Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18768, Abel Cooper, Mass. Vt.
Page 1

Mass. VT

Cooper, Abel
S. 18768

Carded
Page 2

Lee Lellu G. W. Hanaan
18 Dec. 1834
C Pratt Harman 25 December 1835
Hon. B Swift 30 June 1838

8491 
Vermont
_______________________________________
Abel Cooper

of Rutland Co in the State of Vermont
who was a pri & Sergt. in the Company commanded by Captain Carpenter of the Regt. commanded by Dr. Walker in the Mass [ma]
time for 8 mos.      Pri. & Sergt.  VT
================================
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 50 Dollars 00 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
=================================
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 of April
1833 and [] to R. Teneplen Rutland
=================================
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833            $100
Semi anl. allowance ending 4 Sept.             25
==================================
                                                                  $125.00
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Book. B     Vol. 3 Page 56
Recorded by W. L. Williams, Clerk
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Abel Cooper
14 months, Sergeant

16499

Undefined Service disallowed

Vol. 11  248-per 7 days-
aomd
8 mos. sergt
3 mos. pri
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State of Vermont}
Rutland Ss.}

On the 7th day of Sept. 1832 personally came Nathan Wilmarth of said County to me known & a credible witness who being duly sworn doth depose & say, that he is acquainted with
Abel Cooper Esq. who made this declaration & was acquainted with him during the revolutionary war he then lived about 4 miles from him & has lived a near neighbor to him several years in a of late years, their hands being sisters he know the said Abel Marched to Roxbury immediately after the battle of Lexington & knows he served three months in the latter part of 1777 & fore part of 1776
Capt Carpenter Company & three months in the fall of 1776 in Capt Cole; company, as stated by him in this declaration - the deponent was in service at the same time and he has reason to believe & has no doubt, that said Abel performed all the services mentioned in this declaration as before me the day & year aforesaid
R. Temple, Justice of Peace


State of Vermont
I Robert Purpoint Clerk of Rutland County Court do certify, that Robert Temple before when the above affidavit was take is a Justice of her for said County, duly commissioned, and that the above is his signature

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand
& affix the seal of said Court this 11th day of Sept. 1832
R. Purpoint
Page 5

