Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 785, Jesse Bentley, Ga.
Page 1

Service Number
Ga. Bentley, Jesse R. 785
Mary Scott
Contents
Page 2

In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of July, 1838. entitled "An act granting half pay, and pensions to certain widows." 

State of Georgia }
Henry County } SS

Special Inferior Court
Henry County State Georgia

On this the Second day of October, one thousand eight hundred and forty five, personally appeared before me, John W. Langford Justice of the Inferior Court in and for the County and State aforesaid, Mary Scott Bentley a resident of Henry County, State of Georgia. aged Seventy eight years September last. the 11th day. who being first duly Sworn, according to law. doth. on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7th 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows." That She is the widow of Jessee Bentley, who was, as She was often told by him before his death, and by others, and as she firmly believes, a true and faithful Soldier in the war of the Revolution, in the Continental line of Georgia, and for a narative, [sic] and proof of his Services. She refers you to his declaration filed in your Office in the year 1833. That her husband the Said Jessee Bentley made application for a pension in his lifetime under an act of Congress passed on the 7th day of June 1852. That from bodily infirmity he was unable to prosecute his claim consequently he never received any thing: She further declares that She was married to the Said Jessee Bentley on the fifth day of October in the year Seventeen hundred and eighty four, by Esqr Benjamin Catching of Wilks County Georgia. that she has no documentary evidence of her marriage. except her family
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Record which is herewith annext to and know of no person now living who witnessed her marriage; That her husband the aforesaid Jessee Bentley Died on the twenty third day of May in the year 1836: That She was not married to him prior to his leaving the Service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, Seventeen hundred and ninety-four viz. at the time above Stated. 

Mary Scott [X her mark] Bentley

Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year above written before me a Justice of the Inferior Court for the County and State first above written.

John W. Langford I.I.C.

I do further certify that from bodily infirmity Mrs Mary Scott Bentley is unable to attend Court. In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand this the Second day of October 1843

John W. Langford I.I.C.
Page 4

[intentional brackets as printed] [678] [end intentional bracket]

FAMILY RECORD.

BIRTHS.

John S. Bentley was born 27th Mary 1786.
_______
Josiah Bentley was born 3rd November 1788.
_______
Elizabeth T. Bentley was born 14th August 1791.
_______
James T. Bentley was born 19th December 1793.
_______
William Bentley was born 17th August 1797.
______
Hannah T. Bentley was born 1st October 1800.
________
James Jackson Ray born the 9th June 1820.
________
Mary T Ray. was born the 25 of March 1823
__________
William Riley Ray was born 9th August 1825
___________
Egbert Emmet Ray. born the 18th December 1827

John Thomas Ray Born October 27th 1830




______________
Mary An. Scott Bentley was born 28 October 1830
__________
Jessee Bentley Deceased on the 23rd May 1836 & on the 91th year of his age thereabout
Page 5

[intentional brackets as printed] [677] [end intentional bracket]

FAMILY RECORD.

MARRIAGES.

John T. Bentley & Polly his Wife- was married the 23rd October 1807
_____________
Josiah Bentley & Nancy his Wife was married the 3rd January 1813
_____________
Hannah T Ray was married to Thomas her husband the 25 of July 1816
___________
James J. Bentley was married to Elizabeth his Wife the 28th of August--- 1823
___________
William Bentley was married T. Margarett this the 28 August 1828
___________
Thomas S Bentley was married to Elizabeth as his wife the 30th of June 1831.
___________

Elizabeth Scott Lee was married to William A Lee her husband the 28th August 1831
___________
Page 6

Revolutionary 
Pension Claim
of
Jesse Bently
decd. of 
Georgia
______

P'r. of atty
To
Th. Thompson
Filed May 22 '52
Papers Cold. for
Page 7

R.A. WATERS, Print., D street, bet 9th and 10th.

POWER OF ATTORNEY-Revolutionary Pension Claims.
___________
Know all Men by these Presents, That I, John T. Bentley
hereby constitute and appoint M. Thompson of Washington City my true and lawful Agent and Attorney, to prosecute the Claim of Jesse Bentley for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or Increase of Pension, that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Agent to examine all the papers and documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Departments at Washington City, or elsewhere; to file additional evidence or arguments; and to receive the Certificate which may be issued for said Claim, which Certificate I wish made payable to the legal representatives of Jesse Bentley deceased. to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed; and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
WITNESS my hand and Seal this 7th day of May A.D. 1852.

