Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 18,120, for Thomas Tennant, Massachusetts
Page 1

8-1776
SERVICE NUMBER
MASS. Tennant, Thomas A 18, 120
Elizabeth
CONTENTS
Page 2

3618
Albany New York
any Ark
Elizabeth Tennant
widow of Thomas Tennant
who died on the 11th of March 1808
of Cortland in the State of NY
who was a Private in the Comp commanded
by Captain Mays of the Regt. commanded
by Col Brook in the Mapa
line for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of Albany NY
at the rate of 80 Dollars -- Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 2nd day of March
1841& sent to Adam Strong German
Chenango Co. New York
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1841 $840.
Semi=annual allowance ending Hill '42 40.00
$880.00


Revolutionary Claim,
Act July 4, 1836,
Section tho 3d
Recorded by Dahl Addison Clerk
Book 6 Vol 1st Page 131
Page 3

Town Clerks Office
Greenwich December 9th 1837
I John Haskell of Greenwich County of Hampshire and
State of Massachusetts of Lawful age do depose and say
that I am the Town Clerk and have the records of said
Town in my care and that I have examined the records
of said Town for the year Seventeen Hundred and
Seventy four and find no records of any Publishment
or Marriage during that year and I have examined
the Parish Church Records of said Town and find
Recorded in said Parish Church Book as follows viz "
November twenty first Seventeen Hundred and Seventy
four Thomas Tennant & Elizabeth Houth ware Maried
I hereby certify that the above extract is a True Copy
of
the records with the exception of the date which
is expressed on the record in fair legible figure as
follows. 1774 Novr 21 Thomas Tennant & Elizabeth Houth
ware Married I John Haskell above named
depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk
in the County Town and State afforesaid and
that the Above Extract from the records of Said
Parish Church with the exception Above named
as certified by me are correct
John Haskell Town Clerk
Hampshire December 13th 1837 Then the above named
John Haskell Esqr personally appeared and made oath that the
above affidavit by him subscribed is true. I further certify
I am acquainted with him & know he is such Town Clerk as be
Stated above
Johan Mercy Justice of the Peace
Page 4

I certify that Johann Mercy whose
certificate is given on the other page
is a Justice of the peace & has been such
for years & his Signature is genuine
Dec 13. 1838 [Geo. Grennllf]
M
Page 5

4130
Elizabeth Tennant
declaration under
3d sec July 4 1836
of Willet
Cortland Co
NYork
m74.0.08

J.C. Clark 
[Uncle Retz]
adm o
2 yrs pri
80$
No deduction
Adam Strong
German
Chenango Co
NY
Page 6

Commonwealth f Massachusetts
Secretarys office Oct 7. 1837
I hereby certify that it appears from
original documents remaining in this office, that
Thomas Tennant of Greenwich, enlisted in the
7th Mass. Regiment, Brooks') on the 5th of
March 1777 and served until the 12th of March
1780, and was honorably discharged
Witness my hand and the seal
of the State.
John P. Bigelow
Secy of th coun lth
Page 7

State of New York
Cortland County ss:
On this 23d day of December,
1837 personally appeared before me a Judge of
the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County,
Elizabeth Tennant, a resident of Willet in said
County and State, aged 76 years and upwards
who being first duly sworn according to law, doth
on her oath make the following declaration, in order
to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the
act of Congress, passed July 4, 1836
That she is the widow of Thomas Tennant, who was
a private soldier in the 7th Regiment of Massachu
setts troops and who served as she believes from the 5th
March 1777 to the 12th March 1780 according to the annex
ed Certificate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts
She further declares that her maiden name
was Elizabeth Horth, a daughter of Thomas Horth of
Greenwich Mass: that she was married to the said Thomas
Tennant at Greenwich aforesaid on the 21st day of No
vember 1774, by the Rev. Robert Cutler a Presbetyrian
Minister of said town: that her husband the said
Thomas Tennant died at Cherry Valley in the State of
New York on the 11th day of March, 1808 and that she
has remained a widow ever since that period, as will
more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annex
Ed
In addition to the proof of her marriage con-
tained in the certificate of the town Clerk of Greenwich
she herewith sends to the Department a family record
on a leaf which was saved from her family Bible
which was for a great many years in the family &
which is genuine and which confines the statement of
Page 8

