Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,549, for James Thomas, Pennsylvania
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SERVICE  Penn.
Thomas, James
NUMBER  S.22.549
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Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6th April 1838 from the 4 Sept 1837. To the 4 March 1838 – Agt notified 4 Decr 1838.
Died Feb 19, 1848 (A.B.)  
22.702
Pennsylvania 
James Thomas 
of Chester Co. in the State of Penn who was a Pri & Sergt in the Co commanded by Captain Ruse of the Regt commanded by  Hockley  in the Penna line for 6 mos 
3 months Sergt   15.
3 months Private 10.
25
Inscribed on the Roll of Penn at the rate of 25 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of Decr. 1833  and sent to Hon. D. Potts H. of Reps   
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833.    62.50 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 34,  12.50 
$75. 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 1832.} 
Recorded by Wm. R. Palmer
Book E  Vol. five   Page 60
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Declaration of James Thomas
a soldier of the Revolution
made pursuant to the act of June 7, 1832
Hon. D. Potts  H. R.
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Declaration of James Thomas in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 
State of Pennsylvania 
County of Chester SS 
On this seventh day of November Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three before the Hon. Cromwell Pearce & Jesse Sharp Judges of the Common Pleas of the County of Chester aforesaid now sitting personally appeared James Thomas a resident of Vincent Township, in the County of Chester, and State of Pennsylvania aforesaid aged near seventy seven years, who being first duly affirmed according to Law doth on his solemn affirmation make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated 
1 Your applicant volunteered as a Sergeant in the militia of the United Coventry Township Chester County and in a company commanded by Captain Reese John, which became part of a Battallion commanded by Col. Thomas Hockley, John Erndruff was Lieutenant of applicants Company, and John Cummins Ensign Applicants company met at a place now called Coventry village in the township of Coventry and marched from thence to Philadelphia, where the company joined Col. Hockley’s Battalion. It was about the first of August One thousand seven hundred and seventy six that he left Coventry and marched to Philadelphia. At the time I entered the service I resided in the township of Coventry aforesaid. We remained in Philadelphia near a week, when we marched in Battalion to Bergin in New Jersey, where we joined other troops, we were encamped at Bergin and were in the daily performance of Camp duty. At this distance of time I am unable to state the precise time we remained there, but am confident it was three months
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We were discharged late in the fall at Bergen by the officer in command whose name I cannot now remember, and returned to our homes. I have named all the officers, now within my recollection during this time of service. I was absent during this term of service more than three months, and held the place of a Sergeant in the company to which I belonged during that time -   
About the middle of October one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven I again entered the service in the Militia in Class No 7 as a private in a company commanded by Captain Benjamin Brumback. Evan James was a Lieutenant in our company this time I resided in County as aforesaid one company was attached to a Regiment commanded by Col. William Gibbons, our company met at Matson’s ford on the River Schuylkill where we were attached to Col. Gibbons Regiment Col. Gibbons Regiment was stationed at Matson's Ford for some time after we arrived there to guard a floating bridge directed to convey our troops over the River from scouting parties of the British who at that time had possession of Philadelphia. We remained at Matson’s Ford until General Washington encamped at Valley Forge, when we left that place and marched to White Marsh from whence Genl. Washington went to the Valley Forge. We remained at White Marsh a considerable of time are constantly in the duties of encampment from thence our Regiment marched to a place called the crooked billet where we remained a short time and were discharged. We discharged in the latter part of January One thousand seven hundred and seventy eight my memory is so defective that I am unable to state the length of time we remained at the several places above mentioned. I cannot remember the names of any of the field of company officers (other than those a already mentioned) that I served under during this tour.  A skirmish took place between our troops under the command of General Irwin and the enemy while at White Marsh, in which General Irwin was wounded the company did not mingle in the fight, but were kept back as a reserve. I should have mentioned the name of Genl Irwin who
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I recollect had the command of the militia whilst we were at White Marsh as one of the officers under whom I served.   After our discharge I returned to my home having been in the service this tour, three months - I have no documentary evidence of my services, and I know of no person whose testimony I can procure who can testify to my services. 
3rd   In the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight after harvest I was called on by Captain Henry Hipple to hold myself in readiness to meet the company at the Yellow Springs in Pikeland township to march at whatever time we should be required - We were never called on to march, but Capt. Hipple afterwards brought and paid me a months wages. At this time I resided in Vincent township Chester County aforesaid To the interrogatories directed to be propounded by the Court Declarant answers 
1st To the first interrogatory he answers I was born in Vincent Township, in the County of Chester and State of Pennsylvania 
2d To the second Interogatory he answers I have a Record of my age at home in the Bible 
3. To the third interrogatory he answers I lived in the township of Coventry, County & State aforesaid when called into the service, I have lived since the Revolutionary war, and now him in the township of Vincent aforesaid 
4th To the fourth interrogatory he answers The answer to this Interrogatory is set forth in the body of the declaration 
5th To the Fifth Interrogatory he answers That all the answers he can give to this interogatory are set forth in the body of this declaration
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6th To the sixth interrogatory he answers 
I never received a written discharge from the service 
7 To the seventh interrogatory he answers the Rev. Charles Moore That he is acquainted with Evan Evans Esq and Evan Davis, of my neighborhood, who can testify as to my character for veracity and their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution 
Declarant further says – 
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 the agency of any State 
James Thomas
Aff [affirmed] & subscribed the day year aforesaid in open Court 
John W Cuningham Prot
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We Evan Evans residing in the township of East Nantmeal in the County of Chester, and Evan Davis of residing in the township of West Vincent in said County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Thomas who has subscribed and affirmed to the annexed declaration that we believe him to be near seventy seven 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 
Evan Evans
Evan Davis
Affirmed and subscribed in open Court November 7th 1833 
John W. Cuningham Prot  
I Charles Moore a clergyman residing in the township of West Vincent in the County of Chester hereby certify that I am well acquainted with James Thomas who has subscribed and affirmed to the annexed Declaration, that I believe him to be near seventy seven 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 I concur in that opinion 
Chas Moore
Aff’d and subscribed in open Court Nov. 11 1833 
John W Cuningham Prot
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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 Charles Moore who has signed one of the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the township of West Vincent in the County of Chester. That Evan Evans who has also signed one of the preceding Certificates is a resident in the township of East Nantmeal, County aforesaid, and that Evan Davis who has also signed the same is a resident in the township of West Vincent aforesaid, that they are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to Credit 
By the Court 
John W. Cuningham Prot 
Chester County ss 
I John W Cuningham Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Chester do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Thomas for a Pension 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at West Chester in said County of Chester this eleventh day of November A D. One thousand Eight Hundred and thirty three 
John W. Cuningham Prot
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January 28, 1936 
Mrs. Guy S. Miller 
115 Chapel Street 
Penn Yan, New York
JAMES THOMAS 
S. 22549 
BAJ/MLB
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of John Ralph who served from Rhode Island; James Thomas, from Pennsylvania, and John Sansbury, from Prince Georges County, Maryland. 
