In 1832, Benjamin Stanton submitted his pension request for his service in the American Revolution. His personal account of his service is given here: (Transcription below)
Along with his pension request, Cornelius D. Dewitt of Sempronius, age 72, testifies that he was well acquainted with Benjamin Stanton of Sempronius during the Revolutionary War. They were both in the same company from June to November of 1776, and they served together again from April to August of 1777 in Capt. Johannes Hardenburgh's company in Col. Levi Pawling's Regiment for four months, most of which they were stationed at Fort Clinton on the Hudson River. They entered to serve again on August 10, 1777, in the company of Capt. Benjamin Kortright in Col. Graham's Regiment, "and marched with said company to Albany and from thence to Saratoga and was at Saratoga at the time of the capture of Burgoyne, that he continued in said service for a term of three months". Benjamin enlisted yet again in the spring of 1778 and served nine months in Captain Lounsbery's Company, Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt's New York Regiment. Dewitt says they both resided in the County of Ulster until 1779 when Stanton left the county.
Transcription of two pages at top, Benjamin's personal account of his experience in the Revolution:
State of New York, Cayuga County, On the 18th day of September, 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of the Common Pleas in and for the County of Cayuga and state of New York, now setting, Benjamin Stanton, a resident of Sempronius in the County of Cayuga, and State of New York, aged 70 years, who being 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 under the following named officers, and served as herein stated - "That on the first of June, A.D. 1776, at the town of Rochester in the County of Ulster in the State of New York he entered the service of the United States in the Company of Militia commanded by Captain John Hosbrook in Col. Hardenburgh's Regiment, that he marched with said company to New York where he was stationed until said place was evacuated by the American Troops, from New York to Kings Bridge, from thence to the White Plains where he was discharged, as he believes that his term of service was five months. He further declares that about the month of January or February A.D. 1777 he again entered said service at Rochester aforesaid in the Company of Captain Benjamin Cortright in the Regiment commanded by Maj. Cantine as he believes that he marched with said company to the State of New Jersey, to Hackensack and other places, the he continued in said service for a term of two months. He further declares that he again entered said service in the month of April 1777, at Rochester aforesaid in the Company of Militia commanded by Captain Thomas Hardenburgh in Col. Levi Pawling's Regiment for a term of four months, that he marched with said company to Fort Clinton in the Hudson River, where he was stationed during said term that he served, the whole of said term of four months, he further declares that about the tenth of August A.D. 1777 he again entered said service in the company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Cortright in Col. Graham's Regiment for a term of three months, that he marched with said company to Albany, from thence to Van Schaicks Island where he joined the United Stated Army under Gen. Horatio Gates, from thence to Stillwater, and was stationed at Bemis Heights at the time of the Capture of Gen. Burgoyne, that he continued to serve for a term of three months. He further declares that in the Spring of the year 1778 he enlisted at Rochester aforesaid into the Company of State Troops- Continental troops commanded by Captain Lounsbury in Col. Philip Cortland's Regiment, for a term of nine months, that he joined said Regiment at Valley Forge, and marched from there to Stony Point, thence to White Plains, that his winter quarters were at Rochester aforesaid, where he was discharged at the expiration of said term of nine months, that he received a regular discharge from said nine months service, but has lost the same. He further declares that after the close of said last mentioned service he removed to the County of Dutchess, that while there before the close of the war, he was in said service for about six months or more, that he was out in three terms, that the names of his officers he does not remember, and that he has no proof of said last mentioned services. He hereby relinquishes every claim to an annuity or pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State or Territory." (Signed) Asahel Fitch, Judge, and Benjamin Stanton.
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A letter on file in the Revolutionary War archives, dated February 23, 1927, addressed to Mrs. Paul Knight of Crown Point, Indiana, states the following:
"I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim 1506 it appears that Benjamin Stanton while a resident of Ulster County, New York enlisted at Rochester in said county June 1, 1776 and served five months in Captain John Hasbrouck's Company, Colonel Hardenbergh's New York Regiment. He enlisted about February 1, 1777 and served two months in Captain Benjamin Kortright's Company under Major John Cantine in the New York Troops. He enlisted in April 1777 and served four months in Captain Johannes Hardenbergh's Company, Colonel Levi Pawling's New York Regiment. He enlisted August 10, 1777, served three months in Benjamin Kortright's Company, Colonel Graham's New York Regiment, and was at the capture of Burgoyne. He enlisted in Spring of 1778 and served nine months in Captain Lounsbery's Company, Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt's New York Regiment. In 1779 he moved to Dutchess County, New York and served three tours amounting to six months or more, a part of which was under Captain Thomas McKinstry and Colonel Livingston in the New York Troops. He was allowed pension on his application executed September 18, 1832 while a resident of Sempronius, Cayuga County, New York, aged seventy-six years. He died May 10, 1838. Soldier married June 29, 1787/97 in Bristol, Schoharie County, New York, Sarah, whose maiden name is not given. She was his second wife, name of first wife not stated. Soldier's widow Sarah was allowed pension on her application executed November 14, 1848, while a resident of Moravia, Cayuga County, New York, aged seventy-nine years. The following are the names of soldiers children by his first wife: Abigail, born March 26, 1784, John, born September 12, 1785, Polly, born June 7, 1787, Nathaniel, born February 16, 1789, Elizabeth, born September 1, 1791, twins Joseph and Hannah born June 29, 1793, and Martha, born July 17, 1795. Children of the soldier and his wife Sarah: Parthania born June 27, 1798, Rufus, born March 7, 1800, Benjamin, born January 21, 1802, and Nathaniel, born April 17, 1807. The history herewith furnished you is that of the only soldier by that name found in the Revolutionary War Records of this Bureau. Respectfully, Winfield Scott, Commissioner."
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