Benjamin F Overstreet

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1830, , Bedford, Virginia, USA
• Residence: 1840, , Bedford, Virginia, USA
• Residence: 1850, , Bedford, Virginia, USA
• Residence: 1860, , Bedford, Virginia, USA; Residence Post Office: Davis Mills
• Residence: 1870, Staunton, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA; Residence Post Office: Liberty
• Residence: 1880, Staunton, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA; Marital Status: MarriedRelation to Head: Self

Benjamin married Mary Anne (Polly) Preston on 28 Feb 1825 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA. Mary was born in 1807 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA; died on 5 Jul 1885 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA; was buried in Huddleston, Bedford, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Polly P. Preston
• Residence: 1870, Staunton, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA; Residence Post Office: Liberty
• Residence: 1880, Staunton, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA; Marital Status: MarriedRelation to Head: Wife

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: , , Virginia, USA
• Residence: 1833, , , Virginia, USA

Notes:

Overstreet Family- Revolutionary War.
Thomas Overstreet, Sr. was the first person with this surname tohave an entry in any of the Bedford County records. Bedford County was
formed in 1754 from Lunenburg County, and in 1755 Thomas Overstreet, Sr.
records a purchase of about 400 acres near the headwaters of a small sized tributary of the Otter River.

Thomas Overstreet, Sr. and Agnes were married before arriving in
Bedford County, possibly in Orange County, where their oldest child Thomas Jr. was born. At the time of the move three of the six children had been born.

This first Overstreet family farm on Orrix Creek was certainly in
wilderness. Life was very difficult, with any land that was to be planted to crops having to be cleared by hand. This family had no other adults to assist Thomas Sr., only Agnes and a twelve year old Thomas Jr. Neighbors did exist, but they had a similar lack of labor available. The nearest community was New London, more than ten miles away by trail. New London was not identified as a village until 1757. The settlers of this day and area had to be very self-sufficient in every respect.

Challenges from Native Americans were always a possibility. In 1774
the situation with the Native Americans became very difficult with the
English expansion pushing west of the nearby Appalachian Mountains, into an area where the French felt they had authority and control. Both the British and the French had friends among the native tribes. It was in this environment that the Bedford Militia was mobilized and under the direction of the British participated in the Point Pleasant Campaign.

It appears that William Overstreet was able to participate as a
private with the company of Thomas Buford in the Point Pleasant Campaign.

All of the known children in the Thomas Overstreet Sr. & Agnes
family were born by the end of 1760. When the American Revolution started in 1776 the Bedford militia was again mustered. This time Thomas Overstreet, Jr. and the youngest brother John Overstreet answered the call for excitement. By this time the farm was producing an ample supply of goods for the family and they could share with others in need. This apparently is how Thomas Overstreet, Sr. and Agnes were able to help the freedom cause, by providing provisions to the forces.

It was about 1780 when Thomas Overstreet, Jr. returned from the war
effort with a wife Barsheba. There is no known record of where Barsheba was born, or where and when the marriage took place. It seems to be a common belief among family members that Barsheba was at least a partial Native American, and possibly a full blood.

The youngest son John Overstreet probably returned from the war
about the same time.

By 1783 another Thomas Overstreet had arrived in Bedford County, to
take up residence. Thomas 'the hatter' Overstreet (1755-1833) & Judith
Walker (1765-1836) remained in Bedford County for at least ten years. Seven
of their children were born in Bedford County. Scott Swanson, a Butler
University history professor, recently distributed an excellent group of
working papers. In these papers he writes "Thomas apparently removed his
family from Bedford County VA about 1793, but where he lived until he showed up in the 1808 Mercer County KY tax lists remains unknown." A different source indicates Thomas, Judith and family were in Halifax County VA in the period between 1793-1808. Convenient for us, this Thomas had the craft of a Hatter, therefore being known today as the ''the hatter' or Thomas 'the hatter'. Records seem to indicate that one or more of his male children also had the craft of Hatter.

Regarding the male parent for Thomas 'the hatter' in Bedford County,
Scott Swanson writes "I'd say that the father of James and Thomas 'the
hatter' was the elusive Thomas Overstreet floating almost out of sight in the records of Caroline County VA. James might well have named his eldest son after his father. Thomas might well be the younger son bearing his own father's name." In this situation, Scott is discussing a James Overstreet that had three wives, and apparently did not spend any time in residence in Bedford County VA.

