Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29002, Joel L Benjamin, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass
Benjamin, Joel L.
NUMBER
S. 29002
CONTENTS

Massachusetts
order to pay 1/2 Jan. 1837
Isaac L. Benjamin
of Franklin in the State of Mass who was a private in the Corp commanded by Capt. Smith of the Regt commanded by Col. Smith in the Mass line for 8 M. 20
A.B. shows Died Dec. 8-1829
Carb 91
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass. the rate of 25 Dollars 50 Cents per annum commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
State of Pension issued the 16 day of Aug 32 and sister E. also a Beneficiary Years to the 4th of Dec 32 $ 37.60 Rem-ant. allowance ending 4th of Dec 32 14.40 $ 52.00
Recorded by W. C. Stiles Clerk, Book 6, Vol. 2, Page 5 Revolutionary Claim, 7 per June 7, 1832. 5

Joel L. Benjamin Wendell
1745-58
Joel L. Benjamin Staten Island

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin County ss.
on this fourteenth
day of August A.D. 1832. personally appeared in open Court before the ————— Court of Common Pleas of the said Common- wealth, now sitting at Greenfield within and for the said County of Franklin ss. S. Benjamin a Resident of Wendell in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid aged twenty two years who being first sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
I Joel S. Benjamin of Wendell in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do declare and say that I was born at Newbraintree in the County of Worcester in said Commonwealth in the year 1760 and I know of no record of my age if there is any it is in the Books of Records in said Town of Newbraintree. I lived when called into the Revolutionary service where I now live in said Wendell and have lived there ever since the Revolution but time

when I entered the service. The place belonged to the Town of Montague since been annexed to said Mendell. In the year 1780 I en- listed a common soldier into the Continental army of the Revolution for six months under Capt. Ebenezer Smith in Col. Smith's Reg- iment, soon after I marched for West Point from thence to Robinsons Farms then (so called) thence down the Hudson River into the state of New York and from thence to the state of New Jersey. I marched from place to place stopping not long at any one place during the said term of six months. I was discharged at West Point where the army spent the winter for winter quarters by whom the discharge was given I do not now recollect and I have lost the said discharge. In the year 1779 I enlisted again into the service for three months, in the militia under Capt. Marjossan, Lieut. Josiah Osborn and Thomas Groom I do not recollect the name of the Col. of the Regiment. Marched to Great Barrington in said commonwealth. From thence to a place called Gloverick. Thence through Greenbush to Albany N.Y. and I was stationed there till discharged without a written discharge a short time before the expiration of the period of my enlistment. Sirs Benjamin and Timothy Armstrong of said Mendell my neighbours can state my character for truth and veracity and their belief as to my

Served as a Soldier of the Revolution
He here by relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State for L Benjamin Sworn to and subscribed.
the day and year of our Lord - Attest E. Alvord Clerk
and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and their putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states E. Alvord Clerk
I, Elijah Alvord, Clerk of the said Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of the said Joel L. Benjamin for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court this day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
E. Alvord Clerk

No 17456 Isaac Benjamin Massachusetts
on Rule and Practice 6. Months
Filed 8 Mo 20 days
26 b 20 b 8
E. Blood Granfield Massachusetts

BRIEF in the case of  Isaac L. Benjamin  County of Franklin  in the State of  Massachusetts  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 72 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.  
   Enlisted In 1780 — 6 — private Gen. Capt Smith Col Smith   " 1779 . 6 — 3 2. 20 — Capt. Warren    & he was discharged a short time before the 3 mo. expired
5. In what battles was he engaged? none
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Windelo Massachusetts
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? living witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Papers not properly attached
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
M. L. B. Examining Clerk.

January 21, 1937.
R. H. Olcott 414 Lester Avenue Oakland, California.
RA-J/ILL Joel L. Benjamin S. 29002
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Joel Benjamin who was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts, 1760, and Caleb Benjamin, 1727-1818, possibly the grandfather of Joel.
There is no claim for pension or bounty land on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a Caleb Benjamin. The record of Joel L. Benjamin is furnished herein as found in his claim for pension, S. 29002.
Joel L. Benjamin was born in the year 1760, in New Braintree, Worcester County, Massachusetts; the exact date of his birth and the names of his parents were not given.
While a resident of Montague, Franklin County, Massachusetts, (the part which was later Wendell in said county) he enlisted in 1779 and served about three months as private in Captain Merriman's Massachusetts company; he enlisted sometime in 1780 and served six months as private in Captain Ebenezer Smith's company, Colonel Smith's Massachusetts regiment, during which service he marched to West Point, thence to New York and into New Jersey.
Joel L. Benjamin was allowed pension on his application executed August 14, 1832, at which time he resided in Wendell, Franklin County, Massachusetts; he had resided there ever since the Revolutionary War. He died December 8, 1839.
The soldier made no reference to wife or children.
One Levi Benjamin was a resident of Wendell, Massachusetts, in 1832; no relationship between him and the soldier's family was stated.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

1936-May 9-Hist to H.W. Jencks - L&L 1937-Jan. 21-Hist. to R.H. Olcott - L&L.
29002 Rury INVALID.
File No. 29002
Joel L Benjamin Rev. Rev. Mr.
Act: June 7 th 39 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 32
[Arrangement of 1870.]

