Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10588, for Stephen Thurston, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Thurston, Stephen
R. 105-88
CONTENTS

33,762 Stephen Thurston N. H.
10588
Declaration of Stephen Thurston - 1836 B.2.4.4
Rev. J. S. Davis Wentworth N. H.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State of New-Hampshire, } ss. Hanoverhill Sept. 20 th 1836 County of Grafton - - - - - }
On this Twentieth day of September personally appeared before the Judges of the Probate for S th County Stephen Thurston a resident of Asford in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, aged Eighty six 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 7 th 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1776 with Capt. William Rodgers and served in the 6 th Wigglesworth regiment of the Massachusetts line, under the following named officers;
Gen l James Brikett Command the Brigade to which I was annexed I Resided in Bradford in the County of Essex & Common wealth of Mass ts at the time of my enlistment; from which place we Marched to Cheribton in the State of New Hampshire from thence to Attenbury from thence to Lake Champlaine , from thence to Vermonteroge , where we completed our time of enlistment. after our arrival, which was three weeks from the time we left Bradford I was more than two weeks from the time of my Discharge until I arrived home, which computed would make my time of Service - at least 6 Months & Seven Days -
Stephen Thurston
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Before me Edward Webber Judge of Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
Edward Webber Judge of Probate
Mrs. Darius Clark of the Court of Probate aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Stephen Thurston for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twentieth day of September A.D. 1836 - Moses Dow

June 1, 1940.
Mr. James R. Pierce 46 Lafayette Street New Rochelle, New York.
BA-J/ILL Joshua Swift S. 42438 Stephen Thurston R. 10588
Dear Sir:
The records of Joshua Swift and Stephen Thurston follow, as found in the papers on file in claims for pension based upon service in the Revolutionary War.
JOSHUA SWIFT-S. 42438.
Joshua Swift enlisted in Boston, Massachusetts, in January or February 1781, served as private in Captain Joseph Williams' company, Colonel John Cretton's 3rd Massachusetts regiment, was in frequent skirmishes, and was discharged at New Windsor, New York, in June 1783.
Joshua Swift was allowed pension on account of his service in the Revolutionary War on his application executed May 4, 1818, at which time he resided in Lisle, Broome County, New York. He was aged then seventy-four years; he did not state the date and place of his birth, the names of his parents, nor his residence at the time he entered service in the Revolutionary War.
In 1820, this soldier lived with his son in Lisle, New York; the name of this son was not given, nor the date and place of marriage and name of the wife of Joshua Swift. There are no further data regarding his family in the papers on file in this claim for pension.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid and, possibly, the date of death

of this pensioner, you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city, and furnish the following data:
Joshua Swift Certificate #15406 Issued October 20, 1819 Rate $8 per month Commenced May 4, 1818 Act of March 18, 1818 New York Agency. -----
STEPHEN THURSTON-R. 10688. (EEL old notes)
The date and place of birth of Stephen Thurston and the names of his parents were not given. At the time he entered service in the Revolutionary War, he resided in Bradford, Essex County, Massachusetts.
Stephen Thurston enlisted in June 1776, served as private in Captains William Rogers' and Joshua French's companies, Colonel Wigglesworth's Massachusetts regiment, marched to Ticonderoga, and served five months.
Stephen Thurston applied September 20, 1836 for the pension which might have been due under the Act of June 7, 1832 on account of his service in the Revolutionary War. He was then aged eighty-six years and resided in Oxford, Grafton County, New Hampshire. His claim for pension was not allowed as he did not render service of six months as required by the pension law.
In October 1836, Benjamin Hardy of Hopkinton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, stated that before the time of service(1776) Stephen Thurston "married the daughter of my father-in-law" and that he had been intimately acquainted ever since. No names were given and there are no further data regarding the family of this soldier in this claim for pension.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

REJECTED
10,588.
P. O. Stephen Thurston
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Printed list of 1852 shows
Application filed: _____, 18
Cause of rejection: "he
Alleges: did not serve 6 mos."
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
1934 - Visit to J.B. Lutz - see letter in case of him Stillville P.O. 237.87. Sol. 1860 - sent to James P. Pierce - pay-

V Rejected
Ans: Inverness S. Davis
Dec 13 1836.