S/John T. Bentley 

Signed and Sealed in the presence of 
S/B. Pettit J.P. }


STATE OF Georgia
COUNTY OF Henry } ss:

On this seventh day of May A.D. 1852 before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared John T. Bentley and acknowledged the foregoing Power of Attorney to be his act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand, the day and year aforesaid. }
S/B. Pettit J. Peace.
Page 8

Claim of Jesse Bentley
Act of [blank]

_______

STATE OF Georgia
COUNTY of Henry } ss.

Be it known, That on this seventh day of May A.D., eighteen hundred and fifty two, before the undersigned, a Justice of the  Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared John T. Bentley a resident of [blank] said County, and made oath according to law that he is the son and one of the heirs of Jesse Bentley deceased, and Executor of his last will and Testament
who was a Revolutionary Pensioner at the rate of eight Dollars per annum; that he has been informed that the said Pension ought to be increased; that he is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.        
            S/John T Bentley

Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid, before me.
B. Pettit J. Peace }

I, Bushrod Pettit Justice of the Peace, in and for said County do hereby certify that John T. Bentley who executed the foregoing paper, is a respectable resident of this County, and is, I believe, directly interested in said claim as therein set forth.
B. Pettit J. Peace.

I, Elihu Copeland Clerk of the Inferior Court in the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Bushrod Pettit before whom the foregoing papers were executed, was, at the date of the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly authorized by law to administer oaths; and the name thereunto subscribed, is his signature.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official Seal, this 7th day of May A.D. 1852

S/Elihu Copeland 
Clerk. JCHC
Page 9

STATE OF Georgia }
COUNTY OF Henry } ss.

It is hereby certified that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me Elihu Copeland Clerk of the Inferior Court of said county 
that Jesse Bentley was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States at the rate of $46 fourty six Dollars per annum and that he died on the twenty third day of May eighteen hundred and thirty six leaving surviving John T. Bentley, Josiah H Bentley, the children of James Bentley deceased - William Bentleys children & heir & Hannah Wray, wife of Thomas ^Wray and that they are the only surviving children of the aforesaid. Jesse Bentley deceased late of said county

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 7th day of May one thousand eight hundred and fifty two--

S/Elihu Copeland Clerk JCHC
Page 10

5

John H Kilgore Esqr
Monroe Watton County
Ga
Page 11

Henry County ga  December 3rd 1846
White House P.O.

John H Kilgore Esqr

Dear Sir

on tuesday last I Received a note from the Clerk of our inferior Court with your signature Directed to [illegible] L Tuggle Requesting him to give you some information relative to my farthers [father's] ^Jesse Bentleys paper's claiming of a pension, I will inform you that Tuggle is Dead also his wife is dead and I have been to the Executor of the Estate and made Enquiry if he has any knowledge of such papers, he informs me that no such papers were found or seen by him when he took charge of the Estate, you stated that his papers were Returned to Col Tuggle March 1836 and that you are Required to procure and Return them to the Pension office before My Mother Mary S Bentley can claim under the act of July 1838 can be acted on, now since I will give you all this Information that I am able to do Respectary the proceedings the papers were made out and sent to the Pension office and were Returned Requiring some alteration a time or two and Col Tuggle would make them out again and send them back for some further alterations at the time you stated the papers were sent back I have no Recollection of hearing Col Tuggle say anything about them being sent back, and if the papers had been Received by him I think he would informed me because my father was living at my house at the time and Deceased then on the 23rd of May following, and if the papers were sent from the Pension office at the time stated in all probability they never Reached him, this being the case the papers are unattainable by her at this time, now I will as near as  my Recollection serves me give you all the particulars not charging my memory with the different statements Relative to his Revolutionary survis' [serivce] giving up all hopes of Even his obtaining a pention [pension] in his lifetime
Page 12

