Thomas Hunt Revolutionary War Veteran - my 4th Great Grandfather – David Arthur
Battles of Trenton, Princeton, Germantown, and Brandywine. At the battle of Brandywine he was wound in his thigh.
•Name: Thomas Hunt
•Sex: M
•Birth: ABT 1747 in Charles County, Maryland
•Death: BEF NOV 1836 in Wilson County, Tennessee
•Note:
Notes for Thomas HUNT b. 1747? in Charles Co. MD - d.1836 Wilson Co. TN
In his Revolutionary War pension application which he made July 25, 1833 at the age of 86 years old in Wilson County, Tennessee. He stated he was born in Charles County, Maryland and enlisted in 1776 at Benedict, Maryland for three years and was discharged in the summer of 1779. He re-enlisted in the fall of 1779 for another eighteen months at Port Tobacco and was discharged in 1780 having served a total 4 years and 6 months. He also stated he was a private with Washington for 14 months and was with him at the encampment at Valley Forge. He was also with Washington at the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Germantown and Brandywine. At Brandywine he was wounded in the thigh and now needed two sticks (crutches) to get around.
In 1833 he stated that he had moved to Tennessee 22 years before (1811). He further stated that after his discharge he had moved to Halifax County, Virginia and lived there 30 years (about 1781 to 1811).
West Tennessee S5320
Declaration of Thomas Hunt of Wilson County in the State of Tennessee in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of congress of the 7th of June AD 1832.
State of Tennessee }
Wilson County }
On this 25th day of July A.D. 1833 personally appeared before me Thomas Babb one of the acting Justices of the Peace Commissioned to head in open court in the Court of Common Pleas and Elector Sessions for the county of in Wilson the State of Tennessee ___ the same being a court of record: ___ Thomas Hunt resident of the County of Wilson said state of Tennessee aged 86 years according to family tradition having no record of his age 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 enlisted in the Army of the United States soon after the commencement of the Revolutionary War as well as he remembers from old age and the consequent loss of memory in the year 1776 in Charles County in the State of Maryland in a little town then called Benedict under Captain Charles Smith, John Molton being his first lieutenant and William Wheatley second lieutenant: they rendezvoused at Baltimore and were there placed under the command of General Green Colo. Joseph Bates and Major John Parr. From Baltimore they marched to Philadelphia and were there attached to the 5th Regiment of Maryland State troops and found the main army under the command of Gen’l Washington ___ from Philadelphia (sometime in the winter of 1776) this Army crossed the Delaware river and attacked the British by surprise at Trenton in New Jersey ___ and took a considerable number of Hessian prisoners (.) They re-crossed the Delaware river with the prisoners ___ but in a few days re-crossed to Trenton … Trenton the army suddenly decamped for Princeton -- as the Army maid of (sic, made off) silently in the night and declarant and a part of his Comp. were on guard were not informed of the movement of the main Army until the came to the encampment – they then followed on and came up with the Army as they entered the town of Princeton – at which place a number of the British were taken prisoners – from Princeton the Army reached the place called Morristown there most of the Army were evacuated (?) for the ..(?) – In the face of the year (?) they started for Philadelphia – on their way the American Army had an engagement with the British at Brandywine in which the Americans were forced to retreat – having suffered considerable loss in this engagement. Declarant was wounded in the thigh by a musket ball it was slight at that time – and he speedily recovered as he began to advance in life he felt the effects of it and now in his old age from that wound – coupled with rheumatism he has for a long time been scarcely able to hobble about his own house in the battle of Brandywine two of his companions and neighbors James Dunning and Francis Mecan fell wounded by his side –Declarant was in the engagement or attack made on the British Camp at Germantown where the American Army likewise sustained considerable loss – The Army then went into winter quarters at a place called Valley Forge – Declarant was in a variety of other service which for the sake of brevity he is advised is unnecessary to be mentioned – until he was discharged which handed to him by his lieutenant John Molton as well as he remembers in the summer of 1779 – having served three years, the period of his enlistment. In the fall of 1780 as well as Declarant remembers he again enlisted (during) the war under Captain Moltz Joseph Anderson and Sam Adams lieutenants --- at a place called Port Tobacco in Charles County in the State of Maryland, Capt. Motley’s (or Moltz?) company rendezvoused at Baltimore from thence they marched to Philadelphia & were attached to the 7th Regiment of the Maryland State Troops – and placed under the command of Gen’l Lee --- his corps was stationed at Philadelphia and the Chandon …t Hills. They occasionally made out from point to point as the protection of the country might seem to require until he secured his discharge peace was proclaimed – and was discharged having served eighteen months under his second enlistment making in all four years and eight months service as a regular soldier --- the only pay her received for said service was mostly in Continental money --- which depreciated on his hands. Declarant has long since lost or mislaid his discharges and has no record evidence of his service. He thinks they were destroyed when his house was burnt in the State of Virginia upwards of thirty years ago --- Declarant knows of no living witness by whom he can prove his services and must rest the success of his application on his name being found on the muster rolls which he has no doubt will be found unless from the failure of his memory he (was) have mistaken the number of the Regiments to which he belonged. Declarant’s entire character for truth as well as his entire reputation for being a soldier of the Revolution can be testified to by his neighbors --- George Ross, Reverend William White, Thomas Babb Esq. the justice before whom this declaration is made as well as by a number of others who have long known him --- Declarant was in Charles County in the State of Maryland from there he moved to Halifax County Virginia and from Virginia he moved to the State of Tennessee in Wilson County where he has resided and still resides for more than twenty years. He hereby renounces every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Declarant would have applied for a pension before as he is in very humble circumstances --- but he was informed that the application had to be made in open court and there has scarcely been a time since the passage of the act of congress – that he has been able to get to the court house of the county where he resides --- he is now confined to his house by rheumatism --- he could not get to the court house to make his declaration in open court --- and is constrained to swear to Declaration before Thomas Babb Esq. J of Court.
his
Thomas X Hunt
Mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid
Thomas Babb
Justice of the Peace for county and state aforesaid
I George Ross residing in the County of Wilson in the said State of Tennessee do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Thomas Hunt who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration for about twenty two years --- I believe him to be 86 years of age as stated in his declaration --- as far back as twenty years past I have heard the applicant speak of having been a soldier of the Revolutionary War --- and had served for several years --- he is reputed in the neighborhood and believed where he resides to have been a soldier of Revolution --- and I concur in that opinion (He has sustained a good character for truth and honesty)
Sworn and subscribed to George Ross before me the day and year aforesaid.
Thomas Babb J P.
I William White a clergyman residing in the County of Wilson do hereby certify that I became acquainted with the applicant Thomas Hunt about twenty two years ago ---when he first moved to Tennessee ___ Shortly after I became acquainted with him I heard him speak of having enlisted as a soldier of the Revolutionary War that he limped in one of his legs which he understands from him was occasioned by a wound which he received in the Battle of Brandywine ___ officiant understood from applicant that he had served 4 years and eight months in the regular service from the character of the applicant for truth and honesty ___ and from the account given by him of his services ___ on the officiant’s first acquaintance with him I have no doubt he served as stated in his declaration I believe him to be 86 years as he is respected and … in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of Revolution ___ and I concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed Wm White
before me the day and year aforesaid.
Thomas Babb J P.
State of Tennessee }
Wilson County }
I Thomas Babb of the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the county of Wilson in the said State of Tennessee the same being a court of record ___ do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations ___ prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant Thomas Hunt was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And I do further testify that said applicant in consequence of bodily infirmity is unable to attend court and that his declaration was sworn and subscribed to at his own house ___ I further certify that William White who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Wilson and that George Ross who has also assigned the same is a resident in the County of Wilson that they are both credible persons and that their statements are entitled to full credit ___ In testimony whereof I have this 25th day of July AD 1833 set my hand and affixed my private seal having no seal belonging to my office
Thomas Babb J P.
