Pension Application of Benjamin and Susannah Martin Hancock: W5291

                        Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris

State of Virginia}

Henry County} Ss.

            On this 3rd day of June one thousand eight hundred and thirty four personally appeared before me Wm A Taylor a Justice of the peace for the County of Henry, Benjamin Hancock a resident of Henry County and State of Virginia aged seventy seven 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 act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

            That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he was drafted and served two tours in the revolutionary war – That he was born in the County of Halifax, and was living in the County of Halifax when called into service. That in the first tour he served under Capt. Josiah Powel, Lieutenant Jacob Kelly, Major Jno Maberry and General Mulenburg [sic: Muhlenburg], and was first drafted as well as he can recollect in the winter of the year 1781 [sic: probably 1780]. When engaged in the second tour, he was also a resident of Halifax County Virginia, his officers Capt’n Michael Roberts, Lieutenant Nathaniel Bates, under General Lawson [sic: Robert Lawson] or in his brigade. In the first tour this applicant served at Portsmouth Virginia having marched by Cabin Point [in Surry County VA], and through Smithfield Va. for the purpose of reaching the former place. In the second tour he marched from Halifax on through Petersburg, Newsome[?] Springs, James Town, and thence across James River by old Williamsburg to York Town, where he saw the magazine blown up, and the place surrendered into the hands of the Americans. That he there served under the Continental and French troops under General Washington, whom he frequently saw. That in this tour he was drafted in the fall of the year 1781 while living in Halifax County Virginia. That the first tour at Portsmouth as well as the second at Yorktown consisted each of three months – That he received a discharge from Col Richardson [Holt Richardson], but lost it not considering that it would ever prove of service to him, and that he has no documentary evidence of his service in the Revolutionary War.

            He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Sworn to & subscribed this 3d day of June in the year one thousand and eight hundred and thirty four.

            Benjamin his X mark Hancock

State of Virginia}  SS

County of Henry}

On this 10th day of September AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared before this county court of Henry County in the state aforesaid now sitting Susannah Hancock a resident of the county and state aforesaid aged sixty nine years who first being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of th provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 2nd day of February 1853 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the revolutionary war: that she is the widow of Benjamin Hancock who was a private in the revolutionary war. That her said husband in considerations of services rendered by him during the said war received a pension of Forty dollars per annum, as will appear by reference to the roll of Pensions on file at the Pension Office, and also as will appear by reference to his original certificate of pension, returned to the pension office in the year 1837 with her application for back pay. She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Hancock in the county of Halifax Virginia on the 22nd September AD one thousand eight hundred & three by one John Guillem a baptist minister and that her name before her said marriage was Susannah Martin. that her said husband died at his residence in the county of Patrick Virginia on the 12th day of August AD one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven, that she was not married to him prior to the second day of January eighteen hundred But at the time above stated. She further declares that she has remained a widow ever since the death of her said husband & that she is now a widow.

            Susannah her X mark Hancock

[Susannah Martin Hancock also applied for bounty land, with a declaration made on the same date as above in almost identical words, but with the following additional information:]

She also states that she is sometimes called Sucky and sometimes Susan by her acquaintances and friends.

[Copy of marriage bond from the Halifax VA County Clerk:]

Know all men by these presents that we Benjamin Hancock & John Gillington of Halifax County are held and firmly bound unto his excellency John Page esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia and to his successors in the sum of one hundred & fifty dollars to the use of the said Commonwealth, to which payment well and truly to be made we bond ourselves our heirs &c jointly severally and firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and acted this 21st day of September 1802. [Last numeral is possibly “4," but definitely not “3,” as would be expected from the year of marriage given in the declaration.]

            The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a marriage intended to be solemnized between the above bound Benjamin Hancock and Susannah Martin of the County. Now if there be no lawful cause to obstruct the same then this obligation to be void else to remain in full force and virtue.