Ingraham S. Davis
Oct. 13: '36
O.K.
Rec Vol 39
Page 350

War Dept Pension Off Dec. 31
Sir
The claim of Stephen Thurston has been examined & disallowed. The act of 7 June 1832 does not provide for a term of actual service than 6 months. His witness proves that the term was 5 mo and he himself computes it at 6 mo 7 days including two weeks between the period of his discharge & arrival at home, so that his actual service as well by his own computation as by that of his witness is less than the minimum provision of the act.
His papers are placed in file
Rev Increase S. Davis Wentworth New Hampshire

Wentworth N. H. Dec. 1 st 1836
To The Hon. Secretary of War,
Sir, I am requested by Mr. Stephen Thurston, who's Declaration I have enclosed, to request your Honour to grant him a pension, as a Revolutionary soldier, if the evidence afforded is satisfactory to your mind.
There is some apparent discrepancy in the statements of Thurston and Hardy (the only living witness known to Thurston)
Hardy states that they served in the company commanded by Joshua French. Thurston states that he enlisted with Capt. Rodgers. They enlisted under Capt. Rodgers, and after arriving at Liontorege Rodgers was advanced to the office of Major, and French appointed Capt.
Hardy does not recollect the precise time of returning home, but Thurston (who arrived 2 or 3 days after Hardy) recollects perfectly that it was the 12 th of Dec. from the circumstance, that it was Thanksgiving day.

Hardy states that Thurston lived in Rowly but Thurston says he lived just over the line in Bradford about one mile from Hardy.
It may appear remarkable to you that Thurston has not applied sooner for a pension. The reason is, he did not think himself able to pay the necessary expense. And living in a very remote part of the town his wish to obtain a pension did not become known to those who could assist him. No one with whom I have conversed or those acquainted with Thurston doubts his having served, according to his declaration.
Yours with respect
Murcease S. Davis, Pastor of the Congregational Churches in Wentworth and Oxford.

Affidavit of B. Hardy
10/2/74

I Benjamin Hardy of Hopkinton in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire of eighty three years of age depose and say that I have been acquainted with Stephen Thurston, who of Orford in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire sixty years or more, that said Stephen Thurston served as a private soldier in the Revolutionary army for the term of five months in the year 1776 with me in the Company commanded by Joshua French of Salisbury or Amherst Mts.
That at the time we enlisted I lived in Bradford Mts. and the said Thurston lived I think in the town of Rowley about one mile distant from me
That we started the last of May first of June for Niagandaga and there served out the term of five months were discharged and returned home together.
That the said term of five months service does not include the time we were travelling to or returning from Niagandaga, and what time we spent in going and returning I have no means of ascertaining nor can I state for a certainty how long we were absent from home - I am very certain that we did not get home about the last of November.
Said Stephen Thurston, before the time of the foresaid service married the Daughter of my Father-in-law and we were intimate before and after his intermarriage while in the service and after. He is now, from my best recollection of his age about eighty five - six or seven years.
Benjamin Hardy
State of New Hampshire Merrimack ss. October 7. 1836 Then personally appearing Benjamin Hardy makes solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is just and true
Before me
Horace Chase Justice of the Peace
I certify that I am well acquainted with Benjamin Hardy who has subscribed and made oath to the above affidavit, that he sustains a good reputation for truth and veracity and that full reliance may be placed on his statement, under oath, as strictly true.
Horace Chase Justice of the Peace

