Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1561, Benjamin Butters, Mass

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Butters, Benjamin Elizabeth
PP. 1561
CONTENTS

V3266 Elizabeth Butters Widow of Benjamin Butters dec.
Maps
Vol 24. p. 7. 21/12/27 Abst of mlsup Cape Tay Col Recd Feb 77 Vol 23 p. 147

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex County ss. }
On this twenty-ninth day of December in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty seven. Personally appeared before the Hon Samuel P.P. Fay, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Elizabeth Butters a resident of Medford in said County and Commonwealth, 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 4th. 1836.
That She is the Widow of Benjamin Butters formerly of Reading and lately of Andover in the County of Essex ss. And that her Husband said Benjamin Butters served as a Soldier in the War of the Revolution and he was engaged in the battle of Lexington in April 1775 and was absent two days. Soon after said battle he enlisted for eight months in the company of Capt. Bachelder in the Reg't of Middlesex County commanded by Col Ebenezer Dridge and he served that period at Winter Hill and other places in the vicinity of Boston and continued in the service until the evacuation of Boston by the British in the Spring of 1776 then again in 1776. He enlisted for five months and marched to the State of New York in the company of Capt. _____ in the Reg't of Col Reed in the company of Capt. James Bancraft or Capt. Samuel Fay and served in New York and New Jersey until the last of December 1776. He was then discharged and returned home, then again in 1778. He engaged for three months which term he served at Bunker Hill to guard the British prisoners in Capt. Jesse Weymans company in Col. Jacob Gerrish, Reg't in the winter & Spring of 1778.
She further declares that She was married to her late Husband said Benjamin Butters at Reading by the Rev. Thomas Haven the Minister of the Parish on the twenty eighth day of February in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy one and that her Husband the aforesaid Benjamin Butters died

at Andover in Essex County on the nineteenth day of August in the Year Eighteen hundred Twenty, And that she has remained a Widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. She is not clear that she is right in the names of the company & Regimental officers under whom her husband served, as her memory is imperfect as to those particulars & she may be mistaken - but she is clear that her husband was absent from her in the army at the time, after the periods she has stated in the foregoing declaration -
Elizabeth her X Butters
Subscribed & sworn to on the 29 th day of December month A.D. eighteen hundred & thirty seven, by said Elizabeth Butters, at her residence in Medford, she being old & infirm & unable to attend Court without great inconvenience. Before me
J. C. P. Fay Judge of Probate for said County -
I John O'Clisby of Medford in the County of Middlesex aged fifty four years do depose & say, that I was well acquainted with Benjamin Butters formerly of Andover in the County of Essex, deceased & Elizabeth Butters, wife of said Benjamin, who is now resident with me in said Medford. I became acquainted with them about twenty six years ago - The said Benjamin died at said Andover seventeen years ago the nineteenth day of August last - & the said Elizabeth is now his widow & has resided with me for a short time past & signed the foregoing declaration in my presence - she has been a widow ever since the decease of said Benjamin Butters -
John O'Clisby
Middlesex ss. Dec. 29. 1837. Personally appeared John O'Clisby a respectable citizen of Medford & perfectly credible person. Made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed - before me
J. C. P. Fay J. Prob. J. Prob. Par.

1561
P. O. Elizabeth Butlers
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Eliz th Butlers Wid. of Benj o de ce Sus. Sel. R. Baldwin June 16. 1838 to same 2. Dec. 1841
1861 Ad July 4.

Dec. 1. 1841
Map.
E Butler.
James I. Richards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington

Washington, November 30 th 1841.
Sir
I herein enclose an authenticated certificate of the Secretary of the State of Massachusetts, as proof in support of a life pension by Mrs Elizabeth Butlers widow of Benjamin Butlers, late of Mass'ts deceased.
This case was presented in the year 1838, and suspended for want of proof of service. Your reply is dated June 16 th 1838.
Be pleased to give the above case the usual course of investigation, and advise me of the result at this place.
Very Respectfully Sir I am Your Obedient Servant,
Reuben Baldwin
James L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, November 2 d , 1841.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the Name of Priv. a Butters is borne on Seven rolls of Captain Cadwallader Fords Company Colonel Brooks Regt. of Guards, at Cambridge N o . 2, guarding the Troops of the Convention as a private, And on said Rolls, is Credited with his Services, from November 4 th 1777. to April 3 d , 1778.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
J. D. Sleeper Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Bonny Buttery, died 1820 Elizabeth Mar 1771
Age 75 2 days
8 mo Capt Batchelder
76 5 mo. { James Bancroft - a
{ Capt Fay vol 23 p 147
78 3 mo. 3 { Capt G. H. Lyman # vol 24 p 7
+ M c Balchelln Reading - Sex alarm
Dann De 8 mo not
Vol 23 p 147 Abstract V
+ no roll -
Vol 41 p - 156 V
V 24 p 7 - from Feb 78 20m 27 Hyman
✓ 23 147 115 1/2 mo hyman 77
✓ 19 68 115 2 30 2nd 1778
✓ " 70 Y B 2 4 30 Feb 1848 " -
# M c Balchelln on 3m 1d

Eliz. Butters
Mass.

