Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10536, for Jedediah Thompson, New York
Page 1

[printed card with handwriting]

SERVICE
New York
Thompson, Jedediah
NUMBER
R. 10536
Page 2

[handwritten]

Dear Sir
Moved by the unfortunate condition of a poor old man I take the liberty to address you. The subject is Jedediah Thompson who claims that he was a soldier in the war of the revolution and we that are acquainted with him have no doubt that his story is unquestionably true - He was born in this town formerly Pratton now Garswold in the year 1747 on around and lived  in this town untill [sic] he was 21 years old soon after he left this place and went to Florada [sic] County of Orange State of New York where and in that vicinity he resided untill [sic] about ten years ago when he was brought back to his mother town poor and lame and destitute without any friend or relation left dependent wholly on charity for support he states that after the war commenced he was [illegible] draughted and did soldiers duty but on the first day of April 1778 or 79 he does not distinctly recollect which he inlisted again for the same term and on the two succeeding Aprils he inlisted for the same terms all which inlistment he truthfully served to the end of the terms making in the whole 36 months - he states that his Col was [illegible] that his Capt in one service was John [illegible] in two of the services was Robert Wood in one service was Capt Westfall The service was performed on the [illegible] at and about the Hudson river I state these circumstances that you may have an opportunity to search for documentary records, to sustain his declaration. About 40 years ago the subject for whom Mr. [illegible words] had [illegible words] it in such a manner that he has been an [illegible] cripple ever since
Page 3

If [illegible] from the above statement you are disposed to listen to his claim you will please to make me a communication on the subject and we will make out his declaration with as much other testimony as can be obtained we can provide you with as many respectable Inhabitants as you please to testify to the veresity of his character.

I leave the subject in your hands trusting that you will do Justice to one of our unfortunate fellow mortals who we think has a just claim on the bounty of his Country 

Am [illegible] respectfully
Your Obedt. Servant
Bishop Tyler

Griswold Con 
Jany 14 1835 

You will of course wish to know something of the caracter of him who addresses you.  I refer you to the Hon. Noyes Barber of the house of representatives
Page 4

Jedediah Thompson
Obj. 4. 5. [illegible]: 13.

John A Rockwell
Norwich Court
Page 5

BRIEF in the case of Jedediah Thompson County of New London in the State of Connecticut (Act 7th June, 1832.) 
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court 
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 
3. How old is he? 65 years 
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 

Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
 | Years, Months, Days. | As A | Gen.
 In 1778 - 79 | 9 | Private | Capt Falkinder  Col Paulding

The Claimant States that he served other period of Nine months under the same officers.

5. In what battles was he engaged? None
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? [illegible] New York 
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers are not attach. As requd. 

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above Richard Cutts Examining Clerk.
Page 6

Jedediah Thompson's
application for a Pension
10,798
Page 7

edediah Thompson Supplementary application for a Pension

State of Connecticut County of New London } ss. [illegible]      1

On this 30.-. day of January A.D. 1834 personally appeared in open Court before the County Probate for the District of Norwich in said County and State now [illegible] Jedediah Thompson a resident in the town of Griswold in said County District and State aged 86 years who being first duly sworn according to law - having made a declaration and forwarded his application for a pension executed in the 27 day of August AD 1832 and which is hereto appended and [stricken out: the] objections having been returned to the allowance of the claim, [crossed out illegible] doth on his oath make the following declaration supplementary to said former declaration - in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 

In relation to the period or periods of the war when he served "objection 4) and “the length of his service” “and of the different grades in which he served”(Objection 5) [illegible] in relation to the names of the officers” in the 6 objection he declares and says that he entered the Militia Service in the State of New York as stated in his general declaration as a private on the first day of April A.D. 1777 in the company commanded by Capt John Falkinder and in the Regiment which Major Benschoten was the Major and Le[illegible] Paulding was Colonel and continued in active service for the period nine months. That he enlisted and served through the three succeeding campaigns commencing on the first day of April of each year and continuing each for the period of nine months. Making four Successive terms of service in nine months each

In relation to the [illegible] by documentary evidence stated in the 13. objection he declares that residing as he does in the State of Connecticut, and illegible]
Page 8

of residence at the time of entering the service and for a long time thereafter and being very infirm and very poor he has been unable to obtain the [illegible] of many or any witness to the facts stated in his declaration. That he has endeavored by correspondence through his friends to obtain testimony from the State of New York but has learned that Jonathan Dubois to whom he referred in his original application and upon whom he principally relied for evidence is dead and he has not been able to obtain any other direct testimony.

And for further facts in relation to this matter he refers to the original application hereto annexed. 

Jedidiah [Jedediah] Thompson 

Personally appeared the above named Jedediah Thompson & made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him subscribed the day & year aforesaid 

Before me John Hyde Judge of the Court of Probate
Page 9

Preston July 26th AD 1832
This may certify that Jedediah Thompson Son of Benoni Thompson was born in Preston the 5th day of June AD 1747 as appears from record
Attest Cha [illegible] [illegible] Clerk
Page 10

4
State of Connecticut County of New London } ss. Norwich
On this 27th day of August AD. 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate within and for the District of Norwich in said County and State now sitting Jedediah Thompson a resident of the town of Griswold in said County and state aged 85 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 act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.

That he [crossed out: enlisted] entered the service of the United States under the following named officer and served as herein stated. And in answer to the [illegible] prescribed by the War Department and propounded by the Court he states 

1st. That he was born in that part of Preston which is now the town of Griswold on the 5th. day of June 1747. 
2d.  There is a record of his age in the town records of the said town of Preston and a certificate thereof is hereto attached.
Page 11

5
3d. He resided when called into the service in [illegible, maybe Niagara] County in the State of New York and  after the war was over he returned to his uncle’s in Florida in that County where he remained two or three years and after that he resided in Ulster County in the State of New York until about 13 years since when he returned to the town of Preston.

4th. He was a volunteer for four [crossed out illegible] periods of service of nine month each.

5th. His first term of service commenced in the spring of the year 1778 or 1779 he cannot tell which. he thinks on the first day of April in the company commanded by John Falkinder and in the regiment of Colonel Liam Paulding. Maj. Benschoten was a major in that regiment and Capt Westfall and Capt. Robert Wood the captains of other companies. The whole regiment consisted of about 350 men who were placed along in the frontiers in small companies of six or ten to protect the inhabitants against any attacks by the enemy particularly the Indians. [illegible] adopted was the acting of stockade forts which they occupied during the night and afforded protection to all who sought it. He served out his full period nine months and enlisted then successive
Page 12

years following for the same period of nine months each as he thinks under the same officers and in every instance served the full period of his enlistment upon a similar service. 

6. He received no written discharge from the service.

7th. For his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution he refers to Rev. Spofford D. Jewett, Capt. Elisha Prentice, Thomas Thwait Esq. Dist Bishop Tyler and Hon. Alexander Thwait all of the said town of Griswold.

He would further state that prior to leaving the State of New York he applied to Jonathan Dubois Esq of old Patts to draw his papers for him applying for a person but none was at that time granted.

He relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.

Jedediah Thomson 

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid } Before me John Hyde Judge of Court of Probate
Page 13

he Spofford D. Jewett a clergyman residing in the town of Griswold in New London County and Elisha Prentice and Thomas Thwait residing in said Griswold hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jedediah Thompson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty five 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.

 S. D. Jewett 
Thomas Thwait
Elisha Prentice 

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Before me John Hyde Judge of Court of Probate & Justice of the Peace 

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 Spofford D Jewett who has signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of
Page 14

Griswold in [illegible] New London County and that Elisha Prentice and Thomas Thwait who have also signed the same are residents in said Griswold and are creditable persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. and the said Court further find that Charles Much Esq of Preston in said New London County is the town clerk of said town of Preston and that his name signed to a paper hereto attached is his signature.

I Bunel Lathrop Clerk of the court of Probate for the District of Norwich in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jedediah Thompson for a pension. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of office of this court this 27th day of August A.D. 1832 Bunel Lathrop Clerk
Page 15

[crossed out] Act of July 14, 1862, and March 9, 1878.

10,536
REJECTED

P. O. Jedediah Thompson

Service: __
Enlisted: __, 18 .
Discharged: __ 18 .
Application filed: __ 18 .
Alleges: __ 
Re-enlisted: __ 
Attorney: __ 
P. O. __
__ Recognized. __ Contract.
Page 16

Connecticut Revol
Jedediah Thompson
Suspended
See let. Hon Ct. Barber
10. February 1834
10536
Act June 7. 1832
Page 17

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of 
Jedediah Thompson
further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? [illegible]
V. *Has he mentioned 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 amout of pension he is entitled? No No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? No
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes
Page 18

2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? No  No

XIV.+If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

XVI. ++Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

QUERE V. 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 --- and --- days, I served as a ---; and for such service I claim a pension.