REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION - BENJAMIN BASFORD Contributed by: Kevin Spaulding (spaulding@kodak.com) ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Revolutionary War Pension Records for Benjamin Basford Deposition by Benjamin Basford, 29 May 1818 State of Vermont, Franklin County} On this 29th day of May 1818 before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the County Court within and for the County of Franklin and State of Vermont personally appears Benjamin Basford of Georgia in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont aged sixty three years resident in Georgia aforesaid who being by me first sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval services of the United States in the Revolutionary War that he the said Benjamin Basford about the first day of May(?) 1775 enlisted at Concord in the State of New Hampshire for the term of eight months in the Company of Captain Gordon Hutchins and in the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Harks(?) and Brigade commanded by General Sulivan(?) and at the same time marched to Winter Hill and continued to serve in the said corps or in the service of the United States until the expiration of the term for which he enlisted and then at the request of General Sulivan(?) tarried(?) and did service as aforesaid until the first day of February 1776 and then was discharged but had no written discharge and this deponent further says that in the ____ September 177_ he again enlisted for the term of six months under Captain James Shepard in the Regiment Commanded by Colonel Wyman for six months and served the full time for which he enlisted and then was discharged at Ticonderoga but had no written discharge and this deponent says that he was [at the] Battle of Bunker Hill and that he is now in reduced circumstances and stands in [need of] the assistance _____ Deposition by William Boyd, 31 Jul 1832 I William Boyd of St. Albans in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont aged seventy eight years, do testify and say that I am personally acquainted with Benjamin Basford of Georgia in the County and State afs'd formerly of Alexandria in the State of New Hampshire, that on the month of May 1775 I was knowing to the s'd Basford, and several others enlisting under Capt. Gordon ____ for eight months, and marching from Concord New Hampshire to Winker(?) Hill near Charlestown in the State of Massachusetts, where he was stationed until a day or two previous to the Battle of Bunker Hill, s'd Basford was in that engagement and continued in service until his time expired, and at the earnest solicitation of his officers he stayed some time after his time was out for which he first enlisted. The circumstances of his having stayed after his time of eight months had expired I well recollect being with the said Basford in the same campaign. Soon after s'd Basford was discharged, he again enlisted under Capt James Shepard for six months and marched from New Salisbury(?) New Hampshire to Ticonderoga in the State of New York where we were both stationed until our time expired, and I think we were both discharged nearly at the same time. Sworn to and subscribed this 31st day of July 1832. William Boyd Before me Wm. Bridges Judge of Probate. I further certify that the deponent is a credible witness. Wm Bridges Judge of Probate State of Vermont, Georgia District} I John gates Clerk of the Court of Probate in and for the district aforesaid do hereby certify that Wm. Bridges who was affixed his name to the within is Judge of the Court of Probate in and for s'd district and that the same is his genuine signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of s'd court at St. Albans this 31st day of July 1832 John Gates ___ Register Deposition by James Basford, 1 Jul 1833 State of New York, Ultser County} James Basford of the town of Olive in the County of Ulster and State of New York aged 70 years, being duly sworn deposes and says that his brother Benjamin Basford of the town of Georgia(?) in the State of Vermont served in the new Hampshire troops at the battle of Bunker Hill in the year 1775 but this deponent does not remember how long. And this deponent further says that he this deponent served during the Revolutionary War in the said troops in the 1776 and that the said Benjamin also served in the same service at Ticonderoga in the State of New Your for the term of eight months in the capacity of an orderly sergeant, that this deponent saw said Benjamin in the said service for the full term of eight months, and until he was discharged and further says not. Sworn this 1st day of July 1833, before me P. H. Jansbeek(?) Jr., Jus. Peace James Basford Ulster County} I __ hereby certify that I am acquainted with the above James Basford that he is a person of credit and that his testaments are entitled to credit P. H. Jansbeek(?) Jr., Jus. Peace State of New York, Ultser County Clerks Office? I Jacob Snyder clerk of the county of Ulster and of the Court of Common pleas of Ulster County do hereby certify that Peter Na_ Jansbeek(?) Junior was on the date of the above affidavit a Justice of the Peace in and for said County authorized to take affidavits __ and that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of said Justice and verily believe his signature to the certificate of said affidavit to be genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this first day of July 1833. Jacob Snyder [Handwritten note added to affidavit] Brother Benjamin when you get your money you must send me a $5 bill in a letter I have been at considerable expense for this writing for you am sick and I am poor. Revolutionary War Pension Records for Benjamin Basford Letter by B. Swift 18 Jun 1835 St Albans June 18th 1835 Sir, I think that shortly after the passage of the Pension Act of 1832 I made a declaration for Benjamin Basford late of Georgia in this County since deceased by which he claimed a pension under said act. The declaration was (I think) forwarded to the War Dept. by Judge Bridges. From a memorandum now before me and which was used on the occasion Mr. Basford claimed (as I believe) that he enlisted into the service of the United States as a soldier of the Revolutionary War about the 1st day of May 1775 at Concord New Hampshire for eight months. That the Company into which he enlisted was commanded by Capt. Gordon Hutchins. That he belonged to the Regiment of Col. John Starks and the Brigade of Gen'l Sulivan. That he served the full term of eight months and at the request of Gen'l Sulivan continued in service until the 1st day of February 1776 and was then discharged. That in February 1776 he again enlisted into said service under Capt. James Shepard in Col. Wyman's Regiment, and served the full term and was discharged at Ticonderoga. That he was engaged in the Battle of Bunker Hill _____. I have made the above statement at the request of Judge Bridges and for the corrections(?) of the facts stated in the declaration July wholly on the aforesaid memorandum which was made out and sworn to by Mr. Basford shortly after the passage of the Pension Act of 1818 and by which I think I was _____ in making his declaration in 1832. With great respect, Your Obied't Serv't, B. Swift Letter by William Bridges, 3 Jul 1835 St Albans July 3d 1835 Hon. J L. Edwards Sir, In reply to yours of the 23d of May, address'd to me in relation to the claims of Joseph Waller and Benj. Bassford, I have to say that immediately after the receipt of the same I sent a copy of so much of your letter to Mr. Waller as related to his claim. As it respects the declaration of Benj. Bassford, I have conversed with the Hon. B. Swift on the subject, and you have his letter enclosed containing his view relative to the making of the declaration, and the evidence of the general tenor of the same. At the time of the making of the declaration Mrs. Swift and Bassford came in to my office for the purpose of obtaining my certificate and I am very sure that I made a certificate on the declaration being personally acquainted with the applicant. I do not recollect what Mr. Bassford said at that time respecting his having petitioned under the act of 1818, and whether his declaration was sent to the Department for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of that act I am unable to say. But I do recollect that at the time his declaration was made under the late act that he said he ought to have had a pension long before, that he had rendered more actual service to his country in the Revolutionary War than many others who was then on the pension roll, and further observed that he should be able to prove his service to the satisfaction of the Department of any further proof was required than that of his own declaration. I told him that it was my opinion that further proof would be required, and advised him to make some of his evidence while it might be had. I am very sure that all this took place previous to my securing the pamphlet containing the regulations for carrying the late act into affects. I should say that previous to the time of making the declaration of Bassford there had not been more than one declaration sent from this county. On or about the time Mr. Swift made the declaration of John Austin(?) of Swanton, which was certified by me. I should say that the application of Austin was made and sent the first of any one from Franklin County and that Bassfords was sent soon after. The foregoing is the best of my recollection. Soon after the declaration of Bassford was sent he again call'd on me and requested that I would take the deposition of William Boyd; I took the deposition of Boyd, and Bassford wish'd be to forward the same to the War Department immediately. I told the applicant it would not be proper, that he had better wait until he rec'd an answer from the Department. No answer having been returned, the old gentleman became impatient and again call'd and Mr. Swift and myself to know whether we had rec'd any information. I told him not to be impatient, that I had rec'd information from the Com'r of Pensions that all applications would be attended to as speedily as the nature of the case admit ___. In the mean time the applicant wrote and procured the aff't of his brother, and again requested that the evidence might be sent, which I declined doing for the reasons before mentioned. In the fall of 1834 Mr. Bassford died. His widow call'd on me last month to know the situation of the business. I wrote Mr. Swift about the same during the session of Congress, but he for some reason or other forgot to mention the subject to you. I have been particular in stating the subject that you may understand why the matter has been so long delayed. Enclosed I send you the evidence of James Bassford and W'm Boyd and should the declaration be found, and allowed upon the evidence enclosed, I will furnish the evidence of the death of the applicant and such other evidence with the proper certificates as is required by the Department. Since the death of the old gentleman Bassford, I have been furnished with the memorandum alluded to by Mr. Swift which I will forward if required. Very Respectfully, your ob't serv't, W'm Bridges Hon J. L Edwards, Com'r Pensions Revolutionary War Pension Records for Benjamin Basford Letter to J. L. Edwards, 5 Aug 1835 St. Albans Aug't 5th 1835 Hon. J. L. Edwards Sir, Enclosed is the memorandum referred to in your letter of the 24th July which is all the evidence of service rendered by Mr. Basford in the Revolutionary War that I know of/ It appears by the enclosed that he enlisted in Concord N. H. and I think probably that his name is borne on the roll of that State. I have written the Secretary of State and received for answer that the rolls of that state have been transmitted to the War Office, therefore could give no account of the service of the soldiers who served in the N.H. line. In regard to the character of Mr. Basford, should the Depart' require any evidence on that point it can be furnished and his character established beyond a doubt. He is well known in this vicinity, and has ever sustained an unimpeachable character. Letter by J. L. Edwards, 12 Oct 1835 War Department, Pension Office, October 12th 1835 Sir, I have the honor to enclose herewith a paper purporting to be the declaration of service of Benjamin Basford in 1818. If you have any knowledge of its execution and authenticity or of any jural(?) which may have been attached to it and since destroyed, you will confer a favor upon the Department and claimant by stating it on the back of it. This(?) is indispensable by the ruling before it can become available evidence in the case. I have the honor to be Resp'y Your Ob't Servant J. L. Edwards Hon. B. Swift St. Albans, Vermont Letter by B. Swift, 29 Apr 1836 I have no knowledge whatever of the execution of the within declaration, tho' it is possible that I might have known something of it at the time. I think I have had several conversations with Mr. Basford on the subject of his claim of a later date & my suspicion is that I made out a declaration for him but do not now recollect that I was informed that it was ever acted on at the Pension Office Indeed(?) I do not think that much dependance(?) can be placed on any impressions(?) which I have on the subject Apr. 29, 1836 B. Swift Letter by B. Swift, 29 Apr 1836 _____ ______ Ap'l 29, 1836 Sir, I have lately rec'd the enclosed papers and ask your early attention to the same. Amongst the papers of Mr. Basford deceased I find your letter addressed to me of the 12th of Oct last and being unable to reply to it in a manner to benefit the heirs of Mr. Basford, I handed it to Judge Bridges Seeing it now, and recollecting that I did on a former occasion write you on the subject of the claim at the instance(?) of Judge Bridges I have made a certificate that my silence might mot be misunderstood. Respectfully Yours, B. Swift Deposition by Judge Joel Barber, 7 Jun 1836 State of Vermont, Georgia District} Be it remembered that at a Probate Court holden at Fairfield in s'd district on the 7th day of June AD 1836 I Joel Barber Jr. Judge of the Court of Probate in and for the District aforesaid do hereby certify that it was most satisfactorily proved to s'd court that Benja' Basford late of Georgia, county of Franklin and State afs'd died on the thirteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three, and that Martha Basford now living in s'd town of Georgia is the lawful widow of the said Benjamin Basford aforesaid deceased. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Fairfield in said district the day & year afs'd Joel Barber, Judge Letter by William Bridges, 10 Jun 1836 St. Albans June 10th 1836 Hon J. L. Edwards Sir, I enclosed the certificate of the Court of Probate supporting the pension of Benja' Basford late of Georgia deceased. You will please examine the same and in due time forward an answer Your with due respect, Wm Bridges