Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16186, Nathaniel W Benton, Conn.

SERVICE
Conv.
Benton, Nathaniel W. No. 16186 Susannah
NUMBER
CONTENTS

10.259 R
New York
Mathanias M Benton
of Watkins Coy in the state of New York who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Meigs of the Connecticut line, for the term of three Years 1780
Subscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 11 of May 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 of May 1818 and sent to Orson Judson Esq Cannanargus New York
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 $ 78.44 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1819 $ 8.
$ 126.44
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continue
Mathanias M Benton of Watkins Coy in the state of New York who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Meigs of the Connecticut line for the term of three Years 1780
Subscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 11 of May 1818

Albany 4911
Susannah Benton widow of Nathaniel W. Benton
who was a pensioner under the Act of March 1818 and who died on the 3 d September 1828 of Wayne Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain A. G. of the reg't, commanded by Col. Meigs in the Cont. line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 80 Dollars ————— Cents per annum to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th day of January 1840 and sent to Wm. Gibson Lyons, N.Y.
Arrears to the 4 th of Sept. '39 280.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 th Nov. '40 40.00 $ 320.00
{ Act July 7, 1838. }
Recorded by D Brown Clerk Book 1 Vol. 2. Page 68

22/10/1818
Nathaniel W. Benton, private, Ontario County, N.Y. Col: Meigs and Butler's reg t Conn. line - 1780 to 1783.
11. May, 1818.
Admitted
(Faint mirrored text from the reverse side of the page)
Ezra Jewell, judge, Phelps, Ontario County, N.Y.

State of New York October 20th 1851. On this day I have and the said John Anderson and others persons affirming before me the substance of the foregoing of the Court of Sessions for said County to the said John Anderson aged 78 years a resident of said in said County who being first justly sworn, deposes to know that he has made the following declarations in order to obtain the pensions made in the act of Second enacted for services in Captain's Company in the Continental Army during the United States in the Revolutionary War. That the said Catharine Benson enlisted into the South Regiment in the Continental Army at a place which Regiment was a part of the Army commanded by Col. [illegible] in the year 1780 and that he was not [illegible] the name of his [illegible] as he knew all the time of his [illegible] as an [illegible] with the [illegible] [illegible] and [illegible] with the [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] that he [illegible] to [illegible] in said Regiment in [illegible] [illegible] from the time of his enlistment which was some time in the month of July the exact day he does not remember, in the year 1780 until the same time in the month of July 1783 making a term of three years which he

Served in the Regular Army of the United States when he was Regularly discharged at West Point in the State of New York. That his discharge has long since gone from him and he believes it lost. He further states that he is in more adverse circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and that he has no other evidence of his services in his service than the 11 th day of Sept. 1812 on a small piece of paper
I Ezra Sewell one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Litchfield do hereby certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the above named Nathaniel Benton did serve in the Revolutionary War against the Common enemy and also that I am personally acquainted with the said Nathaniel Benton and know him to be in very adverse and destitute circumstances and I now transmit the proceedings and evidence taken and had before me to the Secretary of the War department pursuant to the before mentioned act of Congress - Given under my hand at Lyndon in said County the day and year before mentioned. Ezra Sewell

C. W. Benton copy of Original Declaration under the Law of Congress of the 20 th May 1820
sent Paid 0.50 Cyrus Beecher
Lyons 10.259
Sept 1829
Cyrus Beecher Lyons Nov. 1820
Walt. G. Benton

State of New-York, } ss. Ontario Cayuga County, }
ON this 19 th day of August 1820 personally appeared, in open court, being a court of record for the said county, Nathaniel W. Benton aged 62 years, resident in the Town of Scarsdale 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:
That he enlisted as a private soldier for the term of three years in the year 1780 in July but does not recollect his captain's name. That he was first in Col. Meigs' regiment then in Col. Butler's regiment in the 4 th Connecticut Regt. That he was discharged in July 1783. That the date of his original application for a pension was the 11 th day of May 1818 and that his pension certificate is numbered 10,259 .
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.
And I do further solemnly swear that my occupation is that of a blacksmith and that by reason of the loss of eye sight and bodily infirmities I am thereby rendered unable to pursue my said occupation and that my family consists of my wife Susannah aged 64 years she enjoys tolerable good health and that we are dependent on our children in a great measure for our support.
Schedule of estate of Nathaniel W. Benton
  State None. Amount Bro' up 20 - 20   Bed & bedding all necessary 1 Tea Kettle 1 - 00   1 Cane 1 Blk Earthen Tea pot 0 - 25   1 Swine 6 Chairs & Forks old 0 - 50   1 Broken Pot 1 Little Wheel 2 - 50   1 - 2 Pail Kettle 1 Quilt etc 1 - 00   1 Small Tub 1 Small Ironing Iron 0 - 25   4 Kitchen Chairs 1 Pine Chest 3 - 00   6 Earthen Plates 1 Spider without legs 0 - 38   6 Tea Cups & Saucers 1 Water Pail 0 - 38   20 - 20 Nathaniel W. Benton 28 - 46 
Sworn to, and declared, on the 19 th day of August 1820 before me
Nathaniel W. Benton Elijah Brooks a Judge of Ontario Common Pleas
I, John Van Fosen clerk of the said court do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record 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 28 dollars and 46 cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this 19 th day of August 1820
John Van Fosen Clerk of the Court for the County of Ontario

1.
I, Fanny Chamberlain of Middletown in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, widow of Theodore Chamberlain decd, being now sixty five years of age, and having been duly cautioned to speak the whole truth, do depose and say, that I am the daughter of Israel Fuller who formerly resided in Berlin in the County of Hartford in this State. My father was a Blacksmith by trade and had several journeymen and apprentices among whom was Nathaniel Benton. A Girl by the name of Susannah Wallace I very well remember did house work in the family some four or five years and while Mr Benton was learning his trade of my father. After his time of service had expired and he had learned his trade he was married to the said Susannah Wallace. I was then young and living at home with my father but I have a very distinct and clear recollection of the marriage at which I was present. They were married at my father's house in said Berlin by the Rev. Nathan Hemen then a settled Minister of the Gospel in that Town when I was about nine years old and according to my best recollection in the fall of the year. The family were all present at the marriage and perhaps a few of the neighboring young people. They lived in our family a short time after the marriage until my father built a blacksmith's shop and hired a part of a house for him in Wethersfield in said County of Hartford a Town adjoining Berlin where they resided
1783

2.
Several years and he followed the trade of a Blacksmith. They subsequently removed from Wethersfield but to what part of the Country I have no personal knowledge. I understand however that he died some eight or ten years ago and that his widow Susannah Benton above named is now living and resident in Wayne county and State of New York. In closing my deposition I would remark that according to my best recollection Mr Benton while in my father's employ was absent one or more times by draft or otherwise as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, but the length or precise time of his service I cannot state. And further the deponent saith not. The word "County" on this page above, interlined before signing. Dated at said Middletown the 15 th day of June AD 1839. Fanny Chamberlain witness!
Alexander C. Huestis State of Connecticut Middletown ss. Middletown 15 th June 1839. Then personally appeared Fanny Chamberlain, well known to me the subscriber to be a person of truth and veracity and a credible person, and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the foregoing Deposition by her subscribed, Before me Stillman K. Wightman Justice of the peace.

1. I Levi North of Berlin in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut being now seventy nine years of age and having been duly cautioned to speak the whole truth, do depose and say, that I was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and am a pensioner of the United States. I was formerly well acquainted with Nathaniel Benton who resided in Berlin aforesaid, was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War and I understand was at the time of his decease some eight or ten years ago in Wayne County in the State of New York a pensioner of the United States. He was a blacksmith by trade and was an apprentice to Israel Fuller then of said Berlin since decd. Susannah Wallace resided in Israel Fuller's family at the same time and when his time was out as an apprentice with Mr Fuller she was married to Nathaniel Benton as I understood and have no doubt although I was not present at the marriage. I lived within about one half a mile of Mr Fuller's and saw Mr Benton and his wife Susannah often. Some time after their marriage they left Mr Fuller's family and moved to Wethersfield in said Hartford County a Town adjoining said Berlin, where Mr Benton set up his trade as a blacksmith and where they lived together as man and wife for several years and were generally reputed

to be man and wife and the fact was never disputed. They afterwards moved from Wethersfield, but to what place I cannot say. I understand however that his widow Susan now resides in Wayne County in the State of New York. And further the deponent saith not. Dated at Middletown in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut the 15 th day of June 1839. witness. Levi North
Abner G. Huestis
State of Connecticut Middlesex County ss. Middletown 15 th June 1839. Then personally appeared Levi North, well known to me to be a person of truth and veracity and a credible person, and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed.
Before me, Stillman K. Wightman Justice of the peace.
State of Connecticut Middlesex County ss. I, John Fish Clerk of the County Court of the County of Middlesex do certify that Stillman K. Wightman Esq. is a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Middlesex as per Commission file in my Office. That his name subscribed to the preceding Certificate mark A. B. one his proper hand writing & signature. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court this 17 th day of June A.D. 1839. J. Fish Clerk

State of New York Wayne County 3p;
On this twenty sixth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine personally appeared before William Sisson First Judge of the County Courts of the County of Wayne aforesaid Susannah Benton, a resident of the town of Sodus in the said County of Wayne aged eighty two years on the twenty eighth day of June 1839 who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7. 1838, entitled "An act granting half-pay and pensions to certain widows." That she is the widow of Nathaniel W. Benton who was a private in the service of the United States in the revolutionary war. She cannot state the periods or length of service of her said husband during the revolutionary war, having been married to him after he left the service. She declares that her said husband the said Nathaniel W. Benton was a Prisoner of the United States under the act of Congress of the 18th day of March 1818, and had a certificate under said act, dated, as she is informed and believes to be true, on or about the fifth day of May 1819, signed by J. C. Calhoun Secretary of War, under and by virtue of which he drew a pension in his life time and at the time of his death, that said Certificate was taken by her son after the death of the said Nathaniel W. Benton for the purpose of purchasing the back pay due at the time of his death & she does not know what has become of it, but she expects it was surrendered or sent to the pension office. She refers, in support of her claim to a pension, to the declaration and proofs, made by said Nathaniel W. Benton, upon which the said Pension Certificate was granted to her said husband and which she expects and believes are now in the War department or pension office at the City of Washington. The information respecting the

date of the said Pension Certificate, she has derived from a Gentleman who resides at Lyons, & who was a Justice of the peace and some times employed to make out his papers & power of Attorney to draw his money under said Certificate, who states that he has a paper purporting to be and believed by him to be a true copy of said Certificate.
She further declares that she was married to the said Nathaniel W. Benton according to the best of her recollection and belief in the month of April in the year 1784, but is not positive as to the precise time & it might have been in the preceding fall. He was in the service at or until about the close of the war, when he came home and they were married a short time after his return home. They were married at the house of Israel Fuller in Berlin in the State of Connecticut by the Rev. Nathan Fenn a settled Clergyman residing in that town. The said Nathaniel W. Benton had previously to the marriage lived with said Fuller & learned the Blacksmiths trade & she the declarant lived at the time of the marriage & had for some years before, with the said Fuller, at whose house they were married. That her husband the aforesaid Nathaniel W. Benton died on the third day of September in the year eighteen hundred and twenty eight, that she not was married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place long previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four. Viz: at the time above stated. She further declares that her maiden name was Susannah Wallace & that she is the same person of that name mentioned in the accompanying affidavits of Fanny Chamberlain and Levi North, and that the said Nathaniel W. Benton her late husband is the same person mentioned in the same affidavits by the name of Nathaniel Benton.
She further declares that she has no record of her marriage with the said Nathaniel & that she

does not know of any record of said marriage. NB The word " not " & " name " interlined before execution.
witness
Roger Benton
Susannah yes X Benton marks
Sworn to and subscribed (by marking her mark) on the day and year above written by Susannah Benton. before me. And I certify that she cannot write from old age, trembling & thinness of eye-sight. And I further certify that she cannot from bodily infirmity attend court to make her Declaration above written
W. Gibson First Judge of Wayne County Court
the e in ll w c riage shop a ded

State of New York
County of Wayne } Ys; Roger Benton of Acadia in said county being duly sworn doth depose and say that he will be sixty nine years of age in the month of August next (1839) - that he was well acquainted from his earliest recollection with Nathaniel W. Benton deceased, to the time of his death, he the said Nathaniel being an elder brother of this deponent. That said Nathaniel was between ten & eleven years older than this deponent and was a Blacksmith by trade & deponent, when a boy lived with him & learned said Blacksmith trade this deponent recollects of being at the house of the said Nathaniel in the year seventeen hundred & eighty five in the town of Weatherfield in the State of Connecticut That the said Nathaniel had been previously mar- ried as this deponent has been informed to Susannah Wallace, now the widow of the said Nathaniel and they were then living together as husband and wife at said Weatherfield, and then had one child who was afterwards scalded & died as I afterwards learned - In the year 1786, in fall, I went to live with said Nathan- iel to learn the trade. I have ever since that time been acquainted with the said Susannah to the present time, and with the said Nathaniel until his death. That the said Nathaniel & Susannah lived together as husband & wife until his decease - That the said Nathaniel W. Benton died at the town of Port Bay now Huron in the said county of Wayne on the third day of September in the year eighteen hundred and twenty eight and that the said Susannah Benton who is now applying for a Pension is the widow of the said Nathaniel W. Benton, that she has not been married since the death of the said Nathaniel, but has ever since remained his widow. The figure "5" in 1785 words "as this deponent has been informed" obliterated & figure "6" in 1786 above above mentioned altered from 5. before execution
Subscribed & sworn this 26th day of June 1839 before me
Wm Sifton First Judge Wayne County
Roger Benton

I certify that I am personally acquainted with the within Deponent Roger Benton and that he is a person of good character, is a credible witness & that his statement is entitled to full credit.
Wm Sisson First Judge of Wayne County
State of New York,
County of Wayne ss. I certify that William Sisson before whom the above deposition purport to have been sworn, and whose signature appears to the above certificate, was at the date thereof First Judge of Said County duly Commissioned & qualified and that his signatures to the above Certificate and jurats are genuine.
Given under my hand and seal of office this twenty seventh day of June 1839
William Foster Clerk Wayne County N.Y.
54732

October 19, 1938
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/MCS aw Nathaniel W. Benton W.16186
Mr. Homer J. Schieber 1031 West 90th Street Los Angeles, California
Dear Sir:
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, W.16186, based on the military service of Nathaniel W. Benton.
The date and place of birth of Nathaniel W. Benton and the names of his parents are not shown.
While serving as an apprentice at Berlin, Hartford County, Connecticut, he enlisted in July, 1780, served as armorer in Colonels Meigs' and Butler's Connecticut Regiments and was discharged in July, 1783.
He was allowed pension on his application executed May 11, 1818, at which time he stated he was fifty-eight years of age and he was then living in Sodus, Ontario County, New York. In 1820 he stated that he was sixty-two years of age.
He died September 3, 1828, at Port Bay, Wayne County, New York.
This soldier married in 1784 in Berlin, Connecticut, Susannah Wallace, who was born June 28, 1757.
In 1785 they were living in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, having moved there from Berlin.
The widow, Susannah Benton, was allowed pension on her application executed June 26, 1839, at which time she was living at Sodus, New York.

In 1785 Nathaniel W. and Susannah Benton had one child (name not given) who died when a child. In 1820 reference was made to their children but no names were given. In 1829 the widow referred to her son but did not give his name. The soldier's brother, Roger Benton, was born in August, 1770, and in 1839 he was living in Arcadia, Wayne County, New York. The papers in this claim contain no further data relative to the soldier's family.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

Rev
WIDOW, &c. ✓
File No. 16186
Sarah Annah Benton Widow of Nathaniel Benton Pr. Brn Wm
Act July 7 th 88
Index: Vol. a , Page 52
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1911 May 27. Hist. to Mrs. Henry E. Fowler, letter in R. File 787 Elijah or Elisha Benton p
1923 Oct. 26 hist. to Miss Emily E. Taylor. See letter in Rev. Chm. Elisha Bradley, W16864 ucd
1928 Oct. 19 hist. to Mr. Homer J. Schieber. See his letters in Misc. File under Schieber ucd

October 19, 1938
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/MNHF/MCS Nathaniel W. Benton, W.16186 Thomas Allison, S.22079
Mr. Homer J. Schieber 1031 West 90th Street Los Angeles, California
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letters in which you request the Revolutionary War records of John Allison who served in the Pennsylvania troops, Thomas Allison, a pensioner in 1835 in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, Jacob Bartlett who received a pension in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and died in 1828, David Benton who received a pension in 1840 in Jackson County, Indiana, Jonathan Benton, a pensioner in 1840 in Columbia County, New York, Nathaniel W. Benton, a pensioner in 1820 in New York State, Susan Benton, a pensioner in 1840 in Ontario County, New York, and Andrew Sands, a pensioner in 1840 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information, it has been impossible to comply in full with each request pertaining to soldiers of the Revolutionary War, which requires so much time and research, no matter how great the desire to do so.
In the effort to aid you in part, the record of Thomas Allison is furnished you herewith, and that of the only Nathaniel W. Benton found on the Revolutionary War pension records. His widow was Susannah and may have been the other pensioner referred to in your letters, as no other Susannah or Susan Benton has been found on those records as the widow of a Revolutionary War soldier and an applicant for pension.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

October 26, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/MCS
Miss Emily E. Taylor 355 Wilson Street Clarksburg West Virginia
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your request for information in regard to Nathaniel W. Benton, Elihu Bradley and Isaac Bradley, soldiers of the Revolution.
Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon the military service of soldiers in that war. A search of the records fails to show such claim on file on account of the service of an Isaac Bradley.
The records of Nathaniel W. Benton and Elihu Bradley are furnished you herewith.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

October 26, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Nathaniel W. Benton W. 16186 BA-J/MCS
Miss Emily E. Taylor 355 Wilson Street Clarksburg West Virginia
Dear Madam:
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, W. 16186, based upon the military service of Nathaniel W. Benton.
While serving as an apprentice at Berlin, Hartford County, Connecticut, he enlisted in July, 1780, served as armorer in Colonels Meigs' and Butler's Connecticut Regiments and was discharged in July, 1783.
He was allowed pension on his application executed May 11, 1818, at which time he stated he was fifty-eight years of age and he was then living in Sodus, Ontario County, New York. In 1820 he stated that he was sixty-two years of age.
He died September 3, 1828, at Port Bay, Wayne County, New York.
This soldier married in 1784 in Berlin, Connecticut, Susannah Wallace, who was born June 28, 1757.
In 1785 they were living in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, having moved there from Berlin.
The widow, Susannah Benton, was allowed pension on her application executed June 26, 1839, at which time she was living at Sodus, New York.
In 1785 they had one child (name not given) who died when a child. In 1820 reference was made to their children but no names were given. In 1839 the widow referred to her son but did

not give his name. The soldier's brother, Roger Benton, was born in August, 1770, and in 1839 he was living in Arcadia, Wayne County, New York. The papers in this claim contain no further data relative to the soldier's family.
Print Schick, Jr. This is the history of the only Nathaniel W. Benton that is found in the Revolutionary War records of this office.
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

In reply to your request of _____, received for a statement of the military history of Nathaniel H. Benton , a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his and (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
77. File 16186
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     July 1780 July 1783 Armourer Meigs   discharged M c Intosh N.Y. Butler 4 Conn.                                                          
Battles engaged in, ✓
Residence of soldier at enlistment, ✓
Date of application for pension, March 11, 1818. Held.
Residence at date of application, Sodus, Ontario Co., N.Y.
Age at date of application, 58 yrs: in 1820 claimed to be 62 yrs.
Remarks: Id. m. Berlin, Conn. Feb - 1784 Susannah Wallace  June 28, 1757 — died Dec 3, 1828, Port Bay, Wayne Co., N.Y.  took new wife pension on her application June 26, 1839 res. Sodus, N.Y.

Box 373 Guilford Conn. May 18 th 1911
Pension Bureau - Elisha Bentore a pensioner of Conn. Men in Revolution, residing in New Hampshire in 1818. Please send me his record as on Pension Rolls -
Address
Mrs Henry Eliot Fowler - Guilford - Conn.
Also of Nathaniel W. Bentore  W16186 residing in New York in 1818

Box 373 Guilford Conn. May 18 th 1911
Pension Bureau -
or Elijah mag 10, 64. 10912 Elisha Benton a pensioner
of Conn. N.H. in Revolution, residing in New Hampshire in 1818. Please send me his record as on Pension Rolls -
Address
Mrs Henry Eliot Fowler - Guilford - Conn.
Also of W16186 Nathaniel W. Benton residing in New York in 1818

J. L. Edwards Esq. Commr of Pensions Dear Sir,
Inclosed, I send you the Declaration & papers of Hannah Benton widow of Nathaniel W. Benton, for a Pension, under the act of 1838 - I hope you will find her case sufficiently supported, to entitle her to full pension Pension & that she may receive it immediately for she is in extreme want. Please to the result to me as soon as consistent with your rules & oblige yours &c
Yours July 1. 1839 W. B. D. [Signature]
Wayne Co. N.Y.

dec. 21, 1839
J. P. Edwards Esquire Commission of Deputies Washington City D.C.
PAID

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commr. of Pensions
Dear Sir,
Benton. Respecting the case of Mrs. Susannah, widow of Nathaniel W. Benton, for a Pension under the act of Congress of July 7. 1838, you say in your letter of 9th Oct. last, that it must be shown that there is no record of the marriage in the Church or town Clerks Office of Berlin, before parole evidence to that fact can be admitted - I now send you the affidavit of Rev. Joseph Whittlesey the present clergyman that there is no record found among the Church Records, & stating that he is satisfactorily informed that the Records of Marriages celebrated by the Rev. Mr. Fenn were destroyed after his death. Also the affidavit of Chas. A. Goodrich Town Clerk of Berlin that he does not find any record of the marriage of N. W. Benton & Susannah Wallis & presumes there is none, as it was customary for the Clergyman to keep his own record of Marriages. & that he is informed that the records kept by Rev. Mr. Fenn have been destroyed.
These affidavits establish the facts, that there is now no record of the marriage, either in the records of the Church or town Clerks Office. That it was customary for the Clergyman to keep his own records of marriages, & that if Mr. Fenn kept a record in this case it has been destroyed.
I do not understand by your letter that you deny the sufficiency of the proof accompanying the declaration, as to the marriage, in case no record proof exists or can be found had. As to the marriage you have the affidavit of Mrs. Fanny's husband, who says she was present, & the affidavits of Levi North & Roger Benton touching the same fact. I hope you will now be satisfied to grant her a Pension upon the case as it now stands & send to me a certificate without delay - She is in the 83 rd year of her age & very needy & destitute & has no children able to support her over -

Your respectfully Wm Sison Lyons N.Y. Dec. 14. 1839
P.S. Mrs. Chamberlain does not fix the precise date of the marriage, but it is evident from her affidavit & the other affidavits, that it was prior to Jan'y 1. 1794, & after the services of her husband were performed, as they were not married until after the close of the war. Mrs. C. states that soon after their marriage they moved to Weatherfield - Mr. Leffler  North states, he lived near Fuller's when they were married, understood they were married and saw them afterwards as husband & wife, & that some time after the marriage they moved to Weatherfield, and Benton worked as a Blacksmith. Roger Benton, states that in 1785 he was at their house in Weatherfield, where they then lived as husband & wife & that in the fall of 1786 he went to live with them to learn the Blacksmith trade. It appears to me that the proof is abundantly sufficient - It can hardly be expected that a witness should remember the precise day, month & year of such an occurrence, unless there was a record or memorandum made of it or some thing, fact, or circumstance to impress it upon the mind -
W.S.

I Joseph Whittlesey of Berlin in Hartford County & State of Connecticut, depose & say that, I have not found among the Church Records, in my possession, any records of Marriages, celebrated by the Rev. Nathan Fenn, the former Minister of Worthington Parish; but I am credibly & satisfactorily informed, that, the Records kept by the Rev. Mr. Fenn, were after his death destroyed & forever lost.
Joseph Whittlesey.
Pastor of the 3 d . Congregational Church & Society in Berlin.
State of Connecticut, Hartford County ss. Berlin October 24 th 1839. Personally appeared Rev. Joseph Whittlesey, to me well known for truth & veracity, who subscribed the foregoing Affidavit in my presence, & made solemn Oath to the truth of the same. Before me, Horatio Gricley Justice of Peace
I Charles A. Goodrich of Berlin in Hartford County & State of Connecticut; do depose & say, that, I cannot find on the Record Books of the Town, any Record made of the Marriage of Nathaniel W. Benton to Susanna Wallis; and presume there is none, as it was formerly customary for the Clergyman to keep his own records. I am credibly informed that, the Records of marriages kept by the Rev. Mr. Fenn, the first minister of Worthington Parish; were inadvertently destroyed, after his death. — Charles A Goodrich — Town Clerk. —
State of Connecticut, Hartford County ss. Berlin Oct. 24 th 1839. Personally appeared Charles A. Goodrich, to me known as the town Clerk of the town of Berlin; who subscribed the foregoing Affidavit in my presence, & made Oath in due form of law to the truth of the same.
Before me, Horatio Gricley Justice of Peace

State of Connecticut
Registers Office. } I hereby certify that there is in my Berlin Oct 24 1839 } office a Certificate duly signed by the Secretary of the State of Connecticut and sealed with the seal of his office declaring Horatio Gidley to have been appointed a Justice of the Peace for the Town of Berlin by the General Assembly, which held its session at Hartford on the 1 st Wednesday of May 1839.
Certified by Charles A. Goodrich. Town Clerk.

I, ROYAL R. HINMAN , Secretary of the State of Connecticut, and keeper of the Seal thereof, do hereby certify and make known to whom it doth or may concern,
THAT Horatio Griswold Esq. is
and for more than six months past, has been a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Hartford in said State, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified, having full power and authority, by the laws of said State, to take the acknowledgment of Deeds and to certify the same; also to administer oaths to witnesses and to take Affidavits and Depositions out of Court, and to give certificates thereof; and that full faith and credit may and ought to be given to the official acts and attestations of the said Griswold
in Court and Country.
In testimony whereof, I have, in my capacity of Secretary as aforesaid, hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of said State, at the City of Hartford, in said State, the fifth day of Decr in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and 39
And I certify that the signature of said Griswold hereunto annexed is genuine.
R. R. Hinman
Secretary.

V New York
Act July 7. 1838
Sasannah Benton
Manned April 1784 Husband died 3 d Spt 1828
Wid to Wm. Sisson 9. Oct. 1839
Col Migs - Count Line
Admitted
Private 2 years
William Sisson Esq
Lyons
New York