Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S.2071, William Beckwith, Md.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Md.

Beckwith, William

NUMBER
S.2071

Carded

CONTENTS

See N.A. Acc. No. 874
No. 050 011 Not Half Pay
William Beckwith
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Let to F. Dibble, Oct 27 1838
dead
1856 Aug 19 Paul Beckwith - present history


Pittsburgh 786 Agency
Ohio

William Beckwith
Morgan in the State of Ohio
who was a Private in the Compy commanded 
by Captain Slow of the Regt commanded 
by Col. Bentlies in the Maryland 
line for 2 years 3 months
from 1776

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio
at the rate of 80 Dollars --Cents per Annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of October
1832 and sent to James L. Gage, Ludlow, Ohio

Arrears to 4th of  Sept 1832                  $120.00
Semi=anl allowance ending 4 March "33  40.00
                                                                 _______
                                                              $160.00

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

Recorded by Nathan Rice, Clerk,
Book  D  Vol. 2  Page 127
Page 3

Declaration }
of                }
Mr. Beckwith }  No.  1258.

Pension
Office  (illegible) N  B
Page 4

State of Ohio }
Morgan County } ss     On this the 21st day of July A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open court before Thomas Irvin President Joseph C. Linn & David McGary associates the judges constituting said court & being the court of Common Pleas now sitting William Beckwith resident of Morgan County Morgan township & State of Ohio aged about 74 years who being first duly sworn according to law deposeth & saith & on his said oath doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.  That he entered the service of the United States under Capt. Jacob Sloy in Col. William Beatlie's regiment ( but which was commanded by Col. Guess & Major Benjamin Ogle) in the spring of 1776.  In this spring he enlisted & for the term of six months as he now remembers.  He was required to do camp duty.  In the spring of 1777 he went out & staid (stayed) one year.  H went from Frederick in Frederick county Maryland when he enlisted to the White Marsh crossing the Schuylkill at Reading.  He enlisted this time for one year under Capt. Ludwick (illegible) & Col. Guess
This deponent while lying at White Marsh was in a skirmish at the Rising Sun Capt. Bailey who commanded this deponents company & half the company ran away when the other half of the company of which deponent was one & another company commanded by Capt. McLene who then commanded the whole were obliged to contend with an overpowering force & fight their way back as well as they could this was affected with the loss of a few men.
He was in the battle at Chesnut Hills Col. Morgan Gen. Greene & General Smallwood were here the battle began in  the afternoon & lasted till near night.  He was so situated that he could see but little & has no distinct rememberance (sic) of what transpired.
Before the battle of Germantown the provisions were sent off to Bethlehem for safe keeping & this deponent suffered must both before & after the battle for the want of something to eat.  After the battle of Germantown this deponent & some others found about a bushel of corn which they threw on the coals & cooked & ate it.  A few days after this battle the british built up fires at the commencement of night near the American lines to make an alarm.  When the American army marched to the fires they found them deserted.  This deponent had just put a cake of dough in the ashes to bake when the alarm was given & he was obliged to take it out & eat it unbaked so he marched to meet his company at the battle of Germantown Lieut. Col. Michael Crush of this
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deponents regiment but not of his company was killed.  Gen. Wayne was in the battle & attacked a large stone house in Germantown which was full of British.  He encouraged his soldiers to fight & told them to remember Peola & to give no quarter.  The battle began about bed time & lasted nearly all night.  When the battle of Brandywine was fought this deponent was in the Regiment commanded by Col. Guess marching to the battle.  They however were too late & did not arrive there.  It ended while they were marching there & they were then  marched up the Schuylkill to Reading & from thence to the White Marsh where they were stationed.  This deponent served in no regular Company nor regiment.  He was paid eight dollars per month in continental money.  He was marched in the fall from White Marsh to the Gulf hills where he was quartered for the winter.  This deponent never served in any regular company nor regiment - he knows many regular Regiments but can not recol (recall) their numbers officers.  In the spring succeeding the winter when he was stationed at the gulf hills he received his discharge but he does not remember who gave it.  It's however lost.  This deponent served as a guard to Burgoyne 's men which they lay at Frederick a term not remembered but between 6 & 12 months.  He also served as a guard to the Hessians while they were stationed at Frederick which he thinks was from three to six months.  He was constantly called into short terms of service to small & too numerous to be particularly enumerated & which the (illegible) of his memory will not allow him to recol (recall).  He remembers however that he was called out several times to quell & pursue the tories who made much trouble about Frederick.  He think that for 5 years he was not enabled to do for himself the work of one year by means of the calls that were so (illegible) made upon him by the county.
He was born in Frederick county Maryland on Rock (illegible) about 12 miles from Washington city.  He has no record of his age.  He was living in Frederick when he was called into service.  He was a volunteer or one who enlisted for 6 & for 12 months & for the rest of the time he served he was called out by order of his militia officers.  His memory has been very treacherous & he does not remember the names of the regular officers except he hears them spoken except them above named.
He is acquainted with General Alexander McConnell Judge M M Dawes P B Johnson Wm Hawkins Jonathan Porter Francis A Barker Luther D Barker Jacob Adams Edwin Ames & with most or all the farms at the seat of justice of Morgan County he is not known
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to the clergyman in his vicinity.  This deponent knows of no documentary evidence nor other testimony except that of Benjamin Beckwith whose deposition is hereto annexed.  He lived in Frederick County until he came to this state about 13 years ago where he has lived since.

He hereby relinquished every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll off the agency of any state
(Signed) Wm Beckwith

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Attest   P. B. Johnson Clerk

We William Hawkins & Michael Wiseman & William Dawes 
residing in Morgan County Morgan township Ohio hereby certify that 
we are acquainted with William Beckwith who has subscribed & 
sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be about 74 years of age 
that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] where he resides 
to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion
William Hawkins
Wm. Dawes
Michael Wiseman
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court 
July 21st 1832.  P.B. Johnson Clerk 

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the invest
igation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war dep
artment that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served 
as he stated And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that 
William Hawkins William Dawes & Michael Wiseman 
are credible persons & that their statements are entitled to credit & that the 
persons named by the applicant in answer to the 7th question propounded 
by the Court under the direction of the war office are credible persons 
to whom statements full credit may be given They further say they 
believe the applicant was a soldier of the revolution-that he served as 
he states & that his claim to a pension is generally if not universally 
allowed to be just in the county where he lives
Page 7

I Perley B Johnson clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of 
Morgan County Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing 
contains the original proceedings of the Court aforesaid in 
the matter of the application of William Beckwith for a 
pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto 
set my hand & seal of office this 21st day 
of July AD 1832
P.B.Johnson Clerk
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State of New York
City of New York ss

Rebecca Beckwith of said city being duly sworn doth depose and say that she is the daughter of the late William Beckwith formerly residing in Morgan County Morgan township State of Ohio now deceased who departed this life on or about the 27th day of October one Thousand Eight hundred and thirty six.  That her late father was a Revolutionary Pensioner under the Government of the United States as she was informed and believes and as also appeared by the pension Certificated granted to the said William Beckwith and now in the possession of this deponent a copy whereof is hereunto annexed, and deponent further saith that her mother the wife of the said William Beckwith died when this deponent was quite a Child.  That her father and mother were legally married and had three children viz. Two Sons and one Daughter (this Deponent) That the names of the Sons were Richard and Tobias.  That the former left his fathers house many years ago and it was said went to the State of Maryland but for several years viz since the year one Thousand Eight hundred and nineteen there has been no information in relation to him to Deponents knowledge or belief and he has long since been reported and believed to be dead and Deponent verily believes that the said Richard is dead and further saith that the other son Tobias died in Morgan County State of Ohio on the Sixteenth day of January in the year One Thousand Eight hundred and twenty three as this deponent is informed and believes, and Deponent further saith that she is now the only surviving legal heir of the said William Beckwith deceased to the
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best of her knowledge and belief and deponent further saith that she is wholly unable to set forth or particularly describe except from hearsay what were the services her late father rendered as a soldier in the Revolutionary Army and therefore refers for proof of such Service to the war department where she was been informed and believes that such proof was filed preliminary to his becoming a pensioner under the Act of Congress relative to pensioners passed June the Seventh one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two.