17456 Lod L Benjamin
E. Alward. Jr Greenfield

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Josh L Benjamin — which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? ys II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? ys III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? — IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? ys V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? old & term VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? ys VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? ys VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? ys IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? ys X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? ys

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? ex
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? ex
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? Having witness
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? ex
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? answered
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss Greenfield June 15. 1833. Personally appeared before me the Undersigned a Justice of the Peace for said county of Franklin and Clerk for said county of the Court of Common Pleas of the said Commonwealth, Isaac Benjamin who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that during the first period of service mentioned in his declaration, he served the full term of three months six months for which he enlisted and was discharged as mentioned in said declaration; that as to his second period of service mentioned in said declaration, he enlisted for three months and served faithfully until he was dismissed a few days before the expiration thereof. He can not say precisely how many days but it was less than ten days short of three months. And he did not reach his home until after the expiration of the three months - He therefore states that he served as a private at the first term of first mentioned service, 6 months and at the term secondly mentioned mentioned - - - 2 Months & 20 days and for such service he claims a pension. Joel L. Pray
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above mentioned
E. Alvord Justice of the Peace

17436 Rev. S. H. Hemenway
E. Alvord, Jr. Spencerfield
In testimony of the within proceedings I the said Elijah Alvord Clerk as therein mentioned have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court the said fifteenth day of June A.D. 1833 E. Alvord, Clerk

I Elnathan Whitney of Montague in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age do testify and say that I am personally acquainted with Mr Joel L. Benjamin of Wendell in said County of Franklin and I was acquainted with said Benjamin in the Revolutionary army I belonged to the same Regiment with said Benjamin. I marched from Montague in the year 1780 in company with said Benjamin to Springfield there to West Point and joined the Brigade at Robinson's Farms (so called) I was well acquainted then with said Benjamin in the Army during the whole term of six months the whole period of his enlistment into the Continental army.
Elnathan Whitney
Franklin ss. August 11 1832 Then Personally appeared Elnathan Whitney the above named before me and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true and I also certify that the above named Whitney is a credible witness Lanathan H. Tuttle Justice of the Peace

Rev. J. Benjamin Ebenezer Whitney Esq.
Witnesseth
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Franklin ss. I, Elijah Alvord, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts for the county of Franklin do certify that Jonathan Hartwell Esq. before whom the within affidavit purports to have been verified is a Justice of the Peace for the said county. And I believe his name to the same within subscribed to be his true and proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at Greenfield on the fourteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thou- sand eight hundred and thirty two.
E. Alvord Clerk

May 6-1936-
S. 29002.
Please send History To Mr. H. H. Jencks, 28-18 th St. S.E.

Rev. & Rev. War
R. H. OLCOTT OAKLAND, CALIF. 414 Lester Avenue
January 8th. 1937.
The Pension Office, Veteran's Administration, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
One Joel Benjamin, born in Hardwick, Mass, 1760, enlisted in the Continental Army at Montague, Mass, June 5th, 1780, and was discharged January 9th, 1781. He married June 16th, 1790, Sarah Anderson, who bore him children until 1807. She died March 18th, 1813, and he died December 7th, 1839.
I am looking for the parentage of a second Joel, born "somewhere in New England," March 1st, 1783-4 - some six years before the above marriage; and as there is a possibility that he may have been a son of the first Joel - by a first wife , - I thought that if the latter drew a pension, your records might possibly show if he had a first wife and son Joel, and if so, who she was and where they were married, as well as any other data that might be of interest to descendants.
The Massachusetts records show another ( six weeks ) enlistment of a Joel Benjamin October 15th, 1779, which, I presume, is the same man, thus affording no further clue for me to follow.
If by any chance your records ever show grandchildren of pensioners, it is also possible that the second Joel might be listed as a grandson of Lieut. Caleb Benjamin ( 1727-1818 ), who responded to the Lexington Alarms from Conway, Mass, and who was the father of the first Joel.
Please accept my thanks for your anticipated courtesy, and with best wishes for the New Year, I am
Most gratefully yours,
R. H. Olcott Mr. Rich
Postage enclosed. post office 14

May 9, 1936.
Mr. E. W. Jencks 28 - 18th Street, S. E. Washington, D. C.
BA-J/ILL Joel L. Benjamin S. 29002
Dear Sir:
You are furnished herein, as requested, the Revolutionary War record of Joel L. Benjamin as found in the papers on file in pension claim, S. 29002.
Joel L. Benjamin was born in the year 1760, in New Braintree, Worcester County, Massachusetts; the exact date of his birth and the names of his parents were not given.
While a resident of Montague, Franklin County, Massachusetts (the part which was later Wendell in said county), he enlisted in 1779 and served about three months as private in Captain Merriman's Massachusetts company; he enlisted sometime in 1780 and served six months as private in Captain Ebenezer Smith's company, Colonel Smith's Massachusetts regiment, during which service he marched to West Point, thence to New York and into New Jersey.
Joel L. Benjamin was allowed pension on his application executed August 14, 1832, at which time he resided in Wendell, Franklin County, Massachusetts; he had resided there ever since the Revolutionary War.
The soldier made no reference to wife or children. He died December 8, 1839.
One Levi Benjamin was a resident of Wendell, Massachusetts, in 1832; no relationship between him and the soldier was stated.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

Benjamin, John Sarah New York residence.
This woman was pensioned as the former widow of Aaron Os- born, New York, W. 4558 — B.L. Wt. 30622-160-55