Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 28765, Benjamin Howell, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Howell, Benjamin S. 28765
CONTENTS

6263
New York
Benjamin Howell Minuteman in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Marvin of the Regt. commanded by Col Drake in the New York line for 16 months,
53.33
26 66 2/3
79.99 2/3
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 53 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of Feby 1830 — and sent to Hon. J. M. [?] Ho Rep.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1832 $79.99 2/3 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 26.66 2/3
$106.66 2/3
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Inobrownwell Clerk Book D Vol. 5 Page 145

State of New York } ss County of Orange }
On this Ninth day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the court of Com. Pleas of Said County now sitting — Benjamin Howell a resident of the town of Minisink County and state aforesaid, aged seventy three years, who being now 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 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
1 st Deponent further saith that he entered the service by enlistment and served as a private soldier, at Goshen county and state aforesaid, in a company of militia command- ed by Capt. Seth Marvin, in the latter part of the month of June in the year 1776, the precise day he does not recollect Said company belonged to a regiment commanded by Col. Samuel Drake Lieut. Col. — Walbert V. Major Moses Hartfield. Said regiment was ordered to march to New York to join the Brigade commanded by Brig d Genl. Scott, and in the month of August of said year, said Brigade was ordered to join the Army, on Long Island, to was commanded by Genl. George Washington. Deponent was at the battle of Long Island, and when the Island was evacuated, by Washington, he retreated, with the army to New York. Said battle was fought in the latter part of the month of August of said year, and the retreat and the ret was on in the night of second or third day after the battle, but deponent cannot say precisely, deponent marched with the army to Kingsbridge in the month of Sept r in the year aforesaid, and from thence to White Plains. Deponent was at the battle of White Plains which was fought in the latter part of the month of Oct. in said year. After the battle was fought we marched to a place called North Castle, and remained there two or three weeks, we then marched

up the river Hudson and halted near Peekskill and remained there until the latter part of Nov. The army then crossed the Hudson at a place called Kings ferry and encamped on the west side of the river. Deponent was there discharged, the term of his enlistment having expired on the first day of 2 nd Dec. 1776. The next service performed by deponent was during the spring and summer of the year 1777. deponent still resided in Goshen County and state aforesaid the the militia of said County were called into service at six or seven different times the exact number deponent does not recollect, for the defence of said fort, in consequence of apprehended attacks from the enemy and when such danger or alarm subsided they to their homes were discharged and they returned to their homes. Deponent was called into service in the manner above stated at five different times, and was served half a month at each time, said service was performed as a private soldier in a company of militia commanded by Capt. Joseph Conklin, said company belonged to the regiment commanded by Col. Jesse Woodhull. Gen. James Clinton and Gen. Putnam and Gov. George Clinton, commanded the forts Montgomery and Clinton, said forts were situated in the high lands of Hudson river to prevent the enemy's shipping from passing up said river . In Oct. of said year deponent was called 3 into service and served one month at different stations on the banks of Hudson river to prevent the landing of the enemy to commit depredations on the inhab- 4 itants. Deponent further saith that he was called into service in the spring of the year 1778. and served one month at West Point, under the command of the officers last mentioned for the purpose of building the fortifications at that place. deponent 5 further saith that he served one month at the indian frontiers as a private soldier under the command of Capt. David Swezey of said County and State to protect the inhabitants of the frontiers after the massacre at Wyoming in the month of July 1778.

6 Deponent further saith that he was called upon and served as a private soldier under the com- mand of Capt. Joseph Conklin & Col. - Odle of the county and State aforesaid, said service was performed at the gap of the mountain near Ramapo bridge, it being the main route to New York it was guarded principally by militia from our Orange County during the revolutionary war, to prevent the enemy from penetrating into the country, and the ill disposed inhabitants from communicating with the enemy, deponent was there four different times, & served and at least half a month at each time, said service was performed during 7 the winter of 1778 & 79 Deponent further saith that he entered the service of the United States by enlistment under the command of the officers last mentioned, at Goshen County and State aforesaid, and served one month at the said gap of the mountain for , and for the same purpose, before mention- -ed, said service was performed in the year 8 1779. deponent further saith that he was called out under the command of Capt. Joseph Conklin County and State aforesaid, three times during the summer of the year 1779, and served half a month at each time, at the fort at West Point. 9 Deponent further saith that he served three weeks weeks during the winter of 1779 & 80 to guard the Court house in Orange County to prevent the escape of Claudius Smith, the captain of a band of Tories, who had long infested said County, killing and plundering the whigs. Said Smith was at that time under sentence of death death, and it the Court house was guarded by to prevent his gang from rescuing him from prison.
  1 month  months    2  5    3  2 1/2  

