Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10481, for Levi Thatcher, Vermont
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Vt
Thatcher, Levi
Adocia
R. 10481
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I [illegible] Miller of Williston in the County pf Chittendon and State of Vermont [illegible] testify today that I have been for more than fifty acquainted with Elisha Thatcher of said Williston and his mother Adocia Thatcher of Williston aforesaid--and believe the said Elisha to be a man of truth and veracity and full faith and credence is and ought to be given to his attestations.
S. I. Miller
Williston August 18th 1839
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Adocia, wid of Levi Thatcher d. 17 m. [illegible]

About for [illegible] 3 years, from 1 April to Dec. [illegible]

Elisha Thatcher [illegible] (Son)

{Illegible] 1777 to Date
78 " "
Treasuries at
78 8 days
80 8
81 2
" 4
22
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Williston Dec. 5th 1839
Sir, I received your letter dated Aug. 28.--1839-after serving the Papers of Mrs. Adocia Thatcher of Williston, VT in which you say "it is also required that a specification of the service be made in the usual form" These requirements--(having reference to the proofs of service under the act of July 4th, 1836 & the specification of the service in the usual form) have not been completed with on the part of Mrs. Thatcher.

I hope you will send back the papers & I will endeavor to get them right next time I shall take advice on the subject if necessary the best that I can obtain

Will you inform me [illegible] whether there is any evidence on the rolls of the War Department of service performed by James Gates of Salisbury Con. he is said to have served five months commencing June 1775 in Capt. Bostwicks company in Col. Webbs Regiment in the Connecticut line and the term the next year when he enlisted for seven months to serve in the Company of Capt. Mills in Col. Bradleys Reg't in the Connecticut line that during that time he was in the battle of Fort Washington and taken prisoner was kept 3 months when he went home on parole
The said James Gates died a few years since and left a widow in Essex Chittenden Co. VT she is I think something over 80 years old & I believe there is very little doubt that she married the said James Gates
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as early as the year 1780 or 81
Your compliancy with the foregoing will oblige me and all concerned.
Very Respectfully yours.
Timothy M. Bradley
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To the Hon. J. L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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Williston July 24th 1838
To the Hon. J. L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir, I send you the Declaration of Mrs. Adocia Thatcher of Williston.  The applicant is 87 years of age and not in very good circumstances as to property.  She is decrepit [?] has not worked for 34 years.  She with her son & late husband have resided in Williston (until his death) even during [?] my first remembrances  
& I am   50 years of age.  I do not believe their testimony would ever have been questioned in a Court of Justices & have never heard their veracity doubted.  I believe I could if necessary procure the affidavits of the most respectable people in the town to corroborate the certificators of the Judge.  I should have obtained more testimony but it has not been, thus far, in my [illegible]  his brother Amasa died a few years since & I do not now know, or, cannot find any of his companions in around [?]
Very Respectfully yours
Tim M Bradley
Attorney for the applicant
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Hon J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Williston August 10 1839
Sir, I rec'd your letter dated Aug. 13th 1839 (concerning the claim of Mrs. Adocia Thacher [sic] for a pension an account of the service of her husband, in which you write "that she must show the area of her late husbands service detailing the number of tours he performed, the period, and their duration." It seems scarcely possible that the person who performed the service (if alive) would be able to do all that.  It seems that Mr. Secretary Cass feared that "meritorious Class" as he called them would not be able to show all that might be necessary according to the strict rules of evidence to establish their claims. He therefore in his directions in 1832 stated "that to require from the applicants positive proof of service from a contemporary survivor would after the lapse of so many years be to deprive many of them of the benefit of the laws." Shall the laws be so construed as to oblige the poor widows to bring stronger testimony than the husband if alive would be required to produce--we have been nearly half a year in obtaining the testimony from the Sec. of State of the State of Vermont the number of terms is 4 and the amt of service thus proved is 22 days.  I herewith enclose the letter of William Weston Esq: The Probate Reg.'r in this Co. concerning the destruction of papers.  When Gen. Augustine Clark late Treasurer came into office a few years since to prevent any presumption that more service was not performed because more proof was not found--I hope that letter will be sufficient  I enclose you the testimony of George Alford of the County of Monroe & State of Michigan and I would observe that it is my belief that the widow is entitled & family entitled to a pension of the usual amount for service as performed in this state. I enclose you the certificate of Solomon Miller long a Judge of Probate in this County & a pensioner under the act of 1832 you have
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Autograph. I likewise enclose a certificate of Hon. Martin Chittenden to the character of Cap. Elisha Thatcher he (Mr. Chittenden) was formerly Governor of the State of Vermont & for many years a member of Congress.

Mrs. Adocia Thatcher is very aged & tho. her heart seems good for one of her age yet she has not walked for more than forty years--your early attention is requested to this case

Very Respectfully yours
Timothy M. Bradley
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March 19, 1934
Mrs. L. Russell Park
826 Taylor Avenue
Scranton, Pennsylvania

LEVI THATCHER
R. 10481
BA-J/MLB

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Levi Thacher [sic] who served from Vermont in that war.

The Revolutionary War records of this office show that Adocia Thatcher made application for pension under the Act of July 4, 1836.  Her claim was submitted on July 24th, 1836, and was based upon service of her husband, Levi Thatcher, in the Revolutionary War.  At that time she was aged eighty-seven years and was living with her son, Captain Elisha Thatcher, in Williston, Chittenden County, Vermont.  No explanation is given in regard to his rank.  He was then more than fifty years of age.

Levi Thatcher was a resident of Williston, Vermont, at the time of his death.

Proof of the required length of service of Levi Thatcher was not submitted with his widow's application, so the claim was suspended for further proof of service.  On December 12, 1839, Timothy M. Bradley of Williston, Vermont, attorney for Adocia Thatcher, requested that the said application papers be returned to him to be used in establishing her claim for pension.  They were never returned to this office, therefore, there are only meager data now on file.

A report from the State of Vermont shows that one Levi Thatcher served eight days in November, 1778, as a private in Captain Zebediah Dewey's company, Colonel Gideon Warran's regiment; eight days in October 1780, as private in the same company; two days on an alarm to Castleton June 19, 1781, in the same company under orders of Major Isaac Clark; four days as private in the same company on an alarm to Castleton October 21, 1781, under orders of Lieutenant Colonel Clark.  The pension act required six months' service for an allowance of pension.
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An office notation made, presumably, before the application papers were returned to Timothy M. Bradley shows in an indefinite way that Levi and Adocia were married in 1766, and that he died in 1817.  Her maiden name is not given.

In 1836 , Levi's brother, Amasa, had been dead a few years.

No further data are recorded.

Very truly yours 

A. D. MILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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1934 Mar 19-
Hist to Mrs. L Russell Park
MLP

10, 487
Adocia Thatcher
REJECTED
Printed List of 1852. Rejected & suspended claims, shows cause of suspension:
"Suspended for further proof and specification"
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Vermont
Adocia Thatcher
widow of Levi
10481
Act 4th, July, 1836
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Adocia Thatcher
Wid of Levi
[illegible]
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541

Depart. of War
Pension Office
28. August 1839

Sir
I have rec'd the additional proof in support of the claim of Mrs. Adocia Thatcher, widow of Levi Thatcher dec. and have placed it on file with her original papers.  In reply to the remarks in your letter upon the subject of the rules adopted for the administration of the Act of June 7, 1832, I have to state, that the oath of a claimant under that act, accompanied by traditionary evidence, was rec'd in proof of service, where no rolls were to be found.  But it was at the same time indispensable that the service should be specifically stated, as to the number of tours and the duration of each.

Under the act of July 4 1836, proof of service is required as the oath of the husband cannot be had.  And it
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it also required that a specification of the service be made in the usual form.
These requirements have not been complied with on the part of Mrs. Thatcher.

I am
OC
July 4 1836
3682

Tim M. Bradley Esq
Williston Ver't

Tim. M. Bradley
Aug. 28, 1839
O.C.
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T M Bradley
Dec 12 '39
OC
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170

Depart. of War
Pension Office
Dec. 12 1839

Sir, 
I return herewith the declaration of Mrs. Adocia Thatcher, widow of Levi dec'd, you requested in your letter of the 5th instant

For information respecting the service of James Gale dec'd I will refer you to the comptroller of public accounts at Hartford Conn.
I am
OC
July 4 1836
3682

Mr. Tim. M. Bradley
Williston Vermont
Ent'd
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I Martin Chittenden of lawful age testify and say that I have for many years been acquainted with Captain Elisha Thatcher of Williston and consider him to be a man of Truth and veracity and that full credit is to be given to his Testimony.

Martin Chittenden
Williston Aug't 13, 1839
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T. M. Bradley
August 14, 1838
O.C
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Depart. of War,
Pension Office
Aug 13, 1838

Sir,
I have examined the claim of Mrs. Adocia Thatcher, widow of Levi Thatcher dec'd and have placed the papers upon one file.

It will be necessary before any favorable decision can be had upon the claim, for the declarant to [illegible] satisfactory proof the amount of her late husband's service; detailing the number of tours he performed, the period, and their duration.  I would refer you to the Treasurer of the State of Vermont in whose office are many of the Militia rolls of that State for evidence in support of the claim.
I am
OC
Tim. M Bradley Esq
Williston
Vermont
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
County of Monroe
ss.

I, Carlos Colton, Clerk of the County of Monroe, do hereby certify unto all who may see these presents, that James Shew Esq. is a Justice of the Peace in said County, duly elected and gratified.

I further certify, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said James Shew, and verily believe his signature to the instrument hereto annexed, is genuine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court for said County at the City of Monroe, this third day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine
Carlos Colton Clerk
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State of Michigan
County of Monroe 
SS
Personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County of Monroe George Alford who being duly sworn according to law says he was a volunteer from the State of Vermont in the army of the United States in the Revolutionary War with Great Britton [sic] that he was well acquainted with one Levi Thatcher of the Army of the United States and knows Levi Thatcher was in the service of the United States and thinks he [illegible] for the Space of Six months and upwards and station at Fort Castleton, Pittsford or Rutland deponent does not recollect which as deponent was stationed at all of the above named Forts during the Revolution and during the time he was in the Army he knew no other man by the name of Levi Thatcher.

Affirmed and declared before me this 3rd day of July 1837 Jas. Shew Justice of the Peace
George Alford

This is to certify that I have been personally acquainted with the above named George Alford for the Space of Eighteen years and upwards and have the utmost confidence in him for truth and veracity when under oath.
July 3, 1837
James Shew, J.P.
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Burlington August 1, 1839
Sir,
Your favor of 28th July is received.
My certificate of the "tradition of the loss of the revolutionary papers which were in the office of Mr. Swan" would be of avail as better evidence exists-
All I know is that Mr. Clark, late treasurer, said that when he took the office he found these papers in a large box or trunk--many of them  eat by the mice and that a bushel or two were destroyed.  His statement might be of service to you. Mine would not as it would be only hearsay evidence when better could be furnished.

Yours respectfully

Wm. Weston

T,M. Bradley, Esq.
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State of Vermont
Secretary's Office
Montpelier, June 19, 1839

I Chauncy L. Knapp, Secretary of said state, do hereby certify that there is on file in this office a paper, purporting to be a "A Pay Roll of Capt. Zebadiah Dewey's company in Col. Gideon Warren's Regiment of Militia in service of United State of America, from the 1st day of November until the 14th day of the same month, in the year A.D. 1778."  I further certify that the name of Levi Thatcher appears upon said pay roll as a private, with an allowance of eight days' service annexed.

I further certify that there is on file in this office another paper, purporting to be "A Pay Roll of Capt. Zebediah Dewey's company of militia, for service done the state in October last 1780." I further certify that the name of Levi Thatcher appears upon said pay roll, as a private with an allowance of eight days' service annexed.

I further certify that there is on file in this office another paper purporting to be "A Pay Roll of Capt Zebediah Dewey's company for their service in the Alarm of Castleton, June 10th, 1781, in obedience to orders from Maj. Isaac Clark." I further certify that the name of Levi Thatcher appears upon said pay roll as a private, with an allowance of two days' service annexed.

I further certify that there is on file in this office another paper, purporting to be "A Pay Roll of Capt. Zebadiah Dewey's Company for their service in the Alarm at Castleton, Oct. 21st, A.D. 1781, in obedience to orders from Lieut. Col. Clark." I further certify that the name of Levi Thatcher appears upon said pay roll, with an allowance of four days' service annexed.

I further certify that all of said pay,
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rolls appear to have been examined, allowed and ordered to be paid, by a committee appointed for the purpose, and that the same were duly paid by the Treasurer of the State of Vermont.

Given under my hand and seal of office at Montpelier, this nineteenth day of June in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.

Chauncey L. Knapp,
Secretary of State
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Mrs. L. Russell Park
826 Taylor Ave.
Scranton, Penna.
Jan. 29th, 1934.
Veterans Administration,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs:

Would appreciate any information that you might have concerning Levi Thacher [sic] who served in Revolutionary War in the State of Vermont.  Did he have a pension?
Thanking you in advance.

Yours truly,
Mrs. L. Russell Park