Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,156, Benjamin Carpenter, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Carpenter, Benjamin
S 32,156
CONTENTS

Illinois 22315
Benjamin Carpenter.
who was a Private in the State of Illinois who was a Private in the 10th Regt. commanded by Captain Cavil of the Regt. commanded by Col. Mason. in the Virginia line for M o .
A o 24.441.
Inscribed on the Roll of Illinois at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 th day of Oct r 1833 and sent to Hart. Fellows C.C. Rushville S.C. Ill s
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 - 91.65. Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 34 18.33.
$ 109.98.
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H.M. Palmer Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 8 Page 55 .
order 5/10/38 see letters to P. Agt. & Pensioner July 12. 1836 - Poney t Aug. 11. 1836.
Paid at the Treasury under the act of Mar 6 April 1838 from 4 Sept 1836 to 4 Sept 1837. Agent notified 11. Aug 1838
Decd June 12, 1840 (A.B)

Prof. Carpenter.
24 4 44

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832.
State of Illinois
Schuyler County ss On this third day of September A.D. 1832, personally appeared before the County Commissioners Court of said County, (the same being a court of Record,) Benjamin Benjamin Carpenter, a resident of said County of Schuyler, in the State of Illinois, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the pecuniary benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States as a minut man for four years, at Amherst Court House in the County of Amherst in the State of Virginia. That he entered the service in May 17th, and served under the following named officers. he served first a tour of three months as orderly sergeant, in the regiment commanded by Col. Mason, in the Company commanded by Capt. Joseph Cavil, Lieutenant Nicholas Cavil and Ensign Nathan Cranford. he was stationed at Williamsburgh in Virginia, and ranged along the Capes & Rivers in that vicinity. he was in an engagement at the Long Bridge on York River, in which Battle Genl. Serdie the British Commander was killed. he was afterwards dis- charged at Williamsburgh. he served a second tour of three months as a private under the Command of Capt. James Hickmott, Lieut. Samuel Hickmott, and Ensign James Pumphrey, and ranged from Jamestown to Hovey Point on York River, and was discharged at four mile or deep Run. He served a third tour of three months as orderly sergeant in the Company commanded by Capt. William Harris, Lieut. Charles Gads, Ensign Gillman Watson, and was stationed at four mile run on James River in Virginia, and was

afterwards marched to Richmond to guard the prisoners taken at the Battle of Kings Mountain, and was discharged at that place -
He served a fourth tour as orderly Sergeant in the Company commanded by Capt. James Montgomery, Lieut. Sellman Watson, and Ensign Robert Montgomery which Company joined Gen. Lafayette's army about the first of June, at Deep River Church in Virginia and continued with the Army until Cornwallis was taken at Jamestown, now called Little York. He was present at the surrender of Cornwallis, and was afterwards discharged about the last of October, he believes in the same month Cornwallis was taken.
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 any agency in any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid -
(Signed) Benjamin Carpenter
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states -
I Hart Fellows Clerk of the said County commissioners Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Benjamin Carpenter for a pension -
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Rushville this tenth day of December A.D. 1832
Hart Fellows clk

24.441 20.3/5
Benjamin Carpenter Schuylker Co. Ill s
Return to
Adm 11. Months
$36.66.
Wart Pillows Rushville Ill Schuylker County

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
29. April 1837
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Benjamin Carpenter
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     May 1776 3 privat Infy Capt Coavil Colt Mason anput 6 Virginia None None   3 " Capt Wilkinson   5 privat Infy Capt Morris   " Capt Montgomery Genl Lafayette  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers :
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said 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 it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration.(l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
□ The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
{ [k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.)
{ [l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
last hour

Declaration of Benjamin Carpenter in amendment of a declaration heretofore made by him to wit on the 3 rd day of September 1832.
State of Illinois Schuyler County On this 2 nd day of September 1833 personally appeared before the County Commissioners' Court of said County (the same being a Court of Records) Benjamin Carpenter a resident of said County of Schuyler and state of Illinois aged 78 years being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following full Declaration in Amendment to his declaration heretofore made on the third day of September 1832 To wit. That he entered the service of the United States a second time as mentioned in his original declaration in the month of August in the year 1777. and served a term of three months as therein stated under the command of Col. Mason. That he entered the service a third time in the month of June 1778. and served three months as stated in his original declaration under the command of Col. Mason. That he entered the service of the United States a fourth time as stated in his original declaration in the month of June 1781 and served under the command of Col. Thomas Mendenhall and Major Welch and was discharged after having served five months. In witness whereof he has hereunto set his hand and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Benjamin Carpenter his mark
Interrogatories propounded by the Court
1 st Where and in what year were you born?
Answer I was born the first of March 1755 in Amherst County in the state of Virginia.
2 nd Have you any record of your age?
Answer None.

