Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7,897, Benjamin Williams, N. C.
Page 1

Service

NC (illegible)

Williams, Benjamin

Number
&7897


Carded
Page 2

Benjamin Williams of (illegible) in the state of Ohio who was a Private (illegible) in the company commanded by Captain York of the Regiment commanded by (further text is illegible)

$80.00

Inscribed on the roll of Ohio at the rate of 80 dollars cents per annum, to commence on the 4th (illegible) of March, 1831. 

certificate of pension issued the 9th (illegible/unclear) day of  (illegible)

and sent to 1832, Francis L. Clorgne (further next is unclear) Co. Ohio

Arrears to the 4th of Sep (illegible) 1833
(illegible) allowances ending (illegible)

20.00
40.00
20.000

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by (illegible), Clerk,

Book 6    Vol 8     Page 29
Page 3

28. 295


Benjamin Williams

Ohio

(Faded text) 1777 1st May 79 

(illegible text) 2 years

$80


Francis Leclercg, Gallia county, Ohio
Page 4

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 9, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjoined (unclear) notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace (Thus: }. You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with the request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 

A statement, showing the service of Benjamin Williams. 

Period when the service was rendered.  Duration of the claimant's service. 
Years: 1

Months: 6.(illegible) 6 
Days

Rank of the claimant: Priv (unclear) 

Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. 

Cap. York (Unclear)

Col. Literal (unclear)

Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service (details below unclear)

Proof by which the declaration is supported (details below unclear)
Page 5

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c, Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1.
The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss.
County of
On this
day of
A.B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
of
aged (c)
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 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)
with andserved

in the
(e) regiment of the
Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of
& c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the
and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
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 A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
1,
Clerk of the Court of
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this
day of
& c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission
; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 6

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted
; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected
. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on accoun of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war
, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6.
{To a Soldier.
⎨
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given
, and what has become of it?
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
To an Office, has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure
, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will folto
make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so
definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason
memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his
no less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For years, and
determine with the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law
directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about four months
is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is
highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement
the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority
; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
The Clerk must fix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no pubthe
seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains
the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
is where the name of the applicant is not found on the issue without
to enter in
that there were
note applies to continental troops only.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 7

Benj(unclear) Williams
Applies for a pension
28.295
Page 8

State of Ohio
(heading text below is illegible)

On this nineteenth day of October A.D. 1833, personally appearing in our (illegible) court,
before the Hon. Judges
of the court of Common Pleas of Gallia County now sitting Benjamin Williams a resident of Harrison in the County Gallia and State of Ohio aged seventy one years who being
first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make
the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit
that act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the
following named officers and served and herein stated.
That he was drafted as a private into the North Carolina
state troops at a place called the barracks in Claton
County North Carolina, the year and month not recollected
owing to loss of memory consequent of his advanced
age that his last name was Wm York, Lieu, John Hinds
Gus Abraham Catalin, Col John Litteral other regiment
officers not recollected. Went to Cheraw Hills where were
the head quarter of the army during the whole term
of his enlistment and service, eighteen months: was
not enjoyed in any battle of moment, but was often
occupied in putting down the tories of the vicinity.
He was out on this enlistment and in service eighteen
months,
That on the expiration of his former term of service,
he enlisted as a privated into the regular service for
the term of three years. That he does not recollect the
year, but thinks it was in the fall of the year. that he does not
recollected the names of any of the officers of his company
or of the regiment, that the army was under the command
of Gen. Greene, From Cheraw Hills station, the army
went to Salsbury from thence to Guilford Courthouse
where they met the British under Cornwallis, and a seale
battle ensued; that the American army was divided in three
lines, and that his regiment was stationed on the right
of the front line, and that after the battle had continued
some time, they retired behind the second line; that the Americans were obliged to retreat from this place the
army went to Hillsborough where the army stayed about
twenty four town, from that place, they went in pursuit
of Cornwallis, whom they followed, to Roman mills on
Page 9

