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Affidavit regarding Rebecca Thomas, 20 October 18451
State of Illinois. } Ss[scilicet]
County of Sangamon
On this twentieth day of October 1845, before me James F Reed, Agent of the United States for paying pensions in the State of Illinois personally appeared Rebecca Thomas who, on her oath, declares that she is the same person who drew a pension, as the widow of James Thomas2 at the rate of One hundred dollars per annum under the act of 7th July 1838 and 17th June 1844;3 that her name was placed on the Pension Roll of the State of Illinois and subsequently transferred to the roll of the State of Kentucky, from whence she has lately removed; that she now resides in the County of Menard and State of Illinois where she intends to remain, and wishes her pension to be there payable in future. The following are her reasons for removing from Kentucky to Illinois viz– Her children are living in Illinois and she wishes to live with them
Sworn and subscribed to before me her
the day and year aforesaid Rebecca X Thomas
James F Reed pension Agent mark
George L Huntington
Witness to the signature of Rebecca Thomas–
[ certification ]
10/20/1845
State of Illinois }
Sangamon County
On this twentieth day of October 1845 personally appeared, before me James F Reed, pension agent– Abraham Lincoln and made oath that Rebecca Thomas who has taken the above oath, is the person described in the affidavit–
A. Lincoln4
[ certification ]
10/20/1845
Sworn and subscribed to before me, the day & year aforesaid– James F Reed pension Agent5
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[ certification ]
10/20/1845
I certify that Abraham Lincoln who signed and swore to the within affidavit as to the identity of Rebecca Thomas is a person of veracity– Octo[October] 20– 1845.
James F Reed
pension Agent6
1An unknown person wrote the body of this affidavit. James F. Reed and George L. Huntington signed their names.
2Rebecca Thomas and James Thomas could not be identified.
3“An Act Granting Half Pay and Pensions to Certain Widows,” 7 July 1838, Statutes at Large of the United States 5 (1856):303; “An Act to Continue the Pensions of Certain Widows,” 17 June 1844, Statutes at Large of the United States 5 (1856):680.
4Abraham Lincoln wrote his own name in the text of the certification and signed it.
5Reed signed his name to this certification.
6Reed signed and dated this certification.

Copy of Handwritten Document Signed, 2 page(s), RG 15, A1, Entry 2A: Records of the Bureau of Pensions and the Pension Service, Bureau of Pensions Correspondence and Pension Bounty-Land Case Files Relating to Military Service Performed Between 1775 and 1861, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900, NAB.