Revolutionary War

Reuben Martin service

From Family Tree Makers Web Site "Descendants of Martin of Ferndorf"

Reuben Martin enlisted in Capt. William Picketts Co of the 4th Virginia Continental Line on 6 July 1776 "for a gun furnished." Military records list Reuben Martin in Capt. John Brent's Co. of the 4th Virginia Regiment also known as Capt. Jason Riddicks Co. Records also indicate that Reuben Martin deserted at Christianna (4 miles from Newport on Brandywine Creek) in June of 1777.

Posted by Jgault46

Benjamin Martin, Pension Application

Record of Pension Papers Which Were Sent to the United States Pension Department, Washington, D.C. by Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 & Indian Wars Who Lived in Barren County Kentucky.

Compiled by Annie Walker Burns Bell, 1933

MARTIN, BENJAMIN & NANCY Pension No. R6965

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7, 1832, State of KY, Barren Co.

On this 25th day of March 1833 personally appeared in open court before the judge the Circuit Court of Barren Co., now sitting, BENJAMIN MARTIN a reside of Barren Co. in the State of Ky., aged seventy fourt years the 8th day of July last, being duly sworn according to law on his oath doth make the folloiwng declaration in order to obtain the benfit of the Acot of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That the enter the service of the U.S. under the following name officers and served as herein stated.

I, BENJAMIN MARTIN was born in Fauquier Co., in the state of VA, on the 8th day of July 1758 agreeable to my family records, and there lived with my father HENRY MARTIN until the first of Sept. 1775. I then entered the service of the U.S. as a private soldier, under Capt. WM. PICKET, JOHN MARSHAL, Lieut, ISHAM KEITH, Ensign. We were called minute men, THOMAS MARSHALL was Major then several companies in Fauquier being collected the middle of September. We marched to Culpepper Court House and there we joined the Culpepper and Orange Minutet Men and were formed into regiment under Col. TOLIVER. We marched from Culpepper Court House to Williamsburg, and there we camped several weeks. Sending out detachments to prevent the British from landing, and plundering the inhabitants, about two hundred men under Capt. BUFORD had a skirmish with DUNSMORE's Shipping, at Hampton and took a slooper that mounted several guns, soon after that we crossed James River. At Jamestown with intent to go to Norfolk. We there joined the minutemen from the lower counties under Col. WOODFORD and Col. CHARLES SCOTT, but the British had built a fort and mounted Cannon on the north side of the river at the long Bridge to prevent us from corssing, we built a strong breast work at the end of the crossway on the south side, we continued to skirmish with the British and about the middle of Nov. early in the morning the British regulars crossed the bridge and attacked our works. I was at that time on guard off the left of our works. The British were repulsed with the loss of Capt. FORDICE and some soldiers, and at night left their fort, when to Norfolk, shipped their cannon and even on board of their Shipping and we soon after that marched into Norfolk. We continued skirmishing with the enemy and on the first day of Jan. 1776, about one hour by sun at night the British commenced a heavy cannade from their shipping. Set fire to Norfolk and laid it in ashes. We continued to guard that part of the country until the last of March 1776 and having been in actual service, six months, we were discharged at Suffolk until further orders. Col. THOMAS MARSHALL and Col. CHARLES SCOTT, each of them enlisted a regiment of regulars and joined General WASHINGTON's Army, and JOHN MARSHAL commanded a company of regulars and they had nothing more to do with the Minute Men. I received a discharge until further orders from Capt. WM. PICKETT. The first of Aug. 1776 part of the minute men were called on again. I was a private soldier attached to Capt. JAMES WINN"s Company and under command of Col. ELIAS EDMUNDS. We marched from Fauquier Court House the middle of Aug. 1776. We passed through Fredricksburg from Fredricksburg to Williamsburg and then to a place we called Springfield camp, and were stationed there in order to march to any place near the mouth of rivers to prevent the enemy from plundering the inhabitants, and destroying their salt works. We continued to do such duty as were called on to do and having served three months and the men very sick, we were again discharged about the 15th of Nov. until further orders. This was the last call that was made on the minute men. I received a discharge from Col. ELIAS EDMUNDS.

1777, Early in Sept. Fauquier Co. was called on for volunteers to reinforce General WASHINGTON's army. I volunteered and was enlisted under Capt. BENJ. HARRISON, I served as a corporal. JAMES KEE was Lieutenant, we were formed into a regiment and commanded by Col. MARTIN PICKET and marched from Fauquier Court House tht emiddle of Sept. We passed through Leesburg, and then to Nolen's Ferry on Potomas. Then to Fredricktwon in Maryland, then through Little York and Lancaster in Pennsylvania, we met General WAIN's men that were wounded at Peolia, going to Lancaster, and we joined Gen. WASHINGTON's army the day after the battle of Germantown. Our regiment camped near the Virginina Regulars commanded by General CHARLES SCOTT and Colonal THOMAS MARSHAL, as soon as the British left Germantwon, a detachment was ordered to Germantwon. I was one of them, we marched over the Battle ground. I noticed a gate below a house the called CHEW's house, the gate was very much shattered with grape or lanes shot and blood of men that had been killed was plainly to be seen on the ground, soon after that he British commenced a heavy cannonade on our forts on the Delaware River from their Shipping in order to force their way up to Philadelphia. I was with a detachment near Germantown when the Americans blew up a large British Ship and tremendous was the explosion it made. We continued in service three months and were discharged about the middle of December a little before the army went into Winter Quarters at Valley Forge. I received a discharge from Capt. BENJAMIN HARRISON.

The last Aug. 1780, the militia of Fauquier were called on to reinforce our army in Carolina. I substituted in the place of JAMES KEMPER (?) he being a married man and I being a single man. FRANCIS TRIPLET was Capt. and JOHN COMBS Lieutenant, I was appointed first Sergeant. Another company was attached to us under Capt. JAMES WINN. We marched from Fauquier Courthouse, the first of Sept, we passed through Fredricksbug, then to Richmond, then to Petersburg, from thence to Hillsborough in North Carolina, and there we joined the Maryland troops under Col. HOWARD, we marched from Hillsborough in N.C. to a place called New Providence and General GREEN took command. Col. DANIEL MOGAN was promoted to Brigadier General, the Augusta-Rockbridge militia joined us, the VA militia was form into a batallion, Capt. TRIPLETT was promoted to Major and JOHN COMBS was made Capt. in his place. General GREEN detached General MOGAN with the Maryland troops under Col. HOWARD, the VA militia under Major FRANCIS TRIPLETT and Col WILLIAM WASHINGTON's Light Horse. General MORGAN marched down on Pecklet River and took up camp on a hill near the River and continued to send out detachments and defeat the Tory's. And about the Middle of January we were informed that Col. TARLTON was coming on us with superior force. We retreated to a place we called Cowpens and took up camp all in order for battle. The British attached us early in the morning. I was in the road all the time of the action I was covering Capt. COMBS he was killed. Capt. DOBSON and Lieutenant EWIN (Erwin?) was on the left of the Maryland Troops near me, the British were completely defeated. We marched on with the prisoners to Salsberry. I continued with the army until the firt of February and received a discharge as first sergeant for six months. The dischard was given my by Major FRANCIS TRIPLETT, on the road near the North Carolina line, the tour a private soldier.

I moved from VA in the year 1795 to KY and settled about eight miles east of Lexington in Fayette, Co., when I moved to KY. I destroyed all my useless papers and among the rest my discharge as I expected never to have any use for them. In the yaer 1812 I moved to where I now live in Barren Co., KY. I hereby relinquish every claim whatsoever to pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my names i not on the pension roll of any state. Subscribed and sworn the day and year aforesaid. /s/ BENJAMIN MARTIN

The 4th Virginia Regiment

The 4th Virginia Regiment was raised on December 28, 1775 at Suffolk Court House, Virginia for service with the Continental Army. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. Most of the regiment was captured at Charlestown, South Carolina on May 12, 1780 by the British and the regiment was formally disbanded on January 1, 1783. [Wikipedia]

John Boyd military service

The first records of John as an individual were those of his Revolutionary War service, beginning as a Private in Captain George Wallis' Company, 4th Virginia Regiment. The company muster rolls show his pay commenced 1 Apr 1777 at the rate of $6 2/3 per month as a new recruit, and continued the next month as a wagoner. Beginning 1 Jan 1778, although his pay remained the same, he was paid 2 pounds in Virginia Currency. His term of enlistment was shown to be for three years, however, later in 1778 he served as a wagoner in Captain Gabriel Long's Company, Col. Daniel Morgan's Regiment. DAR #69497 [B, pp. 9-10]

Pension Application of James Harris

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statement

Pension Application of James Harris: R4653

Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris

Posted 27 May 2010 by Terese Mitchell

State of North Carolina Wake County This day May 20 the 1850– Henry Hamlin Harris of Said County Dep. Sheriff Came in open Court who being first duly Sworn according to law and made this his declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed the 7 day of July 1838 and the acts Sublamentory made and provided in Such Cases in order to obtain a pension for the Revolutionary services of his Father James Harris who was Born and raised in the County of Macklenburg [sic: Mecklenburg, formed from Lunenburg County in 1765] Virginia and moved to Nottoway County Va & in the later County married a Miss Elizabeth Winfree in the late 1791 and in the said year he moved to the County of Wake North Carolina and died on the 13 day of November 1823 [sic: see note below] leaving his Widow who died on the 20 day of July 1847 Eighteen hundred & forty seven, who remained his widow to the day of her death and left surviving her lawful heirs by her said husband James Harris to Wit. Elizabeth Crenshaw. John W Harris. Louisa T. Crawford. Henry H Harris. Robert Harris. Polly W Phillops (Susanna Ann Harris.) Ann E Harris.) and (Fredrick L B Harris). he declares that the above are all of the Children known or believed to be living or that survived his said mother above named. He declares that his said Father James Harris was a Captain in the War of the Revolution in the State of Virginia and in the Continental line and served fourteen months and ten days in said State and after his said services he joined the Melitia in the State of Virginia and marched to the State of North Carolina and served in said State in the Melitia & in the Capacity and grade of first Major and he thinks to the best of his belief & information from his father he served as major 4 years & upwards in NC he served to the close of the war and in the melitia & he was also in Halifax County N. C. He Declares, that after he got in said State of North Carolina he was exchanged and was appointed or promoted, either, in Virginia or North Carolina as first Major. he further declares that his said fathers widow, the declarants mother, made a decleration several years before her death in order to get this pension but for the want of the family record here annexed important evidence in this case which was then or at that time supposed to be lost caused the claim to be delaid or nearly suspended. and since the said record has verry recently ben found among old papers in the family which is annexed, His said mothers Decleration and evidence all is lost and after diligent search and Enquiry cannot be found he therefore makes this his decleration and application in behalf of himself Brothers and Sisters. he declares that the family record No. 8 and No. 9 two pages annexed is in the hand Writing of his said father containing the names & ages of his 14 children by his said mother and the two first older names and ages on said paper No. 8 is that of his father James Harris dated 1763 and Elizabeth his wife age and date 1772 and their first child born was Ann Easly Harris the 20 day of Sept 1792 and that the sixth child name on said paper is that of his own name and age to wit Henry Hamlin Harris Born 12 July 1802 and the marriage of his said father and mother is also registered on said paper No. 8 in his fathers hand writing to wit May the 12 the 1791 as perproted and believed to be the year and date of there marriage. He declares that his said father was at the Battles at gilford Court House in the State of North Carolina [sic: Guilford Courthouse, 15 Mar 1781] and some time afterwards was at or near Saulsbury [sic: Salisbury] N. Carolina and in Macklenburg [sic: Mecklenburg] County N. Carolina and his services in said State of N. Carolina were in the melitia as Major faithfully rendered in said war of the Revolution as aforesaid. He further declares that his said father never held a pension before his death and neither did his said foregowing Widow Decd. he therefore makes this his application revoking all others heretofore made.

