Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9,924, for Joseph Thompson, Pennsylvania
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Service Penn 

Thompson, Joseph
Snyder, Margaret (Former Widow)

Number R 9.924
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3445
Snyder Margaret
Seen for a pension

Highland County Ohio

Wm Scott agent
Hilsboro, Ohio
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The State of Ohio Highland County ss 

On this 17 day of April 17th AD 1838 personally appeared in open court before the court of Common pleas of Highland County aforesaid Margret Snyder, a resident of said County of Highland and aged 84 years, who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836, and the act Explanatory of said act passed March 3, 1837. That in the year 1775 she lived with her father William Shryner in Lancaster County in the State of Pennsylvania about ten miles from the town of Lancaster on the "Horse shoe" road leading from Lancaster to Philadelphia. In 1775 she was married to Joseph Thompson by a Presbyterian Clergyman named Copuch who lived in the town of Lancaster. A few weeks after her marriage her said husband enlisted as first Lieutenant in the company commanded by Captain Andrew Bear for "during the war" at the Black [Constorm] which was situated in the immediate neighborhood of her fathers house & was kept by the said Andrew Bear.  she cannot state to what troop the said company belonged on account of her ignorance of these matters but she believes they belonged either to the regular troops of the United States line or to the Pennsylvania line. That for the space of about two weeks after the said Lieutenant Joseph Thompson had enlisted, he and the company to which he belonged were making preparation for marching, collecting their men, stores & and at the end of that time her said husband & the said company commenced their march to join the army of the United States under Washington. That after her said husband left her she returned to live with her father & did not again see her husband for about 12 months, at the end of which time her husband visited her & remained with her for about 3 months having obtained a furlough for that time.  at the expiration of the time for which he had obtained leave of absence, her husband again left her to join the American Army. That about 10 or 12 months after her husband left her the second time to join the army of the United States and shortly after the battle of Brandywine, she heard by letter from the said Captain Bear that her husband was killed in that battle in the pits.  Captain Bear wrote the letter to his wife & Mrs Bear sent intelligence to the Deponent shortly after she received it.  The said Margaret does not know the particulars of her said husband's service against the British in the Revolutionary War
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and although her said husband when he visited her on furlough as before said, told her many ancedotes in relation to his service yet she can not remember them so distinctly as to state them under oath.

About one year after her husband's death she went to live in Philadelphia where she remained about 5 years.  when she moved back to Lancaster County that she remained there about 2 years & from thence moved to Hagerstown Maryland, where she remained about one year, during which time she was married near that place to Adam Snyder.  She then moved with her husband to Washington County, Pennsylvania where she remained until about 1820. And her said husband died there about the year 1804,  She then moved to Highland County, Ohio where she has lived ever since & has never since been married.

That whilst she lived in Washington County Pennsylvania her house was burned & every thing she had except the clothes on her back was destroyed; 
among the rest such few papers as had belonged to her first husband, the said Lieutenant Joseph Thompson.   That she has no documentary evidence to prove the service of her said husband in the Revolutionary War nor has she way to authenticate her marriage with the said Thompson. This deponent had two children by her said first husband,  both of when died before their father was killed at Brandywine.  And that she never had any children by the second husband.

This Deponent is now very poor having no property whatever of any 
description and ever since she has been living in the said County of Highland has been in a state of dependence upon her friends for her support. That she would have applied before this time for the benefit of the Laws of the United States for the relief of widows of Revolutionary soldiers had she known of the
existence of such laws but she had no such knowledge & now asks to be relieved.