And lastly Deponent saith that she is unmarried and is a resident of the City of New York and further saith.

(Signed) Rebecca Beckwith

Sworn in open court (illegible) 4th day of October 1838 before me
(Signed) Joseph Hoxie  Clerk
Page 10

Know all Men by these Presents, That I Rebecca Beckwith, Daughter and only heir at law of William Beckwith (Deceased) who Died in the State of Ohio in or about the year 1838, and was inscribed on the Pension list Roll of Cincinnati (Ohio) Agency do appoint William H. Browne, late Lieutenant in the New York volunteers my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my name place and stead to ask and Receive from the United States Government, the amount or balance of Pension due and owning to me as his only heir at law, and to ascertain if I am entitled to a Pension as his Daughter and also to obtain information from the United States Government, if, ever a Bounty Land Warrant had been issued to his name, and if so, to whom  directed, the date, and number of the said Land Warrant.  Granting and giving to my said Attorney full power and as: Ample Authority to give Receipts, Signatures, Assignments and Discharges for the same to the same extent as I could or might do were I personally present and acting for myself, by virtue of the same.
Given under my hand and seal this Twenty first day of December A.D. 1849 
(Signed) Rebeca Beckwith
Sworn before me this Twenty first day of 
December A.D. 1849 }
N. B. Mountfort  }
Police Justice     }
a Justice of the Peace}
[ Seal ]
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State of New York
City and Cunty of New York } s.s.

Personally, appeared before me the Undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, for the City and County above mentioned Rebecca Beckwith, who declared on Oath that she is the Identical Rebecca Beckwith, within mentioned, and signed and acknowledged the within Power of Attorney for the express purpose therein contained.
December 21st 1849
(Signed) N.  B. Mountfort
Police Justice 
a Justice of the Peace
Page 12

STATE OF NEW YORK,  }
CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, } ss.

I, James Conner, CLERK of the City and County of New-York, also CLERK of the Court of Common Pleas, for said City and County of New-York, being a Court of Record, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That N. B. Mountfort before whom the annexed depositions were taken, was at the time  of taking the same, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said City and County, duly elected and sworn, and that his signatures hereto are genuine, as I verily believe.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said Court and County, the 21st day of Dec 1849
(Signed) James Conner  Clerk
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William Beckwith
Ohio (Pittsburgh
Agency)
No 1258.

$80
Page 14

BRIEF in the case of William Beckwith of Morgan County in the State of Ohio
( Act 7 June, 1832. )

1.   Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Open Court of Common Pleas.

2.   If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3.   How old is he?  74 years.

4.   State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.
In 1776

Duration of Service 

Years   "   Months 6       Days  "

Rank
As a Private

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Gen.         
Col. William Beatties
Capt. Jacob Sloy

Period
In 1777  

Duration of Service
Years, 1   Months  "   Days.   "

Rank
As a Private

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Co. Guess
Capt. Ludwich Camp

Period.
In 1778 

Duration of Service.
Years   "   Months,  9   Days.   "

Rank.
As a Private

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
as a Volunteer in the Militia names of Officers not remembered.

In addition to the foregoing he was in a number of tours for short periods.

5.   In what battles was he engaged?  Chesnut Hills, skirmish at Rising Sun, and battle of Germantown.

6.   Where did he reside when he entered the service?   Frederick Frederick Co. Maryland

7.   Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?    a living witness

8.   Are the papers defective as to form or authentication?  and if so, in what respect?   Correct

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree wit the evidence in the case above mentioned.
(Signed) Wm S. Allison
(Signed) Charles Little Examining Clerk.
Page 15

February 19, 1931


Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
MCS:MLB

Mrs. Edward Barkhurst
Box 54
Malta, Ohio

Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears fro the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 2071, that William Beckwith was born "in Frederick County, Maryland, on Rock Creek, about twelve miles from Washington City", date not given.

While a resident of Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland, he enlisted in the spring of 1776 and served six months as private in Captain Jacob Sloy's company, in Colonel Guess' or Colonel William Beatty's Maryland regiment.  He enlisted in the spring of 1777 and served one  year as private in Captain Ludwick Camp's or Captain Bailey's company in Colonel Guess' Maryland regiment, and was in a skirmish at Rising Sun and the battle of Chestnut Hill.  He served between six and twelve months and was engaged in guarding the prisoners who were captured when Burgoyne surrendered and were stationed at Frederick.  He also served from three to six months as guard of the Hessian prisoners at Frederick.  He served many other short tours, no further details given. 

He was allowed pension on his application executed July 21, 1832, at which time he was seventy-four years of age and was living in Morgan Township, Morgan County, Ohio, where he had moved about 1819.

William Beckwith died October 27, 1836, in Morgan County, Ohio.

In 1838 Rebecca Beckwith of new York City stated that she was the daughter of William Beckwith, the soldier; that her mother, name not given, died when she was quite a child, and
Page 16

that her mother and father also had two sons, Tobias, who died January 16, 1823, and Richard, who had left home many years before, supposedly to go to Maryland, and had not been heard from since 1819, and had "long since been reported and believed to be dead".

Very truly yours

E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner


- 2 -
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1931. Feb. 19, hist. to Mrs
Edward Barkhurst, 

Rev War    2071

INVALID.

File No. 2071
William Beckwith
Privt. Rev War

Act: June7, 1832
Index: -- Vol. A,  Page 25.

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]


Will'm Beckwith Ohio Pittsburgh Agency.
Act 7 June 1832 at $80 per ann.
Be Pleased to say to what time he was last paid.
Pension Office }
Oct. 27. 1838 }   pd to 4 Sep. 1836  SH
Page 18

J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir

Enclosed is the Power of Attorney from the Daughter and only heir at Law of William Beckwith who died about seven years since in Ohio and was inscribed on the Pension list Roll.

She asks for the Balance of Pension due her Father.

She asks if she was not entitled to a Pension and if her Father's Land Warrant was issued.

Yours Respectfully
William H. Browne
42, Crosby St.
New York

4 Dec 1849
Page 19

Rebecca Beckwith
to
Edwards & Smith
Power of Attorney

Morgan County
Ohio Rolls

we desire to the 
papers in the within case.
Edwards & Smith
15 Oct. 1851

Cole
Return this not on roll or in our files
Page 20

POWER OF ATTORNEY. 
Sold by Van Norden & King, Stationers, 45 Wall street.

Know all Men by these Presents, THAT  I, Rebecca Beckwith, of New York have made, constituted and appointed, and by these presents do make, constitute, and appoint my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name, place and stead, to examine all papers on file, in regard to any Revolutionary Pension paid my Father William Beckwith (decsd), hereby revoking all former power or authority given in the premises giving and granting unto my said attorney full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully, to all intents and purposes, as I might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution and revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said attorney or his substitute shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the nineteenth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty one.
(Signed) Rebecca Beckwith
Sealed and delivered in the presence of 
(Signed) Dan Seixas
Notary Public
[ Seal ]
Page 21

The State of Ohio }
Morgan County }     Personally appeared in open court Benjamin Beckwith who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he is acquainted with William Beckwith who has this day filed his declaration for a pension that said William was in the service of the United from the spring of 1776 the greater part of his time until the close of the revolutionary war - that he resided in Frederick in Frederick county Maryland. That he was known him for a long time to be in the Regiment of Colonel Guess. This deponent & the said William are brothers & he knows the time of his (illegible) from the fact that they resided together when on in service & that though they did not serve together they constantly feared from each other & at all other times knew where each other was.  Further this deponent saith not.
Sworn to & subscribed in open court this
21st day of July AD 1832
(Signed) Benj. Beckwith

