Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29705, Benjamin Church, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Church, Benjamin
S. 29705
CONTENTS

21.4.65
Massachusetts
Benjamin Church
Hampden in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain St Gould of the R.D. commanded by Col Jackson in the Mass line for 14 months
Cont. M.C.
79 Hampden
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 50 Dollars 67 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of Sept 1833 and Sept 7. 1833 to Stephen's Benefited Mass
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1833 $141.67 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept 30 - 28.34
$170.01
Revolutionary Claim, for June 7, 1832.
Recorded by N.W. Nelson Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 Page 4

Benjamin Church, Application for a Pension
194988
terms of service
14 months from Dec. 1775 to Feb. 1777
3 months at Providence
8 months on board the letter of marque Maria
Please direct to Francis B. Stebbins Brinsfield Md.
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Hampden ss:
On this fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared Benjamin Church now resident in the Town of Holland in said County aged seventy seven next November. Before Oliver B. Morris Esq. Judge of the Court of Probate within & for said County the same being a Court of Record, & being duly sworn makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th A D 1832 viz:
That in the forepart of the month of December in the year of our Lord 1775 he enlisted under Lieut. Benj m Gould into the Life Guard of Gen. Lee. at Winter Hill near Prospect Hill in the vicinity of Boston for twelve months service, but continued in service fourteen months - as follows - he remained in service at Winter Hill thro' the winter of 75-6 - An Ensign whose name was also Gould, belonged to the same Guard. At the time he enlisted Gen. Lee was at Boston but soon went to the South & West taking twelve of said Guard with him - he was expected to return soon, but did not whilst the Applicant remained there - he with those who remained with him at Winter Hill had charge of the wood - attended to measuring & delivering it out to the army - Gen Washington was there himself - until after Boston was evacuated by the British - & in the early part of the summer of 1778 this Applicant left Winter Hill & marched into Boston where Gen. Ward commanded - he remained there until mid summer when he became so reduced in bodily strength from
14 months

11-2 effects of macy was administered to him in the small boy, that he under the advice of direction of the surgeon he was permitted by his officers to go into the country, where in about six weeks he recovered so as to be able to go to Harlem Heights, 12 miles from the city of New York where he joined the aforesaid Guard which had marched to that place during his absence. - he & they remained at Harlem Heights a short time until they were ordered to retreat to White Plains, where he remained several weeks during which time they had an engagement with the enemy, in which this Applicant took a part, being stationed by a twelve pound Piece where three out of twelve of men stationed by said Piece were killed. The enemy proving too powerful for them he & they retreated to an encampment near by & there threw up fortifications - This Battle was fought in the summer of 1740 General Washington himself was in that Battle - This Applicant remained with the army at said fortifications a few weeks. But they  he with when they crossed the North river at Kings Ferry, there marched to the Delaware river into New Jersey. Where this Applicant was in the battle of Trenton in the winter of 1776-7 in which the American Troops captured between 900 & 1000 Hessians. Gen Washington was himself in this Battle. He remained near Trenton & Philadelphia. so until February 1777 1777 & in the latter part of 3 d February this Applicant was discharged opposite Trenton in Pennsylvania. He remained having served two months beyond the term of his enlistment. He received at this time a. written discharge under the

hand of General Washington, which he has long since lost, tho' he now has none in his pocket the same pocket book in which he long carried it
3 months Afterwards at Fall River or Free town, (known by both names. (Now called Troy) in Massachusetts. That Applicant enlisted as a minute man into the service of the the U.S. He does not remember the name of the enlistment Officer. There was an alarm from expecting the British to land at Rhode Island & he marched with the company of minute men to the Island of Rhode Island & staid there in the service three months. That while there, he was in an engagement with the British in which the Americans were victorious. He was in a Regiment commanded by Col. Jackson & the army was under the command of Gen Sullivan; that he served out the time of three months & was then dismissed & went home. That a year or two afterwards he sailed in a merchants sloop from Dighton in Massachusetts for the West Indies & were captured on the coast of Hispaniola by a squadron of British armed vessels, viz the Ruby 64 guns, the Bristol 50 guns, the Niger of 36 guns & other armed vessels. That he was carried into Port Royal & from thence to Kingston in Jamaica & put into prison with some French Sailors that after about two months, he escaped shipped on board a flag of truce by the request of the British, which was commanded by Capt. McNeal in which he sailed to Port au Prince where he escaped, & soon after, he shipped on board the American armed vessel Maria at Port au Prince which vessel was a letter of Marque. That he sailed from thence in the Maria to Boston. That the Maria waited in Port au Prince about three months for a French convoy & afterwards sailed under convoy to Boston. That he served on board the Maria eight months and was discharged in the Port of Boston; that he was born at Fall River (now called Troy) on the 27th day of Nov. 1756. That when he was

thirteen years old he went to Nantucket & lived there seven years & then returned to Fall River & from thence went into service. That after he returned from service on board the Maria he removed to Newport R.I. & lived there about 20 years & from thence removed to Holland where he lived about 20 years & then returned to Fall River or Troy & lived about five years & then returned to Holland where he now lives. That he herewith transmits the depositions of Joseph Stillwell, Samuel Reed & Col. Joseph Durfee to prove his service but that he is unable prove his service on board the Maria. That he does not know of any record of age take in existence He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any State
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Benjamin Church mark
We Washington Munger a clergyman residing in the town of Holland & Willard Weld residing in said Holland do hereby certify that we are acquainted with Benjamin Church who has subscribed the foregoing declaration, & made oath thereto. That we believe him to be of the age of seventy seven years - That he is reputed in the neighborhood where he lives to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Washington Munger Willard Weld
And the said court, after investigating the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department do hereby declare their opinion that the above-named Benjamin Church was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states - And the court further certifies that Washington Munger who has subscribed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in said Holland and that Willard Weld who has subscribed the same certificate also resides in said Holland & is a creditable person & that their statement is entitled to credit
I Justin Willard Register of said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the

who has subscribed the unrecording certificate is a Clergyman residing in said Holland and that William Wild who has subscribed the same certificate also resides in said Holland & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit
I Justin Willard Register of said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the Application of Benjamin Church for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said court this fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Justin Willard Register of Probate

19498  \swarrow
Benjamin Church
Plate 17 Munks
of W. May
R
16.
June 7. 1833
P. 413
56.64 113.54 28.03 141.67
By Frances B. Stebbins Brimfield Mass.

BRIEF in the case of  Benjamin Church  County of Hampden  in the State of  Massachusetts -  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? seventy seven 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 1775. 1 — 2 As a Gen. Lee & Washington   Entered The American war 3 Gen. Sullivan   Vessel Marine 8 — Col. Jackson  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Trenton  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Hampden  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses & traditionary evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Improperly attached — 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
John L. Watson Examining Clerk.
2 March —

June 28, 1922
Mr. A. F. Blodgett R.F.D. # 2 Southbridge, Massachusetts
Sir:
In reply to your letter of the 19th ultimo, you are advised that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 29705 it appears that Benjamin Church was born November 27, 1756 at Fall River, Massachusetts and in December 1775 he enlisted under Lieutenant Benjamin Gould in General Lee's Life Guard and served until the Spring of 1776. He next served in General Artemas Ward's Life Guard until August 1776, when he went to Fort Washington, New York in Captain Burbank's Company of Artillery where he remained until October 1776, from which date until January 1777 he served in General Washington's Life Guard. Was in the battle of White Plains and at the taking of the Hessians at Trenton. In 1778 he served three months in Captain Joseph Durfee's Company and was in the battle of Rhode Island. A year or two afterwards he sailed in a merchant sloop from Dighton, Massachusetts and was captured off Hispaniola by a British Squadron and carried to Kingston, Jamaica where he was imprisoned for two

months and then shipped to Port au Prince where he escaped and shipped on board the American armed vessel "Maria" a letter of Marque, served eight months and was discharged at Boston.
He was allowed pension upon his application executed October 4, 1832 while a resident of Holland, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
For the date of death of Benjamin Church you should apply to the Pension Section, Interior Department Division, General Accounting Office, 1800 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. citing all of the following data: "Benjamin Church, Certificate 21465, issued September 21, 1833, rate $ 56.67 per annum, commenced on March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832 Massachusetts Agency.
There is no family data whatever on file.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Rev.&1812 Wars Section. ADY
March 5, 1930.
Mrs. Joseph A. Fagan, Shorewood Hills, Madison, Wisconsin.
Dear Madam:
I advise you that in order to obtain the date of last payment of pension of Benjamin Church , Massachusetts Troops, War of the Revolution ( S.29705 ), the name of person paid and possibly the date of his death, you should apply to the Records Division, General Accounting Office, Washington, D. C., citing all of the following data:
"Benjamin Church, Certificate No.21465, issued September 21, 1833, rate $56.67 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Massachusetts Agency".
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH, Commissioner.

Rev. War Section.
December 11, 1916.
Mrs. H. E. Shaw, c/oCharles Nutt, #7 Monroe Avenue, Worcester, Mass.
Madam:
In response to the request of Mr. Nutt, dated the twenty-first ultimo, you are advised that from the papers on file
in the claim of Benjamin Church Sur. File No. 29,705 Rev. War. It appears that he was born Nov 27, 1756 at Fall River and show that he was allowed pension on his application executed
October 4, 1832, while a resident of Holland, Hampden County
Massachusetts.
It is stated that at Winter Hill near Boston, in the fore part of December, 1775, he enlisted under Lieutenant Benjamin Gould, in General Lee's Life Guard and served until the Spring of 1776, when he was removed to Boston  He moved and served in General Artemas Ward's Life Guard until August, 1776, when he went to Fort Washington, New York, in Captain Burbank's company of Artillery; where he remained until October 1776, from which time he served in General Washington's Life Guard until January, 1777; he was in the battle of White Plains where he was stationed by a twelve-pound piece, and at the taking of the Hessians at Trenton.
Witness: detaches accepted.

Capt. Durfee was in Col. Whitney's regt. therefore Col. Jackson is omitted. *
In 1778, he served in Captain Joseph Durfee's company, in General Sullivan's expedition to Rhode Island where he was in the battle of Rhode Island, and served three months.
A year or two afterwards he sailed in a merchant sloop from Dighton, Massachusetts, and was captured off Hispaniola by a British Squadron, and carried to Kingston, Jamaica, where he was imprisoned for two months, and then shipped to Port au Prince where he escaped and shipped on board the American arm- ed vessel "MARIA" a letter of Marque, served eight months and was discharged at Boston.
Benjamin Church was born November 27, 1756, at Fall River, Massachusetts; when thirteen years of age he removed to Nantucket, Mass., for seven years, then back to Fall River: after service on the "MARIA", he lived in Newport, Rhode Island twenty years, then Holland, Mass. twenty years, Fall River five years, and thence to Holland again.
There is no family data whatever on file.,
Very respectfully,
For the date of death
G. M. [unintelligible]
Commissioner.

ISLER-TOMPSETT LITHOGRAPHING COMPANY
DESIGNERS OF COMMERCIAL STATIONERY
2940 BENTON STREET SAINT LOUIS MISSOURI
Mrs. JOSEPH A. FAGAN WISCONSIN STATE MANAGER
TELEPHONE BADGER 7894 SHOREWOOD HILLS MADISON, WISCONSIN
Commissioner of Pensions, Revolutionary War Dept., Washington, D. C.
Dear Sirs:
IN RE. Benjamin Church
Will you kindly look through your Pension records and advise me if you have any death date given for Benjamin Church of Massachusetts, who enlisted at Cambridge, Mass, January 1, 1776; discharged at Morristown, N. J., February 10, 1777, was a member of Vommander and Chiefs Guard 1776, commanded by Caleb Gibbs. Benjamin Church also served in The Battle of Trenton, N. J. 1776.
Thanking you in advance for your information,
Very truly,
(Mrs) Helen Church Fagan
HCF.
M. J. ISLER, PRESIDENT A. W. SCHEPP, VICE PRESIDENT J. M. TOMPSETT, TREASURER P. M. GROENINGER, SECRETARY M. A. RUDLOFF, DIRECTOR

Rev M
Holland, Mass. May 19 th 1922
Commissions of Pensions Interior Dept. Washington D.C.
Dear Sir,
I am desirous of obtaining all information possible regarding Benjamin Church's service in the Revolutionary war. He was placed on the pension Roll Sept. 20 th 1833 at the age of 79. Mean while he had died and the pension was withdrawn.
We are endeavoring to erect a monument to his memory. All the facts as to his service will be need appreciated. If any officers are giving the facts I shall be glad to receive.
Yours A. H. Root our

P.S.
Mr. Walter H. Matthais of Dodson, advised me to write you. Mr. Matthais is Genealogist General of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
A.T.B.

Rev.-1 6B26.
Charles Nutt 7 Monroe Ave. Worcester, Mass.
GENEALOGIST
Member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society; the American Historical Asso- ciation; the Worcester Society of Antiquity
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Mrs. H. E. Shaw of this city wishes the abstract of the pension record of Benjamin Church, her ancestor, a soldier in the Revolution. He was born in Rhode Island, Nov. 27, 1756, died at Holland, Mass. in 1833. Very truly yours, Nov. 21, 1916.
Charles Nutt and send to Mrs. Shaw c/o C. Nutt

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER,
ON. Inv. file 29705 190____ No. Claim, _____
Cert. No.
Claimant,
Claimant, Soldier, Benjamin Church
Co. Rev Reg't War
ACTION AND ORDER:
Papier M
Commissioner.

Bureau of Pensions, OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER,
_____, 190__
O.W. Inv. File 29705 No. Claim, _____
Cert. No. _____
Claimant, _____
Soldier, _____
Benjamin Church Co. Rhode Island Line War of the Revolution
ACTION AND ORDER:
Papus M
  To Clf. _____  Div. _____    Action _____     SE 21 '908 COMMISSIONER.  
FILE WITH CASE
_____ Commissioner.

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER, ANSWERED, 190.....
FILE WITH CASE
26705

Address all Communications to the Society.
PRESIDENT, CLARENCE WINTHROP BOWEN. SECRETARY, HENRY RUSSELL DROWNE. TREASURER, HOPPER STRIKER MOTT. LIBRARIAN, JOHN R. TOTTEN.
PUBLISHERS OF THE NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Quarterly, $3.00 Per Annum.
The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society,
226 WEST 58TH STREET, N. Y.
Telephone, 2269 Columbus.
NEW YORK Replevin 19 th 1908
Chief of Staff, Pension Bureau, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
FILE WITH CASE!
I enclose #1, for which please send me copies of all pension applica- tions or records concerning Benjamin Church of Rhode Island, in the Revo- lutionary War.
If the amount is not sufficient, please send bill with the report and I will remit at once. It is possible that Benjamin's widow Elizabeth drew the pension.
An early reply will be esteemed a very great favor.
Yours very Truly, Florence E. Young, Assistant Librarian

29 705 Rev INVALID.
File No. 29,705
Benjamin Church Rev Mr
Act: June 7 n 32 n
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 70
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Seph 22. 1908 Miss Florence Youngs copy of application of Rev Senior M 1916 Dec. 11, Hist to Mrs. H. E. Shaw 1922 June 28. Hist and reference to General Ac- counting Office for date of death to Mr. N. F. Blood gett. MMD 1930 Mar. 5. Mrs. Joseph A. Fagan adv. how to obtain date of death. A.R.Y.

Joseph Stillwell's Deposition

I Joseph Stillwell of Tiverton in the county of Newport and state of Rhode Island, a man of lawful age do testify and say that, that sometime in the month of December in the year of our Lord, seventeen hundred and seventy five, Benjamin Church of Troy in the county of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, enlisted in the service of his country. The said Church was stationed between Winter hill and Prospect hill near Cambridge in Massachusetts, in General Charles Lee's life guard, where he remained until the spring of seventeen hundred and seventy six; when he was removed to Boston Massachusetts, where he served in the garrison in General Artemas Ward's life guard until August seventeen hundred & seventy six. In the month of August seventeen hundred & seventy six, the said Benjamin Church was stationed at Fort Washington on York Island in the state of New York, under the command of Capt. Burbanks, where he continued in the continental service, so called, until some time in the month of October of the same year —
In the month of October seventeen hundred & seventy six, the said Benjamin Church was stationed in General George Washington's life guard, where he continued a faithful soldier in the service of his country, until sometime in the month of January in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred & seventy seven —
I further testify and say that the said Benjamin Church is aged and very infirm — And further the deponent saith not — Joseph Stillwell Bristol fs. September 24 th 1829 — Personally appeared

