Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4993, Benjamin Hill, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER
N 6
Hill, Benjamin
R 4993
CONTENTS

No. 17562
Benjamin Hill Greene County Alabama
3 months - See letter
James Yeates Clerk Greene County Alabama
   Period. Duration of Service. Name of Company and Rank of Officer under whom he served.   Days. Months. Years. Weeks.     3  
mentioned. X Certificate that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case upon
James H. ... Examining Clerk.

No. 17562
Benjamin Hill Greene County Alabama
3 months - see letter
James Yeates Clerk Greene County Alabama
Period.
Duration of Service.
Rank.
Names of General and Staff Officers
attested. I certify that the foregoing statement and the annexed papers are in all respects true and correct.
James O. O'Callaghan Colonel, Q.M. Dept.

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Daniel D. Davidson  Examining Clerk

(Application Benjamin Hill)
The State of Alabama
County of Greene } S.S. On this 22 day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court before Anerson Green Shantle Judge of the circuit court now sitting Benjamin Hill a resident of the county & state aforesaid of the age of of seventy one years the 13 th day of December next, 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 services of the United States man the following named officers and served as herein stated (viz) he entered the service as a volunteer in March he thinks near the first of March 1780 in the 20 th year of his age In Chatham County State of North Carolina Under Captain Asa Wright Lieutenant Benjamin Johnson & Ensign Thomas Penbury in Col Dudley's regim- ent commanded by Dudley himself we met at Ramsey's mill where one Colonel Reed as he was informed a regular officer took the highest command from thence we were mar- ched to Camden South Carolina perhaps two hundred miles soon after our arrival in the neighborhood of Camden we were attached to the army commanded by General Greene who with his regular & militia forces commenced an attack on Camden which resulted in a retreating fight for some distance when the British retreats in their return Back to Camden pursued by the American horse who took some prisoners among whom were four Deserters from the American service whom we hung on the same pole. after some skirmishing then in the neigh- borhood of Camden the British Evacuated the place & soon after Col Dudley Discharged his whole regim- ent he thinks his discharge bore date the 13 th May 1780 though his term did not end until his arrival at home which was about 3 months from the time he was drafted - He recollects seeing Col Lee's horse & he thinks Washington's also though he does not recollect that he saw either at the engagement he recollects that all

of that Love's Horse were Bays. This is the only Service of Duty he ever performed in the revolution. He continued to reside in Johnson County from the time of his service until 1815. Then he removed to Wake County, where he resided until the latter part of 1827 when he removed to Greene to Greene County Alabama where he arrived in January 1828 & has resided ever since. He states that his discharge was filed with his father's papers on his return & he has never seen it since. He states that he has no record of his age now though he has often seen it in an old Prayer Book that Belonged to his father and is distinct in his recollection as above stated. In addition to the officers all ready named he recollects a Captain Connel who served as adjutant in our regiment, and a Captain Harris who also comman- ded in Dudley's regiment. He thinks Col. Dudley signed his discharge. He states that William Richard- son in his own neighborhood, Pearson and Price many others of his neigh- borhood would testify favorably of his reputation for truth and also his reputation as a soldier of the revo- lution.
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present & declares his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
sworn to subscribed the day 3 1831 Benjamin Hill & year aforesaid in open court Attest James Goates clerk
We Edmund Price a Clergyman in the County of Greene & William Richardson a resident of the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Hill who has subscribed & sworn to the above dec- laration, that we believe him to be 70 years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neigh- borhood where he resides to have been a revolutionary Soldier of the revolution & we concur in that opinion. Sworn to subs- cribed the day & year aforesaid in open court. Attest James Goates clerk
Edm. Price W. Richardson

(Application of Benjamin Hill,)
William Richardson being duly sworn according to law in open court deposeth & saith, that he has been acquainted with Benjamin Hill who has sworn & subscribed to the above statement for thirty five or forty years most of the time as near neighbors to him as well when he lived in North Carolina as also in Greene County Alabama where we both at present reside and have been intimately acquainted with his character for truth and veracity & the same is good, said Hill was always reputed & believed to be a soldier of the revolution, both in his neighborhood in North Carolina & also in his neighborhood in this state and county and that he has good reason to and does believe the said Benjamin Hill to have been a soldier in the service of the United States in the revolutionary war, he also states that he believes him to be seventy years years old or upwards.
Sworn to & subscribed to the day & year aforesaid in open court
J. H. Pickardson
Samuel G. Galt C. N. O.
We Edmund Pugh a clayyman residing in Greene County and Matthew T. Spivy, residing in the same county, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Hill who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy years of age or upwards, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, & we concur in that opinion. Sworn to & subscribed to

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 Edmund Pace who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Greene and that William Richardson who has also signed the same is a resident in the County of Greene, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. & the said court further certifies that the said William Richardson was sworn to and subscribed the preceding deposition. Anderson Crenshaw J. J. presiding.
J. James Yeates Clerk of the circuit.
Clerk of the County of Greene aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contents in the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Hill; for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my said office, this 22 nd day of September in the Year 1832.
James Yeates Clerk.

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 Hill 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 no.
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, 1852? 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? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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? yes
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?
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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
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? yes
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 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.
†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.

No. 17542 Rejected
Service book 3. Marthas
See letter to
James Yeates Esq.
26 March 1883.
Hon: W m Parkvale. Jan y : 18/59
Same Feb y 11/59
4993
Act y June 1882

B Benjamin Hill Ala - Dec 1832
Address William or children
Young San Antonio Mr C
W. C. Whiting
Deacons of Zion Newburgh see

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
4990
P. O.
Benjamin Hill
Service:
REJECTED
Enlisted:
Discharged:
Application filed:
18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
Recognized.
Cop
Cert. of Dis.
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