Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1,496, Spencer Benson, Del.

Page 1

Service 
Del.

Benson, Spencer

Number S 1496

Carded

Page 2

Service Number 1,496
Del.      Benson, Spencer        

State of Tennessee}
Rhea county      }

Circuit Court September term 1833

On this 24 day of September 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable Judge of Circuit Court (illegible)  Spence Benson a resident of Rhea County the State of (Illegible)  aged 77 years who being first
duly sworn according to law doth on his oath
with the following declaration in order to obtain
the benefit of the act of congress  (illegible) June 7th 1832.   that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served  as  herein after stated that he was drafted for the  there months time in a foot company in (illegible)  County in the State of Delaware the first of that he thinks in the year 1776 his officers names Simon Kollick Maj (sic Major)  John Mitchell Capt (sic Captain) Robert Houston Lieut.   John Craton and Ens (sic Ensign) James Brenton
They were called out for the purpose of guarding beach and inlets of the Chesapeake Bay  the British shipping at that (illegible)
  in the bay and frequently came to 
land and made carcasses of cattle and committed other dissipations upon the 
 adjacent County  He  together 
with his company were stationed at a little village in Bonard(?)  Creek a few miles from to wait  for the purpose of protecting the country against the incursions of the British remained
their guarding as aforesaid until his term of three months had expired when he was regularly  discharged by his Capt Robert Houston after having served three months as aforesaid which discharge lost or mislayed
some time about the first of August 1776 shortly after his return from his first tour he relisted  in

(contunued to page 2)

Page 3


(continuation  from page 1 Spencer Benson)


Sussex County in the State of Delaware for three months in a company foot for the purpose of again guarding against incursion of the British they still  bringing and spying with their shipping in the Chesapeake bay  his officers were   Col Simon Kollick  Maj. John Mitchell Capt Robert Houst n Lieut  John Craton and Ens  James Brenton the same officres that he went under in the first time,  and was  tationed  at the same little Village broad Creek and was frequently out on scouting parties to protect   the County remained there until his term  of three months the time for which
he had volunteered had expired and was regularly discharged  by his Capt Robert Houston which discharge is also lost or mislaid 
Some time  in August 1777 he was drafted in
Sussex County State of Delaware his Officers were Capt Robert Houston Lieut  John Croton and Ens.  James Brenton    Marching  against a company of Tories
Commanded by one Capt Bartholomous(?) Barnard(?) surprised  them at a place  called (illegible) branch and routed and disbursed the company there being nothing more for the time to do they  were dismissed he received a discharge from his Capt Robt Houston after having been in service one week  which discharge also lost or mislaid

He served in the first tour three months
The second tour three months and the
third one week making in all six months
and one week
He was acquainted with Maj. James Trossevin of
the regulars he is not acquainted with any other of the Regular officers not having knowing  served with them He is acquainted with the officers he stated above

(continued to page 3)

Page 4

(continued from page 2 Spencer Benson)

He has a record of his age in an old
bible  of his father but what has become of it  
he knows not

He was born on the 4th day of December 1755
in Sussex County in the State of Delaware where he lived  until after the revolutionary war from there re oved to Raleigh in North Carolina
from the from the removed to Serren(?)  County in State of Tennessee from there 
to Rhea County where he now resides and has resided for the last 15 years

He has no documentary
 evidence nor does
he know of any person living by whom
he can prove his services in the revolution
He is acquainted in his present Neighborhood with David  Ragsdale and James Kelly
but is not acquainted with any clergyman
his neighborhood there being none  near him
who can testify as to his character
for veracity and their belief of his services as
soldier of the revolution

He states that he receive three discharges as above stated and have been lost as above stated

That he never received a commission being
any thing but a private soldier

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and
declares that his name is not on the Pension
Roll of the agency of any State

Sworn and subscribed the day and year
aforesaid

James  Benson

Page 5

I David Ragsdale and James Kelley residents
of Rhea County and State of Tennessee 
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Spence Benson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 77 years of age that he is reputed and lives 
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 day and year
aforesaid

(signature) David Ragsdale
(signature) James Kelly


and the said Court do hereby declare  their
Opinion after the investigation of the matter and  the court does further certify that it appears that talking with David Ragsdale and James Kelly who has signed the  preceding certificate and are credible persons and their statements are entitled to credit.


Charles T Kath  Esq
Presiding


I Charles (illegible) Clerk of the Circuit   Court
of  Rhea County and state of Tennessee do hereby certify that the forgoing 
 contains the original presidings of the
said Court in the matter of the application of
Spencer Benton for a pension

In testimony whereof  I have hereunto set my 
hand and private seal not having an

 official 
seal at Office in Washington this 27 day 
of September 1833

(signature) John Locke  Esq


Certify that John Locke  is Clerk of Circuit Court for Rhea  County and was such  at the time of signing the same and that his signature is genuine and that there  is no seal of  office for said County this 8th day October 1833

(signature) James Standefer HC

Handwritten seal to Left side  - Letters LC inside

(Written across the top of letter)

27.873   Spencer Benson
war 1776 private
6 months / day
$20.78

Page 6

(doc book form 2 pages)

(page 1)
order to pay June 10, 1847(?)

(page 2)

25061
East Tennessee
Spencer Benson
of Rhea Co. in the State of Tennessee
who was a private in the war commanded
by Captain Houston  of the regt commanded
by Col Kollick in the Delaware
line for 6 months & 7 days

Inscribed on the roll of East Tennessee 
as the rate of 20 dollars 77 cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 19 day of Nov
1833 and Samuel Frazier Washington  CH

Arrears to the 4th of Sept  51.92
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 10.38
                                               ===========
                                                              $62.30

{ Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.        }

Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk,
Book 6    Vol. 7     Page  37

Page 7

(printed form)

O. W. and N. Division.  3--525

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C. -------,190--

In reply to your request of------,received -----
for a statement of the military history of Spencer Benson -a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's - crossed out) application for pension
on file in this Bureau.


DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
April 1, 1776
Aug 1776
Aug 1777

LENGHT OF SERVICE
3 MOS
3 MOS
1 WK

RANK.
Private
""
""

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.

CAPTAIN.                                  COLONEL
Robert  Houston                   Simon Kollick
Robert Houston                     Simon Kollick
Robert Houston

STATE
Del
""
""

Battles engaged in,--- the skirmishes at  "Icy Keterner(?) Branches"

Residence of soldier at enlistment,--- Sussex co  Del

Date of application for pension,--- Sept 24 1833- Chesapeake

Residence at date of application ---, Rhea Co Tennessee 

Age at date of application, ---- B. Sussex Co Del Dec 4, 1755

Remarks. ---

Very respectfully, ---

Commissioner,---

(form no.)  31793b5m10-07

Page 8

27.873
October 25 183
Tenn (sic Tennessee)
Pension Office

from 1776 private
6 month & 7 days
$20,78

Saml (sic Samuel)  Frazier
Washington
Rhea Co.
Tennessee

Page 9

Washington October 12th 1833


Sir
 I have enclosed to you the
declarations in order to obtain the benefit
of the act of Congress passed June 7th 
1832
Thomas McKiddy Spencer
Benson and Jesse Lampley
the three  individuals applying
all communication concerning
them will be directed in me
Washington Rhea County East of
Tennessee.

Respectfully you

Samuel Frazier (signature)

Jesse Lampley's claim (ret'd)
Taken out

"The declaration of Spencer, a
to my had in the enclose
found"  (line with " " crossed out)
Illan
12
2

Page 10

INVALID 
======

Rev War (sic Revolutionary War)

FIle No. 1496
Spencer Benson
Priv. Del. Line ( sic Private, Delaware Line)

======

Act:  June 7, 1832
Index:    --Vol. A,   Page 25

(arrangement of 1870)

Page 11

(letterhead)


OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COLLECTOR
DISTRICT OF  (seal on top left corner)

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

KNOXVILLE. TENN MAR 17 1911

Hon Commissioner of Pension
Washington DC

Dear Sir
I would like to the facts or records
you have as to the service of Spencer Benson in
the Revolutionary War, he was placed on the Pension  roll from Rhea Co.  to Tennessee Nov 19th 1833 his pension to commence March 4th 1831, he received back pay to the amount of $62.31 and annual pension of $420.77 he
was a private in the Delaware Continental line
and was 78 years old at the time he filed his
application for a pension, any information
give me will be very much appreciated
you can

thanking
you in advance

I am Yours Truly

 M.K. Benson  (signature)
Box 82 ( written adjacent to signature)