Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11, 543, for James Thompson, New Hampshire

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
N. H.
Thompson, James
111543
cardid
CONTENTS

New Hampshire
James Thompson
of Rockingham the State of N H who was a Sergeant in the company commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by Col Poor in the [blank] time for 2 (one) day [blank] (6 " 12 " Private)
Inscribed on the Roll of N H at the rate of 31 Dollars 55 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of Nov 1832 and sent to [blank] West Concord N H
  Awards to 4th of Sep 1832 $47.32   Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar 33 15.77   $63.09 
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { As June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H [blank] Clerk Book [blank] Vol. 1 st Page 188.

11,170
James Thompson
2 Mts Supt 6 do 16 do Rural
Adm
$31,532
J C West En Concord NH

11176  BRIEF in the case of  James Thompson of London  or Rockingham in the State of  M c Haupekin  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? about  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? —  3. How old is he? 82  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     1 Apr 75 - 14 Oct - 1815 — 6 14 Private Capt. Adams Col. Poor   2 Dec 75 - — 2 — Infantry Capt. Chesley Gen. Putnam  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Durham NH  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Documentary Ev. Tradition  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  Right 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. C. Easton Examining Clerk.

James Thompson
London
17.176

DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
State of New-Hampshire, } ss. County of Merrimack
On this 29 th day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Court of Probate for said County , now sitting, James Thompson a resident of Loudon in the County of Merrimack and State of N. H. aged 82 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 Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated—
That he enlisted in Durham in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire the first of April 1775 for seven months under Capt Adams in Col o Foss's Reg t N.H. Militia and marched to Exeter New Hampshire and returned to Durham same day by order of Major Scammon; the 18 th day of June he was ordered to march & did march to Winter Hill and there served until the 14 th day of October 1775 when he was discharged by Gen John Sullivan. Having served six months and 14 days
That he enlisted at Durham aforesaid as orderly sergeant the 2 day of December 1775 for two months under Capt Alpheus Chesley in N.H. Militia and marched to Cambridge Mass. was stationed in the College buildings and there served two months as Orderly Sargent & dismissed. Had no written discharge. Having served in all eight months and fourteen days
That he has no documentary evidence except the discharge aforesaid and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service — during this last service was in the Reg t commanded by Gen. Putnam. That Samuel Thompson of Sandwich is living and was with him in the two months service but is so feeble as not to be able to testify. That he was born in Durham N.H. in the year 1750. That he has no record of his age. that he lived in Durham when he entered the service & has since in Loudon aforesaid ever since he left the service & lives there now
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.
Sworn to and subscribed, the 29 th day of Aug. 1832
James Thompson
We, Jonathan Rollins residing in Loudon N.H. and Jeremiah Bennet now residing in Loudon N.H. hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with James Thompson , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 82 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the — day of year above written
Jonathan Rollins Jeremiah Bennet
And the said 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 the Court certifies, that it appears to them that Jonathan Rollins who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the said Loudon and that
Jeremiah Bennet , who has also signed the same is a resident in the same Loudon and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Boswell Stevens Clerk of Probate
H. B. Chase, Register of the Court of Probate for said County of Merrimack , do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of James Thompson for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this 29 th day of August , A.D. 1832.
H. B. Chase, Register of Probate.

Reborn
11543
INVALID.
File No. 11,543
James Thompson Sergt. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 378
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Camp on Winter Hill October 14 th 1775
James Thompson of Capt. Adams's Company in Colonel Poore's Regiment being reduced by Sickness and rendered unfit for duty is discharged from the American Army —
J n Sullivan B r Genl

Lundwich, Aug. 17. 1832
Dear Sir, Yours of the 13 th instant is before me relative to obtaining the deposition of Sam l Thompson for his brother James' case; and I would gladly comply with your request, but the state of his mind is not such in my opinion as to place any reliance upon it — He seems to have lost his recollection, and has confused notions, even of what is daily passing, much more to call up transactions which took place half a Century ago. Under these considerations, I could not be willing to give him his oath — Any commands which I can obey of yours, shall be promptly complied with — Respectfully yours, Darius Doot. M c L. C. West —
This letter is enclosed to corroborate the declaration of James Thompson as to Sam l Thompson
J. C. West

11,170 James Thompson

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative in red ink, will apply to the claim of James Thompson which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? [Signature] IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
yes
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
[Signature]
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
[Signature]
XVI. † Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
[Signature]
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
• QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.