Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 17,151, for Bennet Tilley, North Carolina
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Service N.C. Tilley, Bennet Number S17.151. carded
Contents
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Missouri 26.468
Bennet Tilley
of Randolph in the State of [illegible]
who was a pv in the Company commanded
by Captain Cleveland of the Regt commanded
by Col [illegible] in the N. Carolina 
line for Militia -

[illegible marks] $35

Inscribed on the Roll of Missouri
at the rate of 35 Dollars Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of July
and Sent to
3 [illegible marks] Huntsville

Arrears to the 4th of [illegible marks] 105.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sep 17.50
$122.50

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by [illegible marks] Clerk
Book [illegible] Vol. 8 Page 88-

Sent to Hon. J Miller 1 Dec 1837
James [illegible] 6 " "
Order to pay 6 Dec 1837

Paid at this Treasury under the Act of 6th the April 1838 from 4 Sept 1837 to 4 March 1838
Agt notefied 21 March 1839.

Paid as above from 4 March 1838 to 4 March 1839. Agent notified 9 March 1840.

Paid as above from from 4th March 1839 to 4 March 1840. Agt notified 25 March 1841.

Paid as above from 4 March 1840 to 4 March 1841. Agent notified 28 Dec 1841.
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Pay 3 31.25~
Bennet Tilley
Missouri

1780 [illegible marks]
[illegible] 9 ~
[illegible] 6
[illegible marks] 3

25
10
$35.-

[illegible marks] as above

Robert Wilson
Huntsville, Mo.
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State of Missouri
County of Randolph

On this 19th day of May 1834 personally appeared in open Court before the County Court of said County now setting Bennet Tilley a resident of said County and state aged seventy seven 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 act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States in the County of Wilks State of North Carolina and to the best of this applicants recollection in the months of in the year 1780, this applicant belong to a troop of horse commanded by Capt John Cleveland under Major Hardgroves rendezvoused at Hamblins old store and there marched through Guilford County to Wilmington and was engaged in the battle fought at that place under the order of Gen Green and after that battle continued under command of same officer to scour the Country in all directions in search of Tories, was engaged in frequent skirmishes with the [illegible] Tories but nothing of important transpired during the remainder of this tour. having served a full tour of six months according to our engagement were discharged
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on returning from Wilmington after being discharged He was with three others taken prisoner by one Fanning and his gang of Tories who were doing much mischief in that section of Country. Fanning immediately killed one of the prisoners by the name of Johnston Tyler, and retained the remaining three for some days he then discharged on a verbal parole. again entered the service of the United States about months before the battle at Kings Mountain under the command of Capt Lewis of the N.C. Militia and was employed against the Tories received orders and marched for Kings Mountain arrived within a few miles of that place the day after the battle, met the main army with the prisoners and from thence returned to the Moravian Towns in N.C. and was then discharged
served under this engagement, three months. He further states that he received written discharges for both of the foregoing tours both of which were burnt by accident on the first tour at Wilmington saw Gen Kennedy and other officers names not now remembered,
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This applicant further states that previous 
he had served six months under the 
command of Capt's Lewis and Cleveland 
during this time he was engaged in scouting 
the country in search of Tories who were 
committing depradations in that section 
of country, but were not regurally embodied 
our service amounting at some times 
to a month in continuation at others only 
a few days amounting the according to 
an accurate amount kept by this applicant
to six months during this period 
Col. Cleveland directed the movement
of the different squads on this service and
on some occasions commanded in his
on, was engaged in numerous skirmishes
with the Tories. He is unable to state
with precision the time this service
was rendered on each of the foregoing
tours he entered the service as a volunteer.
He further states that on the two first detailed
tours he was with a regurally embodied
force lawfully called into service and was 
actually employed in the field or garrison
during the whole time above detailed under
officers lawfully appointed to command
and that he was not employed in any civil pursuit him on tour last above mentioned
He has stated how the service, were rendered. He therefore states that he served in the Militia of North Carolina in the
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war of the Revolution fifteen months.
for which he claims, a pension and 
that he knows of no person now living by
whom he can prove his service aforesaid 
or any part thereof, and that he has 
no documentary evidence He has 
no record of his age but remembers to
have seen his age recorded in the family
Bible. He was born in Albemarle 
County in the state of Virginia. and 
from thence his father removed into
North Carolina where this applicant
entered the service and that he served 
as a private soldier on each of the 
foregoing tours. that he now resides
in Randolph County State of Missouri.
He further states that he is unable without
great inconvenience to obtain the testimony
of a clergyman, from the fact that none
reside in his neighborhood and that he has
recently removed from an adjoining county
is not acquainted with any nearer to him than 40 miles He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever
for a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the roll of the pension agency of any state.

Subscribed & sworn
to in open Court

Bennett Tilley his mark x
Robert Wilson clerk
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Mr Neal Murphy residing in the County of Randolph and Gideon Wright residing the same county hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Bennet Tilley, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood, where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the
day and year aforesaid
Neal Murphy
Gideon Wright
Robert Wilson Clerk

And the said Court as hereby declared their opinion after investigations of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicated was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states 
And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Neal Murphy who has signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in said county.
And that Gideon Wright who has signed the same is a resident of said county and [illegible] a credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
Arch Shoemaker JBB [illegible marks]
[illegible signature] JRC Court
John Dyoant JRC C
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J. Robert Gibson clerk of the County
Court of Randolph County do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the 
original proceedings of the said court
in the matter of the application of 
Bennet Tilley for a pension
In Testimony whereof 
I have hereunto set my
hand and the seal of 
said Court at office
this 20th day of May
Eighteen hundred and
thirty four.
Robert Wilson Clk
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Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
NCS/eel

June 26, 1929

Honorable Harry B. Hawes
United States Senate
Washington, D.C.

My dear Senator:
In response to your letter of June 22, 1929, I have the honor to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.17151, it appears that Bennet Tilley was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, date not given.
While a resident of Wilkes County, North Carolina, he enlisted and served at various times, amounting to six months in all, as a private under Captains Lewis and Cleveland in Colonel Cleveland's North Carolina Regiment, date of enlistment not given.
In 1780, he served three months as a private in Captain Lewis' North Carolina Company.
He enlisted in 1780, and served as a private in Captain John Cleveland's North Carolina Company, as in battle of Wilmington and was discharged after serving six months.
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After said discharge he was taken prisoner by the Tory, Fanning, but was paroled a few days later.
He was allowed pension on his application executed May 19, 1834, at which time he was seventy-seven years of age and was living in Randolph County, Missouri.
There are no data relative to his family.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Bennet Tilley, S.17151, you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C., citing the following data:
Bennet Tilley, Certificate No.26468, issued July 10, 1834, rate $35 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Missouri Agency.
The place of burial of said soldier is not shown in the papers of the pension claim.

Very truly yours,
Earl D. Church
Commissioner.
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Huntsville Mo
May 21th 1834
Free

June 9
Bennet Tilley 
Mo.

J.L. Edward Esquire
Commissioner of Pension
Washington City D.C.
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Huntsville Mo May 20th 1834
Sir
Enclosed I send the application
of Bennet Tilley for a pension on which
I ask as speedy a decision as practicable.
In the month of November last
I enclosed to you the applications for
pension of [illegible] Burton & Thos Watson
under cover of the same envelope . I have 
rec'd a certificate for Burton in the case
of Watson no return has been received
I would be glad to know the decision in 
that case.

I am your obd sevt
Robert Wilson

JL. Edwards Esq
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Treasury Department
Second Comptroller's Office
January 30th, 1841.

Sir: 
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Bennet Tilley
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Missorui Agency, at the rate of Thirty five Dollars and - Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1839 to the 4th of March 1840.

Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
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From [illegible][illegible]
Front [illegible] a power
of attorney to [illegible] Mr
Bennett Tillys
Pension [illegible] 10
Huntsville MO
1837
[illegible marks]
Free

Hon John Miller
Washington City
D.C.

[illegible marks]
Mr Evans

Hon. J Miller
M.C.
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Huntsville Mi
Nov. 10th 1837

Dr Sir
I enclose you a power of attorney from Mr. Bennett Tilly intended to enable you to draw his pention for the time therein specified.
Mr. Tilly is old and very infirm and the pittance he gets from government is his only means of support. will you be so good as to procure what is due him purchase a check on some solvent Bank in some eastern City and enclose it to me. Mr Tilly has endevoured to get his money in St Louis through Mr. McGill and has failed and Mr McGill has advised him to try at Washington. your early attention to this [illegible] will confer a favour on a Revolutionary soldier.

Yours truly,
[illegible signature]
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Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office
March 2d, 1840

Sir: 
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Bennett Tilly, 
a Pensioner on the Roll of Missouri Agency, at the rate of Thirty five Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7 June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1838 to the 4th March 1839.
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
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Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office,
February 7th, 1839

Sir: 
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838 entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Bennet Tilley,
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Missouri Agency, at the rate of Thirty five Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept., 1837, to the 4th March, 1838.

Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
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Washington City
Decr 5th 1837-

Sir

In your communication to me of the [illegible] [illegible] on the subject of Bennett Tilley's pension, you [illegible] that the regulations of this Department require where the clerks of courts or other certifying officer has no public seal of office The Certificate of a member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer shall be sent with the papers. In this case, I have to inform you that I am not personally acquainted with Daniel C. Hubbard the certifying officer and have to request that you will give instructions to the Pension Agent at St. Louis to pay the amount of pension due Mr. Tilley in his presenting to said Agent, his papers, properly authenticated. An early reply to this note is requested.

I am very respectfully
your obt. servant-
John Miller

J.L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of 
Pensions
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17.151
INVALID
No. 17151
Bennet Tilley
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
dex:-Vol / , Page 445
[Arrangement of 1870]

1913. Sept 16-Hist. to
Miss Dorothy R. Clarke
[illegible mark]

1915. May 10- History not 
sent more than once -
Miss Dorothy R. Clark

1929 June 26 hist
to Hon. Harry B. Hawes
M.C.S.
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Harry B. Hawes
Missouri

Committees:
Interstate Commerce
Commerce
Expenditures in the Executive Departments

United States Senate
Washington, D.C.
June 22, 1929

Hon. Earl D. Church,
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

My dear Mr. Commissioner:

Will you please furnish me the following information regarding the soldiers named:

Bennett Tilley, North Carolina Militia
Leonard Bradley, Lieutenant Virginia State Tr.
Edmund Bartlett, Private, Virginia Militia
Edmund Chapman, Private, Virginia Militia
James Davis, Sergeant, Virginia Continental.
Revolutionary War.

I am informed these soldiers were living in Missouri and drawing a pension on account of their services in 1835. Please give me the dates of birth, dates of death, names of wife and children of each soldier, organizations in which they served, and where buried, if you have record of burials.

Your early attention to this matter will be appreciated.

Cordially yours,
Harry B. Hawes

G-

U.S. Pension A Office 
Jun 24 1929
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La Plata, Missouri
Sept. 6- 1913
Mr. J.L. Davenport,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir- Will you kindly give me the Revolutionary record of Bennett (I think I have the first name correct) Tilley whose wife after his

U.S. Pension G Office Sep 9 1913


Bureau of Pensions -
May I have the Rev war record of Bennet Tilley who served in the Revolution from Va. died in Mo. It is to be used in

U.S. Pension D Office May 6 1915
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Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office
Dec. 14th, 1841

Sir: 
Under the date of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Bennet Tilly
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Missouri Agency at the rate of Thirty five Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1840, to the 4th March 1841.

Respectfully, yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
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Bennett Tilley Mo 7. June 1832 $35.
To what time last paid
Pension Office
1 Dec 1837 paid to 4 Sep 1834
JH
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In reply to your request of , received
for a statement of the military history of
a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. S.F.17.151 Bennet Tilley

Dates of Enlistment or Appointment.
Length of Service.
Rank.
Officers under whom service was rendered.
Captain. Colonel.
State.

6 mos PVT { Lewis Cleveland N.C.
Cleveland
3 mos " Lewis "
1780 6 mos " John Cleveland [illegible] Major Hardgroves "
and after discharge was taken prisoner by the Tory Fanning and paroled after a few days.

Battles engaged in, Wilmington
Residence of soldier at enlistment not stated
Date of application for pension, May 19, 1834 His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Randolph Co. Mo.
Age at date of application, 77 years, born in Albemarle Co. Va.
Remarks: It is not Stated whether the soldier had a wife.

The above is the only Bennet Tilley found on the Rev. War records of this Bureau.

Very respectfully,

Commissioner.
6-2856
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[torn page corner] 
Rev. War Section.

May 10, 1915

Miss Dorothy Rachel Clark,
La Plata, Missouri.

Madam:
In response to your undated letter. received on the sixth instant, you are advised that you were furnished the military history of Bennet Tilley, Sur. File No. 17,151 Rev. War, under date of September 16, 1913, and it is not the practice of this Bureau to furnish the record of a Revolutionary War soldier more than once to the same person or organization.

Very respectfully, 
[illegible signature]

Commissioner.