Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30162, for William Thompson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Thompson, William
S. 30/62
CONTENTS

Massachusetts. 30,833
Lot 5 Pln 9 th Oct 3. 1836.
William Thompson
of Essex Co. in the State of Mass. who was a Corp d V Serjt. in the company commanded by Captain Bliss — of the regt. commanded by Col. Glover in the Mass. & Cont. line for Corporal of Artillery 20 months 90.00 Sergeant of Artillery 4 mos. 20.00 $110.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 110 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 th day of Sept. 1836 and sent to Charles C. Paine Esq r Boston
Arrears to the 14th of Sep. '36. 555.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Nov. '37. 55.00 $610.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk. Book 6. Vol. 2. Page 86

Marblehead June 2 d 1836.
To the Hon. Lewis Cag. Secretary of War.
The subscriber of Marblehead in the County of Essex Commonwealth of Massachusetts, respectfully represents that he now receives a pension under the law of 18 March 1818, for his services as a Sergeant in the Army of the Revolution, upon the Roll of the Massachusetts Agency; his Certificate of which bears date July 10, 1818. Which pension he now wishes to exchange for that of a Sergeant under the law of 7 th June 1832. He represents that he commenced service in the year 1775 under Col. Glover of the Massachusetts line; that in 1777 he enlisted "during the war" & was in Capt. Stephens company; from whence he was transferred into the New York line & served under Col. Lantz of the Artillery, Capt. Swartwout; in which Company he served as a Sergeant over two years; and that at West Point in the state of New York on or about June 9 th 1783, he was honorably discharged from the service of the United States, and was honoured with the badge of merit. His Sergeant's Warrant & Certificate of Discharge are both lost. He was not entitled to any benefit under the law of 1828, as his name was then upon the pension list. He is ready to relinquish his present pension upon

receiving a Certificate of a pension as Sergeant under the law of 1832.
We will be much obliged by an early attention to this subject. Should his Claim be admitted, the new Certificate, & the order for the payment of the Arrearages may be transmitted to the care of Charles C. Paine, Boston.
Attest Nathan Bowen Jr.
William Thompson
State of Massachusetts } June 11 th 1836. Essex County S.S. } Marblehead. Then personally appeared the above named William Thompson and made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement and I further certify that the said William Thompson is a Credible Witness to me well known.
Nathan Bowen --- Just. Peace.

1828
William Thompson
Con 1828

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
ESSEX, ss. Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit, begun for the County of Essex, begun and holden at Salem, within and for the County of Essex, on the third Tues Monday  October day of June , A. D. 1820. Isaac Parker
Tues Monday of June  October , A. D. 1820.
Present, Hon. SAMUEL DANA , Chief Justice.
Hon. WILLIAM WILMORE , and
Hon. STEPHEN MINIS , Associate Justices.
Hon. STEPHEN MINCH , Associate Justices. Hon Saml. Putnam & Saml. S. Wilder, Justices.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said County , proceeding ac- cording to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the pow- er of fine and imprisonment, William Thompson resident in Marblehead — in said County , who is named in Pension Certificate No. 1028 — now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
"WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM."
"I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818,
William Thompson — late a Sargeant in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of Eight — dollars per month, to commence on the twelfth — day of June — — — one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ ✦ L. S. ✦ ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
"Given at the War Office of the United States, this sixteenth day "of July one thousand eight hundred and
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War,"
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
 SCHEDULE. 
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit, The lower room of an old house situate on a bluff of rocks for which he gave fifty dollars twenty years ago when real estate was worth double what it now is - There is not an inch of land belonging to it, and the declarant is now indebted for repairs -
 Personal estate - 1 base drawers maple sold $2.00 1/2 doz: flag-bottomed chairs very old & much worn 1.00 one old table $1. 1 looking glass $3. - - - - 4.00 1 Iron pot 75 cts. 1 dish kettle, 25. 1 Tea kettle, 33 1.33 crockery ware, much broken, 50 cts. - - - - - ,50 3 knives & forks, 25 cts. 3 silver tea spoons, 50 cts. - - - ,75 1 Pair Iron Andirons, 33 cts shovel & tongs quite old $1. 1.33 1 pair bellows, 20 cts - - - - - ,20 $11.11 
Declaration

Declarant is sixty four years old next may, & almost blind has a wife aged sixty three years. And three Grand-children in his family, viz, Samuel Gale aged 12 years. Anna W. Gale aged ten, and W m Gale aged 6 years, whose father has been gone, where not known, for more than two years, and the mother lives at service and has a small child with her or while she boards out with her earnings - The Declarant entered the service in the Revolutionary war in May '75. in capt. Joel Smith's Company, Col. Glovers Regiment for eight months. At the expiration of s d eight months, he re-enlisted into capt. Dana's Company of Artillery for twelve months in Genl. Knox Reg t went to New York, and before the s d twelve months expired he enlisted in capt. W m Stevens' Company of Artillery, Col. John Long's Reg t for & during the war, Was in Battle of Trenton & Princeton and in many skirmishes, and was honourably discharged at West Point in June '83 at the close of the war - and

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Samuel Putnam a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
I, William Thompson do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. So help me GOD.
William Thompson
S. J. Court Oath Essex, ss. C. C. C. P. June , Term, A. D. 1820.
Then the abovenamed William Thompson took and subscribed the aforewritten Oath before me
Sam. Putnam , Judge of said Court.
I, ICHABOD TUCKER, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is Sixty one
dollars & eleven cents
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex, on this tenth day of January A. D. 1821
Attr.
Ichabod Tucker, Clerk

30 162 Rev INVALID.
File No. 30 162
William Thompson Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7 n 39 m
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 418
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1828
Massachusetts Roll 1828
William Thompson Sergeant New York Line 1777 war
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War Continental Mass
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 12 th of June 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th of July 1818 and sent to Hon. Sam. Putnam Salem - Mass.
Arrears to 4 th of Sept m 1818 Semi-annual acct ending
2 mos 23/30ths $ 22.73
{ Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818. }
Good lined
Marked 6/10/60
Lett Chs J. Paine, June 20 '36
do - do - June 29 '36
Let C.C. Paine 15 Aug '36
Refused on account of being 1828 John D. Sleeper, Salem, Mass.

Dear Thompson
Aug 12
To:
J. S. Edwards Esq. Pension Office War Dept. Washington D.C.

Boston Aug 2 1836.
Sir,
Touching the matter of W m Thompson's claim for a pension as a Sergeant in the Rev d Army I in reply to yours of June 29 th I enclose a letter which I have received from a grandson of W m Thompson upon the subject, which I hope will prove satisfactory to the War Dept t . I will further add a few remarks.
In 1818 a pension was granted to the present claimant for his services as a Sergeant in the Army of the Rev d , & the Certificate of the pension describes his services as rendered in that rank. This fact shows that the War Dept t in 1818 had evidence before it of W m Thompson's services as a Sergeant in the Rev d War; indeed it is not unlikely that both his Warrant as Sergeant & his Discharge were then transmitted to that Dept t & may be now found on its files. But whether that be so or not, suffice it to say, that the War Dept t in 1818 had satisfactory evidence of his having held the rank of Sergeant in the Rev d Army.
The law of 1818 made no distinction between Sergeants & Soldiers , in the am t of pension; & this rank being therefor unimportant, the Dept t wd not have certified to the fact, nor wd Thompson himself have proved it, unless it had been really so:
Moreover W m Thompson, who has been certified to the Dept t as a credible Person & who is now too near his grave to take an Oath lightly, has stated upon Oath that according to the best of his belief he served two years or more as a Sergeant in Sewall's Company .
The Dept t examine the Rolls: & they find that

there was a W t Thompson who served in Capt Blip Company, as Sergeant = Your letter struck me as having been carefully worded, & I certainly rec d the impression from it that there was no Capt. Swartwout Company at all: whether the Dept t in examining the Roll of Capt Blip Company discovered the name of Capt. Lieut. Swartwout upon it or not, we do not know, but should another examination of the Roll be made, perhaps Mr s Thompson's statement in the enclosed letter may be confirmed.
Perhaps the Dept t , in not speaking of Lieut. Swartwout, wished to test the old man's memory; if so, it has received what to me was a very striking proof of his probity & veracity, and of his full tenacious memory.
Are not these facts sufficient to satisfy any reasonable doubt?
In your letter, to w ch this is in reply, you close with these remarks.
"If the above information be identical with the claimant, you will readily perceive that the length of his service as sergeant is altogether doubtful. It is certain that he rec d the app t of sergeant after Feb. 1780 & was discharged in June, 1783. + + + + + + +. There is no objection objection to give him the pension of a Corporal. $108 per annum" -
To which Mr s answer, that the proof of his services as sergeant cannot but be satisfactory. the Dept t have their own Certificate of 1818 to the fact, the claimant's Oath , & the Roll of the Company - As to the length of his service , in that rank the first place it is under the Statute of 1832 wholly unimportant; so be it that he held a warrant as Sergeant, tho' but for one day,

that law gives him a pension on Argeart , & in the second place, the Dept. have the old man's path that he believes he had as last an two years; the roll moreover as you have observed leaves the time uncertain, from Feb. 1780 to June 1783; this your pension is a period of 3 1/3 years , is very far negativising
Mr. Thompson's statement:
I cannot but feel myself that the Dept., acting upon the liberal principle, w ch ought always to guide it & more especially in matters of these old soldiers, has proof enough upon it for the allowance of the pension. & hope it will confirm with this opinion. I am sorry to trouble you so much on this subject & am greatly obliged by the attentio thus received.
I am Sir Very Respectfully Your Obedt. Servant Chas. C. Paine
6.
J. L. Edwards Esq Pension Office War Dept Washington.

M rs Thompson
J. L. Leach Jr Van Buren P.O. Box 24 Washington D.C.
Ms. B.
Aug 30 1872
Ms. B.

Boston August 26 1856
Sir,
Yours of the 15 th inst was duly received. To procure more particular information as to the period of service as sergeant under Col. W m Thompson I wrote him immediately. Enclosed you have the reply.
He was then a sergeant some time previous to the Capture of Cornwallis. Say September 1781 — he had a furlough in June 1783 — but was still in service till Nov. 3. 1783, when he with the rest of the troops was discharged, agreeably to the vote of Congress. This is a period of over two years during which he served as sergeant. Settles him to the full pay of sergeant.
The Muster Rolls ought not to be loaded with rigors against him: that period was one of extreme activity: there was a vast deal of marching & countermarching in the army, as Washington was obliged to deceive the enemy by pretending an intended attack upon New York, & at the same time draw all his forces upon Yorktown. It is highly probable that, while the officers had so much weightier matters on hand, the Rolls should be  were neglected: & his name might moreover be suffered to remain from various reasons if his place as Captain was not supplied. At the leisure time in winter the Rolls was probably revised & corrected.
We have now submitted all the facts so as to put the date of the Warrant in not made the only evidence by the Act of Congress. Nor is the Muster Roll conclusive evidence.

the matter is left to the decision of the Secretary of the Treasury, to whom whom the Evidence must be Satisfactory: Should he, or those who do in fact determine as to the proof, not be satisfied with the statements of the Claimant, corroborated as they are with the deposition under oath of his belief of having served as sergeant over two years, in that case it only remains for him to take what may be awarded to him upon the proof, though less than the whole sum -
The construction put by the Dept upon the law, that there must have been a service in the grade of sergeant of two years in order to the allowance of the full pay as sergeant, may be correct the correct legal construction of the law: but it certainly is not agreeable to the plain simple reading of the Act, & so far from being the most liberal, is surely the most illiberal construction that could be put upon it - This remark, which is made with the utmost respect, is offered simply to account for the want of explicitness as to the particulars contained in the enclosed letter, in the Applicant's first Statement. I am Sir Much obliged Yours J. L. Edwards Esq Washington DC
Yours Sir Much obliged Chas. C. Paine

Wm Thompson
William Morrison Payable on the 4 th March & 4 th Sept r of each year, at the Frank Bank, Y s Boston, Mass —
Recorded

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary claim
I CERTIFY, That in conformity with the Law of the UNITED STATES, of the 18 March 1818 - William Thompson — late a Sergeant — in the Army of the Revolution — — — is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Maftrs Agency, at the rate of Eight — dollars — cents per month, to commence on the 12 th day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighteen —
GIVEN at the WAR OFFICE of the UNITED STATES, this sixteenth day of July — one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
J. C. Calhoun Secy of War

Oct 1.
Mr. Thompson Map roll
James L. Edwards Esq., Comm. Pensions Washington D.C.

Commonwealth Bank Pension Office Boston 27. Sept r 1836.
Sir,
William Thompson a Revolutionary pens n under the act of 7 th June 1832 was reported at this Agency, as entitled to receive $110. pr. annum from the 4 th March 1831. Be pleased to inform me if the amt. he rec d under the act of 18 th March 1818. is to be deducted.
I am very respectfully Your ob t Serv t L. M. Stone for John K. Simpson Agent
J. L. Edwards Esq r . Com r Pensions Washington D. C.
ms

Wm Thompson
3/4 1/2 1/4
Admiral
Corporal 20 mo Artillery
Sergeant 4 " — do
211 — $110
Adm?
Bliss company
William Thompson
Corporal 600 artd
Corporal July 82 war Sept 79 Wood
Aug 80
enlisted Jan'y 77 war Guinness
After Feb. 1783 —
Corporal — artillery
until Jan 1783
Charles C. Paine Esq. Boston Ms.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Be it remembered, That J. William Thompson aged sixtyone of Marblehead — in the County of Essex in the Commonwealth aforesaid, doth make upon oath the following DECLARATION , to wit,
That I entered or enlisted as a Soldier in Capt Locksmith's Company Col d . John Glover's Regiment May 15 th A d 1775 — in the continental service — in the American Revolutionary war — was eight months with the Army at Cambridge — in the same Company and Regiment. I then enlisted for one year in Capt Dana's Company — Col d  Knox's Regiment of Artillery — after the Enemy left Boston — we march d to New-York — from whence we retreated — when the Enemy proposed it. Was at the capture of the Hessians at Trenton — and at the battle of Princeton — when the time of service (entered for) was expired I entered again in the same Company for three years or during the war. the Regiment being then commanded by Col d  John Lamb . Continued in the Army untill after the peace took place and was Honorably discharged June 9 th 1783 — which discharge was lost on my return home from the Army — or mistaid — had a warrant as a Sergeant at the time — which warrant was sent on to Washington some months past as evidence to obtain land that it was said was due and coming to me — for services in American Revolutionary war — that he never left the service from 1775 to 1783 — as soon as one term of enlistment expired, he again enlisted without leaving the camp.
That the Declarant is infirm; that from his reduced circumstances in life he is now in need of assistance from his country for support; and that he hereby relinquishes his claim to every pension heretofore allowed him by the laws of the United States.
William Thompson

AFFIDAVIT.
I William R. Lee of Salem Esq r in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, do on oath depose and testify,
That I well know William Thompson within named - he enlisted in May 1775 in Glover's Marblehead Regiment on the Continental establishment as a soldier - I know he served all the year 1775 under my command in that Regiment, of which I was Major; and I know he continued to serve on the continental establishment as much as two years immediately after he served in the artillery in 1776 and 1777:
in 1783, when he was discharged from the train of Artillery, I took his certificate for the pay due him and paid him for it; he served during the whole war without intermission
Wm R Lee
Essex/s: June, 12. 1818 Then the abovenamed Wil- iam R. Lee Esq r subscribed and made oath to the above affidavit before me
Bray Merrill Just. Peace

I Jonathan Deacons of Marblehead in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Fisherman on oath depose and testify that I well know William Thompson, who signed the Dedication to which that is annexed. I will know that he enlisted as a Soldier in Capt. Joel Smiths Company as he has declared. I saw him almost every day, and know that he was in the U. States service or by him declared from the time he enlisted in 1775 untill the first of February 1777 when I left the service, and I then left the s. Thompson at Trenton in New Jersey still in the service. He said Thompson left Cambridge for New York about the time I did, which I think was about the first day of April 1776 and I know he continued in the service during the whole time by me above stated. Jonathan Deacons
Essex ss. June 15. 1818 Then Jonathan Deacons subscribed and made solemn oath to the above affidavit
Before me Ralph W. French J. Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
On this twelfth day of April , June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, personally appeared before me Samuel Putnam a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of said State
the aforesaid William Thompson and in my presence severally subscribed and made solemn oath to the aforesaid written Declaration and AFFIDAVIT , by them respectively made as aforesaid:—And it appearing to my satisfaction, that the aforesaid William Thompson served more than NINE MONTHS, to wit, from the fifteenth day of May — A. D. 1775 — to the sixth day of June — A. D. 1783 — at one period of the Revolutionary War, on the Continental Establishment, against the common enemy, I do hereby cer- tify the testimony in the case, and the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the Department of War. I am satisfied he is a poor laborer
Given under my hand, and the seal of the Court a- foresaid, at Salem , this twelfth day of April , June , in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
S. Putnam Just S. J. Court of Mass.

Essex: June. 30. 1818 I Ichabod Tucker Clerk of all the Judicial Courts of said State in and for the County of Essex certify that Hon. Samuel Putnam, whose Signature is within is a Judge of the Supreme Judicial Court of said State and that Ralph H. French and Benjamin Livermore Esqrs. whose Signatures are within are Justices of the Peace qualified to administer oaths. and that the Seal here is the Seal of said Court
Att. Ichabod Tucker, Clerk

Charles C Paine Esq
Boston
Mass
C. H. D. Paine

Marblehead Aug 3 d 1836
Sir:
I did not receive your letter from the Post Office until this evening which is the reason I have not answered it before. My Grand Father states
That he enlisted with Capt Stephens in Meriden N.H. that after he enlisted he was transferred to Capt Wool's Company that Wool resigned and Bliss was appointed Capt. but never took command he (Bliss) being a sick man the Company was commanded by Capt. Inverness a Capt. Luit * in said Company.
You say you should like to be informed whether my Grand father is or is not the William Thompson that served in Capt Bliss' Company he states that he is. the Company went by the name of Bliss' Company throughout the War.
You further say "What I desire to know particularly is whether he served as Sergeant in Capt Bliss' Company or Capt. Inverness Company."
It appears by his Statement that they were both one Company and he served and he served as Sergeant in this Company how long he is unable to say because his memory fails him and he has nothing to prove it by, having lost both his Sergeant's Warrant and Discharge he he thinks he was a Sergeant at the capture of Cornwallis. he was discharged in June 1780.
I have taken these Statements from my Grand Father's lips this evening and put them together as well as I could if there is anything in them that does not appear plain to you if you will please to inform me I will try explain them as well as possible perhaps it would be well for me to say a word respecting Capt Bliss. My Grandfather says that this Capt Bliss was the Capt Com-
* As the Artillery was organized then there was two Capt's to a Comp y a Capt Commandant or Major Capt and a Capt Lieutenant.

manant of the company which he belonged to but he never came into the field nor took com- mand of the company during the War he was always returned on the Returns as "Sick Absent." and the company was always under the immediate command of Capt. Swartout the next in Rank to Bliss
I remain Sir your
Obedt Servent
W. J. Gale
Charles C. Paine Esq.
Boston
Ms

Charles C. Prince 1812
Boston
Price single.

Myhence Aug 22 d W36
Sir
I cannot recollect the exact time when I became Sergeant nor yet the date of my Discharge as such. I said in my first Statement that I served two years or more. It is very much impressed on my mind notwithstanding the Muster Rolls that I was a Sergeant when we took Cornwallis . I had a furlough on the back of my Discharge till a definite Treaty of Peace was concluded so that I was not absolutely discharged until that time.
I had my Discharge when I applied for my Pension in W.W. Dr John Dury borrowed it a short time after and never returned it I enquired after it but never could find out whatever became of it he might have sent it on to Washington he died a short time after that and I think it must have been misplaced.
As my Pension becomes due the 1 st of September if you please you may get that.
Yours Wm Thompson
Chas C Prince Esq Boston
by W. H. Gule L
* the 3 rd day of November 1885
N.B. I was Sergeant of Gen Knox's Guard when we were going on an Express to the French Admiral to inform him of the approach of the American Army. Previous to the capture of Cornwallis he went by water and embarked at the head of Elk River in a boat with 12 men including myself.

To,
The Hon. Levi Woodbury Secretary of the Treasury. Washington. D.C.
Wm Thompson
Treasury Dept. June 17. 1836 Respectfully referred to the Committee of Pensions
P.P. 48 June 17 Printed

Boston June 13 th 1836.
Hon: Sir,
Enclosed is a request from W m Thompson, a Revolutionary patriot, for an exchange of his present pension (W h is that of a Soldier only) for another as Sergeant under the law of 1832.
The paper was inadvertently directed to Mr. Cope, Secretary of War, instead of yourself as Secretary of the Treasury. The sum is a most unimportant & mile cause, I hope, no delay to one whose time here is probably short. The paper may be sent either to him at Marblehead or to me. I have no interest in the matter & act merely as his friend. I am Sir very much
To the Hon. Levi Woodbury, Secretary of the Treasury -
Yr obed t Servant
Chas. C. Paine

To:
75
Geo. Wm. Cump Lyon Chf Clerk War Department Pension Office. Washington. D.C.

Boston June 24 th 1826.
Sir,
Your letter of the 20 th inst. returning the Application of W m Thompson & enclosing a copy of the Regulations of the War Department respecting such applications has been received. The prompt attention of the Treasury & the War Department to this subject is exceedingly gratifying & is frankly acknowledged. After a careful perusal of the Regulations I am still somewhat in doubt respecting the proper mode of proceeding in this case. Under the 1 st Head, that of "Regular Troops" there is a clause commencing thus, "Wherever an Officer or non-comm d officer is now in the receipt of a pension, he sh d make application, if entitled to the benefits of this act, by letter merely," &c. This clause from its position under this 1 st Head w d seem to relate to the Regular Troops Only. Yet its language is general, & it was pointed at, particularly, in the Copy enclosed by you; & moreover the Declaration & proceedings prescribed under the 2 d Head w d seem in this case to be quite superfluous, inasmuch as the proof of the present applicant's Revolutionary Services must already be in the files of the Department; under this view of the case the before cited Clause appears to me to govern the present application. & I accordingly return the letter of W m Thompson to Gov. Cushing, & accompany it with this  pension Certificate . His letter states his having to relinquish his present pension upon receiving that for which he now applies. The remainder of his Certificate seems to be regarded in the Regulations as an actual relinquishment, & will it is hoped be considered such in the present case. W m Thompson living at the small town of Marlborough & not being in the habit of frequenting the Post Office, my communications with him are so slow that I am in hopes the Department will, if satisfied of the justice of the present case, not insist upon more form.
I am Sir with Respect
Yr obed t Servant
Chas. C. Paine
To,
Genl. W. Cuming Esqr Chf cl the War Dept.