Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17,272, George Bentley, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
or Bentley, George Bently, Lucy
W. 17. 272.
CONTENTS

Connecticut 2903
Lucy Bently widow of George Bently who was a private in the Connecticut line Conn.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 20 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Nov: 1843 and sent to
Sam: Willwood Ledyard, Conn.
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A Vol. 1 — Page 63.
Who is Mary Bently

Declaration,
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress, of the 7 th July, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
State of Connecticut
New London County } ss. Probate District of Stonington
On this 3 rd day of August A.D. 1841, personally appeared before the court of Probate for the district aforesaid, being a court of record and having a clerk and seal, Lucy Bentley a resident of Stonington in the county of New London aforesaid, aged eighty five 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 George Bentley who was a private in the Revolutionary Army, that according to the best of her knowledge and belief her husband, the said George, enlisted into Capt. Abel Spicr's company, Col. Selden's Regt., for the term of six months, in the month of May or June 1776, that he was marched to New York City, Long Island, Harlem Heights, White Plains &c. that he was in a Battle with the Hessians, (called the Orcharo fight,) that he continued in the said service until his said term of six months had expired.
She further declares that she was married to the said George Bentley on the sixteenth day of May Seventeen hundred and seventy nine, that she has no record of her said husband's service in the revolutionary army as aforesaid, nor of her marriage and that she knows of but one person living that was present at her wedding viz. Jonathan Gardner of Colchester in the county aforesaid, (her brother,) whose deposition is herewith annexed, that her husband, the aforesaid George Bentley died on the third day of May

eighteen hundred and thirty one, 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 within stated.
Lucy her  X Bentley
Sworn to and subscribed on this 3 rd day of August A.D. 1840.
In presence of Stephen Babcock Jr Emma Babcock.
{ Before,
N. S. Fish Judge
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, That the said Lucy Bentley was married to the said George Bentley, as she states in the aforesaid declaration, that said George served in the Revolutionary Army as stated in said declaration, that he died in the month of May eighteen hundred and thirty one, that she has remained a widow ever since the death of her husband, the said George Bentley. — And the said Court do certify that the said Lucy Bentley is a credible person.
Test,
N. S. Fish Judge
I John D. Voyes Clerk of the Court of Probate aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Lucy Bentley for a pension, and as Clerk of said Court, I do hereby certify that Sam d W Wood before whom the depositions of Capt Joseph Brown, Mr Jonathan Gardner, Deacon Simeon Abell, and Capt Rufus Avery hereto annexed, were taken, is a Notary Public within and for the State of Connecticut, duly commissioned and qualified, and that his signatures written to the certificates annexed to said depositions are genuine.
And I do further certify

That Asa Fish before whom the deposition of Stephen Cabank jun. was taken is Judge of said Court of Probate, and that the signatures purporting to be his are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this Third day of August Anno Domine 1841 —
John D. Mays Clerk 31

Jonathan Gardner of Colchester in the County of New London and State of Connecticut, aged eighty two years, on his oath, deposeth and saith that he was acquainted with George Bentley late of Stonington in the County aforesaid, deceased. And deponent further saith that he is acquainted with Lucy Bentley of said Stonington, the widow of said George Bentley and a sister to deponent, that her maiden name was Lucy Gardner, that the said George and Lucy were married in the month of May Seventeen hundred and Seventy nine, in that part of the then town of Norwich, that was a few years after said marriage set off from said Norwich and incorporated into a town by the name of Bozrah, in the County aforesaid. She, the said Lucy, being then a resident of said Norwich, that they were married between three and four years before deponent was married, and deponent was married on the 22 nd day of January Seventeen hundred and eighty three, that deponent was present at their wedding and saw them married. —
Deponent further saith that the said George was reputed to have been a Soldier in the Revolutionary War, and that he, the said deponent has heard him the said George talk about his being in the service in said War, and further the deponent saith not
Colchester July 2 nd 1841, Jonathan Gardner In presence of — Justin Gardner Mary M Gardner
State of Connecticut — ss. New London County.
Be it known that on the 2 nd day of July 1841, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Notary Public within and for the State aforesaid, Mr. Jonathan Gardner above named and

made oath that Saw the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is true, before me, — And I certify that he is a credible person and that his testimony is entitled to credit.
Sam d W m Wood Notary Public.

I, Simeon Abell of Bozrah in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, aged seventy four years, being duly sworn according to law, do on my oath, depose and say, that I have in my care and custody a record book, entitled, "The Records of the 5 th Chh in Norwich," kept by the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Throop formerly Pastor of said church. That said book purports to be records of "Baptisms, Deaths, marriages," &c. that under the heading of, "a catalogue of marriages," I find the following entry viz.
"1779
May 16. George Bentley & Lucy Gardener" —
I, Simeon Abell above named, depose and say that I am clerk of the church above mentioned (now called the New Concord Congregational Church in Bozrah.) that it appears by the above mentioned records, that the said George Bentley and Lucy Gardener were married by the Rev. Benjamin Throop on the sixteenth day of May seventeen hundred and seventy nine. — I further depose and say that this town (Bozrah) was formerly a part of the town of Norwich, and that it was incorpora- ted into a town about the year 1786. And further deponent saith not.
Bozrah July 2 nd 1841.
Simeon Abell
In presence of
Ebenezer Hough
Calvin Vergerson

State of Connecticut, ss. New London County.
Be it known that on the 2 nd day of July 1841, personally appeared Deacon Simeon Abell named in the within deposition and made oath that said deposition by him subscribed is true, before me, — and I certify that he is a credible person and that his testimony is entitled to credit.
Samuel W m Wood Notary Public.

January 14, 1939.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/CC George Bentley W.17272
Mrs. Florence Bentley Keach 339 Willow Street, New Haven, Connecticut.
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of George Bentley of Stonington, or North Stonington, Connecticut.
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim W.17272, based upon service in the Revolutionary War of George Bentley.
Date and place of birth of George Bentley and names of parents are not shown.
While residing in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut, George Bentley enlisted in May or June 1776, served six months as private in Captain Abel Spicer's company, Colonel Selden's Connecticut regiment. He was at the battles of Harlem and White Plains.
George Bentley died May 3, 1831 in Stonington, Connecticut.
George Bentley married May 16, 1779, in that part of Norwich, Connecticut, which later became Bozrah, Lucy Gardner, who was at that time a resident of Norwich, Connecticut. This marriage was witnessed by a brother of Lucy, Jonathan Gardner, Lucy's brother .
Soldier's widow, Lucy Bentley was allowed a pension on her application executed August 3, 1841, at which time she was aged eighty-five years and a resident of Stonington, Connecticut.
In 1841, Jonathan Gardner, brother of Lucy Bentley, was aged eighty-two years and a resident of Colchester, New London County, Connecticut. In the same year one Austin Gardner and one Mary H. Gardner, witnessed a statement. No relationship stated.
as on orig  > his signature No reference was made to children.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of Lucy Bentley, widow of George Bentley, you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following:
Lucy Bentley, widow of George Bentley Certificate #2903 Issued November 25, 1843 Rate $20.00 per annum Commenced March 4, 1843 Act of March 3, 1843, Connecticut Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

Geo Beethly 103 May 1881
Suey NW 1719
76 6m A Spies Selden
net 6m
Jephtha Brown mt - v Capt Holmes Co.
Rufus Avery from 1 Aug 1880 76 List
Callen part June - they 76 11/2
5 m
Wine at Ancho in Hunt's ah
5 for 76

They Birtley Connecticut Suspended
See let to Hon. J. B. Williams Aught. 13. 1841
Act July 7. 1838

Lucy Poulter Wid of George Conn
Ad July 1838
Married 1779
died May 3. 1837
Allow 6 m th per $20
per ann. Captain Abel
Spice. Col Selden
Conn State troops
Hon Th. W. Williams
WR

J. L. Edwards Esq Comm of Pension

No. of Reps 17 Jan'y 1842
Sir,
The enclosed letter & affidavit relative to the application of the widow of Geo: Bentley for a Pension, I have just recd I hasten to transmit them to you & to request you will favor me with an answer at your earliest convenience
I would state for your satisfaction that Joseph Durfee is well known to me that he is a justice of the peace, I further state that Nelson Brewster is a justice of the peace for Litchfield County, which fact is known to the Hon: Truman Smith from whom I have desired any information.
I am Sir
Very respectfully
J. M. W. Williams
To the Comr. of Pensions

No. of Repts 17 Jan'y 1842
Sir,
The enclosed Letter & affidavits relative to the application of the widow of Geo: Bentley for a Pension, I have just recd I hasten to transmit them to you & to request you will favor me with an answer at your earliest convenience
I would state for your satisfaction that Joseph Dufey is well known to me that he is a justice of the peace, I further state that Nelson Brewster is a justice of the peace for Litchfield County, which fact is known to the Hon: Truman Smith from whom I have desired any information
I am Sir
Very respectfully
J. M. W. Williams
To the Comr. of Pensions

no 7956 Aug 10 1841.
Ch July 7 1838, Lucy Bentley,
Edward Ely Comm of Pension Washington City H. W. Williams DR

No. 7 Rep. 9 Augt. 1841
Sir.
I beg leave to enclose you a letter & papers from Secy this day from Col. Wood of my Dept. asking for a Pension for the widow of the late Geo. Bentley,
Will you have the goodness to send the certificate to me when granted
I have
Yrs fr
Th. A. Williams

Oct Ledyard 28th 1843.
Hon Sir,
Herewith I enclose and return the declarations of Lucy Bentley and Elizabeth Dugent authenticated by the bounty clerk.
Be pleased to make returns to the undersigned as soon as convenient , as the widows the widows are both in needy circumstances, and by so doing you will much oblige them as well as confer a favor on
Your Most Obt Servt. Sam l W m Wood
Ledyard Cont
Hon J S Edward Commr Pensions.

Lucy Benth
$20 per am
Sam. W. Wood Ledyard Can.

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of congress of the 3 d March, 1843, granting pensions for one year to certain widows who have received pensions under the act of July 7, 1838.
State of Connecticut } New London County } ss
On this 26 th day of June 1843, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the county aforesaid, Lucy Bentley a resident of Stonington in said County aged eighty seven years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 3 d March 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served in the Revolutionary War.
That she is the widow of George Bentley who was a pensioner of the United States under the act of June 7, 1832.
And that she received a pension of Twenty Dollars per annum under the act of July 7, 1838.
She further declares that she is still a widow.
Lucy her  X Bentley
Sworn to and subscribed on the day } mark and year above written.
In presence of,
Before Henry W. Avery Justice of the Peace
Emma Babcock, Sam l W m Wood
I certify that Lucy Bentley above named is personally known to me and that she is a credible person
Henry W. Avery Justice of the Peace

State of Connecticut New London County } ss.
vs. Probate Office, District of Ledyard June 27 th A. D. 1843.
I Edmund Spicer, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the district aforesaid, do hereby certify that Henry W. Avery Esq. before whom the within declaration of Lucy Bentley was executed, is a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned & qualified, and that his signature, written to the certificate annexed to said declaration, is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court -
Edmund Spicer Clerk
The Justice returned by the Clerk of Probate -
2446

State of Connecticut New London County } of
Oct 28th 1843
I John D'Witt clerk of the court of New London county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Henry W. Avery Esq. before whom the annexed declaration of Lucy Bentley purports to have been executed, was, at the time of the execu- tion of the same, a Justice of the Peace for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that his signature written to the certificate annexed to said declaration is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my my hand and affixed the seal of said County, "court" & "county" interlined.
John D'Witt Clerk

Hon J L Edwards
Comm. of Pensions.

Sedgwick August 5th 1841
Hon Sir,
Herewith enclosed you have the papers of Mrs Lucy Bentley widow of Mr George Bentley decd Please to forward returns to the Hon Thomas W. Williams. Ho. Rep.
I am Sir very respectfully
Yours Sam l W m Wood
Hon James S Edwards Comm ee of Pensions.

Hon. Thomas M c Williams M. C.
Washington City D. C.

Poquettannuck Jan 9 th 1842
Hon Sir,
The letter of the Hon Commissioner of Pensions of the 13 th of Aug last in the case of the Application of Mrs Lucy Bentley (widow of George Bentley) for a pension was received in due time.
The deposition of Capt Septha Brown in the case appears to have been misapprehended, as the Hon. Commissioner in his letter says that. — "Septha Brown and Rufus Avery both testify to the fact of the service and its duration. It seems to have escaped their minds that when they applied for pensions for services embracing the tour under Col. Tilden they stated the time to be less than six months."
Capt Brown does not testify that he served in the Regt, but that his brother James Brown and the said George Bentley did serve in Capt Abel Spicer's company, (which company belonged to the Regt, which was an inlisted Regt.) that he remembered of his said brother James Brown and the said George Bentley's enlisting into the company and that according to the best of his recollection, they enlisted into the company in the month of May or June 1776, and that they served in said company during the term of six or seven months as he verily believed, that the said George Bentley resided about one mile from his (the said Septha Brown's) residence at the time he (the said Bentley) enlisted into said Spicer's company. — Capt Brown in his the deposition further testified, that he (himself) was drafted into the service of the State of Connecticut, in the summer of 1776, that he was mustered at New London in Capt. Holmes' company Col. Smith's Regt. (a Militia Regt.) was marched for New York, that on arriving at Westchester he left his the company by permission of Col. Smith, and went to Harlem to carry some clothing to his the brother James Brown & while there he saw the George Bentley in the

Service in the Capt Spicer's company.
I would very respectfully request you to call upon the Hon. Commissioner of Pensions and solicit a reexamination of Capt Brown's deposition in connexion with the explanatory deposition of Capt Rufus Avery accompanying which is a deposition from the Hon Doyes Barber of Groton, — also enclosed herewith are two other depositions. (one from Amos Gallup Esq of Stonington, the other from Mr Wm Brown of Goshen Ct.) Esq Gallup testifies that the Bently was reported to have served a tour of duty in the Colt Felden's Regt, and Mr Wm Brown testifies that the Bently served six months at least in the Regt.
If you will have the goodness to attend to this business you will confer a favor on Mrs Bently, as well as much oblige your friend and
Yours Afft Servt Saml M Wood
Hon. Thomas W. Williams M. C.

Amos Gallup of Stonington in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, age eighty six years, on his oath, deposeth and saith, that he was well acquainted with George Bentley late of said Stonington deceased, that said Bentley was reputed to have performed a tour of service in Capt Abel Spier's company Col. Selden's regiment in 1776, and further deponent saith not. Stonington Sept. 24 th 1841.
Amos Gallup
State of Connecticut, ss. New London County
Personally appeared on the 24 th day of Sept 1841, Amos Gallup Esq. named in the foregoing deposition and made oath that said deposition by him subscribed is true before me, and I certify that his testimony is entitled to full credence,
Sam l W m Wood Notary Public

Noyes Barber of the town of Groton County of New London State of Connecticut of lawful age being duly cautioned and sworn deponeth and saith that he has been acquainted with Rufus Avery of said Groton a revolution- ary Pensioner for many years, That said Avery sustains a highly respectable char- acter, that for a man of his age his memory is remarkably correct.
Noyes Barber
State of Connecticut } New London County } ss. Groton
Be it remembered that on this 6 th day of January 1842 Personally appeared the Hon. Noyes Barber Esqr. a man to me well known and entitled to full credit & subscribed and made oath to the truth of the above Affidavit
Before me Joseph Dursey Justice of Peace

