Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10556, for Thomas Thompson, Pennsylvania

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn.
Thompson, Thomas
R. 10556
CONTENTS

The State of Ohio Columbiana County p. 3 On this seventeenth
day of October in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting, Thomas Thompson a resident of Centre Township in the county and State aforesaid, aged in December next eighty eight years of age, who being first duly affirmed according to law, doth on his affirmation 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
In the year 1777, the most distressing time of the Revolution, when Genl Washington was driven by the British through the State of New Jersey, and over the Delaware river, The British finding that Washington had crossed the River, they (the British) then encamped on the banks of the river - The Council of Safety (so called) set at that time in the City of Philadelphia, who sent handbills throughout the State of Pennsylvania (in which State I then lived) begging for God's sake, for all men that loved their country and liberty to turn out, in their country's defence. I then as an individual volunteered my services, and was joined by fifty or sixty of my fellow citizens, who also volunteered - And as I was reckoned a good marksman, and had a good rifle, I was nominated Captain of the party, and in that capacity we marched to Carlisle - poorly provided for a winter's campaign - but it was then with us, as the saying is "do or die"; we considered our all was at Stake - At Carlisle we were furnished with money such as it was, having none of our own, we were also furnished with other necessaries - and from thence we marched to Philadelphia, when the officer of the company was commissioned by the President of the Council of Safety, his name now forgotten - I was there commissioned as first Lieutenant, one Adams got the prefference, and at which place we were provided with arms, Ammunition and Provisions, and then marched into the State of New Jersey, to join the Standing Army and placed under

the command of General Israel Putnam, whose head Quarters were N in Princetown College - as Washington in the interval had subgeneral the British, in two engagements, in the last of which the Brn Genl - where he fell - From which place Genl Washington went to Morristown, and the British into New Brunswick, to winter quarters - Then Putnam's Brigade had then to watch the movements of the British to keep them from foraging in the country - That winter we spent chiefly in scouting parties, until Spring, when we marched to Philadelphia, and then discharged - I think I was in the service at this time between four and five months - During the winter '78 Congress passed the Matriculation Law , as I came home I was chosen captain in the Matriculation sometime that fall and marched with my company under the command of Colonel Esther Buchanan to head quarters , which were then at the Valley Forge , from them down near Philadelphia, the British had their winter  head quarters there that winter, we were then placed under the command of Genl. Lacey to watch the British, and in keeping them from foraging, as they on the other hand watched us as close in order to take or kill us prisoners, so that we might properly be called the Flying Camp , not staying more than 2 or 3 days in one place, in that way we spent the whole winter till discharged in the ship - The time that I served at this time was between 3 & 4 months - In the summer of 1779 the Indians and British invaded the Frontiers , when I then lived, the inhabitants had to gather themselves into the Forts, and defend ourselves - I being commissioned as Captain by Congress the command devolved upon me, which for two years, when I resigned my commission; having lost my hearing by hardships and toil in my winter campaigns - But continued in the service for two years longer as a private in fort till peace - We then were then under the command of a County Lieutenant called William Piper, who was furnished arms Ammunition, but no pay nor rations - 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.

Subscribed to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
60 D. Coffer 6th
Thos Thompson
The John Thomson, Joseph Gillingham, and John Armstrong residing in the township of Centre, county and state aforesaid hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Thomas Thompson, who has subscribed and offered to the above declaration; that we believe him to be in December next eighty eight years of age; that he is reputed and believed in his neighborhood when he resides, to have been a revolutionary soldier, and that he concurs in that opinion.
60 D. Coffer 6th
John Thomson
Questions by the Court.
Joseph Gillingham
John Armstrong
1st — When and in what year were you born?
Ans — In Chester County Pennsylvania in December 1744.
2nd — Have you any record of your age?
Ans — No —
3rd — When were you living when called into service; Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Ans — In Cumberland County Pennsylvania — I then lived in Huntingdon County state aforesaid, and from there moved to the State of Ohio, and lived in Huron and Columbiana counties — and I now live in the town of New Lisbon Columbiana County O.
4th — When were you called into service —
Ans — I first volunteered, in the year 1777 — and after I came home I was appointed Captain of the Militia
5th — State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect — the general circumstances of your service.
Ans — Generals Israel Putnam, of the regular troops Israel Lacey, and Colonel Peter Buchanan of the militia — I cannot recollect any Continental Militia Regiments — and the general circumstances is as stated in my declaration.
6th — Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, as if so

by whom was it given, and what has become of it. Ans. I never received a discharge —
Q Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it —
Ans. Yes, I received a commission. It was signed by the President of the Council of Safety then sitting in Philadelphia — This was for the Sieurinensy — and my Captain's Commission was signed by I think by the Secretary of Congress, whose name if I mistake not was called Charles Thompson — Which said Commissions were lost, I was with the Continental army, as far as I recollect, I concluded that my Commissions were of no avail, therefore I have but little regard of them.
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, & who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their beliefs as to your services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
Ans. John Thompson, Joseph Gillingham and John Armstrong.
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 further certifies that it appears to them that John Thompson, Joseph Gillingham and John Armstrong whom has signed the above Certificate are residents in the Township of Centre County State of Pennsylvania, and are credible persons — and that their statements are entitled to credit.
4 I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Thompson for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this day of Oct 1832.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
10,556
P. O.
Thomas Thompson
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
REJECTED
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized.
_____ Contract.

Ohio-
Rejected
10556

5
I Charles D. Offin. Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said county do certify that the foregoing contains the ori- ginal application of Thomas Thompson for a pension.
Witness my signature, and the Seal of said Court 17 Oct. 1832.
Charles D. Offin. Clk.

28. 490
Thomas Thompson Columbiana Co. Ohio
Red
This man is now dead If Gen Thompson says he is reported to have been a tory. —  Wishes the papers to remain on file
Gen John Thompson Present.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
27 th Nov. 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: \} ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Thomas Thompson.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.      
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
The regulations of the Dept t require all Claimants at Commutation of service to produce their original Commutation or satisfactory proof they were duly Commissioned and served in that capacity for the time alleged - See Note f.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of } On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers :
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) 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, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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 days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant; and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now 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?  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 services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. 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. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the benefit is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.