MDSSAR Marks Benjamin C. Woods grave in Congressional Cemetery
On Saturday, 11 April 2009, the MDSSAR placed a Grave marker on Private Benjamin C. Wood gravesite in Congressional Cemetery, Washington, DC. The ceremony was well attended despite the cold rainy day. The MDSSAR was present to present the Colors, and fire a musket salute. After the ceremony, MDSSAR President, R.Duane Tackitt held a reception for the attendee's at his house in Washington, DC.
Benjamin C. Wood was a native of Charles County, Maryland, born in 1763, and volunteered for service in the Revolutionary War. He served as a private in Captain George Dent’s Company who was under the command of General John Dent with the Maryland troops. Private Wood served in 1778, six months; in 1779, nine months; in 1780, nine months; in 1781, six months. “During these periods of service he participated in actions that included watching the enemy and preventing the landings at Sandy 
Point, Maryland Point, Chicamungia tobacco warehouse, Pomonky tobacco warehouse, and the Lyles’ near the month of Piscatawny creek…when at a short distance from Lyles’ dwelling house which the enemy burned, there were thirteen of the enemy made prisoners by the party to which the declared belonged. His general in all of these tours was General John Dent of Charles County, Maryland.” Paraphrased from the Declaration by Benjamin C. Wood to Justice of the Peace James Rod on February 10, 1834.
Little is known about Private Wood’s personal life. After the Revolutionary War, Benjamin moved to Alexandria, Virginia, and married Ann Talbott in Washington, DC on May 30, 1819. He filed for a pension for his service on December 9, 1833, at which time he was living in Washington, D.C.
His pension never mentions any family. On February 9, 1838, Wood writes his will in Washington, D.C., stating that his body to be buried under the direction of the Washington Lodge, Alexandria, and the lodges of Washington, having been a faithful member. He leaves his personal property to his wife Lydia Wood and the balance after all specific requests to his niece, Mrs. Lydia A. Wood. His death occurs on February 11, 1838, just two days after writing his will.
His obituary appeared in the Daily National Intelligencer dated February 15, 1838: “On the 11 instant, at his residence, Navy Yard, after an illness of a few days, BENJAMIN C. WOOD, formerly of Alexandria, D.C.”
Wood was laid to rest at the historic Congressional Cemetery, in Washington, D.C. In April of 1938, a letter was written to the Quartermaster
General, Memorial Branch at the War Department, Washington, D.C., by A. D. Miller which read “… the application for headstone for Benjamin C. Wood is returned herewith…”
Until 1938, Private Wood laid buried for 100 years with no stone to honor him for his service to our country. The headstone now reads, “Benjamin C. Wood, Pvt. Dent’s Maryland Troops, Revolutionary War, February 25, 1838.”
For more Photos from the event please visit the Color Guard Photo Album.