Attest.  P. B. Johnson, Clerk
Page 22

State of Ohio }
Morgan County } ss
Benjamin Beckwith of said County being duly sworn doth depose & say that he is a brother of William Beckwith late of Morgan County State of Ohio, deceased in that the said William Beckwith at the time of his decease was a revolutionary Pensioner under the Government of the United States.   That he died on or about the 27th of October Eighteen hundred & thirty Six.  And this deponent further says that the wife of the said William Beckwith died some time previous to this decease, and that after her death he did not marry again, that the said William  had three children two sons & one daughter, Richard left his fathers house a number of years ago, supposed to have gone to the State of Maryland, since which time he has not been heard from and has long since been believed by the family & this deponent as dead.  Tobias died several years since in this county. Rebecca Beckwith is as this deponent believes the only surviving  child of the said William now alive and lives as this deponent is informed and believes in the City of New York and ins unmarried as he is also informed & believes
Page 23

And this deponent further saith that of all facts herein set forth as within his knowledge he ahs a full & competent knowledge and show as set forth not to his knowledge he verily believes
(Signed) Benj. Beckwith


State of Ohio }
Morgan County } ss.  Solomon Beckwith son of Benjamin Beckwith deposeth & saith he knew that his Uncle William Beckwith was a pensioner & died some years since in this County he also knows that Tobias Beckwith died also in this County some time ago & that Rischard Beck
Page 24

-with left Washington County of this state many years ago & after many inquiries the general belief is that he is dead.  Also he believe that Rebecca Beckwith now of the City of New York is the only surviving Child of the said William Beckwith deceased.
(Signed) Solomon Beckwith

The State of Ohio }
Morgan County } ss    Be it remembered that on the 25th day of June A.D. 1838, personally came & appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County and state aforesaid Benjamin Beckwith & Solomon Beckwith the persons named in the annexed affidavits and who have respectively signed said affidavit and in open Court on being duly sworn according to law did severally depose that the matters set forth in their respective affidavits were true.  And I certify that the deponents are credible persons to whom full faith & credit ought to be given.
In testimony whereof I do hereunto Subscribe my name and affix my Seal of office at McConnelsville this 27th day of August A.D. 1838
(Signed) Jas. M. Gaylord Clk
Page 25

New York October 11th 1838

Sir,

At the request of Miss Rebecca Beckwith of this City I inclosed (sic) the within Documents.

You will perceive she is an Orphan and presumtively (sic) the only child of the late William Beckwith deceased who was a pensioner of the Government for his services in the Revolutionary army.

As Miss Beckwith cannot relate what the particular services of her late father were that entitled him to a pension she begs leave to refer to the evidence (upon which the pension was allowed) on file in the War Department.

It appears that there was some money  due pro rata on the annuity of her late father which she respectfully submits she is also entitled to receive.  You will oblige her by answering the application directed to me as soon as your convenience will permit.
Respectfully Your Obt. Servt.
Frederick Dibblee

J. L. Edwards, Esq
Page 26

[ SEAL ]    Be it Remembered that on the Fourth day of October One thousand Eight hundred and Thirty Eight Personally appeared before the Judges of Common Pleas for the City and County of New York in open Court at the City Hall of said City, Rebecca Beckwith of said City who subscribed the annexed affidavit and being duly sworn did depose that the matters therein set forth are true.
And I the undersigned Clerk of the said Court Do Certify that the said Rebecca Beckwith is a creditable person.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of said Court at the City Hall of said City the day and year above written. 
(Signed) Joseph Hoxie Clerk
Page 27

War Department
Revolutionary Claim

I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United States of the 7th of June 1832.  William Beckwith of the State of Ohio (Pitsburgh (sic) Agency) who was a private in the Army of the revolution is entitled to receive Eighty Dollars and cents per annum during his natural life commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semiannually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.  Given at the War Office of the United States this 19th day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.

L. S. (hand drawn seal)

Lew Cass
Secretary of War

Examined and 
Countersigned
J L Edwards
Page 28

Rev & 1812

MRS. EDWARD BARKHURST
BOX 54
MALTA, OHIO

STAMPED
DEPT OF THE INTERIOR,
RECEIVED
JAN 21 1931
TO BU. PENSIONS

Department of Interior
Washington D. C. 

Please give data on the following William Beckwith Maryland State Troops 1832

Thomas Niley
Penn Militia

(illegible)
Mrs Edward Backhurst
Malta, O