Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 779, Henry Benson, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Ua(P)
Benson Henry Nancy.
R 779
CONTENTS

Declaration of John S. Hargraves administrator of the estate of Nancy Benson deceased who was the widow of Henry Benson deceased This declaration is made by said administrator on behalf of the Children of the said Henry Benson and Nancy Benson deceased to wit, Cynthia Benson. Hiram Benson. Jane Martin. Minna Barnes. Parthena McMurtry and Lina Newson & Phoebe Benson The State of Mississippi In the Probate Court of Lawrence County, } said County August term A.D. 1856. Personally appeared in open Court. of the court the County and State aforesaid J S Hargraves administrator of the estate of Nancy Benson deceased who is now known by the Court to be such admin who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 7 th day of June A.D. 1832 and the subsequent acts Amending the same - granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war, that the said Nancy Benson deceased was the widow of Henry Benson deceased who was a soldier or  officer or leader for the Regiment Commanded by General George Washington for a term of about Seven years during the American Revolution. Said administrator declared he has been informed that the said Henry Benson had a written Certificate of discharge. Showing

The source as above stated from under the hand of Genl. Washington which is now decayed and worn out by old age but the same remained in the house of the said Henry Benson long after his death. The said Nancy Benson deceased was married to the said Henry Benson deceased in the State of Virginia in the year 1792 or thereabouts. That her name before said marriage was Nancy and that her said husband, the aforesaid Henry Benson died at his residence in Lawrence County in the State of Mississippi on the day of 183 and that the said Nancy Benson remained a widow from then until her death on the day of July 1834. The said declarant only swears to the above facts to the best of his knowledge, from information derived from Records & other sources all of which he believes to be correct and true.
John L. Hargraves
Sworn to or subscribed in open Court on this 25 th day of August August 1886, and it is hereby certified that said Declarant is administrator of the estate of Nancy Benson deceased & that the above named are the heirs of the estate of Nancy Benson & Henry Benson deceased.
Joseph Myland Judge Seal J. P. Cowart Clerk Seal

L. H. organizes administration of Bailey Benson's estate for the use of the heirs - nd
United States - for Renson
testimony of Frederick Ward

The State of Mississippi In the Circuit Court of Lawrence County } said County at the May term A. D. 1887. Personally came into open Court on this day, being 19 th day of May 1887. Frederick Ward aged 63 years a resident of the County of Lawrence in the State of Mississippi, who being known to the said Court as a man of veracity, and a credible witness, and being duly sworn according to law So you on oath as follows to wit: That he was well acquainted with Henry or Hary Benson and Nancy Benson both late of said County now deceased, that he lived about one mile from the late residence of said decedents for many years previous to the said Henry or Hary Benson and still lives at the same place and did at the death of the said Nancy Benson in 1834, he was present when the said Henry Benson died and saw him die and assisted burying him, he did not see Nancy Benson die but the grave was dug by affiant's sons , his recollection was that the following named days and dates were the dates of the death of said decedents and by refreshing his memory by the records of the Probate Court of Lawrence County Mississippi he is now certain that he is correct, that Henry Benson died on the 1 st day of November A. D. 1828 and that Nancy Benson his widow died on the 28 th day June 1834 affiant knows nothing of the marriage of the parties only from reputation, they lived together as man and wife and were so reputed and recognized it was never disputed or contested as affiant heard of, they raised a large and respectable family, their children were named, to wit: Hiram, J. Horace, Alfred, Anna, Lina, Minna, Pharoah, Parton and Job. Horace, Alfred and Job are dead.

Cynthia is now the wife of Ima Benson. Darthena is now wife of Wm H. McMurtry. Lena is the wife of John Newson. Zana is the wife of John Martin. Minna is the wife of Benjamin B. Barnes. affiant has been an intimate friend of the Benson family since 1878. and is and was well acquainted with all their affairs. he has often heard the old man Henry Benson speak of being in the Revolutionary War and tell of Battles and various difficulties. he was always considered by affiant and his acquaintance as a Revolutionary soldier. he said he served during the war. mostly as a teamster or waggoner. for General Washington's regiment. affiant has no interest in proving these facts as he is no way related to the family or concerned whether they obtain bounty land or pension or an account of Benson as the administrator or heir of the said Henry or Hary Benson and Nancy Benson the mother of affiant. said Henry or Hary. he was frequently called Hary Benson and answered to that name. but he always signed his name Henry Benson. affiant has frequently seen the writing that was called the discharge of Henry Benson from his service from under the hand of General Washington, but never read it. he thinks it is now engaged for in great age though he does not know where it is.
his Frederick Ward
The above affidavit and deposition sworn to in open court and certified under and by the signature of the Judge and Clerk of said court and the seal thereof the day and year above written and that this court is a court of record having appeal
John E. M. Maynard Seal 2 nd Judicial Dist. Miss. J. G. Grier Clerk Seal

No 15.439
Nancy Benson dec. Widow of Henry Mississippi
J. L. Hargrove Feb'y 7, 1857.
Let same June 23/57.
Same July 17, 1857. J. W. Bell, att. 24 th 1844.
779
July 7, 1838.

Ex'r.
INVALID.
NO. 779
FILED
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
Nancy Bensen P. O. _____
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____

Nancy Bensen Widow of Henry Bensen Rev. Inst Dec 11 1838 Miss.
Whiting Conn. of Bensen

Mr Whiting
Mr D. L. Hargraves an Attorney from Miss. has a case in your department on which he wishes to have some communication with you -
Please furnish him any facility in looking into his case
Yours
J. H. Thompson

Declaration for Pension act June 7, 1832
J. S. Hargraves administrator Henry Benson's estate on behalf of the heirs for Services of Henry Benson
Forwarded by J. S. Hargraves Williamsburg Mississippi

The State of Mississippi } In the Probate Court of Lawrence County } said County August term A.D. 1886, August 25-1886
Personally came into open court this day James Grice aged 60 years a resident of Lawrence County in the State of Mississippi, a credible witness, who being duly sworn says on oath that he was acquainted with Henry Benson for many years to wit: Since the year A.D. _____ and also with Nancy Benson the wife of the said Henry Benson and with all their children mentioned in the within declaration and that they are correctly described, that he was an intimate friend and constantly associated with the said Family, he was thrown to the death and burial of Henry Benson as stated, that he had known the said Henry Benson and Nancy Benson to live together as husband and wife for 35 years previous to the death of the said Henry Benson and never once heard it disputed, that he was then intimately acquainted with the said Nancy Benson up to the time of her death in 1854 that she lived a widow from the death of her husband up to the time she died, that he assisted in burying the said Nancy Benson also, that he has often seen and read the written discharge of the said Henry Benson from the United States Army, from under the hand and seal of George Washington that he has no interest in the application for a pension sworn to in open court. Probate Court
being account of record August 25-1886 J. M. Cowart Clerk Joseph N. Land Probate Judge W. S. G. [Signature] Seal Judge

Williamsburg Mississippi. Dec 30. 1836 Commissioner of Pensions Dear Sir
I have never had a receipt for the claim of John Watts. I cannot give number of the case. I have been expecting warrants in Gilbert box N o 246. 766. and Mary Hood. N o 244. 127 they have not yet come to hand - I send enclosed also Declaration for Pension. which I hope will have a favorable consideration, however much this may fall short of perfection - you may be sure it is an honest case. all of the facts necessary to be proven are true whether they are in my power to prove or not - A dishonest or fraudulent case has never been sent through my hands. I must first know them to be honest, before I commence.
Very respectfully J. S. Groggrees

Williamsburg Covington County, Mississippi May 26 th 1851 Commissioner of Pensions Dear Sir
Your communication of February 7, 1837 was duly received I have sought the first opportunity to comply with that. I now send the testimony of Frederick Ward. I wish to call your attention particularly to that portion of the evidence of James Gree and Frederick Ward in regard to the discharge.
2 nd I now give particularly the date of the death of each and also the best evidence that can be produced of the Marriage. I assure you that this is an honest case and I do think the testimony extraordinary good taking everything together, as you know it has been a long time and any better evidence than this will be hard to get - I hope you will now allow  allow the claim under the act of July 7 th 1838. I will be security that there never was a more honest case - and as you know I am far from all the circumstances as I have never sent any but honest cases to your office. I think my own private knowledge should be some assurance
Respectfully
J. S. Hargraves