Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4,877, Thomas Henderson, Penn.
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Penn
Henderson, Thomas
R 4877
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34,703

4
Thomas Henderson
Pennsylvania

[?] with blue cover Def book in the Com

[written sideways] William S. Ramsey
Carlisle
Penna

[upside down]
Said Henderson a Revolutionary
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[seal]

State of Pennsylvania
County of York
SS

On this 17 day of December A.D. 1838, personally appeared in open court before the Court of Common Pleas of said county now sitting Thomas Henderson Esquire, a resident of the Township of Peach Bottom in the county of York and state of Pennsylvania, aged seventy six years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make, the following declaration in order to obtain th benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.

That in the year 1776 the deponent Thomas Henderson resided in Oxford Township Chester County in Pennsylvania and was called on to serve in the militia, and on or about the 1st day of December 1776, he joined a company of Militia under the command of David Hays to serve for a term of two months that deponent joined said company as a private and marched from said county to Trenton in the Jerseys.  On our way we stopped two nights at the New London X roads, one night at old Chester then to Philadelphia, where we stayed maybe two or three days and then on to Trenton.  Colonel Montgomery went with us from Chester County, and I believe commanded us at Trenton.  At Trenton, we saw General Washington, who took the command.  We took I think 300 Hessians and we marched ten miles towards Princeton, after night, on the next day thinks there was a canonade.  We then retreated
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across the Delaware, somewhere near Trenton.  We were stationed in sight of the Delaware.  After that about the First of February our term of service having expired we were dismissed and returned home.  The deponent has no written discharge or certificate of this service.

On or about the 1st day of August A.D. 1777, deponent was again called on to serve in the militia and joined a militia company under the command of Allen Cuningham at the New London X roads.  Three or four days after we met the enemy at the Iron Hill between th head of Elk and the Christiana.  They fired a few canonshot at us but did not kill any of our men.  Deponent thinks Colonel Montgomery again commanded, we then retreated o the east side of Brandywine where we joined the main army.  Deponent saw Washington and thinks he [saw] LaFayette.  We were stationed on a picquet guard under the command of Captain Wilcock and Lieutenant Curry.  Deponent was not in th main battle of Brandywine.  After the battle we retreated to the Blue Bell beyond Darby, where we collected together again.  We then marched on to the Valley Forge and when our two months were expired we were dismissed, somewhere about the first of October.  We received no written discharge or has deponent any written certificate of this service.

About th latter end of October 1788, we were called out again in the militia.  We rendesvoused at New London X roads under the command of Captain David Hays.  We lay a night or two at Fag[g]s Manor meeting house, then we marched on to Downingtown.  And stayed in the Great Valley some
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time, we were continually on the march.  Colonel Evans commanded.  We did not join the main army
Arthur Andreu was a Lieutenant in Capt Evans Company.  There was a Captain Evans and a Colonel Evens[.] Ness Kennedy I thin was our Lieutenant.
The deponent states that he went as a substitute for his father in the years 1776. And 1777. but in 1778, he was personally drafted.

The deponent has no documentary evidence of his services except that which may be at Harrisburg, and upon which he obtained his pension from the Legislature in the year  .  he knows no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

Thomas Henderson [signature]
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The Court propounded the following interrogatories to the applicant after he had been sworn according to Law.

1st. Where And in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service, were you draughted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute And if a substitute for whom?
5. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service
6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?

The deponent answers the above interrogatories as follows

1st I was born early in the year 1762 at Oxford Chester Co PA
2nd I think there is a record of my birth or age in a book containing the confession of faith which belongs to my father.  I do not know that it can be found.
3rd I was living at Oxford [illegible] when called into [illegible] whom I lived until about 1812 when I removed to Deer Creek Md lived there until 1819.  Then I came to this state where I have [illegible].
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4th I first went into Service as a substitute for my father Robert Anderson also the 2nd time.  The third time I was drafted
5th I went out first under Capt David Hayes of Chester Co. Afterwards I served under Capt James M[c]Dergill.  I kept redoubt a under Allan Cunningham Capt.  I saw Genl Washington at the Blue 'Bell and think IMaj saw Genl Lafayette, I think Maj Jured Markey took us on.
6. I never recd a written discharge We were merely dismissed.

The      a clergyman residing in the Township of  
       in the County of         And State aforesaid, and Henry Smyser Esquire residing in the Borough of York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Henderson Esquire, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, what we believe him to be 76 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in th[e] neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Henry Smyser

Sworn & subscribed the day and year aforesaid


York County Court
of Common Pleas SS
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescibed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was
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a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.  And the court further certifies that it appears to them that ( no name here inserted) who signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the Township of _______ in the County aforesaid and that Henry Smyser is a credible and that their statement is entitled to credit

D Durkie


I Benj'n Lanius Prothonatary and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of York and State of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Thomas Henderson Esquire for a pension


In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 30th day of Jany A.D. 1839

Benjn Lanius
prothy
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December 8, 1937

BA-J/ady
Thomas Henderson
R. 4877

Miss Alice E. Starner                
446 1/2 West College Avenue    
York, Pennsylvania

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter relative to Thomas Henderson, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, R. 4877, based upon the military service of Thomas Henderson in that war.

Thomas Henderson was born early in 1763 in Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  The name of his mother is not shown.  The name of his father is shown as Robert "Anderson".

Thomas Henderson applied for pension on December 17, 1838 while a resident of Peach Bottom Township, York County, Pennsylvania, and stated that while a resident of Oxford, Pennsylvania, he enlisted about December 1, 1776 and served two months as a substitute for his father, as private in Captain's David Hays' and James McDowell's Companies, Colonel Montgomery's Pennsylvania Regiment and that he was in the battle of Trenton; that he enlisted about August 1, 1777 and served two months as a substitute for his father, in Captain Allen Cunningham's Company, Colonel Montgomery's Pennsylvania Regiment, was in the battle at Iron Hill, and that during the battle of Brandywine he was stationed on a picket guard under Captain Wilcock; that he enlisted about the last of October 1778 and served in Captain David Hays' Company, Colonel Evans' Pennsylvania Regiment, length of service not stated.

His claim was not allowed as he did not furnish proof of military service of six months as required by the pension law.
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About 1812 he moved from Oxford, Pennsylvania, to Deer Creek, Maryland, and in 1819 he moved to Pennsylvania.

There are no family data except the above references to soldier's father.

Soldier stated he received a pension from the State of Pennsylvania.

Very truly yours

A.B. Miller
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator
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Thomas Henderson
Pennsylvania

Rejected

[crossed out:] let T W.D. Ramsey 22 Feb 1837

service in a [?] capacity less than six months.

4877

(Book with blue cover deposited with M. Edwards)

Act 7 June 1832
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1934 June 18 Hist. to Marion Neeb A.D.Y.
1937 Dec 8 Hist. to Alice E. Starner A.D.Y.

4877

Thomas Henderson

REJECTED

1852 Rej. Book gives Reasons for rejection
"He did not serve six months in a military capacity"
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James Cook
Certificate
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To all to Whom These May Concern
I do hereby certify that Thomas Henderson of Oxford, Chester County served a tour of Militia duty during the year 1778 with honor to himself and fidelity to his country. Now a resident of York County Given under my hand this 17th of April 1833       James (his mark) Coock

June 15th 1844
of Chester County
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W.D. Ramsey, Esq
Carlisle, Pa
Feb. 22, 1839.
O.C.
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War Dept., PA Office
Feb 22, 1839

Sir, 
The papers in the case of Thomas Henderson have been examined.  He alleges two tours of two months each and a third tour time not stated as a militia man of Pennsylvania.  The last tour in the fall of 1778. was from the statement given believed to have been less than two months, and it would appear from a communication made to this Dept in March last that the service performed by the applicant was as a wagoner excepting one tour.  The act of 7 June 1832 provides for none who did not perform at least six months actual service in a military capacity.  The claim has therefore been rejected and the papers filed in this office.

William S. Ramsey, Esq.
Carlisle, PA
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James Clendinins
Deposition
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Lancaster County SS:  Before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for Lancaster County personally came James Clendenin of London Britain Township who was duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with Thomas Henderson that he deposes and remembers of the said Thomas Henderson serving a tour of Militia duty along with said deponent in Captain David Hayes Company in Oxford Township Chester County about the close of the Revolution that said Henderson is now a citizen of York County.

