Was in the Revolutionary War; Nelson-Hilderbrand cousins joined DAR on this line. From Pension Application S3785 issued 9th day of February, 1833, first declaration: Enlisted as a volunteer 31 July 1775 in the Militia from near Philadelphia, PA., General Robert Doe (Dow), Col. Capt. George Smith, Lieut. J. Evans and Samuel Hines, and Ensign Jacob Humpbough. Marched from Montgomery township, Philadelphia County, PA., the place of his volunteering, entering to Trenton, thence to Bruncewick, thence to Perthe Amboy, N. Jersey, where he arrived in about five days after volunteering. Here he remained for ten months, at the end of which time via a discharge from Gen'l Robert Doe., was in no battle during above service. General Washinton, and his army were with him while he lay at Perth Amboy, when he and army departed, two days before applicant was discharged, for Long Island. After returning home some time perhaps a year, time not recollected, he was drafted and served other two months in the militia, starting into service from same place as before, under General Potter, Col. Curry, Capt. Isaac Longstreath. There were commanding other companies in this tour, Capt. John Peterman. In this tour marched to Germantown, marching all night and arriving just before the battle between American and British, the latter being commanded by Ge'l. Howe. After serving two months, was again discharged by Gen'l Potter, but rec. from him no written discharge, but red. one from Capt. Isaac Longstreath, which is lost. After he returned home, remained there till the 18th of February following the above named battle of Germantown, when he was taken prisoner by the British, this the instrumentality of the refugees, and remained a prisoner for four months. On July 30, AD 1782, having removed to Louden County, Virginia, some time previous, was again drafted (or my class ordered out) for another tour of two months - This tour served altogether from the time of entering this service three months till he arrived at home. After entering service this tour, marched to Frederichsburgh, thence to Bowling Green, thence to Williamsburgh, Va. Here halted for eight days; thence marched and joined the army under Gen'l Stevens, near James River of the mouth of Matapani River, where he remained till discharged. In his last tour, was under Col. Maryweather, Major John Hardiman, Capt. Tho's Cannon, Lieut. Joseph Butler, Ensign Isaac Brown. He lay a few miles south of the main army. Rec'd a discharge from Thomas Cannon, Capt. which is lost. By Owen Thomas in his first application. 1. When and in what year were you born? A. In Chester County, Penn'a A.D. 1754 2. Have you any record of your age? & if so, where is it? A. I have now here in court. It was handwrited by W. J. L. Hart, from my mother's bible. 3. Where were you living when called into service. Where have you lived since the revolutionary war. Where do you now live? A. When I first entered the service I was living in Montgomery Township, Philadelphia County, PA. (rec'd. declaration) Since revolutionary war, lived in Louden County, Va. about 10 years, then removed to Bartley County Va. where I lived 16 years, thence removed to this (Columbiana) County (Ohio) where I have lived since resided 4. How were you called into service? Were you darafted, did you volunteer, and were you a substitute; and if a substitute, for whom? A. The first tour I volunteered, to go with nearly all the other militia of my neighborhood, against the enemy. The 2nd & third tours, I was drafted--as stated in declaration. 5. State the name of some of the regular officers who were with the troups where you served. Such continental and militial regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your services. A. In answer applicant refers to his Declaration for the best explaination. In addition to what in there states a Captain Sty was with the Regulars. He was a resident of Germantown. 6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service? & if so, by whom was it given, and what became of it? A. I received three discharges, as indicated in declaration, which are all lost. 7. 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 belief of your services as a soldier of this revolution. A. John Thomson (Wm. Corjraft,) H. A. Blackson, W. C. Ewing, Horance Potter & W. D. Lassen. With a view to objections of the War Department to the foregoing declaration, the said Owen Thomas, on oath makes the following supplementary declaration: That he enteded the service of the United States as a volunteer on the 31st of July A.D. 1775, and served as such until discharged on the 5th of Oct. of the same year. This was the first service. The Second Service mentioned declarant now recollects was entered into on the next day after the battle of Brandywine towit, the 12th of September A.D. 1777, in which services he continued two months, till discharged. On the 18th of February, A.D. 1778, was taken prisoner, as mentioned in declaration, and so continued till the 18th of July of the same year. On the 30th of July 1782, entered the service again being drafted in Doudon County, Va., as stated in the declaration, for a tour of two months: this tour he served out and also one other month immediatedly suceeding before he arrived at home. He had moved to Loudon county previous to this some time. After entering on the 30th July as above, he continued with out any interval until the end of the last named services. The declarant again states that he has no evidence whatever of his actual service, nor does he every expect to be able to produce any. That the witnesses who have testified in the forgoing declaration are as respectable as our country affords, and have long resided near the declarant, and have consequently had a good opportunity of knowing whether declarant was as reputed a solder of the revolution. They however can know nothing of his actual service. The said Owen THomas further states that his bodily infermity is such that it would be extremely inconvenient if not impossible for him to attend a county court to attend to business having failed in strength of late very much. Sighned Owen Thomas State of Ohio Columbiana County On this 29th day of January A.D. 1833.
Owen* Thomas (b. May 12, 1754)
Notes for Owen* Thomas: