Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7748, Thomas Trail, Va.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Va.
Trail, Thomas
NUMBER
S. 7748
CONTENTS
Carded
Page 2

Virginia 16464
Thomas Trail-
of Montgomery in the State of Va.
who was a Priv. in the Company commanded
by Captain Loving of the _ commanded
by _ on the Va
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 ifsued the 26 day of August 33
and [illegible]  Hon. R. Craig.
Montgomery. CO, Va
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 160
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept-
40
$200
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Nath Rice - Clerk,
Book E Vol. 4 Page 28
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Thomas Trails declaration
for a Pension
20842
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State of Virginia &
County of Floyd
On this the 17th day of September 1832
personally appeared in open Court before the
Justices of the Court of Floyd County, now
sitting Thomas Trail a resident of said county
of Floyd and State of Virginia, aged 86 years
who being first duly sworn according the law, doth
on his oath make the following declaration, in order
to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed
June the 7th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States
under the following named officers and served
as herein stated. That he was drafted (time not
recollected) under Capt John Loving in the
County of Amherst and State of Virginia of which
County the applicant was then a resident for a
[illegible] of six months, that he was marched
immediately  to Hampton and there joined
in taking some prisoners (number not recollected)
remained there about a week and was marched
back to a place called the half way house
between Hampton and York and from there
he [illegible] was then transferred to the command
Capt Barnet, Lewis Nevill was Sargeant
Major, __ Cary was Colonel and Nelson Genl
and marched from thence to Little York
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and remained there until discharged time not recollected  by Col
Cary which discharge was stolen from my house
with all my property and papers. This applicant
was again drafted (time not recollected) under
Capt Landson in the county of Amherst where
he still resided to guard prisoners confined
in the Albemarle Barracks. Col Moore was, at
this time the commandant of the troops in that
vicinity. This applicant continued in this
service 6 months which was the time for which
he was drafted. This applicant also received on
honorable discharge time not recollected from Col Moore at the
Barrack before mentioned, which discharge
with the first was stolen from his house
He moved into the County of Montgomery now Floyd 
and has resided there since in the year 1809
The applicant has no documentary evidence, nor
does he know of any person whose testimony
he could procure in support of this declaration
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever
to a pension or annuity except the present
and declares that his name is not on the
pension roll of the agency of State
-
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year
aforesaid
this
Thomas Trail
mark X
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We Thomas Goodson and Le[illegible] Millikin
residing in the County of Floyd, hereby certify
that we are well acquainted with Thomas Trail
who has subscribed and sworn to the [illegible] above
declaration, that we believe him to be 86 years
of age; that he is reputed and believed in the
neighborhood where he resides, to have been a
soldier of the revolution and that we concur
in that belief.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and
year aforesaid
Thomas Goodson
Le[illegible] Millikin
And the said Court do herby declare their 
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 the court further
certifies that it appears that Thomas Goodson
and Le[illegible] Millikin who have signed the
preceding certificate are residents of the county 
of Floyd are credible persons and that their
statement is entitled to credit
J Helms
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Virginia to wit
Floyd County Court Clerks Office 29th
November 1832
I William Goodson Clerk of the County Court aforesaid
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the
Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter
of the application of Thomas Trail for a pension
In testimony whereof I have set
my hand and affixed the seal of
the Circuit Superior Court of Law
and Chancery for Floyd County
(there being no seal as yet provided
for the County Court) this 29th day
of November 1832 in the 57 year 
of the Commonwealth
William Goodson

I George Shelor presiding Justice of the peace in the
County of Floyd in the State of Virginia do hereby
certify that William Goodson is Clerk of the County
Court of the County aforesaid duly cited and
qualified according to law
Given under my hand and seal
this 20th day of December 1832.
George Shelor [illegible]
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Floyd County to Wit
This day Thomas Trail personally
appeared in open court it being account of record for
the county of Floyd and made the following declaration
on oath
as an amendment to a declaration made by said
Thomas Trail on the 20th day of December 1832 [illegible]
order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed
the 7th of June 1832 viz, that he was born in the
County of Frederic and State of Maryland, that he
had a record of his age which was stolen with the
rest of his papers and that there is no clergyman
residing in his neighborhood whose certificate [illegible]
could or can obtain
Sworn to and subscribed this the 18th day of March
1833
his
Thomas Trail
x
mark

Teste
William Goodson Clk
Virginia to wit,
This day
the
I William Goodson, Clerk of the County Court of Floyd
and State of Virginia aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contain 
the proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the amended
declaration of Thomas Trail for Pension
In testimony whereof I have set my hand and
affixed the seal of the Circuit Superior Court of
Law and Chancery for said County of Floyd (there
being yet no seal provided for the County Court)
this 19th day of March 1833 in the 57th year
of the Common
William Goodson clk
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Revhan[illegible]
7748
INVALID.
[illegible]
File No. 7748

Thomas Trail
Priv Rev War

Act: June 7th 1832
Index: -- Vol. [illegible], Page 378
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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No 20.842
Thomas Trail
Floyd County
Admit as a private
[illegible] 2 years $80.
Hon R. Craig
Montgomery C.H.
Wm Goodson Va
Febry 6. 1833.
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of 
Thomas Trail  which require
further proof or explanation.

1. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
Yes.
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
Yes.
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? No
Must state the periods of the war when the
[yes marked out] service was read
V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he
served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amout of pension
he is entitled?
yes.
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
Yes.
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of 
June 7, 1832?
Yes.
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
Yes.
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal?
Yes.
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                                                    2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service? No

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining
it? No

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
Yes.

XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness
or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? 
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
Yes.

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? No


EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection
he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For_____ 
year______ months, and_______ days, I served as a ____________  For_________ months
and_________ days, I served as a ____________; and for such service I claim a pension.
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                                                                                3
  It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the
pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions
merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the
officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration
of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the
applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either
in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
Quere XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must
prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of
the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the
regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths
must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate
must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
Quere XVI. Mode of authenticating paper. 
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass
under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly
attached to the certificate.
    In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of
office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the
certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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Floyd County Virginia to wit
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of
the peace in and for the County aforesaid, Thomas Trail, who being duly sworn
deposeth & saith, that by reason of old age, and consequent loss of memory, and also
the loss of his discharge, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his
service, or the particular period of the Revolution they were rendered, but according to the
best of his recollection he served not less that the periods mentioned below and in the
following grades: For six months, I served as a private in the year 1781, the year
Cornwallis was taken. For six months I served as a private in guarding some prisoners
at the Barracks in Albemarle County Va.  I would not positively say in what
year but I think it was about two or three months after being discharged from the first
tour. And for such service I claim a pension - He also states upon oath that there
no Clergyman near him whose testimony he could procure as to his being a
reputed Soldier of the Revolution - he was born in the County of Frederick and State of
Maryland but in what year he cannot exactly tell, not having Register of his
age, but from the best calculations he can make he must be eighty six or seven
years old, from Maryland he removed to Amherst County Virginia where
her resided when he entered into service. In the year 1809  he removed from thence
to the County of Montgomery (now Floyd) where he lives at this time
Given under my  hand in Floyd County this sixteenth day of July in
the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
Lewis Payne

I William Goodson Clerk of the County and Circuit Superior Court of
Law & Chancery for Floyd County, do hereby certify that Lewis Payne whose
signature appears to the above affidavit is a Justice of the peace in and for the
County of Floyd, duly commissioned and qualified and that his said signature is
Given under my hand and the seal of the Circuit Superior
Court of Law & Chancery for said County (there being no
seal as yet provided for the County Court) this 16th day of
July 1833 in the 58th year of the Commonwealth
W. Goodson