Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11,548, Thomas Wilkins, Va.
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Va. Wilkins, Thomas R.11.548
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Power of attorney 
Thomas Wilkins 
Virginia [crossed out]
N Carolina 

Oct-4-1852

Ex
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County Clerk 
Cleveland 
N Carolina
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[Printed document with handwritten responses]

Power of Attorney
For ascertaining whether any increase or arrears of Pension are due the Widow or heirs of Revolutionary Pensioners, &c.*
State of North Carolina }
County of Cleveland      } Be it known that before me John L. Gladden a _____ of the ____ personally appeared Thomas Wilkins aged 58 years, who being duly cautioned and then sworn in due form of law, states that he is the son of Thomas Wilkins ___ who was a revolutionary [dagger symbol] [blank space] in the State of Virginia and that he died on the seventh day of September 1844 and that his mother, named Susanah died on the day of [crossed out] in March 1819 and that they were married on the [blank space] day of [blank space] in the year 1780 and that they were residents of Halifax City in the State of Virginia and that they resided there 45 or 46 years, and that [blank space] resides in [blank space] and that furthermore BY THESE PRESENTS, constitutes, appoints, and fully empowers and authorizes, irrevocably and with the powers of substitution, F. E. Hassler, of Washington city, D. C., as his true and lawful attorney for him and in his name and stead, to examine into, to prosecute, to demand, and to receive from the U. S. Government and State officers the rights in all and in any manner of claim for increase or arrears of Pension or Land that may be due ___ as _______ him of Thomas Wilkins ___ who died leaving the same undrawn, as in right of law he may be entitled.

In witness whereof, he has on this 8th day October 1852, hereunto signed his name, and affixed his seal. 

Witness: Thomas J. Elame Thomas Wilkins [seal]
Witness: Mcmillian Mayhigh

Signed, sealed, acknowledged, and sworn to before me; and I further certify, that Thomas Wilkins has always by the community been known as the son of Thomas Wilkins [illegible]
Dated on this 8th day of October 1852
John L. Gladden J. P.

State of North Carolina } to wit:
County of Cleveland      }
I hereby certify, that John L. Gladden Esq., before whom the foregoing affidavits and acknowledgement were made, and who has thereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature above written is genuine. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of County Court, this 9th day of October one thousand eight hundred and fifty two 

S. Williams ___ Clerk. 

*If a Widow applies, state "the date of marriage, and date of death of her husband."
[Dagger symbol] State under what act pensioned, or when pension commenced, if a pensioner—and amount of pension.
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No 35466.
Thomas Wilkins 
N. 6ar
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State of North Carolina }
Cleavland County          } 
Court of Pleas + greater sessions
January term 1843. On this 13th day of January 1843, personally approved in open court before the court. Now sitting. Thomas Wilkins a resident of North Carolina in the county of Cleavland. Aged 78 years. Who being first Duty 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 7th, 1832: That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he was drafted for a three months tour and entered the service as a Private: in Capt. Robbert Smith's Company: which was commanded by Col. Robbert Mumphert, and that he resided when drafted in Mecklenburg  County in the State of Virginia and was forth with on the march to join gen. Green and Rockford on Haugh River and commanded with gen Green until he joined Morgan's army and was in the battle at guilford courthouse in North Carolina and that he still continued with gen. Green until the expiration of the three months tour at which time he was discharged on or near the Bank of Deep River in Chatham County North Carolina, and this declarant believing that he entered the service: the first of February 1781 and that that [smudged, illegible] discharged about the last of April following for he well recollects that he was compelled to walk home barefooted and that the weather was somewhat warm and that he further declares that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person: Love, Edward
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Tuck + Bartlett Cox in Halifax County in the state of Virginia if living whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service and that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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: and that the reason why he has not applied for a pension at an earlier period is that he had removed from the state of Virginia sometime before the passage of the act of 7th June 1832 and that he was not in indigent circumstances and felt free not to ask any assistance of the government but after the elapse of ten years and much Godly inferiority he must claim that relief of which he feels he is justly entitled—for his services above stated—sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
[signed] B B Bridges
Thomas Wilkins

State of North Carolina }
Cleveland County          }
We Joshua Beem and Charles Royster residing in state and county aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Wilkins who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides. To have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion—sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid }
[signed] Joshua Beem, Charles Royster
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We the said court do hereby declare our opinion after the investigation of the matter that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states; and the court further certifies that Joshua Beem and Charles Royster who has signed the preceding certificate is residents in said county and that they are credible persons; and their statement is entitled to full credit—This 13th Day of January 1843
[signed] B B Bridges
T M Hardin 

I Richard Champion clerk of the court of pleas and [illegible] for Cleaveland County, do hereby
certify that the foregoing cautions the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Thomas Wilkins for a pension 
In testimony whereof have here unto not my hand and applied the deal of office this 13th day of January 1843
Richard Champion Clerk of Cleaveland County
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no letter [hand written] 

Quartermaster General 
Memorial Branch 
War Department 
Washington, D.C 

October 3, 1933

Thomas Wilkins-R.11548 
BA-J/AWF 

Dear Sir: 

Reference is made to your request for the Revolutionary War record of Thomas Wilkins. 
The data furnished herein were obtained from 
the papers on file in pension claim, R.11548, baed upon the Revolutionary War service of Thomas Wilkins. 

The date and place of his birth are not shown, nor are the names of his parents given. 

While a resident of Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Thomas Wilkins enlisted February 1, 1781 and served three months as a private in Captain Robert Smith's company, Colonel Robert Mumphret's Virginia regiment, and was in the battle of Guilford Court House. 

Thomas Wilkins applied for pension, January 13, 1843, then aged seventy-eight years and living in Cleveland County, North Carolina. The claim was not allowed as he only served three months, and a service of at least six months was required by the pension law of 1832, under which he applied. 

The soldier, Thomas Wilkins, married in the year 1780, Susannah, her maiden name not stated. They were then residing in Halifax County, Virginia. She died in the month of March, 1819, and he died Septem-
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ber 7, 1844. 

Thomas Wilkins, a son, was aged fifty-eight years in 1852 and then in Cleveland County, North Carolina. There are no further data in this claim relative to the family of the soldier, Thomas Wilkins. 

The application for headstone for Thomas Wilkins is returned herewith, there was no correspondence attached. 

Very truly yours 

A.D. Hiller 
Assistant to Administrator
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Swangstown No. Carolina
January 26th 1843

Dear Sir

I herewith enclose the declaration together with the proceedings of the court in the matter of the application of Thomas Wilkins for a pension — under the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832.

[illegible]
James Roberts

J. L. Edwards 
Comm of pensions
Washington City
D.C.
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James Roberts
March 9 1843
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Pension Office 
March 9 1843

Sir

The papers in the case of the man Wilkins claiming a pension under the act of 7th June 1832 have been examined and filed. The law of 1832 provided only for such revolutionary soldiers as have served at least six months consequently the claim in question does not 
come within its provisions and is therefore rejected.

James Roberts 

"No 35466 Act 7th June '32"
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Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir-

Do you have any record of the services of Thomas Wilkins in the Revolution? I believe it was Halifax Co Va that he was from. He died near Shelly N.C. (I think about 1850). His discharge papers were sent in with application for pension that were never returned information was returned that he only served 6 months and was not entitled to a pension. 

The information I must derive in what branch of the service was he in tho it was brief; and what was the first name of his father if you have it on record; and what branch of the service was he in?

Yours truly
G.W. Bryant
41 Hill St
Newark 
N.J.

[stamped] U.S. Pension Office Feb 11
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Ruben Bowen and Reece Bowen.
the above names have been passed to me by my people, as having served in the American Revolution and one of them was said to have been killed near Kings north N.C. I do not know what state they were from. Have you anything of record that will assist me in tracing the history of these men. 

Yours truly 

G.W. Bryant 
Cheney
Box 535 Wash.
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Please give me the services performed by one Thomas Wilkins from Halifax County Va. in the war of 1812-1815. I want to know of his ancestors and his descendants and did he receive a pension 

I want to know if one Thomas Wilkins of Mecklenburg Country Va. who was said to have served in the american revolution has any record there of service pension etc. Is there any record of his father mother children or his wife etc. 

I just want information can he had of one Nathaniel Wilkins who was said to have served in the american revolution as a Lieutenant from the state of Va. in 1776-1777
I am anxious for his record and to learn of his ancestors and descendants. What country was he from? 

Yours very truly 
G.W. Bryant 
Box 535
Cheney 
Wash.
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4 no 35.466

Thomas Wilkins 
n. Carolina 

Rejected
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11.548

P.O. Thomas Wilkins
Service: ______________

REJCECTED [stamp]

Enlisted: ______________________________, 18
Discharged: ___________________________, 18

Application filed: _______________________, 18
The printed list of 1852 shows reasons for rejection [handwritten]
Alleges: Did not serve 6 mos.
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Memorial Branch
[illegible]
Thomas Wilkins
R 11548 - There was no correspondence attached [illegible]

Oct 3 - 1933
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War Department
Office of the Quartermaster General
Washington
Sep 25 1933

Memorandum for
The Surgeon General, Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, Commandant, United States Coast Guard, Treasury Department, The Commissioner of Pensions, Interior Building,
General Accounting Office, F Street, between 4th & 5th, N. W.

1. The attached application has been submitted to this office for Government headstone to be erected at the grave of the decedent named thereon. In order that the proper inscription may be placed on the stone it would be appreciated if your office would verify the name and service on the application, checking and making such corrections in red ink as may be necessary to show the correct spelling of the name and complete designation of the organizations. 

2. In addition, please advise State from which decedent came.
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September 1, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Thomas Wilkins-R.11548
BA-J/AWF

Mr. P. Cleveland Gardner
Shelby, Lock Box 705
North Carolina

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Thomas Wilkins, soldier of the War of the Revolution from Cleveland County, North Carolina.

The data furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, R.11548, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Thomas Wilkins.

The date and place of his birth are not states, nor are the names of his parents given. 

While a resident of Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Thomas Wilkins enlisted February 1, 1781 and served three months as a private in Captain Robert Smith's company, Colonel Robert Mumphert's Virginia regiment, and was in the battle of Guilford Court House. 

He applied for pension, January 13, 1843, then aged seventy-eight years and living in Cleveland County, North Carolina. The claim was not allowed, as he only served three months, and service of six months was required by the pension law of 1832, under which he applied. 

The soldier, Thomas Wilkins, married in the year 1780, Susanah, her maiden name is not stated. They were then residing in Halifax County, Virginia. [illegible] in
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March, 1819, and the soldier, Thomas Wilkins, died September 7, 1844.

Son, Thomas Wilkins, in 1852 was aged fifty-eight years and then in Cleveland County, North Carolina.

There are no further data in this claimsrelative to family.

Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator
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March 13, 1924.

G. W. Bryant, 
41 Hill St.,
Newark, N. J.

Sir;

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 11548, it appears that Thomas Wilkins, while a resident of Mecklenburg County, Virginia, enlisted February 1, 1781 and served as a private three months in Captain Robert Smith's Company, Colonel Robert Mumphert's Virginia Regiment, and was in the battle of Guilford. 

He applied for pension January 13, 1843, while a resident of Cleveland County, North Carolina, aged seventy eight years, but the claim was not allowed, as he did not serve six months, as required by the pension laws of 1832 under which he applied. 

He married in 1780, Susanah (maiden name not stated), they resided in Halifax County, Virginia, she died in March
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1819 and he died September 7, 1844.

In 1852, son Thomas aged fifty eight years is mentioned. 

There is no further family data on file.

Respectfully,

Commissioner.
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P. Cleveland Gardner
Attorney At Law
Royster Building
Shelby, North Carolina

August 22nd, 1933.

Veterans Administration,
The Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C.

In RE: Thomas Wilkins [underlined with handwritten check mark above], 
Rev. War Soldier.

Sir: Relatives of Thomas Wilkins who died and was buried in what is now Cleveland County, N.C., says that his widow drew a pension for many years after his death, and it is a family tradition that this Thomas Wilkins was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

For your information will state that it is thought that the Wilkins family came from Virginia to what was then Rutherford County, N.C., sometime between 1790 to 1812.

For your information will state that the section in which the Wilkins family settled in N.C. has been known as several different counties, to-wit:

Tryon County, created in 1768, and abolished in 1779, and the territory therein divided into two counties known as Lincoln County and Rutherford County, and that the Wilkins family settled in that portion known as Rutherford County and within a few hundred yards of the Lincoln County line; that in 1841 the County of Cleveland was created by taking a strip off of Lincoln and Rutherford Counties.

Thomas Wilkins died in what is now Cleveland County, N.C. It is said that he served in the Rev. War, but it is possible that it was the war of 1812.

Please give me an abstract of his application, or that of his widow, for pension, showing names of wife, children, date of birth, marriage, organization of company, etc. The family desires at a later date to make application for marker to erect at his grave. 

Very truly yours,
P. Cleveland Gardner [handwritten signature]
P. Cleveland Gardner,
Lock Box 705,
Shelby, North Carolina. 

Received Aug 23 1933 [stamp]