3 rd Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
Answer. When called into service I lived in Amherst County Virginia, and lived in Virginia until about the year 1790. From Virginia I moved to East Tennessee upon Holston River from thence I moved to West Tennessee from thence I moved to Illinois. I now live in Schuyler County Illinois.
4 th How were you called into service: was you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Answer. I volunteered as a minute man for four years I was not a substitute.
5 th State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your services.
Answer. I was acquainted with Colonel Mason General Lafayette, General Anthony Wayne, Genl. Stephen son, General Washington, & General Morgan.
6 th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service & if so by whom was it given and what has become of it. Answer. I received discharges from each of my Captains to wit from Captain Cavil Captain Hickum Colonel Captain William Harris and Capt. James Montgom ery & have lost them all.
7 th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Ans Peter Cartwright a Clergyman, George Taylor knows me and knew me in the service & James W. Riley also knows me. Benjamin his Carpenter Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

We Peter Cartwright a Clergyman residing in the County of Sangamon and State of Illinois George Taylor and James W. Riley residing in the County of Schuyler State of Illinois hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Carpenter who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be 78 years of age. That he is represented and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Peter Cartwright James W. Riley George his Taylor mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
And the said 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 it appears to them that Peter Cartwright who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County of Sangamon and State of Illinois and that James W. Riley and George Taylor who have also signed the same are residents in the County of Schuyler Illinois and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Hart Fellows Clerk of the County Commissioners Court of Schuyler County Illinois do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the proceedings of the said Court in the matter of Benjamin Carpenter's for a Declaration for a Pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 14th day of September in the year of our Lord 1833.
Hart Fellows Clk

October 2, 1936
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Miss Abigail Lambert 1024 South Fourth Street Ironton, Ohio
BENJAMIN CARPENTER S. 32156 BA-J/MLB On
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Benjamin Carpenter, of Virginia, and of his father, Elijah Carpenter, of Virginia and New Jersey, and Daniel McFarlin or McFarland, of Virginia.
There are no claims for pension or bounty land on file based upon service in the Revolution of the Elijah Carpenter described by you, or of any Daniel McFarlin, both names searched under all spellings. Such claims are the source of Revolutionary War data furnished by this office. The record has been found of only one Benjamin Carpenter of Virginia, which follows as found in the papers on file in pension claim, S. 32156, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
Benjamin Carpenter was born March 1, 1755, in Amherst County, Virginia. The names of his parents are not given.
While a resident of Amherst County, Virginia, Benjamin Carpenter volunteered, served a tour of three months as orderly sergeant in Captain Joseph Cavil's company, Colonel Mason's Virginia regiment, was stationed at Williamsburgh, Virginia, and ranged along the capes and rivers in that vicinity and was in the battle of Long Bridge on York River. He volunteered in August, 1777, served three months as private in Captain James Higginbottom's company, Colonel Mason's Virginia regiment and ranged from Jamestown to Stony Point on York River. He volunteered in June, 1778, served three months as orderly sergeant in Captain William Harris' company, Colonel Mason's Virginia regiment, stationed at Four Mile Run on James River in Virginia. He volunteered in June, 1781, served as orderly sergeant in Captain James Montgomery's company, Colonel Thomas Merriweather's Virginia regiment, was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown and was discharged the last of October of that year after having served a tour of five months.
The soldier resided in Virginia until about 1790 when he moved to Holston River in East Tennessee, thence to West Tennessee, and from

there to Illinois.
Benjamin Carpenter was allowed pension on his application executed September 3, 1832, while a resident of Schuyler County, Illinois. He died June 12, 1840.
There are no family data shown in the claim.
In order to obtain date of last payment of pension and name of person paid, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following:
Benjamin Carpenter Certificate #22315 Issued October 9, 1833 Rate, $36.66 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act June 7, 1832 Illinois Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

32 156 Rev INVALID.
1914 Jan. 28. Hist. to James T. Carpenter. & 1936 Oct. 7. Hist. to Miss Abigail Reinbert — MLB
File No. 32 156
Benjamin Carpenter
Di Rev Rev
Act: June 1 st 32 nd
Index: — Vol. 2 , Page 65
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Parsons 27 th Dec 1863
M. at Aug 9
Defeat or Capture H.L.S.
James J. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Three

Carnegie Hall
Pension Agents office 26 July 1836
Sir
I have received your letter of the 12 th Inst which authorises me to pay B en jamin Cart er a pensioner under the act of 7 June 1832 - the am t due him, upon the production of the pro- per vouchers &c. I have no pensioner by that name on my Book, there is one by the name of Benjamin Carp enter . who has not been paid for two years, and whose patience I suppose is nearly exhausted in making ineffectual attempts to get his money - if it is Mr Carpenter, who was intended - you will please correct the error by giving me his proper name very Respectfully Hon ble J L Edwards Commissioner of pensions Daniel Hay

Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office,
August 7. 1838.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Benjamin Carpenter a Pensioner on the Roll of the Illinois Agency, at the rate of thirty six Dollars and sixty six Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1836 to the 4 th Sept. 1837
Respectfully, yours,
William H. Parris Comptroller
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.

J. T. Carpenter,
315 North Bartlett St,
Medford, Oregon, January 14th, 1914
The Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir,
I am writing you with the hope that you may be able to give me some information about the family of Carpenters to which I belong. I make this request in view of the fact that your Bureau has the records of the wars of the U.S.,
My information in regard my family is rather meager and indefinite, and was in part given to me by my father when I was a boy, In brief it as follows:
My great-grandfather, Thomas Carpenter, was one of five (or possibly seven) brothers that came from England before the Revolutionary War and settled in Virginia, I dont know where.. All of the brothers joined the American Army, and with the exception of my forbear Thomas, who was killed (or died of disease in the service) went through the entire war.
After the war one of the brothers by the name of Benjamin q. 32156 left Virginia and moved to Sangamon County, Ill, taking with him the widow and infant son (also named Thomas) of his brother Thomas, from whom I can trace my decent, This son Thomas who was my grand-father, lived in Green County, Ind, where he died in 1845, - The names of the other brothers are not known,, though it is thought that one was named George.
It is understood that all recieved land grants after the war and I am pretty sure sure that the widow of my great-grandfather Thomas did, in either Ill, or Ind,
The regiments that the brothers joined and served in are not known, nor the place that they came from in England, It is thought that some or all of the brothers were British soldiers when they came over.
I am anxious to establish my right to membership in the society of The Sons of the American Revolution as well as to discover the English origin, for the sake of my Son, who is an officer in the Regular Army, I served in the volunteer Federal Army during part of the Civil War, and am a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Any information that you may give me will be greatly appreciated, Thanking you in advance, I am
Very respectfully yours
James T. Carpenter

Miss Abigail Lambert, 1024 South Fourth St., Ironton, Ohio.
Vetans Administration, Washington, D.C.
A.D.Hiller, Ex. Asst. to Administrator.
Dear Sir:
only 1 gva Kindly advise me if there is any claim for bounty land or pension by Benjamin Carpenter for Rev. War Service. He was probably in the Shenandoah Valley during the Rev. War (Virginia) or the part of Virginia now called W.Va. Also any information you may have of Elijah Carpenter who is the father of Benjamin, - Va, New Jersey, both from the New York, Long Island branch of Carpenters. only 1 & 3 comm.
Also of Daniel McFarlin or McFarland of Virginia, whose dau married Elizabeth McFarlin in Virginia.
This branch settled in Lawrence Co. Ohio about 1800, at that time probably part of Washington, Va., later Scioto Co, then Lawrence.
Very truly yours,
Abigail Lambert

for a statement of the military history of Benjamin Carpenter a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's ) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
S 32156
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1775 May 1776 3 mos. Orderly Sergeant Joseph Cail Mason Va.   Aug. 1777 3 mos. Private James Higginbottom "   June 1778 3 mos. Orderly Sergeant William Harris "   June 1781 5 mos. " James Montgomery Thomas Meriwether  
Battles engaged in, Long Bridge Norfolk , & sur. of Cornwallis
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Amherst County, Va.
Date of application for pension, Sept. 3, 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Schuyler Co., Ill.
Age at date of application, born Mch. 7, 1755 Amherst Co., Va.
Remarks: Moved from Va. in 1790 to East Tenn. on Holstein river, thence to West Tenn. and Illinois. No family data on file. In 1833 Peter Cartwright de garrison Co., Ill. testified to soldier's identity.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Carpenter, Christopher GRADE Private LINE Virginia
WARRANT NUMBER 11994 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED April 21, 1796 to James Morrison, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.