Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1729, for Hudson Thomson, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
n l
Thomson, Hudson or Thompson.
S 1729
B. in 71 C.
CONTENTS
carded

22158 "West Tennessee"
Hudson Thompson of Sumner Co in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the Comp commanded by Captain Elyer of the regt commanded by Col Munroe in the N. E. Unit time for 9 months for 1780
Hudson Thompson, Records corrected Inscribed on the Roll of W. Tennessee at the rate of 37 Dollars 50 Cents per annu to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of Oct 1833 — and sent to J. C. Guit Gallatin. Ten.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep '33 - $93.75 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 March 34 18.75 $112.50
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. Wilson Clerk.
Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 98

Hudson Thompson Dawson Co. W. Virginia
for 1780 private of Cavalry 9 months,
$37. 50 / 100
J. C. Girt
A. H. Douglass blk. Gallatin, Ten

Wadsworth Thompson Claration.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
July 29 1835
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 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 Hudson 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.     1780 2 Pr Cav. Col. Munder 70. Traditionary.  
The applicant should set forth the different towns that he was engaged in against the enemy, and the duration of each. He states that he "entered the service in March 1780, and was mustered by his officers every two or three weeks, and continued in service till the close of the war." Under these circumstances the time that he was in actual service against the enemy could have been very little over six months.
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 and State, Territory or District A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of 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 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 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 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 [j] 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.

State of Tennessee      § Fayette County      §
On the 35 th day of August A D 1832 personally appeared in open court before Thomas Anderson Wm Edwards and John L Smiley Esqrs the Court of pleas and quarter Sessions now sitting Hudson Thompson a resident of Fayette County State aforesaid aged thirty years up on the 30 th March last who being first duly sworn according to law doth upon his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 - That he is listed as  tended in the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
I was born in North Carolina Northampton County, the 30 th of March 1763 & was enrolled in the Militia at the age of 16 years old, and was drafted for a three months tour in the Militia, and my Father hired a man in my place, and in the year 1779 the Legislature of North Carolina passed a law authorising the commanding Officers of each County to raise a company of light horse, who was to Equip themselves and find their own Horses and for their services they were to be Exempted from all other Militia duty, there was a company raised in Northampton County and I volunteered myself in it, about the beginning of the year 1780, under the command of Captain James Vaughan Lieutenant and John Long Ensign, and they were under the command of general Huger Jones, who was the commanding Officers of Northampton County North Carolina at that time our duty was to

apprehend deserters & Tories and to quell the the insurrections of the negroes which were very troublesome about that time. Occasioned by the British holding out an idea to them of freedom if they should conquer us, we was mustered by our officers every two or three weeks in different parts of the county and every three months we met at Northampton Court House and mustered by our field officers; we continued in doing our duty in that way untill Col Wallace came on through the State of North Carolina when we was called upon to go and watch the movements of Col. Patton who was scouring through different counties sowing discord among the whites and blacks and destroying property of every kind, we was then commanded by Col Hardy Murfree a Regular Officer we followed Col Patton near Leesburg on Meherin River Virginia when we was obliged to return home to our former duty, we continued in that service untill the close of the war & then we was generally discharged by our field officers, after the close of the war I lived in the neighborhood of my nativity untill the date of 1810 then I came to the State of Tennessee Sumner County where I have lived ever since with the exception of one year I lived in Caldwell County State of Kentucky. I do not know of any man living that composed that company that I can prove my service by any one else 16 - I kept the roll of the company He further states that he has no documentary evidence of his service and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service

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 - Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Sworn to in open Court August 25 th 1832
Hudson Thomson
A. S. Douglass Clerk
Mr Malachi Barnes and Robert Lawrence residing in the County of Sumner Tennessee do hereby certify that we are not acquainted with Hudson Thomson who has sworn to and subscribed to the above declaration that we believe him to be about forty years of age and that he is respected and beloved in the neighbourhood in which he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Robert Lawrence
Sworn to in open Court August 25 th 1832
Malachi Barnes
A. S. Douglass Clerk
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after testing the interrogatories presented by the new department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the revolution and that he served as he states said the court further certify that it appears to them that Malachi Barnes and Robert Lawrence who have signed the foregoing certificate are respectable persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I A H Douglass Clerk of the County Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Warren Thompson for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office This 28 th August 1832.
A H Douglass Clerk By E J Mackin Dk
8191.

Hudson Tompson. 5 Declaration -

Hudson Thom prov by way of amendm t in suit to his former declaration to which there is attached the said state in answer to the S d Allegation that he was born upon the 30 th March 1763. Having a record of his age in his baptism and I volunteered in the light horse company under Capt. Sam l Crier in Northampton County N o Carolina in Jany 1780 - for making my own horse and equipments - I continued in the service in S d Company till the close of the War with Great Britain - for the circumstances of my service suffered a loss made to my original declaration. My service as a volunteer soldier in the revolution (not for at least two years for which I claim a pension. - The officers that I knew well and was commanded by them - were Maj. Pott People. Col o Septha Atherton & Gen l Allen Jones. When in pursuit of Col o Tarlton. We were under the command of the regular or continental officers Col o Hardy Murphy with whom I was well acquainted - no other continental officers recollected. In answer to the 7 th in the allegation presented. The state I am known in my present neighborhood by Robert Lanner & Malachi Barns who have gone the affidavits upon my former declaration and Cornelius Evans a clergyman who can testify as to my character as to my veracity and their belief of my service as a soldier of the revolution - sworn to in open court 28 th March 1833 M c Baldridge clerk
Th o Thomson
I Cornelius Evans a clergyman am residing in the County of Sumner do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Hudson Thompson who has subscribed to the above declaration and am in the declaration that I believe him about seventy years old that he is a methodist and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that he concurs in that opinion. sworn to in open court 28 th March 1833. M c Baldridge clerk
Cornelius Evans

And it is the opinion of the court that and it is ordered to be Certified that it appears that Cornelius Evans who had signed the forgoing Certificate is a resident Clergyman in the County of Sumner and that he is a credible person and his statement is entitled to credit.
Thos Stewart Judge
State of Tennessee, I Jonah M. Baldridge Clerk of the Sumner Sumner County Circuit Court do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings in the case of amendment of Cornelius Evans to his previous declaration for a sum filed in the same now County Court to which these proceedings are attached.
In testimony of all which I have hereunto put my hand and affixed the seal of said Court. This 28 th March 1833.
J. M. Baldridge Clerk.

Hudson Thompson Declaration

State of Tennessee ) Summer Circuit Court September Sumner County ) Term 1833.
This day the 13 th of Sept. 1833. Thompson appeared in open court and after being first lawfully sworn. The Oaths. That he was engaged only in one tour against the enemy in the winter here and that was against Col. Tarlton. The business of the Company was to apprehend against the Tories and quell the insurrection of the Blacks both of which were very hostile ones and served as a guard to the Country in which they were against the public enemy against whom they held themselves ready to be called at any moment. They continued embodied as a light horse Company from the 1 st of 1780 till some months after the surrender of Genl. Cornwallis which was in Octo 1781 - being at least two years but not all this time in actual service. But can safely state that he was engaged as a light horse soldier in the actual service for at least nine months for which he claims a pension.
Sworn to in open court 13 th Sept. 1833.
P. Thompson
J. W. Baldridge Clerk
State of Tennessee ) I Joseph M. Baldridge certify that with hereto annexed is the of Thompson upon the 13 th Sept. 1833 appeared in open court and more than once to the above affidavit which is here attached to his original declaration. He hereby swears that the above is true to the best of his knowledge affidavit of my court. J. W. Baldridge Clerk of Court

Rev War.
1729. INVALID.
File No. 1729 Hudson Thomson Dis. N. Call.
Act: June 7, 1832.
Index:—Vol. a , Page 371
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Hudson Thomson. Records corrected Nov. 6 '03 a

Sep 23
FREE
The Secretary of War
St. Louis
Pension Declarations
Washington City

To the Secretary of War—
In kind please find the declaration of Thos White — I sent one on one for him about twelve months since but have never heard a word of his and I then for some reason that they must have I hope you can send upon the amended declaration of Hudson Town from both of which I hope will receive a favorable decision
I am respectfully
J. H. Gould
N.B. old Capt. Miller & Brumder are pushing me to death about their oranges — I hope I will hear from them before long
Gould