Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,528, for Thomas Spirlin, New Hampshire
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SERVICE N.H.

Spirlin, Thomas

NUMBER  S.22528
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31,738
New Hampshire
Thomas Spirlin 
of Strafford in the State of N.H. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Gilman of the Regt commanded by Col Poor in the N H. militia for 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Portsmouth at the rate of 20 Dollars --- Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 10 day of Apl.1840 & sent to Hon. I. A. Eastman House of Reps.

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1840 - - - -  $180.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept '40 - 10.00
[total] $190.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by D M Curdy, Clerk
Book E  Vol.1  Page 119.
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Dead
said at the Treasury under the
Act of the 6th April 1838 from ┃
4 March to 7 July 1840. Agent
Notified 24 Feb 1842
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Thomas Spirlin
N. H.
Act June 7. 1832
Admit 6 mo pri
Cap Gilman  Col Poor
N H Militia $20 per annum



Hon. Ira A. Eastman
H R
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State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss On this 27th day of July one thousand Eight hundred and thirty nine, personally appeared before the Subscriber  a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Strafford Thomas Spirlin a resident in Madbury in said County, aged Eighty six years, who first being duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1775 about the first of September, under Captain Samuel Gilman in Colonel Enoch Poors Regiment at Winter Hill near Boston Massachusetts and Served as a private in said company until the last of March 1776 and was then when the British evacuated Boston when he was honourably discharged.   That a part of the time aforesaid he worked at the Tailoring business in the ship with James Leighton of Denham a private in said Company, and that at the time he enlisted he resided in Amherst.  
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any state 
[signed] Thomas Spirlin X his mark

Witnesses} [signed] 
Ezekiel Hand
David Murray
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Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
[signed] Ezekiel Hurd Judge of the Court of Common Pleas

I hereby certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity attend the Court
[signed] Ezekiel Hurd Judge of the Copurt of Common Pleas

State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss.
I Francis Cogswell, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County hereby certify that Ezekiel Hurd is a Judge of said Court duly commissioned and qualified that his commission was dated on the 25th day of June 1838 and will expire when he shall have attained the age of seventy years, and that his signatures above written are genuine- 
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this 27th day of July 1839
[signed] F. Cogswell, Clerk
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I Eleazer Bennet of Durham, County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire aged eighty nine years a Revolutionary Pensioner under the Act of June 7 1832 depose and say that I have always lived in said Durham from my youth up except short temporary absences. That I entered in the Revolutionary army in September 1775 under Capt Winborn Adams, and served said Adams & Capt Alpheus Chesley from that time until after the twentieth of March 1776.  That I have been acquainted with Thomas Spirlin formerly of Durham, and now of Madbury from my youth up-- That said Spirlin enlisted as a soldier into Capt Samuel Gilmans Company Col Poors Regt about the same time with my self and served til I left. That said Spirlin, James Leighton of  Durham, Vincent Torr of Newmarket, and Samuel Sawyer belonging to said Poors Regt were detatched for a few months for the purpose working at the Tailoring business making clothes for the army at Mystick near Winter Hill where part of the army was quartered. That establishment was wholly under the controll and Supervision of the officers of the Army. That the said Spirlin,  Leighton, Torr & Sawyer were soldiers of the Army under military rule, excepting that
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they were not required to stand on guard-
I further depose and say that the said Thomas Spirlin is about my age and That he is the only person of that name I ever knew  in Durham or Madbury.  
I further depose and say that said Spirlin lives in Marbury about three miles from Durham where he lived when he entered the army. Leighton & Torr were both pensioners and Sawyer I think, before he died. Sawyer died in Lee N Hamp
[signed] Eleazer Bennett

State of New Hampshire
Stafford County ss September 18 1839
Subscribed and sworn to by the said Eleazer Bennett, who, I hereby certify is an intelligent man and a credible Witness
Before me
[signed] David Murray Notary Public
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I Winthrop Smith of Durham, County
of Strafford and State of New Hampshire aged fifty years depose and say that I have been acquainted with Thomas Spirlin of Madbury from my youth up - That said Spirlin reside[d] about a inch from my dwelling house.  That said Spirlin some time in the year1836 [ny] requested [that I try to?] get him on the pension list roll under the Act of June 7, 1832. That I made some enquires on his behalf and could not find any person that would state positively that they knew him to serve six months. That I declined prosecuting the claim because I then supposed that the affidavit of one or more persons must be obtained showing that he actually served at least six months. I further depose and say that I never had any doubt that the said Spirlin was in the army although I could not obtain positive evidence that he served Six months.
[signed] Winthrop Smith

State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss  September 20 1839
Subscribed and Sworn to by the said Winthrop Smith who is entitled to full credit as a witness
Before me [signed] David Murray Notary Public
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I John Starbird of Durham, County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire aged Eighty four years and upwards depose and say that I entered into the Revolutionary Army under Captain Winborn Adams in May 1775 and served seven months. That said Adams Marched his company from Durham on Sunday night June 19, 1778 to Mystick near Winter Hill and soon after to Winter Hill - I further depose and say that I have been well acquainted with Thomas Spirlin now of Madbury, and formerly of said Durham from my youth up. That early in the Fall of 1775 he came to Winter Hill and enlisted under either a Captain Adams or Capt Gilman for six months and continued in the service until after I left January 1st 1776; how long he continued after that I am unable to say  That about the twentieth of March 1776  I enlisted under Capt Caleb [Hodgdon?] and Abraham Perkins and went with them to the Fort near Portsmouth at which time the said Spirlin had not (I think) returned to said Durham.
I further depose and say that the said Thomas Spirlin, James Leighton, Vincent Torr, Samuel Sawyer and Joseph Randall all soldiers belonging to Col Poors Regt were detached for a few months for the purpose of making cloths [clothes] and also one John Collins
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That the said Thomas Spirlin, Leighton, Torr, Sawyer, Randall & Collins were under the Military rule and authority of the officers  of the army all the time they were engaged  as aforesaid, was not required to stand on guard - That said Spirlin is several years older than myself and now resides in Madbury about three miles from his former his former [sic] residence in said Durham and is the only person of that name that has lived in Durham or Madbury to my knowledge. 
That the words Capt Caleb Hodgdon and Lt. Thorn, were [?] before signed by my [?]. 
I further depose and say that the companies under Adams and Gillman were stationed near each other
[signed] John Starbird

State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss Sept 20 1839
Subscribed and sworn to by the said John Starbird, who, I hereby certify is an intelligent man and a credible Witness
Before me
[signed] David Murray Notary Public
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I William Pickering Drew of Dover New Hampshire aged forty two years depose and say That I live about one half of a mile of Thomas Spirlin of Madbury - That I have always been acquainted with said Spirlin from my youth up. That five or six years ago said Spirlin requested me assist him in a pension under the act of June 7, 1832.   He then said that he served six months at Winter Hill Mass. I then made some enquires on his behalf and could not obtain what I then thought would be the proof required. I could not find any person that would swear positively that he served six months. I therefore refused to prosecute the claim but now have any doubt that said Spirlin was in the service. I further depose and say that said Spirlins Statement may be relied on with implicit credence.
[signed]  Wm P. Drew

State of New Hampshire
Strafford County ss September 20 1839
Subscribed and sworn to by the said William P Drew, who I hereby certify is a credible witness
Before me [signed] David Murray Notary Public
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State of New Hampshire
Shafford County ss
I Francis Cogswell Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for said County hereby certify that David Murray Esquire is a Notary Public for said State duly commissioned and qualified that his commission was dated on the twenty fourth day of June 1839 and will expire on the twenty third day of June 1844 and that the foregoing signatures to the annexed depositions purporting to be his are genuine-
Given under my hand and the Seal of said Court
this 20th day of September A.D. 1839
[signed]  F. Cogswell, Clerk
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That the said Spirlin, Leighton, Torr, Sawyer, Randall & Collins were under the military rule and authority of the officers of the army all the time they were engaged  as aforesaid, but were not required to stand on guard - That said Spirlin is several years older than myself and now lives in Madbury about three miles from his former residence in said Durham. 
 I further depose and say the words  Capt Caleb Hodgdon and Lt. Thorn, were [?] by my [direction?] before signed 
I further depose and say that Capt Adams company and Capt Gillmans Company  were very stationed near each other
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office
Feby 2d 1842.
Sir:  Under the date 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", The Execr of Thomas Spirlin, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Portsmouth N.H. Agency, at the rate of Twenty Dollars and [blank] Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March to the 7th July 1840-
Respectfully, yours,
[signed] Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.


