at Stoning- ton 15 th July 1820
Isaac Treadwell
State of Rhode Island & Washington ss.
I certify that I am personally acquainted with Billings Burtch the above named deponent who is considered as a man of undoubted truth & veracity said I certify this 4 th day of August 1820
Amos Root B. J. B. C. P.

Daniel Stanton of Charlestown in the county of Washington on oath testifies as follows That he enlisted in January 1776 for one year a Private in the Revolutionary war Augustus Stanton's company who was succeeded by Capt Thomas Arnold In the Regiment commanded by Col Henry Babcock afterwards commanded by Col Christopher Lippitt in the Rhode Island line That about the same time the deponent enlisted he was knowing to the best of his knowledge of Benjamin Parker of said Westerly as a Private in said company for the same length of time That he was knowing to the faithful service of the said Benjamin in said company & Regiment until nearly the close of the year when the deponent was taken sick That the deponent has no doubt but that the said Benjamin served his time out faithfully, for according to the best of his recollection he saw a written discharge in the hands of the said Benjamin from the above service after the year expired Daniel Stanton
State of Rhode Island &c Washington County ss
At Westerly on the 4 th day of August 1820 In his proper person came Daniel Stanton subscribed to the fore- going declaration who after being duly sworn made solemn affirmation to the truth of the same Before Amos (20) 6. p. 6. b. Phat
I certify that Daniel Stanton before subscribed to the foregoing deposition is a man of the most undeniable truth & veracity given at Westerly this 4 day of August 1820 Amos (20) 6. p. 6. b. Phat

From Jany 1776 to Jany 1777

Rev WIDOW, &c.
Sept 10 '96 Ep by Aspinwall
File No. 26934 Mary Beckham Widow of Benjamin Peckham Prv. Rev. War.
Act July 9 th 1838 Index : Vol. 16 , Page 123
7
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Hon J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington

Westerly R.I. Jan'y 14. 1839
Sir, Herewith I forward the declaration and accompanying documents of Mrs. Mary Peckham, widow of Benjamin Peckham, and hope they will be found correct, and satisfactory, to the Department. I shall be glad to hear from you on the subject as soon as convenient.
Very Respectfully
Your Ob't Servt
Ed. W. Knight
Hon J. E. Edwards