Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 46,518, for Thomas Thornhill, Virginia
Page 1

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[3-1776]

SERVICE
Va. 

Thornhill, Thomas

NUMBER
S.46.518

CONTENTS
Page 2

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] 1929 - May 20. Hist to Mrs. J. S. Ward – M.E.E. 
1939. Feb. 24. Hist. to Miss Emeline Thornhill – ILL.
1939. Mar. 6 Miss Emeline Thornhill informed no other Thomas Thornhill. ILL

[right side] [written sideways] Ex-Issues} 46.518
Name: Thomas Thornhill 
Rank: Private Comp’y: [Company:] ---
Regt: Col. Lee's Legion Virga line-Rev War

Virginia} Agency

RATE PER MONTH, AND DATE OF COMMENCEMENT.
1st Issue} Comm’g
2d Issue} Comm’g
3d Issue} Comm’g

DATE OF CERTIFICATE, AND TO WHOM SENT. 
1st Issue} – Sent to ----
2d Issue} – Sent to ----
3d Issue} – Sent to ----

Act 14th July, 1862. Bk. G. Vol. ---, Page --- 
Registering Clerk. 

Disability.} Rejected claim inside
Page 3

Sperryville Va.}
August 26th}

Hon.l [Honorable] Jeremiah Morton 
House of Reps.
Washington City D.C.
Page 4

Aug. 21st 1850

Dr Sir

The Heirs of Thomas Thornhill have become very impatient to hear from you, I have no doubt of the justness of their claim upon the government, and in order that you may place it before the proper department for adjudication, I herewith enclose to you some of the evidence upon which their claim is founded, together with the name of the children of the said Thornhill, he having died in Rappahannock County near Woodville about the year 1838, or 39, and his wife about two years before him. 
The names of the children, are Joseph, William, Bryan Thomas, Charles, Bleuford Robert and Edmond Thornhill, and two daughter Mrs. Butter & Mrs. Stone are all the children that said Thornhill raised, and at the time of his death he was a pensioner of the general government in consideration of his services in the Revolutionary War, and the evidence now on file in the pension office will shew the extent of his service in that eventful period. I will thank you to put the aforesaid claim in a train for action before the proper department, provided you think the information I said you is sufficient so to do. 
I herewith send you my own affidavit of my knowledge of the family, and the identity of the man.
I am with due Respect your friend & Humble Servant 
Wm Slaughter
Page 5

I hereby certify, that I was acquainted with Thomas Thornhill for fifty years previous to his death, and that I do know all of his children and they are the persons that are now making application to government for the dues of their deceased father in consideration of his revolutionary services, their names are set forth in the preceding letter, and they are all he raised in his family, are now all living, and I have been well acquainted with them all my life and continue to be so, and further say that I know the said Thornhill was a pensioner at the time of his death, he having lived and raised his family in sight of me and my birth place, and his children and myself were school mates, and are now living in the Counties of Rappa [Rappahannock] Culpeper & Madison of Va. Given under my hand this 21 day of August 1850 
Wm Slaughter 

Madison County To Wit: 
This day Wm Slaughter Subscribed and made oath before me a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid, to the foregoing certificate of Identity. Given under my hand and seal this 21 day of August 1850. 
William R Robson J.P. {Seal}
Page 6

Dr Sir,
Please preserve the enclosed papers in the event of a failure of the applicants. 
Yours Respectfully 
Wm Slaughter
Page 7

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Revolutionary Claims.

[ B. ]

Form of a Declaration to be made by Non-Commissioned Officers, Musicians, Privates.

For the purpose of obtaining the benefits of an act, entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution," approved on the 15th of May, 1828, I, Thomas Thornhill of Brownfield Parrish in the county of Culpeper in the State of Virginia do hereby declare, that I enlisted in the Continental line of the Army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and continued in its service until its termination; at which period, I was a private soldier in Captain Joseph Eggleston's Company, in the legionary Regiment of Lieutenant Col. Henry Lee of said Line. And, I also declare, that I afterwards received certificates for the reward of eight dollars; to which I was entitled, under a resolve of Congress, passed the 15th of May, 1778. 
And I further declare, that I was not, on the fifteenth of May, 1828, on the Pension List of the United States. 
[Signed] Thomas Thornhill 
Witness my hand, this Sixteenth day of June in the year 1828. 
[Signed] Thomas Thornhill

Before me, John Thorn a Justice of the Peace in the county of Culpeper in the State of Virginia personally appeared, this day, Zeph Turner and William G. Allan of the said county, who did severally make oath that Thomas Thornhill by whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed, is generally reputed and believed to have been a soldier in the Army of the Revolution, in manner as therein stated. 
Witness my hand, this 16th day of June in the year 1828. 
John Thom

