Person:Benjamin Roller (1)

Benjamin applied for a pension for his service during the Civil War on 20 Feb 1911 at the age of 70 and living in Old Bridge. He states that he enrolled at New York City (another paper in his file says Brooklyn) on 15 April 1864 as a seaman on the "North Carolina" in the Union Navy. That he was honorably discharged 8 May 1865 at New York City (another paper in his file says Brooklyn Navy Yard). He also states that he is 5 foot 3 inches tall, fair complexion, blue eyes and dark hair in 1880, but in 1915 he says he has dark gray hair and a dark complexion and that he weighs 121 pounds. In 1915 he also states that he has a bony lump just above his right knee. That his occupation was a boatman and that he was born 20 Feb 1841 at Old Bridge. Certificate #15027. On his pension papers in 1915 he states that he served on board the "U. S. Steamer Kensington" in 1863 and the "U. S. Steamer Jackson" in 1864 & 1865. Another paper in Benjamin's Civil War pension file states that he served on the following ships during the war: the "Sabine" 16 April 1863 to 14 Oct 1863; the "Niagara" 15 Oct 1863 to 12 Jan 1864; the "Kensington" 13 Jan 1864 to 26 Mar 1864; and the "North Carolina" 27 Mar 1864 to 15 April 1864 when he was discharged. State of New Jersey Dept. of Health signed 22 Nov 1921: states that Benjamin died 24 July 1921 at the age of 79 at Old Bridge, that he was born in New Jersey, that he was a retired painter and that the cause of death was cirrhosis of the kidneys, and that his father was Jacob Roller but mother's name was unknown. Benjamin's discharge papers say that he was discharged from the "U. S. St. Ngach" and from the Naval Service on 8 May 1865 and the discharge papers were signed 16 May 1865. (This was also in Benjamin's Civil War pension file.)