Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6780, Thomas Cummings, N.C.
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N.C.

Cummings, Thomas
Cumming

S.6780

carded
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4260
North Carolina
Thomas Cumming*
of Guilford in the State of N. Car: who was a pri. Cav. Inf. in the compy commanded by Captain ___ of the Regt commanded by Col Davis in the N. Car line for 6 months from 1780

Thomas Cummings*
Records corrected

Inscribed on the roll of North Carolina
at the rate of 22 Dollars 50 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of Jany 33 and sent to Hon. A.H. Shepperd, house of Reps.

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832                    33.75
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33   11.25

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Nathan Rice, Clerk,
Book D  Vol. 8  Page 50 

(right panel)
Order to pay to Feby 1838.

Date of death not on AB
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17721
V
Thomas Cummings
Declaration for a Pension

I am very well acquainted with James McNairy and James Nelson who has made affidavit in this case. The are both gentlemen of great respectability and entitled to the fullest credit as witnesses &c.

A.H. Shepperd
15 Jan 1833
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State of North Carolina 
Guilford County: SS 
     On this 22nd day of October A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the 
court now sitting Thomas Cummings a resident of Guilford County and State of North Carolina aged seventy-four years: who being first duly sworn according to law on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th of June 1832 
That he entered the service of the United States in the fall of the year 1780 under Captain John Gillespie in a company of cavalry that at the time of his entering the service he lived in the County of Guilford North Carolina, that his company rendezvoused at Guilford Court House & was marched from thence on through Salisbury to Charlotte in Mecklenburg County North Carolina where General Davidson was stationed with his Army & was 
waiting for recruits & new forces with a view of marching into South Carolina to join in cooperating with General Green:  upon the arrival of his company under Captain 
Gillespie at Charlotte, it was placed under the command of Colonel Davie, that he remained there with his company until the British made their appearance in that quarter, when the Division under the command of General Davidson was compelled to retreat before superiority of numbers that during this campaign news arrived at head quarters that a large number of Tories had assembled at a plantation on the Catawba River called Wahubs where Colonel Davie was dispatched with a force of one hundred cavalry and one hundred Infantry to disperse them – that he was among the number sent, and after traveling all night, they arrived early in the morning and found a large number of Tories who were immediately given battle & defeated & upwards of thirty horses were taken by the company under command of Colonel Davie.  At the expiration of three months this affiant was dismissed & returned home to Guilford where he remained for some time, that during his stay at home he was frequently called out to suppress the depredations committed by the Tories & British, That he was once called upon for 
about two weeks to march to the lower end of Guilford County to check a parcel of Tories and
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British: that he was under the command of Captain George Pierce and Colonel 
Winston: & that he was dismissed when he returned and was next drafted to serve a tour of three months under his Brother John Cummings who commanded as Captain and was marched from Guilford on for Wilmington and joined Colonel Graham who took command of several companies: that his company was marched through Fayetteville in sight of Wilmington where his commander turned his course and went on through the lower part of South Carolina in pursuit of 
Tories, who together with the colored population in the swamps were very obnoxious in that section of country.  That during this campaign and number of Tories were shot and cut to pieces, but no engagement was entered into; that after crossing & re-crossing the Pedee his company was marched up into North Carolina near the mouth of Uwharrie where they were dismissed after a Tour of three months: That he was called out in several little scouting parties to suppress the Tories but was never in any general engagement.  He further states that he received a discharge in writing when he left the Army under General Davidson, which he has long since lost. 
He further states that he has no documentary evidence & he knows of no person whose 
Testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service, except Lee Clarke whose affidavit is 
hereto attached, who was with him in the Army under the command of General Davidson at 
Charlotte, North Carolina and who in the party of Horse called out to the lower end of Guilford to suppress the Tories & British in that quarter: He states that he is known in his neighborhood to James McNairy Esquire, James Nelson Esquire – Moses McGrady Esquire & many others.  He hereby relinquishes every claim 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 & subscribed the day & year aforesaid 
                     Thomas Cummings
Sworn & subscribed in open Court 
Test:  A. E. Hanner, Clerk
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Lee Clarke being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he served in two tours with Thomas 
Cummings during the revolutionary war, one for the space of three months when they were 
stationed at Charlotte North Carolina, under the command of General Davidson, that said 
Cummings belonged to the horse, the other for the space of about two weeks in the lower part of Guilford  

We James McNairy and James Nelson residents of Guilford County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Cummings who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him of seventy four years of age:  that he is reported and believed in the neighbourhood where he reside to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
                              James McNairy
                              James Nelson
Sworn & subscribed in Open Court
Test  A.E. Hanner CGC

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after investigating the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states & the court further certify that James McNairy & James Nelson Esq are residents of the county of Guilford and are credible persons & that their statements are entitled to credit.
                   Jos Gibson Pres. Jus.
                   Geo. Hicks JP
                   James Fulton JP
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State of North Carolina
     I Alfred E. Hanner Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County of Guilford
     Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of Thomas Cummings for a Pension.
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at office this 15th day of September 1832.
                  A.E. Hanner CGC

17721
V
Thomas Cummings
Declaration for a Pension

I am very well acquainted with James McNairy and James Nelson who has made affidavit in this case.  The are both gentlemen of great respectability and entitled to the fullest credit as witnesses &c.

                         A.H. Shepperd
                          15 Jan 1833
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      July 7, 1937.
                     BA-J/EEL/ILL
                     Thomas Cummings
                     S. 6780

Mrs. P.T. Chapman, Sr.
Vienna, Illinois.

Dear Madam:  
     The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 6780, based upon the military service of Thomas Cummings in that war.
     The date and place of birth of Thomas Cummings not stated.
     While residing in Guilford County, North Carolina, he enlisted in the fall of 1780, served three months as a private in Captain John Gillespie's Company of Horse under Colonel David, in the North Carolina Troops and was in the battle at Wahub's Plantation on the Catawba River:  he again enlisted, date not given, and served three months as a private in Captain John Cummings' (soldier's brother) Company, Colonel Graham's North Carolina Regiment:  he was also out on a number of short tours against the Tories, one of two weeks being under Captain George Pierce and Colonel Winston in the North Carolina Troops:  no dates are given for any of these tours.
     He was allowed pension on his application executed August 22, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy-four years and resided in Guilford County, North Carolina.
     It is not stated that soldier was ever married.
     In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Thomas Cummings, S. 6780, you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division,
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this city, citing all of the following:
     Thomas Cummings, Certificate #4260, issued January 17, 1833, rate $22.50 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, North Carolina Agency.
     There is no claim for pension on file based upon the services in the Revolutionary War of Captain John Cummings, of North Carolina.

                        Very truly yours,

                        A.D. HILLER
                        Executive Assistant
                        to the Administrator.

2.
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(left panel)
1933 - Feb. 28 - Hist. to Mr. Joseph Brooks.  See request in case of John Brooks - S.6732. EEL

1937 - July 7 - Hist. to Mrs. P.T. Chapman, Sr., copied.  E.E.L. of I.L.L.

(right panel)

Rev War
6780
INVALID.

File No. 6780
Thomas Cumming*
Priv. Rev. War

Act:  July 7th 1832
Index: -Vol. 1st, Page 84

[Arrangement of 1870.]

Thomas Cummings*
June 20/04
Records corrected.
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Thomas Cummings
from 1780 Private
of Cavalry & Inf. 6 mo.
$22.50/100

Hon A.H. Shepperd
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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 Cummings which require further proof or explanation

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?


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


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?


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?


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


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


VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?


IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?


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?
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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? 

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
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? 

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, 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, 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.
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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 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.
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               Pension Office
               Fayetteville Jany 30 1838.

James L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir
     I inclose for your inspection the papers of Thomas Cummings Act of 1832 paid on the 26 Nov. 1836 to the 4 Sept. 1838.
     Very respectfully,
        Your Ob Svt
                 Jno Huske
                 Agent
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Commissioner of 
Pension Bureau
Washington D.C.
 
Dear Sir:
     I find on the Pension Roll of Revolutionary soldiers that Jeremiah and Thomas Cummins drew pensions beginning Mch. 4, 1831.  I want to find if they had families and the names of wife or children if not the names of parents or to whom paid.  Thanking you for information, I am,
                 Very Truly,
                    Mrs. P.T. Chapman Sr.
Vienna Ill.
6-15-1937

(stamp)
RECEIVED
JUNE 18 1937
MAIL SUB.-DIC.
VETS. ADM.
READER #21

Vetrans Bureau
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:  I find on the North Carolina Roll of Rev. Soldiers Shadrach and Edmond Cummins served under Capt. A. Lytle and were allotted 640 acres of land.  Also Eleazer Cummins who was from Salisbury Dist. N.C.  If they were natives of N.C. or moved there after the War.  If they had families and their birth place or any reference to their families, are given.  Will greatly appreciate any information pertaining to them.  
     Would like the same information of Nicholas Shires who served in the Continental Line Rev. War.  Thanking you, I am,
               Yours Truly,
                  Mrs. P.T. Chapman Sr.
                  May Chapman
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                         July 7, 1937.

                         BA-J/ILL
                         Thomas Cummings
                         S. 6780

Mrs. P.T. Chapman, Sr.
Vienna, Illinois.

Dear Madam:  
     Reference is made to your letters in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Thomas and Jeremiah Cummins, who, you state, received pensions while living in North Carolina, which pensions began March 4 1831, also, the Revolutionary War records of Shadrach, Eleazer and Edmond Cummins of North Carolina and that of Nicholas Shires who served in the Continental Line.
     There is no claim for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a Jeremiah, Shadrach, Edmond of Eleazer Cummins, under any spelling of that surname, nor of a Nicholas Shires.  It may be the Jeremiah Cummins were erroneously quoted to you as a pensioner in 1831.  The record of Thomas Cummings is furnished you herewith.

                     Very truly yours,

                     A.D. HILLER,
                     Executive Assistant
                     to the Administrator.

Copied Miss Lukes history as she was on leave.
ILL.
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February 28, 1933
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
BA-J/EEL
Thomas Cummings
S. 6780

Mr. Joseph Brooks
Pembroke
North Carolina

Dear Sir:
The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 6780, based upon the military service of Thomas Cummings in that war.
The date and place of birth of Thomas Cummings not stated.
While residing in Guilford County, North Carolina, he enlisted in the fall of 1780, served three months as a private in Captain John Gillespie's Company of Horse under Colonel David, in the North Carolina Troops and was in the battle at Wahub's Plantation on the Catawba River: he again enlisted, date not given, and served three months as a private in Captain John Cummings' (soldier's brother) Company, Colonel Graham's North Carolina Regiment: he was also out on a number of short tours against the Tories, one of two weeks being under Captain George Pierce and Colonel Winston in the North Carolina Troops: no dates are given for any of these tours.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 22, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy-four years and resided in Guilford County, North Carolina.
It is not stated that soldier was ever married.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Thomas Cummings, S. 6780, you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, citing all of the following data:
Page 19

Thomas Cummings, Certificate #4260, issued January 17, 1833, rate $22.50 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, North Carolina Agency.
There is no claim for pension on file based upon the services in the Revolutionary War of Captain John Cummings, of North Carolina.

Very truly yours,

A.D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.

2.