Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,520, for Abner Thompson, Rhode Island

SERVICE
NUMBER
R. I. _____
Thompson, Stuer _____
R. 10,520 _____
CONTENTS
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M rs Thompson
Power of Atty
to
A. P. Hyde Esq
_____
Abner Thompson
Maps -
Surplus
Notes
Land

Know all Men by these presents that I William Thompson of Wales county of Hampden commonwealth of Massachusetts for and in my own behalf and as Agent and Attorney for Whipple Thompson of Stafford in the County of Tolland State of Connecticut Allen Thompson in the State of New York, William Thompson of New York, Levi Thompson of Ohio, Lucina Fish and Mary Nelson both of Wales aforesaid all being the Children and heirs of Abner and Mary Thompson both deceased and the only heirs of the said Abner and Mary Thompson deceased and for and in behalf of Stephen Fish Husband of said Lucina Fish and William Nelson Husband of Mary Nelson, do hereby constitute ordain and appoint Abner P. Hovey Esq. of Tolland county of Tolland and State of Connecticut our true and lawful Agent and Attorney for us and in our names to act for us, to prosecute, demand, receive and receive from the Pension Department of the United States of America all sums of money to which he may be entitled under the pension Laws of the United States of America as heirs at Law to Abner Thompson deceased and to appear before said department for us and to act, do, and perform every thing necessary, lawful and proper to be done to substantiate our claims to a pension

from the United States as heirs at Law to the said Abner Thompson deceased; having nothing all other powers And the hereby ratify what ever our said Attorney shall lawfully do in the premises
In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands and seals at Stafford this first day of November A D 1853 William Thompson
In the presence of M. R. West Deacon Smith
William Thompson as agent & Attorney for all of the aforementioned heirs
State of Connecticut } County of Litchfield } ss Stafford November 1 st 1853
Personally appeared before me William Thompson sign and seal of the foregoing instru- ment for and on his own behalf and as agent and Attorney for all the aforementioned heirs and acknowledged the same to be his free act & deed
Mehlon R West Justice of Peace

Power of attorney case of. Alma Thompson P. I. or Maf.
Thompson, Alfred Walter Stanford 62 Maf
5
• Oct 1852 E B J E Haasler Present

5
Abner Thompson, or heirs Wales Hampden 6 o / 7 Mass

POWER OF ATTORNEY
For ascertaining whether any increase or arrears of Pension are due the Widow or heirs of Revolutionary Pensioners, &c.*
STATE OF Massachusetts COUNTY OF Hampden S.S. }
Be it known that before me
John Smith Esq. a Justice of the Peace in and for said Co personally appeared William Thompson aged sixty years, who being duly cautioned and then sworn in due form of law, states that he is the son & heir of Abner Thompson who was a revolutionary Soldier in the State of Rhode Island and that he died on the seventh day of March 1839 and that my mother, named Mary Thompson died on the eighteenth day of September 1850 and that they were married on the day of about the year 1784 and that they were residents of Southfield in the State of Rhode Island at the time and that they resided there a few years after marriage and that they resided in Wales Mass. the last live forty years of their lives and that furthermore
BY THESE
PRESENTS , constitutes, appoints, and fully empowers and authorizes, irrevocably and with powers of substitution, F. E. HASSLER , of Washington city, D. C., as my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my name and stead, to examine into, to prosecute, to demand, and to receive from the U. S. Government and State officers all rights in all and in any manner of claim for increase or arrears of Pension or Land that may be due me as son and heir of Abner Thompson who died leaving the same undrawn, as in right of law I may be entitled.
In witness whereof, he has on this Eighteenth day of September 1852, hereunto signed his name, and affixed his seal.
William Thompson
Witness: John Smith Witness: Lafayette Rogers
In behalf, and for, and on account of the rest of the heirs of said Abner Thompson
Signed, sealed, acknowledged, and sworn to before me; and I further certify, that the said William Thompson has always by the community been known as the son & heir of Abner Thompson above named
Dated on this Eighteenth day of September 1852.
John Smith J. P.
State of Massachusetts COUNTY OF Hampden } to wit:
I hereby certify, That John Smith Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits and acknowledgment were made, and who has thereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature above written is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of Hampden County Court, this Second day of October one thousand eight hundred and fifty two
G. B. Morris
Clerk. Rootford
* If a Widow applies, state "the date of marriage, and date of death of her husband." † State under what act pensioned, or when pension commenced, if a pensioner—and amount of pension.

