Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 8232, for Benjamin Pierce, Connecticut

SERVICE
SERVICE bonn.
NUMBER _____
Pierce, Benjamin
P 8 2 3 2
CONTENTS

N o 4348. Benjamin Duer
8232
Rolls
End July 1 st 1780 Died Dec r 9 1780
Not 6 mo —
Windham Co —
3 Return to be sent to Armin Bolles Brooklyn Connecticut

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832 -
State of Connecticut } County of Windham } p .
On this 7 th day of August A.D. 1832, personally appeared before the County Court of the County of Windham, now sitting Benjamin Pierce a resident of the said town of Brookfield in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut aged 69 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1780, and sundry is herein stated -
In the year 1780 the Congress of the United States advised the several States to furnish their quota of men to recruit the Army of Genl. Washington for the present campaign - The General Assembly of the State of Connecticut at their Spring Session in 1780 agreed to furnish their quota of men by enlistment if the same could be done, if not by drafting the number of men required, and it was proportioned to each company what number of men to raise - It was in the same year, that a new emission of State money was granted which was on interest, and for the encouragement of those that would enlist for the campaign in 1781, they granted twenty Dollars bounty - The men thus to be raised were to fill the Connecticut line and to join what Regiment they pleased -
He the said Pierce then lived in the town of Mansfield in Connecticut, and in the forepart of June in the year 1780 enlisted for the term of six months at said

Mansfield, and recd his bounty in said new emission of State Money. The company into which he enlisted as aforesaid was commanded by Capt. Shumway - who belonged to said Mansfield, in the Regt. commanded by Col. Starr, in Genl. Huntington Brigade. and we were immediately sent to camp. We expected that Capt. Shumway would have been our leader to camp, but he being unwell we were under the direction of Sergeant Hendee from Ashford in said State, who had enlisted for the campaign as Orderly Sergeant. He said Hendee had served in said capacity for two or three years previous to this time - we were to fill the place of the three years men that were discharged, while others, men could be enlisted for three years or during the war to supply their place - We joined the army at the Highlands near Nelson's Point in the State of New York, opposite to West Point on the Hudson River, and were there stationed a few weeks and went from thence to Peekskill for a few days and then crossed the River, at King's  High Bridge to Stoney Point thence to Tappan and Orange town and near the English Neighbourhood of Hackensack and from thence we marched to or near Scrammuce. at this time our provisions were very short, we drew meal but once in two days, and then only one half pound of Pork and only one pound of flour, or bread for the period of ten days - At this time Benedict Arnold as we supposed was negotiating with the British and stopped our provisions

from the eastward, about this time Major Andre was taken and executed. After which we returned to Tottoway, and soon there encamped nearly two months, and then marched back nearly the same route, and recrossed the North River at Kings Ferry and marched from thence to the Highlands for Winter quarters, about two or three miles, north of Nelson's Point towards Fishkill where I received his discharge which was in December of d year - He was born in said Brooklyn in the year 1763 - and has always lived there and in said Mansfield since the Revolutionary War - When he left the service as aforesaid he had a written discharge but has lost the same -
He has no documentary evidence except what accompanies this application, and does not now know of any person or persons living who were in the service with him - He refers to the Rev. George J. Tillotson and Nathan Williams both of d Brooklyn who can testify as to his character for truth and veracity and of his reputation in the neighborhood where he resides as having been a soldier, of the Revolution -
He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency in any State -
Benjamin Pierce
Seen to and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid before the County Court for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut -
Attest Almon Bolles Clerk

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the aforesaid applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. —
Attest Armin Bolles clerk
I Armin Bolles clerk of the County Court for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing and the annexed hereto contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Pierce for a pension —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 25 th day of August A.D. 1832
Armin Bolles clerk
Benjamin Pierce No. 5
Return to be sent to Armin Bolles Brooklyn Connecticut

We George J. Tillotson a clergyman, residing in the town of Brooklyn in said Winds ham being and Nathan Williams residing in the same town do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Cap t Benjamin Pierce who has subscribed and sworn to the Declaration annexed hereto, that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier, of the revolution and that we concur, in that opinion.
George J. Tillotson Nathan Williams
Sworn to and subscribed on the 23 d day of August A.D. 1852 before the County Court of the County of Windsham in the State of Connecticut.
Attest: Almon Buelles Clerk.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department; that the aforesaid Benjamin Pierce was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that the Rev. George J. Tillotson is a clergyman residing in the said town of Brooklyn, and that Nathan Williams who signed the same is a resident in the said town of Brooklyn and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Attest: Almon Buelles Clerk.

of Benjamin Pierce , a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     June 1780 discharged in Dec 1780. — Shumway Starr Conn.   (See Conn book vol. July 1, dis Dec 9)  
Battles engaged in, none stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Mansfield Conn.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 7, 1832
Residence at date of application, Brooklyn, Windham Co. Conn.
Age at date of application, born in 1763 in Brooklyn, Conn.
Remarks: His claim was rejected, he did not render six months service as required by law.
see rejected pension book
{ I did not mention that he was referred to as capt. in 1832 not Rev. rank and nothing definite. }
Very respectfully,

Connecticut
Benjamin Pease. rejected not Gai's error
see letter to Ansel Bolles 17 April 1893

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
1907 Apr. 6. Heir to Mrs. Chas. Harrison and
8235
P. O.
Benjamin Pierce
Service:
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Pension Bureau.
Can you send me a record of service in War of Revolution of Capt. Benjamin Pierce. Plain- field or Brooklyn. Conn. presumably enlisted in Plainfield but died in Brooklyn. Also 4 pence of same -
Mr. Charles Hanson Malden. Mass. 24 Judson Street.
Mar. 10. 1917 -

O. W. AND N. DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Mar. 20, 1907.
Searched by Hill
Original No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant, _____
Soldier, Benjamin Pierce
Service, Cohn Service
Rev. War
Remarks: _____
No D.W. Inv. or Wid. as above no Rej. claim from Court. except- 8632.
1-2
_____ Chief of Division.

Tolland Ct. Augt. 22
6
To Capt Benj m Pierce Brooklyn Ct.

I Stephen Dunham of Coventry in the County of Tolland and State of Connecticut of lawfull age depose and saith that I was in the Continental army in the year 1740 in Capt John Shumway's Company and Col. Hark's regiment and Gen l Gage's Huntingdon Brigade and was discharged in the month of April I was knowing that Benjamin Pierce then of Mansfield now of Brooklyn in Windham County and State of Connecticut his enlisting with a number of others into the same Company and regiment and Brigade that for six months which I belong to in the year 1740 and his returning in December  the year 1740 and worked with him that winter at the Shoemaking business in D r Mansfield further the deponent saith not Stephen Dunham
Tolland County to Mansfield August 15 th 1832
Personally appeared before me Stephen Dunham who hath subscribed the foregoing deposition and after being examined and cautioned to speak the whole truth made solemn oath to the same deposition which is taken at the request of Benjamin Pierce to be used in his obtaining a pension from the United States for Revolutionary services
Seth Dunham Justice of Peace
This may certify that the said Stephen Dunham is a man of truth and veracity
Seth Dunham Justice of Peace

Tolland County Conn to Clerk's office } S. S. Tolland
I Jeremiah Parish Clerk of Tolland County Court do hereby certify that Seth Dunham Esq before whom the within Deposition of Stephen Dunham on the 15 th day of August 1832 was taken & sworn to, at that time was and still is a Justice of Peace in and for Tolland County legally appointed & authorized to administer oaths and take depositions - & that the signature to the within certificate purporting to be said Justice's signature is genuine -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Tolland this 20 th day of August A D 1832
Jeremiah Parish Clerk
Brooklyn Ct
to Capt. Bangs on shore
Aug. 22
St. Lawrence Is.
6