Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,379, Benajah Denham, R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
P.S.
Denham, Benajah
S. 30,379
CONTENTS

10426
Massachusetts
Benajah Denham
Barring in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Field of the Regt commanded by Col Church in the R.D. line for 9 (Mys 14) Days Miles
87
Berkshire
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 31 Dollars 55 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th day of April 1833 and paid to Rev Bishop Denham
Arrears to the 4th of April 1833 $63.10 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. " 15.77
$78.87
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H McBlain Clerk Book 2 Vol. 2 nd Page 16

Benajah Denham Application for pension Great Barrington Ms
Augt 15 1832
(2398)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Berkshire, ss.
ON this fifteenth day of August A. D. 1832. personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable WILLIAM P. WALKER, Judge of the Court of Probate, within and for said County of Berkshire, now sitting, Benajah Denham a resident of the town of Great Barrington in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy nine years, who being first duly sworn 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, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
In the month of May 1775, the precise day he cannot remember, while residing at Newport in the state of Rhode Island, he there enlisted to serve six months in a company of Rhode Island State Troops, commanded by Capt William Tice, the Lieut. was Samuel Bailey, the Ensign Thomas Hughes, the Regt. to which said Company belonged was commanded by Col. Church, - He believes the Lt. Col; name was Miller, the Major, Henry Shurbum, - He marched from Newport to Jamaica plains in the vicinity of Roxbury & Boston - where he halted & remained until after the battle of Bunker hill, - He then marched on to Prospect hill which is near Bunker hill, - About a fortnight before the expiration of his six months, he was taken sick & was placed in the Hospital near Boston, His father Daniel Denham of said Newport came to see him while in the Hospital and procured for him, from Gen. Lee, a dismission from the service, this was in November 1775 the day of the month he cannot tell - it was within a fortnight of the time when the period of his enlistment would have regularly expired - He returned with his father to Newport He occasionally acted as orderly sergeant in the room of Ebenezer West, - Genl. Greene was his General

A short time after his return to Newport he removed with his father to Plainfield in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut, and in July 1776. (the precise day forgot, he enlisted, in a company of Connecticut State Troops under Capt Stevens, for six months, the Col. of the Regiment was Col. Mott, the Lieut Col was William Worthington. In this service he acted as waiter for Mr. Morgan the Chaplain of the Regiment, but was armed & equipped, & did duty in P. Company when ordered, excepting the duty of Sentinel from which he was exempted - he marched from Plainfield, (when he resided at the time of his enlistment) to Bennington, - from thence to Castleton (VT) - thence to Skene'sboro' (now called Whitehall) - and was there stationed, He staid at Skene'sborough, all of three months & was then again taken sick, - as soon as he got able to ride, he was dismissed & returned back to Plainfield. It was some time in the month of October when he was dismissed the precise day of the month he cannot state,
After he got well he went to Providence (Rhode Island) he believes in the month of November, the exact month & day he does not remember & worked until the following May in the Laboratory under the direction of Joseph Brown, - he assisted in making preparing Grape & Canister shot, port fires, tools for the Artillery, & musket cartridges, - He also assisted in fitting out two fire ships, - he was in this service all of six months - He never received any compensation for this service, excepting his board, - In May 1777. the day of the month he does not recollect, he went to Boston & went as a volunteer on board a twenty gun Ship Commanded by John Grimes. He served as a Boatman's man, - the Ship was owned by Mungo Mackay & Deane of Boston, - Sailed on a cruise, in June following & had been absent nearly three months,

when he was captured by a British sixty four gun ship, & was carried to Halifax in Nova Scotia, - He was captured in September the day he cannot tell - remained a prisoner at Halifax until March following, when he & 280 others, were taken from the prison & put on board a transport ship under convoy of a 12. or 14. gun Brig. In a gale in the night, we captured the trans- port ship & arrived with her at Marble- head near Boston, - This was in the first part of March 1778. cannot tell the day of the month, - While doing duty in this cruise on deck one night he froze his feet badly - after his arrival at Marblehead he returned to his father
When I got well, viz in the month of August 1778 he volunteered & went under Gen Sullivan in order to take possession of Rhode Island, & was in this service all of a fortnight - he then went to Providence & with one John Darling purchased a small vessel, & in the employ of Company, Solomon Southwick, loaded the vessel with provisions, to carry through Bristol Ferry to supply the American troops, On the passage he was captured by the British & carried to Newport, where he remained a prisoner near eleven months, - When the British evacuated Newport they took him along with them towards New York & when near Frog point (so called) they put him & twelve other prisoners on board a

A short time after his return to Newport he removed with his father to Mansfield in the County of Windham. Little flag sloop, that they had detained & sent them to Stonington, Connecticut when he was released, - He then went to New London, was there when it was burnt by Arnold, then he was taken prisoner by the British & carried to New York, where he remained a prisoner eight weeks, when he was exchanged.
He was born in Newport Feb. 12. 1753. Has a record of his age in his bible which he took from his father's bible - In 1783 he came to Great Barrington & has lived there ever since - He has no documentary evidence, & never had any written discharge. He is well known in Great Barrington, & refers to Rev. Sylvester Butts, Moses Hopkins, Ezra Kellogg, Ralph Taylor, David Jones, Charles W. Hopkins, Samuel Rossetts & Increase Sumner who can state as to his character for truth & accuracy & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
He knows of no one living by whom he can prove his services. In 1818 (according to his best recollection) he got the deposition of his companion father William Denham who deposed to his services in Capt. Tuck's Company - he the said William being also a member of that company - He sent a deposition to the War Department, where he supposes it now is - Said William is now dead -

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
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Benajah Denham
W. P. Walker J. Probate
We Sylvester Burt a Clergyman, residing in the town of Great Barrington and Ezra Kellogg residing in Great Barrington hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benajah Denham who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy nine 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.
Sylvester Burt Ezra Kellogg
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
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 above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Sylvester Burt who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Great Barrington in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that Ezra Kellogg who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Great Barrington in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Berkshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Benajah Denham for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office of said Court of Probate, this fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Henry W. Bishop Register of Probate

N o 2398
Benajah Denham of G o Barnington Ms
Printed 9 Month 14 days papers not properly authenticated His service as a laborer in the Labora- tory at Providence & his Marine Service not proved for
Nov 7 1852
$31.55-
H. M. Bishop Lexon Barnington Mass.

