Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-01-24


and the negroes made their escapes leaving two
The negroes joined aetons troop again. and gave n.or
nation of the soldiers being killed John Field Jones' TN
pilot was then with Tareion, as lie informed me TWO day
afterwards and that Tareons reply 10 The Information
was q" am sorry for him. he was cut rlundeIing WIS.,
the damnd Rebels had killed the negroes too aeI th
surrender nj FORK was in company with Capt. B ware
and Lieut. Searon (who of arcons officers wiier
he passed through The county OF Amea when he suoec
of Francscos having killed one OF inc BRUSH soiuicis
was introduced into conversation, ana llent Seaoh 90
served that was matter the soldier Killed at Captair
Wards was plundere and no loss 10 his Majesty iher
was but one white man spoken o, anu wv p -
conversation here spoken Of At that unc, las wen as
can recollect) Capt. Wards reputation haa sns.ue ~
injury in consequence OF any report OF MS having uei
guilty of any misconduct the time OF Franclscos killing
the Rrt,h soldier served with him in the militia subse
QuentIy to the time Of the British soldiers oens KILLED. D!
Francisco his house. when he acted as captain ana GUAR
ter Master-was viewed an officer 70 % eileu on ant
much resnecred Given under hand this 9Th day of April
1878 DANIEL VERSER.
do hereby certify, that in The year 1871, resided neal
BENJAMIN Ward of Amelia county. Al the time Tarleon
British Officer and his troop passed through SAID county
had started ride jennings Ordinary and met William
Femmng then oyeseer for said Ward-he requested OF me
not TO 90 TO said Ordinary he expected Tartons troop
would there's he also stated British soldier and sont
negroes had been 10 Mr.. Wards, and the British soldier
was killed by Peter Francisco The negroes made their
cape on one or more said Wards horses they being lied
convenient for Ward Francisco and others TO ride out
Mr. Fcmming informed me- The said Flemfning was just
on his way from Wards and the whole TRANSACTION
said there was but British soldier and negroes.
rode that evening Jennings Ordinary where number OF
people had collected the said Ward among them; when
often the subec, mentioned with respect Francisco
killing the said British soldier and it stated by
any person. there more than one British soldier and
negroes. have heard francisco himself state the
circumstance being frequently in his company about that
ne and never heard him say there than above
stated II is impossible for any person the said
Wards house from the road where laretons troop passed
have frequently been in company with said Ward and
Francisco They always appeared friendly, until dicr-
occurred about the division of The horses which
left al the said Wards by the British soldier and negroes
which had been divided between them by their CONSENT
Francisco got sorre mare and Ward stud horse; they
then swapt; Ward give boot Some months after Francis
CO demanded the mare; she taken stolen from said
Wards plantation Ward killed by black horse; which
understood he had barganed for short time before his
DEATH Ward respected by his neighbors and bore
good character by oil who knew him; and thought
be WING any in tho world. Given under my
'N"N "''' '''' NY JOSEPH wooDscN.
No. III.
hereby certify, that was intimately acquainted with
Benjamin Ward Of Amelia county, for many before the
American revolutionary war; during that contest and until
the time his DEATH That never knew or heard OF his be-
ing any other than honest Just man-ot irmness espon
sbiy, humane friendly, and generally respected; aud
also staunch friend to his country-Tha served with him
in short ofduiy in tho militia in the time Of the aioc
said war; and in which he acted Commssary the deac
and in that capacity he gave general satisfaction a.
far saw heard or had any reason 10 beleyel comnan
ded the detachment living in few miles of him
the time was said that Peter Francisco killed of Tac-
cavalry his house, and have often heard the circnm
stances mentioned which believe correct but not
present the time this took pacewhch 10 The best Of
my recollection, that in the year 1884, Tarleton in
passing with his cavalry through the county OF Amelia took
the public road leading from the Courthouse 10 jennings
Odinary-a punderng party of them, consisting Of four
five men, Chiefly negroes) went Wards, where Francis
was and in searching ishouse for plumber they got hold
Of Wards gun, and finding empty, broke itonc of the
white demanded of Francisco his shoe buckles, which
Of silver and stopped down TO take them from his shoes
and while in the act of doing this francisco got the man
sword from him. and killed him with it-tho Others ran OIL
rhnon hind pff
of Francisco Ward kept the party had carried oil one of
his and that Francisco Immediately left Is. Wards and by
different the ordinary got ahead of areton and
Joined some ladies' that were endeayorng TO get out OF
the way of the British. That heard ofany improper
conduct marks OF cowardice in Ward on that occasion
we'll acquainted with the road leading from the Court
house jennings Ordinary along which unders TODD fai
ton passed. when going through Amelia and am of opinion
that il Ia less than mile from the house of Ward and
the time this circumstance took place. firmly believe that
three fourhs Of that distance standing in its naura sit
uation and am certain that it impossible for any num-
Der Of men 10 be at B. Wards house, while part
of that road short tine exceeding Two years
fell in company with Francisco in the town o Petersburg
and as informed his business there for Inner
to take his portrait and in conversation with mentioned
the circumstance of his killing of Tarctons Ben
Wards and nearly can recoectm made the state
ment to him as have heretofore made His reply was that
my information was correct win this difference that he had
boots with silver spur and that the man was taking oil
his Supra the time he got tho sword nom him. Given
dor my hand hs sh day Of April in The year ls3 in the
county of Nottoway. RICHARD JONES.
do hereby certify, that in the year ISL was near
neighbo To Mr. Benjamin Ward Of Amelu county and
the mo that Tae,nns troop of horse passed through that
nclghborood several females and myself walked towards the
public road endeavor 10 obtain information whore the
British troops We the road that could
hear the British soldiers ulk who passed by al that time
Before the troop OF horse of hearing discovered
five negroes lon horseback approaching in the direction
from Benjamin Wards house. the public road OF the
said negroes Mr. Bcn Wards usual riding horse
there white with them. have often heard il
said that Peter Francisco killed British soldier Mr.
Wards and heard that there than white
with the negroes at Mr. Wards The public road lead
ing from Amelia Courthouse jennings Ordinary (which
the British troop of horse travelled is about mile from
the dwelling house where Benjamin Ward then esded three
fourhs of which space then covered with woods that
impossible orany person to see the said house from
the road along which Taretons troop Of horse passed
was frequently at MT wards and saw the wounded British
soldier Mr. Wards before his deahl heard it said and
il the general received opinion in the neghborhood that
tho British soldier who wounded and died AT Mr. Wards
drew pistol Francisco, which examination afterwards
found TO be empty and never heard, do believe
pistol fired at Francisco; did hear that Mr.
Ward furnished the British soldier with gun, do be-
lieve II; for heard Mr.. William Flemning say who
present and the whole ransaction that the British SOL
der that wounded Mr. Wards into the house
and brought out the only two guns that Mr. Ward owned
and broke them was Mr. Wards in few days after the
transaction took place, and the guns broken pie
ccs. Mr.. Benjamin Ward supported good character and
highly respected by his neghbors Given under my
hand this 9th day Of April 1913.
'-'''' $3.50 ELIZABETH NUNNALLY.
No. V.
hereby certify, that was Captain BENJAMIN Wards
In Amelia county, within days after Peter Fran
cisco down of Taetons troops of cavalry and said
Ward and Francisco together Ward house and ap
pea red friendly cach other Ward much
ed by his acquantancee, and wing and friend his
country. Given under my hand, this Both March, 1913
THOS PERkINSON.
No. VI
do hereby certify, that the house of Capt Ben
amin Ward in the county Of Amelia in the year ISL; the
day after Peter Francisco had had engagement with
Of Taretons cavalry and him down. The said Fran
cisco and Ward each of them informed me- that the
whom Francisco had on the preceding day down.
there in company with three negroes that the afore
said went into Wards house. and searched the house,
that he found Wards gum and carried it ont and delivered it
to OF the negroes, and then returned und commenced
punderng Francisco and Ward of their Watches silver
kles rings, &c. and while he in tho of putting away
the plumber he had TAKEN Francisco drew the sword from
der his and cut him down-(t the having put his
sword under his for the purpose securing his watches
buckles &c. Taretons troop Of cavalry passed along the
public road and impossible for them 10 be seen from
road Wards house The said Ward and Francisco
peared friendly was well acquainted with Capt Bena-
min Ward and do most positively declare Tim believe ne
true whig and genuine friend to his country &C.
Given under my hand, this 2Sth March. 1873
GEORGE SCOTT
tn br ofIh