Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6,991, Thomas Hester, N.C.
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NC   Hester, Thomas   S.6991
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3810
North Carolina 
Thomas Hester
of Bladen Co in the State of N.C. 
who was a Pr. in the ........ commanded 
by Captain ........ of the Regt commanded 
by Alston, Richardson, and Brown in the N Carolina line for militia for nine months from 1778.

Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina
at the rate of 30 dollars and - cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issed the 3rd day of Jany 1833 and  Genl Wm J Cowan, Elizabethtown, NC. 

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832    45.00
Semi=ann allowance ending 4 March 1833 15.00
 60.00

{Revolutionary Claim}
{Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Henry H Sylvester, Clerrk
Book D. Vol. 8.  Page 32
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6991
Invalid
File No. 6991
Thomas Hester
Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 7th, 1832
Index: Vol. 1st, page 169
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Thomas Hester
15833
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And the said Court hereby declares its opinion after the investigation of the matter
We Richard M. Lewis and David Singletary residing in the County of Bladen N.C. hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Hester, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy five years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Richd. M. Lewis Senr
David Singletary

And the said Court hereby declares its 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 Richard M Lewis and David Singletary who have signed the preceding certificate are resident in the County of Bladen N.C. are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. The Court further certifies that it appears to him that there is no clergyman residing in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] of the said applicant.
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I, Alexander McDowell Clerk of the Superior Court of Law for the County of Bladen, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Hester for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office the 11th day of October 1832.
Alexr. McDowell clk
[seal]
[inverted "Thomas Hester 15833 v"]
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State of North Carolina}
Bladen County } Superior Court of Law
Fall Term 1832

On the 11th day of October, 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Honourable  Robert Strang one of the Judges of the Superior Court of Law and Equity for said State presiding in the Superior Court of Law now sitting, Thomas Hester, a resident of the County of Bladen, State of North Carolina, aged seventy five 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 about the 10th November in the year 1778 (as well as he can recollect) then residing in Bladen County No. Ca he became a substitute for a man by the name of Kimbrel, for a service of five months, in a company of Bladen Militia under the command of Lieutenant Allen, he joined the Company
at Fair Bluff on Drowning Creek or Lumber River, which was shortly after placed under the command of Capt. Joseph Wood, and attached to a Regiment of Militia commanded by Col. Alston. At the same place there were three other Regiment of Militia under the command of Col. Williams, Perkins, and Eaton. They all marched thence to the Ten Mile House near Charleston thence through Dorchester & Mason-
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after placed under the command of Capt Joseph Wood, and attached
to a Regiment of Militia commanded by Col. Alston. At the same
place there were three other Regiment of Militia under the command
of Colo Williams, Perkins, and Eaton. They all marched thence to
the Ten Mile House near Charleston thence to Dorchester & Mason
borough to the White House near the Two sister Ferry.
thence to Augusta, on the Savannah River, (the British having just left that place on their march to Savannah) thence to the mouth of Brier Creek, where they joined the Troops under the command of General Ash, and General Bryan, the Artilley being commanded by a General or Colonel Alberd or Albert, after they had been encamped at that place about a week, they were surprised and defeated by the British, who had marched back and crossed Brier Creek above on the place where the Americans were encamped, It was on the 2nd day of March - the Troops under General Ashe were completely surprised, were immediately thrown into the utmost disorder & confusion, and fled; some of them, (he Hester being one) swam the River (leaving their clothes and baggage behind) and embodied again on the North side of the River, and marched back to the White House near the Two Sister Ferry: at that place an alarm was given that the British were pursuity and the remnant of seal as his army that Collected at the two sister Ferry, (he Hester being one marched thence at right about ten miles to Bee Creek; thence back again to Duglers Ferry on the Savannah River, and were encamped there about one week. Just below at Purisburgh were stationed about seven thousand regular as it was said) under the command of General Lincola, they broke up their encampment and marched by the Troops, to which he was attached, where a junition took place; thence the whole army marched under General Lincoln to the Black Swamp near the two Sister Ferry, and remained there till the 10th of April, when the
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North Carolina Militia were discharged. He received a discharge in writing, which has been lost long since 
2. Previously to the performance of the above service, shortly after the
commencement of hostilities with Great Britain, (the year not recollect.
but either in the year 1775 or 1776, he performed a tour of one months
service, then residing in Bladen County, in a company of Militia under the
command of Capt Hendon, attached to some other Militia commanded
by Col Thomas Robison - They marched from Elizabethtown, Bladen
County - They marched from that place to Caswell Camps, near Jumping
run, about two miles below Wilmington, and remained there a month
He received only a verbal discharge.
3. He served another tour of one months service, in the Fall of the year but the year not recollected, in a body of Militia under the command of Colonel James Richardson & Major Anderson, on an expedition against the Tories in Robeson Bladen County, and marched to Ashpole & Bear Swamp near the South Carolina line. On Bear Swamp about two Hours at night. the Tories made an attack on our force & were repulsed. Major Anderson was wounded in the thigh and Barfield, a Tory who was under guard, was wounded. Capt Raiford a Regular Officer, and Capt Brown who it was said was a regular officer (having been engaged in recording for the Continental Army) were in the expedition. He was permitted to return home, a few days before his term of service expired, on account
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in the thigh and Barfield, a tory who was under guard, was wounded. Capt Raiford a Regular officer, and Capt Brown who it was said was a regular officer having been engaged in recording for the Continental Army) were in the expedition. He was permitted to return home, a few days before his term of service expired, on account of severe indisposition received a discharge. He was then resding in Bladen County
4. He served another tour of two or three weeks, (the precise time, nor the month or year not recollected) under Col. Thomas Brown and Capt Peter Robeson in a body of Bladen Militia, on a scouting expedition into Columbus & Robison Counties ten Bladen against the Tories. They marched from Elizabethtown, Bladen County, to the plantation of Thomas Amy in Columbus (then Bladen, County, where having understood that the Tories were collected at Ford's Plantation on Little Peedee, they marched to that place; on arriving there ascertained that the Tories had retired marked thence in pursuit of then to Amy again, and there, crossing Downing Creek to Barnes plantation in Robeson County, where they were verbally discharged. He then resided in Bladen County 
5. He served another four of two or three weeks, but the precise time, 
or day and year not recollected, under Capt Jared Irwin who commanded a Troopf of Volunteer Light Horse, on another expedition against the Tories, did not meet with the Tories & at the expedition of the time above mentioned were discharged & returned home- He received a verbal discharge. He then resided in Bladen County
5. He served another tour of three months in as a Volunteer in a Company of Bladen Militia, commanded by Capt Thomas Haynes, Col Thomas Owen accompanying us. in the Fall of the year 1781- marched from Elizabethtown to Bluford Bridge on the North East River Capt Haynes there took command of a Company called a Light
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Infantry Company and the Bracken Company was placed under the command of a Capt Norton, they were marched thence to Jones Old Field on the East River, and there joined previously to arriving at Blueford Bridge the company had joined the Back County Militia under General Butler at Jones Old Field information of the surren der of Cornwallis was received on the Whereupon the Back Country Militia were discharged the Bladen Company were ordered to take the prisoner and deliver them into the Prevot. that duty being performed Col Owen directed the men to return home. On this Tour he served six weeks, the time for which he engaged hot having expired received no written discharge, he then resided in Bladen County,
He has no documentary evidence, nor knows of no living witnesses
of the services above detailed.
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 
Sworn & to & subscribed the
day & year aforesaid
Thomas his X mark Hester
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Sworn & to & subscribed the
day & year aforesaid} Thomas his X mark Hester

The following are the answers to the questions prescribed by the War Department propounded to Thomas Hester, the aforesaid applicant for aa pension, on account of Revolutionary services.
Answer 1. I was born April 2nd 1757
2. I have: my age is recorded in an old English Prayer Book in my possession,
3. I was born in Bladen, resided in the same, dure to Revolutionary War, and ever since
4. I volunteered in every instance, except in the instance which I became a substitute for Kimbrel in the tour of 5 months above detailed.
5. I recollect none except the officers mentioned in the declaration, to wit Capts Raiford & Brown, and an Officer by the name of Albert or Alberd, who commanded the Artillery at the Battle of Briar Creek.
6. I received a written discharge from Capt Wood as above stated, and I dont know, what has become of it since; in every other instance I received verbal discharges
7. Richard M Lewis Robert Lyon Esq. Mr David Singletary, Mr Robert Johnston, Mr James Bryan,
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15.833

Thomas Hester
Bladen C.
NC
Amit asprivate
for 9 months from 1778
$30 per annum
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15,833
BRIEF in the case of Thomas Hester
of Bladen Co in the State of N C
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 75
4. State his services, as directed in the form annexed.

Period. | Duration of Service. /Years, Months, Days. | Rank. \As a | Names of General or Field Officers under whom he served. / Gen.

10 No In 1778 subs. | -, 5, - | pri. | Col Alston
Fall 1775 or 76 | -, 1, - | " | Cap Hendon
Fall | -, 1, - | " | Col Jos Richard
 | -, -, 15 | " | Col. Tho Brown
 | -, -, 15 | " | Cap J. Irvin
Fall 1781 | -, 1, 12 | "  Cap Tho Haynes

5. In what battles was he engaged? 9-12
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 
Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Court

* Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Examining Clerk.