Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 3,475, for Asa Thomas, Pennsylvania
Page 1

SERVICE
Penn.   

Thomas, Asa 
Martha

NUMBER
 W. 3,475

CONTENTS
Page 2

4583
Pennsylvania
Asa Thomas
of Bucks in the State of Penn'a who was a Private in the Comp'y commanded by Captain Patterson of the Battalion commanded by Maj. Long in the Penn'a line for 6 months

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

Certificate of Pension issued the 23rd day of Jan'y 1833 and sent to Hon. P. Ihrie, House of Reps

Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832   30.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4th Mar '33  10.00
$40.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by John D. Wilson  Clerk, 
Book D.   Vol. 6.   Page 85.
Page 3

Reported

577
Pennsylvania., Phila.
Martha Thomas
widow of Asa Thomas
who served in the Revolutionary War as a private Pennsylvania  Mil
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 
20 Dollars
Cents per annum to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1848.

Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of June 1848
and sent to
S. N. Rich
Morristown, Pa.

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 2, 1848, page 284, Vol. 2
Page 4

Free

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commission of Pens.
Washington City, D.C.

[circle stamp] 
NORRISTOWN PA 
Feby 13

Pa.  Feb. 18, 1843 
M. Thomas
Page 5

Norristown, Pa., Feb. 11, 1843

Sir:
I have this moment received from the Hon. J. Fornance of the House of Representatives a line
addressed to him by you in which you state that since the claim of Mrs. Martha Thomas, widow of Asa Thomas, dec'd, was rejected, the Resolution of 16 August last, extended the provisions of the Act of 7th July, 1838, to those widows whose husbands have died subsequently to its passage, and that if more satisfactory proofs of the date of her marriage shall be afforded, in addition to those on file, she would be allowed a five years pension equal to that granted to her husband under the act of 7th June, 1832.  It seems almost impossible even for a "Philadelphia Lawyer" to meet the many technical objections which the pension office department chooses to make to the honest applications of these poor widows for their rights! It seems further that different opinions on the several previous laws passed for the relief of these poor widows! Each one seems to construe for himself and make the Commissioner who affixes his name to their several
Page 6

in interpretations of the law in anything else but no very enviable light. On the 9th of September, 1842, we ask the Commissioner to affix his name to a communication stating that the Resolution of the 18th of August last does not apply in the case of Mrs. Martha Thomas - that the Resolution provides for those widows who were such at the time of the passage of the act of the 7th of July 1838, and that Mrs. Thomas' husband did not die until the 10th of May, 1839. At the time the widow originally makes her claim another gets the Commissioner to affix his name to a communication stating that her claim is rejected simply because her husband did not die until after the passage of the said Act of 7th July, 1838.  And now we are informed that though Providence did, in his inscrutable wisdom, permit his patriotic lord to live until after the passage of the Act of 1838 yet is is not sufficiently proved that she was married to him previous to the first day of Jan., 1794.  Now with all due respect to the Hon. Commissioner I would ask if this is not enough to sicken the heart of anyone - particularly a poor widow just
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tottering into her grave, whose husband valiantly fought the battles of a somewhat ungrateful country.  This widow says that she has proved within the strict letter of the law that she was married to her husband, Asa Thomas, after the expiration of the last period of his service and before the first day of Jan. 1794 - that though she may not have fixed the precise day of her marriage yet she has proven all that the law required of her.
I would, on behalf of this poor widow, once more ask the Commissioner of Pensions to look over her papers once more and see  whether she has not fairly made out a claim for a pension; and if it is insisted on that she provide  other proof of the date of her marriage, to state what fact or facts he really wants established.
That the widow has been married before Jan. 1, 1794, there can be no question for she has children living lawfully begotten by Mr. Thomas who were born before that period.  Is not the time of marriage sufficiently proved when the witness swears that it took place prior to the 1st of Jan., 1794?
Very respectfully,
 S.N. Rich

Hon. J.L. Edwards
Page 8

6369
Martha Thomas
[widow] of Asa
Pennsylvania
Admitted
6 mo
$20 per annum

S. N. Rich Esq
Norristown
Page 9

State of Penn’a Bucks County ss
On this twenty third day of October
A.D. 1839 personally appeared before the Court of Common
Pleas of Bucks County now holding Martha Thomas a
resident of Hilltown township Bucks County aforesaid
aged seventy three years who being first duly affirmed
according to Law doth on her affirmation make the
following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the
provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7 1838
entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain
widows." That she is the widow of Asa Thomas who was a
private in the militia in the war of the Revolution
and received a pension from the United States as will
appear from the Certificate from the Pension Office
hereto annexed. She further declares that she was
married to the said Asa Thomas on the Third
day of April in the year Seventeen hundred
and Eighty three. That her husband the aforesaid
Asa Thomas died on the tenth day of May Eighteen
hundred & thirty nine, that she was not married to
him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage
took place previous to the first day of January Seven
teen hundred and ninety four viz at the time above stated.
Martha Thomas her mark
Affirmed and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid
in open Court before-
John Fox
President Judge
Page 10

Bucks County State of Penn’a ss
I John B. Pugh Prothonotary of the
Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
do hereby certify that John Fox Esq
before whom the within affidavit of
Martha Thomas was taken was at the
time of taking the same and now is the President Judge of
the Seventh Judicial District of Pennsylvania
composed of the Counties of Bucks & Montgomery regularly
commissioned and has been duly qualified as such
according to Law and I verily believe the signature
affixed thereto to be his and I do further certify
that David Reale Esq before whom the within affidavit
of Anna Mathias was taken was at the time of taking
the same and now is a regularly commissioned Justice
of the peace in and for the said County and has been
duly qualified as such according to Law and I verily believe
the signature to be his.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and affixed the seal of the said Court at Doyles Town
this Twentieth day of November
Anno Domini & one thousand eight hundred & thirty
nine - 1839
John B. Pugh
Prothonotary
Page 11

State of Pennsylvania Bucks County ss
Personally appeared before me the Subscriber a 
Justice of the peace in and for the County
of Bucks on the twenty fourth day of September A.D. 1839
Anna Mathias aged seventy eight years who being duly
affirmed according to Law depose and says that she was
present when Asa Thomas and Martha James both of the
township of Hilltown County of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania were married. That they were married in the year
Seventeen hundred and eighty three by the Revd John
Thomas a Baptist Minister of the Gospel, that the said
Asa Thomas never was married but once and that
Martha Thomas his present widow was his first and
only wife and the said Martha Thomas was never
married after the death of the said Asa Thomas.
That the said Asa Thomas and Martha his wife have
always since their marriage in 1783 lived together as man
and wife and had several children and that this
deponent has always been on terms of intimacy with
them during the whole period of their marriage.
Anna Mathias
Affirmed and subscribed before me this 24th day
of September A.D. 1839.
David Reale {seal}

I David Reale Esq a Justice of the peace of the County
of Buck aforesaid do hereby certify that Anna Mathias
the above Deponent is a person of credibility and that her
statement is entitled to full credit-
Witness my hand & seal the day and year aforesaid
David Reale {seal}
Page 12

Application of
Asa Thomas for
pension under the act of 7th June 1832
$20 per ann
Hon P. Ihne H. R.
or
John Pugh, Esq
Doylestown
Pa.
Page 13

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania County of Bucks ss
On this twelfth day of December Anno
Domini eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court
before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County, Asa
Thomas a resident of Hilltown township Bucks County aged seventy
four 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
The applicant above mentioned States, that he was born in Hilltown
township aforesaid on the Eleventh day of February 1758, that he has no existing
record of his age. That he is now a resident of the County of Bucks - That on
or about the 1st day of May in the year 1777, being then a resident of Hilltown
township aforesaid, he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer private
in a company commanded by Captain Nicholas Patterson, Major Lory commanded
our battalion and ____ Fenton was adjutant, our first rendezvous was at Bristol in
Bucks County where we lay about a month, we then marched up the Delaware to
Cape Bank, where we lay watching the boat, the British being then in Jersey we remained
there until discharged, having served a full tour of two months.
About the first of August of the same year (1777) this applicant
again entered the service being drafted as a private in a company commanded by
Captain Robert Thorn, Major Folwell, and Adjutant Hughes Commanded the Battalion
General Potter’s Brigade. Our first rendezvous was at Philadelphia Barracks, where we 
lay a very short time, when we went aboard of a shallop to Billingsport, where
we lay about two weeks, we then marched to Wilmington, where we lay two or three weeks, and thence we marched to Newport, where we lay perhaps a week; After
this time, we were kept in active service in that neighborhood in watching the
motions of the British who were in the vicinity, for several days; We then marched
to Brandywine the day before the battle, where we remained during the battle and
took part. The night after the battle, we were engaged in covering the retreat of
the regular army and in marching to old Chester, after which we immediately marched
for Philadelphia, and in a few hours after arriving them, we had orders to march
up the Lancaster Road to the White Horse Tavern, where we lay that night. During
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the night this applicant, with others, was detailed as a patrol to watch
the motions of the enemy, the next morning the same party who acted as
patroles were out on a scouting party, and, on this scout, we met the baggage waggons of the British, at (what is now) West Chester, where there was some
firing between our advance and the enemy's guard, We retreated to our main
body at the White Horse, where this applicant was taken sick, from exposure and remained till discharged, which was in a few days, having served a full tour of two months.
In the month of December, 1778, this applicant was drafted
and entered the service as a private in a company commanded by Captain Stinger. Their duty was to guard a regiment of Hessians, belonging to Burguyone’s
army through the State. The first rende[z]vous was at Erwins ferry on the Delaware in Bucks County, where we lay about a week, when we received the prisoners. We then marched through Norristown, Lancaster, York and other
places to the Maryland line, where we delivered our prisoners to the Maryland troops; We then marched back to Lancaster where we were regularly discharged, after having served a full tour of two months.
The applicant further states that he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on
the pension roll of the agency of any state.
In answer to the Interrogatories prescribed by the war department, this applicant states,
I.That he was born in the year 1758, in Hill township Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
II.That he has no record of his age.
III. That he was living in Hilltown township aforesaid, when he was called into service, and has lived there ever since.
IV. That he went into service as a volunteer private in his first tour and was drafted in his second and third.
V. In answer to this interrogatory, the applicant refers to the above declaration and is unable from the lapse of
time and infirmity, to give a more detailed account of his officers or the circumstances of his service.
VI. That he was always discharged verbally, and never received a written discharge.
VII. That Revd Samuel Aaron & John Pugh, are persons to whom he is known, and who can and do testify to his character for veracity, and belief of his service as a revolutionary soldier.
Asa Thomas
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the day and year aforesaid
Wm Purdy Proth
Page 15

We Samuel Aaron (a clergyman) and John Pugh, both residing
in Doylestown, Bucks County hereby certify, that we are  acquainted with Asa Thomas who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration. That we believe him to be seventy four years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier
the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Samuel Aaron
John Pugh
Sworn, affirmed and subscribed in
open Court December 12th 1832
Wm Purdy Proth

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 Samuel Aaron who has signed the above certificate is a clergyman
resident in Doylestown Bucks County, and that John Pugh who has also signed
the same is a resident of the same place, and is a credible person, and that their
statement is entitled to credit.
John Fox Pres. Judge
Wm Watts an associate
William Long A J

I William Purdy Esquire Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for Bucks County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Asa Thomas for a
pension and that John Fox is the President Judge of said Court and William Watts
and William Long are associate Judges of the same and that the signatures to the above certificate are the genuine signatures of the said Judges respectively.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of
the said Court this twelfth day of December AD 1832
Wm Purdy Prothy
Page 16

State of Pennsylvania County of Bucks ss
On this sixth day of March one thousand eight
 hundred and forty three personally appeared 
before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace 
in and for the said County of Bucks, duly commissioned, Josiah Thomas, a resident of Hilltown township in the said County of Bucks, who being first duly affirmed
according to law doth on his solemn affirmation, depose
and say that he was born, as he verily believes
on the third day of April one thousand seven
hundred and eighty four. That he hath always
understood from his infancy up to the present
time that he was born on the day and year
Aforesaid. That he hath seen some years
a record of his age in his fathers registry of the
births and names of his children and that
in the said Registry his, this deponents
name was duly recorded and Registered - 
That his birth was registered in the said
Registry of the date above mentioned. That the
said Registry was not in the family bible
of his father, nor  did it for us any part of the
said bible, or have any communion whatever
with it, but was kept separate and apart
from the said bible, and has by reason of
time or accident been lost or destroyed.
This deponent further states that he is the son
of Asa Thomas late of the said Township of
Hilltown in the County of Bucks aforesaid,
deceased who was a Revolutionary pensioner
Page 17

