Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 43374, Michael Cotton, Mass.
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Mass
Cotton, Michael S.
43374
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20909
New York
Michael Cotton
of Greene County in the State of New York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Drew of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Sproat in the Massachusetts line of the term of one year from August 1781 to September 1782.

Inscribed on the roll of New York at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 2nd day of September 1829.

Certificate of Pension issued the 9 of September 1829 and sent to Lewis Wakely Esq. Greenville NY

Arrears to 4th of September 1829 $00.80
Semi-anu'l all'ce ending 4 March 1830 $68.00
$68.80

Revolutionary Claim, Acts March 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820.

Recorded Vol 5 Page 77 Book C

BL Beale
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Declaration in order to be placed on the pension list under the Act of the 18th March 1818
County of Greene
On this second day of September 1829 personally appeared in open court being a Court of Record for the County of Greene Michael Cotton, resident in said County aged Seventy one years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the Acts of Congress of the 18th of March 1818 and the 1st day of May 1820; that he the said Michael Cotton enlisted for the term of three years in the fore part of the month of August of the year 1781 in the State of Massachusetts in the the Company commanded by Colonel Sprout in the Line of the State of Massachusetts, on the continental Establishment; That shortly after his enlistment he was placed as an (illegible) in a public forge or Continental Shop in the town of Peekskill in the State of New York when he laboured at his trade of blacksmithing for the space of four months, after which he joined his Regiment under the command of Colonel Sprout and continued to serve in the said Corps until some time in the month September of the year 1782when he was in consideration that an other man was hired to take his place regularly discharged from the service at the Planks Point in the State of New York; That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present; that his name is not on the pension Roll of any State; and that the following are the reasons for not making an earlier application for a pension. That in the year 1808 the dwelling house of the declarant was destroyed by fire and his discharge destroyed within it; that he was informed an application for a pension would be altogether useless without his discharge unless he could procure ample testimony of his service
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from living witnesses which hitherto this declarant has been unable to do. An in pursuance of the Act of the 1st May 1820 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 persons 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 assessed and by me subscribed.
I have no real estate either in possession, recession or remainder, either in law or in equity. My whole property is personal and consists of one cow and calf worth $17, two hogs worth $6, one ax worth $0.75, one scythe worth $0.50 about twenty two bushel of rye in the Shea(illegible) $11, twelve plates $.75, six teacups and saucers with one set of knives and forks $1.00, saucepan, cooking utensils $3.00
I am by trade a blacksmith but have been rendered incapable of working at my trade by reason of an inflamation in my head and eyes with which I have been long and am at present troubled, and which has entirely destroyed the sight of my left eye. My whole family consists of two persons besides myself. My wife and daughter - the former is of about the same age with myself. The age of the latter is twenty one years. The ability and capacity of my wife and daughter to contribute to their support are such as from their respective ages, circumstances and situation in life may be reasonably expected.
Since the year 1818 no change of consequence has taken place in my property. I have not since or for many years previous to that time
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time owned any real estate nor did my property in the year 1818 exceed in value what it is at present month the sum of 10 dollars
Michael Cotton
Sworn in Oficer Court this 2nd Day of September 1820
Chas. C. Abeel, Clerk

State of New York 
County of Green

I Chas. C. Abeel Clerk of the Court of the County of Greene do hereby certify that the a foregoing declaration and Schedule of property are truly copied from the Records of the said Court and that it appears to the satisfaction of the said Court that the aforesaid Michael Cotton did serve for the space of nine months in the Army of the Revolution under one engagement on the Continental Establishment and that the amount of property in value exhibited in the aforegoing Schedule is no more than forty dollars. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of the said Court this Second day of September 1829.
Charles C. Abeel Clerk
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State of New York
County of Greene
Before me Perkins King a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared Lockwood B. Satterlee who is well known to be a man of Truth and who being duly sworn saith - that he is well acquainted with Michael Cotton of the County aforesaid, and has both seen and read the Revolutionary discharges of the said Michael Cotton before it was consumed by fire - that he distinctly recollects it embraced from the period of the said Michael Cotton's enlistment to the time of his discharge more than one year - that he was present at the time the said Michael Cotton's house was destroyed by fire in the year 1808, and that he was then and there informed by the said Michael Cotton that not only all his goods and house hold furniture  but that all his papers with this identical discharge was consumed therein. Given under my hand Sept. 11th 1829.
Perkins King

State of New York
County of Greene

In testimony that the above matter Perkins King was at the time of the above date a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and for the County aforesaid, and duly authorized to administer oaths; and that his name above subscribed appears to me to be his usual signature I have hereunto affixed the County seal and subscribed my name this 2nd day of September 1829. 
Chas. C. Abeel Clerk
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43374
Michael Cotton
Sept 2, 1829
Greene Co. NY 71
Aug 1789
Capt Drew
Col. Sprout
Mass
(illegible)
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Syracuse Nebraska
May 17 1900
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC
Will you kindly give me the record of one Michael Cotton - private, occupation blacksmith - enlisting in the Revolutionary War from either Massachusetts or Connecticut, and drawing a pension for many years as a resident of the state of New York
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to which he received.
It is possible his application for a pension may have been made from the last named state.
Very truly yours - 
Mrs. W.E. Page
Syracuse Nebraska
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Syracuse, Neb.
May 24 190(illegible)
Mrs. W. E. Page
43374
INVALID.
File No. 43378
Michael Cotton
(illegible)
Act 18 March 1818
Index -- Vol 3, Page 96
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Greenville Green Co September 4th 1829
To the Hon Secretary of War
I enclose herewith the original application of Michael Cotton of this County to be placed on the pension list of the United States. Mr. Cotton has long resided in the County of Green and is well known to have (illegible) sustained a Character for strict integrity, veracity and moral worth; And it is generally and well known that in the year 1808 his dwelling house in this town was   consumed by fire with every article of household furniture. Mr. Cotton frequently before the year 1818 as well as after, remarked to his neighbors that the discharge he secured at the close of his Revolutionary services was destroyed with all his other papers in the fire of his dwelling. This discharge many of his neighbors have seen and read frequently Some of whom do even now recollect the term of service specified therein, and the name of the Officer by whom it was given-
One reason that Mr. Cotton did not apply earlier
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for a pension is to be found in his declaration another reason may be found in the peculiar traits of Mr. Cotton's Character Those who know him intimately well know he would have been unwilling to have applied to his Country for a pension as a Charity so long as subsist once could be procured for himself and family by personal labor. The time however has now arrived when Mr. Cotton from his age and firmaties must be dependent on his Country or private aid for his support.
The affidavit of Mr. Satterlee accompanying these papers can be corroborated by the testimony of others if necessary
The Company from which Mr. Cotton was discharged was commanded by Capt. Adam Baily of Col. Sproat's Regiment in this circumstance was omitted in the declaration but may be of service in the investigation of his case. Please direct the Returns to me at this place. 
Very Respectfully Yours
Lewis Wakeley
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Prattsville Greene County NY
JL Edwards Esqr
Sir,
Will you inform me whether the heirs of "Michael Cotton" a private in Col. Sproats Regiment of the Revolutionary Army who was entered on the pension roll on the ninth of September 1829 and died in September 1833(he leaving no widow) can draw his pension from the time of his death.
The pension certificate is registered in Book C. Vol 5. Page 77.
I write this at the request of his destitute heirs.
I have the honor to be 
Yours very truly
Z. Pratt