Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,731, for James Thomson, Connecticut
Page 1

(3--1776)

SERVICE
Conn.

Thomson, James
or Thompson

NUMBER
S. 17.731

carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

22.875
Connecticut
---
James Thompson
of N. Stonington in the State of Con [Conn]
who was a Pri [private] of Inft [infantry] in the Com [company commanded
by Captain Clark of the Regt [regiment] commanded
by Coln Smith in the Con troops
line for 2 months
and private of Artillery
7 months
---
Inscribed on the Roll of Con
at the rate of 35 Dollars 83 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
---
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of December
'33 and sent Hon N Barber House of Rep.
---
Arrears to the 4th of Sept '33 $89.57
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4th Mar 34 17.91
$107.48

{ Revolutionary Claim, }
{ Act June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by C. Laurie Clerk.
Book E Vol. 3 Page 48
Page 3

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832

State of Connecticut 
County of New London

On this 27th day of December AD 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of probate for the District of Stonington now sitting James Thompson a resident of the town of North Stonington in the County of New London and State of Connecticut, aged 79 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers
and served as herein stated.

that at North Stonington aforesaid he belonged to the Militia as a private, in the year 1777 in the company commanded by Capt Benjamin Clark, Ichabod Palmer Lieut, Jona Palmer Ensign in Colonel Oliver Smiths Regiment and was drafted for two months service. that he joined the company of Drafted militia men, at Fort Griswold in the Town of Groton in said New London County on the 1st day of April 1777. Company was commanded by Capt Daniel Fish.   Ichabod Palmer was Lieutenant of drafted company-- Ensign Henry Denison & in Col Ledyard Regiment on command.  that at Fort Griswold he continued to serve in the Company a short term, and then by order from, Col Wm Ledyard as he understood at the time
Page 4

Company marched to Stonington, in said New London County & that he continued in said Company, serving at said Stonington at the place called Stonington Point. some other companies or troops served at Stonington at the same time. The only companies recollected, were capt Swans-- and Lieut Sheffield. that the duties performed were standing guard and doing other military duty at Stonington all on or after the 1st day of June 1777. when the time of his engagement or Draft was fully completed, he was honorably discharged, but received no writing. that the only person known to him whose testimony he can procure is James York of North Stonington, who served in the same company, the same period & time,  and his brother Moses Thompson, who has some knowledge of his being drafted & being absent from home.

That in the year 1773 in the month of March resided in North Stonington and in the latter part of March he went to Fort Griswold aforesaid for the purpose of enlisting as a soldier, & then and there did
voluntarily enlist as a private in the Connecticut State Troops or in the Matross Company commanded by Capt William Latham, Young Ledyard, 1st Lieut Henry Denison 2nd Lieut in Col Wm Ledyards Regiment for Eight months to commence service on the 1st day of May 1778,  through the whole of said year. that he joined a company at Fort  on said 1st day of May 1778 & continued constantly to serve as a private in Mation Company in the various duties of Garrison Service till the 1st day of January 1779 when he was discharged honorably, but verbally. while in service at Fort several companies of Militia served short term of service at Fort, but the names of the officers are not recollected. that in reply to the fifth interrogatory prescribed by the war Department and propounded by the Court, he has already stated the names of his officers and the other officers, and the regiments as far as he can recollect and the general circumstances of his service and that he knows no person, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his last alleged service, or any part thereof except such as have signed the annex certificate
Page 5

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever 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

The following interrogatories were by said Court propon
noted to said applicant Viz --

1 Where and in what year was you born?
Ans. I was born in the year 1753. at s'd [said] North Stonington --

2 have you any record of your age; and if so where is it?
Ans. That his age is recorded in Stonington Records

3 Where were you Living when called into service; where
have you lived since the revolutionary war, and where do
you now live?
Ans. That he was living in s'd North Stonington then called
Stonington, being then a part of s'd Stonington, has lived in the same ever
since the Revolutionary war & now resides in said North Stonington.

