Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20,788, Benjamin Bryant, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Bryant, Benjamin Elizabeth
W. 20, 788
CONTENTS

I Lucy Cushman, formerly of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of twenty six years last was  resident now of Hartland in the County of Windsor & State of Vermont testify & say, that I moved into s d Hartland 37 years since, with my husband Robert Cushman on account of whose services I now get a pension; I further testify, that I was well acquainted with widow Elizabeth Bryant now of s d Hartland & formerly of s d Middleborough then Elizabeth Bates, & I well remember that she was married to Benjamin Bryant then of s d Middleborough; & although I was not present at their marriage I knew by report that they were married, & that after they were married I understood they moved to s d Hartland. I further testify, that the same Elizabeth Bates married to s d Bryant is the same Elizabeth Bates aforesaid, & is now & has been for many years a near neighbor of mine; I further testify that by Report, s d Benjamin Bryant died some years before I came into Vermont as aforesaid; & that he left children who are now some of them my neighbors, & are reputed as his children & the s d widow resides with them & that they are all people of integrity and respectability. I further testify that I well knew & lived many years in s d Middleborough & had a general acquaintance with the people in the whole town; & that I never knew of any other person by the name of Benjamin Bryant in s d town but the above named, married as aforesaid, to s d Elizabeth Bates & that I well remember that s d Bryant served as a soldier in the service of the revolutionary war - but when & where he enlisted I cannot now remember -
August 6 th 1841.
Lucy Cushman
State of Vermont } At Hartland in s d County on the six th day of August Windsor County ss } 1841. Personally appeared the s d Lucy Cushman, a credible person, & well known to me for more than forty years & made solemn oath, that the foregoing Affidavit by her subscribed is just & true according to her best recollection & belief. before me
Isaac M c Curlean Justice of the Peace

I Elizabeth Bryant of Hartland in the County of Windsor & State of Vermont widow of Benjamin Bryant, formerly of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth a Commonwealth of Massachusetts - having heretofore made a declaration to the War Department of the United States, with a view to obtain a pension to which my said husband was entitled as a revolutionary soldier. do make a further declaration in addition to the one heretofore made as aforesaid, to wit. That there has been procured & is now on file in your office a certificate of the Secretary of State for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of eight months service of my said husband in the first year of the Revolutionary War. That there is also accompanying this Declaration the Affidavit of Eleazer Wood, now on the pension list, who now resides in this County - as to three months service rendered by said Benjamin Bryant my said husband in the State of Rhode Island under the command of Capt. Mr. Tupper. as by said Wood's Affidavit hereto appended. will appear. which said facts never came to my knowledge prior to my said first Declaration.
her Elizabeth Bryant mark.
State of Vermont } At Hartland on the 6 th day of August 1841. personally Windsor County } appeared Elizabeth Bryant, the signer of the above Declaration. & made solemn oath that the aforesaid declaration by her subscribed, contains the whole truth & nothing but the truth according to her best recollection & belief.
Before me
Isaac D. Richardson Justice of the Peace
The said Elizabeth Bryant is a credible person; & has been a resident of my neighborhood for more than forty years.
Isaac D. Richardson Justice of the Peace
cond done if need be sp. it. We are o Dr. Pick of the proof it is as much as side." This over

STATE OF VERMONT, ) I, Norman Williams, Clerk of the County Court of the Coun- Windsor County....ss. Sty of Windsor in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that
Isaac N. Cushman
is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty, and will expire on the thirtieth day of November next, and that his signatures to the two certificates on this sheet are genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said County Court, this 7 th day of August A. D. 1841
N. Williams, Clerk.

Vermont
Elizabeth Bryant widow of the Mass Benjamin Bryant, dec d who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died in the year 1801. of Windsor, in the State of Vermont, who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Porter of the regt commanded by Col. Sergeant in the Mass, Vermont Militia for 8 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 th day of Sep r . 1841 sent to and Elihu Sine Esq r Hardland Vermont
Arrears to the 4th of March 41 133.30 Pension annual allowance ending . . . . 133.30
{ Act July 7. } 1838.
Recorded by Theodore L. Wooddy Clerk. Book A Vol. 2 Page 64

A List of Marriages Solemnised by Joseph Barker March Twenty first Seventeen Hundred Eighty two. Benj s Bryant & Elizabeth Bates both of Middleborough. Joseph Barker. —
I Allen Shaw certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Records of said Town, with the exception of the date which is expressed in fair legible figures as follows March 31 1782. —
I Allen Shaw above named depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the town of Middleborough county of Plymouth Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said town with the exception above named as certified by me. — Middleborough Sept 24 th 1838.
Allen Shaw Town Clerk of Middleborough
Sworn before me Abd Thompson Justice of the Peace Middleborough Sept. 24 th 1838

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Plymouth - Sep 24 1858 Clerk's Office
I Nathl. Brown Clerk of the Judicial Court for said County of Plymouth do hereby certify that Brad Thompson lies before whom the foregoing deposition was sworn is a justice of the Peace for said County of Plymouth duly commissioned & qualified - And that his signature to the first of said depositions is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court on the day & year aforesaid
Nathl. Brown

State of Vermont Windsor County Probate District of Heartland in said County } S.S.
On this 4 th day of December  April 1839
Personally appeared before the Honorable board of Probate of the District of Heartland Elizabeth Bryant a resident of Heartland in said District and County Aged Eighty four years. Who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth now her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by The Act of Congress Passed July 7 th 1838 Entitled an Act granting Half Pay and Pensions to certain Widows. That she is the Widow of Benjamin Bryant late of Heartland deceased who was a Soldier of the Revolutionary War And that the said Benjamin Bryant served one year in the Artillery Commanded by Capt. Crane - Col. Crafts Regiment of the Mass. line in the year 1778. And for further particulars of S c Bryant's services refer to the declaration of Amos Bryant, And the copy of Capt. Wood's Muster of N.Y. - She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Bryant on the twenty first day of March Seventeen hundred Eighty two. That her husband the above said Benjamin Bryant died on the seventeenth day of December 1801 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 years at the time above stated.
Witness David B Clark Elizabeth her Bryant mark
Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year above written before
John S. Marcy Judge

State of Vermont Windsor County Hartford District
I Orl Billings Register of the Probate Court of the District of Hartford do hereby certify, that the within contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Elizabeth Bryant for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 4 th Day of April A D 1839
Orl Billings Register

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 20788
Elizabeth Bryant Widow of Benjamin Bryant Print. Rev. War.
Act July 7 th 1838
Index: Vol. 28 , Page 90
[Arrangement of 1870.]

5220 Lot. Elisha Luce, July 20 '39 Set. to Elisha Luce, April 29, 1841
act 7 July 38
5221 Lot. Elizabeth Bryant widow of Benjamin Suspended Lot to Elisha Luce June 16, 1841 signed 9 Sep. 1841 act 7 July 1838

Affidavit of Joseph Charles for Bay Bryant

I Joseph Clarke of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Eighty Three years, do hereby and say, that I was acquainted with Benjamin Bryant late of Hattiland with County of Mendon, in the State of Vermont, but formerly of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I further say that I saw Benjamin Bryant at Rhode Island, in the year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Eight, in the Service of the Revolution and War, in a Company of Artillery commanded by Captain Crane, and in Col Crafts Regiment. They encamped for one year, and I presume, that the said Benjamin stood the whole year. I saw the said Bryant on Rhode Island, about the time of Sullivan's expedition. Joseph Clarke
Plymouth County ss. September 23. 1838 Then personally appeared Joseph Clarke subscribed to the foregoing affidavit, and well known to me, as a creditable and intelligent man, to the truth of the same. Before me Benjamin P. Wood Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Plymouth
Clerks Office Sep 24 1858
I M c Arthur Clerk of the Superior Court for said County of Plymouth hereby certify that Benjamin D. Wood by before whom the foregoing deposition was sworn is a justice of the peace for said County of Plymouth duly commissioned & qualified - And that his signature to the several of said depositions is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Superior Judicial Court on the day & year aforesaid
M c Arthur
8425
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

Meal Le Sargassum Conf. juv  Macallana Nov 16 16 Ephr.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, April 9 th 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 Benjamin Bryant is borne in "a Muster Roll of Captain Porters Company" as a Private from Middleborough. The Roll is dated "Camp before Boston, October 6 th 1775, And Signed John Porter Captain." The name also appears on an Order for Coals for the Soldiers of Captain Porters Company in Colonel Sargents Regiment, dated "Cambridge Nov r 20 th 1775."
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John D. Sleeper Secretary of the Commonwealth.

I Squire Tinkham of Heartland Windsor County State of Vermont Aged sixty six years do hereby testify and say that I was well acquainted with Benjamin Bryant who died in said Heartland some years ago when said Bryant lived in Middleborough Massachusetts And after said Bryant removed to said Heartland I was at his house in said Heartland and that Elizabeth Bryant now residing in Heartland is the widow of the said Benjamin Bryant Squire Tinkham
State of Vermont Windsor County } At Heartland in said County on this 15 th day of April A.D. 1839
Squire Tinkham well known to me to be a credible Witness personally appeared and made solemn oath in due form of law to the truth of the foregoing Affidavit by him subscribed
Elizur Luce Foster Pease

