Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20,089, for William Thornton, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (New York) Thornton, William Mary
N. 20,089
CONTENTS

83057
New York
William Thornton private
Lamb's New York Regt 1779 - 4 years In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 12 th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 th of March 1819 and sent to Jonathan Rouse Esq r Judge Pittstown Rensselaer Co. N.Y.
Arrears to 4th of Mar! 1819. 10 \frac{1924}{30 \times 31} months $86.09
Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 th Sept 1819. $48
$134.09
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued
Philip sent 19th Decr 1821 for V. Mallory Esq r New York

723
Mary Thornton Act of July 7. 1838
Col Lamb Capt Mott
Admitted
Private of Artillery
2 years
$100. - at Belling Brook
M. S. Van Hook Esq. Pittstown New York

State of New York
Rensselaer County ss.
On this twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty eight, personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the Justices Court of the City of Troy in the County & State aforesaid, Mary Thornton a resident of the town of Pittstown in said County & formerly a resident of the Town of Grafton in the County aforesaid, aged Sixty four years on the 22 nd day of January 1838. 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. as follows. First, That she is the widow of William Thornton a private in the army of the Revolution who was inscribed on the pension list Roll of the New York Agency at the rate of Eight dollars per month, under the Law of 1818. She further declares that she was married to the said William Thornton some time in the month of February in the year one thousand seven hundred & ninety two, and that her husband the aforesaid William Thornton died on the sixteenth day of April eighteen hundred & thirty four. 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 & ninety four. Second, at the time above stated, that she has not been married, since the death of her said husband the said William Thornton.
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court the day & year aforesaid Geo. Wheeler Clerk
Mary her Thornton mark
I George Wheeler Clerk of the Justices Court of the City of Troy, do hereby certify the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Mary Thornton for a pension, and that she signed her name thereto by making her mark because she never learned to write. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 20 th day of August 1838. Geo. Wheeler Clerk

State of New York Bensepian County
On this 13 th day of August 1838 Personally appeared before me Perry Warren Jones a justice of the Peace of the said County of Bensepian Sarah Martin, of the town of Grafton in the County aforesaid, aged about Sixty Seven years who first being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath say, that I was well acquainted with William Thornton and Mary Brennenstuhl previous to their Marriage, and that the said William Thornton was married to the said Mary Brennenstuhl at my house, and as near as I can recollect about forty six years ago the latter part of last winter, and according to the best of my recollection the marriage was Sole- mnized by the reverend Samuel Covell, a Min- ister of the Baptist Church of the town of Pittstown in the said County of Bensepian.
Sworn to and subscribed Sarah Martin on the day and year above written before me Perry Warren Jones Justice Peace
I Perry Warren Jones a justice of the Peace of the County of Bensepian do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Deponent Sarah Martin and that she is a credible person.
Perry Warren Jones Justice Peace

State of New York Rensselaer County
On this 13 th day of August 1838 Personally appeared before me Perry Warren jun r a Justice of the Peace of the said County of Rensselaer David Dunham of the town of Grafton in the County aforesaid aged Seventy two years who first being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath say he was well acquainted with William Thornton and Mary Brennensstuhl previous to their marriage and that the said William Thornton was married to the said Mary Brennensstuhl at the house of Amasa Martin the husband of Sarah Martin in his presence which Marriage took place about forty six years ago and solemnized acor- ding to the best of his recollection by the Rever- end Samuel Gove of the Baptist Church
In presence of M c Cluskey
David his Dunham mark
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
Perry Warren jun r Justice Peace
I Perry Warren jun r a Justice of the Peace of the County of Rensselaer do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Deponent David Dunham and that he signed his name to the above Deposition by making his mark because he never learned to write and I the said Justice do further certify that the said David Dunham is a Credible person
Perry Warren jun r Justice Peace

State of New York } ss Rensselaer County } On this twenty fifth day of august eighteen hundred and thirty eight
Personally appeared before me Perry Warren form a justice of the peace of the said County of Rensselaer Michael S. Vandercook of the Town of Pittstown in the County aforesaid aged sixty four years. who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath say, that he was personally acquainted with William Thornton and Mary Thornton after their marriage and has known them as man and wife - and that the said William Thornton died the sixteenth day of April eighteen hundred and thirty four and during and nearly all the time William Thornton received his pension he has made out or caused to be made out by his attorneys the papers for drawing the said William Thornton's pension and the certificate allowing a pension is now and has been left with him for safe keeping and a true copy of the same hereto attached and further says that the said Mary Thornton has not been married since the death of her late husband William Thornton and further that the said William Thornton received his pension up to the fourth of March 1834 - leaving one month and about one third of a month un- paid up to date of the said William Thornton
Wm. S. D. Beck
Sworn to and subscribed on this day and year above written before me
Perry Warren Justice Peace
I Perry Warren form a justice of the peace of the County of Rensselaer do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Deponent Michael S. Vandercook and that he is a credible person
Perry Warren Justice Peace

