Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1,741, Benjamin Carter, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York.
Carter Benjamin
R. 1741
CONTENTS
[Faint, illegible handwriting on the left side of the CONTENTS section]
[Faint, illegible handwriting on the right side of the CONTENTS section]

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
State of Ohio Delaware County ss
On this twenty eighth day of April one thousand eight hundred and fifty personally appeared before me Almon Stark one of the associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid Benjamin Carlton a resident of Porter Township in Delaware County in the State of Ohio, aged Eighty Six years, who being first duly sworn according to law with an oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June the 7 th 1832 that he entered the Service of the United States in the following manner and service as herein after set forth. That this declarant was born in Warwick Township in Orange County in the State of New York in the year one thousand Seven hundred and sixty four. That at the age of fourteen years he was put on board to a blacksmith for the purpose of learning the trade but not liking his master and wishing to become a soldier at the age of fifteen years he ran away and joined the army at a place called Shesheby. This was in the Spring of the year 1779 the exact date he cannot tell. He then and there offered to enlist in the army but the officers told him he was too young that they do not enlist a boy of his age that he then made personal application to General John Sullivan after the General took him into his service and while the army remained there he acted on the General and took care of his horse. That when the army commenced the march through the Wickahousess called at that time the Beech woods this declarant was ordered on in the advance and assist in clearing a road for the army to

March in. That this declarant assisted in chopping and opening a road till the army arrived at Newtown in one of the branches of the Susquehanna river. He thinks this must have been about the first of August 1779. He was there told they were near the enemy and was given a musket and was ordered to take his place in the ranks which he did in a company commanded by a captain of an odd name that he has forgotten by reason of the forgetfulness of age and being only a boy he paid very little attention to the names of the officers from Newtown the army marched to the head of the Susquehanna lake and down said lake to a place called Plymouth (afterwards Apple Town) that they was there met by the Indians and had a sharp battle in which this declarant was wounded by a ball in his right leg slightly. This declarant has also in his possession at this time a leather belt brass buckle and plate and scalping knife taken from an Indian. He had the good fortune to kill in that battle. That he assisted in cutting down the Indians corn and apple trees and driving the Indians into Canada and destroying all their property that came in their way. That late in the season the army returned down the Susquehanna to Wilkesbarre where we remained through the winter of 1780. This declarant cannot tell the names of any of the officers except a Colonel Chapins. Colonel Chapins was taken prisoner by the Indians and made his escape from them and this declarant thinks he was taken again by them and he cannot tell what became of him. That in the summer of 1780 this declarant was discharged from the army by General Sullivan and a furlough or

discharge given him with thirty dollars in Continentals money which he has at this time in his possession. That his dis charge is long since worn out and lost and the exact date thereof he cannot at this time tell but he positively swears that he was in active service a period of not less than one year. He further states that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services. That he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any State and that he never before made application for a pension. Sworn to and Subscribed the 28 th day of April 1850 Benjamin Coster maker before me Simon Stark Officer Judge
We Hiram Westbrook a Minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ and David Babcock Charles C Lawrence and Ethan Stephens
residing in the same neighbourhood with the above named Benjamin Coster hereby certify that we are well acquainted with him and that we believe him to be eighty six years of age that he is situated and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion and that he ever was since we have known him and is now esteemed a man of truth and veracity Hiram Westbrook Sworn to and Subscribed the 28 th day of April 1850 David Babcock Charles C Lawrence Ethan Stephens before me Simon Stark Officer Judge

And I Almon Stark associate Judge as afore said do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states and I further certify that Hiram Westbrook who has signed the preceding certificate is well known to me that he is a clergyman and resides in the same neighbourhood with the above named applicant and that David Westbrook and Charles C Lawrence and Jonathan Stephens
who has signed the same is a resident of the same place and that they are credible persons and that their statements is entitled to credit
Almon Stark Associate Judge
State of Ohio Delaware County ss
Personally appeared before me Almon Stark one of the associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County Sarah M c Herlen and made oath in due form of law that she was well acquainted with the above named applicant for a pension a period of fifty years ago when he resided in Fulton County in the State of New York that he was ever reported to have been a Revolutionary Soldier in the place where he resided from my first knowledge of him down to and including the 28th day of March 1850
Subscribed the 28th day of March 1850
before me
Almon Stark Associate Judge
I also certify the above named Sarah M c Herlen is of good credit and a witness
Almon Stark Associate Judge

Questions put by me with the answers of the same by Benjamin Cudlee Where and in What year was you born In Warwick township in Orange County State of New York in the year 1764 Have you a record of your age I hope none Where were you living when called into Service where have you lived since the Revolutionary war where do you now live When I entered the Service I resided in Orange County State of New York After the close of the War resided there some four or five years I then moved to Fulton County Ky I now reside in Delaware County State of Ohio Have since you called into Service were you drafted or will you volunteer I consider my self a volunteer as they would not let me enlist and I entered the Service of my own free will and I never belonged to a company of Militia till after the war was over
State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you served I can state the names of none but General John Sullivan and Colonel Chapman being only a boy I paid little attention to the names of the officers and then that I knew I have forgotten not having thought of them for more than sixty years Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service by whom was it given and what became of it I received a discharge at Southburgh from General Sullivan it is now out and lost I am of the opinion that in the foregoing answers the old Soldier told the truth in testimony

Almon Stark, associate Judge as aforesaid do hereby certify that by reason of the infirmity of age and a distant residence from the county that the above named applicant is unable to appear in court signed officially by me this 28 th day of March 1850 Almon Stark Associate Judge
State of Ohio Delaware County ss I George W Stark Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county aforesaid hereby certify that Almon Stark Esquire before whom the foregoing declaration appears to have been made is an associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified that his commission was dated on the 25 day of February 1846 and will expire on the 25 day of February 1853 and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his I believe to be genuine
In testimony whereof I the clerk aforesaid have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Delaware in said county this 9 th day of May A D 1850
G W Stark Clerk

1941
SELECTED
P. O. Benjamin Carter
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Notes: List of suspended claims printed in 1852 shows cause of disenlistment: suspension as follows: "No proof of service"
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Benjamin Carter Ohio
Suspended
Lee 11 th June 50 76
C. Inquest
" Thom. Ch. Siodetson 15 th June 1850
Papers copied and sent (pass 128)
n. Star Geo. June. July 6/50
* the same July 12/50.
At 7 June 1832.

July 8, 1850 Col. J. L. Edwards Comm ee of Pensions, Sir
Benjamin Carter, in his petition for a pension for services in the Revolutionary War, sets forth, "that he cannot tell the names of any of the officers, except "a col. Chapins," & also, "that in the summer of 1780," the petitioner "was discharged from the army by Gen. Sullivan, and "a furlough or discharge given him, with thirty dollars continental money, which he has at this time—that his discharge is long since worn out and lost, and the exact date thereof he cannot at this time tell; but he positively swears that he was in active service a period of not less than one year." &c
The Chairman of the Com. on Pensions will thank you to cause search to be made on the proper rolls, &c. with a view to discover if there be any proof of the payment of any such person as Benjamin Carter, or of the discharge of any such person as servant or waiter, from any corps of the troops at any time under command of "Gen. Sullivan," or "Col. Chapin." He states, that he attempted to join the army in the spring of 1779, but the officers refusing to enlist him on account of his youth, he applied to "Gen. John Sullivan," who took him for a waiter, &c. &c. Any information or views upon the proof and case of the petitioner will be acceptable to the Chairman.
Respectfully,
Your obed. Servt
J. P. Sheldon
Ch. com. Pen (S.)

To Comm ee of Pensions

July 1, 1850
Col. D. L. Edwards,
Comm ee of Pensions,
Sir,
The chairman of the comm. on Pensions would thank you for the papers (or certified copies thereof) alluded to in the enclosed petition of Benj m Carter; also for your views thereon.
Respectfully,
Your ob t Servt.
J. P. Sheldon
clk. comm. Pen s (S.)
3

37.987 Benjamin Latta Ohio
174
Atty June 1832

Dear Sir
Washington, May 13 th 1858
Enclosed you have the Papers of Ralph Carter, an applicant for a Pension.
The Certificate of Reputation is numerously signed by some of the most respect- able men in our County.
The said Gentleman has forwarded to me the a Package of Continental Money, which he claims he received for his services. Where will the Government place its right upon the subject of this outstanding Continental Money?
I hope will answer the prop. most answer that question so say I.
I desire an early answer in regard to the Carter's Pension
Yours Truly
Charles Sumner
Rev I L Edwards Am. of Pensions.

Hon. G. Inocito
15 June 1950
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[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]

Pension Office June 15 th 1850
Sir
In reply to your inquiry in the case of Benjamin Carter I have to inform you that he resides in Porter Township, Delaware County, Ohio, and his declaration was made before Almon Starks Esq. His declaration was accompanied by a paper signed by Andrew Corriell, Lebulon Crane and a number of others testifying to the character of the applicant having always been considered as a revolutionary soldier.
Thos J. C. Mason Thos Charles Sweetser

Benjamin Cartier July 6/52

Pension Office July 6. 1850
Sir:
In pursuance of your communication of the 1 st instant, I have the honor herewith to enclose certified copies (numbered 1 to 8) of papers filed in this office in the case of Benjamin Carter, an applicant for revolutionary pension, and return the petition of said Carter, herewith. I have the
Hon. Geo. Jones Chairman of the Committee on Pensions, U. S. Senate

Send a card /Benj. Carlton/ July 15/50

Pension Office 213 July 15 1850
Sir,
With reference to the petition of Benjamin Carter for pension in right of his service in the revolutionary war in the Army under General Sullivan, I have the honor to state, that no evidence whatever in relation to his alleged service can be found in the Revolutionary Records filed in the office.
I have &
Hon: G. W. Jones Chairman of the Committee on Pensions U. S. Senate

Benjamin Leavitt, an applicant for a pension
We the undersigned citizens of Babineau and Morrow Counties in the State of Ohio residing in the same neighbourhood with the above named applicant for a pension hereby certify that he has ever been considered as a Revolutionary Soldier. Since we make known here that he has often been urged to apply for a pension that his answer has always been that not while he was able to work signed by us &c.
Andrew Lovell James B. Gray Jehulon Crane Charles C. Lawrence John Decker Samuel S. Moore Andrew Hemminger S. S. Rogers George Hemminger Jonathan Weaver Watts Durham Rankin Bannell Darius Dudley James Groom Wm. Polets Isaac B. Travis Gilbert Courter James H. Woodhull Williams Roberts Wm. Price G. W. Crane Hiram Westbrook Harry Leach Lorenzo Churchill Amos Leach Lewis Evans Charles Dudley Josiah Skinnell Harris Dudley Wm. Culver Charles M. Fowler Jonathan Bennett Jacob Scott Samuel Cook Thomas Hill David Babcock Daniel Chase Ira Vanpelt M. A. White Robert Gray Samuel DeGroot Stanison Smith Amos Gardner George Morris James Gray