Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15430, for Abel Thompson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Thompson, Abel Sarah
N 15430
CONTENTS

...on ...1848
...
...
...
...
...2,
...

Mary Young
R. W. Young

Boston Suffolk Co. Mass s Oct 6 th 1853
Hon.
L. P. Waldo
Comm d of Pensions
Sir
Being a Summing Child of Sarah Thompson late of Westborough Worcester County Mass s
Be Pleased to allow my agent R. W. Young to examine the papers on file in your office upon which Sarah Thompson was Pensioned by the United States
Yours Sir
Respectfully
Mary Gray
Tracy

I Johnson Colby of Boston in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged forty-seven years, on oath depose and say, that I am well acquainted with Mrs Sarah Thompson formerly of Newton in the County of Middlesex, now a resident of said Boston; that said Sarah is the identical person whose signature is affixed to the Declaration for a pension, to which this is annexed. — I further testify that I have always understood and believe that her husband said Abel Thompson was in the War of the American Revolution as stated in said declaration; and that his widow said Sarah has never married since his decease, but still remains his widow.
Johnson Colby
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suff. Wps. Boston Nov. 7 th 1830 Then Johnson Colby personally known to this Magistrate as a person of truth and respectability made oath to the truth of the contents of the above affidavit before me
Peter O. Thacher Justice of the Peace throughout the Commonwealth aforesaid.

I Nancy Severance of Boston in the county of Suffolk & commonwealth of Massachusetts widow aged forty eight years on oath depose and say that I know Sarah Thompson the signer to the Declaration for a pension is my mother - that I have often heard my father said Abel Thompson in his life time say he was in the Revolutionary war - & that said Sarah Thompson has never married since his death but still remain his widow. My father s d Abel Thompson died on the nineteenth day of June in the year eighteen - hundred & eleven. -
Nancy Severance
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk ss City of Boston, Nov. 7 th 1838
Then Nancy Severance, a person respectable & truth personally appeared before me & made solemn oath to the truth of the contents of the above affidavit.
Hester A Thacher Justice of the Peace Throughout the Commonwealth aforesaid

Sarah Thompson - claim for Pension
3203
3202 Sarah Thompson mom of Abel Mass
act 7 July 38
n 82 d 11 - 17.83 - on Sergt 2.15 15.77 - pri. 8mo
Adm d 8mo pri 2.15 as Sergt. $39.16/100
No deduction
Yes W. Adams no 3 Court St Boston

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, of the 7 th July 1838 entitled, "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Is
On this Seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred personally appeared before the Honorable Peter C. Thacher Judge of the Municipal Court in and for the County of Suffolk and said Commonwealth. Sarah Thompson formerly of Newton in the County of Middlesex now a resident of Boston in the County of Suffolk aged Seventy-eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7 th 1838 entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows": That she is the widow of Abel Thompson who enlisted in the year 1777 in Captain Holden's company Col. Simeon's Regiment as a private soldier in the war of the American Revolution and served as such for a period of two to three years to the best of her knowledge and belief in various periods of service and mostly stationed in the Southern sections of the country. Having finished his service in the above years he returned home, and shortly afterwards, enlisted in Captain Thomas's Brental's Company, Col. Hovey's Regiment and marched to the State of Rhode Island where he remained for a period of three months and upwards in the capacity of orderly-sergeant. Whether said Abel Thompson was in the American Army prior to the time above stated, she does not know, but from the best of her recollection she is confident he served therein, during the time herein specified.
She further declares that she was married to the said Abel Thompson on the twenty-fifth day of August in the year seventeen hundred and eighty-two, that her husband the aforesaid Abel Thompson died on the nineteenth day of June in the year Eighteen Hundred & Eleven; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January - seventeen hundred and ninety-four, to wit: at the time above stated.
Witnesses

