Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18029, Thomas Hoover, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Hoover, Thomas
S. 18029
CONTENTS
carded

Virginia 16.9571
Thomas Hoover Purdinton in the State of Va- was a Pvt. in the Regt commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt commanded by Col. Harrison in the Brig for 9 months -
Enscribed on the Roll of Virginia the rate of 30. Dollars _____ Cents per annum, commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 th day of Oct 99 and Ann  Wm  McCray Jr. Franklin - Va-
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 75- Semiant. allowance ending Dec 34 15-  $90-
Recorded by With { Revolutionary Claim, } Book E Vol. 6 1/2 Page 17. { by June 7, 1832. } Clerk,

State of Virginia } ss. Pendleton County } ss.
On this 5th day of June 1833, personally appeared in open court, before the justices of the county court of Pendleton now sitting, Thomas Hoover a resident of said county, aged 70 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 Act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. —
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as is here in stated.
On or about the 1st day of September 1778 (as near as he can recollect), he was drafted into the statute service of the United States as a private, in a company of Virginia militia of the County of Augusta, commanded by Captain Robert Davis, whose company was raised to go against the Indians on the North-Western frontier of Virginia. He was marched to the Waters of the Monongahela & stationed at Lowder's Fort, where he served until the expiration of his three months term of service, when he was discharged. —
In the month of June 1781, he was again drafted and served a second tour of three months against the British, in the lower part of Virginia as a private in a company of Virginia militia of the (then) County of Rockingham commanded by Captain George Huston. and was marched from home to Richmond and there placed under command of Col. Benjamin Harrison and Generals Campbell & Lafayette, and was engaged during the greater part of the summer of 1781, on scouting parties through the state of Virginia and was at the Battle of James River where the forces under Genl. Wayne were defeated by the British, and at the expiration of his term of service, he was discharged.
In the month of April or May 1782, he was again drafted, and served a third tour of three months,

in a company of Militia of the county of Rockingham under command of Captain M c Kinith, and Lieut M c Everman, which company was raised to protect the inhabitants on the North Fork of the South Branch of Potomac against the Indians who had broken into that settlement and murdered some of the family of W m Bragg. He was stationed on the North Fork, at M c Kinith's Fort, and served until the expiration of his term of service when he was discharged having faithfully served during the War of the Revolution under the three engagements, at least six months . —
He has no documentary evidence of his services, never having received a written or printed discharge; but expects to prove a part, and perhaps the whole of his service, by the testimony of living Witnesses and men who served with him. —
We hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any state.
Sworn and subscribed the day { and year aforesaid }
of his Thomas + Hoover mark
We John Headrick and Frederick Headrick, residing in the County of Pendleton, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Hoover, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 70 years of age; that he is respected and beloved, 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 }
his John + Headrick mark
Frederick Headrick

State of Virginia } ss. Pendleton County }
I William M c Coy Jr a Justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Falter Hammer, who appeared before me on the 5th day of June 1833, and gave evidence as stated below, in relation to the services of Thomas Hoover in the War of the Revolution is now a resident of Pendleton County V a that I am well acquainted with him, and that I believe him to be a credible person, and that his statement is entitled to credit. Given under my hand and seal this 16th. day of September 1833 W m M c Coy Jr.
Pendleton County V a ss.
Falter Hammer a resident of said county this day person- ally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid and made oath that in the latter part of the year 1778 he served a tour of three months in a company of Virginia Militia of Augusta County under command of Captain Robert Davis, on the Waters of the Monongahela, and that Thomas Hoover who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing Declaration also served in the same company as a private for the space of three months. Given under my hand and seal this 5th. day of June 1833. W m M c Coy Jr.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named Applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.

I Libulus Dyer Clerk of the County Court of Pendleton, Virginia, do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Brown for a pension —
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 10 th day of June 1833, and in the 59 th year of the Commonwealth —
L Dyer
Thomas Brown
Declaration — 2553
Pension Book 10
Page 538.
L Dyer Clk
And at a Court held for Pendleton County (Virginia) on the 3 rd day of July 1833, The Court further Certifies, that it appears to them that John Reddick, and Meduile Reddick, who have signed their within Certificate, are residents in the County of Pendleton, Virginia, and that they are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit —
I Libulus Dyer Clerk of Pendleton County Court, Virginia, do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains a true Copy of the proceedings of July Court 1833 in the matter of the application of Thomas Brown for a pension. I also further Certify that William M c Boy is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County the within Affidavit of Balser Hammet was and that his said signature is genuine —
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of Office and subscribed my name this 3 rd day of July 1833 and in the 59 th year of the Commonwealth —
L Dyer

No 25853
Thomas Hoover. Pendleton County Virginia
Return f.
Alma as a pupil pms $30 =
Mr. Meloy & Franklin, Pendleton County Virginia
AM

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office.
1. Aug 1890.
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 subjoined notes you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those 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 Moore Pendleton County Virginia
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the description is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Draft Sept. 1778. - 3 - private Capt Davis, 70 years Augusta Traditionary evidence & one Witness not identified in the paper correct.   Draft June 1781 - 3 - " Capt Hinton - Col Harrison Genl Banastre County Virginia   Draft 1782 - 3 - " Capt Smith,  
Bates of James River,
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 the 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 inquiry 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.
[a] 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, deposes 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 term, 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 fix 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.
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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
E. Hanner

P
18029 INVALID.
File No. 18,029
Thomas Hottier
His Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 181
[Arrangement of 1870.]