I Josiah McClain, Clerk of the County Court of Wilson County in the State of Tennessee do hereby certify that Thomas Babb Esq. is a Justice of the Peace of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in said county, the same being a court of record, and that the forgoing signatures purporting to be his own … In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office.
July 27th 1833 J. S. M. McClain
Land office, Annapolis , September 27th 1833 .
I certify that it appears by a depreciation pay Roll, remaining in my office, that Thomas Hunt-------------- a private 7th regt. Of the Maryland Line, received L30,. 12., 300 ------------Depreciation Money, issued to the Maryland quota of troops on Continental establishment, on the 24th day of January 1780.
George G. Brewer
Register land office, W. S. Md.
LAND OFFICE,
Annapolis , September 27th 1833 .
I certify that it appears by the muster Rolls remaining in my office, that Thomas Hunt-------------- enlisted as a private in the 7th Maryland Regiment, on the 2nd day of July 1779, and was an Invalid the 19th day of March 1780,
George G. Brewer
Register land office, W. S. Md.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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 Hunt Period. Years. Months. Days. rank names age… proof…and ranks of field officers under whom he served
1776 pr. Col. Bates,
Capt. Smith
6th Regt. Md
State Troops
1780 for the war} pr. Md.
Served 18}
(Not on rolls for time stated. Should prove his service by at least one witness who had a personal knowledge of his service, see note.)
I am respectfully, your obedient servant,
j. l. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
6 mo. Flying Camp 6 for 2 July 1779 to 19 March 1780 8.17 14.17
N.B. in the examination made where there was error in supposing the applicant belonged to the 6th Regiment—No. of Regiments 5th & 7th – the old man from old age may not remember the Nos. of the regiments to which he belonged ___ but from his narrative of his services and his character for honesty and truth I have no doubt he served as stated.
R M Burton
The amended Declaration of Thomas Hunt in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of the 7th of June1832
State of Tennessee }
Wilson County }
On this day personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace for the county of Wilson in the State of Tennessee duly commissioned and qualified to hold the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for said county the same being a court of record
Thomas Hunt a citizen of said County of Wilson ___ 86 years of age who being duly sworn ___ deposes and saith that by reason of old age sickness and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service ___ or as to the numbers of the two Regiments to which he belonged ___ but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades ___ viz. that he enlisted in the Army of the united states soon after the commencement of the revolutionary war ___ in the year 1776 or 1777 as well as he remembers, ___ the year he entered service however cannot at this distant day (having to rely on his memory alone not being able to read and write) precisely state.
He enlisted in Charles County in the State of Maryland under Captain John Smith for three years, was attached to the 5th Regiment of Maryland Troops, who commanded the Regiment he cannot say. He remembers they rendezvoused at Baltimore and there was under the command of Gen’l Green, Colo. Bates and Major Parr ___ until they marched to Philadelphia and were placed under the command of Gen’l Washington at Philadelphia ___ Declarant was in a variety of service as set forth in the original declaration ___ was in the battles of Trenton, Princeton and Brandywine in which later action he was wounded from the effects of which in part he can scarcely get about his own house by the aid of two sticks. After Declarant had served three years in constant and active service under his first enlistment, he was discharged ___ in the year 1780 or 1781 as near as Declarant can recall and cite. He again enlisted under Captain Motley at a place called Port Tobacco in Maryland . They rendezvoused at Baltimore marched from there to Philadelphia and there his corps was attached to the 7th Regiment of Maryland Troops ___ (as near as he can remember the number of the Regiment) ___ As officers were frequently changed or transferred ___ he cannot with certainty say who then took the command of the regiment to which he belonged. This second Enlistment was for during the war ___ but as Peace was proclaimed he was discharged ___ after having served in the second period of enlistment 18 months ___ making in all the service rendered four years and 6 months ___ Declarant knows not of any living witness by whom he can prove his services ___ and rest his claim upon the traditionary evidence embodied in his original Declaration ___ and upon the confident belief that his name will be found on the Maryland Rolls upon proper examination ___ The Statement of all his neighbors could be procured as to the general belief that he was a soldier of the Revolution ___ among others ___ The statements of Mathias Hawk and Rive J Atkinson are subjoined ___ This is the first application ___ Declarant has made for a pension though he is wondered that he was entitled to a pension under the former Acts of Congress passed for the benefit of the soldiers of the Revolution his name is not on the pension roll of any state ___ and he here revokes any claim to a pension or annuity except the present.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of November 1833
Thomas Balt (?) JP
his
Thomas X Hunt
Mark
Mattias Hough aged 56 a citizen of said Wilson County ___ hereby certifies that he has been acquainted with the applicant for twenty years as far back as 16 years ago __ and often since that period he has heard the applicant say that he had served in the Revolutionary War as an enlisted soldier ___ he heard him speak of being in the Battle of Brandywine. The applicant is believed in his neighborhood to have been a soldier of the Revolution and I concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of November 1833
Thos Babb JP Mattias Hauk
Rial Atkinson aged 37 hereby certifies that he has been acquainted with the applicant Thomas Hunt for 16 years from his first acquaintance with him he has often heard him speak of being a soldier in the Maryland Line ___ That he had served for several years as an enlisted soldier he is believed in his neighborhood to be a soldier of the Revolution and I concur in that opinion.
Rial J Atkinson
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of November 1833
Thos Babb JP
I the said Thomas Babb a Justice of the Peace for the county of Wilson ___ do hereby declare my opinion after investigating the matter … (?) time ___ and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department ___ that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution and served as he states___ and I do further certify that Mathias Houk and Rice Atkinson who have signed the preceding certificates are citizens of Wilson County and are credible persons.
given under my hand … (?) this 14th day of November 1833
Thos Babb JP
State of Tennessee }
Wilson County }
I Josiah McClain Clerk of the County Court of said County do hereby certify that Thomas Babb Esq.…, acting Justice of the Peace in said County commissioned and qualified according to the laws of said state and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office in Lebanon .
this 14th day of November 1833
J. L. McClain
West Tennessee S5320
Thomas Hunt of Wilson County in the state of Tennessee who was a private in the com. Commanded by Captain Smith of the Regt. Commanded by Colo. Bates in the Maryland Line for 14 months & 27 days Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee
At the rate of 48 dollars 33 cents per annum
To commence on the 4th day of March 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Jany. 1834 and CA (?)
Harris War Dept.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 121.37
Semi an. Allowance ending 4 March 24.28
$145.65
{Revoutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832 .}
Recorded by Dan’l. Boyd Clerk
Book C Vol. 7 Page 83.
The records of the Maryland Line are quite complete even though it is certain the rolls of a few "Independent Companies” are missing. See the ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND, MUSTER ROLLS and other Records of Service of MARYLAND TROOPS in the American Revolution, 1775-1783, Baltimore 1900. On page 217 of Volume II of that massive collection, "Musters of Maryland Troops”, I find the following:
Names: Hunt, Thomas, Rank: pt (private) Time of Service; Enlisted: 2 July ’79 , Discharged: 19 March ’80 , Remarks: to Invalids.
Then, on page 622 of this Volume, under "Resolves of Continental Congress in June 1779… Resolved, that a corps of invalids be formed, consisting of eight companies …”
And on page 623: "A return of invalids belonging to the Maryland Line, now in the Service at the Garrison of Philadelphia , June 19th, 1781 . … Name: Thomas Hunt, Regiment: 7th Maryland , Transferments: 15 March 1780.
Thomas Hunt – my 4th Great Grandfather – David Arthur