Revolutionary War Soldiers Series: Remembering Thomas Bernard

By Betty F. Crum and Pat Young
Waw-wil-a-way Chapter Daughters 
of the American Revolution, 250 Project

Note: This year, the United States of America will celebrate its semiquincentennial, its 250th anniversary. The semiquincentennial marks the first nationwide celebration of America's birth since the bicentennial in 1976. Of course, America's independence cannot be celebrated without also honoring the efforts of the Revolutionary War soldiers that led to independence. The Waw-wil-a-way Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, along with the Southern Ohio Genealogical Society, is presenting a series of articles featuring Revolutionary War soldiers who lived and died within the borders of Highland County.

Thomas Bernard was born March 17, 1756 at Willis Creek, Cumberland Co., Va. and died June 11, 1833 in Leesburg, Highland Co., Ohio.

He is buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Leesburg.

His name is on the plaque at the Highland County Courthouse, placed in 1930 by DAR, Ancestor No. A009547

At a term of the Court of Common Pleas at Hillsborough in and for the County aforesaid, Thomas Barnard age 61 years, on solemn oath, declares that he was born in Cumberland County and State of Virginia that he belonged to Captain Fleming's (Charles Fleming’s) Company of the seventh regiment and Virginia line in General Woodford's (William Woodford’s) brigade, that he entered the service about the 1st of March in the year 1776 – that he left the service in the month of March 1780 under a regular discharge from Colonel Frebecker (sic: Christian Febiger).  

That he hereby relinquishes all right or interest that he may have been entitled to from any former pension allowed by his government.That he is in reduced circumstances, old and infirmed and needs the assistance of the country for support. That he is now a resident of the County of Highland and State of Ohio – [signed] Thomas Bernard Sworn to and subscribed in open Court this 25th day of May 1818.

[Richard Bernard, brother of the applicant, stated that he knew that Thomas Bernard had served for about four years.] 

– Common Pleas Court Records of Highland County, Ohio 1805-60 by David N. McBride, Page 7.

On Oct. 17, 1820, personally appeared in open Court of common pleas Being a Court of Record held at Hillsborough in and for the County of Highland and State of Ohio – Thomas Bernard, 63, a resident in said county who first being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows to wit: That he enlisted in the spring of 1776 under Capt. Chas. Fleming of the 7th Virginia Reg’t. to serve two years and after serving one year reenlisted under the same captain for three years & was discharged at Philadelphia in the spring of 1780 by Col Febiger.  

Original declaration made on May 15, 1818 pension certificate dated on March 5, 1819, No. 7243 and I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled “an act to provide for certain person engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War” passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.

Schedule of property – One horse value $12, five head of cattle large and small value $30, five head of sheep, 19 head of small hogs, two kettles, one pot, one oven, one cupboard, one table, five chairs, six knives and forks. Value $34. 

The declarant is by trade a carpenter but from age and infirmity is unable to do any kind of labour He has a wife who is also old and infirm and eight children two sons who are of age and doing for themselves – one son about twenty years of age one daughter married and four daughters with him the youngest of whom is 7 years old. [signed] Thomas Bernard.

NOTES:

On May 31, 1850, George W. Bernard, about 51, applied for the pension that his mother had failed to apply for as the widow of Thomas Bernard. He stated that his father married Mary Hicks in Goochland County, Va. in 1792, and they lived in that county until 1807, when they moved Highland County.  

They had the following children: Elizabeth Smithson, about 58; John Bernard, about 56; Sarah Morris, about 54; Thomas Bernard, about 49; Mary Underwood, about 45; Susan Bernard, who married Samuel Rees but died some years before, leaving children named Mary Ellen, Thomas, Harriett, John, and Samuel Rees; and Nancy Bernard, about 38, wife of Thomas Riley. All were living in Highland and Clinton counties except for John, who lived in Illinois. 

Joseph Hoskins stated that Thomas Bernard had died at the home of his son-in-law, Samuel Rees, and that full names of some of the spouses of the above children were Francis N. Smithson, William Morris, John Underwood, and Thomas Riley.  George W. Bernard stated that his father had died on 12 June 1833, leaving Mary Bernard as his widow residing with her children until her death on 6 May 1847. The file contains a copy of the marriage bond signed on Dec. 28, 1792 by Thomas Bernard and with Joseph Mangum as surety. 

On Aug. 25, 1851, George W. Bernard stated that he would be about 52 in the following September, and that his mother was the daughter of Meshick Hicks and had “brothers & sisters residing in the family of said Meshick Hicks and John Hicks who had married and lived to himself.” 

He also stated that his mother had been very frail for many years before her death, which occurred at the house of her son-in-law, Mr. Smithson, who was his near neighbor. He stated that his mother “was buried without any ceremony the next day after her death by her family and friends without any officiating Minister.” On the same date Mary Bernard, 76, stated that in 1778 while residing in Rockbridge County, Va., with the maiden name Mary Walker, she married Richard Bernard, brother of Thomas Bernard.