Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23269, Benjamin Holley, R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
R. I.
Holley, Benjamin
S. 23269
CONTENTS

1441 Vermont
Benjamin Holley of Bristol in the State of Vermont who was a private in the company commanded by Captain West of the regt. commanded by Col. Stanton in the R. Island line for 33 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 80 Dollars per annum per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 rd day of Oct 1832 and del d to S. Naight Present
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832 120.00 Pensional allowance ending 4 th March 1833 40.00 $160.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by M c uffield Clerk Book D Vol. 4 Page 62

No 2045
Benj. Holly
Admitted
Rate 33, monthly.
$80. per annum
Send to Judge Haight Present.
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BRIEF in the case of  Benjamin Holley  of Bristol in the State of Vermont  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?
Court of Probate
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he?
71 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.     In 1777 15 private Gen. Rhode Island line   1781 Spring 1 additional Capt. West Col. Stanton   6 " Capt. West Col. Topham   2: 9: Months, Capt. Dexter Col. Green  
5. In what battles was he engaged?
Sullivan's Expedition
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Preston, Connecticut
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
The last year of the first service and the 2 nd & 3 rd are proven by one witness —
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Correct
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
H. Moffitt Examining Clerk.

2045 Benjamin Holley
P6
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State of Vermont
District of Addison, ss. On this 26 th day of July 1832, before the Probate Court for said District, in open Court, personally appeared Robert Holley of Bristol in the County of Addison State of Vermont, being sworn deposes and says, that I have heard read the declaration of Benjamin Holley of said Bristol, my brother, made this day before the Probate Court for the District of Addison, in order to obtain a pension under the act of Congress of the 7 th June 1832 - and that as to his service, and the facts he has stated to have taken place, under his enlistments, in 1777 several enlistments, I know the same to be correct: - I served in the same regiment and company, for the last year of the service of fifteen months under his enlistment in 1777 - and in the same company regiment, under his enlistment in 1778, for the whole year - and in the same regiment, but in the company commanded by Captain Cole under his enlistment stated to be in 1781 - And in the second of the above mentioned services, I was a sergeant: - And I know also that he enlisted in the Spring of 1779, for the term of one year, and served the whole time, in a company commanded Capt. Hastings  Hastings , in a regiment commanded by Colonel Lapham, of the Rhode Island State troops; I served in said company  regiment during the whole of that time, as a sergeant in another company under an enlistment, at the same time and for the same period: - This last service he has omitted in his statement. Robert Holley Sworn Habentis the day before afore said,
Sam l Swift, Judge

State of Vermont District of Addison ss
On this 26 th day of July 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Probate Court for the said District of Addison, being a Court of record, now sitting, Benjamin Holley a resident in Bristol in the County of Addison and State of Vermont, aged seventyone years last February, 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 7 th 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated -
I enlisted, at Ruston, County of New London Connecticut, into the State troops of the State of Rhode Island, in a company commanded by Capt. Benjamin West, in a regiment commanded by Colonel Stanton, in the forepart of the year 1777 - the exact time I cannot recollect - for the term of fifteen months - and served until the expiration of said fifteen months. This service was performed at Liverton on the east side of Rhode Island. - This service ended in the Spring of 1778.
Just before the expiration of that service, I enlisted again in the same company under the command of Capt. West, in the same regiment, then commanded by Colonel Lapham, for the term of one year - and served out the full term of my enlistment, at Liverton aforesaid. I do not recollect, that there were any other troops at Liverton except the regiment, to which I belonged, either the first or second term of my enlistment - but there were troops at Providence - and also at Bristol, Rhode Island, most if not all the time. The British troops were stationed on the Island about three miles from our fort - across the water, in that direction. During the first mentioned service, I went with fourteen others under Capt. Dyer, across to the Island, which, directly opposite to us, was only three quarters of a mile, and marched up from the beach toward the British fort until we met a guard of thirty

men, whom we drove back - they were soon reinforced by about one hundred & fifty men, who attacked us, and would have destroyed the whole of us, - but officers seeing our critical situation, sent out a row-galley, who came to our relief and rescued us. - We however continued to fire upon them, until our ammunition was expended: - And it was stated by a deserter from the British afterwards, that we killed twenty or more men - although we lost none, owing to our position.
At the time of Sullivan's expedition on to Rhode Island, I was marched, with our regiment over to the Island, for the purpose of attacking the British - who when we landed had moved from the north end of the Island, to Newport - we went near to Newport, where we remained about three weeks - and until the French fleet had sailed out of the harbor, when we were ordered off the Island.
In the Spring of the year 1781, at Preston aforesaid, I enlisted into a company commanded by Captain Dexter, in a regiment, commanded by Colonel Christopher Green, in the line of the State of Rhode Island, on the Continental Establishment - and served, under that enlistment, on Rhode Island, until the month of January 1782 - when we were discharged - Colonel Green being ordered to go to the Southern States - and our term of service being about to expire, before we could reach any scene of action at the South. - Under this enlistment I served not less than six months - but I cannot tell the exact time.
I was born in Preston, New London County Connecticut, on the 20 th day of January 1766. - I have been preserved from the Town records of Preston aforesaid a record of my birth, which I now have in a book. I resided at Preston until after the close of the war - soon after the war, I removed to Winston, Addison County Vermont - where after a short time I removed to Helion, County of Washington, New York

and remained there and in Rawlins Vermont, not for distnt, twelve or fifteen years - After this I resided for a short time in several towns, - tending gristmills - until about twenty two years ago - when I removed to Bristol, County of Addison Vermont - where I have resided most of the time since. I do not recollect, that I ever received a written discharge; - the troops were dismissed together, when the term of their enlistment expired. -
I refer to Elder David Henslee, a clergyman - Captain Noble Marion, Abrahom Gage Esquire, and others residing in my present neighbourhood, who can testify as to my character for veracity - and their belief of my service as a soldier in the revolution.
And the said Benjamin Holley hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. -
Sworn Hoback the day before aforeaid, Benjamin Holley
Sam. Swift, Judge
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the inter- rogatories 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 Robert Holley, whose affidavit is annexed is a very respectable & credible person, and that his testimony is entitled to full credit.
Sam. Swift Judge.

State of Vermont District of Addison
I Harvey Bell Register of the Probate Court for the said District of Addison do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Holley for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 27 th day of July 1832.
Harvey Bell Register

Revolution
23269 INVALID.
File No. 23,269
Benjamin Holley Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 190
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Middlebury Vt July 28. 1832
Sir,
All communications respecting the enclosed claims for pensions, the applicant's request may be sent to my care.
Respectfully &c
Danl. Swift