Submitted by Robert and Mary Pettitt
(3037 Mountain Top Dr., Highland, CA 92346)
Widow's Pension Claims made by and for Charlotte Martin Pettitt Poindexter, the Widow of Benjamin Pettitt, a veteran of the War of 1812. All the following is handwritten copy, on file at the National Archives, except for our notes indicated by [].
[Undated pension claim] No. 17141, Act of July 14, 1862 Charlotte Poindexter, formerly widow of Benjamin Pettitt, 1812. Rejected.
[John G. Poindexter's sworn testimony. He is the brother of Charlotte's second husband, Robert A. Poindexter, and his sister was Martha Milner Poindexter Pettitt, Benjamin's mother.]
State of North Carolina County of Forsyth
Be it known that on this Fifth day of June AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty six
before me a justice of the peace within & for the County & state aforesaid personaly
appeared John G. Poindexter aged seventy six years a resident of Yadkin County living
adjoining the Forsyth County line in North Carolina who is to my own knowledge a long
acquaintance & person of respectable character and esteemed as a good citizen - upon his
oath Desposeth & Saith that Benjamin Pettitt Dec'd was the first husband of Charlotte
Poindexter now the widow of this applicants Brother Rob. Poindexter Dec'd. She having
claimed a Pension for Services rendered by her said first husband Benj. Pettitt as a private
soldier in the War of 1812 against England said Pettitt was a sister's son & Nephew of this
Depo___ that it was a undeniable fact & general report that said Benjamin Pettitt did
actually serve in the Militia from Overton ending in May 1815. But it was __________ that
her said Pettitt was confined in some hospittle or care in some place with disease of some
kind untill the later ender of August 1815 or September before he returned home to his wife
in Overton Co. aforesaid where he only remained a short time say a few weeks not able to
work from the disease said to be something [Lymphatic tuberculosis, usually contracted from
infected cattle.] like the Scrofula or ulcers." his Father George Pettitt & his brother
William Pettitt being there at the time for the purpose of bringing him to Surry Co N
Carolina to see his anxious & loving mother and make it his home. They started with him and
came on to some place near Albington in Washington County in Virginia when & where he said
Benjamin Pettitt was taken so unwell with this disease that they made a stop at some place a
widows Fortners where he said Benjamin died and was buried. Some time in the fall of 1815
and it was the General belief that the disease that caused his death was the one he got
while in the Service & line of this duty as a soldier. And I concur in that opinion also,
that the then said Charlotte was married to Rob Poindexter in 1821. The said Charlotte
Poindexter remains unmarried the widow of my Brother Robert Dec'd. this applicant further
states that George Pettit the Father of Benjamin and William Pettitt both signified their
belief to be that the death of Benjamin was occasioned by the same bad disease he had caught
in the Army. Sworn & subscribed before me
[signed] John G. Poindexter
C Banner J.P.
[Charlotte Martin Pettitt Poindexter testifies to support her Widow's Pension claim.]
Next Charlotte Poindexter the applicant being sworn makes this amendment to her dictation
now filed in the Pension office of the United States declares that her first husband
Benjamin Pettitt dec'd when he left her in Overton County Tennessee in November 1814 he was
in good health & a hale hearty strong man and when he returned home about the last of August
or September 1815 he was a mere skeliton scarcely able to walk having been absent from her
in the Service as a soldier or sick for about nine months and remain at home only a few
weeks when his Father Geo Pettitt and his Brother William started with him to N. Carolina to
see his anxious mother and make it his home & send for her (this applicant) and her child
that was born after he was in the Service & was about nine months old. But her said husband
Benj. Pettitt never reached N Carolina but took a _________ of the disease that was
contracted in the ____________ and died at one Widow Fortner in Washington County in
Virginia near Albington he was afflicted with a breaking out of ulcers & sores said to be
the Scrofula or King's evil. She married to Rob. Poindexter on April
1821-
Sworn to subscribe this 5th June 1856 before me
C Banner JP [signed] Charlotte Poindexter
[Thomas Sprinkle testifies in support of Charlotte's claim.]
Next Thomas Sprinkle Esq. aged sixty-three year, resident of Forsyth County State of N.
Carolina of high standing as a good citizen & respectable ______ ____ for truth being sworn
_________ that he is a relation to the above named Benjamin Pettitt __ ____ who was the
first husband of Charlotte Poindexter who signed the foregoing affidavits that he this
applicant was security for said Pettitts license to marry said Charlotte in the year 1813 in
a bond given to Wm Thornton Deputy clerk of Surry Co N.C. & they said B. Pettitt & Charlotte
Martin was married and he is of the opinion that the whole of the foregoing affidavits of
John G. Poindexter & Charlotte Poindexter is the truth & the whole truth which is also the
General belief of all the numerous acquaintances of Benj. Pettitt that he died of disease
contracted while in the service & army of the U. States on his way home to live in N
Carolina again
[signed] Thomas Sprinkle sworn to & subscribed the 6th June 1856
before me C Banner JP
State of North Carolina County of Forsyth I A.J. Stafford clerk of the court of pleas and
quarter ________ for the county aforesaid do hereby certify that Charles Banner Esq whose
genuine signature is affixed to the above acknowledgements was at the time of so doing a
Justice of the peace duly authorized by law to administer oaths and that full faith and
credit are do to all his official acts as such," Given under my hand and the seat of said
court this 10th day of June AD 1856
A J Stafford Clerk
for H R Thomas D C
[Benjamin Pettitt has returned from his six month tour of duty during the War of 1812. He was honorably discharged on May 13, 1815, by Major-General Wm Carroll of the Tennessee Militias. He spent several more months in a hospital, evidently under military care, before returning to Overton County, Tennessee. Now he is making arrangements to `draw' his pay.]
[The following was handwritten by Richard Woods. The Benjaman Petit signature is in a different hand. This was written two to three months before he died of the `scrofula, or King's evil' which he probably contracted while in service to this country.]
Know all men by these presents that I Benjamin Pettit of Overton County and State of
Tennessee do make ordain nominate And appoint or And have By these presents Made Ordained
Nominated and Appointed My Worthy friend John Kerr of the County and State aforesaid, my
attorney in fact for me and in my name to Call for and Demand receive and Receipt for my
wages for a tour of six months Duty served under Capt Willie Huddleston Under the Command
Major Genrl William Carroll against the British at new Orleans, and any act Whatever which I
could do was I personally present Hereby Ratifying and Confirming any and all his acts as
such given under my hand and Seal this 10th day of August 1815
Benjaman petit
Seal
[This handwriting is different from above. We think it is his own signature.]
State of Tennessee
I hereby Certify that the foregoing Power of attorney was duly acknowledged
before me the said Benjamin Pettit promises to make no other Power or
attempt to Draw himself August 10th day 1815
Richard Woods JP
Seal