Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6993, for Thomas Mason, North Carolina
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(6-1776)
SERVICE | NUMBER
N.C. | Mason, Thomas(Colored) | R. 6993
[BLANK] | Elizabeth | [BLANK]
____________________________________
CONTENTS
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State of Virginia
County of Campbell

On this 1st day of May 1854, personally appeared before, Mr. P. Knight, a Justice of the Peace, within and for said County and State. [underline] Elizabeth Mason [/underline] as resident of Campbell County State of Virginia, aged Ninety years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath make the forthcoming declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 4, 1836.  What she is the Widow of Thomas Mason deceased, who was a Free man of Color, and a Private in the Captains Wilson Moore, or Lee's Company, and she believed the Colonel or Commanding Officer of the Regiment was --- Moore, the name or number of the Regiment she does not recollect.   that he entered the Service as aforesaid in 1777 in Cadwell County North Carolina and was in the Battle of White March, near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, she thinks this was in 1777, in this tour he served six months in a Horse Company to the best of her recollection.    He then volunteered again under Captain Wilson and Colonel Moore, and was in Gates defeat in 1780; in this tour he served three months.  Again volunteered in 1878 under Captain Wilson and Colonel Moore, and was in the battle of Guilford Court House, and served in this tour, three months, and was honorably discharged at the termination of each tour.    That she is now very old and infirm and scarcely able to walk, and has frequently heard her deceased husband narrte scenes and circumstances which occurred during his service in the Revolutionary Was, and has frequently see his "discharges" and
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that they were given to Major James B. Risque to prosecute a claim for her husband under the Act of 1832, and that her husband died in October 1832 while they were preparing his claim; that her husband visited North Carolina to obtain evidence in his case, before his death, and at his death, the matter ceased; that diligent search had been made among the papers of said James B. Risque who is also now dead, and they could not be found.
She further declares that she was married to the said Thomas Mason in Louisa County Virginia on the day of April 1791, by the Rev Douglas of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and that her name before her said marriage was Elizabeth Ailstock, and has now one child living who is sixty years old, and one dead, who if alive would be sixty two years old, and that she has remained the widow of said Thomas Mason ever since. That she has no record evidence of her said marriage, nor can she find it in the Clerks Office in Louisa County, nor on the records of the Parish church.
She further declares that her name is not on the Pension Roll of the United States
Elizabeth Mason (her mark)
Attest:
Wm B Terry
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, and I certify that the said Elizabeth Mason from old age and bodily infirmity is unable to appear in open court.
Jno P. Knight, J.P>
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State of Virginia County of Campbell
Before me, Samuel Tynel, a Justice
of the Peace within and for the County of
Campbell and State of Virginia, on this 1st
day of May
in the year one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four, personally
appeared, Thomas Mason, aged fifty
seven years, to me well known to be
a person of veracity, and whose testimony
is entitled to full credit, who being sworn
upon the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God
depose and say as follows:
That he is a resident of
Campbell County, Virginia, in which County
he has resided for fifty years; that previ
ously thereto he lived in Louisa
County, Virginia, in which county he was
born
that he is the son of Thomas
and Elizabeth Mason, that he has of
ten heard his father tell of his serving
three tours in the Revolutionary War
1
and heard him say he was at the battles
of White Marsh
Gate's Defeat and
at Guilford C House, in which
battle he was wounded in the land that
he has frequently shown him the scar
on his hand, that he has heard him
speak of loosing his house at the White
March; that among the officers whom
he spoke of commanding him as Colonel
Moore; that he always spoke of volun
teering
from Caswell County, North Carolina
; that it was currently re-
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ported and believed he was in the Revolutionary War by his neighbors, and never heard it denied; that he has frequently seen his father's discharges; and that they were given to Major James B. Risque among testimony which he took by a special visit to North Carolina, to prosecute his claim in 1832; and that his father died in the Fall of that year, and the prosecution was abandoned by said Risque; that since that, Maj. J. B. Risque died, and diligent search was made among his papers, but the papers could not be found in his fathers case; that his father and mother, Thomas Mason and Elizabeth Mason lived together as man and wife from his first recollection; and that all of their children have always been recognized as legitimate, and that they were never regarded in any other light; that he is fifty-seven years old, and has a sister older that himself, who is now sixty years old; that his father and mother had six children, and he is the second; that his father Thomas Mason, died on the day of October, 1832, and that his widow, Elizabeth Mason to his certain knowledge never remarried again, but is still a widow.
That he has no pecuniary interest whatever in the claim of his mother for a pension against the United States; but that he feels that interest personally, which attaches itself to him as a son of
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the claimant, and none other
Thomas Mason (signed)
witiness: O. J. Cotten (?)
