Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21749, for Benjamin Mathews, South Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
S. b.
Mathews, Benjamin or Mathews
W 21749
Mary
CONTENTS

A Spears Esq. Nat to June 17. 1840.
Hon. J. E. Holmes
Sept 26, 1840 do. to same Oct. 17. 1840 - do. to P. Agt. Nov. 10. 1840. susp. removed -
1678 South Carolina
Mary Matthews Benjamin Matthews dec?
B.B. died on the 18 February 1801 at Charleston in the State of S.C. who was a Captain in the _____ commanded by Captain _____ of the Rg t commanded by _____ in the S.C. time for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of South Carolina at the rate of 480 Dollars 00 Cents, per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 th day of Jan y . 1838 and sent Genl. H. O. Legare Secy of War.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1837 $3120.00 Semi-annual allowance ending Mar 38 - 240.00
$3360.00
Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3
Recorded by H. H. Madison Clerk Book A Vol. 2 Page 172

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 4 th July 1836
On this fourteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven personally appeared before me Mrs. Mary Mathews, widow of Capt Benjamin Mathews, aged seventy six years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the act of Congress passed July 4 th 1836. That she is the widow of Capt Benjamin Mathews who was a Captain in the Service of the State of South Carolina in the War of the Revolution and commanded a Militia Company for the periods herein detailed —
First, He served with his Company at the time Provost besieged the city of Charleston The precise period of service she cannot state, but it was not less than six months.
Secondly. He served with his Company from the latter end of the year 1779 to the month of May 1780. when Charleston fell and surrendered, And from that time he remained a Prisoner of War for thirteen months, And was then exchanged. —
She further declares that her maiden name was Mary Mathews, that she was married to her Cousin the said Captain Benjamin Mathews on the nineteenth day of November A.D. 1778. And that her husband

the aforsaid Captain Benjamin Mathews died on the Eighteenth day of February in the year 1801. And that she has ever since remained a widow, as will more fully appear by the annexed Testimony
Sworn to before me the day & year first above Mentioned
Robt Elfe
24
Mary Mathews
State of South Carolina } Charleston District }
This is to certify that cur- rent Mary Mathews who has this day sworn and subscribed the foregoing Declaration, has at the same time produced to me the family Bible, in which her marriage is recorded. and I do further certify that the following is a true Copy of the entry made in it.
"Benjamin Mathews was married to Mary Ma- thews, daughter of William and Edith Mathews on November 19th: 1778" I also certify that diligent search has been made for the Records of the Parish Church of St Johns, and that they are either lost or were destroyed by the British when in possession of the Country.
Given under my hand
And Seal on the day and in the first above written.
Robt Elfe
24

State of South Carolina } Charleston District }
This day personally appeared before me a Justice of the Inferior for the District and State aforesaid. Mrs Mary G Mathews Widow of George Mathews who was a Brother of Capt Benjamin Mathews. Who being duly sworn testifies as follows - That she was present at the marriage of Capt Benjamin Mathews to his cousin Mary Mathews on the Sixteenth day of November in the year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Eight. That she was on Johns Island where the marriage took place, and where she continued to reside. She knows that Capt Benjamin Mathews first commanded a company of Militia and served when Charleston was besieged by Provost. The period she is confident was not less than six months. She also knows that Capt Mathews was called into service in the fall of the year 1779. and continued in the same up to the surrender of the City, to the British in 1780. That Capt Mathews was then in Fort Moultrie, with his company, and was made a Prisoner of War and so continued for the space of Thirteen months. She also testifies that Mrs Mary Mathews now about to apply for a Pension is the same person married to Capt Benjamin Mathews on Johns Island in 1778. That the Records of the Parish have been lost or destroyed, so that no evidence of the marriage can be obtained. And that Mrs Mary Mathews has never married since the death of her husband.
Mary G Mathews
The state of South Carolina
This is to certify that Mrs Mary G. Mathews above named did this day appear before me; and on being

duly sworn did on oath declare the foregoing affidavit to be true. I further certify that the said Mrs. Mary G. Mathews is a lady of credit and respectability, and is entitled to full belief - I further certify that the mid- -dle letter "G" in Mrs. Mathews name was interlined, in my presence -
Given under my hand and seal this 22 o of December A.D. 1837
Robt Elfe J.H.

