Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,010, for David H Thurmond, Georgia
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(3-1776)
SERVICE | | NUMBER
Ga. | Thurmond, David H. | S. 32.010
CONTENTS
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Letter to Pen Agt 31. May 1838.
   do   to Hon W C Dawson 1. July 1840
Georgia 31.309
David H. Thurmond
of Clarke Co in the State of Georgia
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Pullum of the Regt commanded
by Col. Clarke in the Georgia
line for 13 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia
at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th of Jany.
1838 and sent Hon. W. C. Dawson Ho. of Reps.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1837            $281.64
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar. '38     21.66
                                                              $303.30
{Revolutionary Claim, }
{Act June 7, 1832.       }
Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk,
Book E Vol. 6 Page 104
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the
Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832.
Georgia           }
Clarke County  }
Superior Court }
being a Court   }
of Record.         }
On this 4th day of November Eighteen hundred and thirty three, personally appeared in open Court, David H Thurmond, a resident in said County, aged seventy five 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 provision made by the act of Congress passed the seventh of June Eighteen hundred and thirty two.
That he was born in Hanover County in the State of Virginia on the twenty fifth of
September one thousand seven hundred and
fifty Eight. That he came to the State of Georgia Wilkes County, ten miles from Petersburg in December 1774 In July 1776 the Indians broke out the inhabitants, this declarant being one of them, then built a fort in Lisbon opposite & near to Petersburg
aforesaid. At that time this declarant entered
the service as a volunteer under Col. John Dooly, Major Burwell Smith and Capt Elijah Clark, was appointed a Sergeant, fought the first battle with the Indians about the last of July in that
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year about three miles from Lisbon in the
direction of Washington Wilkes County aforesaid, where Capt Clark was wounded, on which Capt Pullum took the command of the Company, and the troops to which declarant was attached, marched up the North side of Broad River in Georgia where, in the Month of September in said year another battle ensued and lasted about three hours. In October following the declarant said our officers held a Council, and determined to build forts on the frontiers, which business occupied us nearly all the following winter and in the next Spring 1777, this declarant acted as a spy with John Cary and Company, under the command
of Capt James Little, and continued to do so while a small crop was making. This year 1777
my father died This declarant continued in the service acting as a spy serving the balance of that year
In 1779 this declarant went to Pullum's fort in the County of Wilks in the State aforesaid and was elected a Lieutenant under Capt William Pullum and rode and acted as a spy until about the first of December in the year last aforesaid, when business called him to Hanover County, Virginia, he returned on the last of January or first of February 1779 to the frontier forts in Georgia.
In that year, 1779 in the
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Month of February marched under the command of Col. Elijah Clark, Major Burwell Smith and Capt Daniel Gunnells, from the frontier forts to the forts further in the settlement, in consequence of and because the Tories had embodied in South Carolina, and were marching into Georgia across the Cherokee Ford on the Savannah River,
and the fish dam ford, on Broad River. At
Kettle Creek, about Six Miles from Washington
in Wilkes County aforesaid, we encountered and defeated the Tories: From Kettle Creek battle we marched to Hintons Fort in Wilkes County Georgia where declarant served as a spy. In August this year 1779 the Indians came to declarant's Mothers House robbed and burned it, with its contents, among which was his, declarants, commission which was issued and signed by Col. Elijah Clark, as well as declarant recollects, who, together with the other officers under whom this declarant served, is long since dead. The British having taken Savannah and Augusta, Col Brown, a British officer, sent Major Manson about the last of April or first of May 1780 to Colo. John Dooly our Colo. to give us liberty Men 
paroles; Lieutenant Col Elijah Clark had the
liberty Men summoned to attend at Colo. Dooly's to consider of it; a great part were in favor of taking paroles, as it was affirmed that all South
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Carolina had taken paroles, and that Cruger
had marched to Ninety Six with a large british
force. Then Lieutenant Colo. Elijah Clark bed
up for volunteers, and a small force about
Thirty Eight declarant being of the number went with Clark to the forts, continued there a few days, and marched from thence to the upper parts of South Carolina, and the Tories having burned Waffords Iron Works, and murdered Colo. James Wood, we marched in pursuit of them, and our numbers having increased, we gave them battle on Tiger River in South Carolina - In September 1780 our numbers having increased to about four
hundred, we marched to Augusta Georgia and
attacked Brown and the Indians. The encounter
continued three days and nights when Cruger
marched from Ninety Six to the Savannah River
and fired his big gun Cannon on us, and made
us retreat. Colo. Clark then ordered his men to assemble in Wilkes County ten miles from Petersburg aforesaid and about 10.'Clock the day after the order was given, between 600 and 700 including Women, Children and Negroes assembled, marched through the woods, crossed the Savannah River a little distance below the mouth of the Tugalo River, and having no time to collect provisions,
living upon [Illegible], [Illegible] and Crab [applied to] Price's settlement near the head of Green River, after seven days march we got one meal of beef
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but having heard that Ferguson lay near King's
Mountain, we continued our March for seven
more days through the Mountains towards Nola Chucka and Watauga, living, as before, upon such things as the woods afforded. We remained on the West side of the maintains about three weeks, and refreshed ourselves, marched thence to the mouth of Green River where it empties into Broad River, remained there a few days, marched thence down into South Carolina about three days march, when Tarlton having been sent by Cornwallis, pursued us with about one thousand men,
our number being only about four hundred and at Blackstock's on the Enoree River South Carolina, we had a battle with him, which lasted from about 10. O'Clock A.M. until sunset. Colo. Clark, our commander was wounded, and cut off from us together with about Thirty Men. We then retreated to Wafford's Iron Works. Colo. Clark and his men which had been seperated from us, there joined us about 12. O'Clock that night several of the Men as well as Clark, being wounded. We then returned to Green River to get the wounded cured. Leaving a Guard with the wounded, in January 1781 we marched to join
General Morgan and Colo. Washington,
and having marched three days down in South
Carolina, we were informed that we were within
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Twelve Miles of Cornwallis, and also that Tarlton had been sent after us with about 1100 men. We retreated as far as the Cow Pens on Broad River, a battle ensued, Tarlton was defeated a considerable number of his men were killed, and a large number taken prisoners. In this Battle declarant served under the immediate command of Major Cunningham, and acted as Captain, in the absence of Capt Gibson Clark who was not
in the battle. From the Cowpens we marched
unto North Carolina to Ramsour's Mills. From
thence we marched back to the mouth of Green River, remained there a short time and some time in the spring 1781 having procured such reinforcements as could be obtained, we set out to return to Georgia, and having reached Hog Skin Creek Mill in South Carolina, we met Major Dunlap, had a battle with, and defeated him, taking about Ninety Eight prisoners and Dunlap himself, marched them into North Carolina and delivering up the prisoners to the Militia to carry towards the North, we again turned towards Georgia
and marched on to Augusta, layed seige to it
and having invested it for about six weeks the
British Commander Cols. Brown and Garrison
surrendered themselves, prisoners of War. While we were engaged in the siege of Augusta the Indians made an inroad into the County of Wilkes, Georgia and carried off my Sister and I understood from some of the prisoners taken
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at the same time, murdered her in the nation.
The Tories from South Carolina and Georgia,
having joined the Creek and Cherokee Indians
savaged our frontiers, plundering & murdering
kept us busy that fall 1781. About that time
to wit, the fall of 1781 Colo. Kilgore and Major
Parsons wrote to declarant to join them, he did
so, and went upon an expedition with them to the Cherokee Nation. They killed a goodly number of the Cherokee Indians and took some prisoners and returned to Col. Earles's in South Carolina about Christmas 1781.- About the --- day of February 1782 Col. Elijah Clark gave us orders to go on a scout against the Indians, they having committed some murders in the County of Wilkes Georgia. And some time in July 1782, Colo. Barber and this declarant being and spying, found signs of 
Indians, and went in to the settlements and gave notice, collected a party, crossed the
Oconee at the Big Shoals, and a few miles from there we had a skirmish, killed one Indian, and took two Tories prisoners, carried the latter to
the Big Shoals were they were hanged. In November that year 1782 General Pickens, came and joined General Elijah Clark and marched to the Cherokee Nation, the declarant with them. On the Chatahooche, Pickens and Clark made a treaty or compromise by which the Indians delivered up to them the [principle] Tories in the Nation, five in
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Number declarant then returned to his farm
in the County of Wilkes, Georgia ten miles from Petersburg, continued there until 1789 having married in 1786 when he removed to Oglethorpe County Georgia, about fourteen miles from Lexington, remained there until 1817 when he removed to the County of Clarke Georgia, where he hath resided ever since. The last battle this declarant was
engaged in was with the Indians in May 1786
on the West side of the Alcava River in Georgia.
This declarant further saith that he was in
actual service from July 1776 until the latter end of the year 1782 with a few short intervals, as before stated. That the Militia to which he was attached were called Minute Men, and were expected to be ready to march at a minutes warning, and that he never received a formal or written discharge from the service a narration of which is herein contained. And this declarant further saith that the Record his age, was burnt, with the family Bible, which contained it, when his mother's house was burnt as aforesaid.
And this declarant refers to the Rev'd Miller
[Bledsoe] Colo. John H Lowe and Edward Paine persons to whom he is known in declarants present neighbourhood, who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
This declarant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present, and declares that his name is
not on the pension roll of any agency in any State, or if any, only on that of the Agency in the State of Georgia, and that he has no knowledge nor
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does he believe that his name is on the Roll of 
any agency whatever.-
David H Thurmond
Sworn to and subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
in Open Court
Wm Dicken presiding JIC
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named David H Thurmond was a Revolutionary Soldier
and served as he states.
Wm Dicken presiding JIC
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Georgia         }
Clarke County }
Inferior Court November Term 1833.
I Robert Ligon Clerk of said Inferior Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David H Thurmond of said County for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal of Office, this 4th day of November 1833.
Robert Ligon Clk of the
Inferior Court of Clarke County
Geo'a
[Seal affixed]
We Miller Bledsoe a clergyman residing in the County of Oglethorpe and John H Lowe and 
and Edward Paine residing in the County of Clarke Georgia, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David H Thurmond, who has subscribed and sworn to the above and foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be seventy five years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the Neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a
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Soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur
in that opinion
Miller Bledsoe M.G.
Jno. H. Lowe Senr
Edward Paine
Sworn to & Subscribed
in open Court the day
and year aforesaid
Wm Dicken presiding JIC
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter,
and after putting the Interrogatories presented
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 to them, that Miller Bledsoe who has signed the preceding
certificate is a clergyman, resident in the County of Oglethorpe Georgia, and that John H Lowe and Edward Paine who have also signed the same are residents of the County of Clarke Georgia, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Wm Dicken presiding JIC
[Seal affixed]
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Georgia           }
Clarke County }
Inferior Court November Term 1833.
I Robert Ligon Clerk of said Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David H Thurmond of said County for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have here
unto set my hand and seal of Office this
4th day of November 1833.
Robert Ligon Clk of the
Inferior Court of Clarke County
Geo'a
[Seal affixed]
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131
No 23445
David Thurmond
Oglethorpe Co
Georgia
Rev
e.v.m.
Edward Paine
Watkinsville
Clarke Co
Georgia
John Laundrum
Lexington
Oglethorpe Co
Georgia
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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. These 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, shewing the service of David Thurmond Oglethorpe County Georgia
Period when the services were rendered.
Vol July 2d 1776
until 1781
or begining of 82
Duration of the claimant's service.
Years. Months Days
time not stated
Rank of the claimant.
Private
Names and rank of the Field officer under whom he served.
Col Jno Dooly
Majr Barnwell
Genal Morgan &
Col Washington
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
75 years
Wilks County Georgia
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Evidence for applicant states he served with him in 1778 [& again] Spetr 1780 til April 81, he has also traditional evidence.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2 
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832 
The following regulations have been adopted: 
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia" and "volunteers, all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service. 
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law: 
1. The Regular Troops. 
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers. 
3. Persons employed in the Naval service. 
4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record. 
DECLARATION, 
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832. State Territory, or District of } ss. County of } 
On this [BLANK] day of [BLANK] personally appeared (a) before [BLANK] A.B. a resident (b) of [BLANK] in the county of [BLANK] and State, Territory or District of [BLANK] aged (c) [BLANK] 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed, June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [BLANK], with [BLANK] and served in the [BLANK] (e) regiment of the [BLANK] line, under the following named officers: [BLANK] 
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.] 
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) 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, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of [BLANK] 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B.
[ And then will follow the certificate of the Court.] 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. 
I [BLANK] of the Court of [BLANK] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [BLANK] for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [BLANK] day of [BLANK] & c.
 If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. 
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: 
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [BLANK] and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [BLANK], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [BLANK] 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 opinion. 
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.] 
And the said Court do hereby 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 to them that A.B. [BLANK] who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [BLANK] and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [BLANK] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I, [BLANK] Clerk of the Court of [BLANK] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of [BLANK] for a pension. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [BLANK] day of [BLANK] &c. 
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction. 
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.  All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. 
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your services.
6. {To a Soldier.{ Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
[To an Officer.{ Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of person to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that he [the] answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.  If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party.  And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. 
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
{a} The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reasons of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
{b} The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides.  If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
{c} The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
{d} The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
{e} Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had.  Every claimant must state, 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 amount of pension he is entitled. 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."
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} [text in {}is italicized], is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that 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 shown 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.
{f} The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
{g} The opinion of the Court is always required.
{h} The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
{i} The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
Mode of authenticating papers
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 papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbons, 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. 
Proof of Service
{j} 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 claimant's 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.
The notes from {a} to {i} are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in quote {j} applies to continental troops only.
{k} This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
{l} If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
{m} The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
[ILLEGIBLE] John [ILLEGIBLE]
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October 17, 1936.
BA-J/ILL
David H. Thurmond
S. 32010
Mrs. John W. King
Summerville, Georgia.
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of David Thurman of Wilkes County, Georgia, who is buried near Washington, Georgia.
The record of David H. Thurmond is furnished you herein as found in pension claim, S. 32010, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War, as this may be the soldier in whom you are interested.
David H. Thurmond (as he signed his name) was born September 25, 1758 in Hanover County, Virginia, moved in December 1774 to Wilkes County, Georgia, and lived with his parents in that county, not far from Petersburg, during the period of the Revolutionary War; the names of his parents were not stated. His father died in the year 1777; his mother's house in Wilkes County, Georgia, was broken into about August 1779 by the Indians, all the contents were burned, and David's sister, name not stated, was carried off or murdered by them.
David H. Thurmond enlisted July 2, 1776, served as sergeant in Captain Elijah Clarke's company, Colonel John Dooley's Georgia
regiment against the Cherokee Indians, and was in two engagements; from about October 1776, he served as spy under Captain James Little and assisted in building forts on the frontier; from about February 1778 until the fall of 1782, he served on various tours as private, spy, Lieutenant, also as acting Captain, under Captains William Pullam, Daniel Gunnell, Gibson Clark, Joseph Nales, Majors Burwell Smith, Dunlap, and John Cunningham, and Colonels Elijah Clarke, John Dooley and Barber
in the Georgia troops during this service, he was in the battles of Kettle Creek, on the retreat to the Wautauga and Nolachucky country, at Fish Dam Ford, Blackstock, both battles at Augusta, and Big Shoals. He went in November 1782 with General Pickens and Colonel Clarke to
Page 20

the Cherokee nation when the treaty was made.
After his service, John H. Thurmond returned to his farm about ten miles from Petersburg, in Wilkes County, Georgia, "having married in 1786", and remained until 1789, moved then to Oglethorpe County, about fourteen miles from Lexington, and lived until 1817, thence to Clarke County, where he continued to reside. He made no other reference to his wife, and no reference whatever to children.
He applied February 4, 1833, while a resident of Clarke County, Georgia, for pension on account of his service in the Revolutionary
War. Pension was allowed. He died previous to July 1840.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name of person paid, and, possibly, the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following:
David H. Thurmond
Certificate #31309
Issued January 5, 1838
Rate $43.33 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831.
Act of June 7, 1832.
Georgia Agency.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER,
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
3.
Page 21

1936 - Oct. 17 - Hist to Mrs. John W. King ILL
32.010
Revy INVALID.
File No. 32,010
David H Thurmond
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index:--Vol. 2, Page 431
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 22

D. H. Thurman
Georgia
Suspended
See let Hon. W. 
C. Dawson Sept
16, 1837
Page 23

Georgia          }
Henry County }
I Alexander G Murray Clerk of the Inferior Court of said County do hereby certify that William Beck whose name appears to the foregoing affidavit is one of the presiding Justices of said Court and that said Court is a Court of Record and that said affidavit was made in open Court
Given under my hand and private seal there
being no seal of office this 7th day of January 1833
Alexander G. Murray C.I.C. {SS}
Page 24

McDonough Decr 24th 1836
Dear Sir
I present the affidavit of Mr. Cloud, as requested by you. I was absent necessarily at Court, and the papers have come upon my Table ever since. I regret the delay. It has happened without intending to neglect your business and I hope you will action it
Yours &c
Andrew R. Mone
Page 25

To J. L. Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
District of Columbia.
Page 26

Watkinsville Clarke County
Georgia May 14th 1834
Sir
I take the liberty of enclosing the papers in the case of Mr David H. Thurmond now of this County formerly of Oglethorpe County
application for a pension under the act of 7th
June 1832, to wit original declaration made in
Oglethorpe Inferior Court dated 4th Feby 1833
original Declaration made in Clarke Inferior
Court dated 4th Novr 1833, additional and explanatory declaration made in Clarke Inferior Court 12th May 1834. Ezekiel Clouds Certificate
made in Hendry County dated 7th January 1833, and printed letter from the War Department, Pension Office, containing directions &c. which I flatter myself will be sufficient to entitle Mr Thurmond to the pay of a Lieutenant under the Act of Congress. If however such a construction of the act has been adopted as will without other proof than his [Illegible] exclude him from the pay of a Lieutenant Mr Thurmond hopes and persuades himself that, at least, he will be allowed the pay of a private.
I am aware judging from the numbers who claim the benefit of the provision of the Act
of Congress, that the Department has  probably been greatly imposed upon by many who were puling on their Mothers' arms, or who were in the County's Ranks in the War of Independence, and that therefore the utmost 
scrupulosity is necessary, yet from the respectability, and integrity of character of Mr Thurmond and from tradition, no one here doubts that he was an ardent efficient and
Page 27

faithful soldier of the revolution. Character
ought to have great weight in those claims
depending upon the [oath] of the person to be
benefitted. Served me, therefore, of further
evidence in that regard would be satisfactory
to refer to Governor Gilmer, whose County Man
Mr Thurmond was for many years.
I would, too, earnestly ask your early
attention to this application and also with
great respect
Your Obt. Servt.
Edward Drane
To J. L. Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 28

War Department
Pension Office
May 30 1834
Sir,
The declaration of D.H. Thurmond has been again Examined and is herewith returned.
The applicant has wholly failed to specify his services as required by the rules. The fact of his having been a minute man and holding himself in readiness to turn out at a minutes warning
affords of itself, no claim whatever to a pension. It is for actual service only, performed, in an embodied corps in the field or garrison that allowances are made. Unless therefore
he can state the exact length of each tour of duty - the place where performed, the officers under whom he served &c no favorable
decision can be had on his claim.
The credibility of Ezekiel Cloud must be certified to by the magistrate before whom his affidavit was taken, and the official character and signature of the Magistrate must be certified to by the Clerk under his seal of Office. Where the Clerk has no public seal of Office the certificate of a member of Congress proving his official character and signature should be procured.-
I am Respectfully
Your Obt. Servant
J L Edwards
Edward Paine Esqr
Watkinsville Geo.
Page 29

Georgia        } Inferior Court June term 1837
Guinnett Cty } Being a court of Record
Personally appeared in open court Austin
Webb and after being duly sworn saith
that he is acquainted with David H.
Thurmond formerly of Wilks now of
Clarke County Georgia and that said
David H. Thurmond served with him in
the revolutionary war under the following
named officers Viz Col Elijah Clark and
Maj John Cunningham all of Wilks Cty
and commenced at the first seige of
Augusta in 1780 serving two three month
towers of duty until the second seige 
of Augusta in 1781 and marched throug
the upper parts of South Carolina unto
the settlement nolachucky & chattawga
Page 30

now east Tennessee and through North
and South Carolina to Georgia and we
were together in the Battle at cattle
Creak and I have every reason to believe
and no doubts have ever existed that
he was a genuine patriottic soldier and served
to the final close of the war and it is not convenient for deponent to attend Court in Clarke County
Jun 12th 1837-       
Austin Webb Sr. [X and "his mark" appear between first and last names]
John Mills JIC
Wm M. Roberts JIC
Jno P Hutchins J.I.C
Georgia              }
Guinnett County }
I William Maltbie Clerk of the Inferior
Court in and for said County do hereby
certify that John Mills Wm M. Roberts 
and John P. Hutchins are Justices of the 
said Court for said County
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed the seal of said
Court this 12th day of June 1837
Wm Maltbie C.I.C.
[Seal affixed]
Page 31

Georgia        }
Guinnett Cty }
I do herby certify that I am personally acquainted with Austin Webb whose signature appears to the forgoing affidavit and from my Knowlege of him believe him to be of the [stiches] veracity and entitled to credit--
Jno P. Hutchins J.I.C.
Page 32

Hon W. C. Dawson
H R
9
Page 33

Georgia           }
Clarke County }
Inferior Court May Term 1834
I Robert Ligon Clerk of said Court which is a Court of Record hereby certify that the forgoing contains the additional and explanatory proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David H Thurmond of said County for a Pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of Office this 12th
day of May 1834.
Robert Ligon Clerk
Inferior Court of
Clarke County Geo
[Seal affixed]
Page 34

1. July 1840
Hon. W. C. Dawson
G C
Record 250 page 123
Page 35

Pension Office
1st July 1840
Sir
In answer to your letter of the 29th ulto in the case of David H. Thurmond decd. I have to
inform you, that the laws and regulations in relation to such cases, which are herewith  enclosed, contain all the information sought by the [writer] Mr Johnson. 
[Entire second paragraph stricken, third paragraph follows]]
So soon as the information shall have been
received from the South Carolina Pension Agent as to the period when William Reeve was last paid his name will be transferred to the Georgia Agency
I am Sir
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
Hon W. C. Dawson
House of Representatives
Page 36