I Alner Thompson aged 77 years last April testify & say that in Oct r D r 1777 I went with my father from Smithfield (R.I) to Providence and enlisted as a private soldier in a Chartered Company of Minute Men, for during the War of the Revolution under Capt George Peck, my Father Edward Thompson was sent in the same Company, shortly after my enlisting Capt Peck was promoted to the rank of Maj r . and my father appointed to the command of the same Company; and I think in a Reg t commanded by Col. Gay not recollecting his Christian Name - that I was soon marched from Providence to Warwick or Bristol but cannot recollect which place we marched to first, but I did serve one month at each of those places in 1777 - and in 1778 I was order to march to Prov- idence, where we served one month, when we had orders from Gen l Sullivan to join his forces at Giverton in conjunction with Gen l Greene & La Fayette, when we were ordered to go on to Rhode Island in his expedition against New Port, (then in the hands of the British) when the French fleet under Count D'Estaing for some cause left the harbour in consequence of which we were compelled to retreat after some hard fighting with a superior British force - We then crossed the river at what was called Howland's ferry to Giverton at which place I served I think as long as one month making in this last tour I think about two months; when I returned to Smithfield - After which I was called on to Rhode Island after the British left the Island and served I think as long as one month at the time that Count Rochambeau was drawn to the South in 1781 - was March to Warwick to Providence and other places on the shores of the Narragansett river and bay; some times arrived to the places designated & remained a few days and returned, at other times before our arrival at our destined place had orders to return, making in the whole of my service more than nine months time . - The number of corps embodied were various at the different periods of service - at the time of crossing from the Mainland on to Rhode Island under Gen l Sullivan I should think there were as many as three thousand troops, and I cannot recollect to state with any degree of precision, their number at other times. - The distance of station from home are various from twenty to fifty Miles

We were Quarters most of the time in tents, a part of one time we were Quarters in a Meeting house - I never received any pay for any service - we subsisted by furnishing 2 or 3 days Provision ourselves at each time we were called out; afterwards we subsisted on supplies from the Commissaries Store; we furnished our own Arms and clothes - We were held in readiness to March at all times, when called upon during the War - The tenure of the Charter to which I enlisted was such that no one could leave the Company with out a Major Vote of the Company and no one did leave said Company during the revolutionary war except by enlisting into the Continental service Abner Thompson
State of Massachusetts
Hampden County
ss Wales Jan y 31 st 1839
Personally appeared before me John Smith a Justice of the Peace for said County, Abner Thompson a resident of said Wales and made solemn Oath to the truth of the above declaration or deposition by him subscribed -
John Smith Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden ss. I John Ingersoll Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth for the County of Hampden do certify that John Smith Esq. whose signature is subscribed to this paper was at the date thereof one of the Justices of the Peace within for said County duly Commissioned & qualified and the Authority of this Commonwealth that full faith & credit are sought to be given. Bell Act & Attestation done in that capacity that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said John Smith & believe his signature to said Certificate is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the Court of Common Pleas for said Commonwealth at Springfield on the 2 nd day of February 1839
John Ingersoll Clerk

