Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16189, Benjamin Bevens, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Bevers, Benjamin Elizabeth
No. 16,189.
CONTENTS

Albany 4,539
Elizabeth Bevens widow of Benjamin Bevens
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the — June 1805 — of Schenectady Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain R. S. of the reg't. commanded by in the N. Y. line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum; to commence on the 14th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7. day of Nov. 1839 and sent to E. G. Williams Schenectady, N. Y.
Arrears to the 14th of Sept. '39 280.00 Semi-annual allowance ending Dec. '40. 40.00
$320.00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by D. Drown Clerk Book 1, Vol. 2, Page 68

2421
Elizabeth Bevens
E. Holiday Egg Schonauer N.Y.

State of New York Schoharie County, } ss.
On this 28 th day of March one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine personally appeared before Harvey Watson one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Schoharie and State of aforesaid, Elisabeth Bevens, now an inmate of the Poor house, situate at Middleburgh, in said county and State, aged eighty one years, 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 Benjamin Bevens, late of Schoharie, deceased, who was a private soldier of the Revolution as she always understood and believed, and she also understood and believes, that he served in Capt. Bleeker's Company, in Col. Van Schaick's regiment, and she further understood and believes that he was an enlisted soldier but whether he ever informed her it was for during the war or a term of years she has forgotten, but she is confident he served to the end of the war, she thinks he served more than three years during the war, but how many other companies and regiments he served in than the ones above stated she cannot state, nor does she recollect the time when he first entered the service nor the names of any other of his officers, if any he had.
She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Bevens, in the City of Schenectady, in the winter of Seventeen hundred and eighty five and she believes it was in February of that year, and that her husband, the aforesaid Benjamin Bevens, died more than twenty years ago, but what year he died in, she has forgotten; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz: at the time above stated.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year } Elisabeth for Bevens above written, before me mark
Harvey Watson one of the Judges of Schoharie County Courts

I hereby certify that Elizabeth Berrens the within applicant, cannot from bodily infirmity attend the Court - being very weak and feeble and unable to leave her room without assistance.
Harvey Watson one of the Judges of Schoharie County Courts
State of New York Schoharie County, } ss
I, William M. Holton Clerk of the county of Schoharie, do certify that Harvey Watson, before whom the foregoing affidavit purports to have been taken was on the day the taking hereof date one of the Judges of the court of common pleas of Schoharie County, and State aforesaid, and that the signature to the taking of the affidavit and to the certificate above written are his genuine signatures.
Given under my hand and Seal of said County this 5 th day of April, 1839.
N.B. in the 7 th line above the words "day the" were interlined before certified to
William M. Holton Clerk.

State of New-York Schoharie County, } ss.
Jacob Enders, of the town & county of Schoharie, being duly sworn, saith that he was well acquainted with Benjamin Bevens, in the revolutionary war and up to the time of his death. That the said Bevens was a soldier of the revolution; that he enlisted for a term of years or for during the war but which of the two this deponent has forgotten; that the said Bevens came home on furlough before his services ended and stayed at this deponent's house a short time and returned again to the service as this deponent believes; that he saw no more of him till the close of the war, and understood and believes that he remained in the service till he was discharged, but this deponent does not know what company or companies said Bevens belonged to, but believes he belonged to Capt. Bleeker's company in Col. Van Schaick's regiment at the time he was discharged. That he has no doubt but the said Benjamin Bevens was in the revolutionary service for more than two years during the war. That this deponent is well acquainted with Elizabeth Bevens widow of the said Benjamin Bevens deceased. That before she was married her name was Elizabeth Van Dyck, that this deponent attended the wedding which he thinks was in the winter of 1785 for he recalls it was the same evening his first child was born. That the said Elizabeth Bevens has remained the widow of the said Benjamin Bevens ever since his death which was more than 20 years ago. Sworn & subscribed before me) his the 1 day of October 1838 Jacob X Enders Herkibeth Manning Com: of Deeds mark
I certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Jacob Enders and that he is a man of truth Herkibeth Manning

