REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION - JOHN & SALLY YOUNGER THOMAS Contributed by: Helen (billmc@pickens.net) http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/iredell/pensions/thomas01.txt ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Revolutionary War pension #W6274, Sally Younger Thomas, Iredell Co. NC widow of John Thomas (1762VA-1840/41NC) submitted by Helen McKnight About 1970 I received a negative photocopy of Sally Thomas's pension file, which included her deceased husband John Thomas's pension application. The copy is faint and difficult to read, except for a typed letter written in 1935 concerning information requested by John R. Upshaw, NY, NY about his Revolutionary War ancestor "whose last name was Thomas" from NC "probably from Iredell County", who was "awarded a grant of land for his military service", land in Maury Co, TN. THIS John Thomas may or may not have been Mr. Upshaw's ancestor. This is NOT the John Thomas of Iredell Co NC who married Mary Jetton, my husband's ancestors. THAT John Thomas (1754-1829) was an Ensign during the Revolutionary War. I shall attempt to transcribe this long file. I suggest anyone interested secure a copy of the file. 4490? North Carolina Sally Thomas, widow of John Thomas, who served in the Revolutionary war as a private. Inscribed on the roll at the rate of 20 Dollars per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848. Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of Mch 1849 and sent to J. F. Alexander, Statesville, N.C. Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, page 243 Vol 1. 12.024 North Carolina John Thomas, of Iredell in the State of N Car, who was a pvt in the company commanded by Captain Wall of the Reg commanded by Fleming in the Va line. Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina at the rate of 20 Dollars [blank] cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831. Certificate of pension... [illegible]. Arrears to the 4th of March 1833... [illegible] Semi anl allowance ending 4 Sept ... Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832. Recorded by [illegible] Clerk, Book E vol 6 Page 57. Dead Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6th April 1838 from 4 Sept 1839 to 24 January 1840. Agt. Notified 10 Nov 1841. BRIEF in the case of John Thomas of Iredell County in the State of North Carolina (Act 7th June 1832) 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court 2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? [blank] 3. How old is he? 70 4. State his service as directed in the form annexed. Period Duration of service Rank Names of General & Field Officers Jny 1781 3 mos Pvt Capt Wall, Major Jones, Col Fleming Genl Muhlenberg Sept 1781 3 mos " Capt Faulkner, Genl Washington 5. In what battles was he engaged? York 6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Halifax County, Virginia 7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? And if so, in what respect? Defective. No certificate of the [illegible] of witness I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. [illegible signature], examining Clerk [illegible] 1833 North Carolina, Iredell County On the 20th day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Worshipful County Court of Iredell county, now sitting, John Thomas, a resident of Iredell county, North Carolina, Aged seventy 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated. That the said John Thomas entered the service of the United States as a drafted Militia soldier in the month of January 1781 for the period of three months in the County of Halifax, State of Virginia, in the Company commanded by Capt Charles Wall in the Regiment afterward Commanded by Maj. Jones & Col. Fleming; that they marched from Halifax County aforesaid to Petersburgh, Virginia, from thence to a place called Cabin Point in Surry County about twenty eight miles below Petersburgh; at Cabin Point the Regiment under Maj Jones remained for about a month; from thence they marched to Suffolk where they met with General Mughlinburgh, the British having burnt & destroyed Suffolk before the arrival of the American Troops at that place; ...the other Troops were ordered from Suffolk to Portsmouth; at Portsmouth the American Troops took the [illegible] Guard of the enemy; that the Guard being in Portsmouth & confining themselves to that point; the American troops returned to Suffolk, their head quarters at that time; that having marched backward & forward between Portsmouth & Suffolk several times, the troops on the expiration of their term of Service, were discharged above Suffolk at a place called Black Water Bridge in the State of Virginia. And the said John Thomas further states that he again entered the service of the United States as a drafted Militia soldier about the first of September 1781 for the period of three months; that he marched from Halifax County, Virginia under the Command of Capt John Faulkner, that they marched from Halifax County, aforesaid to Petersburgh, Virginia from thence to [ ? ] Spring below Cabin Point; from thence to Old Williamsburgh & on to the Siege of York Town in Virginia; that he remained in service at York Town till the surrender of Lord Cornwallis; that not long after the surrender he was discharged, as well as he now recollects in the beginning of November 1781 - that he has no documentary evidence to offer, that he received a written discharge for the first tour from Capt Charles Wall & for the second tour from Capt John Faulkner which discharges were both destroyed by the burning of his dwelling house in Halifax County Virginia in the year 1822, that he now resides in Iredell County North Carolina one hundred & forty or fifty miles from where he resided at the time of service which renders it very difficult for him to procure the testimony of his old fellow Soldiers. But notwithstanding he has procured the evidence of Moses Epps of Halifax County aforesaid, who served in the War of the Revolution with him & whose Affidavit will accompany this declaration. Answering to interrogations by the Court, 1. I was born in Amelia County, Virginia May 8th 1762. 2. I have a family record, there is no [illegible] that I know of 3. I were living in Halifax County, Virginia where I continued to reside until the year 182_ when I removed to Iredell County, N. Carolina where I now reside 4. I was called into service by draft 5. I Received a written discharge for the first tour from Capt Charles Wall & for the second tour from Capt John Faulkner which discharges were destroyed by the burning of his dwelling house in Halifax Virginia in the year 1822 6. He knew General Mughlenburgh in his first tour, also Maj Jones and Col Fleming & in the second tour he knew Col Rogers & Col Dick or Dix as he believes the name to be. Likewise he knew Genl Washington, the Commander in chief, when he saw him at York Town. 7. I refer to John Carlton formerly of Halifax County, Virginia, & now my neighbor in N. Carolina for corroborating evidence, in respects my services as a Soldier of the Revolutionary War. I also refer to said Carlton & to Basil Gaither also my neighbor in Iredell County, N. Carolina to certify to my character &c. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State or Territory. Sworn to & subscribed in open court this 20th day of November 1832. John Thomas I John Carlton residing in the County of Iredell N. Carolina, hereby certify that I have been well acquainted with John Thomas for more than twenty years, that I knew him when he resided in Halifax county, Virginia, that I believe him to be seventy years of age, that he was reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a Soldier of the Revolution & that I concur in that opinion & I do also certify that said John Thomas has always been considered a man of strict veracity since my acquaintance with him. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. John Carlton I, Basil Gaither, residing in the County of Iredell North Carolina do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with John Thomas who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration for several years, that I believe him to be a man of veracity that I believe him to be seventy years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to be a Soldier of the Revolution, & that I concur in that opinion. Sworn to in open court & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. Basil (his mark) Gaither And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatives prescribed by the War department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states. And the court further Certifies that it appears to them that John Carlton & Basil Gaither who have signed the preceding Certificates are residents of Iredell County N. C. & are Credible persons & that their statement is entitled to Credit. I, (Abraham or Absalom?) Simonton, Clerk of the County Court of Pleas & quarter Sessions for Iredell County North Carolina, do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Thomas for a pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of the Office at Statesville this 20th day of November 1831? A. Simonton CClk [next page - almost entirely illegible] I William Hall, Clerk... Sworn before me a Justice of the peace... ...John Thomas and Sally Younger...the record...December 1793 Wm Hall clk Sworn to before me a Justice of the Peace Wm T? Ballew? J.P... 26 day of January 1844, Wm Hall, Clerk [next page, very faded, almost illegible] State of North Carolina, Iredell County ...day of February 1844...personally appeared before me...one of the acting magistrates and a member of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, in and for said county, Sally Thomas, a widow of the County of Iredell North Carolina aged sixty seven years who being first duly and sworn according to the law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to claim the benefit of the pension...by the Act of Congress passed July 7 (1832?) entitled an act granting half pay of pension to certain widows that she is widow of John Thomas, late pensioner deceased of Iredell County North Carolina who was a private Soldier in the Virginia...in the war of the Revolution and was allowed a pension as such at the rate of twenty dollars per annum under the Act of June 7th 1832. She further declared that she was married to the said John Thomas in Halifax County Virginia by [illegible] on the fourth day of December in the year seventeen hundred ninety three (1793) that her husband the aforesaid John Thomas died in the 24th day of January in the year eighteen hundred and forty one and that she has remained a widow ever since that period that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service and the marriage took place previous to the first of Jany Seventeen hundred and ninety four Viz: on 4th of December 1793 as above stated Sworn to & subscribed to in the day & year first above written before (Amos Lovelace?). Sally (her mark) Thomas State of North Carolina, Iredell County I do hereby certify that Sally Thomas who hath this day sworn to and subscribed the foregoing declaration before a credible person & to be believed on oath. I also certify that she is the widow of the Identical John Thomas who was ...pensioner of said County at the rate of $20 per annum and died in said county in the year 1841 leaving the aforesaid declarant a widow who has never since married and I further certify that the declarant Sally Thomas is by reason of old age of bodily infirmity unable to go to the court house to make her said declaration Given under my hand and seal the day and date first above written. Amos Lovelace State of North Carolina, Iredell County, Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions Feby term 1844 I, J. F. Alexander, clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter sessions for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing declaration of Sally Thomas widow of John Thomas Pensioner dec'd of said county was this day laid before the said Court examined and approved whereupon the Court orders that the Clerk certify the same to the War Department I further certify that Amos Lovelace before whom the foregoing declaration was proven is and was at the time of signing the same a magistrate as aforesaid and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at office in Statesville this 24th February 1844. J. F. Alexander clerk of Iredell County Court [two-page, handwritten letter: letterhead: "West Side Young Men's Christian Association, 5 West 63th Street, New York, Telephone Susquehanna 7-4400, public correspondence" addressed to Dept of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions] Sept 25, 1935 Gentlemen: I am anxious to obtain information about one of my ancestors whose last name was Thomas and who fought in the Revolution. This man was from North Carolina, probably from Iredell County. He was awarded a grant of land for his military services. This land is situated in what is now Maury County, Tennessee. I should like to have the following information concerning this man: his first name, the name of his wife, his date of birth, his date of death, the names of his children and the place of his birth. I believe this man who fought in the Revolution has a son named Isaac Newton Thomas. If you are unable to give me any of the above information, could you kindly suggest any place I might ask? Yours truly, John R. Upshaw, 521-B East 85th St., New York City, New York. [2-page typed answer to above letter] November 16, 1935 [3A-J/??L] John Thomas - W.6274 Mr. John R. Upshaw [address as above] Dear Sir: The data which follows are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, W.6274, based upon the military service in that war of John Thomas. John Thomas was born May 8, 1762, in Amelia County, Virginia. The names of his parents are not shown. While residing in Halifax County, Virginia, John Thomas enlisted in January 1781, and served three months as a private in Captain Charles Wall's Company, Colonel Fleming's Virginia Regiment; he enlisted about September 1, 1781, and served three months as a private in Captain John Faulkner's Company, Colonel Peter Rogers' Virginia Regiment, was at the siege of Yorktown and surrender of Cornwallis. In 1823, he moved to Iredell County, North Carolina, where he was residing when he was allowed pension on his application executed November 20, 1832. He died January 24, 1840 or 1841 (both dates are shown) in Iredell County, North Carolina. The soldier married December 4, 1793 in Halifax County, Virginia, Sarah or Sally Younger. The date of her birth and the names of her parents are not shown. Soldier's widow, Sally, was allowed pension on her application executed February 10, 1844, at which time she was aged sixty-seven years and resided in Iredell County, North Carolina. There are no data as to children. In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Sally Thomas, widow of John Thomas (W.6274), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data: Sally Thomas, widow of John Thomas, Certificate No. 4490, issued March 22, 1849, rate $20 per annum, commenced March 4, 1848, Act of February 2, 1848, North Carolina Agency. Very truly yours, A. D. Hiller, Executive Assistant to the Administrator. 1935- Nov 18 - Hist. To John R. Upshaw. E.L. REVY WIDOW, &c. File no. 6274, Sally Thomas, Widow, John Thomas, Pvt. Rev War Act: Feby [illegible] Index__ Vol. M Page 270 Arrangement of 1870. 6101 N Carolina Sally Thomas, widow of John Thomas who was a Private in the VA Line Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1843. Certificate of pension issued the 11 day of Sept 1844 and sent to J. F. Alexander, Statesville NC (Act of March 3, 1843) Recorded in book (a?) vol 2 Page 161 Order to pay 26 May 184(4?) No? 72 Joint Resolution (rest illegible) 8708, North Carolina Sally Thomas, widow of John Thomas, who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832 and who died on 24 Jany 1841 of Iredell Co in the state of NC who was a private in the Co commanded by Capt Wall of the reg commanded by Fleming in the VA Line for (?) Inscribed on the Roll of NC at the rate of 20 dollars 00 cents per annum to commence on the 24 Jany 1841 Certificate of pension issued the 11 day of Sept 1844 and sent to J. F Alexander, Statesville, NC Total amount $ Act July 7, 1838 Recorded by ( ? ) Clerk, Book ? Vol ? page 301 ?No Act 1843 No ?2 under the Joint Reso 23d Jany 1845, issued Apl 15 1845 TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Second Comptroller's Office, November 1st 1841 Sir: Under the Act of the 6th of April 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States', the widow of John Thomas, dec'd a Pensioner on the Roll; of the North Carolina Agency, at the rate of Twenty dollars per annum under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept 1839 to the 24th January 1840. Respectfully yours, ( ?) E. (Parris?), Comptroller To the Commissioner of pensions, Present Sally Thomas under joint resolution of Jany 23d 1845 & act 7 July 1838 ? @ $20 per annum from 4 March 1836 to 24 Jany 1841 No 72 J Reso Jan 23, 1845 Hon D. M. Barringer, Concord, N Carolina State of North Carolina, Iredell County On this third day of February A.D. 1849 personally appeared before James Paterson one of the acting magistrates in and for said County, Sarah Thomas, a resident of the County & State aforesaid aged seventy two years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 2nd February 1848 entitled an act granting Pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War. That she is the widow of John Thomas late Revolutionary Soldier and pensioner decd of Iredell County, North Carolina at the rate of $20 per annum. That since the death of her said Husband the aforesaid Sarah Thomas has applied for and received Pensions under the act of the 7th July 1838, 3 March 1843, and 17 June 1844 at the rate of twenty dollars per annum and that she is still a widow and has not remarried since the death of her said Husband which took place on the 24 day of January 1840 [0 marked over another number] and that she asks for the benefit of the act above named. Sworn to and subscribed to on the day and year first above written before J. Patterson, J. P. Sarah (her mark) Thomas (Seal) Test: ( ?) Houston One of the said magistrates do hereby testify that I am personally with Sarah Thomas the above declarant and that she is the identical Sarah Thomas, widow of John Thomas who was a Pensioner and is now dead and that she has drawn Pensions as above stated on the account of the Revolutionary Given under my hand this 3 day of February 1849. J Patterson, J.P. I, J. F. Alexander, Clerk of the Court of pleas and quarter Sessions for Iredell County do hereby certify that James Patterson is a magistrate as above and the signatures purporting to be his are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of my office at office in Statesville this 3rd day of February A.D. 1849 J. F. Alexander, Clerk of Iredell County Court Virginia , Halifax County This day personally appeared before me John S. Lewellen one of the commonwealth's justices of the peace for the county aforesaid Moses Epps, now a citizen of said county, and made oath that John Thomas marched from the county aforesaid under the command of Captain Charles Wall to Portsmouth, and served a three month tour of duty as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and there placed under the command of Colo. Fleming - and after the expiration of said tour the said John Thomas was discharged to the best of his Knowledge and returned home, that in the ? of all the said John Thomas marched again in Captain John Faulkner's company of Militia, to little York and served another tour in the said War of three months with the affiant , under the command of Colo. Peter Rogers - that the said John Thomas left the army with this affiant and that the said affiant had a written discharge - Given under my hand & seal this 19th day Sept 1832 Jno S Lewellen (seal) Halifax County This day personally appeared before Jno S Lewellen one of the Commonwealth's justices for the county aforesaid Wm Fitzgerald and Adam Toot? made oath that they had been long acquainted with Mr. Moses Epps whose certificate is hereunto affixed that he is a man of high respectability, known generally as such, and in respect is worthy of credit - Given under my hand and seal this 19th day Sept 1832. Jno S Lewellen