I am researching my Stewart family beginning with grandfather, Noah, born 1898 in Kentucky. His father, Dolliver, born 1870, John Wesley, born 1827; Thomas, born 1767; David, born 1729, and Samuel born 1709.
We actually have very little information about Thomas, and our story needs more research into his land holdings, marriages and occupations. Born around 1767 in Rowan County, NC., Thomas was the youngest child of David and Abigail Harrison Stewart. There were 8 other recorded children born to David and Abigail.
We know that Thomas’ father, David was affluent and considered wealthy in the newly populated area of Rowan County, NC. Thomas’ brothers, John, Reuben and Samuel were all involved in working on the plantation land, so it would follow that Thomas would have been involved until he married and established his own home.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR (1775-1783) STATUS
We still cannot prove that Thomas served in the Revolutionary War! He said he served but the government has not recognized his service. He definitely tried to obtain a pension and spent considerable time trying to prove his status as a Rev War soldier. In 1832, when Thomas was about 65 years old, Congress enacted the law providing a pension for Rev War soldiers. Apparently Thomas filed a pension application that was rejected due to lack of evidence to support his claimed service. In addition, there appears to be a question concerning the age he gave at the time of the application or when he served. This is documented in the affidavits, interrogatories, and letters submitted in 1833 on his behalf by the Pike County Clerk, John D. Mims. (T-6)
In 1832, the War Department issued a list of 7 questions (interrogatories) that were to be answered by soldiers applying for a Rev War pension. In 1833, when he was 67 years old, Thomas swore that he entered the Army in 1783 (he would have been 16 years old) under Col. Martin Armstrong of Surry County, North Carolina and served six months guard duty. (T-9) He stated he was not in any engagements and served under Capt. Richard Woodfork and was discharged by Col. Armstrong.
In his answers to the 7 questions, he stated that his discharge papers had been lost. Abraham Potter (his father-in-law) and another man also gave affidavits concerning their knowledge of Thomas’s service period and age, but the pension application was still rejected. (See list of Pike County Rev soldiers listed below)
Government records contain pension information for a Thomas Stewart that we have on file (T-7), but this is not our Thomas.
In 1857, Jane Potter Stewart filed an application for his pension (24 years after Thomas initially applied). In her request, Jane submitted her marriage proof and a letter stating that she was the poor widow of Thomas Stewart. (T-8) Whether she submitted any other documentation is unknown at this time. Sadly, this application was also rejected that same year. (T-7)
In spite of the fact that Thomas is listed on the Pike County, Kentucky monument as a Revolutionary War soldier, we have not been able to prove his service. (T-1) Requests to the National Archives have been unsuccessful because their records would not contain any service dates for him.
Plaque in Front of Pike County Court House, Pikeville, Kentucky
Photographed by Susan Few, April 2003
This tablet is dedicated to the memory of the Revolutionary Soldiers buried in Pike County.
Placed by The Pikeville Chapter DAR
1929
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