Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8433, for Benjamin Pratt, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn. Mass.
Pratt, Benjamin Sarah
R. 8433
CONTENTS
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Sarah Pratt's Declaration for a pension

State of Vermont, District of Chittenden ss. }
On this fifteenth day of March A.D. 1844, personally appeared before the Hon. Probate Court for the District of Chittenden aforesaid Sarah Pratt a resident of Burlington in said District, being in the County of Chittenden and State of Vermont, 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 the act of Congress, passed July 4. 1836, That she is the widow of Benjamin Pratt, who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution and served in the Connecticut troops; that in the Spring  Fall of 1775 he entered the service for a period of three months, Under Captain John Gilbert; that she thinks he entered the service in the month of September 1775; that he went to the North and was in Montgomery's Army and Campain as she always understood from her said husband, that in the Spring of the year, as she thinks, 1776 or 1777 her said husband enlisted into the service and served two months when he came home sick with the Small Pox; that her said husband then resided at Shrewsbury in Massachusetts, that afterwards in 1777 or 1778 as she thinks her said husband enlisted into the service as a waiter to Doctor Crosby for three months and when his time was about half out the Doctor was taken very sick & her  my said husband returned home with him and took care of him; that her  my said

husband was afterwards in the service at several times, but where and how long she can not distinctly recollect; He was at the taking of St. Johns Lower Canada by the Americans as she understood at the time, and has frequently heard her said husband relate.
She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin on the 15 th day of July 1776 at Shrewsbury, Massachusetts by Joseph Sumner then Minister of said Shrewsbury; that her maiden name was Sarah Temple; that her husband the aforesaid Benjamin Pratt, died on the 31 st day of December 1831 at Franklin in the State of Vermont, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
The word "Spring" on the first page erased, and the word "fall" interlined, also the word "my" twice erased, & the word "her" interlined over said erasures, before signing.
Sarah Pratt
Witness Chas Russell,
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above written before me, And I certify that said declarant is a person of truth and credibility.
Charles Russell Judge of Probate.

State of Vermont Chittenden County and District } ss
I, Joseph W. Pratt of Burlington in said County of Chittenden, aged forty three years, do depose and say that I am a son of Sarah Pratt, who has made the foregoing declaration, and of Benjamin Pratt, deceased; that the said Benjamin died at Franklin in the State of Vermont, on the 31 st day of December, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty one, and that my mother, the aforesaid Sarah, has never since intermarried and now remains his widow. Joseph W. Pratt
Sworn to and subscribed on the sixteenth day of March A.D. 1844, and before me; and I certify that the said Joseph W. Pratt is a person of truth and veracity.
Charles Russell Judge of Probate
State of Vermont } District of Chittenden ss }
I, William Weston, Register of the Probate Court for said District of Chittenden, do hereby certify that Charles Russell, before whom the foregoing declaration and affidavit were made and sworn to, was, at the time of taking the same and still is Judge of said Probate Court, and that the signatures to the certificates thereto, purporting to be his, are genuine.
In testimony whereof I do hereunto affix the seal of said court and subscribe my name at Burlington in said district this sixteenth day of March, A.D. 1844.
W m Weston Register
" " "

Common
Capt
There appears to be a very different and apparent is true before me and after the war

Clerks Office, Shrewsbury, Worcester County, Mass.
August 30 th 1843.
Transcript of the Record of Marriages.
"Benjamin Pratt and Sarah Temple, both of Shrewsbury, Aug. fifteenth Seventeen hundred & seventy six".
"By Rev d Joseph Sumner"
I, Job C. Stone, Clerk of the town of Shrewsbury, in the County of Worcester & State of Massachusetts, certify that the above is a true copy of the Record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows. "Benjamin Pratt and Sarah Temple, both of Shrewsbury, Aug. 15. 1776."
Job C. Stone, Town Clerk of said Shrewsbury.
I, Job C. Stone, above named, depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk in the Town, County & State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town, with the exception above named, as certified by me.
Job C. Stone
Worcester ss. August. 30. 1843
Then appeared the above named Job C. Stone, and made oath that the above certificate and affidavit by him subscribed is true - Before me Henry Snow Just. of the Peace

11111 Sarah Pratt Maw of Benjamin Vt Act # July 1836 m 76. d 31
m 76. d 31
6

State of Massachusetts County of Worcester
On this seventeenth day of October Eighteen hundred and forty three
Personally appeared before me the undersigned Justice of the County aforesaid, Nathan Pratt a resident of the County aforesaid aged Eighty four years. Who being duly sworn according to Law Testifies and Says that he will know Benjamin Pratt and his wife Sarah, whose maiden name was Sarah Temple. That the said Benjamin Pratt left the town of Shrewsbury at that time previous to the Revolutionary War, and went to New Haven in Connecticut, and in the Spring of 1775 he then residing in East Haven in Connecticut, entered the Service for the term of Six or Eight months, (which I am not certain) under Capt. John Gilbert. Went to the north under the command of Montgomery, who opened the campaign by marching into Canada. Said Benjamin Pratt was at the taking of Saint Johns, and whilst he was in the said Cam- paign wrote two letters home to his Father which I saw and read.
After his term of Service Expired he returned home to his Father to East Haven, and the following year returned to his Father in Shrewsbury, when I had frequent conversation with him of his trials and dangers as was stated in his letters to his Father, the name of his Colonel I cannot now bring to mind his Capt. was John Gilbert.
Further that after the return of the said Benjamin to Shrewsbury he was called for for the term of three months by the Government to go to the State of New York in the year 1776 or 7 I think in the months of September, October and November, and the said Benjamin went, and after having served three months, returned home.
Nathan Pratt
Subscribed and sworn on the day and year first above written before me.
Henry Snow Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above named deponent Nathan Pratt I am well acquainted with and that he is a person of truth and veracity in any case or court whatever, and one of our most respectable citizens.
Henry Snow Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Worcester ss. I, Jos. G. Randall Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for said County, certify, that Henry Snow, within named is a Justice of the Peace within said County, duly commissioned & qualified, and that the two signatures of his name within written, appear to be in his own hand writing -
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of said Court at Worcester, this eighteenth day of October A.D. 1843 - Jos. G. Randall. Clerk.

Get me in the proper time. F.F.C.F
Sarah Pratt
Oct 1860
Get Stamp Box

I know all men by these presents that I Joseph W. Pratt of Burlington in the county of Chittenden Vermont do hereby constitute and appoint Thomas Lumpkins Esq. of the City of Washington D. C. my true and lawful attorney for me & in behalf of the surviving children of Sarah Pratt deceased. our true and lawful attorney for us & in our behalf to investigate & prove to our claim to a pension due the said Sarah Pratt the widow of Benjamin Pratt. & to do all lawful acts in order to obtain an allowance of said Pension without my being & seal this 6th day of February 1852 in presence of Henry Weed } J. M. Weed } Joseph W. Pratt

V 6164 Sarah Pratt
W wid of Benjamin
Set to J. G. Pratt Sep. 20 1844 " to same Nov. 5 - 1847 " same, June 18, 1846 " same Oct. 12 / 46 same Oct. 26. Hampden Sep 10 1853
Act 4 July 1836

6166
Sarah Pratt Widow of Benjamin Vermont
H. Pratt Sep 20 1844- same Nov 5 1844 - same June 18 1846 - same 12 Octo 1846 - same Octo 26 1846 - T Lumphin - Sep 10 1853 - same Nov 11 1853 -
84133
July 4 1836

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
8433
P. O.
Sarah Pratt
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
The printed list of 1852 shows reasons for suspension Alleges: _____
" no proof of service
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.

Office of Secretary of State Hartford 6 th Oct. 2. 1843.
Sir.
Since the receipt of your letter of the 17 th ult. I have devoted all the time that I could spare to find something that would be of service in obtaining a pension for the "poor old widow" Mrs Pratt.
I find that John Gilbert was appointed a captain in a Militia company in this State in 1775 - but it does not appear from any records in this office that he served in the Southern Campaign of 1775-6. - such service never appears on our books.
Col. Seth Warner belonged to this State, & was in service much of the time during the war - he was I suppose in this Campaign.
Most of the company or Pay rolls in this State were sent to Washington when the War Accounts between this State & the U. States were settled - they were consumed when the War Office was burnt. There are a few copies of these rolls in our Comptroller's Office, but among them I cannot find any of Capt. John Gilbert's company nor any on which the name of Benjamin Pratt appears.
I saw a few days since, Henry Stevens Esq Post Master of Barnet, Vermont who informed me that he had Pay rolls of the companies composing Col. Warner's