Abner Thompson Penguin Peter
Meat

Mrs Thompson Mass. act 7. June 32
J. Willard Springfield Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss.
On this eleventh day of September A.D. 1838 personally appeared in Court before Oliver B. Morris Esq. Judge of the Court of Probate now sitting at Monson, Abner Thompson now a resident of Wales in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, Aged Seventy Seven 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 enlisted into the Army of the United States in the Month of September in the year 1777 in a company commanded by Capt. George Peck and in a Regiment commanded by Col. — Fry at Providence in the State of Rhode Island and Marched to Warwick where the company were stationed for some length of time (but cannot state the precisely the length of time) when we were Ordered to march to Providence where we served I think three Months, when we were marched to Bristol where we served one month or more when we were Ordered to March to Warren where we served more than two Months when we were ordered on to Rhode Island where we had some fighting with a British force greatly superior to ours, and were ordered to retreat across Howlands Ferry Small's at that time, to Tiverton where I served about two Months and was not discharged but was held in readiness at all times to March at a moments warning from the time I entered the service in 1777 to the close of the war That Nathan Dexter, and John Butterworth, whose Depositions are annexed was in the same company with me. That previous to my enlisting and at the time I was a resident of Smithfield in the State of Rhode Island & he hereby relinquishes all claims to any other pension under the United States
Abner Thompson

Sworn & subscribed in open court the day & year first above written before me
Vernon Morris Judge of the court of Probate for the county of Hampshire
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after investigation of the matter and after hearing the questions required by the war department, that the abovenamed Abner Thompson was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he has above declared
I Justin Willard Clerk of the Probate Court within and for said county of Hampshire do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Abner Thompson for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Springfield this fifteenth day of September
AD 1838
Justin Willard Clerk

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Secretary's Office Sept 8. A D 1838.
I certify that at the session of the General Assembly of said State holden on the first Wednesday of May last, Ariel Cook was elected a Justice of the Peace for the town of Cumberland in the County of Providence, for one year, and commissioned accordingly, as appears of record in this office.
Witness Henry Bowen Secy.

John Buttsworth Disposition

Providence R. Cumberland September 7 A.D. 1838 I John Butterworth of Cumberland State of Rhode Island do hereby and I engage according to law to testify the truth and nothing but the truth do testify and say That I am well acquainted with Abner Thompson of Wales in the State of Massachusetts and that I was knowing to said Thompson enlisting in to the company that was commanded by Capt George Pike in the year one hundred and seventy seven in the month of September I belonged to the said company with said Thompson and was knowing to his doing duty in said company in the year A.D. 1777 A.D. 1778 and A.D. 1779 and that he continued to belong to said company during the revolutionary war and I was knowing to his being out in said company on duty during said war as much as eight or nine months JOHN BUTTERWORTH
State of Rhode Island Providence R. Cumberland Sept 7 A.D. 1838 Then the above named John Butterworth appeared before me and made oath to the foregoing deposition which was reduced to writing by me in his presence and by him in my presence subscribed to and I further certify that said John Butterworth is known to me as of good reputation and that his statements are entitled to full credit Asahel Cook Justice of the Peace