under an act of Congress, and who died
on the tenth day of May in the year one
thousand eight hundred and thirty nine
that the said Asa Thomas was lawfully 
married as he verily believes to his
mother Martha Thomas now living in the
said County of Bucks as the widow of the
said Asa Thomas and who is now are
applicant for pension under the act of
Congress of July 7th 1828 on the third day of
April one thousand seven hundred
and eighty three. That his reason for his
believing that his father was married to
the said Martha Thomas at that particular
time is the fact that it was always
reputed and spoken of in his fathers family
as a somewhat remarkable fact that he,
this deponent, was born just one year after the
marriage of his said father and mother.
The deponent further states that he inherited 
at the death of his said father, and received
a proportion of his estate as his lawful heir
at law. That from all he has seen and
heard respecting the time of his mother
Martha Thomas’ marriage with the said Asa Thomas
he solemnly believes that the said Martha
was lawfully married to the said Asa Thomas
on the said third day of April one thousand
seven hundred and eighty three.
The deponent further states that he never saw
a Record or certificate of the marriage of
the said Martha Thomas with his said father 
but he has no doubt, that there was one
and he firmly believes the same
Page 18

has either been lost or destroyed by time
or accident. The deponent further deposeth
 that the said Martha Thomas has
never since the death of Asa Thomas
 been married, to any person, but that she
has been and is the widow of the said Asa
Thomas, single and unmarried, being
feeble and infirm by reason of her
advanced age.
Josiah Thomas
Affirmed to and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid before me
John H Mathias
Justice of the Peace as aforesaid

State of Pennsylvania  County of Bucks ss
I John H Mathias,Justice of the Peace before whom the
above deposition was made and taken do hereby
certify that Josiah Thomas the above named
deponent is a person of credibility and entitled
to full belief in his affirmation.
John H Mathias
Page 19

State of Pennsylvania County of Bucks ss
I William D. Ruckman Prothonotary of
the Court of Common Pleas of the said County
of Bucks do hereby certify that John H. Mathias
before whom the foregoing deposition
was made and taken is a Justice of the
Peace in and for the said County of
Bucks duly commis[s]ioned and authorized
to administer oaths and affirmations and
to take the deposition of witnesses, and
that the signature annexed to the said
deposition and also to the foregoing
certificate purporting to be his, is his 
genuine signature. In witness whereof
I have hereunto set my hand and
affixed my seal of office this the day
of March A.D. 1843.
W. D. Ruckman Prothy
as aforesaid
Page 20

State of Pennsylvania County of Bucks ss
On this seventh day of
March one thousand eight hundred and forty three
personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice
of Peace in and for the said County of Bucks, Anna
Mathias as resident of Doylestown township in the
said County of Bricks, aged eighty one years, who
being first duly sworn according to law doth on
her solemn oath depose and say that she is
well acquainted with Martha Thomas, previously
 a resident of Hilltown township but now
of the said township Doylestown in the said
County of Bucks, widow of Asa Thomas a Revolutionary pensioner, late of the said township of Hilltown
in the said County of Bucks, deceased, who is
now an applicant for a pension under the
act of Congress of July 7th 1838. That the said
Martha Thomas, whose maiden name was
Martha James was married to the said
Asa Thomas, on the third day of April one
thousand seven hundred and eighty three.
That she, this deponent, was present at the time
of her, Martha Thomas’ marriage took place
and witnessed the marriage ceremony
lawfully performed, between her and the
said husband Asa Thomas. That they
continued to live together up to the period
of her husband’s death which occurred
of the tenth day of May 1839. That her eldest
son’s name is Jonah Thomas now living in
Hilltown township aforesaid. That the
said Jonah Thomas is as he represents
himself to be; nearly fifty nine years of
age - that at frequent times since the birth
Page 21

of the said Jonah Thomas and years ago 
this deponent and Martha Thomas had
spoken of the fact of the said Jonah Thomas
 was born just one year after the marriage
 of the said Martha with the said Asa Thomas.
The deponent further deposeth and
saith that the said Martha Thomas is
yet living, single and unmarried, as the
widow of the said Asa Thomas, she
having since the death of the said Asa
Thomas never married any person.
Anna Mathias
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year
aforesaid before me 
Joseph Mathews
Justice of the peace as aforesaid

State of Pennsylvania County of Bucks
I Joseph Mathews,
Justice of the Peace as aforesaid, before
whom the above deposition was made
and taken do hereby certify that the
Anna Mathias the above named deponent
 is a person of credibility.
Joseph Mathews
Justice of the peace as aforesaid
March 7th 1843

State of Pennsylvania County of Bucks ss
I William D. Ruckman Prothonotary
Page 22

of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County
of Bucks, do hereby certify that Joseph Mathews
before whom the foregoing and preceding deposition
 was made and taken is a Justice
of the Peace in and for the said County
of Bucks, duly commissioned and
authorized to administer oaths and
affirmations and to take the deposition
of witnesses, and that the signature
annexed to the said deposition and
also to the foregoing certificate purporting
to be his, is his genuine signature.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my seal
of office this 7th day of March A.D. 1843.

William D. Ruckman
Prothonotary 
as aforesaid
Page 23

State of Pennsylvania County of Bucks ss
On this seventh day of March one thousand eight
hundred and forty three personally
appeared before me the subscriber
a Justice of the Peace of the said County
of Bucks, Martha Thomas a resident of 
the Township of Doylestown formerly
of Hilltown township, in the said
County of Bucks aged seventy six years &
upwards, who being first duly
sworn according to law doth on her
solemn oath declare that she is the
widow of Asa Thomas a Revolutionary
 pensioner late of Hilltown township
in the said County of Bucks, deceased, that she
was lawfully named to the said
Asa Thomas on the third day of
April one thousand seven hundred 
and eighty three - that she had a
certificate of her marriage several
years, but the same has been
lost or destroyed by time or accident,
as she very believes as she has
not seen the same for a number
of years. She further states that her
husband Asa Thomas died on
the 10th of May 1839 - and that she
has not since married.
Martha Thomas her mark
Sworn to and published on the day and year aforesaid 
before me 
Joseph Mathews Justice of the peace as aforesaid
Page 24

State of Pennsylvania County of Bucks ss
I Joseph Mathews Justice of the Peace before
whom the within deposition was
made and taken one her[e]by certify 
that Martha Thomas the deponent
within and above mentioned is a person
of credibility.
Witness my hand this seventh
day of March 1843. Joseph Mathews
Justice of the peace as aforesaid

State of Pennsylvania County Bucks ss
I William D Ruckman, Prothonotary
of the Court of Common Pleas
of the said County of Bucks do hereby certify that Joseph
Mathews before whom the foregoing deposition
was made and taken is a Justice of the
Peace in and for the said County of Bucks
and that the signature annexed to the said
deposition and also to the foregoing
certificate purporting to be his is his
genuine signature. In witness whereof
I have hereunto set my hand and
affixed my seal of office the 7th
day of March AD 1843.
W D. Ruckman
Prothonotary
Page 25

Revy WIDOW, &c.
File No. 3475 OWN
Martha Thomas
Widow
Asa Thomas
Pr. Rev. War 
Act Feb 2.48.
Index: Vol. M Page 269. 
(Arrangement of 1870.)
Page 26

6787
Pennsylvania Phi’a
Martha Thomas
widow of Asa Thomas
who was a Private
in the Revolution

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
20 Dollars –
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.


Certificate of Pension issued the
day of April, 1845 and sent to
J N Rich Esq
Norristown Penn’a

[Act of March 3, 1843.
& June 17th 1844)

Recorded in Book A
Vol 2 Page 117

Reported
Page 27

7140
Pennsylvania
Martha Thomas
widow of Asa Thomas
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832
and who died on the 10th May 1839.
of Bucks Co. in the State of Penna
who was a Private in the company
commanded by Captain Patterson of the regt.
commanded by _____  in the Penn’a line for 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Philadelphia
at the rate of 20 Dollars —--
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day
of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 3
day of April 1843 and sent to J N. Rich
Norristown, Pa.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1842 $100-

(Act July 7, 1838.)
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk
Book. A Vol. 2 Page 167

Reported
Page 28

Martha Thomas
of Asa Thomas
Pennsylvania
Rejected

See let 13 Dec 1839
Hon John Davis

let 9 Sep 42 S.N. Rich

husband died after
passage of act of July
1838, let to Hon
J Formance Feby 8 43

let to S. N Rich Mar 10th 1843
Act 7 July 1838
Page 29

Asa Thomas Pa. Act 7 June 1832
to what time paid

Pen Office
Sec 13. 1839

$20 died 1839
Pf to 4 March 1839 LH
Page 30

[circle stamp]
NORRISTOWN PA.
Apl 4

Apl 5 1843
OWN Pa 

Free
Hon J.L. Edwards
Pension Office
Washington City D C
Page 31

Hon J. L. Edwards
Dear Sir
Some four weeks
ago I sent on additional testimony as to the date
of marriage in the matter of the application
of Mrs Martha Thomas of Bucks County for a
pension. Will you be good enough to inform
me whether it has been received at your office
and if received, whether the same is satisfactory
to the department? Mrs. Thomas is very anxious
to hear of the result of her application.
Very Respectfully
S. N. Rich
Norristown Pa. April 4. 1843.
Page 32

Payments to be made
at Philadelphia
by the Pres’t U S. Bank
Agent for paying Pensioners,
 in the Agency of
 Pennsylvania
Recorded by J. D. Wilson
Clerk, in Book D. Vol. 6
page 85.
Page 33

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim
I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United States
of the 7th June, 1832, Asa Thomas
of the State of Pennsylvania who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution
is entitled to receive Twenty dollars and —-
cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing
on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually, on the
4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United S[t]ates,
this 23d day of January
one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
Lew[is] Cap
Secretary of War.

Examined and
Countersigned. }
J L Edwards
Page 34

Hon J. L. Edwards
Sir
Herewith you will
receive proofs of the date of the marriage of Martha
Thomas with her deceased husband Asa Thomas
a Revolutionary pensioner, agreeably to your note
of Feb 8th last. The first deposition offered
is the son’s, of the widow who swears to the best
of his belief and knowledge that he was
born of his mother Martha Thomas on the 3rd
day of April 1784, and give his reasons why
he knows and believes he was born on that
day. Without any additional testimony it seems
to me that this of itself ought to be satisfactory
to the Commissioner of Pensions, because on
the 1st of Jan. 1794. the latest period at which
a widow can he married in order to draw a
pension, he was upwards of 9 years old, and
of his own hand could, if it were necessary, of his own knowledge swear to the fact of Martha Thomas and A Thomas living together at that time as man and wife, 
and he with them, as their acknowledged son. This fact of itself would, and does, raise a strong and a legal
presum[p]tion in favor of the legality of their marriage.
 In all civil proceedings, general
Page 35

repute and cohabitation, raise a presumption
of a lawful marriage. Besides Jonah Thomas
the deponent swears that he inherited at
his father’s death a part of his property as his
rightful heir at law.
But we need not resort to the doctrine of
presumptions, for Mrs. Anna Mathias a lady
aged 81 years swears positively to her fact that
Mrs. Thomas was married to her husband on
the 3rd day of April 1783 - that she was
present and witnessed the marriage ceremony
lawfully performed between the parties and
that they continued to live together as man and
wife up to the period of Asa Thomas death.
Her testimony also corroborates the son's testimony
 in every particular, and it is therefore to
be hoped that this testimony will prove
satisfactory to the Commissioner.
Though the Commissioner did not ask it,
it was thought proper to take the deposition
 of Mrs Thomas before a Justice of the
Peace, to prove the loss of her certificate of
marriage &c. No doubt however she has
stated that fact in her declaration before
a court of Record at the time of her
application for a pension.

Yours Truly
S. H. Rich
Norristown Pa.

Feb 8. 1843
Page 36

Mar 29 43
Pa 
Martha Thomas

Norristown
Mar 27

Free
Hon J.L. Edwards
Pension Office
Washington City D C
Page 37

Hon J. L. Edwards
Dear Sir
Will you be good
enough to let me know what has been the
decision in your office upon the testimony
of Mrs. Martha Thomas, an applicant for a pension
&c from Bucks County in this State?
Yours Truly
S N Rich
Norristown Pa.
March 27. 1843
Page 38

Penn
Martha Thomas 6787
of Asa

[circle stamp]
NORRISTOWN PA.
JUN 22

Hon. J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 39

Sir
Enclosed you will receive the application
of Mrs. Martha Thomas for a pension under the
late act of Congress
Very Respectfully
S. N. Rich
Norristown Pa
June 22, 1841

Hon J L Edwards
Page 40

9. Sep 1842
Mr Allison

Summytown
September 5

Free
Hon J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D C
Page 41

Summytown, Montgomery Co. Pa. Sept 5 /42
Hon J. L. Edwards
Dear Sir

A few weeks since the following Resolution was introduced
into the Senate of the U.S. and passed to a second
reading. “Resolved by the Senate and House of
Representatives in Congress assembled, that the
benefits of the act, entitled “An act granting half
pay and pensions to certain widows approved of the
7th day of July 1838 shall not be withheld from any
widow whose husband died after the passage of
the Act of the 7th of June 1832 and before the
Act of the 7th of July 1838 if otherwise entitled
to the same.”  Will you be good enough to inform 
me whether the said Resolution has become
a law? If it has, will you also be good
enough to turn to the claim of Martha Thomas
widow of Asa Thomas a Revolutionary Pensioner,
filed in your office, and whose claim was
disallowed on account of her husband having
died after the passage of the Act of 1838, and
inform me what will be necessary for the
said widow further to establish in order to
insure her the benefits of the said Resolution?
I am very Respectfully
Your &c. S.N. Rich
Page 42

J. Formance H R

To J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Present


Feb 2d 43
Pa 
Martha Thomas
Hon J Formance H R
Page 43

H R February 1st 1843

To J L Edwards Esq
Comm of Pensions
Dear Sir
I have received a letter from a friend in Penn asking 
me to obtain the papers &c of Mrs Martha Thomas 
a widow of a revolutionary pensioner, for the purpose of obtaining a special act for her relief. My letter states that
Mr Thomas was a pensioner for some time, that he
died in Penna, & that his widow was refused a
pension because her husband did not die until
the 10th of May 1839. Understanding that the
department no longer thinks that an objection, I
would respectfully ask you to re-examine the
case, and if you cannot grant a pension
to inform the me, the reason for refusing.
With great respect
J Formance
Page 44

Norristown
Mar 13

Free
Hon J L Edwards
Pension Office
Washington City D. C.

Mar 16 43 Pa.
Page 45

Norristown Pa. March 13th 1843
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Sir
Yours of the 10th inst has just
been received, and as it makes no allusion to a letter 
I forwarded to your office on the 8th inst accompanied
with certain testimony in relation to the claim of Mrs
Martha Thomas, I presume you were not in the
receipt of the documents at the time you wrote. Your 
letter purports to be a reply to a communication of mine
forwarded some time previous, in which I took occasion
to [illegible] as to the [illegible] of proceeding the department
took upon the claim of that old lady for a pension. Your 
letter in answer to that communication is entirely
satisfactory. I perhaps owe you some apology for the ill
nature which I displayed in the communication, and
trust that you will pardon it. Though I can assure you
that this thing of procuring testimony for pension claims 
is a most abominable perplexing business.
Mr. Formance, our Congressman, informs me that on the last
aught of the session of Congress there was an act passed
granting further relief to pensioners, but how far it does
this, he is unable to say. Will you be good enough to
inform me what further relief the act affords.
Yours Truly
S N Rich
Page 46

[circle stamp]
NORRISTOWN PA.
Jan 24

7025 Jan 27 1845
Martha Thomas
March 5 1843
Pa

Act 38, No. 7140

Free
Hon J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D C
Page 47

J L Edwards Esq.
Dear Sir
Enclosed you
will receipt the application of Mrs Martha
Thomas for a pension under the act of Congress
the third of March 1843.
Respectfully
S N Rich
Jan 24th 1845
Norristown
Penna
Page 48

[circle stamp]
DOYLESTOWN PA

6369 Nov 25
Pa. July 7 1838
Martha Thomas
Wid of Asa

Reported to 
Hon Jno Davis H R


free
Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Page 49

Doyles Town Nov. 21. 1839
Dear Sir
Enclosed is an application on behalf
of Martha Thomas the widow of Asa Thomas
a revolutionary Pensioner for a pension
under the act of July 7 1838. The Certificate
of Thomas annexed is I presume sufficient
evidence of his claim as a Revy pensioner.
His application on file in your office will
show his services rank &c.
There is no other evidence the marriage
than the affidavit of Mrs Mathias who
was present. There is no documentary
evidence. The parties are respectable and
there is no doubt of the truth of the matters
set forth in the annexed papers.
I have the honor
to be very resp’y
Yrs &c
Ch. E DuBois

J L Edwards Esq
Com’r of Pensions
Page 50

Martha Thomas 7025
act 3d March, 1843-
& 17 June, 1844 -
No. 492
Adm’d $20 per ann.

S N Rich
Norristown 
Penna
Page 51

State of Pennsylvania of the County of Bucks ss
On this 21st
day of January Anno Domini one
thousand eight hundred and
forty five, personally appeared before
Joseph Mathews Esquire a Justice of
the peace in & for the said County
Martha Thomas a resident of Doylestown
Township in the County
of Bucks aforesaid aged seventy nine
years, who being first duly sworn
according to law doth on her oath.
make the following declaration, in
order to obtain the benefits of the
provision made by the act of Congress
passed on the third day of March
1843 granting pensions to widows
of persons who served during the
Revolutionary war. That she is
the widow of Asa Thomas who
was a private and served in the
Pennsylvania line as a drafted militia man.
That the said Ada
Thomas was a pensioner under the
laws of the United States. That since
 his decease, which occurred on the
10th day of May 1839, she received a
pension under the act of July 7th
1838 of $20 annually for five years.
She further declares that she is still a widow.
Martha Thomas her mark
Sworn & subscribed on the day & year above written before
Joseph Mathews
a justice of the Peace as aforesaid
Page 52

State of Pennsylvania Bucks County ss
I  W. D. Ruckman Prothonotary of the Court
of Common Pleas of Bucks County and
State of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that
Joseph Mathews Esquire before whom
the preceeding declaration is made
was at the time of the making and
taking of the same, and still is an
acting Justice of the Peace in and
for said County, duly commissioned
and empowered to administer oaths
 &c, and that the foregoing signature
 purporting to be his is genuine.
Given under my hand and
seal of said Court this 22nd day
of January in the year of our Lord
one thousand eighteen hundred
and forty five
W.D. Ruckman
Prothy
Page 53

Admitted
S.N. Rich
Norristown
Pa
Page 54

State of Pennsylvania County of Bucks ss
On this twenty first day of June one thousand
 eight hundred and forty eight personally appeared
before the subscriber one of the Justices of the
 Peace in and for the said County of Bucks, Martha
 Thomas a resident of  Doylestown township in the said County of Bucks, aged Eighty two years, who being first duly sworn, according to law doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 2nd February, 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of Asa Thomas who was a private in the Revolutionary war from the State of Pennsylvania and who was a pensioner under the act of Congress of the 7th June 1832 at the rate of twenty
dollars per annum and continued to receive his pension up to the period of his death which occurred on the 18th day of
May 1839. That subsequently to his death, this declarant
became a pensioner under the several acts of Congress
particularly under the several acts of Congress, passed
March 3rd 1843 & 17 June 1844, granting pensions to widows
of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. And
that she received the same pension per annum which
her said husband had received in his lifetime as
aforesaid, to wit twenty dollars per annum. The
further declares that she is still a widow.
Martha Thomas her mark
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Bucks as aforesaid
Joseph Mathews
S. N. Rich

I certify that Martha Thomas the above named declarant
is personally known to me. Witness my hand the day
& year above written
Joseph Mathews
Justice of the Peace as aforesaid
Page 55

State of Pennsylvania County of Bucks ss
I James G. Hibbs, Prothonotary
of the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County in the State of
Pennsylvania, certify that Joseph Mathews Esq. is a
magistrate as within mentioned and that the foregoing
and within signatures purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal
of office and subscribed my name this 21st day of
June in the year one thousand eight hundred and
forty eight
James G. Hibbs
Prothonotary as aforesaid