Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7762, for John Oaks, New Hampshire
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3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Boat Service on Lake Champlain
N. H
Oaks John
Thankful
NUMBER
R17762
CONTENTS
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10272
Thankful Oakes
N.Y
Act 7th July '38
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State of New York
Livingston County
On this 4th day of November 1843
personally appeared before me Willard &
Smith one of the Judges of Livingston County
Courts, Mrs Thankful Oaks of Wheatland Monroe
County State of New York aged 76 years who
being first duly sworn according to law
doth on her oath make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the provision
made by an act of Congress, passed July 7th
1838, entitled "an act granting half pay & pensions
to certain widows"" That she is the widow
of John Oaks who was a soldier of the Rev
olution. That she has learned from her
said husband & others that he resided before
his enlistment in the army at Boston in the
State of Massachusetts, and that he first 
enlisted in the Land army at Number
4. in the State of New Hampshire, under
Captain Curtis, the exact time he so enlisted
Mrs Oaks is unable to state, that he was afterward transfered on board of the "Liberty Schooner"
as ship Carpenter, under Montgomery and
Arnold then lying at St. Johns on the Northern
part of Lake Champlain during the early
part of the Revolutionary War. That he afterwards
sailed up & down Lake Champlain on
board of said Ship-which acted as a
guardship. That he was present at the
sinking of boats at Ferris Harbor of a
South of Basin Harbor, & that he was
finally taken prisoner at Addison Vermont
by the indians & conveyed to such where
he remained in jail for nearly three
years, that he was afterwards engaged
during the last war as Ship Carpenter
at the Burlington Vermont Navy said
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under Captain Lucey where he died in the
year 1813, or 14
she further declares that she was married
to the said John Oaks in the 4th day of Nov.
in the year 1785, that she was not married
to him prior to his leaving the service,
but the marriage took place previous to the
first day of January, seventeen hundred
& ninety four, viz at the time above stated
that they were married at the town of 
Shoreham, Addison Co Vermont, by one Thomas
Rowley a magistrate + that she has no family
Record of said marriage
[signature] Thankful her x mark Oaks
Sworn & subscribed before me this  
4th day of Nov 1843

W. C. Smith First Judge of Livingston County Courts
I Willard W Smith First Judge of Livingston
County Courts do hereby certify that I am upon
inquiring of the family & acquaintences of the
above named Thankful Oaks satisfied that the
said Thankful Oaks is unable on
account of old age and bodily infirmity
& the distance from her residence, to appear
in open Court or before any Judge of the
Monroe County Courts at his office
to make the foregoing declaration
[signature] W. C. Smith
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State of New York
Livingston County Clerks Office
I Samuel P. Allen Clerk
of said County do hereby certify that Willard H.
Smith, Esq. before whom the foregoing declaration was
Sworn to and subscribed, & whose name is attached
thereto & to the certificate following such declaration,
was at the time the said deposition purports to have
been taken, First Judge of the County Courts of
said County, duly appointed & qualified to act
as such. And also that I am well acquainted with
his hand writing & verily believe the name thereto
subscribed to be his genuine signature
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal
of said County, this 29th day of
November A.D. 1843.
[signature] Saml P. Allen, Clerk
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March 15 1839.
XXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/CC
John Oaks
R.7762

Mrs. Sam T. Miller
3140 Clay Street
San Francisco, California.

Dear Madam:

The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in
pension claim R.7762, based upon service in the Revolutionary War
of John Oaks.
Date and place of birth of John Oaks and names of his
parents are not shown,
John Oaks married November 4, 1785, in Shoreham, Addison
County, Vermont, Thankful (her maiden name not stated).
The soldier's widow, Thankful oaks, applied for pension
November 4, 1843, at which time she was aged seventy-six years
and a resident of Wheatland, Monroe County, New York. It was
alleged that John Oaks was a resident of Boston, Massachusetts
before entering the service; that he enlisted in the land army
at Number Four, New Hampshire" under Captain Curtis, that he was
afterwards transferred on board of the "Liberty Schooner" as ship
carpenter under Montgomery and Arnold, then lying at St. Johns
on the northern part of Lake Champlain during the early part of
the war; that he sailed up and down Lake Champlain on board of
said ship which acted as a guard ship; that he was present at
the sinking of boats at Ferris Harber three-quarters of a mile
from Basin Harbor; that he was finally taken prisoner at Addison
Vermont, by the Indians and conveyed to Quebec where he remained
in jail for nearly three years, and that he was afterwards engaged
in the last war as ship carpenter at the Burlin
ngton,
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Vermont Navy Yard under Captain Lacy, where he died in the year 1815 or 1814. Her claim was not allowed as she failed to furnish proof of his service as required by the pension laws.

