Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22165, Benjamin Chesnut, Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn.
Chesnut, Benjamin S. 22165
CONTENTS

11.482  Pittsburgh Agency
Benjamin Chesnut
of Washington Co. in the State of Pennsylvania who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain McConnell of the Regt commanded by Col Watt in the Pennsylvania Key Stone Battery
6 Mos Private - $20.00
Inscribed on the Roll of - Pennsylvanians at the rate of 20 Dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of May and Sept 6 th - 1833 Hon. T. M. T. McKim, Washington
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 - 40.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept " 10
$ 50.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by D. P. Sprague Clerk Book 8 Vol. 3 Page 143
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 16 th April 1838 from 4 March 1838 to 4 Sept 1838 Age notified 19. July 1839.
Letter to P Auditor 26 Oct 1841
Paid as above from 4 March 1839 to 4 Sept 1840. Age notified 11 th Nov. 1841.
Paid as above from 4 th Sept 1840 to the 4 th March 1841. Agent notified Sept 22 nd 1842
Date of death not known AB

Declaration of Benjamin Chesnut

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
Pennsylvania, Washington County Pa.
On this 2 nd day of March 1833, personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, now sitting Benjamin Shernut, a resident of Robinson township, Washington County, Pa., aged seventy three years who being first duly sworn according to law, clothed, on his oath makes 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, under the following named officers, & served as herein stated.
In the month of July in the year 1776, I volunteered under Capt n James McConnell, & Lieut ant Abell McBlane, with a number of others, & marched from Franklin County Pennsylvania on to Fort Lee, on the Hudson river above the City of New York. After we arrived at the place we were formed into a brigade under Col l M c Clintock, & Gen l Beane. Immediately after our formation, we commenced building the Fort at this place, & were so employed about a month or six weeks. After its completion, we were compelled, by the British army, to give up the possession of the Fort, & retreated across the Jerseys to Trenton New Jersey, & then moved over into the State of Pennsylvania. We were encamped here opposite the town about three weeks, & the whole army with the exception of our brigade proceeded up the river & moved over & took the Womack early next morning. Our brigade was to move over also, & take possession of a bridge with a view to intercept the march of the enemy, but were prevented from moving in consequence of the ice, until the second day when we all met again in the Town of Trenton. We remained here until New Years day in the year 1777, & were then discharged after serving the full term of six months. I have no witness to prove my service, except Sarah Ferguson, who is now frail & advanced in age, & entirely unable to appear in Court, I have no documentary testimony whatever.
I was born in the year 1759, in Dauphin County Pennsylvania, as appears by a record in my father's family bible. When I entered the service I lived in Franklin Co l Pa., & have lived in Washington

County Pa. since the year 1794. I volunteered. I am not able to state the names of any more regular officers, than what I have already stated. I received a written discharge from Captain McConnel but have lost it many years since. I am well known by the Revd Boyd Mercer, William Will, & Samuel Will who can testify to my character for veracity, & who believe that I was a soldier of the revolution. I do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, & declare that my name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any state.
Benjamin his Chesnut mark
Second & Subscribed
The day & year aforesaid
Thos. Officer Pro
We Boyd Mercer a clergyman of East Bethlehem & William Will of Somerset Township — — — do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Chesnut, of Robinson Township, W. C., who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be about seventy three years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion
Boyd Mercer
Second subscribed the day & year aforesaid,
W m Will
Thomas Officer Pro
Now 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. Now the Court, further certifies that it appears to them, that Boyd Mercer, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in East Bethlehem Township, and that William Will, who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident of Somerset Township Washington County, and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I Thomas Officer Clerk of the County of Common Pleas, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings, of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Benjamin Chesnut for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 26 day of March 1833. Thomas Officer Pro.
W. H. [unclear]
[unclear signature]

August 4, 1937
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-5/ERL
Benjamin Chesnut-S.22165
Mr. Edward McKee Golden 1669 New Haven Avenue Dormont, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Benjamin Chesnut, who served in the Pennsylvania troops and received pension in 1833, while living in Washington County, Pennsylvania.
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim S.22165, based upon the military service in the Revolutionary War of Benjamin Chesnut.
Benjamin Chesnut was born in 1759, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The names of his parents are not shown.
While residing in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, Benjamin Chesnut volunteered in July, 1776, served as a private in Captain James McConnell's Company, Colonel Watts' Pennsylvania Regiment of the Flying Camp, marched to Fort Lee on the Hudson River, above New York City, assisted in building a fort at that place, was compelled to evacuate the fort, retreated across New Jersey to Trenton, then crossed over into the state of Pennsylvania and was encamped "opposite the town" for about three weeks and was discharged January 1, 1777. He stated that at the time of the capture of the Hessians, his brigade was ordered to cross over and take possession of a bridge "with a view to intercept the march of the enemy but were prevented from crossing in consequence of the ice; until the second day when we all met again in the town of Trenton." The length of his service was six months.
Could not identify this captain
He was allowed pension on his application executed March 26, 1833, while residing in Robinson Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, where he had resided since 1797.
There are no data as to soldier's family.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Benjamin Chestnut(S.22165), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Benjamin Chestnut Certificate No.11482 Issued May 10, 1833 Rate $20 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1833 Pennsylvania(Pittsburgh) Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. MILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

