Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7,574, for Thomas Negus, Massachusetts
Page 1

Service - Mass. Sea Service
R.I.


Negus, Thomas



Number - R.7574
Page 2

I Hereby Certify that Thomas Negus son of Benjamin Negus of Tiverton and Bathsheaba Slocum Daughter of Samuel Slocum of Portsmouth were  Lawfully Joined Together in marriage on the seventeenth day of August AD 1783 and eighth of American Independence by me the subscriber 

Thomas Howland Justice of the Peace
Page 3

Thomas Negus
13756



passed
Page 4

Thomas Negus



Passed


7574
Page 5

Declaration

In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832.

Stater of New York
Wayne County ss.

On this 2nd day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Wayne now sitting Thomas Negus a resident in the town of Marion County of Wayne and State of New York aged seventy one 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 of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he enlisted in the year 1777 in the month of April into a Company commanded by Capt. Duvall Lieutenant David Gifford in a regiment commanded by Col. Toppin Rhode Island state troops for one year and that he enlisted in the town of Tiverton in the State of Rhode Island was mustered in that town was employed in boating provisions from various towns on the sea shore to Howland;s Ferry, for the use of the army and that ? for which he enlisted fully out and was discharged at Howland's Ferry in the State of Rhode Island aforesaid. sometime the last of April or the first of May the year following had no written discharge and that  in the next year toward 1778 he was drafted in the month of August to go on to Rhode Island in what is called Sullivan's expedition for twenty days service out said term and was dismissed the day before the battle had no written discharge. And that he volunteered to go to Penobscot in (August he believes but is not sure of the month) 1779 to dislodge the British who were in that place cutting timber went on board of a vessel named the Rover commanded by Captain William Dennis. She that is to say our vessel sailed from Cohasset? Harbor State of Massachusetts bound to Penobscot. the second day after we sailed the vessel was taken by the British fleet and that he with others was put on board a British Frigate he thinks her name was Galiot or Galitte) a prisoner of war he was taken to Penobscot saw the defeat saw the american vessesl on fire. from there he was taken to New York and put on board a prison ship called the Jersey where he stayed about two weeks was then exchanged and landed at Stratford Connecticut State 160 miles from home from the time he first volunteered until he returned home was two months and one week held as in actual service the first of September until the 7th or 8th of November which would be two months and one week 
He hereby relinquished 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.
And that he was born in the Town of Freetown now called Troy in the State of Massachusetts in the year 1756. That the record of his age is in a Bible in the State of Rhode Island in possession of Samuel Negus and that he lived in the Town of Tiverton State of Rhode Island when he was first called into service where he resided until he removed to Marion Wayne County aforesaid where he now reside.
And the men who can certify his character are
David Hollester
William Rea
William Sherman

Thomas Negus (his mark)

Sworn and subscribed and year aforesaid.

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after 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 Reuben Adams and David Sweeney who have signed the preceding certificate are resident in the Town of Marion County of Wayne and State of New York and are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit. 

turnover
Page 6

I John L. Cuyler Clerk of the Court of Wayne County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Negus for a pension.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 2nd day of September 1832.

John L. Cuyler Clerk


State of New York
Wayne County

On this 10th day of August 2833 personally appeared before me David Eddy a Judge in and for Wayne County Thomas Negus the Applicant in the foregoing declaration and after being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following amendment to his declaration he was in actual service one year. the first campaign from the month of April 1777 to April 1778 and that he did serve one month and seven or eighty days as stated in the declaration which makes one year and one month and 7 days and that while he was attached to the boat he always was under arms and was known as a guard then a boatman and belonged to the Company and Officers above named and stood as Sentinel. And did as the Camp duty
Answer to the 4 interrogators - General Cornell, Sullivan, Greene, and Lafayette.
Cols. Toppin, Crary, Cook, and Gray.
to 7th - Reuben Adams ? Joseph Caldwell David Sweezey, David Hollester, William Cory, Thomas Cory

The reason why a Clergyman does not appear on the foregoing certificate is because there is no clergyman in the Town resided here fro more than a year and they are ? with each other therefore he could get none to certify for him

Thomas Negus ( his mark)


Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year above written)

David Eddy  A Judge of Wayne County
Page 7

State of New York
Wayne County

On the 10th day of August 133 personally came before me David Eddy a Judge in and for Wayne County Neles Negus aged 74 years and Thomas Cory aged 74 years after being duly sworn according to law depose and say that they are well acquainted with Thomas Negus and know that he enlisted into a Company commanded by Daniel Devall in the year 177 in a Regiment commanded by Col. Toppin for one Year in the Revolutionary War, Rhode Island Militia and that he served one year and that the said Thomas Negus was out a month or two but cannot remember the exact time and further this deponent say not.

Thomas Cory 
Neles Negus (his mark)

Sworn and subscribed the day and year above written before me

David Eddy a Judge of Wayne County

I certify that Thomas Cory and Neles Negus who have sworn and subscribed to the above applicant are men of truth and veracity

David Eddy a Judge of Wayne County

State of New York
Wayne County

I Cullen Foster acting Clerk of said County do hereby certify that David Eddy before whom the above affidavits and amendment to the declaration purport to have been taken was on the day of the date hereof, a Judge of said County duly authorized to take the same and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his signature to the same to be his own proper hand writing.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County this 19th day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty three

Cullen Foster Acting Clerk
Page 8

State of New York
County of Wayne 

Salisbury Negus a resident of the town of Marion in said County and State aged Fifty Eight (58) years being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath depose and say - That he is the son of Thomas Negus deceased, late of the said town of Marion, that his said father was as this deponent believes a soldier in the war of the Revolution, that he resided in the town of Tiverton, County of New Port and state of Rhode Island, and performed his service in said State - that he enlisted as deponent is informed and believes into the Continental service, on or about  first day of June in the year 1779; that he served in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Topham and also in the naval service of said State in a Boat Company belonging to said Regiment commanded by the aforesaid Col. John Topham, that said Boat was commanded by Captain Daniel Duval and was employed in guarding the shores along Tiverton and conveying provisions to said Regiment commanded by Col. Topham. that this deponent's father the said Thomas Negus served as above stated for a friend of about ten months as deponent believes and that he was then regularly discharged; that afterwards this deponent's father served on board a Privateer, was taken prisoner, carried into New York and exchanged as from the affidavit of this deponent's father, reference being thereto had will more fully and at large appear, and which said affidavit is hereto annexed; Deponent further states this his father in his lifetime made an effort to obtain a Pension and that testimony in support of his claim was transmitted to Washington.
This Deponent further states that his said father
Page 9

Thomas Negus was married in the year 1783 to Bathsheba Slocum (this deponent's mother) in the said town of Tiverton as will appear by the certificate of marriage hereto annexed, Deponent further states that his father the said Thomas Negus died on the 22nd day of May in the year eighteen hundred and thirty nine (1839). that his widow who did not again marry died on the 6th day of July in the year eighteen hundred and forty three both in in the said town of Marion, and that deponents' parents the said Thomas and Bathsheba Negus left four children Three now living whose names are as follows: Samuel Negus, Cook Negus, and Salisbury Negus this deponent. 

Salisbury Negus

Subscribed and affirmed this 8th day of October AD 1853 before me
William C. Austin
A justice of the peace in the county of Wayne


State of New York
County of Wayne

I Leander S. Ketchum Surrogate of said County hereby certify that at a Surrogates Court held in and for said County of Wayne, the foregoing affidavit of Salisbury Negus and the affidavits hereto annexed, were satisfactory evidence to said Court, that Thomas Negus late of Marion in said County of Wayne died on the 23rd day of May in the year 1839, that his widow Bathsheba Negus died on the 6th day of July 1843, and that the said Thomas and Bathsheba Negus left three children only, now living whose names are as follows - Samuel Negus, Cook Negus, and Salisbury Negus.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my and and seal of said Court this fifteenth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty three.

Leander S. Ketchum
Surrogate
Page 10

State of New York
County of Wayne

Merit Sweezy and Zepheniah Sherman of the town of Marion County and State aforesaid being duly sworn according to law doth on their oaths depose and say that the above mentioned Thomas Negus died on the 22nd day of May in the year (1839).  That his widow Bathsheba Negus died on the 6th day of July (1843) and that the said Thomas and Bathsheba Negus left (4) children three only now living whose names are as follows Samuel Negus Cook Negus and Salisbury Negus.

Merit Sweezey
Zepheniah Sherman

Subscribed and affirmed this 11th day of Oct. 1853 before me

William C. Austin
A Justice of the Peace in the County of Wayne
Page 11

Important - Index

to correspondence books
Page 12

13755

Thomas Negus

Rev. New York

Rejected See letter to 
claimant April 1
1831 do 25 July 1832
to David Eddy


? taken out and sent to 
D. Eddy 1 July 1853
to Hon. S. Birasall 22 Jan. 1838
Page 13

No. 38657

Thomas Negus deceased

NY

L. M. Drury Nov. 26 1853
same February 14, 1854
case of J.J. Coombs
Salisbury Negus March 3, 1853

7575


Act June 7, 1832
Page 14

Rejected

7574

Thomas Negus
Page 15

Rejected

7575

Thomas Negus
Page 16

We William Cory and Thomas Cory Residents in the Town of Marion County of Wayne in aforesaid, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Negus who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy six years of age that they are reputed and believed to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Subscribed and sworn the day and year aforesaid

William Cory
Thomas Cory
Page 29

Thomas Negus
Act 7th June 1832
Page 38

Ontaio County
State of New-York} ss.