This fore [sic] my Recollection serves me that he was in the servis [service] of the united states from the commencement of the ware [war] untill [sic] peace were made Eighteen months served as a Regular soldier under a man by the name of Stewart and was at the siege of agusta [Augusta] Georgia at the time Browns fort was stormed an [and] taken also was at the siege of savannah belonging to a Regiment that was Commanded by Col Hall Few, also Performed Duty and served as a Militia soldier under General Elizah [Elijah] Clark a man well known in the state of georgia and was at the battle with Clark near the High Shoals on the oconee River with the Indians at the time Murphey and Lewry two white men were taken with the Indians and hung by Clark on a bending Hickrey [hickory] tree, also he stated that as a soldier the servis [service] he perform'd was Entire [entirely] in the south, there are many more circumstances stated in the Declaration that my memory does not serve me well Enough to state one thing more as Relates his serving as a Regular his Discharge were lost or in other words burnt in the year 1805 he had his houses all burned down and Every thing were distroyed [sic] that he had with his discharge, time has been since that time  of his Death if I had know then would have been any chance to have got any thing to have proven his servises [sic] more fully than they were by Solomon Beckom [Beckham] of Monroe County ga which was a Missmate but he now is dead also, and at this Time I have no knoledge [sic] of any person to Refer you to where information can be got, Except it can be obtained from old Mr Swords a Revolutionary soldier living in your county not far from Broken Arrow Near general Excls I have frequently heard him & my father talk about Mr Swords as a soldier and his valour that probably there can be some information got from him on this subject
Page 13

This is all that my Recollection serves me on the subject at this time but will with pleasure comes [illegible] with you at any time and as fare [far] as I can aid you in procuring testimony towards prosecuting the claim of my mother will use Every Exemtion in my power with Respect Remains yours [illegible] Direct your letters to white House [illegible] Henry County ga

S/John T Bentley
Page 14

56.               Jan 22/52
Washington
Jany 16/52

Thos. [Thomas] Lumpkin

appeals from the decision of the commissioner of Pensions in the case of Mary S. Bently.





Refd [referred] to Comm of Pensions
for a Report
Dept Jnto
Jany 19/52
Page 15

Washington D.C.
Jany 16th, 1852

Sir;

As the Attorney for the old lady Mr Mary Scott Bentley, of Ga, widow of Jessee Bentley, whose case has been for a long time pending in the Pension Office, and having filed evidence of the service, marriage, & atending to the rules, in my opinion conclusive to allow her a pension under the law of 7th July, 1838, I am constrained to ask that this case may be reviewed and if not allowed, that the reason may be printed out and a report made to you for such disallowance upon this my appeal. 

I have the honor to be,
Sir; very respy [respectfully]
your obt sevt' [your obedient servant]
Th. Lumpkin

Hon. Alex. H. H. Stuart
Sec'y of the Dept of the Interior
Page 16

June 4/52

M. Thompson Rel. [relative] to his power of Atty in case of Jesse Bentley deceased



Refd [referred] to the com of Pensions
who will advise Mr Thompson of the action of this Department in the case referred to Dept Jnto
June 4/52

June 3d-1852
Page 17

Washington May 21st 1852

Hon. A.H.H. Stuart
Secy [secretary] of the Interior
Washington D.C.

Sir

In the case of Jesse Bently decd. [deceased] of Georgia. Who claimed a pension under act of 7th June 1832. Upon filing, in the pension office, a power of atty [attorney] duly executed by John T. Bently, son of said Jesse Bently, revoking all former powers, & authorizing the to prosecute the claim & to receive the certificate, etc. &c. I was informed that the papers in the case could not be found & that they were
Page 18

supposed to have been sent to you, upon an appeal.

I therefore with this to notify you of the existence of the above names p'r  of atty. [power of attorney] in my favor. Now in the pension office. in order that you may report to me on the case, & not to any former atty. My power of atty. bears date May 7th 1852.

I have the honor to 
be most resptfy [respectfully]
your obt ser't [obedient servant]
M. Thompson
Atty for Bently
Page 19

State of Georgia } I GG Norman
Wilks County } Clerk of the Court of ordinary in for said county do hereby certify that I have faithfully reexamined the Records in my office & find nothing touching the marriage License of Jesse Bentley and Mary Scott Bentley as they were probably married previous to the year 1800 at which period there was no Law arguing any record to be made

Given under my hand & seal of office in Washington & County said July 16th 1851

G.G. Norman Clerk


Dr. Sir   Not finding anything in relation to the marriage of the persons named I have sent certificate above hoping it may answer your purpose  fee $1.00
please remit by mail.

Yr obdt servant [your obedient servant]
GG Norman
Page 20

Ex'r   INVALID.
No 785
[Stamped "REJECTED"]
["Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873" crossed out]

Mary S. Bentley
Page 21

State of Georgia:

This is to certify, That Jesse Bently Hath Steadfastly done his duty: from the time of passing an act at Augusta, to wit, on the 30th August, 1781, until the Total Expulsion of the British from this State: and the said Jesse Bently, cannot, to my knowledge or belief be convicted of plundering or distressing the country; and is therefore under said Act entitled to a Bounty of two hundred and Fifty acres of good Land, free from Taxes ten years

Given under My hand at Savannah this the 2nd day of Febry 1784
Elijah Clarke

By His order
He Freeman.

Georgia: I do hereby authorise [sic] and empower and Deputise Sanders Walker My lawful attorney, to take and receive my certificate for Bounty Lands, and to act for me in that case as though I Myself were personally present, given under my hand this 10 February 1784

Test. John Bentley ~ Jesse Bentley


Executive Department Ga.
Milledgeville, Sept 5th 1851.

This is to certify that the above copies, are correctly transcribed from the original certificate and power of attorney filed in this Department. Given under my hand and the seal of the Executive ^Department of the State of Georgia (underl lined before signed)
John T Smith
Secy Ex Dept [Secretary Executive Department]
Page 22

Personally appeared in open Court John T. Bentley a resident of Henry County State of Georgia aged 59 years past who being duly sworn Saith on oath that he was present and witnessed the death of his Father the said Jesse Bentley who died on the twenty third of May 1836. leaving Mary Scott Bentley his widow, and that She has remained his widow ever since his death, he further declares that the Family Records hereunto annexed, is a leaf taken from his Father's old family Bible the only Bible he had at the time of his death: The births of my fathers children were recorded upon this leaf by my Brother William Bentley in the year 1820. by the directions of my father, the dates of the births of his children, were taken from a Small pocket Bible, which record has since been destroyed: and the present record is the only one my father has had since: and has always been refered [sic] to by the members of the family as a record bearing the true date of their births

John T Bentley

Sworn to and Subscribed in open Court this the 7th day of October 1845 beofre
S/John W Langford I.I.C.
H Tomlinson J.I.C
B. Pettit I.I.C.
C.W. Smith I.I.C.
Page 23

The foregoing proceeding Sworn to and Subscribed in open Court in the presents [presence] of Bushrod Pettit  John W. Lankford  Humphrey Tomlinson C.W. Smith Justices of the Inferior Court Henry County State of Georgia on this 7th day of October 1843: we further certify that Mr. John T. Bentley is a resident of said County and State and is a respectable person and a creditable witness. Given under our hands in open Court this the 7th day of October 1845

S/C.W. Smith J.I.C.
S/B. Pettit J.I.C.
S/J. Langford J.I.C.
H. Tomlinson J.I.C.


State of Georgia }
Henry County }

I Burwell Ragland. Clerk of the Inferior Court in and for the County and State aforesaid do certify that the foregoing are the original proceedings had in said Court in the matter of M. Mary Scott Bentley the applicant for the pension under the act of Congress of the 7th of July 1838

Given under my hand and ^there being no seal of office this the 7th day of October 1845.

Burwell Ragland Clerk
Page 24

12949
Mary S. Bently.
Ga
Let to J.H. Kilgore  Oct 21/1846
Let Hon Lumpkin  Oct 25/51,
same                     Nov 21/51
  "                           Dec 3/51
Same-                    June 3.1852
M. Thompson       June 7/52
same                     Sep 7/52
     Ad. 7th July 1838


June 28/52
Rel: to case of Jesse Bentley.

