Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14678, for Jesse Thompson, New York
Page 1

(8-1776)

SERVICE      NUMBER

New York [written under "SERVICE"]   Thompson, Jesse    S.14678 [written under "NUMBER"]

Carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

1262
New York
_________________
Jesse Thompson
of Fleming in the State of New York who was a [illegible - large smudge of ink] in the Company commanded by Captain R Henrick of the [space left blank]  commanded by [space for name left blank] in the New York line for Six months & 7 days

________________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of - 83 - Dollars 12 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
_________________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of October - 1832 and sent to A Gould
_________________________________________
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832.   $124.68
Semi=an. allowance ending 4 Mar '33  $41.56
$166.24

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Geo. C. Stiles Clerk,
Book D  Vol. 5   Page 140
Page 3

4219

Jesse Thompson
2d Lieut
admitted
6. mo. 7 days

[illegible]
Auburn
York
Page 4

BRIEF in the case of Jesse Thompson
of Fleming in the State of New York
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  a Judge Com. Pleas Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  yes

3.  How old is he?  Eighty one years

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 

[The following are column headings written horizontally across the page with vertical lines to form columns :]

Period.
Duration of Service. [under this heading is written:] Years, Months, Days.
Rank. [under this heading is written:] As a
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. [under this heading is written:] Gen.

[handwritten under the above column headings Is the following:]
[illegible] In 1775 June 28 to 1 Jany 1776 -} [written under heading "Period."] 
6 [written under "Months," under "Duration of Service."]
3 [written under "Days," under "Duration of Service."]
2d Lieut. [written under "Rank. As a"]
Capt Rufus Herrick & Charles Graham [written under "Gen. under Names of General and Field Officers ..."]

1776 - [written under "Period."]
1 [written under "Days," under "Duration of Service."]
[illegible} - 1776 [illegible - looks like "Carded" written under "Period."
3 [written under "Days," under "Duration of Service."]
Lt.  [written under "Rank. As a"]

5.  In what battles was he engaged? [unanswered]

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Washington N.York

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Ulysses Doubleday & John [illegible last name - looks like possibly "Graves"] [illegible] to [illegible] living evidence

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? [unanswered]

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
[illegible signature]
Examining Clerk.
Page 5

No 4219
Jesse Thompson

NY.
Page 6

State of New York,
Cayuga COUNTY,}ss.  On this 27th day of July A.D. 1832 personally appeared ["in open Court" crossed out] before ^me Judge of^ the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Cayuga and state of New-York, ["now setting" crossed out] Jesse Thompson a resident of Fleming in the County of Cayuga and State of New-York, aged 81 - 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 7th, 1832:  That he entered the service ["under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:" is crossed out] :- [the rest of the form is handwritten} of the United States under and by virtue of the annexed commission about the 28th day of June AD 1775 and assisted ["in raising a company of soldiers" is crossed out] the captain and Senior Lieutenant in raising a company of Soldiers at their own expense, that said company was raised to serve during the remainder of the year, that he continued to serve in said company as Second Lieutenant for a term of six months and three days, that he marched with said company and officers to Albany the place of General rendezvous.  that from there said company marched to Ticonderoga where at that place he was sent by the order of Gen Schuyler to Montreall to purchase horses - that he left said service about the first of January AD 1776
He further declares that when the enemy burned the town of Esopus on the North River he was sent by the town committee to ascertain the true situation of the enemy and was engaged one day.  That in the year 1776 he believes he was called repose to act as Lieutenant of a company called out to suppress an insurrection of the tories and was engaged in that service about three days - that the name of his Captain in the six months service was Rufus Henrick - and the name of the first Lieutenant in said service Charles Graham -, that during the time of the Revolutionary War he resided in the town of Washington in the County of Dutchess in the State of NewYork

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State or territory
[signed] Jesse Thompson
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] J. L. Richardson
first Judge of Cayuga
Page 7