5221 V
Elizabeth Bryant widow of Benjamin
Vt.
abt 7. July 38
m'82 d'01.
Ebenezer Hartland Vt.

I Daniel Smith of Heartland in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont aged sixty five years do hereby testify and say that I was present at the death of Benjamin Bayant of Heartland who on the 17 th day of December 1801 died and that Elizabeth Bayant the widow of the said Benjamin Bayant now resides in said Heartland and has resided in said Town ever since to my knowledge. Daniel Smith
State of Vermont } At Heartland in said County this 18 th Windsor County } day of April 1839
Daniel Smith well known to me to be a credible witness personally appeared and made solemn oath in due form of law to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed Elihu See Justice of the Peace

Sept 24. 1841.
Dear J. L. Edwards
W.
Commissioner of Pensions Washington City

Hartland Vt. Sept. 20 th 1841
Dear J. L. Edwards
Sir Please send a certificate for a Pension for the widow Elisabeth Bryant for her husband's service for eight months
Respectfully &c Elihu Loomis

I Elazar Wood of Woodstock aged Seventy nine years do hereby say that I was born in Middlesex -ough Mass and was well acquainted with one Benjamin Bryant of the same Middlesexough and learned by reputation that he removed from there to Hartford Vermont and also recollect that the said Briff Bryant served in the Revolutionary War with me in Capt Tappes Company for three months and was Stationed at Pownalton R.I. at a place Call d Howlands Ferry and that the said Mr Tappes was afterwards promoted to a Colonel in the Army or Militia I then say that I was knowing to several Companies having been Stationed along the sea shore but do not recollect of their being called together at any time during said time and I do not recollect of any other man by the same name in said Middlesexough I removed from said Middlesexough to Woodstock at the age of about thirty five years of age I also recollect knowing general in the same House with the said Bryant and was in the same as a free then said not
- Elazar Wood
State of Vermont Windsor County ss I Benjamin July 7. 1841 The Elazar Wood a credible Witness and well known to the subscribed for forty years personally appeared and made oath that the same contains the truth and nothing but the Truth
Before me Iss. Raymond Justin Pierce

STATE OF VERMONT, } I, Norman Williams, Clerk of the County Court of the Coun- Windsor County.....ss. sty of Windsor in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that
Isaiah Raymond
is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty, and will expire on the thirtieth day of November next, and that his signature to the certificate foregoing is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said County Court, this 7 th day of August A. D. 1841
N. Williams, Clerk.

Eliz th Bryant Wid of Benja Vt
del July 1838
Marned 1782
diea 1801
Atten Sm. fm $2666
for am. Mass. Melitae
Capt. Parlin, Col. Bryant,
John Luce Esq Hartland Vt

Aug 14. 1841
Rev. Eliz Bryant
J. E. Mark
Concord, N.H.
Washington City

Hartland Aug t 10 AD 184.
Sir herewith inclosed I send you an additional declaration of Elizabeth Perry and for a pension H
Respectfully, H Elihu. Luce
Ephraim Bryant M c Leay 1843

June 14 - 1844
Mr. A. H. 25
Mr. J. H. Edwards
Commissary of Subsistence
Washington City
D.C.
On June 14
RECEIVED

Portland June 4 th 1841
Hon J L Edwards
Sir
Your letter of April 29 th 1841 states that it is Mary Elizabeth Bryant must amend her declaration in order to be placed on the Pension list Please send me a Blank form for the Amendment
Respectfully H
Eliza Lane

Carlton August 21 st 1838
Dear J. L. Edwards Sir
Information wanted for the benefit of William's 1 st from the best information by recollection is Benjamin Bryant of Middleborough M st was a soldier in Capt Converse's Joseph Pops Comp y Col. Paul D Sargants Regt of the Mass t line commencing 1776 for 1 year that in 1777 was in Capt Hovey's Comp y Col. Stantons Regt of the Rhode Island line, And that afterwards was in Capt Christopher Byers Comp y Col. John Tappans Regt, And again was in Capt Grens Comp y Col. Dose Regt, and was also in Capt Moody Dusters Comp y in Col. Bellys Regt
2 ndly the widow of Samuel Raymond says her husband was a Drummer in the same Comp y in which Seth Fuller late of Hartford in Vermont a Pensioner was fifer, both of Middleborough Mass Reference to said
Fullers declaration had for information 3 rd Timothy Goss was in Capt Mungers Comp y Col. Ruggles Woodbridges Regt in 1776 Please give his term of service Respectfully H. Elmer Luce

Heartland April 17 th 1839
To an J. L. Edwards
Enclosed herewith I send applications for Pensions
Respectfully, H.
Eliza Luce

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Bryant, Benjamin GRADE Private LINE New Jersey
WARRANT NUMBER 8141 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED April 22, 1790 to not shown
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.