Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 11060, Benjamin Gosnell, Va.
Page 1

Service                                            Number
VA                 Gosnell, Benjamin     W.11060
                                    Dorcas        B.L.Wt.36757-160-55

Contents
Page 2

19343
Indiana
Benjamin Gosnell
of Decatur Co. [County] in the State of Ind [Indiana]
who was a pr [private] in the Co. [Company] commanded
by Captain Adams of the regt [regiment]  commanded
by Col. Linch [Lynch] in the Va [Virginia]
line for 9 mos [months]

Inscribed on the Roll of Ind [Indiana]
at the rate of 30 Dollars  - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of Augt
1833 and S. John Test Jr Greensburg

Arrears to the 4th of March               60.00
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept     15 -
                                                           ______
                                                            75 -
                                                           ______
                                                {Revolutionary Claim,}
                                                {Act June 7, 1832.      }
Recorded by Danl Boyd  Clerk,
Book E  Vol. 7  page 112
Page 3

5142
Indiana  Ind
Dorcas Gosnell
widow of Benjamin
Va
who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a private

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate
of 30 dollars 00.
cents per annum, to commence on
the 3d February, 1853.

Certificate of Pension issued
26th day of April 1855.
and sent to
Scobey & Crumback [Cumback]
Greenburgh [Greensburg]
Indiana

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 3, 1853, Page 189 Vol. A
                  (32)

222516
Page 4

Act of Mar 3,
222516.   Nov 12, 1855
Dorcas Gosnell
wid. of Benjamin
Gosnell.  Pvt [Private] 
Dorcas Gosnell wid [widow] of Benjamin Gosnell
Col. Lynch  
            Va Mil [Virginia Militia]
                       Pri [Private]
[Overwritten on above]: No.36757 
                                      iss Aug 12/56

Revolutionary War

Recd. Pension No.5142
Ind.  Feby 53-5142
Ad:160Ac, Aug: 7/56
                     Boy D
Hon. Wm. Cumback
      Ho: of Rep. [House of Representatives]
Will. Cumback, Washington, D.C. [crossed out]

Vol. G. 100 [on next page]
Page 5

Benjamin Gosnell
Application
17272
Page 6

State of Indiana
Decatur County} Ss
on this 24th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court
before the Honorable Judges of the Decatur  Circuit court in and for said county of Decatur now sitting ["now the sitting" is crossed out] Benjamin Gosnell a resident Decatur County State of Indiana aged seventy one years old [old crossed out] the 15th day of March 1832 who first being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress pased [passed] June 7th 1832

that he entered by Draft the service of the united States ['service' crossed out] under the command of Colonel Charles Linch [Lynch] in the company comanded [commanded] by Captain James Adams and was stationed at the lead mines on New River served three Months and was discharge by Colonel Charles Linch of the virginia line

that he volunteered in the united States service in march the year 1781 under the comand of Colonel Charles Linch in the company commanded by William Jones Captain and Marched from Bedford county, Virginia through Hillsborough on to Guilford Courthouse and was in the battle fought at that place and Captain Jones was killed at that place and after the battle Marched to the Iron Works thence on across Deep River thence on to the Camberlin Road and was discharged for three Months service by Colonel Charles Linch, and in the Month of septimber 1781 he was drafted in the regiment comanded by Colonels Calaway [Callaway] & Trig [Trigg] and joined the Regiment at the Red store in bedford county virginia, and belonged to the company comananed by Captain James Bullock then marched through Petersburgh Williamsburg to Yorktown
Page 7

then we was transfered to General Lawson Brigade of the Regular line and was at the siege and taking of lord Cornwallis and was discharged to the best of my Recollection by Col. Tucker he further sayeth he has lost his discharge and he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except his sister she knowing of his going into the army and of his return, he hereby Relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or anuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any state

and further states that he was born state of Maryland in the year 1761 and resided in Bedford county state of virginia during the war, thence removed to the state of Kentucky thence Removed to the state of Indiana Decatur County where he now resides

and further states he has no record of his age and his discharge is lost.  Benjamin Gosnell X his mark 
sworn to and subscribed the day and year afforsaid
Henry F. Talbott ck [clerk] ∫
We David J. Cox a Minister of the gospell in the county of Decatur and state of Indiana and David Jewett residing in the county & state afforesaid 
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Gosnell wha has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy one years of age that he is Respected and believed in the Neighborhood where he resides to to [crossed out] have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion    David Jewett
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year afforsaid
Henry F. Talbott ck
Page 8

