Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32440, for Thomas Pearson, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(9-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Penn. Pearson, Thomas S.32440
Va.
CONTENTS
Page 2

[left column]
22842
Indiana
Thomas Pearson
of Founta Co in the State of indiana
who was a private in the cours commanded
by Captain Ripp of the reg - commanded
by Col Irwin in the Pennsylvania
line for 2 years
Inscribed on the roll of Indiana
at the rate of 80 dollars Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of October
1833 and P 16
Patterson Covington
Arrears to the 4th of Sept $200-
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 40-
$240-
{Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 124
[right column]
Died
Aug 4 1835
Page 3

27.230
Thos Pearson
Indiana
from 1776 private
2 yr $80
on Roll
ba r.cc
P.H. Pattern
Covington
Jack
Page 4

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is
necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus:}). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
A Statement, showing the Service of Thos Pearson
Period which the service was rendered
1776 1 P-
Duration of the claimant's service.
Years. Months. Days. Rank of claimant.
names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Col. Rippey
Col Irvin
Cap Woodson
Col Buford
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
92
Pa
&
rea
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditions and
a Roll
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J.L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions,
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," ""militia," ad "volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c, Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out s patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming 
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk
considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
On this day of personally appeared (a) before
A.B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District
aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d), with and
served in the (c) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and state in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. this form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
 who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of
sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A.B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of for a pension. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of &c.
If, on examination fo the proper record, the names of applicants making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia.
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C.D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with, who has
subscribed and sworn to he above declaration; that we believe him to be
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
(And then will follow the certificate of the Court. )
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after 
putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C.D. who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission;
but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the service
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will
also, whether he produce suh evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. the facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted'
and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. 
All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary
war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6.{To a Soldier.{Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given,
and what has become of it?
{To an Officer.{Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what 
has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
the Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
the applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the ag he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. 
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Cort or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure,
taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
(a)The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow
the rule laid down for his guidance.
(b)The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
conforming to the rule.
(c)The age of the claimant must invariantly be mentioned.
(d) The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
(e)Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, to language so
definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant, by reason of the
loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that, by reason
of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his
recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:__For___year___months, and ___
days, I served as a ____. for___months and ___days, I served as a __; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law
directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months,
is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is
highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an imbodied corps called into service by competent authority;
that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] the Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public
seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains
the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses
who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well
as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses,
and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
If the notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k]This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be witness, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 7

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act
of Congress of the seventh of June 1832
The State of Indiana Fountain County Ict
In the Fountain Circuit Court Term of- September 1833
Personally appeared before the Honourable John R Porter
president judge of first judicial circuit of the State
of Indiana and the honourable Robert Millford or
of the associate judge of the Fountain Circuit Court in open court
Thomas Pearson a resident of the county and state aforesaid
aged ninety two 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 provision
made by an act of Congress Passed June the seventh
Eighteen hundred and Thirty two that he enlisted in the
army of the United States in the Pennsylvania line with
and served in the company commanded by Captain William
Rippey in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six in
27230
the month of February in the County of Carlisle and
State of Pennsylvania the regiment to which he was
attached was commanded by Colonel Irwin and
the time for which he enlisted was one year - was marched
to Philadelphia and from thence to join General
Sullivan who was then stationed on the month of
Surrell never after we got them I was sent under
General Thompson with eighteen hundred men to
go against the British at the three rivers where we
were defeated and I was taken prisoner and I continued
a prisoner from the eighth of June until the
twenty second day of July when I made my escape and
Page 8

Returned home to Philadelphia where I was taken sick
before my term of service expired which detained my
in the army about one month longer than the time for
which i enlisted I volunteered a second time in the
year seventeen hundred and seventy seven in the
Spring of the year in the city of Philadelphia in the
company commanded by Captain Howard
Regiment - Commanded by Colonel Hampton was at
the Battle of Brandywine and also at the battles of
Princeton and Trenton and was with General Washington
at the Valley Forge and continued being occasionally in
the service for about two years I cannot state the exact
time of my service under the engagements as I was in
and out of the service but believed it was at least
fifteen months I enlisted a third time in the fall
of the year seventeen hundred and ninety nine in the
County of Rockingham and State of Virginia for the term
of sixteen months under Captain Woodson Colonel Bluford
marched the Virginia line to Petersburgh and lay there ten months and then
went to guard the Baggage waggons of the said Virginia
troops to Camden went from there with a view to go by
Neuks Corner to Charlestown but before we got there heard
that the place was taken by the British when we retreated to
the Congaree River at Lanieries Ferry from there we retreated
and were overtaken by the British near the hanging
rack where the two armies met and we were defeated
Shortly after the battle I was sent by Colonel Buford home
with a young man by the name of Samuel Gillmore
who lived in Rockingham County Virginia and never
again joined the service at that time I had about six weeks
Page 9

of the time for which I enlisted to serve the whole of my
services to the best of my knowledge, and belief are as
follows first tour thirteen month second tour fifteen
months third tour sixteen and a half months that
he hereby relinquished every claim whanten to a pension
or annuity except the present and he declares that his
name is not on the pension Roll of any agency in any
State Answer to the first question I was home in
England in the month of May 1741 Answer to DG
I have had a record of my age but it is lost answer
to third question I was living in the county of Carlisle Pa
in Philadelphia and in Rockingham County Virginia
when I was called into the service.
Since the war I have lived in Virginia on flint River
in Tenasee on the Stone River in Maryland and Indiana
and now live in Fountain County Indiana
49 I was called into Service by enlistment and volunteering
as above stated Answer to fifth I have Stated
my service & circumstantially as possible above
Answer to question I never Received a discharge
or a commission I am known in my present
neighborhood by Michael C Black and Wm Lawson
who can testify to my character for truth and honesty
that he does not know of any evidence by whom he can
prove his service
Sworn to and Subscribed this 12th day of Sept
1833
Thomas his mark Pearson
I Mitchell C Blac a clergyman residing in the County of Fountain
and Wm Lawson a resident of said county do herby certify
that we are well acquainted with Thomas Pearson who has Subscribed and Sworn to the above declaration that we
believe him to be ninety two years of age that he is respected
and believed in the neighborhood where he resided to
have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur
Page 10