The James Overstreet from Goochland County, Virginia moved into a
location near Suck Mountain in the northern part of Bedford County. This
line of Overstreets were often referred to in future decades as the
'Northern Overstreets' and were closely identified with Taylor's Mountain and surroundings. The wife of this James Overstreet was Frances Eubanks.
# # #

"Overstreet-Hall Family"
Thomas Overstreet 1744-1842(From his pension application)
On the 29th day of October, 1833, personally appeared in open court, before the county court, now sitting, Thomas Overstreet, as resident of Russell Parish in this county and state aforesaid, aged 89 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 1833.

"That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers and served as herein stated--That in the fall, probably in September, he cannot recollect the day, 1777, he volunteered into the
Service of the United States in Bedford County, Virginia, where he resided, under Capt. Samuel Campbell and Lieut. John Phelps, to march against the Indians, who were said at that time to be collected together in the western part of Virginia--His company rendezvoused at Bedford court house, and marched from thence thro Botecourt (sic-Botetourt) to a place called Benhevers Ford on Greenbrier River in Greenbrier County (now in West Virginia), a distance of about 130 miles, where they remained stationed one month--in expectation of the Indians--but not meeting with them, we were then marched to a mill in the same county, where we stationed about two months, still looking out for Indians, but they did not make their appearance. He was discharged by Capt. Campbell sometime in December 1777, but received no written discharge--There was no regular officers with the troops, nor any Continental regiments or companies with the troops during this tour--He was engaged in this tour three months--no other troops of any line along, but his company & no field officers.

"Again in the winter of 1777, he thinks the last of December, but he cannot recollect the day, he volunteered into the service of the United States, in Bedford county, Va., where he then lived, under Capt. William Leftwich, Lieut. John Phelps to march against the Indians, who were said to be still collected in the western counties of Virginia. His company rendezvoused at Anthony's Store in Bedford county & marched from thence thro Boutecourt to the lead mines on New River in Wythe county, Va. They were stationed at this place five weeks & were engaged in building a Fort, for the purpose of protecting the country against the Indians, but no Indians making their appearance, and the people becoming pacified, they were discharged by Capt. Leftwich, but received no written discharge. He was engaged in this tour five weeks--There were no regular officers, nor any continental regiments, or companies with the troops--no field officers--The troops consisting of his company alone--He was discharged at the expiration of his tour by Capt. Leftwich.

"In the month of October, he cannot recollect the day, 1779, he again
volunteered into the service of the United States, in Bedford County, Va. under Capt. Jacob Early of the Virginia militia, for three months . His company rendezvoused at Maj. Ward's in Bedford County, Va. (now Campbell), and marched thence thro Charlotte, Prince Edward, Cumberland, Powhatan & Chesterfield counties to Petersburg, where (he) joined the army commanded by Genl. Lawson. His other officers were Col. Charles Lynch, Maj. Leftwich, latter of whom is the same officer he marched under at certain lead mines. He was stationed about half mile from Petersburg during the whole time. Of the regular officers he recollects, Genl. Lawson, Baron Steuben, Col. Holcombe. He was discharged in December 1779 by Col. Lynch, but received no written discharge--He refers to the affidavit of Maj. Samuel Mitchell, who served with this tour, to prove his services. "In the past two first tours mentioned above, there was but one company at any time in the service--He served not less than the period mentioned below, to wit--the first tour three months--the second tour, five weeks--& the third tour, three months, for which he claims a pension--He has no documentary evidence of any of his services--He refers to the affidavits of Maj. Sam'l Mitchell & John Turner. Mr. Turner cannot recollect the time, in which, he served the two first tours--"

'In answer to interrogatories he states
1. He was born in Orange county, Va.--he believes 15 Oct--1744
2. He never had any register of his age
3. He lived in Bedford county, Va. when he entered the service each time & has lived there ever since the revolution & now resides there
4. He entered the service each time as a volunteer.
5. & 6. he has answered to the best of his recollection, in his declaration
7. William Leftwich & Samuel Mitchell are persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood, who can testify to his character, veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.' Record

After relinquishing his claims to any other pension or bounty, except for the present one, he then declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any other agency nor any other state, he signs his name.

William Leftwich, Samuel Mitchell, and John Turner all residents of Bedford county then gave their affidavits as to their memories of Thomas' service these in turn witnessed by various Justices of the Peace. The court then certified the declarations.

Thomas Overstreet was allowed a pension of $22.88 per year. His allowable service was seven months and forty-five days; the pension was dated back to March, 1833. He died in April, 1842.

Marriage On November 23, 1826 he had married Fanny Roberts of his home
county. She was allowed a pension on her application, dated March 11, 1854, at which time she was eighty-five years of age, and residing in Bedford
County.

The account of his War activities as given by Thomas Overstreet gives a good idea of the type of services rendered by the militia forces.

Birth:
Oct. 15, 1744
Orange County
Virginia, USA
Death:
Apr. 11, 1842
Bedford County
Virginia, USA

Thomas Overstreet, Jr. was born about 1750, the son of Thomas and Agnes Overstreet. (When he prepared this speech, Mr. Tinsley was not aware of Thomas Overstreet's 1833 Revolutionary Pension request when he stated he was born October 15, 1744 in Orange County, Virginia). When he was only several years old, his parents moved to Bedford County and settled on Orrix Creek in front of Johnson Mountain. When Thomas Jr. was about thirteen, the family moved again to the northwest to a new home on Falling Creek. Here Thomas Jr. grew to adulthood. In 1773 Thomas was given a 220 acre tract by his father. This tract later taxed as 200 acres was located on the headwaters of the east fork of Difficult Creek in the area now known as Chestnut Fork. It was part of a 1230 acre tract bought by his father from Charles Irby in 1772. Here he apparently lived until about 1787 when he sold the land. During the late 1770's, Thomas apparently served in the American Revolution effort. He was listed as a veteran in his obituary in the "Lynchburg Virginian" triweekly newspaper. He also took a wife named Barsheba who was reputed to be a Native American, before 1780. Here on Difficult Creek, nearby to his parents, now quite elderly, he began to raise his family. He left Difficult Creek in 1787. The land was sold in 1787 with the part north of Difficult Creek, 140 acres, going to Jehu Lewis and the southern part, 70 acres, going to William Thurman. Thomas, Jr. apparently moved to the 337 acre tract just southeast of the Irby tract. His dad, Thomas, Sr., had purchased the tract in 1786. Here Thomas would remain for the rest of his life. At the end of 1791 Thomas Sr. died. In his will, Thomas Jr. along with his brother, John, were appointed as executors. His mother was pushing 60 years of age. Thomas, Jr. had his hands full. Now the full responsibility for all his father's estate as well as caring for his own family which included a wife and at least nine children. His father's will left him another tract of land which he chose to be the 337 acre tract he was already living on. Either his mother died shortly after her husband, or she went to live with one of her children, for within a year, Thomas, Jr., acting as executor, sold the balance of the Falling Creek home tract to John Mayhew. Thomas, like his father, looked to increasing the land holdings.

In 1793, the year after his father died, Thomas found that the land tract to the east of the 240 acre grant to his father was up for grabs. Thomas, along with William Callaway, submitted a survey for the 840 acres, and in 1795 the grant was issued. However by that time, he had disposed of the 240 acre tract, selling off parcels to John Wigginton, Elijah Weeks, and Thomas' own brother, John.

By 1800 Thomas and Barsheba's children were born, all of them. There were at least fifteen children, and perhaps sixteen. At this time they ranged from adults, Mary and James, both married, to babies, the youngest, Archibald, being born in 1800. Thomas and Barsheba were about fifty years old. Life was apparently good to them since all of the children survived to adulthood and married. Thomas, I am confident, wanted to take care of his sons and daughters as they reached adulthood by seeing to it that they had land. His father for the most part had done this, but then there were only six children. Thomas Jr. had sixteen, and nowhere near the resources to do with. Thus the oldest son (?), James, married in 1799 and went to seek his fortune in Tennessee about 1810. He may have been following in the footsteps of Thomas' brother William, who migrated to Tennessee shortly after 1802. By 1822 Thomas' other brother, John, migrated west, apparently ending up in Ohio, and then to Illinois. Thomas would be the only son of Thomas Sr. who stayed in Bedford County.

Marriages of the children now started happening at a rapid pace. Elizabeth, Sarah, and John married in 1801, William and Jesse married in 1809, Jeremiah in 1810, in 1813 Stephen married, followed by Barsheba in 1815, Littleberry in 1816, Lewis in 1817 (twelve down and four to go). George and Archibald tied the knot in 1820, Thomas Jr. (III) in 1824, and finally Benoney in 1825.