There is no claim for pension or bounty land on file based upon service in the Revolution of a John Ralph or John Sansbury, under any spelling of the surnames. Such claims are the source of Revolutionary War data furnished by this office.
The record has been found of only one James Thomas, who either served or was pensioned from Pennsylvania and it is given herein as obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 22549, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War. 
James Thomas was born in Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania; the date of soldier's birth and names of his parents are not given. 
While a resident of Coventry, Chester County, Pennsylvania, James Thomas volunteered about August 1, 1776, served as sergeant in Captain Reese John's company, Colonel Hockley's Pennsylvania regiment, and was discharged after having served three months. He enlisted about the middle of October, 1777, served as private in Captain Benjamin Brumback's company, Colonel William Gibbons' Pennsylvania regiment, stationed for some time at Watson's Ford to guard a floating bridge erected for the purpose of conveying troops across Schuylkill River, was stationed at White Marsh, also, for some time, and was discharged the latter part of January, 1778. In 1788, while residing in Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, he joined Captain Henry Hipple's company to hold himself in readiness to meet the company at the Yellow Springs in Ireland Township and to march at any time it should be required. He belonged to Captain Hipple's company for one month but was never called upon to march.
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James Thomas was allowed pension on his application executed November 7, 1833, at which time he was nearly seventy-seven years of age and a resident of Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He died February 19, 1848. 
There are no family data shown in the claim. 
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, and the name and address of the person paid, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
 James Thomas 
Certificate #22702 
Rate $25 per annum 
Commenced March 4, 1831 
Pennsylvania Agency. 
Issued December 6, 1833 
Act June 7, 1832 
Very truly yours A. D. HILLER 
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
-2-
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1936 Jan 28 – Hist to Mrs. Guy S. Miller MDB  
Revolution  
22,549  
James Thomas 
Sergt Rev War 
Act:- June 7” 32”
Index:- - Vol. 2, Page 417 
[Arrangement of 1870]
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Treasury Department 
Second Comptroller's Office 
Nov. 29. 1838. 
Sir: 
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States”  James Thomas a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia Agency, at the rate of Twenty five Dollars and Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1837 to the 4th March 1838. Respectfully, yours,
 Albion K. Parris 
Comptroller
To the Commissioner of Pensions 
Present.
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28.500    22.702
James Thomas
Penna
Adm. 6 months
3 months thereof Serg.
$10
15
25
Hon D. Potts
Ho. of Reps
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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 shew what is necessary to be done. Those 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. 
Statement, showing the Service of
Period when the service was rendered Duration of Claimant’s Service Rank of claimant. Names and rank of the Officers under whom he served.   Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported. D
I am respectfully 
Your obedient servant 
JAMES 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," and "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 as 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 in stance, 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 is considered a Court of Record.             
DECLARATION.                        
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.           
State, Territory, or District of 
County of } ss.
On this day of A.B. a resident (b) of personally appeared (a) before in the county of and State, Territory or District years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the in 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) served in the (e) 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 that of 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 hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter 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 of 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 hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be and C.D. residing in (the same) who has 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 day 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 contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. 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 services 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 such 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 Town officer 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 he 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 age 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. 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 enquiry 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 Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed 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 declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the person 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 invariably 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, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, 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---yearmonths , anddays , I served as amonths and --- days, I served as 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 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 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 embodied 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 wife nesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 
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 written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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115 Chapel St. 
Penn Yan, N.Y. 
January 15, 1938 
RECEIVED
JAN 17 1936
MAIL SUB-DIV VETS ADM READER #21
Mr. A. D. Hiller 
Veterans' Administration 
Washington, D. C. 
Dear Sir: 
Will you please send me any information you may have concerning the following revolutionary soldiers: Private John Ralph, Col. Angell's regiment, Rhode Island. 
Only one of the three
James Thomas, Capt. Lacey's Company, Washington Co. (?) Pa-  
John Sansbury, Prince George's Co., Maryland. 
I am sorry I do not have more definite information concerning these men, but if you can locate anything in the pension records concerning any of them, I shall be pleased to receive it, 
Very truly yours 
Mrs Guy S. Miller 
Mrs. Guy S. Miller