Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,014, for John Thomas, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Thomas John
S. 22,014
CONTENTS

16132
Power of Atty. file.
South Carolina
John Thomas
Spartanburg the State of South Carolina who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Fauntleroy of the Regt. commanded by Col. Ball in the Virginia line for 12 months
Enscribed on the Roll of South Carolina at the rate of 40 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 th day of July '33 and sent E. Boman Spartanburg C. H. S. C.
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 — 80 Pensional allowance ending 4 Sept " — 20
$100
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm Miller Clerk, book E. Vol 6, Page 81

No 15295 John Thomas Spartanburg District S. Carolina
Admired as private 12mo $40.00 Set. June 28. 33 W. P. Heath Richmond
13 - apl. 17. '33 P. 3112
E. Boman Clark S. Carolina

BRIEF in the case of John Thomas District Spurlockburg in the State of S. Carolina (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? 79 
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.     July - In 1778 (drafted) Discharged 1779 1 Private Gen. Mullingburg Capt. Faulkner Col. Ball  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Monmouth C. House  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Richmond Co Virginia  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? authenticated 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
John Estlin Examining Clerk.

Spartanburg S. Carolina.
B 29.5
John Thomas Application for a Pension.

State of South Carolina 88 Spartanburg District
On this 28 th day of September, 1832, personally appeared before the Presiding Judge of the Court of Sessions & Common Pleas held for the district aforesaid, John Thomas a resident of Spartanburg District State of South Carolina, aged (Seventy) 79 years the 7 th day of October last, 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 7 th 1832, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. Entered the service of the United States in the month of February 1778, as a drafted Militia in the County of Richmond State of Virginia for the term of one year under the command of Captain Henry Southway, joined head quarters at the Valley Forge on the Schuylkill River in General Muhlenbergs Brigade. Fifth Virginia Regiment commanded by Col. Ball, was in the engagement on the 28 th day of June following between Monmouth Church & Monmouth Court House. The Americans kept the ground & buried their dead and that of the enemy on the 29 th . From the battle ground I was marched to White Plains in Connecticut where I was ordered, went on the line of the Light Infantry in Captain Parris company - Col. Packer's Regiment under the command of General Scott. From thence I went into winter quarters at Middlebury in the Jerseys at which place I was discharged by Col. Gaskins of Genl. Woodfords Brigade in the month of February or March, 1779, having served upwards of one year. I gave my discharge to Col. Leroy Peck of Richmond County Virginia to enable for nothing him to draw the balance of my pay. I was born in Richmond County - State of Virginia on the 7 th of Octr. in the year 1752. I have a record of my age now in my possession. I was living in the County of Richmond Virginia when called into the service & continued to live in that State until I came to Spartanburg District State of South Carolina thirty years or upwards, age I respectfully refer to the Rev. James Rainwaters & Dr. Andrew B. Macon of said District who can testify to my character for veracity and their belief of my services as a Soldier of the Revolution. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present

and declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State. I have no documentary evidence I submit to in open court John Thomas Jno M'Kneal Pres. Judge
We James Rainwater a Clergyman residing in Spartan- burgh district State of South Carolina & D. A. B. Moore residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Thomas, who has subscribed & sworn to the above Declaration, that we believe him to be 79 years of age; that he is respected & believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. — James Rainwater A. B. Moore 27 th day of September 1832 Jno M'Kneal Pres. Judge
And the said Court 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, & served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that James Rainwater who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman that A. B. Moore, resident in Spartan- burgh District and A. B. Moore, who also has signed the same, is a resident in the aforesaid District, and is a creditable person, and that their Statement is entitled to credit.
Jno M'Kneal Pres. Judge

State of South Carolina
I Elisha Bonar clerk of the Court of Sessions & Common Pleas in & for the district of Spartanburg, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the applica- tion of John Thomas for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of office, this 15 th day of October 1832.
E. Bonar Clerk.
State of South Carolina ss Spartanburg District 3
Before me personally appeared Samuel C. Stubblefield the foregoing John Thomas who made the foregoing declaration for a pension under the act of Congress of the 7 th June 1832. And upon being duly sworn in, deposed that he has no documentary evidence in his possession of his said services nor can he obtain any; And that he knows not of any living witness who can testify as to his services as a Revolutionary Soldier.
John Thomas
Sworn to & subscribed before me the 9 th day of May 1833
A. Barry J.P.
State of South Carolina Spartanburg District 3
I Elisha Bonar clerk of the Court of Sessions & Common Pleas in & for said district, do hereby certify that A. Barry Esquire before whom the above affidavit was made & known is a Magistrate as above duly authorized by law to administer oaths: And that the above signature purporting to be his, is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office the 11 th day of May 1833.
E. Bonar Clerk.

Resolution
22014 INVALID.
Rev
File No. 22014
John S. ...
P.S. Rev No. ...
Act: June 7 th 1877
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 211
[Arrangement of 1870.]

John [unclear] Nov 16 - 1832
FREE
Hon G. C. Watkins, Comm of Pensions, Washington City. D.P.

This is to Certify, That it appears from a List in this Office of such Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Continental Line, during the Revolutionary War, as settled their Accounts, and received Certificates for the balance of their Full Pay, according to an Act of Assembly, passed the November Session, 1781, that a Certificate issued on the 21 st day of March 1783, in the name of
John Thomas — as a Colonel of Infantry for £108.12.5, which Certificate appears to have been delivered to Col. Gibson — and was given for services prior to the 1st January, 1782.
{ No Seal of Office. }
Given under my hand at the Auditor's Office, Richmond, this 5 th day of July — 1833.
H. Heath
AUDITOR.

Woodruff S.C. 14th Sept 1857.
Hon G. C. Whitine Comm of Pensions, Sir
You will permit A. S. Wallace of York ville S.C. or his agent to examine the Claims of John Thomas and a Revolutionary pension of the United States, S.C. agency act 7th June 1832 at the rate of $40 per annum to himself his children are now entitled to increase of Pension for his service in the Revolution as a sergeant. My wife is one of his living children.
Your compliance will oblige Your Humble servant, William Jones

John Thomas 15295
E. Roman clk Spartanburg dist. S.C.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Thomas 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? 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? yes
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? no
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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
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?
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? answered
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.