Revolutionary War Pension Application of George Beckwith, Montgomery Co., MD Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Bill Thayer (whthayer@verizon.net) Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/md/mdfiles.htm ************************************************ [Revolutionary War Pension Application and Bounty Lands Application for George Beckwith (ca. 1760 - 1849) of Montgomery Co., MD; transcribed by William H. Thayer. please feel free to contact me if you have any questions] National Archives Microfilm M-804, roll 197 State of Maryland Montgomery County On this twenty fifth day of March eighteen hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of Montgomery County George Beckwith a resident of Montgomery County in the State of Maryland in the seventy third year of his life, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress approved June seventh eighteen hundred and thirty two. That he was born near Frederick Town in Frederick County Maryland on the sixteenth day of November seventeen hundred and sixty, that his age was recorded in a ______ book belonging to his Father, which has been lost; That he has resided since the Revolutionary War in Montgomery County, Maryland except for a short time when he lived in Prince Georges County, Maryland, That he entered the service of the United States in the Month of July seventeen hundred and seventy six as a volunteer soldier, that he resided at the time of entering the service in Frederick County in the State of Maryland, that George Beckwith was the captain and John Lilly the Lieutenant of the company to which he belonged; That he marched from Frederick County in the State of Maryland to George Town then in the State of Maryland to guard George Town against the expected depredations of Governor ?Dunmore?, that he remained in George Town two weeks and then returned to Frederick Town, that on his return he was taken home by his Father, with the consent of his Captain, because he was under the age of eighteen, and had volunteered against the wishes of his Father. The deponent further states that in the month of July or August seventeen hundred and seventy eight, he again entered the service as a volunteer soldier to serve six months, under the same Captain and Lieutenant, that he was stationed at Frederick Town in Frederick County in the State of Maryland, that he resided at the time in Frederick County, that he was stationed at Frederick Town for the purpose of guarding the Hessians who were kept prisoners of war in the old Barracks at Frederick Town that he continued in that service six months, that at the expiration of the six months he received a written discharge from Captain Beckwith but has since lost it, that he was in no engagements. That the regiment was commanded by Colonel Bailey, the Adjutant was Peter Mims a Dutchman with one eye. That he was acquainted with Peter Manty a Captain in the Flying Camp afterwards a Major in the Army and also with Michael Crist [?] and Jacob Crist the one a Captain and the other a Lieutenant in the Flying Camp; He further states that Charles Saffle was a drummer in a company commanded by Captain Burgess and stationed at Frederick Town at the same time whose deposition will be found accompanying this declaration, that he has no documentary evidence to support his claim for a pension, and knows of no other person now living who can testify to his services, that Isaac Riley and James Day and James B. Higgins are well acquainted with him and have been for many years and can testify to his character for veracity and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he claims that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State. Test. J. Stonetreet his George X Beckwith mark Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid. Brice Selby Clk Montgomery County March 25 1833 Mr. Isaac Riley and James Day and James B.Higgins residing in Montgomery County hereby certify this and are well acquainted with George Beckwith, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy two years of age,; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. James Day Wm B.Higgins And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after studying the interrogations prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and seems as he states, and the Court further certifies that Isaac Riley and James Day and James B. Higgins who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of Montgomery County and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. I Brice Selby Clerk of Montgomery County Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of George Beckwith for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty fifth day of March eighteen hundred and thirty three. Brice Selby Clk Montgomery County Court I Charles Saffle aged about eighty three years of age do hereby certify that I was acquainted with George Beckwith in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight, and have known him every since, that the said George Beckwith was a private soldier in a company commanded by Captain George Beckwith, at the time, I was a drummer in the company commanded by Captain Burgess; and stationed at Frederick Town in the State of Maryland; that said George Beckwith served during the period of six months and was honorably discharged. Charles Saffle Robt W. Willett State of Maryland Montgomery County On this twenty fifth day of March eighteen hundred and thirty three personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland in and for Montgomery County, Charles Saffle who has signed the above certificate, and made oath on the Holy Evangely of Allmighty God that the facts sted in the above certificate are true, and I do further certify that Charles Saffle who has sworn to and subscribed the above certificate is a credible person and entitled to credit. As an amendment to my declaration made on the 25th March 1833, I George Beckwith of the State of Maryland, do make oath this 20th of March 1834, that instead of a private soldier as set forth in my declaration as before mentioned, I was appointed and did act for six months as sergeant in Capt. George Beckwith's company. Sworn to before Robert W. Willett Justice of the Peace for Montgomery County, State of Maryland. Before me Robt W. Willett a Justice of the Peace for Montgomery County State of Maryland personally appeared Adam Boone who made oath that he was a soldier in Cpt. George Beckwiths Company during the revolutionary war and he served with George Beckwith who was sergeant of said company and that he the said George Beckwith always acted and was known as Sergeant. Sworn to before Robt. W. Willett Before me Robt. W. Willett a Justice of the Peace for Montgomery County State of Maryland personally appeared this 20th of March 1834 John Braddock & Wm O'Neal ___ who did severally make oath, that they know Adam Boone, that he is a respectable man of steady and correct habits and that they believe him to be a credible witness. Robt. W. Willett I Brice Selby Clerk of the Court of the County of Montgomery in the State of Maryland do hereby certify that Robert W. Willett before the foregoing affidavits were sworn ___ __ the time a Justice of the Peace, and duly empowered to administer oaths, and I believe the signatures annexed to the same, and purporting to be his, to be genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County this 20th day of March 1834. Brice Selby Clk Montgr Co Ct State of Maryland Montgomery County __ On this 11thd day of September in the year (1850) eighteen hundred, and fifty personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the peace of said State in, and for the county aforesaid, Burgess Willett of said County, and made oath, that he has know George Beckwith formerly of said County for about fifty six years; that when deponent first became acquainted with said George, he was reputed, and believed to be then lawfully married to Ann, his present widow: that deponent has known said Ann Beckwith for about forty years during all which time she was reputed, and believed to be lawfully married to said George Beckwith and with whom she lived, as her lawful husband up to the time of his death: that said George and Ann have had several children the oldest of whom is now believed to be about fifty nine years of age that said George was reputed, and believed to be a Revolutionary Soldier, and pensioner at the time of his death which to place, in said county, in December in the year eighteen hundred, and forty nine; that said Ann Beckwith is the same person who is mentioned in the written petition; or declaration for a pension and is the widow of said George, and has never married since the death of her said husband and it is certified that said Burgess Willett ____ ___ and creditable witness, and his oath entitled to full credit, and belief. Geo. R. Braddock State of Maryland Montgomery County ___ I hereby certify that George R. Braddock Gentleman, before whom the foregoing affidavit appears to have been made and whose name is thereto subscribed was at the time thereof one of the State of Maryland's Justices of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine. In Testimony whereof I herunto set my name and affix the seal of said County Court this 17th day of September 1850. Saml. J.Stonestreet Clk Montgomery County Court State of Maryland, Montgomery County, towit, On this 17th day of September in the year eitheen hundred and fifty, personally appeared before the Orphans Court of County aforesaid, Ann Beckwith, a resident of Rockville District in the county aforesaid, aged seventy seven, or seventy eight years, who being duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress dated July 29, 1828 that George Beckwith, her husband, was a common soldier in the Revolutionary War of the United States, that she cannot state the time when he entered, or left the service; that she cannot specify the particular period of his engagement, but he served, as a volunteer under his uncle Captain Beorge Beckwith, he resided in Frederick County in said State when he entered the service and served, as a guard at Frederick Town, that she has no documentary evidence in support of her claim, except what is refereed to in the papers under which her late husband received his pension in his lifetime; and she expressly states that her said husband was a pensioner in his lifetime. She further declares that she was married to the said George Beckwith on the ____ day of October in the year seventeen hundred and ninety one; that her husband the aforesaid George Beckwith died on the 13th day of December 1849; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the second of January eighteen hundred, ___; at the time above stated. She further swears that she is now a widow, and that has never before made any application for a pension. her Ann X Beckwith Mark Sworn to, and subscribed on the day, and year above written, before the Orphans Court of the County and State aforesaid. In testimony whereof I hereto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Orphans Court this 17th day of September, 1850. Henry Harding Regr. Of Wills - Montgomery County [The following information is culled from a printed form] BOUNTY LAND Act of March 3, 1855 150,765 Mrs. Leanah Beckwith Widow of Geo. Beckwith Revol. Sold. Pensioner Act 1832 She Draws Pension, Act 1848, Paid at Baltimore BOUNTY LAND CLAIM FORM OF DECLARATIONS To be made by the Widow of deceased person who has not had a Land Warrant. District of Columbia Court of Washington On this sixteenth day of May A.D. one thousand eight hundred and Fifty five personally appeared before me, a Justice of the peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Leanah Beckwith aged about eighty years, a resident of Washington County in the District of Columbia who being duly sworn according to law, declares, that she is the widow of George Beckwith, deceased, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and who was a pensioner at the time of his death since that he was placed on the pension list and ___ to her Pension Papers ___ on file from which the ____ or pensions ____ ____ ____fifty ___ under the act 1844 ______ ____ her said ___ husband George Beckwith. She further states that she was married to the said George Beckwith in Montgomery County ____ ____ to her papers on file and that her name before her said marriage was Leanah [looks like Clasfon] that her said husband died and that she is now a widow at the date of executing this her declaration. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land to which she may be entitle under the act approved March 3, 1855. her Leanah X Beckwith Mark Witness CWR Baer We, John O. Harry and G.W. Parmen residents of Washington County in the District of Columbia upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Leanah Beckwith in our presence, and that we believe, from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be. John O. Harry G.W. Parmen [a hand written page] Martha Beckwith Tennallytown Maryland Child of Ann Beckwith Send the Warrant to her 3 Nov 1859 Hannah Beckwith Will of Geo. She was a Rev. pensioner Then a claim for Land ____ She is awarded ____ ____ ___ [in another hand] Leanah Beckwith widow [new document] District of Columbia Washington County to Wit On this 21 day of December 1859 personally appeared before me and made oath in due form ____ _____ ____ ____ ____ that Ann Beckwith widow of George Beckwith is the person who made application for a land Warrant the name of Sarah having been ___ ___ her agent through a mistake. Sworn to before. ____ Thomas J.P. [new document] State of Maryland Montgomery County towit, Be it remembered and it is hereby certified, that on this fourth day of April in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred, and fifty one personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the peace of said state in and for the county aforesaid, Van Swearingen a credible witness of lawful age, and made oath, that he has been well acquainted with George Beckwith late of said county deceased for at least sixty years, that said George Beckwith was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and drew a pension from the United States government for many years; that he was married in said county to Ann Clarkson about the year seventeen hundred, and ninety, that said George died in said county in the spring of the year 1850 that said Ann his wife survived him, is still living and unmarried since his death - to the best of deponents knowledge, and belief, - and at the same time also personally appeared _____ Bowie, a credible witness of lawful age, and made oath, that three is no law of this state requiring any public record to be kept of marriages, that there is a law requiring a license to be issued before any marriage shall be celebrated, that the clerk of the county issuing such license entered a list thereof in a memorandum book not a record of the office, that deponent has examined diligently the clerks office of said county for said book, and cannot find it, and is informed, and believes that said book for the time prior and up to the year 1800 has been lost, or destroyed that he has examined the Treasurer's Office of the state to find the duplicate of said book, but failed to find it, that he has endeavored to find some family record of said marriage of said George, and Ann but cannot find any and believes none such exits, and that he is well satisfied after having made diligent inquiry, and search for some public, or private record of said marriage, that none exists to the best of his knowledge and belief. Sworn before John W. Spates J.P. State of Maryland, Montgomery County ___ I hereby certify that John W. Spates Gentleman before whom the aforegoing affidavit appears to have been made, and whose name is thereto subscribed, __, at the time thereof, on of the State of Maryland's Justices of the Peace in and for said County, duly Commissioned and sworn; and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine. In Testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and office the Seal of said County Court, this 5th day of April 1851. Saml. J. Stonestreet Clk Montgy. County Clk [new document] Rockville Feby 5 1851 Montgomery County MD Dear Sir, I am informed by Mrs. Ann Beckwith widow of the late George Beckwith, that a letter from me dated sometime about the middle of December last has not reached your office. Mrs. Beckwith in the latter part of last summer applied for a pension: I received a letter from Mr. Edwards, then commissioner of Pensions state that the facts within the knowledge of the Department, and made known by the petitioner were satisfactory to entitle her to the pension, except as to her marriage. I refer you to her petition and accompanying papers. I thought the proof of the marriage sufficient, the commissioner required further proof. After great trouble I found an aged man who made an affidavit in due form, that he was acquainted with the parties all his life, recollected well the fact of their marriage, knew it took place prior to the year 1800, and believed it occurred in the year 1790. This affidavit of her marriage, and of the time and that no family record exists of the fact, that she had made diligent search for the license in Clerks office of the county, and could not find it, but was informed by the clerk, that the granting of license was not a matter of record, but usually entered merely in a memorandum book which book for the period of her marriage could not be found. ____ enclosed in an envelope and directed to Mr. Edward, commissioner of Pensions, or merely to the commissioner of Pensions, I am not sure which and mailed at this place - If that letter has miscarried, or if you want anything further after examining the case please let me know. The fact is, that no persons in this state are better known, or more fully recognized and believed to have been man and wife that were Mrs. Beckwith and the late George Beckwith. Five hundred persons can testify that they have been known and recognized them as man, and wife for forty years, and perhaps as many more that they have been so recognized for 55 or 60 years - I have no familiarity with the pension laws themselves but I am sure that the testimony furnished entitled her to a pension under the instructions, and letters she brought to me from the department. Your S Wm Beirs Bowie [new document] Pension Office September 25 1850 Madam, Your claim to a pension under the Act of 29th July 1848, as the widow of George Beckwith has been examined, and your papers placed on file. The service of your husband is admitted, but some further proof as to the date of your marriage, is required. A copy of the license from the Clerks office in the County in which your marriage took place, or an old family record, if you have one, should be produced to establish the date of that event, or if such evidence cannot be produced, the testimony of witnesses who know you as the wife of said Beckwith, prior to 1800, should be furnished. Very respectfully Your Obt Svt J.S. Edwards Cmms By J.D. Wilson Mrs Ann Beckwith, Tenally Town P.O. Montgomery Co. Maryland [new document] Know all men by these presents, that I Martha Beckwith for ____ good causes and considerations ___ herewith on ___ have made ordained, authorized ______ and appointed, and by these presents do make ordain authorize, nominate and ____ John O. Harry of Washington County, District of Columbia my true and lawful Attorney, for me and my name, and for my own proper uses and benefit, to ask, ____, and receive of and from the Commissioner of Pensions any claim she may have against the the Federal Government, for services rendered by her father George Beckwith in the Revolutionary War. Martha Beckwith District of Columbia, Washington County towit On this 16 day of December 1858 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid Martha Beckwith ___ acknowledged the above Letter of Attorney to be her Act and deed for the purposes therein stated. Robert White J. Peace