In the midst of all this, Thomas maintained the home tract on Glady Branch 337 acres, and added a 70 acre tract near Dumpling Mountain just to the northeast. He sold this land to his son Lewis in 1817, the year he married. And in the same year he sold off the Island Creek grant. Thus, by the time Benoney married in 1825, he had reduced his holdings to the home tract on Glady Branch. In January, 1824, he sold Benoney 34 1/4 acres of the home tract. He sold another tract, 33 1/2, to Benoney in 1825, shortly after Benoney's marriage. Then disaster struck.

In early 1826 Thomas wife of forty-six years (?), Barsheba, died. She was about seventy years old and Thomas was a few years older than that. Other men would have adjusted to the loss, but not Thomas. After recording a prenuptial agreement, having their individual estates go to their own heirs, he married again on November 30, 1826 to Frances Roberts.

In 1831 another twenty plus acres of the home tract was sold to Benoney. The tracts adjoined each other and were the eastern end of the home tract. Benoney would live there until 1832, when he sold the tracts and moved out of the area to the Craddock Creek area near the Staunton River.

By 1842 Thomas and Frances were becoming so old and feeble that they could not manage their own affairs. Thomas was over ninety (actually ninety-seven) years of age and Fanny was in her seventies. Pleasant Preston appointed a committee to handle their affairs. On April 11, 1842, Thomas died, having lived a long and fruitful life. Oddly enough he didn't leave a will. His wife, Fanny, lived past 1850. Per the prenuptial agreement, the land went to Thomas' children, who couldn't agree on how to divide it. After a chancery suit amongst themselves, the court decreed that it would be sold. On October 28, 1843, Pleasant Preston, now acting on behalf of the court, sold it to James Burroughs. The saga of the Thomases had come to a close. As to the final resting place of these two warriors, we haven't a clue. Thomas, Jr. had probably outlived all his contemporaries. However, his death did not go unnoticed, for it was recorded in the Lynchburg newspaper. He left his estate in the form of hundreds of descendants, many of which still live within a stone's throw of the old homeplace, a fitting tribute. Hopefully this makes people out of these first two. And we can go on for days into the others, but hopefully we gain nothing more tonight; you know who your ancestors were. They were real people. They were busy people. They were prosperous people. They were survivors. Somewhere in the Overstreets there is a rabbit, because they had sixteen kids the second go-round. And I suspect he (Thomas Jr.) may have worn Barsheba out. But these are the first two of the Overstreets. Everybody in here is descended from these people. These are the people who showed up in the county the year after it was founded, and lived to see it become part of the United States, and become populated. And let's face it, there's not a person in this room that could do what these people did. Not anymore. If you have questions, I am available to you, today and tomorrow. Hopefully this has been enlightening. The maps that I handed out should have allowed you, if you wanted to watch through them to follow me across the pieces of land. Hopefully I got it all. Every time I turned up a rock there's another piece of Overstreet under there. Hopefully this will help you folks out.


This ends Mr. Tinsley's quoted information. At the time he gave this speech, he did not know about the booklet "Overstreet-Hall Family," a copy of which is in the Bedford Museum, which traces some of the descendants of Thomas Overstreet, Jr.'s brother, John Overstreet, who settled in Illinois.

The following is quoted from the booklet "Overstreet-Hall Family," a copy of which is in the Bedford Museum, which traces some of the descendants of Thomas Overstreet, Jr.'s brother, John Overstreet, who settled in Illinois, and shows Thomas, Jr.'s Revolutionary War pension application. The portion dealing with Thomas, Jr. is quoted as follows:

Thomas Overstreet 1744-1842
(From his pension application): On the 29th day of October, 1833, personally appeared in open court, before the county court, now sitting, Thomas Overstreet, as resident of Russell Parish in this county and state aforesaid, aged 89 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 1833.
"That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers and served as herein stated--That in the fall, probably in September, he cannot recollect the day, 1777, he volunteered into the Service of the United States in Bedford County, Virginia, where he resided, under Capt. Samuel Campbell and Lieut. John Phelps, to march against the Indians, who were said at that time to be collected together in the western part of Virginia--His company rendezvoused at Bedford court house, and marched from thence thro Botecourt (sic-Botetourt) to a place called Benhevers Ford on Greenbrier River in Greenbrier County (now in West Virginia), a distance of about 130 miles, where they remained stationed one month--in expectation of the Indians--but not meeting with them, we were then marched to a mill in the same county, where we stationed about two months, still looking out for Indians, but they did not make their appearance. He was discharged by Capt. Campbell sometime in December 1777, but received no written discharge--There was no regular officers with the troops, nor any Continental regiments or companies with the troops during this tour--He was engaged in this tour three months--no other troops of any line along, but his company & no field officers."Again in the winter of 1777, he thinks the last of December, but he cannot recollect the day, he volunteered into the service of the United States, in Bedford county, Va., where he then lived, under Capt. William Leftwich, Lieut. John Phelps to march against the Indians, who were said to be still collected in the western counties of Virginia. His company rendezvoused at Anthony's Store in Bedford county & marched from thence thro Boutecourt to the lead mines on New River in Wythe county, Va. They were stationed at this place five weeks & were engaged in building a Fort, for the purpose of protecting the country against the Indians, but no Indians making their appearance, and the people becoming pacified, they were discharged by Capt. Leftwich, but received no written discharge. He was engaged in this tour five weeks--There were no regular officers, nor any continental regiments, or companies with the troops--no field officers--The troops consisting of his company alone--He was discharged at the expiration of his tour by Capt. Leftwich.
"In the month of October, he cannot recollect the day, 1779, he again volunteered into the service of the United States, in Bedford County, Va. under Capt. Jacob Early of the Virginia militia, for three months--His company rendezvoused at Maj. Ward's in Bedford County, Va. (now Campbell), and marched thence thro Charlotte, Prince Edward, Cumberland, Powhatan & Chesterfield counties to Petersburg, where (he) joined the army commanded by Genl. Lawson. His other officers were Col. Charles Lynch, Maj. Leftwich, latter of whom is the same officer he marched under at certain lead mines. He was stationed about half mile from Petersburg during the whole time. Of the regular officers he recollects, Genl. Lawson, Baron Steuben, Col. Holcombe. He was discharged in December 1779 by Col. Lynch, but received no written discharge--He refers to the affidavit of Maj. Samuel Mitchell, who served with this tour, to prove his services.
"In the past two first tours mentioned above, there was but one company at any time in the service--He served not less than the period mentioned below, to wit:--the first tour three months--the second tour, five weeks--& the third tour, three months, for which he claims a pension--He has no documentary evidence of any of his services--He refers to the afidavits of Maj. Sam'l Mitchell & John Turner. Mr. Turner cannot recollect the time, in which, he served the two first tours--"
'In answer to interrogatories he states:
1. He was born in Orange county, Va.--he believes 15 Oct--1744
2. He never had any register of his age
3. He lived in Bedford county, Va. when he entered the service each time & has lived there ever since the revolution & now resides there
4. He entered the service each time as a volunteer.
5. & 6. he has answered to the best of his recollection, in his declaration
7. William Leftwich & Samuel Mitchell are persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood, who can testify to his character, veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.'
Record
After relinquishing his claims to any other pension or bounty, except for the present one, he then declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any other agency nor any other state, he signs his name.
William Leftwich, Samuel Mitchell, and John Turner all residents of Bedford county then gave their affidavits as to their memories of Thomas' service: these in turn witnessed by various Justices of the Peace. The court then certified the declarations.
Thomas Overstreet was allowed a pension of $22.88 per year. His allowable service was seven months and forty-five days; the pension was dated back to March, 1833. He died in April, 1842. His entire life was lived in Bedford county (correction-except for about the first ten or so years in Orange County). On November 23, 1826 he had married Fanny Roberts of his home county. She was allowed a pension on her application, dated March 11, 1854, at which time she was eighty-five years of age, and residing in Bedford county. Like many Overstreets, they were Methodists and were married by a Methodist preacher. The account of his War activities as given by Thomas Overstreet gives a good idea of the type of services rendered by the militia forces.

This ends the Hall-Overstreet Genealogy quoted information. A footnote on the bottom of page 68 states, "The names Leftwich, Mitchell, and Turner are prominent in Bedford county history. These pensions may be thought of as the old age benefits and social security of that period of time."

The following is Thomas Overstreet's obituary from the "Lynchburg, Virginia Times":

Another Revolutionary Soldier gone!
--------, at his residence in Bedford county, on the 11th inst., Mr. THOMAS OVERSTREET, supposed to be between ninety and one hundred years old. He has left a numerous train of relations to lament his death. His reasoning faculties had been declining for several years previous to his death.

Thomas married Barsheba Turner in 1770 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA. Barsheba was born in 1745 in , Orange, Virginia, USA; died on 29 Nov 1825 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Agness Nelm in 1744 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA. Agness was born in 1723 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA; died on 17 Dec 1791 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]