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Facts and Events
Information on Benjamin Hamrick
Benjamin Hamrick born about 1755, who married Nancy McMillian. He served in the Revolutionary War, and made application for a pension 7 Sept 1832 in Nicholas Co VA. He seems to have had a fine career, participating in numerous battles. However, his pension was declared invalid 7 Dec 1835, because "you left the army without leave and before your term had expired." (File S5472} Joel Hamrick, Benjamin Lemaster, and John McMillian, his brother-in-law made statements for him. Joe Hamrick, age 80 b VA, 1850 census Nicholas Co VA. Benjamin Hamrick born 1750-1760, 1830 census Nicholas Co, VA.
Disambiguation
Not to be confused with Benjamin Hamrick, 1728-1832, who married Mary Sais.
References
- Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.
Pension application of Benjamin Hamrick S5472 f33VA Transcribed by Will Graves rev'd 2/7/14 & 3/21/15
State of Virginia, County of Nicholas [now in West Virginia]: On this 7th September in the year of our Lord 1832, personally appeared before the Circuit Superior Court of Pleas & Chancery of the County of Nicholas, same being a Court of Record, Benjamin Hamrick, a resident of the said County of Nicholas and the State of Virginia aged seventy five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the out Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1776 with Captain John Chilton (or Shilton) and served in the Third Regiment of the Virginia line under the following named officers. The company was commanded by Capt. Shelton [sic John Chilton], the Regiment by Col. __ Mercer [Hugh Mercer] and the Brigade by General __ Woodford [William Woodford]. He left the service (he thinks) in the fall of 1780 and served during the whole time under the same enlistment. At the time he enlisted he resided in Fauquier County, Virginia. The company to which he belonged rendezvoused at the Court House of said County and the regiment at Williamsburg, Virginia, from where they marched to Alexandria and from whence they were ordered to New York island in the State of New York where they joined the regular army. He was present at the battle of Trenton and the taking of nine hundred Hessians as it was said. He was then at the battle of Princeton [January 3, 1777] where he aided in taking (as it was said) 300 prisoners. He was at the memorable battle of Brandywine [September 11, 1777] and also at the battle of Germantown [October 4, 1777]. These were all the memorable battles in which he participated. Before he enlisted as above stated he was taken with the service in the State of Virginia as a minuteman under the same Captain John Shelton. He entered the service as a minute man in the month of November, 1775, he resided then in the same County and State as aforesaid. The Regiment to which he belonged was commanded by Col Edward Stephens [Edward Stevens] and General Woodford and he served under this draft during the term of six months. He was at the defeat of Captain Fordice's [sic, Charles Fordyce's] company of Grenadiers at the Great Bridge on the east branch of Elizabeth River which was the only engagement he was in during this period of time [December 9, 1775]. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state or agency in any state. At the time he left the state service he received a written discharge from General Woodford and at the time he left the Continental service he received a written discharge from General Joseph Weeden [sic, George Weedon] – But where they are now he does not know (he however supposes that time or accident has totally obliterated them). Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. S/ Benjamin Hamrick
[p 30] Virginia, Circuit Superior Court of law & Chancery for Nicholas County. Be it Remembered that Benjamin Lemasters on the 7th day of September 1832 personally appeared before the aforesaid Court and after being duly sworn upon the holy evangelist of Almighty God deposes that he was a revolutionary soldier in the year 1777 in Captain William Lewis's Company & attached to General Mulenburg's [Peter Muhlenberg's] Brigade. At the time he enlisted he resided in Frederick County but enlisted in Birkly [Berkeley] County Virginia [now West Virginia]. That during the time he was in the Service (he thinks in 1778) at the Valley Forge in Pennsylvania he became acquainted with one Benjamin Hamrick who now resides in Nicholas County Virginia who is now in Court. That he believes said Hamrick then belonged to Captain Chilton's company. He does not recollect the Regiment to which said Hamrick belonged but it was to the same division to which this deponent belonged. That said Hamrick was a soldier on the Continental establishment. This deponent frequently saw him in the service but how long he served this deponent does not certainly know. But he thinks he knew him to have been in the service during a year perhaps more. This deponent believes that he knew him to be at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. And if he does not greatly mistake he was also at the battles of Monmouth and Princeton – further deponent saith not. S/ Benjamin Lemasters1
