Benjamin Mays (1757 - 1835)

Born 10 Sep 1757 in Stafford County, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah (Brown) Mays — married 1777 in North Carolina

Descendants

Died 25 May 1835 at age 77 in Iredell, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Benjamin Mays served with Amherst County Militia, Virginia Militia during the American Revolution.

Benjamin Mays was born on Sep 10, 1757 in Stafford County, Virginia. Benjamin Mays married Susannah Brown and possibly Leutitia Unknown. He was living in Amherst County, Virginia when he enlisted for service in the Revolutionary War. He moved to Iredell County in 1799. He died on May 25, 1835 in Iredell County, North Carolina. After his death, his widow, Letiticia, lived in Davidson County, North Carolina.^[1]

Spouse:

1. Susannah Brown
2. Letiticia Unknown

Military Service

State of North Carolina Iredell County: August Session A.D. 1832^[2]

On this 25 day of August 1832 personally appeared in Open Court before Court of Pleas and Quarter Session of said County now sitting Benjamin Mays a resident of Iredell County and state of North Carolina aged 75 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 7, 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he entered the service of the United States in Albemarle County Virginia by draft for one month under Captain Baninger and served in the same County. His next service was under Captain Samuel Hickenbotham [Samuel Higginbotham] at Richmond in the State of Virginia. This was about two months. His next tour was at New Glasgow in the State of Virginia and thinks it was about 8 or 10 days. His next tour was at York in the State of Virginia where he was at the time of Siege of Cornwallis, his service was performed under Captain Woodruff and was as well as he recollects about two months and a half at this time. He is certain that he served more than six months. 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. He has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except those who are annexed.

He was born in Stafford County Virginia in the year 1757 and has a record of his age in a Bible in his possession. He was living in Amherst County Virginia at the time he entered the service & since then has removed about the year 1799 to Iredell County North Carolina where he now lives, that he was called into service in the manner above stated, and served under Colonel Gaines in his last service, and when at Richmond he was under General Muhlenberg. He refers to James Mays and David Hair. Received one or more discharges but has lost them all as his house was burned.

S/ Benjamin Mays

[David Hair & James Mays gave the standard supporting affidavit; and James Mays "further

(1 See N. A. Acc. No. 874 No. 050 113 – Not Half Pay)

Benjamin Mays states that he recollects that during the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Mays was frequently called into the Service of the Country – That this witness assisted in taking care of his family and crop of Benjamin whilst he was absent – that he does believe that Benjamin's Services amounted in all 29 months or upwards." ]

[p 3] State of North Carolina Iredell County: This day personally appeared Benjamin Mays before me the Subscribing Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid and being sworn in due form of law doth upon his oath make the following additional declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed the 7th day of June 1832. He deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades:

His first tour was in the foot under Captain Ballinger he was drafted and assisted in guarding the British in Albemarle County Virginia he thinks it was about the year 1777 shortly after the capture of Burgoyne one month.

His second tour was in the foot under Captain Higginbotham and was spent in a Station at Richmond in Virginia this service to the best of his recollection was in the year 1780. He understood that General Muhlenberg had the command at that place. This service was for 2 months & 10 [days] at least.

His third tour was in the foot under Captain Higginbotham and Colonel Gaines at New Glasgow in Virginia in the early part of the year 1781 10[days].

His fourth tour was under Captain Woodruff and Colonel Gaines at the time of the Siege of York Colonel Gains commanded the Regiment. He assisted until the surrender of Cornwallis altogether in 1781 2 [months] 15 [days] and for such service I claim a pension 6 [months] 5 [days]

He hereby relinquishes all claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State.

He was born in Stafford County Virginia in the year 1757 He has a record of his age in his Bible in his possession. He was living in Amherst County Virginia at the time he was called into Service and continued to live there until the year 1799 when he removed to Iredell County North Carolina where he still lives.

He says that the Militia were classed in two classes and that he served when his class was required. He is unacquainted with the Regular officers except General Muhlenberg above mentioned was a Regular Officer. He thinks he had one or more discharges but his house was once burned and many of his papers destroyed therein. He thinks Captain Woodruff gave him a discharge but if so it was either burned or has been otherwise lost.

He refers to James Mays and David Hair. Sworn to and subscribed this 22nd day of May 1833 before me

S/ J. Campbell, JP

S/ Benjamin Mayes

[p 6: Power of attorney dated December 4, 1851 given by Leutitia May [sic] of Davidson County North Carolina as the widow of Benjamin May [sic]. She signed with her mark.]

[Note: The file does not contain any formal application made by the widow.]

[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $20.55 per annum commencing March 4, 1831, for service as a private for 6 months and 5 days in the Virginia militia. His widow was denied a pension.]

Sources

1. ↑ #DAR, #Pension, #HeritageVolII
2. ↑ #Pension

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed Dec 1, 2017), "Record of Benjamin Mays", Ancestor # A076288.
• Revolutionary War Pension for R7054, Benjamin Mays, accessed Dec 1, 2017.
• The Heritage of Iredell County, NC Vol II - 2000, published by the Genealogical Society of Iredell County, PO Box 946, Statesville, North Carolina 29866, LC # 00-110956, 574 pages with index, See also Space:The Heritage of Iredell County
• See also Space:Iredell County Revolutionary Soldiers for a comprehensive list of Iredell Revolutionary War Veterans.
• "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHL9-Q5B : accessed 1 February 2018), Benjamin Mayes, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 152, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 40; FHL microfilm 337,913.
• "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VJ1F-1YN : accessed 1 February 2018), Benjamin Mays, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 245, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 80; FHL microfilm .
• "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHG5-RTM : 29 July 2017), Benjamin Mays, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing 17, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 122; FHL microfilm 18,088.

• War records https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-894S-NQS6?i=430&wc=MFWR-3M9%3A355668301%2C355676401&cc=2070137

• Samuel Edward Mays, Genealogy of the Mays Family and Related Families to 1929 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977), FHL Film 1016936 item 8.
• Nelson County Heritage Book Committee (Nelson County, Virginia), Nelson County Virginia Heritage, 1807-2000, pages 164-165, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, FHL Book 975.5493 H2n.
• "Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VRR4-KQ2 : 5 December 2014), Benjamin Mays, 10 Sep 1757; citing OVERWHARTON PARISH,STAFFORD,VIRGINIA, reference ; FHL microfilm 0496620 IT 3.
• Ivan K. Mays, The Mays Family: A Sequel to The Mays Family by Samuel Edward Mays (Austin, Texas: [s.n.], 1970), FHL Film 1321275 item 9.