We, Ulysses F Doubleday residing in Auburn in the County of Cayuga and John Grover residing in the same town - hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Jesse Thompson who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding declaration; that we believe him to be 81 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been  ["a soldier" is crossed out] an ^officer^of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] U.F. Doubleday
[signed] John Grover
[signed] J.L. Richardson
first Judge of Cayuga

And the said Judge does hereby declare his 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" is crossed out] Officer, and served as he states.  And the court further certifies, that it appears to them, that John Grover who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Justice of peace resident in Auburn - and Ulysses F Doubleday who has also signed the same, is a resident in Auburn aforesaid - and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.  & further that there is no Clergyman residing in his immediate neighborhood.  that the town of Fleming adjoins the town of Auburn, and that the said Jesse Thompson is unable to attend Court on account of bodily infirmity
[signed] J L. Richardson first Judge of Cayuga

I, Michael S Myers Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Cayuga and State of New-York, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said ["Court" is crossed out] ^Judge^ in the matter of the application of Jesse Thompson for a pension.  and I further certify that Joseph  L Richardson before whom the foregoing ["certificate" is crossed out] declaration was made and by whom the foregoing certificate was made was on the day of the date thereof and still the first Judge of Said Court duly commissioned and sworn and that full faith and credit are to be given to his acts in that capacity - that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said judge and believe his signature to the foregoing declaration & certificates to be genuine
In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Court & subscribed my name the 27th day of July AD 1832
[signed] M S. Myers, Clerk
Page 8

14678
INVALID.
[handwritten sideways at top left of page:] RevWar

File lNo. 14.678
Jesse Thompson
Lieut: Rev. War


Act:  June 7th 1832
Index:- Vol. 1, Page 374

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 9

IN CONGRESS.

The DELEGATES of the UNITED COLONIES of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Suffex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, to [handwritten] Jesse Thompson Gentleman [end handwritten]

WE reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO by these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be [handwritten] second Lieutenant in the fourth Company of the fourth Regiment of the New York Forces [end handwritten]

in the Army of the United Colonies, raised for the Defense of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile Invasion thereof.  You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of [handwritten] a Lieutenant [end handwritten] by doing and performing all Manner of Things thereunto belonging.  And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your Command, to be obedient to your Orders as [handwritten] a Lieutenant [end handwritten]  And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from Time to Time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United Colonies, or Committee of Congress, for that Purpose appointed, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United Colonies, or any other your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you.  This Commission to continue in Force until revoked by this or a future Congress. [handwritten] Philadelphia June 28th 1775. [end handwritten]

By Order of the Congress,
[signed] John Hancock President

Attest. [signed] Cha Thomson [illegible]

S.File 14,678.
Page 10

To the Honorable the Congress of the United States.
The Memorial of the undersigned humbly showeth - That your memorialist, though young, took an early part in the revolutional contest, that in the year 1775 he was appointed a Lieutenant in the first Army raised by the then United Collonies not States ["States" underlined], as by the Commission accompanying this will appear, that your memorialist with the Captain and senior Lieutenant in the same company in pursuance of the orders given for that purpose, raised a respectable company to serve during the remaining part of the year, all at their own expense, that we then divided said company into three sections, that your memorialist took one section, about one third of said company, under his immediate charge, balloted them out and exercised them for a considerable time at his own expense, tho' this burden was lightened by the friendship of the people towards him and to the  cause we were engaged ^in^  That the orders then came to repair to Albany, we then marched our company about 60 miles to that place of rendezvous, with such baggage as appeared necessary at our own expense, after which we were provided for and conducted Tho' [or possibly "Thro'"] the campaign by the orders of our superior Officers which was Northward, to the end of the inlistment of our men.
Your Memorialist further states, that during said service he received no additional rations for rank or any additional expense, but according to the best of his recollection he received his pay which was about 13 dollars a month in Continental money, without any further compensation - He further states, that in the following year, he for himself and brother Officers went to Albany hoping to find some arrangement by which we might be remunirated, but to no purpose save additional expense, no such arrangement having been settled that he could get knowledge of - Your Memorialist was not further called upon in the regular army, tho' frequently called out, by day and by night, to suppress and detect internal foes - He now comes forward to that Government which it has been his ambition to assist in establishing, his pride in its support,^for that patronage^ which has been bestowed on others for services in the Continental army, he conceives his claim equal to those, when it is considered that he
Page 11

he stept forth in these peri[rest of word missing due to what looks like a hole punched in top of page - possibly "perilous"] times when his life was not only exposed if in battle but ignominiously if falling into the hands of a relentless foe - Your memorialist views with pleasure the recommendation of a former President, whose exalted mind and benevolent heart conceived a plan to alleviate the aged who had bourn, at least in past, the burden of the war which terminated so glorious for our Country, and he now views with pleasing satisfaction an equally benevilent President towards faithful soldiers, and whose lofty mind will appreciate the first movers, conductors and actors in the revolution - Under the foregoing views your memorialist states, that he has arrived within a year and a fiew months to the age of fourscore years, that he has through the course of a long life paid his proportion of public expense, that his general pursuit has been farming, and having obtained some knowledge in the Mathematicks has spent a considerable part of his time in Surveying, he has been called in public service, having served repeatedly in the Civil, the Military and Legislative departments, but never been in possession of a [illegible] office nor ever arrived to affluent circumstances, is now in possession of a small estate only which yields him a present living with a yearly depresiation, age having deprived him of labour, he therefore has serious forebodings, that if his life should ^be^ prolonged to total inactivity that he may be reduced to absolute want. - -
In thus addressing your Honorable body your memorialist is happy, that one of its members is from his ^[illegible - looks like possibly "present"]^ residence and one other from the County of Duchess, the place of his nativity and  residence  'till of late, and where and from whence his public services have been performed, to whom you are refered for his character as it respects just representations as also of other particulars. - Your memorialist in contemplating on human events is struck with the fact, that his contemporaries in arms in those early days, with but few exceptions have paid the debt of nature and are no more, and that he must [illegible] long pay that debt; and that the intermediate space between the present and that period may be passed through with as much ease as the last stage of human nature will admit, and especially without the painful apprehension of want or of its reallity, your Memorialist with a candid and ful conviction of its justice, asks to be placed of the pension list, together with such other allowance for his former services and sacrafises as your just and humain judment shall direct - - And your Memorialist, as in duty bound will ever pray -  [signed] Jesse Thompson
Novr 3d 1829
Copy from the original
Page 12

I William Moulton of the town of Butler in the County of Wayne and State of Newyork certify that I have before me the memorial of Jesse Thompson to Congress Dated Novr. 3d 1829 and know the facts therein stated as far relates to his services in the year 1775 to be true.  I further state that ^I^ was from the same neighbourhood and served in the same Company as Sargeant therein Subsequently I have known him in the several stations mentoned in said memorial and have full confidence in ^his^ veracity in every matter therein stated and fully deserving of the patronage therein requested

I John Grover Justice of the peace in and for the County of Cayuga & State of New York certify that the above is a true copy of ["the one" crossed out] ^an affidavit^ Sworn to before me by the above named William Moulton  I further certify that the said affidavit as I am informed and believe ^is now lost^ and that the said William Moulton died about the 3d day of July AD 1831 so that it is impossible for the said Thompson to obtain a new affidavit from the said William Moulton - Dated that the said affidavit was made in the year 1831. in the fall of the same year Dated June 30th 1832
[signed] John Grover Justice

State of New York
Cayuga County}ss  I Michael S Myers Clerk of the County of Cayuga & State aforesaid do certify that John Grover Esquire was during the whole of the year 1831 ^& still is^ a Justice of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned & sworn & that full faith and credit are to be given to his acts in that capacity
I further certify that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said
Page 13

Justice and believe his signature to the foregoing certificate to be genuine  
In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said County and subscribed my name the 30th day of June AD 1832
[signed] M. S. Myers

[written sideways along bottom right side of page:] No 1046