Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 775, Charles Benson, R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
R. 2
Benson, Charles
B. 775
Barsheba
CONTENTS

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 of July 1838 Entitled An act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows.
State of Connecticut } County of Windham } ss.
Probate District of Colchester
On this 2 nd day of October A.D. 1844 personally appeared before the Court of Probate in and for the district of Colchester aforesaid in open court Barshaba Benson a resident of said Colchester aged eighty seven years last January, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on the 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 Charles Benson who was a private in Capt. Elijah Lewis Company in Col. Green Regiment. That she has heard him (Benson) tell about his being in the Revolutionary Army and being in the battle at White Plains and other battles and about his going up to the northward and to Albany and of his being at Poughkeepsie and seeing Maj. Andre there, and also of his being at Providence and at Fishkill and Newburg and according to her best knowledge and belief he was in the service almost the whole war. She also declares that she has no documentary evidence of his services, but that he had a bounty land warrant as she well recollects and that it was either sold or lost. That her husband the said Charles Benson died at said Colchester some thirty three or four years ago to the best of her recollection. She further declares that she was married to said Benson by William Dixon Esq., a Justice of Peace in Plainfield for Windham County in the

full of The year Seventeen hundred and ninety Three That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January 1794
Barshiba her X Berson mark
Before me David B. Carroll Judge of Probate for the District of Colchester and Justice of the Peace for New London County Probate District for Colchester October 2 nd A.D. 1844 I, Appleton R. Park Clerk of the court of Probate for said District of Colchester Certify, That the within and foregoing contain the original pro- ceedings of said court in the matter of the applica- tion of Barshiba Berson of said District of Col- chester for the purpose of obtaining a Pension on account of the military services of her late husband Charles Berson of said Colchester deceased, and that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to this court that the said Bar- shiba Berson is the widow of said Charles Berson who died at said Colchester some thirty years ago. I further Certify, That I am personally acquainted with widow Barshiba Berson That she is a person of good moral character and that her declarations are entitled to credit. I further now certify, That David B. Carroll is Judge of said court and his Commission is dated June 20 th 1844 and expires June 20 th 1845 and that the signature annexed is his true signature. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office this 2 nd day of October 1844. Appleton R. Park Clerk

I Gideon Quash of Colchester county of New London and State of Connecticut, aged Ninety years being duly Curated examined and sworn according to law do testify and say that I am a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States. That I enlisted into Col. Green's Regiment at East Greenwich R. Island in Capt. Elijah Lewis Company and staid in E. Greenwich some time and afterwards marched to Providence and from there to Albany and afterwards the British moved round to R. Island we then returned to Providence and we afterwards marched to White Plains and after that to the Highlands and were also stationed at Fishkill we then returned to White Plains where we had a Skirmish with the enemy. we were also at Poughkeepsie and marched from there to Lake Champlain and staid there a short time and we then returned to Poughkeepsie and saw Maj. Andre hung. At the time I enlisted at East Greenwich Charles Benson was in the same Company and Regiment with me and was with me at all the above places and served with me as a private for two and a half years and was at the Skirmish at White Plains and said Charles Benson was a guard at the execution of Maj. Andre. said Benson and I were together in a battle at Hackensack N. Jersey when I was wounded. In these services I now receive a pension of 96 dollars a year. I have been well acquainted, with Barshaba Benson formerly the wife and now the widow of said Charles Benson for many years. said Charles Benson died in this town more than thirty years ago, and said Barshaba has since remained his widow and has resided in this town for many years past. I do not further say that he was taken out of said Company and had charge of Col. Green's baggage and at the time

he left the Company said Charles Benson was in said Company and Regiment.
his Gilson X Quash mark
Sworn to and subscribed on this 2 nd day of October 1844 by the above named Gilson Quash, who is personally known to me to be a credible person whose statements may be relied on. Before me
Appleton R. Park
Justice of Peace

I Zebulon Parris of the town of Norwich county of New London and state of Connecticut, aged Seventy five years on the 12 day of last January (1844) being duly cautioned examined and sworn according to law do testify and say that I was married on the 12 day of January 1794 the day that I was 25 years old and that I attended the wedding and saw Charles Benson and Blishaba Blunt (both colored persons) married the full before I was married. I cannot tell the day. But am confident that they were married from some two to four months, before I was. Some one of the full month, for it was something cold, at the time of said Benson's marriage. I was well acquainted with them. I have lived within a short distance of them for about three years. They were married by William Dixon Esq of Plainfield in Windham County. After the wedding the company had some recreation and had some victuals to eat and cider to drink. The spring after they were married they removed from Plainfield to Colchester in this county where I understood said Benson lived some years after
his Zebulon Parris mark
Sworn to and subscribed on this 28. day of October A. D. 1844 by the above named Zebulon Parris who is personally known to me to be a credible person whose statements may be relied on before me
Mo. V. O'Neil Justice of the Peace

State of Connecticut ss. County of Windham October 8 th A. D. 1844.
I George Cady of Plainfield County and State aforesaid age forty six years having been being duly cautioned examine and I swear upon and say that having been called upon to examine the records of marriages in said town of which I have the custody in relation to the marriage of Charles Benson and Barshaba Blunt between the periods of 1780 and 1794, I find no record of the marriage of said Charles and Barshaba. That I now hold and have held the office of Town Clerk of said town of Plainfield since the 2 nd day of October A. D. 1843.
George Cady
Town Clerk of the town of Plainfield.
Sworn to and subscribed on this eighth day of October A. D. 1844 by George Cady personally known to me to be town clerk of the town of Plainfield, and a credible person, whose state- ments may be relied on.
Before me
Deborah C. Eaton Justice of the Peace

