Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31424, for John Thurston, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Thurston, John
S. 31424
CONTENTS

Paid at the Treasury under the Act of 6 April 1836 from 4 th Sept 1836 to 4 th Sept 1837. Age notified 30 May 1838
78 Maurice
5828.
Massachusetts John Thurston
of Worcester in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Sawyer of the reg t commanded by Col Smith in the Mass line for 11 M th
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 th day of Feb y 1833 and Sept 3 rd 1833 Dana Present
Arrears to 4 th of Sept 1832 $54.99 Pension allowance ending 4 th March 1833
$73.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by S. H. H. Clerk Book D. Vol. 227. Page 86

Declaration + John Thurston 22,269 Photo 11 Months aa
Please to direct to Sam Dana Esq. Guthrie MS
$36.66,
Sam Dana Esq. Present

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Worcester
ss.
On this fourteenth
day of August  Probate A.D. 1832
personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas now sitting at Worcester within and for the County of Worcester in the Commonwealth
11 20 5.00 4.00 1.00 7 10 27
aforesaid
Lancaster in said County
John Thurston
aged seventy seven years
Who being 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 entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That is to say
 1 st That in A.D. 1774 he was a minute man in Capt Houghton's Company in the Town of Lancaster, and on the 19 th of April A.D. 1775, he marched to Concord and encamped there that night, next day he pursued the Enemy to Cambridge and was there encamped for three weeks. 20 when he was discharged and returned home. —  2 nd In the Summer of A.D. 1776 he engaged to New York for 6 months and enlisted in the Company of Capt Samuel Sawyer Lieut. Sawyer and Gadsby in Col. Smith's Regt. of Massachusetts Forces he marched to New York and encamped at Bloomingdale, in September he returned from York Island, marched to Kingsbridge and White Plains served out his five months and was discharged. —  3 rd In December A.D. 1776 he engaged for 14 months to go to New Jersey and enlisted in the Company of Capt. Jon. Gates in Col. J. Brish's Artillery Regt. with whom he marched to New Jersey and was encamped at a place called Bawn's Brook where he served out his 14 months and was discharged. —  4 th In the fall or summer of 1777 he engaged to go to the Northern frontier for six weeks, entered the Company of Capt. Cager in Lieut. Sawyer's Regiment of Mass. Forces he marched to Bennington just before Bennington surrendered and afterwards encamped at Fort Edward, from whence on the opposite side of the river he saw the surrender of Bennington's Army and was soon after discharged having served four weeks.  5 th at the Battle of Bennington he was hired by one Joseph Osgood to save for him as a Substitute in Capt. [blank] Company in Col. [blank] Regiment for thirty days he entered on this service and was in it only one week when he was recalled and discharged. 

He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity, whatever except, the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Before Nathaniel Dyer Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester.
Sworn Nathaniel Dyer D.D.
I, a Clergyman residing in the town of Lancaster in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Thurston who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be 77 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Before Nathaniel Dyer Judge of the Probate for the County of Worcester. Nathaniel Dyer - Ebenezer Wolden
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and 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 Nathaniel Dyer who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Lancaster & the said Ebenezer Wolden of said town is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Joseph Wheeler Register of Probate for the County of Worcester do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains, the original proceedings, of the said Court, in the matter of the application of John Thurston for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at office this fourteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two
Joseph Wheeler Register of Probate for the County of Worcester in Massachusetts -
I the said Joseph Wheeler Register of Probate as aforesaid do further certify that Hon. Samuel Dana is, at present, a Justice of the Peace through the said Commonwealth, and that Josiah Flagg is a Justice of the Peace in & for the said County of Worcester and that the signature purporting to be their signature to the annexed affidavits are genuine and that the said affidavits were produced since making my above certificate, and are now annexed.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Probate Court this thirteenth day of January in the year four hundred eighty hundred and thirty three.
Joseph Wheeler Reg of said Probate Court

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester ss. to wit,
At the Court of Probate - - - within and for the County of Worcester begun and holden at Worcester day of Aug! A. D. 1832 on the fifteenth  John Thurston claiming to be a Soldier of the Revolution, the following Interrogatories were propounded to him to wit:
1. Where, and in what year were you born? Answer,
In Lancaster Ms on the 15th of Nov? AD 1754
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it? Answer,
In Lancaster at the 14th day of November AD 1754. I have a family record of my age
3. Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? Answer,
In Lancaster Ms where I always have and now do 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? Answer,
All my services were voluntary, I was here by draft or order of the  issue 30 days, at the time of Brimsfield Battle since named my service, but was recalled & dismissed in a week
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 service? Answer,
I saw Genl Washington at Harlem Heights Did you ever receive any written discharge from service? Ans r I never received any such discharge! -
6. 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? Answer,
The Rev. Dr Thayer, Mr John Wilder Capt. Joseph Brown, Miss Anthony Lane, Samuel Bates & Ezra Sawyer Selectmen of Lancaster Ms and Moses Smith Esq. -
John Thurston

31 424
Rev  INVALID.  Am
File No. 31, 424
John Thurston Rev Rev
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 431
[Arrangement of 1879.]

Affidavit of Iona Wilder in the case of John Thurston

I Jonathan Whittier of Lancaster in in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy seven years, do depose and say, that I served in the war of the revolution, as by my declaration on file in the Pension office, will appear
And I further testify that I well know and remember John Thurston of Lancaster & know that he served in that war, and he served in a Campaign of five months at New York Ad 1776 in Capt. Sawyers Company Col. Smith Reg t Mass forces - And I further testify that said Thurston also served in a Campaign in 1777 at the time Burgoyne's Army surrendered. In both which Campaigns I was in the same Company with him. — And I further declare that said Thurston was a minuteman in 1774, and went to Concord Battle with of his Company two weeks. —
Jon d Wilder.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester ss. August 1 st 1832
Personally appeared before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace, within and for all the Counties in said Commonwealth
Jonathan Wilder who subscribed the annexed Deposition
and made solemn Oath that the same is just and true in all its particulars according to the best of his knowledge and belief.
Sam l Dana
I hereby Certify that the above named Jonathan Wilder is a disinterested and credible witness. —
Sam l Dana jus Peace as aforesaid.

Titus Wilder. Affidavit in the Case of John Thurston

I Titus Wilder of Lancaster in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in the eighty fourth year of my age, testify and say, that in the month of December in the year 1776. Troops were called for to Rein- force the Army, in the Jerseys, and I March'd with the Company under the Command of Capt Jonathan Gates in Col Josiah Whitneys Regiment, and arrived at Danbury in Conne- ticut to receive further Orders, then We then march'd to Morristown to Head Quarters, from thence or- dered to Boundbrook, and there did duty till we were dismissed.

in April 1777. Our Tour duty was four months, and John Thurston was there, belonging to Capt Fortunatus Baker, Company in the same Regime of Col. Whitneys, Capt Gates being ap- pointed to the command of a Com- pany of Rangers, said Thurston was taken from Bakers  Gates Company, and put into said Gates Company, and there did duty until we were dis- charged the first day of April a- foresaid, at 300 Miles from home
State
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcester ss. Jany. 22 1833. Sworn and Subscribed before me Josiah Hazz Justice of the Peace

And I hereby Certify that Titus Wilder the aforesaid deponent is a Man of Reputable Character for truth and veracity. -
Joniah Hazz Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Nov r 26 1832.
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 John Thurston is borne on "A Pay roll of Capt. Fortunatus Cagles company in Lt. Col. Ephraim Sawyer's regiment of Militia, who marched as a reinforcement for the Northern army" for the space of 25 days from the 2 d of October 1777 —
I further certify that there is no roll of Capt. Samuel Sawyer's company in service at New-York, and that there is no roll of Capt. Jonathan Gates company on file in this office —
Edward D. Bangs Secy

Treasury Department,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
May 21. 1838.
Sir.
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States;" John Thurston a Pensioner on the Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of thirty six Dollars and sixty six Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of September 1836 to the 4 th September 1837.
Respectfully, yours,
Abner K. Parris Comptroller
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.