Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17,342, Benajah Bryan, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Bryan, Benajah Lucy
W. 17,342
CONTENTS

9417
Connecticut
Perryah Bryan of Watertown in the State of Conn who was a priv — in the Conn commanded by Captain Canoch of the Reg commanded by Col Peabody in the N Hamp line for Stat troops — 90 Striker 1 mo
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of 33 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of May 1830 and Serit Nath l Preston, Woodbury Conn Arrears to the 4th of March: 30 $ 67, 32 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sep 4, 30 16 83 $ 841 5
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E. D. Buelock Clerk, Book 60 Vol. 3 Page 4

United States of America State of Connecticut County Litchfield, Probate Court District of Woodbury
On this 13 th day of August 1832 Personally appear in Open Court before me Benjamin Bryan a Resident of the Town of Watertown in the County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut Aged Seventy Eight Years Who being first duly sworn on his oath According to law doth on his oath Make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States as a Private under the following named Officers and served as hereinafter stated, that in all the instances of his going into the United States Service he went from Watertown where he then was and is now a Resident, That he first en- tered the service of the United States as a Volunteer or enlist- ed soldier in the State Troops for the term of two Months or in about the Middle of February 1776 and served a term of two Months at Brooklyn on Long Island in the State of New York and returned about the Middle of April next following as he thinks though the particu- lar days of his joining and leaving his Company are not recollected that he never received any discharge but was suffered to return when his term of enlist- ment had expired That Colonel Ward was the Colonel of his Regiment Captain Hinckley Potter the Comman- dant of his Company and Isaac Bronson was one of the Lieutenants That they had no action during the time

They were at Brooklyn But then engaged in building a Fort which he thinks was called Fort Stirling That after return- ing home he Again enlisted As a Volunteer into the Pri- vate in the State Troops for the State of Connecticut for the term of Seven Months the same year viz in 1776 That he does not recollect the particular day of his join- ing or leaving the Army but he thinks he joined his Company the early part of June and left the Army the last of Dec r 1776 the Unit following that he was in Captain Couch's Company That the Lieutenants were Nathaniel Grewells and Simon Bovey and the En- sign was Joseph Hull that he served in the State of New Jersey at Bergen Point and from there was on a march to the Lower of Bergen and from thence to the English Neighbor- hood and to Fort Lee That soon After the capture of Fort Washington Fort Lee was evacuated and that he was with the Army when it retreated through the Jerseys the Company to which he belong, had the charge of the baggage and that he went with the Company to Phila- delphia that the Main Army remain, at Trenton that he remain, in Philadelphia until the term of his enlist- ment which was seven Months expired, he thinks he was then about four weeks and recollects to have seen the body of prisoners who were captured during his stay in Philadelphia, he came away by the consent of his Officers without a discharge from Philadelphia when the term of his enlistment had expired and he was not himself in any particular action during the time although he recollects on his route home soon after leaving Phila- and the Army in the state on his return

adulphine to have heard the firing at the battle of Princeton and in going home they went a very tedious and circuitous route to avoid the enemy, Col Philip B Braddy and Col Hobbs are Regimental Officers. He was afterwards in the year 1781 detached or drafted and served in the Town of Milford in the State of Connecticut One Month in the United States service in the Militia he should think partly in October and partly in November the particular days of joining his Company and leaving it as he recollects he served on this tour as a Sapper Cattle Joseph Gurney was Captain Samuel Strickland was Lieutenant and a Man by the Name of Slaughter was Ensign that there was but one Company who acted as a guard and that they had no fighting He was afterwards detached in the Militia on the burning of Norwalk the time he recollects and was out five days in the United States service and was concealed in a considerable shrubbery east of the Town of Norwalk in the State of Connecticut, and that he has no documentary evidence of his service
He hereby relinquishes every 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 and the v d Bryan further states on his v d oath what was omit- ted in its proper place, that on his aforesaid second tour of du- ty when he enlisted for seven Months & was in New Jersey that the Regiment to which he belonged was principally taken prisoners at Fort Washington, and that the reason why he was not made a Prisoner was that he had been previous- ly detached from v d Regiment & connected with a Com

