An Edward Thomas stated in his Revolutionary War pension application that he had enlisted in Buckingham County with an Anthony Bryant and others.
Q: Was this Anthony the son of John Bryant Sr. and Sarah Murray?
A: Anthony’s parents were living in Buckingham County during the Revolutionary War. There is no record of any other Anthony Bryant in Buckingham County during this time period.
Q: But was Anthony old enough to enlist in the Revolutionary War?
A: Anthony Bryant’s oldest son, David, was born ca 1789. That suggests a DOB for Anthony of bef. 1767. Anthony’s older brother Austin was probably born 1760-2. If Anthony was born in 1763, he would have been 16 in 1779. (Boys had to be at least 16 to legally enlist in the Revolutionary War but many lied about their ages.)
Q: So what’s the answer: Did our Anthony enlist in the Revolutionary War?
A: There are three important points to consider. First, Edward Thomas made his statement about Anthony Bryant in 1834, long after Anthony Bryant’s death. Neither he nor Anthony had anything to gain. It’s an impartial and therefore credible testimony that Anthony enlisted in the Revolutionary War. Second, the age of our Anthony appears close enough, especially since there were no other known Anthonys in the county. Third, Anthony’s oldest brother John Jr. was a proven Revolutionary War soldier. This establishes that the Bryants were not Tories. In summary, he probably did serve in the Revolutionary War.
Q: How long did Anthony serve in the Revolutionary War?
A: There is no telling. If underage, he could have been sent home almost immediately. Otherwise, the shortest enlistment was usually 3 months. The longest was for the duration of the war.
Q: Can I apply for membership to the DAR?
A: Anyone can apply but presenting an application on the basis of Anthony’s service should not be done lightly. First, the evidence is (at present) scanty and circumstantial. Second, if declined, it might serve as a precedent, raising the threshold of required proof for all future applicants. Please work with us, if you wish to submit an application.
Edward Thomas’ Pension File
In November 1834, Edward Thomas (pension file S17147) stated by affidavit, “That when he was a citizen of the County of Buckingham as above stated he enlisted as a volunteer in the Army of the United States in the fall of the year 1777 he believes in the latter part of October or the first of November, with Hulsey Carter, Zachariah Jones, Abraham Jones, Anthony Bryant, Giles Davidson, Stephenson Davidson, & others…”
Edward Thomas added, “He first entered the service of the Army of the United States, as a volunteer under Captain John Thomas of Buckingham County in Virginia, who was at that time under the command of Colonel Francis Taylor, that he enlisted for one year and nine months when he first entered under Captain Thomas he marched from Buckingham Court House into Albemarle County, and shortly after the arrival of the troops in that County, Captain Thomas resigned his office, and Captain Garland Burnley succeeded to the command of the company to which he belonged, that he continued in Albemarle County under the last mentioned officers, guarding the prisoners taken at Burgoyne's Defeat until his discharge at the expiration of his term of Service which is about the month of July in the year 1779.”
Edward Thomas also commented that he had no discharge papers, “no written memorandum by which to affix dates or refresh his memory,” and that he was old and his memory much impaired.
That was the case for most veterans of the Revolutionary War. Those who could prove service and poverty were eligible for pensions in 1818 (a minimum of 27 years after service). All veterans became eligible in 1832 (a minimum of 51 years after service). Very few managed to keep their discharge papers, and since record keeping was irregular and shoddy, not to mention highly variable from unit to unit, soldiers usually had to get affidavits from each other to prove service.
There are two almost certain errors in Edward Thomas statements. First, his enlistment date was probably not 1777. A review of documents plus the pension files of Hulsey Carter, Abraham Jones, Giles Davidson, Stephen Davidson and others (all summarized below) suggests that most enlisted in early 1779. Additionally, a muster roll for Captain John Thomas’ company showed Corporal Edward Thomas' enlistment as Feb 20 (apparently 1779) for 18 months.
Second, Edward Thomas stated that Captain Thomas resigned his post. That’s contradicted by Hulsey Carter, who said he was transferred to Capt. Burnley’s company because Captain Thomas had too many men under his command. Also, Captain Thomas attested that he served until Oct. 1781.
Summary of other pensions and records
Abraham Jones S46452. A letter in the pension file, presumably from a commissioner with the War Dept, stated: “It appears that from papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S46452 that Abraham Jones enlisted February 4, 1779 and served as a private in Captain John Thomas’ company, Colonel Francis Taylor’s Virginia Regiment and served until the close of the war.”
Also in the pension file of Abraham Jones, is what appears to be the first page of a muster roll for Captain John Thomas’ company of the Volunteer Regiment of Guards. On the top right of the page is “79.” The document appears to state that Capt John Thomas enlisted Jan 78-79. Two noncommissioned officers were listed: Stephen Davidson (enlisted on Feb 18 for 10 months) and Corpl. Edward Thomas (enlisted on Feb 20 for 18 months). Privates: Abraham Jones (Feb 4 for the war), Hulsey Carter (Feb 18 for the war).
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Giles Davidson File S6790: he was born in 1762 and about the age of 16 he joined a company under William Diuguid with James Woolridge. Stated he was from Buckingham and went to the Albemarle Barracks whereupon he enlisted with Capt Garland Burnley for a 3-month tour of guarding prisoners at the Albemarle Barracks. Mentioned a Lieut. John Burke or Burks. Stated that the Commandant was Col. Cole of Albemarle.
A payroll for Captain Burnley company listed Giles Davidson from Jun-Aug 1779.
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James Woolridge S11884: stated that he went to the Barracks in late Nov 1778 with Captain Duiguid. Cole was in command at that time. Giles Davidson’s affidavit for James Woolridge: Stated that about the year 1778 he served a 3-month tour with Captain Duiguid’s company at Albemarle Barracks. Mentioned a Lieut. John Burke or Burks. Stated that the Commandant was Col. Cole of Albemarle. He stated that James Woodridge served the whole of this tour.
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Stephen Davidson pension file: Enlisted in company of Capt John Thomas in 1778 or 1779 and transferred to the company of Garland Burnley. He stayed at Albemarle Barracks for 12 months. His enlistment started in May but he was not sure what year. Giles Davidson affidavit for Stephen Davidson: In 1778 or 1779, I served in the company of Wm Duiguid of Albemarle Barracks. Stated he then enlisted with a regular company of Cap. Garland Burley who was also stationed at the barracks and served with him for 12 months. During that time, Capt. John Thomas was ordered with his company to the barracks and Stephen Davidson was transferred from Capt. Thomas’ company to Garland Burley’s and he served for 12 months.
A muster roll for Capt John Thomas’ company showed Stephen Davidson enlisted on Feb 18 (apparently 1779) for 10 months.
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Hulsey Carter's file S8151: He was a private in Capt. Garland Burnley's company of the first Virginia Regiment. Other letters in file state that he enlisted with Capt. John Thomas in Feb. 1779 and then transferred to Capt. Burnley's company. Later John Thomas and Abraham Jones went before judge and stated that Hulsey was a private in Thomas' company in 1st Virginia Regiment. Another affidavit said that Capt. Thomas enlisted Hulsey Carter, Thomas Terry, and Abraham Jones. They were transferred to Capt Burnleys company on account of Thomas' company being too large. Another affidavit: Carter enlisted in 1779 with Capt John Thomas in the Regiment commanded by Col. F. Taylor and Lt. Col. Wm Fontaine and Major John Roberts.
A muster roll for Capt John Thomas’ company had Hulsey Carter, enlisting on Feb 18 for the war.
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Captain John Thomas S46515: Stated that he was from Buckingham. Stated that he enlisted in 1776 for two years and served under Col Daniel Morgan then became a Capt in Col. F. Taylor's Regiment. He was discharged at Winchester, VA in Oct 1781… at which period he was a Captain in the first Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line. Declared that General James Wood commanded the regiment when he was discharged. [Thomas was still alive in Buckingham in 1850]
A muster roll for Captain Thomas’ company showed recruitment beginning in Feb 1779 and appeared to list the term of Captain Thomas’ enlistment as Jan 1778-Jan 1779.
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Garland Burnley BLWt1885-300. An affidavit stated that he entered service as Capt in the regiment of Guards commanded first by Co. Lewis and then by Francis Taylor in the first year of said regiment but doesn't recall if that was 1778 or 1779. (Another affidavit stated that the Albemarle barracks began receiving prisoners in Dec 1778. Only Giles Davidson was listed in Capt. Burnley's payroll dated June 1-Aug 1 1779. The payroll may be incomplete.)
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The earliest surviving payroll or muster roll for Col. Francis Taylor is dated April 1779. It appears that he took over for Col. Cole before that, perhaps Jan or Feb of 1779. Here are some partial service records for Col. Francis Taylor's regiment.