I Nathan Dexter of Charlem in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and formerly of Smithfields in the state of Rhode-Islands, aged seventy nine years, a Revolutionary Pensioner under the act of 1832, do testify and say, that I entered the service of the United States in the summer or fall of seventeen hundred and seventy to six, in a volunteer company of the Rhode-Islands troops, then commanded by capt. George Beck in a Regiment commanded by Col. Fry. I think Col. Job Fry, I know his name was Fry, but am not positive his name Job but believe it was. I served in said company about two years according to the best of my recollection and belief; some time in the year following the time I entered said company and while in the service of the United States I knew one Stoner Thompson then of said Smithfields, a soldier in the United States service in said company. I am not able to state the exact time said Stoner Thompson entered the service in said company, nor the time with certainty that he served; but according to the best of my recollection, and as I verily believe, he entered said company in 1777, and served in the same, at all times, when said company was called out, up to the close of the war; said Thompson now lives in Wales in the state of Massachusetts.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester County ss.
Nathan Dexter
August 31 st 1838. Then the above named Nathan Dexter Made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him sub- scribed before me John Davis Justice of the Peace And I further certify that said Nathan Dexter is a man of truth and veracity. John Davis Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester ss. I certify that John Davis Esquire, within named, is a justice of the peace in and for said County of Worcester, and that his signature as within appears, is in his own proper handwriting. In testimony whereof, I have set my hand and affix the seal of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, at Worcester this eighteenth day of September, A.D. 1838.
-William Garrison. Assistant Clerk.
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BY HIS EXCELLENCY,
William Sprague
Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief of the State of Rhode- Island and Providence Plantations.
BE IT KNOWN, That the name, " HENRY BOWEN, " to the aforewritten attestation subscribed, is in the proper hand writing of Henry Bowen, Esquire, who at the time of subscribing the same, was Secretary of the State aforesaid, duly elected and qualified according to law : Wherefore unto his said attestation full faith and credit are to be rendered.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said State to be affixed, at Provi- dence, this eighth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight and of Independence the sixty-third
Wm Sprague
By His Excellency's Command.
Henry Bowen Secy

399 Kings Highway Bridgeport Conn Oct 2-1925-
Hon. Hubert Work Secretary Interior Washington DC
Dear Sir,
My great grandfather Abner Thompson, lost an arm in the American Revolution & about in 1835 applied for a pension which was not allowed for failure in moving papers to prove 6 months service, and I wrote to your department last July, asking if from those papers I could learn where & when he was born and name of his parents. stating why I desired the information, I wrote again in Sept. enclosing a stamped addressed envelope for a reply. Neither of my

letters have been returned now I heard one word from your pension department - in regard to the matter,
I have exhausted all my known ways of finding out here - and if it is possible to learn from your pension records - I would appreciate it very much if you will inform me -
Hoping to hear from you soon I am
Yours truly
(Mrs) A. Fiske Mereness

THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR WASHINGTON
OCT - 6 1925
This was written in Secretary of
Mrs. A. Fiske Mereness, 399 King's Highway, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
My dear Mrs. Mereness:
I have your letter of October 2, 1925, relative to the Revolutionary War pension claim of Abner Thompson, rejected file number 10520.
From the papers in the claim it appears that Abner Thompson was born in April, 1761, place not stated, and name of mother not on record. While residing in Smithfield, Rhode Island, he enlisted in September or October, 1777, as a private in the company of minutemen commanded first by Captain George Peck and later by claimant's father, Captain Edward Thompson, in Colonel Fry's Rhode Island Regiment, and served various short tours, when called upon, until the close of the Revolution. It is not stated that he was disabled during his service.
The application of Abner Thompson for pension was executed September 11, 1838, at which time he was a resident of Wales, Hampden County, Massachusetts, but the claim was not allowed as proof of six months actual military service in the field, as required by the pension laws, was not furnished.

The applicant married about 1784 or 1785, Mary, whose maiden name is not on record. Abner died March 7, 1839, and Mary died September 18, 1849 or 1850, leaving the following children: William, aged sixty-two years; Whipple, Allen, Willard, Levi, Lucina, wife of Stephen Fisk; and Mary, wife of William Nelson. The names of children at the time of the application for pension in 1858 are not recorded.
It is proper to add that owing to the great pressure of current work and the large number of similar inquiries it is not possible to take up for immediate consideration letters relative to Revolutionary War pensioners. They are replied to in the order of their filing and as rapidly as the force available can handle them.
Sincerely yours,
(Sgd.) HUBERT WORK,
Secretary.

