Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 3901, for Thomas Shepard, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Shepard, Thomas
S 3901.
Carded
CONTENTS.

7688.
West Tennessee
Thomas Sheppard
of Robertson Co in the State of Tennessee who was a pr Sgt in the Company commanded by Captain Nutt. of the regt commanded by Col Lee - in the Br. Milia for 2 yrs from 1775
  P. 18 mths  $ 60    Sept 6 do  30     $ 90  
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 90 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of May 1833 and sent to W. S. Lee Springfield Tn
  Arrears to the 4th of March 1833  $ 180.    Semi-ant. allowance ending 1st p 33  45  
$ 225
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Accts June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by M c Alison Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 7 Page 96

20060
Tho s Shiphead J
from 1775 private to sergeant 2 years, Pr. 18 mo. — $60 — left 6 mo. — 30 90. —
At Seal CC Robertson Co J.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew 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 Thomas Shepherd Robertson & Co. T.
   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.     Enlisted 1775 5 Capt Edwards Col Sharpe Va N.C. Knox 27 Ad   Spring 1776 Capt Nutt Col Lee none.   Spring 1777 for length   Summer 1777   fall 1777   1778   1780  
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) _____ 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 he 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.
[e] 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 [i] 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.
W. D. Williams Ex Clk

No. 1 Shepherd 20,060

State of Tennessee } Robertson County } S. S.
Thomas Shepherd, on this 13 th day of August in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred & thirty two personally appeared before the County Court of Robertson, he being a citizen resident of said county aged seventy seven years, the 25 th day of December 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 enlisted in the year 1775 in the county of Northumberland & State of Virginia, in the Army of the United States, in a corps which was termed minute men enlisted for three years. The Company was commanded by Capt. John Edmondson and Joseph Williams as lieutenant & Edward Hull as ensign - there was four companies united together commanded by Col. Peter Thornton & by Thomas Jones as Major - we were called together in the fall of 1775 & continued encamped together about twenty days then were dismissed until again called for - in the Spring of 1776, we were again called out & stationed at the mouth of the little Wyeconies until June, then we were removed to Col. Thornton's Day quarters at the mouth of Presleys creek, & remained there until the fall, when a portion of the company under the command of the lieutenant was sent to Coan River & stationed at Capt. Matthews & remained there some time then permitted to return home - we were again called out in the Spring of 1777 & performed various little tours during that Spring, each of which the deponent cannot specify - during the summer of 1777, the companies of minute men were dissolved, because they could not be called on for other service - I was then enrolled in the company of Capt. William Davenport, as a militia man but was not called on for any service whilst attached to that company - in the fall of 1777 I was married & moved to the County of Lancaster where I lived until the year 1780 - then I returned to Northumberland again & was thrown into the company of militia of Capt. Hull & was appointed sergeant in his company - there was then boat loads of arms & ammunition sent from Baltimore for the use of the Southern States & I was detailed as sergeant with the command of ten men to guard them & continued several months to guard them.

I then removed on the opposite side of the Mycomas River I was put in the company of Capt John Spen Webb I was appointed a sergeant I drafted for active service I was placed under the command of Capt Wm Downing and ordered to Leesburg upon the Rappahannock but was stopped at Westmoreland Court-house. we were then ordered home, to our respective counties & remained encamped for some time at the court houses. we were then ordered out to join the army & joined the main army at Brandyfield old field in Gloucester County under the command of Genl. Woden, I was then in the company of Capt Cane, the Third Regiment, to which I belonged was then ordered to King & Queen County. The Regiment was commanded by Maj John Baytop & Maj. Threlkeld. The Col. I understand was sick, we lay there until October, we were then ordered back to the main army then to a place called Sewell'sville, near York town on the opposite side of the River from the town and continued there until the 16th of October, when I was discharged in consequence of sickness, having been examined by the Doc. & regularly discharged & recd a discharge signed by Doc. Lord by order of Maj. Baytop & returned home - he has long since lost his discharge has no record or written evidence when by he can prove his service - that he does not know of any person living by whom he can prove his services and after my discharge I moved to the State of North Carolina where I lived 18 years There is a law in North Carolina that extinguishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state & that he was more than two years in the service I own to have subscribed the day of year aforesaid in open court -
Thomas Shepard
Test W. Seal Clerk

We Richard Pepper a clergyman residing in P o County of Robertson & Jacob Fison a resident of said County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Shepherd who has subscribed & sworn to the preceding declaration, that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age, that he is reputed & believed to be the neighbourhood when he lives to have been a soldier of the Revolution & we concur in that opinion - Sworn & subscribed in open court the day & year aforesaid J. W. D. J. P. P. Seal his Jacob F. Fison mark
And the said County Court of Robertson, do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories presented 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 Richard Pepper who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in Robertson County that Jacob Fison who has also signed the same, is a resident in said County & is a credible person that their statement is entitled to credit -
I William Seal Clerk of the County Court of Robertson do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Shepherd for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of my office at Springfield this thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand and eight hundred & thirty two - W. Seal

State of Tennessee Robertson County } Personally appeared before me Richard Parsons the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid Thomas Shepherd who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was born in the State of Virginia Northum- berland County in St. Stephens parish in the day & year mentioned in his declaration to which this is annexed as an evidentiary part. He also states that he has a certificate of his age taken from the Register of St. Stephens Parish signed by Thomas Cockman Clerk (which he produced before me) He also states that there resides immediately in his neighbourhood William Smith, John W. Ferguson Michael Siser, John Hutchinson, Richard Chatham David Darden with divers other persons who can testify to his veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution should it be necessary to requisites He further states that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of service but according to the best of his recollection he

he served as a private in the actual service not less than one year and six months, and that he served as a sergeant in actual service not less than six months
As you will find in the 13 th line from the commence- ment of this declaration the word (companies) which he states is incorrect that it should have been Wentworth Counties.
He further states that as stated in his declaration That when he was drafted for actual service in the company of John Span Webb and was placed under the command of Capt. William Downing and was ordered to Ludlow on the Nashua River but was stop'd at Westmore- land Court house that said company was under the command of Col. Frank Lee for which he and for such service I claim a pension
Thomas Shepard
Sworn to and subscribed before me in Springfield
This 17 th day of November 1832
Richard Benson Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee } Robertson County } I William Galt Clerk of the Court of Pleasants Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Richard Purvis Esq. whose name is signed to the foregoing declaration of Thomas Shepherd is a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified as such and duly authorized to adminis- ter oaths, and that his signature is genuine that full faith and credit is and ought to be due to his official acts as such
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 17 th day of November 1832
W. Galt

Rev War
3901
INVALID.
✓
File No. 3901
Thomas Shepard
Print Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1852
Index: Vol. 4 , Page 339
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Springfield Dec 18
Mass
Noonan Shepherd Pension Papers
Nov 30.
Yes.
20,000
Hon. Lewis Cag Secretary of War Washington City