Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2813, for Thomas Mc Speddin, Virginia
Page 1

SERVICE
Va.

McSpeddin, Thomas

NUMBER
S.2813

carded

CONTENTS

This envelope Includes
FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO
Page 2

14,308
BRIEF in the case of Thomas McSpeddin
of Wilson County in the State of Tenn.
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court of a Judge?  a court

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

3.  How old is he?  84

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

Period.
'77 Summer
'78 Summer
'80 Summer (believes)  (perhaps in 79)
'80 fall  
'81 Spring

Duration of Service/
Years, Months, Days.
 - 2 - 
 - 1 - 
 - 1 - 
 - 1 or more -
 - about 1 - 

Rank.
As a private
"
"
"
"

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Gen.
Capt. Edmondson - Col. Campbell
                              - Col. Smith
Capt. Edmondson - Col Campbell
as a guard to the Holston settlement - do
Capt. Montgomery - do

5.  in what battles was he engaged?  skirmishes

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  On the Laurel fork of Holston River 

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  tradition

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

     I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
             Wm. C. Easton
                   Examining Clerk.
                   18 Feb. 1833

*In a skirmish which took place during this term, he says "we lost nearly all our horses" - but he does not say elsewhere that he was a horseman -
Page 3

14,308
Thomas McSpeddin

from 1777 private
6 months
$20.

Josiah J. McClain
Lebanon
Tenn
Page 4

See papers within

7552
West Tennessee
Thomas McSpeddin of Wilson Co in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the com commanded by Captain Edmundson of the regt commanded by Col Campbell in the ___ line for six months

Virginia Line.  Records corrected Jan 27 '04 A

Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 20 Dollars ___ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of March 1834 and JS McClain Lebanon

Arrears to the 4th of March 1834         $60.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept         10.00
   $70.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Danl Boyd, Clerk,
Book E  Vol. 7  Page 93
Page 5

OFFICE BANK UNITED STATES,
NASHVILLE 7 July 1834

Received of Tho. H. Fletcher Agent for paying Pensions, Forth three dollars seventy two cents, being for Twenty six months and seven days Pension due to me as the widow of Thomas McSpeddin deceased, Revolutionary Pension under the Act of 7 June 1832 from the 4 day of March 1850 to the 11th day of May 1855 the day of his death for which I have signed duplicate receipts.

            Mary McSpeddin widow of
            the late Thomas McSpeddin, by
            Jno. S. Topp, attorney in fact

$43 72/100
Page 6

No 314
Mary McSpeddin, widow of
Thomas McSpeddin decd
Private
$43.72
4 March 1831
to
11 May 1833
the day of his death
Rev June 1832

FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO
Page 7

No 314
Mary McSpeddin, widow of
Thomas McSpeddin decd
Private
$43.72
4 March 1831
to
11 May 1833
the day of his death
Rev June 1832
Dead

FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO
Page 8

State of Tennessee
Wilson County
June Term A.D. 1834.

     Be it known that at a Court of Please & Quarter Sessions holden for the County aforesaid, at the Court house in the Town of Lebanon, on the 24th day of June 1834, personally appeared in open Court Mary McSpeddin Thomas C. McSpeddin & George Donnell - all of said County and on their several oaths satisfactorily proven to the Court that she the said Mary McSpeddin was the lawful wife of of the late Thomas McSpeddin of said County, deceased, who died on the 11th day of May 1833 and who was at the time of his death placed on the pension list Roll of the United States under the act of the 7th June 1832, as they verily believe from information by them received from the Clerk of the County Court and from John S. Topp who prepared the application or declaration of said Thomas McSpeddin for a pension;  from the clerk & said Topp, they learn that a pension certificate was forwarded to the said Thomas (in the name of Thomas McShepherd through mistake) and that it lay in the clerks office & in the possession of said Jno. S. Topp, until the clerk informed the Commissioner of Pension claims that no such person as Thomas McShepherd was known in the County of Wilson - and that upon the clerks being informed afterwards by the Commissioner of pensions that the certificate was intended for the said Thomas McSpeddin, and thereupon the certificate issued & forwarded through mistake was returned to the office from whence it was issued & the Pension Certificate now in the possession of said Mary McSpeddin was forwarded to the said County Court Clerk & which is shewn to the Court here - and of which the following is a true copy.
(vis:)  "War Department - Revolutionary Claims.
     I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Thomas McSpeddin of the State of Tennessee, who was a private in the Army of the Revolution is entitled to receive Twenty dollars and ___cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.
     Given at the War Office of the United States, this twenty fifth day of March one thousand eight hundred & thirty four.
                       Lew Cass
                       Secretary of War
Examined & Countersigned
     J.L. Edwards
     Commissioner of Pensions
And the said Mary McSpeddin further testifies that her late husband the said Thomas McSpeddin deceased was entitled to a pension at the rate of twenty Dollars per annum from the 4th day of March 1831, to the 11th day of May 1833 -- being the day of his death, on account of services rendered the United States during the Revolutionary War - that he resided at the time of his death in the said County of Wilson and had resided there for the
Page 9

space of twenty two years past, previous thereto he resided in the County of Davidson, State of Tennessee upwards of twenty give years & previous thereto resided in Washington County, Virginia.  
                       Mary X McSpeddin
                             (X her mark)
                      Thomas C. McSpeddin
                       George Donnel
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the day & date first above written.
JS McClain, Clerk of
the County Court of Wilson County

Know all men by these presents that I Mary McSpeddin of the County of Wilson and State of Tennessee widow of the late Thomas McSpeddin decd do hereby constitute and appoint Jno. S. Topp my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to receive from the Agent of the United States for paying pensions in Nashville in said State, the pension due to my late husband the said Thomas McSpeddin deceased from the 4th of March 1831 to the 11th day of May 1833 when he died.  Witness my hand & seal this 24th day of June A.D. 1834.
              Mary X McSpeddin
                 (X her mark)         (seal)

Which said power of attorney was duly acknowledged in open court here by the said Mary McSpeddin to be her act and Deed.
(seal)
     In Testimony of the foregoing, I Josiah S. McClain clerk of said Court have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal thereof, at office this 24th day of June 1834.  N.B. on the 8th line from the top the word she was interlined and in the 19th line the words "to be found" were erased & the world "known" interlined & in the 31st line the word "forwarded" was erased before the foregoing was signed or certified.
                  J.S. McClain Clerk of
                  the County Court of Wilson County

J.S. McClain Clerk

FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO
Page 10

FREE
Hon. Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Washington City

Revolutionary Claims
Oct. 17
Ten.

Thomas McSpeddin
14308

14302 to 14311.

(stamp)
LEBANON TEN.
OCT 4
Page 11

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed 7th June 1832.

State of Tennessee
Wilson County 
     On this 29th day of September 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the worshipful David C. Hibbitts, Benjamin H. Billings & James Foster – Esquires Justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for said County of Wilson, now sitting, Thomas McSpeddin of the County of Wilson & State of Tennessee aged Eighty four 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. 
1st  That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.  Col. William Campbell of Virginia commanded the Regiment of the Virginia Militia to which he belonged, does not recollect the Major, William Edmundson, Captain of the Company & thinks that John Lowry was Lieutenant of the Company to 
which he belonged.  His best recollection is that Colonel Campbell commanded a detachment of the Militia which was ordered out against the Shawnee Indians on Clinch River – at which time, to wit in the summer of the year 1777 he served a tour of two months in the Militia under the officers above named – they did not have a fight with the Indians that Campaign, Captain Edmundson & his Company pursued them as far as Sandy River, and judging from their trail & the freshness of the signs they had nearly overtaken the Indians & was prevented further pursuit after them in consequence of the sickness of George Teter  whom we could not leave, & had not sufficient force to divide, for previous to his sickness the detachment had been divided & sent in different directions after the enemy: they then 
returned home having served a tour of two months that summer.  The Indians had been for some time annoying the frontiers of Virginia, the same
Page 12

1777 the Indians crossed over the Clinch River & killed a family called Beck, he had but just returned home from Richland Station as one of the guard & was at home only two or three days, when the depredations & murder of the Beck family occurred & he then was called upon immediately to turn out & pursued them as above stated. 
2nd  In the summer of the year 1778 he was required to serve a tour in the Militia which he 
accordingly did by serving one month where Colonel Smith of Clinch River was stationed – ten men was allowed to each station. 
3rd  He cannot recollect that he was in service in the 1779.  He believes it was in the Summer 
1780, he served a tour of one month on an expedition to the three forks of New River against the Tories – it may have been in the year 1779 but his best recollection & belief is that it was in the year 1780.  He knows well that he served a tour of one month on that expedition.  Col. William Campbell commanding officer of the Holston troops – William Edmundson Captain does not recollect the Lieutenant.  The Tories did not stand to give us battle, we took one prisoner and he was hanged. 
4th  In the fall season of the year 1780 Colonel Campbell required all his effective men to furnish themselves with horses to go upon an expedition against the Tories & British who were embodying in North & South Carolina intending as he understood to bring the North Carolinians under subjection – he started with the troops who fought & conquered at King's Mountain, but did not go far before it occurred to Colonel Campbell & the other officers that the Holston settlements had been left in a most helpless & defenseless situation, it was therefore considered advisable that some of 
them should return to guard the families thus left against the attack of the Tories or Indians, but most danger was apprehended from the Tories, and Colonel Campbell ordered James Berry he thinks to take back 12 men for the guard – he was one of the men sent back and they continued on duty in this service for one month or more, until the Battle of King's Mountain & the return of Col. Campbell's
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Militia to the Holston settlements. 
5th  His next & last tour of service was performed in the spring of the year 1781, when Lord Cornwallis with his Army was traversing that part of North Carolina near Guilford – he went out again under Colonel Campbell in the Company commanded by Captain James Montgomery for Captain Edmundson his former Captain was killed at the battle of King's Mountain – he was in a skirmish with 
the British at Whitsell's– we had not sufficient strength to give the enemy a battle, but as we retreated we fired upon our pursuers, some men were killed, William Berry of his company was killed – we retreated until we joined the Main Army under General Green, if he recollects rightly – we lost nearly all our horses – he served about one month and was 
discharged & returned home, Colonel Campbell went on with the Main Army & never returned. He was born in Augusta County in the State of Virginia about the 12th of March 1748.  He had a Record of his age from his father's family record but it has been lost and he has depended upon his memory for many years past for his age.  He was living on the Laurel fork of Holston River, in Edmundson's settlement when he first entered the service of the United States – lived there till the fall 
1785, then moved to Davidson County Tennessee, where he resided until about the year 1809 or 1810 when he moved to Wilson County Tennessee, where he has resided ever since. 
     He never received but one discharge in writing that he can recollect, & that he was a discharge from Captain Montgomery – he has lost that – and he has no documentary evidence & knows of no person within his reach who has a personal knowledge of his services.  He is well acquainted with the 
Reverend Thomas Calhoun & Reverend George Donnell, Alexander Aston, John L. Davis, David 
McMurry, John Provine, Alexander Provine & many others of the old &
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respectable Citizens of the County who he believes would willingly testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his 
Services as a Soldier of the Revolution. 
     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. 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  
Test  Isaiah S. McClain, Clerk   
of Wilson County Court
                        Thomas X McSpeddin
                          (X his mark)

We George Donnell a clergyman residing in the County of Wilson and Alexander Aston residing in the same County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas McSpeddin who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration.  That we believe him to be eighty four years of age:  that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution;  and that we concur in that opinion.
     Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Test Josiah S. McClain Clerk
of Wilson County Court
                   George Donnell
                   Alexr. Aston

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 George Donnell who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the County of Wilson and that, Alexander Aston who has also signed the same is a resident of the same County & is a credible person, and that their Statement is entitled to cred.t
                      D.C. Hibbits JP
                      Benj. Billings JP
                      James Hester JP
Page 15

I Josiah S. McClain clerk of Wilson County Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court of the matter of the application of Thomas McSpeddin for a pension.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at office in the Town of Lebanon this 2nd day of October AD 1832
(seal)           Josiah S. McClain
Page 16

Rev War
2813
INVALID.
File NO. 2813.
Thomas McSpeddin
Prvt. Rev War

Act: June 7 1832
Index:- Vol. A, Page 244

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 17

See letter 3 Oc '33 to J.S. McClain, Lebanon, Ten.  Old certificate cancelled & New certificate issued 25th March 1834 & sent to JS McClain Lebanon

(right panel)
7552
West Tennessee
Thomas McSpeddin
of Wilson co. in the State of W Ten who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Edmundson of the Regt commanded by Col Campbell in the ___ line for six months

Virginia Line.  Records corrected.  Jan 27 '04

Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 20 Dollars -- Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of April 1833 and Sent to JS McClain Lebanon

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833   $40.00
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sept    10.00
          $50.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Daniel Boyd, clerk,
Book E   Vol. 7    Page 96
Page 18

Payments to be made
at Nashville
by the
Agent for paying Pensioners, 
in the Agency of West
Tennessee

Died 11 May 1833

FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO

Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book E  Vol 7  Page 96 by Danl Boyd Clerk
Page 19

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.

I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June 1832, Thomas McSpeddin of the State of Tennessee
who was a private in the Army of the Revolution is entitled to receive Twenty dollars and --- cents per annum during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of march, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.
(seal)  
     Given at the War Office of the United States, this Twenty fifth day of March one thousand eight hundred and thirty four.
              Lew Cass
              Secretary of War.

Examined and Countersigned.}
JL Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.

FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO
Page 20

14,308
Thos. M.Speddin
Page 21


BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Thomas McSpeddin which require further proof or explanation

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
Yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
Yes

V. * Has he mentioned 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 amout of pension he is entitled?
Yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
Yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
Yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
Yes
Page 22

2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?  Yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? yes

XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? 
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? 

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  Yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. 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 ___ yes ___ months, and ___ days, I served as a ___ For ___ months and ___ days, I served as a ___; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 23

3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as 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 they served two years 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 shewn 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.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he just prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants 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 witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
Page 24

Payments to be made
at Nashville
by the Pres't of USB Bank
Agent for paying Pensioners, 
in the Agency of West Tennessee

Recorded in the Pension
Office, in Book E Vol 7
Page 96 by
Daniel Boyd clerk
Page 25

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.  

I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June 1832, Thomas McSpeddin of the State of West Tennessee
who was a private in the Army of the Revolution is entitled to receive Twenty dollars and --- cents per annum during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of march, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.
(seal)  
     Given at the War Office of the United States, this Twenty sixth day of April one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
              Lew Cass
              Secretary of War.

Examined and Countersigned.}
JL Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 26

Payments to be made
at Nashville
by the Pres't of USB Bank
Agent for paying Pensioners,
in the Agency of West Tennessee

FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO

Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book E  Vol. 7  Page 96 by Danl Boyd Clerk
Page 27

FREE

(stamp)
LEBANON TEN.
DEC 20

Honbl JL Edwards
Comsr of Peninous (sic)
Washington City

Certif. Enclosed
31. Dec. 1832
Page 28

Lebanon Dec 16th 1833
Sir
     I have just received your letter of the of the 30th of Nov. and pursuant to the instruction therein contained I herewith inclose the certificate that issued from the pension office for Thomas McShepherd a Revolutionary pensioner.
      Very respectfully
      Your obt Servt

                  JS McClain