Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33155, for Thomas Nicholson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental Mass.
Nicholson, Thomas
S 33155
CONTENTS

Massachusetts Roll 1826
Thomas Nicholson
Private Massachusetts line 1776 one year in the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 - Dollars per month, to commence on the 25 th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th of July 1818 and sent to Hon. Saml Putnam Salem Mass s
arrears to 4th of Sept r 1818 emigrant allowance ending
4 mo 10/30ths $ 34.68
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Concord Salem, Essex Co.
Notification sent July 26 th 1820 to Schabed Tucker Salem Mass s
†

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ss.
On this twenty fifth day of April AD 1813, before me the subscriber, one of the justices of the Supreme Judicial Court, of said Commonwealth, personally appeared Thomas Nicholson, aged sixty one years, and being first sworn, according to law, doth on his  oath  make  the  following  Declaration , in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress "entitled an Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & navy service of the United States in the revolutionary War."
That the said Thomas Nicholson enlisted in the Company commanded by Captain William Lunt, in Colonel Glencoe's Regiment, in May 1775 for eight months. That when his time was out, he enlisted in January 1776, in the Company commanded by Capt. John Glencoe, in the fourteenth Regiment, and continued to serve in said Corps, until January 1777 - when he was discharged in the State of Massachusetts. - About the time they took the Hessians, General Glencoe ordered his baggage Wagon to Marblehead, and ordered this applicant to guard the same, which was the cause of his being discharged in Massachusetts. -
That in 1777 he served two months at Provi- dence, Rhode Island; and in the fall of 1777 he served three months in Capt. Ladock Buffington's Company

at Saratoga, when Burgoyne's Army was captured — That he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services —
Thomas Nicholson
Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid.
S. Putnam Just
S. J. Court of Mass ts
I Samuel Putnam, one of the Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court of the common wealth aforesaid, Do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Thomas Nicholson served in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary of the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the formentioned Act of Congress.
Given under my hand & the seal of said Court the day & year first above written.
S. Putnam Just
S. J. Court of Mass ts }
Elsewhere. I certify that the Hon Samuel Putnam is a Judge of said Court. that the above is his Signature. and the seal affixed is the seal of said Court.
Attest Ichabod Fisher Clerk of Sup. Jud. Court

Thomas Nicholson
1826
July 1878
Salem
Coa
age 63
disabi?
$11.50
Sept 1878

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Salem, within and for the County of Essex, on the third Monday of June, A. D. 1820.
Present, Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Chief Justice.
Hon. WILLIAM WETMORE, and
Hon. STEPHEN MINOT, Associate Justices.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Thomas Nicholson resident in Salem - in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 1826 - now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, Thomas Nicholson - late a Private in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the twenty fifth day of April - one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
***** L. S. *****
Given at the War Office of the United States, this sixteenth day of July - one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War,"
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
Table with 2 columns: Description of items, Value in dollars. Items include: Worn out furniture for his house consisting of nine chairs ($4.00), Two round tables (2.00), Two pine tables (0.50), Looking glass (2.00), Two iron pots and teakettle (2.00), Four or five broken knives & forks, old chest, cups & saucers, spoons (1.00). Total: 11.50.
He declares he is sixty three years old, that he was a shoemaker, but has for last three years been disabled by rheumatism & dimness of sight from all labour, so that he cannot cut even the firewood for his family use. That his wife is 68 years of age - and he has no other family.

He served from the beginning to the end of 1776 in Col. Glover's Regiment in Massa- chusetts Line.
Thomas Nicholson.

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. W m Wetmore a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
I, Tho s Nicholson do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. So help me GOD.
Thomas Nicholson.
Essex, ss. C. C. C. P. June, Term, A. D. 1820.
Then the abovenamed Thomas Nicholson took and subscribed the aforesaid Oath before me
W m Wetmore Judge of said Court.
I, ICHABOD TUCKER, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is eleven dollars and fifty cents.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex, on this 17 th day of July A. D.
1820.
Attr.
Ichabod Tucker, Clerk.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Thomas Nicholson a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. St 32185.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     May 1775. 1 yr. 8 mos. Pvt. John Allen John Glover Mass.   July 1776 1 year. William Burke   1777 2 mos. Officers names not stated.   June 1777 3 mos. Jadock Buffington  
Battles engaged in, Capture of Bennington.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Not stated.
Date of application for pension, April 25. 1818. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Dalem, Essex Co. Mass. in 1820.
Age at date of application, 61 years.
Remarks: in 1820 soldier refers to his wife 65 years of age, names not stated.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mass. book p. 447 Thos. Nicholson: both shows that soldier served under John Glover Jr. in 1775

33 155 Rev INVALID.
1915 March 29. History to Mrs Louise P. Bates. M.B.H.
File No. 33,155-
Thomas Nicholson
Rev Rev
Act: 18 th March 1818 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 298
[Arrangement of 1870.]

171 BROWN UNIVERSITY PROVIDENCE, R. I.
MRS. LOUISE P. BATES KEEPER OF GRADUATE RECORDS
March 20, 1915.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington , D. C.
Dear Sir,
Will you kindly send me the pension record of Thomas Nicholson, said to have been a private in the Mass. Continental line, and to have lived in Essex County, Mass., before 1834, and to have died Nov. 6, 1822.
I should like a copy of depositions or any records on file concerning him. If you will tell me the cost of copying, I will forward a check for the amount on receipt of your reply.
Yours truly,
Louise P. Bates

Thomas Nicholson
Not on Rolls —
JN

ADDITIONAL
PROOF.
I, John Thompson of Methuen in the County of ESSEX, in the COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, husbandman do on solemn oath testify and depose, as follows:—
That I was a Greenman in the American Revolutionary War, that I well knew Thomas Nicholson who subscribed the aforesaid Declaration, and that in the month of January 1776 after having served for the term of eight months as a soldier in Col. William Gustin's Company, Col. Glover's Regt. he again enlisted into Col. John Glover's Company in the same Regt. upon the Continental establishment and that he continued in the service until January 1777 when he was honorably discharged. I was in the service myself but was not in reduced circumstances to require any assistance from my Company, but I know that the said Nicholson did serve on by him stated. John Thompson
Enclosed June 24 th 1818 Then John Thompson personally subscribed and made solemn oath to the above written affidavit. Before me Walter H. French Jus. Peace.

221 Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
I, SAMUEL PUTNAM, a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid, hereby certify, that the aforenamed Deponents, William A Lee & John Thompson
are credible and disinterested witnesses; and that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Declarant served in the Revolutionary Army on the continental establishment against the common enemy more than nine months at one period of continued service; and I further certify, that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Declarant is in reduced circumstances in life, and stands in need of assistance from his country for support.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this 30 th day of June Anno Domini 1818.
S. Putnam Just S. J. Court of Mass s .
I, Ichabod Tucker , Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court aforesaid, do certify, that the Hon. Samuel Putnam is a Judge of said Court, that the above is his signature, that the seal affixed is the seal of said Court, that the within named Ralph H. French Esq. who has certified the aforesaid depositions, is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Essex, duly empowered and qualified to administer oaths.
Ichabod Tucker Clerk

UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
BY THIS PUBLIC INSTRUMENT,
Be it known unto all to whom the same shall come,
That on this twentyfifth day of April Anno Domini, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen be- fore me, JOHN PUNCHARD, Esquire, a Justice of the Peace for the county of Essex, duly constituted and sworn, dwelling in Salem, within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aforesaid, personally came and appeared, William R. Lee Esquire, of Salem, in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, collector of the customs, for the District of Salem & Beverly, and on oath declared. That he was a Major in the twenty first Regiment commanded by Colonel John Glover, in the year 1775; and in the Fourteenth Regiment, Com- manded by said Glover, in the year 1776 and that to the best of his knowledge and belief, Thomas Nicholson served as a Soldier, in the 21st Regiment the first eight months of the Revolutionary War, and in the fourteenth Regiment the whole of the year One Thousand seven hundred & seventy six, and was honorably discharged.
Wm R Lee
In Testimony whereof, I the said Justice of the Peace, have hereunto set my Hand and affixed my Seal of Office, at Salem aforesaid, on the day and year first above written.
John Punchard Justice Peace.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Nicholson, William GRADE Private LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 10145 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED July 7, 1789 TO not shown
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.