Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32392, for Benjamin Majors, South Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
S.C.

Majors, Benjamin

NUMBER
S.32392

------------------------
CONTENTS
Page 2

Ala [illegible due to tear]  27,580.
-----------------------------
Benjamin Majors    Benjamin
Dallas Co [tear] in the State of Al
[illegible] in the Company commanded
by Captain [La-illegible] of the Regt commanded
by Col Sochain? [illegible] in the South Carolina
line for ...
[illegible]  $30.00
----------------------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of Alabama
at the rate of 30 Dollars [blank] Cents per ann.
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
-----------------------------------
1824

Certificate of Pension issued the 28th day of Aug
and sent to
Mr. W Nunnellu, Portland, AL
----------------------------------
Arrears to the 4th of Mar '34                          $90.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept [illegible]  15.00
                                                                      $105.00

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by I. T. Sprague Clerk,
Book C Vol. 8 Page 54

[note on right side]
Died Aug. 11, 1835 (A.B.)
Page 3

Declaration
In Order to Obtain the benefit Of the Act Of
Congress Of the 7th Of June 1832

State of Alabama
Dallas County 

On this twenty fourth
day Of September in the
Year Of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty three
appeared in the Open Court before the Honorable Anderson
Crenshaw One Of the Circuit Judges in and for the
State Aforesaid Benjamin Majors a resident of
the County of Dallas And State aforesaid age Seventy
two years who being first duly sworn according to
law doth On his Oath make the following declaration 
in Order to Obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June the
7th 1832.  That he volunteered in the Army Of the United 
States in the February of 1779 with Colonel Robert
Goodwin and served in the Regiment (number of
Regiment not recollected) Of the line (number of line
not recollected) under the following named Officers
Major Francis Goodwin, Lieut. Andrew Lester and
Captain William Lang that he left the service in
July 1779, that he lived in Kershaw District in the
State of South Carolina when he entered the services
that he never was in any battle but he was with
the Army of General Moultrie who retreated from
Black Swamp to Charleston, pursued by General
Prevost that during his service he marched from
Congaree to Orangeburgh from thence to round O.
from hence to the Horse Shoe from thence to Ponce
Pond from thence to cross Pocatallico from thence
Page 4

To Black Swamp and from then to Charleston
as aforesaid, he further states that after he served his
time out as volunteer as aforesaid that he was drafted
and served under Colonel Robert Goodwin aforesaid
in the latter part of the Year 1779 and that he left
the service in the spring or summer of 1780 (the years
[edge of paper eroded] -ticular length of time he served as a drafted soldier
he does not recollect but he believes it was in a five
months that he lived in Kershaw District in the State 
of South Carolina when he entered the service.  that 
he never was in any battle.  that during his service
he was stationed at Orangeburgh one month until
the third Division relieved him (he being in the 2nd)
when called out again.  and was stationed at the
Four hold bridges under General Wayne where he
remained for one month untill he was relieved by 
the first Division.  when called out again he was stationed
at Orangeburgh under Colonel Hunter where
he remained two months.  He was afterwards as
well as his fading memory informs him a guard 
to the magazine at Camden under Captain John
Chestnut where he remained one month.  He 
believes at this he drove an ammunition waggon
from Camden to Fort Charlotte or Mecklenburgh
in North Carolina after which he went out 
of the service.  

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever
to a pension or an annuity except the present,
and declares that his name is not on the Pension
roll of any Agency in any State - [the remainder of this line is marked through but says] except
that of the State of Alabama.

Benjamin Majors [his mark]

Sworn to and subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
[page ends without signature]
Page 5

Interrogatories
Put to applicant for Pension by the Court now sitting
Qn 1st  Where and in what year were you born
Ans.   I was born in Pendleton District in the 
State of South Carolina in the year 1761
"  2nd    Have you any record of your age and 
if so where is it
Ans.  I have a record of my age which 
I have present for the Court to see
"  3rd   Where were you living when you were 
called into service.  Where have you 
lived since the Revolutionary war.
And where do you now live.
Ans.  I have lived since the Revolutionary
War in the State of South Carolina
and now live in Dallas County in the 
State of Alabama
"  4th   How were you called into service.
Were you drafted, did you volunteer
or were you a substitute and if a 
substitute for whom.
Ans.   I first went into the service as a 
volunteer.  Secondly as a drafted
militiaman
"  5th   State the names of some of the officers
(Regular) who were with the troops
where you served, such Continental
and Militia Regiments as you can 
recollect and the general circumstances 
of your service.
Ans.   I remember the name of General
Wayne who commanded the Troops
Page 6

