Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 11208, Thomas Watson, Penn.

SERVICE
Penn.
Watson, Thomas
NUMBER
R 11208
Born in Ireland
CONTENTS

State of Pennsylvania Butler County ss.
On this sixteenth day of June Anno Domini One thousand eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared in Open Court, before the Court of Common Pleas of Said County of Butler - in the State of Pennsylvania aforesaid - Now Sitting, Thomas Watson a resident of the Township of Buffaloes in the County & State aforesaid aged seventy eight or seventy nine 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 th . 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States in the month of March One thousand seven hundred and seventy seven - at Middletown - on the Susquehanna river in the State of Pennsylvania - as a private - That he was listed at said town - in the State aforesaid by Sinclair Dickson - who was a recruiting sergeant as represented - that with said Dickson and others he marched to Reading in the State aforesaid - from thence to Philadelphia Then to Middle Brook in New Jersey - Here he joined General Conways brigade - in the Sixth Battalion of Pennsylvania Troops - Commanded by Lieut. Colonel Becker - Captain of the  the own company - Marching through through New Jersey the Army (he being then one of the Army) Countermar- -ching was brought to a skirmish at the Short Hills - Here receiving a pin from the English plank our Colonel commanded "to the right wheel" and the Regiment broke - collected again about twelve or 13 miles distance from Short Hills - then marched to Elizabeth Town - in New Jersey - from thence to South Amboy - then to the Clove and encamped - for night - Then marched to Kings Ferry on the North River - crossed the River and marched to the State of Connecticut - This about harvest in the year 1777 - General Washington being with us

The Army counter Marched thru through the State of New Jersey to Pennsylvania. the crisp Brads. crossing the North River in great haste at King's Ferry. and Marched thru through Philadelphia crossed the Schuylkill River. handy to Philadelphia. thence to Wilmington. Here encamped. being the Month of September 1777. Above Wilmington we threw up forts. left the forts and Marched up the Brandywine. on the road marching on the road we were commanded to leave the same. and were taken to a plowed field. where the line of Battle was formed. This in the Month of September 1777. in the after part of the day the enemy came in sight A heavy fire of Musketry and Cannon commenced on both sides. and lasted about till sun setting. When the American lines gave way. and they retreated that is the Americans. Genl. Conway commanded the Brigade or division that he was attached to. This department was taken prisoner by the British and with two or three hundred was taken to Wilmington. Here was kept a prisoner for about a Month. Was then put on board of an English prison ship. was kept prisoner on the ship for about two months. When suffering from extreme bad treatment. he was induced from a view of release from imprisonment and suffering and with a view to re-join the American Army he listed in the British service. Attempted an escape a few days after enlistment but did not succeed. Was then taken to New York. This in the year of 1778. Escaped from the British in 1779 after harvest probably in July or August. and returned to the State of Pennsylvania. and remained at home not knowing where his Regiment was. He knows of no person living who could swear to the facts above stated. He further states that he is in needy Circumstances.
Sworn to & subscribed before me in open court the 16 th day of June 1838.
John Sullivan Br
Brewer
{ (also Br)

State of Pennsylvania Butler County ss.
I Thomas Watson. Hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declare that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state, or if any
Sworn & subscribed the 16 th day of June A. D. 1838. Thomas Watson
John Buchanan B. C.
We John Davis and Stephen Brewer, near neighbours of Thomas Watson, being resident in the Middletown & Buffalo township & county and state of Penn a . aforesaid. Do hereby certify that we are well- acquainted with the said Thomas Watson, who has subscribed and sworn to the above foregoing declaration; that we believe him to be seventy eight or seventy nine years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn & subscribed the 16. June 1838.
John Buchanan B. C.
John Davis Stephen Brewer
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 said Thomas Watson was the above and foregoing named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that John Davis and Stephen Brewer, who have signed the preceding certificate are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
John Breeding
State of Penn a . Butler Coy. ss.
I John Sullivan, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Thomas Watson for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my

hand and seal of office this 16 th day of June 1838.
I, John Davis, in addition to what is stated in the foregoing certificate signed by myself and Stephen Brewer, do hereby certify that I am was myself a soldier of the Revolution. And I am now a pensioner - that I served in the same Brigade with Thomas Watson, although at that time I was not acquainted with him. yet I verily believe he was a soldier of the Revolution and served as stated. It is now about forty years since he has made substantially the same statement to me as contained in the foregoing application. He also relates many things which I know to be true.
Sworn & subscribed before me this 16 th day of June 1838.
John Davis
John Sullivan
Thomas Watson On his Oaths deposes 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 recollections, he served not less than two years and six months including the time he was with the British - as a private. And for such service I claim a pension. Sworn to & subscribed before me the 16 th day of June 1838.
I, Stephen Brewer further certify that from facts related to me by my brother - Dan l Brewer who was a soldier of the Revolution - after his return from the service - I verily believe Thomas Watson was a soldier of the Revolution.
Stephen Brewer

V 29.885 Thomas Watson Pitts. Pennsylvania
11208

Interrogatories propounded by the Court to Thomas Paton the foregoing named Applicant for a pension.
1 st Where, and in what year, were you born?
Born in Ireland in 1759 or 1760
2. Have you any record of your age? and if so, where is it?
Has no record
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war; and where do you now live?
was living in in Middlesex county, Pennsylvania before since the Revolutionary war lived in Chester county moved to Franklin county from there moved to Berks county where I now live
4. How were you called into service: were you draughted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute; and, if a substitute, for whom?
I was in service was not draughted nor a volunteer nor a substitute
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 my Service.
I was enlisted by Sergeant Dickson was in Captain McKean's Company of Lieutenant Colonel Baker commanded the Regiment. My Regiment Pennsylvania Key Stone
b. Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service; and, if so, by whom was it given; and what has become of it?
I never received a discharge to this present at the Battle of Brandywine and was captured for three months & was forced into the British Service & made her escape & forced to enlist & after made her escape in the year 1778

State of Pennsylvania Butler County - ss -
I John Sullivan, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County in the State aforesaid. Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Watson for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office at Butler - at the County of Butler Penn a . the 16. day of June A.D. 1838.
John Sullivan Clerk

July 7, 1838
Sir: I herewith enclose the Hon. Mr. Pratt's letter and also that of John A. Purviance relative to the case of Thos. Watson and have the honor to state that upon an examination of his declaration it would appear that while serving as an enlisted soldier of the Penn. Line he was taken prisoner at the battle of Brandywine in Sept. 1777 & having been kept on board a prison ship for about two months and suffering

From extreme hard treatment was induced to enlist in the British service with a view to release himself from his sufferings in which service he remained until the summer of 1779 when he effected his escape and not knowing where to find his regiment returned home and did not again join the American Army. His name is not found on the rolls in this

office of those who belonged to the Penn. line,
The absence of record evidence in a case like this where records exist, is prima facie evidence against the claim and in all such cases the testimony of two credible witnesses is deemed indis- pensable to prove the enlistment and imprison- ment of the claimant. If such proofs were exhib- ited, it would then be incumbent on the claimant

to shew that his entering into the service of the enemy was a justifiable act, and that he was prevented from joining his regiment after being released from captivity by causes under which he had no control. Under the circumstances of the case, the claim cannot be allowed, without a departure from the rules of the Dept. to which we have heretofore invariably adhered. To Secretary of War

Thomas Watson Pennsylvania
Rejected
See letter of July 1838 Hon. D. R. Poinsett let: 26 July 38 D. N. Purnam
joined the British army and did not afterwards of service in the American army,

May 24, 1905 - Writ to Mrs. Rose Inga Lam March Pittsburgh Pa.
June 22, 1905 History to Elizabeth Gatchell, Connellsville, Pa. 1907 July 22. Writ to E. M. Sandstetter in S. Ct. 40881 1907 Oct. 25. Writ to C. P. Smith
11298
P. O. Thos Watson
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

11298
Commissioners of Pensions: Sirs: Kindly forward to me a copy of the Application of Pensions of Thomas Watson, of Butler Co., Penna. of the Revolutionary War 1776.
Respectfully Yours Elizabeth Gatchell
516 North Pittsburg St. Connellsville, Penna.

Ref. 11.208
Thomas Watson
June 16, 1832 - 1839
Buffalo Gap, Butler Co., Pa.
b. Ireland 1759 or 60.
Middletown - Dauphin Co. Pa. at end. Middletown Pa.
End Mar 1777 Pa.
Capt. McIlwain
Lt Col. Ricker
6 Batt. Pa. Vols.
skin Short Hills. captured at Brandywine, confined on Prison ship British prison ship, enlisted with hope of escape, in British service, was taken to New York in 1778 & deserted in July or Aug. 1779 when he ret. home
2 yrs 6 m
Claim not allowed for the reason that soldier's name was not found on the rolls alleged, and that he failed to prove his service under the act

enemy a justifiable act or that he was prevented from returning his regt. after his escape by cir- cumstances he had no control

11208
3-068.
Bureau of Pensions.
Thos Watson
June 16, 1838 - 78 or 79
Butler Co. Pa
Mar 77 missed  enq Pa Pa
Capt. McKearns
St. Col. Reaker or Baker
was captured at Brandywine in Sept. 77. Escaped in Aug or Sept. 79
born in Ireland, 1759 or 60
Reg. no proof

Union Steel Casting Company,
SIXTY-FIRST STREET & A.V. RY.
Pittsburg, Pa.
August 20th, 1907.
C. C. SMITH, PRES. G. W. SMITH, VICE PRES. S. H. CHURCH, VICE PRES. J. P. ALLEN, SECY. G. W. EISENBEIS, TREAS.
Q W & N
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:-
Please furnish me record, if you have such, of services of Thomas Watson, during the Revolutionary War. He lived in Chester County, Pennsylvania. I remain,
Yours respectfully,
C. C. Smith
CCS/MW

Boston June 18 th
Sir
Hon. Joel R. Poinsett Secy of War Washington D. C.

Butte 18 th June 1838.
Sir -
Under cover hereof I send you the papers of Thomas Watson - His application I trust will receive favorable attention. That he was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and taken prisoner at the Battle of Brandywine I presume cannot be doubted - his description of the battlefield, and the concurrence of John Davis & Stephen Brewer in many things related by him places his service beyond question - An omission occurred in his not signing the deposition as to the time of service, but I presume it is immaterial inasmuch as the same fact is stated & sworn to in his general narration - I shall feel gratified to hear from you soon.
Yours, Very Resp ly .
John A. Pervian

MS 1136 - July 21, 1838
Prussian Office, and July 26, 1838
WAL.
Th. Watson pa pa
King of Prussia Prussian Legation St. G.
Gen. Adolphe A. Donop
Donop 93 July 1833
See

Boston B July 183
fee
Hon Joel R. Poinsett
Secy of War
Washington City D. C.
Ms McNaughton per
Ms
Smith Office and July 26. 1838
Pl 136 - July 26, 1838

Bethel 17 July 1838
Dr Sir -
Some time since I forwarded to you the papers of Thomas Watson for a pension - As yet I have no no information respecting them - Will you be good enough to acknowledge their recd & also to let me know whether (if received) his application has your favorable consideration or otherwise.
Yours Respectfully.
John C. Durian
Wm. Joel C. Paine to Secy. of War