State of South Carolina } Charleston District }
The affidavit of Mrs. Susanna Hall an old and most respectable inhabitant of the City of Charleston taken to prove the marriage of Mrs. Mary Matthews who is the widow of Capt. Benjamin Matthews and now about to apply for the benefit of the act of Congress passed 4th of July 1836.
This affiant being first duly sworn according to Law testifies and says that she was present at the marriage of Captain Benjamin Matthews with Mary Matthews the sister of this affiant. The marriage took place on Johns Island in the month of November Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Eight. This affiant knows that Captain Benjamin Matthews had previous to his marriage performed service as the commander of a company, and after his marriage he also performed service, up to the surrender of Charleston and was then made a Prisoner of War and so continued for twelve months or more.
This affiant is confident of the following facts, 1st That

Captm Benjamin Mathews served in the War of the Revolution for a period of two or more years 2aly That he was married to the sister of this affiant on the 19th day of November 1778, as appears from the entry in his family Bible. This affiant being present. This affiant also testafies that her sister Mrs Benjamin Mathews is now a widow, and has continued to be so ever since the death of her husband Captm B. Mathews.
Susanna Hall
State of South Carolina } Charleston District }
This day personally appeared before me Rob Elfe one of the Justices of the Inferior for the district of Charleston And state aforesaid Mrs Susanna Hall above named, And made oath in due form of law that the facts and statements set forth in the above affidavit are true. I do further certify that Mrs Susanna Hall is an old lady of great respectability, And that her declarations are entitled to the fullest belief. Given under My hand & seal at the city of Charleston the 14th December AD 1837 — Rob Elfe 24

305 B
Petition of cur. ellany Mathews for a
Pension wid of Benj a Matthews a capt in the State Troop, of Fla. Married 1778 Died 1801
$450 per ann. com d 4 March 1831
H m . H. S. Legare H m

Washington Nov r 10 th 1840
I certify That Joseph Righton, a Citizen of Charleston = is esteemed in the community where he resides and always has resided, as an honest, upright Citizen. That he was a whig during during the Revolution and altho a young man at that period, was active in the American Cause = That his Testimony would be received in any Court in South Carolina without the slightest hesitation = Mr Righton has frequently been honoured by the Citizens of Charleston with the office of Alderman of the City =
J. H. Holmes — Mem o = Cong s =

No evidence of any survivor of Capt Mathews to be found in the Comptroller's Office. See his col. arrested

Free J E Holmes
Wm. est. Sept 25. 1840
A.C. (Mr. Mathews)
Edward Esq -
Commissioner of Pensions Washington - D. Columbia

Charleston Sep-20 th 1840.
Dear Sir
I am requested by Mrs Benjn Mathews - an aged, and highly respectable Lady of this place to enquire of you, the cause of the detention of her pension - - you will oblige me by an early answer to this letter, in order to a correction of any suppos'd errors -
with respect
y r obedt Servt
J E Holmes
36-1678

2
J E Holmes
Oct 14. 1874.
Can
J many Matthews S.C. 1874
Edwards - Eng
Com s of Pension
Washington
D = C

Charleston Oct r 11 th 40-
Sir -
Yr letter in relation to Mrs Mathews' pension was rec d and in reply - I beg leave to state
1 st That the Comptroller's Office is deprived of all the vouchers necessary to throw light upon this subject. It contains only an Indent book - which does not disprove the service of Officers who never applied for a Settlement with the state - But only shows the service of those who did apply for a settlement. The Vouchers which establish d Mrs Mathews claim to a Pension - were left by Mr Thews - the Commission of the State at