The above named Joseph Stillwell and made oath that the foregoing statement by him made and subscribed is just and true
Before me James Hand Justice of the peace
I hereby certify that the above named Joseph Stillwell, who is deceased since the foregoing deposition was taken was at the time of taking said deposition and at all other times during his life a credible person James Hand Justice of the Peace

Samuel Reed's Deposition

I Samuel Head of Troy in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Pensioner of lawful age do testify and say that, in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and seventy five, in the month of December, Benjamin Church, now of Troy in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, joined the service of his Country, in the Continental war (so called). The said Benjamin Church, with me the R. deponent, & others, were stationed near Cambridge, Massachusetts, be- tween Winter hill and Prospect hill, in General Lee's life guard, in the month of December 1775, and continued to serve there until the spring following - Said life guard was commanded by Ensign Benjamin Gould. In the spring of the year 1776, when the British evac- uated Boston, the said Benjamin Church, with myself and others were ordered into the garrison in Boston, where the said Benjamin Church served in General Artemas Ward's life guard, until sometime in the latter part of August in the year of our Lord seventeen hun- dred and seventy six - In the month of August 1776, the said Benjamin Church, with me, the deponent, & others, were ordered to march, and did march from Boston to New-york, with a company of Artillery in the Continental service, under the command of Capt. Burbank - The said Benjamin Church, with me the deponent, and others, were stationed at Fort Washington, on York Island, in the state of New-york and there served under the command of the said Capt. Burbank from the latter part of August 1776 until sometime in the month of October of the same year.

From sometime in the month of October in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred & seventy six, until sometime in the month of January in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred seventy seven, the said Benjamin Church, with me the deponent, & others, served in the life guard of General George Washington - making in all something more than twelve months, which the said Benjamin Church, served his country, in the continental service (so called) - During all which time the said Church was a faithful and gallant soldier -
The said deponent further testifies and says that the said Benjamin Church is aged and very infirm -
And furthermore the deponent saith not -
Bristol ss -
Samuel Reed
September 24 th 1829 - Personally appeared the above named Samuel Reed, and made oath that the foregoing statement by him made and subscribed is just and true Before me James Farnel Justice of the peace
I hereby certify that the above named Samuel Reed, who was deceased since the foregoing deposition was taken, was at the time of taking said deposition and at all other times during his life a credible person
James Farnel Justice of the peace

These Depositions were sent to Bristol County to certify by the Justice & duly authenticated & were returned annexed as I now transmit them. It is easy to discover that the certificates of the oaths to the several Depositions are all signed by the same hand
Joseph Dinsfield Deposition
J. B. Stubbs Atty for Church
1432 77 5

I, Joseph Durfee of Troy in the County of Bristol and state of Massachusetts of lawful age to give evidence do testify and say that I was born and brought in the same town with Benjamin Church of Holland in the County of Hampden and state of Massachusetts aforesaid, that I have been well acquainted with said Church for more than seventy years past, that I knew him to be a soldier in the Revolutionary War, that he was stationed at Boston in the state of Massachusetts in the year seventy five seventeen hundred and continued there doing duty as a soldier about nine months in General Artemas Ward's life guard. & in Gen. Lee's. that the said Church was ordered from Boston to York Island in the state of New York — that he was afterwards, to the best of my recollection he was stationed at Philadelphia — that he was for some time in General George Washington's life guard — that he was some time in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight in the company commanded by me stationed at Hall River in Massachusetts aforesaid — that he was engaged in Sullivan's expedition on Rhode Island — that during a considerable part of the time, the said Church was in the Continental service — but how long he was in that service I am not able to recollect — that when he was doing duty in the company commanded by me and when he was in Sullivan's Expedition, he was in the Massachusetts State service — How long he was in the state service I am unable to say positively, but from the best of my recollection it was from six to ten months —
And further the deponent saith not —
Joseph Durfee
Bristol ss. October 3 d 1832. Personally appeared the above named Joseph Durfee, and made oath that the foregoing statement by him made and subscribed is just and true
Before me James Lord Justice of the Peace I hereby certify the above named Joseph Durfee who subscribed and made oath to the foregoing deposition before me, is a credible person — James Lord Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss. I James Spratt, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that James Ford Esq., whose signature is affixed to the within & annexed certificate, is a Justice of the peace in & for said County of Bristol, and duly qualified to administer oaths.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court, this first day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty.
James Spratt