Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8709, for Benjamin Reynolds, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Wa
Reynolds, Benjamin
R, 8709
CONTENTS

Benjamin Reynolds N o
Suspended —
Letter of Nov: 1839 to
Grace Wansley —
Act of June 1832

REJECTED
8709
P. O.
Benjamin Reynolds
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

18 Prof. Reynolds.
Report to Jonathas Wormley also at law Western Davis county Virginia
27583
Adams family 2 years old
Insomnia - in letter Febv: 1822 to Agt above - - - -
8709

State of Virginia Lewis county } ss.
On this 30 th day of September 1833 personally appeared before me James M c Camp a friend of the friend in and for the said county of Lewis in the said state of Virginia Benjamin Reynolds a resident citizen of Lewis county in the state of Virginia aged twenty four 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 act of congress of the 7 th of June 1832. That he entered the service of the United under the following named officers and served as hereinafter stated That in March 1777 he was drafted to serve a term of six months in the Virginia militia. he was drafted from Richmond county V a under captain Samuel Randall Col. Baytop. was marched into Westmoreland county from thence to Northumberland continued there sometime from thence Col. Baytop marched his regiment into Lancaster county continued there along the bay till October 1777 when he was discharged by captain Randall. Then in April 1778 he substituted for a man named Ball to serve six months in the V a militia under captain George Randall a brother to his former captain Samuel Randall. He joined a regiment in Northumberland commanded by Col. Redman marched down into Lancaster from thence crossed the Rappahannock river into Middlesex county to Bonita's Ford The regiment was sent in detachments to different places in Middlesex and Matthews counties to prevent negroes running to the enemy's boats which hovered along the coast to capture slaves. He was kept there until in November 1778 and discharged by his captain having served six months this term as a private in the militia, and also having served six months in 1777 in the same capacity he returned home Then in March 1779 he was drafted to serve a term of six months in the Virginia militia under captain Fauntleroy marched from Richmond county Virginia

in latter part of March 1779. to Westmoreland county joined a regiment commanded by the same Col Bay- -top marched down into Northumberland thence to Lancaster crossed over to Middlesex. Thence into Nat- -thurs thence to Gloucester. Thence to Elizabeth City thence into York during these marches we were watching the enemy in their ships trying to prevent their capturing slaves. The British took a great num- -ber of little sloops Schooners &c about Norfolk in the Bay. Elizabeth river James river York and Rappahannock this was done mostly by the King a part of summer May and June. From York county crossed York river into King and Queen county to the Rappahannock and there in October 1779 he was discharged by Captain Fairclough crossed Rappahannock river and went home to Richmond county having served his full term of six months as a private in the V.M. We were then told that Sir George Collier and General Matthews were the British officers who went so much mischief along the Bay and rivers this year. In March 1780 he entered into a company of V.M. for six months as a substitute for a man named Smith He marched from Richmond county southward near captained James Henderson to Raleigh Salisferry marched across the Rappahannock into King and Queen thence into Middlesex thence to Mathews. Thence over to Lancaster. Thence to Northumberland thence up to Westmoreland mostly guarding against the escape of slaves to the colony's boats which were frequently in the bay and rivers capturing slaves. He was discharged in Westmoreland county in October 1780 having served this term full six months as a substitute and private militia man Then in March 1781. He was drafted to perform a term

of six months under captain John Smith Col Greenup Marched to Westmoreland. Thence to Northumberland Thence to Lancaster. Thence to Middlesex. Thence into Wiltshire. Thence into Elizabeth City passing through Gloucester Thence up into York. Thence down again into Elizabeth City Thence to York Town in all this movement of Col. Greenups regiment he was watching the river and Bay for the enemy's forces and to be ready to act in concert with the French fleet then in the bay and early in York river in October we marched up to York Town General Cornwallis having then arrived there where in that month Octr. 1781 he surrendered to the forces under General Washington. Third sometime in October he thinks the 29 th he was discharged by captain Smith having served this tour at least six months as a private militia man. Here he saw Generals Washington. L ord Fayette. Lincoln Wayne. Weedon and Muhlenberg and others various many Col s and Majors most of whose names he has forgotten. He returned home to Richmond County. Here in March 1782 he volunteered to serve a term of six months under captain Johnson Colonel Williamson was again marched to Westmoreland Thence down to Northumberland. Thence to Lancaster continued there sometime crossed over to Middlesex Thence down into Wilt. shire County thence through Gloucester to Elizabeth City County. Thence up to Richmond City there received the Magazine notice in

Sometimes in November when some troops from Beyers was relieved thereby the troops of Col. Willi- ams where he was discharged by his captain ha- ving served more than six months this term as a private soldier in the Virginia militia This term ended his military services in the war of the revolution. He served more than three years in all as a private soldier in the V.M. Guard the year 1777 to 1782. He has no documentary evidence known of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services. There are no living men surviving near him he fully re- gards as every element whatever to a person or author- ity 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.
Beyers his X Reynolds mark
He said further of the peace in answer to the applicant the seven several interrogatories prescribed by the war department to which he answered thus viz.
1 st That he was born in Richmond county Va in the year 1759. 2 nd That he has no record of his age. 3 rd That he was living in Richmond county Va where he was born. That he lived there till the year 1809 when he removed to. Then Harrison but now Lewis county where he still lives 4 th That he was drafted in 1777. substituted in 1778 for Ball in 1779 drafted again. in 1780 substituted for Smith

And I the said James M Camp a justice of the peace in and for the said county of Lewis in the said State of Virginia do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war act - -ment that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier as I served as he states. and I do further certify that it appears to me that David S Boo and Paul Shaver who have signed and before me and second to the foregoing certificate are resident ci- -tizens of Lewis County Virginia. That they are credit men and that their statement is en- -titled to credit and I the said justice do more- -over certify that the applicant resides more than thirty miles from Lewis County Courthouse that he is too infirm to attend court without great inconvenience and that there are no clergyman or residing near him.
Given under my hand at the said county of Lewis This 30 th day of September 1833.
McCamp J. P.
State of Virginia Lewis County S.S.
I John Talbott Clerk of the County Court of Lewis County aforesaid, do certify that James M. Camp is a Magistrate as above, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Subscribed my name and affixed my Seal of Office at Weston this 21 st day of October 1833 -
J. Talbott Clk

4 th in 1781 drafted and lastly in 1782 volunteered
5 th He saw and knew Col. Peter General Weed and Major John Lee captain Blackwell Col. Blend and many others he saw that he did not know some in the state service and some in continental service. The general circumstances of his services are set forth above as near as he can after the lapse of half a century
6 th He read discharges from all his captains viz 1 st Capt. Saml. Randall 2 nd capt. George Randall 3 rd capt. Farnell 4 th capt. James 5 th capt. Smith 6 th capt. Johnson some of them countersemed by the col. they are all lost.
7 th He is known his neighbors and amongst others to David S. Cox and Paul Shaver they can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution there are no clergymen living near him. There are some itinerant preachers to whom he is little known to frail to travel about. he mixes little with the world.
Benjamin Reynolds mark
We David S. Cox and Paul Shaver residing in the county of Lewis do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Reynolds who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be 74 years of age that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and well known in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.
David S. Cox Paul Shaver mark