Benjamin and Isaiah Phipps- Part 1
By Mrs. Kay Potvin
Virginia and South Carolina Service of Benjamin Phips/Phipps and Jean #W5539
It appears that Benjamin Phips/Phipps was born 1761 or 1762 in Guilford County, NC and while working on a farm in that part of Montgomery Co., which later became Grayson Co., VA in 1779 or 1780, he was captured by the Tories and carried to the British Army. He made his escape in the summer of 1780 in SC and enlisted there in Capt. Anderson Thomas' Company. He also served under Col. Washington and his entire service amounted to six months. He then returned to Grayson Co, VA and served under Capt. James Cox on a tour against the Tories with whom they had a skirmish. He was allowed pension on his application executed 9/24/1832 while a resident of Grayson Co., VA. He died on May 3, 1838. He married July 5, 1782 to Jean Hash. The widow Jean Phips/Phips was allowed pension on her application executed July 5, 1844, at which time she was 79 and resided in Grayson Co., VA and was a resident there in 1848. It is not stated whether soldier and wife had any children.
In 1844, one John Phipps age 56 stated in Grayson Co., VA that he had known Benjamin and Jean Phipps for a period of 40 years and until the death of Benjamin in 1838. Alexander Phipps was Justice of the Peace for Grayson Co., VA in 1849, William Phipps is shown as of Manly, Ashe Co., NC.
The following is also recorded (Will Book, pg 63, Montgomery Co, VA) John Nash/John Hash, died April 13, 1784; no relationship of these four persons to the soldier's family was stated.
Benjamin Phipps, Pension Bureau, Washington, DC
File #W5539
State of Virginia, Grayson County
on the 24th day of September, 1832
personally appeared in open court before the Justice of the Court of Grayson County now setting, Benjamin Phipps, a resident of Grayson County in the State of Virginia aged 70 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 after the happening of the following circumstances.
He was living at the home of Capt. John Cox on New River in Montgomery Co, VA now Grayson Co., VA about the year 1779 or 1780 engaged in making a crop of corn, when Col. Roberts at the time in a company of tories came there and made prisoners of himself, Wm. Craig, and Beverly Watkins: The said tories took declarant and carried him to the British Army Commander by Lord Roden/Rawsen. He remained with said army, sick at the time of the battle of the Hanging Rock, and when said Army marched toward Camden in SC in order to give battle to Gen. Fates he run off from the British and was making towards the residence of some of his relations in SC when he fell in with a party from Fergason's army who took him back and kept him prisoner until they arrived with him at their headquarters. Very shortly afterwards he again made his escape and succeeded in getting to his relations in SC and stayed there sometime. While there he entered the American Service as a volunteer under the command of Capt. Anderson Thomas and Lt. Gullian, and while under these Officers he made two or three excursions to the Congaree River, the Dutch Fork and to Orangeburgh, but was not in any battle during the time.
The Company in which the declarant was chased a party of the enemy into their entrenchments at Orangeburgh, SC but did not attack them there. In the meantime a Company of American horses came into the neighborhood and this declarant discovered that his horse was among them. He proved his property and the horse was given up. Capt. Thomas then mounted him and went with the Company of Horse, as he said, to the high hills of Santee River and Monks Corner in order to intercept a company of the enemy who were in that neighborhood, and the declarant was ordered by his Capt. to go with the regiment of the Company under Lt. Gullian in order to keep the enemy from crossing the river at that point. The declarant does not now recollect the length of time he was in the Southern Service, but he thinks it was not less than six months and some part of that time he was under Col. George Washington and was upon one occasion employed in swimming his horse across the Congaree River sometime before the engagement with Tarleton. After this the delcarant returned to New River in Grayson Co. VA after an absence of about three years, as near as can now be recollected.
He afterwards was in an excursion against the tories in the mountains under James Cox, who acted as Capt. in the place of his father, Capt. John Cox who was then absent on a tour against the Indians. In this excursion they came up with the tories, killed and wounded the whole party except one, who was the brother of Green, then Commander, and who afterwards joined the American Army as a regular soldier.
The declarant will not say how long he was engaged in the United States Service in the whole, for fear he might err as to the precise time, but is confident it was not less than six months.
The declarant was born in Guilford County in the state of North Carolina in the year 1761/1762 as he believes, but has no record of his age. He was in SC when he entered the service and since the Revolutionary War he has lived in Grayson Co., VA where he now lives. He has no documentary evidence to prove his service. He is known to James Cox, a contemporary survivor, and to Lewis Hail, Stephen Hail who can testify to his character for (blank) and to their belief of his service in the Revolutionary War. He hereby relinquishes any claim wahtever to a pension or annuity except the (blank) and declares that his name is not on any pension roll of the Agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.
Benjamin X Phipps His mark
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Re: Benjamin and Isaiah Phipps- Part 1
tina parker 7/13/08
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Re: Benjamin and Isaiah Phipps- Part 1
1/16/01