Morgan Co, OH Rev War Pension Abstractions

The following are some abstraction of Pension Applications that pertain to Morgan Co. If you have any to submit, send them to me.

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Benjamin Beckwith

[The pension application of Benjamin Beckwith of Morgan Township, Morgan County Ohio (originally from Frederick Co. (now Montgomery Co.) MD- National Archives Microfilm M804, roll 197 - transcribed by William H. Thayer (whthayer@aol.com) - please note that I plan to improve upon this first transcription upon my next visit to the National Archives]

State of Ohio
Morgan County

On this the 21st day of July AD 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Honourable Thomas _____ President Joseph C. Linn & David McCart associates - the judges constituting said court & being the court of Common Pleas now sitting Benj Beckwith resident of Morgan township Morgan County Ohio aged about 72 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 Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated - That he enlisted in the spring of 1776 (the day and year are forgotten) in the company of Capt Jacob Young in the Regiment commanded by Col Johnson That he enlisted for during the war in the Maryland Line of Militia on state troops on volunteer but which they were properly called he does not know as they were usually denominated minute men. That he enlisted in Frederick County in the town of Frederick of State of Maryland. Immediately upon this deponents enlistment he was required to do camp duty two or three days in each week but which he has forgotten. He however drew both his pay & his rations in the fall of this year this deponent marched to Philadelphia under Capt James Mackenell who died soon after his arrival in Philadelphia. The regiment tarried about two weeks in that city in which time a great part of his company died of the small pox. The regiment was then moved to the plains of Brunswick in East Jersey & was stationed between Long - hills of Basking Ridge & drew their rations at Lord Sterlings buildings. In this month they crossed the Delaware at Flemington & went through [?]Pluckemin Lord Sterling was in command on their arrival but so greatly were the army displeased with him that it became necessary to change the command which was done & transferred to General Greene Which stationed here the British threw up redoubts at the Short hills which opened into a fertile country leading to New York. He attempted to dislodge them in the battle that ensued our regiment in the beginning was commanded by a Virginian formerly and old church preacher by the title & name of Colonel [?] Threwston This Col Threwston had his arm broke at the beginning of the battle when a man took the command by the name of Montgomery. This was the first day of March AD 1777. The British were dislodged. At the beginning of this action this deponent escorted a fellow soldier to him unknown and asked him if he had anything to give him to drink. The soldier replied in the affirmative but said that his canteen was lashed to his back & he had not time to loose it. He however placed himself in such a position that deponent obtained a draught when on wiping his mouth he discovered that his mouth was black with liquid smut whereon he asked the soldier if he had poisoned his whiskey - no says the soldier I put gunpowder in the whiskey & it will make you as _____ as the devil. The battle began between day break & sunrise and lasted till near 10 AM. When it was over this applicant having had nothing to drink from the time of taking his said gunpowder dram & being ______ with heat & thirst & _____ & smarting with powder burnt in his ____ gave 12 dollars of his - wages continental money for a gill of whiskey. This money is all that this applicant has even _____ of the United States for between one & two months service.
Previous to this battle he was in a skirmish near Quibblestown in which several men were killed & especially three men all gunsmiths from the same town with this deponent whose names he knows if he could hear them but has now forgotten. In this skirmish [?] Maj. Francis Dickens had his horse shot from under him. He was from Georgetown in the District of Columbia. While at Brunswick a party of Americans of whom deponent was one surprised a party of British near the British & American lines & took a number of cattle & about 500 sheep from them which they were driving in. An overgrown fat [?] weather broke from the flock & took down the lane towards the British camp. This deponent who was on foot & Dr. Ridgley who was the surgeon of the regiment & was on horse-back took after him & caught him. He was so heavy that it was with difficulty that they got him mounted before the Dr. who _____ him off _____ this deponent to make all haste in his retreat as the British were in swift pursuit. Dr. Ridgley was from Frederick & if living will well remember the _____ While the army were here the British made ___ ___ a ____ at the white house ______ in Bonabrooke. This deponent with a few others was returning to camp having been out in quest of something to eat & saw the company of horse that took him off. They went into the house & saw where the discharged bullets had hit the upper floor & ceiling. This deponent knew many officers of the army both regular & militia but without __ hears their names mentioned he can not remember them. He does however remember Gens Washington Wayne Sterling ____ Bates Lee Smallwood & [?] Griffin. Two Colonels Johnson Colo Luckett Streiker Threwston Tillard Beattie ______ Morgan
Major Dickens Wilkinsen Morse Hardman Ogle Capts Mackinell Fraston Evans Frickle Morris Sloy Bailey McLane & ______
Colonel Stricker Major Wilkinson & Capt Fraston belonged to what was ____ the Dutch Battalion in which this deponent served about two months in East Jersey. Col Tillard commanded a regiment of regular that had ____ marched on the Brittish ____ ____ ____ until he became religious & left the army. This regiment was acting as guards at Baltimore. This deponent ____ to guard the army of Burgoyne at ________ Frederick & he was called out to _____ in quelling the tories when they attempted to take the arsenal at Frederick. Burgoynes army was soon removed to _______. This deponent was one of the guards. They crossed at [?] Nolands ferry & passed through ________ . When Cornwallis left Brunswick this deponent returned to Frederick. He crossed the Delaware at Flemington. The Schuykill at Reading & the Susquehanna at ____ Ferry. He passed through Lancaster, Little York & Taneytown. This deponent has no ____ of his age. He was born on Rock Creek about 12 miles from Washington city but does not know in what year this was then Frederick County Maryland. He was living in Frederick County when he volunteered & was called into service & although he was not ___ at any on time much over 18 months yet that in all he served so much he thinks as ____ on ___ years. From Frederick this deponent removed to Cumberland where he lived some 10 years. From there he went to Frankfurt ____ County Virginia - from there he _____ to Newton township Muskingham County [rest of page unreadable on duplicated copy]