State of New-York, Schoharie County. } ss.
I William M. Holton, clerk of said County do hereby certify that Hertziah Manning before whom the within affidavit purports to have been taken was on the day the taking bears date a Commissioner of said County, authorised by law to take affidavits and further that I am acquainted with his hand writing and merely believe the signature to the foregoing said affidavit and certificate therein underwritten to be genuine. Given under my hand and seal of office this day of October 1838
N.B. in the 8th line above the words "was on the day the taking bears date" were interlined before certified to.
State of New-York, Schoharie County. } ss.
I William M. Holton, clerk of said County do hereby certify that Hertziah Manning before whom the day the taking bears date a Commissioner of said County, authorised by law to take affidavits and further that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and merely believe that the signature to the taking of said affidavit and certificate therein underwritten to be genuine. Given under my hand and seal of office this 9th day of October 1838
William M. Holton Clerk of the County of Schoharie

State of New York Schenectady County, } ss.
Jacob van Vechten, Pastor of the Reformed Dutch church of the city and county of Schenectady and state afore- said, being duly sworn, saith, that he has examined the ancient Records of said church and finds therein recorded, in the Register of marriages entitled "Trouw Boek" the following: "Seventeen hundred and eighty fine" "Benjamin Bevin Jong. man met Elizabeth Van Dyck Jong Dog. afgekeurdight te Schoharie door John van Dyck voorleser te Schoharie"
"Beweestight Feb y third seventeen hundred and eighty fine" I certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the Record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows
"1785" "Beweestight Feb'y 3, 1785"
N.B. The word "third" in the 6th line above was written as an erasure or blur, before sworn to.
Subscribed and sworn to this 18 th day of September } 1838 before me
A. A. Veddren a justice of the Peace in and for the city & county of Schenectady
State of New York Schenectady County Clerks Office
I William W. Freeway Deputy Clerk of said County do certify that A. A. Veddren, whose name is subscribed to the proof of the above affidavit made by Jacob Van Vechten, and therein written was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace dwelling in said County, and duly authorized to take the same; and further that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of said A. A. Veddren and justly believe the signature thereto purporting to be his is genuine. — In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of said County this 18 th day of September A.D. 1838
W. W. Freeway D. Clk

State of New York Secretary's Office
I certify that it appears by the Military Register in this office, that on the 8 th of February 1781 Benjamin Beavans Enlisted in the First New York Regiment and was mustered to May 1 st . The name of his Captain is not given, nor the term of his Enlistment. This Entry will be found in the Register under the Letter B. after Colonel Malcom's Regiment.
And I further certify that it appears by the Balloting book in this office that Benjamin Bevens was a private in the First New York Regiment and that a Lot of 600 acres of land in the Military Tract was granted to him for his services. See printed balloting book page 25. See also page 85 of the same book Connolly's Original Return of the First Regiment Capt Leonard Bleeker's Company of Light Infantry Benjamin Beavans returned as a Private.
Arch d Campbell Dep. Secretary
Albany April 3. 1839.

State of New York Schoharie County, } ss.
John Bevens, being duly sworn, saith that he is a son of Elizabeth Bevens, and Benjamin Bevens, deceased, that the said Benjamin Bevens died at Schoharie in the month of May or June 1805. That he always understood that the said Benjamin Bevens was a Revolutionary soldier during the war. That there is no record of his death.
Subscribed and sworn to before me } his this 21 day of Septem- } month ber 1839 } Geo Lawrence Commissioner of Deeds of Schoharie County -
Certify that the above named John Bevens is a person of veracity.
State of New York Schoharie County } ss.
Geo Lawrence
I William M. Hotten, Clerk of said county do hereby certify that George Lawrence before whom the above affidavit purports to have been taken, was, on the day the taking thereof, a Commissioner of Deeds of said county authorized to take affidavits, and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and used to believe the signature to the taking said affidavit to be and is that of said George Lawrence. Given under my hand and seal of office this 21 st day of September 1839.
William M. Hotten Clerk.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 16189
Elizabeth Bemens
Wid of Benjamin Bemens
Prim Rev War
Act: July 7 th /38
Index:—Vol. A, Page 62
[Arrangement of 1870.]
V N. York 1539 Elizabeth Bemens to Papers returned let. to E. Holliday 19 March '39. to same 20 July 1839 to same 12. Spt. 1839 Married 3 rd Feb. 1785 Husband died June 1805 N.Y. Reg. Capt B. B. B. B. Admiral Private Loggers Act July 1838 E. Holliday Esq.

