Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33,536, for Benjamin Ray, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Ray, Benjamin
S. 33,536
CONTENTS

Papers Col d for Hon Geo Greene, Jr, H.R. Jan. 13. 1836
Information sent September 20. 1800 to the Hon. the C. C. Massachusetts Mag.
5732.
Massachusetts Roll
Benjamin Ray. Capt Cushing
Private
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts — at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 1st. of April 1818 —
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 th of Jan y 1819 and sent to Jonathan Leavitt Esq r . Judge Greenfield Mass s —
Arrears to 4th of Sept r 1818 — 41 mo. \frac{21}{30} — 37: 60 Semi-annual all ee ending 4 th March 1819 — 48: —
$ 85: 60
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Thutestbury, Franklin Co.

THE NEW YORK, NEW HAVEN AND HARTFORD RAILROAD COMPANY
TREASURER'S OFFICE.
NEW HAVEN, CONN. July 14 th 1882
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C. Dear Sir
My Grandfather Benjamin Ray (or Rea Originally) was a Revolutionary Pensioner, he enlisted from some town in Massachusetts and died at Shutesbury Franklin County about the year 1840. We have but little knowledge of him or his wherea- bouts and would like to know if you have any information concerning him on your records. If you will kindly set some one to look him up and give me what there is. I will be much obliged and will remit the fees at once. I wrote y r department some three or four years since, but got no reply. address as above. Yours Respectfully Edward A. Ray.

JUL 16 1902 FILES. P. B.
PENSION G JUL 15 1902 U. S. OFFICE.

5,732
Benjamin Ray Shutesbury
5732 Jan y 1819 Cont d 20 Sep 1820 Mar 1821

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
FRANKLIN ss.
At a Special Session of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Western Circuit, began and holden at Greenfield, within and for the County of Franklin, on Monday the tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty, et de die in diem to the fifteenth day of the same month,
P ERSONALLY appeared in open Court, being a Court of Record, within and for said County of Franklin, established as such by the Constitution and Laws of said Commonwealth, Benjamin Ray aged fifty eight years, resident in Shutesbury in said County, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the
Revolutionary War as follows: He served nine months from August A.D 1779 in Capt. Brewer's company in Col. Brewer's regiment, in Massachusetts line. He served nearly three years from March A.D. 1781 in a company commanded part of the time by Capt. Remick and part by Capt. Cushing in Col. Vose's regiment in Massachusetts line. He was discharged before the time engaged for expired.
The date of his original declaration is the fourteenth day of April A.D. 1818. The number of his pension certificate is 5,732
I am a farmer and stone layer by occupation. My family consists of the following persons viz Lois Ray my wife aged fifty eight years; my daughter Lydia Ray aged eighteen years; my son Kibbey Ray aged sixteen years. By reason of age and infirmities I and my wife are not either of us able to support ourselves and my son Kibbey has been afflicted with a lame arm at times for two years past, so that I fear that I shall not have any assistance from him. I hope my daughter will be able to support herself

and I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818 ; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled " An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818 ; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me, nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Benjamin Ray
Sworn to and declared, on the tenth day of July A. D. 1820, before the said Court.
Attest, E. Alvord CLERK.
I ELIJAH ALVORD, Clerk of the aforesaid Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the Schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the said Court ; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is thirty four dollars and eighteen cents
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this fifteenth day of July, 1820.
E. Alvord CLERK.

1. Schedule of the estate of Benjamin Ray of Shutesbury in the County of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of May 1. 1820
   5 Acres of land without buildings 11.00   3 Sheep & 3 lambs 6.00   1 Swine 6.50 — 1 Do 3.00 9.50   1 Axe .75 — 1 Post Axe .25 1.00   1 Dung fork ,50   1 Iron wedge & beetle rings ,20   1 Iron bat 2.00   1 pr. horse chains ,50   1 Three pail iron kettle 1.50   1 Teakettle, 67 — 1 Small Spader ,25 ,92   1 Iron basin ,33   1 Dish kettle, 40 — 1 Small kettle, 33 73   $ 34,118  
Benjamin Ray

Benjamin Bray 2
Returned for further evidence of service
Admitted

I Benjamin. Now a Citizen of the United States now Resident in the Town of Shelburne in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts do on oath declare that I belonged to the Army of the United States in the Revolutionary War.
I entered the service in the month of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one as a Soldier for the term of three years in a part of the time by Capt. Remick and a part of the time by Company commanded by Captain Cushing in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Joseph Rose in the Massachusetts Line and I continued to serve in this company until the month of December A.D. 1783 when I was honorably discharged from the service at West Point .
When I left the service I received a discharge signed by Major General Henry Knox which I kept in my possession for several years but have now lost it and have no recollection of having seen it for about twenty years.
I am now almost fifty seven years old and am poor, very infirm by reason of the Rheumatism, and in reduced circumstances in life, and stand in great need of assistance from my Country for support. Written at Greenfield in the County of Hampshire aforesaid this fourteenth day of April A.D. 1818.
Attest. Samuel Wells
Benjamin Ray
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss. April. 14 th A.D. 1818.
Then personally appeared Benjamin Ray known to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing declaration and made solemn oath to the truth of the same.
Before me J. D. D. Smith Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss April 14 th A.D. 1818
I Noah Eager of the Town of Deerfield in the County of Franklin do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with the within named Benjamin Ray for a great number of years and know him to be a poor man reduced in his circumstances in life and in need of assistance from his Country for support —
Noah Eager
Given to the day and year above written Before me J. G. L. Searle
To the Secretaries of the Department of War —
The Subscriber Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Western Circuit in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts which includes the County of Franklin aforesaid do hereby certify that from the testimony aforesaid it appears to my satisfaction that the before named Benjamin Ray served in the Revolutionary War against the common Enemy as he has set forth in his application aforesaid and that by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he is in need of assistance from his Country for support
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of the Court aforesaid this fourteenth day of April A.D. 1818
Jona L. Searle

From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, Survivor File No. 33,536 , it appears that Benjamin Ray enlisted in August 1779, and served nine months, as a private, in Captain Brewer's Company, Colonel Brewer's Massachusetts Regiment. He re-enlisted in March 1781 and served until December 1783, in Captains Timothy Remick's and Cushing's Companies, Colonel Joseph Vose's Massachusetts Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 14, 1818, while living in Shutesbury, Franklin County, Massachusetts, aged about fifty-seven years. In 1820, he referred to his wife Lois aged fifty-eight years and his children: Lydia aged eighteen and Kibbey aged sixteen years.
The date and place of his birth, the names of his parents and place of residence at enlistment are not stated.
Very truly yours,
Washington Gardner
Commissioner.
Portion of letter of July 19, 1921 to Hon. M. G. Andrews, mg. cc. cor. re David Haskell W7600

33 533 536 Ray INVALID.
File No. 33 536
Benjamin Ray His Rev. Ex.
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 9, Page 334
[Arrangement of 1870.]

July-15-1902
Edw. A. Roy - K. Havin Conn.
1921 July 19. Recd to Hon W. C. Andrews. M.S.

Jan 8
Henry May Mafpeach
Copy of haken.
25 Jan 19
Yrs G. F. Smith
James L. Edwards Esq. Com n of Pensions Washington
J. A. Grafton

Hall of Reps
Jan'y 1836
James L. Edwards Esq
Sir
I desire to obtain from your Office evidence of the revolutionary services of Benjamin Ray - a pensioner - viz such copies of discharge and other papers as may avail him in pursuit of the Bounty offered by Mass s to such a class of her soldiers &c. The object is well understood by you.
Ray's Reg t commanded by Col Vose company - by Capt Cushing
I am Sir very respectfully Yours &c
Geo. Fennell

I Amos Pease of Wigwam in the County of Franklin Commonwealth of Massachusetts testify & say That Benjamin Ray name of Shutesbury in said County in the month of July 1779 enlisted into the service of the then colonies of America then at war with Great Britain and continued in said service during nine months next ensuing from the time of his enlistment and joining the army. I enlisted into the same company with the said Ray at the same time and continued in the same company until we were both discharged together. The com- pany to which we belonged was in the Regiment called Col. Brewer's Regiment, and was comman- ded by Capt. Lieut. Timothy Remick. We were stationed at West Point and continued in that vicinity during the above term of time. Col. Brewer was absent at the time of our enlistment and did not return to take command of the R.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Franklin Co. Newbedam December 15. th 1818. Then personally appeared the within named Amos Pease before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace within & for said County of Franklin and made oath to the truth of the within affidavit. I further certify that the said Amos Pease is esteemed a man of truth and veracity.
David A. Grogg
I hereby certify that the above named David A. Grogg is a Justice of the Peace and qualified by oath of Franklin Jess H. Jewett, Judge.