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written, and I certify that the said Thomas Mason is of the age above stated. I declare I am in no wise interested in the claim of Elizabeth Mason for a pension.
Saml Tyne  J. P.
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Witness my hand and seal of office, this 2 day of October 1884
Saml D. Preston
Clerk of the Corporation Court of said city
Note. - This should be sworn to before a CLERK OF COURT, NOTARY PUBLIC, or JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.  If before a JUSTICE or NOTARY, then CLERK OF COUNTY COURT must add his certificate of character hereon, and not on a separate slip of paper.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
No.
CLAIM OF 
for
Filed by 
Printed and for sale by J. H. NOULE, Washington, D.C.
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POWER OF ATTORNEY. 
======
Know all Men by these Presents, That I, Elizabeth Mason [?] of Lynchburg, in the County of Campbell. and State of Virginia have made, constituted, and appointed, and by these presents do make, constitute and appoint [?] of #717 [?] Washington my true and lawful attorney, for me, and in my name, place, and stead, hereby annulling and revoking ail former Powers of Attorney or authorizations whatever in the premises to prosecute before any Department, or the Courts, or Committees of Congress of the United States until final completion, for me, my Claim for [?], Pension and Back-pay [Hearse?] & Land granted to any grandfather for the War of 1776 Revolutionary-War.

and to, from time to time, furnish any further evidence necessary or that may be demanded, giving and granting to my said attorney full power and authority to present and verify any petition or replication and to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do if I personally present at the doing thereof, with full power of substitution and revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said attorney or his substitute, may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof, and the said attorney, or if he should die, his legal representative is authorized to receive any draft or warrant that may be issued in settlement of said claim; also my consideration of the obligations assumed on the part of said attorney, this Power of Attorney is irrevocable by me, and any person who may have rights under the undersigned, shall recognize the same until said claim is settled and the draft in payment thereof is received by said attorney or his legal representative or his substitute. 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th day of September eighteen hundred and eighty 4

[Signatures?]
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BE IT KNOWN, That on this 17th day of September, in the year eighteen hundred and eighty 4 before me, the undersigned, a justice of the peace in and for the said City and State, personally appeared Elizabeth Merchant to me well known to be the identical person who executed the foregoing Letter of Attorney, and the same having been first fully read over to her and the contents thereof duly explained, acknowledged the same to be her set and deed and that I have no interest present or prospective in the claim.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, the day and year last above written.
Jn Thos Smith JP
Official Signature
Seal
State of VA
City of Lynchburg to wit A justice of the Peace
I, Samuel D. Preston, Clerk of the County Court in and for aforesaid County and State, of the county that Jno Thos Smith, Esq., who hath signed his name to the foregoing declaration and affidavit was at the time of so doing A Notary Public in and for said County and State, duly commissioned and sworn; that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit, and that his signature thereunto is genuine.
Witness my hand and seal of office, this 2nd day of October, 1884
Saml D. Preston
Clerk of the Corporation Court of said city
Note.-This should be sworn to before a CLERK OF COURT, NOTARTY PUBLIC, or JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. IF before a JUSTICE or NOTARY, then CLERK OF COUNTY COURT must add his certificate of character hereon, and not on a separate slip of paper.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
No.
CLAIM OF
for
Filed by
Printed and for sale by J. H. SOULE, Washington, D.D.
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Washington DC 
Dec 2th 1884
Plece ser 
let me hear 
From tomes
Masin claim
of the war of 1776
and oblige yours
truly
Moses Tibbs
717 M St NW
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Lynchburg, Va., June 5, 1854.
Hon. L. P. Waldo, 
Com'r of Pensions:
Sir - As one of the attorneys for Elizabeth Mason, widow of Thomas Mason, deceased, a soldier of the Revolution, and whose claim, I had filed some month since, for her pension, I ask a re-consideration of her claim, and write to clear up some of the objections, in your letter of suspension of the 19th may last.
First - That the Declaration should has been taken before a Court of Record, and not before a justice of the peace as such. You are doubtly aware that justices compose our Court of Record, having a presiding Justice, which Court has, as high jurisdiction and its members seperately as the Judges in many of the states. In fact, I believe most of them have not as high [illegible] as our Justices. We have no county Judge at all in Virginia, though we have what is called a District or Circuit Judge, embracing a case number of counties in his Circuit. In this case Elizabeth Mason is wholly unable to attend in open Court, and if that is required, it is imposible for me to get her there,  and I shall be under the necessity to abanden the case. Mr. Jno. P. Knight, the Justice before whomo she made the Declaration, had just left the bench, where he was presiding as one who constituted a court of record, and went with me from the Courthouse to visit this old woman, and take her Declaration. He certifies to her inability to attend in open Court, on account of old age and infirmity, which is literally true and it would be impossible for me to get her to the
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Courthouse.  She is 70 years old and very infirm, and is physically unable to move about. 