This where he resided about 10 or 12 years from there he removed to Morgan township Morgan county Ohio where he has resided for the last 12 or 13 years. He received a discharge from Capt Young at the close of the ware but thinking it ______ _______ ______ _____ ______ ___. He is known in his own neighborhood by [a long list of names - many unreadable] AB Johnson ______ John Wilkins _____

[much of this unreadable by my copy - need to check microfilm again]

The clergyman residing in their vicinity has been but a few months & does not know this deponents _________ nor can testify to his claims. This deponent has no mind of his age. He has no documentary evidence of his service nor other testimony except the deposition of his brother William Beckwith hereto annexed.

[another unreadable paragraph followed by witnesses signatures]

Michael Wiseman
Jacob Adams
Wm [?] Darby
A. McConnell
William Hawkins
John E. Horine

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & seems as he state. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Michael Wiseman, Jacob Adams, Alexander McConnell, William Hawkins & John e. Horine are credible persons & that their statements are entitled to credit & that the persons named by the applicant in answer to the questions prescribed by the court under the directions of the war office are ______ who were members of our state legislature & also those who were & are the principal county officers residing in Morgan township. They further say that they believe the applicant was a soldier of the revolution & that he ___ as he states & that his claim to a pension is generally if not ______ allowed to be just fair & true in the vicinity where he lives.

_______ B. ______ clerk of the court of _____ ____ of Morgan county Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing _______ are original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Beckwith for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 21st day of July 1832

[a pre-printed form with some handwritten answers]

Brief in the case of Benjamin Beckwith of Morgan County in the State of Ohio
(Act 7 June, 1832)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court of Com. Pleas
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disable by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 72 years
4. State his service as directed in the form annexed.

PeriodDuration of ServiceRankNames of Gen. & Field Ofcs.

In 1776and served from four toPrivateCol Johnson
Enlisted during five yearsCapt Jacob Young
The war

5. In what battles was he engaged? Battle at Short Hills
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Frederick Town, Maryland
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by tarditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By a living witness
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? And if so, in what respect? Correct

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Charles SitleWm Allison
Examining Clerk

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McConnelsville Morgan county, Ohio

Hon J H Eaton

Dear Sir

Enclosed I send you an application for a pension by Benj Beckwith. They are the original papers from which the minutes were made up. Professional callings have prevented me from forwarding them sooner. If you will bear with me while I say that among the antiquated remnants of mortality whose most familiar inmates are distress & poverty I do not remember having seen one who possessed a spirit so untamed & independent as this applicant. Some ten years ago when his whole property would not amount to 100 dollars he applied for a pension but felt too independent to take the oath prescribed.
He is now unable to support himself & has only the alternative of appling for a pension to save himself from becoming a township charge. His crippled daughter is a terrible object of pity. The court have set his property full high & all who think the revolutionary veterans entitled to a claim upon the general fund believe that that claim of Benj Beckwith should be postponed for no . I have 2 or 3 of these old monuments under my protection & I can not hear them tell of marching barefoot - sleeping blanketless & homeless in the winter - of paying 10 & 12 dollars in such pay as they _____ their wages in for a gill of whiskey on a day of battle & of paying 3000 dollars for a ____ worth 25 without thinking they have surely strong claims upon us who reap the harvest in peace that they have sown in blood. For my _____ ___ ____ ___ for any other ____ them the ______ that I have helped them obtain the last remnants of justice. I remain yours Respectfully,

May 15, 1830James L. Gage

If you should grant Mr. Beckwith a certificate please enroll him in the Pittsburgh agency.
Jas L Gage

[new document]

The state of Ohio
Morgan County

Personally appeared in the court of Common Pleas of Morgan county Ohio this 21st day of July AD 1832 the said court being in session.
William Beckwith who being duly sworn according to law deponent & saith that he is acquainted with Benjamin Beckwith who has this day made his application for a pension - that said Benjamin enlisted some time in the spring of 1776 in the United States service in the town & county of Frederick in the state of Maryland - that the said Benjamin was called out by _____ of his said enlistment some time in the fall of 1778 as near as he can remember & that he continued at this time in the service of the U.S. about 18 months - That the said Benjamin was a private in the company of Captain Young in Col Johnsons regiment. This deponent believes that said Benjamin was in the service of the Unites States at particular times until the close of the war - that he was constantly called into service for tours some of greater & some of less length. He thinks he served in all more that three years - that he has frequently seen the discharge of said Benjamin but not of late years & further saith not.
Sworn to & subscribed in open court the day & year aforesaid.

Wm BeckwithAttest P.B. Johnson, Clerk

[new document]

The State of Ohio
Morgan county

Common Pleas April term AD 1830
On this the 23rd day of April AD 1830 personally appeared in open court William Beckwith who being duly sworn according to law deponent & saith that Benjamin Beckwith who hath this day made his declaration in this court is the identical Benjamin Beckwith who enlisted some time in the spring of the year 1776 in the United States service in the county of Frederick in the state of Maryland in the continental line of the United States. That the said Benjamin was called out by virtue of said enlistment in the fall of 1776 & continued in active service until the spring of 1778. That the said Benjamin was constantly called out into active service until the close of the revolutionary war in which he served when he received his discharge from said service that deponent has frequently see said discharge - that said Benjamin is now poor & unable to support himself & family that said Benjamin has been a citizen of the United States since the 18th March 1818 that said Benj. now resides in Morgan county Ohio. That his family consists of 5 children with the eldest of whom he lives that his other four children are two sons who can maintain themselves & two daughters one about 14 years of age & the other about 22 or 3 years old who is miserably crippled that he has also a wife who with himself is becoming unable to [?] labor by reason of age & infirmity & that the occupation of the said Benjamin is that of a cooper & further this deponent saith not. Wm. Beckwith

Sworn to & subscribed in open court this 23d day of April AD 1830
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said court this day 23rd day of April 1830.