Margaret Snyder  (her mark)


Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court

April 17th 1834

Samuel Bell Clk
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Ohio Highland County Court

Personally came in open Court Jacob Easter, who being duly sworn, deposes & says that he is well acquainted with the within named Margaret Snyder.  that he has known her well since the year 1803; that at the time she was living with her husband Snyder.  that he knew the said Adam Snyder until his death in 1804. He has lived in her in immediate neighberhood ever since he has been in Highland County That he has no hesitation in stating under oath that she has been a character among all who know her from the time of his first acquaintance with her, unimpeachable for honesty & veracity. He has heard  the statement made by her in the written declaration and believes the same to be true.  that from the time he has first known her she has made the same statement to him & in his hearing with regard to her marriage with Lieutenant Joseph Thompson of the service of the latter in the Revolutionary war & of his death at Brandywine in battle and of the other circumstances therein mentioned.

Jacob Easter

Sworn & subscribed in Open Court, April 17, 1836
Samuel Bell, Clerk

At the same time Jacob Tomlinson & John West who being duly sworn also depose & say that they have known the above named applicant they said nearly for 16 or 17 years last part, the said Tomlinson Jr about 6 or 7 years last . That they have heard her statement above read  now in their hearing.  That the
said applicant has been a good character for veracity in her neighborhood ever since they have respectively known her.  And of her character they believe her statements made in said declaration to be true

John West
Jacob Tomlinson

Sworn and subscribed in Open Court April 17, 1838

Samuel Bell, Clerk
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And the said Court of Common Pleas of Highland County Ohio do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & the examination of the witness that the
said Joseph Thompson was an officer in the Revolutionary War. That he served about three years as first Lieutenant in the company commanded by Captain Andrew Bear & was killed in the battle of Brandywine.  That the said Margaret Snyder was the lawful wife of the said Lieutenant Joseph Thompson; that she is now a widow & in short that the statements in the within declaration are true.

and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Jacob Easter, Jacob Tomlinson, and John West, who signed the preceding certificate are respectable citizens & creditsable persons and that their statements are entitled to credit

I, Samuel Bell, Clerk of the Court of Common pleas within & for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Margaret Snyder for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this 17 day of April AD 1838

Samuel Bell Clerk
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9924
Marg Snyder

REJECTED
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Margaret Snyder
Ohio
Suspended

See letter 18 June 1838, W Scott

do 2 April 1839

9924

Forever widow of Joseph Thompson

Act 4 July 1836
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J L Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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Hillsboro, Ohio   March 25, 1839

Sir:

Some months since, I forwarded to your office the Application of Margaret Snyder, widow of Joseph Thompson, who died in the War of the Revolution, for a pension.  The final decision of the Department on this application has not been received.  The applicant is very aged and I am sure is sincere in her statement.  She cannot on account of age and infirmity last long and is very desirous of hearing the determination of the officer on her case.

I am respectfully,

Wm Scott

J L Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions
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Jos L Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington CIty
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Hillsboro Ohio April 26th 1838

Sir

Enclosed is the Declaration of Margant Snyder, late Margaret Thompson.  To have the evidence full would require the exhibition first of the proof of the service of Lieutenant Thompson in the War and of his death at Brandywine.   But these facts we hope will be shown by the will as the widow can not be supposed to be cognizant of the fact.  Also, the actual proof of the marriage would probably be required. But the manner in which the marriage ceremony has always been performed  in Pennsylvania render it almost impossible after so long a lapse of years to prove the facts by the evidence of eye witneeses & in every fair case, widow is then need evidence of the facts.

The Court is perfectly satisfied after full examination of the applicant & sundry witness esthat Margaret Snyder is the widow of Lieutenant Joseph Thompson and their examination before coming to this conclusion was at a minute as they would have read in the trial of the question whether the said widow would have been entitled to pension.

I hope the Declaration will meet with a fair & prompt examination

I am Respectfully 
Wm Scott

J L. Edwards Esq
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Joseph L Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
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Hillsboro Ohio - June 10, 1838

Sir:

I forwaded some weeks since the application of Margaret Snyder, late Margaret Thompson, for a pension.  I have not since nothing that they came to hands and am apprehenxive that they have been lost.

I hope you have the goodness to inform me of the fact whether the papers came to your office so that if any accident has happened we may send others.

I am respectfully,

William Scott

J L Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington