(continued from preceding Note, Nr. 1653)
[Continuing with the testimony of Benjamin Hoffman.] 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 have never heard it doubted in my life. Mr. Deer is a very old man and I have always understood him 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 become 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**************************************************
Virginia Madison County to Wit
This day personally appeared before me as Justice of the Peace in the County a fore said Mr. Benjamin Huffman aged 89 years next October and made oath to the truth of the foregoing Affidavit and I certify the said Huffman is personally known to me; as a man of respectability and one of our oldest citizens and is beleaved to be a soldier of the Revolution from what I have always heard. Given under my hand and seal this 23 day of July 1846.
Elliot Blankenbeker JP
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.