BRIEF in the case of Benajah Dennyham of the County of Berkshire in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7 June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 79 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.     In 1775 May — 6 — Private Gen. G. Hovey, Capt. W. Tuck   1776 July — 3 — ditto Col. Mott, Capt. Stevens   1776 Nov. served 6 in making grape & canister shot &c at Providence R.I.   1778 Aug. — — 15 volunt. Genl. Sullivan   he was in the sea service and several times taken Prisoner  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None except at sea  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Newport R.I.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? nothing but opinion of the Court and affidavit of a clergyman & one other - no written discharge  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Regular 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Levin Bell Examining Clerk.

N o 2398
Benajah Denham
His Service as a labour in the Laboratory at Providence not provided for neither is his marine Service
H. M. Bishop Esq.
Senior Major

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Benajah Deenham which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes 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? yes. except in the sea service 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? yes. except in the sea service VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes, except in one tour on R.I. VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes 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? yes.

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? Yes. XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 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? No. XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? 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? XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes  No. XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? It is so certified by the Court.
 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.
† 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
‡ 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.

30379 INVALID. Redf
File No. 30,379
Benajah Denham
Rev Rev
Act: June 1 st 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 107
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Penajah Denham, Application for pension,

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Berkshire, ss.
ON this twelfth day of February A. D. 1833 personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable WILLIAM P. WALKER, Judge of the Court of Probate, within and for said County of Berkshire, now sitting, Demajah Denham a resident of the town of Great Barrington the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty years, who being first duly sworn 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, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. In the month of May 1775. The precise day he cannot remember, while residing at New Port in the State of Rhode Island, he then enlisted to serve six months in a Company of Rhode Island State troops, commanded by Capt William Dyer, the Lieut. was Samuel Bailey, the Ensign Thomas Hughes. The Regt to which 1 st Company belonged was commanded by Col. Church. - He believes the Lt. Col's name was Miller. The Major Henry Sheldon. - He marched from Newport to Jamaica plain in the vicinity of Roxbury & Boston, where he halted & remained until after the battle of Bunker Hill. He then marched on to Prospect Hill which is near Bunker hill - About a fortnight before the expiration of his time of six months he was taken sick & was placed in the Hospital near Boston. His father Daniel Denham of 1 st New Port came to see him while in the Hospital and procured for him, from Genl. Lee a dismission from the service, - this was in Nov r . 1775. The day of the month he cannot tell it was within a fortnight of the time when the period of his enlistment would have regularly expired - He returned with his father to Newport. - He occasionally acted as orderly sergt. in the room of Eleazer West. Genl. Greene was his General. - A short time after his return to Newport he removed with his father to Plainfield in the

County of Windham and State of Connecticut, and in July 1776. (The precise day forgot) he enlisted in a company of Connecticut State troops, under Capt. Stevens for six months, the Col. of the Regt. was Col. Mott. The Lieut. Col. was William Worthington. In this service he acted as waiter for W. Morgan the Chaplain of the Regt. but was armed and equipt, and did duty in 1 st Company when ordered excepting the duty of sentinel from which he was exempted. He marched from Plainfield, where he resided at the time of his enlistment, to Bennington, from thence to Castleton (Vt.) thence to Skene'sboro' (now called Whitehall) and was then stationed. He staid at Skene'sboro' all of three months , and was then again taken sick as soon as he got able to ride he was dismissed and returned back to Plainfield. It was some time in the month of October when he was dismissed, the precise day of the month he cannot state.
In the month of August 1778. (precise date forgot) he volunteered & went under Genl. Sullivan in order to take possession of Rhode Island, and was in this service all of a fortnight .
[He omits stating in this declaration his services as a laborer in the Laboratory at Providence, and in the marine service, because of the suggestion from the War Department, that they are not provided for.]
He was born in said Newport Feb. 12. 1753. - Has a record of his age in his bible which he took from his father's bible. In 1783 he came to 1 st Great Barrington and has lived there ever since. He has no documentary evidence & never had any written discharge. He is well known in Great Barrington, & refers to Rev. Sylvester Burt, Messrs Hopkins, Ezra Kellogg, Ralph Taylor, David Ives, Charles W. Hopkins, Samuel Roberts & Increase Sumner, who can state as to his character for truth & veracity, & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution. - He cannot procure the testimony of any living witness to prove his services. - In 1818. (according to his best recollection) he got the deposition of his Cousin, William Deukham, who deposed to his services in Capt. Lee's company - in the said William being also a member of that company. He sent the deposition to the War Department, where he supposes it now is - Said William is now dead, - and he believes can find no one living who knows of his services.

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
Benajah Denham
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker Judge of Probate
We Sylvester Burt a Clergyman, residing in the town of Great Barrington and Ezra Kellogg residing in Great Barrington hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benajah Denham - who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Eighty 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. - and said Denham is a person of credibility -
Sylvester Burt
Ezra Kellogg
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
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 above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Sylvester Burt who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Great Barrington in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that Ezra Kellogg who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Great Barrington in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
W. P. Walker Judge of Probate
I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Berkshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Benajah Denham for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office of said Court of Probate, this twelfth day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
Henry W. Bishop Register of Probate