Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5699, for Benjamin Jones, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Jones, Benjamin Elizabeth
R. 5699
CONTENTS
select mt. Orange to Va. Nov. 27, 1820

State of Tennessee Coffee County 58.
On this 25th day of February 1840, personally appeared before the Judge of the circuit court of Tennessee now held for the county of Coffee at the court house in the town of Manchester Elizabeth Jones, a resident of said Coffee County, aged about eighty eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth in her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 4. 1836; That she is the widow of Benja- min Jones, who was a private in the Revolutionary War; that her husband was drafted into the service among the first that went out from Frank County Virginia. She thinks it was in the spring of seventeen hundred and seventy five. He went out first under Captain Gervill, who was promoted to Major, before the war ended. Either James Barbour or Thomas Barbour was Colonel of the regiment to which her husband belonged. When he was first drafted he went over the Blue Ridge to guard grain and ammunition. He was gone three or four months; this deponent cannot remember where he went to, he returned home and did not stay more than a day and night before he was gone again. Deponent does not know by what kind of engagement he entered the service. He was out till about six months before the end of the war, when he was attacked with Rheumatism, which confined him at home for eighteen months. Deponent has often heard him speaking of his services, his officers, & his adventures, but she cannot distinguish one officer, or circumstance from another; nor can she distinguish his different campaigns; nor does she now remember that she ever

did know when one tour ended and another began. He was in service almost constantly from the time he first entered till he was attacked with rheumatism as above stated. This deponent remembers that when Washington was at White Plains, La Fayette was encamped in a half of her house in Orange County. Her husband was then in the service; but he was not in La Fayette's army; or she would have remembered it. She understood that La Fayette was waiting for a reinforcement; he staid there two weeks or more. The soldiers came every morning to her house to get milk; they were not allowed to come into the house; they came to the yard and she handed to them whatever she had to spare. This deponent in conversation with Morton Jones would state that she may be mistaken as to her husband's going into the service in 1775, it may have been the year following. During the whole time her husband was in service, he was never with her more than one or two days at a time, and these visits were at intervals of between two and six months. She is now very old and the events of the Revolution which were once vivid in her recollection are now confused, so that she cannot, as above stated, identify his different campaigns. She does not know whether he ever had a discharge or not; she knows that when he came back home sick, he intended to return to the Army but his sickness prevented it. She had one child before her husband went into the service; and when

he returned sick as above stated, she had four; This fact together with her recollection of the events, satisfies her that her husband was in the service at least five years. She was married to her so husband the said Benjamin Jones on the twelfth day of May seventeen hundred and seventy three or four. She does not remember which year, nor has she any record thereof. Her husband the said Benjamin Jones died on the twenty seventh day of December eighteen hundred and seventy (1870) She has not married since the death of her said husband but still remains his widow.
Elizabeth M. Jones
Subscribed & sworn to in Open Court 1-25 th Feb. 1880. Dan. M. Lewis clerk

5029
Elizabeth Jones of Benjamin Tennessee
Hm. H. M. Watterson, A. Q.

And before said Judge in open court also appeared Morton Jones, aged about ninety two years, who after being first duly sworn deponeth and saith that he is a pensioner of the United States, that Benjamin Jones the husband of Elizabeth Jones, who is applying for a pension, was a brother of Deponent, that they were both raised together in Orange County in the state of Virginia, Benjamin Jones was about two & a half years younger than deponent. Deponent's brother Benjamin was married to the said Elizabeth about three years before the commencement of the Revolutionary war. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Foster. They were married in Orange County by the minister (whose name was Wingate according to Deponent's recollection) in pursuance of proclamation under the old church rules at the glebe , as the premises of the parson was then called. Deponent thinks they had two children before the war commenced: He is certain they had one. Benjamin Jones went into the service either as a private volunteer, or as a drafted soldier, deponent does not recollect which. He went into the service in Orange County. His captain was Edmund Twell. He marched with his company from Orange County into Culpepper County. Deponent thinks the object of this march was to join the regiment to which his company was attached. The wagon and team of said Benjamin was pressed into the service at shortly after he went in. Deponent does not remember any of the officers of the company above mentioned except the Captain, nor does he remember the names of the officers of the regiment. Deponent was not in the same regiment with his brother. He saw him once in Fredericksburg, some year or more after the said Benjamin entered the service. Deponent was stationed there. He came there with as he told deponent with cannon balls & lead. Deponent had a long conversation with him. Deponent was stationed there seven weeks, and saw his said brother twice during that time. Deponent knew at the time where his brother was, but he cannot remember now the place he was in. Deponent remembers well when he came home sick with the rheumatism. Deponent was called out to service again, & left his brother at home sick. His said brother Benjamin died

in North Carolina in eighteen hundred and twenty. This deponent is very certain his brother was in the service at least two years, and he thinks much longer: but he cannot specify the exact time. The said Elizabeth Jones resides about twelve miles from Deponent in Coffee County, and has never married since the death of her said husband, but still remains his widow.
Subscribed & sworn to in Open Court 25 th Feby. 1840 Dan d M c Lean clerk
Morton Jones his mark
State of Tennessee Coffee County ss To wit
I Dan d M c Lean Clerk of the Circuit Court for said County of Coffee, do hereby certify that the foregoing declaration of Elizabeth Jones and deposition of Morton Jones were subscribed & sworn to in open court at the time & in the manner stated above Dan d M c Lean clerk
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and, having no seal of office, have affixed my private seal this 25 th day of February A D 1840 Dan d M c Lean clerk of the Circuit Court for Coffee County

State of Tennessee
To wit
I Andrew J. Markbanks, one of the Judges of the Circuit Court in the state of Tennessee, now presiding for the County of Coffee do certify that John McLean who has made the foregoing certificate is and was at the time of making the same, clerk of our said Court for Coffee County duly elected and qualified, that said certificate is in due form of law. And I do further certify, from testimony which I have examined and upon which I can rely, that Morton Jones who has made the foregoing deposition in open court, is and was at a person of respectability and worthy of credit.
Given under my hand and seal this 27th day of February 1840.
Andrew J. Markbanks Judge etc.

