Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23931, for Thomas Smith, Pennsylvania
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Penn                 Smith, Thomas            S.23931


[illegible] in 1756 or 1757 in Baltimore, Md.
rec. at ent. & in 1832, Franklin Twp. Washington Co./later Greene Co. Penn.
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[Left side of page]
11-465

Pennsylvania
________________________________________________
Thomas Smith
of Greene in the State of Penn
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Owens of the Regt commanded
by Col Crawford in the Penn Militia
line [crossed out] for ten months
_________________________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania
at the rate of 33 Dollars 30 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
_________________________________
Certificate of Pension Issued the 8th day of May 1833 and sent to W.G. Hawkins, Waynesburg
__________________________________________________
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833                $66.60
Semi-anl, allowance ending 4th Sept, 33   16.65
                                                                   ------
                                                                 $83.25
__________________________________________________
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Geo. B. Whiting Clerk
Book E    Vol.  5    Page 53

[Right side of page]
Ent on 22 Nov 1833
page 53
Wm M Stewart, [illegible]
having been entered before---------------------
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Pennsylvania Greene County.}  On this 10th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Judge, of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County and State aforesaid now sitting Thomas Smith a resident of Franklin Township in the County and State aforesaid 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 7, 1832.  Deponent was born in the Baltimore County Maryland in the year 1756 or 1757, not certain which depts [deponents] father left no record. Deponent when called into the service lived in
Franklin Township then Washington now Greene County, Penna. and has lived there ever since-
Deponent was drafted in the fall of 1776 in the company commanded by Captain Owens for three months- we were stationed at Fishing Creek- Owe Boggs was Lieutenant and James Archer Ensign- we served under Captain Herrod at Fishing Creek-deponent got no written discharge. In 1780, deponent volunteered for two months in the company commanded by Captain James Archer and was employed in scouting up and down the Fish Creek, and Wheeling-deponent when the tour was out was verbally discharged-deponent cannot now recollect of any other time that he was out a whole month at a time, but was forted at Jackson's fort from 1777 to 1781.  Part of the time in the fort and part of the time out on the scout- deponent has no hesitation in saying that taking all the time together he was out at least ten months.
  deponent can prove part of his services by David White and James Seals Esq. and also his character for veracity.
  Deponent hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except
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the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State-

Sworn to and subscribes the day and year aforesaid                      
                                     Thomas Smith X his mark

Seal     Wm T Hays





We David White, a clergyman and James Seals and David White residing in Greene County Penn. hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Smith who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration- that we believe him to be seventy six 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 said opinion-said White and Seals had a personal
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knowledge of some of the services deposed to by said Smith having forted in the same neighborhood out together frequently & well acquainted during and ever since the revolutionary war.

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first aforesaid      David White  ECC
                     David White
                     James Seals

Seal   Wm T Hays

 And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War department that the above name applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that       who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman and David White and James Seals who have also signed are all residents of Greene County, Penn. - that said White and Seals are credible persons and that their statement is entered to Court.

I William T Hays Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Green County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the signed proceeding of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Smith for a pension.

      In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal of office the 10th day of Sept. 1832.    
    Wm T. Hays
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Pennsylvania, Greene County}  Personally appeared before me the undersigned as justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid the within named Thomas Smith who being duly sworn according to Law deposeth & with memory he cannot swear positively as to the 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 viz:  As a private first in the company of Capt [Captain] Owens for three months  2nd two months under Capt [Captain] Archer- deponent cannot now specify any other times that he was out over whole months at a time, but was forted at Jacksons fort from 1777 to 1781. Frequently out on alarms, as a spy &c and firmly believes that taking all of his time into view he is justly entitled to be paid for ten months service-- His Colonels were first Henry Enoch and afterwards Wm Crawford-deponents services were all rendered between the years 1776 & 1781. (1776 & 1781)          Thomas Smith  his X mark
Sworn & subscribed before me 25 March 1833- Nicholas Hager

State of Pennsylvania Greene County}  I Enos Hook prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Nicholas Hager Esquire before who the above affidavit appears to have been sworn to, is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly Commissioned and Sworn, that his signature thereunto is genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Waynesburg the 25th day of March AD 1833.                                 
                                         Enos Hook
                                     Prothy [Prothonotary]
                                       [flourish]
                                     
[sideways at right]  
Decl [Declaration] of Thomas Smith-
16607
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Mrs. Kenneth W. Scott
Waynesburg
Pennsylvania.

November 9, 1929

Dear Madam,

     I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 23931, it appears that Thomas Smith was born in 1756 or 1757 in Baltimore County, Maryland.

    While residing in Franklin Township, then Washington County, later Greene County Pennsylvania, he enlisted in the fall of 1776 and served three months as a private in Captains Owens' and Herrod's Company, Colonel Henry Enoch's Pennsylvania Regiment;  he enlisted in 1780 and served two months as a private in Captain James Archer's Company, Colonel William Crawford's Pennsylvania  Regiment;  from 1777 until 1781 he was stationed at Jackson's Fort; a part of the time he was in the fort, and part of the time he served as a spy and scout and was out on many alarms.  His actual service amounted in all to about ten months.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 10, 1832, while a resident of Franklin Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, where he had lived ever since the Revolution.

There are no data concerning his family.

The Revolutionary War Records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to James Porter as described by you. 

                                      Very truly yours,

                                       EARL D. CHURCH
                                         Commissioner.

Date of death not
on Agency Book
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[left side of page]


       23931
     INVALID
_______________

Revolution

File No.     23,931

     Thomas Smith


  Pri    Rev   War

_________________________

Act:   June 7"  32"

Index:--Vol.   2     , Page  380

{Arrangement of 1870}

[right side of page]

1929-Nov. 9, Hist to Mrs.
Kenneth W. Scott, M.E.E
_____________________________________
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Two sided journal type document with the left side used only.

No. 16.607
Thomas Smith
Wm. G. Hawkins

Pittsburg, Pa
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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 Smith  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?  No
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 amount of pension he is entitled?  No. See illegible 5
VI. Has he given the names f the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? No, he should give the name of his colonel ——
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to say 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
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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?
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?  Yes in part
         If he has produced direct poof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Yes
        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? Yes in part
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes
XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? Nd, if not, which of them is not so answered?
—————————————————————-
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 deposits and smith, 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——-year——-months, and——-days, I served as a ——-For——-months and——-days, I served as a ——-; and for such service I claim a pension.
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   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 shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; tat 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 must 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 he 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 an paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Stamped hand with pointer finger—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.
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Left side of document: 
OFFICERS
Honorary President, Andrew J. Waychoff
President, Mrs. Lucy Gordon Brock
1st V. President, H.C. Sayers Esq.
2nd V. President, Miss Alice Biggins
Treasurer, Charles T. Strosnier
Recording Secretary, Mrs. Viola Porter Scott
Curator and Corresponding Sec., Andrew J. Waychoff
1st Assistant Curator, Frank B. Jones
2nd Assistant Curator, Pres. Paul R. Stewart

Middle top of document:
THE GREENE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Waynesburg, Penna.

Right side of document: 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
             ——
Norval P. Rogers
John F. Pauley
Levi Funk
Mrs. Mary S. Parry
Miss H. Laura Ingram
Miss Mary E. Sayers
Charles H. Church
A.L. Meredock, Esq.
An oval shaped stamp directly under the center states the following:  REVOLUTIONARY & 1812 WARS. SECTION BUREAU OF PENSIONS NOV 4 —-1929
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:   Can you give me the war record of James Porter, a soldier of the Revolution from Pa. or Md.?
He obtained a land grant from the state of Pa. In 1785 of 341 acres.
His wife, name unknown died before he did. He died in 1822 naming the following persons in his 
In his will as children: David, Joseph, Molly, Eleanor, and Hannah. Book I page 244 in Section of wills in court house of Greene County. (David died before his father) 
So many from this section enlisted in Cecil Co.Md.  that it is possible that he did also. 
There were so many James Porter’s in the Revolution that I become confused with the Pa. Archives. And we do not have them all. 

II. Also record of Thomas Smith who in June 1840 was receiving a pension. He was then 85, and living in Franklin Twp. Greene Co. Pa. Died in 1844 Gave on old farm near here. Wife, Mary Williams Smith 1754-1849 lies beside him
He is on list of pensioners from Franklin Twp Children mentioned in will, Hannah, Huey, (a few typing errors etcyyyy) Vincent, Bazil, Nathaniel, Sara, Hohn, Olivia, Martha, Mary,
Very truly yours
Viola Porter Scott.  Sec.
(Mrs. Kenneth W. Scott)