Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8851, for Benjamin Long, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
116
Long, Benjamin
S 8857
Born in N.C.
CONTENTS
Carded

Date of death not on A. B.
23.205 North Carolina
Benjamin Lord of Caldwell Co in the State of N.C. who was a private in the company commanded by Captain White of the Regt. commanded by Col Sanders in the N.E. army here for 8 mos.
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Carolina at the rate of 24 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of Nov. 1833 and sent to Hon A. H. Sheppard H. Rep.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 - $ 11.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 March - 13.33 $80.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk. Book E Vol. 6 1/2 Page 14

28 558
Benjamin Long's Declaration for a pension
Admit as a private 8 months, Feb 24, 66
This is the third declar- ation Mr. Long has forwarded - He has not been informed the other have not arrived in first application was near nine months since - R. B. Lupton
one week Regiment, and Col. Thornton Jones

Declaration in order to obtain the Benefit of the act of Congress, passed, June 7 th 1832.
State of North Carolina & Superior Court of Law Casswell County. November Term 1833 —
On this 5 th day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and thirty three, personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable John A. Donnell one of the Judges of the Superior Court of Law and Equity of the State aforesaid, now in session for the County of Casswell and State aforesaid, Benjamin Song a resident of the said County of Casswell and State aforesaid, aged seventy four years on the 8 th day of October last, 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, to wit: — Some time in the month of October 1777, as well as this declarant now recollects, and as he believes, he substituted himself in the place of one John Song, who was drafted in a Company raised in the said County of Casswell under the command of Captain William White; — This declarant was at that time a resident of the said County of Casswell & State aforesaid — The Company here, marched or rather undermarched at Hillsborough in Orange County, and were there placed in the Regiment under the command of Col o Thornton Yancey. This declarant being still in the Company under Capt o White; — This declarant remained in Hillsborough with his Company & Regiment as aforesaid, some few days, perhaps a week or more, when he was marched in said Company & Regiment to Salisbury in this State where he joined General Rutherford's Brigade, and where he also remained some few days — from thence he was marched with the Regiment as aforesaid into South Carolina and through that State to Camden, from thence to a place called Purrysburg on the Savannah River, where they were stationed for several weeks. — at this place (Purrysburg) Col o James Sanders, was placed to the command of the said Regiment, and Col o Thornton Yancey

returned home. This declarant was stationed with the said Regiment and Company at this place for six or eight weeks, and from thence were March to a place called the Two Sister Ferry on the Savannah River and were there stationed, watching the enemy & cutting of their supplies &c. and with a view to prevent them from crossing the River - at this place. This declarant was continued, with his Company and Regiment until, some time late in the Month of March 1778. as well as he now recollects, when he was discharged and returned home to Caswell County North Carolina. He received his discharge from Col. Sanders. - This declarant well recollects he got home in corn planting season, his discharge he has long since lost thinking it never would be of any service to him. - This declarant served this tour of not up than five months, which he knows to be the fact and he thinks near six months. But as some doubts may arise as to the particular time he states that this tour spoken of as above was five months and not less - - This declarant then continued at home until the Month of May 1779. when he was married, and in fourteen days after that happy event, he was again he was again drafted in said County of Caswell & State of North Carolina in a Company commanded by Captain George Samuel  Stewart of said County, and was compelled to leave his wife, and rendezvoused at Hillsboro rough, and was there placed in the Regiment under Col. Paisley, and in a few days was marched with his said Company and Regiment to a place called Crook Creek, which is now Fayetteville, and there joined General Caswell's Brigade, and continued there some little time and was marched in the direction to South Carolina through Salisbury and on to near Camden at a place called Reuel's Mills, where this declarant with his Company & Regiment, joined the main American Army under the command of General Gates and Genl.

Gen l Baron De Kalb. We were here continued for some fifteen or twenty days. When we had orders to make ready and march, which we did in the direction to Camden, and in the night time we were met by the enemy under Lord Cornwallis, & early next morning, an action commenced, which is known as the Memorable Battle of Camden's defeat.
This declarant would state that the most of the militia never fired a gun, but that his company under Captain Samuel H. St. Robert Park, fired two rounds before they run; This declarant & his company had orders, that in the event of a defeat (which Gen l Gates anticipated) that they were to rendezvous at Hillsborough in this state (North Carolina) and that accordingly, this declarant in company with a few of his company which he found on his way, returned on by home and to Hillsborough, where they were mustered and discharged, their term of service which was for three months having expired, and this declarant was discharged - Thus this declarant states that in the war he served his country three months - which together in the two terms of duty make a period of service of not less than eight months, for which he claims a pension.
This declarant thinks he received his discharge for the last term some time in the month of September 1779, as well as he recollects. But from the great lapse of time, and old age & consequent loss of memory, he cannot state precisely -
This declarant would also further state that this is the third declaration, which he has made for the same services, the two former ones having never reached the war office, (though they were sent by mail) as this declarant understands from a letter written by the Commissioner of Pensions to his friend at this place, (Cassell Court House) and this declarant would also state that both of his discharges are lost -
Interrogatories, propounded by the Court to the applicant, and his answers - To wit:
Question

Question 1 st - Where and in what year were you Born? Answer - I was born in Orange County, State of North Carolina, on the 8 th day of October 1759.
Ques 2 nd - Have you any record of your age, if so where is it?
Ans 2 nd - I have no record of my age except a Memorandum -um which I took from my father's family record.
Ques 3 rd - Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutio- nary War & where do you now live?
Ans 3 rd - I was living in Caswell County, North Carolina when called into service. I have lived here in said County, ever since except a few months while attending to some business in Pittsylvania County Virginia, and I now live here within five miles of this place where I expect to die -
Ques 4 th - How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, & if a substitute, for whom?
Ans 4 th - The first term of duty which I served, I substituted myself in place of John Long who was drafted. - And the last term of duty which I served, I was drafted -
Ques 5 th - State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you served such Continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the General Circumstances of your service?
Ans 5 th - I was with Gen l . Rutherford, Gen l . Caswell Gen l . Gates, & the Brave Baron De Kalb Baron De Kalb, commanded the Regulars at Gates' defeat - I cannot now state the members of any of the Regular Regiments if ever I knew them - I was with Col o Yancy's & Col o Sanders Regiments, & in Col o Paisley's Regiment, & I know Col o Will Moore's Regiment, these last were

of the Militia; - The general circumstances of my services. I have before endeavoured to detail in this my declaration, as well as I could -
Ques. 6th. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, if so by whom was it given & what has become of it? -
Ans. I recd. Two discharges, both of which have been lost - Col. Sanders gave me the first & I think, Col. Samuel gave me the last State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity and good behaviour, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution?
Ans. - I will refer to the Rev. Nicholas Willis and James Rainey Esq. the Chairman of our County Court, or to any other person who knows me - I will also refer to Elisha Evans & Jonathan Starkey, who were my fellow soldiers & were with me in the Revolutionary war
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 that he knows of. Sworn and subscribed in open Court. This day of November 1833.
Deft. Benj. Long Initial Grant etc
He further states that he has no written or docu- mentary evidence of his services nor does he know of any one by whom he could prove his services other than those above referred to except William & Rice who would merely prove the same that the vouchers now offered establish - Benj. Long Initial Grant etc

State of North Carolina County of Caswell
We Nicholas Miller a Clergyman residing in the County of Caswell and State of North Carolina and James Rainey residing in the same, hereby Certify, that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Long, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be sincerely four years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion, and that his character for truth is fair & good.
Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 5 th day of November 1833.
Test Jumiah Gray C.S.C.
N. Miller J. Rainey
We Jonathan Starkey and Elisha Evans, of the County of Caswell and State of North Carolina, do hereby Certify, that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Long who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That he served the two terms of duty in the Revolutionary war as he states, and that we were with him in said war, and know the facts of our own knowledge — sworn to & subscribed This 5 th day of November 1833. in open court
Test Jumiah Gray C.S.C.
Elisha Evans mark
Jonathan Starkey

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories, prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant, was a Revolutionary soldier, and lived as he states - and the Court further Certifies, that it appears to him that Nicholas Wallin, who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman residing in the County of Camden and State of North Carolina, and that James Rainey, who has signed the same is a resident in the said County & State and is a credible person, and that their statements are entitled to Credit - The Court further Certifies, that it appears to him, that Elisha Evans and Jonathan Starkey, who has signed the above affidavits, are credible persons, and that their statements is entitled to Credit. Witness John R. Brantley Judge of P. M. D. [Signature]
I Jeremiah Graves Clerk of the Superior Court of Law in & for the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Long for a Pension
In testimony I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my Seal of office this 5 th day of November 1833.
Jeremiah Graves C.S.C.

April 11, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Miss Nellie Christie 311 Huntington Houston, Texas
BENJAMIN LONG S. 8551 BA-J/MLB
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter of March 24, in which you request the record of Benjamin Long, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
You are furnished below the history of the only soldier named Benjamin Long, who served or was pensioned from North Carolina, found in the Revolutionary War records of this office. The data therein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 8851, based upon his service in the War of the Revolution.
Benjamin Long was born October 8, 1759, in Orange County, North Carolina; the names of his parents are not stated.
While a resident of Caswell County, North Carolina, he enlisted sometime in October, 1777, as a substitute for one John Long (relationship not shown), served as a private in Captain William White's company, Colonels Thornton Yancey's and James Sanders' North Carolina regiment, and was discharged sometime in March, 1778. He enlisted in May or June, in the year of Gates' Defeat at Camden, was in that battle serving as private in Captain George Samuels' company, Colonel Paisley's North Carolina regiment, and was discharged in September of the same year.
After the Revolutionary War the soldier resided in Caswell County, North Carolina, with the exception of a few months which he spent in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
He was allowed pension on his application executed November 5, 1833, while a resident of Caswell County, North Carolina.
Benjamin Long married sometime in May of the year of the battle of General Gates' defeat at Camden. The name of his wife is not stated. At the time of his marriage he was living in Caswell County, North Carolina.
No reference was made in the claim to children.
No charge is made for furnishing the foregoing information.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

1933, Apr. 11 - Husb. to Miss Nellie Christie - 22x20.
Rev. War
8851
INVALID.
File No. : 8851
Benjamin Lenny
Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1837.
Index :—Vol. 1st , Page 227
[Arrangement of 1870.]

311 Huntington Houston, Texas
March 24, 1933
The United States Bureau of Pensions Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:—
I am seeking information with reference to Benjamin Long who was a Revolutionary pensioner from N. Carolina in the year, 1835. I wish to know when and where he enlisted, residence at time pension was sought, also any items with reference to marriage or family which the petition may contain. I am willing to pay for the trouble which the search for this information will necessarily involve, if you will kindly let me know the customary price for such service.
Thanking you
I am very truly
Miss Nellie Christie
311 Huntington Houston, Texas