Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 4466, for Thomas Kent, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Kent Thomas
S 4466
Carded
CONTENTS

Ohio Pittsburgh 22.398
Thomas Kent
Residing in the State of Ohio.
he was a Private in the Co. commanded by Captain Brent of the Regt commanded in the Virginia line for 7 mos. & 17 days.
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio Pensions at the rate of 24. Dollars 11. Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25. day of Oct. 1832 and sent to Hon. John Thompson New Lisbon Ohio
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833. — 60.28 Pension allowance ending 4 Nov. 34. — 12.06
$72.34
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by M c Calister Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 8 Page 117
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 18 th April 1838 from 1 st March to 4 th Sept 1839. Agt notified 10 June 1840
Death not on A B

Declaration in order to obtain a Pension State of Ohio Columbiana County ss Common Pleas June Term 1833
On this 13 th day of August AD 1833 personally appeared in open court, before the court of Common Pleas, now sitting, Thomas Kent resident in Columbiana county and State aforesaid, aged eighty six 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 7 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States and served as herein stated. That he entered the service upon the 17 th of October AD 1780 under the command of Captain William Brent, Lieutenant James Inglett and Ensign Debenac. That he belonged to the Prince William Militia in Virginia and that John Ewell was the Colonel and commandant of said Militia. That he was drafted for nine months when he first entered the service and continued in the service from the 17 th of October 1780 until the 5 th of November of the same year at which time he received a furlough from Col John Ewell granting him leave to return home to see his family, for my wife was delivered of a child but three days before he first left home. That he returned to the camp upon the eighteenth of said month of November agreeably to the requisitions of his furlough which is herewith transmitted to the war department. That he continued then in the service until about the last day of April for my wife was about planting her corn. having been in then in the service from the 17 th October 1780 until the last day of April 1781. That he was living in Prince William county Virginia when he entered the service. That he marched from there to Alexandria under the command of Capt. Landon Paxon and Lieutenant Withers and Revere there were about five hundred men were stationed there for the purpose of guarding the town Williamsburg and then to Port Royal at which two places they staid during the winter. That he was discharged at Port Royal on the Rappahannock river and returned home. That in the fall of the same year he was called on under his old draft by express to go to South Carolina Hillsborough North Carolina and after we had been there

days on the road never came to us that we might be discharged and they returned home. In the Spring following we were again called and marched under the command of Genl. Patten and Lieutenants Watters and Reeves to Alexandria where we continued for seventeen days - there were about 500 troops there and were employed in guarding the town. We were then discharged and returned home. That he has no documentary evidence except a furlough from Col. Jesse Ed which is sent along with this declaration and that he knows of no person who can testify to his services. 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 any agency of any state. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written.
Coffin Co. Va.
his mark Thomas X Kent
We Joseph Burson and Aaron Ashford residing in said county of Buckingham do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Kent who has sworn to and subscribed to the above declaration - that we believe him to be eighty six years of age - that we believe him to be a man of truth and veracity - that he is respected and beloved in the neighbourhood where he now resides - to have been a revolutionary soldier and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written. Coffin Co. Va.
Joseph Burson
And the said Ashford further states in addition to the above certified that he recollects of camping or going along on horseback with the above said Thomas Kent from his home in Prince William County Va to the army at Paspatsan the a bridge near the Rappahannock river at the time he returned on his furlough above mentioned, and also that there is no minister of the gospel in his the said Kent's his present neighbourhood to certify for him.
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 J. Burson, L. Aaron Ashford

are credible persons who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of said county, and that their statement is entitled to credit
Interrogatories
1 Where and what year were you born?
Ans. In Prince William county  at a  Charles county  in Maryland in the year 1746.
2 nd Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
Ans I have it recorded in a Hymn Book at home.
3 Where were you living when called into service when had you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?
Ans I was living in Prince William county Virginia when called into service - and lived some time after the war there - I then removed into Loudoun county Va and then I removed to Columbiana county Ohio where I now live.
4 How were you called in service - were you drafted or did you volunteer.
Ans I was drafted.

Thomas Hunt Applicant for a pension
No. 4425
I Charles Coffin Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application for a pension as heretofore recited.
Witness my signature & the Seal of said Court, at Nuddleton, the 15 th Aug 1833, Charles Coffin Clerk.

26. 4421 22.398
Thomas Kent Ohio
Adm 7 Months and 7 days. —
 23.33  28  74.11  12.22  47.06  60.28 
Hon John Thompson New Lisbon Columbiana Co Ohio

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
12 th October 1832.
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 Kent.
   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.     17 Oct 1780. 6 17 private Capt. Brent 81 yrs old. Prince William County Va. Traditionary   3   17   6 37  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

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.
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 belief 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.
[t] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Rev War
4466
INVALID.
File No. 4466
Thomas Kent
Brut Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1852
Index: —Vol. A , Page 202
[Arrangement of 1870.]

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
June 1 st 1840.
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," Thomas Kent, — a Pensioner on the Roll of the Pittsburgh Pa. Agency, at the rate of Twenty four Dollars and eleven Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 1 st of March, to the 1 st Sept. 1839.
Respectfully, yours,
Edward E. Harris Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.