Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3,781, for John Thomas, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Ua.
Thomas John
S. 3781
carded
CONTENTS
U

Order to pay. 21. Nov 1837.
Dead
Letter to 3 d Auditor G. H. Jones 25 May 1841.
15
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 April 1838 from 4 March to 29. May 1839. - Age Notified. 4. June 1841
With Hon. Encl. Warren 22. 4/6/31
26.924
John Thomas of Lincoln in the State of - W. Vir. who was a Pr. in the Company commanded by Captain Appy of the Regt commanded by Col. D. in the Virginia Infantry
9. 1/10 Pr $30 0
Inscribed on the Roll of W. Vir. at the rate of 20 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 th day of July and sent to Mrs. J. J. Kingman, Frederick
Arrears to the 4th of Feb 24 90.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 15.00 105.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. G. Sprague Clerk, Book 65 Vol. 107. V

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
May 29 th , 1841.
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," The widow of John Thomas Acct d a Pensioner on the Roll of the Pulaski, In. Agency, at the rate of Thirty — Dollars and — Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March to the 29 th May 1839.
Respectfully yours,
William B. Harris Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

State of Tennessee Lincoln County
On this 23 d day of October 1833. personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid in said State, now sitting John Thomas - a Citizen of and Resident in the County of Lincoln State aforesaid aged 77 years 9 months & 14 days who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated - viz - That he entered the service as a drafted Militia soldier in a Company commanded by Captain Eppley while, in the County of Halifax & State of Virginia, he believes in the month of July 1880 - one thousand seven hundred and eighty, but as to the particular date he cannot be positive - He was drafted for the term of nine months as he believes - He was then marched from Halifax Court House to Petersburg in said State of Virginia, where they were ordered to remain & wait further orders. Applicant states they remained here about two and one half or three months as well as he recollects - When they were all discharged and sent home - Applicant states that in the month of January or February (1781) one thousand seven hundred and eighty one, he was again drafted for the term of seven months - as he believes & recollects - This took place at Halifax Court House in the State of Virginia, and he was immediately put under the command of Captain Joseph Morton, who marched him from thence into North Carolina to Deep River some distance above its junction with Haw River

They were three March'd up Deep River sometimes on one side & sometimes on the other, for several days. understanding as he understood to form a junction with the Main Army under General Green - During this March we were frequently molested with Forbes Light horse - and were several times relieved by Col Washington light horse, who were frequently in our rear defending us from the attacks of the British light horse - There were several other companies who march'd with our Company from Virginia to join General Green. The Number of Captain companies or the Captains I cannot now distinct- -ly recollect. I think six or seven, and I think Capt David Herth commanded one of the companies He was from Pittsylvania County in Virginia, so well as I can now recollect - We joined the Main Army under General Nathaniel Green several Miles from Guilford Court House but the time when or place where we joined him I cannot state - After joining General Green we remained with the main Army until the battle of Guilford, which was fought in the Month of March as he believes in the year (1781) one Thousand seven hundred & eighty one, - He was in On the morning of said Battle he was detailed as one to guard the Waggons and was within about one mile of Guilford Court House at the commencement of the battle, where he remained until he received orders to retreat with the waggons, to place as well as he recollects called the iron works about six or seven Miles distant At this last place as applicant understands General

Greene's army were directed to Rendezvous in case of defeat - He states they did meet there and remained for some days - after which they learned that Lord Cornwallis had left the Battle Ground and was moving towards Wilmington - then as he was told General Greene with his Army marched after him - and as Applicant believes went as far as Supt Thiam - at which place as applicant believes His officer Maj Capt Morton & his Company left the Main Army and returned home and about 12 Miles from Halifax Court House They were all discharged such home - He thinks he was discharged about the 20 th of April or first of May 1781.
About the last of July 1781 - or first of August, Applicant was again drafted at Halifax Court House in Virginia for a term of nine months - & was put under the com- mand of Capt John Roberts and in midway marched to James River  Swamps Point in the state of Virginia, about six or seven miles from Williamsburgh, as well as he now rec- ollects - He states they remained here for some time, and was then marched to York Town where he remained until after the surrender & capitulation of Cornwallis & his Army which took place in the month of October 1781 - He aided in throwing up breast works, and erecting the batteries, he was present and saw Cornwallis deliver his sword to General Washington, he saw Washington when he received it, & returned it again to Cornwallis. He requests distinctly the actions of both Commanders on this interesting occasion & could state them if necessary. Stephen

The Second was returned to Cornwallis, 1st batt n march to the Market of General Wash- ington, which was the last time ever applicant saw Cornwallis - Applicant states he remained in service until about the first of December when he was discharged & returned home -
Applicant states he is confident he served more than two & one half Months under the first draft but according to the length of time since the services were performed & loss of memory he cannot say how much longer, he therefore only claims for two & one half Months - under the second draft he served at least two & one half Months which he claims, and under the third draft he served four Months - making in all the term of nine Months for which he claims a pension -
Applicant further states that he received from each of the Captains under whose command he served as above stated a discharge in writing at the time he was discharged, for the term he served - under each respectively, which he gave to his father then living in Halifax County Virginia - since which time, applicant has never seen nor heard of them - His father has long since died & the family is now remaining are scattered over different parts of the United States not known to Applicant -
Applicant further states he has no cer- tary evidence of his services, nor does he know of any person, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify

To Lincoln  Franklin County, Tennessee in the year 1818 - & from that County I moved to the place where I now live in Lincoln County Tennessee in Decr 1820. where I have lived ever since & still reside -
4 th How were you called into service? were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
Answer I was drafted each & every time -
5 th State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you served such Continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect, & the General Circum- -stances of your service -
Answer - I knew General Green, & Col Washington who were at Guilford Court house I knew General Washington who Commanded at York's Town - I no doubt knew a great many others but cannot now recollect them I do not recollect the number or names of every Continental or Militia Regiments if they were ever known - I have already stated the General Circumstances of my service as well as my memory at this distant period of time will enable me to do -
6 th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service if so by whom was it given, and what has become of it -
Answer I did receive three discharges in writing one given by Captain Epply White, one given by Captain Joseph Marham, and the other given by Capt John Roberts

To his services - Except the testimony of Col Robert Wickly, whose Certificate will accompany this declaration He hereby relinquishes every claim
Whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state in the United States.
Interrogatories propounded to Applicant and his answers thereto are
1- Where and in what year were you born -
Answer - I was born in Prince Edward County in the state of Virginia, on Vaucluse Creek, as I have been informed & believe, on the Seventh day of March in the year 1756.
2 o Have you any record of your age, & if so where is it?
Answer - I have none, the only record even now of it as I believe was in my father's family Bible, where I recollect to have seen it - but I have never seen it since I left my father's protection, which is nearly 47 years ago -
3 o Where were you living when called into service? - Where have you lived since the Revolutionary war? & where do you now live?
Answer At the different periods I entered the service of the United States I was living in Halifax County state of Virginia After the Revolutionary war, I moved into N Carolina, from thence I moved to South Carolina, from thence I moved to East Tennessee, from thence I moved

I gave all three of them to my father when I returned from the services - He put them away among his papers as I suppose. What has since become of them I know not. I have never seen or heard of them since - My father died some 15 or 20 years ago. The family has become dispersed over different parts of the United States - And I suppose the dis- -charges lost or destroyed with other old papers of that time
9 th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity, & their belief of your service as a soldier of the Revolution? -
As nearly all my neighbors know me & my character as to veracity - I would mention John King, Aaron Styles, Martin Burks, William McClure Brumley, Col. James Smith. Rev. Benjamin Walker and the Rev. John Copeland - John Thorne
Sworn to in open Court 22 nd October 1833
H. I. Sincannon clerk
We John Copeland a clergyman residing in Lincoln County Tennessee, and William McClure Brumley residing in the said County and State, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Thomas who has

Subscribed & sworn to the above declaration That we believe him to be the age he states himself to be in the foregoing declaration That he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion -
Sworn to in open Court This 2nd Octr 1833 J. L. Hincannon Clerk
John Copeland his - William for his marks
Henry M. Cozart
And the 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 that Court further certifies, that it appears to them that John Copeland who has signed the preceding Certificate is a clergyman residing in Lincoln County Tennessee - and that the other persons who has subscribed the same - are residents of said County & State and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit -
Same To all Justices of peace John Samson Justice of the peace Elihu H. Welch Justice of the peace

May 1, 1939
BA-J/AWF John Thomas S. 3781
Miss Martha Whitaker 3704 Dickason Street Dallas, Texas
Dear Madam:
The data furnished herein concerning John Thomas were obtained from papers on file in claim for pension, S. 3781, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
John Thomas was born March 7 or 8, 1756 in Halifax County, Virginia. The names of his parents are not given; his father was living during the Revolution in Halifax County, Virginia, and died between 1813 and 1818.
While residing in Halifax County, Virginia "on Vaughns Creek", John Thomas enlisted sometime in July, 1780, served about three months as private in Captain Eppy White's Virginia company. He enlisted sometime in January or February, 1781, served as private in Captain William or Joseph Morton's Virginia company, was in several skirmishes with "Tarleton's Light Horse", and at the time of the battle of Guilford Court House, was stationed as guard to the wagons about one mile from the battle ground, served until sometime in April or May, 1781. He enlisted late in July, or early in August, 1781, served as private in Captain John Roberts' Virginia company, marched to Yorktown, remained there until after the surrender of Cornwallis, and reached home about December 1, 1781.
John Thomas, after the Revolution, moved from

Halifax County, Virginia, to North Carolina, to South Carolina, in 1818 to Franklin County, Tennessee, and sometime in December, 1820, moved to Lincoln County, Tennessee.
The soldier, John Thomas, was allowed pension on his application executed October 22, 1833, then a resident of Lincoln County, Tennessee.
He died May 29, 1839, leaving a widow, whose name was not stated, and there are no further data in this claim relative to the family of John Thomas, other than the reference to his father as given herein.
In order to obtain the name and address of the person who received the last payment of this pension, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and furnish the following data:
John Thomas Certificate #26924 Issued July 16, 1834 Rate $30.00 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832 West Tennessee Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILIER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

Rev Way
3481
1939. may 1 - link to mother Whittaker - see her letter in James Wilson 3.9565-ent3
INVALID.
File No. 3781
John Thomas Pvt. Co. H 1st Reg. Infy.
Act: June 14/38
Index:—Vol. A , Page 371
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Washington April 21/34
Sir
Enclosed find a Pension Certificate to which I beg to invite your attention. Please advise fully what steps are necessary (if any) to secure the benefits intended to the party (therein named) Respectfully &
E. A. Warren.

State of Pennsylvania } I Robert Weakley of said County and Davidson County } State do hereby, that I was on the cam- paign against the British Army, in the early part of the year One thousand Seven hundred & Eighty One, in the State of North Carolina, the American Army commanded by Genl. Nathaniel Griswold, was in the Battle at Alamance, on the 6 th day March 1781. In the Battle of Guilford, on the 15 th day of said month began, and that a man (or youth) by the Name of John Thomas, from the State of Virginia a City of the of Charlotte or Wakefield County, was on said cam- paign as a Soldier, which said John Thomas is Now a Citizen of Lincoln County, Pennsylvania, as he is informed and believes, Thomas was in the same company with myself Captain William Morton of Charlotte County commanded said company —
Given under my hand at Nashville
June 5 th 1834 — R. Weakley
State of Pennsylvania } June 5 th 1834. This day personally appeared Davidson County } before me William Lytle, a Justice of the peace for said County Robert Weakley, who being duly sworn agreeable to Law, deposes and says that the above certificate signed by his proper Name, is true, and true to the best of his knowledge and belief —
Sworn to & subscribed — before me the date above Will. Lytle J.P.
R. Weakley

State of Tennessee } ss.
Davidson County } ss.
I Henry Ewing Clerk of the Court of pleas and quarter sessions for said Davidson County, do hereby certify to whom it may concern that William Lytle esquire is a Magistrate as within stated, and that the signature on the reverse side hereof, purporting to be his, is genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal of Office, at Office in Nashville this 5 th day of June A.D. 1834.
Henry Ewing
By
William Clark his Deputy.

State of Tennessee Lincoln County 3 ss.
I Francis L. Kincannon Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Lincoln and State of Tennessee do hereby certify. That To all John L. Hearn and E. B. Fletcher are Justices of the peace for said County & duly authorized to hold the Courts of Pleas & Quarter Sessions. and that their signatures to the foregoing Certificate are genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, at office the 22 d of Oct 1823.
F. L. Kincannon Clerk

May 1, 1939
BA--J/AWF John Thomas-S. 3781 James Wilson-S. 3565
Miss Martha M. Whitaker 3704 Dickason Street Dallas, Texas
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of the following soldiers:
James Wilson, pensioner in 1840, Marshall County, Tennessee;
John Thomas, pensioner in 1832, Lincoln County, Tennessee;
Robert Thomas, pensioner in 1832, Davidson County, Tennessee;
John Thomas, pensioner in 1832, Bledsoe County, Tennessee;
Henry Thomas, pensioner in 1832, Dyer County, Tennessee;
David Thomas of Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
The Revolutionary War records of this office have been searched and no claim for pension found based upon the service of a David Thomas of Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is not possible to comply in full with each request which requires so much time and research.
You are furnished herewith the Revolutionary War
See her letter re James Wilson S. 3565.

records of John Thomas pensioned while living in Lincoln County, Tennessee, and James Wilson pen- sioned while a resident of Marshall County, Ten- nessee, two of the pensioners cited by you.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator