Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,859, Thomas Bell, Va.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Va.
&
War 1812 Ky.

Bell, Thomas

NUMBER
S. 30.859
and
Old War Inv. File 6630 (1812)

CONTENTS
Page 2

13. 562
Kentucky

Thomas Bell
of Franklin Co in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Thompson of the regt commanded
by Gibson in the Virg'a
line for 3 years from 1777.

Inscribed on the roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 80 Dollars -- Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 18331.

Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of May
1833 and sent to Nat. H. M. Johnson Choctaw Academy

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833            $160.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 33          40.00
                                                               __________
                                                                $200.0

{ Revolutionary Claim, }
{ Act June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by Wm. L. Allison Clerk
Book C  Vol.  7  Page 3


Dead Let to E P Thomas July 8 1842
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of 6th April 1838 &c from 4 March to 11 May 1841.  Agent notified 3 March 1843
Page 3

State of Kentucky
Franklin County   Sct

On this 29th day of March 1833 personally came before James Shannon a Justice of the Peace in & for Franklin County Thomas Bell a resident of Henry County Kentucky aged seventy two years of age, who being first duly sworn according to law doth oh his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of congress passed June 7th, 1832.  That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the spring of 1777 with George Thompson, and served in the first Virginia regiment on State establishment commanded by Col George Gibson, that he enlisted at the time aforesaid, for three years with the aforesaid Thompson that he served the full three years in Captain Winslow Brown's Company in the Regiment aforesaid Commanded by George Gibson that in said Company the aforesaid Thompson died, in Dumphries County with the small pox, and Elliott Rucker & William Vaughter was thereafter promoted Lieutenants in said Company.  that at the time of his enlistment as aforesaid, he lived in the State of Virginia in Albermarl County, that during his time of service of three years he was in the battles of Munmouth , & Stony Point in 1779, that in the aforesaid service this affiant marched Albermarl to Williamsburgh from Williamsburgh (sic) to Alexandria from Alexandria to Maryland & to Pennsylvania
Page 4

that in the Winter of 1777 this affiant laid at Valley Forge, that the winter of 1778 this affiant lay at MiddleBrook, the third in Philadelphia, that in the latter part of the spring of 1780 this affiant after having served out his full three years service was discharged from service, by Peter Mughlinburgh the comd of the Brigade, which discharge I have lost.

That in the summer of 1780 this affiant left the County of Albermarl State of Va and came to Bryants Station in the State of Kentucky, that now is and continued in said fort. under the command of Captain Robert Johnson, and under said Johnson acted as an indian spy untill August 1782, when Bryants Station was attacked by the Indians, and this affiant took the express from said Fort thus in distress to Lexington, and from thence to the Cross plains, thence this affiant returned to the said Bryants Station with a recruit of 16 men unhurt, that afterwards the Indians retreated and went to the Lower Blue Licks where the savages were pursued and Col Trigg Col John Todd & others were killed in the defeat the whites sustained, on this occasion in 1782

This affiant was in the fall of 1782
Page 5

in a campaign on the Pickerway Plains, with Gen'l George Rogers Clark for two months in duration, having been all the time between the Blue Lick Defeat and the expedition aforesaid acting as an indian spy under Robert Johnson, as aforesaid, and also in guarding & protecting the fort from the savages. 

That after tis affiant returned home from Clarks expedition aforesaid, he still continued in Bryants Station, acting as a spy but not so laborious was the service, this, affiant performed other tours of duty but not until after Nov. 1783.

This affiant hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension, except the pension he is now receiving from wounds and disabilities he received in the late war, which certified he has, and declares his name is not on the pension roll of the United States except as aforesaid. 
Sworn to & subscribed, the day & year aforesaid
(Signed) Thomas (his X mark) Bell

This affiant was born in Albermarl county State of Virginia in 1760 that he was called into the service when a resident of said county in said State, that he was now no record of his age having lost the same,, he was first an enlisted soldier for three years, that for all the other service he performed he was a volunteer in all the tours of duty he performed in Ky.
Page 6

he recollects no regular officers except Genl Clarkes Regiment, that he received no discharges except from the tour of regular duty.
This affiant states his reason for making his declaration before a justice of the peace is that he is not conveniently able to travel to the Courthouse of his county it being a great distance. 

We John Mitchell & William H. Todd residing in [BLANK] County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Bell who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be 72 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he lives and (illegible) to have been a revolutionary soldier and served as he stated and we concur in that opinion, Sworn to & subscribed this day & year aforesaid
(Signed) Wm Todd
(Signed) John Mitchel

State of Kentucky
Franklin County  Set
I James Shannon a Justice of the Peace in & for said County, do hereby declare that it is 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,
Page 7

GIDEON, PRINTER


TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLELR'S OFFICE,
Jan'y 18th 1843,

Sir:

Under the act 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," and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, The widow of Thomas Bell, dec'd a Pensioner on the Roll of the Kentucky Agency, at the rate of eighty Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March, to the 11th May 1841.

Respectfully yours, 
(Signed) Albion K. Parris

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

#She has been paid his pension as an invalid pensioner also for the same time.
Comptroller.
Page 8

V.L.M.

Rev. War Section.

January 31, 1931

Mrs. C. Berryman,
1954 Euclid Street, N. W., 
Washington, D. C.

Madam:  

In response to your personal inquiry of the 27th instant, you are advised that it appears from the papers in the pension claims of Thomas  Bell, S. File No. 30, 859 and Old War Inv. File No. 6630
while residing in Albemarle County, Virginia, where he was born in 1760, he enlisted in the spring of 1777 as a Private in Captain Windsor Brown's Company, Colonel George Gibson's Virginia Regiment and was in the battles of Monmouth and Stony Pint, served three years.

In the summer of 1780 he moved to Bryant's Station, Kentucky, where he was an Indian Spy under Captain Robert Johnson until August 1782.  In the fall of 1782 he also served two months as an Indian Spy under Captain Robert Johnson, during General George Roger Clarke's campaign on the Pickaway Plains.

After the above he acted as Spy at Bryant's Station and also after November 1783 he performed other services details not given.
Page 9

During the War of 1812 he volunteered, date not stated, in Captain Thomas Morris' Company Colonel Scott's Kentucky Regiment, and while transporting baggage and munitions of war about January 1813, he was thrown against a tree and his right arm dislocated. 

In 1833 he resided in Henry County, Kentucky.  He died May 11, 1841, leaving a widow whose name is not stated. 

There is no other date on file as to his family.

He was pensioned on account of injury received during the War of 1812 and also on account of service during the Revolution.

Very respectfully,

(Signed) F. D. Bysington
Commissioner.
Page 10

30 859
Revy INVALID.

File No. 30, 859
Thomas Bell
Pri  Rev War

Act:  June 7th 32

Index:  --Vol. 2,  Page  33

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]

1921 Jan'y 31 Hist. to Mrs. C. Berryman

1921. Mar 12. Mrs. Berryman inf. of dates of commencement of two pensions  aw
Page 11

1812
Oct 28 1903
Act

6630
INVALID

File No. 6630

Thomas Bell
Pri Ky Vols

Act:  April 24th 1816

Index:--Vol. A,  Page 27

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]
Page 12

Thomas Bell  Ken wll, Act June 7 1832. at $80 per annum 
Be please to say to what time he was last paid

Pension office }
July 8. 1842. }

Pd to 4th March 1841
L H
Page 13

1, 163

Kentucky

Thomas Bell
Private
Captain Morris's company of the Kentucky Volunteers

Ratio of disablity, Two Thirds
Date of closing testimony, 12 Octo. 1825

Inscribed on the roll of Kentucky
at 5 33 1/3 / 100 dollars per month, to commence on the 12th October 1825.

Certificate of pension issued on the 9th of Dec 1825 and sent to Hon. R. M. Johnson
Senate U. S. 

Arrears to 4th Mar. 1826 $25.46
Semi-anl. all'ce ending   
                                                     $25.46

Act 24th Apl 1816


New certificate issued 19 march 1829 and sent to the Pensioner at New Castle Kentucky.

See letter to Hon. R. M. Johnson, Jan. 6 & 17 1835.
Dead

Paid at the Treasury under the Act of 6th April 1838 &c from 4th March to 11 May 1841.  Agent notified 3rd March 1843.

On roll act 7th June 1832.  No. 13.562.
Page 14

31
11
20

31

5.16
32.
1.03

3/38.19
12.73
2
25.46
Page 15

Thomas Bell-Keny Invalid - Has drawn his own pension from the Br Bank U.S. at Lexington - from the 12th Oct 1825 to the 4th March 1829 - (so far I have examd.) regularly as the pension became due.  If you wish the dates, I can furnish them.
John Harry

W Wilson
Page 16

Will Mr W be pleased to inform me at what rate Thos Bell was last paid.  [illegible] Pension of Kentucky
H Beall
Page 17

Mrs. Berryman
1754 Euclid St NW
Wash DC

Wants Thos Bell Va S.30859
personal inquiry
Jan. 27. 1921
Page 18

state whether at any time, and for what period or periods, giving dates as nearly as possible, you have been prevented from following your usual occupation by reason of the alleged disability.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 19

State of Kentucky
Shelby County Sct
personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace in and for the county and state aforesaid the within named Elliot Rucker and made oath to the statements contained in the within certificate
Given under my hand this 16th day of June[?] [illegible]
Jos. Sinnall JPSC
Page 20

Shelby Cty Ky Agst 6th 1819
I hereby certify that Thomas Bell serv'd as a soldier in the Company of Capt. Windsor Brow, of the 1st Virga State Regt throug the years 1777, 1778 & 1779 - And his servises were generally rendered in the Northern Army
Given under my hand - Elliot Rucker
Then a first Lieut in Capt Barnes Company
Page 21

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Henry County Sct
I Edward P. Thomas Clerk of the County Court for the County aforesaid do certify that Philip G Payne Esqr. whose official signature appears to the several certificates hereto annexed is an acting justice of the peace in and for Henry County afsd. duly commissioner and qualified and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given all his official acts as such.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of sd. Court at the Courthouse in New Castle this 24" day of February 1839 and the 37th year of the Commonwealth.
Edward Thomas
Page 22

Application for a new certificate.

County of Henry ss.
ON this 24th day of February 1829, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Henry personally appeared Thomas Bell who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Thomas Morris in the regiment commanded by Colonel Scott in the service of the United States;  that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Kentucky - that he received a certificate of that fact, under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War;  which certificate, on or about the 13th day of September 1828, at or near Frankfort Kentucky he lost
Thomas Bell  x his mark

Sworn and subscribed to, before me, the day and year aforesaid.
PG Payne JPHC
Page 23

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Henry County Sct
On this 26th day of Feby 1829 came personally before the undersigned a Justice of the peace for Henry County Robert Criswell and made oath according to law that the within named Thomas Bell is the identical person named in the original Certificate which was lost and that he well knows him to be the Same person named in the Original Certificate and the within affidavit -
Given under my hand & Seal this 26th Feby 1829
P G Payne JPHC

I P G Payne a Justice of the peace for Henry County do Certify that Robert Criswell who has made Oath to the foregoing facts is a person of Veracity - Given under my hand this 26th Feby 1829.
P. G. Payne JPHG
Page 24

J. L. Edwards Esq
Pension office
Page 25

Senate Chamber
3d [illegible] 1825
Sir,
I have received yours making enquiry who was the pay master of the Regt of Kentucky militia commanded by Col Scott, that the rolls may be examined to see if the record furnishes evidence of Mr. Bell being wounded - I regret that it is not in my power to furnish the name as you request it. But by a reference to the pay rools [rolls] of the western militia you will discover that the pay master did not pursue the practice of the regular army in noting who was wounded. In particular cases it may have been done.  I hope you will see that the commanding general at the time & the surgeon of the Regt were both present & certify & swear to the injury he received.
Sincerely yours
Rh: M: Johnson
Page 26

New Castle Ky.
June 26, 1842
E. P. Thomas
Pension for widow of
Thomas Bell.
J210 Rec July 7, 1842.
Pension Office

Tho. Bell
Ken roll
Page 27

New Castle Ky

Secretary of War
Washington
City

mail
Page 28

New Castle
June 26 1842

Dr. Sir.
An old Pensioner Mr. Thomas Bell on the Kentucky Roll of Pensions, under two certificates of pay No. 13,562  dated 21st May 1833 & No. 1163 & dated 19 March 1829  is dead - I prepared the certif. & for drawing the Pensions for his widow (who is in distressed  circumstances) soem short time since & sent them to Lexington - they answered & say she must apply to yr. department for pay. Please direct the Curse of proceeding & if the money can be sent to Lexington it will be far better.
Yrs. Respy
E P. Thomas.
Page 29

The affidavit of Thomas Bell of the County of Henry & state of Kentucky
the s'd Bell states that during the late war he volunteered his services & joined the company of Capt Thomas Morris of Bourbon County part of the Regt of Kentucky volunteers commanded by Col Scott of Frankfort which was part of the Brigade commanded by Genl. John Payne of Scott County that while in the military of service of the united States against Great Britain & on the march of the army from Fort Defiance to Fort  [illegible] the s'd Bell was detailed with others to aid in the transportation of Baggage & munitions of war, that about 1st January 1813 while in the Service & in discharge of his duty he was greatly injured & inabled [sic] by aiding the sleds down a bank of a Branch; that having taken one down, he was coming down a second sled when he was pressed
Page 30

down with the weight of the load; his body was thrown upon one side of a stump of a tree & his right arm on the other; in consequence of which his right arm was dislocated & after great difficulty it was restored to its place that ever since s'd injury he has been unable to use s'd arm in manual Labour; that in using s'd arm since the war his shoalder [sic] was again dislocated & at this time he is unable to use it in manual Labour & he find that he is unable to support himself as he has no profession to follow being a labourer & he has no property he states that he is sixty five years old; that he served three years in the Revolutionary war & was in the Battle of Monmouth & Stony [sic] point; but has never applied for a Pension for revolutionary Services because he understands that law does not embrace his
Page 31

case because he was of the State troops of Virginia & not on Continental establishment; that he was abstained from this application untill [sic] he finds himself compelled to apply to his country for a Pension to keep him him [sic] from want & from depending upon the Bounty of his friends 
Signed
Thomas Bell

October the 11th 1825
Being Present when Thomas Bell gave the above afficavid [sic] I know that the Said Thomas Bell was in in [sic] the Service at the time Stated and was present when he met with the misfortune of his his [sic] arm being dislocated that said Bell was a willing & faithfull [sic] Soldier & the Service was very Sever the army had to transport the munitions of War on Sleds drawn by men & having to pass some precipasses [[sic] that was difficult to manage the Sleds on one of those Said Bell was thrown down & his Arm Dislocated he Suffered Much & it was With great labour that Doctor Ewing & others could restore it to its place, that Bell is poor & likewise known that he is a man that has performed great Service with Militia During the former wars with the Savages in the first Settlement of Kentucky given under my hand the date above
John Payne late
Brigadier General Commanding
Left Wing North West Army
Page 32

Statement of Doct Robert M Ewing & doct Alexander Keene Practising Physicians in the town of Georgetown Scott County they state that Thomas Bell is now before them & they have examined his right shoalder [sic] which was dislocated as Stated within & we State as our opinion that taking into view the nature of the injury it is such as to entitle him to two thirds of a Pension of a private soldier.
A. C. Keene
Robert M ewing

In addition to the above I will state that I was Surgeon  to the 1st Regt Ky Militia to which s'd Bell was attach'd, that I was Present when he received the injury named in this certificate, that I had great difficulty in reducing the shoulder & was then satisfied as I now am that he never could recover the use of it entirely.
Robert M Ewing
Late Surgeon 1st Regt Ky M.

Scott County To wit
this 12th day of October Thomas Bell. Genl. John Payne Alexander Keene & Robert M Ewing came before me a justice of the Peace for s'd County & made oath to the statements which they have respectively signed the day above  Job Stevenson 
I certify that Job Stephenson Esq is at this time acting as justice of the Peace for Scott County
12th Oct 1825  Rh: A: Johnson
Page 33

The
Deposition
of
T. Landerson
Page 34

The deposition of Thomas Landrum  taken at the hous [sic] of Peter Thompson on the 17 day of March 1832 the Deponent being of lawful age, and first duly sworn Deposeth and saith that he knew Thomas Bell in the year of Seventeen  [marked out: and] hundred and seventy seven, reglar [sic] soldier in Col Gorge [sic] Gibson Rigement [sic] and Capt Winson Brown Company from that Period up to the year of seventeen hundred and Eighty as a good and fath [sic] soldier at which time his turm [sic] of Enlistment Ended and further the deponent saith not
Thos Landrum

State of Kentucky Scott county Sct
the forgoing Deposition of Thomas Landrum was this day taken subscribed and sworn to by the said Thomas Landram befour [sic] the subscriber a Justis [sic] of the Peace for said county, Given under my hand this 17 day of March 1832.
Peter Thompson JPSC

I certify that Peter Thompson certified above & he was & is a justice of the Peace for Scott Co. Ken
Rhu Johnson
Page 35

Ohio Academy May 10

Free

R Johnson

Col Jos. L. Edwards
Pension office
City of Washington
Page 36

I enclose the case of Thomas Bell with proof sufficient. I return my thanks for the many cases lately rc'd from you - some admitted & some rejected.
Send back the Pension Certificate of Col. Abram Buford as he is not entitled to any thing more than he gets I am anxious about the case of John Smith wounded soldier, & also attend to all my cases particularly the case of John Casey was Pension for wounds.
your friend
Rhu Johnson
Page 37

Honble Joseph Lecomple
Washington City

and in his absence the
Honble Secretary at War

New Castle Ky
27 Feby

W B Maxby [illegible] 1839

Post Office
13 March 1829
Page 38

Henry County
Kentucky

Dear Sir,
Enclosed you will receive the documents necessary To Secure my Pension  please attend to its contents and oblige your friend -
Thomas Bell
Febr 24th 1829
Page 39

Deposition of
Maj'r Elliot Rucker
Page 40

The Deposition of Eliot [sic] Rucker taken at the house of Eliot Rucker on the 23rd day of August 1831. The deponent being of lawful age and first duly sworn, deposeth and saith That he knew Thomas Bell in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy Seven as a regular Soldier in Col George Gipsons Regiment and Capt Winson Browns Company from that period up to the year seventeen hundred and Eighty as a good and faithful soldier at which time his term of enlistment expired And further the deponent saith not
Elliot Rucker

State of Kentucky Shelby County Sct
The foregoing deposition of Elit [sic] Rucker was this day taken subscribed and Sworn to by the said Eliot [sic] Rucker before the undersigned a Justice of the peace for said county.  Given under my hand this 23rd day of August 1831
Robert T Robb J.P.S.C.

State of Kentucky
Shelby County Sct
I Benoni S Newland a Justice of the peace in & for Said county do certify that I have long been acquainted with Elliott [sic] Rucker who is now dead and I knew him to have been a credible man, given under my hand this 18th day of April 1833
Benoni S Newland J.P.S.C.
Page 41

State of Kentucky
Shelby County Sct
I James S Whitaker clerk of the County Court for said County do Certify that Robert T Robb and Benoni S Newland who have Subscribed their names to the foregoing deposition haw and and [sic] were at the time of doing the said Justices of the peace for said County Commissioned and qualified according to Law that their Signatures are Genuine and that full faith and credit is & ought to be Given to all their official Acts as such.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereto Set my hand & seal of office this 20th day of April 1833.
Ja L Whitaker Clerk
Shelby County Court
Page 42

Rev. War Section.

Mar. 12, 1931.

Mrs. C. K. Berryman,
1754 Euclid St.
Washington, D. C.

Madam;
In response to your inquiry which was referred to this Bureau for a reply by Mr. Fletcher Dennis, on Mar. 11, 1931, you are advised that Thomas Bell the Revolutionary War soldier S. File 30,859, whose history was sent you Jan. 31, 1931, was the person who was pensioned from Oct. 13, 1825 for injury received in the War of 1812, and from May 21, 1833, for his service in the Revolution. Your attention is invited to the last paragraph of the Bureau letter of Jan. 31, 1831.
Very respectfully,
A. D. Wil[illegible]
Chief Clerk.

her memorandum
which contained the
dates of issues
returned to her
Page 43

Tho. Bell's Case
for Pension
Page 44

And the Court further certifies that it appears to him that John Mitchell and W H Todd who have signed the preceding certificate, one of them resides in Woodford County the other in Franklin, and that they are credible persons, and their statements is entitled to credit, And the Court further certifies that a minister of the gospel could not be obtained who could speak of the services of said Bell, and that the said Bell is an old an [sic] infirm man and owing to his wounds rec'd in the late war, not able to travel conveniently to the court hous [sic] in which he resides,
James Shannon J.P.

State of Kentucky
Franklin County Sct
I Alexander H Rennick Clerk of the Franklin County Court, do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of James Shannon, whose signature is affixed to the foregoing certificate, and I know the same to be genuine, and that he now is & was at the time of doing the same an acting Justice of the peace in for said Co[unty du]ly commissioned as such
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand as clerk and affixed my seal of office this 19th day of [marked out: March] April 1832.
A. H. Rennick CFC