Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10534, for James Thompson, Pennsylvania
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(8-1776)
SERVICE
Penn
Thompson, James
R 10534
Born in Md.
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Indiana to wit
Johnson County  ss
On this twelfth day of November in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty eight personally appeared in open court in the Probate Court of said county now sitting James Thompson a resident of Hensley township in the County and State aforesaid aged seventy seven years who being first duly sworn according to (unclear) on his oath makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June  seventh eighteen hundred and thirty two.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
The names of the principal officers with whom he was acquainted and under whom he served were Butler and Gibson of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania he does not know their rank but thinks Gibson was a Colonel and Butler a General, nor does he know their Christian names. He was under command immediately of Captains McCallister (or McAllister), Eli Myers and Peter Roletter during the times of his service.
He entered the service he thinks about the first of April in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight in which he continued until about the first of November following at the times he entered the service he resided on what was called Bradocksfield Westmorland County in the State of Pennsylvania was a volunteer Militia Man and served in the capacity of a minute man and as such was constantly on duty during the time aforesaid he belonged to and was stationed at Daniel Rasher's Blockhouse occasionally however he was at Myer's and Pendergrass's Blockhouses and rangering along the frontier of the settlement where was the Indians (unclear) invasions, during the service aforesaid in June or July the Indians having made an attack on Pendergrass's Blockhouse was followed by him and others from the Blockhouse in (unclear) any with  a small party of regular soldiers from the garrison
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at Pittsburgh under command of Captain Shirer from some
place South of the Monongahela River) overtaken near the 
Allegany River and fired upon none were supposed to have been
Killed or wounded. This expedition occupied several days
In October in the year aforesaid he with twenty or thirty other
under the immediate command of Capt Eli Myers and
Lieutenant James McGuffy made an expedition against the
Indians (who a few days previous had Killed in the neighborhood
three families and the father of this Claimant, crossed the Allegany River 
into the Indian Country was absent ten or twelve
days saw no Indians and nothing of importance around
during all the time of service above stated his whole time was devoted
to the service of his country. That he again at the place [unreadable]
to wit Westmorland County Pennsylvania about the first of
April in the year seventeen hundred and seventy nine enter
the service under command of the officers above named
a volunteer militia man that he served three months until the
first of July in the year last aforesaid in the character of an
Indian Spie and as such he in company with one Eli Pawel
advanced into the Indian County North of the Alleghany
River when they remained [unreadable] for the time last
aforesaid lodging in the forest except when at the settlement
to give notion of impending danger or for provision and
in all cases one of the two always remained to keep lookout.
The States that for the two terms of service the first at least
Six and the last three months above stated he received discharges 
from Captain Eli Myers that they are long since lost
so that at this time he has no documentary evidence and that
he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who
can testify to his service. He states that he removed from
Westmontain County Pennsylvania where he entered the service eight
or ten years after the close of the Revolutionary War to Lafayette
County Kentucky resided there seven or eight years from
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thence to Ohio before the State was organized and afterwards
from Ohio to Jackson County in the then territory but now
State of Indiana from whence four years since he removed
to and settled where he now resides in Johnson County State of
Indiana
Questions by the Court & Answers of Claimant and about 
when and in what year were you born
answers I was born in the year seventeen hundred and Sixty one
in the State of Maryland do not recollect the County was six or seven
years old when my parents moved to Pennsylvania
Question 2 have you any record of your age and where is it
Answer I have on a leaf of my fathers Bible at home
Question 3 where did you live at the time you entered
the service. Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War
and where do you now live
Answer I was living when called into the service in
Westmorland County State of Pennsylvania ten or twelve
years after the close of the war moved to Lexington in the State of
Kentucky then to Ohio then to the territory of Indiana, am
now living in Johnson County in the State of Indiana
Question 4th How were you called into service, were you
drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute.
Answer I volunteered and served as a volunteer
Question 5th State the names of some of the Regular Officers
who were with the Troops when you served. Such continental
and Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the give
accountances of your service
Answer I recollect Colonel Gibson and Colonel or General
Butter do not remember their Christian names or whether they
were Militia or regular officers I do not recollect the regiment to which I belonged but feel quite certain it was commanded
by Butler or Gibson, I served mostly under the immediate command 
of Capt Myers. I entered the service a volunteer served as
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a minute man in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy eight I think
from the first of April until about the first of November during this
term of service I was with others guarding the frontiers against the incursions of the
Indians in the neighborhood of Pittsburgh giving notice of expected invasions
and when necessary burying those who were killed by the Indians, twice
during the time of the aforesaid service I was out in pursuit of the Indians
once traveled considerable distance into the Indian Country, at some period
during the summer of the year above named I recollect to have been
the bearer of dispatches given me by Capt Eli Myer at Myers Blockhouse 
to some officer (whose name I do not recollect), at Hannah Town
The next season viz in the year 1779 I was an Indian Spie [unreadable]
was a volunteer can relate no particular incidents but was all the
time except when at the settlement for provision north of the Alleghany
River exposed to all the hardships and danger of residence in the forest
and in an [unreadable] County
---
Question 6th did you ever receive a discharge from the service
and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it
Answer I did receive two discharges for the two terms of service above
stated from Captain Eli Myers they have been lost a long time
State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, 
and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their [unreadable] of
your service as a soldier of the Revolution. I am Known to Thomas Alexander
a clergyman to Richison Hensley, James McNutt and Isaac Holman and
many others. 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
his mark James Thompson
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
We Thomas Alexander a Clergyman And Richison Hensley James McNutt
and Isaac Holman all residing in Henley Township Johnson
County Indiana hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
James Thompson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration
that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age that he is
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[illegible] and beh [illegible] i [illegible] the neighborhood where he [illegible] to have been a soldier of the Revolution [illegible] [illegible] that are [illegible] in that opinion 

[illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible]

Thomas [illegible] 
[illegible] Minnutt
F [illegible] [illegible]
Richard [illegible] [illegible] 

Swo [illegible] and [illegible] the day and year after the in [illegible] of the matter and after putting [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] by the [illegible] [illegible] that the above named [illegible] -cont was a Revolutionary Soldier and [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] 

And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Thomas Alexander who has signed the proceeding certificate is a clergyman [illegible] in Hensley town [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] county Indiana. That James [illegible]
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Dear Sir, you will please address communications in relation to the above claim to the undersigned at Franklin Johnson County Indiana. If there are errors please point them out and oblige yours
Gilderoy Hicks
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REJECTED
10534
James Thompson
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Marshall [illegible]
27. Sept. 45
Sir
Mr James Thompson of Johnson County Ind. requests that I will assist him in the prosecution of his claim to a pension under Act 7 June '32 - with that view I shall be pleased to be informed of the objection to his claim in [illegible] if possible to review it.

[signatures illegible]
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32.467

James Thompson

Indiana

Rejected.  did not serve in a militia capacity or a regular organization.  Called into service by competent authority.  See letter of January 1835 to Homer J Caps
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress
passed June 7 1832

State of Indiana and County of Jackson 

On this eleventh day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty four, personally appeared in open court and judge before Probate Court of the said County of Jackson, the same being a court of record of said County and State of Indiana, James Thompson aged about 73 years of age 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 7, 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.  That when the Revolutionary War commenced, he was about twelve or fourteen years of age but does recollect exactly nor can he say precisely what his age was then at the time of the commencement of that war but that his age was then about as he stated.  that when he was about or between fifteen or sixteen years of age he enrolled himself in the Company of Pennsylvania Militia then commanded by Captain Polliter, Lieutenant Burrows and Ensign James Guffy.  does not recollect certainly nor can he recollect that he did certainly knew who the field  of the regimental or other Superior officers were who properly commanded the regiment there to which he properly belonged except that Colonel Gibson (so called) was commanding there when in service in (as near as he can now recollect) Westmoreland
though he is informed and believes now Allegany County in the State of Pennsylvania.  that remained enrolled in said Company about or between one and two years, in which time he performed several short tours or terms of service as a volunteer in defending and protecting the frontier settlements in that vicinty against the Indians and their assistants who were enemies to the United States at that time that these services during this time were performed mostly under Captain Pollitor, more frequently under Lieutenant Burrows and some times under other officers whose name he has forgotten
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that at the expiration of the time of one or between one and two years last mentioned he then said James (declarant) was separated from Captain Pollitor's Company and attached to and enrolled in the company of Pennsylvania Militia then commanded by Captain Ely Myers, Lieutenant James Myers and Ensign John Thompson Junior.  the said James (declarant) believes in the same Regiment as when he belonged to Captain Pollitor's Company but in as to any certain day not now recollect certainly, he remained enrolled in Captain Myers Company during the remainder and until the end of the Revolutionary War until the time when he was first enrolled in Captain Myers Company;  he can not now recollect the length of time that he (declarant) served in the war though he recollects that he served several tours as above stated.

that immediately after the time he thinks James (declarant) was enrolled in the Company commanded by Capt Myers as above stated he James (declarant) and his father John Thompson Senior were together in a young peach orchard about four five miles from his house or the block house or station in which he then lived in the
last of May or the first of June (but can not now recollect the year when a party of four or five, thinks five, Indians being concealed behind a log at the peach orchard shot at and killed and scalped his father, the said John Senior) in sight of the said
James (declarant) who having no arms of defense with him and being left alone (when his father was killed ) undiscovered by the Indians but a short distance off made his escape from them to the nearest block house in the settlement.

That from the time when his father (the said John Senior) was killed by the Indians as aforesaid he (the said James declarant) immediately entered and continued in the service as a volunteer in the Militia there of the State of Pennsylvania one tour or term of service in immediate and continual succession after another during the whole time of the remainder and until the end of the Revolutionary war of about upwards of three, thinks between three and four years, continually in that was that during the whole time of this service the said James (declarant) was under regularly enrolled in some or other of the Companies of the Pennsylvania Militia in the actual service was some times
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under the command of the Militia and some other time under the command of some of the regular officers, that the said James (declarant) was under the command of Captain Myers, thinks two or three under Captain Polliter often under the command of Captain McAlister (of Militia), several times under the command of Ensign
Thompson (above named), of two under the command of Captain McFarland (of Militia) (declarant thinks his name was James McFarland) and declarant was some other times under the command of other officers whose names he does now recollect. 

that during all the time last aforesaid he (declarant) was employed in no other business than that of the service above stated after his father was killed during all that
time until the end of the war.  that this service consisted of espying and watching, purchasing or pursuing the Indians, protecting and defending the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania mostly in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, Westmoreland or where Allegany County now is and of the Monongahela and Allegany river that he James  (Declarant) was some time employed in carrying express from one fort or Station to another that on one occasion he carried an express from Captain Myers (above named) by his
order from Myers block house to Harmastown Station, distance of about 2 miles after night

At this station the enemy had recently before made an attack on that place in which attack some were killed on both sides and the express above named was to give information of another expected attack on Harmastown Station by the Indians and some British who it was reported were then preparing to make the attack.

he (declarant) had forgotten many of the particulars of his service he being now much more within some years time much enfeebled and memory fails him considerably

that he (declarant) however particularly recollects that the Indians made an attack on Walton Station in that vicinity there and wounded one man with a tomahawk at station when several of the enemy were killed and the Indians defeated.  that immediately the Company of Militia and any company of soldiers of the
regular service under the command of Captain
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Shearer (of Pennsylvania Militia) and an officer of the regular service whose name and rank he (declarant) has forgotten were put under orders and sent to relieve this station and he the said James (Declarant) being one of this detachment consisting of these two companies of Militia and regulars pursued the Indians (who had attacked this station) about three days (as nearly as he recollects), overtook them at a place on the Allegany river, attacked, fought a small battle or skirmish, defeated the Indians, who fled and left to the militia and regulars two horses, several guns, some other arms, several blankets, some clothing and a quantity of beads and some other articles of property which he [illegible] recollect.  All of which the Militia and regulars took, but the Indians escaped up this river on this occasion, he (declarant)) as nearly as he most can recall it, was under the command of the officer of the regular service as above mentioned.

In addition to the above named officers, he said James (Declarant) recollects Colonel Broadhead, Captain Heath, Lieutenant Sparks, Lieutenant Morgan, Ensign Glisson and 
and Captain Aston, said to be of the regular service as
nearly as declarant can now recollect.

He said James (declarant) then knew some other officers whose names does not now recollect that he (declarant) cannot now recollect the dates touching his service otherwise than as above except as hereinafter stated the following history of his life: that he was born (as he has been informed and believes) in the State of Maryland not far from the mine banks on the opposite side of the river Susquehanna, Cecil County near Charley Brookins Mills on the seventeenth day of November in the year 1761; when about 4 or 5 years of age he was removed by his father to Carlisle in the State of Pennsylvania where he remained about three years when he was removed by his father to what was then known or called by the name of Braddocks fields, in at that time Westmoreland, perhaps now Allegany County, near the mouth of
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of Turtle Creek and [illegible] in the same State of Pennsylvania where he remained with his father until he was killed by the Indians as above stated and then he (Declarant) entered the service and continued until the end of the revolutionary war.  when he was about 19 years of age he married; he afterwards removed to the [illegible] where he remained about 7 years when he remained at the mouth of the Great Missouri in or where now Dearborn is in Indiana, where he remained about 3 or 4 years when he removed to near the town of Herndon in the east side of Whitewater in Hamilton County in the
State of Ohio; where he resided about 14 or 15 years until about 14 or 15 years since when he removed to Stringtown in the County of Jackson in the State of Indiana, where he remained about one year when he removed to the place where he has continued and now resides in Hamilton township in the same county of Jackson and State of Indiana

that he (declarant) was a private during the whole of his service; that he (Declarant) has
forgotten the precise dates of the above times as he has above stated.

That he, the said James (declarant) never received any written discharge from the service; none were asked and none given as it was not thought of or thought to be necessary then where he was in the service in the War of the Revolution.  that he has no documentary evidence except some leaves cut out of his fathers family Bible which appear to contain a record of his (declarant) birth in his fathers hand writing and nothing more.

that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except James Guffy and William Thompson. that 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
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that he cannot now state the names of the regular officers who were with the troops where he served nor the continental and Militia Regiments as he can now recollect at the most general circumstances of his service as well as he can now recollect them otherwise than with more certainty than as above stated.  that he is known in his present neighbourhood to John Turnbull Esquire, Major William Crenshaw, Colonel John Crabb,  Major Saml P Mooney and Colonel Walter Benton and Doctor Samuel Wort and many others who can testify as to his character for honesty and their belief of his service as a soldier of the revolution.

that he Declarant would add that there is much of the history of his service he can not now recollect except generally as above stated

(Signed by his mark)
James Thompson

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Probate Court aforesaid

Wm Crenshaw Clk
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We, William Crenshaw, John Crabb, Samuel Wort

residing in the same county of Jackson and State of Indiana hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Thompson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. that we believe him to be the age of 70 or more years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion

(Signed )
William Crenshaw
Samuel Wort
John Crabb

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Probate Court aforesaid

Wm Crenshaw Clk

And the said Court does hereby declare this 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 him that William Crenshaw, Samuel Wort and John Crabb, who have signed the preceeding certificate are residents in the said County of Jackson and State of Indiana and are creditable persons and that
their statements are entitled to credit 

Abel Findley Judge PCJC

I, William Crenshaw, Clerk of the said Probate Court of Jackson County and State of Indiana, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings
of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Thompson for a pension
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In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, it being the same there being no seal of court yet provided, at Brownstown this 12th November 1834

William Crenshaw, Clerk
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James Thompson

Declaration for a Pension
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State of Indiana.  In and before the Probate Court ofJackson County on the eleventh day of November at the November timing of said court now sitting, at the
house of said court in the Brownstown in the year [illegible].

James Guffy of Hamilton township in the County of Jackson and State of Indiana being duly sworn according to and in due form of law upon his oath deposed and says that he is acquainted with James Thompson of the same township, County and State during the time of the Revolutionary war, that he deponent [illegible] that said Thompson, applicant for a Pension) when he belonged to Captain Rollins Company of Militia of the State of Pennsylvania in which company, he (deponent) was Ensign at the same time, that James was afterward attached to Captain Myers
Company of Pennsylvania Militia where Allegany County now is;  in that state that deponent knows that the Indians were continually infesting and harrassing the 
 frontier settlement, often killing, butchering and scalping the Citizens in that location.  Deponent was a Lieutenant when Waltower station was attacked and commanded a Company that marched to its defence.  Some regulars were with the troops that went to relieve the station and the settlements in that neighbourhood and direction.   Deponent acted as Captain on that occasion; recollects that he met said James Thompson when in the service oon other occasion and talked with him about the then passing events of the war in that part of the country and of that Campaign or march gainst the Indians.  Deponent was not immediately in the engagement at the Allegany as mentioned by said James in his declaration but Deponent recollects the principal circumstances of that engagement, with the Indians there.  Deponent recollects the history of the circumstances of the Indians killing the father of the said James (Applicant) as mentioned in his declaration. Deponent was personally acquainted with the father of said James
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that Deponent often saw said James (Applicant) in the service during the revolutionary war; was often out in actual service at the same time when said James was in the service but never as Deponent recollect in the same company; they were then in the service on the same occasions and together but in different companies. Deponent always understood that said James (Applicant) was a good soldier. 

That Deponent understood that said James (Applicant) continued in the service during the whole of the war after his father was killed by the Indians to avenge his death.  does not know this to be the fact only from report. that Deponent understood and believed that said James (Applicant) was a continual volunteer in the service after the time of his
father's death.  that deponent has a general knowledge of the said service of the said James (Applicant).  He believed that said James served in that was as he has stated in his Declaration which Deponent has examined and that said James (Applicant) did much good in that service in defending his country and protecting the inhabitants and spying, watching and pursuing the enemy in that part of the country.

That Deponent knows the said James (Applicant) to be a man of integrity and that his statements generally and all his statements as far as he recollects to making his service are entitled to credit and ought to be believed.

And further Deponent at this time says not
(Signed ) James Giffer

Sworn to and subscribed in open Court aforesaid the day and year aforesaid and in witness thereof.  

William Crenshaw
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as the Clerk of the said Probate Court of Jackson County in the State of Indiana, hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said court (the same being a scrawl) the day and year first above written.

William Crenshaw, clerk
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James Griffin, Dep
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State of Indiana SS 
Jacob Kester one of the Justices of the County of Jackson in the State of Indiana

William Thompson of Hamilton township in the said County of Jackson and State aforesaid being duly sworn according to and in due form of law upon his oath deposes and states that he has been personally acquainted with James Thompson since before the commencement of the Revolutionary War.  that Deponent had a personal knowledge of the services of the said James in said war. that Deponent has examined the declaration of said James in order to obtain a pension. that residence
of said James is now is now in Hamilton township in the County of Jackson and State of Indiana as therein stated and that said James has resided at the places as stated in his declaration.  that deponent believes the said James to be of  the age of about 73 or 74 or 75 years of age.  that deponent knows that said James Cannot be less than about 73 or between 70 & 74 years of age.  that Deponent knows the fact that John Thompson Senior, the father of the said,James Thompson, (Applicant for a Pension as aforesaid) was killed and scalped by the enemy in Pennsylvania in a peach orchard in company with said James, his son, during the Revolutionay War as stated.  That Deponent recollects that on the same morning that said John Thompson Senior, father of said James, was killed, there were  4 or 5 others of the citizens, William McFatridge and [illegible] Bride and others whose names Deponent does not now recollect, killed
by the Indians in the same neighbourhood.  that Deponent knows that said James belonged to Capt Myers Company of Militia of the State of Pennsylvania as stated in the Declaration of said James.  that Deponent knows that said James did much and long service from the time he was old enough  and continually during and until the
end of the revolutionary war.  that Deponent
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was most of the time about from 3 to 10 or 12 miles distant from said James after his father was killed as above stated but deponent was [illegible] with said James and often saw him in the service of the Revolutionary war on hand in defending the frontiers of Pennsylvania and saw James in different company at different times under the command of different officers.  that Deponent states that James was continually a volunteer in the service of the revolutionary war from the time his father was killed as above stated until the end of that war. to 
the best of deponent's knowledge and recollection he believes that said James must have served in that war at least three years or more, thinks three or four years, Deponent believes that said James always went as volunteer in the service. Deponent would add that the peach orchard above mentioned was very young; had been planted by the said John (Senior) a short time before he was killed as above stated.  that said James is a man of integrity and and his statements of his service in the REvolutionary War are entitled to full credit.  that Deponent has
a personal knowledge of the most and general recollection of the history of all the circumstances of the service of the said James as mentioned in his declaration for a pension.

And further deponent says not
(Signed) by Deponent

William Thompson

The foregoing Deposition of the said William Thompson has been sworn to made and subscribed before me the said Jacob Kester, Justice as aforesaid this 10th day of November 1834.  all which I the said Justice do certify under my hand and seal

Jacob Kester
J Peace
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State of Indiana, Jackson County
I  William Crenshaw clerk of the Jackson Circuit Court do certify that Jacob Kester Esquire whose signature appears to the foregoing deposition was at the time of taking the said deposition and now is the acting Justice of the Peace for the County of Jackson aforesaid in the state aforesaid
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Rejected

See letter to Hon. John Carr
14  Janry. 1835

10533
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James Thompson
Indiana 
Rejected
let 18 June 1839
G. Hickle
did not perform six month                  service
Letter to xxx 7 Oct 1865

June 1832