Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6239, for Sackville Thacker, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va. _____
Thacker, Sackville _____
S. 6239 _____
carded
CONTENTS

12.395 Virginia
Sackville Thacker
of Louisa in the State of Va who was a Pvt. — in the — commanded by Captain — of the Regt commanded by Col. Dandridge in the Va line for 16 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 53 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 th day of Ap r 33 Dabney Dabney's Mills — Va and Martha William
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 106.66 Pension allowance ending Sept " 26.66 133.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Nathaniel Rice Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 6 Page 28.

Sackville Thacker: Virginia.
Admt for 18 months in a private $33.33
William Dabney Dabney Mills, Va. John Hunter, Clk. Louisa County, Virginia.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office.
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Jackville Thacker, of Louisa Co., Va.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Enlisted 1775 — 2 — Pv. Capt. Eli. White Col. Dan. Andree From Louisa Co. to Williamsburg. Yano ver By, Virginia. Aged 82 years. Living witness and Pensionary.   Served — 2 — Do Capt. John Tyler Col. Matthews to York town.   Served — 2 — Do Capt. Anthony New From Carolina By. to Williamsburg.   Served — 2 — Do Capt. John Tyler then to Hog Island.   Served — 2 — Do Capt. Harrison Col. Taylor From Carolina By. to Yorktown.   Served — 2 — Do Capt. White then to Hampton.   Served — 2 — Do Capt. Bullock From Carolina By. to Portsmouth.   Served — 2 — Do Capt. Litchfield Yorktown.  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I, _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; 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.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B., who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  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 your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of 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 each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase "about three or four months," is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the time, the name of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
W. R. Turner

Louisiana (formerly State of Virg a ) to wit.
Sackville Thacker is resident of the County of Rappahannock State of Virginia personally appeared before me a justice of the peace in said County and State aged Eighty two years who being first duly sworn according to laws doth on his oath state the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. that he was drafted in the Militia of the State of Virg a in the spring of November State of Virg a & that he stood in the 1 st division and served one tour under Capt. Elisha White of the said County & marched to Williamsburg in 1778 where he joined the Regiment commanded by Col. Dandridge remained awhile at Williamsburg then marched to York Town to join Col. Carrington serving two months this tour. The 2 d tour he went under Capt. John Tyler from the County of Caroline V a Marched to Williamsburg & joined Col. Matthews Regiment Marched from thence to Key Island remained there about one month as a guard to prevent the landing of Col. Tarleton from James River the remainder of this tour was marching in detached parties in that quarter making as well as recalled two months. The 3 d tour he again went from Caroline under Capt. Anthony New marched to York Town then to Hampton Town discharged after remaining 2 months a fourth tour he served under Capt. John Tyler again from Caroline marched to Portsmouth & joined Gen l . Nelsons Army this tour was again 2 months apart of the time he was engaged in several skirmishing parties with the enemy but was in no general engagement. A fifth tour he went under Capt. Jamison from Caroline and marched to Nols hole on Rappahannock joined Col. Taylor Regiment. 2 months a sixth tour he also went from Caroline under Capt. White & joined the Marquis's Army in his March through Culpepper County & performing the march called the Marquis retreat. and soon discharged at York Town serving two months or more the time not exactly recalled. each of the above tours of duty were served in the militia by draft no one was served as a substitute as he has wife & children at home. also in the tour he served under Capt. Edward Bullock went

from Carolina & marched to Williamsburg joined the army again there and performed duty on James River at several places along the same was discharged after a two months service.
an Eighth Tour he served under Capt. John Fitzhugh Marched from Carolina & joined the Army at York under Col. Carrington & served 2 months at York & Hampton.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a claimed pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state only on the agency of the state of Virginia. Sworn to and subscribed this month
December 1832
Sackville Thacker mark
Union County State of Virginia S.C.
Sackville Thacker of the County of Union  Spotsylvania aforesaid personally appear- ed before me Wm Dalby a justice of the peace in said County & made oath to the above declarations stating that he was born in the month of April 1750 that he has a record of his age at home that during part of the Revolutionary War he resided in Hanover & the balance of the time in Caroline knew him in Hanover. Given under my hand this 9th Decr. 1832
Edward T. Rouze a Clergyman residing in the County of Hanover State of Virginia do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Sackville Thacker of the County of Louisa State of Virginia who has subscribed & sworn to the above declarations & that I believe him from my personal report to be about 82 years old and that he is a respectable man and that it is believed in the neighborhood he resides that he was a Revolutionary Soldier and I concur in that opin- ion given under my hand this 9th Decr. 1832 Edward T. Rouze
The above certificate was before me a justice of Peace in Spotsylvania. Sworn to & subscribed this month the December 1832
Wm Dalby J.P.
Louisa County State of Virginia S.C.
On this 9th day Decr. 1832 personally appear- ed before me Wm Dalby a justice of the peace in the County of Louisa aforesaid George Mason of the County of Caroline State of Va. being first duly sworn according to law do hereby state as follows that he is well acquainted with Sackville Thacker of Louisa County State of Va. whom he has sub- scribed & sworn to above that he has known him for more than 50 years. That during the Revolutionary War he served with said Thacker at Williamsburg under Col. Matthews (name not recollect) and that he believes he served his time regularly in the Militia during the war. Given under my hand this day & year above written Wm Dalby

Louisa County State of Virg a S.C.
On this 9 th day Dec r . 1832 personally ap- peared before me William Dalbey a justice of the peace in said County State George Tribble of the County of Spottsylvania and State aforesaid who first duly sworn according to law doth state as follows that he was in the service of the Revolutionary War with Sackville Thacker at Williamsburg and that he has been acquainted with him for fifty or sixty years and believes he served his term of duty during that war but does not recollect how long longer with him. Given under my hand this day & year above written. Sackville Thacker is in my opinion unable to attend Court from infirmity. W m Dalbey J.P.
Louisa County State Va S.C.
The above named George Mason & George Tribble reside within 8 or 9 miles of me. They are my old neighbors now reside about 30 miles from Louisa Court House & I do not think them able without much inconvenience & suffering to attend Court as witnesses. They are men of the highest respectability & veracity. Given under my hand this 9 th December 1832 W m Dalbey J.P.
I John Hunter clerk of the Court of Louisa County, do hereby certify that William Dalbey before whom the foregoing declaration of Sackville Thacker was taken, and before whom the forego- ing affidavits of Edward T. Rowzee, George Mason and George Tribble were made, is a justice of the peace, and judge of the Court of the said County, and that the signatures annexed to the said certificates purporting to be his, are his genuine signatures.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 17 th day of January 1833. John Hunter

Rev Eng
6239 INVALID.
File No. 6239
Sackville Thacker
Dis Rev War
Act: June 1 th 32
Index: Vol. m , Page 373
[Arrangement of 1870.]