Our thanks to Steve for the website for the Courson cemetery in Licking Co., Ohio. Following are some notes on Benjamin and the cemetery. Gwen Notes for BENJAMIN COURSON, SR.: Family legend is that Benjamin was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and suffered a injury while loading a cannon. The only veteran of that name that has been found to date is that of Benjamin Cousen/Coursin who served as a private with the 3rd PA Regiment. Only two sheets of Company Pay Roll are included in this record. The one saying that he volunteered January 28 (no year given) enlistment January 1, 1777 to April 1, 1777. He was paid Half pay of 8 pounds 17 shillings 6d. On the bottom of each sheet is a note: Casualties - died Aug 30 (again no year given). In the 1790 census of Northumberland Co., PA we find Benjamin Courson with one male under 16 (Isaac?) one male over 16 and two females (Catharine? and Benj's wife). In 1800 census of Fayette Co., PA lists Benjamin Courson one male under 10 (Benjamin Jr.), one male 10-16 (Isaac), one male 45 and up (Benjamin Sr.), one female under 10 (Charity?), one female 10-16 (?), and one female 26-45 (wife) . Benjamin is in Ohio by 1809 when he is listed on the tax list of 1809 and 1810 of Bowling Green Twp., Licking Co., Ohio. In 1810 he bought 22 1/2 acres in Bowling Green Twp. and sold same to Isaac the 21 Oct 1816. No wife is listed in this transaction. He could have been living with James Orr Jr. in 1820 as indicated by the listing of a male over 45. There was no female of comparable age, so if this was Benjamin, his wife must have died previous to this date. It is probable that she died prior to the move to Ohio or shortly after arrival. In 1824 Benjamin filed claim against the estate of James Orr Jr. In the 1830 there is a male, age 90-100 at the residence of James Orr Sr. that is believed to be Benjamin. On 21 Jan 1833 we find a document protecting the son-in-law of James Orr from any claims made by Benjamin Courson Sr. The following is from a Oct. 23, 1979 letter from Helen McGaughey of Newark, Ohio: There is reason to be believe that he could have been living with Severn and Jane Johnson at the end of his life and is probably buried in one of two cemeteries on Shelley Road in Bowling Green Twp., both of these cemeteries on property once owned by the Courson families. One is located on the Suss Courson farm, measures about 20 by 40 feet and appears to have had three rows of graves. It is overgrown with trees and many saplings and full of brush, briars and poison plants. This is most likely Benjamin Sr's burial site since it is here that James and Charity Courson Orr are said to be buried. At one time Isaac's broken stone was there but is now gone; the foot stone for Isaac's wife is still there but gives no information. In 1979 when this information was given only three stones were standing only one of interest to Courson research - Peter Courson, son of Isaac and Jane, died Nov. 23, 1863, aged 60 yr 4 mo 19 da Two other stones were dug up in 1979; one being that of Peter! 's wife Nancy, died May 29, 1873, aged 65 yr 1 mo 7d, and the other a Harris infant. The other cemetery is about a mile farther down (south?) to the Emma Courson farm. This has been a larger cemetery with many graves and is beautifully mowed, being a part of the area mowed for lawn of the country-estate type home recently built there. The marker for Robert Orr, died Dec 31, 1834, aged 55 yr, has been moved to the barn. His wife's, Elizabeth is still standing but is broken right at the point of giving the date of death, making it impossible to read. However it had been copied earlier and her death date is known to be May 15, 1861, aged 88 yr. Also there is the stone of William, son of J. & J. Orr, sied Aug 1 1842, aged 3 mos. A marker which can not be clearly read is either Robt. John Orr or Rev. John Orr, d Aug 29, 1842.Sr. Her name could have been Catherine or Mary. Her age listed as 26-45 in the 1800 census would indicate that she was born 1754-1774. If Catharine was born 1766 these dates do not compute. It is possible that the wife listed in the 1800 cens! us was a second wife.