June 30 1940
Mr Evans
Hon W. C. Dawson
H R
J L Edwards Esq
Commr of Pensions
Washington City
Page 37

H of R
29 June 1840
Sir
Please give me the information deduced to the enclosed [matter] - an application for a Pension made a short time and has not been heard from-
Very Respectfully
Wm. C. Dawson
Page 38

Pension Agency Planters Bank
Savannah 18 May 1838
Sir
By reference to your letter of 5th January last, you answered me that David H. Thurmond private, a Revolutionary pensioner, at the rate of $43 33/100 per annum was to be inserted, on the pension Roll [her'r], his pension to commence on the 4th of March 1831, under the act of 7 June 1832, and to pay his pension up to the time of the last same annual payment (4 Sept 1837) if he should be still living &c.
The attorney this morning presented his claim, for pension from the 4th March 1831 to 4 March 1838. This is the first application that the pensioner has made for his pension, and as his certificate appears to have been granted only as far back as 5 January 1838. I am in doubt whether it comes within the operation of the act of Congress of 6th Apl ulto. I now enclose the same for your opinion and
instructions. An answer at your earliest convenience on this paper for there are others in the same situation is requested by 
Yours respectfully
J Marshall Casting
Pen Agt
J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC
Page 39

To be filed with the
papers of David
Thurman of
Geo. Adm'd
Page 40

War Department
Pension Office
September 16, 1837
Sir
I have received the papers of David H. Thurman of Georgia and have placed them upon our files.
There has been no proof submitted other than the claimants with that he held a commission of Lieutenant; no such claim was asserted in
his original declaration; and the witness Cloud expressly states that in the 6 months in which he served with the claimant, to wit in the year
1778 & 1779, that a Mr Barber was first Lieutenant, but that he had forgotten the name of the 2d Lieutenant. It was in 1778 that Mr Thurman states that he was appointed a Lieutenant.
The service is very indefinitely stated and a great portion of it, consisting principally 
of patrol and scouting service, which is not embraced under the act. The Department will
allow him a pension for thirteen months ┃
Page 41

months as a private, should he signify his acceptance thereof.
I have the honor to be
Very Respectfully
Yr. Mo. Obt. St.
J. L. Edwards
Hon W. C. Dawson
House of Representatives
Page 42

Georgia          }
Clarke County } 
I David H. Thurmond the Revolutionary Soldier within named do hereby declare my assent to the offer within made me by the Pension
department of the United States in full for my claim as a Revolutionary soldier say pay for thirteen months as a private Soldier this 25th of October 1837
David H Thurmond
Test
M L Durham J.P.
Page 43

Additional and explanatory Declaration of David H Thurmond who is usually called, and 
who sometime subscribes his name David Thurmond in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th June 1832, that the Declaration made by him in Oglethorpe Inferior Court on the 4th February 1833 was made hastily, in the bustle & confusion of Court and his memory being greatly impaired, 
many particulars of the service of said Declarant were omitted and others not stated in the order in which they occurred, & were performed. The same remarks will, on a small degree, apply to the one made in Clarke Inferior Court and hereto annexed. This Declarant on reflection believes that Colo. E Clarke had authority to issue Commissions to Officers, that at any rate he did so, as well as the Declarant remembers, that he well recollects that shortly after this Declarant was elected as Lieutenant, as he has stated in the said last declaration; Capt. Pullum brought commissions from Colo. Clarke for this Declarant and some where lost is not positively certain whether Clarke or Dooly signed them, but thinks they were signed by Clarke. That this Declarant, after he was elected a Lieutenant as aforesaid under Capt. Pullum, served and acted as such Lieutenant, as well as he now recollect, from the month of February until November 1778 inclusive, uninterruptedly, when he went to Hanover in Virginia, as stated in his said Declaration. That immediately after the Battle of Kettle Creek, which took place as well as this Declarant now remember the 14th February 1779, Colo. Clarke requested this Declarant again to serve as Lieutenant
Page 44

in the Company of Capt. Gunnells, whose Lieutenant had then recently returned to North Carolina. That from that period to end the Month of February 1779 he acted and served as Lieutenant whenever he was with his Company, which he always was when that
Company was engaged in active service, that when not so engaged in active service this Declarant, having always a good horse and being possessed of a knowledge of the Country, rode as a spy from Fort to Fort and  along the line of the frontiers.
That Capt. Gunnells having taken a parole, as offered by Manson and recommended by Dooly as aforesaid, Colo. E. Clarke offered the Captaincy of a Company to this Declarant, but as he had never acted as Captain, he declined it and advised Colo. Clarke to appoint Gibson Clarke, his younger brother, and said he would and did take a Lieutenancy under him the said Gibson, in the Month of May or first of June 1780, as well as he now remembers, without, however, any written commission. 
That he continued to act as such officer until the Battle of the Cowpens which took place, as well as he remembers, on the 17th or 18th of February 1781 and for some time after, until Capt. Gibson Clarke went over the Mountains about the first of March 1781 and returned in about a month. In his absence this Declarant had the command of the Company. When Capt. Clarke returned he brought men enough to form a Company to the command of which Capt. Gibson Clarke was appointed and this Declarant was then by Colo. E. Clarke, Major Cunningham, and Capt. G. Clarke and the men, requested to continue to command the Company formerly commanded by Capt. G. Clarke, and this Declarant did so until some time in the Month of Septr. 1780 without however any Commission other
Page 45

than the Lieutenant's commission in the said
declaration before mentioned. That this  Declarant has no recollection of having served in the capacity of Commissioned officer during the revolutionary war after the said month of September 1781, though he was in service after that time as in his said annexed declaration is set forth. That this Declarant 
when he made his first declaration in the
Inferior Court of Oglethorpe as aforesaid, was entirely ignorant that there was any distinction between officers and soldiers in the said pension and that he had heard that those who served the Country in the revolutionary war were entitled to a pension but was not apprised that it was necessary to state whether such service was performed in the capacity of Soldier or of Officer. That he knows not one surviving officer or soldier to whom he can apply for proof of the services in his Declarations and in this additional and explanatory declaration set forth unless the said Ezekial Cloud could prove the said facts, and particularly the fact of his this Declarant acting and serving as an officer as aforesaid, that the said Cloud has left the State of Georgia, as he is informed and believes, and this Declarant knows not that he is now in life, or where he resides. That this Declarant, not aware that it was required to distinguish between services rendered by Officer and Soldier, sent an illiterate young man to him Cloud, who then lived at a distance from him, to get his Certificate which is the one herewith forwarded and he is persuaded that Cloud was equally ignorant of the necessity, or propensity of making such distinction.
Page 46

That being thus unable to prove by his
Commission, discharge or written evidence, or any testimony whatever other than his own oath of the fact of his being Commissioned, acting & serving as a Lieutenant and sometimes as Commander of a Company, of the [constriction] placed upon the pension act of the 7th June 1832 will not allow him the pay of a Lieutenant he trusts his long and faithful 
services, during the revolutionary war, will entitle him to the pay of a private at least, which he hereby declares himself willing to accept. 
David H. Thurmond
Sworn to & subscribed 
the day & year aforesaid
in Open Court 12th May 1834
Wm Dicken presiding. J.I.C
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the
matter & after putting the Interrogatories presented by the war Department, that the above named David H. Thurmond was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states
12th May 1834 Wm Dicken presiding J.I.C
Page 47

Georgia          }
Henry County } 
Inferior Court sitting for the purpose of making application for certain Revolutionary Soldiers for a pention in accordance with an Act of Congress June 1832
Personally appeared in open Court Ezekiel Cloud who after being duly sworn saith that he is acquainted with David H. Thurmond (formerly of Wilks County now of Clarke County Georgia) and that the said David
H. Thurmond served with him in the Revolutionary war under the following named officers Viz Col. John Dooley of Wilks County & Lieutenant Col. Elijah Clark & Maj. Burwell Smith and Capt Daniel Gunnolds and first Lieut. George Barber and second Lieut. not
recollected all of the county aforesaid and state of Georgia and that he served several towers of duty with me in 1778 & 1779 the length of those towers not precisely recollected and commenced again in
September 1780 at the first seige of Augusta under the command of Col. Elijah Clark & Maj. John Cunningham and Capt. Daniel Gunnolds and from Augusta we marched throug the upper parts of South Carolina to the settlement Nolachucky and Chatawga now east Tennessee then returned back through the edge of North Carolina into South Carolina and found Gen. Sumpter and had a skermish with the Brittish and Tories on Broad River and also had a battle two days after with the British on Tiger River in South Carolina then scouted through the upper part of South Carolina
until about the first of April 1781 when we
returned to Georgia & joined Capt Joseph Nales light horse company and continued in service with him until the latter part of the year 1781 all of which service was rendered without cesation not being discharged at any time and at the last
Page 48

Seige at Augusta in 1781 we were together and continued in service until the latter part of that year all of which services were rendered as a volunteer as well as I recolect and I have good reason to believe he served until the war finally closed and it is not convenient for deponent to attend Court in Clarke County
Ezekiel Cloud
Sworn and Subscribed to in open Court this
11th March 1836
John T Bentley J.I.C
Georgia          }
Henry County }
I John T Bentley a Justice of the Inferior Court of said County certify that I am personally acquainted with Ezekiel Cloud the person who made the foregoing affidavit and from my knowledge of his character I believe him to be
a man whose truth and veracity cannot be doubted
Given under my hand the 11th day of March
1836.
John T. Bentley J.I.C
Georgia          }
Henry County }
I William Gray Clerk of the Court of Ordinary for said County certify that John T. Bentley whose name appears to the above certificate is an acting Justice of the Inferior Court for said County and that full faith and credit are due his official acts as such 
Given under my hand and private seal having
no seal of office this 11th day of March 1836
Wm Gray C.C.O. {Seal}
Page 49

State of Georgia          }
County of Oglethorpe }
On the fourth day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand Eight hundred & thirty three personally appeared in open Court before John M Cox, Henry Landrum, Britton Stamps & George Tuggle the Inferior Court, David Thurmond a resident of the County of Clarke and State aforesaid aged seventy five 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 passed June 7th 1832
Page 50

That he entered the service of the United States in the State Troops of Georgia under Col. John M Dooley & Maj. Burwell Smith & served from the second day of July 1776 a tour without departure until the latter part of 1781 or the beginning of 1782. He further states that the accompanying  affidavit of Ezekiel Cloud taken before the Inferior Court of Henry County in this State sets forth time but not all of the particular tours of duty rendered to the Country. This Deponent having while about on duty had a Sister taken off by the enemy - he never had an opportunity to retaliate - for the wrong they done - in addition to
Page 51

the general willingness [aforesaid] he felt to serve his Country - This deponent resided in 
Wilkes County this State when he entered the service - he always served as a volunteer - He was occasionally with the regular or continental troops - He was at the Cow pens - where Genl. Morgan & Col. Washington Commanded - the      
latter the dragoons - the first battle he fought was on Kettle Creek in said County of Wilkes with the Tories - He was at the Seige of Augusta when occupied by Col. Brown - They fought British & Indians three days but won finally departed - a reinforcement
Page 52

from 96 under Genl. Cruger coming to the relief of the place - after the seige was raised he about in September or October in the battle of the Cow pens he was in two [other] engagements - one with [Jas Colon] at the Blackstocks & [Joseph Cashman] the other with a Majr. Dunlap one of Crugers officers - the latter tour Cruger had at a place called hog skin Mills, or hog skin creek Mills - they took about 90 prisoners - returned to the Seige of Augusta in the [fall among] [Illegible] and in about six weeks took the place -
He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares
Page 53

that his name is not on the pension roll or the agency of any State.
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year above written
David Thurmond
We George Lumpkin a Clergyman residing in the County and State first aforesaid and Robert Freeman in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Thurmond who has Sworn to and Subscribed the above declaration - that we believe him to be seventy five years of age - that he is reputed & believed to have been a soldier
Page 54

of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Geo Lumpkin M.G.
Robert Freeman
Answers to Interrogatories
1st In Hanover County Virginia in the month of September 1758
2nd I have none - It was burnt by the Indians during the revolutionary war
3rd Living in Wilkes Co this State, have resided in Oglethorpe & Clarke Counties ever since & now live in the latter County
4th Always served as a volunteer
5th Reference is made to my declaration & the annexed affidavit
6th I never did
7th I can't remember many, I have selected George Lumpkin minister & [looking] the [Georgia] the State & Robert Freeman
Page 55

And the said Court do hereby 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 certify that it appears to them that George Lumpkin who signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Oglethorpe and that Robert Freeman who has also signed the same is a resident of the same place & is a credible person and that their statement
Page 56

is entitled to credit
John M Cox J.I.C
Geo. Tuggle J.I.C
Henry T. Lundrum J.I.C
Britton Stamps J.I.C
Georgia                   }
Oglethorpe County }
I John Landrum Clerk of the Inferior Court in & for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of application of David Thurmond for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 4th day of February 1833.
John Landrum Clk
[Seal affixed]
Page 57

/ 10 /
B. Aycocks.
Deposition.
Page 58

Georgia          }
Clarke County }
Sitting for Ordinary Purposes Inferior Court being a Court of Record November (May adjourned) Term 1836
I Joseph Ligon Clerk of said Court which is a Court of Record do certify that John H Lowe, Isma W Wooldridge and William Dicken Esquires 
before whom the above Deposition was made
in open Court by Burwell Aycock as Justices
Presiding in said Court duly commissioned
and qualified and that the signatures of said
Justices annexed to the said above & foregoing
Deposition are the genuine signatures of the
said Justices.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & Seal of Office this
21st day of November 1836.
Joseph Ligon C.C.O
Page 59

Georgia          }
Clarke County }
Inferior Court, Being a Court of Record, sitting for ordinary purposes November (May adjourned) Term 1836.
Burwell Aycock aged sixty six years of the
County of Oglethorpe, formerly resident in
the County of Wilkes, in said State, in Open Court, on oath declares & saith, That his father and family of which Deponent was and, resided within about the distance of three miles from David H. Thurmond, in the County of Wilkes aforesaid, during the revolutionary War, that when the Indian War came on, which is as early as he can recollect, his father & family and the said David H. Thurmond, according to the best of this deponents remembrance, were together in fort Loggy, in 
Freeman's fort and in Hinton's fort all in the
County of Wilkes aforesaid. That this Deponent
heard his father, who is long since dead, say 
and know from publick report at the time and
since that the said David H. was in both seiges of Augusta during the revolutionary war in the 
Capacity of a soldier or officer in Colo. Clarke's
Battalion or Regiment
That this Deponent heard at the time & verily believes that the said David H.'s Mothers house was broken into by the Indians, and every thing she had destroyed, that while
the Indians were plundering the house they,
the Indians, shot at said David H. and carried
off his the said David H.'s Sister to the nation
where she either died a natural death, or was
murdered. That this Deponent also, at the
time of said war heard his father say, and
Page 60

learnt form Publick report, that they his father & the said David H. were in a considerable
company of Men who marched from Georgia
across the Mountains into a part of North Carolina near Tennessee to avoid the Indians
and Tories, that the company consisted of Men
Women and children and put to such [straits] for provisions that they subsisted upon acorns; That this Deponent learned from the same source that the company on returning
from beyond the Mountains were in a battle
at a place called Kettle Creek under the command of Col Elijah Clarke
That this Deponent learned from his father
and from tradition that the said David H. was in the service of his country during the greater
part of the Revolutionary War. And this Deponent further states that the belief of the said David being a firm and good revolutionary
Soldier who [general], & no doubts have ever
existed upon the subject. 
Burwell Aycock
Sworn to & Subscribed
before us in open Court
this 21st day of November 1836
Jno. H. Lowe J.I.C
Isma W Wooldridge J.I.C.
Wm Dicken J.I.C
Page 61

Watkinsville Ga
[21st] Sept
Free
Honble William C. Dawson
Of the Congress United States.
Washington City.
District of Columbia.
Page 62

Watkinsville Clarke County, Geoa.
2nd Septr 1837.
Dear Sir
I now enclose the documents to entitle
Mr David H. Thurmond of this County to a pension under the act of Congress of 1832 &c. This is the 3rd attempt and as he is again unemployed he will despair of ever obtaining the small reward allotted to the amount and War worn soldier by the tardy gratitude of his Country. The papers are numbered from 1 to 10.
Permit me to bespeak for an old and worthy 
constituent the exercise of your usual zeal and talent and believe me as always your friend and servt. 
Edwd Paine
P.S. Having hand the packet containing all the documents to the P.M. and being informed that the frank of a M. of C. would cover only 2 oz. I am compelled to divide the documents and send them in three packets.
E P
Page 63

Edwards Esq.
Comr. of Pensions
Washington
Hon W. C. Dawson 
H R
Page 64

David H. Thurman
Geo
John [L.}
Ad'd 13 mos. private -
$43.33 pr ann
[Illegible] Sept 16
Geo
Page 65

House of Representatives
[15th] Sept 1837
Sir
You will find in this enclosure, the claims of Mr. Thurmond, which is now for the third time [presented]. The old man has made every effort to fulfil the requisitions of the Law. It is to be hoped he has succeeded. 
I have the honor to be 
[Servt] Respectfully
Wm. C. Dawson
Page 66

7
E. Clouds.
Deposition
Page 67

Georgia          }
Henry County }
Superior Court, sitting for Ordinary purposes, which is of Court of Record.
September Term 1836.
Ezekiel Cloud aged seventy five years of said County appeared in open Court and being
duly sworn saith that he is well acquainted with
David H. Thurmond formerly of the County
of Wilkes now of the County of Clarke, in said
State that he this deponent and the said
David served together in the revolutionary War
in the years 1778 and 1779 under the following
Officers to wit Col. John Dooly of Wilkes County, Lieutenant Col. Elijah Clarke, Major Burwell Smith, Captain Daniel Gunnels and first
Lieutenant George Barber second Lieutenant
not recollected. That this Deponent and the
said David were in service as much as six months the years 1778 and 1779 to the best of his belief but the months in which the service was rendered this deponent cannot now recollect.
That in September 1780 this Deponent and the said David marched and were together at the first siege of Augusta and marched from thence under the command of Col. Elijah Clarke through the upper parts of South Carolina into the settlements of Nola Chucky and Chatauga (now East Tennessee) where they remained four or five weeks, then returned through the edge of North Carolina into South Carolina and joined General Sumpter, and had
Page 68

skirmish with the British and Tories on Broad
River in South Carolina and also had a battle
two days after with the British on Tiger River
in South Carolina then scouted through the
upper part of South Carolina until about 1st
April 1781 during all which time to wit from September 1780 until about the 1st April
1781 the said David and this Deponent were
in service as Volunteers.
And this deponent further saith that the said David and this Deponent were together at the last Siege of Augusta Georgia under the command of Col. Elijah Clarke, as Volunteers from which period this Deponent verily believes the said David continued in the service until the final close of the War as a Volunteer.
And this Deponent further states that being advanced in years, it was not convenient for him this Deponent to attend the Court in the County of Clarke, when and where the said David made his declaration on oath to entitle him to a pension.
And the Deponent further saith that the said 
David was a revolutionary soldier.
Ezekiel Cloud
Sworn to & Subscribed
before us in open Court
this 5th day of September 1836
John Williams J.I.C Justice of the inferior court
John T Bentley Justice of the Inferior Court
John A Ellis Justice of the Inferior Court
Hendley Varner Justice of the Inferior Court Hey Cnt.
Page 69

Georgia          }
Henry County }
Inferior Court sitting for Ordinary purposes, being a Court of Record.
September Term 1836.
I William Gray Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that John Williams, John T Bentley, John A Ellis and Hendley Varner whose signatures appear and are annexed to the above and foregoing deposition of Ezekiel Cloud Sworn before them in Open Court are Justices presiding in said Court, which is a Court of Record, duly commissioned and qualified and that the said signatures are the genuine signatures of the said Justices.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and private seal having no
seal of office yet provided this 5th day of September A.D. 1836.
Wm Gray C.C.O. {Seal}
Page 70

25
Postmarked MCDONOUGH GA JAN {?]
Mr. Harris Thurman
Skull Shoal P.O.
Clark Cty
Ga
Harris Thurman, Skull Shoal P.O.
Clark County
GA
No. 2
Page 71

Georgia          }
Henry County }
Inferior Court sitting for the purpose of
making application for certain Revolutionary
Soldiers for a pension in accordance with an
act of Congress pass June 1832
Personally appeared in open Court Ezekiel Cloud who after being duly sworn saith that he is acquainted with David Thurmond (formerly of Wilkes County) now of Clarke County Georgia and that said David Thurmond served with him in the Revolutionary war under the following named officers, to wit, Col. John Dooley of Wilkes County and Lieutenant Col. 
Elijah Clarke and Major Burwell Smith and Captain David Gunnels and first Lieut. George Barber and second Lieut. not recollected all of the State of Georgia and County of Wilkes
and that he served with me several tours in the years 1778 & 1779 And commenced again in September 1780 at the first Seige of Augusta and retreated from thence under the command of Col Elijah Clarke through the upper parts of South Carolina into the settlement Nolachucky and Catauga (now East Tennessee) then return back through the edge of North Carolina into South Carolina and joined Genl. Sumpter and had a skirmish with the British and Tories on Broad River And also had a battle two days after with British on Tiger River in South Carolina. Then scouted through the upper parts of South Carolina till about the first of April 1781 - And at the last Seige of Augusta in 1781 he was also with deponent under the command of Col Elijah Clarke all of which service was rendered as a volunteer as well as I recollect And served on as well as I recollect till the war finally closed - And it is
not convenient for deponent to attend Court in Clarke County.
Ezekiel Cloud
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court 7th January 1833
Wm Beck JIC
Page 72

Stamped RECEIVED 3:15 SEP 16 1936 MAIL SUB-DIV. VETS. ADM. READER #11
Summerville, Ga.,
Sept. 12, 1936.
Commissioner of Pensions
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir
Will you please send me the pension statement and any family record you have of David Thuman, a Revolutionary soldier who was living in Wilkes County Ga. in 1784? He probably had lived in Washington, Clarke or Franklin Counties. He is buried in Smyrna churchyard near Washington, Ga.
Thanking you I am
very truly yours,
Lillian Thurman King.
(Mrs. John W. King)