[p 31] Joel Hamrick also being duly sworn before the Court aforesaid deposes and saith – that Benjamin Hamrick who now resides in Nicholas County Virginia and who is in Court enlisted in the revolutionary service early in the said revolutionary war under Captain John Chilton of Fauquier County where said Benjamin Hamrick and this deponent then both resided – that he left home with a view of entering into the Army where he remained according to the recollection of this deponent three years – that during these three years he returned home as it was said on furlough – and after remaining at home a few weeks he again left it with a view of entering the service. This deponent did not see him in the service – not being there himself but always believed that said Benjamin Hamrick served in said war for three years and further this deponent saith not. S/ Joel Hamrick
Whereas Benjamin Hamrick now of Nicholas County, Virginia, a Soldier of the Revolution cannot draw his pension under the late restrictions of the War Department for want of better proof of his services. Therefore in order to effect that object, I Joseph McMillian who am Seventy years of age of sound mind & memory give the following statements of what I well recollect relative to said Hamrick's Services as a soldier in the War of the Revolution. I have been personally acquainted with said Benj. Hamrick when he was a soldier—his father lived about three miles from my father's when I was a boy about ten or twelve years of age and said Hamrick was a young man. When Capt. John Chilton of Fauquier County, Va., with his lieutenants John Blackwell and the late Honorable John Marshall enlisted a company called minute men in the year 1775 (the said Benj. Hamrick being one of them), about which time the battle of the great bridge [Great Bridge] in Va was fought. When that year was finished, Capt. Chilton came home to the upper part of Fauquier County and his company or the greater part of them enlisted again for three year, said Hamrick being one of those who enlisted and was gone three years. I understood often from him that he was in all the principal battles in New York, Jersey, & Pennsylvania, I have heard him talk of the battles of Germantown & Brandywine, and in particular Capt. John Chilton's being killed at Brandywine and many of his men wounded and killed. I also understood from said Hamrick and many of fellow soldiers when they came home that John Blackwell (Capt. Chilton's first Lieut.) was their Capt. in room of Chilton who had been killed-and served under him until the end of their term of service, and enlisted again under Capt. Blackwell. The greater part of them came home on furlough for forty days. Said Hamrick at that time came to my father's with four or five of the men, and stayed in the neighborhood till the furlough was expired. When Capt. John Blackwell with his company returned to the army, said Hamrick being one of them, I think it was the year 1779 they returned (about Feby.). Said Hamrick came back to my father's in the fall, said he was clear by putting a man in his place, he married my sister about that time, but word come to the County that he had deserted. He set off to go to the west but was taken up and lodged in Winchester jail, from there he was taken with some recruits to Fredericksburg, the officer let the Sergeant call with him at my father's to see his wife, when by the help of his friends he hired a man for a thousand dollars (Continental money) to go in his place during the war, he went on to Fredericksburg and was discharged by Genl. Muhlenberg. I saw his discharge often, or more than once or twice. The said Hamrick built a house in the year 1780 and lived at my father's. He was drafted in the year 1781 in Fauquier County, Va., and was on duty at the time Cornwallis was in Virginia. I think said Hamrick is about seventy eight years old. He was born in Prince William County, Va., and enlisted in Fauquier County, Va. His officers were those already stated. He was attached to the Third Virginia Regiment those first three years commanded by Col. Thos Marshall. S/ Joseph McMillian2</suo>
Greensboro County, Va. To Wit –
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[Transcribers note: The following report is by District Attorney Washington G. Singleton who investigated many pensioners from present West Virginia. For details see the pension application of David W. Sleeth S6111 and the excellent research done by C. Leon Harris relating to Singleton's investigations.] Benjamin Lemasters Benjamin Hamrick – Pension: receives $80 per annum Benjamin Lemasters, aged 78 years a Pensioner – Says that Hamrick & himself were in service together and attached to the same brigade – that he saw Hamrick frequently: & heard him say when in service that he had enlisted for 3 years – Mr. Lemasters thinks that Hamrick was in actual service for 3 years. Note. Mr. Hamrick was upwards of 40 miles from any Point at which I touched in Nicholas County – I concluded that it would be a waste of time to go and see him – Mr. Lemasters statement can be relied upon S/ W. G. Singleton Jany 13, 1835
