Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3561, Thomas C Wills, Md.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE | NUMBER

Md. | Wills, Thomas C. | S. 3561
carded

CONTENTS
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[Two panels]
[Left panel]

19117
West Tennessee

[Left margin torn] has C Wills
[Left margin torn] bury Co in the State of Tennessee 
[Left margin torn] was a Sergt & pr in the company commanded 
[Left making torn] Captain Towed of the -- commanded 
by --- in the Maryland 
line for 21 days private 
7 months Sergeant

Inscribed on the Roll of W. Tennessee 
at the rate of 37 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 2 day of Augt
1833 and Sent to J H
Dunlop Paris

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 74.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 18.66
$93.32
=====

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

Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk, 
Book E Vol. 7 Page 101

[Right panel]
[Written vertically left margin]

Certificate sent back for collection & a new one issued 
24th Sept 1833 & sent to T Cooney Paris
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No. 11,154
Thomas C. Willis, of Henry 
County, Tennessee

from 1781 private 
Sergt. 7 mo 21 days
5
Pr. 21 days 2.33
Sergt 7 mo. 35.--
$37.33

John H. Dunlop, Agent
Paris, Tennessee.
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BRIEF in the case of Thomas C. Wills,
of Henry County, in the State Tennessee 
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  A court.

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3.  How old is he?  67 years

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
_____________________________________________________________________
Period. |
_______ |

in 17 |
June, 1780 |

Duration of Service. |
_________________ |
Years, Months, Days. |
About 5. |

Rank. |
_____| 
As a |
pvt. |
[illegible] ser |
geant. |

Names of General and Field Officers 
under whom he served. 
_______________________________
Gen.
Cap Lowndes
 [illegible] Macubbins

States that he was in the war till 1783.

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  None

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service? Anapolis [Annapolis], Maryland.

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by 
incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Living witness & traditionary

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  No

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

W. J. Turner, Examining Clerk.
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Declaration of Thomas C. Wills, to obtain a 
pension under the provisions of the act of Congress 
entitled "An act supplementary to the "act of further 
relief of certain surviving officers & soldiers of the revolution"

State of Tennessee } SS
County of Henry }

On this eighth day of September 1832 personally 
appeared in open court, before the Justices of the Court 
of Pleas & quarter sessions for Henry County, now sitting 
Thomas Willis, a resident of the neighborhood of Paris 
in the County of Henry & State of Tennessee, aged 
67 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 of the United States under 
the following named officers & served as herein stated-That 
he lived at Annapolis in Maryland at the time the British 
attempted to land there in the year 1780-that he was 
summoned to the fort by Sergeant Beveridge & placed in 
the company of Capt. Lowndes-it was in October-
that he continued on regular duty being generally stationed 
in the daytime in the Fort, then called the Governors Fort, 
and since called Fort Washington-and at night they lodged 
in the State House, which was used as a barrack-
during the time he was stationed at the Fort, Capt 
Maccubins became his captain.- In about three 
weeks after he was called into the service he was 
appointed orderly Sargeant [Sergeant] & held the appointment 
untill [until] his final discharge-that he was in constant 
service in the fort, as above mentioned for about 
5 months, during all which time a British naval 
force lay off Annapolis-that he was kept 
enrolled, subject to be called on duty at a moments 
warning & was frequently called into duty during 
the balance of the war-always at the Fort 
in Annapolis-that when the militia were called 
upon to deliver up their arms after the peace of 
1783, he delivered up his [struck out: musket] Halbert sword &c in May of that
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year, to Neal Mills, who he believes was quarter 
master-that he received a final discharge 
from Capt Macubbin in September 1783-
[struck out: That when the war] that he has no documentary 
evidence and that he knows of no person whose testi
mony he can procure, who can testify to his service.

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a 
pension or annuity except the present, and declare 
that my name is not on the pension roll of the 
Agency of any state.

Questions propounded by the Court

1.  Where & in what year were you born?
Ans. In Anne Arundel County, Maryland-Septr
22nd 1765-

2. Have you any record of your age, and if so 
where is it?
Ans. In my father's Bible, which is in the possession 
of my daughter Elizabeth Gooding, living in 
Fauquier County, Virginia.

3.  Where were you living when called into service; where  
have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where 
do you live now?
Ans. At Annapolis, as before stated-I lived in Mont
gomery County, Maryland, till I was 33 yrs. old-I then 
moved to Loudon County, Virginia-Middleburg, till 
1826, when I moved to Henry County, Tennessee, where I 
have lived ever since.

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. When the British force appeared off Annapolis 
all the male population were ordered under arms, & 
I obeyed the order as above stated & continued 
enrolled in the same company till my final discharge 
in 1783.

5.  State the names of some of the Regular officers who 
were with the troops, where you served; such Continental 
& militia regiments as you can recollect, and the 
general circumstances of your service.
Ans. There was no officers of the Regular army stationed at 
Annapolis that he recollects, except Capt Sears & his 
company, until about the close of the war-when a 
great many of the troops were there occasionally-He
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recollect, Capt McPherson being there with his 
company & Capt Pendergast with his-I do 
not think any regiments of militia were called into 
the city during the time of my service.  My half 
brother Capt Wm Crandell, of the Maryland Militia 
was stationed in the swamp in Anne Arundel 
County Maryland, about 20 miles from Annapolis.
I recollect the circumstances of Stephen Stewards ship 
yard at the mouth of the West River, being burned 
by a detachment from the British fleet.

6.  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service 
and if so, by whom was it given & what has become 
of it?
Ans. Yes I recd a discharge from Capt Macub
bin, which I kept many years & have but 
recently lost.

7.  State the names of persons to whom you are 
known in your present neighborhood, and who can 
testify as to your character & veracity and good 
behavior, your services as a soldier of the 
Revolution.
Ans. I will name Thomas McCowat, Turner Cooney, Thomas 
K. Porter, Wm. M. Brown, John W Cooke
Sworn to & subscribed  T.C Wills
in open Court Sept 8th 1832.
B C Brown, DClk

We Richard Moore & [struck out: Samuel Waddy] a clergyman residing in 
Henry County, Tennessee and Samuel Waddy 
residing in the same County hereby certify that we are 
well acquainted with Thomas [struck out: McCowat] C Wills, who has 
subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we 
believe him to be near seventy years of age;-that 
he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides 
to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that 
we Samuel Waddy
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we concur in that opinion.
Samuel Waddy
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year 
aforesaid.
BCBrown DClk  Richard Moore

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 Revolu
tionary soldier, and served as he states.  And 
the Court further certifies, that it appears to them 
that Richard Moore who has signed 
the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing 
in the County of Henry, State of Tennessee, and that 
Samuel Waddy who has also signed the 
same is a resident in the same County, and that 
their statement is entitled to credit.
John Studdurt JP [word SEAL encircled]
Chairman of Henry County Court 

I Thomas K Porter, Clerk of the Court of Pleas 
& quarter sessions of Henry County, Tennessee, do 
hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original 
proceedings in the matter of the application of Thomas 
C Wills for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 
my hand and seal of office, this 8th day of 
September 1832. Tho K Porter Clk
by BC Brown DClk

[Number written vertically right margin]
11,154
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The amended or additional Declaration of Thomas C. 
Wills, to obtain a pension, under the provisions 
of the act of Congress entitled "An act 
supplementary to the "act for the relief of certain 
surviving officers & soldiers of the Revolution"

State of Tennessee }
Henry County } SS.

Personally appeared before me, the under
signed, a Justice of the peace in & for Henry County, 
Thomas C Wills who, being duly sworn deposeth 
and saith, that, by reason of old 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 twenty one 
days I served as a private; For seven months 
I served as an orderly Sergeant; and for such 
service I claim a pension.
Sworn & subscribed to May 30 1833 } T. C Wills
Saml Hawkins JP

State of Tennessee } I Thomas K Porter Clerk of the County Court of said County do  
Henry County } certify that Samuel Hawkins before whom the foregoing amended 
declaration of Thomas C Wills was sworn to whose signature appears above is now & was 
at the time of signing the same an acting justice of the peace for said county duly commissioned
and [illegible] as such according to law & that all due faith and credit is and ought to be given 
[Blurred seal of Court] to his official acts. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand 
and affixed the seal of said Court at office in the town of Paris the 
30th day of May in the year of our Lord 1833 and 57th year of 
American Independence.  Tho K Porter Clk
by BC Brown DClk
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3561
[written vertically left margin]
Revt War
√INVALID.

File No. 3561
Thomas C. Willis 
Sergt. Rev War

Act: June 7, 1832
Index:--Vol. A, Pag 407

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]

Thomas C. Wills 
Records corrected. SS
Mch 11, 1904
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31,766

160 acres
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those 
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of 
Thomas C. Wills which require 
further proof or explanation.

I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  Yes

II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  Yes

III.  If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason 
assigned for his not doing so?

IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  Yes

V.  *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades to which he 
served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension   
he is entitled?  [struck out: Yes]. No

VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes

VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of 
June 7, 1832?  Yes

VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion?  Yes

IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?  Yes

X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished 
from any other seal? Yes
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2

XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to 
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolu
tionary service?  Yes

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain
ing it?

XIII.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one 
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV.  †If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness 
or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, 
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the 
regulations direct?

XV.  Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, 
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

XVI.  ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, 
if not, which of them is not so answered?
____________________

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

*QUERE V.  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 old 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 recol
lection 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.
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3

{ 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 about three or four month is to in
{ definite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions
{ merely state 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 objection
{ able.  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 em
{ ployed in any civil pursuit.

†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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, and the official character and signature of the magis
trate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

‡QUERE XVI.  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 paper authenticated, the cer
tificate 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.
[👉]In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
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[Written vertically on page]

Free

J. L. Edwards, Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
War Office 
Washington
Page 16

Paris Tene May 31. 1833

Sir

I inclose [enclose] the original declaration of 
Thomas C Wills to obtain a pension together 
with an amendment as to the part which you 
state to be defective.  Hoping that there will 
be no further obstacle to the old mans obtaining 
a pittance for his helpless old age & requesting 
you to inclose [enclose] his certificate to me
I am respectfully 
Yr Obit Servt
J. L. Edwards Esqr | T. Cooney

P.S. An inclosure [enclosure] cam from you to the Post 
Office here, yesterday, directed "Genl W. Williams, 
Paris, Tense."-as no such man was known in this 
section of country, the letter was opened & found to 
contain a certificate of a pension for J Dondon,
or some such name, no such man is known 
here & I mentioned the circumstance that [struck out: the right]
steps may be taken for the right owner to get the 
certife. as soon as possible.  I expect the post 
master will return it to you
T.C.
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[Envelope]

Paris Tenn }  free
Sept 13th }

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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Paris, Ten Septr 12. 1833

Sir

I inclose [enclose] you a pension certificate 
of Thomas C Wills, which you have 
by mistake written Willis & the agent 
refuses to pay the pension.  By reference 
to Wills's Declaration you will see that 
the mistake has been made at your 
office.  Please correct it & send 
me a certificate with the right name 
as soon as possible
Respectfully
T. Cooney
JL Edwards Esqr

Wills also complains that altho he 
was a Sargeant [Sergeant] & so states in his 
Declaration, he is called a private in 
the certificate & is only allowed pay 
as a private
T.C.