HENRY CO.: REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION – BENJAMIN DILLON Contributed by: Janie Dillon ******************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ******************************************************************************** Rev War Pension Application of Benjamin Dillon, Jr From the Library of VA--Transcribed by Janie Dillon from copy made of microfische frames- Revolutionary War Pensions and Bounty Land Warrant, Application Files, 1800-1900, Roll 818. Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June, the 7th AD. 1832. State of North Carolina, Davidson Co--on the 14th day of 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 first duly sworn according to the law doth on his oath make the following declaration: in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passes June 7th AS 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 was then living in Henry County of 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 Capt 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; that at the expiration of his six months tour he received a discharge signed by Col Abraham Penn that is lost many years ago. He states that Penn's Regiment was out on service at the same time under the command of Gen. Joseph Martin as some of his nephews 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 his three months service will make nine months services as a private soldier under Capt John Salmon for which tour 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 anuity under any other act that the above and that his name is not on the agency of the pension role of this nor any other state of the Union. Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the day and year aforesaid. Benjamin Dillen X (his mark) David Mock 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 John Pain 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 written 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 live. 4. How were you called into service--were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? Answer-I was drafted twice; first for 3 months in 1779, then for six months in 1780.