Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 16908, Benjamin Cleaveland, Continental (R.I.) Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (R.I.) Mass.
Cleveland, Benjamin Sarah
W 16908
CONTENTS

Dead - see letter to Barak
Niles, July 17, 1837
1837 March 1. E.C. Beardsey with history - Pnst
855 New York, (Albany)
Sarah Cleveland
widow of Benjamin Cleveland She died Feb'y 22, 1837 who died on the January August 1803 of Scotland Co. in the State of New York who was a bombardier in the Comp y commanded by Captain Tilton of the reg t commanded by Col. Crane in the Mass s line for the war.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York (Hb s ) at the rate of 108 Dollars - Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of May 1837 and sent to Barak Niles Esq r Cincinnati.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1837 $648. - Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. '37 54. -
$702. -
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 }
Recorded by J. Allison Clerk, Book Vol. 1 Page 128

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the Act of Congress of the 4 th of July, 1836-
State of New York County of Cortland Ss. On this Tenth day of January, 1837, personally appeared before the subscriber, one of the Judges of the County Court, in & for said county of Cortland, Sarah Cleaveland , a resident of the town of Cincinnati in said county of Cortland and State of New York, aged Eighty-one 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 4 th 1836:
That she is the Widow of Benjamin Cleaveland who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War; and that he rendered the services therein as hereinafter related, as near as she can state the same, as informed by her said husband in his lifetime, and others, and which she believes to be true. That is to say:-
That he was born in the State of Rhode Island, and resided there until, as she thinks in the spring of the year, 1775, when he enlisted for the term of one year in the service of the Massachusetts Troops. She cannot recollect under what Captain, or in what Regiment he served that year - but he served under Gen. Warren - and was in the battle of Bunker Hill - was there wounded in the head and had a leg broken - and was afterwards confined in the Hospital.
That for this service this deponent has lately received a Patent for two hundred acres of land, now in the State of Maine, from the State of Massachusetts -
That after the expiration of said year, her said husband again enlisted into the service of the United States, she thinks in the spring, but cannot tell the month, of the year, 1776, into Captain Lilley's Company of Artillery for the term of three years or during the War - That he continued to serve in said Company under Captain Lilley for three years - A part of the said three years he served as a Waterer to his said Captain, and a part of the time did duty as a soldier -

He belonged to Col. Crane's Regiment of Artillery - Was attached to the Northern Army under Gen. Gates - He was at Ticonderoga - she received letters from him while there - He was in the battle at the taking of Gen. Burgoyne - After that followed the route & destination of said Army to the South - While at the South was in Capt. Lilley's Company, and Col. Crane's Regiment as she thinks until Capt. Lilley returned to the North at the end of three years - This regiment went to Boston to see Capt. Lilley on his return from the South, & inquire about her said husband - Capt. Lilley told her that he tried very hard to get him discharged that he might come home with him - but could not, as he had enlisted for three years or during the War - and he was held under the latter clause -
After Captain Lilley left, her said husband was in the Company of Captain Winslow - or rather he commanded the Company - She never heard him speak of being under any other Captain but those two - He remained at the South with the Army until he was discharged in 1783, except that he came home a few times on furlough - He was discharged with the Army by Gen. Washington -
He was in the battles of the Cowpens - and the Storming of Stony Point -
That when her said husband entered the said service under both enlistments as aforesaid, he resided at Kingston, with his father, in the State of Rhode Island -
She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Cleveland, on the thirteenth day of April, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight, at Weston, in the State of Massachusetts - That her maiden name was Her marriage took place when he was at home  on a furlough Sarah Stratton - That after her said marriage she continued to reside at said town of Weston, until her husband was discharged from the War - and then continued to reside there for about four years afterwards - That the following are the names and births

of their children - Their first born, John Winslow Cleveland , was born at said Weston Nov. 6. 1779 - Patty Cleveland , their second child was born at said Weston, Oct. 22. 1781 - Benjamin Cleveland , their third child, born at said Weston, Sept. 21. 1783 - Sally Cleveland , born at said Weston July 1. 1785 -
They thereafter removed from Weston to Clare- mont in the State of New Hampshire, where Patty Cleveland , their daughter was born, July 7. 1787 - Also, Hannah Cleveland their daughter, was born at said Claremont March 20 th 1790 - And they thereafter removed to Germar in the county of Chenango in the State of New York, where Polly Cleveland , their youngest child was born, July 28. 1795 -
The said Hannah , and Polly , now reside in the town of Solon in the county of Cortland and State of New York - and were both under 16 years of age at the time of their father's death -
That her husband, the aforesaid Benjamin Cleveland , left home, being at Germar aforesaid, in January 1803, for the State of Rhode Island, on business, where he remained until sometime in August following, when he started for home and came by water to New York, and from thence to Coeyman's Landing in the county of Albany, where he died in said month of August, 1803; of the Yellow Fever, which he had taken at New York on his said return, as she was soon thereafter informed and believes to be true.

The day of the month that he died she does not recollect, owing to her age and infirmity - She now has no documentary evidence in her possession to support her claim - She did have in her possession, the discharge given to her said husband, for many years - she kept it very close till about the year 1818, in a chest with other papers, at her son Benjamin Cleveland's in the town of Cincinnati aforesaid, with whom she then resided - but going to visit her other children, for several days absence, at her return she learnt that said discharge and several other papers were destroyed, as she was informed, by her grand-children, to her great sorrow - and that she has remained a widow ever since the period of her said husband's decease, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed -
Sworn to, and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before me - And I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said deponent and have been ever since the death of her said husband, and that she is a person of credibility and truth - and I well know that she has never been married since the death of her said husband - I also certify that the said deponent cannot from bodily infirmity attend the Court - And the reason of her signing the foregoing by making her mark is inability to write through age and bodily infirmity -
her Sarah H Cleveland mark
Oliver Kingman Judge of Cottana County Court

State of New York
Cortland County - 3 ds . John M c Whorter, John King-
man & Reuben Fish of Cincinnati, in said county personally appeared before me, and being duly sworn, do severally say, under their said oath, that they were severally well acquainted with Benjamin Cleveland , in his lifetime - That he resided in the town of German, in the county of Chenango, and State of New York, in about the year, 1803, and had for several years previous to said year - That from frequent conversations with him in his lifetime they fully believe he was a soldier in the Revolutionary War - That they have uniformly so believed and understood - That they also have uniformly understood & believed that the said Benjamin Cleveland went from said town of German, about the year, 1803, for the State of Rhode Island, and that he never afterwards returned home, but died on his said return at some place on the North River, - That they have been well acquainted with his Widow Sarah Cleveland , ever since, and well know she has never since her said husband's death been married, but has remained his widow, and does so now - and further say not -
John M c Whorter Reuben Fish John Kingman
Subscribed and sworn to by the said John M c Whorter, Reuben Fish and John Kingman this first day of February, 1837, before me - And I also certify that I am well acquainted with said deponents and that they are persons of truth and credibility - Sarah Miles Justice of the peace

State of New York Cortland County Clerk's Office p. I Owen Stimson Clerk of said County do hereby certify that Oliver Stimson Esq before whom the affidavit of Sarah Cleveland purports to have been taken was at the date of the same a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County qualified & sworn & duly authorized to take the same & also Baraboo Miles Esq before whom the affidavit subscribed by John McWhorter, Reuben Fisk & John Stimson purports to have been taken was at the date of the same a justice of the Peace in and for said County duly qualified & sworn & further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Judge & Justice & verily believe their signatures to such proofs & acknowledgments to be genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said County this 3 rd day of February A.D. 1837
Owen Stimson Clerk

Cincinnati, Cat. Co. N. York, July 10 th 1887
Hon. J. L. Edwards,
Dear Sir,
I have very respectfully to state that Mrs. Sarah Cleveland of this place, to whom a pension certificate was issued on the 15 th May last, died on the 22 nd of Feb. preceding.
She has left 4 daughters, who have husbands, residing near, who are her heirs at law. As I have not the information, you will confer a favor by advising me whether her Pension, to her decease, belongs to her said daughters, or to her administrator.
If the administrator may apply, it will be most convenient.
Also. If not improper, please advise me whether in a case where an application is made, and the applicant afterwards dies, does her claim survive - and may additional evi. be forwarded to substantiate the claim? -
By giving such information you will much oblige all concerned. And be assured I should not trespass on your time did I not feel that necessity required it.
I am most Respectfully
Your Oblt Servt
Sarah Niles

I, Benjamin James of Weston, in the County of Middlesex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Physician, of lawful age, do testify and say, that I am the Town-clerk of the said town of Weston, having been duly chosen & sworn according to Law; and have the care, custody and keeping of the Records, files and papers belonging to said town from the time said town was incorporated to the present time; and that the following is a true and correct copy of the Records of said town of Weston, to wit: 1778. April 13 th Benj a Cleave land and Sarah Stratton of Weston, were joined in marriage by the Rev d Samuel Woodward Minister of the Gospel in Weston.
And further I say not.
Benjamin James.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Middlesex
On the nineteenth day of January A.D. 1837 personally appeared Benjamin James to me known as Clerk of the Town of Weston and as a disinterested and credible person and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me John Hobbs Just t of the Peace
Middlesex ss. Commonwealth of Massachusetts I Isaac Dike Minister of the Court of Probate for the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of said hereby certify that Ebenezer Hobbs Esq r is a justice of the Peace within & for said County of Middlesex duly commissioned & qualified & that his signature above written is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court of Probate this nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty seven. Isaac Dike Esq r

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
October 26, 1923.
Helen M. Chapin, 343 N. Main St., Wellsville, N. Y.
Madam;
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 16908, it appears that Benjamin Cleaveland was born in Rhode Island, and while residing in Tiverton, Rhode Island, enlisted in the spring of 1775 (no officers stated) and was in the battle of Bunker Hill, where he was wounded in the head or hand, had his leg broken and was taken to a hospital.
In the spring of 1776, he enlisted and served in Captains Lilley's and Winslow's Companies in Colonel Crane's Artillery Regiment, was in the battles of Saratoga, Stony Point and Cowpens, and was discharged in 1783. He died in August 1803.
Soldier married, while on furlough, at Weston, Massachusetts, April 13, 1778, Sarah Stratton, she

was allowed pension on her application executed January 10, 1837, while a resident of Cincinnatus, Cortland County, New York, aged eighty one years. She died February 22, 1837, leaving four married daughters, names not stated.
Only children named in claim-
John Winslow born November 26, 1779. Betsey " October 22, 1781. Benjamin " September 21, 1783. Sally " July 1, 1785. Patty " July 7, 1787. Hannah " March 20, 1790. Polly " July 28, 1795.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Chenango Co NY March 16 1868
Oxford Feb 18 th / 87
Hon. John P. Black Commissioner of pensions Dear Sir
I wish to procure a copy of the discharge of Benjamin Cleveland a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The papers were sent to Washington about the year 1836 or 1837. I wish the papers to perfect the genealogy of the Cleveland family.
Yours Truly
O. R. Beardsley Oxford
Chenango Co N.Y.

1280 Sarah Cleveland
admitted 2 yrs bonding. $108
on roll.

Benjamin Cleveland
He was married April 18 1778 at Weston to Sarah Stratton by Rev Samuel Woodward
He having died before the passage of any law for service in the war of the Revs the only statement on file of his service was made by his widow Sarah when she applied for a pension in Jany 1837 at which date she was residing in Cincinnati, Portland Co NY aged 81 years
She stated that her husband was born (no date given) in Rhode Island where his father was living at the commencement of the war & enlisted at Westerly R.I. with his father in 1775 for the term of one year in the troops of Majt - The Capt nor Com d of the Regt she could not recollect & was in the battle of Bunker Hill (June 17 1775) at which time he was wounded in the head (or hand being not well written) & had his leg broken which injuries confined him in the hospital - For this service he rec d 200 acres of land from the State to be located in Illinois
(Red Ind) The army that was organized for the Siege of Boston were generally volunteers after most of April or early in May from the large number of men gathered at Boston on the alarm caused by the march of the British forces towards Lexington April 19 1775 and the term of the enlistment was uniformly for 8 mos, or to be discharged in the month of Dec 1775)
In the Spring of 1776 he again enlisted at Westerly R.I. for 3 years or during the war under Capt Silley in the but after made Comdr Maj d regt of Colo Crane Arty, a part of his time was as waiter to his Captain He joined the Northern Army at Ticonderoga NY on the border of Lake Champlain under the Com d of Genl Gates - He was in the battles of (Sept 19 & Oct 7) at Stillwater which preceded the Surrender of the Army under Genl Burgoyne at Saratoga (Oct 17 1777) After this event he followed the army on its march to the South (probably to Pen s as the enemy had occupied Phila in Sept 1777) when Capt Silley retired & Cleveland was transferred to the command of Capt Mifflin He was in the battle of Brandywine S.C. (Jany 17 1781) & at the Storming of Stony Point (July 19 1779 by Gen Wayne) Section His discharge was signed by Gen Washington

in 1783 which was carefully kept rental about 1848 in a closet at the house of her Son Benjamin in Cincinnati with whom she resided until about 1848 when giving the visit of several days to her other children her grandchildren obtained possession & destroyed it.  Her husband in Jany 1803 left German  went to R.I. on some business where remained until August when started on his return, going by water to N.Y. City & from there to Coeymans Landing on the North river in Albany County where he was taken ill with the Yellow fever which he caught in N.Y. City & died in Sept 1803
X As Sarah Stratton she was married at Weston Middlesex Co Mass April 13, 1778 to Benj n Cleveland when he was at home on a furlough & she remained in Weston until he was discharged & then after both continued their residency there for 11 years, then removed to Clermont N.Y. from thence went to German Chenango County N.Y. The birth & names of their children are as follows:
  John Winlow born in Weston Nov 6 1779  oldest child    Betsy " " " Oct 22 1781     Benjamin " " " Sept 21 1783  Living 1837 in Cincinnati    Sally " " " July 1 1783     Patty " " " Clermont do 7 1787     Hannah " " " do March 20 1790  Living in 1837 in Salem Cortland Co N.Y.    Polly " " " German July 28 1795  youngest child do do do "  
John M c Rooter, John Kenyan & Reuben Fish all of Cincinnati in 1837 were witness to his reputation as a Revolutionary soldier

September 15-1923.
Office of the Pension Dept. Washington D.C.
Will you please send me a "statement" of the application for pension of the Widow of Benjamin Cleveland of Rev. Service. His statement was denied of Society of W.A.R.
I copied the following from some history. ---
"Benjamin Cleveland was a Revolutionary Soldier"
"Statement in file Pension Dept. - that Benj. Cleveland - he having died in September 1803 - before a law was passed - granting pensions for service in War of Rev."

There is no statement on file of his services except the one made by his widow Sarah, in her application for a pension, dated January 1837. at Cincinnati, N.Y. She stated that her husband was born in Rhode Island - enlisted at Tiverton in 1775. He was under Gen. Warren at Bunker Hill, received bounty of 200 acres of land in Maine. Again enlisted in 1776 at Tiverton - under Capt. Sibley. Under Gen. Gates at Ticonderoga - then reached South-etc. - - - - -
Benj. Cleveland - born. Apr 10 th 1775 at Tiverton. R.I.
Died - Sept. 1803 at Cohmans Landing. N.Y. and married in 1778 - to Sarah Stratton - 1748 - 1837.

Apparently just this statement from Pension Dept. proving the widow's application for pension is what is required.
If there is any charge for this service please notify me immediately and I will greatly appreciate this service and very gladly cover any charges.
Mrs. Helen Mather Chapin
343 North Main Street Willsville N.Y.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 16,908
Sarah Cleveland Widow of Benjamin Cleveland Bombardier Rev War
Act July 4 th 36
Index: Vol. A , Page 134
[Arrangement of 1870.] E. C. Burdley Onondaga Chautauqua NY
1923-Oct. 26-Hist-to Helen M. Chapin. awf.

Washington D.C. December 19 1850.
Sir,
I beg leave to request that H H Sylvester Doy may be considered as the attorney for the further prosecu- tion of the claims of Lucretia Kelley of Vermont, Sarah Clevelend, and Wilmarth Mansden, of New York, in behalf of said claimants.
Very Respectfully, Your Obedt Servt.
W B Wade
Wilmarth Mansden N.Y. } Act 7th July 1838. } ad.
Sarah Clevelend - N.Y. } Lucretia Kelley & Vermont } ad. Act 4th July 1838.
Leah E. Heath Doy Com'g Pensns.
Mr. Sylvester Doy has been examined and found to be the attorney of the claimants H H Sylvester

Cincinnati, Oct. 60. N. York Feb. 7 th 1837-
J. B. Edwards Esq.
Dr. Sir,
I herewith send an application for a pension in behalf of Mrs. Sarah Cleveland . It is hoped that evidence of the Revolutionary services of Mr. Cleveland may be found in your Dept. - She can prove here, and probably, if necessary, elsewhere additional traditional evidence, like the accompanying affidavits of Messrs. M c Whorter, Hingham & Fish, who are all men of the first respectability - But I suppose there is sufficient on that point -
I also enclose the application of Mr. Chandler - Whether he belongs to a class for which the law provides I do not know - And if he does I do not know whether the proof now forwarded is sufficient - When the same are acted on, please make return to me -
I am with the highest Respect Your Ob dt Serv t !
Barak Miles