Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,274, Benjamin Gordon, N.C.
Page 1

[Typed] (3-1776)
[Typed] Service
[Handwritten] N.C.
Gordon, Benjamin
[Typed] Number
[Handwritten] S. 32,274
Born in S.C.
Page 2

[Handwritten on left side of document] Deed Mar. 31. 1836 (A.B.)
[Right side of document]
Illinois. - 19.922
Benjamin Gordon
of Montgomery in the State of [illegible]
who was a Private in the [illegible] commanded by Captain Leslie of the Reg. commanded by Col _ on the N Carolina line for two years, N.C.

Inscribed on the Roll of Illinois.
at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commencement on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 [24 written above] day of [illegible].
1833 and sent to B. Gordon. Hillsboro, W.V. Illinois 
Arrears to the 4th of [illegible] 183[illegible]. 200
Semi--anl. allowance ending 4 Mar' 36  200
$ 2200
{Revolutionary claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by [Illegible] Clerk,
Book [illegible] Vol. 8 Page 57.
Page 3

[Handwritten]
State of Illinois Montgomery County Oct county commisioners court special March  ten[illegible] 1833 
On this 30th day of March 1833 personally appeared in your court before the county commisiers [illegible] sitting Benjamin Gordon resident in the county of Montgomery (or Fayette near the line) in the State of Illinois aged twenty years and three months who being first duly [illegible] according to law doth on his oath make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the services of the United States under the following named Offierces and served as here in started he entered the service in July in the year 1780 in Mecklenburg County near Charlotte in the State of North Carolina under Gnl Thomas Sumpter March to Hillsboro in North Carolina withnl the wounded was then sent as waggoner to Gnl Grocues army then marched under Gnl Clarke of Gerogia under the mountains as a ranger next marched into Newberry County in South Carolina under Capt. Nathaniel Davis [illegible] Glen Huch Levi Gary with whom he continued ranging during the rest of the war and was discharged in Newberry County in the State of South Carolina after serving nearly three years in the year 1783 he was acquainted with Gnls Mor = = gun. Greene. Sumpter. Clerk V Casey also with [illegible] Glen Williams V Summners with Capts under. Da=gun V Liles he was in no battle of any consequence. He has no documentary [illegible] but can prove some of the particulars of his service by James [illegible] of Montgomery County Illinois. I hereby relinquish [illegible - possible paper crease] to a pension or an annuity except the present and declare thus my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State - 
Interrogatories propoivded by the Court of the said Benjamin Gordon 
Quest 1st - Where and in what year were you born?
Ans in Newberry County in the State of South Carolina on the 30th day of August 1702.
Quest 2nd - Have you any record of your age and if so where is it? 
Ans I have no record of my age my own house.
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[Handwritten document]
Quest 3rd - Where were you living when called into the service. Where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?
Ans - I lived in the State of South Carolina when I entered the service and continued to reside there for 25 or 30 years after the close of the war when I removed to Kentucky in 1812 resided there 10 years and removed to the State of Illinois in 1822 where I have resided for the last 10 years. I now live either in the County of Montgomery or Fayette near the line in the State of Illinois - 
Quest 4th - How were you called into the service. Were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Ans - I entered the service as a volunteer and so continued. 
Quest 5th - State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served such continental and military regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service? 
Ans - I do not know the name of any regular officers I think there were none in the corps in which I served. I was acquainted with Lisles regt Colo Glen's Regt Colo Willliams' and Colo Adam Sumners' Regts all militia or regiments of rangers. I belonged entirely to the ranging service. 
Quest 6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it? 
Ans. I never received any except an incident on which I drew pay for my services. 
Quest 7th - State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and good behavior your services as a soldier of the revolution?
Ans. I am acquainted with the Reverend Henry Sears & James Virdin

Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid Benjamin Gordon

We Henry Sears a clergyman residing in the County of Montgomery in the State of Illinois and James Virdin residing in the same county and state do hereby certify that we are well
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State of Illinois Montgomery County Sct
Be it remembered that on this 10th day of August AD 1833 the within named Benjamin Gordon, personally appeared before the undersigned an acting Justice of the peace within and for said County and being duly sworn saith that he entered the service of the United States, in Capt Lisle's Company of Militia under Genl Sumpter in July of the year 1781 near Charlotte in Mecklenberg County North Carolina as a private soldier. He served two weeks in that capacity and was then sent by order of Genl Sumpter, with the soldiers horses in search of pasturage, under Major Gordon the father of this affiant, in which capacity he continued about three weeks. He was then by order of Major Gordon placed as attendant and nurse of the sick and wounded, in Charlotte North Carolina in which Capacity he continued about six weeks, was then sent to Hillsboro, North Carolina with the wounded & sick. He was then sent by Major Gordon his father as waggoner in Genl Greenes army in which Capacity he continued about one month. He then followed Gen Green's Army, under the immediate command of Major Gordon into South Carolina. He was then placed under the command of Genl Clark of Georgia, under whom he continued to range about six weeks under the mountains. But he cannot now remember the name of the Captain under whom he was placed. He was then placed under Capt Nathaniel Davis in Colo Glen's regiment under the command of Brig Genl Levi Casey under whom he continued to serve as a private during the remainder of the war. This last service was militia or ranging service, and was discharged as within stated about three months after the peace was concluded, being in pursuit after the peace of the murderers and [illegible]. He states explicitly from the time he entered the Service in July 1780 till he was finally discharged in (as he now thinks) August 1782 - making in the whole of his service two years and one month. He was never out of the service of the United States for One Single day. He served the whole time as a private - Sworn to and subscribed before in this day and year above written
Hiram Rountree
Justice Peace
---
Benjn Gordon
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[writing above bold line belongs to previous page]

State of Illinois, Montgomery County [illegible]
I Hiram Rountree Clerk of the County Commissioners Court of said county do hereby certify that Hiram Rountree Esqr whose signature appears to the foregoing attached Certificate of Affidavit of the therein named Benjamin Gordon was at the time of signing the same and now is an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn into Office and that therefore full faith and credit are due to all the acts of the said Justice of the peace in his Official capacity - 
Given under my hand & seal of Office at Hillsboro this 13th day of August in the year of Our Lord 1833
Hiram Rountree
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19922
Benjamin Gordon
Illinois
Return of [crossed out]
Adm 2 years.
$80.00
B
Gorden
Hiram Rountree [crossed out]
Clerk [crossed out] Hillsbro
Montgomery County
Illinois
Page 8

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
17th July 1833

Sir:
   The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed.
The notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A Statement, shewing the Service of Benjamin Gordon
July 1780  3 years
private /Gen Sumpter
Age at present, 70 years, South Carolina

I am, respectfully
Your obedient servants
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
    As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
    In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of  county of} ss.

On this ______ day of ________ personally appeared (a) in the county of ____ and State, Territory or District of  _______ aged (c) _____ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) ______ , with _____ and
served in the ________ (e) regiment of the ________

(Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
   He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
(And then will follow the certificate of the Court)
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of_________ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of ________ $c.
& c.
   If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
    Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _______
and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _________
who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _______ 
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
    Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.)
   And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after
putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the ___________
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the ______  and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, ____________ Clerk of the Court of _________
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _________
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _________ day of 
& c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
   If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his Case.
   The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. (To a Soldier) Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
(To an Officer) Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
   The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
   The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
   The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
   Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
   Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
   No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
(a) The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
(b) The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
(c) The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
(d) The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
(e) Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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 amount of pension he is entitled.  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, &c. 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____years   _____months, and ____
days, I served as a ______:and for such service I claim a pension."
    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 of four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that 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 objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown 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.
(f) The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
(g) The opinion of the Court is always required.
(h) The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
(i) The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
    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 papers 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.
    Proof of Service.
(j) 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 claimant's 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.
The notes from (a) to (i) to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by note (j) applies to continental troops only. 
(k) This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
(l) If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 
(m) The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 11

June 5, 1936
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BENJAMIN GORDON
S. 32276
RA-J/MLB

Mr. B. J. Walter
Wabash Post No. 423, American Legion
Mount Carmel, Illinois

Dear Sir: 

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Benjamin Gordon, who served under General Thomas Sunter, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, also, under General Clark, and settled in Montgomery County, Illinois. 

The record of Benjamin Gordon follows as found in the papers on file in pension claim, S. 32274, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War. 

Benjamin Gordon was born August 30, 1762, in Newberry County, South Carolina, and was the son of Major Gordon; the given names of his father and mother not shown. 

Benjamin Gordon volunteered in July, 1780, near Charlotte in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in Captain Lisle's company, under General Thomas Sumter. His residence during the Revolutionary War was in the State of South Carolina. He served, also, under Major Gordon, his father, under General Clarke of Georgia, and in Captain Nathaniel Davis' company, Colonel Glen's regiment. His entire service was as private engaged in ranging in North Carolina and South Carolina, was in no battles of any consequence and was discharged in August, 1782. 

The soldier continued to reside in South Carolina until 1812 when he moved to Kentucky, and moved in 1822 from there to Illinois.

Benjamin Gordon was allowed pension on his application executed March 30, 1833, while residing near the line of Montgomery and Fayette Counties, Illinois. He died March 31, 1836. 

No reference was made to wife or children of the soldier.
Page 12

In order to obtain date of last payment of pension and name of person paid, you should write to the Controller General, General Accounting office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data: 

Benjamin Gordon 
Certificate # 199[illegible]
[smeared ink] September [illegible] 1833 
Rate $80 per [unreadable] 
[unclear] March 4, 1831
Act June 7, 1838
Illinois Agency.

Very truly yours

A.D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator


[ page 2 written at bottom]
Page 13

[ Stamp in top right corner]

AMERICAN LEGION, Wabash Post No. 423
MT. CARMEL, ILLINOIS

B.J. WALTER
DEPT. OF MILITARY RECORDS
AND GRAVES REGISTRATION

May 19th, 1936.

The Veterans Administration,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

Kindly furnish pension record and any other information available of a one Benjamin Gordon who served under General Thomas Sumter, Mecklenburg Co.. N.C..
Also under General Clark.

This soldier came to Illinois settling in Montgomery County.

Very truly yours,
[signature illegible]
B.J. Walter,
Dept. Military Records and Graves Registration,
American Legion,
Wabash Post #423.
Page 14

1936 June 5 - Hist to 13 Signature J. Walter MSB

32274
[Illegible}  INVALID

File No.  32,274

Benjamin Gordon
Private Rev. War

Act: June 7th '32
Index:--Vol. 2, Page 159
{Arrangement of 1870.}