the Parish Records
She has no documentary evidence of
her husbands service other than that herewith sent. She
remember well that he was at Boston considerably that
he was at Ticonderoga and was at Wyoming with Gen
Sullivan
she also says that by reason of her bodily infirmity
she is not able to appear in open Court to make her declara-
tion.
her
Sworn to and subscribed this  Elizabeth x Tennant
day and year above written mark
Oliver Kingman Judge
of Cortland County Court

State of New York
Cortland County ss:

Cyrus Tennant of Willet in said County a
ged 43 years, being duly sworn, says, that his father
Thomas Tennant above named died at Cherry Valley, New 
York in March 1808: and that his mother the above named
Elizabeth, Tennant has remained his widow ever since not
having intermarried with any person.
Sworn this day and year aforesaid  Cyrus Tennant
before meCyrus L
Oliver Kingman a Judge
of Cortland County Court
Judge's opinion.
I, the said Judge Oliver Kingman do hereby certify that
I am fully satisfied from the foregoing deposition &
the documents annexed, that the above named Eliza
beth Tennant was married to the above and within
named Thomas Tennant on the 21 day of November
1774: that the said Thomas Tennant Served as a
Page 9

soldier in the Revolutionary war for two years and
upwards: that he died in the year 1808 and
that the above named Elizabeth Tennant has re
mained his widow ever since, not having intermarried
I am also satisfied that she is unable
from her bodily weakness and infirmities to appear
personally in open Court to make her declaration
I am well acquainted with the within named
Cyrus Tennant and he is a credible person
Dated at Cincinnatus in the County
of Cortland, the day and year aforesaid
Oliver Anyman Judge
of Courtland County Court
State of New York
Cortland County SS
I Oren Stimson Clerk of said
County do certify that Oliver Kingman before
whom the preceding proceedings in the matters of
the application of Elizabeth Tennant for a pen
sion purport to have been had was at the date of
the same a Judge of the County County paid
County, and that the several signatures purporting
to be his are genuine
Witness my hand and the seal
of said County this 27th day of
December A.D. 1837
Oren Stimson Clerk
Page 10

State of New York
Cortland County
on this 7th day of September 1841
personally appeared before the Hon Oliver Kingman
a Judge of said Cortland County [Com plea] courts,
Elizabeth Tennant, a resident of the town of Willett in said
County who being first duly sworn according to law doth
on her oath make the following further declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made
by the act of Congress named in her former declaration
made before his Hon Oliver Kingman on or about
the twenty third day of December 1837. this deponent
deposeth and saith that she at the time last
mentioned had employed one B P Prindle Esqr
as her atty in the case refered to, that she has
not seen him since the making of her said former
declaration, that she is informed he resides in
the Citty of Albany in this state a distance of about
180 miles from this deponent that she therefore
has not been able to prosecute her said claim, by the
aid of her said atty any farther that she has
been shewn a report when her said claims assigned
to the Hon J C Clark, as of Feby 19, 1839. this deponent 
further deposeth and saith that in respect to a
leaf purporting to contain the family record, that 
soon after the decease of her said husband she requested 
one Cornelius Gould, a son in law of this deponent, since
desease, to make a family record on a blank leaf
in her bible, that he did so, that this deponent is
unable to state as to the correctness of said record for
the reason that she never was educated in
signers never understood the use of figuers, and that 
she has never seen the said leaf since the making
of her former declaration and that she is unable
to state what use her former atty intended to
make of said leaf. This deponent further deposeth
and saith that in respect to the identity of her said
husbond she dose identify him by her former decla
Page 11

ration the marriage certificate accompaning the same
and as will more fully appear by referances to the
proof hereunto annexed, and this deponent
further deposeth and saith that Robert Tennant, so named
in the annexed affidavit is a son of this deponent
and of her said husband Thomas Tennant, deceased
and that this deponent is and remains the widow of ┃
Thomas Tennant deceased, in her former declaration
named.
her
Sworn & Subscribed before me Elisebeth X Tennant
September 7th 1841 and I also   mark
certify that I am well acquainted 
with the above named Elizebeth
Tennant and that her statements
are entitled to Credit
Oliver Kingman Judge of
Cortland County Court
Page 12

