Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32555, for Alexander Thompson, Pennsylvania
Page 1

Service
Penn.

Thompson, Alexander
                   Sarah


Number
S 32555
B. L.Wt: 31325-160-55
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34.879
Indiana
Alexander Thompson of [blank] in the state of [blank] who was a Private in the [blank] commanded by Captain Loughlin of the [blank] commanded b Colo Clark in the Pena[?] line for [blank]
Inscribed of the Roll of Indiana at the rate of 20.dollars [blank] Cents per annum, to commence of the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16th day ofDecember 1839 and Sent to Hon A. Courard [handwritten] Arrears to the 4th of [unable to read] 
[unable to read]. allowance ending
Revolutionary Claim 
Act June 7. 1832
Recorded by Wm W Edwards [handwritten]
Book E Vol. 7 Page 139 
[written vertically at mid page] Reg 3 Mar 55 186562
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+/[all handwritten]
[following unclear/dark] 18664L Oct 8 [not legible] 9th July [not legible]
Sarah Thompson wife of Alexander Thompson [not legible] Private
Capt Alex Laughlin Tn Militia no 31325
Rev War
2nd June 32-34849
NO (possible abbreviation for number) [unclear]: 160  [possible AG-unclear] July 2nd [56' possibly] 
[Signature unclear] B. O[illegible]

Claimant [possibly care] R.N. Harrison.
Bellevue. Jackson Co. [abbreviation for county] Iowa
Vo. [T or F].65.----
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[upper left first words unclear] . J. T. Stuart of Feb. 18th 1841
[smeared] a  rate of 20 dollars to commence of the 4th day of March, 1834'
Certificate of Pension [?] the 16th day [smeared; possible September, October or November] 1839 and sent to {unclear] A. Howard, [initials following name unclear]
Arrears to the 4th of Sept, 1839 $170.00
[unclear] allowances ending [unclear]1847 $10.00 $180.00 Revolutionary Claim June 7, 1832.
[Torn paper] by [unclear W. Edwards clerk
[torn paper] 2 Vol 7 page 139
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State of Ilinois County of Whiteside
On this  day of April AD one thousand eight hundred and Fifty Five, personally appeared before me, [handwritten not legible] B. Blip Justice of the Peace within and for the County, and [unclear] aforesaid Sarah Thompson aged seventy two years, a resident of  Newton Whiteside County in the State of Illinois who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Alexander Thompson deceased, who was a private in the Company commanded by Capt Alex Laughlin in the [blank] Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia commanded by [blank] in the war with Great Britain (known as the Revolutionary War) and that her husband [blank] at [blank] on or about the [blank] day of  [blank]A.D. 18[blank] for the term of [blank] and continued in actual service in said war for [blank] and was honorably discharged at [blank] on the [blank] day of [blank]
{Handwritten] She further states that she was married to the said Alexander Thompson at Green Spring on the Eleventh day of March A.D. 1800 by one [blank]McConnal a Social Reform Minister and that her name before her said marriage was Sarah Scroggs and that her said Husband died at Newton Whiteside Co on the 25th day of September A.D. 1840 and that she is now a widow. She further declares that there is no Public record of her said marriage. She makes this declaration for the purpose for obtaining  the [blank] County land to which she may be entitled under the act  approved the 3d day of March 1855.
Sarah Thompson [handwritten]
W. John Thompson and Joseph Miller residents of Newton Whiteside County in the State of Illinois upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Sarah Thompson in our presence and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that she is the identical person she presents herself to be. 
John Thompson Joseph Miller[handwritten]
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to subscribed before me the day and year above written, and I certify the affiants to by credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.  [Unclear] B. Blip Justice of the Peace
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Copy of Record Taken from Family home of Sarah Thompson as follows,
Alexander Thompson and Sarah Scroggs entered into the Marriage Covenant March 11th 1800

State of Illinois          }
County of Whiteside }  Ss
On this twentieth day of April A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred & Fifty Five personally appeared before me Simeon B. Bliss, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid John Thompson and Joseph Miller who being duly sworn according to Law declare upon their oaths, that the above copy is a true copy of the Family record of the said Sarah Thompson that they know to be of an ancient date that they are well acquainted with the said record and that they were present at the death of Alexander Thompson that he departed this life on the twenty fifth day of September One thousand Eight Hundred and Forty that Know the said Sarah Thompson to have been the Lawful wife of the said Alexander Thompson
John Thompson
Joseph Miller
Interlineated on 7th line from the bottom the name [illegible]
Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written and I certify that I well know the affiants to be credible persons whose character & integrity is unimpeachable
Simeon B. Bliss  J. P.
Please forward the warrant to me at Bellevue Jackson County Iowa to the care of Rict. Harrison
Sarah Thompson
State of Illinois      }
Whiteside County }  ss.  I Rufus DeGarma Clerk of the County Court in and for the County of Whiteside & State of Illinois do hereby certify that Simeon B. Bliss Esq. before whom the within declaration and affidavit were made & executed and who has thereunto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn and that his signature thereto is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of my office this fifth day of June A.D. 1855
J. W. Shannon  D[illegible]
Rufus DeGarma c. ck
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[unclear; dark]
service Penn. number S32555  Alexander Thompson Sarah B.L.Wt. 31325-160-55 for 
Under Act of Congress, 1802 [?]
B admitted
Hon. T.A. Howard
Page 8

State of Indiana County of Vermilion [Vermillion] ss.
At the September Term[?]   of the Circuit Court of the said county, the same being a court of Record having the [not legible]   office and  enforcement,  the said  Term  being commenced on the 9th day of September, 1839, before the Honorable Elisha M. Huntington, president judge and the associate judge thereof, comes into Open Court, Alexander Thompson, a citizen of Indiana aforesaid, and for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of an act of Congress passed on the 7th of June, 1832, for the benefit of Revolutionary soldiers, after being duly sworn in due form of law, makes the following solemn  declaration on oath (as aforesaid administered) that is to say, He was born in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred fifty eight (1758) in the county of Cumberland in the state of Pennsylvania and has lived on this farm on which he was born eighty years, having left there in May last -  He has been upward of fifty years a member of the Presbyterian Church and upward of forty years an elder. He entered the revolutionary service in the year 1776. He was a volunteer in the actual service, commencing in August 1776 and served two months at Amboy in the "Jerseys," under Alexander Laughlin, Captain, and he thinks Col. Wm Clark commanded the Regiment. He thinks, also that the Col. took sick, and was not with the  army[?]  for the whole turn of service. At the close of the service they (the declarant & his associates in arms) was honably [sic] dismissed.  Next he entered the service as a volunteer about the month of December following, and served two months in "the Jerseys," commanded by Col. [unclear] of Philadelphia, by the same Capt. Alexander Laughlin.
Page 9

Part of this second tour was spent at Monmouth, Middletown and other places. At the close of this tour he was honorably discharged. For the third tour he joined the Army in December, 1777 or in January 1778 under Col Arthur Buchanan, and he thinks under a capt Aston, but of this he is not certain. The lieutenant's name was Wm. Morehead. This tour was served in Bucks County Pennsylvania and was closed at the end of two months at which time he was discharged. The declarant solemnly declares on oath, as aforesaid, that he faithfully & truly served the six months as above stated, and further that he has never received a pension from the U.S. nor is he now on any pension roll of the said U.S. He states that he has not in any manner transferred or sold the interest he has or may have in a pension ^ [following line inserted] and hereby releases all claim to any further [not legible] [original text resumes] and  that he never got any written discharge for his said service. He further states that he had determined never to apply for a pension, but that his present circumstances are such as to induce him to change his purpose and claim from his county that bounty which by law is due to the soldiers of the revolution - Having resided in this county since May last. He does not know of any living [not legible], by whom he can prove his service. And further [unclear] Signed sworn to in Open Court this 9th day of September 1839 Alex Thompson
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State of Indiana        }       Circuit Court
County of Vermilion }        Sept. Term 1839

I Alexander B. Florer
clerk of the said Court do certify that the above declaration was made in Open Court and the making thereof duly entered of Record -
In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court the day & year aforesaid.
Alexander B. Florer

[Seal]

State of Indiana        }
County of Vermilion }   ss         I Elisha M. Huntington 
Resident judge of the Circuit Court of said County do certify that the foregoing proceedings were had before me presiding in said Court,
as stated above, and that Alexander B. Florer is Clerk of said Court, that he gave the above ^ and annexed certificates & that due faith & credit are due to his official acts as such clerk -
Given under my hand
this 9th of Sept 1839.
E. M. Huntington
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State of Indiana  }
County of Parke }   ss.    Circuit Court
                                       Sept. Term 1839
I Alexander B. Florer clerk of the Circuit Court of said County do certify that on the date aforesaid personally came into Open Court Saml. Miller, James Armor and being sworn in due form of law, state that they are acquainted with Alexander Thompson, that they believe he has deposed to the truth in the foregoing declaration, and that he has always been reputed in his neighborhood in Pennsylvania, to have been a soldier of the revolution and to have served as he has stated, and they firmly believe he has so served - all of which was duly sworn to in Open Court, & the Same noticed of mind -
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of s.d [said?] Court the day & year aforesaid.
Alexander B. Florer
Clerk
[seal]
Page 12

August 20, 1937
Alexander Thompson S 32555 BA-J/AWF
The Quartermaster General
Memorial  Branch War Department Washington DC 
Dear Sir: Reference is made to your request for the Revolutionary War record of Alexander Thompson, who died in 1840 in Whiteside County, Illinois.
The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in pension claim S. 32555, based upon the military service of Alexander Thompson in the Revolutionary War.
Alexander Thompson was born in the year 1758 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The names of his parents were not stated.
While residing in Cumberland County, Alexander Thompson served as a private in the Pennsylvania troops, as follows: In the summer of 1776, two months in Captain Alexander Laughlin's company, Colonel William Clark's regiment; from the following December, two months in Captain Alexander Laughlin's company, Colonel Gurney's regiment; from sometime in December, 1777 or January, 1778, two months in Captain's Astor's company, Colonel Arthur Buchanan's regiment. 
He lived on the farm on which he wa born until in the month of May, 1939, he moved to Vermillion County, Indiana. He was allowed pension on his
Page 13

application executed September 9, 1839, then living in Vermillion County, Indiana. Alexander Thompson married March 11, 1800 at Green Spring (state not listed), Sarah Scroggs. He died September 25, 1840 in Newton, Whiteside County, Illinois. The widow, Sarah Thompson, was allowed bounty land on her application executed April 20, 1855, at which time she was seventy-five years of age and living in Newton, Illinois. One John Thompson was living in 1855 in Newton, Illinois. It was not stated that he was related to the family. The application for headstone for Alexander Thompson is returned herewith. There was no correspondence enclosed.
Very truly yours GEORGE H. SWEET Acting Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
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SERVICE                 NUMBER
Penn.  Thompson, Alexander        S. 32555
                              Sarah     B.L.Wt:31325-160-55 

Contents
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[page blank]
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(checkmark)
3 (unknown) 32 (unknown)
Squiggle line
Ne(unknown)
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34.879
Alexander Thompson
Indiana
Admitted
p 6 $20.-
Cap Laughlin Col
Clark Pa mil.
Act of June 1832
Hon T. A. Howard
H. R. [House of Representatives]
Page 18

Alexander Thompson Indiana 7th June 1832
$20]
To what [ not legible] last paid
pto 4th March  1840
Pension Office
[not legible] Feley [?] 1841
Page 19


Washington City Feb. 14th 

Sir I do not exactly understand what the writer of the enclosed testim describes. He [illegible] the means of information and I suppose is not informed that it is necessary that I should have a power of attorney in order to draw his pensions. 
If upon examination you find in here nothing can be done for Erin at present, I will [?] you to return me his Certificate [of crossed out] teller by Mr. Kilgone, and also a copy of his forms necessary to make the pensioner to draw his pension. 

Your Ob. Svt. 
John T Edwards
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Payment to be made at Madison, Ind by G. F. D Lanier, Esq, Agent for paying Pension in the Agency of Indiana 186.S-62
Recorded in the Pension Office in Book E2 Vol.7 Page 139 by Wm W. Edwards Clerk
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WAR DEPARTMENT REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM  
I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 7th June, 1832, Alexander Thompson of Vermilion Co Indiana who was a Private in the Revolution is entitled to receive Twenty dollars per annum during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March,1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and the 4th of September in every year. Given at the War Office of the United States, this sixteenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine. 
J.R. Poinsett Secretary of War.

[Signature not legible]
Acting Commissioner of Pensions
Page 22

I.L Edward Esq Pension Agent 
Hon T. A . Howard
Dec 13
N Allison
[not legible]

[apparent signature along left side not legible]
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Washington City 12th Dec,1839
Sir
I enclose the papers marked-
A. From which it will appear that Mr. Duncan is a revolutionary pensioner. He resides now in my district in Indiana, and desires to be transferred to the Indiana Pension Agency- if there be a western agency, he wishes to receive his pension there. Will you order the change and return his pension papers with your answer to me, and I will forward them to Mr. Duncan.
B. The application of Alexander Thompson for a pension-I attend to these cases and all others gratis and have in no instance allowed application to be made through me that I did not deem well founded. This case is one in which I feel great interest from the excellent character of the applicant and his reduced circumstances. I have no doubt of the strict accuracy of his entire statement. Should his claim be allowed as I trust it will, you will have the kindness to respond to the applicant through me. I am, Sir, respectfully your servant, T.A, Howard

I.L. Edwards Esq
Pension Agent
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[Blank lines at top]
In reply to your request of _____, received____________ for a statement of the military history of Alexander Thomson. a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his and his widow's application for pension on file in the Bureau. S. F. 32555
[chart follows]
Dates of Enlistment or Appointment, Length of Service, Rank, Officers under whom service was rendered, state
August 1776 2 mos Pvt Alexr Laughlin Wm Clark Pa
Dec 1776 2", ''  " Gurney
Dec 1777 or Jan '78 2" Astor, Arthur Buchanan
Battles engaged in   [check mark]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Cumberland Co Pa.
Residence at date of application, Vermilion County, Indiana
Age at date of application, B in1758 in Cumberland Co, Pa
Remarks: He married Mch 11, 1800 at Green Spring, Sarah Scroggs who was born about 1783. He died Sept. 25, 1840 at Newton, Whiteside Co. Ills
There are no further data relative to family 
Respectfully
Commissioner