mark
on deep river. Here they offered the British battle, and Cornwallis
sent a reply, that he would fight them in the morning.
but, during the night, had built a bridge over the river
and fled. Green now returned to Sherrow hills, where
the army stayed till it was disbanded after the surrender
of Cornwallis and the coming on of peace. He does not
recollect exactly the amount of the last term of service, but
knows it was not less than six months.
That he had discharges but they are now lost
at 11 when he entered the service he lived in Shoton
County in North Carolina from whence about twenty years
do, he removed into Tennessee where he resided a
short time, and then removed to this state, to his present
place of residence in this County and state
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension
or annuity except the present, and declares that his name
is not on the pension rool(misspelled) of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year
aforesaid
his
Attest
Benjamin B Williams
Simeon North
We James  James McCaw ye Esq and Elijah Howell residents
of Harrison aforesaid, (there being no regular clergyman in said
township) hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
the said Benjamin William who has subscribed and sworn
to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy
one years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the
neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the
revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed the day
Elijah Howell
and year aforesaid-
Francis Leflerey Clkep.G.C
 James McCaw
And the said Court hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories presented by the
war department that the above named applicant was a Soldier of
the Revolution and Served as he States in his declaration and the
Court further certifies that James McCall and Elijah
Howell who have signed the preceding certificate (there being
no clergyman in the neighbourhood of the applicant are
credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit
and that they are also residents of the said County of Gallia
Page 10

The
hereun
day of
State of Ohio Gallia County 
Francis Sectry Clerk of the Court
of Common Pleas in and for said
County do hereby certify that the forego
ing contains the original proceedings
of the said Court in the matter of the
application of Benjamin Williams for
of
pension
In Testimony whereof I have
unto set my hand and seal of Office this twenty third day of October AD 1833
---
Francis Lecler (further text is unclear)
Page 11

Mrs. H. C. Johnston
Gallipolis, Ohio
Dear Madam:
November 13, 1930
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 7827, that Benjamin Williams,
while residing in Chatham County, North Carolina, enlisted, date
not given, and served eighteen months as private in Captain
William York's company, Colonel John Litteral's North Carolina
regiment; at the expiration of this service, he reenlisted and
served six months and was in the battle of Guilford; names of
officers not stated.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 19,
1833, at which time he was living in Harrison, Gallia County,
Ohio.
It was stated that his mother was living during the
Revolution, but her name was not given, and there is no data
relative to wife or children.
Very truly yours
the
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner
Page 12

1913. Feb. 24. History to
Mrs Virginia D. Glover
---
Lettice R. C. Henry Daniel
1930 Hist to Mrs. H.C.
Johnston
see letters (unclear text)
Allen William
Wasson S18670


Rev War

INVALID.
File No.7897
Benjamin Williams
Priv (unclear) Rev. War
-
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 409
(Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 13

State of Ohio Gallia County SS (unclear)

The following is the Deposition of Mary Gibson of the County
said to be Reel as Evidence in an application that
be made to the Secretary of War by Benjamin
Williams of said County, for his Revolutionary service under the
act of Congress one thousand Eight hundred and thirty
two
Before me  James McCaw (unclear) one of the Justices of the
Peace for said County personally came Mary Gibson
who being duly affirmed according to Law, deposeth
and saith, That she is known to Benjamin Williams
serving in the Revolutionary war that she seen him
the said Williams in the American (unclear text) when serving
in the Militia. And further that he the said Williams
was absent from home that Report said he was
Enlisted in the Continental Army. Also that she
seem him return home dressed in Regimentials
and she believes it was after peace was made between
Great Britain and the American Colonies that he
the said Williams told on his return home, that
he had been serving as a Regular Soldier under
enlistment that she verily believes what
he the said Williams told her and further
this deponant saith not-
Affirmed to and subscribed before Mary Gibson
me at the County aforesaid this 11 day of
October AD 1833
 James McCaw
Justice of the Peace
The State of Ohio, Gallia County SS
Francis Leclercg clerk of the Court of
Common pleas in and for said County
certify that James Case Junion Esqr
is a magistrate as above and the above Signature purporting to be his
Testimony whereof I have hereunto
Set my name and affixed the seal of
said Court at Gueron's this twenty
third day of October AD 1833
Francis Leclercg (text after is illegible)
Page 14

State of Ohio Gallia County SS,
The following is the Deposition of Jonathan Williams of
the County aforesaid to be Red as evidence in an application
to be made by Benjamin Williams to the War Department for his Revolutionary Services under the act of
June one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two
Before me  James McCaw one of the Justice of the Peace
for said County, personally came Jonathan Williams
who being duly affirmed according to Law, deposeth and said
That he Recollect seeing Benjamin Williams returned home
from the army of the Revolution that he the said Williams
said he had been in the Continental Army of the United States of America
, the deponent further states that he Recoll
ty of seeing his mother a walking the door yard and
crying supposing her son was in a battle fought on
the Yadkin River in North Carolina - And further
that always heard his neighbor says that he the
said B. Williams was a Revolutionary Soldier
And that he has known him the said
Benjamin Williams Everence (unclear) that time and
he verily believes that what he the said Benjamin
Williams told her was truth and
further this deponent saith not
affirmed to and subscribed before me at
the County aforesaid this 19th day of
October AD. 1833
 James McCaw
-
Justice of the Peace
The State of Ohio, Gallia County SS
Francis Leclercg, Clerk of the Court
of Common pleas in and for said County
do certify that James McCall Junr (unclear)
Esqr is a magistrate as above and
and that the above Signature purpoting to be his is genuine
In Testimony Whereof I have
hereunto set my name and the seal
of said Court this day of (unclear) 1833. 

Francis Leclercg (unclear)
Page 15

Additional (unclear text) testimony of B Williams' application for pension.
Page 16

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned an
acting Justice of the Peace within and for the County of
Gallia State of Ohio, Benjamin Williams who being duly
sworn, deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and
the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively
as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the
best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods
mentioned below and in the following grades; for one year
and six months during my (text unclear) tour of service. I served
as a private, and for six months during my second
term of service. I served as a private, and for such
service I claim a pension. Signed Benjamin Williams
Signed and sworn to this 2nd day December 1833
1833 before me
 James McCaw J.G.(Text unclear)

And I also certify that Jonathan Williams and
Mary Gibson who have severally made depositions
before me in the matter of Benjamin Williams
application for a pension, and which depositions were
taken on the 11th of Oct 1833 and the 19th of Oct 1833 are creditable persons, and are so counted in the neighborhood where
they live, and I believe and certify that their statement
as set forth in said depositions are entitled
to full faith and credit-
 James McCaw J. P. (Text Unclear) Gallin


The State of Ohio Gallia County SS
&
I Francis Leclercg  Clerk of the Court
of Common pleas in and for said County
do hereby certify that James McCaw.
Esq is a Magistrate as above and that the
above Signatures purporting to be his
are genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name
affixed the seal of said Court at Gunpons (text unclear)this fifth
day of December A D 1833)
-
Francis Leclercg (Further next unclear)
Page 17

Benj (Unclear, possibly abbreviation) Williams

(illegible)

7th December (illegible)

8th Jan, '32 (unclear)
Page 18

State of North Carolina
Secretary of State's Office
I William Hill Secretary of State in and for the
State aforesaid, do certify that it appears from the musterrolls of the Continental line of this State
in the revolutionary war that Benjamin Williams
a private in Capt Pointer's Company of the 7th
Regiment enlisted on the 6th of February 1777 for
the term of 3 years, was sergt 1st May 1779, and
that nothing more is said of him on said rolls
Given under my hand this
24th day of December 1833
W Hill
-
Page 19

In reply to your request of ........, received....... for a statement of the military history of Benjamin Williams a solider in the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's, crossed out) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

S. 7,897


DATES OF
LENGTH OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.
to
SERVICE.

1779 (illegible, crossed out)

Fall 1780 (Note, 1780 is crossed out)
,
RANK.
Priv (abbreviated Private)

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
William York
Captain
Name of officers not recollected 
Colonel
John Litteral
Colonel

(Note, this record would imply that Williams did not recollect the officers whom he served under in his second tour of service)

State
N.C.

Battles engaged in, Guilford,

Residence of soldier at enlistment, Chatham Co., N.C.

Date of application for pension, Oct. 19, 1833. His (Illegible)

Residence at date of application, Harrison, Gallia Co. Ohio

Age at date of application, 71 yrs

Remarks: There is no data relative to wife or children.
Mother alive during Rev (unclear) - name not given
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

6 -- 2856