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $80 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for service as a private for 3 years in the Virginia service.] _________________________________________________ [From Digital Library of Virginia / Nicholas County Legislative Papers] To the Hon. the General Assembly of Virginia the Petition of Benjamin Hamrick humbly represents that in the year 1775 he enlisted as a Soldier in the American Army raised to Defend the liberty of the People and served under Capt. John Shelton in the Regiment commanded by Col. Edward Stephenson. That your Petitioner served about Six months as a minute man and during that time marched in the Expedition against the British at the Great Bridge on the East Branch of Elizabeth River and During which the Enemy were repulsed with great Slaughter; That afterwards Your Petitioner encountered for the Common Good old Cause many hardships and Privations, owing to inclemency of Weather and Scarcity of Clothes and provisions; to which the Armies of freedom were subject whilst contending for Equal Rights and freedom, In those times which tried men's Souls! And that Your Petitioner continued to serve his Country to the last; and was at the Siege of York where he remained for two months until the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis & the British Army Crowned our Armies with Glorious Victory – Your Petitioner represents that he is old and Feeble, Poor and Destitute; and wholly unable to Support himself; for the few remaining days he has yet to live; That Your Petitioner is constrained, therefore to apply to the [word omitted] and liberality of the Legislature to Pass an Act for his Relief; allowing him such Compensation and support as their Wisdom may Seem Proper. And Your Petitioner so in Duty Bound will ever Pray &c S/ Benjamin Hamrick The Petition of B. Hamrick J. G. Stephenson December 7th, 1826
Referred to Claims for a pension 1826 December 8th Reasonable 12th reported 16 [text too faint to discern]
Nicholas County to wit This day Joel Hamrick personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Commonwealth's Justices of the peace in and for the County aforesaid and made oath that he heard Capt. John Shelton say that he had enlisted Benjamin Hamrick he also saw said Hamrick start from his Grand Father's in Fauquier County and said he was to join his Company at the Red house in Prince William County in Virginia and some considerable time after that he knew of said Hamrick again at home on furlough and he also saw him start again to join the troops. Sworn to before me this 16th day of November 1825 S/ W. Carnefix Nicholas County to wit
This day Benjamin Lamasters personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Commonwealth's Justices of the peace in and for the County aforesaid and made oath that he saw Benjamin Hamrick when he served in the Revolutionary War and that he Recollects very well that when they were Stationed at a place called the Valley Forge in the State of Pennsylvania that the said Benjamin Hamrick was a private soldier was attached to the same division that he the said Lamasters was which said Division was commanded by Marquis General Lafayette and in the Third Virginia Continental Establishment and served under Capt. John Shelton in Col. Joseph Weedens Regiment. Sworn to before me S/ W. Carnefix
November 16th, 1825 I have a very indistinct recollection of a man named Hamrick in Capt. Chilton's company at the Great Bridge. I did not serve in the same Regiment with him while in the regular service to the North & did not know many of his soldiers. Major Joseph Blackwell of Fauquier was a Lieut. of the company & undoubtedly must know whether the petitioner was a soldier in it. S/ J Marshall [John Marshall, chief justice of the United States Supreme Court]
January 5th, 1826 Virginia Nicholas County to wit: This day Benjamin Hamrick Personally appeared before the Subscriber one of the Commonwealth's Justices of the Peace in & for the County aforesaid and made oath that he served in the Revolutionary war for two years and was in the Battles at Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, and at the Great Bridge in Virginia. That the reason why he has not his discharge is that he obtained leave of absence for a few days to visit his family. That on his return to join his Company he met them returning home from and after the Surrender of the British at Yorktown which is the cause of his not having obtained his Discharge – and that he is Disabled in both of his Shoulders & arms occasioned from cold and exposure whilst in the Revolutionary Service, and that he has no property and from the Disabilities aforesaid and old age he is unable to labor for his Support – Sworn to before me this 23rd day of November 1826 S/ R Kelly
1 Benjamin Lemasters S18490 2 Joseph McMillan (McMillian) S18116
https://revwarapps.org/s5472.pdf
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