and the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interogatories [interrogatories] prescribed by the war department that the above Named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the court further certify that it appears to them that Benjamin Gosnell [crossed out and David J. Cox is overwritten] who signed the proceding [preceding] certifficate [certificate] is a clergyman resident in the county of Decatur and state of Indiana and that David Jewett who has also signed the same is a resident in the county of Decatur and state of Indiana afforesaid, and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
M.C. Eggleston Cirt. Judge
James Eldo A.G.D.E.
John Benson A.G.D.E.

I Henry H. Talbot clerk of the Decatur Circuit court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Gosnell for a pension in testimony wherof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 27th day of october 1832
Henry H. Talbot, ck
Page 9

State of Indiana
Decatur County 
[above has a large { on the right side followed by Sct.]

Dorcas Gosnell being duly sworn on oath says that, She is the widow of Benjamin Gosnell deceased who was a Soldier in the War of the Revolution, and as such drew a pension from the Government of the United States - that said Benjamin died at Decatur County, Indiana on the twenty eighth day of August A.D. Eighteen hundred and forty six - that she, said Dorcas  has remained and still is the widow of said Benjamin - that she was married to said Benjamin - that she was married to said Benjamin Gosnell on the first day of January Eighteen hundred and fifteen at the County of Harrison County [crossed out] and State of Kentucky - that said Benjamin was a Pensioner aforesaid at the time of his death, and received a Pension as aforesaid at the time of his death, and received his pay at the Pension agency at Madison Indiana.

She makes this declaration to obtain the Pension to which she may be entitled as the widow of said Benjamin Gosnell pursuant to the several acts of Congress in that case made and provided -
Attest       Dorcas Gosnell X her mark [the X appears between her first & last names with her & mark above & below it]
Orville Thomson
Cort Ewing
Page 10

Dorcas Gosnell
wid
Benjamin

Boynter

Scobey & Crumback, 
Greensburgh
Recd [Received] Jany [January] 23'/55
Page 11

[horizontal]
Sworn to and Subscribed in the Decatur Court of Common Pleas; in Decatur County Indiana in open court this 10th day of January A.D. 1855, being the 9th judicial day of this January term A.D. 1855 of said Court.

Witness my hand and the seal of said Court the date last above written

Henry H. Talbott. Clerk [signature]

[vertical]
Dorcas Gosnell
wid
Benjamin

Boynter

Scobey & Crumback,
Greensburgh
Recd [Received] Jany [January] 23'/55
Page 12

State of Indiana Decatur County}
Set
Edy Wheeler, having duly sworn our oath says, that she is of the age of about sixty four years, and resides at Decatur County Indiana - That she was present and witnessed the Marriage of Benjamin Gosnell with Dorcas Porter at Harrison County, State of Kentucky on the first day of January eighteen hundred and fifteen - that said Benjamin and said Dorcas lived together as man and wife until the death of said Benjamin, which occured [occurred] at Decatur County, Indiana, on the twenty eighth day of August eighteen hundred and forty six - she was present at the time of his death - said Dorcas has since remained a widow - Said Benjamin Gosnell at the time of his death was a pensioner of the United States as a soldier in the Revolutionary War receiving his payments as such at the Madison Indiana pension agency -
her x mark
Edy Wheeler

Attest }
Cort. Ewing 
Daniel Boyer
Page 13

Sworn to and Subscribed in the Decatur Court of Common Pleas of Decatur County Indiana in open court the 10th day of January AD 1855 being the 9th judicial day of the January Term AD. 1855 of said Court.
Witness my hand and the seal of said Court the date above written
Henry H. Talbott, Clerk [signature]

I Royal P Cobb Judge of the Decatur Court of Common Pleas for Decatur County Indiana, do hereby certify that the foregoing affidavits were made in open court as above stated at the time above stated, and that the authentications thereto are genuine and in due form of law given under my hand & seal this 15th day of January AD 1855
Royal P Cobb, Judge [signature] seal [written & circled]