pany of Artificers who were employed in constructing Bar- vunks at Fort Lee which they abandon, & soon after the capture of Fort Washington Town
This applicant also states that he was born in the Town of Milford in New Haven County Connecticut on the 3 d day of May 1754. Since confinement to line there untill about the year 1770 & then moved to Washington Connecticut remained there about two years since then moved to Watertown that part now and constitutes the Town of Watertown since with the caption of the time & was in the army have since moved there & now reside there
There is in my possession an Entry of my Birth in my father's Bible by which it appears I was born on the 3 May 1754
I am acquainted with the Rev. Moses Holcomb, the Rev. Dennis D. Griswold. Holbrook Center in Muscum Doford's way also others of Watertown
I have no other proof that I can prove except the Deposition with the transcription
Sworn & subscribed
the 22 d day of June
Benajah Boyer
Rev. Phelps, Mayor of Probate
for District of Woodbury

admit price 9 mo. triper 1 mo. — $33.66.
Nathan Preston Woodbury Cont

4997  BRIEF in the case of Benajah Bryan  of Watertown in the State of Conn  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 78 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.     Febr In 1776 2 — Capt P. Porter Col? Vol?   June 0 ✓ 7 — Colt Edwards Reg? 7   Thurs Octobr 1781 ✓ 1 Piper Capt Couch Co's 7   not recollected 5 Colt P. Bradleys Reg? 8   Capt Jo' Garmy Co's drafted   not stated mil?  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Watertown  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 2 nd & 3 rd by one witness, the traditional evidence of two others one a clergyman all certified to be credible persons.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective — not attached according to the regulations 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
E. Stephens
Examining Clerk.

See letter to Curtis Oct. 30. 38
Connecticut 710
Lucy Bryan widow of Benajah Bryan
who was a pensioner under the Act of 7. June 1832 and who died on the 20 th Feb. 1837 of Litchfield Co. in the State of Connecticut who was a S t V ol in the company commanded by Captain Cooke  A. H. the Reg t commanded by Col. Peabody in the S t H. S. Troops time for 9 mos. Pr. 30.00 " " Fife 3.66 Cross. $23.66
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 33 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1837. 21 st February 1837
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of Oct. 1838 and sent to Deborah Curtis Hartford, Con.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 38. 51.50 Semi-annual allowance ending June 39. 16.83 $68.33
{ Act July 7, } { 1838. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, Book 1 Vol. 21 Page 166

State of Connecticut Litchfield County
S. Watertown
On this 31 st day of August A.D. 1838 Personally Appeared before me Hoo Brook Brewster Esq r . The Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Watertown holding a Court at Watertown in s d District. Sperry Bryan (a resident of s d Town of Watertown in s d County of Litchfield Connecticut) 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 th 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows." That she is the widow of Benajah Bryan an late of s d Watertown, who was a soldier and Musician during the Revolutionary War, & served in the capacity of a private the principal part of his time of service, and a short time as a fifer, that the s d Benajah Bryan was in the service the year that Fort Washington was taken, a considerable portion of his time during that time was spent at Philadelphia, the length of his stay at that time was six or seven Months. I have heard him say that in coming home from Philadelphia after he was discharged he heard of the fighting at the battle of Trenton, and that he was obliged with others to make a very long and circuitous route to avoid the enemy, he served on longest stand before I was married, about two months, he was at Danbury when that town was burnt as likewise at Norwalk on the inroads of Tryon, was absent a few weeks, I cannot state particularly the days of the Month or Months and years when he left and returned, but by reference to his declaration and statements in the war of in the facts will more fully appear, all his fellow soldiers are dead, as far as I know, and I have neither health nor ability to look up further testimony than is here with forwarded, I have heard s d Bryan state who his officers were but I do not recollect them, as I was unacquainted with him until a short time previous to our Marriage, that he died at s d Watertown on the 20 th of Feb y 1834, and that to the best of her knowledge his widow having never been married since his death, that the s d husband

wasa Pensions under the act of the 7 th June 1832 & Recd. about thirty three 66 dollars per m th In further deposes that she was Married to the s d Benajah Bryan on the twentieth day of January A D 1780 and that her husband the aforesaid Benajah Bryan died on the 20 th day of February A D 1837 and that he died and they were Married at s d Watertown, that she was not married to him previous to his leaving the Service but the Marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen hundred and Ninety four in at the time above and before stated Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year Lucy Bryan
Above written before me
Hotbrook Curtis Judge of Probate for the District of Watertown
I Charles Woodward a Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Watertown do certify that Hotbrook Curtis Esq re is a Judge of Probate for s d District of Watertown and that the signature above annexed is his genuine signature which is made above purporting to be his, and that the seal affixed hereunto is the true seal of s d Court Attest Charles S. Woodward Clerk
State of Connecticut
Litchfield County S.S. Watertown September 3 d 1838

STATE OF CONNECTICUT, } ss. Litchfield. LITCHFIELD COUNTY, }
I Origen S. Seymour Clerk
of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that
Seman W. Cutter Esq is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and by Law authorized to administer Oaths and to take the acknowledgment of Deeds . And that his commission was dated on the 29 th day of May A. D. 1838 and will expire on the 20th day of June, A. D. 1839. and that the foregoing signature, which purports to be his, is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said Court this
6 th day of Septemr A. D. 1838.
Origen S. Seymour Clerk

I Holbrook Curtis of Watertown in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut of lawful age Town Clerk of sd Town do testify that the following is an extract from the Records of sd Town under the head of Marriages Benajah Bryan and Lucy Davis January twentieth one thousand seven hundred and eighty
I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Record of sd Town with the exception of the date which is entered on the record in plain legible figures as follows viz. Jan'y 20 th 1780
Clerk Holbrook Curtis Town Clerk
I Holbrook Curtis above named depose and say that I held the office of Town Clerk in the Town County & State aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the Records of sd Town with the exception aforesaid as certified by me. I do further depose and say that I was well acquainted with the v ble Benajah Bryan during his life time - was a very near neighbor of his that he procured a pension under the act of the 7 th June 1832. That I was in the habit of making his papers for him to draw it semiannually and that I know that the v ble Benajah Bryan and Lucy Bryan the applicants for this pension were together as husband and wife before the death of the v ble Benajah Bryan which occurred at Watertown on the 20 th day of February 1837. That I saw the body after his death and knew of his burial and that Lucy Bryan is his surviving widow having never been married since the decease of the v ble Benajah. I have lived within twenty rods of the dwelling house occupied by the v ble Benajah & Lucy Bryan for more than twenty years previous to his death, and the v ble Lucy has continued in the same dwelling house in the same relative situation since and I know no other name was Lucy Davis.
Holbrook Curtis
State Conn. Litchfield Co. ss Watertown Aug 20 th 1835
Personally appeared Holbrook Curtis Signer of the foregoing deposition who is well known to me as a person of respectability and truth and he being duly sworn made oath, that the facts contained in the foregoing deposition by him subscribed are correct and true - sworn before me -
Almon W. Cutler
Justice of the peace

Copy of Record from the Probate Record for the Town of Watertown which is in the District of Waterbury. At a Court of Probate held at Watertown within and for the District of Watertown on the 10 th day of March 1837 Benjamin DeForest Esq. Judge of said Court present in Court. On Motion of Lucy Bryan the Widow of Benajah Bry- an late a Pensioner of the United States, this Court does find that the said Benajah Bryan died at Watertown on the 20 th day of Feb. A.D. 1837, and that the said Lucy Bryan who has signed the annexed power of Atty is the surviving widow of the said Benajah Bryan deceased and that the Pension Certificat. herewith annexed belonged to the said Benajah Bry- an during his life, and that the said Lucy Bryan now lives and resides in the said Watertown and that she the said Lucy Bryan was married to the said Benajah Bryan died on the 20 th day of Feb. 1837, and that the said Benajah Bryan has lived for many years past and died at Watertown Attest,
Benjamin DeForest Judge of said Court The above and foregoing is a true Copy of Record extract- ed from the Probate Records for the District of Watertown Attest
Hobart Root Clerk Judge of Probate for said District
I hereby Certify that Hobart Root Esq. is a Judge of Probate for the District of Watertown and that the above is his genuine signature and that the above seal is the true seal of said Court. Attest, Charles S. Woodward Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Watertown
State of Connecticut Litchfield County S.S. Watertown September 3 rd 1838

Mr. Rer. to city
Rev WIDOW, &c.
Mich. So. Ex. by Mr. Spinnwall, B.
File No. 173112
Novr 12 1904 Ho Henry D. Bryan Thro. Mr. Bedee
Henry D. Bryan Widow of Henry D. Bryan Phil. Penna.
Act: July 26 1885
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 80
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Bryant was mistaken in saying that he served in 1781. The last service he performed was during the time Norwalk was burnt, which was in 1779.

I know all men hereby that I Balmavine Suedel of Kenting- ton in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut of law- ful age do depose and say that during the Revolutionary War Benajah Bryan of Watertown in Litchfield Coun- ty in s d State was called out and served Seven Months in Active Service in s d War as a Private Soldier in an enlisted company of which I also was a Private in s d company and served during s d term with s d Bryan in the year 1776 We enlisted about the 1 st of June in Capt- Crouch's company of Infantry and were actively en- gaged in Service until the 1 st of Jan y 1777 the 1 st Lieut of s d company was Nathaniel Edmells the 2 d Lieut was Simon Tracy, and Philip B. Bradley com- manded our Regiment, we served in New Jersey at Bergen Point and moved to the Town of Bergen and then into the English Neighborhood or Fort Lee after the evacu- ation of Fort Lee we retreated through the Jerseys across the Dela- ware at Trenton & Philadelphia, as the Regiment did - I was myself detained with sickness and afterwards joined the mounted company under Capt n Mills and went to Fishkill and later to New York City. Now the Deponent vouches for Litchfield County ss Watertown State of Connecticut August 1 st 1832 Balmavine Suedel
Litchfield County ss State of Connecticut ss Watertown August 1 st 1832 Personally appeared C. Balmavine Suedel signer of the foregoing Deposition and being duly sworn Made solemn oath that the facts by him stated in s d Deposition are correct & true the s d Suedel is known to me to be a man of truth & integrity Woodbridge Curtis Justice of Peace

I Clark Beane of Watertown in Litchfield County Connecticut aged seventy two years do depose and say that in the year 1781 or 82 I do not recollect which I who then was and ever since have been a resident of Watertown was attached to a Company of Militia which were drafted in the United States Service and served one Month in the Town of Milford Benajah Bryan then and ever since of S d Watertown served one Month in S d Company during the time they were out in the capacity of a s er vice, it was in the Autumn or fall of the year, Capt n Joseph Gurney was Captain of S d Company Sam l Stickland was Lieutenant and Slaughter was Ensign Ambrose Hickson was D cty Sergeant, and further the deponents voucheth Litchfield County S d Watertown August 10 th 1832
Clark Beane
Litchfield County S d Watertown August 10 th 1832 Personally appeared Clark Beane signer of the foregoing deposition and being duly sworn made oath that the facts contained in S d deposition are correct and true the S d Beane is known to me as a Man of truth sworn before me Hobbs Cook Justice of Peace

I know all men hereby that I Thaddeus Bryan of Watertown in Litchfield County Connecticut formerly of Milford in New Haven County in the State do depose and say that my brother Benajah Bryan who then lived in Watertown was in the year 1776 in the United States or else in the Revolutionary Army, I was then about eighteen years old and was born in the year 1757. The Benajah came to our house My Father being dead in Milford said he had enlisted for Seven Months was expecting to be stationed on the New Jersey side, this was in June I went with him about half way to New Haven & took his horse back & kept it until his return, which was the next January. We had considerable anxiety about him as we heard he was taken at Fort Washington, but a Mr. Fawcett Benham who returned for some cause soon see them My brother in soon, and as that he had been transferred to another Company and was not in Fort Washington, and was not as it soon went in part Made a Prisoner along with his Regiment & further the deponent saith Not Litchfield County & Watertown August 10 th 1832
Thaddeus Bryan
Litchfield County & Watertown August 10 th 1832
Personally appeared Thaddeus Bryan sign- of the foregoing deposition personally known to me as a man of truth & respectability and being duly sworn Made oath that the facts stated in the deposition are correct and true before me Woodbridge Curtis Justice of Peace

I Frederick Wolcott, Clerk of the County Court within & for the County of Litchfield in the State of Conne- -cticut, certify that Justice Hollis Root Briggs before whom the preceding affidavits of Babmavin Ladd, Clark, Reuben & Theodore Bryan, appear to have been taken as on the first day of instant August & on the tenth day of instant August, & that the same is a true copy of the Peace with all for said County of Litchfield & that the signatures to the preceding affidavits which purport to be his are genuine. — Witness my hand & the Seal of said Court at Litchfield in said County this 22 d day of August A. 1832.
Frederick Wolcott, Clerk.

Pineapple Broom 49 47.

The said Darius O Griswold hereby relinquishes every 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. Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
We, Darius O Griswold a clergyman, residing in the town of Watertown and Eliza Griswold residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benajah Poryan who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 75 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
D. O. Griswold Eliza Griswold Probate Dist Woodbury
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Darius Griswold who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Watertown and that Eliza Griswold who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Watertown and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
H. B. Phelps Judge of Probate for the District of Woodbury
Nathan Freston Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Woodbury do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Darius Griswold for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of this first day of September 1832.
Office,
Nathan Freston Clerk

110
Cam.
Oct 3 Waltham Ct October 16 th 3
Lucy Bryan Sep 13. 18470.
$33:66 per annum
Edward Sayer
Commissaire of Revenue
Washington City District of Columbia

S. J. Edwards Esq., Sir,
The Widow Lucy Bryan who a few weeks since made an application for a Pension under the act of the 7 th of July 1838, informs me that by reflecting on the subject, she recollects that her husband performed a good deal of duty at Milford after the Marriage, which is a bar to her claim under that act, and she seems much disturbed at her mistake, which was probably owing to her Age and infirmity.
Will you have the goodness to send back the Lucy Bryan Papers, or her papers, and will you be so kind as to send me a circular (if you have any) of instructions how to proceed under the act of 1836, with the amendment of 1837, as her husband died in Feby. 1837, and if she can procure the necessary proof, she will apply under those Acts. Respectfully Scotbrook Curtis State of Connecticut - Litchfield county Watertown October 15 th 1838

Watertown Oct 30 October 27 th
Lucy Bryan
John Nels Clegg
Commissary of subsistence Washington City

Dear Sir:
Commission of Pensions
I wrote last week on the application of Lucy Bryan to have her purs sent back as she was advised some part of her pension service had been postponed, subsequent to the Ma- riage, she is an Applicant for a pension, I thought if they were sent back, I would apply for her under the act of 1836 & 37, since which time have Recd my Pension Certificate under the act of 1838. And I think it right, probably as she is entitled, and I would not make her disadvantage any further trouble She is infirm aged in health & the pension for in years is well enough & I presume correct, the documents the disbursement, what statements & evidence is correct as ever been satisfactory to me, and their evidence in some cases & provided equally creditable & honorable to her- selves, you need then send back the papers unless you choose it. Respectfully Robert Wood Curtis Haverstown October 26th 1838

Watertown (Pa)
Sept 10 th
S. 1673
1838
1470
act
Secy of the Navy
[Large cursive signature]
John D. Sleeper
[Signature]
Washington City
Commissary of Public Stores

St. Edwards Esq.
Sir,
If the Applicant is entitled to a pension under the act of 1836, we should like to be informed of it by the Department, her husband Benjamin Bryan was a pensioner under the act of June 7 th 1832, and died in 1837 we think she must be entitled to a pension under either the Act of 1836 or 1838 providing for Widows in the civil line in the case of Benjamin Bryan is in the office as likewise of his death when the Widow drew the back payment of his pension.
Respectfully &c
Robert Cummins
Watertown Sept. 1838
Please direct to me E. G.

John Lewis Cup Suffolk War.
From Mrs. Kirk Sun. May 16 1800

Middletown Conn Aug 23. 1892
Enclosed are the applications for Pensions of Silvanus Clark David Lynn - Wm Sage - Epaphras Safford - Daniel Southwick & Simon Stickland. also an additional Deposition in the ap- plication of Steph Tibbals which was forwarded about the 8 th Aug th - be pleased to notify me of the result.
Yrs Wm. D. Hill
Hon. Lewis Cass Sec y of War Washington City
23. 33 11 23. 44