REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION LETTER - ESBAN JENNINGS Contributed by: James Elbrecht [elbrecht@email.com] October 15, 2002 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** The following 1914 letter was in the Revolutionary pension file of Esbon JENNINGS. [located at the end of NARA Reel M804-1412]. It is handwritten in a clear hand, but without punctuation and with completely random capitalization. I've tried to reproduce it as truly as possible & invite anyone to punctuate it so we can compare copies & see if we all agree on which phrases go together. At this point I don't think I'm related to any of these folks, but it is such a compelling letter that I wanted to share it in hopes that someone could connect with these families. I'm also curious if Esbon JENNINGS ever got his marker or if the cemetery on the BEACH farm is the same as the current BEACH Cemetery in Hinckley. Following the letter is a brief outline of Esbon JENNING's pension file; [Full Text 'ad literati'- 8 pages NARA reel M804-1412, Pension of Esbon JENNINGS; frame 0994-end of reel. Bracketed [xxx] text is a 'best-guess' by the transcriber. Bracketed numbers [1] are footnotes by the transcriber.] Medina Ohio Jan 19th 1914 To the Commissioner of Pensions Washington DC Dear Sir I Have Had Some Correspondence With William L Curry Of Columbus Ohio In Regard to A Soldier Of The Revolution that is Buried Here in Hinckley Township In What is known as the Beach Cemetery. This man Jennings Lived here in this neighborhood Died here in about the year of 1850 At the Home of Aaron Conant Who kept Him and Cared for Him for His pension i find this man Jennings page2 name On a deed drawn up On the Sixth day of November 1848 Conveying ten acres of land to Aaron Conant. Received at the Recorders Office Medina Ohio April 23rd 1849 Recorded May 17th 1849. Book of Records [etc. etc.?] page 156 His given name as it appears in the deed is Esbon Jennings His signature Which is poorly Written is Esbone the E is added. So it is possible that in His younger day it was Esbonel Or Ishunel.[1] William L. Curry Registrar for the Ohio Society Sons of the American Revolution [1]Note that on his pension declarations in 1818, 1820, 1833, and 1838 Esbon Jennings signed with an 'x'. In all cases it is represented by the scribe as 'Esbon'. Page3 Says that the given name of Jennings of Medina Co. that resided Here in 1840 As it appears On the year Book of the Ohio Society S.A.R. is [Ishlivel?] Jennings. He was known here as Esbon Jennings it was Known here that he was a Soldier of the Revolution it was known Here that he drew a Soldiers pension for service rendered in the Revolution as a Soldier i am told that the Honorable Harrison G Blake of Medina village, attorney, also [M.C.] in 1860 Acted as a trustee for this man Jennings page4 drew his pension paid it out for Jennings Care and Support my father came to Hinckley township in the year of 1835 Located in the neighborhood Where Esbon Jennings lived in the year of 1844 two of my brothers died and were buried on my Fathers Farm these two children were the first Buriels following the Buriels of these children the plot of ground Was used as a neighborhood Burial place. My Father Still owned the land and kept in mind the Burials. Often He pointed to the little mounds Where there was no marker Page5 And told the names of the persons that was Buried in Each. Therefore, I have every reason to believe that I can point Out the Exact graves Of Esbon Jennings and his wife Eunice Jennings[1] William L. Curry of Columbus Ohio writes me that Jennings Given name appears on the pension Rolls as [Ishbuel?] Jennings. He says Esbon and Ishbuel Jennings are one and the same person. What I would like is a certificate of this mans Service [1] Note that JENNINGS lists his wife's name in 1820 as Polly page6 the Object I have in view is if possible to Have a marker placed at his Grave this man Jennings has no Relatives living He was the Father of one Daughter that married Milton Flint a soldier of 1812 four Grand Sons Were born of this marriage. Martin Flint John Flint. Milton Flint JR and Luke Flint the Flint family were taken to the County poor House where the Father and Mother died. Their Bodies Were brought out here And Buried in the Beach Cemetery Where One son was Buried before they Were taken away page7 as the Countys poor, Milton Flint JR and Luke Flint lost their lives in the War of 1861 And are Buried So I am told in the national Cemetery at Gettysburg. John Flint An imbecile Remained At the County poor house long After the decease Of the rest of The Family and Regularly Once A year he came out to Hinckley to visit the graves of his Relations John Flint died about 30 years ago So you See as Stated above there is no Relations of this Family of Patriots living One might Exclaim Who is there to mourn for Logan not one page8 your Respectfully O.G. Beach Medina Ohio RFD 3 [Transcriber's note-- I believe that there is a good chance that Mr. BEACH is mistaken in thinking that there are no descendants of Esbon JENNINGS living in 1914.] -end of letter- A brief summary of JENNING's pension file; Also spelled Jenings, Jinings, Jinnings and 'Isbon Ginnings' in "Conn. Book p328, 362, 366" [there is a slim chance that Esbon is the son of Zachariah & Sarah (MOREHOUSE) JENNINGS of Fairfield. They have a son 'Isbon' variously reported as born in 'about 1757' or 1763-- if so, he is a brother to my wife's 5th g-grandfather Justus JENNINGS]. Enlisted as Pvt in Stratford, CT in Capt Josiah Lacy, Col Philip Bradley's Reg and in Capt Timothy Taylor's Company in Col. Heman SWIFT's Regiment;- served Nov 1779- Jun 1783 Battles of Stoney Point & Yorktown. Lost "my hearing in a great measure at the battle of the taking of Cornwallis" [Yorktown]. Applied in Nunda, Allegany Co, NY May 5, 1818 ae54 - [b. abt1763]. Was in Scipio, Cayuga Co, NY in Oct 11, 1820 ae57 [b.abt1763]. Applied for transfer of pension to Ohio Feb 2 1833; moved to be "near his children" who had moved to medina earlier. Applied for Bounty Land Warrant Mar 13, 1838 ae75 [b. about 1763]. Occupation farmer[1820]. Family in 1820; wife Polly [Betty?] 38, Elenor ae18, Elizabeth 17, Esbon 9. Witnesses; 1818, Genesee Co, NY; David Hall & Judge John H. Jones 1833 Feb 2, & April 9, Hinckley, Medina Ohio; Chester CONANT 1838, 20 March, Medina Ohio ; Timothy B. Conant ae39 "well acquainted with" Jennings