Thomas Peters was the son of Henry Peters Sr. and Mary Wiatte. Thomas was born 21 Jul 1790 in Virginia, probably in Greenbrier County. His parents were married in Greenbrier County in 1788. His father was on the Greenbrier County tax lists for 1792 and 1796. Thomas's birth date comes from his tombstone. The stone itself is no longer readable, but the cemetery was transcribed several decades ago, at a time when the inscription on the stone could still be made out.
The Peters family moved to what is now Anderson County, Tennessee in 1797. The land was a part of Knox County at the time, but became part of Anderson County upon the creation of Anderson County in 1801.
Thomas Peters married Sarah (Sallie) England, and they were my fourth great grandparents. I am descended from two children of Thomas and Sarah, namely Zipporah Peters who married Alfred Carter Cross and Jane Peters who married John England.
p.1 (cover sheet) Soldier Peters, Thomas Numbers War of 1812 WO 4426 WC 2002 Widow Peters, Sarah Service Capt Lunsford Oliver's Co Bounty 43276 40 50 Land 52711 120 55 Tenn Mil Warrants Enl. Oct 16, 1814 Dis. Jan 1, 1815 Residence 1850 TO 1856 of Soldier Anderson Co Tenn Residence 1871 Anderson Co (PO Robertsville) Tenn of Widow Maiden name Sarah England of Widow Marriage of Oct 15 1812 Anderson Co Tenn Soldier and Widow Death of Soldier OCT 11 1830 Anderson Co Tenn Death of Widow Feb 19 1885 Soldiers's Discharge CTF Filed in the brief Exr. CEH Rev'r Envelope Rev'r 4220 written by |
Notes on p.1: The 1830 date of death for Thomas Peters as listed in his War of 1812 pension file is manifestly incorrect. The cover sheet itself states that he lived in Anderson County from 1850 to 1856. There are affidavits in the pension file which are signed by Thomas himself and which are dated in 1855. Based on census and tax data, I believe he died in 1863. Which is to say, he appeared on the 1850 and 1860 censuses. He appeared on the Anderson County tax list through 1862. His wife appeared on the 1863 tax list as a widow. And Thomas's tombstone says that he was 73 years old when he died. Nevertheless, a number of researchers list his date of death as 1830. The cover sheet states that he was discharged Jan 1, 1815. There are a variety of other (similar) dates for his discharge. I believe that the most reliable affidavit in the file is one that says his dates of service were 16 Oct 1813 through 15 Jan 1814. |
p.2 (another cover sheet) War of 1812 Numbers Soldier Peters, Thomas Bounty Land ------- Orig. 4426 Wt 43276-40-50 Ctf. 2002 Widow Peters, Sarah Wt 52711-120-55 Service Pvt. Lunsford Oliver's Co. Tenn. Mil. |
Notes on p.2: |
p.3 (unknown source, all handwritten, two facing pages from a book) 101.393 57275 May 6/50 | Thomas Peters, Private | Tennessee Volunteers | Kipley Cap: L. Oliver | 630-S Col. J. Brown | -------------------------- | Thos. Peters for ??? En. 1st Oct. 1813 | Serv. in Cpt Lunsford dis. Jany 15, 1814 | Olivers Co Tenn M. | from 6-Octo 1814 to 40 acres Taylor | 1st Jany 1815 ??? | ???? | W. 43-276 ????? | February 20/52 | Vol.60.p.68 | | A. Cross | Clinton | Tenn | |
Notes on p.3: This page was very hard to read. I do not know where this page came from, but it appears to be a record of a land bounty of 40 acres which was awarded to Thomas Peters in about 1850 to 1852 for his service in the War of 1812. I have not yet chased down the deed book or other records of the transaction. Note that this record states that Thomas's dates of service were 6 Oct 1814 through 1 Jan 1815. A. Cross was probably Alfred Cross, who served as a sheriff of Anderson County, and who I believe was an attorney. Thomas Peters had a son-in-law named Alfred Carter Cross, but I believe that the A. Cross in this document was not Alfred Carter Cross. For one thing, I know of no record of Alfred Carter Cross having been an official of Anderson County. For another thing, for every record I have found of Alfred Carter Cross where his name was listed in terms of initials, his name was listed as A. C. Cross. |
p.4 (pre-printed form, with fill-in-the-blanks entered by hand) Act of March 3, 1855 (Circular I.) Pension Office, Dec 3d, 1855 Sir: The application of Thos. Peters for Bounty Land under the act of 3d March, 1855, No. 57275 for service under the command of Capt. Oliver bearing date April 10/55 has been examined and the claim suspended. It is necessary that the following affidavit be subscribed by claimant, and returned properly certified to this office before further action can be had on said claim. William Peak <- (handwritten, appears Robertsville <- to be Tenn <- addressee) Very respectfully, L.P. Waldo Commissioner State of Tennessee County of Anderson On this fifth day of January A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty six personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Thomas Peters who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he has not applied for or received bounty land under this or any previous act of Congress, other than the application referred to as the application under which he received a 40 acre warrant, issued under the act of congress september 28th 1850. Thomas Peters |
Notes on p.4: |
p.5 (handwritten, affidavits which go with p.4) State of Tennessee ) County of Anderson ) January the fifth 1856 sworn to and subscribed before on the day and year above written and I certify that I know the applicant to be the person he represents himself to be and that I have no interest in this claim John Gamble (seal) Justice of the Peace State of Tennessee ) County of Anderson ) I certify that John Gamble Esqr. before whom the foregoing affidavit were sworn to and whose genuine official signature is thereto attached was at the time of signing the same a Justice of the Peace of and for said county and state and I have no interest in this claim. witness my hand and official seal at office in Clinton this the 8th day of January 1856. R.H. Coward, Clerk County Court for said County |
Notes on p.5: |
p.6 (pre-printed form, with fill-in-the-blanks entered by hand)
Suspended Bounty Land Claim Re-examined
No. 57275
" 101393
Treasury Department
Third Auditor's Office
Nov 16, 1855
Thomas Peters (private) served in Captain
Lunsford Olivers Company Tenn Militia
from the 16th October to the 1st January 1815
(Nett Service)
R Graham
Fox Third Auditor
Commissioner of Pensions,
Department of the Interior
????????
|
Notes on p.6: The dates of service on this affidavit reflect only about 75 days of service. |
p.7 (pre-printed form, with fill-in-the-blanks entered by hand) War of 1812 Declaration of a Widow for Pension ---------------- To be executed before Judge or Clerk of Court. State of Tennessee County of Anderson On this 12th day of Mar., A.D. eighteen hundred and seventy one personally appeared before me, R.C. Dew, Clerk of the County Court, a Court of Record in and for the County and State aforesaid, Sarah Peters, aged 78 years, a resident of 9th District, County of Anderson, State of Tennessee, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Thomas Peters, who served the full period of sixty days in the (1) Military service of the United States in the War of 1812, and who was the identical Thomas Peters who (2) Volunteered in Captain Lunsford Oliver Company, _______ Regiment, _________ Brigade, __________ Division, at Clinton Tenn, on the 12th day of November 1813, and was honorably discharged at Clinton Tenn on the 1st day of March 1814; that (3) she gives dates and facts from the best of her recollection which is quite short & uncertain that she was married under the name of Sarah England to said Thomas Peters, on the _____ day of October ________-, A.D. 1812 by Samuel Davison Esq. at John Englands Anderson Cty there being no legal barrier to such marriage; that her said husband died at Anderson County, Tennessee, on the 11th day of October, 1830, and that she has not remarried since his death; that at no time during the late rebellion against the authority of the United States did she or her said husband adhere to the cause of the enemies of the Government, giving them aid or comfort, or exercised the functions of any office whatever under any authority, or pretended authority, in hostility to the United States; that she will support the Constitution of the United States; that she is not in receipt of a pension under any previous act; that she makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension rolls of the United States, under the provisions of the act approved February 14, 1871, and hereby constitutes and appoints, with full power of substitution and revoca- tion, Wm. C. Griffiths of Robertsville, Tenn her true and lawful attorney, to prosecute her claim, and obtain the pension certificates that may be issued; that her post office is at Robertsville, County of Anderson State of Tennessee, that her domicile or place of abode is Anderson County Tennessee. her ATTEST: Sarah x Peters mark Francis Kirby Preston Wm. Shannon |
Notes on p.7: As before, the 1830 date of death for Thomas Peters makes no sense. The only thing that makes any sense is the comment that Sarah's recollection is quite short and uncertain. Her recollection of Thomas Peters' dates of service is inexact. She was married at John England's house, and John England was her father. I do not know who Francis Kirby was. Preston William Shannon was the son-in-law of Thomas Peters and Sarah England, having married their daughter Susan Emily (Emily) Peters in 1867. It was his third marriage, and he wouldn't have been a son-in-law prior to 1867. He signed a number of documents associated with the Peters family. This particular signature is the first clue I have seen as to his middle name. |