Regt. I gave him your address, & requested him to search them for the name of Benjamin Pratt & write to you the result, which he promised to do on his return to Vermont. Should he not do so within a few days, I would suggest the propriety of your writing to him upon the subject.
Should you find anything so as to make it necessary to prove the appointment of John Gilbert as a Captain by this State, I will cheerfully give a certificate thereof without any compensation.
I am Respectfully
Yr obt Servant
N. A. Phelps
Secy of State
Wm C. Follott Esq Lansingburgh N York
Letter from Connect. to Pratt Cause - H. Northern Pratt Esq in Miller Pratt Cause

6166
Sarah Pratt
Benjamin
St - ms 1836
Benj Pratt H d 31 Dec '31
Sarah Pratt
75-3 mos C. S. Gilbert
76-77-
77 S. Crosby - master

Washington D.C. Sept 6th, 1885.
Sir,
I herewith enclose evidence of the marriage in the case of Sarah Pratt, V te , widow of Benj. in act, 4th July 1836.
Further respecting proof of service, if that which is now on file is not ample, I beg that the records of Massachusetts, may be examined in connection with the parol evidence filed, to sustain this case. There can be no doubt of the service of the claimant's husband, and I hope the small pension claimed may be granted.
I have the honor to be very truly, W. Dampier.
Mr J. Mins, Comr. of Pensions

Sarah Pratt Benjamin
Oct - Dec 1836

Washington D.C.
Oct 24th 55
Sir,
I herewith enclose evidence of the service of Benjamin Pratt whose widow Sarah made an application under act of 4th July 1836 from Vermont. I trust that the sum may be all paid even for so small a sum as this certificate indicates.
Please arrange the proof of which I have heretofore filed.
I have the honor
W. L. Chaplin
Hon. P. M. Root
Yours

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston. October 19 th 1855.
I Hereby Certify , That from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Benjamin Pratt is borne on pay roll of Capt. Moses French's Comp. Col. Jonathan Fitch's Regt. from May 15. to July 15. 1777, 2 mos. 5 days had included, as private. Also on pay roll of Capt. Jesse Wyman's Comp. Col. Josiah Whitney's Regt. (Month not dated) in 1777. 2 mos. 9 days, as private. Read and allowed in Council, Aug. 1. 1777.
Also on pay roll of Capt. Jesse Wyman's Comp. Col. Jacob Gerish's Regt of guards from Feby. 18 th 1778. 3 mos. as private.
Also on pay roll of Capt. Edward Sparrow's Comp. Col. Nathan Tylers Regt. from July 1. 1779. 5 mos. as private.
2 — 5
2 — 9
3 —
5
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Isaac D. Dyer Chas. H. Dyer Secretary of the Commonwealth.

for your kind Sept 28
To the Secretary of Massachusetts Boston

Lansingburgh 26 th Sept 1855
Sir
Having some time since Received a Certificate of the Services of Benjamin Pratt a Colonel of Your State Arm having sent it into the Department with the Widow Application - We first Received an Answer that it is lost or mislaid and Require a Mother before they can pass on the widows Claim - as the Widow is Dead and the Heirs cannot identify the Officers their Father was under - You will forward me a Certificate under what Ever Officers he may have been under in Print - - - - -
Yours Respectfully Andrew Tillet
C S B
Don't Delay letting me have an Answer without Delay as the Department want it in until they have a Certificate will see Your fee for the Commn on the Head of the Certificate

April 25. 1844
Add address Mrs Pratt vt. 36.
J. L. Edwards
Com te of Pension
Washington City
fm

Lansingburgh, April 30 th 1844
Sir
I enclose you a letter rec d from the Secretary of Commerce in the case of Mrs. Pratt for the services of her husband Benjamin Pratt. her paper for a Pension, which I forwarded to you the 29 th Inst.
Yours Respectfully
J. L. Edwards Com te of Pensions
John F. Pratt

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
WORCESTER COUNTY, ss.
I, JOSEPH G. KENDALL, Clerk of the Judicial Courts for the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, do hereby certify, That Nathan Howe Esquire,
is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified; and that his signature to the certificate, on the deposition of James Averill, hereunto annexed, is genuine, and said Howe was such Justice, on the sixth day of November, 1843.
Given under my hand, and the Seal of said County, this seventh day of November, in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty three .
Jos. G. Kendall Clerk