I Job Congdon of the town of Franklin county of New London and State of Connecticut aged sixty six years last July (1844) being duly cautioned examined and sworn according to law do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Charles Branson and Bershaba (The widow of Capt. Blunt) of the town of Plainfield in Windham County. before they were married and was present at their wedding and saw them mar- ried by Mr. Dixon Esq. of Plainfield after they were married the company had a dance. Charles and Bershaba his wife were both colored persons. They moved from Plainfield soon after they were married. They were married in the fall of the year when I was a boy about 14 years old and lived with my father. I well recollect that Nath- lry was a small boy at the time Charles and Bershaba were married. He was some 5 or 6 years old and I was some 8 years older than he was. So that I must have been about 14 years old as above stated at the time of their marriage. I recollect that John Hall played for the company. I had got a fiddle but was not able to play.
Job Congdon
Sworn to and subscribed on this 25. day of October A. D. 1844 by the above named Job Congdon who is personally known to me to be a credible person whose statements may be relied on before me
M. McCall
Justice of the Peace

I Job Congdon of the town of Franklin county of New London and State of Connecticut aged sixty six years last July (1844) being duly cautioned examined and sworn according to law do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Charles Benson and Bershuba (The widow of Capt. Blunt) of the town of Plainfield in Windham County. before they were married and was present at their wedding and saw them married by Mr. Dixon Esq. of Plainfield after they were married the company had a dance. Charles and Bershuba his wife were both colored persons. They moved from Plainfield soon after they were married. They were married in the fall of the year when I was a boy about 14 years old and lived with my father. I well recollect that Nathaniel was a small boy at the time Charles and Bershuba were married. He was some 5 or 6 years old and I was some 8 years older than he was. So that I must have been about 14 years old as above stated at the time of their marriage. I recollect that John Hall played for the company. I had got a fiddle but was not able to play.
Job Congdon
Sworn to and subscribed on this 25. day of October A. D. 1844 by the above named Job Congdon who is personally known to me to be a credible person whose statements may be relied on before me
M. McAlister Justice of the Peace

I William Kney of Colchester county of New London and state of Connecticut aged 78 years being duly cautioned examine me and sworn according to law before me say that Charles Benson a coloured man, lived in my house some 2 or 3 years before he died and died in my house by a complaint in his head. The Physi- cians opened his head after his death and became satisfied as to the cause of his death. He died some 34 or 36 years ago. and further deponent saith not.
William Kney
New London county ss. Colchester November 6 th 1844. Personally appeared the above named William Kney and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed. Said Kney is personally known to be a credible person whose state- ments may be relied on before me
Appleton R. Park
Justice of Peace.

Ex'r.
INVALID.
Acts of July 14, 1866, and March 3, 1873.
Barbara Bensen
P. O. Widow of Charles Bensen
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____

11243
Barheba Bensen
Can
Letter to Geo. May 9. Dec 1844 " .. Hon G.S. Catlin Dec 13. 1844.
775-
Act 7 July 1838

House of Rep s
December 12 th . 1844.
Hon J. L. Camaras. Commr. Pensions.
Sir
I am advised by Geo. May Esq., one of my constituents, that sometime since he forwarded from Colchester, New London County, Connecticut, the application of Mrs Bertheba Benson, Widow of Chas. Benson dec d for a Pension, under direction to yourself.
Having heard nothing respecting the Papers since that time, he desires me to ascertain of their receipt, and the result of their examination.
With great Respect
Your Obedt. Servt.
Geo. Catlin

State of Connecticut, ss. 3 Office of Secretary of State. 3
I hereby certify that William Dixon, Esquire (to whom reference is made in the foregoing affidavit of Zebulon Parkis,) was during the years 1792, 1793 and 1794, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Windham, in said State, duly appointed, commissioned & sworn; and as such, was fully authorized by the Statutes of said State to perform the office of marriage.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said State, at Hartford, this 8 th day of November, A. D. 1844.
Sam l P. Hild Secretary of State

10,263
Barshba Bruns Mum of Charles bear
Act 7 July 1838
Admiral Sir James B. B. B.

State of Connecticut ss. - 3 Office of Secretary of State. 3
I hereby certify that David B. Caroll, whose name is attached to the foregoing declaration, is, and since the 20 th day of June last has been both Judge of Probate in and for the district of Colchester, and a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of New London, duly appointed, commissioned & sworn, — and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
I further certify, that Appleton R. Park and John T. Wait, whose names are officially appended to certain of the foregoing instruments, are, and since the 20 th day of June last have been Justices of the Peace in and for the county of New London and State aforesaid, duly appointed, commissioned & sworn; and that the aforesaid signatures are genuine.
I further certify, that Elkanah C. Eaton, whose name is attached to a certain instrument foregoing, is, and since the 20 th day of June last has been a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Windham & State aforesaid, duly appointed, commissioned & sworn; — and that I believe the said signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & the Seal of said State, at Hartford, this 8 th day of November, A. D. 1844.
Danl P. Tyler Secretary of State

J. L. Edwards by Commr of Pensions Washington D. C.

Colchester Conn. Nov. 11. 1844.
J. S. Edwards Esq
Dear Sir
Accompanying this, you have the Declaration of Bachelbe Denson Claiming a Pension under the act of 1834. Also certain depositions, in support of her claim, which I trust will satisfy the Department, that her claim is good.
You will please give the above an early attention and oblige yours truly
George Wadsworth
N. B. Please address the subscriber at Colchester Connecticut.