Revolutionary Claims
I Certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 18th of March 1818 William Thornton late a Private, in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List Roll, of the New York Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the twelfth day of April One Thousand eight hundred and eighteen
Given at the War Office of the United States this twenty sixth day of March One Thousand eight Hundred and Nineteen
L. D.
J. C. Calhoun
Secretary of War
State of New York } Rensselaer County }
Personally appeared the subscriber Michael Vanderwook and made oath in due form of Law that the foregoing is a true copy of the original certificate in his possession for safe keeping
Sworn to and Subscribed } on this 14th day of August } 1838 before me }
Mich. S. D. Cook
Perry Warren Justice Peace
that in signed

State of New York Rensselaer County
On this 13 th day of August 1838 Personally appeared before me Perry Warren junr a Justice of the Peace of the said County of Rensselaer Wilson Dunham of the town of Grafton in the County aforesaid aged Sixty Six years who first being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath say that he was personally ac- quainted with William Thornton and Mary Brennenstuhl before their marriage and that they were married in my presence at the house of Amasa Martin according to the best of my recollection and that he has no recollection who married them
In presence of Mid. M. Cook.
His (Wilson Dunham Mark)
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
Perry Warren junr Justice Peace
I Perry Warren junr a Justice of the Peace of the County of Rensselaer do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named deponent Wilson Dunham and that he signed his name to the above deposition by making his mark he being incapable of writing his name from age and other infirmities and that he was able to write his name formerly And I the said Justice do further certify that the said Wilson Dunham is a credible person
Perry Warren junr Justice Peace

State of New York Rensselaer County
On this twenty fourth day of August eighteen hundred and thirty eight Personally appeared before me Perry Warren junior a justice of the peace of the county of Rensselaer Jonathan Reed Esq. of the Town of Pittstown in the county aforesaid aged Fifty three years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath say that he is now clerk in the Baptist church in Pittstown in the county aforesaid That the Records of said church are in his possession which Records are commenced in the year 1790 up to this time and has carefully examined said Records and has not found any Marriages Recorded in the Book of church Records and has not been the practice to Record any Marriages and well remembers that Lemuel Covell was for a number of years in the Baptist church in Pittstown as Minister in the Baptist church
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
Jonathan Reed Ch. Clerk
Perry Warren Jr. Justice Peace
I Perry Warren Jr. a justice of the peace of the county of Rensselaer do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named deponent Jonathan Reed and that he is a credible person
Perry Warren Jr. Justice Peace

State of New York Rensselaer County ss. I Henry R. Bristol Clerk of said County Do hereby certify that Perry Warren Junr. Esq. by & before whom the foregoing Affidavits purports to have been sworn, and by whom the foregoing Certificates purports to have been signed was on the days of the respective dates thereof. One of the Justices of the Peace in & for said County. And that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice and verily believe his signatures subscribed to said affidavits & Certificates to be genuine.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County this 25 th day of August A.D. 1838.
Henry R. Bristol Clerk.

William Thornton Affidavit
Adm o
Lyons
Lamb's art
N. York time
except the judge's certificate - he must certify that the claimant is not a resident of the U.S.

State of New York Rensselaer County Ys
On this twelfth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty six before me the sub- scribed one of the Judges of the Court of com- mon Pleas in and for said County personally appears William Thornton age fifty six
appears William Thornton aged fifty six years resident in the town of Grafton in said County, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States the
Revolutionary War." That he the Thornton visited in New Windsor of New York in the company
by Captain DeWitt New York line commanded by Col. DeWitt there enlisted during the War in a company commanded by in a Regiment of the New York line commanded by in the battle at the taking of Cornwallis. service until the close of the War was discharged at West Point in said State of New York - that his Discharge being lost. He is unable to prove it that he is and ever was here a citizen of
the United States that he is in manhood circumstances and in need of assistance from his country for support and that he has no other means now in his power of his said services. Sworn to and acknowledged.
said services. Sworn to and declared before me the day & year aforesaid and I certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said William Thornton did
...in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the ...an enemy! As I now tread the ...ings and ...

...me to the ... of War, pursuant to the ... ...aforementioned act of Congress ...am also satisfied that the said William Thornton is in residence in ...stands in need of assistance from the country for support Jonathan Pouse
State of New York Rensselaer County ss I certify that Jonathan Pouse Esq. to the one hereto annexed whose signature is affixed to the foregoing declaration was on the Twelfth day of April Instant one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Baird County - In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my name & affixed the seal of the said Court this seventeenth day of April A.D. 1811 Ben...

William Thornton
8305
Sept. 19
One L.L.E.
State of New York
According to the records of the county of... resided in the... (Incorporated)... incorporated to the county of common law... with a... affirmations of the... Court of the... court. (Being a court of record in and for the... On this... day of... the... personally appeared...