I was with Colonel
Goodwin and also Major Frances Goodwin
a Regiment in the South Carolina
militia  I recollect no continental
Regiment
"  6th   Did  you ever receive a discharge from the
service and if so by whom was it given.
and what has become of it.
Ans.   I was first discharges when Capt. Langs
company was discharged by Sergeant Samuel
lu May [?]  we were discharges by Messes [?]
and the discharge was given to one of the 
[illegible] and I do not know what became of it
"  7th   State the names of someone to whom you 
are known in your present neighborhood
and who can testify as to your
character for verasity.  and their 
belief of your service as a soldier of
the Revolution.
Ans.   I am acquainted with Wiley J
Sorell [?] and Willis Nunnelu [?]
who are now present and many others 
who are not present.

Personally appeared in the Court 
aforesaid Mrs. Jane Grant who upon Oath deposeth
& saith that she is the sister of Benjamin
Majors aforesaid.  that she is sixty five years of 
age or thereabout and that to the best of her
knowledge and belief the facts and circumstances
above set forth by the said Benjamin
Majors are true.

Jane Grant [her mark]

We Wiley J. Sorrell a clergyman residing in the 
County and State aforesaid and Willis Nunnelu [?]
Page 7

Residing in the said County and State aforesaid
do hereby Certify that we are well acquainted
with Benjamin Majors who has subscribed and 
sworn to the above Declaration  that we believe him
to be Of the Age that he represents and that he is 
reputed and believed in the neighborhood to be 
a Revolutionary soldier and that they concur
in that Opinion.
Willis Nunnelu [?]
Willie J Sorell [V Dell?] 

Sworn and subscribed to in Open Court
the Day and Year aforesaid

Personally appeared also in Open Court Benjamin
Majors being duly sworn deposeth
and saith that by Reason of Old age and
consequent loss of Memory he cannot swear 
positively as to the precise length of his service
but that according to the best of his recollection 
that he served not less than the period 
set forth in his Declaration and in the grade 
of a common soldier and for which I claim 
my pension

Benjamin Majors [his mark]

And the said Court do hereby declare their
opinion 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 the court
further certifies that it appears to them that
Page 8

That Wiley J. Sorrell who has signed the preceding
certificate is a clergy man resident in 
the County and State aforesaid, and that Mrs.
Jane Grant and Willis Nunnelu who has also 
signed the same are residents in the county
and State aforesaid and are credible 
persons and that their statements are 
entitled to credit.

Anderson Crenshaw 
Judge presiding

I Matthew Gayle Clerk of the Dallas Circuit 
Court do hereby Certify that the foregoing
contains the original preceedings of the said
Court in the matter of the Application of 
Benjamin Majors for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto 
set my hand and affixed this private seal
there being no seal of office - this 24th day 
of September A.D. 1833.

Matt Gayle, Clerk 
[seal]
Page 9

[hole in paper] 19
Benjamin Majors
Alabama

from 1779 per
9 months
$30


Willis Nunnelu
Portland
Dallas Co.
Alabama
Page 10

May 8, 1939

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BENJAMIN MAJORS
S. 32392
BA-J/MLB

Mrs. R. L. Dobyns
Route #2, Box 154
Clarkedale, Mississippi

Dear Madam:

The data which follow in regard to Benjamin Majors were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 32392, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

Benjamin Majors was born in 1761 in Pendleton District, South Carolina; the names of his parents were not given.