No further family data are shown.

Very truly yours

A.D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
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V10272
Thankful Oakes
N.Y.
Suspended
7762
Act July 7th '38
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[stamp] REJECTED
to
Thankful Oakes
Service:
Enlisted:
Discharged:
Application filed:
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
Recognized.
Cert. of Dis. Searched for
-
---
18
18
18
Contract.
1939 Mch 15 - Hist to his
Sam J. Miller, C.C.
W
all
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Warsaw N.Y. Nov 30. 1843

J. L. Edwards Esq

Herewith I send you the declaration
of Mrs Thankful Oakes and ask that the
New Hampshire rolls & other documents in the
possession of the department may be searched
for proof of his services as Early an answer
as is practicable is desired
Respectfully Yours
[signature] A. L. Lynde
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Hon. A. Smith
29 May 1844
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Pension Office
27 May 44

Sir
The papers in the case of
Thankful Oakes widow of John
Oaky claiming a pension under the act of July 7th 1838 have
been examined and filed them
are no New Hampshire Rolls in
this office [illegible] must be had
to the Secy of that State. The date
of the marriage is not established
the declaration of the claimant
which if itself is not sufficient
being unsustained by recorded
documentary or parole evidence public or private. Enclosed is Mr
Lyndes letter to you

Hon Albert Smith
H of R
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May 28 '44
Col Neles

J.L. Edwards Esq.
Com. Pensions
Washington
D.C.
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J.L. Edwards Esqr
Sir
I forwarded to your office
in Dec. last the Declaration of Mrs Thankful
Oaks of Wheatland Monroe Co N.Y. setting forth
the services of her husband C. to which I have not
as yet received an answer shall hear from
it at your earliest convenience also the
case of Mrs Hannah Fuller of Gainsville
she paying for a pension by virtue of her
husbands services, under the act of 1838 July 7
The papers in the latter case was handed in to the
P. Office by Hon. A Smith M. C. from this
District, Please let me hear from you the
cases & qualy oblige. Respectfully
A. L. Lynde
Warsaw Wyoming to MS
May 24, 1844
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Millar (Mrs Sam T)
3140 Clay Street
Son Francisco
California

San Francisco, California
January - 17- 1939
Veterans Administration
Washington D.C
Sirs,
Phillip Mortimer Brooks was
pensioner of the war of 1812. was in
battle of Yorktown, Chapters Field and
Lundy Lane. Moved from New York
State to Lacota or South Haven Michigan
wife was Betsey Oakes-- Will you please
send me any record of pension
granted Phillip Mortimer Brooks and
summary of his papers.
Thankful Smith Oaks, wife of John
Oakes died in Cleveland Ohio at the
home of a daughter named Odell
If you have record of her pension
of pension of her husband John or
Johnathan Oaks please send the
record and summary of papers
to me. Thank you
Most Sincerely
(Mrs Sam T.) Belva McCreedy Miller
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March 16 1939.
XXXXXXXXX
BA-J/o
Philip M. Brooks
W.C.5166
John Oaks
R.7762

Mrs. Sam T. Millar
3140 Clay Street,
San Francisco, California.
Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the
War of 1812 record of Philip Mortimer Brooks who moved from
New York to Lacota or South Haven, Michigan and who married
Betsey Oakes, and the Revolutionary War record of John or
Johnathan Oaks, whose wife, Thankful Smith Oaks, died in Cleveland,
Ohio at the home of her daughter, Odell
You are furnished herewith the War of 1812 record of Philip
M. Brooks and the Revolutionary War record of John Oaks.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.