As deponent cannot remember what year the duty was performed in and further saith not sworn and subscribed before me this 17th day of January AD 1899 -James Clendenin  Jas. Jackson
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James Ewings
Deposition
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Chester County SS 
Before the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for Chester County Personally came James Ewing of Lower Crawford Township who was duly sworn according to law and saith that he is well acquainted with Thomas Henderson late of said Township and County and now a resident of York County and remembers of the said Thomas Henderson marching in the same Company with the deponent under Captain David Hayes in the year 1778. The rendezvous at New London and _______ in Chester County then were marched from that to Fags Manor Meetings this to the halfway house then to Flemming's ?Tavern? in the great valley not far from Downingtown the length of time the said Henderson was out this deponent was at Rensselaer but knowing that it stood for a tour of duty at that time further this deponent saith not sworn and subscribed this 17th day of January AD 1833

James Ewing
Before me
James Wilson
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[Date-Time Stamp]
RECEIVED
JUN 4 1934
MAIL SUB-DIV
VETS. ADM.
READER

1828 S. W. 13th St.,
Miami, Florida,
May 30th, 1934.

Pension Commissioner,
Veterans Bureau,
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen:
My grandfather's grandfather on my father's side, Thomas Henderson and his father Robert Henderson served in the Revolution in the same company and regiment from the State of
Pennsylvania. I have been endeavoring for
some time to secure their military record and
am now referred by the State of Pennsylvania,
Director of State Library, to your office.

The widow of Thomas Henderson, who was
Mary Patterson Henderson, was paid a pension after his death. The information given to me is that the pension was granted by the Pennsylvania legislature, however as above stated the State Library has written as follows:
" There were several men with similar Henderson names in Pennsylvania. The best way to determine which one was the husband of Mary Patterson Henderson is to write the Pension Commissioner, Veterans Bureau,
Washington, D.C., inquiring the name of the husband under whom she secured a pension."

I will very much appreciate this information
if you can secure it for me.
Yours very truly,
Marion Neeb
Marion Neeb
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[Postal Stamp]
2 YORK PA.
OCT 4 1937
2:30 PM

[Date Time Stamp]
RECEIVED
OCT 5 1937
MAIL SUB-DIV.
VETS. ADM.
READER #21

THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS

Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.
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York, Pennsylvania
October 4, 1937
Gentlemen:
Will you kindly send me any available
record you may have of Thomas Henderson of
Peach Bottom Township, York County, 
Pennsylvania, whose claim for pension as a Revolutionary soldier was rejected? Thank you!

Very truly yours
Alice E. Staner
Alice E. Starner
443 1/2 W. College Ave.
York, Pa.
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XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mr. Marion Neeb           BA-J/ady
1828 S. W. 13 Street      Thomas Henderson
Miami, Florida                R. 4877

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the record of Thomas Henderson, and that of his father, Robert Henderson, both of whom served in the Revolutionary War. You state that Mary Patterson Henderson was granted a pension by the Pennsylvania Legislature on account of the service of her husband Thomas Henderson in the Revolutionary War.

There is no claim for pension on file based upon
service of a Robert Henderson who served in the Pennsylvania troops in the Revolutionary War. Such claims are the source of Revolutionary War data furnished by this office.

The record of only one Thomas Henderson has been found, who served in the Pennsylvania troops in the Revolutionary War. His record is given herein as found in pension claim, R. 4877, based upon his service in that war. No claim for
pension was made to the United States by any one as the widow of that soldier.

Thomas Henderson was born early in 1762 in Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The name of his mother is not shown. The name of his father is shown as Robert "Anderson "

Thomas Henderson applied for pension on December 17, 1838 while a resident of Peach Bottom Township, York County, Pennsylvania, and stated that while a resident of Oxford,
Pennsylvania, he enlisted about December 1, 1776 and served two months as a substitute for his father, as private in Captains David Hays' and James McDowell's Companies, Colonel Montgomery's Pennsylvania Regiment and that he was in the battle of Trenton; that he enlisted about August 1, 1777 and served two months as a substitute for his father, in Captain Allen Cunningham's Company, Colonel Montgomery's Pennsylvania Regiment, was in the battle at Iron Hill, and that during the
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battle of Brandywine he was stationed on a picket guard under Captain Wilcock; that he enlisted about the last of October 1778 and served in Captain David Hays' Company, Colonel Evans' Pennsylvania Regiment, length of service not stated.

His claim was not allowed as he did not furnish proof of military service of six months as required by the pension law.

About 1812 he moved from Oxford, Pennsylvania, to Deer Creek, Maryland, and in 1819 he moved to Pennsylvania.

There are no family data except the above references to soldier's father.

Soldier stated he received a pension from the State of Pennsylvania.

Very truly yours,

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.