Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10503, for John Thomas, Virginia
Page 1

[form](3 - 1776)
[heading] SERVICE
[handwritten] Va
[handwritten]Thomas, John
[heading] NUMBER
[handwritten] R. 10503
[heading] CONTENTS
[contents is blank]
Page 2

[Left margin] Washington Ala. [Pension?] Office
The State of Alabama
Autauga County }       Ls. 

On this twenty sixth day of November in the year eighteen hundred & thirty-two, personally appeared in open Court, before the Honourable Alvin A. McWhorter Judge of the County & Orphans Court of the county & State aforesaid now sitting, John Thomas a resident of the county aforesaid, aged seventy-four years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, & served as herein stated. That he was drafted on or about the 23rd of March 1781 in Brunswick County Virginia, & served three months, a part of which time he was under the command of Lawrence House Capt. & Joseph Peoples [Peeples] Major [&] John Holcomb Colonel.  The company in which this affiant served having grown too
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large this affiant, was placed in another company under Capt Mark Steele. Towards the latter part of said term of service this affiant was under the command of Col. St George Tucker, & all the time he was in General Lawson's Army & that said Lawson's Army marched in Company with General Steuben who commanded a detachment of the Continental Army.  This affiant further states that he was one of a body of men who were selected from the rest of the Militia & were required to be at least five feet ten inches high, & marched in front of the other Militia next to Genl. [General] La Fayette.  This affiant further states that he left the army on or about the 29th June 1781, that he resided in the County of Brunswick State of Virginia at the time he was drafted, that he was marched to Petersburgh in said State, & from thence to Point of York on James River, that the army retreated from said last mentioned place to Prince Edward Court House, that Genl. [General] Lawson's Army halted at Prince Edward, but this affiant was sent on with Genl. Steuben as one of the guard
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for the baggage waggons [wagons], that he marched with said Steuben through Charlotte County across Staunton River & then returned & joined Genl. Lawson at Prince Edward C.H. [Court House] & then marched to Carter's Ferry on James River, & from thence across Chickahominy River & left the army at a place called the Big [or Rig?] [Nering?], he thinks in Hanover County. This affiant states that he did not receive a discharge. The reason was that General Lawson was hourly expecting an engagement & wished the Militia to remain, that subsequently he got a certificate of having served & sold it for one third of the amt [amount]. This affiant further states that he knew Col. Gaskins of Genl. Steuben's Army. He also remembers Col. Gann who commanded 180 mounted Riflemen but does not recollect whether Col. Gann was in the Regular Army or a volunteer. He states that he was born in Dinwiddie County Va. as near as he could tell in the year 1759. He has no record of his age. This affiant further states that he substituted in his father's place in a three months tour of service in the month of October in _ _ _ _
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the year 1779 or 80 under Major Richard Elliott & Capt. John Clayton & was employed in collecting beeves for the army by the direction of his commanding officer Major Elliott. That his father was drafted & he served in his place, & his father afterwards obtained a discharge for said term of service performed by this affiant. That Henry Hampton[,]  Wm Ruse & a man by the name of Williams were employed with this affiant in collecting beeves for the army & that they & this affiant were detailed for this service & exempted from other service on account of undertaking to furnish beeves which they performed. He thinks his father sold his discharge, his father died in the year ~81 [1781]. His father lived in Brunswick Co. & this affiant lived with him at the time of his last mentioned term of service. This affiant further states that in the month of August previous to his taking his father place, he was drafted in the said County of Brunswick & served about three weeks at the expiration of which time his father hired a
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substitute to take his place. During this time he was under the command of Capt John Threadgill and Lieut. Jones &  marched from Brunswick to Harrisburgh on Haw River in N.C. Before he reached Harrisburgh he was joined by Capt. Hawkins' Company of N.C. Militia.

He heareby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the warrant & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.

Sworn to & subscribed    }
The day & year aforesaid } John Thomas [signature]

Mr. Eli Terry a Clergyman & Wm S Hadnot both residents of the County of Autauga & said State, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Mr. Thomas who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy four years old, that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn & subscribed         }   Eli Terry [signature] [E.M.J.C. ?]
The day & year aforesaid }  W. S. Hadnot [signature]
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And the said Court doth hereby declare its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the afore named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states.  And the Court further certifies that it appears to them, that Eli Terry & Wm S Hadnot who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the said County of Autauga & that the said Eli Terry is a Clergyman & that the said W. S Hadnot is a credible person, & that their statement is entitled to credit.
Alvin A. McWhorter J.C.C. [signature] 

I Hinley Brown Clerk of the County & Orphans Court of the county of Autauga & said State do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of John Thomas for a pension.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office [per wording on sample Declaration on pg 10] this 26th day of Nov. A.D. 1833. 
Hinley Brown Clk [signature]
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No 19. /130 [or 630?]
John Thomas
Alabama

Rejected

Hinley Brown Esq.
Washington
Autauga County
Alabama
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(4)
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
23rd July 1833

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.  The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form.  On comparing these papers with the following rules and subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed.  The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done.  These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }).  You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them, and you will, by compling [complying] with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

[tabular form of statement:]

A Statement, showing the Service of John Thomas

[column headings:] 
Period when the service was rendered. |
Duration of the claimant's service: Years, Months, Days. |
Rank of the claimant. |
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. |
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. |
Proof by which the declaration is supported. |

[data]
23 March 1757 |
3 [Months] |
[blank] |
Cap. House
Col. Holcombe
Cap Hook
Col. St Geo Tucker |
74 years
Brunswick Co Va |


I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia" and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c, Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:

1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.

State, Territory, or District of }
County of  } 88.

On this [blank space] day of [blank space] personally appeared (a) before [blank space] A. B. a resident (b) of [blank space] in the county of [blank space] and State, Territory or District of [blank space] aged (c) [blank space] years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [blank space], with [blank space] and served in the [blank space] (e) regiment of the [blank space] line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [illegible mark] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of [blank space] 

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [blank space], A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.

I [blank space] of the Court of [blank space] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank space] for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank space] day of [blank space] &c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [blank space] and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank space], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank space] years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank space] and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank space] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, [blank space] Clerk of the Court of [blank space] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank space] for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal [blank space] of office, this [blank space] day of [blank space] &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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3

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.

1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?

5. 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 services.

G. {

To a Soldier. {
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?

To an Officer. {
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?

7. 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 belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. 

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[horizontal line]

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.

[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
conforming to the rule.

[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.

[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.

[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:

"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For ------ year ----------- months, and ------------ days, I served as a -----------. For ----------- months and ----------- days, I served as a ------------; and for such service I claim a pension."

it is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the person for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such quantifying expressions are objectionable. 

Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[I] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

[illustration of a hand pointing into the text] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.

[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. 
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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(16)
[strikeout text] Acts of July 14, 18[illegible]2, and March 3, 187[illegible]

[stamped] REJECTED
10,303.
P. O. John Thomas
Service: [blank] ___________
Enlisted: [blank] ___________, 18  .
Discharged: [blank] ________, 18  .
Application filed: [blank] __________, 18  .
Alleges: [blank] __________________________
Re-enlisted: [blank] ______________________
Attorney: [blank] ________________________
P. O. [blank] ____________________________
[blank] ____________ Recognized.
[blank] ____________ Contract.
[blank] ____________ Cert. of Dis.
Searched for [blank] ____________, 18   .
Page 13

[handwritten] 
John Thomas (15)
Alabama
act 7 June [underlined] 1832

Rejected [underlined]. See letter
July 24, 1840, to Hon.
D. H. Lewis - [First 
rejected in 1839]-

in former reports
Page 14

[handwritten]
Act 7th June 1832
Rejected [underlined]
See letter 23rd July 1833
To
Hinley Brown
Washington
Autauga Co [County]
Alabama

let 16 Feb 1839
Hon D. H. Lewis, do. 27
Jany 1840. Same Feb 11, 1840
Act of 7th June 1832 (over [missing text; page torn here]

let 1 May 18[year missing; page torn; assume 1840 based on page 17]
Hon. D. H. Lewis
do. to A. Dickins, (cc Sam.
July 22, 1840. do. to Hon.
D. H. Lewis, July 24, 1840

(14)
Page 15

War Department,
Pension Office,
February 11, 1840.

Sir,

In compliance with your request I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of your letter of the 12th of February 1839 in the case of John Thomas, and a copy of the letter of the 16th of the same month from this office in reply thereto.  It is believed that the latter sufficiently explains the reason for not admitting the claim.

I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your Obt. Servt.
J. L. Edwards

Hon. D. H. Lewis,
House of Representatives
Page 16

House of Reps.
Feby [February] 16th 1840

J. L. Edwards Esq.

I wrote you some days since, & have received the application of John Thomas of Autauga Co for a pension. Intending to lay his case before Congress, you will oblige me by sending me the reasons upon which, his claim was rejected, also a copy of a letter to you from me, during the last rejection in relation to that case & your answers thereto, that I may lay them before the Committee.

Yr. Obdt. Servt.
Dixon H. Lewis
Page 17

[vertical text:]
May 1, 1840 

[vertical text:]
Ala [Alabama]
John Thomas

[horizontal text:]
J. L. Edwards Esg.
Com. of Pensions

[vertical text:]
Hon. D. H. Lewis
HR
Page 18

House of Reps.             [illegible marking]
April 29th 1840

Sir,
I have referenced the case of John Thomas, (which was rejected by your on the ground that the whole of the six months service mentioned in his declaration, was not in camp, but a part of it in collecting beeves for the army).  I repeat, I have referred this case to the Com. on Revolutionary Pensions in the Senate. The Committee would willingly grant the Pension, on the ground, that the service in which Mr. Thomas was detailed, though not in camp, was a compensatory service, imposed upon him by the command of his superior officers, & that he is equitably entitled to all the benefits he would have been entitled to if he had not been sent out to collect beeves for the Army, but the Committee objects that Mr. Thomas has not yet set forth, with sufficient distinctness of the precise[underlined] time[underlined] of his[underlined] terms[underlined] of[underlined]
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service.  Enclosed is a letter from Mr. Carroll Clark of the Committee, giving an abstract of Mr. Thomas' declaration, by which it appears, Mr. Thomas fixes[underlined] his last term of service explicitly[underlined] to "on or about the 23rd of March 1781--& names the officer under which he served.  He says his first term of service, "was in October 1779[underlined] or 1780[underlined]" & that in August previous to this[underlined] term[underlined] of service, he was drafted & served theree weeks under Capt John Threadgill, & Lieut. James & a substitute was then procured to take his place. 

Now this objection as to the precise date of service is one not urged by you, &  it looks harsh, that a Revolutionary soldier should lose his pension because he cannot say whether he served in 79[underlined] or 80[underlined]. As he sets forth his officers so fully, can you not by historical or documentary evidence in your office supply the defect so as to show
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whether Capt Threadgill's company was drafter in 1779 or 1780. If you can, by any evidence in your possession, help this worthy old soldier to fix the true date of his service you will greatly oblige.

Yr obdt servt [Your obdient servant,
Dixon H. Lewis
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(13)

Washington July 13th 1853
Hon L. P. Waldo
Com. [Commissioner] of Pensions

Sir,

On the 21st of February last I filed some additional evidence in the case of Thomas an old Revolutionary soldier now alive in the State of Alabama who served in the Revolutionary war, and who is applying for a pension which had been denied him.

I have also [finished?] to the Senator Clemens, a synopsis of the case with much requirements as I think the case fully justifies with the view to his looking into the case, but his ill health prevented him from doing so previous to leaving this City & consequently the day before he left here he transmitted this paper to the Pension Office. I respectfully ask that the case may be examined in concurrence with the papers filed by me on 21st Feby last and the paper transmitted by the Senator Clemens.

Very respectfully,
Your Obt. Servt,
H.C. Spalding
Atty
Page 22

26th Cong
1 Sep

Petition
of John Thomas a 
soldier of the Revolution
praying to be allowed a
exemption

1840 Mart 3 Referred to
the com: on Pensions
" July 16 Discharged


[handwritten] 10502

W[William?] Clay of Al [Alabama]
Page 23

To the Senate & House of Reps. of the United States

The petition of John Thomas represents that he is a revolutionary soldier - that he served during the Revolutionary War six months, but that owing to the fact the he was detailed contrary to his wishes & against his consent for a part of the time in driving beef for the benefit of the army to which he belongs, he has under the Law[underlined] been denied his Pension. The facts are set forth in the within papers & he begs your attention to them & particularly to paper marked A[underlined] being a letter from D. H. Lewis to the Commissioner of Pensions, setting forth all the facts & he begs to make that letter a part of his petition.

John Thomas
by
D. H. Lewis
Page 24

(12)

Office of Secy. [Secretary] Senate U.S.
July 24, 1840.

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions,

Sir,
By direction of the Secretary of the Senate I herewith transmit, in compliance with the request in your letter of 22nd [illegible], the petition of John Thomas.

I have the honor to be
respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
C.W.Jms. Donald
Clk.
Page 25

(Copy)

War Department
Pension Office
February 16, 1839.

Sir,
I herewith return the memorandum in the case of John Thomas. It is stated in his declaration that in 1781 he performed a tour of three months as a militia man of Virginia of which a full detail is made. He also states that previously in 1779 or 1780, he entered the service as a substitute for his father under a draft to serve three months, and was detailed to collect beeves for the use of the Army. He also served a tour of three weeks. It would appear from the enclosed memorandum that after collecting a certain number of beeves, in which he had been engaged between three and four weeks, he was exempted from further service and did not join the army, but that his father was paid for the whole of the three months. The act of June 7, 1832 provides for none who did not perform at least six months actual service under military obligations. The claim cannot therefore be allowed. The claim was rejected in 1833 because
Page 26

because the service alleged was not in a military capacity. If he had served full three months the claim could not have been allowed unless it should have been clearly proved that it was under a draft. In many cases persons were exempted from serving in the Army as militia men, upon obligating themselves to perform some such duty as above specified. Service under such obligations would not entitle the person to a pension. 

I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your Obt Servt,
(Signed) J. L. Edwards

Hon. Dixon H. Lewis
House of Representatives
Page 27

(Copy) 
House of Representatives
February 12. 1839  (6)

J.L. Edwards, Esq.

Sir,
Enclosed is a memorandum which I drew up after a conversation with John Thomas of Autauga County, Alabama, during the last Summer. I have known him ever since I was a boy, and believe him to be the best man in proportion to his intellect and opportunities in life, I ever knew. He has been considered a revolutionary soldier for thirty years to my knowledge, by his neighbor and acquaintances. I saw him meet La Fayette in Alabama and mentioned to him that on a certain occasion which he named, he was joining the main body of the Army with a load of canteens filled with cool water, he had got from a fine spring on James River, and that La Fayette very much exhausted with fatigue, met him and took one of the canteens of water and drank very heartily. La Fayette recollected the circumstances, and said it was one of the sweetest drink of water he ever had, shaking the old man cordially by the hand. Mr Thomas'
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papers you will see by the memorandum, are probably still in your Department, where they were sent six or eight year ago by some person from Autauga County. I shall rejoice if the good old man can get a pension, for he is very old and in need. He now supports himself by his labor in the field.
Your Obt. Servt.
Signd/ Dixon H. Lewis
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House of Reps
Feby 12th 1839

J L Edwards Esq.
Sir,
Enclosed is a memorandum which I drew up after a conversation with John Thomas of Autauga County Alabama during the last summer. I have known him ever since I was a boy, & believe him to be the best man in proportion to his intellect & opportunities in life, I ever knew. He has been considered a revolutionary soldier for thirty years to my knowledge, by his neighbors & acquaintances. I saw him meet Lafayette in Alabama & mentioned to him, that on a certain occasion which he named, he was joining the main body of the army with a load of canteens filled with cool water, he had got from a fine spring on James River & that Lafayette very much exhausted with fatigue, met him & took one of the canteens of water & drank very heartily. Lafayette recollected the circumstance, & said it was one of the sweetest drinks of water he ever had shaking the old man cordially by the hand.
Mr Thomas' papers you will see by the memorandum
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are probably still in your Department where they were sent six or eight years ago by some person from Autauga County. I shall rejoice if the good old man can get a pension for he is very old & in need. He now supports himself by his labor in the field.
Yr obdt servt [Your Obedient Servant],
Dixon H Lewis
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[form heading]
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

NAME Thomas, John 
GRADE Private "of the Artillery Artificer"
LINE Pennsylvania

WARRANT NUMBERs 10479 and 13842
ACREAGE 100
ISSUED July 27, 1789 to Richard Platt, assignee

_______
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.