I Rufus Avery, of Groton New London county State of Connecticut aged Eighty Three years being duly cautioned and sworn, depose & say That a letter from Hon. Commissioner of Pensions to the Hon. J. B. Williams (J. W. Williams) dated August 13 th 1841 relating to the application of Mrs. Lucy Bentley for a Pension, has been Read in my hearing, from which the following is an extract. To wit, "Leather Brown and Rufus Avery both testify to the fact of the service and its duration. It seems to have escaped their minds that when they applied for pensions for services embracing the tour under Colo. Selden, they stated the time to be less than six months, Brown served from August 1 st to December 1 st . 4 months. Avery, from July 1 st to Decem- ber 1 st 5 months,,
I the said Avery do further depose and say that I was astonished and surprised to learn that it was stated in my declaration that the length of service in Colo. Selden's Regt. in 1776 was less than six months. If it is so stated it is certainly a mistake, but how it should have happened is more than I can account for. William P. Cleveland Esq. late of New London deceased, assisted me in obtaining my pension, perhaps at the time of making out my papers he might have misunderstood me, or I might have misunderstood him on account of my being quite hard of hearing. The precise time when said service commenced over

I do not now recollect, but that it was a six months tour. I am now and always have been confident of, and further depose not
Rufus Avery
State of Connecticut
New London County } ss Groton
Be it remembered that on this 6 th day of January 1842 Personally appeared the above named Rufus Avery a man to me well known and entitled to full credit and subscribed and made oath to the truth of the above Deposition
Before me
Joseph Dusey Justice of Peace

Hon Th o W. Williams H A Q R

I William Brown of Goshen in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, agea eighty four years depose and say that in the latter part of the spring of 1776 or in the beginning of the summer following I enlisted into Capt. Abel Sprague's company Colo. Silliman's Regt. (Connecticut State Troops) that I joined said company and Regt. at New-York City when we remained until sometime in the month of August 1776 when we crossed over to Brooklyn on Long Island to reinforce our troops there, but we were soon obliged to retreat back to the City of New York, from thence we gradually retreated to Harlem Heights, on our retreat we had a severe skirmish with the Hessian, (called the Orchard fight) in which a number of our men and a few of our company were taken prisoners we were obliged to retreat from Harlem Heights to White Plains where our troops had a Battle with the British, we were then marched to Peekskill and to North Castle, and according to my best recollection we were discharged at said North Castle, and we were discharged the last of Dec 1776 or in January 1777-
I further depose and say that that I was well acquainted with George Benty of Stonington in the County of New London & State aforesaid in which County I was a resident in the time of the Revolutionary War and for several years thereafter That said Benty was a private in Capt. Sprague's company aforesaid and served therein during the time above mentioned the full term of six months at least (and further deponent saith not -
William Brown
State of Connecticut, Litchfield County ss Goshen Oct 21 st 1841. Personally appeared William Brown signer of the foregoing deposition and to me known to be a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the same Before me Nelson Pommer Justice of the Peace

Stephen Babcock Jun of Stonington in the County of New London and State of Connecticut, aged forty eight years on the 27th day of August Inst. on his oath, deposeth and saith that he was acquainted with George Bentley late of said Stonington, deceased, that said Bentley was reputed to have been a soldier in the Revolutionary Army, that he died at said Stonington ten years ago last spring, that deponent attended his funeral, that he left a widow whose name is Lucy Bentley that she now resides in said Stonington and in the same house that deponent does, and still remains the widow of said George Bentley as deponent verily believes, and further deponent saith not. Stonington August 3 d 1841. Stephen Babcock Jr
Court of Probate, District of Stonington Stonington August 3 d 1841 Sworn to and subscribed Before me Asa Fish Judge
I certify that Stephen Babcock Jun above named is to me known and is a credible person Asa Fish Judge

No 7956.
Hr. T. W. Williams 1902

Joseph Brown of North Stonington in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, aged Eighty two years, on his affirmation  oath , deposeth and saith that in the summer of 1776, he was drafted into the service of the State of Connecticut, (and according to the best of his recollection sometime in the month of August of said year, that he was mustered at New London, in the company of Capt. Holmes and in Col. Smith's Regt. from New London said company and Regt. were marched for New York, passing through New Haven, arrived at Westchester after the British had ta- ken possession of New York City, at Westchester deponent left his said company by permission of Col. Smith, (having received a furlough from him,) and went to Harlem to carry some clothing to his brother James Brown, then a member of Capt. Abel Spicer's company, deponent stayed there one night and then returned to said Westchester and joined his company again; while at Harlem as aforesaid, deponent saw George Bentley, formerly late of Stonington in the county aforesaid, deceased, in the service in said Capt. Spicer's compa- ny. That the said George Bentley and the said James Brown served in said Capt. Spicer's company during the term of six or seven months as deponent verily believes. — That deponent continued in the service in said Capt. Spicer's Holmes' company until the latter part of December 1776, but does not recollect of again seeing said Bentley in the service in said Capt. Spicer's company, (deponent having been sick a part of the time, while in the service as aforesaid, with the camp distemper,) — that deponent remembers of his said brother James Brown and the said George Bentley's enlisting into said Capt. Spicer's company, and that they enlisted into said company, according to the best of deponent's recollection, in the month of May or June 1776, — that deponent was acquainted with said Bentley from his childhood, that at the time of his, the said Bentley's enlisting into Capt. Spicer's company as

aforesaid; he, the said Bentley, resided in the same town that deponent did, viz in the town of Stonington aforesaid, and about one mile from the then residence of deponent.
Deponent further saith that he is acquainted with Lucy Bentley of Stonington aforesaid the widow of said George Bentley, that the said George and Lucy were reputed to have been married before deponent was married, that they lived together as husband and wife a few years before deponent was married, and then resided in the same town that deponent did, viz, in Stonington aforesaid, that at the time said Bentley was reputed to have been married to the said Lucy he resided about one mile from deponent's residence, and that at the time deponent was married, the said Bentley resided about two miles from deponent's residence, and deponent was married on the 13th day of October Seventeen hundred and eighty two, and further deponent saith not.
North Stonington July 10th 1841.
In presence of,
Mary H Brown
Harriet E Brown
Jephthah his mark Brown
State of Connecticut ss. New London County,
Be it known that on the 10th day of July 1841, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Notary Public within and for the State of Connecticut, Capt. Jephthah Brown named in the foregoing deposition, and made solemn affirmation, before me, that said deposition by him subscribed is true. — And I certify that he is a credible person and that his testimony is entitled to credit. —
* I also certify that the words, "oath", "formerly" & "since" were erased, and the words, "affirmation", "of Stonington aforesaid" were interlined, and the words, "camp", "brother", & "enlisted" were written in part on erasures or were blotted in the foregoing deposition before signing. Attest, Saml W Wood
Notary Public,

Rufus Avery of Groton in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, aged eighty two years, on his oath, deposeth and saith that in the month of May or June 1776, he enlisted into capt. Abel Spicer's company, Col. Selden's Regt for a tour of six months duty, that with a part of said company he embarked on board of a Sloop and sailed for the city of New York, and there landed and joined the said company and regiment, and the Brigade under General Wadsworth; the regiment remained there until the British landed on Long-Island, thence we were ordered to said Long-Island, from whence with the army, we were obliged to retreat back to the city of New York, where we remained a few days, then retreated back and encamped near Turtle Bay, opposite to Long Island, thence marched into an orchard near by and had a skirmish with the Hessians (who composed a part of the British army,) there were probably about forty of them that first entered the orchard, they pretended to be very friendly and offered to surrender themselves up prisoners of war, but in a few minutes a large number of their men entered the orchard and we were ordered to retreat, and we retreated to Harlem Heights, some of our men were taken prisoners, among whom were Col. Selden (our colonel,) our Brigade Major, and a few of the men belonging the aforesaid capt. Spicer's company, viz. John Stedman and Edmund Packer, (Sergeants,) James Starr and — Geer, (corporals,) and John Wood and Caleb Chester, (privates,) — At Harlem Heights we made a stand, and remained there several days, thence marched to a place called Miles Square, thence to White Plains, where we had a Battle with the British Troops, and we were marched to North Castle and to Phillipsborough, deponent continued to serve in said capt. Spicer's company until his said term of six months had expired, and was honorably discharged. —
Deponent further saith that he was personally acquainted with George Bentley late of Stonington in the county of New London aforesaid, deceased, that said Bentley was a Private in said

Capt Spicers company and served therein during the same tour of six months that deponent did as aforesaid, and further the deponent saith not.
Rufus Avery
State of Connecticut, ss. New London County,
Be it known that on the 2 nd day of August A. D. 1841, personally appeared Capt Rufus Avery the within named deponent and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed before me, and I certify that he is a credible person and that his testimony is entitled to credit.
* I also certify that the word, " eighty ," was interlined between the first and second lines of the foregoing deposition before signing.
Sam l W. Wood Notary Public
Hon. J. W. Williams H. R.
No 7956.

Connecticut 6517
Lucy Bently widow of George Bently
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 3. May 1831 of N. London Co. in the State of Conn. who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Spicer of the reg't. commanded by Col. Selden in the Conn. State Troops line for 6 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 20. Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 1th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24. day of January 1842 and sent to Hon. S. M. Williams, House of Representatives
Arrears to the 1th of March 1841 $100.00 Semi-annual allowance ending
{ Act July 1838.
Recorded by D. Brown Book A. Vol. 1. Page 168
Agent notified let to S. W. Wood at Oct. 21. 1843 —

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 17272
Lucy Bentley Wid. of George Bentley Rev. Rev. War
Act: March 3, 1843
Index: — Vol. 1 , Page 52
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1926. Nov. 4. Visit to Hon. H. Bingham (au) 1939 - Jan 14, Visit to Mrs. Florence Bulley Beach - ce

137 Fort Hale Road New Haven Ct Mar 5 1926
Pension Bureau Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:-
Will you kindly tell me what service was given by George Bentley pensioner "Drapers Index: Comm. Revolutionary Pensioners Vol I A-1 No 17272 in Connecticut & asked for by his wife Lucy:
was the name of wife Lucy Gardiner or Gardner spelled both ways?
Thanking you
very sincerely,
Annie Bentley Handy.
called in person said not write her the history

HIRAM BINGHAM CONNECTICUT
United States Senate WASHINGTON, D. C.
November 2, 1926
Dear General Scott:
Senator Bingham will appreciate receiving, at your convenience, the Revolutionary record of Lucy, widow of George Bentley of Connecticut, No. W-17272.
Yours, very sincerely,
Mary H. Green Assistant Secretary to Senator Bingham
General Winfield Scott, Commissioner The Bureau of Pensions Washington, D. C.

339 Willow St., New Haven, Conn., Dec. 3, 1938.
Mr. A. S. Heller
Ex. Assistant to the Administrator, Veteran's Administration, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
A George Bentley of either Stonington or North Stonington, Conn., served in the Revolutionary War, and I have reason to believe that his wife received a pension for his services. This George Bentley is an ancestor of mine, and I am seeking all possible information concerning him. Would you, therefore, please let me have from the papers concerning him in your files, the names of all persons mentioned together with their relationship to him, also all sig- nificant dates.
Your assistance in this matter will be greatly appreciated.
Yours very truly, (Mrs.) Florence Bentley Keach.

November 4, 1936.
Honorable Hiram Bingham, United States Senate.
My dear Senator:
In response to your letter of the second instant, I have the honor to advise you, that from the papers in the pension claim, W. 17272, it appears that George Bentley lived at Stonington, Connecticut, when he enlisted in May, or June 1776 and served six months, as a private in Captain Abel Spicer's Company, Colonel Selden's Conn., Regiment. He was at the battles of Harlem and White Plains.
He married May 16, 1779, in that part of Norwich, Conn., which later became Bozrah, Lucy Gardner and he died May 3, 1831 at Stonington, Connecticut.
His widow Lucy was allowed pension on her application executed August 3, 1841, while living at said Stonington, aged eighty-five years. It is not stated whether they had children.
Very truly yours,
WINFIELD SCOTT, Commissioner.