 It if is regarded as essential by the Department, I will get the Presiding Justice to visit her, and certify as to her inability to attend in open Court, for I have to get them to go to see her.  Heretofore I have had but little difficulty in getting this admitted by the Department, and I hope in this case they will not be more rigid than in others I have had.  I should like to know your decision on this, as it would be unnecessary to proceed to comply with the other objections until this is removed. 
2nd.  The certificate of the Comptroller of North Carolina does not show, that the soldier referred to in his certificate was a man of color." In answer to this, I will say, no such distinction was made on the muster rolls or in any certificate given to free negroes from North Carolina or Virginia. Both black and white, if free persons, stood on the same footing as militiamen, no distinction being made as to color, which I hope will remove that objection. But if the Department thinks proof necessary as to that fact, I will procure the letter or certificate of the comptroller, that these certificates never specify the color.
It is proper for me to say, that Benjamin Farmer and William Lee Fair, two of the witnesses, as white gentlemen of the highest respectability in the county. The other two witnesses are free persons of color (Samuel George and Thomas Mason) and whose testimony are entitled to the most ample credit, as they are thrifty and prosperous and educated - one of them, quite so. I refer you to the Hon. Thomas S. Bocock, if necessary, whom I
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suppose knows one them, Thomas Mason, who is a butcher, in regular attendance in the Lynchburg market. But if you think it best or necessary, I will get the Presiding Justice, who knows Mason well, and I believe he knows George, to certify as to their respectability and truthfulness.  Of course, in speaking of respectability, I mean as colored men for as citizens our laws do not recognize their political equality with white persons, though their testimony is lawful and valid in all cases, in which their own color is involved as from the case of Elizabeth Mason, and that 
involved, as from the case of Elizabeth Mason, and that was the reason I annexed the testimony of two of each.
3d. - "That the marriage has not been properly established." Please let me know what will be proper for me to do to prove the marriage, when no record can be found. Recollect that the marriage of free persons of color are not kept with that attention, which is paid to whites, and it is a rare case that one is ever returned by the Minister to the Clerk's office, as no law to fine him in that case exists, as is the case, when he makes a failure to return the marriage of whites. Their marriage, is therefore, seldom to be obtained from the records, though they generally get a minister to marry them, but he can do it without ever the normal Clerk's certificate or license as is essential in the case of whites.
Another objection used is, that the Declaration embraces service "in the Line of the Army," while the payments show Militia service only." I am rather surprised that it is so in the Declaration, for the old widow informed me
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from the beginning, that the whole of her husband's service was in the militia, and that he volunteered the first time together with his whole company from Caswell Co., N.C. and went to Pennsylvania. In looking over the original draft, I discover it so stated, but not knowing what to claim under, I sent the Declaration and papers as written by myself to my assistants in Washington, Jno S. Pollard & Co., and had them to look over and write the Declaration anew, if the one I sent did not answer, or was too voluminous, which they wrote, and I did not discover by that Declaration, at least I did not understand that he was made anything but a volunteer of militia in any case. He certainly was never any but a militia company which volunteers as a whole. If I can be allowed to do so, and the Department thinks it necessary, I beg leave to amend and correct the Declaration in that particular, for Thomas Mason always served as a volunteer of North Carolina Militia, and in no other capacity - his company as a whole volunteering and entering the service.
This claim has been suffered to stand unattended to for a great while, because free persons of color are but little noticed or cared for. Such claims are overlooked and the testimony is more obscure, as they never have any acquaintances but those that live adjoining or near them. I hope on this account, that the Department will be as lenient as it can be with due regard to its interest and rules.
Please answer this, and remit all the objections you can, and inform me what is necessary to respect the claim.
Most respectfully, your obd sevt
Chars S Statham
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Washington City
May 16th 1854
Sir:
Enclosed herewith is the application of Elizabeth Mason widow of Thomas Mason dec. a free man of color, who was a Private in the Revolutionary Army, from Casewell C . N. Carolina.
The testimony in this case is accompanied by a Certificate of the Comptroller of N. Carolina, showing certain payments made to said Thos. Mason for Military Service.
The request that your action on this case may be communicated to
Very respectfully
Your Obd. Servant
J. S. Pollard & Co.
Hon:
L. P. Waldo
Comms. of Pensions
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Elizabeth Mason
VA ? 38
27
26
6,S 40 (90
$45.-
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Washington City
May 25th, 1854
Sir,
Your letter relative to the application of Elizabeth Mason, widow of Thomas, ( a free man of color), of Virginia for a pension under the Act 7th July 1838, is received.
In reply to the first objection, suggested to this application that, "it should have been made before a Court of record, and not before a Justice of the Peace, as such, we have to say that the rules of your office in such cases, has been complied with, inasmuch as it is specifically set forth that, the reason why Mrs. Mason did not appear in open court, was by reason of bodily infirmity induced by old age. 2nd
This beyond the power of man to prove, either by "White men", or those of any other color, that The Thomas Mason certified to by the Comptroller of N. Carolina, but in the absence of any other applicant by this name as indicated by said certificate, we deem it but just and fair to presume and claim, that he is the Thomas Mason whose widow we represent, provided, none other of that name is found in the same category.
In regard to the date of marriage of Thomas and Elizabeth Mason, it's equally impossible to produce any such testimony in the form and of the kind required, but, moral reputation is shown, and that they raised a number of children and those of them now living are in
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old age and reputable. The degradation of people of color or tainted with African blood is so well known, in this country, as not to require us to say, that their marriage relations are very little regarded among white men and if married by even a Clergyman, as not obligatory upon to make a matter of record, yet the right of their descendents even in Slave holding States, to inherit and hold property is always recognized. notwithstanding there may be no statue laws of Virginia regulating their marriages, which we assure to be the fact. A number of decisions of the Courts might be cited to show this recognition by the Courts, but we presume this point to have been long since settled in your office, as evidenced by the number of this class of persons already admitted to the benefit of the Pension laws.  The Hon. H. S. Legare Atty Genl. U. S. in his opinion as to the rights of colored men to acquire freehold rights by presumption, sets forth that, "even in the Slave holding States, they "are capable of the rights of contract and property.:"  "In all nations, without exception, ancient and modern, in "which domestic Slavery has existed, even the slave "is distinguished from the Alien. He is a part of the "family, and as soon as he passes into the class of "freemen, is at once capable of all the rights which "mere birth, under the legience of a country, bestows" "How far a political status may be acquired is of "different question, but his civil status is that of as "complete denizenship ." Therefore, free people of color "have always hitherto been admitted to share in the
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"presumption laws &c."
We ask for a review of your objections in this case, and the allowance of the claim as set forth.
Very respectfully
Your obdt Servnts,
J. S. Pollard & Co.
Hon:
L. P. Waldo
Commn. of Pensions
Present
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Department of The Interior
Washington June 13th 1854
Sir:
In reply to the question submitted to this Department in your communication of the 10th Inst. arising in the case of Elizabeth Mason, a claimant for a Pension under the Act of July 7, 1838, viz: "Can 'the relation of husband and wife exist between free colored people in the State of Virginia - the ceremony of marriage taking place in said state, so as to constitute the wife upon the death of the husband, his "widow" within the meaning of the laws of Congress 'granting pensions to widows of deceased revolutionary 'soldiers' 2 - I have to say: - That from the examination which the library of this Department, affords, nothing has been discovered in the Statutes or "code" of Virginia prohibiting marriage between free negroes or to deprive those who have entered into that relation, of any of the legal rights incident therefor on the contrary, the rite of marriage is expressly recognized, and consequently legalized between servants (slaves) and between a free person and a servant (slave)
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(G. Henning, page 83-4)
Such being the case, I would recommend a consultation, upon the question submitted with some of the Virginia Delegation, and be guided by their opinion. In cases of this kind, the Department would not be disposed to be too technical and rigid.
It may not be amiss to call your attention to the Act of Assemble of Virginia, entitled "An Act for 'regulating and disciplining the militia," of "May 1777" (G. Henning page 267 &c) "that all free male persons, hired servants apprentices "&c were directed to be enrolled the kind of service in which free mulattoes" were to be employed designated - and provision made against the enrolment of slaves, by requiring "any negro or mulatto" to exhibit a certificate of freedom to the recruiting officer before enlistment. It appears also by the same act, that no distinction was made in the pay and bounty offered to such recruits.
I am very respectfully
Your obdt Servt
R. McClellan
Secretary
Hon. L C Waldo, Comm of Pensions
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This was a law of Virginia and applied only to enlistments in that State - Mason's service was performed in N. Carolina, where a Statute of Virginia could have no force.
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Elizabeth Mason
VA  sus 38
Filed by J L. Pollard & Co.
July 24/54
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State of North Carolina
Comptroller's Office.

I, William L. Clarke, Comptroller of Public Accounts in and for the Sate aforesaid, do hereby certify, in addition to my certification of the 22nd of February last. respecting 
Thomas Mason;
that I have very carefully re-examined the records respecting him, and that I am very clearly of opinion that the payments were all made to one and the same man, and as certain as I can be without positive proof, (which seems to me very impossible) that there was but one man of the name. I further certify that a few Descriptive Lists of soldier are on file in my office, and that they prove that free negroes served in the Revolutionary army, but that the payments as recorded make no mention of color by which I might be able to say whether said Mason was a negro or not.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office this 21st day of July 1853

WM. L Clarke Complr.
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Old War Div.
In P. Ex'r.
Betsey Mason widow of
Thomas, a revolutionary Soldier
from North Carolina
Department of the Interior
PENSION OFFICE
Washington, D.C. August, 25, 1884
Return this letter with your reply
Sir,
In answer to your memorandum of enquiry relative to the application for a pension by Betsey, on account of the services of her husband, Thomas Mason, in the Revolutionary war from North Carolina, which was filed in this office on or before 1860 by Charles Stathan, you are informed that the only claim on file that has any probability of being identified with your enquiry, is that of Elizabeth widow of Thomas Mason both of whom resided before and after the war in Virginia, but he enlisted in North Carolina - The claim was filed in this office in 1854 by Charles N. Stathan and was rejected in that year for want of sufficient evidence which Mr. Stathan was unable to furnish - The names of the officers as stated by the widow do not correspond with those in your memorandum -
As the widow is dead, her children or other heirs cannot now claim any rights to which the widow or the deceased soldier were entitled to in their lifetime -
See enclosed printed  circular   Memorandum returned -
Very respectfully 
Wm W Dudley
Commissioner
Mr Moses Gibbs
717 M. ? N W
Present
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State of North Carolina
Comptroller's Office
I, William S. Clarke, Comptroller of Public accounts in and for the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that it appears of record in my office, among the payments made by said State to sundry persons for Military services in the Revolutionary War as follows, to wit:
Thomas Mason
Vol. C entry 4510, L12 -specie
Book No. 14 page 113, Lg "
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office this 22nd day of February 1854
Wm J. Clarke, Comptr
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State of Virginia,
Campbell County,
I, Geo. Wm Dabney, Clerk of the County Court of Campbell County, in the State of Virginia , do certify that John P. Knight and James Tyrce Jr and Melville Talbot who have given the foregoing certificates on the sheet hereto attached, were at the date thereof acting Justices of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified: that said certificates are complete according to the laws of said State, and the signatures thereto in the proper, genuine handwriting of the said Justices.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, in Office, this 11 day of May, 1854, in the 78 year of the Commonwealth.
Geo Wm Dabney  Clk.
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State of Virginia
Campbell County -  Wm G Dabney
I was an agent for the prosecution of land warrants and pension claims against the United States, commencing in 1853, and ending in 1859 or 60. I processed a few claim since the war, but more as an accommodation then anything else. Some where in the 1850's, I prosecuted the claim for Elizabeth Mason, widow of Thomas Mason. She live in Campbell county, Virginia, and I knew the family well. Since the war the heirs wished me to further prosecute the case, but I refused, and I handed over all the papers to them, and they said they intended to employ a Mr. Williard, that ended the matter. I put her name in the declaration, Elizabeth Mason, because in this state, that name is the original for Lizzie, Betsy and Betty or Bettie. They are considered the same as Elizabeth. There was some refining in the evidence, which is among the papers I turned over, In fact, the correspondence was voluminous; that I think the principal objection was the marriage not being sufficiently proven on account of being married in church, and records of church not found.
I always believed it was a just claim, and a reference to the case now, will show it was, though it was
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sufficient to prove the marriage of that class or race of people, for when I put in this claim, I knew of one or two that were granted of that race, but before it was made the great political issue. I stated some of these facts, which will be found among the original papers in this case.  Witness my hand and seal, this 10th day September, 1884
Thos W Statham
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State of Virginia:
County of Campbell
Before me Samuel Tyne a Justice of the Peace within and for the county of Campbell and State of Virginia, on the 1st day of May in the year, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, personally appeared, Benjamin Farmer, aged eight-four years, to me well known to be a person of veracity ; and whose testimony is entitled to all credit, who being duly sworn upon the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, depose and say as follows:
That he was well acquainted with Thomas Mason, deceased, in his life time - that this knowledge of him extended back for fifty years - and that he has frequently heard the said Thomas Mason narrate his services in the War of the Revolution; that it was always currently reported and believed that he served in the said war, by his neighbors, and never heard it denied; that the said Thomas Mason and Elizabeth Mason lived together as man and wife from the time of my  first knowledge of them, and were always currently believed and reported to be such; that they raised a family of children - six in number - and one of them, I believe to be sixty years old, as I knew her when she was a girl. That the belief and report of their being lawfully married was universally believed, and never heard the report or  belief contradicted.  That the said James Mason, died on the day of October 1832, and that the said Elizabeth mason, his widow has
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never married again, that is still a widow, and alive and now very old.
The he is in no wise interested in having the facts never stated, over the claim of said Elizabeth Mason, for a pension against the Unite States.
Benjamin Farmer (his mark)
Attney
A P Mowlin
Sworn to and subscribed before me, the day and year above written' and I certify that the said Benjamin Farmer is the age above stated; and that I am in on wise interested in the claim of said Elizabeth Mason for a pension against the United States.
James Tyre  J. P.
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State of Virginia,
County of Campbell
Before me, Samuel Tynee, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Campbell and State of Virginia, on the 1st day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, personally appeared Will Lee Fair to me well known to be a person of veracity, and whose testimony is entitled to full merit, who being duly sworn according to law, upon the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, depose and say as follows:
That he was well acquainted with Thomas Mason, deceased, a free man of color, in his life time - that this knowledge extended back to forty-one years' and that he has frequently heard the said Thomas Mason narrate his services in the War of the Revolution; that he served in the said war, by his neighbors, and never heard it denied; that the said Thomas Mason and Elizabeth Mason lived together as man and wife from the time of his first recollection, and were always currently believed and reported to be such, and that the said Thomas Mason and Elizabeth Mason raised a family of children - and one of them I believe to be sixty years old, as I knew her thirty seven years ago, that they always went in the name of their father - Mason - that the report and belief of their being lawfully married was universally believed, and never heard the report and belief contradicted. That
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the said Thomas Mason died on the day of October 1832, and that the said Elizabeth Mason, his widow, has never married again, but still a widow, and is now very old.
That he is in no wise interested in proving the facts herein stated, or in the claim of said Elizabeth Mason against the United State for a pension.
William Lee Fair
witness
W. Evans
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written.  And I declare that I am in no wise interested in the claim of Elizabeth Mason for a pension.
Saml Tyree  J.P.
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State of Virginia
County of Campbell
Before me Saml Tyree a Justice of the Peace within and for the county and State aforesaid, personally appeared, Gravitt Edwards, aged seventy-six years, a resident of said county and State, and a white man, to me well proven to be a person of veracity and whose testimony is entitled to full credit having been duly sworn according to law, deposes as follows:
That he was raised in the county of Louisa, state of Virginia, and from the county moved to Campbell county, Va., some seven or eight years since; that he well knew Thomas Mason, deceased, when he was boy sixty-three years since, as when he came from North Carolina he settled near him, and he knew him soon after he married Elizabeth Ailstock; who was a free woman of color and said Mason was a free man of color; that he knew Mason lived in the neighborhood several years before he became acquainted with him, and that he had one child when he first knew him sixty-three years since that said Thomas Mason and Elizabeth Ailstock always passed as man wife and never heard it denied by any one; they raised a large family of children who are all recognized as his children and pass in his name. That said Thomas Mason has frequently narrated his services as a soldier from
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North Carolina in the war of the Revolution, and that he came from North Carolina to Virginia; that he has frequently seen his discharges and that none of his neighbors ever doubted or questioned his service as a soldier; that great respect was paid  him on account of his having served his country, and more privileges were then allowed him with his neighbors than other free persons of color, that a great many years since he left Louisa county and moved to this county and died, but when  the deponent does not known; that he has frequently seen his widow since and knows that she is the widow of said Thomas Mason, deceased
That he is in no wise interested in having the facts above mater
putting my hand and seal, the 17th day of January, 1855
Gravitt Edwards (his mark)
Attest
John Baily
Chas Statham
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above stated; and I certify Gravitt Edwards is of the age above stated
James Tyree  J.P.
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Lynchburg, Va. Nov 26, 1884
Hon. G. R. G. Clarke,
Sectery Comm of Pensions,
Washington, DC

Sir, I received your letter of Nov 4, 1884 in regard to the application of Elizabeth Mason, widow of Thomas Mason, dec., No. 6993.
I observe what you say in regard to the application for bounty land. It seems hard for the attorney for these parties to understand the claim. It is the claim of the widow of a Revolutionary soldier for pension, and expect had been established she would then have given her bounty land under the act of 185. The soldier was a colored man of considerable standing, with property, and married and had a family, which he educated. He was married in Church according to the rights of the Episcopal Church; but the record and Church
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had gone down years and years ago.
It was proven by the best citizens of the neighborhood, who had known them for many years, that they lived together as man and wife and had children and were always recognized as man and wife, but it was not legally recognized because our laws in regard to negro marriages were not registered.
Since and after the War our district military commander issued an order pronouncing it a lawful marriage when they lived together as man and wife and the Virginia legislation passed an act confirming the order of the Generals.
I have no interest in the claim and I long since given up the papers to the parties.
Respectfully
Chas Statham
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and answer 1884 Moses Gibbs and 1993 to 717 M W W City of

{Seal on page states 1884}
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Thomas Mason was a soldier in the Revolutionary war of 1776 & 1781, Served regiment Detached from the 27th 12th and 3rd Brigades, First Company detached from the Hyde County regiment of North Carolina,
The officer of the company Viz.
Simon Burton Lieutenant Col. Commandant, Nathan Tisdale First Major, John A Lillington Second Major
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O.W. and N. Div. DIVISION.
Department of the Interior
PENSION OFFICE
M Y?
Washington, D. C., Oct 15, 1854
Respectfully returned to Moses Tibbs
717 M St NW
City
with the information that from the data given this office  is unable to find any record of a claim for bounty land having been filed in the name of Elizabeth Merchant, or Mason, for the service of Thomas Mason Va. Militia
War of 1812
There is no law under which a warrant could be issued to grandchildren of soldiers
O P Y Clarke
Acty Commisioner
Revolutionary War
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State of Virginia,
Campbell County.
I, Geo. Wm. Dabney, Clerk of the County Court of Campbell County, in the State of Virginia, do certify that Wm M Shoemaker who hath given the foregoing certificate on the sheet hereto attached, was at the date thereof an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified: that said certificate is complete according to the laws of said State, and the signature thereto is in the proper, genuine hand-writing of the said Justice.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, in Office, this 26 day of February, 1853, in the 79 year of the Commonwealth.
Geo Wm Dabney Clk.
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will the commissioner of Pensions kindly have sent me a brief abstract of the record in this case including soldier's records.
Very truly
Jno W Daniel
Stamped: CONGRESSIONAL 
SEP 15 1902
U.S. Bureau of Pensions
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M Y OWar Div.
Old War recd #6993
Eliz Mason
Department of the Interior
PENSION OFFICE
Washington, D.C. Dec 8, 1884
Return this letter with your reply.
Sir:
I would state that the records do not show a claim for bounty land t have been filed in the name of Elizabeth Mason, widow of Thomas Mason, for service during the Revolutionary war, but they do show a claim for pension to have been filed which claim was rejected there being no evidence of service There is no existing law under which either pension or bounty land could be allowed. The office must decline to take any further action in the matter.
Very respectfully
O P Y Clarke
Commisioner
Moses Tibbs
717 N St ?
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Stamp: PENSIONS OFFICE NOV 29 1884
McG 
Div. Ex'r. 
( 3 - 500. – 
On No. 6993 Ry Eliz. Mason department of the Co. Reg 
PLEASE OR - - Thomas Blan Washington, Nov 14, 1884, Return this letter with your reply. 22 - in reply to your letter of would state that the records do not then a claim for bounty land to have been filed by you in the name of Elizabeth Mason widen of Thomas Mason but they do then an old War pension claim to have been filed and in which you had correspondence with this Apper to City Commissioner C. W. Stratham Lynchburg A.F. Va in
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State of Virginia
County of Campbell
Before me, Wm M Shoemaker a Justice of the Peace, within and for the county and State aforesaid, personally appeared Mary K Gruber and George Gruber, to me well known to be persons of veracity and whose testimony is entitled to full credit, and both being white persons, having been duly sworn according to law, upon oath doth depose as follows:
That they knew Thomas Mason well in his life time, who was always reputed to have served in the war of the Revolution; that the said Thomas Mason died in Campbell county on the 17th day of October, 1832.; the circumstances that makes this recollected were these, that we were on a visit to Mrs. Ellena Flowers, and said Thomas Mason died while we were there; Mrs. Flowers lived in a half mile of such Thomas Mason and while we were on a visit to said Mrs. Flowers he died; one of us is her daughter and was raised near said Thomas Mason; they also know his widow Elizabeth Mason.
Witness our hand and seals, the 22nd day of February, 1855
Mary K. Gruber (her mark)
George Gruber (is mark)
Thos T. Blackford
Sworn to and subscribed before
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on the day and year above written.
MM Shoemaker J.P
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State of Virginia,
ss:
Campbell County. 
I, Geo. Wm. Dabney, Clerk of the County Court of Campbell County,
in the State of Virginia, do certify that Samuel Tycee who hath given the foregoing certificate on the sheet hereto attached, was al the date thereof am acting Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified: that said certificate is complete according to the laws of said State, and the
signature thereto is in the proper, genuine hand-writing of the said Justice.
The Testimony thereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, in Office, this 18 day
of January 1855 in the 79 year of the
Commonwealth.
Geo. Wil. Dabney, Clk.
Page 48

1884 Aug 25 Moses Jibbs 717 M St NW that claim rej in 1854 for want of sufficent evidence wich Mo Slattan was unable to furnish
[illegible]
[illegible] 12-6 claim on file not entitled to [illegible] or pension & [illegible] to act [illegible] matter
Feb 1/86 Soc 4742 R.d to a friend of claiiment Def. Con. McSeams room. white
1891 July 14 WC Martin rejected for want of evidence [illegible]
Dec. 11/99 Hon J.W. Dames for Adolfins George m farmed that claim filedin 1854 rejected in 1854 sec 4742 R.S. granted to furnish letter white
Sept. 30, 1902 Hon J.W. Dames
no record of service
1911 May 20 Hon M.A. Morrison give names of dol wid & troops see letter in Thos Mason S36 691 - Au

6993
P.O. Elizabeth Mason
REJECTED
Service:
Enlisted:, 18
Discharged:, 18
Application filed:, 18
Alleges; 
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized. Contra
Cert. of Dis. Searched for [illegible]
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No 15,168
Elizabeth Mason
(Colored Woman)
widow of Thomas
6993 Va
J.S. Pollard Ho May 19 1852
Let same May 30/54.
Secy of War Interior June 10/54
Charles W. Stathan , June 15/54
J.S. Pollard Ho 27 July 1854
Same Mar 12 1855
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State of Virginia
Louisa County to wrt
I David M. Hunter clerk of the County,  Court of Louisa County in the State of Virginia do certify that there is no return of the marriage of
Thomas Mason and Elizabeth Ailstock of record in my office nor is there any marriage bond on files in my said office given upon the keeping of such license. 
My testimony whereof I have sat my
hand and affixed the public seal of
said, Court at the the Courthouse the
20th day of march 1854 on the 78th
year of our formation.
David M. Hunter. Clk
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State of Virginia,
County of Campbell.
Before me, Melville Talbot, a Justice of the
Peace within and for the County and State
aforesaid, on this 1st day of May , one thou-
sand eight hundred and fifty four, personally
appeared, Samuel George to me well known
to be a person of  veracity, and whose testimony is instilled to full credit, who being duly sworn upon the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, depose and say as follows:
That he is a resident of Campbell County, Virginia, in which county he has resided for sixty years; that he was well acquainted with Thomas Mason, declared in his life time that this knowledge of him extended back for fifty years - and that he has frequently heard the said Thomas Mason relate his services in the war of the Revolution; that it was always earnestly reported and believed that he served
in the said war by his neighbors, and never heard it questioned by any one; that the said
Thomas Mason lived in the same house
with him for several years before and was
living so when he died; that he well
recollects when Major James B. Risque
undertook to prosecute his claim, and
the visit the said Thomas Mason made
to Caswell County, North Carolina for evidence in his cause, which he obtained, and which was given to said Risque; that he has frequently seen the discharges of said Thomas Mason for services in said war, and recollects that he always spoke of serving their Tours ; that all of his ha-
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pers, including the evidence taken and discharges were all given to said Resquethat very soon after the said Thomas Mason died, which was on the day October 1832, and the claim then remained unattended to since when said Resque also died; and though diligent search has been made among his papers by his daughter Mrs Ward- they cannot be found. 

That the said Thomas Mason and Elizabeth Mason lived together as man and wife from the time he first knew them fifty years ago, and were always currently reported and believed to be such; that they raised a family of children-- six of which he knew and one of them he believes to be sixty years old, as he knew her when she was a given. That the belief and report of their being lawfully married was believed by everyone who knew them, and never heard the report or belief contradicted.

That the said Thomas Mason died on the October day of 1832, and that the said Elizabeth Mason is his widow and that she has never married again; but is still a widow and in That he is no wise interested in proving the facts herein stated, or in the claim of said Elizabeth Mason against the United States for a Pension witness his Thomas J. Blackford Samuel George on Dear Sworn to and subscribed before me, the day and year above written; and I certify that I an in no wise in the subject matter of the above affidavit, or in the claim of Elizabeth Maron for Pension Melville Fulbot J.P.
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Elizabeth Mason
Widow of Thos Mason, a Free man of color, Private in the Revolutionary War for Pension.
W. S. Pollard & Cl
Washington City 
and 
Cho.SS. Statham
Lynchburg, VA,
Agents for Claimant