Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4310, Thomas Hawkins, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
★ Hawkins, Thomas
S 4310
Carded
CONTENTS

Ohio 19.885.
Thomas Hawkins. of Washington in the State of Ohio. who was a Private in the Co. commanded by Captain Spence of the Regt. commanded by Col. West, in the Virginia line for June.
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio. at the rate of 2 6 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of Sept. 1833, and sent to Geo. Dunlap, Marietta, Ohio.
Arrears to the 1st Sept 33, 66.65. Semi-annual allowance ending Feb. 1834, 13.33.
$ 79.98.
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Miss. Palmer Clerk, Book E Vol. 8 Page 10

Penning
4310
INVALID.
File No.
4310
Thomas Hawkins Brit. Rev. War
Act:
June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol.
A
, Page
158
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Ohio Washington County ss. 3 3 3
I do hereby certify that the above Named, Thomas Hawkins, did on the day and year above, make solemn Oath before me that the facts and circumstances stated in the above declaration, are true to the best of his knowledge and belief, and that he signed the same in my presence, and I further certify that the said Thomas Hawkins, is so far infirm & decrepitude, as in my opinion, to be unable, to attend in Open Court to make his declaration.
And I do further certify, that in my opinion after investigating the matter & putting the interrogatories, presented by the War Department, that the above applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, & served as he states.
And I further certify that it appears to me after due enquiry, that John Hawkins, and Isaac French, reside in the neighbourhood of said Thomas Hawkins, they having certified their belief of his age, & Revolutionary services, & signed & sworn to the same in my presence, that they are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit. Sworn & subscribed, the day & year aforesaid.
Joseph Barker Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County Ohio.
The State of Ohio. I, George Dunlevy, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas Washington County ss. within and for said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of application of Thomas Hawkins for a pension had before Joseph Barker, Esquire, an associate Judge of said Court & that his signature is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this fifth day of November, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. Geo. Dunlevy, Clerk.
Thos. Hawkins 17853

State of Ohio Washington County ss 3
In this twenty ninth day of October eighteen hundred and thirty two, personally appeared, before Joseph Barker one of the Associate Judges of said County, at his Hawkins own house in Union Township in said County. Thomas Hawkins. Aged seventy four Years. Next Deumike, who from Rheumatic Pains, and other infirmities, has been rendered unable to walk or ride, any distance for six years past, therefore unable to appear in Open Court. 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 the seventh 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named Officers and served as herein stated,
That in the year 1776 or 1777. When the British had possession of New York an express came to Laredon County Virginia where I then resided, for troops for the service, & there was a call for Volunteers, I belonging to a Volunteer Company Commanded by Capt. James Madican. the names of the Lieut & Ensign I do not recollect. I volunteered for six Months, I had my chance to stand my draught in the Militia for eighteen Months or Volunteer for six months. and march to the west against the Indians, & I chose the latter, we rendezvous at Cotocton Meeting House, on the first day of September we then marched under said Capt. Madican, to Fort Pitt where Col. Gibson Commanded. after some short stay we were ordered down the Ohio River to Fort Henry, where Wheeling now stands, where the company was stationed as he thinks about three weeks, and then were marched off Wheeling Creek, about six miles to the Forks where there was a Fort called Shepard's Fort, where we remained until our term of service expired which was on the first of

first of March following, we were in no Battle during the six Months there; but when we were descending the Ohio River to Fort Henry, we stoppt at a place called Log Tavern, to cook our break fast, & while doing so, about eighteen Men were standing round the Fire, when five Indians fired upon them and killed one Man & shot another through the wrist, who was sent back to Pittsburg, & joined us no more.
In the latter part of the Year 1781, I was draughted from the Militia of Loudoun County Virginia, for two Months, I joined the Company of Col d Richard Spence, of said County, we joined our Company near Gum Spring Meeting House, the Men joining the Company promiscuously, — we then we marched to Hampton near the Mouth of James River, I do not remember an Lieut & Ensign, but Col d George West marched with us to Hampton, — we were imployed in heaving sand, and erecting Fortifications, until Cornwallis, surrendered, we were then Ordered to guard the British Prisoners, to Fredericton in Maryland, we went with them as far as Noland's Ferry, where I was dismiss d & returned home, I believe I served more than two months, but I cannot remember particularly, I never had a discharge, was always dismiss d by word of Mouth, he has no documentary evidence, & knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services, he thinks he has two half Brothers in Virginia & a brother in law in Ohio who were in the service with him, but knows not particularly where they reside, —
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State; but says that his name

Name was inscribed on the Pension roll of the agency of Ohio, on the 30 th day of October 1821. but was stricken off on the 11 th day of November the same year. Attest Joseph Barker. 3 Thomas Hawkins sworn to the day you observe. — Isaac French 3 mark
Ques. Where were you born. Answer, I was Born in Charles County Maryland, in the year Fifty eight. — he has no record of his Age,
Ques. Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War.
Ans. I lived in Loudoun County Virginia. since you
I then removed to Monongahela County, from there to Wood County, where I resided about twenty years then come to the state of Ohio Washington County where I have since & now reside, for the last seven years,
State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present Neighborhood, & who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their beliefs of your services as a soldier of the Revolution, Ans. There being no Clergyman residing in the Township, he states the names of John Hawkins,
who can testify as to his age & their beliefs of his revolutionary services. —
We John Hawkins and Isaac French — residing in the Neighborhood do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Hawkins, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy four years of Age; that he is reputed and believed in the Neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and are concur in that opinion. — Isaac French Sworn to & subscribed the 3 rd day of John Hawkins mark before me — Joseph Barker Esq. Judge of C. C. P. for W. County.

17880 19. 885
Thomas Hawkins Washington County Ohio
Adm 8 Months prov.
 $ 26. 66. 2 1/2  83. 32  13. 33  56. 65 
George Dunlevy Esq. Marietta Washington Co. Ohio

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
19 Sep. 1833
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 shew 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, shewing the Service of Thomas Hawkins
   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 declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1776 on 6 priv Capt. Radican Col. Gibson 74 years Traditionary   1781. 2 " Capt. Spura Col. West London County Va  
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 days 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, 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.
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.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Hawkins, William GRADE Sergeant LINE Connecticut
WARRANT NUMBER 5898 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Jan. 30, 1790 to James Davenport
*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.