• Rate. 36.66 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831.
• Act June 7, 1832 Illinois Agency. Died June 12, 1840.

Declaration to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832.

State of Illinois: Schuyler County.

On this third day of September AD1832 personally appeared before the County Commissioners Court of said County (the same being a court of Record.) 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 benefit of the pension made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That he enlisted in the army of the United States as a minit 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 1776 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 Crawford. 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 Gen. Ferdice the British Commander was killed. He was afterwards discharged at Williamsburgh

He served a second tour of three months as a private under the command of Capt. James Hickumbottom, Lieutenant Samuel Hickumbottom, and ensign James Pamphlet and ranged from Jamestown to Stoney Point on York River, and was discharged at four mile on Deep Run.

He served a tour of three months as a duty sergeant in the company commanded by Capt. William Harris, Lieut. Charles Eads, Ensign Tillman 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. Tillman Watson and Ensign Robert Montgomery which company joined Gen. Lafayette’s army about the first of June at Deep Run 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 any Claim whatever to a pension or amnesty except the present and declares that his name is no on the pension roll of any agency in any state.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid—

His (signed) Benjamin X Carpenter mark

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 where of I have here unto set my hand and seal of office at Rushville this tenth day of December AD1832.

Hart Fellows Clk Declaration of Benjamin Carpenter in amendment of a declaration heretofore made by him to wit on the 3rd day of September 1832. State of Illinois Schuyler County of. On this 2nd 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 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 tour of three months as therein stated under the command of Col. Mason. That he entered the service of the United States 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 Meriwether and Major Welch and was discharged after having served five months.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
his
Benjamin X Carpenter
Mark

Interrogations propounded by the Court:

1st 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

2nd Have you any record of your age?
Answer None.

3rd 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.

4th 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.

5th State the name 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, Gen. Stephenson, General Washington, and General Morgan.

6th. 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 Hickumbottom Captain William Harris and Capt. James Montgomery & I have lost them all.

7th. 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.
Answer. Peter Cartwright a Clergyman. George Taylor knows me and knew me in the service and James W. Riley also knows me.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
his
Benjamin X Carpenter
mark

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
his
George X 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 Interrogations 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 Carpenters’ stated Declaration for a pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the Office this 14th day of September in the year of our Lord 1832.
Hart Fellows Clk.

Carmi Ill. Pension Agents Office
26 July 1836

Sir,
I have received your letter of the 12th Inst. Which authorises me to pay Benjamin Carpenter, a pensioner under the Act of 7 June 1832 the amt. Due him, upon production of the proper vouchers &c. I have no pensions by that name on my Book, there is one by the name of Benjamin Carpenter who has not been paid for two years and whose patience is nearly exhausted in making ineffective 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

Daniel Hay
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions