Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7601, for Benajah Nettleton, Connecticut

SERVICE
Nettleton, Benajah
NUMBER
R. 7601
CONTENTS
Blank lined area for contents entry
Blank lined area for contents entry

Declaration, An order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. in 1832. State of Connecticut New Haven County ss
In this 12 th day of August A.D. 1851 personally appeared in open Court, Before the Court of Probate for the District of Milford now sitting, Benajah Nettleton a resident of Milford County of New Haven, State of Connecticut aged eighty seven 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 Uni- ted States, under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he en- listed in said Milford in 1781. under Captain or Lieutenant Nathan Baldwin to serve as a Matrose in the Fort in said Milford; which was established, by the Governor and Council of safety as a Coast Guard, and that he continued in actual, constant, and daily service in said Fort then under command of said Nathan Baldwin for the full term of nine months and fourteen days—except when called away, on special alarms from the enemy, to march to other places— That while he was in service in said Fort he was ordered, and went with the rest of the Com- pany in said Fort to Fairfield, New Haven and Danville Farms; That he never deserted or left the service in any dishonorable manner, but was honorably discharged at said Fort although he never received any written discharge nor

was it customary at the Fort at that time to give written discharges — The former Commanders of said Fort were Capt. Phil. Nolan, Capt. Wolf, Junr. and Lieutenant Joseph Davidson —
That he volunteered to serve in said Fort, he knows full well, and remembers from the fact that his enlistment was in obedience to the direction of his father, who was apprehensive that he would be drafted into the Continental Army, and therefore required him to enlist in the Fort in order that he might remain nearer home —
But he has no documentary evidence of his service, nor does he know of any person whose testimony he can procure, also in testimony of his service — The following persons known now in service with him at the time of aforesaid, and if living could testify to his service, as he believes they received pensions for services rendered at the same time — but is of the opinion that they are all now dead by — Samuel Tinker, Samuel Weine, of said Milford, and Abel Clark of Livingston Litchfield County, and Aaron Rotaford of Livingston County New York.
That nearly twenty years ago he applied to H. B. De Witt Esq. an attorney of Milford to assist him in establishing his service claim, and after said De Witt had partially prepared his papers, and it is possible that he may have presented them, he was taken ill and died, and that he could therefore never learn what steps had been taken in the case, which is the true reason of

for his having so long deferred a removal of his application.
We hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declines that his name is not on the Pension roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Suprema of Benajah his Nettleton
Before me - Andrew French Andrew French Judge of Probate We Jonathan Brace a clergyman residing in Milford, aforesaid, and Hezekiah Baldwin residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benajah Nettleton who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty seven years of age; that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed Hezekiah Baldwin Jonathan Brace the day and year aforesaid. Pastor.
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 serves as he states, And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Jonathan Brace who has signed the preceding Certificate is a clergyman, resident in Milford aforesaid and that Hezekiah Baldwin who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of said Milford, and is a credible person, and that their statements is entitled to full faith and credit.
Before me Andrew French Judge of Probate

Waverly
annexed are the answers of the said Benjamin Stottleton to the interrogatories presented by the War Department and proposed by the Court
 1. at Milford _____  2. Name of none _____  3. Milford, _____  4. volunteers.  5. Nathan Baldwin Commanded the Fort  6. no written discharges, but was honorably discharged at the Fort with the remainder of the Company and at the same time.  7. Nathaniel Baldwin, Andrew Wine, and others. Then French Judge of Probate. 
I Jonas G. French Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Milford, being a Court of Records, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Stottleton for a pension, and I further certify that Andrew French is Judge of said Court and was at the time of signing the same Commission Clerk thereof, and that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine. The testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Milford this 12 th day of August A.D. 1857. Jonas G. French Clerk

No 38.254.
Benajah Nettleton Connt.
Act of 7 th June 1832
L. N. Beardsley - Nov. 22 d 1857
7601

