Military Monday: Benjamin Ishmael's Revolutionary War Pension Application

I love researching my Revolutionary War patriots and learning about their lives during that important period of our history. Each of my patriots had different experiences. Some served for a short time, while others served for several years, even after the end of the war. Some didn't live long to see much action, while others fought in, and survived, many important battles. Fortunately, most of the patriots in my lineage lived through the Revolutionary War and were able to go home to their families. Each soldier has his own story to tell, and I'm proud to be able to share their experiences with you here.

Here's a small part of the Revolutionary War pension application for my paternal 6th great grandfather, Benjamin Ishmael (July 1736 - July 10, 1822). He served in Pennsylvania, but eventually migrated west to Kentucky, which is where he applied for his pension.

Here's the transcript (exactly as written, including grammar and run-on sentences) of the second document, which details Benjamin Ishmael's service in the Revolutionary War:

District of Kentucky (??)
On this 1st day of October 1818, before me the undersigned, one of the circuit judges for the Commonwealth aforesaid, personally appeared Benjamin Ishmael aged 82 years resident of Nicholas County, in the said District, who being by first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled, "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" that he the said Benjamin Ishmael in the year 1776 enlisted Canegagig Settlement in the State of Pennsylvania in The Company Commanded by Captain Abraham Smith of the 6th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line Commanded by Colonel Irwin a continental Establishment for one year and that he continued in the service for the term of one year in the Company Regiment and line aforesaid when he was discharged from service in Albany in the State of New York and that he again enlisted about a year afterwards at the place aforesaid under (??) Blueford [note: I think this may be Colonel Bluford] of the Cavalry and was transferred to Gen'l Count Pulaski's Independent Legion and continued to serve therin for more than one year that he belonged to his first troop under Captain Peter Bentlow when he was discharged at Williamsburg in Virginia and that he was in several skirmishes one at Eggharbour and he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for his support and that he has no other Evidence now in his power of said services.

(??) to before (??)
sworn and declared before me the day and year aforesaid

                                                                                         John Trimble

After the Revolutionary War, Benjamin went back to being a farmer in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and was found on the 1780 tax records in that area. It is written that Benjamin Ishmael also received a land grant of 160 acres from Virginia for services rendered in the Revolution. By the 1810 US Census, Benjamin and his family appeared in Fleming, Kentucky. They were in Nicholas County, Kentucky, by the 1820 Census, which is where he died on July 10, 1822. 

Benjamin initially applied for his pension in 1818, but was not officially awarded it until January 15, 1823 -- about six months after he had died. Benjamin died in relative poverty, and wasn't able to enjoy the assistance of his country that was finally awarded to him. According to a transcription of his will, he left what very little he had to his wife, Jenny (I had always thought he was married to a different woman and will be researching this more!) and his many children. What he was owed for his pension was prorated to his date of application in 1818 and finally paid to his family.

While digging through Benjamin's Revolutionary War records, I found some other intriguing stories about this man and his descendants. One other researcher noted that he'd been sued for "Bastardy" and that the the document is on file in Nicholas County (yes, I'll be looking that!). A book has also been written about some of Benjamin's descendants who "were discovered in the slums of Indianapolis in the 1870s and became a symbol for all that was wrong with the urban poor." Yep, it's on my summer reading list!

Military Monday: James Carr Veale's Revolutionary War Pension Application

I love American history, and am fascinated by both the Civil War and the American Revolutionary War. Having ancestors who fought in both wars, and helped shape our country, makes it all even more exciting. When I first discovered that I could find actual Revolutionary War pension applications and documents for my very own ancestors, I was beyond thrilled! This means that I get to read my own patriots' history and accounts of their activity and participation in the birth of our nation.

Here's part of the Revolutionary War pension application that my 5th great grandfather, James Carr Veale, submitted in 1832.  Several acts allowed veterans and widows of the Revolutionary War to apply for pensions. The act of 1832 stated that every officer or enlisted man who had served two years in the war was eligible for a pension. If the veteran died after being granted a pension, his widow or children could apply to collect any money due from the date of his last payment until his death. I've found several comprehensive records of Revolutionary War pension applications via my Ancestry.com and Footnote subscriptions, and I love it when they help me follow the footsteps of my patriots as they fought the war.

The actual file from James Carr Veale is pretty large (over 60 pages), so I will transcribe some of it in parts. These three pages are James' own sworn account of his service in the war. I've transcribed them exactly as they are written, including any spelling or grammatical errors.

