Jonathan Thomas - Revolutionary War Pension

As with all records of this nature, a file number is created to contain the supporting documentation.  The pension application for Jonathan Thomas is S35655.

The initial document to start the pension application process.  It states the Jonathan was a "poor man and very needy of help".  It is signed by John Brown and Nathan Randall, Selectmen of Freedom.

Chief Justice, Nathan Weston certified that Jonathan Thomas was a resident of Freedom, Kennebec County, Maine and that Jonathan swore before him that he was a "private soldier in the war of the revolution, against the common enemy for more than nine months."  Jonathan's signature is found on the document.

William Taylor's testimony that he had personal knowledge of Jonathan's service in the Revolutionary War, confirming that he served from June 1775 through December 1776.

Philip Hunt's testimony that he had personal knowledge that Jonathan Thomas served in Captain Jeremiah Clough's Company in Col. Enoch Poor's Regiment starting in June 1775 and continued serving until December 1776.

House Representative Jonathan Gage wrote two statements supporting the credibility of William Taylor's written testimony as well as other documents enclosed in Jonathan Thomas' pensions application.

Certificate 6663 states that the government was arrears in pension payments to Jonathan in the amount of $74.35 as of 4 Mar 1819.  

Proof of need was required from pensioners.  Jonathan Thomas appeared before Justice Nathan Weston, stating that he had no property or other holdings of any value.  The justice notes that Jonathan was 80 years old at the time and had served in the army for one year and six months.

As required by law, applicants had to prove their lack of financial viability.  John Davis, clerk for the Kennebec Circuit Court certified that Jonathan had no debts receivable nor property of any value.

In 1934, Fred Morse, a descendant of Jonathan Thomas sent a letter to the U. S. Pension Department inquiring about any information on his ancestor. He stated that Jonathan was a Sergeant in the military, and died in Jun 1824. He goes on to say that Jonathan was a "scout (hunter) through the woods of Maine".

A. D. Hiller, Executive Assistant to the Administrator of military pensions replied to the letter from Fred Morse.  The letter states that Jonathan was born in Hampton, New Hampshire although the date and name of his parents was not shown.  It goes on to say that Jonathan "enlisted for military service in June 1775 and served about seven months as sergeant in Captain Jeremiah Clough's Company, Colonel Enoch Poor's New Hampshire Regiment.  He reenlisted in January 1776 and seved as sergeant in Captain Jeremiah Clough's Company, Colonel Enoch Poor's Regiment in various skirmishes and was discharge the last of December 1770".

Impatient to receive a reply to his inquiry about Jonathan Thomas, J. Fred Morse wrote a second letter to the U. S. Pension Commission asking for any information they had regarding his ancestor.   The reply from the Commission was sent on 15 December and thus the letters crossed in the mail.