Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2,349, Thomas Coston, N.C.
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SERVICE   
N.C.

Coston, Thomas 
or
Costen
Lucy

NUMBER
R 2,349
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Declaration 

In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress approved July 7th 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" and of the Ace of March 3rd 1843 "granting one years pay and pensions to certain windows" and of the Act of June 17th 1844 continuing certain persons on the pension roll for years longer, and of the February 2nd 1848 entitled "An act making further provision for surviving widows and soldiers of the Revolution".

State of Tennessee
County of Blount

On this 13th day of June 1849 personally appeared before me James H. Donaldson acting Justice of the peace and one of the justices of the county court of the County and state  aforesaid Lucy Costen a resident of the County and state aforesaid now in the seventy fifth year of her age. Who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declamation in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress approved July 7th 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" and of the Act of March 3rd 1843 granting one years pay and pensions to certain widow, and of the Act if June 17th 1844 continuing certain persons on the pensions roll four years longer, and of the Act of February 2nd 1848 entitled "An act making further provision for surviving widows and soldiers of the Revolution. That she is the widow of Thomas
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Costen who was a private soldier in the Army during the War of the Revolution, but owing to the infirmities of age and the consequent great loss of memory she is unable to state positively of what time her husband entered the service of the United States, but that it was before the battle of Stono, which battle she has often heard him say he was in, nor does she remember what county he marched through, and that he was in Colonel Jonas Johnston's Regiment but does not recalled the name of the Captain he served under. And she [?] believes her husband Thomas Coster served for three years, or very near that long and that when he left the service he received a discharge which is here with enclosed and that she knows of no living witness by whom she could prove her husband's service, and that she has no other written or documentary evidence which would establish the fact except the discharge herewith forwarded.
and she further states that she was married to the aforesaid Thomas Costen in Onslow County North Caroline in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine and that the marriage bond herewith forwarded was for the marriage of herself and husband, and that the [?] date of the birth of her son Bricy Costen she believes was written by her husband and that it has been in her and her children's possession ever since, and she further declares that her husband the aforesaid Thomas Coster died in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifteen in Onslow County North Carolina and that she remained
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a widow ever since the death of her husband the aforesaid Thomas Costen. sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me James H. Donaldson acting Justice of the peace of Blount County.

I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Lucy Costen who made the above declaration and that she os a woman of strict integrity and her statements are entitled to full faith and credit, and that I believe her to be seventy five years of age and would be unable to appear in open court to make her declaration. 
James H. Donaldson 
an acting justice of the peace for Blount County

State of Tennessee 
County of Blount

At a county court begun and help at Maryville on the 2nd day of July 1849 for the count and state aforesaid came Lucy Costen of the aforesaid county and state, by her attorney and submitted to the court for approval the act of James H. Donaldson [?] one of the Justicies of the said court before whom the foregoing declaration of Lucy Costen was made in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress approved July 7th 1838 entitled "an Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" and of the Act of March 3rd 1843
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"granting one years pay and Pensions to certain widow" and of the Act of June 17th 1844 continuing certain persons on the Pension roll four years longer and of the Act of February 2nd 1848 written "An Act making further provision for surviving widows and soldiers of the Revolution"
And the Court hereby approves of the above sceiter [?] Act of James H. Donaldson Esqr one of its members and ordered that the Clerk certify the same as well as the official character of the said James H. Donaldson Esqr
I Robert A. Ledford Clerk of said court do hereby certify that the above proceedings were had and done in open court when sitting for ordinary purposes. And I further certify the James H. Donaldson is and was as the time of so doing an acting Justice of the peace and one of the Justices of the Court aforesaid duly commissioned and error and that his signature attached thereto is genuine given under my hand and the scal of the aforesaid county at office in Maryville this 2nd day of July 1949
Robt A. Ledford CLle

Approved and countersigned
this 2nd day of July 1849 in open
court 
Harvey H. C. Caruthers Chaurman
Christian Long [in brackets]
H. L. M. Rookes [in brackets]
Esqrs Justices of said court

I hereby certify that Robt A. Ledford is the Clerk of said court duly elected and qualified and that his signature abovce written and the seal of said county affixed to his certificate are genuine

Harvey H.C. Caruthers Chairman of said court
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State of North Carolina Onslow County Know all men by these presents the we Thomas Costen Thomas Walton and Onesiphorus Hunt all of the State and County afd. are held and do stand firmly bound and obliged unto John King Junr. or his certain attorney Executors administrators or assigns in the Just sum of two hundred pounds -- To the which payment well and truly to be made and done we Bind our Selves our heirs Executors administrators or assigns Jointly and Severly, firmly by these presents Sealed with our Seals this twenty first day of January Anno Dom. 1799 and in the thirteenth year of America Independence. The Condition of this Obligation is such that if the above bounded Thomas Costen Thomas Walton and Onesiphorus Hunt or Either of them shall bring and deliver unto the afd. John King J.P Marriage Licens for the afd. Thomas Costen, within three Months from date hereof or sooner if required then this Obligation to be Void and of none effect or else to stand and Remain in full force and Virtue. Signed Seald and Delivered in presents of us Thomas Parry Thomas Costen  Seal Thomas Walton Seal Onesiphorus Hunt Seal
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Bricy Costen 
the Son of Thomas
Costen and
Lucy his wife was
Bornd June the
3 day 18013
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No 13955
Sucy Coston
Ten
Letter to John J Mc{illegible) 12th Oct 1849
Same May 21/51
Same Octo 4 1852
2349
Rejected
Act 7 July 18{3 or 5?}8
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Acts of July 14, 1962, and March 3, 1973 [crossed out]

2349 

REJECTED [stamped]

P.O. 
Lucy Costen [handwritten]

Service:
wid. of Thomas [handwritten]

Enlisted: , 18
Discharged: , 18

Application filed: , 18

[?]lleges: 
Re-enlisted: 

Attorney: 
P.O. 

 Recognized      Contract
Cert. of Dis. 
Searched for , 18
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State of North Carolina
Comptroller's Office

I, William J. Clarke, Comptroller of Public Account, in and for the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that it appears of record in my office, among the payments made by said State to sundry persons for Military services in the Revolutionary War, as follows, to wit;
Thomas Costin, Costen or Coston
Book W. No. 2 page 51 [pound symbol] 2 S. specie for Militia service
" No. 11 " 52 S12 " " Continental "
" G " 18 " 66 [pound symbol] 3 S12 "
It also appears by a Return to the Governor, dated March 10th 1779, made by Col. Henry Rhodes of Volunteers and drafts in Onslow County, that Thomas Coston volunteered.

I further certify that many of the records have bene lost of destroyed and that there probably were other payments made to said Thomas Coston the record of which has been lost.
In testimony whereof I have herecents [?] subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office this 26th day of June A.D. 1852
Wm. J. Clarke, Comptr.
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Maryville Tenn.
Jan. 24th 1853
Hon J.E. Heath Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
Sir, Most respectfully do I ask that the claim of Lucy Costen for a Pension on account of the services of her husband , Thomas Costen in the war of the Revolution be re-examined, I ask this on account of the errors into which you have fallen in your last communication dated Oct. 4th 1852, in which you refer to two certificates I obtained from the Comptroller of Public a/c's in North Carolina, and state that £12 included in the latter certificate was in the former certificate. a very slight glance at the two will convince you of your error. The first showed payments of 12£ 12S. the latter shows payment of 6£ 6S. making in all 18£ 18 S. which at 8 shillings to the Dollar makes $47.25 which more than covers a six months service. I cannot lay my hand on the letter of the Comptroller of N.C. but if my recollection does not deceive me he informed me that the latter certificate contained nothing that was in the former, and I have this day written
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to him on this point, when his answer is received I will forward it to you. I hope this claim will be reexamined and beside the payments of which positive proof has been made then is the strongest presumptive proof of other service. The Comptroller shows that Thomas Costen volunteered to perform a tour of service in March 1779. among the papers on file you will find a certificate of discharge that shows he did perform a tour of service. Very Respectfully J. A. McKamy
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Maryville Tennessee
July 8th 1852

Sir,
Enclosed I forward you the certificate of Wm J Clarke Comptroller &c of North Carolina in support of the claim of Lucy Costen for a Pension on account of her husband Thomas Costen's service in the war of the Revolution, which I forwarded to your office in July 1849.
That Thomas Costen served more than two
years (^in said war) I have not a doubt, and I regret that I cannot procure positive proof of service for that lenght of time. - I have done the best I can and not knowing where to apply for more proof, I have only to hope that you will consider the proof I now send you in connection with that already on file and that you will feel yourself authorized to grant her a Pension for the lenght of time you may the proof will allow.
It is perhaps proper for me to say that in
December 1850 I obtained from Wm F. Collins Controller of N. Carolina a certificate of payment to Thomas Costen amounting to 12₤ 12S. and stating in his letter that he had "not made a thorough search of all the records for want of time" I forwarded his certificate to your office
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and was informed that it "does not cover a six months service within $8.57"  I again applied to the Comptroller of N. Carolina and forwarded him a copy of his former certificate, and requested him to continue his search and if any more proof was found to forward me a certificate, and he has forwarded me the enclosed addition it certificate. By reference to the papers I forwarded you, you will find Thomas Costen's original certificate of discharge for one tour of his service, and which I was surprised to learn, that it "does not bear the appearance of genuineness that would make it proof of Costen's service" I am interested in the claim and may look more favorably on the proof than you, but to me, that certificate of discharge bears every mark of genuineness. The writing, as well as the paper is exactly such as was used at the date that it purports to be given, and I wish you to examined Wm J. Clarke's certificate which I now forward you, and which shows that on the 10th of March 1779 Thomas Costen Volunteered in Onslow County, and on the 8th of July 1779 he is discharged from service, which I hope will convince you of the genuineness of that certificate of discharges. But if you still doubt it, and it will be of any service I will procure the affidavits of
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credible men who have seen that discharge 50 and sixty years since, as well as their belief that Thomas Costen served as Lucy Costen states in her declaration. Very Respectfully J. A. McKamy Hon J.E. Heath Comr of Pensions Washington D.C
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Maryville Tennessee
February 8th 1850

Sir,
Enclosed, I forward to you the certificate of
the Comptroller of Public Accounts &c of North Carolina in support of the claim of Lucy Costin widow of Thomas Costin who was a soldier during the Revolutionary War. the papers in this case I forwarded to your office in July 1849.
I hope this certificate will be sufficient to
authorize you to grant to Mrs Costin a certificate for a pension, at this late day it is almost impossible to comply strictly with the rules of your Department in furnishing evidence in claims of this kind. There is not a man living that was acquainted with
Thomas Costin that ever doubted that he was in the service of the U.S. during the War of the Revolution. He died before there was any Pension Law was passed. His widow moved from N.C. to this County
and on account of the distance from this place to where she could have obtained the evidence of her husbands service - she could not get any person to attend to
her claim until I undertook it.
From the best information I can get. Thomas Costin served in North Carolina about three years at different
times, but I cannot get the proof as satisfactorily
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as I would wish.
Very Respectfully
J.A. McKamy

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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Maryville Tenn 
July 4th 1849

Sir,
Enclosed you will find the declaration
of Lucy Costen who applies for a
Pension on account of her husband Thomas Costen's services during the Revolutionary War. Also the discharge of her husband from the service.
I regret the circumstances attending this case that the proof cannot be made more positive than it is. No one who is acquainted with her entertains a doubt about her husband's Service.
She has resided in this county for about 30
years and is a strict member of the Methodist Church and would not make a statement which is not correct. but she was not until in the year 1789 being then only 15 years of age and consequently could not of her own knowledge state any thing further than that her husband was in the service, but it is hoped that the
discharge herewith forwarded will establish the service, and in the investigation of this
claim that you may be able to find out at what time Col Johnson's Regiment was called into service, and the discharge will show when he left the service. She believes her husband served for
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three years but whether it was under one enlistment or not she cannot remember and will not be sworn to any thing she does not know. You will therefore please examine her claim and if she is entitled grant her a pension for the time that you have reason to believe her husband Thomas Costen served.
In making out her declaration I committed
an error in not stating that her husband enlisted in Onslow County N.C. which she informed me was the fact.
With regard to the Marriage, the Marriage bond herewith forwarded will prove that he got the license to be married and that they (^ the marriage license) were returned. And the record of one of their children
which written by Thomas Costen will prove that they lived together as husband & wife.
Any communication you may make respecting this claim you will please to
direct to the undersigned at Maryville Blount County Tennessee.
Very Respectfully
J.A. McKamy

J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
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Raleigh N.C.
Compt Office
I William F Collins Comptroller of Public Account in and for the State of North Carolina do hereby certify that the name of Thomas Costin appears of Record in this office as having had a specia certificate issued in his favor for Nine Pounds (₤9) see Book A. No 15 page 61. Also another in favor of J. Costin for
three pounds Twelve Shillings (₤3.12) see
Book G. No 18 page 66, given under my
hand and seal this 18 day December 1850
Wm F Collins Compt
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13955
Lucy Coston 
Wd of Thomas
Act 7 July 1838
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{pre-printed form with handwritten entries}

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

NAME Cotchells, Benjamin
GRADE Private
LINE Maryland

WARRANT NUMBER s 12888 and 14115
ACREAGE 100
ISSUED March 25, 1795 to Francis Sherrard, assignee of Nathaniel Crawford, Adm "

*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 found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.