Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 17273, James Benedict, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
born.
Benedict, James
S. 17273
carded
CONTENTS

17531 Connecticut
James Benedict
of New Canaan in the State of Connecticut who was a Sergt. Dty in the Company comman- by Captain _____ of the Regt commanded by Col. Silliman on the Connecticut line for 24 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 180 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Augt 1833 and sent B Isaacs of Norwalk Conn. Present
Arrears to the 4th of Mar '33 - $360.
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep '33 90.
$450.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Nob Brownell Clerk,
Book E Vol. 3 Page 6

State of Connecticut, } ss. County of Fairfield, }
On this 31- day of July 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before the Court of Probate within and for the District of Norwalk in said County
now sitting, James Benedict - a resident of New Canaan - in the County of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, aged Eighty Nine years, who being first 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, and served as herein stated. That in the year 1776 in the parish of Canaan then a part of the town of Norwalk and now called the town of New Canaan - I enlisted under Capt. Colub St John in the troops of horse as a sergeant. There being no higher officer in said company, the said Court and served under him until he was chosen Capt. of said Company in the year 1777. and I continued my service under said Capt. Colub St John until the year 1780. at which time Abraham Gregory of Wilton was chosen Capt. of said Company and I continued my service under him until the close of the Revolutionary War and was then discharged at said New Canaan where in the battle when Danbury, Fairfield and Norwalk was burnt. and part of the time served under Major Starr. and knew Genl Washington Genl Putnam in the lines when stationed there was principally part of said time of service as far said engaged in protecting and guarding the sea coast at Norwalk horse neck and in the lines Rec. a sergeant's warrant and served under it the whole of the time. and have now lost it. was born in said town of New Canaan on the 26 day of December 1743. Buried in his family bible produced in Court. and has always lived in said town never Rec. any written discharge. and have no documentary evidence.

State of Connecticut } County of Fairfield } Probate Court. District of Southbury. affirmed. the within named James Benedict, on the 1 st day of May 1833 and being duly sworn in open Court and being duly sworn in open Court according to Law depose and say that in explanation of his depositions herein set forth.
That in October 1776. I enlisted as a horse soldier under Col. Colib St John the Col. of the Company none was soon: Belden he being a Long one would not serve under him) Major Stur Col. Silliman and was Marched to Connecticut in this State and was in guard and in active service. Seven Months we were immediately ordered and marched under Genl. Wooster to Fort Indefatigable near Kings Bridge in State of New York and was in constant and active service. Three Months
on the first of March 1777. I enlisted once more as a Sergeant under the same company. under Capt Colib St John Major Stur Col. Silliman and was in the Battle when Danbury was burnt and was in within a few feet of Genl. Wooster when he was killed in Ridgefield and was in guard at Norwalk and on the lines at Horn's Neck and was in active and constant service until the first of December. Three Months
No. 3162
In February 1778. we were ordered on guard at Norwalk under Col. Stephen St John and on the lines at Horn's Neck the enemy then being in Long Island and found a march to to Rye. Fitchville under Genl. Silliman & Genl. Poor and was in active and constant service until January 1779. making Eleven Months. Served as a Sergeant under Capt Colib St John on the first of March 1779. I continued in the same service in the same Company. was in the Battle when Norwalk and
Fairfield was burnt and was in guard at Norwalk Horn's Neck at Bedford under Col. Mead & St John Genl. Silliman Capt Colib St John and was in active and constant service as a Sergeant until December next following making nine Months
on the first of May 1780. Abraham Gregory was chosen Col. of said Company of horse and I entered the service as Sergeant of said Company under Col. St John & Mead and Genl. Silliman and was in guard at Norwalk Horn's Neck and on the lines and was in active and constant service Six Months
on the first of March 1781. I again entered said Company and served as a Sergeant under Capt Abraham Gregory. Col. Stephen St John Genl. Silliman and part of the time under Genl. Washington at North Castle in State of New York and was in constant and active service for more than Six Months.
Sworn and subscribed in open Court this day and year aforesaid
James Benedict
Benj. Isaacs Judge

The said James Benedict hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
James Benedict
We, William Bonney a clergyman, residing in the town of New Canaan and Enoch St John residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with James Benedict who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Eighty Nine years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood 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.
William Bonney Enoch St John
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that William Bonney who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of New Canaan and that Enoch St John who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of New Canaan and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Benj. Isaac Judge
I, Charles Isaac Clerk of the said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Benedict for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Probate Office, this 31 day of July - 1832.
Chas. Isaac Clerk

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of James Benedict 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.     Feb. 1776 5 mos. 1 Col. St. John Silliman Conn.   Feb. 1777 9 mos. Sgt Col. St. John Silliman   Feb. 1778 11 mos. " Col. St. John Stephen St. John   Feb. 1779 9 mos. Col. St. John Head   May 1780 6 mos. Abraham Gregory St. John & Head   Feb. 1781 5 mos. Abraham Gregory Stephen St. John  
Battles engaged in, Burning of Danbury Fairfield & Norwalk Residence of soldier at enlistment, New Canaan Conn. Date of application for pension, Aug. 16 1838 Residence at date of application, New Canaan Fairfield Co. Conn. Age at date of application, 65 at New Canaan Dec. 16 1743
Remarks: at June 17 1838 *  * from A.P.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

17. 273 INVALID.
Conn
Y.
n. 4
File No. 17 273
James Benedict
Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7" 89
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 423
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Jan. 17-1901 Chas. G. Phelps - Wallingford Ct
July 17-1902 Jas. T. Benedict, Bklyn N.Y.
Oct. 21-1902 E. D. Benedict Bklyn
1913 Oct. 1 Hist. to Mrs. F. W. Peck. V. L. m.

Full name of soldier, James Bennefield
Where did he enter service? - - - (Town, county, and State.)
Under what officers did he serve? - - -
✓ Place of residence after service, Broadalbin (Town, county, and State.)
✓ Approximate date of death, July 18. 1849
✓ Given name of widow, Wife died 1866
Did either the soldier or his widow receive a pension? The did
Additional information, The usual guard over Major Andre day of execution
Signature, Lut Tallmadge Bennefield (Mrs. or Miss to be prefixed if a lady signs.)
Post-office address, including street and number, town, county, and State, } 91 Columbia Heights Brooklyn Kings Co New York

State of Connecticut Fairfield County } ss. Probate Court District of Norwalk on the 31. day of July. 1832 before said Court Personally James Lockwood aged eighty five of New Canaan in said County being duly sworn according to Law in open Court doth depose and say that he is well acquainted with James Benedict of New Canaan that in the year 1776 said Benedict and myself enlisted in the the troops of horse then commanded by Colonel Caleb St John and we served under him in guarding and protecting the sea coast and on the lines until he was chosen Capt. of said Company in the year 1777 and continued on service together until the year 1780 at which time Abraham Gregory was chosen Capt. of said Company. and we continued the same service until the close of the revolutionary War we were principally engaged during the time at Norwalk horse neck and on the lines and was part of the time under Major Starr
James Lockwood
Sworn & Subscribed in open Court Brij. Isaac, Judge At the same Court. Personally appeared Sheldon Sturtevant of Wilton in said County, being duly sworn according to Law in open Court. doth depose and say that is well acquainted with James Benedict of New Canaan in said County. that in year 1776 said Benedict and myself enlisted into the troops of horse then commanded by Colonel Caleb St John and we served under him in guarding & protecting the sea coast and on the lines until he was chosen Capt. of said Company in the year 1777 and continued on service together until the year 1780 at which time Abraham Gregory was chosen Capt. of said Company & we continued the same service until the end or close of the Revolutionary War We were principally engaged during the time of time of said at Norwalk horse Neck and on

the lines and was part of the town under Major Starr thru' Sharburg
Swan & Subscribed in open Court
Brigs Isaac Judge
State of Connecticut Fairfield County - I, Probate Court District of Norwalk May 1 1833. This may certify. That I am well acquainted with the aforesaid defendants James Sackettwood and Sheddens Sterling and know them both to be respectable and credible persons
Brigs Isaac Judge

James Benedict
Adm 24 mo. Sergt. Dragoons
5 6 14. 17
Bhaas
141.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James Benedict which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? V. * Has he mentioned 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? Actual service not stated, nor his warrant accounted for. The best evidence must be produced VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? No VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

 XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?  XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?  XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? No Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?  XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?  XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 
4 Subsequent
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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 the 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.
QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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.

58 Brewster St.
New Haven Ct.
To the Bureau of Pensions.
Gentlemen:—
Being a lineal descendent of James Benedict of Fairfield Co. Conn., a Revolutionary Pensioner in 1832, I desire his war record, - and if you will kindly send it to me would appreciate it very much
Carrie Joy Peck (Mrs. T. H. Peck.)