To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
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Nov. 18. 1839
N. H
[respect.?] , Thos Spirlin

G. W. Crump Esq
Acting Commiss of Pensions
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Washington 18 Nov 1839
Sir,  I have received the letter from David Murray which I take the liberty to enclose.  As to the delay in making claim in behalf Mr Spirlin which is attributed to a conversation had with me in 1832 or 1833 I well recollect the general circumstances of that conversation-- though it some of the facts stated respecting it are clearly mistaken.
Mr Spirlin lives about 3 or 4 miles from my former place residence and I have known him for many years.  He is an ignorant but I believe an honest man.  Mr Drew called on me when I was at Durham 3 or 4 years ago-- perhaps 4 or 5 as I do not remember the precise date and stated the claim of Spirlin to a pension.  I asked him some questions which he was unable to answer and he went away saying that he would send or bring Spirlin to me.  The latter afterwards came and on enquiring about his service I recollect telling him it would be useless for him to
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go to the expense of having papers drawn up, as it was very dear that he performed no military service any more than those who supplied wood, a [straw?],  or any other necessaries for the solder.  This I can readily suppose was one reason for delay, and I should regret if it turned out that the rolls shewd that he perhaps was entitled,  & he is defined [denied?] of a pension in consequence  my informing him he could not get one upon his blundering statement.
The story about my having rolls with me at Durham is of course pure nonsense.  Knowing Drew as I do. I am not at all surprised at such a statement.
Very respectfully
your obed svt
R Elea

G W Crump Es
acting Commissioner of Pensions

P.S If after this explanation of the delay further action on the claim is deemed proper, please address David Murray Esq New Markett W.
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Waeley Falls NH
Novr 11

Free
Gardner Towle
P.ill.

Richard Ela Esqr-
Washington DC
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New Market NH Nov 1, 1839
Dear Sir - Although I have very recently written you, requesting your assistance on behalf of Hannah Pinder; I will venture to address you again on a similar subject.  Mr Thomas Spirlin of Madbury, in July or August last asserted a claim for a Pension under the of June 7, 1832 which claim I as his agent forwarded to the Pension office. The claim was examined, and proof required as in Mr Edwards Letter dated Sept 13th 1839 I accordingly took the affidavits of Eleazer Bennett & John Starbird and thereby furnished the proof required. I also took the depositions of Winthrop Smith and William Pickering Drew to show the reason why the application for the pension was so soon made, although this evidence was not then required. In addition to what Mr Drew States in his affidavit he says that In the Summer of 1832 or 3 he had been to New market with Mr Spirlin in pursuit of Evidence and on his return met you at Durham  That you had then been collecting rolls and evidences of Revolutionary Services. That he stated to you his business. That he carried Mr Spirlin before you who related to you his services
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That you then examined some rolls, but could not find Spirlins name. That you told him  Mr Drew that it was not worth while to make the application unless his name could be found; That on your return to Washington you would examine and inform him of the result; and not hearing from you the matter rested, so far as he was concerned. Mr Spirlin states in his declaration that he worked part of the time in a Tailors Shop and this seems to raise a presumption against the merits of the claim; that he was not a soldier, but merely a tailor.  Mr Leighton late of Durham also Worked in the Same Shop with Spirlin and several others all from Durham, all soldiers and Pensioners, and the same service set forth in their declarations.   Mr Richardson says that he has often heard Mr Leighton Speak of Making leather Breeches for the officers while at Winter Hill or Mystic; and probably you have heard him say the same. Mr Edwards in his letter of October 26 1839 States that the explanation given for not making an earlier application is not satisfactory. This explanation in his first letter he did not require, neither did he require proof of six months service. The rolls, unquestionably Show the term of service, and his identity is established as clear as proof can do it. I never saw Mr Spirlin  until within a few days of the date of his declar
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ation; and never learned a single sylable [syllable] in regard to his services, from any source whatever except from himself, until several weeks after the declaration was made and sent to Washington.  Mr Edwards, in his last letter, states that he never moved in this business until 1836.  By reference to the affidavit of William Pic Drew, it will be seen that this is a mistake.  Mr Drew then says that he was employed by Mr Spirlin five or six years ago to obtain a pension for him. In 1836 Mr Smith was engaged and consequently it would seem
that he has always been agitating the question since the Act was passed.  As Mr Edwards has taken different ground from the first, it would appear to be useless to introduce any further proof.  
My object in writing to you is to request [evidence?]. If you recollect the conversation with Drew & Spirlin at Durham as stated, to relate it to Mr Edwards, & examine the claim on file and State to him any thing you know or may think proper that may have a bearing in the claim. By so doing you will greatly oblige
your Obt Sevt
[signed] David Murray

Richard Elea Esq
Washington

Dr Sir As friend Murry has occupied the most of the room I will barely say - the family and  all found our will at this time Nov. 1837
Yours
Gardner Towle
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We the Subscribers belonging to Capt Gilmans Company in Col Poors Regiment do hereby acknowledge that we have received of Tim. Walker Jr four Dollars each man in full satisfaction for the Regimental coat which was promised by the Colony of New Hampshire
[signed] Thomas Toss

1775 Oct 4th Then of Timothy Walker Jr four Dollars for each man whose name is hereunto annexed being 20 in number --
Thomas Spirling - which money I promise to deliver to the above men
[signed] Sam Gilman Capt

State of New Hampshire
Office of Secretary of State  March 26. 1840 
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true extract from the original now in this office that the above named Receipts are upon the same sheet of paper that the one signed by Thomas Toss contains the names of forty six men, and that the one having the name of Thomas Sperling & signed by Capt Gilman contains the name of twenty men
In testimony of the
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foregoing I have caused the Seal of said State to be hereunto affixed
[signed] Josiah Stevens Jr
Secy of State
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House of Representatives
Washington 3d Apl. 1840.

Sir  I enclose herewith for your consideration
a certificate this day received from David Murray Esqr of New Market N.H. relative to the claim of Thomas Spirlin for a Pension-
Mr Murray supposes that the certificate shows that Mr. Spirlin acted as a soldier & not as a tailor merely-
Very respectfully
Your Obt Servt
[signed] Ira A. Eastmen

---
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Com Pensions
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Newmarket  NH  Sept 20th 1839
Dear Sir
Enclosed is the testimony required in support of the claim of Thomas Spirlin.  
The depositions of William P Drew and Winthrop Smith were taken to show  why the claim has not been before [presented?].   The Witnesses are all well known to Richard Elea Esquire now a clerk in the Treasury Department.  I never saw Mr. Spurlin, until within about two months, and did not know of such a man. I then called on him to obtain proof in support of the Claim  of Hans [?] Harrison at which time he informed me of his services, and at his request I [?] up  his Declaration had it certified and sent it to the Department, which of course will not be allowed unless it is a Just one. Please communicate the result to me.
I am very Respectfully
Your Obt Sert
[signed] David Murray


James L Edwards Esq
Cormmr of Pensions
Washington DC
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Thomas Spinlin
New Hamp.
Suspended
See let to David Murray Sept. 13. 39
to do. Oct. 26, 1839
let to Hon: Ira A. Eastman
March 19, 1840
Act June 7, 1832
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Revolution
22528
INVALID.

File No. 22,528
Thomas Spirlin
Priv Rev. War 

Act:  June 7th '32
Index:--Vol. 2, Page 389

[in brackets] Arrangement of 1870.
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Nerw Market NH
July 29

Free

James L. Edwards
Commr. of Pensions
Washington DC

[written sideways]
Augt 3
N.H.
Act June 7 1832
Thomas Spirlin
Act 1832
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Newmarket July 27 1839
Dear Sir
Enclosed is the application of Thomas Spirlin.  Please [advise?]
your Obt Sert
David Murray