P.B. Johnson Clerk

The State of Ohio
Morgan County

Com Pleas April term AD 1830
Be it known that on the 23 day of April AD 1830 personally appeared in open court Wm. Harper who being duly sworn according to law deponent & saith that he was acquainted with a soldier by the name of Benjamin Beckwith in the time of the revolutionary war who he this deponent truly believes to be the identical Benjamin Beckwith who has this day made his declaration in this court to obtain the benefit of the pension laws of the United states of the 18th March 1818 & the first May 1820. That he saw the said Benjamin on the day of the battle on the plains of Brunswick when the said Benjamin was marching to battle - that the said Benjamin was a private in the Maryland continental line & that according to the best of this deponents remembrance he frequently saw the said Benjamin at the White [?] Plains; about 6 months before and as long afterwards during all which time he was serving in the capacity of a private soldier in the service of the United States that the said Benjamin now resides in Morgan county Ohio that he is poor & unable to support himself without assistance & further saith not.

his
William X Harper
Mark

Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 24th day of April AD 1830.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affix the seal of said court this 24th day of April AD 1830.

P.B. Johnson Clerk

[new document]

The State of Ohio
Morgan county

Com Pleas April term AD 1830
On this the 23rd day of April 1830 personally appeared in open court (the same being a court of record with original jurisdiction over sums of unlimited amount & vested with power to fine & imprison) Benjamin Beckwith aged about 70 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he is a resident of said county at this time. That he the said Benjamin enlisted as a private for the term to the best of his remembrance of the whole revolutionary war in the spring of the year 1776 - That he was occasionally called out during the whole war when he went into the service by virtue of his duty as an enlisted soldier as above related. That he served in the company commanded by Captain Jacob Young in the regiment commanded by colonel Johnson in the Maryland continental line. That he does not remember whether Jacob Young commanded the company or Col Johnson the regiment at the time of his enlistment. That he continued to serve whenever commanded so to do until the close of the war when he was discharged from service in Frederick in the state of Maryland.
That he was in the battle on the plains of Brunswick on the first day of March 1777 & in many skirmishes in one of which near Quibblestown many men were killed (especially three men all gunsmiths from the same township with this deponent) & Major Francis Dickens had his horse shot from under him. That he was called out by virtue of his aforesaid enlistment in October 1776 or near as he can remember & continued to serve without intermission until the spring of 1778 a term of 18 months. That he served from the time of his enlistment at the close of the war in the same company & regiment that at the latter period he was regularly discharged by Capped Young but that said discharge is destroyed & that he has no evidence of his said service & discharge except the depositions of William Beckwith William Harper hereto annexed.

And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 & that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner dispense of any property on any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war passed on the 18th day of March 1818 & that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contract on debts due to me nor have I any income other that what is contained in the schedule hereunto annexed to by me subscriber.

Benj. X Beckwith

Schedule

One bed & bedding one cow & calf the common wearing apparel of myself & wife & one child. That my occupation is that of a cooper - that I am unable to labor to any considerable extent in consequence of age & general disability. That I have a wife who is also aged & infirm & incapable of doing much to support herself or me. That I have five children with the eldest of whom I live. That the others live with me in the same cabin. The youngest is a daughter of 14 years of age. The next oldest is a son of 18 years who ________ for & sustains himself. The next oldest a son of 20 years who ______ for & sustains himself. The next oldest a daughter of 22 years of age who is & has been a cripple from her birth in all her limbs so much so for instance that the knee [?] bone is on the other side of her leg on her _____. The eldest is a daughter of 24 years of age. She has a lease for the cabin in which we live & pays rent for it. She obtains her living by doing such small jobs of sewing as she can obtain of the few neighbors who live in the vicinity & that the names of my said children are Levina the eldest Matilda who is the cripple David the ____ of said sons Solomon the younger & [?] Rozella the youngest daughter.

Benjamin Beckwith

Sworn to & subscribed in open court this 23 day of April AD 1830.
Attest P.B. Johnson Clerk

I P.B. Johnson clerk of the court of common pleas of Morgan county Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing oath & the schedule thereunto annexed one truly copied from the ______ of the said court & I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is fifteen dollars.

I do further certify that the said Benjamin Beckwith on the 23rd day of April AD 1830 did appear in open court & make oatht that he the said Benjamin Beckwith at the time of making the above declaration was a resident of Morgan county Ohio to wit on the 23rd day of April AD 1830.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said court this 23rd day of AD 1830.

Attest P.B. Johnson Clerk