She further declares that she was married to the said Abel Thompson on the twenty-fifth day of August in the year seventeen hundred and eighty-two, that her husband the aforesaid Abel Thompson died on the nineteenth day of June in the year Eighteen Hundred & Eleven; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January - seventeen hundred and ninety-four, to wit: at the time above stated.
Witness to signature Peter A. Thacher
Sarah Thompson
Subscribed and sworn to on the day and year first above written, viz., on 7 th November A.D. 1898 before me: - and certify, that the said Sarah Thompson, the applicant, by reason of bodily infirmity was unable to attend personally in Court. Peter A. Thacher Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk ss: I Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston, hereby certify that Peter O. Thacher Esquire is Judge of said Municipal Court, and that the signatures within, written in four  three places, purporting to be his, are his genuine signatures.
Witness my hand and the seal of said Court hereto set this fourteenth day of November A.D. Eighteen hundred and thirty eight. Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk.
The word "four" written over the word "three" before delivering the paper to the applicant's counsel by me, Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, November. 14. 1838.
I hereby Certify , That at the date of the within attestations, Asher Goodnow, Isaac Moore, and Ephraim Hinds were Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex.
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John O. Biglow Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex County - I John Goodnow of Sudbury in said County Aged seventy six years do testify and say that I enlisted in Capt Thomas Brattle Company & 6th Mass Regiment in seventeen hundred & eighty four three Months and March to Rhode Island and served my term and Abel Thompson of said Sudbury enlisted in the same Company and served the same time as orderly sergeant in said Company I further certify that I have no doubt but Abel Thompson was in the service from seventy five to seventy eight but I was not out therefore can not make oath this point but it was said he was out in the Army -
John Goodnow
Middlesex ss August 21. 1884 - then the above named John Goodnow personally appeared and made oath to the above Affidavit Before me                      As her Goodnow Justice of the Peace
I further certify that the above named John Goodnow is a credible witness As her Goodnow Justice of the Peace

I, Mirah Balcom of Marlborough in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age, do testify and say, that Abel Thompson, late of Sudbury in said County aforesaid, went to Cambridge, to join the army, soon after the Concord battle in the year, 1775, and was on some time, but I cannot say how long; and I think he remained there till after the British left Boston. I think he was in Capt. Nixon's company, but I am not certain about the company; he went to Cambridge with said Nixon's company. I then lived in Sudbury at that time, and was a neighbour of said Thompson. Afterwards, and I think in the first part of the year 1776, he enlisted and went to the south, and was at Valley Forge; and was in the service on this enlistment one year or more; and he worked on the barracks at Valley Forge. Said Thompson was a man of very good character, and much respected.
Mirah Balcom
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middlesex. October 13, 1838. Then the above named Mirah Balcom personally appeared, and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed, before me; and I further certify that the said Mirah Balcom is known to me, and is a man of truth and veracity, according to my best knowledge and belief.
Ephraim Glinds, Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts } SS Middlesex county }
On this twentythird day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirtyeight personally appeared before me, one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the county of Middlesex, Jonas Holden of Waltham in the county & Commonwealth aforesaid, aged eighty two years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath depose & make the following declaration: That he formerly knew Abel Thomson of late of Sudbury in the county & Commonwealth aforesaid, that said Thomson was a private in the company commanded by Capt. Abel Holden in Col. John D. Dyer's Regiment, in the service of the United States. That said Thomson was in said service for and during the term of three years, and he thinks said Thomson commenced the term of service aforesaid in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six, that he knows Sally Thomson of Newton in the county & Commonwealth aforesaid, that she is the widow of Abel Thomson the aforesaid private, that she now is and has been for many years a widow, that he knew her before her intermarriage with the said Abel Thomson, and that she is the indentical person herein & heretofore named
Jonas Holden
Sworn to this twenty third day of October A.D. 1858 before me
Asah Moore } Justice of the Peace

I certify that I am acquainted with Jonas Holden named in the foregoing declaration, and that he is a person of truth and veracity.
William Hobbs
commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex County, ss. Nov 9 th A. D. 1830. The above named William Hobbs, made oath that the above certificate by him subscribed is true before me.
Israel Moore Justice of the Peace

I am in the wealth of Middlesex county & Timothy Moore of Sudbury in said county aged seventy eight years — do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Abel Thompson and that he belonged to the same town and I think he enlisted into Capt Abel Holden Company & Disas Regiment and was taken off and worked with the carpenters and that I see him frequently in the Standing Army in seventeen hundred & seventy seven seventy eight & seventy nine so that I am sure that he belonged to the Standing Army for the above three years
Timothy Moore
Midddlesex ss August 22, 1888 Then the above named Timothy Moore personally appeared and made oath to the above Deposition by him subscribed before me Asahel Goodnow Justice of the Peace
I further certify that the above named Timothy Moore is a credible witness
Asahel Goodnow Justice of the Peace

Abel Thompson and Sarah Brown both of Sudbury were married August twenty fifth one thousand seven hundred eighty two Yrs. Jacob Biglow.
I certify that the above is a true copy of record taken from the records of the town of Sudbury in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, except the date which is expressed in figures fairly written, as follows,
Abel Thompson and Sarah Brown both of Sudbury were married August 25. - 1782
Yrs Jacob Biglow
Thos. Stearns Town Clerk of Sudbury Sudbury August 21. st 1838 -
I Thomas Stearns of Sudbury in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid depose and say that the above is a true copy of the record of the mar- riage of Abel Thompson and Sarah Brown with the exception above named - and that I am Town Clerk of said Sudbury -
Middlesex Yrs. Town of Sudbury August 21. A 1838 - Then the above named Thomas Stearns who is known by me to be Town Clerk of Sudbury, made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true
Before me Asher Goodnow Justice of the Peace

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 15430 Sarah Thompson Widow of Abel Thompson Sarah's last Will
Act: Feb 2 nd 1848
Index:—Vol. M , Page 271
[Arrangement of 1870.]

3240
Mepacksett.
Sarah Thompson widow of Abel Thompson who was a Private & Sergeant in the Revolution.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 39 Dollars 16 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of Dec. 1843 and sent to
Mrs. Bulfinch. Boston, Mass.
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A.
Vol. 1 Page 55

Massachusetts - 3596
Sarah Thompson, widow of Abel Thompson,
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 19 th June 1811, of Suffolk in the State of Mass ts who was a Pn. & Sgt in in the Comp y commanded by Captain Holden of the Reg t commanded by Col on in the Mass ts line for 10 mos 18 dys
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass ts at the rate of 39 Dollars 16 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 th day of July '39, and sent to Hon. W. Adams, No 3. Court St. Boston.
Arrears to the 4 th of Mar. $117.48 Semi-annual allowance ending 19.53 $137.01
{ Act July 7, } 1838.
Recorded by R. Burdick Clerk, Book Vol. 1 Page 139

Supplemental Declaration of Sarah Thompson widow of Abel Thompson under Act July 7. 1838

State of Massachusetts County of Suffolk ss }
Supplemental Declaration of Sarah Thompson Widow of Abel Thompson , deceased, for pension for the revolutionary services of her said husband under the Act of Congress entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows and for other purposes"
Sarah Thompson of Boston in the aforesaid county & state, widow of Abel Thompson , in addition to my former declaration now on file in Pension Office at the War Department at Washington, being duly sworn depose, testify, and declare: that I frequently heard my husband said Abel Thompson deceased, in his life time say, that he was in the company commanded by Captain Moore Col: Nixon's Regt at the time the American Army was stationed at Cambridge in the year seventeen hundred & seventy five, but in what capacity I do not remember having heard him say. I often heard him state further, that he was at Dorchester heights at the time the redoubts were thrown up there. I have no doubt that he was in the first eight months or years service as it was called, and served out the full period in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five. —
Witness George W. Adams
Sarah Thompson
26.68 12.50 9.16
15-77 m End

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk ss. Boston April 2 nd 1839. Personally appeared the within named Sarah Thompson and made solemn Oath to the truth of the within Affidavit by her subscribed Before me George W. Adams Justice of the Peace within and for said County
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk ss I George C. Wilde, Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court within said county, do certify, that the above named George W. Adams is a Justice of the Peace, within the said County: that his Commission bears date the eleventh day of April 1837 & expires the eleventh day of April 1844 & that his signature above written is his true & genuine signature In Testimony whereof I have set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this third day of April A. D. 1839.
Geo. C. Wilde, Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, April 2 d 1839.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Abel Thompson of Sudbury is borne on "A Return of Capt d Moor's Company in the 5 th Reg t commanded by Col d John Nixon Sept r 30 th 1778" — as a Private — and the Return is signed by Micah Goodenough Lieut.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John D. Sleeper
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

James: L. Edward Cosquin

Boston 3 d April 1839. James L. Edwards Esq. Sir,
I received your letter under date of the 22 nd March last in which you inform me that you have proof of two months & fifteen days service of Abel Thompson deceased in '80 under Capt. Brickett a Sargeant; but that the alleged service of 3 years in Holden's company of Minns Regiment is not borne out by the full & complete rolls of that company & Regiment from '76 to 81"
I think if you refer to the Affidavits of one of the witnesses you will find that the Deponent is a pensioner for two or three years service in the company and Regiment in which he testifies that o f Abel Thompson served with himself during that period.
But though the rolls do not show 3 years service from 76 to 81 you do not inform me whether or not they do show detached periods of service sufficient to grant his widow Sarah Thompson a pension.
Since I received your communication we have discovered some new testimony which I herewith transmit you. By this it is evident that said Abel Thompson was in the first eight months or years service as it was called in 1775. Will you be good enough to examine the additional evidence and if there be service enough proved to enable the widow to receive a pension therefor issue a

certificate & transmit the same at the earliest period compatible with the regulations of your Department to the subscriber & thereby
Oblige
Sir
Respectfully
Yours, W. C. L.
George W. Adams No 63. Court Street

Sarah Thom p'son Widow of Abel -
Pensioned under act of 1838.
Map- Rolls
ad- 2 nd Feb 48

Washington Sept 13 th 1857.
Sir
I respectfully ask that the Claim of Sarah Thompson Widow of Abel may be reexamined - To be found on the Miss. Rolls -
Very respectfully
Your Obedient
R. W. Young
Hon L. P. Waldo
Com r of Pensions

Boston, Aug. 15. 1843.
James L. Edwards Esq
Sir
I enclose sundry affidavits of applicants for pensions under the late law of 3 March last, viz. of Mrs. Tanderrow, Mrs. Thompson & Mrs. Abbott. You will please send the certificates to me & oblige
Yrs. resp y
Thomas Bulfinch

James L. Edwards Esq.

