In support of Martin Deer's application for a Rev. War pension, Benjamin Hoffman submitted a statement, to wit:
I Benjamin Hoffman a Revolutionary soldier aged eighty nine years next October certify under oath I served three tours in the Virginia Militia. My last tour was in the spring of 1781 under Capt. Ambrous Bohanon which continued for three months. We was at Mobing Hills Williams Burg Richmond and other places during said tour. Joseph Carpenter was also out in a nother company and so was Martin Deer my old friend and acquaintance whom I have known from my infancy up. I know that said Martin Deer served a full tour in the summer of 1781 under Capt. Mark Finks I think. I am positive as to the tour for I saw him frequently in the lower country at Richmond James Town and several other places. I have understood Mr. Deer served a tour or two before this of which I know nothing for I was not with him. He is reputed now, and always has been as a soldier of the Revolution and I never heard it doubted in my life. Mr. Deer is a very old man and I have always understood his and my self were born in the same month and the same year. To wit in the month of October 1757 as be seen by my register above "1757" in full was put there by my self many years ago because the original entry had became defaced as will be seen; the words "57" are nearly gone. I am positive as to the tour Mr. Deer served in 81; but I may mistake as to the officers; him and my self were laids in the neighborhood not far from Madison Courthouse then Culpeper; I never have applied for a pension before the application I shall soon make for I did not know that I was entitled to the benefit of the law. Benjamin Hoffman Aged 89 years next October
There followed a testimony by Elliot Blankenbeker, JP, as to the credentials of Benjamin Hoffman, one of the oldest citizens who was considered by all to be a soldier of the Revolution. Dated 23 July 1846.
Benjamin Hoffman attached a Bible page to support his testimony which read as follows: Benjamin Hoffman was born in the year 1757 on the 6th of October. Heinrich Slaith (?) was born on April 1st in the year 1787 Diana Hoffman was born on March 19, 1781 Meri Hoffman was born on August 18, 1783 Elizabeth Hoffman was born on October 7, 1785 Johann Gottfried was born June 11, 1788 [a simplified translation] [All of the above entries were in German; the next three are in English] Polly Early was born on the 25 of May 1805 B. Mary Early was born on the 25 of May 1805 James Good was born on March 31, 1811 (?)
I will return later to some questions raised by the submission of Benjamin Hoffman.
(06 Mar 01)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.