Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18697, Benjamin Barritt, Conn. Mass.

SERVICE
Concord Mass.
Barritt, Benjamin
NUMBER
S. 18697
CONTENTS
carded
[Faint, illegible handwriting on the left side of the CONTENTS section]
[Faint, illegible handwriting on the right side of the CONTENTS section]

21131 21. 121 Massachusetts
Benj n Barrett
Worster in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Lym n of the Reg t commanded by Col l Askins in the Count y line for 16 Mos s 13 D s Mass.
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass. at the rate of 54 Dollars 98 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of Aug. 1831 and to her Jemima Barrett Brookfield
Arrears to the 14th (Mo th ) $109 96 Pens ant. allowance ending 1st (Mo th ) 27 49 $137 45
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J. C. H. Clerk, Book E. Vol. 1. Page 1

DECLARATION, in order to secure the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
COUNTY OF WORCESTER, ss.
ON this Seventh day of September in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court, before Nathaniel Paine Judge of Probate in & for the County of Worcester now sitting Benjamin Barritt a resident of Brookfield in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy four 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 7th 1832.
THAT he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That on or about the first of September eighteen hundred and seventy six at Pomfret in the State of Connecticut he enlisted as a volunteer in the Company of Grenadiers commanded by Capt. Daniel Lyon for the term of three months, and served in said Company as a soldier in the rear of the resolution for said term and immediately marched with said Company to Fort Washington in the State of New York about sixteen miles up the Hudson river from New York City as it was then called - he then crossed the river to Fort Lee - and then marched to a place called Bargain Town near Palles Hook in the State of New Jersey - and there remained there or for weeks, and was employed in keeping guard & building redoubts - he then moved up the River to a place called English neighborhood near Fort Lee - and was there stationed until the three months was out - a Major by the name of Danson was there at the same time, at the expiration of said three months he was dismissed & returned to said Pomfret - On his return in the Town of Bolton in the State of Connecticut he saw his brother Oliver - On the 10th of December 1876 after he returned from said Pomfret in the State of Connecticut he again enlisted as a volunteer at said Pomfret in the State of Connecticut under Capt. Daniel Lyon and served as a volunteer in the State of Rhode Island and there remained in said Company until the 10th of April - and then returned to said Pomfret & there came to the town of Brookfield - and there remained until the 10th of August or the first of September 1877 he again enlisted as a volunteer at said Brookfield in the Company commanded by Capt. John  Barstow - On the 10th of August said Company was attached to the Regiment under Col. Cushing of Shrewsbury in the County of Worcester for the term of three months - and then to through the Towns of Northampton & Williamstown in the State of Massachusetts - and then to Stillwater in the State of New York - and took a part in the battle fought at that place - and still remained in the State of New York until the surrender of Barreque - and his army - and he then marched down the river to Rochester - when the Company was dismissed - and returned to Brookfield when he arrived that time sick - by reason of the expiration of his term of enlistment - That in the month of September eighteen hundred and seventy eight at  at  Brookfield he again enlisted went to the Town of East Greenwich in the State of Rhode Island & served as a substitute for John Mills of Weston who was unwell; in the Company then commanded by Capt. John  Barstow of said Brookfield and remained in said Company doing duty as a soldier until the first part of January 1879 said Company was attached to the Regiment under Col. Nathaniel Wade at which time he was dismissed & returned to Brookfield - That in the latter part of July or the first part of August eighteen hundred
He 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.
Nathaniel Paine Judge of Probate in the County of Worcester
Benj n Barritt

We Micah Stone a Clergyman residing in the Town of Brookfield and Alanson Hamilton residing in said Brookfield hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Barrell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. The 3 rd day of September 1832 On sworn before me  J. P. Bishop  My Commission
Micah Stone Alanson Hamilton
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 mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Micah Stone who signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the Town of Brookfield and that Alanson Hamilton who has also signed the same is a resident in the Town of Brookfield and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. P. Paine  Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester
I Theophilus Wheeler Register, Clerk of the Court of Probate for Worcester County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Barrell for a pension. That Jesse Bliss before whom the annexed affidavits were made is a Justice of the Peace in the County of Worcester in full credit, & that he signed the same IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Probate Court this sixth day of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two
Theophilus Wheeler  Reg of said Probate Court in Massachusetts
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester ss. Theophilus Wheeler Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester, do hereby certify that since making the above certificate several additional papers have been produced in said Court to wit, a certificate from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the affidavits of Benjamin Barrell, Lemuel Gilbert, Elijah Barrell, Thomas Barnes, & Moses Barnes all sworn to before Jesse Bliss Esq. and a certificate signed by Daniel N. Dewey Justice of the Peace and are now by me annexed to the papers before produced, by a ribbon under the seal of the said Court.
I further certify that the said Jesse Bliss is now and was at the date of said affidavits a Justice of the Peace in for the said County of Worcester duly commissioned & sworn, & that the signature purporting to be his signature, is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 13 th day of March in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & thirty three Theophilus Wheeler  Reg of said Court
106.960
Ch. B. Brinsfield

