Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11,569, Thomas Townsend, Md.
Page 1

SERVICE
Md.               

Townsend, Thomas

NUMBER
S. 11569

carded.
Page 2

Maryland   25
Thomas Townsend
----Co in the State of Maryland
----in the Company commanded by
----Walley of the Regt commanded by 
--------in the Maryland
Militia
-----------$40.00
-----------$48.88
----ed on the Roll of Maryland
---- rate of 48 dollars 88 cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27th day of Jan
and sent to
1834  Hon R.W. Carmichael, H.R.
Arrears to the 4th of Apr 1833             122.20
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mch 34    24.44
                                                            $146.64
                                       {Revolutionary Claim,
                                       {Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by J.T. Sprague Clerk,
Book C Vol 5 Page 114
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Thomas Townsend

Application of Thomas Townsend for a pension
James L. Edwards. Esqr
Pension Bureau
War Department
Page 4

Declaration of Thomas Townsend, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.

State of Maryland 
Talbot County - to wit
On the twenty seventh day of September eighteen hundred and thirty three personally appeared before the justices of the orphan court of Talbot County, State of Maryland, in court now judicially sitting, Thomas Townsend, as a resident of the bay side district in the county and state aforesaid, aged 76 years, who being first duly 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 7 1832; that he entered the service as a marine and served on board the Barges commanded by Commodore Gressin on the Chesapeake Bay; that he was on board the Barge Protection (a Coxin), commanded  by Captain Zedekiah Walley; that there exists now documentary evidence of his having so serve, as a Coxin in a pay roll of the officers and men of the Barge Protection, commanded by Captain Zedekiah Walley in the public land office at Annapolis, and of which he had a certified copy under the hand of George G Brewer, the Reg's office was of on dates May 17, 1833; - from which it is evident that he received pay and clothing from the 10th of June 1782 to the 21st of July 1782; and again that he received pay and clothing from the 21st of September 1782 to the 30th November 1782; that to the best of his knowledge and belief he was born in 1754 on the 14th of October about four mile from the village of St Michael but that he has now no direct record of his age; that he lived near the place of his birth when called into service; that he has lived there since revolution and now lives there.
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That he went into the service as a volunteer. That Wm Lowe of his own neighborhood and '"Tommy Griffon'," of Wye River, the Commodore's brother's son." were both lieutenant in the barges with him-: that Spadden Orem and John Dorgin and Ried Spencer our late representative in congress can testify to their belief of his having served as he states - that he recollects, eight dollars being his regular pay per month. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is only on the pension roll of the State of Maryland.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
Thomas Townsend (Signature)

We, John Dorgin, a minister of the Gospel of St. Michael's, and John Dawson, residing in the same neighborhood hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Townsend, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy six years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides and throughout the county, to have been on board the Barges during the Revolution.

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. 
John Dorgin (Signature)
John Dawson (Signature)

And the court do hereby declare their opinion (after putting this interrogatories prescribed by the War Department), that the above named applicant was on board the Barges in "The Bay" and served as he states; and this court further certifies, that it appears to them, that John Dorgin, who had signed the preceding certificate is a minister of the Gospel resident in St. Michael's and that Major John Dawson who has also signed the same, is a resident in the Bay [Sea] and is a credible person, and that their statement  is entitled to credit.

27th September 1833
Edw'd N. Hambleton (Signature)
Jolo Dukunson [John Dawson ?] (Signature)
Lamb W. Spencer [Reid Spencer ?] (Signature)
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State of Maryland
Talbot County; to wit-

J. James Price, Register of Wills of Talbot County, Maryland, do herb certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the orphaned part of the family & state aforesaid in the matte of the application of Thomas Townsend for a pension.

In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this twenty-seventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and thirty three-

Jas. Price, Regr. of 
Wills for Talbot County
Page 7

Pension Bureau
War Department

Hon. R. W. Carmichael

[strikethrough]
Hon John Leeds Kerr
Easton
Md

Adm 1 year 2 months &
20 days.  Marine ----
Page 8

WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office,
Nov 11th 1833

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjoined notes you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. the notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A Statement, showing the service of Thomas Townsend (name handwritten into form)

(Column 1)
Period when the service was rendered.
Thomas Townsend of St. Michaels, Talbot County, Md. was in actual naval service from the 10th of June 1782 to the 21st of July 1782 - He, a second time, volunteer and served from the 21st of September 1782 to the 30the of November 1783.

(Column 2 - 3 parts)
Duration of the claimant's service.
Year/Months/Days
1yr / 3 mo's / 20 days

(Column 3)
Rank of the claimant
Coxin = Steered the Barge

(Column 4)
Names and rand of the naval officers under who he served.
Captain Zedekiah Walley, Commanded the barge in which he served.
Wm (William) Lowe and Thomas Grayson or Grifsom, as his name was generally pronounced, were lieutenants on board the same barge with him.

(Column 5)
Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service.
T.T. (Thomas Townsend)is at present seventy six years old. He was born October 14th 1787. His place of abode when he entered the service is the vicinity of the village of St. Micheals.

(Column 6)
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
John Dorgin, who has been for more than thirty years a Methodist preacher, and resided in his immediate neighborhood has testified to the fact of his having served as he states. Major J. Dawson also knows the fact, and subscribes his name to it.

Joshua M Faulkner the late Sheriff of Talbott County, has heard all the neighbors say, and all his life believed the fact of J. Townsend having served as he stated.

(Printed under columns
J. L. EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions
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2

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:

This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia" and "volunteers, all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the best of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, [mucicians] or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.

State, Territory, or District of ____ County of ____} ss. _______________________________
On this ____ day of ____ personally appeared (a) before
A B. a resident (b) of ____ in the County of ____ and State, Territory or District of ____ aged (c) ____  years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) ____ , with ____ and served in the (e)____  regiment of the ____ line,  under the following named officers: _____________

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and state in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [?] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of __________________
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. __________________ ; A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I ______________________________________ of the Court of _____________ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of ____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this ____
day of ____ ____ &c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the ____ and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with ____  , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be ____ years of age; 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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the ____ that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the ____ a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Clerk of the Court of _________ do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of ________ for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
 of office, this ____ day of ____ ____ &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted;
and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.
All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. 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 drafted, 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 services.
6. To a Soldier. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given,
and what has become of it?
To an Officer. Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure,
taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
-------
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow
the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the person or persons of the war when he served.
[d] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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 amount of pension he is entitled. 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 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 ---- year ---- months, and ----
days, I served as a ----. For ---- months and ---- days, I served as a ----; and for such service I claim a pension."
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 [italics] about three or four months,
[end italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses
who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's 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,
signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[.]* The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 11

(Upper left corner of page)

This Bureau can furnish the military
record of only such Revolutionary soldiers
as were pensioned or whose widows were
pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay
rolls of the Revolutionary War and the
War of 1812 as are now in the possession
of the Government are on file in the
Record and Pension Office, War Department.
Original rolls and other records
pertaining to service in the Revolutionary
War may also be found on file in the 
archives of many of the original States.

O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.

(Main document) 
I. 11,569
L. W. B.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
WASHINGTON, D. C.,

January 9, 1897.

Madam: 

Replying to your request for information concerning the military record of Thomas Townsend, soldier of the Revolutionary War, you are advised that he made application for pension on September 27, 1833, at which time he was 76 years of age and residing at Sainte Michael's, Md., and his pension was allowed for one year and two months' actual service as a private in the Maryland troops, Revolutionary War; a part of the time as served under Capt. Walley. He probably enlisted from Talbot County, Md.

Very respectfully,
Second Deputy Commissioner
Mrs. S. C. Weedon,
810 Sixth Street., N.W.
City. 

(This likely references Washington D.C. address)
Page 12

Spedden Orem
 Mr. Brewers Certificate
Page 13

I do hereby certify that Thomas Townsend, and Nathanial
Porter, served with me on board the Barges commanded
by Commodore Gressin, on the Chesapeake Bay, and
to the best of my knowledge and recollection served out
their terms of enlistment and were regularly discharged.
Spedden Orem,
Taken and Sworn before me,
Decr. 4th 1824      J. Valiant, Justice of
the Peace for Talbot County.

I certify that the above and foregoing is a true copy
from the original; on file in the Chamber of the House
Delegates of Maryland, with the petition of Thomas
Townsend, praying for a pension, and which was presented
at December Session 1824; -- Witness my hand at
the City of Annapolis, this 17th day of May 1833;
George G. Brewer clk House
Del. of Maryland;
Page 14

Mr Brewer's Certificate
Page 15

Land Office, Annapolis, May 17th 1833.
I certify that it appears by a Pay Roll of
the officers, and Men, of the barge Protector, Commanded
by Captain Zedekiah Wallay [Zedechiah Whaley], for the defence of the
Chesapeake Bay, that Thomas Townsend, (a Coxin,) [coxswain]
Received pay and clothing from the 21st of September
1782, to the 30th of November 1783;
George G. Brewer
Regt. Ld. off. W.J. Moss

Land Office, Annapolis, May 17th 1833;
I certify, that it appears by a pay Roll, of the officers
and Men of the Barge Protector, commanded by
Captain Zedekiah Walley, for the Defence of the Chesapeake
Bay, That Thomas Townsend, received pay
and clothing from the 10th of June 1782, to the 21st
of July 1782,
George G. Brewer
Regt. Ld. off. W.J. Moss
Page 16

T. L. Edwards Eagr Sir Here with are transmitted the testimonials of Thomas Townsend an applicant at your department for a pension under the act of 1832. His application was heretofore made, but owing to some failure to conform with the formalities required under the act, met an unfortunate action at the Pension Office. 
The requisition of the law seen, in the circumstance now first withheld, to he substantially complied with. and the result of the examination hereafter I have to ask may be communicated [ ]. I am very respectfully your 
[observant]. Rich. Wm. Carmichael
Page 17

T 
Dec. 28. 1896. 

My great-grandfather, Thomas Townsend (or Townshend) of Royal Oak. Talbot County, Maryland, received a pension for services rendered the government during the Revolution. He must have rec'd it as late as 1821 or 1831. 

I wish to ascertain what this pension was given for - what position he held when he rec'd it whether he was in the army or navy. 

Please tell me where to go to get this information, as it is very important that I should have it. 

S. C. Heidon 
810_6th St. N. W.
Page 18

Redhan V 
11569

INVALID.  
File No. 11569 
Thomas Townsend 
Pri Rev War 

Act: June 7th 32
Index:-Vol. A. Page 377 

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 19

Jan. 9. 1897 - History to Mrs. S. C. Naedon - 810 6th st. [?] . W. City.