Persoanlly appeared before me the undersigned are of the Justices of the Peace of the County of Ontario in the State of NewYork Thomas Negus now of the Town of Williamson in the County of Ontario in the Said State who being duly sworn Deposes and saith, that he is a native of the Town of Tivertown in the County of Newport in the State of Rhode-Island: That he was sixty three years of age the second day of September last past, That he the Said Deponent Enlisted into the Continental Service (or what was called so) about the first day of June in the year 1779, into Colonel Tophams Regiment and was then appointed by the said Colonel Topham as one to enter into the Boat Service for Said Regiment under the immediate command of Captain Daniel Devall, for the purpose of guarding the Shores along Tivertown and conveying provisions to Said Regiment commanded as above mentioned. That the length of Time this Deponent regularly served in Said regiment in the manner above mentioned was about Ten months and that then this Deponent received a regular discharge, This Deponent further saith that he went to sea in a Privateer and was taken Prisoner on board the Gallatea British Frigate and carried To New York where this Deponent was kept on board of the British Prison Ship about a fortnight when he was exchanged. This Deponent further Saith that he does not reccollect at present the date of time viz the year when he was taken Prisoner, But that it was a British fleet composed of the Admiral Ship Reasonable 64. Guns together with other ships in the whole amounting to seven sail Bound to Penobscot to relieve their troops at that place. 
Thomas Negus
Sworn and Subscribed at Williamson Ontario County, in the State of NewYork this 18th day of May 1820 before me
Jonathan L. Powell
Page 39

State of New-York,
County of Ontario}ss.
I, John J. Lyon, Clerk of the County Court, in and for the County and State above mentioned, do hereby certify that Jonathan L. Powell whose genuine signature appears above, is, and was at the time of signing the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn; that all his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit; and that the aforesaid County Court is a Court of Record, having general jurisdiction.

Given under my Hand and Seal of Office, at [illegible], this 18 day of October [185]3

John J. Lyon Clerk
Page 40

Affidavit of Thomas Cory & Wm Cory respecting Thomas Negus' Servises
Page 41

Affidavit of Thomas Negus
A Revolutionary Soldier
Page 42

Ontario County
State of New York} ss.
Personally appeared b efore me the undersigned,are of the Justices of the Peace of the County of Ontario in the State of NewYork Thomas Cory and William Cory both now of the Town of Williamson in the said County and State who being duly sworn Depose and Say that they are both natives of the Town of Tivertown in the County of Newport in the State of Rhode-Island, that they are personally acquainted with [strike through text reads the said Nolan Negus] , and Thomas Negus, and were intimately acquainted with the said Thomas Negus during the Revolutionary war: and that the said Deponents Know of the said Thomas Negus' enlisting and entering into the Boat Company under Captain Daniel Devall belonging to Colonel Tophams' Regiment of the Rhode-Island Line, about the first day of June in the year 1779. and continued regularly in the said Service for about Ten months: that the said Thomas Negus Enlisted into the Land Service, But was chosen by the said Colonel Topham to enter into the Boat Service to Guard the shore against the Enemy, and to Carry provisions for said Regiment, and that the said Deponents remember of the said Thomas Negus' going to sea in a Privateer, and heard of his being taken prisoner into New York. And further these Deponents say not.
Thomas Cory
William Cory

Sworn and Subscribed before me this 18th day of May 1820 at Williamson Ontario County
Jonathan L. Powell J.P.
Page 43

State of Rhode Island 
Secretary's Office - Providence
February 7th A.D. 1853

I certify that at a Session of the General Assembly holden at Providence in August A.D. 1777 the following votes & Resolutions were passed as appearing of Record viz.
"It is Voted and Resolved, that Mr. Daniel Deval be chosen Captain, and Mr. David Gifford Lieutenant, of Major Monroe's Company; and that they draw pay from the tenth day of June last, they having been on duty from that time".
"It is Voted and Resolved, that Major Nathan Monroe be and he is hereby empowered to enlist men, in addition to those already enlisted into his Company, in the Boat Service, to serve for the same time, and be entitled to the same Bounty, pay and rations, as those who shall enlist into the fifteen monthly Brigade: that he enlist the men aforesaid from any Town within this State; and that upon their enlisting and entering the said Company, they shall be reckoned to the Town's of which they are
Page 44

[page 2 of document]
inhabitants, in the same manner as though they had enlisted into the fifteen monthly Brigade, and shall be so reckoned towards discharging the militia of such Town from present duty."
I further certify that these are no Rolls of Captain Deval's Company in this office.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the Seal of said State the day and year above written.

Asa Potter
Secy. of State.