and right at said Brookfield he again enlisted as a volunteer in the Company commanded by Lieut. Henry Paige of Hardswick in the County of Worcester. Said Henry Paige was then mortally and murdered with said Company to West Point on the Hudson River in the State of New York said Company was attached to a Regiment commanded by Col. Morgan. In marching to said West Point he passed through Springfield in the State of Massa- chusetts & the town of Lenox, and was employed after arriving there also at the time at said West Point on board of one of the guard boats on the river about four miles above Dole's Ferry so called a his place of residence was at the house of one Lewis Lewis a dutiful man his duty was to guard the British & keep them from landing on the West side of the River and during his service he saw General Arnold pass down the river and go on board of the ship Vulture at the time of his desertion - he remained attached to said Boat keeping guard on till the first of December at which time his term of enlistment expired & he was then dismissed & returned home to Brookfield where he has since resided forty seven years & two years in the town of Williamstown in the County of Berkshire - he never received a written discharge from any officer at the expiration of either of his terms of service nor has he any documentary evidence of his service and knows of no other testimony of his he can procure other than what results from the testimony of Jonathan Jennings Andrew Barstow and Albin Barstow whose depositions are hereto annexed.
Benj. M. Barritt

12.990
Benjamin Barrett
Prob. 16 Mo 15 Days
8 16 06
Jany 25. 1833
5 2.25 165 1498
Hope Bluff Co Mookfula P-215 Map
Wm. G. Randall ARR

12.990 BENEFIT in the case of Benjamin Barrigett County of Worcester In the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? _____  3. How old is he? 74  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Vol. In 1776 1 st Sept r — 3 — Private Gen. Capt. Daniel Lyon —   Vol. 1776 Dec r not stated precisely " Capt. Daniel Lyon —   Vol. 1777 August — 3 — " Capt. John Barrister, Col. Cushing —   Vol. 1778 Sept r — 4 — " Capt. John Cutter, Col. N. Wade —  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Stillwater N.Y.  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Pomfret, Conn. 
 7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional, & witnesses connected with the Clerk's seal as required.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? They are not all connected with the Clerk's seal as required. 
I CERTIFY that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.    Vol. 1770 July  —  3  —  Private  Capt. Timothy Paige, Col. Wrand.  
Examining Clerk.  J. Waugh Jan. 22. 1833.

Oliver Barritt deposition

Oliver Danel of Williamstown in the County of Berkshire of lawful age do depose & say, that I am twenty seven years of age - that I was in the army of the Revolution with my brother Benjamin, who is younger than myself - In the year 1776 late in the fall or beginning of Winter, my Brother Ben- jamin and myself enlisted in a company of Grenadiers under Captain Daniel Lyon of Woodstock in the State of Connecticut - we then lived in Pompey in said State - We marched to Providence in the State of Rhode Island, my Brother Benjamin continued in the service at Providence three or four months - I recollect that I once met my Brother Benjamin, at Bolton in the State of Connecticut - he was on his return from New York with other soldiers - I do not remember the year - I understood he had been in the service - In the fall of 1777 - I recollect of Benjamin's going with my father to the army near Stillwater in the State of New York - Oliver Danel August 13. 1832 - Berkshire. The foregoing appears Oliver Danel to be of the foregoing made out the truth of the same before Daniel N Dene Justice of Peace

Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a justice of the peace in and for the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts. Benjamin Barritt who being duly sworn, deposes and saith, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positive 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; viz for sixteen months and fifteen days as a private soldier to wit in service rendered a twenty six three months at New York under Capt. Daniel Lyon - in service rendered a twenty seven at Providence under said Capt. Daniel Lyon three months & fifteen days - and in the same year in the fall or autumn at the taking of Burgoyne under Capt. John Barrister three months - in 1778 under Capt. John Luther at East Greenwich in the State of Rhode Island as a substitute for John Mills four months, and in 1780 at West Point under Capt. Timothy Page three months - that making in the whole sixteen months & fifteen days service - That he was born in the Town of Gloucester in the State of Rhode Island on the twenty second day of December 1759 but has no record of his age and knows of none & for such service he claims a pension  Benj r Barritt
Worcester p. July 28 th 1833 Then personally appeared Benjamin Barritt above named and made oath to the truth of the facts set forth in the above statement by him submitted before me - & I further certify that I am personally acquainted with said Benjamin Barritt and am of opinion that his statement is entitled to belief & credit  J. P. Bliss Pres. Peace

We the subscribers Lemuel Gilbert of the age of eighty five years - Elijah Bartlett living of the age of seventy three years and Thomas Barnes and right now years all of Brookfield in the County of Worcester and Common- wealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that we have been personally acquainted with the subject of the following certificate Benjamin Barrett of said Brookfield for more than fifty years last past who has to our knowledge uniformly supported an unimpeach- able character for truth & veracity - we further certify that We have ever understood that he was a revolutionary soldier and that he is believed to have been such in the neighborhood where he resides & we concur in this opinion
Lemuel Gilbert
Elijah Bartlett
Thomas Barnes
Worster ss. March 2 nd 1833 Then personally appeared Lemuel Gilbert, Elijah Bartlett, Thomas Barnes and made oath that the facts set forth in the above certificate by them subscribed are true Before me - I further certify that I am personally acquainted with said Lemuel Gilbert, Elijah Bartlett & Thomas Barnes and am of opinion that their testimony is entitled to full credit and belief
Asa P. Phelps Not. Public

18.697 INVALID.
File No. 18.697
Benjamin Barrett
Pr Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 53
[Arrangement of 1870.]

17990
Phyllis Parrett
Sept Bliss Brookville Mass 18th J. G. Kendall JR

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Benjamin Barritt further proof or explanation.
which require
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes 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? yes 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? no VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes 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? yes

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? yes
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? witnesses
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? yes Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? yes
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? yes
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? 1. 2. 7.
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.

Andrew Banister deposition

I Andrew Bannister of Brookfield in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy years being duly sworn do testify & say that in the month of or the middle of August, eighteen hundred and eighty he enlisted as a soldier in the service of the United States for the term of three months in the Company commanded by Capt. Timothy Paige of Hardwick in said County said Company was raised in the Town of Brookfield Hardwick was Brookfield & Westfield, and was attached to the regiment under Col. D. D. Field and marched from Brookfield in said Company by the way of Springfield to West Point in the State of New York on the Hudson River & then remained for said term of three months & I was knowing that Benjamin Bannister of said Brookfield performed duty in said Company during said term of three months he having enlisted in said Company at the same time & marched with me to West Point and performed duty as a soldier in said Company and was dismissed and returned home at the same time - further the deponent saith not
Andrew Bannister
Worthington, August 31 st 1882 Then personally appeared Andrew Bannister the signor of the foregoing deposition and made oath that the facts therein stated are true - I further testify that I am acquainted with said Andrew Bannister and am of opinion that his testimony is entitled to credit. Before me - I. S. Phelps Jr. Pres. Prov.

18th Dec 1841
Rev. A. Jennings deposition
Rev. A. Jennings deposition
18th Dec 1841

I Jonathan Jennings of Brookfield in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age, do testify and say, that I am knowing that Benjamin Brevitt of Brookfield aforesaid performed duty as a soldier in the war of the revolution from the first of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight to the first day of  first day of  November  first day of  the same year  November in the whole four months. In the Company commanded by Capt. John Cutter then of said Brookfield which Company was attached to the regiment commanded by Colonel Nathan Wade. The service was performed by said Brevitt for the Town of East Greenwich in the State of Rhode Island. I enlisted in said service in the month of May previous under said Cutter & went to Rhode Island at that time and said Brevitt joined said Company as a soldier as aforesaid on said first of September at said Town of East Greenwich and remained in the same doing duty during the period above specified to my knowledge - further the deponent saith not
Jonathan Jennings
Worthing August 23. 1832 Then personally appeared Jonathan Jennings above named and made oath that the facts set forth in the above deposition by him subscribed are true
Before me Iser O'Keefe Pres. Penn
I further certify that I am acquainted with Jonathan Jennings & am of opinion that his testimony is entitled to credit
Iser O'Keefe Pres. Penn

Wm Lloyd Jr
12
M. Benjamin Buel West Brookfield Mass

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Berkshire County ss Mar. 9. 1833 -
I Daniel H. Denny Justice of Peace within said County certify that I am acquainted with Oliver Barrett of Millbury town in said County & from officiars in regard to the services of his Brother Benjamin Barrett in the army of the Revolution was taken before me and that he is a man of good charac- ter for truth I sincerely believe his statement is entitled to credit -
Daniel H. Denny Justice of Peace -

Messrs. Barnard Deputation

I Moses Barnes of Brookfield in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being eighty four years of age and being duly sworn, do testify and say, that on the first day of September in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven was knawing to Benjamin Barrett of Brookfield in the County of Worcester being drafted to go to for three months to go to Stillwater in the State of New York and in the County of Saratoga for the purpose of joining the Continental line, who were then stationed at the Town aforementioned.
He was drafted to do duty as a soldier in the State Militia in the company of Capt John Banister of Brookfield - said company was attached to the Regiment under the command of Colonel Cushing of Shrewsbury in the County of Worcester. During the three months aforesaid, he was at the Battle of Burgoyne and all of the said three months his faithfully performed the duty of a soldier for which he was drafted. Further your deponent saith not.
Moses Barnes
Worcester 8th September 8, 1832
Personally appeared Moses Barnes above named and made oath that the foregoing deposition as herein subscribed is true. I further certify that I am acquainted with Moses Barnes the signer of the above deposition & am of opinion that he is entitled to credit.
Before me
J. P. Bliss, Just. Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By His Excellency LEVI LINCOLN , Esquire, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over said Commonwealth.
To all whom it may concern :
Know Ye, That Daniel A. Denny Esq. was Justice of the Peace for the County of Berkshire.
for with in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commission- ed, and that to his Acts and Attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have caused the Public Seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed, this fourteenth day of February A. D. 1833, and in the Fifty Seventh Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
By His Excellency the Governor.
Edward D. Bangs Secretary of the Commonwealth.