p.8 (pre-printed form, with fill-in-the-blanks entered by hand) War of 1812 Declaration of a Widow for a Pension ---------------- Claim of Mrs. Sarah Peters Widow of Thomas Peters _____ Co., _______ Regt. _________Brig. _______Div. Filed by William C. Griffith Robertsville, Anderson County, E. Tenn. Printed and sold by W.H. Moore, 511 11th st. Washington, D.C. Also personally appeared John W. Scarbrough and (James Grills) David M. Shannon, residing at No ___, in ____ ________ street, in ______, and at No. __________ in Anderson County, Tn, in __________, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say: They were present and saw Sarah Peters, the claimant, sign her name (or make her mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of said claimant, and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, and she has not remarried since the death of her husband, but remains his widow; and at no time during the late rebellion against the authority of the United States did she, or her said husband, adhere to the cause of the enemies of the Government, or give them aid or comfort; and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. John W. Scarbrough David M. Shannon Sworn and subscribed before me this 20th day of May A.D. 1871, and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing, including the words ______ erased and the words ________ added, and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. R.C. Dew Clerk of County Court |
Notes on p.8: John W. Scarbrough was the son-in-law of Thomas Peters and Sarah (Sallie) England, having married their daughter Mary A. Peters in 1849. The name of James Grills was written in as a witness and then crossed out. He did not sign as a witness. James Grills was the husband of Mary J. Cross who was a granddaughter of Thomas Peters and Sarah (Sallie) England, Mary J. Cross having been the daughter of Alfred Carter Cross and Zipporah Peters. David Milford Shannon was the son of Preston William Shannon. Preston William Shannon in turn was the son-in-law of Thomas Peters and Sarah (Sallie) England. In addition, David Milford Shannon was the husband of Sarah Jane Oliver who was the granddaughter of Thomas Peters and Sarah (Sallie) England, Sarah Jane Oliver having been the daughter of Alva A. Oliver and Susan Emily (Emily) Peters. |
pp.9-10 (unknown source, all handwritten, two facing pages from a book) Declaration order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress of March 3d 1855 State of Tennessee County of Anderson Be it remembered that this the 24th day of March A.D. 1855 before the under signed an acting justice of the peace in and for said county personally appeared Thomas Peters aged sixty four years a resident of said county and made oath in due form that he is the identical person who was a private in captain Olivers company and collonel (sic) Brown's regiment of Tennesee (sic) Volenteers (sic) in the war with Creek indians and as such received a 40 acre land warrant under the act of congress of September 28th 1850 the number or precise date of the issuance of which applicant does not recollect applicant makes this declaration in order to obtain the additional land bounty due him under the act of congress of March ?? 1853, and for proof of service applicant offers to the papers on file in the pension office and those which accompany this declaration. attest Thomas Peters Wm Leach John England Sworn to and subscribed this the day and date first above written before me and I further certify that Thomas Peters who made the foregoing declaration is the identical person who received a land warrant of 40 acres under the act of congress September 28th 1850 and that I have no personal interest whatsoever in the claim which the said Thomas Peters is now making. William Oliver Justice of the Peace State of Tennessee ) ) Be it remembered that on this 24th day of March 1855 before the acting Justice of the Peace within and for said county person- ally appeared Thomas Nichle aged forty nine years and Wm. Deck aged forty three years both residents of said county and made oath in due form of law that to their own personal knowledge Thomas Peters who made the foregoing declaration is the identical person who received a land warrant under the act of congress of September 28th 1850 and that they have no personal interest whatsoever in the land bounty for which the said Thomas Peters is now making application. Wm. Deck Thomas Nickle sworn to and subscribed the day and date first above written before me and I further certify that Thomas Nickle and Wm Deck who made the foregoing affidavit are persons in whom full faith and credit may be placed if? their oaths would be taken in any court of Justice where they are known. William Oliver (seal) Justice of the Peace State of Tennessee I Richard H. Coward clerk of the county court of the county of Anderson in the state aforesaid do certify that William Oliver Esq. whose name appears to the above declaration certificate is and was at the time of signing said declaration and certificate an acting justice of the peace within and for said county duly elected commissioned and qualified and that full faith and credit is given and due to his official acts so such and that the signature of said justice appears to be in his own proper hand writing In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of office of said county court at office in Clinton the 2nd day of April 1855. R.H. Coward Clerk Address Wm. Peak Robertsville Tennessee |
Notes on pp.9-10: This is one of several places in this pension application where it is very clear that Thomas Peters was still living well past his putative (and incorrect) date of death of 1830. In this case, he was clearly still living in 1855. William Leach lived near Thomas Peters, but I am not aware of any family connection between him and Thomas Peters. John England was the son of Titus England and Elizabeth, and the grandson of John England and Vesta Zipporah Choate. Of more importance to this document, John England was the husband of Jane Peters. Jane Peters was the daughter of Thomas Peters and Sarah (Sallie) England, and hence John England was the son-in-law of Thomas Peters. I am not aware of any connection whatsoever between Thomas Peters on the one hand and William Deck and Thomas Nickle on the other hand. |
p.11 (pre-printed form, with fill-in-the-blanks entered by hand) State of Tennessee ) County of Anderson ) on this second day of November A.D. One thousand eight hundred and fifty, appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Thomas Peters aged about sixty years, a resident of Anderson County in the State of Tennessee, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Thomas Peters who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Lunsford Oliver in the Regiment of the East Tennessee Volunteers commanded by Colonel John Brown in the War with the Creek Indians that he Volunteered at Anderson County on or about the ____ day of October A.D. 1813 for the term of three months and was honorably discharged at Anderson County, East Tennessee on the 15th day of January A.D. 1814 and his discharge herewith transmitted. He makes the declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he may be entitled under the "Act granting Bounty Land to certain officers and soldiers who have been en- gaged in the military service of the United States." passed September 28th 1850. Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written. And I hereby certify that I believe the said Thomas Peters to be the identical man who served as aforesaid, and .................... for Anderson County. State of Tennessee, County of Anderson I hereby certify that Thomas Hale Esq. before whom the foregoing declara- tion was made, was at the time thereof, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county and State aforesaid and duly authorized to administer oaths for general purpose. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and affixed my seal this sixth day of December 1850 John Key Clerk of County Court |
Notes on p.11: |
p.12 (cover sheet)
BOUNTY LAND CLAIM of
Thomas Peters
A Private under
Capt. Lunsford Oliver
Col. John Brown
------------------
SEND WARRANT TO
A. Cross Esq.
Clinton, Tennessee
|
Notes on p.12: A. Cross was probably Alfred Cross, who served as a sheriff of Anderson County, and who I believe was an attorney. Thomas Peters had a son-in-law named Alfred Carter Cross, but I believe that the A. Cross in this document was not Alfred Carter Cross. For one thing, I know of no record of Alfred Carter Cross having been an official of Anderson County. For another thing, for every record I have found of Alfred Carter Cross where his name was listed in terms of initials, his name was listed as A. C. Cross. |
p.13 (cover sheet) NO. 4426 Act of February 14, 1871 War of 1812 -------------- Sarah Peters Robertsville, Anderson Co, Tennessee Widow of Thomas Peters Capt. Lunsford Oliver Tenn Militia Died 11 Oct 1830 Anderson Co Tenn Received June 13, 1871 William C. Griffith Robertsville, Anderson Co Tennessee Attorney 1872 January 4th BLD Feby 3/72 Death & ???? MG March 6/72 Admitted MG March 14 Cert. O P FCA |
Notes on p.13: This is yet another occurrence of the manifestly incorrect date of death in 1830. BLD, MG, and FCA appear to be the initials of someone who reviewed and/or updated the file. |
p.14 (cover sheet) No. 2002 War of 1812 Widow's Pension Tennessee Sarah Peters __________ widow of ______ Thomas Peters Rank ______________ Company Capt L. Oliver Regiment ___________ Tenn Militia --------------------- Knoxville Agency Rate per month Eight Dollars Commencing February 14, 1871 --------------------- Certificate dated March 12, 1871 and sent to Pension Agent. --------------------- Act 14th February 1871 Vol. Tenn Page 122 E.M. Kavanaugh, Clerk 52711-120-55 |
Notes on p.14: |
p.15 (pre-printed form, with fill-in-the-blanks entered by hand) Special Examination Division Department of the Interior Pension Office Knoxville, Tenn 12/9/1885 Postmaster at Scarbrough, Tenn SIR: You are requested to inform me at your VERY EARLIEST CONVENIENCE whether the pensioner Sarah Peters widow of Thomas Peters War 1812 is living or dead; and if dead, the EXACT DATE of DEATH; if living, whether REMARRIED; and, if so, the EXACT DATE thereof and whom to. Her last known address was at your place in Dec. '84 Your reply, ON THE BACK of THIS SHEET, forwarded to me in the inclosed addressed official envelope, will be appreciated. Very respectfully, C.B. Anderson Special Examiner |
Notes on p.15: |
p.16 (hand written letter) Scarbrough, Tenn. Dec 29-1885 Hon.C.B. Anderson, Knoxville, Tenn. Dear Sir Mrs. Sarah Peters widow of Thos. Peters dide (sic) Feb ruary the 19th 1885. Very Respectfully, J. N. Freels Postmaster Scarbrough Tenn Widow war of 1812 Cnt 2002 P Sarah Peters |
Notes on p.16: The postmaster J. N. Freels was probably James Newton Freels, but further verification is required to be sure that this is true. |
p.17 (hand written affidavit) State of Tennessee ) Anderson County ) On this the 17th day of Feb A.D. 1872 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and state aforesaid William Scarbrough and Milly Cross residents of the County of Anderson and state of Tennessee who being by me duly sworn according to law declare and say that they are personally acquainted with Sarah Peters widow of Thomas Peters dect. (sic) a soldier of the war of 1812 that they are advised and believe that the marriage licens (sic) of the said Thomas Peters and his wife Sarah Peters whose maidin (sic) name was Sarah England cannot be found that they were personally in attendance and personally present at the marriage of Thomas Peters and Sarah England and saw and heard the marriage serrimony (sic) executed and performed by one Samuel Davidson a Justice of the Peace joining the said Thomas Peters and Sarah England together as man and wife said marri age was in Anderson County Tennessee the date of their said marriage was on or about the 15th day of October A.D. 1812 and that they have no interest Whatsoever in the prosecution of this claim. post office Robertsville attest John W. Scarbrough William Scarbrough Preston W. Shannon her Milley x Cross mark |
Notes on p.17: John W. Scarbrough was the son-in-law of Thomas Peters and Sarah (Sallie) England, having married their daughter Mary A. Peters in 1849. Preston William Shannon was the son-in-law of Thomas Peters and Sarah England, having married their daughter Susan Emily (Emily) Peters in 1867. It was his third marriage, and he wouldn't have been a son-in-law prior to 1867. He signed a number of documents associated with the Peters family. There were a number of William Scarbroughs in Anderson County. The only one who makes sense for this affidavit was the son of David Scarbrough and Elizabeth Anderson. He was born about 1794, and hence was living at the time of the marriage in 1812. He died after 1874, and hence was living at the time of this affidavit in 1872. William Scarbrough married Margaret Peters, who was the sister of Thomas Peters. Therefore, he was the brother-in-law of Thomas Peters. Milley Cross was Amelia (Milly) England, sister of Sarah England. Milly England was born in 1807, and was therefore only five years old when she attended her sister's wedding in 1812. |
p.18 (hand written affidavit) State of Tennessee ) Personally appeared before Anderson County ) me F. A. Crawford and (sic) acting ) Justice of the Peace in and for said county William Scarbrough and made oath in due form of that he was present and saw Thomas Peters and Sarah Peters widow Married in October 1813. William Scarbrough Sworn to and Subscribed before me the 23d May 1871 F.A. Crawford J.P. State of Tennessee ) Anderson County ) I R.C. Dew clerk of the County Court for the county and state aforesaid do hereby certify that F.A. Crawford Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit was made was at the time of so doing a justice of the peace in and for the County and State above named duly. Commissioned and sworn that all his offical (sic) acts as such are entitled to full faith & credit that is signature is genuine. In Testimony Thereof I have hereto signed my name and affixed my oficial seal at office in Clinton This 5th day of May 1871. |
Notes on p.18: William Scarbrough was the son of David Scarbrough and Elizabeth Anderson, the husband of Margaret Peters, and the brother-in-law of Thomas Peters. |
p.19 (hand written affidavit)
State of Tennessee ) I do Certify that Thomas Peters a
Anderson County ) private served Three months
faithfully as such against the Creek Indians in
Col John Brown's Regiment Commencing the
16th day of october Last and ending the 15th day of
this month and is Discharged with Honors given
under my hand 15th day of January 1814.
Lunsford Oliver Capt.
|
Notes on p.19: There are minor variations given on the dates of service of Thomas Peters, based on failing recollections many years after the fact. I believe that this particular affidavit is the most reliable indication of Thomas's service dates. It was written by hand and signed by his commanding officer, and it was signed at the time of Thomas's discharge. |