Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 37,747, John Begeant, Continental Va.
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SERVICE
Continental
Va.

Begeant, John.
or Bagent

NUMBER
S.37.747
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19.296
Virginia

John Begeant

of Frederick Co. in the state of Virginia who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Hill of the regiment commanded by Colonel Bland in the Virginia line, for the term of 3 years from '78

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on 3rd of May 1824.

Certificate of Pension issued the 7th of July 1824 and sent to Lemuel Bent, Esq. Winchester, Va.

Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1824. $32.54

$32.54

Revolutionary claim,
Acts March 18, 1818,
and May 1, 1820.
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[Declaration page 1]

Virginia,
County of Frederick, Superior Court of Law to wit:

On this third day of May 1824 personally appeared in open Court being a Court of record for the said County of Frederick [Virginia] John Bagent [Begeant] resident in said county, aged sixty three years the 10th day of August next 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 act of congress of the 18th of March 1818 and 1st of May 1820:

that the said John Bagent [Begeant] enlisted at Winchester [Virginia] in the year 1777 in the company of Capt. Gilhinson which was there stationed to guard some prisoners that had been taken at Trenton [Battle of Trenton, New Jersey 1776] That he continued in the said company at Winchester [VA] until sometime in the year 1778 when he marched in the said company in charge of the prisoners, chiefly those taken with Genl. Burgoyne [British General John Burgoyne]  who had been sent to Winchester [VA] in the meantime, to Philadelphia [Pennsylvania] where he was discharged.

that he then returned to Winchester in Virginia, and in the latter part of the year 1778 he enlisted in the company commanded by Capt. Baylor Hill of the first Regiment of Light Dragoons under the command of Colo. Bland [Theodorick Bland] in the service of the United States for the three years that he served in the said Regiment until the 18th day of November 1781 when he was discharged at Petersburgh [Petersburg] in Virginia as appears by a copy of his discharge signed by J. Belfield [John Belfield] Major 1st Regt [Regiment] of Lt [Light] Dragoons, the original having been lodged in Richmond [Virginia] where he received a patent for the land to which he was entitled for his services

And that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said service but the affidavit of Danl. Gallilleo. 
That he was in several skirmishes viz: at Monks Corner [Battle of Monck's Corner, South Carolina 1780], at [illegible] Water, and at the river Santee [South Carolina]  

that he was in a battle at Jamestown [Battle of Greensprings, Virginia 1781] and at the taking of Cornwallis [General Charles Lord Cornwallis] [Surrender of Cornwallis] [Battle of Yorktown, Virginia 1781]: that he was taken a prisoner at Santee [Santee River, SC] in May 1780. And continued a prisoner until March 1781 when he was exchanged.

And in pursuance of the act of the 1st 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
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[Declaration page 2]

I have not since that time by gift, sale, or any other manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby as to diminish 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 service
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 for me for me, any property or security, contracts or debts due to me, excepting what is contained in the following Schedule viz.

"One bay horse 14 years old; one Brown mare twelve years old; 2 cows and 2 young cattle; 2 sheep and one lamb; 1 sow and 6 pigs; 3 Shoats;
one walnut chest; two tables; 1 Axe and 3 Hoes; one corner cupboard; one [illegible] plough; 1 shovel plough; 1 old desk; 1 old waggon [wagon] without a body; 4 old chairs; one Hand saw; 1 auger; 1 Iron pot; 1 iron kettle; 1 old 24 Hour clock; 1 spinning wheel; 1 chick reel; 3 spar [spare] waggon [wagon] Gears; 1 washing tool and pail; 1 Old broad axe; some delft ware; one Hogshead and some barrels; and three old blind bridles; besides wearing apparel and bedding." 

and I owe two hundred dollars and upwards. I am by trade a shoemaker, but am almost blind; I have no family but my widow who is sixty two years of age & entirely helpless
John Bagent [Begeant]

Sworn to in open Court this 3rd day of May 1824
Robert B. White C.F.S.C.

Virginia to wit:
I Robert B White Clerk of the Superior Court of Law for Frederick County do hereby certify that it appears to the Satisfaction of the court, that the said John Bagent [Bergeant] did serve in the Revolutionary War, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months, under one engagement, of the continental establishment & also certify that the forgoing [foregoing] oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly which from the record of the Said Court: 

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 worth one hundred and
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[Declaration page 3]

and fifty one dollars and fifty Cents, and that the Amount of the debts due by him is truly stated. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the Said Court on this 17th day of June, in the year our Lord  one thousand eight hundred and twenty four.
R. B. White C.F.C. [Clerk Frederick County, Virginia] 
[faded illegible seal attached]
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37747

INVALID.
Revy.
File No. 37.747

John Begeant
Pri. Rev. War

Act 18th March 18

Index.--Vol. 2, Page 35

(Arrangement of 1870)
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J. L. Edwards Esq.
Pension Office
War Department
Washington City
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Winchester July 2d. 1824
Sir,
I received your Letter respecting John Bagents pension stating that "In future, in every original claim on account of Revolutionary services the claimant must state under oath the reasons for not applying at an earlier period than the present for a pension; and he must also exhibit a Schedule of property disposed of since the Act of the 18th. March 1818." I drew his declaration and questioned him as to his not applying before, he replied that not having been in such low circumstances as absolutely to require it, he was unwilling to apply for a pension while he could do without it And this was confirmed by many of his neighbours. But now, he said, being impaired by age himself, and his wife entirely unable to do anything, he was reduced to very low circumstances. I have no doubt of the truth of what he stated, for he is a man of a very fair character, as I can myself vouch. Not finding anything upon this subject in the form of a declaration which you sent me, I did not insert it. As it will not be possible to have a new declaration made until August Court, which will, I fear, be too late for him to receive his pension in September, I am in hopes that what I have stated will be satisfactory on this head. As to a Schedule of property disposed of since March 1818, it not being required by the form, was not inserted. I questioned him also upon that subject when he said he had disposed of no property; and it appears to me that one clause of declaration, amounts to nearly the same thing. One thing is certain, that there is not a man in the United States more justly entitled to a pension for revolutionary services than John Bagent. If what I have here stated is not sufficient to authorize
you
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you consistently to grant the pension, and you shall deem it absolutely necessary that a new declaration shall be made, I shall thank you to inform me as early as convenient; as the old man now lives nearly twenty miles from town, it is not easy to get information to him often.
I am, Sir, respectfully
Your Mo. Obt. Servt.
Leml: Bent
J. L. Edwards Esqr.
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John Bagent [Begeant 
papers
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Frederick County to wit:
Daniel Miller this day appeared before me a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid, and made oath according to Law, that he knew John Bagent while he belonged to Colo. Blands Regiment of Light Dragoons, that he was present when the said John Bagent enlisted at Winchester in the year 1778, and that they marched together to South Carolina, and that he knows that the said Bagent was taken Prisoner at Santee, but he cannot recollect the time that Bagent was discharged. Given under my hand the 3d. day of May 1824.
Edw McGuire

Virginia
Frederick County Sct
I James Keith clerk of the court of the county aforesaid do hereby certify that Edward McGuire whose name is affixed to the foregoing certificate was at the time of subscribing the same and still is an acting justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid duly commissioned & qualified to all whose official acts as such full faith & credit ought to be given as well in courts of Justice as thereout,
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County aforesaid, this 6th day of May 1824 and in the 148th year of the Commonwealth
Ja Keith
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Begents power attorney
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Know all men by these presents that I John Bagent (late a private Soldier in the Virginia Regiment of Light Dragoons) of the County of Frederick and State of Virginia have ordained Constituted and appointed and by these presents so ordain constitute and appoint Joseph Sexton of the County and State aforesaid my true and lawfull attorney for me and in my name to ask demand and receive of and from the Register of the land office of Virginia a land Warrant for so much land as I am entitled to receive for my services in the revolutionary War, hereby ratifying whatever my said Attorney shall do in and about the receiving obtaining and receiving the same as fully and effectually as if I were personally present
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of May 1809
Signed sealed and delivered
in the presence of John Begeant SS
Joshua Gore

Frederick County to wit
John Begant came before me a Justice of the in and for the County and made oath that he is the same John Begant whom the original discharge was given of which the following is a copy
(There are to Certify that the [illegible] of John Begant Private Soldier in 1st Regiment Light Dragoons has served the full time for which he Inlisted faithfully and honestly and is hereby discharged J. BELF JESS
November 18th 1781 Majr. 1st. Rt. L Dragoons
That he served in the said Regiment untill he was discharged and
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that he now resides in the County of Frederick and that he did reside in the County of Frederick in the State of Maryland from the time of his discharge until the year 1808
Given under my hand this 18th day of May 1809
Joshua Gore
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19,308
John Bagent
Frederick Co. Va
Lemuel Bent,
Winchester, Va
Recd. 21. June 1824
Suspd. See letter 28
June 1824
On Roll page 96

13/40
J. L. Edwards Esqr.
Pension Office
War Department
Washington City
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Winchester June 17, 1824.
Sir,
I enclose you a certificate of John Bagent an applicant for a pension, upon which I presume there will be no difficulty. He is a man of a very good character, and has delayed applying for a pension as long as he could. He was born in this town, and is known to many as an old Soldier.
On obtaining a warrant for his land in Richmond his discharge was left there; a copy of it is annexed to a power of Attorney which is enclosed.
You will please to send the certificate for Mr. Bagents pension to me as soon as convenient
Very respectfully
your Obedient Servant
Leml Bent
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Pension Office