Pennsylvania Society National Shrines of the American Revolution
FOUNDED 1775
PITTSBURGH, PA. July 21, 1937.
E. M. GOLDEN, PRES. ELMER G. THUMM, SEC. THOS. ECKLES, TREAS. MRS. JAS. P. CASPER, REGISTRAR C. HALE. SIPE, LITT. D. CHANCELLOR
VICE PRESIDENTS
KENNETH McKEE HAGAN, CEREMONIAL THOS. J. RAGUERE, ARCHITECT R. S. GOLDEN, DECORATOR JOHN R. HAUDENSHIELD, COLORS JOHN S. DRAKE, FINANCIAL G. M. PHILIPS, PUBLICATIONS JAS. PARKS HUTCHESON, EDUCATIONAL W. H. CHERRY, RESEARCH
Hon. A.D. Hiller,
Executive Assistant,
Veterans Administration,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir,
We are grateful for the information you have sent. Would be pleased to have data from Pension Papers of Benjamin Chestnut of the Pennsylvania Militia. The latter was pensioned on May II, 1833 aged then 74. Resident then of Washington Co., Pennsylvania.
Thanking you for the above information necessary to properly mark this Veteran's Shrine, we are,
Patriotically Yours,
Pennsylvania Society, N.S.A.R.,
Edward M c Gu Golden.
President.
P.S. Please address me at 1669-New Haven Ave., Dormont, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Revolution
22 165 INVALID.
File No. 22,165
Benjamin Chesnut Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 68
[Arrangement of 1870.]

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
September 7 th , 1842.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, Benjamin Chesnut, _____ a Pensioner on the Roll of the Pittsburgh, Pa. _____ Agency, at the rate of Twenty Dollars and _____ Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1840, to the 4 th March 1841.  Respectfully, yours,
Edward B. Bates Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
October 30 th , 1841.
Sir :
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Benjamin Chesnut — a Pensioner on the Roll of the Pittsburgh, Pa. Agency, at the rate of Twenty Dollars and  Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March 1839, to the 4 th Sept. 1840.
Respectfully yours,
Almon S. Parris
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
July 3 d , 1839.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Benjamin Chesnut, ————— a Pensioner on the Roll of the Pittsburgh, Pa., Agency, at the rate of Twenty — Dollars and ————— Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March 1838, to the 4 th Sept. 1838.
Respectfully, yours,
William B. Passmore Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

W. D. Miller 6 mos $20.00
Hon. J. M. T. McKean Washington Pa
Hon. J. M. T. McKean for FREE
J. L. Edwards Esq. Pension Office Washington City D.C.

Dr Sir,
Enclosed you will receive the declaration of Navy: Chestnut to support his claim for a pension, & which I beg leave to call the early attention of the Department -
Yours very resp y
J. L. Edwards Esq r
Th. M. T. McKean  Apl. 6. 1833

Washington county Pa
Personally appeared before James Gordon a justice of the peace in and for said county Sarah Ferguson who after being sworn as law directs saith that she resided in Franklin county Pa in the year seventeen hundred & seventy six or seventy seven and that one of said years her Brother Robert Leget went a six months tour in what was called The flying camp Deponent states that Benj Chestnut of the same county and neighbourhood was as she believes and has often heard in the neighbourhood out in the said company and said time with her brother Deponent further states that the Benj Chestnut aboven spoken of is the same who now resides in Washington County Pa
her
Sarah Ferguson mark
Sworn and subscribed before me this 10 th January AD 1833
Gordon
I John Hamilton one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Washington do hereby certify that Sarah Ferguson, who has subscribed & sworn to the above deposition, is a credible witness & a person of good moral character
Jno Hamilton ASO Judge
April 4, 1833.
Washington County, ss The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I Thomas Officer, Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas of said county, do hereby certify that James Gordon Esq before whom the foregoing Affidavit was made, was at the time and now is a justice of the peace in and for said county duly commissioned, and that full faith and credit

credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts, and also John that the foregoing signature is his own hand writing in his own name, and that John Hamilton Esq., is an associate Judge of the court of Common Pleas of said county, and the name to the foregoing certificate was placed there by him- self in my presence. Given under my hand and Seal of office at Washington the 4 th day of April A.D. 1833
Thomas Officer Pro

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Chesnut, Robert GRADE Private LINE Hazen's Regiment
WARRANT NUMBER 12906 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED July 13, 1792 to Robert Ross, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.