March 28, 1934.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mr. W. C. Kennamer 42 Albemarle Place Yonkers, New York
BA-J/ady am R.5699 Benjamin Jones
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter requesting the record of Benjamin Jones and in which you request to know whether or not the names of other children of Morton Jones are shown than Hugh and Gabriel. No other names are shown in the papers on file in the pension claim of Morton Jones or his widow Frankey.
The data contained herein are obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, R.5699, based upon the military service of Benjamin Jones in that war.
Benjamin Jones married May 12, 1773 or 1774 in Orange County, Elizabeth Foster.
Benjamin Jones died December 27, 1820 in North Carolina, place not stated.
His widow, Elizabeth Jones applied for pension February 25, 1840 at which time she was aged about eighty-eight years and a resident of Coffee County, Tennessee. It is stated that Benjamin Jones while a resident of Orange County, Virginia, enlisted in the spring of 1775 or 1776, served as private in Captain Edmund Terrill's Company, Colonel James or Thomas Barbour's Virginia Regiment, that he was engaged a part of the time with his team hauling cannon balls and lead and that he served at various times during a period of about five years amounting in all to approximately two years.
Her claim was not allowed as she failed to furnish proof of service of six months in a military capacity as required by the pension law.
At the time soldier entered the service he had one child; three other children are referred to also, no names are given.

In 1840 Morton Jones aged about ninety-two years stated that he and his brother, Benjamin, who was about two and a half years younger than himself were both reared in Orange County, Virginia. There are no further family data.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator.

1934 Mar. 26. Hilt to Mrs. Newman. 9/17/34
5699.
P. O. Elizabeth Jones
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleged  The printed list of 1852 gives cause of rejection as; Enlisted: "Did not serve in a military capacity."
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
Recognized. _____
Contract. _____
Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Elizabeth Jones R 5699- of Benjamin Tempest
Rejected has let 27 April 1820 Name: H. M. Watterson
did not serve in a military capacity
5699
Act # July 1836

Apr. 25. 1840 5029 Term July 4. 1836
J. L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington City DC
Wm H. M. Watterson H. D. R.

Washington. April 12th 25 th 1840
Dear Sir -
Enclosed you will find some papers for a pension. You will do me a favor by examining into them there as soon as possible
Yours. Obt. Svt H. M. Watterson

Pen Office,
April 27, 1840
Sir
The papers in the case of Mrs Elizabeth Jones, widow of Benjamin Jones, decd, have been examined. It would appear that she was engaged with his estate while it is stated was passed into the service. It is not shown how long she was so employed, but from the statement given by the claimant and the witness, there is but little doubt, but that she was employed in no other capacity than in transporting military stores under civil contracts, awards and such employment is not provided for by the pension laws. Unless some record or documentary proof can

be produced showing that he served at least six months in a military capacity a pension cannot be allowed. The papers have been filed. with
Hon. O. M. Watterston April 27 '40 JG
Hon. H. M. Watterston N. R.
5029 awd July 36

Already ans.
42 Albemarle Place, Yonkers, N. Y., March 24, 1934.
Veterans Administration, Revolutionary Pension Dept., Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
I am very anxious to obtain record of Benjamin Jones of Orange County, Va., my great grand uncle or father in the war of Independence.
There are several Benjamin Jones on the rolls, but the one wanted is the one born in Orange County, Va. and later on moved into North Carolina or Tennessee. He married Elizabeth Foster.
There is a Benjamin Jones, Stokes County, N. C. placed on the pension rolls Sept. 23, 1833, effective as of March 4, 1831, age 81. Also, a Benjamin Jones, Smith County, Tenn. placed on the rolls on April 20, 1833, effective as of March 4, 1831, age 77.
About the only way to determine the one desired is by his marriage to Elizabeth Foster, and that he was born in Orange County, Va.
Thanking you, I am
Yours very truly,
W C Kennamer,

42 Albemarle Place, Yonkers, N. Y., Feb. 24, 1934.
Veterans Administration, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
Referring to your letter of April 7, 1933, file Morton Jones W. 7903 BA/J/MLB, I would like trouble you to advise me if Morton Jones' widow, Frankey Jones, who was allowed pension on her application executed June 29, 1842, in Coffee County, Tenn. gave any information as to date of birth or names of any children other than Hugh and Gabriel named by Morton Jones.
Also, I would appreciate the records of Benjamin Jones, Brother of Morton Jones, who married Elizabeth Foster sister of Frankey Foster wife of Morton. He was born in Orange County, Va.
I see there are several Benj. Joneses in the War of Independence, one from Stokes County N. C. and one from Smith County, Tenn. shown in the 1840 census. The one entering the service from Orange County, Va. is the one desired who married Elizabeth Foster.
Thanking you, I am
Yours very truly,
WC Kennamer
Mr. W. C. Kennamer, 42 Albemarle Pl., Yonkers, N. Y.