Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,971, for David Thurston, New Jersey
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(3-1776)
SERVICE | |NUMBER
New Jersey | Thurston, David | S.23971
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
Sept. 24, 1844
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within thich persioners may receive their pansions from the pension agents, The Executors of David Thurston, die, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia, Pa Agency, at the rate of Eighty Dollars per annum, under the law of the 4th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. to the 22 Oct. 1842.
Respectfully, yours,
Comptroller
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Adm.
mch
2 yrs
Private 
$80.c
 J. S. Riddle
Mendville Pa.
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BRIEF in the case of David Thurston
County of Crawford in the State of Penn
(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?  70

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.  

Period. 
Duration of Service. 
Rank. 
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 

In 1780 1 year -Months -Days. as a private 
Gen Capt Craig, Col Sealy

In 1781  1 year - Months - Days as a private  same Capt & Col. 

previous to my enlistment I was a substitute for Stiles Woodruff  1 Month 

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  none

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Woodbridge, N.J. 

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

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
regular

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

Sevin Belt
Examining Clerk.
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Order to pay & letter to D. H. White. 15 Jany 1840 

Letter to D. H. White 22 Jany 1840

Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of 6. April 1838 from 4. Sep to 22. Oct 1842. Act notified 5 Dec 1844

No. 11053
Pennsylvania
David Thurston
of Crawford co, in the State of Pennsylvania who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Canig of the Reg. commanded by Col. Seely in the N. Jersey troops for 2 years Private $80.00

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 80 Dollars - cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of March 1833 and sent to G.L. Riddle 
Meadville, Pa. 

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833.   160.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending
 4. September. 1833                            40.00
                                                             $200.00

{Revolutionary claim, Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by D. Brown. clerk
Book (?) Vol. 5. Page 60
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed 7th June 1832 of David Thurston,

State of Pennsylvania
County of Crawford//

On this Sixth day of October Anno Domini One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty two, personally appeared in Open Court before the Hon. Henry Shippen and his associates Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County now sitting, David Thurston, a resident of Mead Township in said County, aged Seventy 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.

Viz.: That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as him stated. That he enlisted at Woodbridge, New Jersey in Captain John Craig's Company in the month of March or April 1780 for one year in the State Troops called 'year's men'. We laid sometimes at Elizabeth Town, afterwards at Rahway, Woodbridge & Newark. At the expiration of the year, I enlisted a second time under the same captain for another year. We laid at Rahway & Woodbridge the quarter part of the time, guarding the shore sometime in August. We were taken to Dobbs Ferry on the north shore & lay there encamped until Gen'l Washington crossed and marched to the head of (the) Elk (River) in their way to take Cornwallis. We then marched and decamped at a place called Connecticut Farms in New Jersey, between Springfield & Elizabeth Town...
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...Col Sylvanus Seely commanded one regiment and I think, Col. George Ely commanded the three months men. We lay there until after Cornwallis was taken and were then discharged.

A year or two before I enlisted, the British crossed from Staten Island in considerable force to destroy the prison at Morristown. When they got a little above Springfield, they were surprised and driven back. They burnt the meetinghouse, courthouse & barracks at Elizabeth Town as they came up. At the Connecticut Farms, they burnt the meetinghouse & some private houses and shot the wife of the Rev. Mr. Caldwell. At Springfield they burnt the meetinghouse. On the  same day they returned to Elizabeth Town & threw up a breastwork, which covered the retreat until they got to the island again. I volunteered to visit them and was out until the alarm was done. Previous to my enlistment, I was also a substitute for one month for [illegible] Woodruff, having served in the different terms two years and upwards. I was born in 1762 at Woodbridge, N. Jersey. I have a record of my age in my Bible.

I lived at Woodbridge, N. Jersey where I enlisted. After the war, I removed to Northumberland County, Penn(sylvania) and lived there about fifteen years. I moved to the County in 1800 when I had resigned in service. I was called into the service by enlistment, once as a volunteer and once as a substitute. I have no documentary evidence of my service & know of no other proof other than hereunto annexed.

I received two discharges from Capt. Craig which are lost. I knew Capt. [illegible] & Capt. [illegible] & Capt. Randolph & knows Samuel [illegible] & [illegible]. Randolph knows me & can certify as to my veracity & their belief of my services. I hereby relinquish any claim whatever to any pension but the present & declare his name is not on the Pension Roll of [crossed out: any] the Agency of any State.

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid...
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Pennsylvania, County of Crawford//

Before me, Henry Shippen, President Judge of 6th District, personally came John Allerton, formerly of Mead Township, Crawford County, now of New Lisbon, Ohio, aged Sixty nine years & upwards, who being sworn according to law deposeth & saith that he is well acquainted with David Thurston of Mead Township aforesaid (who is now present). That he was first acquainted with him during the Revolutionary War when this deponent was in Capt. Galen's Company of 'year's men' and the said David Thurston then belonged to Capt. Craig's Company of 'year's men', both of New Jersey. That said two companies were stationed for some time at the Connecticut Farms under command of Col. Seely, who had also under his command several companies of 'three months men'. That this deponent has a perfect recollection of David Thurston being in the United States as aforesaid & that [crossed out: after the said] his recollection is more certain from the circumstances of said Thurston one evening in his playfulness throwing a squib, which happened to strike the deponent's knees & burnt it. That after the time of the 'three months men' had expired, the said companies of 'year's men' were marched from Connecticut Farms to their old posts; one at Woodbridge, Rahway & the other at Newark and deponent did not see said Thurston again till some years after the war when they both resided in Northumberland County, Penn(sylvania) where they both removed about Thirty two years ago to this County of Crawford.
s/ John Allerton

Sworn & subscribed this 25 Sep. 1832 before me.
s/ Henry Shippen, Pres(ident) of 6th Dist.
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We, Samuel Ayres, residing in Crawford County, a Clergyman & Esack Randolph of same place, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Thurston who has sworn to and subscribed the above declaration. That we believe him to be Seventy years of age as he represents. That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.

[illegible] and said Randolph says he has known said David Thurston for Forty five (years) and during that time he has had the reputation of being in service in the Revolutionary War & saw the uniform the said he brought from the army. 

s/ Sam'l Ayres (X - his mark)
s/ Esack Randolph (X - his mark)

Sworn in Open Court Oct. 6, 1832.
s/ Edward A. Reynolds, Judge
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department that the within named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.

And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Samuel Ayres, who has signed the foregoing certificate, is a Clergyman and the aforesaid Esack Randolph and John Allerton, whose testimony taken before the President of this Court & hereto attached, are credible witnesses in whose testimony full reliance may be placed.

Witness the hand of the President this 6th Oct. 1832.
s/ Henry Shippen, Pres(ident) of 6th Dist.

16566
David Thurston

State of Pennsylvania
County of Crawford//

I, Edward A. Reynolds, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David Thurston for a pension and I further certify that Henry Shippen, Esq., before whom the foregoing deposition of John Allerton was taken, is President Judge of the Sixth Judicial District of [crossed out: the] Pennsylvania and that the signature of said Henry Shippen to said deposition is genuine and of his own handwriting.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal of said Court the 8th day of October A.D. Eighteen Hundred and Thirty two.
s/ Edward A. Reynolds, Prothonotary
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January 6, 1939

BA-J/AWF
David Thurston
S. 23971

Mr. Edwin E. Ellis
238 Huntington Avenue
Buffalo, New York

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to David Thurston born in 1762 in New Jersey, served in the War of the Revolution from New Jersey, and died in Crawford County, Pennsylvania.

The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in claim for pension, [crossed out: S.23791] S.23971, based upon the military service of David Thurston in the Revolutionary War.

David Thurston was born in the year 1762 in Woodbridge, New Jersey. The names of his parents are not stated.

While residing in said Woodbridge, David Thurston served one month on an alarm to resist the British as they marched from Staten Island to Morristown, and served another month; [crossed out: there are no details of this service] dates and officer's names were given. He enlisted sometime in March or April, 1780, served in Captain John Craig's company, Colonel Sylvanus Seely's New Jersey regiment, and continued in the service until "after Cornwallis was taken".

David Thurston moved after the Revolution to Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, where he lived...
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...about fifteen years, and then moved to Crawford County, Pennsylvania.

David Thurston was allowed pension on his application executed October 6, 1833, at which time he was living in Mead Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. He died October 22, 1842.

The papers on file in this claim contain no discernible data in regard to the family of the soldier, David Thurston.

In order to obtain the name and address of the person who received the last payment of this pension, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C., and furnish the following data-

David Thurston
Certificate #11053
Issued March 19, 1833
Rate $80.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Pennsylvania Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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1939

Revolution(ary War)

23971

INVALID.

File No. 23,971
David Thurston
Pri(vate) Rev(olutionary) War

Act: June 7th '32

Index: -; Vol. 2; Page 417

{Arrangement of 1870.}

1927 Jun. 27 - Hist(ory sent) to Elbert Smith, Atty.
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free

J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Admitted Jan. 22 N. Jersey
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Philad(elphia), Jan. 20, 1840

J.L. Edwards, Esq.

Dr. Sir,

On the 7th Jan., I wrote you enclosing two Powers of Atty. from Penniney Maria Berlin & David Thurston, requesting that you would authorize the agent here to pay them. Since then I have called at the Pension Office and find you have authorized their payment upon the proper vouchers being presented but as yet, I have not had the papers returned to me and now write for the purpose of requesting you to return them by first mail & much oblige.

Yours very resp(ectfully),
s/ David H. White
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free

J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City, D.C.

mail

Jan. 9, 1840

N. Jersey
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Philad(elphia), Jan. 20, 1840

J.L. Edwards, Esq.

Dr. Sir,

On the 7th Jan., I wrote you enclosing two Powers of Atty. from Penniney Maria Berlin & David Thurston, requesting that you would authorize the agent here to pay them. Since then I have called at the Pension Office and find you have authorized their payment upon the proper vouchers being presented but as yet, I have not had the papers returned to me and now write for the purpose of requesting you to return them by first mail & much oblige.

Yours very resp(ectfully),
s/ David H. White
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KESSAWAYNE LUMBER CO.
MANUFACTURRES OF
BAND SAWED LUMBER
WAYNESVILLE, N.C.

BERTON L. KILE - PRESIDENT
ELBERT SMITH - VICE-PRES'T
MORTIMIR W. ALLING - TREASURER
J. WISTAR EVANS - SECRETARY

Warren, Penna. November 29, 1926

The Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen;

I am very desirous of information regarding the services in the Revolutionary War of David Thurston. He was born in New Jersey, (at Rahway according to our tradition) on Mar. 21, 1762, removed from N.J. to Northumberland County, Penna., and later to Crawford County, Penna.

Will you not very kindly give me what facts you have regarding his military services and life?

Yours very truly,

s/ Elbert Smith

Elbert Smith,
2 Brook Street,
Warren, Penna.
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Ans(wered) Jan. 27, 1927

Warren, Pa. January 13, 1927

The Bureau of Penaions,
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen;

Can you kindly give the military record of David Thurston, a Revolutionary Soldier, who died at Wayland, Crawford County, Penna. October 1843?

His name is printed in the list of Revolutionary War pensioners that was issued by the government in 1840, but I would like very much the details at your command.

Yours very truly,
s/ Elbert Smith

This soldier was b(orn) in N.J. in 1762.
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9 letters

Sons of the American Revolution
Buffalo Chapter

EDWIN E. ELLIS - REGISTRAR
233 HUNTINGTON AVENUE
BUFFALO, N.Y.

December 6, 1938

Mr. A.D. Hiller, Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.

My dear Sir:

Will you kindly send me at your earliest convenience what information you may have on file from the pension claim of DAVID THURSTON.

This man served with the New Jersey Militia during the Revolutionary War. He was born in Rahway, N.J. on March 20th, 1762 and died in Wayland, Pa. on October 22d, 1843. Records show he was a pensioner from Crawford County, Pa. and was placed on the rolls March 19, 1833.

I hope with complete identification as given above your office will be able to respond to this request at once.

Very truly yours,
s/ E.E. Ellis
Registrar
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December 13, 1938

BA-J/MMHF: MLB

Mr. Edwin E. Ellis
238 Huntington Avenue
Buffalo, New York

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of David Thurston, and to another in which you request a reply to your letter of October 28, containing request for the Revolutionary War record of Elnathan Hurd.

When your letters of December 6 were received, the record of Elnathan Hurd (S. 13505), had been mailed to you.

Letters pertaining to Revolutionary War records are being answered as rapidly as possible in order of receipt, with the limited clerical force available for that particular work. You will receive the record of David Thurston just as soon as it is possible. The demand for such data is very great, and every effort has been made to comply with all your requests as promptly as could be done.

Very truly yours

A.D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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Ans(wered)

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.

January 27, 1927

Elbert Smith
2 Brook St
Warren, Pa

Sir: 

I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S.23971, it appears that David Thurston was born in 1762 at Woodbridge, New Jersey.

While residing at said Woodbridge, he served as a private in the New Jersey Troops, as follows-

In 1778 or 1779, on an alarm to resist the British as they marched from Staten Island across New Jersey, no officers nor length of service given. 

He enlisted in March or April, 1780 and served in Captain John Craig's Company, Colonel Sylvanus Seely's Regiment and served until Cornwallis was taken.

He also served one month, no details of this service stated.

He was allowed pension on his application...
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...executed October 6, 1832, while a resident of Mead Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, where he moved from Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.

He dies October 22, 1842. There is no data on file as to family.

Respectfully,
Winfield Scott, Commissioner