Washington - and have never been redelivered This information is obtained from the Comptroller - 2 nd Mrs Mathews has had her claim allowed, by a regular decision - and the Pension been regularly paid until this year - she is an aged Lady, and the relic of a worthy Officer - and at this distance of time - It does seem hard, to require of her additional testimony - a Judgment is binding until reversed - and it is a safe rule " stare decisis " - so many of our revolutionary characters have passed off - That it is not easy to get proof of any revolutionary event - = The question then recurs - Is not Injustice more likely to be done, by

withholding a Pension already granted upon evidence - That justice likely to follow from refusing to pay it from circumstantial testimony, after a lapse of time? — — —
You would much oblige me by an early attention to this subject - The Pension, has not many more years, to enjoy the bonity of your — — —
with respect Yrs &c
J E Holmes
J L Edm. Esq

Comptrollers Office Charleston July 15 th 1840
Sir
In this office there are no other Evidences of Service during the Revolutionary War than such as are furnished by the Check Books of the Indents issued to satisfy the claims against the State both for Military Services or supplies. There are two Index Books one in this Office the other in the Office at Columbia which contain the names of the persons to whom the Indents were issued and referring to the book & number of the Indent. The Check books from which the Indents were cut out contain a Margin shewing for what the Indent was issued sometimes referring to the accounts of claim settled. These Check books and a portion of the Accounts are in the Office at Columbia all the Indents issued are presumed to have been settled or paid only the original of those taken up at the Treasury for dues to the State &c are assorted and can be found, the remainder were funded by the State in Six and Three per cent Stocks and have never been placed in order so as to be found when wanted. An Indent not having been issued to a person is not conclusive evidence that he has not rendered Services during the Revolutionary War, for he may have otherwise received payment for his claims as the whole of Sumters Brigade was paid in Negroes taken from the Tories and confiscated, or he may never have preferred any claims. In the Index Book above mentioned in the hand writing of the late Judge Lee

formerly Comptroller General is the following viz t the Numbers and Letters refer to certain Vouchers in the Comptroller General's Office Columbia with corresponding numbers and Letters. Many of the Vouchers are wanting as they were left by Major Shems Commissioner on the part of this State for settling the Accounts with the United States and were never redelivered. Vide Act or Resolution of 1 st of May 1794 respecting those Vouchers & part of said Resolution
That the Senators of this State in the Congress of the United States be instructed and the Representatives re- quested to use their best efforts to procure an Act of Congress for the purpose of returning the original Vouchers exhibited by Simeon Shems to substantiate the Claims of this State against the United States whenever such Vouchers shall be no longer necessary finally to adjust such Claims
I give this information that you may know the extent and kind of Evidence which may be obtained from this Office. I have examined the Index Book and find that 2 Indents were issued to Benj Mathews Book A No 243 for 128. 4. 1
" D N 131 26.16.8
My deputy at Columbia writes me that he has examined and ascertained that each of them was for supplies furnished the Army.
The Hon ble C C Clay has requested me to furnish you with such proof of the service of Michael McCartney

as this office may afford. I find that an Indent was issued to him Book Y No 144, fol 44 and upon referring to the original Indent which has been taken up and is in the Treasury Office I ascertain that it was for "Militia duty done as a private in Colonel Hopkins Regiment as Per account passed by the Commissioners" I shall write to Columbia for a copy of said Account and will inform you of the result
Very Respectfully, Yours Wm. B. Scriv.
Hon. Ed. Hayne Comp. Genl.
J. L. Edwards Esq Pension Office Washington.

