Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7169, for Thomas Miles, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Miles, Thomas
R 7169
CONTENTS

Declaration of Thomas Miles in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
State of Indiana } In the Blackford Blackford County } Circuit Court Fall Term A.D. 1845
Be it remembered that on this 4 th day of Nov- ember 1845 the same being the 2 d judicial day of the Fall Term A.D. 1845 of said court personally appeared in open court before the ju- dges of the said Blackford Circuit THOMAS Miles a resident of said County and State of Indiana aged Eighty three years last 22 d day of March 1845 who being first duly sworn according to law on his oath makes the following declaration to wit
That he entered the service of the Unite- -d States at the following named time and place under the following named officers That he volunteered at Roxbury Massachu- -etts in the year 1777 and served thirty days under Gen. Schuyler Col. Reed and Col. Belnap and that he remained with them until the fall of Saratoga the next following. And that after Gen. Bates arrived under him and that he was out of service six months and that he was then called on to guard the prisoners of Burgoyne Army at Old Rutton Wooster County Massachu- -setts and that he served at that time guarding prisoners six months under Col. Davis, does not recalled his given name but recollects that he had but one son, Col. Hartwell served. I went after the above service he was drafted for six weeks at Princeton to go to Rhode Island to join Gen. Sullivan's Army served at that time six weeks under Capt. Ephraim Taylor after that served at

at West Point Six Months under Col Michael Jackson Capt Ephraim Tilton after that served three months a part of the time at Springfield and the balance at Fishkill does not remember the names of any of the officers except Col Jackson after the aforesaid service that he enlisted in the year 1781 at Alden Massachusetts for three years and that he served at that time nine months under Major Burnum Col Michael Jackson and that he was discharged at West Point by Col Jackson in the year 1783 and that he was in the battles of Ben- -ington and Saratoga and that he knows of no living witness by which he can prove his services in the Army and that in the year 1784 he lost his discharge by the burning of his boarding house in his absence and that the time that he served as in this declaration set forth he served as as a common soldier and that he hereby relinquishes any claim 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 in open court this 4th day of
Thomas Miles
March 1845 Jacob Brough Clerk Blackford Circuit Court
We the undersigned Franklin Baldwin Clergyman residing in the county of Blackford and State of Indiana do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Miles who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty three years old and that he is resided and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion Sworn & subscribed to in the day and year aforesaid
Elijah Sims Franklin G. Baldwin
Asst Clerk of Blackford circuit court

And the said Thomas Miles being first sworn on his faith, answers as follows: chronologically
Ques. 1. Where and in what year was you born Answer - Was born in the year 1762. Worcester County Massachusetts.
2nd Have you any record of your age; and if so where is it? Answer; I have none in this Country - but suppose there is a record of it in Massachusetts.
3rd Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war; - and where do you now live
Ans. I lived at Skaneateles Vermont when first called into service. I lived after the close of the war in Massachusetts until the year AD 1813 After which time I lived in New Jersey eleven years, when I removed to New York State County & resided there almost eleven years then I removed to this State where I have ever since resided being about seven years - in this State.
Question 4 How were you called into service; were you drafted drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute; and if a substitute for whom. Answer - I first volunteered & was subsequently drafted after the expiration of volunteer service
Ques. 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 service -
Ans. I first served under Gen. St. Clair Schuyler - Col. Reed and Col. Bellinger. I remained under Schuyler until Gen. Gates came on and succeeded Schuyler. I remained with him in the army at Waterkill until discharged. I was acquainted with Col. Tipton & Col. Vernon of the Continental army -

Ques. 6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service? If so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it - Ans. I received a discharge from Col. Jackson at West Point No. 3. at the close of my last service! it was burned at my boarding house in Massachusetts in Sept. 1782. -
Ques. 7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution; Ans. John Saxon, John Hicks, Lewis Bailey, John Cleave, the Reverend J. G. Baldwin, and the Reverend Elyah Simmons. -
And the said Judges of the said Blackford Circuit Court do declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department that the above named applicant, has a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Elyah Simmons and Franklin B. Baldwin who have signed the preceding Certificate are Clergymen residing in the said County of Blackford a State of Indiana are credible persons in good standing and that their statements are entitled to credit
Seal Seal Seal

Jimmy Beniché Proofs and Bancs of Attorney

State of Indiana Blackford County, ss
On this 30 th day of July, A.D. 1883 personally appeared before me William Stewart, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Blackford and State of Indiana Lorenso Miles of Blackford County Indiana aged fifty one years and Fanny Benedict of the same County and State aged forty seven years, who being duly sworn according to law, do on their oaths, make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefit of the Provisions made by the act of Congress passed,
That they are the children and heirs of Thomas Miles, who was a Corporal in the Massachusetts Volunteers (regiment of Regiments and Company and names of Officers forgotten) in the War between the United States Government and the Government of Great Britain in known as the Revolutionary War; That he volunteered in the County of Worcester in the State of Massachusetts and served for the period of two years and eight months and was honorably discharged from the Service. They further state that the said Thomas Miles died on the 27 th day of April A.D. 1855 in the ninety first year of his age. That his wife Fanny Miles died before him; That the said Miles, his discharge from the Army and other papers showing his service have been lost.
Lorenso Miles
Fanny Benedict
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 30 th day of July A.D. 1883.
William Stewart Clerk of the Blackford Common Pleas to Circuit Court

State of Indiana Blackford County 353
Personally appeared before me Wilmington Stewart Clerk of the Court of the Common Pleas of Blackford County, Indiana, on the 30 th day of July A.D. 1853. John Castleton and Louisa Bailey of lawful age, who being first duly sworn accor- ding to law, do make oath and say that they are personally and intimately acquainted with Levi Miles and Fanny Brindick, whose application for a pension is hereto attached, and that they are well acquainted with their father Thomas Miles, in his lifetime, that the said Levi Miles and Fanny Brindick are generally known and be- lieved to be the children of the said Thomas Miles and that the said Fanny Brindick is his daughter.
Louisa Bailey John Castleton
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 30 th day of July A.D. 1853.
Wilmington Stewart Clerk of the Blackford Common Pleas, Circuit Court In

December 8, 1930
Rev.& 1821 Wars Section EEL Quinn
Mrs. Frank E. Smith 514 W. Kickapoo Street Hartford City, Indiana
Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R.7169, that Thomas Miles was born March 22, 1762, in Worcester County, Massachusetts.
He applied for pension November 4, 1845, while residing in Blackford County, Indiana, and alleged that while a resident of "Skeensborough, Vermont", he served in the Revolutionary War from sometime in 1777, at various times, until in 1783, as a private under Captains Belknap, Hartwell and Ephraim Tailor, Colonels Reed, Davis and Michael Jackson, was in the battles of Bennington and Saratoga and in General Sullivan's Expedition to Rhode Island.
Mrs. Finch Arranged service in this way.
His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of six months regular military service as required by the pension laws.
He died April 27, 1850. His wife, Mary, her maiden name not given, had died prior to his death, date not given.
In 1853, Lorenzo Miles and Fanny Benedict were the only surviving children of the soldier, Thomas Miles and were aged fifty-one and forty-seven years, respectively. They were at that time residents of Blackford County, Indiana.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, THAT W. Lorenzo Miles and Danny Benedict of Blackford County & State of Indiana
do hereby constitute and appoint J. H. Jones & A. G. Gaskins of  Marshall  Blackford county and State of Ohio Attorney both in law and in fact, for us and for our use, and in our behalf, and in our name, or in his own name, or otherwise at his discretion, to ask, apply for, recover and receive from the Secretary of War, the Commissioner of Pensions, the Pay Master General, or from any office or Department of the United States' Government, or any officer or person connected therewith, generally all sums of money, arrearages of pay, extra-pay, pensions, bounty lands, or claims, allowances or property of any kind, that may be due or become due to us for or on account of any military or other services rendered the United States, for which us have now, or may hereafter have any claim, under or by virtue of any law of the Congress of the United States, or in any way what- ever: and particularly the claim on father Thomas Miles for military pension in the war of the Rebellion
And we hereby fully authorize and empower our said Attorney, to take all lawful means for the recovery of the aforesaid or any part thereof; to attend to the final adjustment of all business now pending before either of the offices or officers, above mentioned, in which us interested, and to make examination for us of all rolls and records, and proof filed therein; to give all necessary receipts, releases, discharges, or other sufficient acquittances upon payment of the same to him: to make compromises, if he deem it expedient, and to do all other acts and things in the premises that us could do were we personally present, hereby revoking all former powers of attorney heretofore executed by us , and also hereby granting to our said Attorney and Gaskins all our power, and authority, in the premises, firmly and irrevocably, and hereby ratifying and confirming whatsoever he shall do lawfully by virtue hereof.—Witness our hand and seal this 20th day of July A. D. 185 7 .
Signed sealed and executed in presence of
David Skinner Wm. Lorenzo
Danny Benedict Lorenzo Miles
SEAL SEAL SEAL SEAL
THE STATE OF Indiana COUNTY OF Blackford } ss.
On the 20th day of July , A. D. 185 7 personally appeared before me William Lorenzo
Chief of the Dept of Pensions Ohio in and for the county aforesaid, the above named Lorenzo Miles & Danny Benedict
to me well known, and acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be this act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned.
William Lorenzo Stewart Atty for Blackford County ss of the Co. Ct. P

37.142
Application of Thomas Mills for a pension India Act 7. June '32
Browne Carroll attys for applicant

Washington Dec. 9 th 1841.
Sir
I enclose you the application of Mr. Mills for a pension. Together with the letter of his Atty. which enclosed it to me.
Will you inform Mr. Brownlee through you the result of the application at as early a day as possible. Please return the enclosed letter.
Yours & c Sincerely
Mr. Edw. D. Com. of Pensions.

Pension Office, Oct. 12, 1853.
Sir,
I have filed the power of Attorney authorizing you to prosecute the claim of Thomas Miles, late Col. of Indiana, under the act of June 7, 1832, and you are informed that it remains suspended for the want of satisfactory proof of service. He alleged, in his declaration, that he entered the service of the U.S. in 1777 from the town of Bernington, Mass. under Capt. Belknap in the militia - for and 30 days after which old Rattlesnake Battery - at Old Rattlesnake guarding the prisoners of Burgoyne . Hartwell was his captain and Dewitt his lieutenant. Six weeks subsequently under Sullivan, in the expedition to Rhode Island, in the company of Capt. Taylor and Ingle, that in 1781, he enlisted at Holder, Mass. in the Regiment of Col. Michele Jackson, of the Massachusetts

Churche's Line, and  which he sent into Somerville in 1783, when the  the destroyed. We have no evidence of the alleged service in the office, and a portion of it is offered to our knowledge of the town, & and officer, under whom they ever  on claimed to have been rendered. If, however, you will apply to the Secretary of the State of Massachusetts, at Boston, and furnish him with an abstract of the service claimed, his books will show how much of it was rendered, or alleged. When the certificates, transmitted to the office, the claim will again be considered.
Mr. [unclear] H. Ford Oct 12/53
Honor W. Ford, Esq. Mansfield. Ohio.

37.142)
Hon. Miles Indiana
Hon. A. Kennedy 19 Dec 45
" Same Day 21. 1846
J. W. Ford. Oct 12/53 53
7169
7250
Act 7th June 1832

Pension Office January 21 1846
In reply the letter of J. Brownlee Esq respecting the Case of Thomas Miles I have the honor to inform you that it is known to this Department that record evidence of the service in the Militia of Massachusetts as well as in the Continental Line of that State does exist in the State Department at Boston and the Claim of Mr. Miles will not be allowed unless sustained by those records. These records of that service were for sometime in this Office but have lately been returned to the Executive of that State.
Claimant made a declaration in 1843 but which was returned to him for proper Authentication - now, that declaration should be filed in this Office
Wm A. Kennedy House of Reps.

Sir.
Low off Dec. 19 th 45
I have the honor to inform you that the papers in the case of Thomas Miles have been examined and placed on file. His claim appears to be asserted for the first time without assigning any reason for delaying it while the means of proof were rapidly diminishing - It does not escape observation that he represents Bennington & Rutland as Mass. Towns -
It will be required of him to make a statement upon oath setting forth succinctly the period length & grade of his service - The names of the Col. H o and the Town in which he resided when he severally entered on each term of duty for which he makes a claim and transmit it to the Secy of Mass for the purpose of having each term tested by the rolls in his office Hon. A. Kennedy H. R.

These comments were intrusted to me to be sent to your department Thursday
Mr. Stephen Crane Morris Office

Marion Grant Co Indiana
January 2d 1846
Agent of the Pension office Sir
Yours of the 19. Dec. 1845 directed to H Kennedy Me L. who presented the claim of Thomas Miles for a pension has been by him forwarded to me as the atty for Mr Miles you state that there is no reason apparent for having delayed the application you are aware that it has not been long that a law existed that would meet such cases as the present and if you have retained copies of the correspondence between him and the department you will see that this application was made several years ago you must know that soldiers who were so unfortunate as the present applicant, before the act of 32 had no choice & considered their case as hopeless and as in the present case men do not always know the law Indeed I do know that this man applied as soon as he knew he could

You say that his statement must be sent to the secretary of Massachusetts to be tested &c. you must know the fact that Massachusetts has no record of the State troops & Militia nor has any other state except Virginia so this sending it there would not amount to any thing we think that we have pushed all the proof that the department required as will be seen by the accompanying circular which was sent to the applicant by the department. Indeed has done all that he can if the department is not disposed to allow him it will leave to superior Justice undoubtedly requires that it should be allowed no doubt there exists of the justice of his claim I refer you to H Wandy No 6 from Indiana who is acquainted with the applicant A government should always be just just to its subjects - just to its subjects You seem to think there is a mistake as to his representation of the location of Bennington & Millard

I do not understand that he represents Barnington as being in Massachusetts as as to Reutland there certainly is a town by that name in Massachusetts will you be so good as to answer this communication and if you should think proper to give us any notices they will be most grateful the old man is very old poor & helpless the small pittance that is his just due would be to him a great help in his old age and only an act of sheer justice on the part of the Government
I am with due respect your humble & obedient servant
J. Brownlee Atty for Thos Miles

Nashville Sept 21 st 1858 Hon. L. P. Waldo Commissioner of Pensions Sir -
In close I forward You Power of Atty made to myself by Lorenzo Miles and Henry Benedict only Children of Thomas Miles Deceased late a Soldier of the War of the Revolution It Appears that Thomas Miles in his life time made Application for a Pension which said Claim has been suspended for some Cause unknown to me and they make this Power of Attorney and Application for the Purpose of obtaining the information that may enable them to supply the deficiency of Proof and obtain any amount that may be Payable to them as Heirs in the right of their father Thomas Miles said by virtue of any of the existing Laws of the United States
Very Respectfully Your Ob dt Servt Thomas H. Ford

I Jacob Brough Clerk of the said Blackford Circuit Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Miles for a pension
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and caused to be affi- xed the seal of the said Blackford Cir- cuit Court done at Hartford this 4th day of November A.D. 1845
Jacob Brough Clerk B. C. C.
The State of Indiana
I David Hilgore President Judge of the Eleventh Circuit of the said State of Indiana do hereby certify that Jacob Brough who has attested & certified the foregoing record was at the date of his certificate & attestation Clerk of the said Blackford Circuit Court legally commissioned and qualified and that his certificate and attestation hereunto annexed are in due form of law and that the above scroll is the seal of the said Blackford Circuit Court the said Court not being a Notolic Seal
Given under my hand and seal at the stated Circuit aforesaid this fourth day of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand and one hundred eight hundred & forty five
David Hilgore 34. ad President Judge 11 th Circuit Indiana

1922 Jan 10 Hist. to L.A. Ainlay 1930 Dec 8 - Hist. to Mrs. Frank Edmitch - Ed
REJECTED
7169
P. O.
Thomas Miles
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: List of rejected claims printed in 185-2 Shows
Re-enlisted: Cause of rejection as follows: "For proof from the Mass. Rolls."
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

J. H. KELLY, PRESIDENT
H. L. AINLAY, CASHIER
BANK OF BRADY
(FOUNDED 1904)
CAPITAL $ 20,000.00 SURPLUS $ 5,000.00
BRADY, NEBRASKA
December 2, 1921.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Sir:
One of our customers is making application to become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and, in this connection, she desires to know in what capacity, what branch of service, and for what period, Mr. Thomas Miles served during the Revolutionary War.
This particular Thomas Miles was born in Boston, Mass. and died in Indiana about 1850 at the age of 89. It is thought he served about three years and six months.
Respectfully,
L. A. Ainlay For Cashier.

NANCY KNIGHT CHAPTER DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION HARTFORD CITY, INDIANA
Nov. 17, 1930.
Pension Dept Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:-
Will you please send me any information your records may contain relative to the Revolutionary War Service of one Thomas Miles, from Mass. who enlisted after the battle of Bunker Hill, serving principally as a bodyguard. His wife was Mary Underwood, Miles.
Nancy Knight Chap. D.A.R. wish to verify his service as the Revolution as we are placing a memorial marker for all Revolut- ionary soldiers buried in our county. and Thomas

NANCY KNIGHT CHAPTER DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION HARTFORD CITY, INDIANA
Miles and his wife are buried here in the Miles Cemetery.
Thanking you for any information you may be able to send, and with many thanks for your trouble
We beg to remain
Yours Very Truly
The Nancy Knight Chap. Daughters of the American Revolution.
Per.
Mrs. Frank E. Smith Sec. 514 W. Kickapoo St.

Rev. War section Record Division.
V.L.M.
He died April 27, 1850, his wife Mary died January 10, 1932.
Mr. L. A. Ainlay,
Bank of Brady,
Brady, Nebraska.
Sir:
In response to your letter dated the 2 nd ultimo you are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. File No. 7.169 that Thomas Miles was born March 22, 1762, in Worcester County, Massachusetts, and it is alleged that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows:
In 1777 under Captain Belknap and Colonel Reed, and was in the battles of Bennington and Saratoga, 30 days.
Guarded prisoners captured from Burgoyne's army and was under Colonel Davis for six months.
He was in General Sullivan's Expedition to Rhode Island under Captain Ephraim Tailor and also served in Colonel Michael Jackson's Regiment until 1783.
He applied for pension November 4, 1845 while residing in Blackford County, Indiana, but the claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish satisfactory proof of the alleged services.

He died April 27, 1850, his wife Mary died prior to this , no date stated.
In 1853 children Lovenio or Lorennye Miles aged fifty-one years and Fanny Benedict aged forty-seven years were residents of Blackford County, Indiana.
Very respectfully,
Washington Gardner
Commissioner.