Memory Hill Cemetery
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Benjamin Tolbert Talbert
Inscription and Notes:
Stone reads Tolbert, but records indicate correct name is Talbert.
Military Service: American Revolution
Marker: GA. Troops, but was VA militia
Benjamin Talbert, the son of Joseph and Rebeccah Talbert (will 1798),[1] served in the Virginia Militia. Despite the "GA Troops" designation on his headstone, his pension application does not mention any service in Georgia or a Georgia unit. He married Mary Whaley of Loudon County Virginia in 1780. He lived in Virginia for five or six years after the Revolutionary War then moved to Georgia, first to Wilkes County, and then to Baldwin County.[2]
Benjamin and his brothers John and William and cousin Jesse Talbert all of Loudon County, Virginia migrated to Georgia, Clarke County, then Baldwin and Hancock Counties.[3] Benjamin Talbert drew land in the 1827 Land Lottery,[4] and received a pension in 1833, after applying for same in Baldwin County 27 February 1833. His pension application outlines his service in the Virginia campaign of 1781 under the command of the Marquis de Lafayette. Talbert had at least one child, Martha Talbert, who married Easom Davenport Franklin July 19, 1809, Baldwin County.
Benjamin Talbert’s Revolutionary War Pension application, dated February 27, 1833, is available through the National Archives #S16548.
Revolutionary War Pension application
National Archives #S16548 dated February 27, 1833.
TALBERT, Benjamin, Revolutionary War Pension Application 1833, Baldwin Co. Ga.
State of Georgia
Baldwin County
On this 27th of February 1833, personally appeared in open court before Lucius Q.C. Lamar, Judge of the Superior Court of said state and county now sitting, Benjamin Talbert, a resident of the 319th district in said state and county, aged sixty-eight years of the 18th day of November 1832, 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.
In the early part of 1780, to the best of his recollection, but he is not certain of the year, he entered the service as a volunteer at Fredricksburg, Virg. for a tour of three months under Captain White. He then marched to Williamsburg where he remained three months. He was under the command of other officers not remembered and the Marquis La Fayette.
He was afterwards, in the same year, drafted for a tour of three months and joined the American forces at Davenport's Ford, on the south prong of the Pomonky, under Capt. Nich. Payne. He then marched to Williamsburg and had been there but a short time, when the American forces retreated from Cornwallis and Tarlton and joined Gen. Wayne at the foot of the Little Mountains, near the Rappahannoc. He then marched with the army, to give battle to Cornwallis, who retreated towards the Little York. He was then in an engagement, in which Cornwallis was attacked in crossing James River, just above old Jamestown. He then remained with the army, about 15-18 miles above Williamsburg, while Cornwallis was in that town. While the army was at this station, he formed one of an advanced party which was stationed during the day at Bird's Tavern, at night, approached the British lines.
During this service, one morning just after daybreak, while the men were laying near Allen's Tavern, their army in their hands, Tarlton's horse, each having a foot soldier mounted with him, made a sudden attack on the advanced party, who were much inferior to the English in numbers. The English infantry dismounted, reformed, and the cavalry charged. Col. Mathis, who commanded the American party, called out to them to save themselves and fled at full speed, being mounted. A number of the Americans were killed and wounded and the rest were dispersed. The applicant could not rejoin the army, until the next day. After this, he marched to where there was a magazine, near Williamsburg. He then marched with the army to Springfield, about six miles from Little York, and was there, when Gen. Washington arrived with his staff and advanced guard. The three months for which he was drafted, having expired, he was discharged a short time before Gen. Washington commenced his entrenchment at Pigeon Hill, above Little York. During this tour, he was under command of Maj. Hardy and Col. Merriwether and a part of the time under Col. Mathis, especially at the route at Allen's Tavern . The army was commanded by Gen. Wayne and LaFayette.
In the same year, after the capture of Cornwallis, he served as a substitute for Oswald Smith, a drafted militiaman. This service commenced a Fredericksburg, Virg. And he marched as one of the guard that conducted a portion of the English prisoners taken at Little York, to Nolden's Ferry on the Potomac, where they were put under the charge of Maryland troops and he was discharged at that place.
He has not preserved his discharge and he has no record of his age and he is not able to prove his services by any witness who can be produced at court. He lived in Virginia for five or six years after the War, and since that time, he has resided in the counties of Wilkes and Baldwin in Georgia.
He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present and declares, that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid....
Benja. Talbert
We, Edward Brantley, a clergyman residing in the said county and Tomlinson Fort, also residing therein hereby certify that was well acquainted with Benjamin Talbert, who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be about sixty-eight years of age, 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 and subscribed, in open court the day and year aforesaid....
Edmd. Brantley, M.G. (Minister of Gospel)
Tomlinson Fort
And the said court does hereby declare its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department, that the above married applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states and the court further certifies that i appears to it, that Edmond Brantley, who has signed the preceeding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in said county and that Tomlinson Fort, who also has signed the same, is a resident in said county, and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Lucius Q.C.Lamar, JSC (Judge Superior Court) Georgia
I, Ransom H. Smith, Clerk of the said court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of Benjamin Talbert for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 27th day of Feburary 1833.
Ransom H. Smith, Clerk.
[1]. Will, 1798.
[2]. Pension application
[3]. Revolutionary War Pension application, National Archives #S16548 dated February 27, 1833.
[4]. Georgia Revolutionary War Soldiers Graves