I Henry H. Talbott Clerk of the Decatur Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the Hon. Royal P. Cobb is Judge of the Decatur Common Pleas Court, duly commissioned & qualified, and that the signature above is genuine.
Witness my hand and the seal of said Court at Greensburgh this 19th day of January 1855
Henry H. Talbott, clerk
Decatur Cour. Pleas
Page 14

Application of Dorcas Gosnell
for bounty land

War the Revolution

No. 222.516

Will Cumback
Greensburgh Ind
Address me hereafter at Washington DC
Page 15

State of Indiana Decatur County}
On this ninth day of November AD One Thousand Eight Hundred and fifty-five personally appeared before me the Clerk of the Decatur Circuit Court within and for the county and state aforesaid Dorcas Gosnell aged about 74 years a resident of Decatur County and state of Indiana who being duly sworn according to law declared that she is the widow of Benjamin Gosnell deceased who was a private in the Revolutionary war in the Virginia Malatia [Militia] under the command of Col Lynch that [illegible; struck through] her said husband was in said war for the term of 3 months at one time and 3 months at another and that he continued in actual service in said war for 6 months and was honorably discharged, She further states that she is now a pensioner for said service of her said husband and that her pension certificate is Numbered 5142 and she refers there to the proffs [proofs or proffers] as to her marriage and widowhood and her said husbands service now on the files [at] the pension office and that she is still a widow.

She further states that she has never made application for any bounty land under any act of Congress but that she now makes this application for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3 1855
Dorcas Gosnell
her x mark
Page 16

We Richard Rollins and Alexander Gosnell Residents of Decatur County and State of Indiana upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged in our presence by the above Dorcas Gosnell and know from our personal acquaintance that she is the person she represents herself to be and that she is now a widow and pensioner.
Richard Robbins
Alexander Gosnell

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written and I certify that I konw the affiants to be credible persons that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be and that I have no interest in this claim
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the Decatur Circuit Court at Greensburgh this 9th day of November 1855.
Henry H. Talbott. Clerk
Decatur Circuit Court
Page 17

No 17272
Benjamin Gosnel [Gosnell]
Indianna
from ~ private
9 months
$30.

John Test Jr
[struck through: Jno Test]
June
Greensburg Indiana
Page 18

BRIEF in the case of Benjamin Gosnell
County of Decatur in the State of Indiana
(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 71 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[table]
Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Draft. in 17~ | Years " Months. 3 Days. ~ | Rank. private | Gen Lawson Capt. Adams Col Linch [Lynch]
Vol. 1781 | " 3 ~ | ~ | Capt Jones Col Linch
Drafted "" | time not stated | ~ | Col Calaway.
[end table]

5. In what battles was he engaged? at Guilford Court House at the Seige [Siege] of York/
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? State of Virginia
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct

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

J W Clagett Examining Clerk:
Page 19

[information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen]sion on file in this Bureau.

[list]
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
Mch. 1781
Sept. 1781 |
LENGTH OF SERVICE. 
3 mos.
3 mos. |
RANK. 
Pvt. |
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
James Adams
William Jones
James Bullock |
COLONEL.
Charles Linch
Charles Linch
Calaway
Trig |
STATE.
Va
[end list]

Battles engaged in, Guilford Court House. Siege of Yorktown
Residence of soldier at enlistment, enlisted Bedford Co. Va
Date of application for pension, Oct. 24. 1832 His cl was al
Residence at date of application, Decatur Co. Ind.
Age at date of application, {b. Mch. 15 1761 in Baltimore Co. Md; died Aug 28. 1846 in Decatur Co. Ind.
Remarks: Soldier married in Harrison Co. Ky. Jany 1. 1815. Dorcas Porter. She was allowed pension on an application executed Jany 10. 1855 while a resident of Decatur Co. Ind.
Very Respectfully,
Page 20

[title block; top left; print]
Guaranteed Largest Bona Fide, Paid in Advance Subscription Ever Attained by Any Newspaper in Howard County.

[letterhead; print]
Daily and Weekly
The Kokomo Dispatch
by J. W. & E. Henderson
Kokomo, Ind.

[main body; type]
4/23/10
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington,D.C.
my dear Sir-
Will you please send me a record of the services of Benjamin Gosnell who served in the American Revolution.He lived in Virginia but later moved to Kentucky and died in Decatur Co. Indiana in 1846 and he was a pensioner. Thanking you in advance for the above, I am
Very truly yours,
Mrs. Lou Gosnell Wood

903 N. Phillips St. [at left of name]

APR 26 1910 [stamped ink to right of name]
Page 21

[left page]
1910 May 4 Hist. to Mrs. Lou Gosnell Wood V. L. M.

[right page]
Revy WIDOW, &c.
File No. 11,060
Dorcas Gosnell
Widow of
Benjamin Gosnell
Priv. Rev War
Ac: Feb 3d /33
Index:- Vol. A, Page 280
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 22

~
36.757
[Theo Creach; signature illegible]
Page 23

L. P. Waldo
Enclosed please find additional proof as to the claim of Dorcas Gosnell for Pension there being no Record Evidence of the marriage we send you the certificate of the clerk of the county where they were married
We think we have no [now] proved all you required in your lost [or 'last'] to us[.] let us hear from you soon
Truly Yours
Scoby & Cumback
Page 24

D[orcas; illegible; page ripped]
Benjamin

Set: to Messrs Scobey & Crumback, Jany: 27" /55,
"Apl 14" 1855

Act /53.
Page 25

[left page]
Pension Office.
April. 23, 1855
Sir:
Please Certify the time to which the within nam[ed] pensioner was paid or the Date of his death.
Very Respectfully,
L P Waldo
Comms"
[faintly written above signature]
Dd [Died or Deceased] 28 Aug. '46
R. J. Atkinson, Esqr
Third Auditor. [pillegible]
[at left; vertical]
"Boynton" [S.C. Boynton, clerk]

[right page; vertical]
Benjamin Gosnell died 28 Aug. 1826 paid in full.
Robt J Atkinson
Auditor
Page 26

Filed Jany [January]
Dorcas Gosnell,
wid: of
Benjamin,
Decatur Co: Ind:

Act /53.

$30. Pn An:
com: Feby [February] 37853,
Revy:

Scobey & Crumback,
Greensburgh, Ind

[at right; vertical]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Pension Office, Official Business
Commisioner
Page 27

1 pres: 3 rep: & co;
1 death, 28" Aug: 46.
3 Wid: & wife;

"Boynton" [S.C. Boynton, clerk]
Page 28

Pension Department

additional proff [proffers] in the claim of Dorcas Gosnell for Pension

Scobey & Crumback agents
Page 29

Philip Martin Josephus Wheeler and John Reed now come in open court and apen [after] their oaths make following statements to wit
We know Dorcas Gosnell well and we know her to be the widow of Benjamin Gosnell deceased. We knew them with in the life time of the said Benjamin Gosnell and that they recognized each other as husband & wife that they lived together as such and cohabited together. We know that Dorcas Gosnell is the applicant for pension is the widow of Benjamin Gosnell as we all have known her while Benjamin Gosnell was living and have known er ever since and we have no doubts but they were married We also know Edy Wheeler and are well acquainted with her general character and we say here that her statements are entitled to full credit as being a[nd] in all Respects a credible person
Josephus Wheeler
John reed
Philip W Martin
Subscribed and sworn to in open court April 9' 1855,
Henry H Talbott, Clerk
Page 30

Greensburgh April 18 1855
L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Der Sir
Your favor of the 14th is Recieved [Received] and contents noted 

In Reply we would Say that we were a little surprised at the additional Requirement you make of proff [proof or proffer] in your lost

In your letter of Jany [January] 27 1855 you say that "The witness Edy Wheeler should be duly certified to be credible" [all in quotes are underlined] We did show that by three as good men as there is in our county and we had hoped that that would have been sufficient, but now you Require us to establish the character of these men which we do with the Enclosed but we very Respectfully suggest where this matter is to End. But you may right and we are not disposed to complain as we have no difficulty in making any of such proff as we would not any to prove any fact by any man that are not worth of creit
Hoping to hear from you Soon
We remain most
Respectfully Yours
Scobey & Crumback

A.B. Mr Bemusdoffer is PM at our place and the other two winesses are our Most prominent citizens
Page 31

State of Kentucky
Harrison County} Sct
I P Wherritt [Perry Wherritt] Clerk of the County Court of said County certify that I have carefully examined the record of my office for the [record] of Marriage of Benjamin Gosnell to Dorcas Porter but have been unable to find any such Record
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office the 19th day of March 1855
P: Wherritt Clk
Py: C. T. Nelson, AC [possibly Associate Clerk]
Page 32

Brief in the case of Dorcas Gosnell, widow of Benjamin,
Decatur County and State of Indiana
act 3d Feby: 1853,

Claim, ("original" or "for increase") ['or "for increase"' has been scratched out]
Proof exhibited, (if original.)

Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Husband was pensioner under the Act of 7" June. 1832 @ the rate of $30. Pr An: One witness was present at the marriage, three witnesses testify to General reputation & Cohabitation
Pensioner died 28" August. 1846, as per one affiant then report of the Third Auditor.
Three witnesses testify to Widowhood & Identity of the Applicant.
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?

Messr: Scobey & Crumback
Greenburgh, Ind:
Name and residence of Agent

S C Boynton.
Examining Clerk.
Page 33

[vertical; starting at left]
Dorcas Gosnell
Wid.

Boyntons
April 12st 1855

[horizontal]
[circular stamped ink seal]
GREENSBURGH Ind
APR 15

[written]
S S
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D C
Page 34

[vertical; starting at left]
Dorcas Gosnell

Boyntons
April 13' 1855

[horizontal]
[circular stamped ink seal; left]
GREENSBURGH Ind. 
APR 10
[stamped ink seal; right]
FREE

[written]
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D C
Page 35

[circular stamped ink seal]
GREENSBURGH Ind.
NOV 9

[written]
[top right]
{Will Cumback M C

[bottom]
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D C

[vertical; at right]
222.576.
Page 36

Additional Proff [proof or proffer] in the Pension claim of Dorcas Gosnell

affidavit of J V Bemusdoffer
H Stevens
Aaron Howard

Scobey & Cumback
agents
Page 37

State of Indiana, Decatur County Set
Be it remembered that on this 18th day of April 1855, personally appeared before me the undersigned Clerk of the Decatur Court of Common Pleas in and for said County and State Humphrey Stevens Aaron Howard and Jo. V Bemusdoffer 
who being duly sworn on their oath say that they are and for several years past, have been acquainted with Philip Martin & Josephus Wheeler John Reed [large section scratched through, illegible] witnesses in the application of Dorcas Gosnell for a pension; that said witnesses above named are men of good character and standing in said county and state and credible witnesses, being men of good moral character -
Jos V Bemusdoffer
Aaron Howard
Humphrey Stevens

Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 18th day of April A.D. 1855
Witness my hand and the seal of said Court hereto affixed the date last above written - and I further state that I consider the above men to be credible men and of good moral character
Henry H Talbott. Clerk
D.C.C.P. Ind"
Page 38

The amended application of Benjamin Gosnell an applicant for a pension under the provision of congress pased [passed] June 7th 1833 [1832] on the [left blank] day of April AD 1833 
The said Benjamin Gosnell personally appeared in open Court at the April Term AD 1833 of the said Decatur Circuit court before which his original application was made and on his oath sayeth that by means of old age and the Consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to his best Recollection he served in the united states service Nine Months and further states that he has no record of his age nor does not know that his age was ever recorded, and further sayeth that he was Discharged twice by Col Charles Linch [Lynch] which Discharged was to the best of my Recollection was signed by him, and was Discharged once by Col Tucker and that his Discharges are lost and that he is acquainted with Col. Thomas Hendricks, John Test Jnr  Phillip W Martin, James Johnson Esq Samuel Cruitt; John Guillon who can testify as to my varacity [veracity] and charecter [character] and their belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution
Benjamin Gosnell
his x mark

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interagatorees [interrogatories] prescribed by the war Department in place of his declarations that the above named applicant was a Revolutinoary soldier and served as he states in his ammeded [amended] application and it further appears to the said court that credit may be placed 
[continued next page]
Page 39

[continued from previous]
to the amended application of Benjamin Gosnell for a pension [the name Joseph Love is struck through]
M.C. Eggleston Pres. Judge
John Benson as. Judge
James Elder A.J.D.C.

I Henry H Talbot Clerk of the Decatur Circuit Court do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Gosnell for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 24th day of April in the year of our Lord on thousand Eight hundred and thirty three
Henry H Talbott. Clk.

[to left of signature is a stamped seal with pinking ribbon]

[at bottom of document; upside down]
Benjamin Gosnel 
Amended Decl: