Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7049, for Beckam May, Georgia
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Ga May, Beckam
Beckom or
Beckam or
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Beckam May
1839
See May's affidavit
in the care of Matilda
Tucker [illegible] of John
of Georgia, act 1838
and also in the care of
Richard Jones of Ga
1832

Presented by 
H. L[illegible] R [illegible]
Washington, D.C.
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State of Georgia
Columbia County
I Timmons Crawford
Columbia County Deputy Clerk Superior 
Court in + for said county Do certify
that Stephen Drane, whose signature
appears to be the annexed affidavit is now and
was then acting Justice of the Inferior
Court in + for said County State duly authorized
to administer oaths, that the signature is genuine
and that his official act in such is entitled to full
faith + credit
Given under my hand + seal of office
at office this 30th day of October 1835
Timmons Crawford DCLK
Sup Cl C C Ga
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State of Georgia
Columbia County. Personally come before
me, Stephen Drane a judge of the Superior
Court for and in said County and state
on this the Twentieth day of October, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five,
Beckam May, aged one hundred years,
who being first duly sworn according to 
law, deposes and on his oath says that
he desires to obtain, and, for, that
purpose makes this declaration, this 
benefit of the Act of Congress paped
June the 7th 1832. He declares and
says, that, he was a soldier of the
Revolutionary War against Great
Britain in 1776, that, he entered
the service as a private under 
Capt Samuel Beckam of the
Georgia Militia in 1776, and, 
was out in many indian + tory
 skirmishes on Little River
Ogeechie, and, other places, and
he further declares and says
that, he was with General Elijah
Clarke at the siege of Augusta,
and, was subsequently with him
in his retreat to Kentucky, and 
previously in his retreat to North 
Carolina, which was opposed by 
John Jones, Richland Jones + others,
And, he farther deposes and
says, he was at the battle of
Kettle Creek in 1779, at which
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which Pickens and Clarke were present
and the Tory Colonel Boyd was killed.
After this, he says he went and camped
near where Washington now stands,
and, subsequently, he entered a 
company under Colonel Leonard
Marbury and crossed the Savannah 
and, were joined by Colonel And
rew Williamson, and, afterwards,
he passed over to Brownsboro in
Richmond Co.  Geo. At this place, we 
were attacked by a British Captain 
named Whitley, and, I was under
a Capt Cooper in a detachment
that, had been sent out by Col
Marbury; we had a skirmish +
Lieutenant Heall was taken + killed
by hanging, after, we had took
Whitly's command he was hung
at 96, and, for the reason he had
deserted our service And, he farther
declares, he was with Col Marbury
Dragoons, when they encountered
a party of British just before the
battle of Briar Creek. After this
he says, he was in the company 
who assembled at Wrightsboro, in 
this county and marched against the
Creeks, under Col Leroy Hammond
Gen Clarke, Col Few and Lieut
Alexander and others. From this
period up to the second siege of
Augusta in 1781 he says, he was
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engaged in serious warlike and hard
spent military duties such as scouting, 
spying, and, skirmishing against the 
Indians and Tories. At the seige
of Augusta, he says he was present
well recollects, Col Pickens, Lee, Clarke
and Capt Rudolph also, Capt Richard
Jones, and many others. After this, he 
says, he was at 96 1781 in the Cherokee expedition
under Gen Clarke and Pickens, +
they rendezvoused for the campaign 
at Long Creek Wilkes Co, Geo, on the
16th Sept 1782, a day he will never forget. Clarke's command consisted of
only ten volunteers from Richmond Co
Geo, St Pauls Parish and, I was one of them, added (illegible) there he had 89 others from other places, making 99 in all Pickens
had over 300 hundred On the 24th
we crossed at Beaver Shoals on 
the Chattahoochee River. We went after
Waters, party, Col Robert Anderson of
S.C. was with us, but, Waters fled
on the 8th Oct, Col Clarke went again
after Waters, but, he fled on the 17th 
Oct. We held a treaty at Long Swamp
at which Col Clarke + Gen Pickens
were present this closed the scene
and on the 22nd Oct 1783, we were
discharged at Long Creek and 
after, that, he says, he was not 
much in service, only in Indian
skirmishes on the frontiers
+ I was Benet (?) Lieutenant about four months.
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And he further declares and says, that
he would have applied long since, for
a Pension, but, was informed he was
excluded by a property qualification
And he further declares , and, says
that he has lost all his papers in
regard to his services,  never expecting
to get anything and took, but, little 
care of them, and, he knows of 
no documentary or other evidence 
now living or in existence by
which he can sustain it, +
hence, he appeals to the Pension
Bureau for justice, as he is now
infirm, lost to a degree in memory
by dint of old age, and hence
physically unable to sustain him
self. And he heady relinquishes
all claim whatever to any
Pension or (illegible) in his name
except the present, and, he declares
that, his name is not on the Pension 
Roll of the Agency of any state
by his knowledge or consent, that,
he is aware of, nor, does he
want a cent only fairly and
justly, and, he farther declares
that which he may by reason
of old age and loss of memory
can in dates, as to his service
he thins the facts, are generally
correct and refers to the history
of this county to sustain them
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Sworn to and subscribed before
me the day and year above written
Stephen Doane J.S.C Beckom May his mark
State of Georgia personally come before
Columbia County H A Ramsay
and Wiley Jones - residents 
of this county and state who say
they know Beckom May + have for 
years long and well and he is
an aged infirm man of an
irreproachable character for truth +
all his statements are creditable +
that he has the reputation in this 
country, and has ever enjoyed it,
of being a Revolutionary soldier
and, we fully concur in it.
Sworn to and subscribed before
me the day and year above written
H.A. Ramsay
Stephen Doane JH
Wiley, Jones

State of Georgia
Columbia County
This will certify
that, I, Stephen Doane a judge
of the Inferior Court for and in
said County and state know
the above (?), and, they are
credible men and their statements
entitled to respect, I also know
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Beckom May and know him to be 
old and infirm and unable to
appear in open court conveniently
if at all and I know from general
reputation and think so too, that
he was a soldier of the Revolution
and served as he states.
Given under my hand
and seal, the day and year 
above written.
Stephen Drane J.H
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Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
1049
P.O.
Beckam May
Service: 
REJECTED
Enlisted: , 18
Discharged:, 1
Application filed: ,18 
Alleges: 
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized. Contract
Cert. of Dis. Searched for ,18
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Washington DC
Nov 3rd 1855
Sir
Herein I enclose the
Declaration of Beckam May of Geo,
under Act of 7th June, 1832.
Have the (illegible)
Ch. Lumpkin
Hon J. Mims
Comm of Pensions
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Washington DC
Aug 7th 1855
Sir
Herewith enclose addl evidence
in the case of Beckam May of Geo. 
Act 7th June, 1832, which I hope
may be satisfactory to grand him
a pension. 
Have the honor to be
Very respy
TW Lumpkin.
Hon J. Mims
Comm of Pensions
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Beckam May dec
Ga act 1832
Report
Dodge
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Beckam May, of Ga, applicant for pension
under the act of June 7 1832. is dead.  His papers are
in the hand writing of Dr. R. A. Ramsay
The merits of this case are exceedingly uncertain, but it
is clear that it cannot be allowed without new papers
and further proof. He was father of Matilda Tucker. 
June 18th 1856
S. G. Dodge
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(illegible) for the case
of Beckam May
Georgia
1832
Page 16


(partial transcription) 
On the 20 October 1835 Beckam May swears
he was a soldier against Great Britain in 1776, entered as a private under Cap Samuel Beckam of the Georgia Militia in 1776, was out in many Indian & tory skirmishes on Little river, Ogechee + other places, was with Gen Elijah Clarke at the siege of Augusta, and was with him when he retreated to Kentucky + previously in his retreat to N Carolina which was opposed by John Jones, Richard Jones, + others, was in the battle of Kettle Creek in 1779 at which battle Pickens Helaske (?)
were present + Col Boyd the Tory was killed, He subsequently encamped near where Washington now [illegible]. then entered a company under Col Leonard Marbury, crossed Savannah River joined Col Andrew Williamson + (illegible) Brownsboro Richmond & Georgia was attacked by a British Captain named Whitley, was then under Command of  Capt Cooper, had a skirmish + Lt Hall was taken and killed by hanging because he had deserted the service, Was with Col Marbury when he was attacked by a party of British just before the 
battle of Briar Creek, After this was with the co that a (?) as Washington + marched against the Creeks under Col Jerry Hammond, Genl. Clarke, Col Few + Others,
From the point he was engaged in how [illegible]
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(partial transcription)
2d Siege of Augusta in 1781, was present as the siege of Augusta, Cap Richard Jones was there, was at SC in 1781 in the Cherokee expedition Clarke + Pickens, rendezvoused at Long Creek with 16 Sep 1782, well remember the day, and, mentions treaties (illegible) (illegible) (illegible) Given the (Illegible) 
for not having applied sooner.

HA Ramsay + Wiley Jones certify his
good character(given all the other cases)
Judge Steven Dram over the name
Isaac Brooks swears to Mays services
BM Jones + (illegible) certify to character
(?)
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Evidence of 
Isaac Brooks
in
Beckam May's
Act of June 1832
Case Geo.
addl. evidence
Lumpkin
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State of Georgia
County of Columbia

On this the twenty
sixth day of November one thousand
eight hundred and fifty five, personally come before me Stephen Doane a
Judge of the Inferior Court for + in
said County and state, Isaac
Brooks of the County of Warner
said state, who appears here be
cause there is no Magistrate in
his District, and, who being first
duly sworn  according to the law doth on
his oath say, he is personally acquain
ted with Beckam May of the County
of Columbia, who applies for a pension
under the Act of Juny the 7th 1832
and he further says he is near about
the age of Beckam May, he being 
Ninety seven- years of age +
he further says he knew the said
Beckam May having the Revolutionary war, they were raised boys together, and, that, which Beckam was never a regularly constituted regular he was in and through
the whole war from 1776 to 1783
and done good and effectual
service, being wounded in the
thigh upon one occasion And
he farther says, the said Beckam
May, was under Capt Samuel
Beckam, as a  (?) by (?)
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and he was at the seige of Augusta, 
96, at Briar Creek, Clarkes Retreat
and at the skirmish and expedi
tion to Long Creek and the Treaty
of the latter in 1782. All these
occurences took place in 1782, 
1781-, 1779-, 1780,- and the
said Beckam May's father was 
killed in a skirmish on the
Ogeechee near Newsoms Fort in
1779, and my father was killed
by Capt Josiah Dunn, in the
County of Columbia, on Kiokee Creek
who fought through the war and
was with May at the siege of Augusta and other places. These things
I now to be correct and I have
no interest whatever in the claim.
I was not in May's company, but, 
I know the facts to be correct to the
line, and I am now in my Ninety-
Seventh year. Sworn to and subscribed
before me, the day and year above
written. 
Isaac Brooks X his mark

We the undersigned know Isaac
Brooks of Warner County, Geo he 
an old man of the age he
represents, a most credible
man + all his statements are
truthful and should receive
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full faith and credit, he is known here
as an old Revolutioner, and so is
Bekam May. Sworn to and sub-
scribed the day and year 
above written.
James A Slaton
L. W. Gains (?)

I, Stephen Drane (?), a Judge of
the Inferior Court for + in this County
of Columbia, state of Georgia, (?)
certify, that, the above affiants
are all credible persons and
their statements entitled to full 
faith and credit. Given under
my hand + seal, the day + year
above written. 
Stephen Drane (?) SHD

State of Georgia
Columbia County

I Anderson M Crawford Clerk
of the Superior Court for and in said
County and State, hereby certify, that, Stephen
Drewe (?) was at the time of taking the above
evidence and acting Judge of the Inferior Court
for his said County, + State, duly authorised to ad= 
minister oaths. (?) This signature is genuine +
official entitled to full faith + credit. In
whereof. I have hereunto set my hand +
seal, this the 3 day of December 1855
AM Crawford(?)