Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 771, Solomon Bennett, N.C.
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(3-1776)
Service N.C Bennett, Solomon Number R771
Contents
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12.586
Carroll County -
Tennessee
Solomon Bennett
Rejected 
seventeenth of June 18
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BRIEF in the case of Solomon Bennett
County of Carroll in the State of Tennessee
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court

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

3. How old is he? 76

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

Period.|Duration of Service.|Rank.|Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. |

(illegible) In 1776 until 1777 |Years, Months, Days.
Sept. 14th (ineligible)
day of the action at Brandiwine (Brandywine)-
from this period he served until the end of the war & be (illegible)
(illegible) as a soldier. | As a private|

Gen. Colo Washington
Captain. Turner
Gen Lafayette (illegible)
Col Campbell 

5. In what battles was he engaged? 
Brandawine(Brandywine) & Eutaw Springs 

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? N.C. Bute County

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct

Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 

John N Ashton
Examining Clerk
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(left margin) Jacob Turner

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
State of Tennessee 
September Term 
(illegible)
1832 Court of Pleas
Carroll County and Quarter Sessions

On the 11th day of September 1832-
Personally appeared in open court before the justices of the said Court now sitting Pleas and Quarter Sessions.
Solomon Bennett of the (illegible) of the county of Carroll 
in the State of Tennessee but formerly of the County of Bute
in the state of North Carolina aged about seventy five years
Last January 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 of the act of Congress pay for the North Carolina 
Continental line Commanded by Colonel --
(illegible) who resigned before the Battle of Brandywine and who was (illegible) in the 1832 That he entered the service of the United States in the year of seventeen hundred and seventy seven as a private soldier of the (illegible) in the company commanded by Captain Jacob Turner in the fourth Regiment of the  -
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and took up their winter quarters at Valley Forge 
where the Campaign for the year 1777 closed the British
army entered in Philadelphia under the
Command of General Howe who was the commander
in chief at the Battle of Brandywine of the British
forces as I now believe perhaps Lord Cornwallis

but of which I now certain. This declarant
States that before the Battle of Brandy wine he was
in the Battle of Sandy hook till attached to the
Regiment and commanded by the same officers
This Declarant then is  Col Jones commanded his Regiment at the Battle of Sandy Hook

commanded his Regiment at the Battle of Sandy Hook
but of this he is not now certain he will
recollect, that he did not command the
Regiment at the Battle of Brandy wine his

This Declarant States that after this his Regiment
 with two or three Regiments of the North Carolina
Continental line in detailed off and ordered to march
under the command of Colonel Campbell
the relief of Charleston South Carolina but which
had been surrendered by General Lincoln previous to our 
arrival we then joined the American Army

Then under the command of Major General  Horotio Gates and became attached to the command of General
The Baron De Calb - This Division of the army
sustained itself with (illegible) and not until De Calb fell did the  regulars give one such is
Ground Colonel Campbell fell in this action
at the hand of our Regiment upon [illegible] as with last breath never to give in much of ground but after De Calb had fallen
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and finding that the militia with General
Gates our Commander in chief had deserted us

we were compelled to make a disorderly
retreat after sustaining unknown [illegible]  the 
British Dragoons thus ended this battle at
to the american cause after
this Colonel
Pinkey in Pinkney Eaton Commended our
Regiment which joined the American Army 
under the command of General Nathaniel
Green under this command he was in the battle of
Eutaw Springs after this the American army 
marched and laid to ninety six, but was

compelled to raise the siege in consequence of an
Army  of the British coming to its relief  under the
command of Lord Rowden or perhaps it might have
been under the command of General
Leslie of this he is not certain-- from this
place the american army was compelled
to make a rapid retreat on to the North- when
at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse they came
in contact with the British Army then under the
command of Lord Cornwallis General
Green still in commander in chief-
In this battle we lived the rectory for although
we did not keep the field yet be laid within two
miles thereof - the British retreating that night
having their bounded and dead upon the
field of battle which were afterwards be
buried our people. After this the American
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12.586
Army marched on to Lindly; Mills on Deep
River and encamped there only for a week or two
When our from
several received orders to march on to South
Carolina This Declarant was at the surrender 
of Charleston and witnessed with by the final
representation of the British army from the shores
of Carolina when he was regularly discharged
and which discharge he has long since lost this stated that
some few years past he requested the Honorable David
-
---
Crockett his representative in congress to search the
rolls of the Anth Carolina Continental line to be of his
name was  on the same - that he was afterward
informed by the said Honorable David that he had
complied with his request and found the name of
Bennet but not that of Solomon
-
---
●
He hereby relinquishes
every claim to a pension or annuity except the present ┃
and Declares that his name is not on the pension
Hill of the agency of any State of

Sworn and subscribed in
Solomon Bennett
open Court the day and year
mark
aforesaid, Edward Irvin Clerk
and the said Court do hereby certify and
declare their opinion that the above named applicant
was a regular revolutionary soldier and served as he states
Edward Whitham Chin
of
Hurd
part of Cart
1
E
Wight J.P.
such Est
Edward Gwin Clark of the Court of Pleas
and winter sessions in and for the County
and State aforesaid do hereby certify that the
foregoing are  the original proceedings


in the matter of the application of
Solomon Bennet for a Pension. In testimony whereof
them hereunto set my hand and seal of Office the 11th day 
 of September 1892 Edward Gwin Clark
1
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Wilmingdon Te
Sept 17 1832
Revolutionary Claimant 
Act of June 7 1832
The Honorable Lewis Cass
Secretary at War
Washington City
[illegible] 29
Mail
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Carroll County Tennessee
September 14th 1832
Dear Lewis,
I have the honor to enclose to you the declaration of Solomon Bennett should  
this Declaration pass the department 
you will have the good- to
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_____Ex'r. INVALID.
REJECTED
 ̶A̶c̶t̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶J̶u̶l̶y̶ ̶1̶4̶,̶ ̶1̶8̶6̶2̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶M̶a̶r̶c̶h̶ ̶(̶8̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶9̶)̶,̶ ̶1̶8̶7̶8̶,̶
771
Solomon Bennett
Service:
Enlisted:___, 18 .
Discharged: ___, 18 .
Application filed: ___,18 .
(illegible)eges:___
Re-enlisted: ___

Attorney: ___
O. ___
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Huntingdon 
July 
free
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
J.C
Cole
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Huntingdon Tennessee

Dear sir some several months since Ethel Deed
Bennett and others Empowerd Mr. Samuel M Night of Washington to look into the condition of the claim 
of Solomon Bennett a soldier in the revolutionary war, and who has never recd any pension. I have since addressed Mr  Night upon the subjects but for some reason he has failed to reply to my letter
Will you be so kind as to inform me whether in
not the claim has been allowed - or what the condition
of it is.
Yours res
Isaac R Hawkins
Commissioner of Pensions
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State of North Carolina
Secretary of States Office
I William Hill Secretary of State in and for the ┃
State aforesaid, do certify that it appears from the
masterrolls of the Continental line of this State
that Solomon Bennett a private in Capt Ballard
Company of the 10th Regiment enlisted on the 29th of
June 1779 for 18 months and deserted on the 5th day ┃
of August 1779
Given under my hand this
9th day of April 1830
W. Hill
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
PENSION OFFICE OFFICIAL BUSINESS

Isaac R. Hawkins

Huntingdon

Tenn
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Solomon Bennett 
Tennessee

Rejected  deserted
see letter of June 1823
To Edwin Gwin
Lt. J. R. Hawkins
Sept 9/53
__
1832
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Solomon Bennett which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes

V. Has he mentioned 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 amout of pension he is entitled?

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes

VII.
Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal? Yes
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service?  ̶N̶o̶
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  ̶N̶o̶

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? no

XIV. +If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?

If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?

Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  ̶N̶o̶

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
__
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &e. A. B. 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 ___year___months, and ___ days, I served as a ____ For ____months and ___days, I served as a____; and for such service I claim a pension.
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision 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 three or four months is too in-definite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state 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 objection able. It must in every case be clearly shewn 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.

QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths
must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.

In every case where the clerk of the court, 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, should accompany the papers.