To all whom it may concern
I hereby certify that Mr. Nathan Pratt, is, and for more than half a century has been, a member of the Orthodox Congregational Church in this place in good & regular standing.
Attest.
James Averill.
Pastor of S d Church
Shrewsbury October 17 th 1843.
Worcester Nov r ember 6 th 1843 then personally appeared the Rev d James Averill and made solemn oath to the truth of the above certificate by him subscribed before me Nathan Stone Justice of peace

Sept 28 46
Sarah Root NY
Aspeliff
L. Edward Com d of Pension Washington 6

Sir
Lansingburgh Sept. 23 a 1846
In answer to yours of Nov 5 th 1844. in the case of Sarah Pratt. you state. that proof must be obtained. Comptroller of Connecticut. before other proof can be received. I have not wrote to Mass. but a letter from the Compt is of Connecticut and as the old lady is poor. rests her claim of service for such amount. as Mr Edward may think her entitled to under her proof now in the department. and will be thankful to receive whatever may be allowed her let it be ever so small. in her last days.
I am again Respectfully
John G. Pratt
P.S. I have only to say that her husband Benj. Pratt - gave me my name. John Gilbert Pratt in respect he had for his Capt. John Gilbert I also enclose you the finish aff te of Nathan Pratt which was so imperfect that it was not used but may give some light on his service
J. G. P.

Pratt's Papyrus

Comptroller Office Hartford Augt. 31. 1846
John G Pratt Esq
Sir
Yours of Augt. 27 th is at hand in which you ask for certificate of the service of last, John Gillett in connection with the case of the widow of Benjamin Pratt. It seems that Mr. Harrington my predecessor informed you that last John Gillett's service appears in the records in this office. I am induced to believe that he was mistaken.
Since your letter came to hand I have personally made a very thorough and careful search of all the records in which officers names are found and I do not find the name of John Gillett as Captain. The name of John Gillett appears in the to Connecticut line once and only once and there as private. There are several last Gillett's but not John. If I should in other search find S r last's name I will give the certificate immediately.
Very Respectfully Yours M c Donough

Ms. A. 9. 2. 20. 22
10
L. Edwards Com n of Pensions Washington City

Lansingburgh Feby 27 - 1846
Sir
As there is no further proof that I can find. in the case of Sarah Pratt for the services of her husband Benjamin Pratt. I think Mr Edwards. will find with the Record return - and the evidence of Nathan Pratt, who testified, as far as his memory would admit. Sufficient to allow the Old Lady a Pension of 6 monthly or more. I enclose the Partus certificate which should have been forwarded before
I am Your Respectfully
John E. Pratt

Lunningburgh April 19 th 1844 Sir I inclose you the papers of Mrs Pratt for a pension
Yours
J. L. Edwards
John G. Pratt
East Pension

Clerk's Office, Shrewsbury, Worcester County Massachusetts - August 16 th 1855.
"Marriages continued"
"Benjamin Pratt and Sarah Temple, both of Shrewsbury, August fifteenth, sevent- een hundred and seventy six." "By Rev. Joseph Sumner"
I, Job C. Stone, Clerk of the Town of Shrewsbury aforesaid, certify that the above is a true copy of the record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows, - "Aug. 15, 1776"
Job C. Stone, Clerk of Shrewsbury
I, Job C. Stone above-named depose & say that I hold the Office of Clerk in the Town, County & State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Town with the exception above named as certified by me -
Job C. Stone
Aug. 16. 1855. - Sworn before me
W m H. Knowlton Justice of the Peace
I William H. Knowlton, Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Worcester aforesaid certify that the above named Job C. Stone holds the Office of Clerk in the Town of Shrewsbury aforesaid
Shrewsbury August 16, 1855 W m H. Knowlton J. P.

Nov 4 46
Mr. Amos
J. J. G. Church
Comm. of Pension
Washington
for
Pratt
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Lansingburgh Oct-6 th 1844
Sir
In yours of Sept. 20 th last part- in the case of Sarah Pratt for a Pension. Nothing is said as to the proof made of her husband's service as sworn to by Nathan Pratt whether that proof is admissible or not. Please let me have an answer
J. L. Edwards Comm r of Pensions.
Yours John G. Pratt
Ad. d. d. m. m. a. p. l. 28 th No ad. p. f. f. s. m. m. in the case

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston; Oct o 6 1846.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that there is no evidence of Service of any one of the name of Benjamin Pratt, which can in any way be identified with the individual described in the annexed application to roll of Capt John Gilbert.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Palfrey,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

State of Vermont } County of Chittenden } G
I Sarah Pratt of the County and State aforesaid. Do by these Presents Appoint John G. Pratt of the town of Lansingburgh in the County of Rensselaer and State of New York, my lawful attorney for me and in my name, to apply to the Secretary of the State of Massachusetts for a Search and Certificate of the Service of my Husband Benjamin Pratt deceased (who at the time of his death resided in Franklin in the State of Vermont.) who was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War. I cannot remember the time or name of all his Officers. I think the first time he was out he served under Capt. John Gilbert. I think it was the Season or next year after we were even married. I think this Service was six months - he also served I think the next time three months in New York State, at an other time about two months, as a visit to Doctor Crosby who was for a time a physician in the Army and was taken sick and came home where my husband returned with him - my husband was at Ft. Schuyler, Lower Canada at the taking of that Place by the Americans. My husband aforesaid resided in Shrewsbury State of Massachusetts at the time he done the above Service and in the year 1808 moved to Franklin in Vermont. - Burlington, the 14 day of September 1843
Sarah Pratt
Present of Joseph W Pratt E Eunice Pratt
Chittenden County G On this 14 day of September 1843 personally Sarah Pratt appeared before me, the undersigned Justice of the Peace the above named Sarah Pratt to me known to be the person described in and who executed the above power of Attorney to be her Act and deed.
John Bates Justice of the Peace

Pratt's Pension Papers
2377
Mrs Pratt's Papers
Vermont
Burlington
Mr. Israel Pratt

I Nathan Pratt of Shrewsbury in the County of Worcester & State of Massachusetts hereby testify and state, what I know of the services of my Brother Benjamin Pratt of said Shrewsbury aforesaid, as a Soldier in the Revolutionary war of the United States, that the said Benjamin Pratt left Shrewsbury previous to said war, and went to New Haven in the State Connecticut, and in the spring of 1775, He then residing in East Haven in said Connecticut, where he entered the service of the United States as a Soldier for the term of six or eight months, which term may be known at the war office, as he was a Soldier then with the Connecticut Troops under the Command of General Montgomery, who opened the Campaign by marching into Canada; said Benjamin Pratt was at the taking of St Johns, the evidence of which I have besides his own statements, is by two letters from him to his Father at the time he was at St Johns, which letters I see and read, which gave a particular account of their trials dangers & at other places; after the term of service was out for which he engaged he returned to East Haven - and the following year returned to Shrewsbury & lived in my Father's family, where I had frequent opportunities of conversing with him on the trials & dangers of the campaign, as he had stated in his letters to our Father - he named to me that these letters at his request were written by Rev. Mr. Trumbel Minister of the Gospel at East Haven - the Regiment in which he served as a Soldier the name of it I do not remember, from the facts & Circumstances above stated I have no more of the services as stated as above, was rendered by S r Benjamin Pratt, than I have of any one such service, I was not present, or that St Johns was taken by the American arms.
Nathan Pratt
And I Nathan Pratt further testify and say that my Brother Benjamin Pratt after his return to Shrewsbury, was called for for the term of three months in the year 1776 or 77 if I recollect right, in the months of August September & October - in the State of New York, having rendered three months service in the United States Service in the Revolutionary war and then returned home as if two or three times to make a Company I do not recollect his officers names under whom he served.
Nathan Pratt
Worcester ss August 30 th 1843. Then the above named Nathan Pratt personally appeared, and made solemn oath, to the truth of the two Depositions above subscribed by him - I also certify that the above named Nathan Pratt is a good and respectable witness in any cause or court whatsoever.
Before me Nathan Howe justice of peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, ss. I, William Jennison, Assistant clerk of the Judicial Courts for the County of Worcester, do certify that Nathan Howe and Henry Snow, Esquires, are Justices of the Peace, in and for said County of Worcester, duly commissioned and qualified, and that full faith and credit are to be given to their acts and doings, as such Justices - and that their signatures to the certificates hereto annexed, are in their own proper handwriting.
In testimony whereof, I hereto set my name, and affix the County Seal, at Worcester, this thirty first day of August, in the year eighteen hundred and forty three.
William Jennison, Assistant clerk of the Courts aforesaid.
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