Denton November 15 th 1838
James L. Edwards Esq r
I herewith transmit the evidence of Mrs Sarah Thompson in support of her claim to a pension under the Act of July 7. 1838, for the military services of her husband, Abel Thompson in the Revolutionary War . — As early an investigation of this case as is consistent with the regulations of the Pension-Department, & if allowed the transmission of the certificate thereof, to the subscriber would much oblige
Respectfully
Your Obed t Serv t
George W. Adams No 63 Court Street & att y for the Party claiming
11

L. Thompson ad 3/2/22

Admutter
G. S. Bulfinch Boston Mass

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston August 12 th 1848
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Nicholson B. Procter was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
M. H. Calhoun Secretary of the Commonwealth.

DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of 2d February, 1848, entitled, "An act making further provision for surviving Widows and Soldiers of the Revolution."
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss.
Middlesex COUNTY, }
On this tenth day of August 1848, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the county aforesaid,
Sarah Thompson a resident of Marlborough in the county of Middlesex aforesaid aged Eighty Seven - years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 2d February, 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of
Abel Thompson who was a resident of Sudbury and who was a private and sergeant in the War of the Revolution
and is the identical person who drew a pension under the Act of 17th June, 1844, on account of the Revolutionary service of her late husband aforesaid, at the rate of thirty nine dollars and sixteen cents per annum.
She further declares that she is still a widow.
Sarah Thompson
Sworn to and subscribed on the day } Before me,
and year above written,
In presence of Frances Searles
Nicholson B Procter Justice of the Peace.
I Certify. That the declarant is personally known to me, a widow and a pensioner, as she declares.
Nicholson B Procter Justice of the Peace.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss.
COUNTY, }
Clerk of the of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that is a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, duly qualified; and that his signature, above written, is genuine.
and the Seal of said Court, this

3799
Sarah Thompson
$39.16
Thos. Buel Finch Boston Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. Middlesex County.
Be it known that on this Seventh day of August 1843 personally appeared before me the subscribed a justice of the peace in and for said County and Commonwealth Mrs. Sarah Thompson a resident of Marlborough in the County of Middlesex aged Eighty Four years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed on the 3 d day of March 1843 granting pensions to Widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War.
That she is the Widow of Abel Thompson who was a Private & Sergeant in the Revolutionary War and served as she verily believes as stated by her in her original declaration for a pension under the Law of the 7 th of June 1832 to which declaration and the papers accompanying the same, now on file in the War Department, she would refer for a more particular statement of his services for the proof of her marriage, identity, and the time of her husband's death.
She further declares that she was pensioned under said Act at the rate of Thirty Nine 16 / 100 Dollars per annum which amount she received from the 1 st of March 1836 to the 1 st of March 1841 at the Agency in Boston Massachusetts and at the time of her receiving her last payment surrendered the Pension Certificate granted to her under said Act to the Pension Agent at the said City of Boston agreeably to the order of the Department.
And this declarant further alleges that she has not intermarried since the decease of her said husband but is now and ever since has been the Widow of said Abel Thompson deceased as will more fully appear by the proof hereto annexed.
And further she saith not.
Sarah Thompson Abel Thompson

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first within written and I certify that the applicant is personally known to me to be the person within described.
Before me
Wihelson B B Poore Justice of the Peace.
I Johnson Colby of Boston in the County of Suffolk of lawful age on oath testify and say that I have been well acquainted with Mrs. Sarah Thompson the applicant named in the within declaration for many years last past I know that she was the wife and is now the Widow of Abel Thompson deceased who was reputed to have been a soldier in the Revolutionary War and that she was a pensioner under the Law of 7 th July 1838 as stated by her. Johnson Colby
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } Suffolk County } August 12. 1848.
Then came Johnson Colby who is known to me to be a credible witness and made oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is strictly true.
Before me
Lowell M. Stone Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston August 15 th 1843.
I hereby Certify , That at the date of the annexed attestation Nicholson B. Proctor was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, and Sowell M. Stone was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk,
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Jno. A. Bolles
Secretary of the Commonwealth.