Record of Pension Papers Which Were Sent to the United States Pension Department, Washington, D.C. by Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 & Indian Wars Who Lived in Barren County Kentucky.

Compiled by Annie Walker Burns Bell 1933

On this 25th day of March 1833 personally appeared in open court before the judge the Circuit Court of Barren Co., now sitting, BENJAMIN MARTIN a reside of Barren Co. in the State of Ky., aged seventy fourt years the 8th day of July last, being duly sworn according to law on his oath doth make the folloiwng declaration in order to obtain the benfit of the Acot of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That the enter the service of the U.S. under the following name officers and served as herein stated.

I, BENJAMIN MARTIN was born in Fauquier Co., in the state of VA, on the 8th day of July 1758 agreeable to my family records, and there lived with my father HENRY MARTIN until the first of Sept. 1775. I then entered the service of the U.S. as a private soldier, under Capt. WM. PICKET, JOHN MARSHAL, Lieut, ISHAM KEITH, Ensign. We were called minute men, THOMAS MARSHALL was Major then several companies in Fauquier being collected the middle of September. We marched to Culpepper Court House and there we joined the Culpepper and Orange Minutet Men and were formed into regiment under Col. TOLIVER. We marched from Culpepper Court House to Williamsburg, and there we camped several weeks. Sending out detachments to prevent the British from landing, and plundering the inhabitants, about two hundred men under Capt. BUFORD had a skirmish with DUNSMORE's Shipping, at Hampton and took a slooper that mounted several guns, soon after that we crossed James River. At Jamestown with intent to go to Norfolk. We there joined the minutemen from the lower counties under Col. WOODFORD and Col. CHARLES SCOTT, but the British had built a fort and mounted Cannon on the north side of the river at the long Bridge to prevent us from corssing, we built a strong breast work at the end of the crossway on the south side, we continued to skirmish with the British and about the middle of Nov. early in the morning the British regulars crossed the bridge and attacked our works. I was at that time on guard off the left of our works. The British were repulsed with the loss of Capt. FORDICE and some soldiers, and at night left their fort, when to Norfolk, shipped their cannon and even on board of their Shipping and we soon after that marched into Norfolk. We continued skirmishing with the enemy and on the first day of Jan. 1776, about one hour by sun at night the British commenced a heavy cannade from their shipping. Set fire to Norfolk and laid it in ashes. We continued to guard that part of the country until the last of March 1776 and having been in actual service, six months, we were discharged at Suffolk until further orders. Col. THOMAS MARSHALL and Col. CHARLES SCOTT, each of them enlisted a regiment of regulars and joined General WASHINGTON's Army, and JOHN MARSHAL commanded a company of regulars and they had nothing more to do with the Minute Men. I received a discharge until further orders from Capt. WM. PICKETT. The first of Aug. 1776 part of the minute men were called on again. I was a private soldier attached to Capt. JAMES WINN"s Company and under command of Col. ELIAS EDMUNDS. We marched from Fauquier Court House the middle of Aug. 1776. We passed through Fredricksburg from Fredricksburg to Williamsburg and then to a place we called Springfield camp, and were stationed there in order to march to any place near the mouth of rivers to prevent the enemy from plundering the inhabitants, and destroying their salt works. We continued to do such duty as were called on to do and having served three months and the men very sick, we were again discharged about the 15th of Nov. until further orders. This was the last call that was made on the minute men. I received a discharge from Col. ELIAS EDMUNDS.

1777, Early in Sept. Fauquier Co. was called on for volunteers to reinforce General WASHINGTON's army. I volunteered and was enlisted under Capt. BENJ. HARRISON, I served as a corporal. JAMES KEE was Lieutenant, we were formed into a regiment and commanded by Col. MARTIN PICKET and marched from Fauquier Court House tht emiddle of Sept. We passed through Leesburg, and then to Nolen's Ferry on Potomas. Then to Fredricktwon in Maryland, then through Little York and Lancaster in Pennsylvania, we met General WAIN's men that were wounded at Peolia, going to Lancaster, and we joined Gen. WASHINGTON's army the day after the battle of Germantown. Our regiment camped near the Virginina Regulars commanded by General CHARLES SCOTT and Colonal THOMAS MARSHAL, as soon as the British left Germantwon, a detachment was ordered to Germantwon. I was one of them, we marched over the Battle ground. I noticed a gate below a house the called CHEW's house, the gate was very much shattered with grape or lanes shot and blood of men that had been killed was plainly to be seen on the ground, soon after that he British commenced a heavy cannonade on our forts on the Delaware River from their Shipping in order to force their way up to Philadelphia. I was with a detachment near Germantown when the Americans blew up a large British Ship and tremendous was the explosion it made. We continued in service three months and were discharged about the middle of December a little before the army went into Winter Quarters at Valley Forge. I received a discharge from Capt. BENJAMIN HARRISON.