State of New York.
Rensselaer County City of Troy } At a court of common pleas called the Mayors Court, held at the Court house of the County of Rensselaer in & for the City of Troy
On this Second day of January 1821 personally appeared in open court, (being a court of record in and for the said City according to the solemn adjudications of the Supreme Court of this state, and being a court which proceeds according to the course of common law ; with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount ; keeping a record of its proceedings ; and possessing the power of fine and imprisonment) William Thornton aged Sixty years, resident in the Town of Watervliet in said County who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the revolutionary war as follows:— viz. More than Six years, in a regiment of Artillery under Col John Lamb, in a company commanded at first by Capt West, then under Capt. Vinn in the same regiment of the N York Line, That he was discharged at West Point, That he was in a battle at Springfield in New Jersey and at the taking of Cornwallis, That his original declaration under the act of 18 March 1818, was made on the Twelfth day of April 1818 and that his pension Certificate is N o 8,305
AND I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818 ; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, 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 18th of March, 1818 ; 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,
Sworn to and declared on the Second day of January 1821. William Thornton mark Archibald D. D. Clerk
State of New York,
Rensselaer County City of Troy }
I, Joseph D. Selden Clerk of the Court of common pleas called the Mayors Court held in & for the City of Troy do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the 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 property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is Thirteen dollars and Thirty Seven cents. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this Second day of January 1821
Joseph D. Selden Clerk.

A true and perfect Inventory or Schedule of all the real & personal property (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) of William Thornton as pensioner of the U States viz:- No real estate - personal estate as follows viz:-
  1. Hog $1.00. 1 Iron pot $1.00. 1 Tea kettle 50/100 1 Bake tubb 50/100 1 Dish tubb $1.00  $3.75    1. Small spinning wheel $1. one large wheel $2. 6 Benzes & forks $1. 6 cups & saucers 75/100  4.75    6 wooden spoons 50/100 4 ditto 25/100 6 earthen plates 37/100 3 Bowls 18/100  1.30    1 Spade 50/100 4 Chairs $3. 1 maple table $1. one chest 75/100  4.25     $13.03  
I am a common Labourer unable to do much by reason of Rheumatic complaints with which I am constantly afflicted - my Family consists of a wife aged Forty nine and Seven Children viz Polly aged Sixteen - Catherine aged Fifteen - William aged Fourteen - Rebecca aged Eleven - Larry aged Ten - Hannah aged Eight - Michael aged Four years - And I do solemnly swear that the foregoing Schedule of property & the number names and ages of my Family are true according to the best of my knowledge -
Sworn to in open Court
Jan'y. 2. 1821. Archibald Dep Clk
William Thornton mark

Ref
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 20089
Mary Thornton Widow of William Thornton Brn Rev War
Act: July 7 th 1838
Index:—Vol. m , Page 273
[Arrangement of 1870.]

x New York - 219
Mary Thornton widow of William Thornton, decd. NY
who was a href="#">who was a pensioner under the Act of 18. Mar. 1818 and who died on the 16 th April, 1834: of Rensselaer in the State of New York who was a P. of Art y in the comp y commanded by Captain Mott, of the reg t commanded by Col. Lamb in the N. York line for 2 years -
Inscribed on the Roll of New York (c. 4.) at the rate of 100 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 th day of Aug. Sept. 1838, and sent to M c L. Brander Cook, Pittstown, N. York
Arrears to the 4 th of Sept. 1838 = $250:00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar. 1839 - 50:00
$300:00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by S. A. Elliott Clerk, Book 4, Vol. 2, Page 106.

Old card.
From Sam Mark } Free Nov. 26 -
The Hon. to Hon. C. Calhoun Secretary of the Department War Washington City
Mr. [unclear]

The Hon. John C. Calhoun Secretary of the Department of War
Enclosed I send you the application of William Thornton to be placed on the pension list agreeable to the provisions of the late act of Congress with the addition to the Judge's certificate that he is in reduced cir- cumstances and stands in need of assistance from his country for support which addition I did most cheerfully willingly make from a personal ac- quaintance with him and his circumstances for upwards of thirty years, and I am convinced that there are few soldiers who served in the revolutionary war that there serves as a soldier were more meritorious or their circumstances more needy.
I am very respectfully your Obedient Servant
Jonathan Root Pittston 29 th Nov r 1818

Ms. B. 1. 6 v. 1 p. 534.
Rec'd Jan. 1820
Hon. John C. Calhoun Secretary of War Washington.
PAID

Sir,
Grey 10 th January 1821
I enclose the declaration of William Thornton, (a Revolutionary Pensioner,) under the law of 1 st May 1820. From the extreme poverty of Mr. Thornton, it is desirable that his case should be decided previous to the fourth of March.
Very Respectfully, J. M c Alvy
Hon. John C. Calhoun Secy of War Washington

Pittstown NY Aug 17 th 1838
ps
ps
free
723
NY 7 723
ences
(letter)
Dear Sir,
Henry R. Brown, Secretary of War Washington City
D.C.
C 1712. Sept 2 nd 1838 - Pension

Pittstown August 27 th 1838.
Hon ble . John Forsyth Esq d . Sir, at the request of the widow Mary Thornton, I enclose to the war office her application for a pension, and when allowed the certificate may be enclosed and directed Post office Pittstown Rensselaer County - as Mrs Thornton is a poor widow woman it will be very desirable to have an answer as soon as convenient.
Respectfully Yours -
Wm. D. Cook