From the Library of VA-- from copy made of microfiche frames-
Revolutionary War Pensions and Bounty Land Warrant,
Application Files, 1800-1900, Roll 818. See - HYPERLINKS of actual copies
Section 1
Copy of the Letter of declaration page 1
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the
Act of Congress passed June, the 7th AD. 1832.
State of North Carolina, } On the 14th day of
Davidson Co-- } August AD 1833.------
} Personally appeared in open
Court before the Justices of the Court of pleas and quarter
sessions (now sitting), Benjamin Dillen, a resident in
the county and state aforesaid, aged seventy eight years
who being first duly Sworn acording to law doth on his
Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain
the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th AD 1832
that he entered the service of the United States in the
year of the revolution (Viz): he states that in the beginning
of the year 1779 he then living in Henry County in the State of
Virginia, he was drafted for three months and was put into Capt
John Salmon's Company, Col. Abraham Penn's Regiment, General Joseph
Martin being Commander. That the Regiment he belonged to went into
actual service for the defence of the State, that there was a publick
arsenal & magazine at Henry CourtHouse; that Col. Penn ordered
Capt Salmon to take charge and guard said magazine and
arsenal against the grevetions(?) of the enemy and Tories; that he
entered in this service the first day of March 1779; that he
remained on that duty as a private untill two weeks before
the expiration of his three months tour; that he was taken
sick; that Capt Salmon gave him a permit to be removed
home to his father's; that before he recovered his time of three
months service was expired. The permit he says is lost
and further this deponant states that the next spring 1780, he
was drafted again for six months and was again put into the
same John Salmon's Company, Col Abraham Penn's Regiment.
General Joseph Martin being Commander of the Virginia Militia,
that Capt Salmon's and Company was again by order of Col.
Penn put to guard the aforesaid arsenal and magazine
in Henry County; that he entered again in this service the
first day of March 1780. He states the Tories were troublesome
in the County and neighborhood and that the arsenal and
magazine was not attacked; that he lay there and did
soldier's duty the whole time of the six months service;
Section 2
Copy of the Letter of declaration: page 2
that at the expiration of his six months tour he received
a discharge signed by Col Abraham Penn that he's lost
many years ago. He states that Penn's Regiment was out on
service at the same time under the command of Genl.
Joseph Martin as some of his neighbors on their return
stated, and that they were in service with the Continental
Troops but that the nature of his service did not admit
him to get aquainted with any of them; and this depondent
further states that he knows of no person living that he
can prove his above services by that his memory and mental
abilities through age and infirmity are much impaired but
to the best of his recollection,the above statement of his services
in the war of the Revolution is correct and that he
charges the government of the United States with eight
months and fourteen days actual service and the two
weeks in which he was sick and under permit be added
to the three months service will make full nine months
services as a private soldier under Capt John Salmon
for which term of service he claims a pension under
the Act of Congress passed the 7th day of June AD 1832 and that
he hereby relinquishes any claim to a pension or anuity
under any other act than the above and that his name
is not on the agency of the pension role of this nor any
other state in the Union.
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the day
and year aforesaid.
"his"
Benjamin X Dillen (seal)
"mark"
David Mock
Section 3
Letter of Witness and Interrogations - Page 1
State of North Carolina,
Davidson County
Mr. Ashley Swaim, a clergyman residing
in the County and State aforesaid and John
Pain residing in the same hereby certify
that we are well aquainted with Benjamin Dillen who
has sworn to and subscribed the above declaration and that
we believe him to be seventy-eight years of age and that he
is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he
resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we
concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed that day and year
aforesaid.
Ashley Swaim (seal)
John Pain (seal)
David Mock
Interrogations proposed by the Court------
questions first:
1.Where and in what years were you born?
Answer by deponant-I was born
in the State of Virginia, Pittsylvania County (now Henry)
on the 18th January 1755 as my parents told me.
2. Have you any record of your age and if so, where is it?
Answer--No, I have no record account of my age
3. Where were you living when called into service and where
have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where
do you now live?
Answer--
In the year 1796 I emigrated from my native State to the State of North Carolina,
Rockingham County; in 1801, I removed to Guilford County and in
1825 into Davidson County where I now reside.
4. How were you called into service--were you drafted, did you volunteer, or
were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Answer-I was drafted twice; first for 3 months in 1779, then for six
months in 1780.
Section 4
Part #2 of Interrogations and declarations of Witness
5. State the names of the regular officers who were with
the troops where you served such Contenential and Milita
regiments as you can recollect and the general sanctuary names of
your service
Answer I served as a private soldier in Capt
John Salmons Company Col Abraham Penns regiment Joseph Martin
was our Genl of the Militia but the nature of my service being to
guard the magazine and arsenal at the Henry County courthouse State of
Virginia prevented me from getting aquainted with the Contenential
Officers and army as I might otherwise have done.
6. Did you even receive a discharge from the service
Answer - for the first nine months service I recieved a permit
to go home when taken sick signed by Capt John Salmons and
for the six months service I recieved a discharge signed by
Col Abraham Penn they have both been lost or misplaced many
years ago as I never thought they would be of service -----
7. State the names of the persons to whom you are known in your
present neighborhood and who can testify as
to you character or veracity and their belief of your service as
a soldier of the revolution}
Answer Elder Ashley Swaim , John Pain , Charles Pain William Gurier Stephen Gefford
Solomon Davis, Isaac Odell
Davidson County}
Now sitting do hereby declare his 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 count further Certifies that it appears to
him that Ashley Swaim who has signed the preseding
Certified is a clergyman resident in the County of Davidson
and that John Pain ---- who has signed the same
is a resident in the same county and is a crediable person
and that their statement are entitled to credit.
Tho Hampton Chm (seal)
Zebulon Hunt (seal)
Jno M Smith (seal)
If you find any discrepancies of my transcription, please feel free to email me :here!