in that opinion Sworn to and Subscribed the day
and year aforesaid
Mitchell C Black
Wm Lawson
And the said county do herby declare the opinion after
putting the interrogatories inscribed by the War department
that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier and served as he stated and the court further
certify that he appear to them that Michael C Black
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman
resident in said county and that Willliam Lawson
who had also signed this certificate is a resident in
the county and a credible person and that their
statement is entitled to credits
John R Porter
State of Indiana
Fountain County
I William B White Clerk of the 
Circuit Court of said County do certify that
the foregoing contains the original documents
of the said County i n the matter of the
application of Thomas Pearson for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of affix this
12th day of September 1833.
Wm B White Clerk
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May 22, 1933
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
BA-J/EEL
John Bake- S.31538
ThomasPearson-S.32440
Miss Linda Earl
the Elms
Attica, Indiana
Dear Madam:
Your letter addressed to the Comptroller General, this city,
has been referred to this office for reply in regard to a number
of soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the
lack of a clerical force available for furnishing such information,it has not been possible to make a series of investigations and reports
for one person or organization relative to soldiers of that
war. The records of Thomas Pearson and John Bake are given below
as found in the papers on file in their respective claims for pension
based upon their service in the Revolutionary War.
John Bake
S.31538
John Bake was born in 1746 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
While residing in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, he volunteered 
August 20, 1776, served at various times on tours until August 28,
1778, amounting to twenty months in all as a private in Captains
John Phillips' and Cornelius Hanbock's (possibly meant for Hoppock)
Companies, Colonels Chambers and Chamberlain's New Jersey Regiment,
was in the battle of Germantown and in two skirmishes.
After the Revolution, he lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio and 
Indiana.
He was allowed pension on his application executed March 22, 1833,
while residing in Fountain County, Indiana.
Page 12

there are no data as to John Bake's family.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the
name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of
the Revolutionary War pensioner, John Bake (S.31538), you should address
the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records
Division, this city, citing all of the following data:
John Bake, Certificate No. 26501, issued February 27, 1834,
rate $46.33 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832,
Indiana Agency.
Thomas Pearson
S.32440
Thomas Pearson was born in 1741, in England.
While residing in Carlisle County, Pennsylvania, he enlisted
in February, 1776, served as a private in Captain William Rippey's
Company, Colonel Irvine's Pennsylvania Regiment, was in the battle
of Three Rivers, where he was taken prisoner and held until July 22,
1776, when he made his escape, was later in the battles of Trenton
and Princeton and served thirteen months: he enlisted in the spring
of 1777, while residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and served
at various times during the next two years, at least fifteen months
in all, as a private in Captain Howard's Company, Colonel Humpton's
Pennsylvania Regiment and was in the battle of Brandywine: he again
enlisted in the fall of 1779, while residing in Rockbridge County,
Virginia, served in Captain Woodson's Company, Colonel Buford's Virginia
Regiment, marched to the south and was in the battle of Hanging
Rock; length of this service sixteen and one-half months.
After the Revolutions, he resided in the states of Tennessee
and Maryland, then moved to Indiana.
H was allowed pension on his application executed September 12, 
1833, while residing in Fountain County, Indiana.
AB - He died August 4, 1836. There are no data as to his family.
Very truly yours
A.D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.
Page 13

Free
COVINGTON IN.
SEP 17
Sept 30
hold
27.230
Lewis Cass lacyat war
war department Pension office
Page 14

Canoyton 14 September 1833
Dear Sir
I herewith Return the Declaration
of John Pearson amended as directed I
also forward you a Declaration for
Thomas Pearson who I believe has done
more service than any man in the
County and who is verry poor I much
beg your attention to Boath - those
case soon as probable - I am
her with great Respect your Ve-
P.H Patterson
Osborns papers
taken one
Page 15

[left column]
32 440
Ray INVALID.
File No. 32.440
Thomas Pearson
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 319
[Arrangement of 1870,]
[right column]
1913, Selpt 11 heist to
Nancy C. Morrow Tidwrite
Pa. (Her letter is Edw
Steen S37459)
1933. May 22. Hist to
Miss Linda Earl Letter
in case John Bake
P.31538 - Egel
Page 16

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3-325
S32440 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PLEANSION.
Washington, D.C.,____, 19____
In reply to your request of ____, received___
for a statement of the military history of Thomas Pearson
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (or his widow's ) application for pension
on file in this Bureau.
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
Feb. 1776
Spring 1777
Fall 1779
LENGTH OF SERVICE.
13mos
15mos
16 1/2mos
RANK.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN COLONEL.STATE
Wm. Rippey Irvine Pa.
Captured at battle of Three Rivers leands June 8,1776
and escaped July 22, 1776
Howard Humpton Pa.
Woodson Buford Va
Battles engaged in, Three Rivers, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Hanging Rock
Residence of soldier at first enlistment, Carlisle Co Pa.
Date of application for pension, Sept. 12, 1833. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Fountain lea Ind.
Age at date of application, born in England in May 1741.
Remarks: 
Respectfully,
Commissioner.