Deponent was born in Suffolk County State of New York in the year 1759, deponent resided in Orange County State of New York during the war, and resides at present in the town of Minisink County and State aforesaid.
He has no record of his age -
Was called into service as above stated
Received no written discharge and is not on any Pension Roll or received any annuity. John Wellch Jr, James Hulce & Benjamin Dunning reside in his neighbourhood and can testify to his character for veracity and their belief as his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Given the day & year first above written before me Benjamin Howell
Asa Dunning Clerk
   Service months     1 3   2 2 1/2   3 1   4 1   5 1   6 2   7 1 1/2   8 1 1/2   9 1 1/2   15 1/2  
whole time of service one year three months and a half

In the matter of the applica- tion of Benjamin Howells for a Pension under the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832 State of New York Orange County ss.
James Hulse John Hallock Jr Declarations of the town of Minisink County & State aforesaid being duly sworn do depose & say that they are well acquainted with the said Benjamin Howells. They have been upwards of twenty years during which time they have resided in his neighbourhood. That it is generally understood & believed in the said neighbourhood that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. That they have never heard it doubted. That he is a man of integrity & truth & they should suppose him to be of the age of seventy. They concur in the general opinion of his revolutionary services I have subscribed the day & year first above written before me in Open Court -
Asa Dunning Clerk
John Hallock Jr
James Hulse
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 John Hallock Jr & James Hulse of the town of Minisink County & State aforesaid who have subscribed

And sworn to the foregoing affidavit in credible persons and that this statement is entitled to credit
I Asa Dunning Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Orange Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceed- ings in the matter of the application of Benjamin Howells for a pension — In Testimony Whereof I have here- unto set my hand and Seal of office
this Third day of September 1832
Asa Dunning
10.478
Benj n Howells Pension for Rev War Mother & Ben
atys
Brigade
Benjamin Howells Pension papers
A. J. Benton atty.
adm 16 mo. fine $53.33

28 765 Revy INVALID.
File No. 28,765
Benjamin Howell
Revy Rev War
Act: June 7 th '32
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 192
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of New York Orange County ss 3
Personally appeared before me the Undersigned a Justice  Judge of the Common Pleas  Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Orange, Benjamin Howell who be- ing duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by the reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his services but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned be- low and in all cases as a private soldier. That he first enlisted in the month of June 1776 under circumstances stated in his former declaration for the term of six months that he regularly served out his enlistment performing duty during the same at New York, Long Island, Kingsbridge White Plains, North Castle & all in the State of New York aforesaid. During the Spring & sum- mer of the year 1777 he served at least six six  times  times at Fort Fort Montgomery on the North river - each time half a month making in the whole three months - he served as a Militia man. In the month of October in the same year he was called out in service and served as a Militia man at different stations on the Hudson at North river one month - That in the Spring of the year 1778 he served one month at West Point - That he served one month upon the Indian frontiers under Captain David Muzzy in the summer of 1778 That he served during the winter of 1778 and during the year 1779 at Ramapo - Coun- ty of Bergen and State of New Jersey 6 months 3 months 1 month 1 month

four Towns each at least half a month 2 Months Making in the whole Two Months - That in the Month Year 1779 beside the Service Already Mentioned he Served at Ramapo 1 Month before Served under an enlistment one month That in the Year 1779 he was called out And he Served under Captain Joseph Conk- ling at the Fortifications at West Point upon three Towns, two weeks each  Making  one 1 1/2 Month and one half - That in the winter 3 weeks of 1779 & 80 he Served Three weeks in guard- ing the Point of Boice of Orange County Among the confinement of Claudine Smith This Deponent further Sath that as he has no documentary evidence - That he does not know of any person whose testimony he can obtain of this Depo- nents Actual Service as a Soldier of the Revolution
Benjamin Howell
Sworn and Subscribed the 20 th Day of December 1882 before me John Hallack Jr. A Judge of Orange Com. Pleas
And this Deponent further declares, that he hereby relinquish- es every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state -
Benjamin Howell
Sworn & Subscribed the 27 th Day of Dec 1882 before me John Hallack A Judge of Orange Com. Pleas

In the matter of Benjamin Howell
Orange County } State of New York } ss I, Henry Ball a Clergyman now residing in the State of New Jersey, and formerly residing in the Town of Minisink in the County of Orange and State of New York - Do hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with Benjamin Howell who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration, that I believe him to be Seventy three years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neigh- bourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the revolution and that I concur in that opinion, and further that I have known and been acquainted with the said Benjamin Howell for twenty years and upwards - and further say he is considered and generally believed to be a man of truth and Integrity
Henry Ball.
Sworn and Subscribed the 29 th Day of Nov. - 1832 before me John Wallack A. Judge of Orange Com. Pleas

State of New York
Albany County ss I Asa Dunning clerk of the county of Albany and clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said county Do hereby Certify That John Hallock Jew- lison whom the within and annexed affidavits of Benjamin Howell & Henry Dill were sworn was at the time and now is a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the said county which is a Court of Record and that the signature subscribed to the said affidavits is his genuine signature
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal of office this 28 th day of December 1832 --
Asa Dunning Clerk