Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14673, for William Thornhill, Virginia

SERVICE
Va.
Thornhill, William S 14673
NUMBER
CONTENTS
Carded

Virginia 16.655
William Thomhill of Rockingham in the State of Va who was a Pr. in the Regt commanded by Captain  of the Regt commanded by Col. Fleming in the Va line for 9 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 20 Dollars  Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of Sept 1833. and sent to J. T. Christian , Oakville - Va
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 75 Trans. allowance ending 4 mo. '34 15
$90 
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by N. Price Clerk, Book E Vol. 6 Page 29
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 April 1838 from 4 th March 1839 to the 4 th Sep 1839. Age notified 13 July 1841.

William Thornhill Buckingham Co Va
Adams private 9 mo $3000
k. m.
J. P. Christian Esq. Oakville Buckingham Co Va
to you were you to tell

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
May 8 th 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 subjóined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These 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, showing the Service of William Thornhill
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1776 3 Private Capt Johns Capt Mag Stratford 74 years Tractatus   July 1781 3 " Capt Patterson Capt Fleming Williamsburg 74 years Single Witness   July 1783 3 " Capt Burch Capt Richmond Cabin Point 74 years  
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.
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) _____, who has 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 day 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 enquiry 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 here 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.
□ The notes from [a] to [e] 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.
⌂ [k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases. ⌂
⌂ [l] 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. ⌂

State of Virginia, County of Buckingham to wit:
On this 13 th day of August 1832 personally appeared in Open Court before Charles Tamey, Samuel Patterson, John T. Bocock, and Robert Nicholson justices of the Court of Buckingham County, now sitting, William Thornhill a resident of said County and state of Virginia aged 71 st} 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 th 1832. That he entered the service of the state of Virginia in the regiment commanded by Colo. Charles May, under Capt. William John, and Lieutenant Cook Wickley, the date not recollected, but believe it was in 1776 that he was discharged at the expiration of three months, that he was then as he is now and has been ever since a resident of the county of Buckingham and that Colo. May, Capt. John, and Lieutenant Wickley were also residents of Buckingham when we entered the service he was a substitute for John Harris also of the county of Buckingham, that he was in no engagement during that tour, that he staid in the old Pannaty at Williamsburg, after the regular Army had marched to the North, at which place he served as a guard, that he received an honorable discharge, which he has since lost and has no documentary evidence, not knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service. That he entered the service of the state of Virginia a second time in the regiment commanded by Colo. Charles Fleming, under Capt. Charles Patterson, Lieutenant John Burk, and Ensign William Beekham in January 1781. That he was discharged at the expiration of three months, that Capt. Patterson, Lieut. Burk, and Ensign Beekham were residents of Buckingham County and was attached to the Brigade of General Mendenburg, that he was drafted as a militiaman that he was stationed at Cabinpoint, Mackia mill, and Babbs old field, below Petersburg in this state, that he was frequently in Skinnasty with the enemy under General Cornwallis, between Portsmouth Virginia and Cabinpoint, that he was ordered to march to join General Greene before the battle of Guilford and after having marched three days with the regiment commanded by Colo. Boyer and Menniwether from the vicinity of Rockbridge and Rockingham he received notice by express that the battle had been fought, and returned to Babbs old field where he served the remainder of the tour, that he had a discharge signed by Capt. Charles Patterson, which he has lost for the proof of this service he refers to the affidavits of
That he entered the service of the state of Virginia a third time, in the regiment as he believes commanded by Colo. Patterson under Capt. John Coach, Lieut. William Blakey, and Ensign Spencer in the month of July 1783, and was discharged at the expiration of three months, that Capt. Coach, Lieut. Blakey and Ensign Spencer were all residents of the county of Buckingham at the time they entered the service, that he was attached to General Washington's army before the siege of York, that before the capitulation at York he was

Taken sick and was confined principally to the Hospital at Williamsburg That he received a discharge which has been lost. That all of the officers under which the above named three terms of duty were rendered he believes are since dead. That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present and declare, that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State, and that he has no other evidence except such as is hereby transmitted for the establishment of the statement of fact herein made, and that he is 74 years of age, and has no register of his age. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written. William Thornhill.
I David Kyle residing in the county of Buckingham hereby certify that I am well acquainted with William Thornhill who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that I believe him to be 74 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 I concur in that opinion. David Kyle. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
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 David Kyle who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident of this county and is a credible person, and that his statement is entitled to credit.
I Rolfe Eldridge clerk of the court of Buckingham county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Thornhill for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of my office this 28 th day of August in the year Eighteen hundred and thirty two.
Rolfe Eldridge CBC

State of Virginia Buckingham County to Wit.
This day William Stephens age & nearly eight years a resident of the county of Buckingham and State of Virginia personally appeared before me in my County of Augusta and made oath that during the War of the Revolution about the time of the siege of York the father of William Thornhill who signed the foregoing declaration having learned that the said William Thornhill was sick in the enemy's camp asked leave to go and bring him home the said affiant went and found the said William Thornhill in the enemy's camp at York sick and the affiant brought him home that affiant further states that the belief in general in the neighborhood where the said William resides that he served several years of duty during the Revolutionary War. The affiant further saith that the said the William Thornhill has lived very near him ever since the close of the Revolutionary War, that no man is more respectable or whose statement is entitled to greater credit.
Subscribed & sworn to before
William Stephens
this 17 th day of August 1833.
William Walton
I William Walton a Justice of the peace for the county of Buck- ingham and before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken do hereby certify that the said William Stephens is a resident of the county of Buckingham as he has stated and that his sta- tement is entitled to full credit. I also certify that the said William Thornhill who signed the foregoing declaration is a resident of the said county and that his statement is entitled to full credit. Given under my hand this 17 th day of August 1833.
William Walton

Virginia). Buckingham county, to wit: I Rolfe Eldridge clerk of the county court of Buckingham in the state of Virginia do certify that William Walton before whom the foregoing affidavit of William Stephon was made, is an acting justice of the peace of the said county, that the signature purporting annexed purporting to be the said W m Walton is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this 20 day of August 1833.
R. Eldridge C.B.C.
William Thornhill Secy.
for a pension.
12.068

ms 1812
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. 14673 it appears that William Thornhill while a resident of Buckingham County, Virginia enlisted in 1776 and served three months as private in Captain William Johns' Company, Colonel Charles May's Virginia Regiment.
He enlisted in January 1781, served three months as private in Captain Charles Patterson's Company, Colonel Charles Fleming's Virginia Regiment and was in frequent skirmishes.
He enlisted in July before the Siege of Yorktown and served three months as private in Captain John Couch's Company, Colonel Richardson's Virginia Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 13, 1832 while a resident of Buckingham County, Virginia aged seventy-four years.
His father was living in Buckingham County, Virginia in 1781, name not given. No other family data.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.
Date of death not on A13

1927 - Aug. 12 - Hist. to Celia L. Pettibone - M.H.
Richard
✓ 14673 INVALID.
File No. 14. 673 x  Spinhill William Spinhill Prin. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1852.
Index: — Vol. 1 , Page 374
[Arrangement of 1870.]
X W. N. Y. Dec. 19/06.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
June 29 th 1841.
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," William Thornhill, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond, Va. Agency, at the rate of Thirty — Dollars and — Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March 1839, to the 4 th Sept. 1839.
Respectfully yours,
William L. Parris
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

Oakville Buckingham County N o 29 th August 1833
Sir
The declaration of William Thornhill for a pension is herewith returned with additional testimony as to his services - The declaration seems to conform substantially to the form required by your department the interrogatories are not written but seem to have been propounded by the Court and answered the old revolutionary soldiers are mostly becoming old & feeble and find great difficulty in tracing up their companions in the war and attending the Courts - Mr Thornhill is one among our most respectable Citizens and full credit may be given to his statement if however his declaration & proof should not be satisfactory to the department you will please to return me the papers as early as possible -
Very Respectfully
David P. Christian

#20 Fir Street,
Akron, Ohio,
August 1, 1927.
Mr. E. W. Morgan, Acting Commissioner, U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Your letter of July 30th received, for which I thank you.
Regarding Thomas Thornhill, he was a private in Continental Line. Enlisted for the war and served to the end. Reference "Saffell's Records" Page 114. Land grants - Lee's Legion. "Virginia Soldiers of 1776". Warrant No. 3254 issued to him.
I am interested in getting all the information you may have about him.
I would also like to have any information which you may have regarding both of the William Thornhills, which you mention in your letter - Buckingham County and Bedford County - especially would I like to have the marriage records of these Thornhills. The war record I want, of course, but I am trying to find out whether they were related and would like to know when they came to this country from England. I think that the one who went to Kentucky is my great-great grandfather, although I am not positive. It is necessary for me to have the marriage record before I can be positive. The story has been handed down that he married a girl named Barnes. I will probably have to write to the counties to get the marriage records.
Thanking you in advance for this information, I am,
Yours respectfully,
Celia T. Pettijohn CELIA T. PETTIJOHN.