Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5581, for Thomas Jessee, Virginia
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Service: VA.
Jessee, Thomas.
Number: R 5581
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33895
Thomas Jessee
Kentucky
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State of Kentucky Adair County Circuit set on this 13th day of December 1836 bring the on 8th day of new term of said court personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Benjamin Monroe sole judge now setting Thomas Jessee a resident of the county of Adair aforesaid and state of Kentucky, age eighty two year last January, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 that he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer militiaman for three months, in the month of January in the year 1781 in the county of Cumberland state of Virginia, that he enter in the Company commanded by Captain Thomas Hubbard Lieut. Winston Marcum Lieut. Thomas Hubbard ensign Frederick Woodson, he was marched to Prince Edward Courthouse in the aforesaid state where he was joined to Major Moseby’s Battalion and Colonel Woodson’s Brigade where he remained for some time they marched from whence on towards North Carolina and on to Guildford Courthouse where he was Joined to General Green’s Army where he continued until after the Battle of Guilford in which Battle he was from beginning to end. He remained in said company Regiment and Brigade until his term expired and was discharged by his Colonel in writing which discharge he lost or mislaid many years ago in Virginia he further states that soon after he returned home that is in a few days he returned the service of the United States
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As a substitute for Archibald Hicks a drafted militiaman for three months in the Company commanded by Captain Thomas Tucker Lieut Stephen Hicks Joseph Tucker Ensign, Major Bently’s Battalion and Colonel Mayor’s Regiment.  He was marched on to various places in the state of Virginia finally to Norfolk where he continued and in that vicinity until his term expired.  When he was discharged by his Colonel and returned home, in this tour he was not joined to no other troops than his Regiment nor was he in any engagement.  In a few days after he returned home there was a Call for men and he again turned out as a volunteer militia man for three months under Captain Tucker and in his Company Jessee Tucker was his Lieut Stephen Hicks Ensign. He was marched on to Richmond where he was joined to Major Duget’s Battalion and Colonel Moseby’s Regiment where they remained for some time and then marched on to Little York where he was attached to the main army and continued there during the Siege and after the Surrender of Cornwallis and sometime there after he was again Honorably discharged by his Captain, he first having served [unreadable] the full term of three months he positively states that in Each of the aforesaid tours he served three months in a Regular Corps called into service by Competent authority that he was either in the field or garrison the whole time of each tour ant that during each
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Period he was not employed in any Civil pursuit and for which services he claims a pension and he states that he resided in the County of Cumberland State of Virginia when he first entered the Service of his Country and that was his residence or home during the time he was in service, tho but there but short periods between his services. He cannot state the precise day which he first entered the Service but knows it was in the Month of January, he cannot state all the regular officers or regiments which he was with nor can he state the several officers on Continental Establishment that he saw but he knew General Green, General Washington, and others, that is he saw them often but the station he filled did not entitle him to make acquaintance with them.  He further states that he has lost or mislaid all his discharges and therefore has now no documentary evidence nor does he know of any person whose testimony he can procure to testify to his Services.  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 any agency of any state.  Where and what year were you born?  Answer:  I was born in the month of January in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty four in the county of Amelia state of Virginia where I lived until I was about Eight years of age when my father moved to Cumberland County Virginia where I remained until after the end of my Service in the war of the Revolution.  2nd  Have you any record of your age?
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And if so, where is it

Answer:  I have no record of my age nor did I ever have one.  I understood my father kept a record of my age together with that of my Brothers and Sisters indeed my father and mother told me so tho I am no scholar myself and cannot read but from what my parents always told me I was born the time I before states and I believe what they told me is true.   I understood that my father gave his family Bible in which my age was recorded to my oldest brother who I understand is long since dead.
3rd  Where were you living when called into service?  Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Answer:  I was living in the County of Cumberland State of Virginia when I was called into Service where I remained for several years after the Close of the war of the Revolution.  When I moved to Prince Edward County Virginia, where I remained for some years when I moved back to Cumberland County where I stayed two years I then moved to Louisa County, Virginia, where he stayed about two years then moved to Goochland County Virginia where he remained about two years from there he moved to Henrico County where he remained until the year one thousand Eight hundred and fifteen when he moved
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2
to the state of Kentucky and settled in the County of Adair where has Continued until the present time.
4   How were you called into Service?  Where you drafted?  Did you volunteer or where you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Answer:  my first and third tours I was a volunteer and my second I was a substitute for Archibald Hicks who had been drafted for a tour of three months.
5th  State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you Served Such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the General Circumstances of your Service
Answer:  I have stated in the body of my declaration as much on the Subject of the Regular Continental and Militia troops as my Recollection serves me that is so far as might be Calculated to give any satisfaction the length of time has been great and I am old.  I know I saw many regular Regiments Continental and Militia while I was in Service but to pretend as give any particular description of them I could not;  as to the General Circumstances of my several tours, I have endeavored to state them as far as my recollection serves as to the important events but can again say I was I the Battle of Guilford and the Glorious Victory at Little York and was in some small skirmishes while at Norfolk and its vicinity but nothing happened worthy of restating so far as I now recollect.
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6. Did you ever have a discharge from this service? If so by whom was it given and what has become of them

Answer I need a discharge in writing for each of my term two of them was given by my Colonel and one by my captain all of which I lost or mislaid in Virginia many years before I came to Kentucky. I did not at the time I had them ever expect them to be of any nor I suppose from that cause the proper care was not taken of them so it is they are lost as before stated

7. State the name of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can justify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your service as a soldier of the Revolution. 

Answer I am acquainted with the Reverend Spencer Jeans who reside near me not more one half mile from me, he is the nearest clergyman to me and who will certify both as to character and his belief belief of my services I also am acquainted with my neighbor Mr. John Gibson who lives my nearest neighbor. I am also acquainted Mr. Mosley, John Segue and indeed all my near neighbors tho for the last many years I have not traveled about much and I live about fifteen miles from Columbia and have procured the two first names gentlemen to come with me and I feel confident that every acquaintance I have would speak well of my character for veracity and this belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution. Subscribed and sworn to in open court the day and year foresaid. Thomas Jessee, his mark
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We Mr. Spencer Jeans (Janes) a clergyman residing in the county of Adair state of Kentucky and John Gibson residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Jessee who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and have been so acquainted with him for many years that we believe to be eighty two years of age that he is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a solider of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion, and we further certify that the said applicant is a man of good character and that his statement in entitled to full credit.  Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid.
Spencer Janes, his mark  
John Gibson, his mark
And 
State of Kentucky}
Adair County} 
Circuit Court September Seventeen 1836 The declaration of Thomas Jessee (for a pension) aged 82 years last January being a resident of Adair County Kentucky was this day produced, subscribed and sworn to by said Thomas Jesse in open court in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.  Also the Certificate of Spencer Janes a clergyman residing in the County of Adair and John Gibson also residing in the said County  [unreadable] to said Declaration who certify that they are well acquainted with Thomas Jesse who had subscribed and sworn to said declaration that they believe him to be eighty two years of age and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution.  [unreadable] certificate was sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid And the said Court do hereby declare their opinions after investigation of the matter and after putting the
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Interrogatory prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Spencer Janes who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Adair and that John Gibson who has also Signed the same is a resident in the Said County and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I William Caldwell, Clerk of the Court of Adair County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of Said Court, in the matter of the application Thomas Jesse for a pension.
[seal] In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and Seal of Office the 17th day of September 1836.  William Caldwell, C d CC
[unreadable] Caldwell D. C.
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December 13, 1938

BA-J/EFL
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Giles Hawkins -S.1911
Thomas Jessee -R.5581

Mr. J. W. Singer
Stamping Ground
Kentucky
Dear Sir: 

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Giles and Thomas Hawkins, John Willmore, and Thomas Jessee, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon military service of soldiers of that war.

A careful search of the Revolutionary War records has been made in your behalf and no records found based upon service in that war of a Thomas Hawkins, of Amherst County, Virginia, or of a John Wilmore, or similar spelling. The histories of Giles Hawkins and Thomas Jessee are given below: 

The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.1311, based upon the military service of Giles Hawkins in that war.

Giles Hawkins was born March 15, 1755, in Frederick County, Maryland. The names of his parents are not given.

He moved to Bedford County, Virginia, date not given, where he volunteered September 1, 1776, served six months in Captain Christopher Irvine’s Company, Colonel Christian’s Virginia Regiment, and went on an expedition against the Cherokee Indians, and burned their towns and destroyed their crops: after his return from this service, he moved to Botetourt County, Virginia, date not given, and while living there, again volunteered in September or October, 1781 or 1782, served in Captain Joseph Looney’s Virginia Company, marched to the defense of the lead mines on New River, but upon receipt of intelligence that the British had withdrawn from that locality, his company turned back
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And was discharged: length of this service, three days.

In 1789, he moved to the state of Kentucky, and settled in Franklin County, that part which was later Jessamine County.

He was allowed pension on his application executed March 2, 1833, while residing in Jessamine County, Kentucky.

There are no data as to wife and children.

The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, R.5581, based upon the military service of Thomas Jessee in that war.

Thomas Jessee was born in January 1754, in Amelia County, Virginia, where he lived until he was eight years of age when his father, whose name is not given, moved to Cumberland County, Virginia:

Several years after the Revolution, Thomas Jessee moved to Prince Edward County, Virginia, where he lived for some years; then returned to Cumberland County, Virginia, and lived two years; then moved to Louisa County, Virginia, where he resided for about two years; thence to Goochland County, Virginia, and them for about two years; thence to Henrico County, Virginia, and lived until 1815, when he moved to Adair County, Kentucky. 

On September 13, 1836, while residing in Adair County, Kentucky, about fifteen miles from Columbia, he applied for pension and alleged that while residing in Cumberland County, Virginia, he volunteered in January, 1781, and served three tours of three months each as a private under Captain Winston Marcum and Thomas Tucker, Colonels Woodson, Moyo, or Major (illegibly written) and Moseby in the Virginia Troops; and that he was at the battle of Guilford Court House, at the siege of Yorktown and surrender of Cornwallis and in several skirmishes. 

His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of six months service as was required by the pension laws.

There are no data as to his family.
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The foregoing is the history of the only soldier named Thomas Jessee, that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office. 

Very truly yours
A. D. Hiller
Assistant to the Administrator
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War Department Pension Office
October 6, 1936
Sirs:
The declaration of Thomas Jesse has been filed with suspended cases.  Before a decision can be had in his case some additional proof should be obtained as to his alleged service.  He should also give a satisfactory reason under oath for not making an earlier application for a pension.
William Owens Esq.
Columbia
Ky
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Free 
Pension Claim
Honble
J. S. Edwards 
Pension agent 
Washington City 
Sep 18
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Columbia Kentucky Sept. 17th 1836
Dear Sir, 
I enclose you the declaration of Thomas Jessee you will be kind enough to give as speedy examination as may be convenient
I am Dear Sir
With respect & esteem
Your Obedient Servant
William Owens
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Thomas Jessee
Kentucky
Suspended
(illegible) 6 6 0 1836
Mr. Lo 17
Feb 1837
5581
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Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
5581
P.O. 
Thomas Jessee
Service: 
Enlisted: REJECTED, 18.
Discharged: REJECTED, 18.
Application filed: REJECTED, 18.
Printed list of 1852 Shows cause of
Suspension:
“Six months of service not fully proved”
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1932, Dec. 13 - History to J. W. Singer - lister in case Giles Hawkins - T. S. 1211  E. E. L.