Sworn to & subscribed in open court this 20th of May 1850 [signed] H H Harris LS

Declaration of Joseph Harris

Sources; Grace Reynolds, Porterville, CA
History of Southeast Missouri,
The Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888
Wayne County, Missouri
Page 1130

DECLARATION OF JOSEPH HARRIS [Rev War File]

State of Georgia--On the 3rd day of September personally appeared in Jackson County open Court before the Inferior Court and sitting for ordinary purposes (now sitting) Joseph Harris a resident of Jackson County in State of Georgia aged eighty one yrs ninth October who being 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, 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as service stated under Colonel Thomas Polk and Lieutenant Colonel Adam Alexander and Captain Moses Shelby and entered the service some time in the latter part of the year 1776 and was absent at this time about one month, in about two weeks after my return I again went out under the same officers and was absent about three weeks. I again went out under the same officers except the Captain who was Charles Polk. I was absent at this time on an expedition to Willming Town, Brunswick and Elizabeth Town three months. I again went out under General Rutherford and Major White to Willmingtown and was absent three months. All the above expeditions were against the British. I resided during the above time of service in State of North Carolina Mecklenburg County on the waters of Rocky River and was here residing when I entered into the service as a Volunteer. I marched through North Carolina and served with Major White among the riflemen. I have no documentary evidence whatsoever of my having enlisted and served as a Volunteer or of the length of time which I served as Volunteer any of the above times and I know of no persons whose testimony I can procure that can testify to my service. I hereby relinquish any claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not in the previous roll of the agency of any State. To the first interragatory he answers, I was born in 1749 in Pennsylvania-To the second he answers, I have no record of my age. To the third he answers, I was living in North Carolina and have lived in that state and the State of Georgia ever since. I now live in Jackson County, State of Georgia. To the fourth he answers, I was a Volunteer. To the fifth he answers, there was no regular officers when I served, but there were Militia officers whose names I have before stated. To the sixth he answers, I never received any discharge. To the seventh he states as persons who are acquainted with him and who know that I have been reputed as a Revolutionary Soldier--Thomas C. Barrow, John Reidling, Elijah Nash, William Lord, Moses VanCue?, William Dunston, Reason Benton, William Matthews? - He states as a reason for not stating more fully all the circumstances relating to his services that he is very old and (infirm?) that he is hard of hearing and that his recollection as very bad.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
To open court--
his mark
Joseph X Harris

Samson FRENCH was a Tory

You ask about the military history of our early ancestor, born 1742. In 1776 he was about thirty-four years old, his son Thomas about three years old, and his son Clement not yet born. Sampson was the only one who could have taken part in the Revolution, and he did not, for the reason that he was at heart a Tory. He did not take up either side actively, but said he thought the war was a mistake and King George's government good enough. My father told me he was drafted twice and each time furnished a substitute, which he could have done as he had considerable property. Some one ought to have punched this particular Sampson in those days, but he was six feet tall and had a red hot temper, so he escaped. But there is something to be said for our Sampson. As we look at it now, a man to be patriotic in 1776 must be willing to help destroy the regular government. In 1861 it was considered patriotic to support and defend the regular government. My own experience leads me to think that serving in the army as a soldier intensifies and renders more permanent attachment to and respect for a regular government. Now our Sampson enlisted in the British army under General Amherst and served in the war between England and France before the Revolution. Perhaps this experience helped color his later opinions.

From a letter written by Salphronius H. French to Mary E. Beyer. [MEB p. 123]

Benjamin HUNTLEY in Canada

“To his Excellency, the Governor in Council—The petition of Benjamin Huntley, late from the State of Vermont, now residing in Elizabethtown (Brockville) in the District of Luneburg: Humbly Sheweth—That your petitioner has neither served the King nor Congress during the late War but has removed from Vermont and resided in this district since May last and is desirous to be admitted as an inhabitant in said district and therefor prays for the grant of such portion of land as is now allowed to new settlers, for which, as in duty bound, your petitioner shall ever pray”.

Dated at Augusta—29 Oct., 1789 (signed) benjamin Huntly (sic)

He was granted 200 acres the next day, 30 Oct., 1789. [National Archives of Canada Land Petitions [RG 1, L1]—H Misc/179]

[VH, p. 105]