Special Business

Hon. Jas E. Heath
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

[on back flap of the envelope is a printed crest reading: "M. THOMPSON,
ATTORNEY &
COUNSELLOR AT LAW
AND
GENERAL AGENT
WASHINGTON CITY, D.C."]
Page 25

4 ct over to 
Tuggle
_____________
Page 26

Pension Office
October 24th, 1846.

Sir,

The papers in the case of Mary S. Bentley are herewith returned for authentication..

It appears that her husband Jesse Bentley, applied under Act of 7th June, 1832, and his papers were returned to Cl. S. Tuggle Esq in March, 1833, with objections and have not been since presented to this office.

They should be recovered, if possible, or the claimant must specify each term of service for which she claims as to period,  length, grade, names of Officers, stations &c., as the rules require and sustain it by the best attainable proof

I am, Very respectfully,
Your Obt. Servt. [obedient servant]
JL Edwards

John H. Kilgore, Esq
Monroe,
Walton Co Ga..
Page 27

Dahlonega                  July 9th 1851
Thomas Lumpkin Esq

for Sir,

Enclosed you will find Mrs Mary Scott Bentleys Declaration for a Pension please examine and if the papers are all right file them You will see that this Declaration was sent an [and] file before & with drawn for amendment I suppose

You will find John T Bentleys letters that may be of use to you I will write to Wilkes County Georgia & get if on record the Copy of Marriage license

You will please write to my friend Col John T Smith: Secretary in the Executive Department Georgia for a certificate of the services of Jesse Bentley as you will see by reading the Declaration & letter of G.T.B. that that Jesse Bentley was granted a bounty of Land by the State of Georgia for his services and Col. John T. Smith a copy of the kind of a certificate that will suit the best for
Page 28

procuring a Pension for the old lady      I have received no return from the Heard & Beard cases yet

Yours in [illegible]

Washington } W.M. Varnum
City D.C. }

P.S. Thankd you write to Col Smith for a certificate in the Bentley case request him to charge me for his services in such case

W.M.V.


Sir,

I enclose herewith old declaration &c. of Mrs Mary Scott Bently decd., [deceased] widow of Jesse Bently, Ga Act 7th July, 1838, received by me to night from Col. Varnum. I will write to the Secretary of Ga as requested for evidence, if any, of the said Bentlys service 

Very resfy [respectfully]
Th Lumpkin
July 15th 1851
Hon. J.E. Heath
Comm of Pension
Page 29

State of Georgia }
Henry County }

I Seymour B Love clerk of the Inferior Court of Said County do hereby certify that Bushrod Pettit John M Langford Humphrey Tomlinson & Columbus W Smith was acting Justices of the Inferior court for said county - on the 7th day of October 1845 duly Commissioned and Qualified as such that their names Signed to the declaration of Mary Scott Bently are genuine. I also certify that Burwell Ragland whose name appears, to the proceedings of the court was at the date there of Acting Clerk of the Inferior Court of Said County duly Commissioned & Qualified & that due faith & credit ought to be had and given to his attestation as Such I also certify that a Justice of the Inferior Court is duly authorised [sic] to administer oaths & take depositions according to the laws of this State in testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the Seal of the Inferior Court of Said County this the first day of July 1851

Seymour B Love clerk of the Inferior court of Henry County - Ga
Page 30

Department of the Interior
Washington  June 2. 1852.

Sir,

I have upon an examination of the claim of Mrs Mary Scott Bently for a Pension under the act of July 7th 1838, affirmed your decision in the case & herewith return the papers to the pension office

I am very respectfully
Your obedient Servant
Alex N.N. Stuart
Secretary.

James E. Heath Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 31

12944
Mary S. Bentley
Ga
Act 7. July 38
see letter of March '35 within

JL Edwards Esq
Comm of Pensions
Washington City
DC




785
Page 32

Monroe Walton County Georgia
October 1st 1846

Dear Sir

I enclose you the Declaration of Mary Scott Bentley for information The family record accompanying it She may here after refer to; In case She obtain proof of the Services of her husband, My object in fileing [sic] these papers is to ascertain the nature of the Service, rendered by her husband and the Regiment in which he claimed to have Served, If the Declaration of Jesse Bentley has been filed under the act of 1832. as She Supposes- and he failed in his lefetime to establish Satisfactorily his right to a Pension  Now that the files of the Executive Department of Georgia has been opened for the benefit of claimants I presume that it would not be contrary to the Regulation of the Department to grant information Such as requested

I am Sir Verry [sic] ~
Respectfully yours
John H Kilgore

Col JS Edwards
Washington City
Page 33

Washington   June 25.1852

Hon. Jas. C. Heath
Commiss'r [commissioner] of Pensions

Sir

Be pleased to forward to me your official report in the case of Jesse Bently Which it appears has been affirmed by the Sec'y [secretary] of the Int'r [Interior] 
I very much oblige
M. Thompson
Atty [attorney] for Bently
Page 34

Oct 27-1851
_____________
Th: Lumpkin
_________
Sept 9th 51. Clk
___________
certificate as to
marriage ford. [forwarded] to
Pension office
certificate [illegible]
sent to P. Office [pension]
Sept 16th .51
in the case of Mrs Mary Bently
widow of Jessee
Bently.
Page 35

Executive Department. Ga
Milledgeville 5 Sept 1851

Sir.

My absence until a few days since has until now delayed a reply to your Letter of the 16 July.

You have enclosed Certified copies of the Certificate and Power of Attorney Relative to the Service of Jesse Bentley as a Soldier in the War With England. It may be possible that he received his Bounty Land, if so its Copy grant can be obtained for $1.50

Very Respectfully
John T Smith
Secy Ex Dept [Secretary Executive Department]

Mr. Thomas Lumpkin
Washington City
D.C.
Page 36

Washington DC.
Sept 9th 1851

Sir,

I have the honor of enclose here with the Clk's [clerk's] certificate of the County of Wilkes Ga. which I wish filed in the case of Mrs Mary Scott Bently, widow of Jesse Bentley of Ga Act 7th July, 1838.

I am, Sir, Respy [respectfully] yours,
Th. Lumpkin

Hon J. W Heath,
Comm. of Pensions
Page 37

Washington
Sept 16th '51

Sir,

I have the honor to enclose herewith proof of the service of Jesse Bently, it being the certificate of the Secretary of the Executive Dept. of Ga. which I wish filed in the case of Mrs. Mary Scott Bently, widow of Jesse Bently, of Ga Act 7th July, 1838.

I am Very Resfy [respectfully]
yr. ob sevt [your obedient servant]
Th Lumpkin

Hon J.E. Heath,
Comm. of Pensions
Page 38

W.S. Tuggle
28 March 1835
OC

Vol 40. P 1 of 3.


12944 
"C"
Page 39

Department of War
Pen Off [pension office]
March.28.1835

Sir

The claim of Jesse Bentley cannot receive a favorable decision until he shall first have complied with the regulation in making his declaration. In the printed sheet which accompanied the case when it was returned to Mr Lucas in May 1833, the objection, Then existing, were  particularly pointed out, among them the want of proof in support of the alleged enlistment for 18 months, and of being properly authenticated. These two objections have not yet been removed. there then are may pieces of paper, each sheet  should bear the name of the Clerk of the Court, or be all attached by a ribbon or tape, passing under the seal of the clerk:- in case of no seal, a certificate of a member of Congress shewing his official character & signature is required. In the present case the Clerk has certified to the proceedings of the Court, and the Court to the official character & signature of the Clk
Page 40

In the amended declaration, the name of Jn T Bentley, appears ^father first time^ by one of the Interior of the Court, yet no evidence is prescribed of the fact.

Unacquainted as the Department may be supposed to be with the official characters and signatures of the person whom names are affixed to papers of thus [illegible] & will be readily prescribed that, the papers themselves thus presented offered no evidence of their genuineness.

The credibility of all witnesses, must be certified, by the Court, a Magistrate before whom thus affidavits be made;- thus has also been omitted.

The papers are returned in order that they may be put in proper form, and the proof above alluded furnished

[signature illegible]


WS Tuggle Esq
Ceeder Hill
Henry Co
Ga
Page 41

12944
Oct 7 '46

[round mail stamp reading: 
"MONROE
OCT
3
Ga."]

K.
Geo
July 7 '38
Mary S Bentley


20

JL Edwards Esq
Commission of Pens
Washington City
D.C