4 How were you called into service; were you drafted
did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a
substitute for whom? Ans. That he was drafted [illegible]
the first tour & volunteered the second engagement -- and never
was a substitute --

5 State the names of some of the regular officers who were
with the troop where you served; and Continental
and Militia regiments as you can recollect, and the
general circumstances of your services?
Ans -- That he has replied before in the body
of his foregoing Declaration --

6 Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and I
so by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
Ans. That he never received a discharge in writing
and that he has no documentary evidence of his services
or any part thereof -- except a furlough signed by Capt
William Latham and hereunto annexed --

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 in your services as a soldier of
the Revolution.
Ans. Jonathan Miner a clergyman of said
North Stonington & Captain Jeremiah York

[signed] James Thomson
Page 6

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year
aforesaid, before the Probate Court for the District
of Stonington in the State of Connecticut
[signed] Asa Fish Judge

We Jonathan Miner a Clergyman residing in
the town of North Stonington in said New London
County, and Jeremiah York residing in
(the same) hereby certify, that we are well
acquainted with James Thompson who has
subscribed and sworn to the foregoing
declaration, that we believe him to be
79 years of age, that he is reputed and
believed in the neighborhood where he
resides to have been a soldier in the
revolution, and that we concur in that
opinion.
[signed] Jonathan Miner
[signed] Jeremiah York

Sworn and subscribed, on the day and year
aforesaid, before the Probate Court for the
District of Stonington in the State of Connecticut.
[signed] Asa Fish Judge

And the said Court do hereby declare [their]
opinion, after the investigation of the [illegible],
and after putting the interrogatories presented
by the War Department, that the above
named applicant was a revolutionary solder,
and served as he states and the court further
certifies that it appears to them that Jonathan Miner who has Signed
the preceeding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of North
Stonington and that Jeremiah York who has signed the same is
a resident of s'd North Stonington and a credible Person, and that
their statement is entitled to Credit, and the said Court further
Page 7

James Thomson
23.88.

James Thompson

2 m'o priv Inf [infantry] 29.16
7 m'o priv artily [artillery] 666

35.83

Hon N Barber
H of R.
Page 8

certifies, that appears to said Court, that George
Geer, who has signed the annex'd following certificate is a resident
of s'd Town of Voluntown -- that Moses Thompson, who also
Signed & swore to a certificate annex'd is also a resident of
of s'd Voluntown, that James York who signed a signed a
certificate hereunto annexed as a resident of s'd North Stonington
and that they the said, George Geer, Moses Thomson and
James York are credible persons, & that their statements
are entitled to credit
[signed] Asa Fish Judge

[seal of office]
I Nathan Daboll Clerk of the Court of Probate
for the District of Stonington Ct hereby certify
that the foregoing contains the Original
proceedings of the said Court in the
matter of the application of James Thomson
for a Pension, In testimony whereof I
have hereunto set my hand and Seal
of Office this 3rd day of November AD 1833.
[signed] Nathan Daboll Clerk

I George Geer of Voluntown in the County of Windham and
State of Connecticut, aged Eighty years, being duly sworn according
to law do on my oath, certify declare and say that I am well
acquainted with Mr. James Thompson of North Stonington who
subscribed in my presence the foregoing declaration, that In
the year 1778, & long before and afterwards I lived in s'd North
Stonington in New London County -- that during s'd year I many
times went to New London to market, with Poultry, Eggs
& Butter, and that frequently on my return, I called at Fort
Griswold in Groton near s'd New London, and by licence of
Col Wm Ledyard, with whom I was acquainted, I visited my
acquaintance at s'd Fort, that I well recollect in the summer
and fall of s'd year 1778 of seeing said James Thompson, serving
at s'd Fort, with whom I was then intimately acquainted. that he
frequently showed me, the Platform Guns and apparatus of s'd Fort
and once by consent of Col Ledyard saw the Magazine of s'd Fort --
That know him to be the same, person who served in s'd Fort and
that I believe him to be Seventy nine years of age --- North Stonington
Dec. 27. 1832.
[signed] George Geer

Sworn to & subscribed before the Court of Probate
aforesaid the day and year aforesaid
[signed] Asa Fish Judge
Page 9

I Moses Thompson of Voluntown in the County of Windham & State
of Connecticut, aged Sixty Eight years -- being duly sworn according
to law, do on oath certify declare and say, that I am well
acquainted with James Thompson of North Stonington of New
London County & State aforesaid & he being my brother --
that from my birth till long after the Revolutionary war I lived
in North Stonington, that I well recollect that in the year
1777 in the Spring of the year, my s'd Brother James was drafted
from the Militia Company for two months service -- that
I recollect his departure in the morning to join the company
that I well remember, he was absent from home on said
service, frequently heard from him, while serving at s'd
Stonington & recollect his return -- & that he served
as I then understood two months under Capt Daniel Fish

That I well recollect that in the spring of year 1778. my said
Brother James went to New London for the purpose of enlisting as a
soldier in Fort Griswold -- I also recollect that he went from
home, with his arms and equipments about the 1st May 1778
& as I understood & believed at the time -- to join the forces at
s'd Fort Griswold -- that he was at home during the summer
on furlough in writing. I saw the s'd furlough, which was
for six days -- returned to s'd Fort, as was fully believed --
& that I well recollect he returned home on or after the
1st January 1779 -- that I believe him to be seventy nine
years of Age -- North Stonington Dec 27. 1832.
[signed] Moses Thomson

Sworn to & subscribed the day
and year aforesaid Before
the Court of Probate for the District
of Stonington State of Connecticut
[signed] Asa Fish Judge

I James York of North Stonington County of New London
and State of Connecticut aged 76 years being duly sworn
according to law do on Oath declare and say I am well
acquainted with James Thomson of North Stonington (and
have always been from my childhood) who signed the
foregoing declaration in my Presents for a pension
That in the year 1777 to wit on the first day April
Page 10

I the James York then a private in the Company
Commanded by Capt Benj'n Clark, Ichabod Palmer Lieut --
Jon Palmer Ensign in Col Oliver Smiths Regt and was
then drafted for two months Service I found the Comp'y
of drafted Militia at Fort Griswold on the first day of
of April aforesaid. S'd Comp'y was commanded by Capt
Daniel Fish Lieut Ichabod Palmer Ensign Henry Denis [illegible]
And after I had served a short time at Fort Griswold
the Company being under the command of Col Wm Ledgyard [Ledyard]
was by his order marched to Stonington point under the --
Command of s'd Capt Daniel Fish and performed garison [garrison]
duty at said Stonington Point until the first day of June
1777 when I was verbally discharged having performed
two months duty on this tour and I well remember
that James Thomson who signed and swore to the preceeding
declaration was drafted at the same time that I was, and
marched the same time that I Did to fort Griswold and --
also to Stonington point and performed garison duty
at s'd Places from the first day of April 1777 to
the first day June following when he was discharged
at the same time that I was I believe him to be
Seventy nine years of age
North Stonington December 27 1832
[signed] James York

Sworn and Subscribed the day
and year aforesaid, befor the
County aforesaid
[signed] Asa Fish Judge
Page 11

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3--525

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., 19__

In reply to your request of ___, received ___
for a statement of the military history of James Thomson [1]
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension
on file in this Bureau. S. 17731.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
Apr. 1. 1777
---
May 1. 1778

LENGTH OF SERVICE.
2 mos.
---
Jan. 1. 1779

RANK.
Pvt
---
---

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
{ Benjamin Clark
{ Daniel Fish
William Latham

COLONEL.
Oliver Smith
William Ledyard
William Ledyard

STATE.
Conn.
---
---

Battles engaged in, None stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, North Stonington, New London Co Conn
Date of application for pension, Dec. 27. 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, North Stonington, New London Co Conn.
Age at date of application, born in 1753 at North Stonington, Conn.
Remarks: It is not stated whether he ever married.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.
[checkmark]
3--285C

[1] pensioned as Thompson.
Page 12

P 17731

INVALID.

File No. 17.731
James Thompson
Pri Rev war

Act: June 7th 32
Index: -- Vol. 1 , Page 374

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]

1916 May 25: History to
Mrs C. J. Hodges. M.B.H.
Page 13

James Thompson
S. F. 1773.1. Conn.
This document is considered
by the Court -authentic-
A Fish Judge
Page 14

Groton 18th July 1778
James Thomson a soldier in Capt Latham
Company of artillery has Leave to absent
himself from Camp, to Return on thursday
next --- Wm Latham Capt