I, Thomas W Lightfoot Clerk of the Court of the County of Culpeper in the State of Virginia do hereby certify, that John Thom Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits were sworn, was, at the time, a Justice of the Peace (as set forth) and duly empowered to administer oaths. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, this 17th day of June 1878 
T. W. Lightfoot 

[cut off] Int, Corporal, Musician, or private, as the case may be. [cut off], though not on the pension list on the 15th May, 1828, may have been on the list on or since [cut off] March, 1826, and afterwards stricken off; for he will add, and that I have remained of the United [cut off] a pensioner, since the 3d of March, 1826, the sum of [blank] dollars, paid to me by the [cut off] or paying pensions in the State of [blank] Here insert a Justice of the Peace, or other Magistrate duly empowered to administer oaths. Justice of the Peace, or otherwise, as the case may be.
Page 8

February 24, 1939. 

BA-J/ILL. 
Thomas Thornhill 
S. 46518 

Miss Eveline Thornhill 
2428 Rivermont Avenue 
Lynchburg, Virginia. 

Dear Madam: 

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Thomas Thornhill, of Virginia. 
The data which follow are found in the papers on file in pension claim, S. 46518, based upon service in the Revolutionary War of Thomas Thornhill. 
Thomas Thornhill enlisted and served as a private in one of the Virginia regiments, on March 1, 1781, was taken from his regiment by order of General Greene and served as a dragoon in Captain Joseph Eggleston's company, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Lee’s Legion and was discharged in November 1783. The residence of this soldier at his enlistment, and the names of the officers under whom he served prior to March 1, 1781, are not shown. 
Thomas Thornhill was allowed pension on his application executed June 16, 1828, at which time he resided in Broomfield Parish, Culpeper County, Virginia. He had resided in that same vicinity ever since the Revolutionary War. He died June 28, 1839, near Woodville, Rappahannock County, Virginia, his age was not given in the papers in this claim, nor the date and place of his birth. The soldier's wife died about two years before he died; her name is not shown, nor the date and place of their marriage. 
The names of the children of Thomas Thornhill were given follow-Joseph, William, Bryan, Thomas, Charles, Bleuford, Robert, Edmond, and two daughters whose names in 1850 were Mrs. Butter and Mrs. Stone. All of said children were living in 1850 in Virginia, in Rappahannock, Culpeper and Madison Counties. There are no further data regarding said children. 
Very truly yours, 

A. D. HILLER, 
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator.
Page 9

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.

10,569

P. O. Thomas Thornhill

Service: _________

Enlisted: ____ ,18
Discharged: _____ ,18

Application filed: _____ ,18

Alleges: ______

Re-enlisted: ______

Consol: with 1828

Attorney: ____
P. O. ____
___Recognized.  _____ Contract.
___Cert. of Dis.  Searched for ____, 18.
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Thomas Thornhill Va. Line
Consol. Rej. # Va. 10,569 with this 
[crossed out - Exd. Old Rej File No 10,569]
Page 11

Thomas Thornhill 
10569 
File this with Claims under act 15 May 1828
[crossed out – on the Let Hon Jer. Morton 6th Sept 1850]
2-24-39
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That it appears from a list in this office of such Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Continental Line as settled their accounts and received certificates for the balance of their Full Pay, according to an act of assembly, passed the November session 1781, directing the Auditors of Public Accounts to settle and adjust the pay and accounts of said Officers and Soldiers from the 1st January 1777 to 31st December 1781, (see Hening's Statutes at Large, vol. 10, p. 462,) that a settlement was made on the 11th day of Nov. 1783 in the name of Thomas Thornhill as a Soldier of Infantry and evidence of the indebtedness of the State to him was £ 22.4.11 delivered to Genl Stevens and was given, as appears by a copy of the settlement on file in this office. -----
Given under my hand at the First Auditor's Office, Richmond, this 19th day of June 1850 p. 292.
[No Seal of Office.]
Ro Johnston 
First Auditor
Page 13

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

HIS IS TO CERTIFY, That it appears from a list in this office of such Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Continental Line as settled their accounts and received certificates for the balance of their Full Pay, according to an act of assembly, passed the November session 1781, directing the Auditors of Public Accounts to settle and adjust the pay and accounts of the said Officers and Soldiers from the 1st January 1777, to the 31st December 1781 (see Hening's Statutes at Large, vol. 10, p. 462,) that a settlement was made on the 28th day of June 1784 in the name of Thomas Thornhill as a Soldier of Infantry and evidence of the indebtedness of the State to him for £30.0.0 -- delivered to Mr. Strother and was given, as appears by a copy of the settlement on file in this office, [crossed out - for services from the to]
Given under my hand at the First Auditor's Office, Richmond, this 19th day of June 1850 
P 295 
Ro Johnston 
First Auditor

[No Seal of Office.]
Page 14

H. Shep: Aug. 30th 1850 

Sir, 
The following letter from Mr. Slaughter, (in relation to the Heirs of Tho. Thornhill) written with the documents, you will please give your earliest possible attention to –
If the claim is good the papers will be returned by you, otherwise solve them with Mr. Slaughter's letter to me again. 
In any count return thoughts within.
Yrs Very truly 
Jeremiah Morton 

J. L. Edwards 
Com of Pensions
Washington
Page 15

164

Pension Office 
September 6th 1850 

Sir

The papers transmitted by you in relation to the services of Thomas Thornhill I have the honor to inform you have been read and placed on file. 
We cannot discover for what purpose these papers were sent to this office Thomas Thornhill, has received bounty land and also a pension under the act of 15 May 1828, and we know of nothing further due him from the Genl Government. 
There is no law which gives to children, either Land, or a Pension, on account of service rendered by their father in the Revolutionary War. In Cases when the father has a claim to Land or Pension which is unsatisfied at to the time of his death, his children upon the production of the proper proof of Heirship may receive what was due him, but nothing, they have no claim in their own right. As there appears to be nothing due to Thomas Thornhill we know of no claim his children can have in account of his service in the Revolutionary war
Page 16

Against the Genl Government. 

Hon Jeremiah Morton 
House of Reps 

[Illegible] this on correspondence 15 May 18[cut off] Thomas Thornhill Va.

[written sideways] Hon. Jer. Morton 6 Sept 1850
Page 17

Auditor’s Office 28, 1784 
I Certify that Thomas Thornhill was taken from one of the Virginia Regiments the first March 1781 by order of Genl. Greene and put in Lt. [Lieutenant] Col. Lee's Legion; that he afterwards enlisted for the War in the said Legion; and was never discharged until the Army was disbanded by order of Congress in November 1783 he served in the ranks as a Dragoon and never Rec.d [received] any pay. 
[Signed] Jos. Eggleston Ma: Lee's Legion 

A Copy Teste
Cha: Jones ck. A.

Executive Department 
Richmond Va. June 19. 1850 
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a paper filed in this department. 
G. H. Richardson S Clerk
Page 18

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

No if orig. Pay 67 10/162
Revolutionary Claims.

Treasury Department, 
9 July 1828

Thomas Thornhill -- of Broomfield Parrish in the County of Culpeper in the State of Virginia has applied to the Secretary of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution," approved the 15th of May, 1828. He states that he enlisted in the Continental line of the Army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and continued until its termination, at which period he was a Private -- in captain J. Eggleston's company, in [crossed out - the regiment of the] Col. Lee's Legion of the Virginia line; and that he received a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars, provided by the resolve of the 15th of May, 1778; and further, that he was not on the 15th of May, 1828, on the pension list of the United States, and that he has received as a pensioner since the 3rd of March, 1826, nothing.

The Third Auditor is requested to report how far the several statements are corroborated by the records in his Office. 
By order of the Secretary, 
A. Dickins

Treasury Department, 
Third Auditor's Office, 
10th July 1828 
It appears by the records of this office, that a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars has been issued to Thomas Thornhill in the Lees Legion of the Virginia line 
It further appears that Thomas Thornhill is not now on the pension list of any agency, and has not been so since the 3rd March 1826 [crossed out - at the rate of __ dollars per month.] 
Thomas Thornhill appears to have been paid at the rate of eight and 1/3 Dollars per month. 
John Hagner, Aud.
Page 19

April 25, 1929 
To 
Bureau of Pensions 
Washington D. C. 

Please send me original of copy “4” that I am enclosing - I thank you – 
Mrs. J. T. Ward 
325 Daly Ave. 
Missouri, Montana

She asked for various Jesses & Thomases -

[circular stamp] PENSION OFFICE U. S. APR 30 1929
Page 20

2428 Rivermont Avenue, 
Lynchburg, Va., 
February 28, 1939.

Mr. A. D. Hiller, 
Executive Assistant to the Administrator, 
Veterans Administration, 
Washington, D. C. 

only one BA-J/ILL 
Thomas Thornhill S. 46518

Dear Sir:

I wish to thank you for your kind reply to my letter of sometime ago, requesting information of Revolutionary service of Thomas Thornhill. I find the data you give very interesting as it connects up some relatives that I had not been able to get straight, but it is not the right Thomas Thornhill. I would be glad to know whether or not there is a record of the above Thomas Thornhill having received certificates as follows: one Lbs. 22 - 4 - 11, received by General Stevens and another for Lb. 30, on June 28, 1784, by Mr. Strother.
The Thomas Thornhill (my great-great-grandfather) was in Goochland County, Va. as early as 1740, bought land there on “the north side of James River” which he later sold. He then had a patent from Geo. II in 1746 " southside of Fluvanna (now James) River" parts of which property with other land, is still in the hands of his descendants. There is in the family the original of a grant of land in the same section as above, bearing the signature of Thomas Jefferson, dated Sept. 1, 1780, and then in 1787, there are papers showing that he is dead and his affairs are in the hands of his executors, Nathaniel Lancaster and John Brothers. He was living in Buckingham County at the time of his death. (For your information, Goochland County was divided about 1744, and the western part went into Albemarle Co., in 1761 Albemarle was divided and a part of it became Buckingham and a part of Buckingham has since been cut off to help form Appomattox). The land he lived on is now in Appomattox Co. His children were: William; Absolem; Betsy, who married Richard North; Nancy, who married John Stevens, and Jesse (my great-grandfather) who married Elizabeth Stevens - their descendants are scattered to the four winds. Family tradition says that our Thomas Thornhill was in the War of Revolution and that he was at the siege of Yorktown. I would be glad indeed, to either have it proven or know if it is an error.
You said nothing about a fee, so I take for granted there is none, but if ever I can be of service to your department or to you individually by helping in records within my reach, I shall be only too glad to do so. I am not a genealogist, but know my section of state pretty well. Again thanking you, 

Very truly yours, 
[Signed] Emeline Thornhill 
Emeline Thornhill. 

The old spelling of Thornhill was "Thornnell”, perhaps his record will be under that spelling 
E.T.
Page 21

January 23, 1939.

Veterans' Administration, 
Washington, D. C. 
Attention: Mr. A. D. Hiller, Assistant to Administrator. 

Re: Thomas Thornhill,
soldier in War of Revolution.

There is a record, either in veterans' Administration or in the office of the Adjutant General, showing that Thomas Thornhill from Virginia, was in the War of Revolution. However, the lady making copy did not give a number, or any other way of designating his record. 
Will you kindly advise whether any information is given as to his place of birth, or the date, or any reference to date of death? Also, whether or not he was in the siege at Yorktown. 
If there is any considerable fee for this information, kindly drop me a card before making copy, advising of the amount. 

Very truly yours, 
[signed] Emeline Thornhill 
(Miss) Emeline Thornhill, 
2428 Rivermont Avenue, 
Lynchburg, Va.

[circular stamp with Numbers 1 -12 around the outside] RECEIVED JAN 24 1939 MAIL SUB-DIV, VETS. ADM. READER #7
Page 22

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

March 6, 1939. 

BA-J/ILL Own
Thomas Thornhill 
S. 46518

Miss Emeline Thornhill 
2428 Rivermont Avenue 
Lynchburg, Virginia. 

Dear Madam: 

Reference is made to your letter of February 28, 1939, in which you request further information in regard to soldiers of Virginia with the name Thomas Thornhill, other than Thomas Thornhill, S. 46518, whose record was furnished you, 
The record of Thomas Thornhill, S. 46518, is that of the only soldier with that name found on the Revolutionary War records of this office. The payments to which you refer Lbs. 22-4-11 etc., were not made by this office as they were not payments for United States pensions; hence, this office has no way to determine whether or not the Thomas Thornhill (S.46518) was identical with the Thomas Thornhill who received the payments cited by you. Those payments were made by the State of Virginia for military service. 
It is suggested that further information in regard to the military record of Thomas Thornhill might be obtained from the Adjutant General, War Department, this city. 

Very truly yours, 

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

Mrs. Finch said here is nothing to determine for whose service these two certificates (submitted in 1850) were intended - this Thomas or some other one of Va.
Page 23

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section 
MEE/eel 

May 21, 1929

Mrs. J. T. Ward 
325 Daly Avenue 
Missoula, Montana 

Madam: 
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.46518, it appears that Thomas Thornhill, on March 1, 1781, was taken from one of the Virginia Regiments by order of General Greene, served as a dragoon in Captain Joseph Eggleston's Company, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Lee's Legion and was discharged in November, 1783. 
The date of enlistment and details of previous service are not stated. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed June 16, 1828, while a resident of Broomfield Parish, Culpeper County, Virginia. His age is not shown. 
He died June 28, 1839, near Woodville, Rappahannock County, Virginia. His wife, name not shown, had then been dead about two years. 
The following children were living in 1850, in
Page 24

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Rappahannock, Culpeper and Madison Counties, Virginia. 
Joseph, William, Bryan Thomas, Charles, Bleuford, Robert and Edmond Thornhill, and Mrs. Butter and Mrs. Edmond Stone. 
On April 25, 1929, you were furnished the history of the only soldier named Jesse Thornhill, found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau and the above noted is the only Thomas Thornhill found on said records.

Respectfully, 

E. W. MORGAN 
Acting Commissioner.

She asked for various Jesses and Thomases