Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 35781, Thomas Blair, Continental Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental Penn.
Blair, Thomas.
P. 35781.
CONTENTS

11.528
Kentucky
Thomas Blair Indiana
of Nelson Co: in the state of Kentucky who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Brodhead of the Pennsylvania line, for the term of three Years
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 29 of May 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 th of June 1819 and sent to the Pensioner Bairdstown Ky.
  Arrears to 4th of Mar. 1819  73.80    Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Sep. 1819  48.00     121.80  
d. July 1823
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
continued
Notation sent to Genl. Harbin Esq. 31 Oct. 1820 Printed by

The Polar priv Brookheads genl Reg 1776 to 1779
BP BP BP BP
admissible on evidence of his judi gent circumstances to which the Judge will either (enlarge himself or to the credibility of those deposing to the same
ADMIRAL

To the Hon. John C. Calhoun, Secretary of the War Department of the United States.
I Alfred Metcalfe, Circuit Judge in and for the fifth Judicial District of Kentucky, and sole judge of the Circuit Court here in said District do hereby certify, that this day Thomas Blair came before me and de- clared under oath, that he is a citizen of the United States and a resident of Nelson County aforesaid; that in August 1776 he enlisted as a soldier under Capt. John Finley, of the eighth regiment of the Pennsylvania Line on conti- nental establishment, commanded by Col. Dan- iel Brodhead, to serve for three years; that he served as such in said regiment from the time of his enlistment as aforesaid until the spring of the year 1778, when he was drafted into the corps of Gen. Washington's life guards commanded by Major Caleb Gibbs, in which corps he served until the 25 th of August 1779 when he was regularly discharged by the said Major Gibbs. That the certificates hereto annexed, were given to him by the said Capt. Finley & Major Gibbs at the times they respectively bear date; that he is upwards of sixty years of age, and has never been allowed or received any pension from the United States, and that from his reduced circum- stances he needs the assistance of his country for support.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty ninth day of May, 1818.
Alfred Metcalfe.

State of Kentucky Nelson Circuit Court
I James Slaughter Jun r clerk of the Nelson Circuit Court do certify that the within named Alfred Metcalf is circuit Judge in and for the fifth Judicial District of Kentucky and sole Judge of the Nelson Circuit Court in said District duly Commissioned and Qualified
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of Office this 29 th day of May 1818. I
in the 26 th year of the Commonwealth
J. Slaughter Jr. Clerk
I Alfred Metcalf, Circuit Judge in and for the fifth Judicial District of Kentucky and sole Judge of the Nelson Circuit Court in said District, do certify, that the foregoing attestation of James Slaughter Jun r , who is Clerk of said Court, is in due form of law, and entitled to full faith and credit. Given under my hand this 29 th day of May A 1818.
Alfred Metcalf,

N o 68
Thomas Blair Leo Pithon for H o
11,528.
Em

State of Kentucky Nelson Circuit Court
June Term 1820
Thomas Blair this day produced in Court a Schedule of his property and the same was sworn to, which on his motion Is ordered to be recorded; Which is in the words and figures following to wit
Schedule Original Claim
District of Kentucky
Nelson Circuit S.S.
On this 1 st day of July 1820. personally appeared in Open Court being a Court of Record, for Said District and Circuit of Nelson personally in court appeared Thomas Blair aged Sixty three Years resident in Said District Circuit Court who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his Oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows, that he enlisted in the year 1774 for three years in the State of Pennsylvania in the Company commanded by John Bucay and served his time out and was honourably discharged. — And I do hereby solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States, on the 18 th day of March 1818, and that I have not since since since that time by gift sale or in any manner 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

Provide for Certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War passed on the 18 th day of March 1818, and 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, to wit, that he has no property of any kind that he has no family
Thomas Blair
Nelson Circuit Set
July 1820
Sworn to in Court this 11 th day of
Attn James Slaughter Clerk
State of Kentucky Nelson Circuit Set
I James Slaughter Jr Clerk of the Nelson Circuit Court do hereby Certify that the foregoing Cash and the Schedules thereto annexed are truly Copied from the Records of the said Court. And I do further Certify that there is not any property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedules
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the said Court this 12 th day of August 1820
James Slaughter Jr Clerk of the Nelson Circuit Court

State of Indiana
Spencer County ss
Februarys 1826
On this third day of a January before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the county aforesaid personally appeared James Blair ----- who so being duly sworn, on his oath declared that he has been acquainted with Thomas Blair for a number of years and well knows knows him to be the same person named in the fore above affidavit and application for a transfer of his name from the Pennon Roll of the State of Kentucky to that of Indiana
Sworn and subscribed to before me this day and year aforesaid
Charles Pierce S.P. James Blair
I certify that the above named deponent is a Person of veracity
State of Indiana
Charles Pierce S.P.
Spencer County ss
I James Wakefield clerk of the Circuit Court in and for the County aforesaid do hereby cer- tify that Charles Pierce Esq. before whom the above affidavit was made, was at the time of the making the same an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County and his signature attached to the above

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.
State of Indiana County of Greene ss.
On this third day of February 1826, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of aforesaid — personally appeared Thomas Blair who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain John Finlay in the regiment commanded by Colonel Paul Broach — in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the state of Kentucky from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the state ( district, or territory ) of Indiana where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable, in future. That his reason for moving was to reside near his children in the state of Indiana Sworn and subscribed to, before } Thomas Blair me, the day and year aforesaid. } me
Subscribed P. 33
WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, August 13, 1818. The oath to be taken before a duly qualified magistrate, whose official character and signature must be properly authenticated.

Depositions and Certificate are genuine and as such are entitled to full faith and credit
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name as Clerk as aforesaid and hereunto af- fixed the seal of the said Circuit Court this fourth day of February in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six done at the Court House in Rockport in said County
James Wakefield C.S.C.

June 3, 1938
Thomas Blair S. 35781 BA-J/AWF
Miss Helen Posey Rockport Indiana
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letters in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Thomas Blair, pensioned under the Act of 1818, died January 1, 1833.
The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S. 35781, based on the military service of Thomas Blair in the Revolutionary War.
The date and place of birth of Thomas Blair were not given, nor were the names of his parents stated.
Thomas Blair enlisted in the State of Pennsylvania, sometime in August, 1776, served as a private in Captain John Finley's company in Colonel Daniel Brodhead's Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, until in the spring of 1778, when transferred to General Washington's Life Guard, under Major Caleb Gibbs, and was discharged August 25, 1779 at West Point, New York.
sometime He was allowed pension on his application executed May 29, 1818, at which time he was "upwards" of sixty years of age, and living in Nelson County, Kentucky.
He was living  was living in 1826 in the State of

Indiana to be near his children, names not designated.
The soldier, Thomas Blair, died January 1, 1833.
One James Blair of Spencer County, Indiana in 1826, stated that he had been acquainted with the soldier for a "number of years". There was no relationship shown.
The papers on file in this claim contain no further discernible data relative to family.
In order to obtain the name and address of person paid the last payment of this pension, you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., and furnish the following data-
Thomas Blair Certificate #11528 Issued June 9, 1819 Rate $8.00 per month Commenced May 29, 1818 Act of March 18, 1818 Indiana Agency (From Kentucky)
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

Thomas Blair Contra Pa. 835781-

I do certify that the said Soldier in my company in the 1 st Penn s Key Stone Battery by Col l Daniel Brodhead will be clear of the Reg t and Entitled to his Discharge the fourteenth day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred & twenty Nine. Given Under my Hand this fourth this 20 th day of July 1859.
John Kinley Capt. 1 st P s Key Stone Battery

Thomas Blair Co. Dr. Pa.
535781

I hereby certify that Thomas Blair has served in the Corps of Guards under my command since the beginning of the Campaign 1862. during all which time he has behaved himself in every respect like a good and faithful Soldier. — The term of his enlist- ment having now expired he is accordingly discharged the Service of the United States
Given under my hand at Head Quarters West-point this 25 th day of Aug t 1864
C. Gibbs. At McClellan

Mrs
Honble John C. Calhoun
Ocean.
Secy of War
Washington City

Honble John C Calhoun
Sir,
The inclosed papers having been enclosed forwarded to me before I reached Washington last fall, & my not seeing the cases on the list in the Pension Office - I was under the belief that they had miscarried. Under that impression a second set of Papers has been made out in favour of Blair, & forwarded since my return. the same would have been done for Murphy if he had been at home. A few days ago I found in my desk a sealed Letter which had been rec d by my wife & laid away - it contained the inclosed Papers.
The second set of Blair's Papers contains the requisite certificate as to his circumstances - On receiving these first Papers, I presume his Pension will commence on the day their date.
The Certificate of Murphy's for indigent circumstances being added, it is hoped nothing further will be necessary on his application

As I shall be absent from home frequently during the summer, please direct their Certificates to the applicants at Bards Town.
With the highest respect
I am Yr. Ob. Serv.
Thos. Spence
April 28 th 1819

September 2, 1937
The Quartermaster General Memorial Branch War Department Washington, D. C.
Thomas Blair S. 35781 BA-J/AWF
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your request for the Revolutionary War record of Thomas Blair of Pennsylvania, who died January 1, 1833 in Indiana.
The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S. 35781, based upon the military service of Thomas Blair in the Revolutionary War.
The date and place of birth of this soldier were not given, nor were the names of his parents stated.
Thomas Blair enlisted in the State of Pennsylvania, sometime in August, 1776, served as a private in Captain John Finley's company in Colonel Daniel Brodhead's 8th Pennsylvania regiment, until in the spring of 1778, when transferred to General Washington's Life Guard, under Major Caleb Gibbs, and was discharged August 25, 1779 at West Point, New York.
He was allowed pension on his application executed May 29, 1818, at which time he was "upwards" of sixty years of age and living in Nelson County, Kentucky.
On February 3, 1826, Thomas Blair had moved to the State of Indiana, to reside near his children, no names

of children designated.
The soldier, Thomas Blair, died January 1, 1833.
One James Blair of Spencer County, Indiana in 1826 stated that he had been acquainted with the soldier for a "number of years". There was no relationship shown.
The application for headstone for Thomas Blair is returned herewith, also a letter addressed to your office from Helen Posey of Rockport, Indiana.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

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 Blair a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Aug. 1776 Spring 1778 Col. John Finley Daniel Reedhead Penn.   Spring 1778 Aug. 25 1779 in Genl Washington's Life Guard 2nd Lieut. Col. John Finley 2nd Lieut. Col. John Finley        
Battles engaged in, none stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, enlisted in Penn.
Date of application for pension, May 29. 1818 His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Nelson Co. Ky.
Age at date of application, 60 years. A died Jan'y 1. 1835.*
Remarks: In 1826 soldier had moved to Spencer Co. Ind. to be near his children. There are no names stated.
* from A.R.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Rockport, Indiana May 25, 1938
Veterans Administration Rev. War Records Division Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Two weeks ago I wrote to you for information concerning Thomas Blair , a Revolutionary War soldier. I am afraid I did not sign my name, though I did type the chapter name of the D.A.R. Thomas Blair was a pensioner, Penn. line, pensioned 1818, died Jan. 1, 1833. The D.A.R. have procured a headstone for his grave and wish any additional information your files may contain to use at the dedication of the headstone. So if you disregarded the former letter, will you please send us the information? I usually type letters for another to sign; that is the explanation for the carelessness.
Yours very truly,
(Miss) Helen Posey
Sec. Spier Spencer Chapter, D.A.R.

Rockport, Indiana May 11, 1938
Veterans Administration Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Will you please give me what you have on the history of Thomas Blair, a Revolutionary soldier, pensioned in 1818, age 76, died Jan. 1, 1833--"Penn. line".
We have obtained a government headstone which we shall place soon and wish all information we can obtain on him to use in the dedicatory service. We shall appreciate the information very much.
Yours very truly,
no name? Sec. Spier Spencer Chapter, D.A.R.
JOHN A. POSEY LAWYER ROCKPORT, INDIANA

35 781
Rev INVALID.
1917 June 18 Hist. to Effie N. Hall Letter in S.T. 42621 Jas. Blair 1930- Sept 2- list to memo. Bz. auth sug. 1935- June 3- " " Miss Helen Posey sug
File No. 35-781
Thomas Blair
Dea Rev Jas
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index: Vol. 2 , Page 43
[Arrangement of 1870.]