Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 20560, for Joseph M Thompson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Thompson Joseph M. Joseph.
S. 20560
carded
CONTENTS

. 11.243  Maine
Joseph Thompson
Dark No. in the State of Maine who was a Musician 1st in the Company by Captain Bangs of the Regt commanded by Col Seaman in the Massachusetts line for -
  8 Mo. Musician  29. 33.    11 " Private  33. 33     62. 66  
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 62 Dollars - 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 th day of April 1833 and sent to -  John Thompson, Cornishville, Me.
  Arrears to the 14th of March 1833  125. 32    Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 1833  31. 33  
$ 156. 65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. P. Spague Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 1 Page 58 -
Dear - For you or Haged, May 23. 39 -
Det to C N Cogswell Oct 17. 43

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7. 1832.
State of Maine } ss. County of York - {
On this 20th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court, before in presence in said county the court of Probate, now sitting, Joseph M. Thompson resident of Cornish in said county of York & State of Maine aged Eighty 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as here in stated. Viz: General Putnam, Col. Scammon (the name of the Maj. he has forgotten - he was a resident of Londonderry N. Hampshire & was killed at the battle at Bunker Hill) Capt. Bragdon & Lieut. Lewis. Does not recollect the day he entered the said service. Thinks it was in the month of March 1775 and left it in November of the same year, making a period of eight months. He remained in the town of Sanford, County of York & Commonwealth of Massachusetts when he entered the said service. Marched from said Sanford to Cambridge in said Massachusetts, there joined the army - was there & thereabouts for the term of eight months as aforesaid, as a musician, and was in the battle at Bunker Hill in the June following his said enlistment. He was a volunteer in said service. Has no documentary evidence. The above service was performed in the Massachusetts line of militia.
Afterwards on or about the year 1778
He again entered the service of the United States in the Company of Captain Dorman at Sanford aforesaid as a substitute. enlisted and proceeded to Rhode Island where he served as a substitute  substitute in the Massachusetts line for the term of two months. He does not recollect the names of any other officers. Saw Capt. Dorman aforesaid, who resided in Wells in said County of York. He has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to this last named service.
2nd. by Court. 1 When & in what year were you born?
Ans. In Westport in the State of New Hampshire and in the year 1751.
" 2" Ans. by Same. Have you any record of your age: and if so, where is it?

Ans. There are I have no record in my possession - but suppose there is one at said Exeter.
Ins. 3. by Same 3 rd Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Ans. to the 3 rd question. I lived in Sanford, County of York and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. and have always lived in Cornish in said County of York & State of Maine since said War & now live in said Cornish.
Ins. 4 th How were you called into service: were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute for whom?
Ans. In the first eight months service I volunteered or enlisted. In the Rhode Island service I think I was drafted went as a substitute for Jonathan Goodwin. of said Sanford.
Ins. 5 th by Same.
State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served: such Continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service?
Ans. 5 th The names of all the officers I recollect are embodied in the foregoing declarations. except Maj: Warren whose name I did not then recollect. I do not recollect any names of Regiments or any more particulars of the service than have been named. On further reflection I do recollect that one Master or Masden, an Englishman, was one Adjutant at Cambridge aforesaid.
Ins. 6 th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service aforesaid & if so, by whom was it given & what has become of it?
Ans. to the 6 th question. I rec d no discharge.
Ins. 7 th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, & who can testify to your character

for veracity & their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution?
Ans. to 7th question. Isaac Thompson, Eben Barker, Simon Pease, Elder Timothy Remick, Theophilus Smith, Benjamin Pike, Noah Jewett, & Joseph Chadbourne.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
The undersigned a clergyman residing in the same town and place certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Thompson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty years of age that he is respected & beloved in the neighborhood where he resides & has been a revolutionary soldier and that he came in Metaphysics before said.
Afterwards on or about the twenty eighth day of August 1777 he again enlisted in the army of the United States at said Sanford, when he then resided in the county and proceeded from thence immediately to Cambridge aforesaid & entered the army joined in the company of Captain Prescott of which Otis was ensign, both of Boston. and from said Cambridge proceeded to Valley Forge, or "Gulph Pickett" and there was attached to Col. David Henley's Regt. & served a term of eight months and received a discharge in writing under the hand of Wm. J. Smith, Comd't Office of Adjutant General dated April 28, 1778. which is now in his my possession. After serving the term of eight months as aforesaid & receiving said discharge he was five hundred miles from home. and was near one month in making the journey on foot. This with the two terms of service before mentioned making in the whole 18 months Service.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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 Joseph A. Hodgson Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid

Joseph M. Thompson vs Col. Henry Roll
I, Charles White of Parsonsfield, County of York and State of Maine, do hereby declare & say that I am well acquainted with Joseph M. Thompson who is the person named and was out with him in the war of the Revolution & well know that he performed the eight months of service first named in this declaration at Cambridge in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for he was in my mess during the whole of the said eight months of service first named in this declaration. I am now seventy five years old & have lived in Parsonsfield 32 years.
Charles White
Application for a pension
We Timothy Remick a clergyman of said County and Noah Jewett of the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph M. Thompson, who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration and that we believe him to be eighty years of age; that he is respected and beloved in this neighborhood where he resided & to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Timothy Remick
Noah Jewett
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and serves as he states, and the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Joseph M. Thompson Timothy Remick who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in said County and that Noah Jewett who has also signed the same is a resident of said County and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, William G. Allen, Register of the said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph M. Thompson for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of office this 20 day of August 1832
Wm. G. Allen, Register of Probate

Repetition 20 560 INVALID.
File No. 20 570
Joseph Thompson Musician Rev War
Act: June 7 th 39 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 417
[Arrangement of 1870.]

May 4. 1904 - His to E. A. Culver - Margaret mch

23 The claim of David Thompson of York Co was improperly ad- justed by this man's service

Joseph M. Thompson Discharge

Gulph Dickett April 28 th 1778 —
This is to certify that Joseph Thompson and John Stevens of Col. David Henley's Regt. have served out the time for which they engaged & behaved themselves with propriety always discharging their duty as good soldiers —
Permit them to pass to Sanford in the State of Massachusetts Bay with their arms being their own property —
The following commissary is hereby desired to supply them with provisions on the Road —
Wm. L. Smith Com d Off er of Advan ce
To Whome it may concern
Newtown Sep r 6 th The above soldiers drew three days provisions at this Post commencing the 3 rd & ending the 5 th inst. both days included
Edw d Westphalen Q u ar ter Master

4619
Joseph de Thompson
4.56 13 14 a
adm
1st Musician 29.33
11 " Private 33.33
John Jamieson 62.66
Cornishville
Me
Special letter P/101.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Joseph Thompson which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 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? not correctly. no troops were raised so early as March 1775 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? Not fully VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 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?

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 ?
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 ?
The best evidence is not produced. His discharge must be forwarded as his name cannot be found on the rolls of Henry's reg His other services are not sufficiently proved
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? No
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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 ?
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 _____ 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 period for which the 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 qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV.  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.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end 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.

I, Daniel Eastman of Camberle in the County of York and State of Maine do hereby declare and say that I have been acquainted with Joseph M. Thompson who has made a declaration in order to obtain a pension herewith sent. ever since the war of the Revolution. I was with him during the period of service first named in his said declaration. But I am sure he is mistaken in regard to the time of 1775 entering said service. It must have been in May 1775, I think as we were assembled at Cambridge about a month before the battle of Bunker Hill. I know that he served the full term of eight months at that time in the Company of Capt Joshua Brayman of Wells, for I was in the Company with him. Morgan Lewis was Lieutenant of the said Company. We were mustered in the Massachusetts Line and served in Col. James Mellen's Regiment.
Daniel Eastman
York 55. Alfred January 7th. 1833 Then personally appeared the above named Daniel Eastman and subscribed and swore to the truth of the above statement. Before me John Lamson Justice of the Peace.
And I the said John Lamson do further certify that Daniel Eastman who has subscribed the above resides in said Camberle and it is satisfactorily proved to me that his statement, as well as the statement of Charles White who made an affidavit to the original declaration of the said Thompson are both entitled to credit and that they are both persons of credibility.
John Lamson Justice of the Peace.
Further Amendments of the original declaration of Joseph M. Thompson herewith sent.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of York and State of Maine. Joseph M. Thompson, who is the identical Joseph M. Thompson named in the original declaration of service who being duly sworn, deposes & saith that he is satisfied by the above deposition of Dan e Eastman and further reflections on the subject that he was mistaken in regard to the time of entering the

Service first set forth in his original declaration. The is now satisfied that it was in May AD 1775. as the said Eastman has deposed. From old age and the constant loss of memory he cannot positively swear to the precise day; he entered the service but he is sure he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades: For the first the eight months first mentioned I served as a drummer. For two months in the year AD 1778 at Rhode Island I served as a drummer. And for eight months in the third period of service from the 28th day of August AD 1777 to the twenty eighth day of April AD 1778 I served as waggoner and in the absence of the wagon master and gave sundry receipts to the commissary for waggon master and gave sundry receipts to the commissary for rations or provisions. And for such service I claim a pension
My officers in the first period of service were Col. James Scammon - Capt. Joshua Bragdon and Lieut. Lewis. Major Wanek and General Putnam - as set forth in the original -
I recall no officers in the Rhode Island service save Capt. Dorman & Lieut. Sweet -
In my third period of service my officers were Col. Kraby - Capt. Prescott and Ensign Otis -
The only documentary evidence I have is my discharge here with Lieut.
Joseph H. Thompson
Subscribed and sworn to this twenty fifth day of January AD 1833
Before me John Jamieson Justice of the Peace within & for the County of York and State of Maine.
State of Maine.
York, ss. William Cutter Allen, register of the court of Probate for said county, of York, hereby certify that John Jamieson is a Justice of the peace as above stated and that the signatures purporting to be his are genuine.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this thirteenth day of February A.D. 1833.
Wm. Cutter Allen Register of Probate

OWEN W.H.
Marquette, Mich.
Hon E. I. Ware, Commissioner of Pensions. Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Will you please let me know, if the name of Joseph Thompson, who was a soldier of the Revolution, appears on your books, if so, date of his enlistment and what State he enlisted from and greatly oblige me. Very truly Yours,
E. A. Calver, P.O. Box 76.
Marquette, U.P. of Michigan.