Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7,593, for Thomas Nelson, Virginia

SERVICE
Nelson, Thomas
NUMBER
R. 7593
CONTENTS

no 386874
Mr Nelson
declared
May 18th
June 18th
Given under my hand this 18 March 1852.
Michael Somers J.P. Clerk
1852 March 18 I hereby constitute and appoint V. A. C. C. my true and lawfull attorney to attend my
1852 March 18 Michael

Thomas Nelson of the County of Somerset State of Maryland (formerly of the County of Accomack State of Virginia) being over one - hundred years of age and consequent infirmity attending on old age, renders him unable to appear in Court. He therefore on 18 th day of March 1852
Personally appeared before me a justice of the Court for the Somerset County and State of Maryland and made the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7 th day of June 1832 who being first duly sworn deposeth & saith. That during the war of the Revolutionary he resided in the County of Accomack in the State of Virginia. That during the said war he served in the Militia of Va. throughout the whole war. That during the war the Militia were frequently called out to keep guard at different Stations on the Pocomoke river near where I then resided to prevent the enemy from landing to get supplies and sack our houses &c and were in actual service a considerable portion of the whole war. That during the war he was twice taken prisoner by the British and had his house, together with all his property burnt and destroyed, as he lived immediately on the water exposed constantly to the British fleet which lay in sight of his residence where they would frequently land at the dead hour of the night and on one occasion took my father also as prisoner and endeavoured to force him to pilot their vessels, and because he refused threw him down the gang way of their vessel and broke one of his thighs and crippled him for life. This Deponent further states that Col Simpson commanded the Militia at the beginning of the war and afterwards Col. Martin & others.

This Deponent further states that he being believe and has no hesitation in asserting as a fact that during the Revolutionary war he was in actual service on board the ship the Defence of his Country over two years.
This deponent was born in the County of Accomack in the State of Virginia but has no record of his age but is confident he is over One Hundred years of age as he has lived to see his fourth Generation of Children, and was living at this time One Hundred Children and Seventy two Grand Children, including his Children, Grand Children, Great Grand Children and Great Great Grand Children which is so proverbial that some years since it was published in the News Papers of the day.
This deponent further states that some years after the close of the revolution, was that having lost all his property in the war.
he removed from the County of Accomack Va. to the adjoining County Somerset in Maryland where he has ever since resided and still resides.
That he has never served as a Substitute but in his own proper person and at the end of the war he received no written discharge,
but verbally. This deponent is known to the Hon. Joseph S. C. Otis now in Congress from this district also to his members of the Legislature from Somerset now at Annapolis and nearly all the citizens of this County. Generally by the title of "Old King Nelson."
This deponent would long since have made his declaration but thought as he removed from Va. it forfeited his right.
Sworn to and subscribed his Thomas X Nelson mark the day and year above written

No
Henry Sterling a Revolutionary soldier residing in the County of Somerset Maryland hereby certify that I was also acquainted with Thomas Nelson who has signed the aforesaid Declaration and know to my certain knowledge that he was a Melitian Soldier in the Revo- -lutionary war and served an honorable as he states. as I was also on Guard Stationed opposite when he kept on the Virginia side, That frequently we saw each other and some times Col. Simpson would bring his men over to assist us on the Maryland side.
Sworn to and subscribed this 18 th day of March 1852.
Henry Sterling
State of Maryland Somerset County
This day Tho s Nelson who has signed the foregoing Declaration & Henry Sterling who has made oath to the facts contained therein both personally appeared before me a justice of the Court for the County aforesaid and made oath in due form of law to the truth of their Statements. I further certify that I have been intimately acquainted acquainted with them both all my life and that they have been always reputed and believed to have served in the Revolutionary war and after an examination of them I fully concur in that opinion. They both reside as my neighbors and they are

Gentlemen in whom may be placed reliance on what they say and their oaths entitled to full faith and credit it further appears that it is inconvenient to procure a Minister to Certify. I have frequently heard them both speak of their age as set forth in their declaration and I I no doubt of the correctness of their statements.
Given under my hand this 18 March 1852.
no 38684
Thos Nelson
Declaration
May 1852
June 1852
Rev. John
Michael Somers Esq.
1852 March 18 I hereby certify that I am the lawful attorney to obtain my
certificate of Pension from the War Dept. for my Revolutionary Services
Given under my hand this Thos. Nelson acknowledged before me a justice of the peace the day and year above written
Michael Somers Esq.
Maryland County of Prince George ss. I hereby certify that Michael Somers, Gentleman whose whom the within deposition and affidavit were made and whose signature appears thereto was, at the time of making and subscribing the same, a justice of the peace of the State of Maryland in and for Somerset County Commissioned and qualified according to law.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of my office this twenty fourth day of March Eighteen hundred and fifty two.
John Woodford CLK
The rate requiring the declaration to be made be- fore a Court of Record may be dispensed with in this case. — February 8, 1855. D. M. Waldo (Clerk).

No 38684 Thomas Nelson, Mayflower
Lt. Col. Ellis, Jan 31/84
7593
June 7. 1882

REJECTED 1090
P. O. Thomas Nelson
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contra
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Thos. Nelson
out 7 June 1832
for pension
V. Ellis City
General

Washington 16 th July 53
Sir, I herewith file the application of Thomas Nelson (now of Louisa Col. Md., formerly of Accomack Co. Va.) for pension under act of 7 June 1832.
This case stands on the same footing as those of Curtis Bull, Brandon Squad, David Walls & many others allowed from the County of Accomack Va.
Please see the papers of Curtis Bull, under same act from Virginia. Also refer to the decision of the Secretary of the Interior page 532 of Messrs May & Moulton's edition of the pension laws.
Very respectfully
Esra Gannett
Comm. of Pensions

Thos Nelson

Somerset County 7 ss. State of Maryland
I Michie Somers a justice of the court for the county aforesaid do hereby certify that Thomas Nelson a revolutionary soldier residing in said county who is an applicant for a pension for his revolutionary services do hereby certify that I am well acquaint- ed with the said Thomas Nelson who I certify is from old age and bodily infirmity unable to appear in open court being up- wards of 100 years old and make his declaration as the law requires. The said court of his county being thirty miles distant from his residence and in a declaration made by him before me a justice of said court some few months since I omitted to certify to that fact which I hereby do and desire this to be considered in connection with my former certificate.
Given under my hand this 30th day of August 1852.
Michael Somers J.P.

Somerset County State of Maryland
The deposition of Thomas Nelson age over One Hundred years who being first duly sworn deposes and saith that in consequence of his old age and consequent bodily infirmity that he was and at the time of making his declaration for a pension also and still is unable to appear in Court for that purpose as the Court House of his County is over thirty miles from his residence. Therefore appeared before Michael Somers a justice of the Court for his County of Somerset County State of Maryland who made oath to the facts therein contained.
Given under my hand the 30 th day of August 1852.
his Thomas Nelson (mark)
Somerset County. State of Md.
This day Thomas Nelson with whom I am well acquainted and who on a former occasion made his declaration for a pension for his services in the Revolution war personally appeared before me a justice of the peace for the County aforesaid and made oath to the truth of the above depositions. Given under my hand the 30 th day of August 1852.
Michael Somers J.P.