Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10, Thomas Bonnewell, Va. Sea Service
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(3-1776)
SERVICE  NUMBER
Va. Sea Service   Bonnewell, Thomas   R.10
Va. Half Pay
CONTENTS
See Acc No. 837-Virginia State Navy
Thomas "Bonewell File Ys
Va. Half Pay
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Thos. Bonnewell
[illegible]
Rev
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Washington D.C.
July 18 1854
Sir:
I herewith enclose you extracts of a letter of enquiring in relation to an application for pension [illegible] made by the heirs of Thomas Bonnewell for his services as sailing master in the Revolutionary War. "The said Thomas Bonnewell was a resident of Virginia during the Revolution--subsequently removed to Kentucky where he died about 30 years ago" His heirs about 18 years since, made application for the pension he was entitled to or for compensation for his services, or both; and they employed [illegible] Gaines of Cincinnati to attend to business for them who gave them assurance of success, but the afterward, from some cause, failed to prosecute the matter. Let us know the condition in which the case stands. Your attention to the above will oblige [illegible] A. Ellison
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New Richmond Clermont Co. Ohio Feb. 5th 1855
Hon A. Ellison Dr. Sir
I will according to promise give you all the information concerning the claims of the Heirs of “Thomas Bonnewell” to a pension for military services performed in the Revolutionary War, [illegible] as the one you are on the track of is another man of the same name as his estate was administered on by another person who had already recd in part the pension due the other person.
This Thomas Bonnewell was a Com-Lieutenant  Salling Master during the Revolutionary war from the town of Hancock Eastern shore of "Old Virginia" had one of his vessels
(disremembers the name) destroyed by the 
Tories, served during the 8 years war of about
the year AD 1800 moved to near Augusta Kentucky
His fathers name was John, his Brothers were, James, John, Charles, Arthur of Smith, Two of the brothers, James & John served under the said Thomas Bonnewell on the same vessel as uncommissioned officers & recd their Pensions for the same.
Owned & Built his vessel on Proctors Point Va
was stolen from him by the Tories & never recovered. Sold his farm in Va. to John Revel & moved out west to Augusta [unintelligible] as before stated 1800.
After his [illegible] his Estate was administered on by Nathaniel Stokely & Nehemiah Matthews, altogether different persons & in a different place from the case mentioned in your letter -- hence there must be a mistake by getting the wrong Person of the same name but who must have been only a private or held an office of lower grade by the am't of Pension Drawn which is verry likely as there was a private of the same name & from the same
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Section of country hence likely the mistake.
His case was first taken up by Thomas Bailey
of [illegible] Co Va. who gave them assurance of getting
his pension but who died before securing it the case
next went into the hands of John Wise of Va. & then
Transferred to Mr Robbins all Verginians & the main
evidence was John Warrington of Va. lately &
who served with the said Thomas Bonnewell during the
Rev. War. This vessel was named the gilla
After they came out west their case was put into
the hands of General James of Cincinnati Ohio
Gaines was so shure of their obtaining the pension
that he offered his services for a stipulated compensation
provided he obtained it & in which he seemed
confident of success & gave the heirs his
obligation, Gaines died before obtaining the
object & his obligation was taken by the
heirs & placed in the hand of
hands of one knowled
(lately Decd of Felivity Ohio where it remains of
destroyed, to this day.
The heirs of Thomas Bonnewell were Rosanna S.
Young of New Richmond by Harry A. Matthews was
Wesburgh Ohio, Margaret Colburn & Amelia
Cramer S. Levi M. & Henrietta Stokely Heirs
Ohio
The Depositions of the heirs, were taken
Georgetown Brown & Ohio about the year
A.D. 1832 or 33.
The above facts are all that I can obtain that
think will be of any service in obtaining afore
pension but if there is anything yet untold that will be
of any service I will send it I am verry much obliged
to you for your trouble - hope you will succeed in tracing it out as
the Patriots of the revolution at last earned & should have some corn for
sacrificing life, property for the good of their country, please excuse my harty
fitted remember your humble sert in the Distr of Public Documents, also my
Brother in this Will with Hinchfield.
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[Page 1]
Bonnewell
5 July 1832
amd. Feb 23/35

[Vertical]
Hon Mr Waldo
Commissioner of
Pensions
Washington

[Page 2]
Cole

Hon Geo. E. Pugh
Feb'y 24/58

[Vertical]
G. E. Pugh r.r.
The Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington
D.C.
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Heirs of
Thomas Bonneville

S. Master Va Navy
Revolution
Discharged ___________, 18
3023
Admitted
HS. Pay - Act '32
Received _________, 187
__________
Attorney.
10
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Thomas Boniwell
Master
Va State Navy
____________
Caveat - sec
Lieut Rich Parker
Mar 5/50
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Thomas Boniwell, Master, Va State Navy. - Caveat filed by Saml C. White, see case of Lieut Richd. Parker.
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Tho. Bonnewell
Act July 5. 1832

May 18. 1846

Recorded Vol 43
Page 180.
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Pension Office
May 18, 1846

I certify that I have examined the claim of the administrator of Thomas Bonewell; and it appears that under the act of July 5, 1832 half-pay has been allowed from the 22[nd] of April 1783. Half-pay is now claimed from the 19 of May 1781, and my opinion is that the claim should be allowed. I therefore certify that half-pay is still due at the rate of one hundred and fifty two dollars and eight cents per annum for his duties as a Sailing Master in the Va State Navy from May 19, 1789 to April 22, 1783, and that the amount is payable to Samuel [C] White of Virginia, attorney of James J. Ailworth, administrator of Sam Bonewell, deceased.

Commissioner of Pensions

Approved 
Secretary of War 

Enter [illegible] See Book
Act 5 July'32
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Pension Office,
February 22, 1855

Sir,

I have received and examined your letter of the 14th instant, (with its enclosure) in references to a claim for half-pay of Thomas Bonnewell, under Act of July 5, 1832.
Its condition may be better explained by an examination of our records than by letter ad I, therefore, desire you to call at the office whenever your convenience will permit, for that purpose. 
I am,
Very respectfully
Your Obt Servt
L P Waldo
Commisioner
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Washington DC
Feb 14 1855
Sir:--
Herewith I send you a letter from D L [Thinchfield] I think the case has merits It was called to your attention at the last session of Congress, but if I remember right, was not disposed of finally, because some further information was needed If with the additional statement given in [Mr Thinchfield's] letter, you could have the case carefully reviewed, I would be much gratified
Respectfully yours [illegible] A Ellison
Hon Wm Waldo Commisioner Pensions
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No. Sus.
Oct 72

[Vertical]
To, J. L. Edwards esqr
Mail} Commissioner
of Pensions,
City of Washington

[Stamp 1]
RICHMOND
OCT
9

[Stamp 2]
FREE
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Cil List of necessaries wanting out of the public store, for the Officers on board the Ship Qartar- for two months, from 25th,, Nov. 1779, to 25th, Jany 1780 ~
Names; Stations; Sea ob; Coffee; Loaf sugar; Brown sugar; Rum
William Saunders; Captain; 1; 4; 6; 24; 7 1/2
William Parker; Leiutenant; 1/2; 2; _; 12; 5 1/2
John Sharpless; Surgeon; __; __; ___; ___; ___
John Tapman; Masm.; 1/2; 2; __; 12; 5 1/2
Samuel Willson; Do.; 1/2; 2; ____; 12; 5 1/2
Darmon Darby; Pilot; 1/2; 2; ___; 12; 3 1/2
John Rydman; Gunner; 1/2; 2; ___; 12; 3 1/2
William Smith; Boatswain; 1/2; 2; __; 12; 3 1/2
William Mags; Carpenter; 1/2; 2; __; 12; 3 1/2
James Green; Mastshipman; 1/2; 2; __; 12; 3 1/2
Martin Shearman; Do.; 1/2; 2; __; 12; 3 1/2
Benjn. Taylor; Do.; 1/2; 2; __; 12; 3 1/2
Gavin Summerson; Do.; 1/2; 2; __; 12; 3 1/2
Robt. Ferguson; Do.; 1/2; 2; __; 12; 3 1/2
William Chowning; Surgns. Mate; 1/2; 2; __; 12; 3 1/2
Robt. Carson; Steward; 1/2; 2; __; 12; 3 1/2
John Carter; Go.; 1/2; 2; __; 12; 3 1/2
[Totals] 8 1/2; 34; 5; 204; 66.
William Saunders
Memo: Endorsed "Reg" for the Officers of the ship Qartar 1779 " &c &c
Jas. Jones, Wm Nelson, Geo Lyne}
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Office of the Commisioner of Revolutionary Claims of the State of Virginia
I hereby certify, that this list of [illegible] for the officers of the Ship Tartan, which is on the first pages of this sheet, has been truly copied from an original document formed up in [illegible] of "Papers concerning the States Navy"--which is now on file in this office

[illegible] Court
of [illegible] Claims
of the State of Virginia
Richmond Oct. 9th, 1855

No Seal of Officer
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Richmond Oct. 9th 1835

Dear Sir,
yours of the 7th inst. was handed to me this morning. In compliance with the request master therein, I send you the Copy which you will find on the first page of this letter -
The officers of the State Navy, in the war of the Revolution, were very often transferred from vessel to vessel; and frequently there were on board different vessels more officers, than were necessary.
I have no information to communicate, in reply to the enquiries in your letter, other than that contained in the document of which a Copy is sent -
I am very Respectfully
Your Obidt Servt 3 1/2
John H Smith

~
J. L. Edwards esq
of the Pension Office
War Dept. City of Washington
~
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Washington D.C.
February 19, 1858
Sir:
D L [struchfield [illegible] Richmond, Ohio, has written to me relative to the claim of Thomas Bonnewell, a Revolutionary Pensioner, one of whose heirs resides in that place. He furnishes no other information than the following:
Thomas Bonnewell a Sailing Master resident at the time of the war in the town of Hancock, Eastern Shore of Virginia. The pension has been applied form the papers were put in the hands of Genl Gaines, and it was supposed there would be no difficulty of getting the claim allowed. Genl Gaines gave his obligation to the heirs htat the claim should be obtained-which claim was placed in the hands of Alonzo Knowles of Felicity, Ohio (late decd) & there the matter rest-"
Will you be so kind as to furnish me any information in regard to this case, which may be found on the files of your office, or with the requisite forms if you wish the application to be made in a more definite shape-
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Very Respectfully
Yr Obdt Svt.
G. E. Pugh

Hon Geo C. Whiting
Comr of Pensions,
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Onancock Va. 6 Feb. '45
Saml. C. White
inquiry into halfpay claim &c-
Recd. 11 Feb. '45

Respectfully referred to Commr. of Pensions for an answer -
3rd Aud.'s Office
11 Feb. '45

Tho Bonnewell
& Labon Bouly
Arrear of half pay
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Onancock Va
Feb 6th 
Free

Peter Hagner Esq.
Auditor War Dept
Washington D.C.
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Onancock Accomack Co.
E. V. Va Feby 6t 1845

D,Sir
I find in the allowance of half pay claims some have been allowed to commence as fare Back as 1781 as for example
And you only allowed me as attorney in the cases of Thomas Boniwell, & Laben Baily Master in the Va. State navy from 1783, 
I have understood recently that haveing discovered all the Va. Troops wer disbanded in 1781 you have allowed their claim to commence from that period if so. Boniwell & Bayly are entitled to the small difference, and the object of this letter is to ascertain if it will be paid on application to the Dept.?
your answer will very much oblige me
I have the Honour to be your
Obsv.
Saml. C White

Peter Hagner Esq
Auditor War Dept
Washington
D.C.