Thomas Phillips III Revolutionary War Pension abstract

Extended Abstract of Revolutionary War Pension^[1]

Thomas Phillips who m. Hannah Weatherington - Revolutionary War Pension Application Information {My thoughts and/or additions, THH}

1. 6038 Enrolled as Hannah Phillips - Widow of Thomas Phillips @ rate of $80 per annum issued the 11th Day of Feb 1853 and sent to Hon. Wm. C. Dawson.

State of GA, Franklin County

Order of Claim:

I. Deposition of Hannah Phillips

A. 1st day of December 1852 appeared Hannah Phillips aged (90) ninety years a resident of the county and state aforesaid. {That would make her born abt. 1762. It also corresponds to the age given in the 1850 Federal Census of Franklin Co., GA which stated that she was 88 years of age.}

B. She is making claims against the provision for widows of deceased Revolutionary Soldiers. In doing so widow of Thomas Phillips who was a private soldier of the Revolutionary was in the state of North Carolina.

C. Hannah claimed to be well acquainted with Thomas Phillips before he went into the war. Claimed that his & her parents were at that time, near neighbors and lived in Lenoah[sic] County N. Carolina.

D. Hannah thought he was drafted in the Spring of 1779 and believes Thomas Phillips served two 6 month tours of service.

E. After his drafted tours he then volunteered and served all or nearly all of the time under Col. Caswell and Captain White and the other officers she heard her husband talk about, but has forgotten their names.

F. Thomas Phillips was in severe battles with the British, Hannah cannot remember where.

G. In one battle that Thomas Phillips was in he was severely wounded by receiving a musket shot in his arm, and one in his side a little above the hip bone.

H. Thomas Phillips was also in some severe skirmishes with the Tories.

I. Hannah remembers distinctly seeing him on occasion during the war and heard him speak of the dangers and hardships that he (Thomas Phillips) had to endure while in service.

J. Hannah cannot due to memory loss remember anything more about his service, but did remember that Thomas never came home for any length of time during the war.

K. Hannah was married to Thomas Phillips in April of 1785 in Lenoah[sic] County North Carolina by Abraham Baker a Baptist Minister.

L. Hannah stated that her name before marriage was Hannah Weathington and they {I am assuming her and Thomas Phillips} kept a Bible Record for many years of their marriage, now destroyed. Hannah also believes no record, public or private, of her marriage so she refers to her children's ages as the best evidence of her marriage. {I have seen the pension application, Weathington or Weathrington. The script that is written is run together and it is believed Hannah was a Weatherington/Witherington/Wetherington. Many variations of this name have been seen. THH}

M. Ages of her children as listed and given by Hannah Phillips

1. Cleverly Phillips b. January 14, 1786

2. Rachel Phillips b. March 14, 1788

3. Dennis Phillips b. April 19, 1791

4. Zelpha Phillips b. May 1794

5. Wiley Phillips b. April 28, 1797

6. Dewrant Phillips b. March 1800

7. Kizza Phillips b. January 1803

N. Hannah declared that her husband died in Franklin County GA on the 16th day of December 1814 leaving her a widow and still is his widow. {She never remarried.}

O. She also remarked that she had been told to apply for a pension before, but did not know how to proceed nor did she have anyone help or guide her. She had neglected it.

P. Hannah signed her deposition with a mark X

Q. William T. Crow, JP {Justice of the Peace} took her deposition and recorded the following: Sworn and subscribed the day and year above written before me. And I certify that the declarant[sic] is well known to me. That from bodily infirmity she is unable to attend the court. That I believe she is of the age above stated. That she appears to be of sound mind and remarkably good memory for one so old. And that I believe her statements are true.

II. Open Court Proceedings

A. 2nd Day of December 1852 approved the proceedings of William T. Crow, Esqr. in the case of Mrs. Hannah Phillips.

B. Certify the satisfactory evidence has been provided before the justices that Hannah Phillips was and still is the widow of Thomas Phillips.

C. Relisted the children of Thomas and Hannah Phillips

D. Restated the death date, 16 December 1814 in Franklin County, GA.

E. Serving Justices of the Inferior Court were Henry Freeman, John E. McCarter, and Nathaniel H. White with all signing.

III. Clerk of Inferior Court Testament

A. William J. Oliver, clerk of the Inferior Court of Franklin County, GA

B. Certified that William T. Crow signature was genuine and he was an acting Justice of the Peace for said County, confirmed and qualified.

C. Certified that Henry Freeman, John E. McCarter, and Nathaniel H. White signatures were genuine and they were Justices of the Inferior Court of said county, confirmed and qualified.

D. Signed William J. Oliver, 3 December 1852, C.I.C., Clerk of Inferior Court.

IV. Letter to Genl. Johnson

A. From Senate Chamber. 10th Feby 1853 to Genl. Johnson, Chief Clerk, {unknown}

B. Asks to expedite the claim of Hannah Phillips of the State of Georgia for a pension

C. Asks for a favor that he {Genl. Johnson} immediately look into the claim.

D. States the applicant is old and needy.

E. Signed, With Great Respect, Wm. C. Dawson {It appears as if someone had a connection to expedite this claim. THH}

V. Open Court in Franklin County, GA

A. 19th Day of January 1853, Pleasant Holly, resident of Franklin County GA and 65 years of age.

B. Well known to me as entitled to full credit who after being duly sworn in due form of the law makes the following statements. {The me appears to be Henry Freeman and he attested to the fact he personally knew Pleasant Holly.}

1. In the year 1806 Pleasant Holly became personally acquainted with Thomas Phillips and Hannah Phillips his reputed wife.

2. Resided in said County.

3. Thomas Phillips bore the character and reputation of a Revolutionary Soldier.

4. He {Pleasant Holly} always understood the he {Thomas Phillips} was a private in the Militia of North Carolina. Serving a considerable portion of time in the Revolutionary War.

5. He {Pleasant Holly} said his father, William Holly who died in 1821, was also a soldier of the Revolutionary War in North Carolina.

6. Pleasant Holley states that he often heard them {William Holly & Thomas Phillips} speak of being together in some severe battles and of hardships and sufferings. They were compeled[sic] to endure in the strife for liberty.

7. Often heard others speak of Thomas Phillips in the same manner and he sustained the character of having been a faithful soldier and a true Whig in time of said war.

8. First acquaintance of Thomas and Hannah Phillips they were living together as husband and wife and had several children, some of whom were grown at the time. {In 1806, Cleverly Phillips would have been 20 years of age.}

9. No one ever expressed a doubt that Thomas and Hannah Phillips were not honorably married.

10. Thomas Phillips died in Franklin County GA in 1814 and Hannah Phillips has remained a widow and never remarried.

11. Swore that he is a disinterested witness.

C. Signed Pleasant Holley

D. Sworn and subscribed to Henry Freeman, JIC, who believes the statements are all true.

E. Certification from William J. Oliver, Clerk of the Inferior Court of said county. Certifies that John W. Osburn whose signature on the foregoing affidavit is an acting Justice of the Peace. {I see nowhere that John W. Osburn appeared in open court in the pension file. John W. Osburn did take a deposition from a David Crider, see below.} Also certifies that Henry Freeman is a Justice of the Inferior Court of said county. Signed William J. Oliver.

VI. Deposition of David Crider

A. 17th day of January in the year 1853 before Justice of the Peace of Franklin Co., GA, personally appeared David Crider, aged 68 years and a resident of said county.

B. Sworn in due form of law, he{David Crider} is well known to me{John W. Osburn} makes the following statements

1. He {David Crider} became a resident of the Franklin County Georgia in the 1803 or 1804 and became well acquainted with Thomas Phillips and his reputed wife Hannah Phillips.

2. They {Thomas and Hannah} were living in said county.

3. Always understood that Thomas Phillips was a Revolutionary Soldier of the State of North Carolina and served as a private in the Militia of the said state for a considerable portion of time serving said Revolutionary War.

4. Always heard he was a faithful Whig.

5. This was a common report amongst all who knew him and never intimated to the contrary.

6. Thomas and Hannah were living peaceably together as husband and wife when became first acquainted with them.

7. Had several children and that their oldest was Cleverly was then in 1803 or 1804 at least 15 or 16.

8. No one ever expressed doubt that they {Thomas and Hannah} had been lawfully married.

9. Thomas Phillips died in Franklin County Georgia about the year 1814 and his widow has never since remarried.

10. Hannah still lives in Franklin County, GA.

11. Swore that he is a disinterested witness.

C. Signed David Crider

D. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written. Certification that David Crider is a man of strict integrity and that I believe him to be as old as above stated. Signed John W. Osburn, JP.

VII. State of North Carolina Comptroller's Office

A. William J. Clarke, Comptroller of public accounts in and for aforesaid state.

B. Certifies records in his office for payments of said state to Thomas Phillips for military service.

1. Book G. No. 17 page 66 £9 S2

2. Book G. No. 17 page 67 £2 S10
3. Vol. C. 1599 ~ ~ £11 S5
4. Vol. C. 4122 ~ ~ £25 S12
5. Kingston Book page 216 ~ £1 S17
6. Payment by Paymaster Lanier page 94 ~ £20 S5
C. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal. Dated 5th day of February 1853. Signed Wm. J. Clarke, Compt'r.

Citations and References

↑ Transcribed by Tom Hutchison, 2008