The last Aug. 1780, the militia of Fauquier were called on to reinforce our army in Carolina. I substituted in the place of JAMES KEMPER (?) he being a married man and I being a single man. FRANCIS TRIPLET was Capt. and JOHN COMBS Lieutenant, I was appointed first Sergeant. Another company was attached to us under Capt. JAMES WINN. We marched from Fauquier Courthouse, the first of Sept, we passed through Fredricksbug, then to Richmond, then to Petersburg, from thence to Hillsborough in North Carolina, and there we joined the Maryland troops under Col. HOWARD, we marched from Hillsborough in N.C. to a place called New Providence and General GREEN took command. Col. DANIEL MOGAN was promoted to Brigadier General, the Augusta-Rockbridge militia joined us, the VA militia was form into a batallion, Capt. TRIPLETT was promoted to Major and JOHN COMBS was made Capt. in his place. General GREEN detached General MOGAN with the Maryland troops under Col. HOWARD, the VA militia under Major FRANCIS TRIPLETT and Col WILLIAM WASHINGTON's Light Horse. General MORGAN marched down on Pecklet River and took up camp on a hill near the River and continued to send out detachments and defeat the Tory's. And about the Middle of January we were informed that Col. TARLTON was coming on us with superior force. We retreated to a place we called Cowpens and took up camp all in order for battle. The British attached us early in the morning. I was in the road all the time of the action I was covering Capt. COMBS he was killed. Capt. DOBSON and Lieutenant EWIN (Erwin?) was on the left of the Maryland Troops near me, the British were completely defeated. We marched on with the prisoners to Salsberry. I continued with the army until the firt of February and received a discharge as first sergeant for six months. The dischard was given my by Major FRANCIS TRIPLETT, on the road near the North Carolina line, the tour a private soldier.

I moved from VA in the year 1795 to KY and settled about eight miles east of Lexington in Fayette, Co., when I moved to KY. I destroyed all my useless papers and among the rest my discharge as I expected never to have any use for them. In the yaer 1812 I moved to where I now live in Barren Co., KY. I hereby relinquish every claim whatsoever to pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my names i not on the pension roll of any state. Subscribed and sworn the day and year aforesaid. /s/ BENJAMIN MARTIN

We, HUDSON MARTIN, resident of Barren Co., and State of Ky. and JOHN COLE residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with BENJ. MARTIN who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy four years of age, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he lives to have been a soldier of the Revlution and that we concur in that opinion. Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid. /s/ HUDSON MARTIN & JOHN COLE

The persons here names are well acquainted with me; JESSE MORRIS, JOEL DICKINS, JAMES DULL, Col. JOHN COLE, JAMES HARRIS and JOHN DICKINSON. I have no documenary evidence, and I have no knowledge of any living witness by which I can prov my services. I have a record of my age which I took from my fathers family record. The first tour I served as a private soldier six months. The second a private soldier three months, the third a Corporal three monthes, the fourth, First sergeant, six months. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid /s/ BENJAMIN MARTIN

And the court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department, that the above applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states and the court further certifies that it appears to them the HUDSON MARTIN who has signed the proceeding certificate and is a resident of Barren Co., Ky, is being invonvenient to obtain a clergyman, and that JOHN COLE who has also signed the same is a residen tof the county ands tate afroresaid and is a credible person and taht their statement is entittled to credit.

I, RICHARD GARNETT, Clert of the Circuit Court of Barren County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said court, in the matter of the application of BENJAMIN MARTIN for a pension, in witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this the 25th day of March 1833. /s/ RICHARD GARNETT C.B.C.C.

--Notation on reverse of application --
#24008 BENJAMIN MARTIN State of Kentucky, Barren County.
Be it remembered that at the February term 1852 of the county court began and hels in and for the county aforesaid personally appeard in open court BENJAMIN H. MARTIN who as his oath makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Acot of Congreee pased July 7, 1838 and acts subsequent thereto granting pensions to the endorse of certain soldier of the War of the Revolution, that BENJAMIN H. MARTIN, MARY COLE and REBECCA GRIDER is the surviving heirs at law of BENJAMIN MARTIN and NANCY MARTIN his widow, that his said father BENJAMIN MARTIN was a pensioner of the United States on the Kentucky Roll in Barren Co., Ky., at the rate of seventy seven dollars a year and he refers to his papers on file for the particulars that his father the said BENJAMIN MARTIN died on the twentieth day of September eighteen hundred and forty one and that the said BENJAMIN MARTIN and the said NANCY whose name before marriage was NANCY KEMPER were married in the county of Fauquier and State of Virginia on the twentieth day of June in the year seventeen hundred and eighty one and he refers to the family record on file showing the marriage and birth of the siad BENJAMIN and NANCY MARTINs children. He further says that the said NANCY remaind the wido of the said BENJAMIN MARTIN at the time of her death that she was eighty two years of age and make this application ofr the purpose of obtaining the pension due to his said mother from the twentiet day of September eighteen hundred and thirty eight to the ninth day of June eighteen hundred and forty one.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 16th day of Febuary 1852 in open court. W.R. McFERRAN, Judge, Barren Co. Court

STATE OF KENTUCKY BARREN COUNTY: SS
On this the 17th day of February 1841, personally appeared before the undersigned a justice of the Peace in and for the county and state aforesaid, NANCY MARTIN, a resident of said county, aged eighty one years of the 27th March 1841. Who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on ther oath make the following declaration in order to abtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7, 1838, entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows. That she is the widow of BENJAMIN MARTIN, who was a soldier in the army of the Revolution. She further declares that she was married to the said BENJAMIN MARTIN on the 20th day of June in the year 1781. That in the fall of the winter of 1780, the said BENJAMIN MARTIN left the army and came to Kentucky to look at the country and return to Fauquier Co., Va., where we were married on the 20th day of June 1781 as above stated. That her husband, the aforesaid BENJAMIN MARTIN died on the 20th day of September 1838 in the county of Barren and State aforesaid, that the marriage took place previous to the first day of January 1795, to wit: on the 20th of June 1781 as above stated, that her said hunband was a Revolutionary pensioner of the U.S. at the time of his death, that she has no living witness by whom she can prove the time of her marriage, and that she is unable from age and bodily informities to attend court to make this declaration.
Subscribed and sworn to before me the day and date above stated and in presence of JAMES MURRELL J.P.B.C. /s/ NANCY (x her mark) MARTIN

STATE OF KENTUCKY BARREN COUNTY: SS
On this the 17th day of February 1841, JOHN MARTIN, a resident citizen of Barren County, aged 44 years came before me and made oath in due form of law to the following statement, to wit: that the family record hereto attached of which the following is a true extract "BENJAMIN MARTIN and NANCY his wife was married the 20th day of June 1781 in the true original familiy record of BENJAMIN MARTIN dec'd the husband of NANCY MARTIN (whose declaration is contained on the other side of this sheet and is in the handwriting of the said BENJAMIN MARTIN dec'd.) that the said record has been in the possession of said NANCY MARTIN ever since the death of said BENJAMIN MARTIN who died on the 20th day of Sept. 1838 in the county of Barren and State of Kentucky, that the said NANCY MARTIN has never married since the death of her said husband, BENJAMIN MARTIN, dec'd. and still continues the widow of the said BENJAMIN MARTIN dec'd, and resides in Barren County and state aforesaid, that the record hereto attached was cut from the bible of the said NANCY MARTIN by met his day. /s/ JOHN MARTIN
Subscribed and sworn to before me this day and date above. JAMES MURRELL, J.P.B.G.

STATE OF KENTUCKY BARREN COUNTY: SS
I, JAMES MURRELL, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid do hereby certify taht the foregoining declaration of NANCY MARTIN and affidavit of JOHN MARTIN were take, subscribed and sworn to by the said NANCY and JOHN MARTIN before me on the day and date thereof that the said JOHN MARTIN cut from the bible in my presence, the family record referred to in his affidavit. That the said JOHN MARTIN is now and has been a reputable citizen of Barren County for twenty-nine years past. That the said NANCY MARTIN is the widow of the said BENJAMIN MARTIN, and is still living in Barren Co., that the family record stitched to this sheet is the one referred to in JOHN MARTIN's affidavit and was cut from the Bible by him in my presence, that the said NANCY MARTIN from age and bodily infirmities is wholly unable toa ttend court to make her declaration, that the pension certificate hereto stitched was the said BENJAMIN MARTIN's pension certificate, upon which he drew his pension up the 4th of Sept. 1838. Given under my hand this 17th day of Feb. 1841. JAMES MURRELL, J.P.B.C.

WAR DEPARTMENT REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM
I, certify that, in conformity with the law of the U.S. June 7, 1832, BENJAMIN MARTIN of the state of Kentucky, who was a sergeant and private in the army of the Revoluton is entitiled to receive $75 per year during his natral life, commencing March 4, 1831, and payable semi-annualyl on the 4thh March and 4th Sept. in every year. Given at the War Office of the U.S. this 11th May 1833. LEW CASS, Secy. of War.
Seal, examined and countersigned. J.L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions

--Notation on reverse of NANCY MARTIN's declaration--
I know BEN MARTIN and his wife and all that is stated within is true, I have no doubt. J.R. UNDERWOOD.

I do hereby certify that I have known BENJAMIN MARTIN and NANCY MARTIN his wife ever since eighteen hundred twelve until their death and they were living toghether as mand an wife from the year eighteen hundre and twelve up to their death.