Beriah Wheeler's Revolutionary War - Pension Application

Cover page of the Revolutionary War Pension application of Beriah Wheeler, recorded on August 6, 1832 at the Windham County Court House in Vermont. Transcribed by John & Barbara Wheeler Medamana. Bracketed words or words with a question mark in parentheses are uncertain.

Vermont 1H-790 (National Archives number)

Beriah Wheeler of Windham County in the State of Vermont who was a pvt & sgt in the company commanded by Captain xxx of the Regt. xxx commanded by Col. Arnold in the Conn xxx.

10 mo 9 days priv
13 mo 21 days sgt

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 102 dollars 83 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of October 1833 and sent to

T. White Putney

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833           $257.07
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 March '34   $51.41
Total                                               $308.48

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by W.L. Williams, Clerk,
Book xx Vol. 3 Page 98.

State of Vermont

County of Windham

On this sixth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court xxx xxx in said district before the said probate court, within the said district now sitting Beriah Wheeler a resident of Jamaica in the county of Windham and State of Vermont, age 72 years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doeth, on his oath, make the following declarations, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 - that he entered into the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.

First enlisted on the 9th day of June 1776 on board of Roe Galley Crane commanded by Capt Jehiel Tinker as a mariner(?).

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 the agency of any state. To the interrogatories prescribed by the War department, he answers upon his said oath, as follows:

1. When and in what year were you born?

        In the town of Chatham (Connecticut) in the year 1760

2. Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?

       That he has no record of his age unless the [xxx] is recorded in the town clerk's office at the said Chatham.

3. Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you live now?

       I lived at Chatham [xxx] when called into service. Since the Revolutionary War he lived in [xxx] Chatham till 1784 thence removed to Winhall, Vt and lived there till about 1816 and thence moved to Jamaica [xxx] where he now lives.

4. How were you called into service; were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if substitute for whom?

       This question is answered in the body of the declaration.

5. State the names of the regular officers who were with the troops when you joined; such continental and militia assignments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.

       That he has already answered this question ( in the body of the declaration) as far as he can recollect.

6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given & what has become of it?

       [xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx]

7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your service as a soldier of the revolution.

       Daniel Benson and Nathaniel Cheney

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

Beriah Wheeler
before Peter M Taft Judge

We Nathiel Cheney residing in the town of Jamaica in the said [xxx] and Daniel Benson of Winhall in [xxx] county hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Beriah Wheeler who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 72 years of age; and he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

Daniel Benson
Nathaniel Cheney
before Peter M Taft Judge

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after 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 court further certifies, that appears to them that Nathaniel Cheney who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in the said town of Jamaica and that Daniel Benson who has also signed the same is a resident in town of Winhall in the county of Bennington and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.

[xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx.]

Peter M Taft Judge

I, Asa Greeves(?), clerk and registrar of the probate court within and for the district of Westminster aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Beriah Wheeler for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this sixth day of August AD 1832.

Asa Greeves(?) (signature)

Body of declaration follows (Back).