State of New York
Cortland County ⎬
on this 7th day of September 1844
personally appeared before the Hon Oliver Kingman
Judge in and for said Cortland County Com
[plea] County Robert Tennant a resident of the
town of Willett in said County aged fifty five
years who being first duly sworn according to law
deposeth and saith that he is a son of Thomas
Tennant deceased and of Elizabeth Tennant in the
annexed affidavid named, and that he allways
understood from both of his parents above named
that they were residents of Greenwich in Massachusetts
state, at the time of the revolutionary war, and that
his father above named had been a soldier of
the war aforesaid, and this deponent further
deposeth and saith that at the decease of his father
above named he was present, in the town of
Cherryvally in the County of Otsego in this State, and
he stood by the bed side of his father untill the
heart left the body
Sworn & Subscribed before me   Robert Tennant
September 7th 1841 and I further
certify that I am well acquainted
with the above named Robert
Tennant and that his statements
are entitled to credit
Oliver Kingman Judge of
Cortland County Court
Page 13

State of New York
Cortland County
on this 7th day of September 1841
personally appeared before the Hon Oliver Kingman
a Judge in and for said Cortland County Court
a courts, Peter Eaton a resident of the
town of Gillett in said County, who being first
duly sworn according to law, deposeth and
saith that at the town of Cherryvally in the County of
Otsego, this deponent was acquainted with Thomas
Tennant (deceased) husband of Elizabeth Tennant
in the annexed affidavit, that at the decease
of said Thomas Tennant, this deponent went
in to the room and has shewn the corps by Robt
Tennant in the annexed affidavid named, son of
said Thomas Tennant deceased, and of Elizabeth
Tennant in the annexed affidaved; and this
deponent further deposeth and saith that he
knows, Elizabeth Tennant in the annexed affidaved
to be the identical person and widow of said
Thomas Tennant deceased, and that he
understood and knows that the said Thomas
Tennant deceased was a [recruited] soldier of the
revolution
Subscribed & Sworn before me
September 7th 1841 and I also      Peter Eaton
certify that I am well acquainted with
the above named Peter Eaton
and that his statements are entitled
to credit
Oliver Kingman Judge of
Cortland County Court
.
Page 14

Cortland County
Clerks offices
I Gideon c Babcock Clerk of said County, do
hereby certify that Oliver Kingman Esquire, before
whom the foregoing affidavits purports to have
been taken was at the date of the Same a Judge
of the Courts in the said County, that I am well acquain-
ted with the hand writing of the said Judge verrily believe this
Signature within is genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have
hereto set my hand & affixed the seal of said County this
8th day of
September AD 1841
G.C. Babcock Clerk
Page 15

In reply to your request of, received
a statement of the military history of Thomas Tennant
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen-
on file in this Bureau. W.F.18.20

DATES OF OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED,
ENLISTMENT OR  LENGTH OF RANK
SERVICE.RANK STATE.
APPOINTMENT.  CAPTAIN COLONEL

Mch 5, 1777 to Mch. 12 1780, Pri Coburn Brooks Mass

Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Greenwich Mass
Date of application for pension, Dec. 23, 1837 Her cl. [was and]
Residence at date of application, Willet, Cortland Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, 76 yrs.
Remarks: He mar. Nov. 21, 1774, at Greenwich, Mass
Elizabeth, dau of Thomas Hath or Hauth, soldier died Mch. 11,
1808 at Cherry Valley N Y.
Sons Cyrus, 43 yrs old in 1837; Robert, 55 in 1841.
widow refers to a son-in-law, Cornelius Gould, died.
Sept. 7, 1841
Respectfully,
O
Otsego Co
Capt Coburn Commissioner.
of Greenwich Mass Eu
Page 16

House of Rep Dec 12 1831
[Lt Edwards Esq]
Sir
I enclose the petition of
Elizabeth Tennant for [obsertion]
I am
[]
[]

John C. Clark
Page 17

Dear Sir,
enclosed are additional evidence
of pention claim of Elizabeth Tannant, widow of
Thomas Tennant, deceased, it appears, that the
princable objection to a favorable action on the widows
claim is that the certificate from the secretary of
State of Massachusetts years prior date to the
making of her declaration, or the date of it, and also
some explanation seems to be wanted in respect to
a leaf forwared with the declaration, it is
hoped that the additional proof now
forwared will be satisfactory, it seems that
the certificate alluded to did rather prejudice
her claim, if so this is to be [resided], but if
such are the regulations in your department that
the papers alluded to as to dates came in conflict
with the rules or regulations, no fault is to be
ascribed to the department with respect to
the leaf t is hoped that the explainations
there to will be satisfactory, it will be seen
that the record was not made until
after the [decease] of the widows husband, and that
that the Gould her son in law drew it up, and
that the leaf being unauthenticated. I suppose
could not be received as evidence, and that the
seal not having been received by the widow
service it was carried away by her former atty
could not affect the equity of her claim in the least
and with respect to the record evidence of the
services of her husband, that part of the difficulty
of any ever existed, is now removed by the late
certificate of the 10th July 1841 at least, we believe so
and now, it is believed that all the requisite proof
Page 18

necessary in an honourable and just claim, as this
is shown to be is furnished, and that all will 
be satisfactory to a favorable action on the widows 
case, please advise me at your earliest
convenience, of the action upon this case.
direct yours to me, German Chenango Co N York
your obt sert.
Adam Story
Page 19

May 15. 1840
German May 9th  25
ny
Eliz Tennant
D. Bornsteel
War Department
Pention office

Betty -Washington
Page 20

German ChenangoCo Org
8th May 1840
having been requested by citizen
Elisabeth Tennent, the widow of Thomas Tennent
a soldier of the Revolution deseased, to
make inquiring for her in relation to her
claim, [had] some two years ago last fall
at the pention office for a pention the
declaration drawn for her by D.B. Prindle
[] affidavit made before Oliver Kingman
a Judge of Cortland County Court, the letter
any action has been had upon her claim
if so how it is disposed of she says she
has wrote to d.b. Prindle several times
for information, but has not said
any answer, she respectfully solisits, an
answer to this enquiry, and that it may
be directed to me
Attn David Bonesteel 
wishes her to inquire for him, [requesting]
his former declaration can be returned
to him, so that he might be enabled
to asertain, whether his atty had drewn
his declaration has end in drawing up
his paper, such is apprehended is the
he wishes to a fair investigation
of his case, which can only be attained
by bringing his case honestly and truly
and unpredgist, before Justice can
be don him, and in order to do this
he ask, the information of the former
declaration, it being generally supposed that
some error excists in his declaration,
or his case would have had a favorable
action, he has been and still is well known
by people, who knew him from 20 to 30
years, and that he has always been reputed
a soldier of the revolution, rending the very
individual serves, for which the act provides pention
your [better] Adam Storing
Page 21

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, July 10 1841.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books
and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of
the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears
that the name of Thomas Tennant of Greenwich
is borne on an account in the Army Books as a private
in Majors Company, Colonel Brooks Regiment
and there found credited by his service, from 5th March
1777 to 31 December 1779, being 33 Month 26 days and 4 of
Per Month. His name is also borne on another army book
as a private from Greenwich in Captain Coburns Company, Colonel
Brooks Regiment & found credited by service from 1st January
to 12th day March 1780 being 2 months and 12 days and  4 of
Per month
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal
of the Commonwealth, the date above written.

John P. Bigelow
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 22

4130
Dec 13
[om.at]
ny
July 1836
Hon J.C. Clark
[AR]
JS Edwards Esq
Penson Office
Page 23

1914 Sept 12. History to
Mrs. M. Louisa Shouten
1915 Apr. C. to above
date of soldier's death
birth not stated
---
-
1920, Nov. 26 Hist to Miss
Frances Gould En

Rev
WIDOW, &c
File No 18120
Elizabeth Tennant
Widow of
Thomas Tennant 
Priv. Rev War
-
Act: July 4th 1836
Index:- Vol. M, Page 268
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 24

Stamp held
One 2 cent stamp recd
On
New
12 Halbert St. Cortland, N.Y.
March 28, 1915.
The Pension Department.
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen; Last September I wrote
you concerning my Revolutionary
ancestor Thomas Tennant. You sent
me invaluable information for which
I thank you. While I find that
he responded to the first call of
1775 and other interesting facts.
I can not find the date of his
birth or the date of his death, you
of course, have those dates will
you kindly forward them to me?
Have you any statistics in regard
to Daniel Schouten who enlisted at
Page 25

Fishkill
Thanking you in advance for
the facts asked for
I am,
very respectfully yours,
M. Louise Schouten
Page 26

Cortland Oct. 18th 1920
I am sending the name, and work in
the Revolutionary War of my great grand
father, as it was given one as family
history, is it correct, if not will you
please make it so.
I am particularly
anxious to know where he was born,
also would like to know when & where
he was married, if you have it, or any
other facts that would be of use for my
brother, to join sons of the Revolution.
Thanking you in advance.
Miss Frances Gould
2. Church St.
Cortland
N. Y.
Page 27

Thomas Tennant, born Oct 3d 1755
Died March 11. 1798.
Elizabeth Hoth born April 5, 1759
Died in Willett, Cortland Co. Oct 2. 1843
He joined the Company, minute men of
Capt Joseph Hooker, April 20, 1775. he was
also in Capt Isaac Power Company 4th
New Hampshire Regiment
Where was he born
Where and when was he married
To
2
by
Page 28

Received five one cent
Postage stamps, [} Postage returned Sep 12, 1914 Frr
osl Revs


12 Halbert St., Cortland, N.Y.
Sept. 3, 1914.
The Pension Department,
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen: I am desirous of
joining the Society known 
as the "Daughters of the Amer-
ican Revolution, and am
looking up credentials which
will admit me to that or-
ganization. My great-grandfather
on my mother's side,
Thomas Tennant was a sol-
dier in the Revolutionary War
Page 29

and his widow Elizabeth
Tennant drew a pension for
his services. His grand-son
Elijah Tennant, Willett, N.Y. and
his grand-daughter Mrs.
Lovantia Green, Willett, N.Y.
are still living, and they
remember their father, Robert
Tennant efforts made in
securing the pension.
You must have on your
record proof of this Will
you kindly forward to me
whatever you find on your
books which may aid me
to become a member of this
organization.
Page 30

Respectfully yours
M. Louise Schoutin
Page 31

Frr Rev. War Section.
April 6, 1915.
M. Louise Schouten
#12 Halbert Street,
Cortland, New York.
Madam:


In response to your letter of the twenty-eighth
ultimo, you are advised that in the claim Thomas Tennant,
Wid. File No. 18,120, Rev. War, the date of the soldier's
death appears as March 11, 1808. The date of his birth is
not stated in the claim.
You are further advised that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford any information
in regard to Daniel Schouten.
Very respectfully,
G. M. Saltzgaber
Commissioner.
Page 32

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
Form VAM-51 
12-541
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD
NAME Tennant William Grade Corporal Line New Jersey
Warrant
Number 8789 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED May 26, 1790
to- not shown-
The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of ""Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800"" which are
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.