Boston Massachusetts January 19th 1838
Sir
Therewith transmit, Documents in Support of the claim to a pension of Mrs Elizabeth Butters, Widow of Benjamin Butters dec d .
I would observe that Mrs Butters is very clear as to the eight months Service of her late husband in 1775. excepting the Names of the Officers, the alleged Service may have been in Col Reed instead of Col Bridges Reg t . Also it is not clear that the five months Service in 1776 was performed in Col Reed's Reg t , but may have been in Col John Brooks Reg t , in Capt Blanchard or Dags Comp y . There were so many Officers from the District in which She lives her memory is not very distinct as to the Names of those particularly under whom her husband served, which is not to be wondered at considering her extreme age. Her case is therefore Submitted to the favorable consideration of the Department. If a certificate should be issued in her favor be pleased to direct the same to me at this place
I am Respectfully Sir Your Obst
Reuben Baldwin
J L Edwards Esq Com r of Pensions Washington

Commonwealth of } Massachusetts } Reading Town Clerks office County of Middlesex } November 20 th 1837
I Daniel Pratt Jr, hereby certify that it appears from the Records of the Town of Reading in my possession, that the Intentions of Marriage between Benjamin Butters of Wilmington and Elizabeth Stimson of Reading were published as the law directs on the Twenty eighth day of February, one thousand seven hundred and seventy one. The above is a true copy from the Records with the exception of the date which is expressed in fair legible figures and is as follows, viz,
"February 28 - 1771 the Intentions of Marriage between Benjamin Butters of Wilmington and Elizabeth Stimson resident of Reading Entered and Published as the law directs"
Daniel Pratt Jr. Clerk of the Town of Reading
I Daniel Pratt Jr above named, depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk, in the County, Town and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Town of Reading with the exception above named, as certified by me Daniel Pratt Jr. Clerk of the town of Reading

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss. ss. 20 1837
Then the with named Daniel Pratt Jr., Town Clerk of Reading appeared & made oath to the truth of the witts. attested by him subscribed before me John Norton Justice of the Peace
I Sarah Bancroft of Reading in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Aged Eighty Three years old; Being sworn do on oath testify depose and say that I was formerly well acquainted with Benjamin Butters and Elizabeth his wife, whose Maiden name was Elizabeth Stimson. Said Elizabeth was living at the house of my Brother Caleb Parker's. of said Reading at the time of her marriage with said Benjamin Butters. The said Benjamin Butters and Elizabeth were lawfully married before the Revolutionary war commenced, but at what particular period I cannot now thro' loss of Memory recollect. I am the second wife and now the Widow of Capt James Bancroft who served in Col Michael Jackson's Mass'ts Regt in the Continental Army. Sarah Bancroft
State of Massachusetts ss December 28. A.D. 1837 Then the above deponent Sarah Bancroft personally appeared and made solemn oath that the foregoing deposition by her submitted was true. And I further certify that the said Sarah Bancroft is personally known to me and is a woman of unquestionable truth and veracity. Before me Joshua Prescott Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Medfield ss. I Isaac Dike Register of the Court of Probate and for the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth thereof hereby certify that Samuel P. Dey Esq whose own proper signature is here written on the preceding paper is the Judge of Probate for said County duly commissioned & qualified; I also certify that Joshua Pratt Esq whose own proper signature are written on the two preceding papers, & John Weston Esq whose own proper signature is written to the deposition of Daniel Pratt Jr, are respectively Justices of the Peace within & for said County duly commissioned and qualified. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court of Probate this tenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty eight
Isaac Dike Reg

I Timothy Wakefield of Reading in the county of Middlesex Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged eighty one years Farmer, A pensioner of the United States under the Act of June 7, 1832, being Sworn do on Oath testify and say That I knew Benjamin Butters formerly of the adjoining Town of Wilmington and Elizabeth his Wife whose maiden name was Elizabeth Stimpson, Said Benja- min and Elizabeth were married previous to the Rev- olutionary War and occupied a Farm owned by Mr James Woodward about one Mile and an half from my resi- dence in Reading, He said Benjamin Butters was frequently called out to perform tours of Service during the War of the Revolution, I performed one tour of Service of three months in company with him in Capt. Jesse Wymans Company of Col. Gerrish's Reg't of Militia Stationed at or near Bunker Hill to Guard the British prisoners in the Winter and Spring of 1778. and after performing said tour of Service we returned home together in Compa- ny with many of our fellow Townsmen. Said Captain Jesse Wymans was from the Town of Woburn, Soon after the termination of the War Said Benjamin Butters and his family removed to Andover in Essex County and I frequently saw him and conversed with him there. where as I have heard he died many years since, leaving said Elizabeth his Widow, who I understand is still living and resides in said Town of Andover adjoining

the Town of Reading where I now reside Timothy Wakefield
State of Massachusetts } ss. December 25 th AD 1857 Then Middlesex County } The above named Timothy Wakefield personally appeared and made solemn oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is true. And I further certify that the said Timothy Wakefield is personally known to me and is known to be of honest truth and veracity. Before me Joshua Pervatt Justice of the Peace