21121
Elisabeth Bevins
Recd March 25, 1839

State of New York Schoharie County, } ss.
On this Ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared before the Surrogate, in the Surrogate's court of the county of Schoharie, and State aforesaid, in the Elisabeth Bevers, now an inmate of the Poor house, situate at Middleburgh, in said County and State aforesaid, in the eighty first year of her age, 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 7th, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows." That she is the widow of Benjamin Bevers, late of Schoharie deceased. That the said Benjamin Bevers was a soldier of the Revolution, as she was informed and believes, but what company and regiment he served in during the war, she cannot state, but thinks his last service was in Capt. Bleekers company in Col. Van Schaick's regiment. She thinks he enlisted for a term of years or for during the war, and served as a private, but what year he firstly entered the service she does not know but believes he was not discharged till the close of the war. She further declares she was married to the said Benjamin Bevers, in the city of Schenectady, in the winter of seventeen hundred and eighty nine, and she believes it was in February of that year, and that her husband, the aforesaid Benjamin Bevers, died more than twenty years ago, but what year he died in she has forgotten; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz: at the time above stated. Sworn to and subscribed, in open court, on the day and year above written before me.
Jacob Hoock, Jr. Surrogate of Schoharie County.
Elisabeth Bevers

I, the said Surrogate, do hereby certify that that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of Elisabeth Bevins, widow of Benjamin Bevins, deceased. For a per- sion. Given under my hand and seal of the Sur- rogate's court of the County of Schoharie this 9 th day of October 1838.
Jacob H. Beck sw Surrogate of Schoharie County.

Sir:
Schoharie July 24, 1839.
I herewith enclose to you the original declaration of Elizabeth Bevins, which you will find in substance, the same as the other declaration I did not suppose that the rejected declaration had anything further to do with the case, and therefore did not send it back. The old woman wants have a right to amend her declaration at every time, and would would not be bound by any mistake or erroneous statement made in her first declaration, and I must confess I have not discernment enough to know how the rejected declaration can be considered a part of the case, and it was by mere chance that it was preserved, but since it has been I now send it on. This claim was presented nearly ten months ago and a decision in it has been unreasonably delayed. I had no idea when the claim was presented that the old woman would live a year, but she is still living, although I have but little hope that she will live to enjoy her pension (if one should be granted) at the slow rate business is done at the Pension Department. The law might as well be repealed as to have business conducted as it is.
If Congress do not, at the next session, make some regulation to expedite decisions in these cases the law may as well be repealed. I cannot see how it is possible, under the evidence adduced in this case, that there can be any doubt as to the old woman's claim.
You stated in your letter of the 19th of March that Bevins name did not appear on the rolls of Capt. Bleeker's company, but the Secretary's certificate, which I sent to you, proves that his name is on Bleeker's rolls and that he drew 600 acres of land for his services, which would, I should suppose, in all contence, be satisfactory, and if it be not it is not of the power

of general government would be.
I am, very respectfully,
Your obedient Servant
Ebenezer D. Halliday
Friend L. Edinburg
Dear Sir,
[The following text is extremely faint and mostly illegible due to bleed-through from the reverse side of the page.] I have been thinking about the past and how much things have changed since we were children. It seems like a lifetime ago. I hope you are doing well and that you have found some peace in your life. I have been very busy lately, but I have managed to find some time to write to you. I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. I have been thinking about you and your family and how much I would like to see you all again. I hope you will be able to come for a visit soon. I have been thinking about the old house and how much things have changed since we were children. It seems like a lifetime ago. I hope you are doing well and that you have found some peace in your life. I have been very busy lately, but I have managed to find some time to write to you. I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. I have been thinking about you and your family and how much I would like to see you all again. I hope you will be able to come for a visit soon.