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832

State of Indiana} JS
County of Daviess}

On this 18th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Honbl Amory Kinney President Judge of the circuit court of said county James Carr Veale, aged Sixty nine years and an old inhabitant of said County and State, who being duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration: That [???] to a family register he was born in March Seventeen hundred and sixty three, in Loudon County, Virginia; That in his youth his Father removed to what was called Chester district, South Carolina, and in the year Seventeen hundred and eighty, he volunteered in a company of Militia, in said county, under Captain Hollingsworth, of Col Brandon's Regt which was attached to Col Picken's command, and he marched with said troops, to obstruct and harras the english and tories under Tarlton; then retreated, with Genl Morgan's troops, towards the Cow pens, the Regt then turned, and joined the Genl Sumpters command, at Granby, where the British surrendered; That he was detailed in a company sent to Buckhead, to aid Col Lee to reduce that fort, which after a smart engagement they affected; that he then marched under Sumpter to Orangeburgh which place after its defeat Genl Sumpter took possession of, and he with the Regt under Colonel Hampton were ordered to proceed to Dorchester where after some fighting the American's retreated; That he then joined the army at Ninety-Six, under Genl Green. After retreating from Ninety-Six he became afflicted with Small Pox, and was unfit for duty for six weeks, when he again joined his company at Orangeburg from whence the Regt was ordered by Col Pickens to march to wards Charleston to Bacons Bridge, and he then remained on duty some months; That he was afterwards kept in motion serving the Country against tories, when the said Regt in company with Col Picken's troop and joined by others from Georgia proceeded to break up the towns of the hostile Indians in the Cherokee Country. Which object they effectually accomplished and drove the tories from their refuge. That shortly after this exploit, peace was declared, and he received a written discharge from his Lt. Col William Farr. That he was in actual service from the time he volunteered in 1780 up to the proclamation of peace except during a short sickness, That he believes his name may be found in the proper office of South Carolina in the certificate issued for his pay, on receiving which he thinks he delivered up his discharge; That in the year Eighteen hundred & Seven he removed from the Union district of South Carolina to the Indiana territory, where he has ever since resided in what is now Daviess County. that he has no documentary testimony but he trusts the evidence hereunto answered will be deemed sufficient to secure the remuneration he now seeks. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or [???] except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any state.
                                                                       James C. Veale

As you can see, I've linked to a few websites that detail some of the battles that James Carr Veale bravely fought. This man saw quite a bit of action, and even jumped back into the war after suffering a bout with smallpox, a disease which killed many of his fellow soldiers. James and his family moved to Daviess County, Indiana, in 1806. James died on January 14, 1839, in Veale Township, the town named after his family.

Here's how I'm descended from James Carr Veale:

James Carr Veale (1763-1839) m. Lavina Townsend (1764-1846) in 1873 >
Daniel Veale (1784-1864) m. Mary Polly Coleman (1792-?) in 1813 >
Andrew Jackson Veale (1828-1904) m. Elizabeth Miller (1928-1908) in 1849 >
George Elmer Veale (1850-1928) m. Margaret Harriman (1850-1932) in 1872 >
Alice A. Veale (1872-1954) m. Joseph Bartram (1860-1930) in 1891 >
John Bartram (1911-1987) m. Donna Madsen (1919-1966) in 1938 >
Rebecca Elizabeth Bartram (living) m. William Lee Brittain (1942-2003) in 1964 >
Me!

Amanuensis Monday: John Purser's 1826 Last Will & Testament

Amanuensis. I'll bet this is a new term for some of you. It certainly was for me when I first started this blog, and I think it's really cool. According to Thomas over at Geneabloggers:

An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme which encourages the family historian to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin – some we never met – others we see a time in their life before we knew them.

Today, I'm sharing with you a fairly recent find that I'm hoping is the missing link to proving my second American Revolution patriot for Daughters of the American Revolution. It's the 1826 will of my 5th great grandfather, John Purser, who fought in the Revolutionary War, and who was the grandfather of my 3rd great grandfather, James Monroe Purser, who was a Confederate soldier in the Civil War with his brothers, Richard and Moses. 

John Purser was born in January 1750 in Mecklenburg, NC, and died there on March 28, 1826. He married Susannah Cuthbertson, whose father is believed to be David Cuthbertson (who is mentioned in John's will). John and Susannah raised seven children: Richard, David, Moses, Sarah, Elizabeth, Lydia and Dorcas -- all named in John's 1826 will. 

A couple of weeks ago, I managed to find someone online who had a microfilm scan of John Purser's will. Until then, I'd only heard that it existed, and figured I'd have to write to Mecklenburg County or the North Carolina State Archives to ask for a copy (which could take weeks). I received a copy of the scan within two days. It came from a microfilm scan that was taken from the North Carolina, Mecklenburg County Will Book F, p. 102. What's exciting for me is that the document seems to show the relationship between John and his son (my 4th great grandfather), Richard William Purser. 

It's really difficult to read online, so the transcription is below. Please note that I've attempted to transcribe the document exactly as it was written. This includes any grammar or spelling errors. Some of the document was so faded or blurred that I just couldn't make out what was written, and I've noted that where applicable.

Click on the images for a larger view. It will still be blurry -- sorry!

State of North Carolina }
Mecklenburg County    } In the Name of God Amen
I John Purser of the County and State aforesaid being of sound mind & perfect recollection blessed be God - Do make and publish this my last will and testament this 28th day of March in the year of our Lord 1826 being well assured of the certainty of Death and the uncertainty of the time I resign my Body unto the dust to be buried in the most plain & decent Christian like manner to be raised in the Resurrection day through Jesus Christ our Lord. I will and bequeath unto my beloved Wife all the land and premises I hold belonging to the Seventy three acre tract of land purchased from John Cuthbertson that is all that I hold of the tract of land that I hold on the south side of Goose Creek I give & bequeath unto her during her lifetime & at her decease the Said land & premises to belong to my son Richard Purser or if the Land now in Law between Arthur Smith & George Smiths heirs is gained in behalf of Smith the above mentioned Land at the decease of my beloved wife to belong to my son David Purser. I give & bequeath unto my son Richard Purser all the right and title I hold on the Land & premises now in Law Between Arthur Smith & George Smiths Heirs ~ All the Loose or moveable property I hold to be sold publickly & the profits arising from the Same to be divided in the following manner Viz ~ All the Just demands against my Estate to be first Satisfied and [faded and unreadable] my son Moses Purser & Rob [may be missing a line] Purser & my daughters Sarah & Elizabeth & Lydia & Dorcus five pounds each [faded] with all the monies either due or in hand to be equally divided between my beloved wife & my son David Purser & Richard Purser ~ And I hereby make and appoint William Byron Junr of this my Last Will & Testament.
Published and Signed Declared in the presence of us the date before mentioned
Attest: James Simpson                              John Purser {Seal}
Brazil Morse

Now, I need to get the rest of my documents together to send to the DAR for review. If they are accepted, then I'll be able to claim John Purser as an official Revolutionary War patriot!

Here's how I'm related to John Purser:

John Purser (1750-1826) m. Susannah Cuthbertson (1750-?) >
Richard William Purser (1802 to after 1850) m. Elizabeth Scott Bentley (1810-1891) >
James Monroe Purser (1843-1914) m. Nancy Susan Hodge (1844-1883) .
Francis Georgia Ann Purser (1871-1956) m. William Calhoun Hunt (1860-1915) >
James William "Earl Hunt (1891-1961) m. Ethel Modena Martindale (1896-1977) >
Edith Vivian Hunt (1920-1993) m. Woodie Leroy Brittain (living) >
William Lee Brittain (1942-2003) m. Rebecca Elizabeth Bartram (living) >
Me!

I'm in the D.A.R.!

It's been a crazy-busy week for me, but I couldn't let it pass by without shouting out my excitement at having my application verified to join the Daughters of the American Revolution!

What is D.A.R? 
It's a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children.

How does one join? 
Any woman who is 18 years or older and who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership. I have several ancestors on both sides of my family who fought in the American Revolution, but let me tell you, it's TOUGH proving these lines with documentary evidence.

My patriot: Nathaniel Brittain
I finally managed to prove one of my lines all the way back to Nathaniel Brittain, my GGGGG grandfather who fought and died in the American Revolutionary War. Nathaniel was born in 1734 in Chesterfield, Virginia, to James Brittain, an immigrant from Wales, and his wife, Mary Whitty. Nathaniel married Elizabeth Parks in 1760 and they raised eight children.

Not a lot is known about him, but we do know that Nathaniel enlisted and served as a Private in Captain Jonathan Clark's Company, 8th Virginia Regiment, on March 4, 1776. He died while in service on October 17, 1776.

How did I prove this ancestry?
Well, it took a long time and a lot of online searches, phone calls and letter writing to find all the documents needed to prove that I am, indeed, descended from Nathaniel Brittain. My search started with my Grandma Edith's records. She had already laid out the path for me, and I just needed to follow it to gather the documents I needed to prove, generation by generation, her theory about Nathaniel. Ancestry.com and Footnote.com were invaluable online sources, as was good old Google. I also made many phone calls to various county courthouses, libraries and historical societies. A very nice woman named Kandi went to an Iowa courthouse to make a copy of a marriage record I needed. Another helpful woman took the time to scan and email a copy of my great great grandfather's cemetery record to me. And, I found a fifth cousin, Jennifer Woods, over at Climbing My Family Tree, who is also trying to join D.A.R. through Nathaniel Brittain. She and I put our heads together and managed to break through some solid brick walls. She's getting her application together and we're both excited about joining this great organization this year. And my friends in the Knitting Genealogists group at Ravelry offered advice, tips and much encouragement. See, genealogy is a team sport!

What's next?
Now, I bask in my glory! Actually, I'm still not completely IN the organization. My application has been verified, but I have to wait until February 5, when the D.A.R. holds it's national meeting and officially accepts my application. I'm told this is a formality. Then, I get to take my oath at my local chapter meeting in San Francisco. I'll have to wait until April to do this since I have prior commitments in March.

I'm proud of my ancestor and proud to be part of a family that played an important role in the founding of our country. I have a good five or six more patriots, on both sides of my family, that I'm working to prove. I hope that my participation in the D.A.R. will help me with that quest, and I also look forward to working with the La Puerta de Oro chapter to give back to our country and community through their many volunteer efforts. I'll be sure to blog any interesting happenings with the D.A.R. and how it relates to genealogy!