Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,905, Benjamin Crooker, Continental Mass. Mass. Sea Service

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental
Crooker, Benjamin
S. 17,905
Mass.
Mass. Sea Service
CONTENTS
carded.

10,385
New Hampshire
Benjamin Brooker of Hebron in the State of N H who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt commanded by Col Cotton in the N H June for 21 Days . Mass Continental Sea Service
Inscribed on the Roll of N H at the rate of 70 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th day of April 1833 and Sister Ada Parker Saffrey Hebron Co N H
Arrears to the 14th of Mar 1833 $ 140 Semi-ant. allowance ending 2 nd  Year  35
$175
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. Merrill Clerk Book 2 Vol. 12 Page 76

6198 Benj Crooker y Mwah 1 year & 9 months M.C.E
508
29 Dec 1832
$70 P 189
Asa Parker Jaffrey Cheshire by MIT

6198
BRIEF in the case of  Benjamin Crooker of Richmond  vs Chester Co  in the State of N.H.  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? —  3. How old is he? 75  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. As a Gen.     19 th Ap l '75 — Jan 17 at end of above term to winter of '76 or '77 — } 20 { — Minute man private think, Capt. Brigham Gen. Col. Cotton Ditto — Col. Bailey   afterwards 3 rd or 11 th year of the war nearly 2 1 or 2 — — private Teamman forgets name of Capt. Brig. Despatch Col. Cotton Capt. Brown  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Harlem Heights, East Chester, White Plains  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Plympton  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? one living Witness  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Right 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. C. Easton Examining Clerk.

Declaration of Benjamin Crocker Richmond No 6198. Chester Co. N.H.

Declaration,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, COUNTY OF CHESHIRE, ss.
On this twenty second day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Hon. Horace Watson Judge of the Court of Probate for said County of Cheshire
now sitting, Benjamin Crocker a resident of Richmond in the county of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire aged 75 years last December 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 7th, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
That previous to the battle of Lexington which was on the 19th of April 1775, he had enrolled his name in a company of minutemen in the town of Plimpton Mass - and immediately after the battle of Lexington he marched to Roxbury - he thinks he was in Capt. John Bridgham's Company in Col. Collins Regiment; was stationed at Roxbury in what was called the Hutchinson house & was there when the battle of Bunker Hill took place. He was one of the first who were sent to Dorchester heights, in the night as he thinks of the 4th of March 1776 - and worked all night on the intrenchments there, which by morning were sufficient to protect the troops from the British shot - that he stayed on the heights till the British evacuated Boston, and was then ordered down to the Castle and arrived there while it was burning, the British having set it on fire - that he served at Roxbury and vicinity of Boston eleven months and then enlisted for one year in said Bridgham's Company in Col. Balies Regiment, and marched from Roxbury to Providence, thence to New London, took shipping and went down Long Island Sound through Hart Gate to New York - was in the vicinity of New York when the Declaration of Independence was read to the army that went over to Long Island to receive our troops about the time that the battle ended; but our troops being beaten, retreated to New York City and thence to Kingsbridge - in the retreat lost all his clothing and baggage - was on Harlem heights when attacked by the British and Steel Thrasher & 3 Irishmen, sons of Capt. Bridgham's Company were killed - after wards retreated to East Chester and was in a skirmish there, and the battle of White Plains soon after, and then retreated up the North River, at Kings ferry as he thinks, to Fish Kill - after wards crossed the river as he thinks at Kings ferry into New Jersey, where in consequence of exposure to severe weather, he was taken sick and returned to said Fishkill or Poughkeepsie he does not recollect which, and was there discharged in the winter of 1776 or 1777 - He is very certain that he served the whole time of this enlistment, which was in the Continental line, and if so it may have commenced after he had served the first eight months, making twenty months in the whole - After wards while the British had possession of New port R.I. he served there one or two months - thinks in Col. Collins Regiment, but has forgotten the name of his Capt, and is not certain in what year - That in the third or fourth year of the war he shipped on board the Brig Dispatch Capt. John Brown then in Boston Harbor bound to Charles Town South Carolina, there to take in a cargo of Rice & indigo and thence to proceed to Bordeaux in France after Munitions of war for the American army - I understand Capt. Brown to say that he had been first Lieutenant of the Boston Frigate Fox - that the government had chartered the Brig Dispatch and that he had letters of Marque and that this Brig was in the service of the United States - he received one month's pay in advance at Boston, went to Charles Town, took in a full cargo and cleared for Bordeaux, but off the western

Island were taken by a British Cruiser and carried into a port in Scotland I was after wards sent in a tender to Plymouth in England & then put on board a 74 gun ship and there compelled to do seaman's duty, though we claimed to be considered as prisoners of war — after being detained a considerable time he escaped to the Isle of Jersey, thence to Vico in Spain and after wards came home in the ship La Vengeance — having been absent nearly two years —
That he has no documentary evidence and knows of no testimony he can procure except what is herewith transmitted —
Was born in Pembroke Mass in the year 1756 — has a record of his age in his Bible and supposes there is one in Pembroke — resided in the town of Plimpton Mass. when called in the service and has lived in said Plimpton and Boston Mass. and Richmond Vt. since the war & now lives in said Richmond — was a volunteer every time except at R. Island where he was a substitute, but does not recollect from whom — recollects no officers or Regts. except as before stated — Don't recollect that he ever recd. a written discharge —
There is no settled clergyman in Richmond but Ben n Russell and Job Bissell live in my neighborhood and can testify as to my character for veracity, & belief of my services in the Revolution
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Benjamin Crooker
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
before me Aaron Watson Judge of Probate
We, Benjamin Russell and Job Bissell both of Richmond aforesaid
hereby certify, that we are acquainted with Benjamin Crooker who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy five 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.
Benjamin Russell Job Bissell
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
before me Aaron Watson Judge of 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 Benjamin Russell and Job Bissell who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the town of Richmond aforesaid and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
Aaron Watson Judge of Probate
I, Asa Parker Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Cheshire do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Crooker for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twenty second day of August A.D. 1832 —
Asa Parker Register of the Court of Probate

Personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the Peace within and for the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, Benjamin Crooker of Richmond in said County 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 men- -tioned below and in the following grades— For one year and eight months I served as a private in Capt John Bridghams Company —
For one month I served as a private in Rhode Island but cannot tell in whose Company, and for such service I claim a pension —
I further state that there is no settled Clergyman in the town of Richmond where I reside — Benjamin Crooker
State of New Hampshire
Cheshire ss February 5 th 1853 —
Then Benjamin Crooker above named personally appeared and made oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is true Before me Theo Parker Justice of Peace

Cheshire Feb 6 1833
I Salma Hale clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for said county certify that Asa Parker is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county and that the foregoing is his signature In testimony whereof I hereunto affix the Seal of said Court S Hale, Clerk

sion on file in this Bureau.
1790
    DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1775 8 mos Pt. John Bridgham Callan Mass.   — 12 mos " John Bridgham Bailiff "   1776 1 mos " in Rhode Island Callan "   1778 or 1779 which varied from 10 to 12 mos was taken by a British cruiser, carried to Plymouth, England where he was compelled to do Seaman's duty on board a 74 gun ship. Escaped to Isle of Jersey thence to Vega Island and then returned home after an absence of nearly 4 years. John Brown Brig Inspector   
Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment,
Date of application for pension,
Residence at date of application,
Age at date of application,
Remarks:

17905 INVALID.
17905 Index to J.B. Corbaker N.L.R.
File No. 17905-
Benjamin Brinker
Bis 1870
Act: James 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. / , Page 83
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Ben a Brooke P. case
Resident of Mark Bishop —

I Doak Bisbee of Richmond in the County of Cheshire & State of New Hampshire aged eighty years. Do testify & say that in the year A.D. 1775 at Roxbury in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts I was acquainted with Benjamin Crocker then of Plymouth M.S. & now of Richmond N.H. and know of his serving in the Massachusetts line in Capt. John Brigham's Com- pany in Col. Cotton's Regiment, for the term of eight months stationed at Roxbury - at the time when S d Crocker was discharged from S d ser- -vice I was present at S d Roxbury & in the service of the United States militia of Massachusetts I further say that the S d Crocker now resides in the town in which I live to wit Richmond N.H. and that I have known him ever since the Revolution that that he has ever been reputed as a Revolutionary war War- rior - I further say that I understood & believe that after the service of S d Crocker as aforesaid, he entered the United States service & served another campaign in the State of New York in the same Capt. Brigham's Company & further saith not
Doak Bisbee
State of New Hampshire
Cheshire S.S.
Subscribed & sworn to this 22 d day of August A.D. 1832 Before me Nathan G. Rabbitt Justice of the Peace.

I certify that according to the best of my information & belief, Rob Bissell aforesaid, is a credible witness — Nathan G. Babbett Las Peñas.
Chihuahua. Aug. 22. 1832
I Salma Hale Clerk of all the Judicial Courts in said county certify that Nathan G. Babbett is a Justice of the peace in and for said county and that the foregoing official signatures are in his own hand writing In testimony whereof I hereunto affix the seal of our Superior Court of Judicature
S. Hale Clerk

6198 Benj. Crooker
Asa Parker Jaffrey Cheshire Co N.H.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Benjamin Crooker 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 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? No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes 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 ?
No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it ?
Yes
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 ?
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 ?
Yes
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office ?
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 ?
Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily ? And, if not, which of them is not so answered ?
Yes
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 the 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 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 authenticated 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 end 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.
Satisfactory evidence must be produced to the show that the late Brig. 'Respectable' was a public named Nepal, or that he was employed by the U.S. as stated. This may be ob- tained together with evidence of the claimants service on board of her from E. D. Bangs. Esq. Secy of the Board of Masts.

The records in the office of E. D. Bangs Secretary of the State of Massachusetts have been searched but nothing can be found relating to the Brig Dispatch. — Mr Crooker states to me that he knows nothing more than he has stated in his declaration. —
A. Parker
Mr Crooker wishes to be put on Massachusetts Agency — All others sent by me on the New Hampshire Roll, unless specially requested. A. Parker

RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by L. D. L.
Claim No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant _____
Soldier Benj. Crooker
Service Mass
Additional Service Rev. War
No _____ claim, State records _____, 190_____
No claim, combination records _____, 190_____
REMARKS:
No claim, except I. # 17905

J. B. CROOKER REAL ESTATE, MORTGAGE LOANS, INSURANCE 513 BANK OF COMMERCE BLDG.
N. W. PHONE NICOLLET 2327
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
Jan 11 th 1909.
Hon Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C. Dear Sir
Can you furnish me the Revolutionary war record of Benjamin Crooker born at Pembroke Mass Dec 6 th 1756? He was the son of Samuel Crooker.
It is claimed that he was a private in Capt John Brighams Co, Col Thomas Cotts Regt in 1775, and appears again in the 14 th Continental Regt Aug 7 th 1779 and was discharged May 7 th 1780
I am seeking his entire Military history and any aid you can render will be highly appreciated.
Very Respectfully Yours J. B. Crooker