To the Hon
Hugh S. Legare Washington D.C. _____
Mail,
The papers have been returned to avoid delay

Charleston 22 d Decr 1889
Dear Legare,
I send you some documents in proof of the claim of Mrs. Mary Motte (widow of Col. Isaac Motte of the Revolution) to a Pension under the act of July 4 th 1836. Also documents in proof of Mrs. Mary Mathews' claim to a Pension under the same act. — The testimony is very full in both cases, and I have to ask your personal attention to these cases . These ladies are in extreme old age, and it is important that the decision of their claims should be pressed upon Mr. Edwards the Commissioner, as I apprehend that their deaths, happening before a decision, would be to them a loss altogether of whatever benefit they are entitled under the act aforesaid. Mrs. Motte is now sick in bed from a severe fall, and it was with great difficulty she could sign her name when I called on her, as you may perceive from the signature itself. Mrs. Mathews is also very feeble, and

scarcely able to leave her chamber, - You therefore perceive the necessity of having a speedy decision in both matters - Perhaps you had best show my letter to the Commissioner and he will at once see the propriety of my urging immediate attention to these cases, The parties interested rely upon you for the further prosecution of their rights -
with great respect
I remain
Yours &c
Robt Ellis 4
P.S.
Have the certificates directed to me,

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
own
File No. 21749
Mary Matthews Wid. of Benjamin Matthews Capt. Rev. War
Act: July 4 th 1836.
Index:—Vol. 16 , Page 10
[Arrangement of 1870.]

The State of South Carolina
Office Common Pleas Charleston District
I Charles Strohecker Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the district afore- said, do hereby certify that Robert Elph Esq r is one of the Justices of the Quorum for the Parishes of St Phillips and St Michael's in the district and State aforesaid and that the signature purporting to be his, to the Affida- vit, and Attestation within, is genuine, and that all due faith and credit are and ought to be given to his attestation, as such and that the within attestation, are in due form of Law -
Given under my hand and the Seal of the Court of Common Pleas for Charleston District at Charleston this twenty Second day of December in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and thirty Seven -
Charles Strohecker C. C. P.

State of South Carolina } Charleston District }
The affidavit of Joseph Righton a Pensioner of the U. States and a citizen of Charleston taken to prove the Revolutionary services of Captain Benjamin Mathews, whose Widow is about to apply for the benefit of the act of Congress granting Pensions to the Widows of officers and soldiers in certain cases passed the 4th of July 1836.
This affiant being duly sworn according to law testifies and says - That he was born in the West Indies and came to Charleston with his father prior to the commencement of the Revolution - at an early period after his arrival he became acquainted with Captm Benjamin Mathews, and from that time to the close of his life knew him well. This affiant performed the following service with Captm B. Mathews during the Revolution -
When Charleston was invested in 1777 or 8 by Provost Captm Mathews and his company were called into service and continued in the same for six months.
In the month of December 1779 we were again called into service expecting an attack from the enemy; and continued in service from that time until the surrender of Charleston in the month of May 1780. during this period Captm Mathews and his company were first stationed on Johns Island; but when the British approached he was removed to Fort Moultrie, and there remained until the fall of Charleston, when he and all his company were made prisoners of war. This affiant was also surrendered

a Prisoner of War, and know that Capt. Mathews and his company were detained as such for Thirteen months from the surrender of Charleston, and were with this affiant when exchanged. I know that Capt. Benjamin Mathews was at the time he performed the above mentioned service a married man, and I know that his Widow now applying for a Pension is the same person that he was married to at the period above mentioned - and this affiant also knows that she is now and has at all times since his death been a widow. This affiant speaks with certainty as to all these facts having lived from his earliest recollection close neighbours to Mrs. Mathews, and on intimate and friendly terms with him.
Jos. Righton
The State of South Carolina Charleston District
This day personally appeared before me Robt. Elfe one of the Justices of the Quorum in and for the district and State aforesaid Joseph Righton Esq. an old and respectable citizen of the City of Charleston and made oath in due form of law to the foregoing affidavit. I further certify that Mr. Righton is a gentleman of the highest respectability and that full faith and credit is due to his testimony - Given under my hand and seal at Charleston this twelfth day of December One thousand eight hundred and thirty seven -
Robt Elfe JL