Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,305, Benjamin Hill, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Hill, Benjamin
S 22305
CONTENTS

31761
New Hampshire
Benjamin Hill,
Cheshire in the State of N. Hampshire who was a private in the Compy. commanded by Captain Hosley, of the Regt. commanded by Col: Cushing in the Mass: militia for 7 mos: and 6 days.
Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire at the rate of 24 Dollars ————— Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 th day of June 1840, and sent to Hon: Salmon D. Hale Keene, N.H.
Arrears to the 14th of March 1840 $ 216.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept: 40. 12.00
$ 228.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm. G. Gantlinger Clerk Book E — Vol. 1 — Page 91 —

Benjamin Hills Surry, N.H.

Declaration,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, } COUNTY OF CHESHIRE.
On this second day of June 1840 personally appeared in open Court. being the Court of Probate of Wills and granting Administrations for said county
now sitting, Benjamin Hills a resident of Surrey in the county of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire aged seventy nine years & more who, being 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 7th, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated,
I first enlisted at Townsend, Massachusetts, in the Massachusetts troops for three months, the next year after the British evacuated Boston in the Spring. The name of my recruiting officer was Lawrence. I marched through Groton, Concord & Lexington to Boston, & was mustered by a col. Brown. I was stationed in the barracks on Fort Hill, served out my time and was regularly discharged.
On my way home, stopping at Groton, I met a soldier of the name of Reed, (I believe his christian name was Joseph) who was sick and was then absent on a furlough. I agreed to take his place, went home to Townsend - and when the furlough was out, I went again to Boston and did duty as the substitute of Reed a little more than six weeks. I was stationed near a wharf - Hall's wharf I believe - in a building which the British had used for training horses. But few troops were then stationed in Boston. - My duty at both times was to keep guard. - The first time my captain's name was Loughy - I cannot recollect who was my captain when I served as a substitute for Reed. It may have been Shattuck, or that may have been the name of my orderly sergeant. I remember a col. Wood, afterwards Gen Wood was there. - I took a discharge, having served out my time, and returned to Townsend. -
I enlisted again at Townsend when Burgoyne came from Canada. for six weeks. At this time, my captain's name was Parley

and I went as his waiter. He belonged to Townsend and was a deacon. I went through Northfield - and Bennington after Bennington fight. I remember there were five men there then. When stationed on the east side of the Hudson I was once called out to prevent the enemy from taking some boats, which they wanted to get to enable them to get back to Canada, but they retreated before I got to the spot. I saw Burgoyne's troops lay down their arms. I served out my time - six weeks - caught one of Burgoyne's men out of harm's way - full and threw one man, & caused a breach, the effects of which I now feel.
The next year after the British evacuated Rhode Island I enlisted again to go there, for two months. I went through Scituate, Grafton, Uxbridge & to Providence where I staid about two weeks and then went over to the Island, and was stationed at Newport, just out of the city. The officers lodged in the city. I was sometimes at Warwick point. I recollect seeing booths or huts about, which had been occupied by the enemy. I believe they called some of them Yankees. My officers names were captain Hawkins & Major Fry, & corporal Hull. It was my duty to guard stores and the cities. - I served out my two months and returned to Townsend
I enlisted again at Townsend, near the close of the war on the continental establishment, for six months, & went through Litchfield, to Housatonic - then to Tappan - & then to Westpoint. I belonged to the Light Infantry - they called it the Marquis's Infantry. My officers were col. Shepherd, Capt. Cushing, Lieut. Storer, & ensign Williams. Capt. Huddy (Hudson) a Frenchman, was in the same corps. During this time of service I saw two men shot for desertion, & two run the gauntlet. At Westpoint I saw the chain which had been put across the river. I was discharged at the Pass having served my time almost out.
I was born at Wittenough, Jan'y 23. 1761 - have lived at Grafton, New Brunswick, Townsend, & Dublin in this (Cheshire) County. At Dublin I lived thirty years - left it, in 1820, for Tazewell, Carrollton County, Ohio. At this time I had considerable property. - When in Ohio, I heard a law had been passed which would give me a pension - and went to Townsend to get my

Capt. Huddy (Hoodoo) a Frenchman, was in the same corps, during this time of war I saw two men shot for desertion, & two run the gauntlet. At Watpoint I saw the chain which had been put across the river. I was discharged at the Pass having served my time almost out.
I was born at Westerough, Jan'y 23. 1761 - have lived at Grafton, New Jersey, Townsend & Dublin in this (Cheshire) County. At Dublin I lived thirty years - left it, in 1820, for Keene, Corhocton county Ohio. At this time I had considerable property. - When in Ohio, I heard a law had been passed which would give me a pension - and set to Townsend to get my
papers, & such other proof as would be required, but was informed that Deacon Richard Wier, with whom I lived when in Townsend & with whom I had left my papers, was dead, & that all his papers supposed to be useful had been burnt - Being told that arrearages would be paid, I have not been active in getting proof - Lately I came to Surrey where I now live with a nephew & now make application - I have made enquiry & can find no one now living who was with me in service.
Being old I cannot well remember dates or names, but have a pretty distinct recollection of events.
Benj. Hills

"Benjamin Hills. The son of Benjamin Hills and Molley his wife was born Jan. y 23 d 1761." I hereby certify that the above is a copy of the record in the Town Clerk's office in Westborough, Mass. Attest, Nahum Fisher Clerk of said town of Westborough Nov. r 23 d 1839.

We, Jonas Clark, & Levi Willard of Dublin
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benj. Hills who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be seventy nine Dublin where he was we formerly resided years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. And I Alexander Milliken have frequently heard him called the old Continental & therefore concur in that opinion
Jonas Clark
Levi Willard
Alex. Milliken
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, by the said Milliken & Willard affirmed to & subscribed by the said Jonas Clark, Frederick Vose, Judge of And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, Probate
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 certi- fies, that it appears to them him that the said Jonas Clark & Levi Willard who have signed the preceding certificate are resident in the town of Dublin, & that the said Alexander Milliken was for- merly a resident in said Dublin & is now a resident in Keene all in said County of Cheshire, and that they are credible persons & their statement is entitled to credit. Frederick Vose, Judge of Probate.
I, Elijah Sawyer Register of the Court of Probate for said County do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Hills for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this third day of June A.D. 1840
Elijah Sawyer Register

I Elizabeth Metcalf widow eighty five years of age on oath say that Benjamin Hills now of Surry, once living in New Ipswich  Townsend often stays in Dublin & lately in Ohio, is a nephew of my late husband Eli Metcalf. I recollect perfectly well hearing my husband, at the beginning of the revo- lutionary war, speak of said Benj. Hills enlisting as a soldier & condemning it because he was so young, being then but fifteen or sixteen years of age - I knew said Hills when he was living in Dublin, - seeing him at that time often - and I have no doubt that he went into the army during the revolutionary war - especially near the beginning of it - & need some time, but how long or where I cannot say. I have lived at Keene Cheshire County, New Hampshire since the year, 1771 - I remember seeing said Hills, at his uncle's, David Hills, sometime during the war. - He was then at New Ipswich, and it was before he enlisted - and after the battle at Bunkerhill. It was soon after this that my husband told me he had enlisted Elizabeth M c [scribble] Metcalf
State of New Hampshire Cheshire ss. June 2. 1840
Then the said Elizabeth Metcalf, whom I certify to be in my opinion a person of veracity, submitted (and sworn to the above before me
S. Hale J. Pease
I certify that Townsend was read and New Ipswich inserted before subscribing or swearing,
S. Hale J. Pease

State of New Hampshire Cheshire County ss -
Henry Goodridge Clerk of the Superior Court of Justice of the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that Selina Hale is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, that his commission was issued on the 29 day of June 1888 and will expire in five years from the date thereof - and that his signature within written is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said Court at Keene the 3 day of June A.D. 1890
H. Goodridge Clerk
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original document.]

Resolutions
22 305 INVALID.
Res No. 22,305
Benjamin Hill
Pres Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 185
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I Jonas Clark of Dublin in the county of Cheshire do affirm and  do hereby say that I was born in Townsend in Massachusetts in 1775 - that when a boy I was well acquainted with Benjamin Hills, now of Surry and an applicant for a pension - that the young at the time, I perfectly recollect of his going into the service and coming home - I cannot tell of my own knowledge where he went - but while living at Townsend understood that he went to Boston, to Providence, to the taking of Burgoyne & to Westpoint. I was well acquainted with Capt James Morley & have heard him speak of Hills going into the army with him. Morley died nearly thirty years ago at Hancock. It was the gen- eral belief & understanding in Townsend that the said Benjamin Hills had been several times in service in the revolutionary war. -
I left Townsend when I was about twenty two years of age, & went to Dublin where the said Benjamin Hills then resided as a practising physician - I remained there till 1805 when I went to Canada - & returned in 1819, & found Hills still there. Soon after, he went to Ohio, & while there he wrote me a letter on the subject of his service - requesting me to go to Deacon Wier's in Townsend and get his discharges. - I went there, found the Deacon & his wife dead - & the house occupied by a clergyman who had married Deacon Wier's adopted daughter. She told me that she had burnt up the Deacon's old papers - & had an indistinct recollection of seeing some papers among them which she supposed were old training papers. I then looked out for other testimony, and found a Mr. Spalding who told me that he stayed with Hills two months in Rhode Island when both were in service there. Spalding has since died. I made a dili-

igent enquiry in Townsend, & found no other person who had been with him in service & none who had been in entire life in Townsend when Hills went into service.
It is my full belief that he was in service several times during the revolutionary war - I have always considered him a man of truth & veracity. - In his old age he appears to have lost his memory - but I have no reason to believe that he will now state what does not think to be true.
Jonas Clark
State of New-Hampshire
Cheshire p. June 2. 1840
Subscribed and affirmed to
Before me S. Hale, Jus. Peace
Cheshire p. July 2. 1840. I have had no personal acquaintance with the said Jonas Clark previous to his coming before me, but from his demeanor before me I have no hesitation in certifying that he is a man of veracity and entitled to credit.
S. Hale, J. Peace
State of New Hampshire
Cheshire County - ss.
I Henry Boolidge
Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Selina Hale is an acting Justice of the Peace in (and for) said County duly commissioned and qualified: that his commission was dated on the 29 day of June 1838. and will expire in five years from the date thereof, and that his signature above written is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court at Keene the 3 day of June A.D. 1840
H. Boolidge Clerk

Keene, N.H. June 3. 1840.
Sir,
In the absence on a journey of T. M. Edwards Esqr, to whom I have lately consigned all old soldiers, a brother of an old friend of mine, Burg. Hills, has called on me & I now send you his declaration for a pension. My impression is he has told the truth - Indeed I have no doubts of it. I have never seen him until lately.
If a pension is granted he wishes you to send the certificate to me
Respectfully & Yours
J. Hale
J. L. Edwards, Esqr

Benj c Hill (NH)
June 7. 1832
Allow 7 mo 6 days private $24 per ann. Map. militia Capt. Hosley. Col Cashung. on roll Vol 4. p. 223 Pol 19 p. 177
Asa Salma Hale Keene NH

Nah B- p 12 h 20 15-05
77

Perry Hills. ag 79
76. Bono off warm rd from Sough
1.12 sub 1 for one Reed.
Shattuck Gap.
77. 1.15 Hosley. Vol 19 p 177
79 2. Hawkins
80 h. (Toonshend) Cushing
Vol 4 p 223 5 11 21
1.15-
allaw. 7.06