Wyoming Society
PRESIDENT EDWIN E. FITCH, LARAMIE VICE-PRESIDENT MAJ. GEO. W. BROWER, FT. WARREN SECRETARY JOSEPH B. LUTZ, CHEYENNE TREASURER EDWARD H. RAWSON, LARAMIE
REGISTRAR AND HISTORIAN JOHN C. BLACKMAN, CHEYENNE
BOARD OF GOVERNORS CLYDE L. TITUS, CHEYENNE CLARENCE B. RICHARDSON, CHEYENNE JAMES H. WALTON, CHEYENNE
Sons of the American Revolution
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY BOX 115, CHEYENNE
Organized May 18, 1908
5-27-34
Veterans Administration, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
What is your record, if any, on STEVEN THURSTON , Revolutionary soldier of New Hampshire? The family tradition is that he was at West Point under General Wayne. He was born 4-8-1760.
Sincerely yours,
J. B. Lutz, Secretary

June 1, 1940.
Mr. James R. Pierce 46 Lafayette Street New Rochelle, New York.
BA-J/ILL
Joshua Swift Letter in this S. 42438 claim. Stephen Thurston R. 10588
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Stephen Thurston, Samuel Eastman, Nathan Noyes, Joshua Swift, Ephraim Relfe, and Timothy Woodworth.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is impossible to comply in full with each request pertaining to soldiers of that war.
The records of Joshua Swift, pension claim-S. 42438, and Stephen Thurston, pension claim-R.10588, are furnished you herewith.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

July 30, 1934
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mr. J.B.Lutz Box 115 Cheyenne, Wyoming
BA-J/SEL William Stillwell- S. 33757 Stephen Thurston - R. 10588
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the records of John and William Stillwell, of New Jersey, Steven Thurston, of New Hampshire and Jonathan Wiggins, of Massachusetts or New Hampshire, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
A careful search of the Revolutionary War records has been made and no record found of a claim for pension or bounty land having been made to the United States based upon the military service in that war of a John Stillwell, as described by you or of a Jonathan Wiggins. Such claims are the source of the data furnished by this office. The records of William Stillwell and Stephen Thurston are furnished you herein the data for which were obtained from claims for pension made to the United States based upon their services in the Revolutionary War.
William Stillwell S. 33757
The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of William Stillwell are not shown in the papers in the pension claim.
William Stillwell enlisted, place not stated, in June, 1775, and served until May, 1776, as a private in Captain David Lyon's Company, 1 st New York Regiment; he enlisted about June 1, 1776, and served five months as a private in Captain Sylvanus Seeley's New Jersey Company; he enlisted at Chatham, Morris County, New Jersey, in June, 1777, served as a private in Captain Henry Lee's Company, Colonel Bland's Regiment of Horse until May, 1778, when with the consent of his officers, he exchanged places with another soldier and joined Captain Polhemus' Company, Colonel Matthias Ogden's 1 st New Jersey Regiment and served until June 5, 1783.

William Stillwell was allowed pension on his application executed March 30, 1818, while a resident of Morris Township, Morris County, New Jersey.
There are no data as to soldier's family.
* * * * *
Stephen Thurston R.10588
The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of Stephen Thurston are not shown in the papers in the pension claim.
While residing at Bradford, Essex County, Massachusetts, Stephen Thurston enlisted in June, 1776, served as a private in Captains William Rogers and Joshua French's Companies, Colonel Wiggin's Massachusetts Regiment, marched to Ticonderoga and served five months.
He applied for pension on September 20, 1836, at which time he was aged eighty-six years and resided in Oxford, Grafton County, New Hampshire. His claim was not allowed as he did not render six months service as required by the pension law.
In 1836, one Benjamin Hardy made affidavit in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, that Stephen Thurston "before the time of the aforesaid service married the daughter of my Father-in-law." No names were given and there are no further family data.
Rogers & French also in Mass Mil, & French is given as under Wiggin out
* * * * *
Very truly yours
A. D. HILL Assistant to Administrator.