Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 35193, Thomas Blackwell, Va.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE | | NUMBER
Va | Blackwell, Thomas. | S 35193
| | B.L.WT. 87-300-Capt.
Issued Feb. 25, 1793-
Also recorded as above
under [illegible] 493. no papers
CONTENTS
Page 2

[page 1]
Notification sent to the Hon A McLean 22d
December 1820. House of Representatives
__________
Stricken off the Roll, 13th January 1829, having availed himself of the provision of
the Act of May 15. 1828.

[page 2]
16508
Kentucky R
__________
Thomas Blackwell
of Union County in the state of Kent'y
who was a Cap't in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Stephens of the Virg'a
line, for the term of 20 months
__________
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 22 of April 1818
__________
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 of Feb'y 1820
and sent to Hon'ble
Abney McLean H. of Rep's.
__________
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1819 
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Mar. 1820 
$328.66
120.
_____
$448.66

{Revolutionary claim.
Act 18th March, 1818}

continued
Page 3

Morganfield Ky
April 22d
18c
Free
The Hon'ble
The Secretary of the
Department of War
City of Washington
Mail
L174.15.
found on [illegible]
rec'd at office since the
declaration - was added
the 1st time.
Service Admitted
Col Stephens the person
applying for a pension to declare under
oath before the (Judges) Court when made
that from his reduced circumstances he
need the assistance of her country for support
Tho's Blackwell
1 old case
Page 4

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Union County to wit April County Court 1818
Thomas Blackwell of this County this day came
into Court and declared on oath that he belonged to the
army of the revolution of the United States, and tenth
Virginia regiment on the continental establishment
that he enlisted in Capt John Greens company of
riflemen in the first Virginia Regiment commanded
by Col Patrick Henry in September 1775 for one year
- In January 1776 he was appointed ensign to said
company - in October or November of that year
he was appointed Cap't by a [crossed out] company [/crossed out] committe of Faquer
County Virginia returned from New Jersey and enlisted
a company - In 1777 March he received the commission 
of a Captain in the tenth Virginia Continental
regiment commanded by Col. Edward Stephens -
that in the fall of 1778 he was returned as a
supernumerary officer with an order to take command
when called for by the law of congress -
and that no pension has ever been allowed him by
the laws of the United States -
The Court do thereupon order it to be certified
to the Secretary of the [crossed out] War [/crossed out] Department of war
that the said Thomas Blackwell served as a
commissioned officer in the Revolutionary war
as aforesaid against the common enemy - and
that the said Thomas Blackwell by reason of
his reduced circumstances in life is in need
of assistance from his country for support -
amd that they believe his claims to a pension
are substantiated as required by an act of
Page 5

Congress approved March 18th 1818 entitled
"An act to provide for certain persons engaged
in the land and naval service of the United
States in the revolutionary war" -
In testimony whereof and that 
the same is truly copied from the
record of said Sam Casey Clerk
thereof have hereunto set my hand
and affixed the seal of said
County at the Courthouse in Morganfield
this 22nd day of April
the year of our Lord 1818
Sam Casey
Page 6

Morganfield 22nd April 1818
Sir
At the request of Cap't Blackwell I enclose
you a certificate of his having been an
officer of the Revolution and of his
indigent reduced circumstances - with
a request that [crossed out] a deasi [/crossed out] he may be
informed of the success of and deasion
upon his application forwarded to him
Morganfield, Union County, Kentucky
As it is believed Congress has [illegible]
Capt Blackwell is [illegible] his application
shall be addressed to you instead of
a member of Congress
Respectfully
Sam Casey

The Hon J C Calhoun
Secretary of the
Department
of War
Page 7

Morganfield Ky
April 22d
18c
Free
The Hon'ble
The Secretary of the
Department of War
City of Washington
Mail
L174.15.
found on [illegible]
rec'd at office since the
declaration - was added
the 1st time.
Service Admitted
Col Stephens the person
applying for a pension to declare under
oath before the (Judges) Court when made
that from his reduced circumstances he
need the assistance of her country for support
Tho's Blackwell
1 old case
I certify that I am well acquainted with
Thomas Blackwell and have been for many
years and have no hesitation in saying taht
he is poor and needs the assistance of his
Country for support
Feby 16th 1820
Abney McLean
Member of Congress from
Kentucky
Page 8

Capt Blackwell
Shedull
Thomas Blackwed
CW
16,50
March 1820
sent to
Hon A. McLean
House of Rept
Dec'r 22. 1820
Page 9

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Union Circuit to wit
Be it remembered that at a Circuit Court continued
and held for said circuit at the Courthouse in Morganfield
on tuesday the nineteenth day of September in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty -
Thomas Blackwell of said circuit came into Court whilst
in Session and made oath to a schedule of which the following is a
true copy
"Schedule
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Union County & Circuit to wit
On this 19th day of September 1820 personally appeared
in open court being a court of record to wit a circuit
Court held for said County of Union at the Courthouse in Morganfield 
in the Commonwealth aforesaid, Thomas Blackwell,
aged sixty nine years resident in the County of Union
and District of Kentucky who being first duly sworn according to
law doth on his oath declare that he served in the
Revolutionary war as follows - as a Captain in the 10th
Virginia Regiment, of the continental line commanded
by Colonel Edward Stephens - that his original declaration
was made on the 22nd day of April 1818, that he is placed
on the pension list roll of the Kentucky agency at twenty
dollars per month by certificate No 16508 that
he has not yet received any part of the pension allowed
him by said certificate
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident
Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March
1818 and that I have not since that time by gift
sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any
part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to
being myself within the provision of an act of
Page 10

"Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain
persons engaged in the land and naval service
of the United States in the Revolutionary War passed
on the 18th day of March 1818" and that I have not
nor has any person in trust for me any property or
securities contracts or debts due to me, nor have I
any income other than what is contained in the
Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
That he has no property real personal or mixed
that he has no occupation, is not able to pursue the
common occupation of a farmer - that the number
of his family is five children besides himself and
wife who is also sixty one years old - the names
and ages of the children are, Sophia 35, Grant 33
Judy 29 Thomas 23 & Betsey 21, that his said children
by their industry are barely enabled to support themselves
(Subscribed) "Thomas Blackwell"
Sworn to, and declared, on the 19th day of
September 1820 before the Honorable Henry
P. Brodnax Judge of the Union Circuit
Court, and open Court
I Sam Casey Clerk of the Union
Circuit Court do hereby certify that the
foregoing oath and the schedule thereto
annexed are truly copied from the record
of said Court; and I do further certify
that the said Schedule was ordered to
be certified to the War Department
of the United States according to
Page 11

the act of Congress
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed
the seal of said Court this 25th
day of September 1820
Sam Casey Clerk
of the Union Circuit Court
Page 12

35193
INVALID.
Revy
__________
File No. 35,193
Thomas Blackwell
Capt Rev War
__________
Act: 18th March 18
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 48
[brackets] [Arrangement of 1870.] [/brackets]
Page 13

I do hereby certify that the within mentioned Tho's
Blackwell Enlisted as a Soldier in Cap't. John Green's
company of the first Virginia Reg't Commanded
by Col. Patrick Hennery in the fall of the year
1775 & that sometime in the year 1776 he was
appointed Ensign in sd. Company and remined
in it till late in the Fall when he obtained
leave of absence & returned to Virginia from
the Jersies when he was appointed a Cap't
I [illegible] in the Tenth Reg't after which he joined
the Army under Gen Washington with
his company & remain'd till I left that part of
the Army I believe in fall of 1778
Rich'd Tayler formerly
a Lien't the 10th [?]
Virg'a. Reg't.

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Jefferson County-to wit-
This day personally appeared
Rich'd Taylor before the undersigned a Justice
of the peace in & for the County afs'd and made
oath in due form of law, that the forgoing
statement is true to the best of his recollection
& belief
Given under my hand & seal in the
County afs'd this 4th day June 1819
James Brown J.P.J.C.
Page 14

I Worden Pope Clerk of the County Court of Jefferson
County in the State of Kentucky, Do Certify that James Brown
Esqr. who has signed the within Certificate was on the fourth
day of June 1819. an acting Justice of the peace in and for
the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn
and that to all his official acts as such full faith and
Credit is and ought to be given as well in as out of Court
[Seal] JEFFERSON COUNTY KENTUCKY [/Seal]
In Testimony whereof I have hereto set
my hand and affixed the seal of
the said County this fifth day of June
1819 and in the 28th year of
the
Commonwealth
Worden Pope
Page 15

State of Kentucky
I Joseph Saunders of Bullitt County and State of
Kentucky do certify that in the years 1775 & 1776 Thomas
Blackwell was a Sergeant in Captain John Green's Company
in the Regiment commanded by Col. Patrick Henry on Continental
[crossed out] Service [/crossed out] Establishment. I was a private in said Company and know
that he served more than nine months. I was afterwards
informed and have no reason to doubt the information as it
was generally spoken of that the said Thomas Blackwell was a
Captain in the Regiment commanded by Col. Edwards
Stephens in Continental Establishment. It is my opinion that
was sent home as a supernumary officer and that
he served in the revolutionary war more than two
years before he was sent home. Witness my hand
this 5th day of June 1819
Joseph Saunders
State of Kentucky 
I John Graham a Justice of the peace
of Bullitt County in the State of Kentucky do certify
that on this day, Joseph Saunders whose name appears
above came personally before me and made oath that 
the statements contained in the above Certificate signed
by him, are true to the best of his recollection
Witness my hand Seal this 5th day of
June 1819
John Graham J.P.B.C. [Seal]
Page 16

I do hereby certify that Tho's Blackwell Entered
into the service of the United States in the year
Seventeen Hundred and seventy five under Cap't John
Green of Culpeper County Virginia and that Tho's
Blackwell was apointed Ensine in s'd Company
in the 1st Virginia Regent Cummanded by Col.
Patrick Henrey
Given under my hand this 29 day of May 1819
John Barbee
State of Kentucky
Shelly County [illegible]
I certify that John Barbee came
before me and made oath that the
Statements set forth & stated in the
above certificate contains the truth
Given under my hand & free
as Justice of the peace in & for said
county at Shelbyville this 29th day
of May 1819
Joe Simrall [handwritten Seal] JP [illegible] [/handwritten Seal]
Page 17

State of Kentucky
Shelby County  [illegible] I Ja. S. Whitaker
Clerk of the Court for s'd County do Certify
that Joe Simrall, before whom the above
assignment was [crossed out] ack [/crossed out] proven was at that
time & still is a Justice of the peace for s'd
County Duly qualfied & Commissioned
according to Law & that due faith & credit
is & ought. To be given to all his official
acts as such In Testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my hand
Caused the Seal of s'd County
to be affixed this 29th day of
May 1819.
James S Whitaker CK
Page 18

Revolutionary Claims.
__________
Under the act, entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving Officers and
Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution," approved 15th May, 1828.
__________
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
8 January 1829
SIR:
I have the honor to inform you, that Thomas Blackwell
formerly a captain in the tenth Regiment of the
Virginia line of the Continental Army; and who has heretofore received a
pension at the Kentucky agency, has been admitted
to the benefits of the abovementioned act.
I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Richard Ruth
The Hon. the SECRETARY OF WAR.
No 128
Page 19

508
502.
No; [?] p'd [?] Original payment 899
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.
__________
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
August 1. 1828
Thomas Blackwell of Morganfield, in the County of
Union, in the State of Kentucky. has applied to the Secretary
of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled ""An Act for the relief of certain surviving
officers and soldiers of the army of the Revolution,” approved on the 15th of May, 1828.
He states that he was as an officer on the Continental line, and served as such to the end
the war,
at which period he was a Captain in the Tenth regiment of the Virginia
line; and that he [/inserted] has not [/inserted] received commutation certificates for the five years full pay granted by the resolve
of 22 March, 1783; and, further, that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of March,
1826, four hundred and eighty dollars, paid to him by the agent
in the State of Kentucky.
The Third Auditor is requested to report how far these several statements are corroborated
by the records in his office.
By order of the Secretary,
A. Dickins.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
THIRD AUDITOR'S OFFICE,
7th August 1828
[crossed out] It appears by the records in this office, that final settlement certificates have been issued for
the commutation of five years full pay to [blank] in
the [blank] line, amounting to [blank] dollars.
It further appears that Thomas Blackwell is now on the pension
list of the Kentucky agency, and has been since the 3'd March
1826 at the rate of Twenty Dollars per month. [/crossed out]
The annexed copy of a letter to the chairman 
of the Committee on Revolutionary claims of the
House of Representatives, contains all the information
that the records in this office furnish in relation
to the Revolutionary services of Capt Thomas BlackWell
Peter Hagner And
pay [illegible]
Page 20

General Land Office
3'd Jan'y 1829.
It appears from the List of Warrants issued
by the Register of the Land Office at Richmond Va
that Thomas Blackwell is stated to have been a
Captain for three years and as such a Warrant
for 4000 acres of land was issued in his name
that subsequently a further quantity of land
was granted to him having serve'd the 7 and 8th year
the War.
Geo. Graham
Commissioner
Page 21

Revolutionary Claims.
__________
Under the act, entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving Officers and
Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution,” approved 15th May, 1828.
Under
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
15 Dec 1828.
The annexed paper, relating to the claim of Thomas Blackwell
under the abovementioned act, is respectfully referred to the Secretary of War, with a
request that he will be pleased to cause me to be informed whether a commission, and, if
so, what commission, was received at the War Department, from the claimant, on an
application stated to have been heretofore made by him for a pension.
Richard Ruth
The Hon. the SECRETARY OF WAR.
Letter of the War Dept 18 Dec 1828
[illegible]
Pens. Office
10th Dec.
Page 22

for the purpose of obtaining the benefits of an act
entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving issue
and soldiers of the Army of the Revolution" approved on
the 15th of May 1828, I Thomas Blackest of Morganfield
in the County of Union in the State of Kentucky do hereby
declare, that I was an officer in the continental line in
the Army of the Revolution and served as such, from
the latter part of the year 1775 to the end of the war,
at which period I was a captain in Tenth Virginia
Regiment of the Continental line
And I also declare, that I did not afterwards
receive certificates (commonly called communication certificates)
for a sum equal to the amount of five years full pay
which sum was offered by the resolve of Congress of the
22nd of March 1783 instead of the half pay for life, to
which I was entitled under the resolve of the 21st of
October 1780
And I do further declare that I have received of
the United States, as a pensioner since the 3d of March
1826 four hundred and eighty dollars paid to me by
the agent for paying pensions in the State of Kentucky
Witness my hand this 3rd day of July in the year 1828
Tho's Blackwell
Page 23

Before me Joseph R Delaney a Justice of the
Peace in the County of Union in the State of Kentucky
personally appeared this 3'd day of July 1828 Sam Casey
and Peter Berry of said County who did severally
make oath that Thomas Blackwell by whom the
foregoing declaration was subscribed, is generally
reputed and believed to have been an officer
in the Army of the Revolution in manner as therein
stated
Witness my hand this 3'rd day of July in the
year 1828
Kentucky
Union County Sct
Jo's. R. Delany JP

I James R. Hughes Clerk of the County Court of the
County of Union do hereby certify that Joseph R Delany 
before whom the foregoing affidavits were sworn was at the
time a Justice of the peace and duly empowered
to administer oaths.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal
of the said Court this 3'd day of
Lake in the year 1825
James. R Hughes
Page 24

for the purpose of obtaining the amount of pay accruing to me
from the 3d day of March 1826 including the half year
ending on the 2d day of September 1828, (after deducting therefore
my pension or half pay up to the 4th of March 1828) under the
act, entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving
officers and soldiers of the army of the Revolution"
approved 15th May 1828, I Thomas Blackwell of the
Town of Morganfield in the County of Union in the ┃
State of Kentucky do hereby declare, that I was a
Captain in the tenth Virginia Regiment of
Infantry of the army of the Revolution, in the
continental line (as was more fully set forth in my
application for the benefits of said act) and that
I have been found entitled, by the Secretary of
the Treasury, under that act, to the pay of a Captain
of Infantry in the said line
Witness my hand this 26th day of January in the
year one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine
Tho's Blackwell
Note. The most convenient Branch Bank of the U.S. is at
Louisville Kentucky
The most convenient post office is at Morganfield Ky
Before me Gibson B. Taylor a Justice of the peace
for the County of Union in the State of Kentucky, personally
appeared this day Joseph R Delany & James R Hughes
of said County, who did severally make oath that Thomas
Blackwell by whom the foregoing declaration was made
and subscribed, is well known to them to be the person
therein described, and that he is generally reputed and believed
to have been a Captain in the army of the Revolution
[illegible] therein stated: and that the said declaration
Page 25

was made and subscribed by the said Thomas Blackwell
in the presence on the day of the date thereof
Witness my hand this twenty sixth day of January in the
year one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine
Gibson B. Taylor
James R Hughes Clerk of the Court of the
County of Union in the State of Kentucky do hereby
certify that Gibson Taylor before whom the
foregoing affidavits were sworn, was, at the time, a Justice
of the Peace for the said County, and duly empowered
to administer oaths
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal
of the said Court this 26th day
of January in the year one Thousand
eight hundred and twenty nine
James P. Hughes
Page 26

Morganfield 3rd July 1828
Sir
Enclosed you will receive my declaration
in the form you have prescribed duly certified
- also a copy of the certificate of Joseph Blackwell
and Simon Morgan taken from executive
department of Va. which are the only evidences
(with the papers filed in the office at Washington 
by virtue of which I have heretofore drawn
my pension) that I can now, removed as I am
from the place of my youth, furnish to your
department of my having served to the end
of the war of the Revolution - general reputation 
at the distance of time and so far removed
from the place of action must supply the place
of the positive proof which a few years ago could
have been made by my companions in arms, but
unfortunately at this time I know of not one of
my immediate officer or soldiers who lives.
My commission [crossed out] and [illegible] [/crossed out] has been lost, as
stated in my declaration filed in the pension
office and I must refer you to that office
You will send to me at this place my two
years pay after deducting my pension or authorise
me to draw it at Louisville Ky
Yours respectfully
Tho's Blackwell
Page 27

[Document one]
House of Representatives
Washington Dec'r 12th 1828
Hon Richard Rush
Sir
I am requested by
Cap't Thomas Blackwell of Kentucky late
a Captain in the Army of the Revolution
ascertain whether his claim to the
benefit of an act entitled "An Act for
the relief of certain surviving officers
and soldiers of the [crossed out] Revolution [/crossed out] Army of the
Revolution" approved May 15th 1828 Submitted
by himself some time since, had been
examined and the result of his application
and if found entitled to the benefit of
the above act whether the am't due
will be paid to me on a mere letter
of instruction or will a regular power
of Attorney be required, if so please

[Document two, partial]
chairman
of the Committee on Revolutionary claims of the
House of Representatives, contains all the information
that the records in this office furnish in relation
to the Revolutionary services of Capt Thomas BlackWell
Peter Hagner And
pay [illegible]
Page 28

furnish me with a blank form
I have the honor to be
Very Respectfully
Your Ob Ser't
Chitt'n Lyon

April 1828
[illegible]
Treasury
Cons'd.
with
Inserted [?]
files #
35.193
Page 29

Treasury Department
3'd Auditors Office
9th April 1828
I have the honor to state in reply to
your letter of the 8th instant, that it appears from the
Books (in this office) of the late Commissioner of Army
accounts, that Thomas Blackwell was a Cap't in the 10
Reg't Virginia line, in the Revolutionary War - that there
is no evidence of his having served to the end of the war -
the only transaction recorded in the Books referred to
is the receipt and disbursement of a sum of money
in the year 1777, for his company - but I find on reference 
to the Book of officers entitled to Bounty land that
Capt Thomas Blackwell of the Virginia line, is returned
for land as a supernumerary officer on the 1st October
1778, which entitled him as a discharged officer
under the original Resolve of Congress of the 16th
Sep't 1776, granting lands, to that grant and which
it appears he received in February 1793 - By a resolve
of the 24th November 1778, he became entitled to one
years pay as a supernumerary officer - He is consequently 
not entitled to commutation or five years full
[missing] life - The Act of November 1781 passed by
Page 30

the Legislature of the State of Virginia referred to by
the Committee and under which Captain Blackwell
is stated to have received money from the State, has
for its object the payment of depreciation on the
pay of the Virginia line, who had been paid in paper
money and for arrears remaining due to the line to
the 31st December 1781, after which and to the close
of the war, the payments were made by the United
States
With great Respect
Your Ob't Serv't
Peter Hagner AnD [?]

Hon. George Wolf
Chairman of the Committee
on Revolutionary Claims
H. R.
Page 31

Hon
Chitt'n Lyon
Jan'y 6th 1830
Tho's Blackwell
Rev
Page 32

House of Representatives
Washington Jan 3'd 1831
Wm Gordon Esqr
D'r Sir
Presuming from the lines
of the enclosed letter that the papers therein
refered to are in the land office I take the
liberty of refering it to you
Very Respectfully
Your Ob Sert
Chitt'n Lyon

(answer )
War Dept Bounty Land Office
Jan'y 6th 1830
Sir
Your letter of the 3'd Jan'y covering one from Mr Jno Boyle
to you, relative to sundry papers left in this office, connected
with an application for bounty land by Cap't Tho's Blackwell
is received - I herewith return you the letter above
referred to, and at the same time send you all the papers which
have been received in this office touching the claim in question
together with my letter of the 30th Sept'r. last, addressed to the
Boyle informing him that a Land Warrant had issued
Page 33

to Capt Blackwell's assignee in the year 1793 in satisfaction
of his claim upon the U. States -
Mr. Boyles request for a reference to the papers upon
which the above mentioned Warrant issued, it is impracticable
now to comply with, inasmuch as they were consumed
(with all other papers of that description) in the Conflagration
of the War Office, which occurred in this City in 1800
the Warrant having issued in the name of the assignee
no power of Attorney, or other authority, was necessary
to enable such assignee to take out a patent, consequently, 
the papers are likely to be found accompanying
the Warrant in the Gen'l Land Office. - In this apparently
doubtful state of the case I beg leave to remark that,
it is more probable that the recollections of Captain
Blackwell, now at the advanced age of 80 years, have
failed him in relation to this matter, than that, the
Officers in the War Dep't, should have issued the
Warrant in question without having, at the time,
what they believed to be, full and perfect authority
for so doing -
I have the honor
Wm Gordon

The Hon'l
Chitt'n Lyon
Ho. of Repets