While residing in Kershaw District, South Carolina, Benjamin Majors volunteered in February, 1779, served as private in Captain William Lang's company, Colonel Robert Goodwin's South Carolina regiment, and was discharged in July of the same year. After serving this tour, he enlisted in the latter part of 1779 and served as private under Colonel Robert Goodwin in the South Carolina troops and was discharged in the spring or summer of 1780 after having served a tour of about five months. He afterwards served one month as guard to the magasine at Camden under Captain John Chesnut in the South Carolina troops and drove an ammunition wagon from Camden to Fort Charlotte or Mecklenburgh, North Carolina.

After the Revolution, the soldier resided for a time in South Carolina. He was allowed pension on his application executed September 24, 1833, at which time he was a resident of Dallas County, Alabama. HE died August 11, 1835.

No reference was made in the claim to wife or children of Benjamin Majors.

In 1833, Benjamin Majors' sister, Mrs. Jane Grant, was living in Dalla County, Alabama, aged about sixty-five years; the given name of her husband was not stated.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension and name
Page 11

and address of the person paid in the case of Benjamin Majors, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

Benjamin Majors
Certificate #27580
Issued August 28, 1834
Rate, $30 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act June 7, 1832
Alabama Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator

[Bottom of Page] - 2 -
Page 12

                                                  free

Portland A
Aug 14th 1834


Lewis Cass, Esqr.
Secretary of War
Washington 
D. C.

[on the left sideways]
Ala.   Aug 26

[on the right sideways]
Pension Office
26 Augt. 1834
Page 13

Portland   Dallas County   Ala

Dear Sir

Enclosed I forward the declaration 
of Benjamin Majors who as you 
will find claims a pension -  please
make as early return to me at 
Portland  In so doing you will 
confer a favor   I am [illegible]

Williz Nunnela


Luis Cass Esqr.
Page 14

May 8, 1939

BA-J/AWF
James Gamble
B. L. Wt. 841-200
Benjamin Majors
S. 32392

Mrs. R. L. Dobyns
R. 2 - Box 154
Clarksdale, Mississippi

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your request for information
in regard to William Stanard, Edward Carter,
John Hancock, Benjamin Majors, Samuel Majors, John
Bantmell (?), and James Gamble, soldiers of the War
of the Revolution.  

Because of the great demand for Revolutionary
War data and the limited trained clerical force
available for furnishing such information, it is 
not possible to comply in full with each request
which requires so much time and research.

The Revolutionary War records of James Gamble
and Benjamin Majors are furnished you herewith.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator


see Misc. Files - another
letter there
Page 15

R 2  Box 154
Clarksdale, Miss.
Mar 29, 1939

Mr. W. C. Black
Veteran's Administration (Rev. War Records)
Washington, D. C.

Dear sirs:

Can you tell me whether the following
men, who fought in the Rev., or their wives
drew a pension.  If so, how shall I go about 
securing the information to be found on their 
pension records?  

1.  Benjamin Majors   I find living in Dallas Co. Ala.
& drawing a pension.
2.  Samuel Majors   1762-1842.  Halifax Co. Va.
3.  John Bautwell [Bantwell?]  Caroline Co. Va.
4.  James Gamble   Penn. d. 1795
listed as officer of Continental Army.

Yours truly,

Mrs. R. L. Dobyns




[date stamp]
RECEIVED APR 3 1939
Page 16

2.
"run this down" for myself, if possible.  What
is your fee for a certified copy?

Thanking you very much I am

Yours truly,

Mrs. R. L. Dobyns


[date stamp]
RECEIVED 
MAR 23 1939
MAIL SUB-DIV.
VETS. ADM. 
READER # 22
Page 17

July 7, 1936

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Benjamin Majors, S. 32392
Thomas Sherley, S. 17083
BA-J/MLB

Mrs. Herbert Hawkins
226 W. Lamar Street
Americus, Georgia

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request to know how you can obtain Revolutionary War records of soldiers with surnames Shirley and Major who served from South Carolina or Georgia in that war.

There is only one claim for pension on file based upon service of a soldier with the surname Majors who served in the South Carolina troops, and of one only with surname Sherley, of South Carolina; there is no record of either who served in the Georgia troops or who applied for pension while residing in that state. The surnames were searched under all spellings. The records are those of Benjamin Majors and Thomas Sherley and follow as found in the claims for pension based upon their service in the Revolutionary War. Such claims are the source of Revolutionary War data furnished by the Veterans Administration.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 18

July 7, 1936

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BENJAMIN MAJORS
S. 32392
BA-J/MLB

Mrs. Herbert Hawkins
226 West Lamar Street
Americus, Georgia

Dear Madam:

You are furnished below the record of Benjamin Majors, as obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 32392, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

Benjamin Majors was born in 1761 in Pendleton District, South Carolina; the names of his parents are not given.

While residing in Kershaw District, South Carolina, he volunteered in February, 1779, served as private in Captain William Lang's company, Colonel Robert Goodwin's South Carolina regiment, and was discharged in July of the same year. After serving this tour, he enlisted in the latter part of 1779 and served as private under Colonel Robert Goodwin in the South Carolina troops and was discharged in the spring or summer of 1780 after having served a tour of about five months. He afterwards served one month as guard to the magazine at Camden under Captain John Chesnut in the South Carolina troops and drove an ammunition wagon from Camden to Fort Charlotte or Mecklenburgh, North Carolina.

After the war the soldier resided for a time in South Carolina.

Benjamin Majors was allowed pension on his application executed September 24, 1833, at which time he was a resident of Dallas County, Alabama. He died August 11, 1835.

No reference was made in the claim to wife or children.

In 1833, Benjamin Majors' sister, Mrs. Jane Grant, was living in Dallas County, Georgia, aged about sixty-five years; the given name of her husband was not stated.

In order to obtain date of last payment of pension and name of person paid, you should write to the Comptroller General, General
Page 19

Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

Benjamin Majors
Certificate #27580
Issued August 28, 1834
Rate, $30 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act June 7, 1832
Alabama Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator

[Bottom of Page]
- 2 -
Page 20

FOUNDED A. D. 1792
Insurance Company of North America

HEAD OFFICE
PHILADELHIA
--------
CAPITAL 
$12,000,000

DEPARTMENTS
-------
CHICAGO
NEW YORK
SAN FRANCISCO
TORONTO

HERBERT HAWKINS
226 W. LAMAR STREET
AMERICUS, GA.

May 26, 1939.

Veterans Administration,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sirs: - 

RE:  SHIRLEYS OR MAJORS.

Please advise me if you have had any veterans by the 
name of Shirley or Major, or advise me if you have
any Revolutionary War Record.  They are either from
Georgia or South Carolina.

In other words, I am indeavoring to get up papers
for entry in the D.A.R. local chapter and I will 
appreciate any information you can give me.  If you
can put me in touch with some one that could work
these papers up for me I would appreciate it.

Thanking you, I am,

Yours respectfully,

Mrs. Herbert Hawkins,
Americus, Ga.


[date stamp]
RECEIVED 
MAY 2[?] 1936
Page 21

STATE OF ALABAMA.
JOHN GAYLE, GOVERNOR OF SAID STATE,
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENT SHALL COME

Know Ye, That Anderson Crenshaw whose hand appears
to the foregoing attestation was at the date of the same and still is 
one of the Circuit Court Judges of this state and that Matthew Gayle
whose Certificate likewise foregoes this attestation was at the time
of signing said Certificate and still is Clerk of the Circuit Court
of Dallas County & State of Alabama - And that said Judge
and said Clerk are duly and lawfully commissioned as such [edge of paper missing]
Clerk under the Seal of the State according to the Law and [edge of paper missing]
[illegible] of the State of Alabama.

THEREFORE, all due faith, credit, and authority are, and ought to be had and given, to all their official
acts.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal
of the State to be affixed.  Done at the Capitol in Tuscaloosa,
this 17th day of July in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the Fifty-ninth.

THE GOVERNOR,  John Gayle
SECRETARY OF STATE,  James I Thornton
Page 22

32,392
Revy  INVALID.
------------
File No.  32,392
Benjamin Majors
Pri Rev War
------------
Act: June 7th 32"
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 256

[Arrangement of 1870.]


[notes on right side of page]
1936 July 7 - Hist. to Mrs. Herbert Hawkins
(see ltr in pen clm P. 17083 - Thos. Sherley) LB
1939. May 8 - Hist. to Mrs. R. L. Dobyns  MLB