I received copies of the documents contained in Thomas Hilyard's bounty land warrant file from the War of 1812.

It appears that Thomas was drafted into the Pennsylvania Militia and served from 10 Sep 1812 to 25 Jan 1813, being released with an honorable discharge. In 1851, he applied for, and apparently received, a bounty land warrant for 40 acres. Rather than taking the land, it seems he used it as security at the National Bank of Logan. In 1906, the bounty land warrant was found, and the bank president wrote to the Pension Office to see if the document was still valuable. As I interpret it, it was still valid. It is not known what happened from that point.

Some of these are deteriorating on the edges, and are difficult to interpret. I will present each sheet here:

Sheet 1

Logan 18th Apl 1851

Hon. James E. Heath
Com. of Pensions

Inclosed please find the application of Thomas Hilliard for bounty land under the act of Sept. last.

If a warrant should issue to him please direct to me at

Logan, Hocking County, Ohio

Very Respecty &c,

W.C. Roberts

Sheet 2

The State of Ohio}
Hocking County}SS

On this 18th day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one personally appeared before me a Notary Public within and for the county and State aforesaid Thomas Hilliard aged sixty three years a resident of Fairfield County in the state of Ohio who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Thomas Hilliard who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Bazel Creighcraft in the Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia Commanded by Colonel Scott in the war with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of June A.D. 1812; that he was drafted at Springfield in Fayette County in said state of Pennsylvania on or about the 10th day of September A.D. 1812 for the term of six months and continued in actual service in said four and a half months and was honorably discharged at Pittsburgh on the 25th day of January A.D. 1813 as will appear by the muster rolls of said company. This affiant further states that the company marched to McClelintown and that he thinks Captain Peter Hartsoff there took command of said company, and further that after they arrived at Pittsburgh said Colonel Scott returned to enlist more men and that the company was transferred to the command of some other Colonel. This affiant is unable to state the Christian name of said Col. Scott, or the number his said Regiment.

This affiant further states that he rec'd a written discharge, but that he hath lost the same. He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining of obtaining [sic] the bounty land to which he may be entitled under the Act granting bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States, passed September 28th 1850. He has not rec'd nor is he entitled to receive under any Act of Congress heretofore passed.

Thomas X Hilliard
his mark

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written. And I hereby certify that I beleive the said Thomas Hilliard to be the identical man who served as aforesaid and that he is of the age aforesaid. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my notarial seal at Logan in said County of Hocking and State of Ohio, this day and year first above mentioned.

James R. Groghan
Notary Public

Sheet 3:

Apl 24/51
Thomas Hilliard private
Cap Bazel Creighcraft
Cap P. Hartsoff
Col Scott
Pa. Mil

Ent Sep 1812
Dis Jany 1813
war 1812

--and office
31 January 1852
Thomas Hilliard served under Captain Cracraft from 2 October 1812 to 2 December 1812.
--signature unreadable--

Add. 40 acres Mch 16/52
W.C. Roberts
Logan Ohio

Sheet 4

Outside of sheet:

Logan O
April 19

Official Business
Hon. James E. Heath
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City, D.C.

Inside of sheet:

Logan, Hocking Co., Ohio
Feby 25th, 1852

Hon. J.E. Heath
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir:

By your letter of Feby 19th 1852 you say Thomas Hilliard is entitled to a warrant for forty acres of land, but suspend the application to enable him to prove service that would entitle him to eighty acres, his application alledging service for this length of time. He is unable to prove service for a greater time than is evidenced by the muster rolls.

Please send the warrant for 40 acres to me at the above place of date.

Very respecty &c,

W.C. Roberts

Sheet 5

(printed letterhead) The National Bank of Logan (lists Charles E. Bowen as president)

Logan, Ohio Jany 11th, 1906

Hon. Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

Herewith I hand you a government land warrant and will be obliged for any information you can give me. I desire to know first if it is of any value as it is now. Second if this can be entered on any goverment lands any where. Thanking you for any thing you may be pleased to tell me. I am yours,

Very respectfully,

Chas. E. Bowen

Sheet 6

A receipt for registered mail addressed to Charles E. Bowen, postmaster at Logan, Ohio.

Sheet 7

Jan 24/06 Chas E. Bowen returning land -?-, see copy of letter inside.

Sheet 8

Department of Interior, Bureau of Pensions (printed heading at top)

(handwritten) 46.284 40 50
Thomas Hilliard
The above warrant is in same condition as when it left this Bureau not having been assigned by the warrantee. It is presumed that the Bank authorities found warrant in taking stock on Jany 1st and warrantee probably borrowed monies on it leaving it as securities.

-.-. Vincent
Jan 24/06

Sheet 9

Jan 24, 1906

Charles E. Bowen, Esq.
The National Bank of Logan
Logan, Ohio

Sir:

In response to your letter of the 11th instant, enclosing bounty land warrant No. 46,284, for forty acres, issued under Act of September 25, 1850, in name of Thomas Hilliard, and received by this Bureau on the 12th instant, you are advised that the warrant is genuine, and of value to the extent that it is locatable upon any vacant public land which was subject to private entry March 2, 1889, or it may be sold and assigned by the warrantee. If the warrantee has deceased, title to the warrant vests in his widow, if there be one, and if there be no widow, then in the heirs or legatees of the warrantee.

Heirship must be established through the courts, and all communications relative to the location or assignment of land warrants should be addressed to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, who has charge of all the matters appertaining thereto.

The warrant in question is herewith returned, and you are requested to acknowledge its receipt at your earliest convenience.

Very respectfully,

Commissioner

Sheet 10

(printed letterhead) The National Bank of Logan

Logan, Ohio Jany 27, 1906

Hon. V. Warner, Commissioner
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

Your valued communication of the 24th is before me, with the enclosed land warrant #46,284 favor(?) Thos. Hilliard.

Yours truly,

Charles E. Bowen