Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8846, for Benjamin Long, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Long, Benjamin
S 8846
CONTENTS
leaded

12.142
Virginia
Benjamin Long* of Caroline in the State of Va: who was a M in the ————— commanded by Captain ————— of the Regt commanded by Col: Mathews in the Va: line for 8 months —
Benjamin Long, Sr.*
Records completed. Dec. 5, 1904.
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 st day of April 1833 and sent to Robert Hord. Port Royal Va
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 5 33 2 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept. — 13 33
$66.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 6 Page 16.

John L. Pendarvis
Long James
9850

State of Virginia
Caroline County To wit:
On this 10 th day of September  10 th day of August 1882 personally appeared on open court, before the justices of the court of Caroline County, now sitting, Benjamin Long, a resident of the United States, in the County of Caroline and State of Virginia aged sixty nine 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 passed June 7 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated - That he was drafted in the spring of 1780 then residing in Caroline County, to serve a hour in the militia, that he marched accordingly, under Capt Fitzhugh, Lieutenant George Sylar and Ensign Richard Wyatt and was attached to a regiment commanded by Col Philip Johnson of Caroline County, in which regiment Major Armstead acted as brigade inspector - was attached to the brigade of Genl Weedon, who belonged to the continental army - He states that he first marched to Malvern Hill near Richmond Va, where he met with the army of Genl Lafayette, & after remaining there about three weeks, was marched to Williamsburg where he remained upwards of two months, until our troops were driven away by the enemy - Our army

marched thence, on the north side of James River to Malvern Hill above  below Richmond, where we were relieved having served three months on that tour — when the american army left Williamsburg & marched up on the north side of James river; the British troops crossed that river & marched up on the south side & burnt Man- chester — In the fall of the same year he was drafted again, and marched under Capt Blackburne, & Lt Thos Parker, and was put under the command of Col Matthews, at Williamsburg. We crossed York ri- ver at West Point & went to Gloucester Town, where we remained upwards of two months, & marched thence to Whitings old Fields — Here he states he was attached to a light infantry rifle company commanded by Major Weeks in which he continued about four weeks, when he was relieved again, having served about four months on this second tour — on this 2nd tour , he states that he was in a smart skirmish near Glou- cester Town in which several of our men were killed —
The sd Long farther states that he was drafted a third time in the spring of 1781 and served under Capt Goodson Glanton — that he marched on to Williamsburg, but was not kept more than one month in service on sd trip — He states that he was generally with the troops of Genl La Fayette & Genl Weedon whilst he was in service. He states that he knew many of the officers of the regular army, particularly Col Campbell whom he was near killing once, whilst on guard — He states

The following interrogatories, according to the directions of the secretary of war, which were answered by the aforementioned Long as hereafter appears — Question 1st By the Court. Where & in what year were you born? — answer — I was born in Caroline County and State of Virginia in the year 1763.
2nd. Have you any record of your age? I have none myself — my sister in Hanover, has the family bible, in which a record of my father's family was kept. —
3rd — When were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war, & where do you now live? — Ans. I was born in Caroline County & State of Virginia, within one mile of where I now live, resided there, when called into service & have continued to reside on the same spot to the present day.
4th. How were you called into service? —
I was drafted into service, every hour, I served — & have before stated the general circumstances of my service & such of the regular officers as I recollect at present —
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid —
Benjamin Long
And the D Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served, as he states. And the Court further certifies, that
John Carter & James Bradley
who have signed
the preceding certificates, are residents of the County of Caroline, & the neighborhood of the said Long and are credible persons, and that
their statement is entitled to credit.

That he has no documentary evidence to support his declaration, but knows of several persons who can testify to the fact, that he was in service, but he cannot expect any of those persons to say the precise length of time that he actually served — The sd Long feels no hesitation in saying that he served at least eight months in the revolutionary war, putting the three hours before named together —
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state —
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Benjamin Long Jr
We James Bradly & John Carter revolutionary soldiers and near neighbours of Benjamin Long of residing in the county of Caroline, hereby certify that we were well acquainted with Benjamin Long who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be about 69 years of age, that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion. I James Bradly served with him in the revolution
Sworn and subscribed, the day & year aforesaid
James Bradly John Carter
And the said court then proceeded to affirm the

their statement is entitled to credit.
I John S. Pendleton Clerk of Caroline County Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the sd Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Long for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my office this 10 th day of August September 1832.
John S. Pendleton Clerk

Buy a Song for
Annual for 8mo or per volume $2.00, 1.00 Col. Mathews, Va.
Kent Hard Poh Royall Va

BRIEF in the case of Benjamin Long  County of Caroline  in the State of  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? On Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 79 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     Spring - In 1780 3 Private Capt Fitz Hugh Col Johnson   Fall of 1780 4 — " Capt Blackburn Col Matthews   Spring of 1781 1 " Capt Glanton  
 5. In what battles was he engaged?  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Caroline Co Va  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers are not attached together as required. 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richard Leathers
Examining Clerk.

Rev War
8846
INVALID.
Am
File No. 8846
Benjamin Long ★ Rev War
Act: June 1 st 82
Index:—Vol. Set , Page 227
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Benjamin Long, Sr. ★ Dec. 5, 1904. Records completed.

Benjamin Lång

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Benjamin Long, Co. C 6 th Vols which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? no clergyman XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
 EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
† QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡ QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
☞ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.