Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 778, James Benson, Penn.
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Service                                 Number

Penn.        Benson, James    R. 778
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Contents
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Sixteenth of November 1776 where he was taken prisoner at Fort Washington and sent to New York to the East Church as a prisoner where exchanged he was sent to Philadelphia Hospital where he was discharged from the service in 1778 in the city of Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania; that he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension except the present; that his name is not on the pension roll of any state and that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension. 

I lived on the frontiers or mountains of this state for the last 20 years (except a short time back that I have lived in the poor house of said county) the law was passed a long time before I heard anything about it.  I was told by men whom I expected understood the law that the acts of 1818 and 1820 only included those men who enlisted for three to five years with those who enlisted for during the war nor did I know that I could prove my services which I was told was especially necessary with a fall I received from a horse which has confined me to the house in (illegible) for the last thirteen years.
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Original Claim

Declaration in order to be placed on the pension list under the act of the 18th of March 1818.

County of Bath SS
Commonwealth of Kentucky

On this 27th day of July 1831 personally appeared before the subscriber, a justice of the county court of Bath, the same being made a court of record by the acts of the Legislature of the Commonwealth aforesaid, James Benson, resident in said county, aged eighty-seven years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the acts of Congress of the 8th of March 1818 and first of May 1820. 

That the said James Benson enlisted for the term of one year on the 10th day of September in the year of 1776 in the town of Bergen, state of New Jersey, in the company commanded by Captain John Laird in the first regiment commanded by Colonel McColister in the line of the state of Pennsylvania
on the continental establishment, that he continued to serve in said corps until the
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ORIGINAL CLAIM

    Declaration in order to be placed on the pension list under the Act of the 18th of March 1818.

   County of Bath}
Commonwealth of Kentucky} ss.

    On this 27th day of July 1831, personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the County Court of Bath the same being made a Court of Record by the Acts of Legislature of the Commonwealth aforesaid James Benson resident in said County aged eighty-seven years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18th of March 1818 and first of May 1820.  That he the said James Benson enlisted for the term of one year on the 10th day of September in the year 1776 in the town of Bergain state of New Jersey in the Company commanded by Captain John Laird in the first regiment commanded by Colonel McCollister in the line of Pennsylvania in the continental establishment that he continued to serve in said corps until the (next Page)
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sixteenth of November 1776 when he was taken prisoner at Fort Washington and sent to New York to the East Church as a prisoner, when exchanged he was sent to Philadelphia Hospital where he was discharged from the service in 1778 in the City of Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania.  That he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension except the present that his name is not on the pension roll of any state and that the following are reasons for not making earlier application for a pension - I lived on the frontiers or mountains of this state for the last 20 years (except a short time back that I have lived in the poor house of said county by the law was passed a long-time before I heard anything about it.  I was told by men whom I expected understood the law.  That the acts of 1818 and 1820 only included men who enlisted for three to five years with those who enlisted for during the War nor did I know that I could prove my services, which I was told was essentially necessary with a fall I received from a horse which has confined me to the house in Armanner for the last thirteen years (next page)
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And in the parlance of the act of the first of May 1820, I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to dimmish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled " An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval services of the United States in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person entrusted for me any property or securities, contract or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed by me subscribed. 

I have residing with me my wife, named Elizabeth, aged 74 years, who has been blind nine years.  I am by occupation a farmer but have been unable to pursue it for the last thirteen years.  Since the 18th of March 1818 the following changes have been made in my property.
One horse beast at $10--Samuel G Gill--1826--3 shirts, 2 pair pants(?)
Two cows beast at $10--Ditty Dillo--1827--firewood clothing
Two {portion missing} --1828--same same
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And that I have no property now, not even clothing, except what the county furnishes.
Signed:  James (his X mark) Benson

Sworn to and declared on the 27th day of July 1831.
I, a justice of the above named court holder in the aforesaid county, where the declarant resides, do hereby certify that the above named James Benson is from the infirmities of old age with an injury sustained by a fall from horse with which I am credibly informed and believe he has been afflicted with for the space of thirteen years, that he will be unable to attend the court of which I am a justice, and I do think from present appearances that he will be unable to attend the above named court at its next session.

I have therefore in pursuance of the act of Congress of the first of March 1823 attended at his place of abode and administered the foregoing oath.
Signed: Thos. Iles
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I, Willliam M. Sudduth, clerk of the Bath County Court, certify that Thomas Iles, before whom the above affidavit of James Benson, who is now sick and confined to his house was made, is a justice of the aforesaid.  I also certify that the said schedule and oath have been admitted to the record of said court and that the same are truly copied therefrom and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount of value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is thirty dollars. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court on this 11th day of August 1832.
Signed:  William M. Sudduth
Clerk of the Couty Court of Bath
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January 31, 1934,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BA=J/ady
James Garrison, S.16123
and James Benson, R.778

Mrs. Dalton Fletchall
523 West 19th Street
Connersville, Indiana

Dear Madam:

   Reference is made to your letter in which you request the records of James Benson and James Garrison, Revolutionary War soldiers.

    Their records are furnished you herewith as found in the respective claims for pension based upon service in the Revolutionary War.

    James Gattison
    S. 18123

    James Garrison was born about 1761 in Rowan County, North Carolina.  No reference is made to his parents.

    While a resident of Rowan County, North Carolina, James Garrison enlisted in the spring of 1781, served as a private in Captain John Lopp's Company, Colonel Ezekial Polk's North Carolina Regiment, was in an engagement at Wilmington, in the battle of Guilford Court House and was discharged when the news of the surrender of Cornwallis was received.  

    In 1827 he moved from Davidson County, formerly part of Rowan County, North Carolina, to Indiana.

    He was allowed pension on his application executed September 27, 1832 while a resident of Washington County, Indiana. He was still living there in 1855.

    He died February 3, 1858, Place not stated. 
    
    It is not stated whether soldier was ever married. 

    James Benson
    R. 778

    James Benson applied for pension July 27, 183`1, at which time he was aged eighty-seven years and a resident of Bath  (next page)
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county, Kentucky, and stated the he enlisted in Gergen, New Jersey, September 10, 1776, served in Captain John Laird's Company, Colonel McCollister's Pennsylvania Regiment; that on November 16, 1776, he was taken prisoner at Fort Washington, sent to New York, later exchanged and was discharged in 1778. 

    He also stated in 1831 that he had lived on the frontiers r mountains of Kentucky about twenty years.

    His claim was not allowed as the act of Congress under which he applied provided for those soldiers only who served in the continental line. 

    In 1831 his wife, Elizabeth, her maiden name not stated, was aged seventy-four years.  There are no further family data.

    This is the history of the only James Benson that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office.

                                 Very truly yours,

                                 A.D. Hiller
                                 Assistant to Administrator.
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21879
James Benson
Kentucky
Act 18 March 1818

Rejected 22 August 1830 see letter to J. Bedell Esqr do to same Sept. 28, 1831.

778
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INVALID
Ex'r.
No. 778

REJECTED

James Benson
P.O. _____
Service: ____
Enlisted: _____
Discharged: _____

Application filed: ____
Alleges: ______
Re-enlisted: _____

1934 Jan 31, Hist to Mrs. Dalton Fletchall   ADY
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Owingsville, Kentucky August 11th, 1831.

Sir, 

   I beg leave to state that I am the agent of James Benson you will please direct to me in this place.

                              Very respectfully,
                               Yours //s//
                                John Bedell
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- COPY -

War Dept. Pension
Office, September
28, 1831.

Mr. John Bedell
Mouth of Slate P.O.
Bath Co. Ken.

Sir:

    In reply to your letter of the 18" instant I have to inform you that neither the regiment commanded by Col. Watt nor any part of the Flying Camp, in which James Benson alleges to have served, belonged to the continental establishment.  As the revolutionary pension law provide for none who did not belong to the continental establishment, his claim cannot be allowed.

                                             I.L.E.

- COPY -
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- COPY -

War Department,
Pension Office,
August 22, 1831

John Bedell, Esq.
Owingsville, Ky.

Sir:

   The documents in support of the Claim of James Benson have been examined and will remain on our files.  Colonel McCollister, under whom he states to have served, did not command a regiment on the continental establishment.  As the act of March 18, 1818 provides for those only who served on the continental establishment, a pension cannot be granted him. 

                                  B.L.B.

- COPY -
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(Transcriber's note: this page appears to be completely unrelated to James Benson.  It is research notes for a families named Campbell and Clark.) 

Mrs. Grims Checked

page 5 OCA 
Mary Campbell b. Oct. 12, 1748, m. John Clark 
page 194 OCA
came to this country from England
Jonathan Clark d. Nov. 26, 1725 Cecil Co. Md.
page 195-196-197 (Vanderbilt county)
Henry Clark m. Elizabeth Underhill d. March 30, 1783 Padgett Crk. S.C.  d. March 30, 1797 age 84. In 1790 census Union Co. S.C.
page 196. OCA page 51, 52, 53, 61, 62, 63. 
John Clark b. July 18, 1742 Nottingham, Pa. m. Mary Campbell "after June, 1766" probably in York Co, Penna. Migrated to So. Car. Padgett Creek and Tyger River which became Union District and later Union County. "To Henry Clark, John Clark the husbands of Mary Campbell.  The historical Society of So. Car. for militia of" ninety-six district of So. Car. under Col. Thomas Breadan.  John Clark is buried in old Quaker burial grounds of Padgett's Creek. 
Mary Campbell Little (OCA p53) first wife's descendants entitled to DAR membership.  Mark Clark Little's (2nd wife) not proven.

p53.  John Hester (Clark) Campbell, reared a family of 11 children one of whom, a daughter, Mary Campbell Little, with Henry and Elizabeth Clark, and John Clark, father, mother, and brother of Hester Clark Campbell, are buried in the old Quaker Burial Grounds on Padgett Creek" S. Car.
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Connersville, Ind
Jun 18th 1934

Veterans Bureau
Washington, D.C. 

    Have been informed that you will send data concerning the soldier of the Revolution.  Will you kindly send me data of my ancestor James Benson from York, Penn. died in Kentucky.

   Also James Garrison buried in Washington County Indiana an information will be gratefully received Mrs. Dalton Fletchall 523 W 19th St. Connersville, Indiana.