Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7937, for Benjamin Parker, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Parker Benjamin
R. 7937
CONTENTS

✓ Benjamin Parkers Declaration.
New York
N.Y.
Hon. R.P. Marvin
AR
Sam l . A. Brown Canastown N.Y.

State of New York } Chautauqua County } ss-
On this fourteenth day of February 1838 personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the court of Common Pleas of said county, now sitting, Benjamin Parker a resident of the town of Elmy, in said county, and State aforesaid aged seventy three 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 act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 -
That he entered the service of the United States at the Town of Plainfield, County of Windham and State of Connecticut, about the middle of May 1781, that his father Thomas Parker was a teamster in the service of the United States, that he had two yoke of oxen and a cart, that his father contracted with government to serve as a teamster for six months that this deponent then about sixteen years old, took the place of his father that he took said two yoke of oxen and cart and went to Providence Rhode Island, that they took their loading then and went to White Plains in the state of New York, that there were twelve teams, that Matthew Marchester was their superintendent, that he believes all of said teams were loaded with powder, from White Plains he went to Fishkill from Fishkill to Kings ferry, from there to Trenton New Jersey, at which place he was loaded with munitions of war and returned to Kings ferry, that he still continued to team for government, that when the Main army under Washington marched to the South to the taking of Cornwallis, this deponent with other teamsters, followed the army and carried loading for the army to the head of Elk, that between the Brandywine and the head of Elk, there was a carrying place, that he was employed five days in carrying from the Brandywine to the head of Elk, that at the head of Elk two of

said twelve teams, went on to York Town as was said, the other ten, in which number this deponent was included, went into the country near said Elk and then remained on farms until a part of the army returned from Yorktown, that this deponent then loaded his cart with baggage which belonged to the army, that he came on towards York one day, when he was ordered back to the head of Elk to bring on the sick that he carried three or four sick soldiers from Elk to near Philadelphia, when he left them in a hospital, from Philadelphia he carried baggage to the red Barracks from there he went to Hingsperry on the Hudson, from Hingsperry he went to Danbury, Connecticut, when he left his team at a continental store, as his cattle were not shod, and were very poor, and he could not get them any farther, that said cattle were paid for by Government, that this Deponent then returned to Plainfield aforesaid, when he arrived the 27 th or 28 th of December 1781, having served more than seven months, & about one month more than his obligation required - That he did not know many conti- nental officers, though he occasionally saw Washington, that he recollects of seeing General Hroy once, which was near Hingsperry, that this deponents team was then loaded with horse shells, he was about going up a hill and he thought his team could not draw them all up and he was in the act of throwing some of them off, when General Hroy came along and enquired what he was going to do with them shells, deponent said he was going to put them in an other cart, the Genl said he did not know but he was going to throw them away, and if he did he said with an oath he would hang him as quick as lightning That he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service, excepting the circumstantial evidence of John four hundred and fifty - He says his father has been dead 21 years - That the reason why he has not applied for a pension before is that he understood that teamsters

did not get pensions until lately, when he was informed that Mr Hitchcock of Poland a teamster drew, and now believing that teamsters draw he applies -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension list Roll of the agency of any State - Sworn and subscribed Benjamin Parker The day and year aforesaid
G. W. Trew Clerk

To the questions propounded by the court, the applicant made the following replies
1. He says he was born at Coventry, Kent County, State of Rhode Island on the 4th day of March 1765, that he lived there till he was about fourteen, when his father moved to Plainfield, Windham County Ind. State of Connecticut -
2. He says he has indistinctly, though he has no certain knowledge of it, that his age is recorded in the town books of the town of Coventry as present, and that he has a family bible which he has had about 25 years in which his age and that of his family was recorded about 25 years ago.
3. He says he was living at Plainfield Connecticut when he was called into service, that he lived in Plainfield about 5 years thereafter, when he moved to Centerville, Saratoga County, N.Y., where he was married and where he resided 11 or 12 years, from there he moved to Burlington, Otsego Co. and lived there about thirteen years, from there he moved to Albany, Spencertown County N.Y., where he has resided about 21 years -
4. He says he was a substitute for his father Thomas Parker -
5. He says, as he was employed in the teamster teaming business, he did not

become acquainted with the officers much and therefore cannot recall their names -
6. He thinks he never had a discharge 7. He says he is well acquainted with Mr. John Lane & Theron Bly Ariz. he further says he could not get a clergyman to testi- fy without considerable inconvenience - I was then & subscribed Benjamin Parker then 14 - day of Februy 1834.
G. M. Tru Clerk
Chautauqua County ss John Lane being duly sworn doth depose and say that he is 47 years of age, that at the close of the Revolu- tionary war he resided in the town of Plainfield, Windham county and state of Connecticut, that he has been intimately acquainted with the said Benjamin Parker the above applicant for a pension from his youth up, that he was born in about a mile from him, that he was intimately acquainted with Thomas Parker the father of the said Benjamin Parker, that this deponent, his wife and the said Benjamin Parker possibly were very intimate.

that this deponent recollects very distinctly the year that Cornwallis surrendered, he also recollects distinctly that the said Benjamin Parker was absent that year season, that he believes he left home in the spring and did not return until December, that it was then universally reported, and that deponent confidently believes, that the said Benjamin Parker served as a teamster during that season for the United States Government, that he never heard said report contradicted, that he believes the said Benjamin Parker by the age he represents himself to be, that he confidently believes the said Benjamin served for Government as he in his above declaration has stated, that he now lives about 40 miles from him, and has lived about that distance for about twelve years, that he believes him to be a man of strict truth and veracity.
Affirmed & Subscribed before me Feb. 14. 1838
John Love
G. W. Tew Clerk
Chautauqua County ss. Whereon Bly being duly sworn cloth before me and say that he has been well acquainted with Benjamin Parker the above appli- cant for a pension for between 30 & 40 years, that he knew him in Attego County as well as this, that

he has always been considered a man of strict truth & veracity, that this deponent is of that opinion, that he believes him to be of the age he represents himself to be, and that he is reported to have been a soldier of the Revolution, that is a teamster, and this deponent is of the opinion that he served as he states he served in the above declaration.
Given -
Theron Bly
Sworn in open Court Feb 16. 1838. before me G. W. Tew Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that John Love and Theron Bly of said County of Chautauqua who have made the preceding affidavits are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.
Benjamin Parker Declaration.
I George W. Tew Clerk of the court of Common Pleas aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Parker for a pension - In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 17. day of February 1838 -
G. W. Tew Clerk

1,937 Benjamin Parker Service: _____
REJECTED
A.O. 7. Aug. 25 1866
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract

Rejected see  py
Sat. for R.P. Mason Mch 13 th 1838.
7937
1832

J. S. Edmonds Day
34 4619

Wall of Reproduction
March 8. 38
Sir I have just recd the enclosed papers in behalf of Benjamin Parker an ap- plicant for a Pension, from Samuel A. Brown Esq his attorney
Mr. Brown desires me to enquire whether any decision has been made in the case of Mrs. Anna Parker I have no recollection of having received any papers in her case myself. They must have been sent directly to you or else they have miscarried. Will you have the goodness to inform me whether you have such papers
Respectfully &c
R. P. Mason
J. L. Edwards Esq
Court of Penn.
P.S. Mr. Brown mentions that in the case of Mrs

Anna Parker a discharge signed by Gen Washington, was forwarded and that the old lady is very anxious that it should be returned that it may be kept "as a keepsake" Mr. Brown suggests whether you cannot cancel it or write on it so that it can never be a gain used, & then return it