Schoharie April 6th, 1839.
Sir:
I enclosed to you the Widow Elisabeth Bemens application for a pension the 10th day of October last, praying to have a decision as soon as possible, as the old woman has fared most wretchedly; but I heard nothing from it for more than five months, and then the papers were sent back with objections. She was required to make her declaration in a court of Record, unless prevented by bodily infirmity. She was also required to state the names of the officers under whom her husband served, &c. She stated in her declaration that she could not tell what companies and regiments he served in during the war, but thought his last services were in Capt. Bleeker's company, in Col. Van Schaick's regiment, &c. But you stated in your letter accompanying the return of papers that his name did not appear on the Rolls of Capt. Bleeker's company. This was rather discouraging, but knowing, as I did, that he drew five or six hundred acres of land, I further thought that he could not have drawn it without having been in the service sufficient to entitle his widow to a pension. — You wrote that some evidence, perhaps, might be found at Albany, I accordingly wrote to Mr. Campbell to examine and certify the result, which he has done. This certificate together with the other evidence, I presume will be satisfactory. This certificate shows Bemens to have been in the service as early as 8th Feb. 1781. Now it is clear that he must have served in some company or other to the end of the war, to entitle him him to 600 acres of land. — The old woman is in a wretched condition without even a change of clothing, and that she is entitled to a pension appears to me evident, and as this case has already been protracted for more than six months I now hope it will shortly be decided.
I am respectfully your obedt Servt —
Elias Holliday
J. L. Edwards Esq. Com. of Dur.

Sir:
Schuhart Septm. 21, 1839.
In the matter of the application of Elizabeth Beman for a pension, you say in your letter of the 12 inst. that "the year at least, if not the day of the death of her husband must be established by record evidence; or if that cannot be found, by the testimony of a credible witness." — At the time Mrs. Beman made her declaration it was not supposed to be necessary to prove the year in which he died her husband . When the question was put how long he had been dead she said she could not tell but said he had been dead a good many years. The question was then asked if he had been dead as many as 20 years? she answered that he had been dead more than 20 years and so it was put down in her declaration and in the affidavit of Jacob Enders, supposing it to be sufficient without stating the year in which he died: but since it was necessary to prove the year an affidavit from her son has been procured which is herewith enclosed to you. He swears he died in May or June 1805. (He knows it was in 1805 from the age of his oldest son) The affidavit proves also that there is no record of his death
I am respectfully
Your obedt Servt
Elias Halliday
James Edwards Esq Com of Pensions

SCHONARIE. H.N.Y., SEP. 11
2/10/74
James J. Schuch Com. of General Washington

Sir
Chochare September 11, 1839.
I enclosed to you the papers in the matter of the application of Elizabeth Boring for a pension, the 10th of October, 1838. The declaration was made in the Superior's court and after remaining at the Pension office riding of five months, it was returned to me with an objection that the widow was required to make her declaration in a court of Record, unless prevented by bodily infirmity. — A new declaration was accordingly made before a Judge, she being unable to attend court. — This declaration, with some further evidence I enclosed to you the 6th of April last, and in a letter of the 20th of July you informed me that a decision, in the case, could not be had till the original declaration was returned to the pension office. Was the original declaration received by you?
I am respectfully Your obedt Servt Elias Holliday
James L. Edwards Esq Chair of Pension

✓ 2421 NY 7 July 1838
RECEIVED JUL 10 1838
Daniel J. L. Smith Esq. Rev. of Dunbar Washington
P.R.E.D.

July 13 SCHIOHARIE.C.H. JUL. 10
Mal N.Y. Eliz Burns
James H. Church Esq Com. of Pensions Washington
REE.

Sir,
Schoharie July 10, 1839.
I enclosed to you the pension papers of Widow Elizabeth Bevins, last October; the papers were returned to me the 25th of March last requiring the declaration to be made in a court of record in stead of the Surrogate's Court where it was made. A new declaration was accordingly made conformably to your requirement and forwarded to you the 5th of April last. Did you receive it and the papers pertaining to the case.
I am, unrespectfully Your Obed't Serv't
Elias Holliday
James L. Edwards Esq. Com. of Pensions.