1918. June 3. History Cl. Mrs. H. A. Presler F.W.
1918 June 27 Mrs. H. A. Butler advised no claim for Capt. Edward Thompson 1925 Oct 3 Hist. to Mrs. O. Fiske Mearns (Through Sec. of Dub. of Y.M.C.A. reviewed by an
10. 520.
P. O.
P. U. Almer Thompson
Service:
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18_____
Application filed: _____, 18_____
Alleges: List of rejected claims printed in 1852, shows cause
Re-enlisted: of rejection as follows: "No actual military service."
Attorney:
P. O.
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18_____

1922 28

Thunberg's class in September 13-38
I suppose much may depend upon the evidence found at Washington - this case of Thompson.
J. Willard
\begin{array}{r} 1838 \\ 77 \\ \hline 61 \end{array}

Leah Peck - Then Capt. Thompson when Peck was Prison Write to Secy of R. I. S. C.

Rev. W. B. Cal.
Portland,
February 21, 1839.
O. B.

War Dep Gen: Off Febry 21 39 -
Sir
I have the honor to inform you that the additional statement of Abner Thompson is not deemed a satisfactory compliance with my letter of 7 Nov. last to Mr Willard (a copy of which was forwarded to you on 22 d inst) requiring a specification of each tour separately so that the Dept. might be enabled to determine the character & length of the tour.
As he has delayed his application so long and now asserts that he never received pay it is confidently believed that he was not in actual service, except upon two or three occasions which are known to have been limited to 1 mo each & rarely amounted to a month & at all events he has not specified the service as required or furnished evidence more specific than his declaration.
Hon W. B. Calhoun H. R.

War Dept Pen: H Nov 7 38.
Sir
In the case of Abner Thompson under the act of 7. June 1832 now opened for the first time there must be some erroneous impression as to what constitutes the actual service contemplated by the act. The declaration (very unhelpful in many respects) sets forth apparently a continuous service of several months under a Capt (Deck) of the Militia. At that time no portion of the militia or chartered companies served in field or garrison duly embodied for more than 1 mo under a call of the competent authority.
The regulations of 7. June 1832 are herewith enclosed. He is required to state the period length & grade of each tour name of the officers present & in command probable number of the corps embodied where stationed - distance of station from home - from  pay stationed - his term of service which is not set forth in the above particulars can be taken into the computation of a pension.

under the act of June 32
Have it Indexed
J. Willard Nov 7 - 38
60
J. Willard Esq. Springfield Mass.

Hon. W. B. Calhoun
January 22, 1839,
P. G.

Ward P Gen: H Jany 22, 39
Sir I have the honor to re- turn you the letter of W Smith in relation to the claim of Abner Thompson under the act of 7. June 1832 - The certificate of Mr. Minton & Mr. Dixon is satisfactory as to the general character of the claimant but unless the claimant should comply by deposition before a justice with the requisitions made upon him in my letter of 7 Nov. last (a copy of which is herewith enclosed) he should not expect a favorable decision.
Hon W B Calhoun H R

Ho. of R.
Jan. 17. 1839.
Sir,
I enclose some papers concerning the application of Abner Thompson for a pension to which I ask your attention. I have no means of judging of the matter myself.
Very Respectfully
Yr ob. servt.
J. L. Schenck Esq.
Wm B. Calhoun

H. of R.
Feb. 7. 1879
Sir, Enclosed is a paper I have just recd. from Mr. Smith of Wales, Miss. in the case of Abner Newman, ap- plicant for pension.
Very Respectfully
Yr. obedt. Servt.
Edward Eng.
J. M. Haskell

Alma Thompson Can.

AFFIDAVIT AND POWER OF ATTORNEY.
STATE OF Massachusetts } ss. COUNTY OF Hampden - }
Be it remembered, That, on this fourth day of December A. D. 1852, I, William Thompson do make known and declare that I am the son and heir-at-law to Abner Thompson who was the  wife of a Revolutionary soldier, who served Thompson years, under the command of One Capt. Rhode Island in the forces raised by the State of and that he and his said wife were married about the month of A. D. 1785 that he died about the month of March A. D. 1839 , and that his said wife also died about the month of October  September A. D. 1849 , and that a pension of _____ dollars a year was drawn by said on account of said services, and so continued until the year A. D. 18_____, since which time nothing has been received by either, or the heirs of either of said parties.
(copy to Wm. J. Works, Mass. (resid. H. 9th Street))
And that claimant is now 67 years of age; and it is understood and believed that there are arrearages of Pension, and other claims due for said services: Now, THEREFORE, the true intent of all this is to qualify and irrevocably appoint and empower ALFRED J. WORKS, of New Haven City and County, State of Connecticut,
as my Attorney, with power of substitution, to investigate, substantiate, demand, and receive the avails of, said claim or claims, and to say and do all things relative thereto, as amply as I might do: hereby ratifying every thing said or done by my said Attorney, or his substitute, in virtue hereof; ALSO, revoking all Powers of Attorney, or other authority previously given for any such purposes.
Attest, Lyman A. Lark } In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and John Smith } seal, day and date first above named. William Thompson  L. B.
Subscribed, sworn to, and acknowledged before me, the day and year first above indicated.
John Smith Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
HAMPDEN, ss. J. G. Morris
I, RICHARD BLISS , Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth, for the County of Hampden, do certify, that John Smith Esquire, whose signature is affixed to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned, and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth; and that full faith and credit are and ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity; and that I am acquainted with the hand-writing of the said John Smith and believe his signature to said certificate is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas for said Commonwealth, this Sixth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two
G. Morris Clerk.
Abner Thompson Case

We George Minter a Clergyman, residing in the town of Wales and County of Hampden & State of Massachusetts and John Dixon residing in the same town & County aforesaid hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Abner Thompson, who it is said has subscribed and sworn to a declaration now in the Pension Office, that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age last April, 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
Geo Minter John Dixon
Hampden ss Wales Jan. 10th 1839
Then the above named George Minter and John Dixon made oath to the above certificate by them Subscribed Before me John Smith Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that George Minter who has signed the above certifi- cate is a clergyman resident in Wales, and that John Dixon who has also signed the same is a resident in said Wales, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit John Smith Jus. Peace

Rev. Sec u
✓ Due 3 rd stamps rec. w OK [Signature] JAH
Fargo, N. Dak.,
May 22, 1918.
Commissioner, Department of Interior,
Washington, D. C.
My Dear Sir:-
I beg to inquire whether your records show a pension claim for service in the Revolutionary War of Abner Thompson, Wales, Mass. We have been doing some genealogical work and could trace back definitely to Willard Thompson. We now find that Abner Thompson was the father of Willard Thompson, the Wales records showing that conclusively.
Abner Thompson came to Wales, Mass. in 1807, from Smithfield, Rhode Island, according to Wales records. His wife's name was Mary Whipple. Whether he enlisted from Smithfield or with a Rhode Island regiment, we do not know, but there has always been a tradition in the family among the grand children of Willard Thompson, born in 1788, that Willard's father was a Revolutionary soldier, but until now we have been unable to discover his name. He also was a one-armed man we know, which leads to the further conclusion that he likely served in the War. He died March 7, 1839--aged 78--therefore born in 1761.
His son Willard married Eunice Nelson, daughter of George Nelson and Susan Fenton-Nelson, also of Wales, Mass. If convenient, we would also like to know if this George Nelson had a Revolutionary record. There is no idea in the family as to that.
Should we find we are entitled to apply for membership in the D. A. R., we should feel highly honored, and hope your records can give us the information we seek.
Thanking you, and awaiting your reply, I am,
Very truly yours,
Mrs. H. A. Preeler, Fargo, N. Dak.
#1 Stratford Apts.

CORNELL UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE
399 King's Highway
Bridgeport Conn - Aug 1 st 1923 -
Department of Interior
Bureau Pensions Washington D.C.
Gentlemen. I beg to inquire if you can give me some desired information regarding my great grandfather Abner Thompson. He lost a hand & arm while in service in Revolutionary War, and am informed he made application in 1839. for a pension, which was not allowed on account of failure to prove 6 months service.
From your records on file can you give me the name of his parents the time and place of his birth , and the names of his - (adams) children living at the time of his application for pension, the service rendered and under whom?
Yours truly (Mrs.) Annette Fiske Mereness -

I am the daughter of Asa Fiske who was the son of Stephen and Lucina (Thompson) Fiske who was the daughter of said Abner Thompson and I am seeking proof that Abner Thompson was the son of Edward Thompson Jr. who was a Captain in Rev. War. — but I can find no record of Abner's birth — or parents and hope it is contained in his application papers — A. F. M.

399 Kings Highway
Bridgetown leave
Sept 12-1921-
Department Interior
Bureau Pensions
Washington D.C.
Gentlemen: Last July I wrote to you asking for information as to the parents of my g.g. grandfather, Abner Thompson - but I have heard nothing, nor has my letter been returned - so I write again and hope for an early answer.
He made application for a pension before 1839 - because of loss of an arm when in service in 1776 - '849. pension was not allowed, because of failure to prove six months service - in moving papers - & he died soon after. I beg to ask if mention is made of his parents, and the place of his

birth - and name of his living children in 1839, in his application papers.
Lumberville, Vital Record - page 62 - is recorded - Abner Thompson of Edward - and Mary Whipple of Benjamin both of Smithfield married by Jonathan Leavitt Feb - 23 - 1785 -
I think he was born in Mendon Mass - and was the son of Edward & Margaret said Aldrich, and that Edward was a Captain in A. Rev - but have no proof up to date.
I hope mention is made in his petition for pension of his parentage.
I enclose a stamped addressed envelope for your reply, for which I will thank you
Yours truly
(Mrs.) Annette Fiske Merriam -
over

I have found a record that Abner was born Apr. 3-1761- place not given M. Feb- 23 1785- died - Mar. 7- 1839 Wales Mass.
I wish to know leap. Edward Thompson was his father. Can you help me-

aw Rev. War Section.
June 27, 1918.
Mrs. H. A. Presler, Box 378, Fargo, N. Dak.
Madam:
In reply to your letter of the 18 th instant, you are advised that this bureau is unable to furnish the history of a soldier of the Revolution unless a claim for pension or bounty land has been made on account of his services and a careful search of the records fails to show such a claim in file on account of the services of Capt. Edward Thompson, the father of Abner Thompson whose Revolutionary War pension claim is Rejected File No. 10,520. see negative slip
In the pension claim Invalid File No. 27628 of Charles Chafey, War of 1812, neither his age nor the date and place of his birth are stated.
Very respectfully,
J. M. Stratton
Commissioner.
See her letter re Charles Chafey Inv. File 27628

Revolutionary War
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR WASHINGTON
OCT -6 1925
This was written in Secretary's Office
Mrs. A. Fiske Mereness, 399 King's Highway, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
My dear Mrs. Mereness:
I have your letter of October 2, 1925, relative to the Revolutionary War pension claim of Abner Thompson, rejected file number 10620.
From the papers in the claim it appears that Abner Thompson was born in April, 1761, place not stated, and name of mother not on record. While residing in Smithfield, Rhode Island, he enlisted in September or October, 1777, as a private in the company of minutemen commanded first by Captain George Peck and later by claimant's father, Captain Edward Thompson, in Colonel Fry's Rhode Island Regiment, and served various short tours, when called upon, until the close of the Revolution. It is not stated that he was disabled during his service.
The application of Abner Thompson for pension was executed September 11, 1838, at which time he was a resident of Wales, Hampden County, Massachusetts, but the claim was not allowed as proof of six months actual military service in the field, as required by the pension laws, was not furnished.

The applicant married about 1784 or 1785, Mary, whose maiden name is not on record. Almer died March 7, 1839, and Mary died September 18, 1849 or 1850, leaving the following children: William, aged sixty-two years; Whipple, Allen, Willard, Levi, Lucina, wife of Stephen Vick; and Mary, wife of William Nelson. The names of children at the time of the application for pension in 1858 are not recorded.
It is proper to add that owing to the great pressure of current work and the large number of similar inquiries it is not possible to take up for immediate consideration letters relative to Revolutionary War pensioners. They are replied to in the order of their filing and as rapidly as the force available can handle them.
Sincerely yours,
(Sgd.) HUBERT WORK,
Secretary.

THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR WASHINGTON
This copy returned from Interior Dept. to be filed in claim. slightly different from letter now in Rev. War Sec.
Mrs. A. Fiske Mereness. 399 King's Highway. Bridgeport, Connecticut.
My dear Mrs. Mereness:
I have your letter of October 2, 1925, relative to the Revolutionary War pension claim of Abner Thompson, rejected file number 10520.
From the papers in the claim it appears that Abner Thompson was born in April, 1761, place not stated, and name of mother not on record. While residing in Smithfield, Rhode Island, he enlisted in September or October, 1777, as a private in the company of minutemen commanded first by Captain George Peck and later by claimant's father, Captain Edward Thompson, in Colonel Fry's Rhode Island Regiment, and served various short tours, when called upon, until the close of the Revolution. It is not stated that he was disabled during his service.
The application of Abner Thompson for pension was executed September 11, 1835, at which time he was a resident of Wales, Hampden County, Massachusetts, but the claim was not allowed as proof of six months actual military service in the field, as required by the pension laws, was not furnished.

The applicant married about 1784 or 1785, Mary, whose maiden name is not on record. Abner died March 7, 1859, and Mary died September 18, 1849 or 1850, leaving the following children: William, aged sixty-two years; Whipple, Allen, Willard, Levi, Lucina, wife of Stephen Vink; and Mary, wife of William Nelson. The names of children at the time of the application for pension in 1858 are not recorded.
It is proper to add that owing to the great pressure of current work and the large number of similar inquiries it is not possible to take up for immediate consideration letters relative to Revolutionary War pensioners. They are replied to in the order of their filing and as rapidly as the force available can handle them.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary.

THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR WASHINGTON
October 3, 1925
Mrs. A. Fiske Mereness 399 King's Highway Bridgeport, Connecticut
My dear Mrs. Mereness:
I have your letter of October 2, relative to the Revolutionary War pension claim, Rejected File Number 10520, of ABNER THOMPSON.
From the papers in said claim it appears that he was born in April, 1761, place not stated, and name of mother not on record.
While residing at Smithfield, Rhode Island, he enlisted in September or October, 1777, as a private in the company of minute-men commanded first by Captain George Peck and later by his father, Captain Edward Thompson, in Colonel Fry's Rhode Island Regiment, and served various short tours, when called upon, until the close of the Revolution. It is not stated that he was disabled during his service.
His application for pension was executed September 11, 1838, at which time he was a resident of Wales, Hampden County, Massachusetts, but his claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of six months actual military service in the field, as required by the pension laws.
He married about 1784 or 1785, Mary, whose maiden name and exact date of marriage are not on record. He died March 7, 1839, and she died September 18, 1849 or 1850, leaving the following children: William,
M. C. Stokes AW original as written in Rev. War Section.

aged sixty-two years; Whipple; Allen; Willard; Levi; Lucina, wife of Stephen Fisk; and Mary, wife of William Nelson.
The names of children at the time of his application for pension in 1838 are not recorded.
It is proper to add that owing to the great pressure of current work, the large number of similar inquiries, and the lack of a clerical force available for the purpose, it is not possible to take up for immediate consideration letters relative to Revolutionary War pensioners. They are replied to in the order of their filing and as rapidly as the limited force available can handle them.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary