Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15674, for William Thornhill, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Thornhill, William
8 15674
Carded
CONTENTS

26378 Kentucky
William Thornhill of Breckinridge in the State of Kentucky who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Clmons of the regt commanded by Col Ward in the Virginia line for 8 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of March 1834 and D rs W Kincheloe Mandersburg
Arrears to the 4th of March 80.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 13.33 $93.33
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Dan Lloyd Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 7 Page 29
Report to 3 d Auditor 11 th Nov. 1842.
Paid at the Treasury under the acts of April 6 th 1838 and Aug t 23 rd 1842 from 4 th Sept r 1839 to 4 th Sept r 1841. Agree to report Nov 25 th 1842

e P o 20982,
William Thornhill Kentucky
f - p 8 m 24 6. \frac{66}{100}
11.17
Jesse W. Kincheloe Bardensburg Ky

BRIEF in the case of  William Thornhill  county of Breckinridge in the State of Kentucky (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 75 years  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.     Drafted In 17 — 8 — private Gen. George Washington Capt. Clmons Myclard  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? at  at the Battle of 9th March  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bedford Co. Virginia  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct. 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. M. Clegg Examining Clerk.

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7 th of June 1832 -
State of Kentucky County of Breckinridge 31
On this 19 th day of November 1832 personally appeared before the Justices of the Breckinridge County Court William Thorn- hill a resident of the County of Breckinridge And state of Kentucky aged 75 - years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following dec- laration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 - That he was drafted into the Militia in the state of Virginia in the year into Captain Clem- ons Company and served in the Regiment of the Virginia line under the following named officers viz - Captain Clemens who left the service & was succeeded by Captain Robin Cobb. Major Ward Colonel and Generals Green & Washington. He left the service in the fall or winter of the year in which he entered it. He was drafted for five months but was kept in the service upwards of eight months - He lived

in the County of Bedford State of Virginia when he entered the service - He was at the battle or siege of 90 - Marched from Virginia into South Carolina - He rec d a discharge after the siege of 96. but have lost it
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present And he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Wm. Thornton mark
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states
State of Kentucky ss
I Jo Allen clerk of the County Court of Brackenridge County and State aforesaid. Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Thornton for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 23 rd day of November one thousand eight hundred and thirty two Jo Allen

M rs Thornhill
Declaration
20982

MMH
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
August 12, 1927
Celia T. Pettijohn # 20 Fir St., Akron, Ohio
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 15674 it appears that William Thornhill while a resident of Bedford County, Virginia enlisted, date not stated, served as a private in Captains Clemons' and Robin Cobb's Company under Major Ward in the Virginia Troops, was at the Siege of Ninety Six after which he was discharged having served over eight months.
He was allowed pension on his application executed November 19, 1832 while a resident of Breckinridge County, Kentucky aged seventy-five years. No data as to family.
Owing to the lack of a clerical force available for the purpose, only two histories are furnished each inquirer.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.
later death not on 1832

15.674 INVALID.
1927-Act. 12-Stat. 10 G.L.R. J. Pettigrew - See Rev. letter encl. - Wm Thornhill A-14673-MSV#.
File No. 15.674
William Thornhill
Rev. Rev. Wm
Act: June 7 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 374
[Arrangement of 1870.]

M rs Thornhill
Certificate of a clergy man & another wanting
J. B. Lachaise

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Thornhill 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? Yes
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?
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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? no
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? no
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? no
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? 1, 2, 7.
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 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 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 shewn 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.
†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 authenticates 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 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
Nov. 16 th 1842.
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," and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, William Thornhill, — a Pensioner on the Roll of the Kentucky — Agency, at the rate of Twenty six — Dollars and 66 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 1 st of Sept. 1839, to the 1 st Sept. 1841.  Respectfully, yours,
J. Wood B. Tansy
Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

State of Kentucky / ss Breckinridge County / ss
On this 15 th day of February 1834 personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Henry Dooly of the same County & State aged 32 years who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is well acquainted with William Thornhill who made a declaration for a pension under the act of Congress passed the 7 th June 1832 in the Breckinridge County Court on the 19 th day of November 1832 that he believes him to have been 75 years of age at the time he made said declaration that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution. And he further certifies that he was acquainted with the said William Thornhill in the County of Bedford Va for many years and that he was there reputed & believed to have served as stated in his said declaration and that he concurs in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed to before me this 15 th day of February
1834
John L. Dooly
Henry Dooly mark
And I further certify that the said Henry Dooly who has subscribed the above certificate is a credible person - and that his statement is entitled to credit. Given under my hand the day & year aforesaid.
John L. Dooly

State of Kentucky Breckenridge County ss
On this 17 th day of February 1834 personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of James W. L. Moorman a clergyman resident in the County of Breckenridge & state of Ky who being first duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is well acquainted with William Thornhill who made a declaration for a pension under the act of Congress passed the 7 th June 1832 on the 19 th day of November 1832 in the Breckenridge County Court. that I believe him to have been 75 years of age as therein stated that he is respected & believed in this neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that I concur in that opinion - and I further certify that I was acquainted with said Thornhill for many years and that he was there respected & believed to have served as stated in his 1 st declaration
J. H. Moorman
Sworn & subscribed to before me the day & year aforesaid
John Dowell J.P.
And I further certify that James W. L. Moorman who has signed the preceding Certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Breckenridge and that his statement is entitled to credit. Given under my hand this 17 th day of February 1834
John Dowell

Kentucky Breckenridge County Set
I Buckner Board Deputy for J. Allen clerk of the Breckenridge County Court do hereby certify that John Dowel whose signature is to the preceding certificates is a justice of the Peace in & for the County aforesaid And that the signatures purporting to be his are his genuine signatures -
In Testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my seal name and affixed the seal of said court on this 18 th day of February 1834
at Buckner Board B clerk for J Allen clerk B. G. C.