Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5253, Thomas Atkinson, Va
Page 1

SERVICE
Va

Atkinson, Thomas

NUMBER
S. 5253

CONTENTS
Page 2

Thomas Atkinson

Declaration

1826 November 27 Delived
in Court, sworn to &c
Page 3

State of Virginia, County of Cumberland towit.
On this 27th day of Nov. 1826, personally
appeared in open Court (being a court of record) for the county
aforesaid, Thomas Atkinson, resident in said county, aged
seventy eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth
on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain
the provision made by the Acts of Congress of the 18th of March 1818
and the 1st of May 1820, that he, the said Thomas Atkinson, enlisted
for the time of eighteen months, on the ___ day of Sept 1778 in the
company commanded by Captain James Quarles, in the regiment
commanded by Colo. _ Mobile, in the line of the State of Virginia
on the continental establishment, that he continued to serve in
said corps, until about the month of February 1780, when he was
discharged from the service in Richmond, in the state of Virginia
"And in pursuance of the act of the 1st of May 1820 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 as to bring
myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled, An
Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & navol
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 must 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: towit
x one old negro woman, two casks, & two jugs. My family consists of my
son John, who is twenty eight years old, my daughter Nancy, twenty-
three years old, and the old negro woman Cherry, who is about
sixty-five years old My son John and the negro woman are not
able to render me much assistance towards a support, my son
being nearsighted, and the woman nearly blind. My daughter
is also weakly and in delicate health. My occupation is that of
a farmer, and my reason for not sooner applying for a pension,
was, that I had property sufficient to support, until it was sold on the
15th day of September last under a deed of trust, to satisfy my past debts
Thos X his mark Atkinson
Page 4

Sworn to and declared the 27th day of Novm. 1826 in open Court
I, Miller Woodson, clerk of the County Court of Cumberland,
do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the
Court, that the said Thomas Atkinson, did serve in the 
Revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against
the common enemy, for the term of nine months, under one
engagement, on the continental establishment; I also certify, that the
foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied
and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court
from the records of said Court [inserted: and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court] that the total amount
in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is
Two dollars. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this 28"
day of November 1826
Miller Woodson Clerk of
Cumbd County Court.
Page 5

Thomas Booker's
affidavit
Page 6

The affidavit of Thomas Booker taken at Cumberland
Court House the 22d day of January 1827. This 
affiant being first duly sworn, states that he was a
trustee in a deed of trust executed by Thomas 
Atkinson on the 17th day of August 1826, and recorded in
the Clerk's office of Cumberland County, in which
he conveyed the following property - towit one negro man
Davy for life, two horses, one yoke of oxen, stock of cattle,
hogs and sheep, household and kitchen furniture, crop
of wheat, oats and growing crop of tobacco and corn
to satisfy a debt due to Frederick Hatcher by bond
for the sum of three hundred and thirteen dollars
and fifty cents, bearing date the 17th day of August 1826
and payable on demand. This affiant states that on
the 15 day of September last, he sold the above named property
to the highest bidder after having advertised it according to
the provisions of the deed of trust, for the sum of
one hundred & ninety five dollars, and 50/100
and paid it over to Frederick
Hatcher, to the credit of said Atkinson's bond
This affiant states that the said debt from Atkinson to
Hatcher originated from the said Hatcher being bound
and having had the said sum of money to pay as security
for said Atkinson. Given under my hand the day and
year first above written
Thomas Booker
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Cumberland County Court towit
This day Thos Booker personally
appeared before me a justice of the peace for the county
aforesaid, and made oath that the foregoing affidavit
is true to the best of his knowledge belief. Given under
my hand this 22nd day of Jany 1827
Meritt H. Booker J.P.

Cumberland County towit
I, Miller Woodson, Clerk of the County
Court of Cumberland, do hereby certify, that Meritt H. Booker is a
justice of the peace for the County aforesaid duly
qualified to administer oaths, and that I believe his
signature above is genuine. Given under my hand
and the seal of my office this 22nd day of January
1827
Miller Woodson C.C.
Page 8

Virginia 12.555

Thomas Atkinson
of Cumberland in the State of Virginia
who was a pri. in the company commanded
byCaptain Henshaw [crossed out: of the Regt commanded]
by ____ in the Virginia
line for 2 years

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

Certificate of Pension issued the 9th day of May 3?
and sent Miller Woodson
Cumberland C.H. Va. (clk)

Arrears to the 4th of March '33...............160
Semi anl. allowance ending 4 Sept .. ......40
...........................................................................$200


⎨Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832. ⎬
Recorded by William Miller Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 6. Page 1.
Page 9

State of Virginia
Cumberland County} To wit
On this 28th day of January 1833 personally
appeared before me Hez Ford a justice
peace for the County of Cumberland aforesaid
Thomas Atkinson a residents of the said
County of Cumberland & State of Virginia
aforesaid, aged seventy eight 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 pased June 7th 1832. _
That he entered the service of the United States
in the war of the Revolution in
the year 1776, as well as he now recollects
(though his memory of dates is extremely bad
as a drafted militia man in the Company
of Capt John Henshaw of the County
of Essex and State of Virginia, where the
declarant then lived _ that he was in the
service at this time only about two weeks
and was constantly stationed at Hobbs Hole
on the Rappahannock River (to guard that
place against an armed vessel which was
committing depredations in that River) at
which place he was discharged, that at
about two years after the expiration of
this tour of service as well as he recollects, he
entered the service again in the Company of
Capt James Quarles of the County of Essex
in the State line of Virginia, as a substitute for
Benjamin Vawter, (who had enlisted for
three years), that Capt Quarles was then
attached as well as he recollects to the 2nd
Regiment of the Virginia State Line,
that he entered Capt Quarles Company at
Williamsburg Virginia, where he was stationed
some time, that he received a furlough to
go home from Williamshing with orders to
Page 10

rendevous in Fredericksburg, in the month
of April, that he remained in Fredericksburg
some few weeks, and was marched back in
consequence of an alarm at Norfolk but
got no farther than Williamsburg the enemy
having retired from Norfolk, that he
remaind some time at Williamsburg & then
marched to James Town, & from there to
Petersburg, from there to Richmond, where
he was discharged, that he served in Capt Quarles
Company and under this enlistment according to
the best of his recollection seventeen or eighteen
months, that he received a regular discharge
but did not preserve it, his name however
will be found on the roll of Capt Quarles
Company, that some time after his discharge
from Capt Quarles Company, he removed from
Essex to the County of Powhaton then Cumberland,
and was enrolled in the Company of
Capt George Williamson of the militia, that
in a short time after he was called out along
with a large portion of the County in consequence
of the enemy coming up James River,
that he marched as far down as Jeries a little
place about two miles below the Town of Suffolk,
where he was discharged, that he seved
in this tour seven or eight weeks, that in
this tour he was in a skirmish with the
enemy near Hoods on James River, that
shortly after his discharge from Capt Williamsons
Company this tour, he was drafted for
a three months tour, which he served under
Capt Edward Mumford of the Virginia
Militia of the County of Powhatan then
Cumberland, that in this tour he marched
to Warebotton Church near Petersburg, the
Enemy under Philips & Arnold were at that
time in Petersburg, that he remained near
Petersburg for some time, & marched from
Page 11

place to place as circumstances required does not
recollect the place where was discharged at
the end of this tour, that soon after his
discharge from Capt Mumfords Company he
again entered the service under Capt George
Williamson as a substitute for James Hill
from the County of Powhatan then Cumberland
in the Virginia Militia, that he joined
the main army under the Marquiz 
LaFayette below Richmond, and marched
to York Town, was at the seige of that
place, and at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis
was discharged at York Town,
that in this tour he served two months
that he knows of no person now living by
whom he can prove his services aforesaid,
that after the revolutionary war he 
removed from Powhatan County to Amelia County
from Amelia to Cumberland County from
Cumberland to Buckingham County from
Buckingham back to Cumberland County
where he now resides and has for a good
many years, that he has no register of
his age. He hereby relinquishes every claim
whatever to any pention or anuity except
the present, and declares that his name
is not on the pention roll of the agency
of any State.
Thomas X his mark Adkinson

Sworn to and subscribed before me in my
County of Cumberland aforesaid the 25th
day & year aforesaid,
Hez Ford J.P.

We Saml Hix and Joseph Jenkins
residing in the County of Cumberland &
State of Virginia do hereby certify that
we are well acquainted with Thomas
Atkinson who has subscribed and sworn
Page 12

to the within declaration; that we believe
him to be at least 78 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
John Jenkins
Saml Hix

The foregoing certificate of James Hix and Jo. Jenkins was
Sworn and subscribed [inserted: in open court] [crossed out: the aforesaid county]
before Nathaniel Penick, Wm N Page, William Witner
and Edward Walton_
Justices of the County Court of Cumberland
now sitting on this 28th day of
Jany 1833 and the said Court do hereby
certify that it appears to them that
[crossed out: James Hix and] Joseph Jenkins who signed the
preceeding certificate is a Clergyman resident
in the County of Cumberland aforesaid
and that Samuel Hix who has also
signed the same is a resident of the same
County [crossed out: County] and that both
of them are credible persons and
that their statement is entitled to credit

And I the said Hiz Ford a Justice of the
peace for the County of Cumberland
and State of Virginia aforesaid do hereby
declare my 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 I do further
certify that the said Thomas
Atkinson is a pauper at the Poor
House of the said County of Cumberland
and is unable from bodily infirmity
to attend the Court
Hez Ford
Page 13

22,665.

Th Atkinson
Virginia

Admit as a private

for 2 years $80.00

Miller Woodson Clk
Cumberland County
Virginia.
Page 14

WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office,
183_

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A Statement, showing the service of Th. Atkinson, of Cumberland Cy. Va

Period when the service was rendered.
Duration of the claimant's service.
Years. Months. Days.
Drafted 76.......About 14 days.
Sub: for Ben Vawter 17 or 18 mos
Enlisted........................7 or 8 mos
Drafted...........................3 mos
Sub: for Jas. Hill..........2 mos

Rank of the claimant. Pr.

Names and Rank of the company officers under whom he served.
Capt. John Henshaw
Capt. Jas. Quarles.
Capt. Geo Williamson
Capt. Edward Mumford
Capt. Geo. Williamson.

Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
[Last tour] Lafayette at Yorktown.

Country through which he marched. 
Essex Coy. Virginia
Fredericksburg and Norfolk.
From Fredericksburg to James town.
Powhatan County
Cumberland Cy.
thence to 
War bottom
Church, near
Petersburg. Yorktown.

Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
Essex County, Virginia
Aged 78 years.

Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
Living witness and three traditionary.

I am, respectfully
Your obedient servant,

J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 15

[See original document 15]
Page 16

[See original document 16]
Page 17

Rev. & 1812
Wars Section
MCS/MLB OWN

June 4, 1930

Mrs. W. H. Simmons
421 - 7th Avenue
Springfield, Tennessee

Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in Revolutionary War pension claim,
S. 5253, it appears that Thomas Atkinson, while a resident of Essex
County, Virginia, enlisted in Live and served about two weeks in
Captain John Kenshaw's Virginia Company. He enlisted in September, 1778,
in Captain James Quarles' Company, Colonel Mobile's Virginia Regiment,
and was discharged about February, 1790.

Some time after this service, he moved to Powhatan County, then called
Cumberland County, Virginia, and enlisted in Captain George Williamson's
and served seven or eight weeks; was in a skirmish near Hoods on
James River. Shortly after, he enlisted and served three months in
Captain Edward Mumford's Virginia Company. He again enlisted in
Captain George Williamson's Company and was in the Siege of Yorktown and
witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis, having served two months of this tour.

After the Revolution he moved to Amelia County, from there to Cumberland
County, then to Buckingham County and from there back to Cumberland County,
Virginia.

In 1833, he was living in Cumberland County, Virginia and stated that
he was then aged seventy-eight years. He referred to his son John aged
to his daughter Nancy aged twenty-three years.
There are no data as to his wife.

He was allowed pension on his application executed January 28, 1833,
at which time he stated that he was seventy-eight years of age.

The above noted is a history of the only soldier by the name of
Thomas Atkinson found on the Revolutionary War records of this area and
there is no record of a Thomas Atkerson.

This bureau has no record of service rendered prior to the Revolution.
Very truly yours

E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner
Page 18

5253
Rev War
INVALID.

File No. 5253
Thomas Atkinson
Pri. Rev. War.
---
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: -- Vol. M, Page 12

[Arrangement of 1870]

1930. June 4. hist to
Mrs. W. H. Simmons
M.C.S.
Page 19

Ex'r.
INVALID.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED

Thomas Atkinson
P. O.____
Servic:; Admitted Act June
7, 1832

Enlisted: ____, 18__
Discharged: ____, 18__

Application filed: ____, 18__

Alleges: ____
Re-enlisted: ____
Attorney: ____
P. O. ____
Page 20

20.296

Pension office
April 29th 1827

Thomas Atkinson
Cumberland Co Va
295
James McLaurine
Cartersville, Va

Recd. 28 Apl 1827.
Rejected. See letter
30 April 1827

Recd 28 Apl. 1827


[Written across the right side of document: Cartersville FREE]
[Written across the left side of document: Mail Secretary of War Washington, D. C.]
Page 21

Cartersville 23rd Apr 1827

Dear Sir
I herewith return the certificate restoring
Robert Richardson to the Pension List, for the conection
of what I presume was an error in making his
allowance as a pensioner to commence on the 27th day
of Novr 1827. instead of 1826 the day on which the
evidence was closed.
I also enclose you the declaration of Thomas
Atkinson for a pension, made in open Court of this county
on the 27th Nov last, with a certificate from Thomas
Booker the Trustee who sold his property. As he is an 
original applicant, I suppose, if he is put upon the List at
all his pension will be made to commence on the
date of his declaration in Court, to wit the 27th Novr last.
Very Respectfully
Yr Obt Sevt

James McLaurine


Honble Jas Barbour
Page 22

He never left the State nor ever was
on the continental establishment
He was next in Cap. Geo. Williamson Company
and was at Richmond at the [illegible]
of Arnold and was afterwards in Capt
Edward Mumfords company and served
some months
James Quarles, Henry Garnett
He was also under Capt Williamson
at the siege of York _
Page 23

The Affidavit of William Atkinson Sr of Lawful
age who being first duly sworn upon the Holy Evangelist
of Almighty God, deposeth and saith, that during the
Revolutionary War, he knows of his own personal
knowledge that Thomas Atkinson entered the Regular
service in [crossed out: Capt] The company of Capt Quarles
in Essex County, and remained in that service, untill
the time of his enlistment expired, and received
a Regular discharge. That he (this affiant) was
present at the time when the said Thomas Received
his discharge saw it written by Genl Muhlenburg,
and saw it afterwards in his possission: That he
does not recollect the length of time for which he
enlisted and served but knows that it was not
less than twelve months.
Wm Atkinson

Powhatan County to wit
The foregoing affidavit was taken and
Sworn to before me William Old a justice of the
peace for the County aforesaid this 24th day of July
1827.
Given under my hand
William Old

The affiant is
since dead.
Page 24

Va

Thos Atkinson
22665

Cumberland C House  Free
July 8th

To the War Department
Washington
Page 25

At a Court held for Cumberland County the 28th
day of January 1833
The Declaration of Thomas Atkerson [sic] a Revolutionary 
souldier [sic] presented in Court, and Joseph Jenkins
and Samuel Hix in open court made the certificate
required by the War department, which is ordered
to be certified to the Secretary of War, And I do
further certify that the paper hereto attached is the ┃
original Declaration of the said Thomas Atkerson
presented in Court as aforesaid, and that the said
Hez: Ford whose certificate is thereto annexed is a
Justice of the peace in and for the County of Cumberland
aforesaid, and that the signature
annexed to the said Certificate is the genuine
signature of the said Hez. Ford. I do farthermore [sic]
certify that the said Court of Cumberland
did make the Certificate to the said declaration
annexed and to the purport thereof -
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal
of my Office this 7th day of February
Eighteen hundred & Thirty three.-
Miller Woodson clk
Page 26

5/29-1930

Gentlemen.
If you could be so kind will
you please rush this History
through for a very infirm
Old Lady. 
Her family want her
to be a member of the Societies
of these Records that she is
entitled. Thanking you
for the effort,
I am
Most Sincerely
Frances W. Simmons
421- 7 Ave Springfield
Tennessee

Mrs Js. H. S.
Page 27

Signal Corps United States Arny
War Department Message Center,
Received at Room 3441, Munitions Building,
Washington, D. C.

WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH CO.

16 W BR 59 NL

SPRINGFIELD TENN JUNE 1 1930

WAR DEPT
PENSION BUREAU
WASHINGTON DC

A FEEBLE OLD MOTHER WANTS NOW IF YOU PLEASE WAR
RECORDS THOMAS ATKINSON AND SON THOMAS FROM 1742 TO 1774 1779
TO 1803 UP NORTHERN NECK INDEX REVOLUTIONARY BOUNTY WARRENTS FRENCH
AND INDIAN THE PATENT RECORDED IN BOOK 10 PAGE 341 GIVES FAMILY HISTORY
MRS W H SIMMONS

845A JUNE 2

22
Page 28

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12 - 5 - 41

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

NAME Atkinson, William GRADE Private LINE Maryland

WARRANT NUMBER 12714 and 14093 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED January 28, 1795
to Francis Sherrard, assignee
of Ann Colemore, admx

The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.