Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,597, Thomas Davis, Penn.
Page 1

(3-1776) 

SERVICE
Penn

Davis, Thomas

NUMBER
S. 23597

CONTENTS
Page 2

11.304
Pennsylvania

Thomas Davis
of Chester Co- in the State of Pennsylvania
who was a Priv + Marine in the Company [illegible] by Captain Wilson - of the Regt commanded by Captain Wilson -of the Regt commanded by Col Thomas in the Pennsylvania line for Troops - 
6 Mo Pr Infantry - 20.
2 "    "     Marines - 6.
                             26.

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issues the 23 day of March 1833 - and sent to -
Pensioner [illegible] Pa.

Assets to the 4th of March 1833 53.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept " 13.33
$66.65

Revolutionary [illegible],
Act June 7, [illegible]

Recorded by S. S. Spruque
Book E Vol. 5 Page [illegible]

Paid at the Treasury [illegible] Act of the  6 April 18[illegible] from 4 Sept 1838 to 4 March 1839 Agt [illegible] 19 Dec

Let: 14 Feb: 42 to
B. A. Bidlack
Page 3

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7,1832
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
County of Chester
On this twenty first day of August 16, AD 1832,
personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas now sitting, Thomas Davis, a resident of Coventry township in the County of Chester & State of Pennsylvania, aged Eighty-three 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 7, 1832: 
That he entered the service of the United States a volunteer under the following named officers served as herein stated - He entered under Capt. David Wilson in the latter end of December 1776, at that time he lived in Tredyffrin township in Chester Co.; at the time there was a deep snow on the ground; he went immediately to Philadelphia where he joined his company; from there we marched to
Trenton; from thence he marched to Princeton were he joined the regular troops under Gen. Putnam. Gen. Putnam's son was at that time Col. of the Regiment, to which this deponent's company was attached. This was about three months after this deponent left home. This company having lain in Philadelphia one month. The battle of Princeton took place a few days after our joining the army. We took a good many prisoners & drove them in our retreat. A colonel belonging to the American Service from the State of New Jersey, whose name is not now recollected, was killed at that time in that battle. He was shot in the eye & bayonetted in many parts of his body. We brought him down & showed him to the British prisoners, letting them know that they should be served the same way. The British lay in Brunswick. They were called out twice in order to engage them. Our line drove them back. We laid at Princeton about three months after the battle until we got our discharge,
having been in service six months-
Page 4

General Putnam commanded at the Battle of Princeton. Cap: Wilson commanded the Company to which I belonged. Richard Henry
of Chester County was Colonel of our Regiment.  Lewis Grow was sub-Lieutenant. Abner Davis was first Lieutenant of our Company - He served with Regiment from Julyy and from Virginia. He has no documentary evidence & he knows of no person now living who can testify to his service - He also served between two three months in the Revolution Troop of War, under the command of Capt. Biddle & Capt Lieut. Barnes. We sailed from Philadelphia, having many against the consent of my friends. We never went into any part but were meanly wasting after having been out for some time. We were injured by squall and put bank into Philadelphia to repair when I left her. The vessel was apparently blown up but I don't recollect where.
This deponent entered on board the Randolph about three or four months before he joined Capt. Wilson's Company, above stated. He has
no documentary evidence as regards this later service, nor knows of any one whose testimony
he can prove to testify to this service. He further states in answer to questions proposed by the Court - That he was born in Treddyffrin township, Chester County, Penna in the year 1749. He has a record of his age in the Family Bible now in possession of Mr. David Wilson, son of Capt. David Wilson above mentioned who lives in the Treddyffrin township aforesaid.
He went into service both land and naval as a volunteer. He does not now recollect of the names of any other regular officers or any other circumstances relating to his since except those stated in the foregoing declaration. He got a discharge from the service it being given
Col. Richard Thomas & Sub Lieutenant Lewis 
He is known to Hezekiah Davis, Isaac Anderson, Thomas Bodley, John G Wessler & David Wilson, all of whom can testify to his character for veracity & their belief of his
services as a soldier of the Revolution. The Certificate
Page 5

of John G. Wersler & David Wilson is hereto annexed. 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 & subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
in open Court
John W. Cunningham St
Thomas Davis
---
We John G. Wersler residing in the township of Charleston, & David Wilson, residing in the township of Treddyffrin, both in the County of Chester, State Penna, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Davis, who has subscribed to the above declaration, & that we believe him to be 83 yrs of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & aforesaid subscribed
the day year aforesaid in open Court
John Cunningham Prot
Wilson
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above-named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, served as he states. And the Court further certifies
that appears that John G. Wersler, who has signed the above certificate is a resident of Chestertown township and David Wilson, who has also signed the same, is a resident of Treddyffrin township, that both are credited 
persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.
By the Court
John W Cuningham Prot
Page 6

I John W Cunningham Protonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Chester do hereby certify that that the pregoing contains the   original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of appreciation of Thomas Davis for a pension.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at West Chester this Twentyfirst day of August AD 1832

John W Cunningham Prot.
[Signature]
Page 7

E. no. 375.4
Suspended
Nov. 8. 1832
Cly 5.10.12. 16
-----
to J. W. Cunningham
West Chester, Penna
P. 50

Admitted
6 mos. Pvt Inf. 20.--
2 Mos Pvt Marines 6.66
Maines 6.66
$26.66
[Illegible]
Paoli
Penna
Page 8

BRIEF in the case of Thomas Davis
of Chester County in the State of Pennsylvania
(Act 7 June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?
In the Court of Common Pleas

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

3. How old is he?
83 years.

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

Period: In 1776 December
Duration of Service: 6 Months
Rank: Private
Name of general and Field Officers under whom he served: Capt. Wilson, Col. Thomas

Period: Not stated
Duration of Service: 2 or 3 Months
Rank: Mariner
Name of general and Field Officers under whom he served: Capt. Biddle

5. In what battles was he engaged?

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Chester County, Pa

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

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
No properly attached

Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned
JM Duffield
Examining Clerk
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23597
Revolution INVALID

File No. 23597
Thomas Davis
Pri. Rev War

Act: June 7th 32

Index: - Vol. 2, Page 107

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Thomas Davis
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Supplementary Declaration in order to obtain thebenefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.-
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
County of Chester SS

On this Eighth day of April A.D. 1833, personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas now sitting, Thomas Davis, in the foregoing declaration in chief named, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following supplementary declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the Seventh day of June AD 1832. viz

That this declarant served as a private for six
months as is stated in his declaration in chief
under Capt. David Wilson, and that he served
as a marine in the Randolph Sloop of war between two & three months under the command of Capt Biddle, as is also stated in said declaration.
Sworn & subscribed in
Open Court the day &
year aforesaid
John W Cuningham Prot
Thomas Davis

I, William Latta, a clergyman residing in the township of East Whiteland, County & State aforesaid, hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Thomas Davis, who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration, and that I believe him to be Eighty-three years of age: that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that I concur in the opinion.
Sworn and subscribed in open Court
 the day &
year aforesaid
Wm Latta
John Cunningham Prot
Page 12

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and the above-named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he
states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that William Latta, who has signed the preceding Certificate is a clergyman resident in the township of East Whiteland in the said County of Chester, and that his statement is entitled to credit,
By the Court
John W Cuningham Prot

I, John W. Cunningham, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Chester, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the supplemental proceeds of the
said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Davis for a pension

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand and seal of said Court at West Chester this Eighth day of April A.D. 1833
John H. Cunningham Prot
Page 13

Free

[illegible]
April 12

Hon James L Edwards
Pension Office
Washington D.C.
Page 14

Feb 14. 1842

Pa
Davis

Hon
J L Edwards
Comm Pension
Washington
DC

Hon B. A. Dodlack
HOR
Page 15

Washington DC
July 1142
Sir, 
Will you please inform me whether the 
evidence mentioned within would be sufficient
for the purpose indicated & what further proof
would be required?
Most respectfully,
B.A. Bidlack
Page 16

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office
Dec; 6th, 1839,

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," Thomas Davis, --
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia Agency, at the rate of Twenty Six Dollars and Sixty Six Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1838, to the 4th March 1839.

Respectfully yours,
Albion K Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.