Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8651, for Benjamin Reed, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Reed, Benjamin
P. 8651
CONTENTS

SERVICE
NUMBER
Reed, Benjamin
P. 8651
CONTENTS

Land Office at ...
To the Hon Lewis C. ... Sec. of War Washington City
8457 5614 Bureau of ...

State of Connecticut County of Hartford p.
On this twenty third day of August A.D. 1832 Personally appeared in open Court, before the County Court for said Hartford County, now in session, Benjamin Root a resident of the town of Granby in said County, aged seventy five 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. 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as hereinafter stated, viz; that he entered the service in a Regiment commanded by Col. Jonathan Pettibone in the County of P'keepsie, Osias Pettibone, Lieut. Genl. Hays, & Ensign Chas. Hooker, & served in N. York for a term of three months in August 1776 & was at the Battle at that time & place & assisted in bringing off the wounded the night after the battle - He further declares that in the Spring of the Year 1777 He again entered the service of the United States as a volunteer or minute man, in a Regiment commanded by Col. Jonathan H. Humphrey for a term during the continuance of the war, & held himself in constant readiness to go at a minutes warning in the service as a soldier in defense of his country, & served as such volunteer or minute man until the close of the war in 1783 - During this time he was often called out of bed in the dead of night, when

there was an alarm, & also at all other times I went & performed short terms of duty with others of the same Regiment for a few days, or weeks, and sometimes longer. that in this time he was at New Haven, East Haven, Danbury, Stamford & other places in Connecticut, & at Burlington in Vermont. & other places around & near Burlington & also at Boston - Massachusetts & Fishkill in the State of New York. He further states, that after the lapse of so many years it is impossible for him to remember how much time he actually spent in these several tours of duty as a soldier, but as he thinks & verily believes it could not be less than one Year & he thinks more - He further declares, that he was a Resident of Linsbury, now Granby, at the time he performed the several services as before stated, that from all the aforesaid terms of service he was regularly dismissed or discharged, but has not any written discharges to show & that he has no documentary Evidence of his aforesaid services, & that his Officers & contemporary soldiers are dead, & consequently out of his power to show by living witnesses the precise time of his services as above stated.
And to the interrogatories put by the Court as prescribed by the War Department the S. Benjamin (Read an oath answers as follows: viz; 1 He was born at said Granby, then a part of Linsbury

# Stafford County on the 22 nd day of March A.D. 1832 1757
2. That he has no record of his age. 3. That he lived at or near Granby when called into service as by time stated always have resided in Granby 4. That the first time he was called into service he was drafted; at the other times he volunteered, & at all times served for himself. 5. He recollects the names of no other officers, except General Putnam & other Genl. Officers. 6. He cannot say whether he ever received any written discharge; if he did, he has lost them. 7. He would mention Col. John Dibb, James Lewis, Joshua R. Jewett, Lewis Holcomb, & Freeman Allyn who can testify about his character for truth & veracity, & also their belief in his Revolutionary services.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension except the present, & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency of any State.
In witness whereof & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. (* 1757 altered before signing)
George

10. Calvin Dibble, and James Lewis, both residing in Granby in Hartford County, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Reed of said Granby, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy five Years of age; that he is in fact & believes in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. Calvin Dibble James Lewis
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 above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, & served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Calvin Dibble & James Lewis, who have signed the preceding certificate, are residents in said Granby, & are credible persons, & that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. David Griswold, Clerk of the County Court for Hartford County in the State of Connecticut, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Reed for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this twenty third day of August A.D. 1832. David Griswold Clerk by Col. H. S. Co. Com.

We Freeman Allyn, Lewis Holcomb & We Calom Sibley, James Lewis, Joshua R. Smith, of Granby in Hartford County, do depose & say that we are acquainted with Benjamin Reed of said Granby, an applicant for a Pension under the act of Congress of June 7. 1832, that we reside in the same neighborhood with him; that he possesses a fair character for truth & veracity; that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
Freeman Allyn Lewis Holcomb Joshua R. Smith
Sworn & subscribed this 23 rd day of August A.D. 1832. Nathan Johnson Just. of Peace
Filed in Court, Co. Court August Term 1832, per An- gust 23. 1832.
And I hereby certify that said Nathan Johnson is a Justice of the Peace for said Hartford County, & the signature, purporting to be his, is genuine.
David Griswold Clerk Co. Court Hartford County, Connecticut

I Theodore Read of Granby in Hartford County of Connecticut age 80 years. Say that in the summer of 1776 Benjamin Read of Granby was drafted as a soldier for the term of three months. He went from home - I was absent during that time as I have always understood in the defense of New York the time of the Battle on Long Island - the most thing after he returned home from this time  term he entered into a company of - Continental or Minute Men in a Regt commanded by Col. John C. Kimberly for a time during the continuation of the War & at various times after the raising of Long Island until the close of the War the 10th Benjamin Read was called into the Service & had short terms of duty - I believe his going to New Haven, New York, Danbury & Stamford & various other places but the exact terms of time I cannot remember but should say that he was from home on these terms as much or more than one year - He at all times after his joining Long Island had money in Read's Wills or a Minute Company & did virtually go on all times when called upon ————— Granby August 25. 1832
Jonathan Church
In Theodore X Read Mark
Deacon Allen
Sworn and subscribed to before me to the day and date as above Jonathan Church justice of peace

I have been of liberty in Hartford County of Connecticut On before I say that Benjamin Root of Winsted was brought into the boundary of St. John's Church at the time of the summer of 1776 I went to New York at the time of the engagement on Long Island he was in the service at the time three months then  then from I was brought into the same boundary We were from New Haven according to the list of my Association the 13 of Aug & returned home about the 13 of Nov. — After our return home a company of Volunteers or Minute Men was formed in this place under the command of Capt. D. B. Root I joined them as a Private — for a time during the war — I know that Ben Root was in the service at various times after the formation of company but the time of service I when & when he left the service I cannot now remember but believe he made terms to New Haven, East Haven, Derby, Hamden and at other places during the war
Dated in New Haven Aug. 25. 1832 —
Joshua D. Smith Jan. 1832
Isaac X Dury Master
Sworn and subscribed to before me to the day and date as above
I hereby certify that Isaac Dury is a member of the Jonathan Church justice of peace Jonathan Church justice of peace

State of Connecticut County of Hartford } p
I, Jane Griswold , Clerk of the County Court for said County hereby certify, that Jonathan Church , before whom the foregoing affidavits of Theodosia Reed & Isaac Severy were taken, was on the twenty fifth day of August A.D. 1832, a Justice of the Peace for said County, & that I verily believe the sig- natures purporting to be his, are genuine. In testimony whereof I have set my hand & seal of Office this twenty seventh day of August A.D. 1832
For Isaac Severy B. Reed
Jane Griswold Clerk Co. Ct. Hd. Co. Conn
To the Hon Lewis Cass - Sec. of War Washington City
8657 5614 Bonyon Peck

Granby, Ct. Jan'y 13 th 1855 Hon. Loren P. Waldo } Washington D.C. }
Dear Sir
In May 1832 I was employ- ed by Benjamin Reed of this place my grandfather to assist him to procure a pension. his application was made before the county court for Hartford County which was forwarded to the Department Washington. and for some cause rejected which was a great disappointment to the old Gent. as others had their claims allowed who had done less service than what he had - I would inquire if there has been any new laws or decisions of late which would bring his claim or his heirs within the rule. I have received several letters from different Gents - who request to be employed. and state that they are sufficient proof to establish this claim. if this is not convenient for you to make this examination. please to give me the name of some Gent. who would do it for a small fee. I would say that all the papers concerning this matter were procured at my expense and that no agent has been authorized to act in this matter that would be recog- nized. one of the Gents. that wrote me in 1832 - is S. M. Knight, 14 gives reference at the Pension office
Respectfully Yours Lewis Holcomb

Benjamin Reed

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Benjamin Reed
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1776 3 Private Capt. Pillsbore N. York Hudson to New York Gran 67- 75 years   Spring 77 Entered for the balance of the war  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

5614
Connecticut
Benjamin Reed
rejected
3 years adical service
6 years service as
minute man under
the engagement
see letter to claimant
17 April 1883
See Lewis Medcalf, Jan. 25/55.
Paul
Benjamin Reed Hosp. Com. 1832
Hon. P. Waldo. com. of pension
Washington
D.C.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
8601
P. O.
Benjamin Herr
Service:
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .