Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,029, Thomas Butler, Va.

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(3-1776)
SERVICE Va 
Butler, Thomas
Number  S.15,029
carded
CONTENTS

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7647     Kentucky      
Thomas Butler       of  Madison   in the State of Kentucky who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Walker of the Regiment commanded by   Col Glen    in the Virginia line for 6 months      
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 20 Dollars ~ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.     
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of May 1833 and sent to   Joseph Turner    Richmond     
Arrears to the 4th of March               40.00      
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept    10.00      
                                                          $50.00     
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }    
Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk Book C Vol. 7 Page 3    
Letter to Pen [pension] Agent 11 April 1839     
Paid at the [unreadable Treasury] under the Act of 5th April 1838 from 4 Sept 1836 to 4 March 1838. Agt notified 30 July 1837.     
Letter to Honorable John White & 3rd Audr. 18 July 1840    
Paid as above from 4th Sept 1838 to the 13th May 1839 the day of his death.   Agt. Notified 2 March 1840

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12.736
Thomas Butler
Declaration for a pension

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State of Kentucky    
County of Madison } Set.      
On this 14th day of August, 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Worshipful the County Court of Madison, now sitting Thomas Butler, a resident of Madison County, State of Kentucky, aged 74 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. He was drafted into the militia service in 1780, he thinks in the fall of that year. His officers were Capt. Walker, he rather thinks his major's name was Conway,  Col. Glenn and Gen Green. He rendezvoused at Hillsborough North Carolina, marched to the Cheraw Hills, South Carolina, where we camped and remained a while, and returned to Hillsborough and there to Bedford County Virginia and received a discharge for this three months at or near Dan River, Virginia. He remained at home only a few weeks before he was again called upon, and he volunteered his services the second time, perhaps about February or March 1781, and was in the battle at Guilford Court House, North Carolina   He was this time commanded by Capt. Bowen Price, Major Calloway, Col. Lynch and Gen. Green.  From the battle at Guilford Court House he returned back to Bedford County, Virginia and was discharged.  He thinks he was about six weeks or two months in service this time. In the fall of 1782 he volunteer his service again to go against the [unreadable Shawnee Indians] under Capt. Daugherty, Col. Lyon and Gen. Black and marched from Lincoln County Virginia (now Kentucky) to the [unreadable Chillicothe]

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destroyed five or six Towns, then returned to Lincoln county again and was dismissed. He was in the service this time between six weeks and two months. He states that he resided in Bedford county, Virginia when he entered the service the first and second time and in Lincoln county the third time He got a discharge for his first and second tours, but has lost them,  for his last tour he never received a discharge.   He has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service.  He was born in Bedford county Virginia in the year 1758.  He has no record of his age at the time he has had but it is lost. He has resided in Bedford County Virginia part of his time since the revolutionary war and then moved to Madison County Kentucky where he has resided upwards of forty years and where he now resides.  He does not recollect who signed his discharges above spoken of.  He is known in his neighborhood to John Marrion and Daniel Pursell .   
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 the agency of any State.      
Sworn to and subscribed, foresaid the day and year aforesaid.  Thos. Butler    
We Daniel Pursell and John O. Marrian both residents of Madison County, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Thomas Butler who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 74 years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he

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resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and Subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.     
Daniel Pursell [seal]    
John O. Marrian [seal]    
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 mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Daniel Pursell and John Marrian, who has signed the preceding certificates are both residents of Madison county, and are creditable persons, and that their statement is intitled to credit    
John Hawkins JL     
Thomas O. Webb    
Saml Estill     
Kentucky Madison County Set.    I David Irvine clerk of the Madison County Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Butler for a pension.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 17 day of August 1832   David Irvine Clrc

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12.736
Thomas Butler
Madison co Keny

from 1780 private
6 months,
$20.

Cap Walker
Col Glen
Va

Joseph Turner
Richmond
Kenty

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BRIEF in the case of Thomas Butler   County of Madison   in the State of Kentucky   
 (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?   74 years   
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
Period.  Fall of 1780 drafted   Duration of Service.  3 months    Rank as a  Private     Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.  Captain Walker Colonel Glenn

Period.  March 1781    Duration of Service. 1 month & 12 days       Rank as a  Private     Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.  Captain Price Colonel Lynch

Period.  Fall 1782    Duration of Service. 1 month & 12 days       Rank as a  Private     Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.  Captain Daugherty Colonel Logan

5. In what battles was he engaged?   Guilford    
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Bedford Co. Virginia   
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?   Correct      
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
+ Sixe weeks or two Months Richard Cutts    Examining Clerk.

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TREASURY DEPARTMENT.   
Second Comptroller's Office     
January 22d, 1839.   
Sir:    
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838 entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States,"    Thomas Butler,   a Pensioner on the Roll of the Kentucky Agency, at the rate of    Twenty Dollars     per annum, under the law of the 7th June, 1832,   has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept., 1836, to the 4th March, 1838.   
 Respectfully, yours,  Albion K. Parris   
Comptroller.    
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.

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TREASURY DEPARTMENT,     
Second Comptroller's Office,     
January 20th, 1840.     
Sir:     
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States,"      The widow of Thomas Butler,     a Pensioner on the Roll of the      Kentucky   Agency, at the rate of Twenty   Dollars   per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832,   has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1838, to the 13th May 1839, the day of his death.     
Respectfully, yours,     
Albion K Parris    Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.

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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of [in hand "Thomas Butler Madison" illegible Kentucky"] which require 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 not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?   yes
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 amount of pension he is entitled?   no
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?   yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? [in hand, illegible]
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

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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?   no
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?    no
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
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?
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?    yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?    7

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. R. 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.

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3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period 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 [italicized "about three or four months"] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state 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 shewn 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.
†QUERE XIV. [italicized "Proof of Service."]
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 claimants 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.
‡QUERE XVI. [italicized "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 paper 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.
[winding character of hand extending the pointer-finger] In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

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LEXINGTON KY.   APR 1
Free
J.L. Edwards Esq
Comm of Pensions
Washington D.C.

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Northern Bank of Ky       
Lexington March 31 1838     
J L Edwards Esq    
Commr of Pensions      
Sir     
Enclosed please find for your inspection he papers of Thomas Butler, pension under Act 7 June 32. 18 mon ser
Very Respy 
Wm. Ernst 
Pen Clk

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 15.029
INVALID.
File No. [in hand "L5.029 Thomas Butler Priv. Rev. War"]
Act: [in hand "June 7 1832"]
Index: Vol. , Page [in hand "53"]
[Arrangement of 1870.]

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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES Form VAM-51 12-5-41
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
NAME [in hand "Butler, Walter"] GRADE [in hand "Private"] LINE [in hand "Connecticut"]
WARRANT NUMBER [in hand "5473"] ACREAGE 100 ISSUED [in hand "Aug. 27, 1789 To not shown"]
*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.