Benjamin T. Hagan (My Research)

I have decided to post some of my research; however, upon copying this to this site, I see that the footnotes, which are very, very detailed and which provide the primary souce of the information, did not post.Hopefull, what is posted will help someone help me with the research.


       Paper No. 1
(Prepared October 3, 1999
by
Virginia Gerace Benoist )

SUBJECT:Benjamin T.Hagan
b. June 24, 1818, Montgomery Co., GA
d. May 4, 1900 Walnut Hill, Vernon Parish, LA
(Son of Stephen D. Hagan and Mary Quinn )
(m.1 Sarah Jane Rolen (Roler); m.2 Elizabeth Martin)
(Brother of Stephen D. Hagan, Jr. et al)

Introduction

This is an abstract of certain available records.This is one of several studies of genealogical data prepared as a part of this collection which includes papers, photographs and tapes.Attached to this paper is an Appendix of supporting documents.The author requests information regarding any amendments and/or corrections.

A Timeline for Benjamin

The timeline for Benjamin is:

1818       bornJune 4, Montgomery Co. GA
1830       Leon Co., FL
1831       February 28, second wife, Elizabeth Martin born
1838       October 25, enlisted at Banebridge, GA
1839       January 24, honorably discharged at Ft. Henderson, GA
1840       Leon Co., FL
March 18, FL Indian War
November 5, honorably discharged at Tallahassee, FL
Pre-1845       m. Sarah Jane Roler
1846       departed GA, moved to ALA
1847       Decatur Co., GA
1847       Pike Co., ALA
       1850              Holmes Co., FLA
       pre-1857       father, Stephen D. Hagan, died
       1857              February 1, Holmes Co. FLA, mother, Mary Quinn, died
       1860              Rapides Parish, LA
       1865              paroled at Alexandria, Rapides Parish, LA
       1894              June 11, Hicks, Vernon Parish, LA
       1900              d. May 4 Walnut Hill, LA

Prior to his death, he resided in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana.

Occupation and Physical Description

Benjamin, a farmer,was 6 feet tall, of medium complexion with blue-gray eyes and black hair.There are also records that state that he was of dark complexion.At age 75, his signature was very clear.


His Character

Benjamin, described in June 11, 1894 Affidavit of Z.T. Craft, Clerk of Court for Vernon Prish, Simeon Martin, W.H. Stanley, A.D. Mayo, and W.T. Bryant as ¡§an old and perfectly reliable and entitled to credit¡¨, ¡§responsible¡¨ and ¡§citizen & gentleman of honor¡¨.
Family

Benjamin¡¦s Early Years:

Benjamin was the son of Stephen D. Hagan, Sr. and Mary ıPollyġ Quinn, who married October 5, 1817 Montgomery Co., GA.Benjamin was b. June 24, 1818 at Montgomery County, Georgia,d. May 4, 1900 and is buried at Ebeneezer Cemetery in Hicks, Vernon Parish, LA.His siblings were Deliah , Stephen D. , Jr. , James , William , Caroline , Gincey , and Julia Ann.

Benjamin¡¦s Spouses:

First Wife:Benjamin m.1 Sarah Jane Rolen (Roler).

       Child of Benjamin and Sarah:

       1.William Jesse, b. August 25, 1845, Ala.; Killed in War Between the States.

Second Wife:Benjamin m.2 Elizabeth Martin.

       Wedding of Benjamin and Elizabeth:

       The marriage of Benjaminand Miss Elizabeth Martinat Perote, Troy, Pike County, Alabama on December 24, 1847 was at Elizabeth's residenceand performed by Justice of the Peace William Johnson/Johnston.Simeon Martin and Margie Nessmith were present at the marriage.

       Children of Benjamin and Elizabeth:

       Children of Benjamin T. Hagan and Elizabeth Martin were:

       James ¡§Jim¡¨ Thomas , b. 28 Dec. 1848 FLA; married Lucinda Groves .
       Stephen, b. 1852 FLA.
       Josephine, b. 1854, FLA.
       Louvelia, b. 1856, FLA.
       Mary Eugenia Hagan, b. Apr. 26, 1866.
              
Possible Relationship:

       According to notes of Della Brown Daffin, there may have been a relationship between the Benjamin Hagan family and Lee Woods, b. 1865, and a female born around the same time.Vernon Parish, LA records show a Lee Woods with a son named Benjamin.
       
Friends

The following persons knew Benjamin T. Hagan:

a.       W. T. Bryant, b. ca. 1850, residing at Walnut Hill, LA in 1900, knew him since about 1870;
b.       A.D. Mayo, b. ca. 1852, residing in Quadrate, LA in 1900, knew him since about 1870;
       c.       J.J. Hicks, b. ca. 1869, resident of Leesville, Vernon Parish in 1901, LA, knew him since 1876;
       d.       W.H. Weeks, b. ca 1851, resident of Walnut Hill, Vernon Parish, LA in 1901, knew him since 1866;
       e.       A.C. Kirkpatrick, b. ca. 1852, resident of Hineston, Rapides Parish, LA in 1901, knew him and Elizabeth since 1876;
       f.       Simeon "Sim" Martin, b. ca. 1832 , resident of Hicks, Vernon Parish, LA and Post Office address was Mayo in 1901, knew Benjamin and Elizabeth since before their 1847 marriage;
       g.       Mrs. Margie Nessmith, b. ca. 1837, resident of Hicks, Vernon Parish, LA and Post Office address was Mayo in 1901, knew Benjamin and Elizabeth since before their 1847 marriage;
       h.       M. H. Stanly, b. ca. 1835, resident of Hicks, Vernon Parish, LA in 1894;
       i.       Z.T. Craft, Clerk of Court for Vernon Parish, LA in 1894;


Military Service

Service in Indian Wars:

Benjamin enlisted in Captain Emery Lasseter's Company, Floyd's Georgia Vols Mounted Militia, at age 20, on October 25, 1838 at Banebridge, Georgia and mustered at Traders Hill, Decater or Charleston Co., Georgia as a private and was honorably discharged January 24, 1839 at Fort Henderson, Georgia. Service records show casualties on December 15, 1838 and January 21, 1839, both at Fort Henderson, Georgia.He was paid from October 25, 1838 to January 24, 1839, three months.He was also paid for 20 days travel pay, 206 miles to the place of rendezvous and 206 miles from the place of discharge to home. The company was ordered into service by Joel R. Poinsett, Secretary of War.He also served in Capt. Alfred Oliver's Company of 1 Regiment (Bailey's) Florida Mounted Militia, from March 18, 1840 to November 5, 1840 under the command of Colonel Revels in the Florida Indian War and was honorably discharged as a private at Tallahassee, Florida.Records show that he served as a corporal and was paid at Quincy from March 18, 1840 to August 4 and from August 4, 1840 to November 5, 1840, seven months and 18 days.He was also paid for one day travel, 8 miles to the place of rendezvous and 12 miles from the place of discharge to his home.The company was ordered into service by B__ Brig. Genl. N.K. Armsted.Benjamin's name is not on the company rolls for the period from March 18, 1840 to April 20, 1841.He received a bounty land warrant and disposed of it to Mr. Anderson of Maryanna, Florida.Justice of the Peace Corneleous Barnes of Florida obtained bounty land warrants for Benjamin and himself around 1840/1841.

War Between the States:

Benjamin was in the War Between the States in the Louisiana Engineers Troops.According to a transcript of an August 10, 1925 letter from J. W. Conerley of Barham, GA, who was only 15 or 16 years old during the War.Conerley was in the same company with Ben Hagan, who was about 45 years old at the time.They belonged to the 4th or 21st Louisiana Regiment.Engineer or Ponton Company and built bridges for General Taylor's Company.They were under the command of 1st Lt. Dodge.The company that sometimes rendered assistance was under the command of Capt. Slaughter. Hagan's Company was scattered from Natchitoches to Alexandria.Hagan's records show he was a private in Co. I, 4th Regt. La Engineer Troops (formerly 1 Battn Engineer Troops) and on the roll of prisoners of war, paroled at Alexandria, LA June 15 and 16, 1865.His residence was Rapides Parish.

Tradition of Other Military Service:

There is a tradition, although yet to be researched, that Benjamin Hagan fought at San Jacinto with Jim Hagan, Sim Martin and Sam Houston.

The Later Years
       
Benjamin in Later Years:

On July 13, 1894, Benjamin, then 75 years old, was a resident of Hicks, Vernon Parish, LA.His pension application with the Department of Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Old War and Navy Division (Mexican? War), is number 4878 and 3493.He was dropped form the Indian Wars Pension Rolls ca. July 31, 1901 because of death.His pension was $8.00 per month at his death.The certificate number of his widow's pension was 5785.

Benjamin died on May 4, 1900 at Walnut Hill, Vernon Parish, LA.There was no doctor present at the time of his death.His doctor was in school in New Orleans at the time of his death.Dr. F.P. Jones visited Benjamin about nine months prior to his death and diagnosed him with the last stages of consumption.

Elizabeth in Later Years:

Elizabeth applied for a pension under number 3493 and Indian War pension 1891.At the time she applied for a pension, her property was valued at $75.00 and consisted of the following:

       1.one pony;
       2.3 head cattle; and
       3.40 head of hogs.
       
The pension she received was $12.00 per month at the time of her August 23, 1913 death.Her last illness of the heart and liver commenced on June 24, 1913.

       
Letters about Benjamin T. Hagan

Letter Written by James T. Hagan, his son:       

We have a record of a copy of a letter, written by James T. Hagan but unsigned, which was found among Della Brown Daffan's possessions.That letterstates:
                                                               in Montg. Co. Ga.
              ¡§1828 presented to B.T. Hagan by his Uncle Isom Hagan who then lived in South Carolina a distance of 200 miles at the out break B.T. Hagan was a young man and carried this gun through the war in and around the Everglades of Florida.In 1846 B.T. Hagan left                      until 1858       
       Georgia and came to Ala. and there resided until
              from Ala he moved to Fla
       1850 ^ from there moved to Vernon Ph La.This gun is now the property of J.T. Hagan who is now 77 years of age. from the information at hand this gun has been in the family for a period of more than 125 yrs. and has never changed ownership by sale or trade.¡¨

                     More About the Gun:According to notes by Gordon L. Brown, ƒ±In reference to the rifle:Im (sic) sure this was a most cherished and valuable part of Benjamins (sic) life, and a family heirloom.I am not aware of who may have had it in their possession in the days after his death.When I was about 3 or 4 years old, which would have been 1929-30 our home burned.After the fire I do remember playing with a rifle, probably only the barrel, which had two triggers (we called it ƒ±Old Set Triggerƒ°.)I remember carrying or dragging it with me constantly until it disappeared.I later learned mymother threw it into an old well on the property to get rid of it.I am sure this must have been Benjamins (sic) rifle.Such a sad end to something that must have seen so much history.¡¨

Letter Written by J.W. Conerly, a Confederate Companion:

       An August 10, 1925 letter states the following:

                                                        "August 20, 1925
                                                        Barham, GA
Mrs. C.E. Daffan
       Your letter to hand a few days ago.Contents noted.I was in the same company with Ben Hagan.He was about 45 years old when Ijoined the company.We belonged to the Ingenneor or Ponton Company.We builded bridges for General Taylers command.I don't remember our captains name, our first luitent names were Dodge who where allways with us, never left us.Our captain I never saw him.There was a rigiment of us. Ther was a company that some times helped us, thir captain was name Slaughter, I think.Our rigiments was the 4 Louisiana.Maybe the 21.I was only a boy 15 or 16 years old anwas only with the company about 10 months.Our company wher scattered from Natchitoches to Alexandria.You write to Ham Williams at Florien, La. and I think he can give you some information.If I can be of any more service to you I would be glad to render you.Sincerely. J. W. Conerly.¡¨

Other Sources of Data

Other sources of data include the following:

       There is a tradition that there is a Brown or Hagan Fmily Bible in DeRidder or in Leesville that may have some Hagan records.

       Line of Benjamin T. Hagan:Josephine Hagan Brown, Della Brown Daffan (b. 1882), Theron E. "Ted" Daffan (b. 1912), Dorothy Daffan (m.1 Craver, m.2 Yannuzzi) (b. 1939) (children: Julia Craver Blinn (b. 1959), Dayna Craver (b. 1961), Anthony Craver (b. 1963).Dorothy Yannuzzi, 718 E. 12th, Houston, TX 77008, Ph. (713) 862-4192.

       The National Archives Old Wars Pension Files, 1815-1926, Microfilm Publication #T316, References Services Branch (NNIR), General Services Administration, Washington, D.C. 10408.