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

No 38.2.511
Banaga Note a am etc
Nov 7 Run, 1832.
L. N. P. Edwards

State of Connecticut Comptroller's Office
Hartford Aug. 28 th 1851
I certify, that on application for evidence of the service of Benjamin Nettleton in the war of the Revolution at Milford Fort, I have examined the Books and Documents remaining in this Office, and do not find any Pay Roll of that Service.
In the Journal of the Governor & Council of Safety, I find the following, entry under date of "Aug 21 st 1776" "At a Meeting of the Gov. & Council of Safety, Present "his Honor the Governor, &c. Voted, That a Lieutenant "one Sergeant, & fifteen privates, be detached from the "company under command of Capt. Stevenson, at "Black Rock in New Haven, & go to Milford & there as- "sist the inhabitants, in building a fortification "at the harbor in that place."
Also under date, "Oct. 22 nd 1776."
"Voted to appoint an Ensign & give him orders to enlist "20 men, without premium, at 40$ per month, to be "for the defence of the United States of America, & to "man the fort at Milford Harbor until further "orders, and to serve until the 25 th day of De- "cember next, unless sooner discharged. And Capt. "Benj a Hine is appointed Ensign for said service, "with the pay of an Ensign."

Also in the same Journal under date of May 14 th 1782 I find the following entry,
Mr. Nathan Baldwin of Milford is appoin- ted a Lieutenant, with the command of the fort at Milford, and he is hereby empowered to cruise in the Sound with the boat belonging to said Fort, and that his Excellency the Governor is desired to Commissionate him accordingly.
R. G. Penney Comptroller by Geo. Robinson Clerk,

Milford, Connecticut New Haven County Sept. 10 th 1851.
Sir,
Enclosed is the application and pension papers of Benajah Nettleton of this town under the Act of 7 th June 1833.
The declaration was drawn up entirely by the Claimant himself, and without the aid of any documentary evidence whatever. By a comparison with the Comptroller Certificate, it will appear that the declarant was mistaken as to the year in which the service was performed that it must have been in 1782. instead of 1781. as he alleges. At the same time it is believed that this discrepancy will not result to the prejudice of the claimant as we have no knowledge whatever, of the evidence at Watrous, when the declaration was drawn up.
I am aware that the term of his service does not appear from the Comptroller Certificate but as I have produced all the proof on this point that has come to my knowledge. I am

would very respectfully beg that you would refer to the pension papers on file of Samuel Small and Samuel Name of Milford or Abt Clark or Aaron Botsefus referred to from which the term of service might be shown.
While Mr. Wetston was in Fort the British Indians in large numbers came with possession of the Fort, but after robbing the men of their arms and provisions they were released.
Mr. Weymouth Baldwin who has signed the enclosed Certificate and also is now about eighty years of age, remembers the fact that the farm which the Claimant lost at the time belonged to his Baldwin father and can relate a conversation had at the time between his father and declarant's father about it. — Whose deposition will forward to the pension office if it will render the fact of his being in service any clearer.
As the Claimant Mr. Wetston is in very needy circumstances and is at the same time a worthy individual, I cannot but hope that the claim will be allowed.
Very Respectfully
John W. Smith
L. C. Berkeley
J. E. North Esq. Commissioner of Pensions

Brueck Nettleton Ch. act 32 Supp.
July 1852 E.D. D.D. Nelson Present

Pension Office November 22. 1881.
Sir:
The application of Benajah Attleham is not accompanied with any proof of service. It is true that Nathan Baldwin was Lieutenant in charge of the Milford Fort, but it does not follow that the claimant was a soldier under him. From his statement it appears that many of his compatriots obtained pensions for their services, and while they were living was the appropriate time for him to apply. The excuse which he urges cannot avail. No application in his behalf was ever before made at this office, and if he had any doubt on the subject the means of solving that doubt was always at hand. Unless his statement can be verified by those in service with him, the claim cannot be allowed.
Very Respectfully Yours &c J. Wilson for Comr of Pensions
L. N. Beardsley Esq Milford Ct

State of Connecticut County of New Haven. } ss.
I L. H. Beardsley of the town of Milford, County and State aforesaid, being Attorney in the case of Benjamin Stillington of said Milford, and being duly authorized by said Applicant for a pension under the Act of 7 th June 1832 do hereby constitute and appoint P. P. Addison Esq. of Washington City Assistant Attorney in said case and request him very respectfully to invite of the Commissioner of Pensions, a review of the said Stillingtons papers on file, with the examination of such additional evidence as may be hereafter presented in the case; and solicit such a pension as said Applicant may be found to be justly entitled to.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22 d Day of December A. D. 1851.
L. H. Beardsley (S)