Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8242, Thomas Cotteral, Va.
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(3-1776) [written in upper left corner]

SERVICE VA    
Cotteral, Thomas 
or Cottrell                                                                  NUMBER  S.8242
CONTENTS
born Jan 22, 1762                                                                   CARDED
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[Left page -  written vertically
Drop'd from the roll, let to agent, Weeden Hoffman March 11 [or 14] [1815?]
Let to Hon Joseph Johnson Jan 26. '46
with a copy of the rept of Singleton within
Let to Hon. F H Bayley 22 March 1833

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Virginia 16.588
Thomas Cotteral
of Lewis in the State of Va who was a pvt in the Compy commanded by Captain Carpenter of the ____ commanded by _____ in the Va line for 2 years 
=====================================================
Inscribed on the roll of Virginia at the rate of 80 Dollars ___ cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of march 1831.
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Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of Sept 33 and Sent to Hon Lewis Maxwell, Weston, Va.
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Arrears to the 4th of Sept: 1833             200
Semi anl. allowance ending anum 34       40
                                                           ======
                                                               $240 _
                                                           ======
{ Revolutionary Claim }
{ Act June 7, 1832 }
Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk, 
Book E Vol 6 Page 5
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The original papers in this case sent to W. G. Singleton U.S. Dist Atty Va Aug 9 1834
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State of Virginia
County of Lewis
On the 2nd day of July A.D. 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the county court of Lewis County now sitting Thomas Cotteral, a resident of Lewis Co and State of Virginia, aged 71 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832, That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated, 
In Monongolia County in the state of Virginia on the 18th of Feby 1779, he volunteered as a private Indian Spy under Capn Christopher Carpenter; was stationed at West's Fort on Hackers Creek (now Lewis Co Va) and from then on ranged the county from where Indian incurions were generally made. Viz What is now Lewis, Nichols, Jackson, Wood, Tyler and Harrison Counties; was engaged in spying through the above counties, and reporting at the different Forts on the frontiers until the approach of winter, when savage aggression for the season was checked, in consequence of cold weather; was on the first of December in the year 1779. dismissed, having served as a private Indian Spy 9 Months.
Again, on the first of March 1780, he volunteered as an Indian Spy under the same Captain (Christopher Carpenter) Was this year stationed at Lawrence McCan's Fort West Fork River in Monongalia (Now Lewis) County, was this year engaged in spying ___
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through the counties mention in the first years service until winter again put a stop to the insults of the savages, was on the last of November 1780 dismissed by his Captain C. Carpenter.
Again on the 1st Feby in Year 1781 in the said county of Monongalia he again volunteered as a private Indian Spy under Capt William Smith and was stationed at Bushes Fort on the West Fork river a branch of the Monongalia immediately resumed his business of spying in the adjacent counties until winter as before checked the savage aggressions, was on the last of November 1781 dismissed by his Captain Sowther having served another term of 9 months.
Again in May of the year 1782 in the said county of Monongalia he volunteered as a private Indian Spy under the said Capt Wm Sowther was again stationed at Bushes Fort, again from thence resumed his business of spying through the counties aforesaid and reporting to the different Forts in the post of the ___ of county, as in the proceeding years until the winter again made made his services unnecessary. He was on the first of December 1782 dismissed having performed 6  months duty as an Indian Spy making in all 33 months service,
The incidents of his services are not many, being from its nature confined to the _____ _____ of the Savages, whose braces it was his duty to discover, and notify the different garrisons on the frontier of any threatened danger; During his serials he visited the Forts on Tigerts Valley River where he saw Col Benjamin Wilson commanding, He also visited  the fort on ten mile and Nutter's fort on Elk Creek when Col George Jackson Commanded, He has no
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documenting evidence by which to prove his services He never received a discharge ; it was the practice of the commandants of the Forts nearby to dismiss their spies, He knows of no man living by whom to prove his services, He was born on the 22nd of January 1762 on Georges Creek in the State of Pennsylvania, does not remember what county as he moved to Augusta Co Va when an infant, in which county he has lived ever since, but by the formation and division of counties, he has fallen into Lewis the same co in which he has from his infancy lived, and in which he now lives,
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state,
Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid,
Signed, Thomas his X mark Cottrell

We George Butcher and Jesse Carpenter residing in Lewis Co in the state of Va hereby certify that we are well acqauinted with Thomas Cotteral who has suscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we belive him to be 71 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood were here resides to have been an Indian Spy in the War of the Revolution and that we concur in the opinion Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid,
Signed  George Butcher
Jesse hisXmark Carpenter
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And the said Court do hereby declare
their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interogatores prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that George Butcher and Jesse Carpenter who have signed the preceding certificate of Lewis county, and the state of Virginia and are credible pufers, and that their statements are entitled to credit and the said Court
further certifies that there is no clergyman residing in the neighborhood of the above named applicant, and the said Court further certifies that they propounded the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department to the above named applicant,
and the following are his answers thereto, Viz.
1st   I was born on Genges Creek in the State of Pennsylvania (the name of the Co I do not recollect) on the 22 day of January A.D. 1762
2nd  I have no record of my age, I only know it from the account thereof given me by my parents; which I have kept from my boyhood
3rd   I was living when called into service on Hackers Creek in Monongalia County, now Lewis, I now live in Lewis County, where I have been living ever since the Revolutionary War,
4th I volunteered,

Sec 2
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5th   There was no regular officers serving in the county were I spied, I knew Col George Jackson at Nutter Fort, Col Benjamin Wilson at Wilson Fort in Tygarts Valley Capt C. Carpenter. Mr. Sowtha, Ian Tanner who commanded the garrisons at the several forts. They were all militia officers.

6th   I never received a discharge, I was only dismissed at the termination of my different ____

7th   I am known to _________ and ________ who reside in my neighborhood and can testify to my character for veracity and their belief of my services as an Indian Spy.

I John Talbott Clerk of the County Court of Lewis County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said content in the matter of the application of Thomas Cotterel for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal (there is no seal of office) this day of 
Signed J Talbott  
   
[private seal - written in right margin enclosed in an embellished circle]

Over
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2

I do hereby certify that John Tablott who has set his hand to the above certificate is Clerk of Lewis County duly commissioned and qualified as such, and that the above is his genuine signature,
Given under my hand this 2'd: day July 1833,
Signed Lewis Maxwell
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September 18, 1934
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Thomas Cotteral - S.8242
BA-J/AF

Mr. Henry H. Weese
272 - 8th Street
Ogden, Utah
Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you
request information in regard to Thomas Cottrill, who served from 1779 to 1781 from Lewis County, Virginia.

The data which follow were obtained from the
papers on file in pension claim, S. 8242, based upon
the Revolutionary War service of Thomas Cattrell or
Cotteral.

He applied for pension July 2, 1833, while residing in Lewis County, Virginia, where he had lived
since his infancy.

He stated that he was born January 22, 1762 on
George's Creek in Pennsylvania, and that while residing
on Hacker's Creek in Monongalia County, Later Lewis
County, Virginia, he enlisted and served as an Indian
spy with the Virginia troops as follows:
From February 18, 1779 until December 1, 1779 under Captain Christopher Carpenter's company; from March 1,
1780 until the last of November, 1780 under Captain Christopher Carpenter; from in February, 1781 until the last
of November, 1781 in Captain William Smith's company;
from in May, 1782 until December 1, 1782 in Captain
William Lowther's company.
---
His claim for pension was allowed at the rate of
$80 per annum to commence March 4, 1831. Upon a reexamination
of his claim in 1834 by the United District Attorney, it was found that Thomas Cotteral or Cottrell was
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born in 1772, therefore could not have rendered the
alleged service in the Revolutionary War. His name
was dropped from the pension roll, March 16, 1835.
There are no data in this claim concerning the
family of Thomas Cotteral (Cottrell).
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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Washington City Jan 21'st 1846

Dear Sir,
I have been requested by the friends of ^(not Johathan) James Waursley, as well as thise of John Cottrell, both of whom were Pensioners under the act of 1832, and stricken from the list by Mr singleton, to bring their cases before Congress
Before I do so, will you please examine their cases and see if they cannot be reinstated
If they cannot, let me know the whys and wherefore
Respectfully
Yours &c. ---
Ja's Johnson

J. L. Edwards
Com, Pensions
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Report in
Prvt. Cotterall's case,
a Pensioner
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Lewis County
Thomas Cottrel. aged [blank] Serv'd 2 yrs.
Christopher Nutter of Harrison County. aged 76 years. says he has known Thomas Cotteral from his birth & that he was born in the year 1772. they have resided in the same county from its birth of Cotteral & the present time. 

Rebecca Nutter wife of Christopher knew Cotteral in the year 1785. he was then only about 14 years old.

Henry Flesher says that [Tom - underlined] Cotteral & himself were boys in the Fort together after the close of the R War. 

John [Roper, or Reper?]  has known Tho's Cotteral since the year 1788. he Cotteral was then a boy 15 or 16 yrs. old.

Samuel Bennett. John Waggoner. Nicholas Carpenter & William Powers. All old men. And all testify to Cotterals being an [undeciphered]. - Col. Copelan. says that Cotteral was his apprentice long after the close of the R. War.
Respectfully Reported
W. G Singleton
Special Agent -
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Hon T. H. Bayly
March 22 /53
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149
Pension office
March 22, 1853

Sir,
In reply to the enclosed letter, I fear to inform you that we find no papers in this office relating to the claim of Daniel Cotrill for a pension.

Thomas Cotteral of Lewis County, Va was allowed a pension on the 6th September 1833, but his name was drop'd from the rolls in 1835.

Hon T. H. Bayley
H of R
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Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
MEE / eel

August 15, 1929

Anna B. Smith
424 N. Tremont Street
Oceanside, California

Dear Madam
I advise you from the papers in the revolutionary War pension claim, S.5242 it appears that Thomas Cottrell or Cotteral applied for pension July 2? 1833, while residing in Lewis County, Virginia where he lived since his infancy.
He stated that he was born January 22, 1762, on George's Creek in Pennsylvania; and that while residing on Hacker's Creek in Monongalia County, later Lewis County, Virginia, he enlisted and served as an Indian spy with the Virginia Troops as follows:
From February 18, 1779, in Captain Christopher Carpenter's Company and was discharged December 11, 1779; from March 1, 1780 in Captain Christopher Carpenter's Company and was discharged the last of November, 1780; from February 1781 in Captain W? Company and was discharged the last of November, 1781, by Captain William
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Sowther; from in May, 1782, in Captain Sowther's Company, and was dischatged December 1, 1782.
       His claim for pension was allowed at the rate of $80 per annum to commence March 4, 1831, certificate was issued September 6,1833, as recorded on the list of Pensioners, 1835, Volume 2, page 160.
        Upon a re-examination of his claim in 1834 by the United States District Attorney, it was found that Thomas Cotteral was born in 1772, and could not have rendered the alleged service in the Revolution.  His name was dropped from the pension roll March 16, 1835,
                          Very truly yours,
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War Section.
Mr. J. M. Cockrell,
920 - 15th Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C.
Sir:
July 3,  1915.
In response to your letter dated the 29" ultimo, you are advised that from the papers in the claim of Thomas Cotteral
or Cottrell, Sur. File No. 3, 242, Rev. War, it appears that he was born January 22, 1762, on Georges Creek in Pennsylvania and he alleges that while residing on Hackers Creek in Monongalia County, Virginia, he enlisted as an Indian spy, and served in the Virginia troops in the Revolutionary War. He was allowed pension on an application executed July 2, 1833. while a resident of Lewis County, Virginia, but on March 16, 1835, he was dropped from the pension rolls on account of a report from the United States District Attorney, showing that he was born in 1772, and therefore could not have rendered
any service in the Revolution.
Very respectfully,
E.C. Tieman
Acting Commissioner.
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272 -- 8 Ogden Ut.
Aug. 23, 1934

Dear Sirs,
Will you please give me the war record of Thomas [Cottrill - underlined] who served 1779 to 1781 from Lewis County VA. He received Pension and it was taken away. Please ^give Parents dates wife and children and wifes name. Write fully
Yours Cincerely,
Henry H. Weese

stamped - 

Received
Sep 4 1934
[rest undeciphered]
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Revolutionary & 1812 Wars
Section
May 18 1929
Bureau of Pensions

424 N. Tremont St.
Oceanside, California.
May 13, 1929.

Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Rev. War Section,
Washington, D.C.
Wanted;

The Rev. War Records of Thomas Coteral, his name appears on the Virginia pension roll. Thomas Coteral was a private of the Virginia Militia in the Rev. War, his name appears on the list of pensions of the United States living at the time that the report made in Lewis County Virginia. His name was placed on the roll
September 6, 1833 and his pension $80.00 a year, coming March 4, 1834. His age was given as 72 years. Vol 2, page 160.
These records are wanted for D. A. R. Membership.
Thomas Coteral was my Great Grandfather.
Anna B Smith
424 N. Trement St.,
Oceanside, California.
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[Left page]

1915 July 8 Hist to F. M. Cockrall 
Letter in S.F. 39597 John Cockril[l]
_________________________________________________
1929 - Aug 15, Hist to Anna B. Smith - ME.E.
_________________________________________________
1934. Sept 18 - hist to Harry H. Weese [accy?]

[Right page]

Rev War [written vertically in left margin]

File No. 8242
Invalid
______________

File No. 8242
_____________________
Thomas Cotteral
____________________
Priv Rev War
____________________

Act: June 7'th 1832
       _______________
Index: --- Vol. 1st, page 75
                      ____           ____
[Arrangement of 1870]