STATE OF VERMONT,
RUTLAND COUNTY, SS.}
On this 7th day of Sept A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Probate Court of Rutland District now sitting, Abel Cooper of a resident of the County of 
Vermont, aged 83 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 7,
1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served
herein stated. 
In 1775 he lived at Rehoboth, Massachusetts, about 44 miles from Boston & was a minute was & had been one for a long time; & the day after the battle of Lexington the 19th of April
he marched to Roxbury in Capt Nath Carpenter; company St. Beny Col. Walker Regt. and remained at Roxbury doing duty as breach until the army was filled up, & was dismissed about May 20th, having served one month. In the fall of the year a little confirm 1775 the time of the 8 months near expired, he volunteered & marched to Roxbury in the same company above mentioned under Capt. Carpenter, & served three months as sergeant as aforesaid,-his was company quartered in a house in Brookline, a short distance from Roxbury  where they did duty & was discharged the latter part of Feb. 1776. The better part of August 1776 he volunteered & marched to Heise Neck in Capt. Simeon Cole; Company, St. John Perry, Col. Carpenter; Regt.  Lt. Col. Lane, May Williams & served three months as sergeant at Herre Neck Regt & along the sound, guarding the heirs, & belonged to Genl. Lincoln; Brigade near the expiration of the time, the Regt to White plains, but he [lai kck] was left & Col Carpenter but him his horse to ride to Herse Neck, where he remained until the Regt was dismissed,- he then started for home, but was so feeble he could only travel 2 or 3 miles a day, & was 2 or 3 weeks getting home, & reached home about the fore part of December- In the winter of 1778 he was drafted & marched to Rhode Island in Capt. Franklin, Company does not remember the names of his other officers & was stationed on the west there, & served three months in guarding the horses-[company] was in possession of Newport & he was discharged in the spring at the and of three months previous to this, in 1777, the latter part of the Kimmer, he volunteered to go on what was called Spencer; expedition & marched to Rhode Island in Capt. John Paine Company Lt. Walker, Ensign Williams, was stationed as Howland: Ferry, & served one month as sergeant, when the expedition under Genl Spencer failed, & he was dismissed. He had about 6 miles east of Providence until Fall 1779 & was frequently called out during the war until Feb. 1779, & was frequently called out during that period on alarms & marched to Rhode Island, he should think as many as 10 a 12 times, & served from 2 to 10 days at a time, he was out then.
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The army came into to Bristol harber & Warren & when Col Barton was wounded  & the place was partly court -he saw the hall extracted from Col. Barstow & Col. Bacton told the sergeant to give him the hall & the Bristol should have it back again- these several services he thinks could not be less than six weeks- he was Sergeant & generally Capt. Carpenter Company, but from the length of time, & his great age he is unable to be more particular in stating his said services. 
In Feb. 1779 he moved to Clarendon, Vermont & arrived there in March following & serving the remainder of the year he lived there, & was often called out on alarms & marched sometimes to Castleton & Ticonderoga & Brandon & Pittsford & was at Brandon when it was burnt by the Indians & torcis  under a British officer- he thinks he could not have served in Vermont less than one month- he served in Capt. Robinson's Company on these alarms. He knew Genl Washington, Sullivan, Lincoln, Commonwealth, Putman & others whose names he has begotten- in Col others above names he has gotten but cannot remember to distinguish other corps with above he served. He never see any written discharge, & has no documentary evidence & knows of no person who can testify to his services, except what accompanies this. He was born in Rehobeth the 15th Oct. 1748. os- his age is recorded there a copy of which he since has with him since the  Revolutionary war he has lived in Clarendon, Richmond  Ira & Pawlet, where he now lives. He is known to most of the people of Ira &  Pawlet &  is a member of the Baptist Church in Ira

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 to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
R. Magee Regr.                        Abel Cooper

We Joseph Parker Clergyman residing in New
and Justice Collins residing in the same place, hereby certify, that we are well
acquainted with Abel Cooper who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration; that we believe him to be 83 years of age; that he is reputed and believed,
in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid}                          Joseph Parker
R. Royce, Regr.                 Justus Collins

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter,
and after putting the interrogatories 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 Joseph Parker who has signed the preceding
certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the
and that Justus Collins who has also signed the same, is a resident in her and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I Rodney C. Royce Regr [Clerk] of the Court of Probate do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abel Cooper for a Pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
by of day of Sept A. D. 1832
R. Royce
Page 7

Abel Cooper
Ruthland Co. Vermont

X
amd
Page 8

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183

Sir,
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. the notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
________________________________________
A Statement, shewing the service of Abel Cooper
===================================
Period when the service was render        Month
26th April 1776.                                                 1
Fell 1775                                                             3
Augt. 1776                                                          3
Winter 1778
Latter part of
Summer 1777                                                     1

Rank of
the claimant.
┃ Sergt
      "
      "
Just

Names and Rank
of the Company
officers under
whom he served.
Capt Carpenter
Same Capt
Cole
Franklin
Capt. Paine

Names and Rank of general and field officers                
Col Walker
Officers Col.
Carpenter 
Genrl. Lincoln ┃

Battles in which 
the applicant was ┃
engaged.

Success-
expedition

Place of abode
when he entered
the service, and age
at the present period
┃ 33 years Rehoboth
Mass,

Evidence by declaration when the declaration
is supported.
| Tradition or
Clergyman & laying witness

the deponent after that  was frequently at
that as many during the war until Feby 1779 & marched to Rhode Island. "He said he think many as 10 or  12 times. I reside from 2 to ten days at a time"- There several services he thinks could not be aged than first weeks."

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

Capt. Simeon Cole
John Paine
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                                       2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service. 
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of County of}ss.

On this        day of          personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of     in the county of
and State,   Territory or District
following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. 
That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)      years, with and served in the (e) regiment of the     line, under the following named officers:

(Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of

If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
and C. D. residing in (the same) who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories 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 A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,               Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this    day  of     & c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person.
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                                    3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.
All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war
, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6.{To a Soldier}
   {To an officer} Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
 Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character
and standing of other persons, giving such certificates. The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration be
fore required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
____________________________________

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language
definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For---year
days, I served as amonths, and --- For months and - days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is
highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

              Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

                            Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[j] The notes from[a]to [i]  are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in note
[i] Applies to continental troops only
[h] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[i] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.}
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Capt Carpenter & June /mo.25th in R jd

Vol 1. 157 - May & June 77- not on
" 153. April 21, 77 23  JRD
" 156. Dec. 76 16 days not on
"  157-8-9-60. 77-not on
Simeon Cole
Vol. 126- 7- Aug 80 - not on
Indiana
Capt Franklin
Vol. 2 48.57-not
Page 12

18768
INVALID.
---
File No.  1876
Abel Cooper
Sergt Rev War
---
Act: June 7" 32
Index: - Vol. 1,  Page 440

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 13

Abel Cooper
$50. by 14 mos Pawlet
8 mos. by 3 Pr

Payments to be made
at Burlington
by Presdt A.S. Br Bank

Agent for paying Pension=
ors in the Agency of Vermont

Capt Cole, Col. Carpenter
May 6. 1833 of Pawlet 2 yrs
previous of ira

Recorded in the Pension Office
, in Book E. Vol. 3
Page 56 by W. L. Williams  Clerk.
Page 14

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Abel Cooper of the State of Vermont
who was a Private and Sergeant in the war of the Revolution is entitled to receive
Fifty dollars 00 cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the
4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.

Given at the War Office of the United States, 
this 15 day of April one thousand
eight hundred and thirty-three 
Lee Cap
Secretary of War.


Examined and}
Countersigned. }
J L Edwards

Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 15

Vt. Dec 16
Pawlet 11 Dec. 1834}

8491 
J.L. Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions
Washington City
Page 16

Pawlett Vt.  Dec. 10, 1834.

J. L. Edwards Esq 
Several weeks since, I enclosed to the Bank of Burlington, the power of Attorney &c of Abel Cooper in order to obtain the arrears of his pension then due. The cashire returned for answer, that the Bank had reserved dications from the War Department, to suspend further payment to Cooper. On behalf of Mr Cooper, I wish to be informed of the reason for ordering the suspension, that if necessary, the proper means may be taken to have any difficulties that exists in his case, removed.

very respectfully
Gelbart
G. W. Harman
Page 17

Hon. B. Swift Senato, Ns.
W. Harman Esqr
Pawlett Vt

Edward D. Bangs
Eleazer Honger
Henry White
Rec'd April 27, 1835
Page 18

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
============================
SECRETARY'S OFFICE, April 18th 1825.

Sir,
I HAVE received your letter requesting me to examine the rolls in this office for evidence
of the services of Abel Cooper in the Revolutionary War. Thousands of similar applications have been made; and they are
daily presented in such numbers, that it is impossible for me or my clerks personally to attend to them, without neglecting the usual business of the office. I therefore found it necessary to establish a rule ( of which public notice was given ) requiring that examinations should be made by the applicants themselves, or their friends or agents. They are allowed free access to the rolls and records, and every facility in my power to afford. If they discover any evidence of the services claimed, they are furnished with blanks for the purpose of preparing certificates for my signature.
These certificates are compared by me or one of the clerks with the rolls pointed out to us, and, if true, they are signed by me. This is cheerfully done without any charge. Nothing has ever been asked or received for these services by any one connected with the office. I believe this is all that can be reasonably required of me; and all that can be done without neglecting my incumbent duties.

There are two gentlemen (Messrs. HOMER and WHITE ) who, for some time past have been
constantly employed in assisting the old soldiers, and who expect a trifling remuneration for their trouble in making the search and preparing the necessary certificate. As for the reasons already stated, I cannot myself attend to the case stated by you, I shall place it in the hands of these gentlemen for investigation, and request them to communicate to you the result.

The rolls in this office, though numerous, are very defective, irregular, and incomplete, a
fact of which the War Department at Washington is well informed. It is therefore always uncertain whether the services claimed, although they may have been faithfully rendered, can be proved by our records. In a majority of cases, a part only of the service can be shown from the existing rolls. Whatever evidence can be discovered, will be furnished to you at a small charge by the gentlemen whom I have mentioned.

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
Edward D Bangs Ly
Page 19

Boston April 18th 1835

Sir,
We have found the name of Abel Cooper, on the roll of Capt Nath Carpenters Company for a few days from April 19th 1775, evidence of his other service, have not as yet found. The fee for examining is two dollars for each applicant we search for an receiving the fee from you, went
finish the examination of the rolls & and
you a Certificate of all the evidence may be able to find in this Office, you will please direct to us, postage paid.

Yours respectfully,
Eleazer Harman
Henry White
Page 20

VT-Nov 24  Pawlett, VT}.   Free
18th March 1835}



Hon. James L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington- City
Page 21

Pawett, RutlandCounty, VT Feb. 20, 1835

Hon. J.L. Edwards, Comr of Pensions

I now send you a statement of my military
service, during the Revolutionary war, & of other
circumstances; agreeably to your intimation, in
your letter of the 17th of January last, to Mr. Slade, concessing the cases of those pensioners under the act  of Congress of June 7, 1832, whose pension certificates were proved by the agency of the late Mr. Temple, of whom I am one. Previously to the publication of the above named letter, G. W. Harman Esq. wrote to you, on my behalf; & in your answer to his inquiries, you state that it will be necessary for me to procure a certificate of my military service, from the office of the Secretary of State of Massachusetts. But besides, that from the manner in which I was called into service, at the different times, there is no probability of these being any record in any office in Massachusetts, of such services, I am, now led to believe, that a compliance with the instructions in your letter to Mr. Slade, is all that will be required of me, in order to my reinstatement.
If I am mistaken in this, & you require it, I will send to the Secretary of State of Mass to obtain from him all the light I can, the without the hope of obtaining any
As already observed, my papers were made
out & Pension Certificate Induced, by the agency of Mr. Temple, & my declaration was taken&  authorized initiated, in & by the Court of Probate for the District of of Rutland, in Rutland County of which court Robert Pierpoint Esq. was sole Judge: my pension was for the sum of $50 dollars annually, which I have received up to the fourth day of March last, only.
I was born (according to the town register in the town of Rehoboth, in the County of Bristol, in the State
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(then Colony) of Massachusetts, on the 15th day of October, O. S.D. 1798. consequently, was eighty-six years old, on the 26th day of October last, I lived in Rehoboth, from my birth, until the 23rd day of February, 1779. when I removed to Claundon, in Rutland County VT & have resided in Vermont, ever since; & have reside in the town of Pawlet, in Rutland County, during the last three years; & half resided in that town, when I applied for, & obtained my Pension Certificate, under the Act of 1832. 
Sometime previously to the battle at Lexington, companies of military had been formed, armed a equipped, inmany of the towns in Massachusetts, called "minute -men, to one of these companies, whose name bespeaks their design & duty, I belonged, & held the rank of Sergeant in it.
On the evening of the 19th of April, 1775, the event of that day at Lexington & Concord, were notified at Rehoboth, where I then lived, & the company of minute-man to which I belonged, commanded by Capt. Nathaniel Carpenter
was required to march immediately to Roxbury, in the vicinity of Boston, within five minutes after I received this warning, I commenced my march well armed & equipped; at Winthorn, a distance of twenty miles, joined the rest of the company, who had not accompanied me; & early, on the evening of the 20th we all arrived at Roxbury, when the company was past. 
ed, & where we staid three weeks, according to my best recollection, at this great distance of time; but I am inclined to believe we staid a longer time. I do not remember the names of the subalterns of the company; & as it
never joined its regiment, I did not know the names of the field officers; except the commander, Col. Walker, who was a militia colonel & took the command; & during our stay at Roxbury, he enlisted a Regiment, from the companies of minute men assembled, to serve
during a further term which I believe, was eight months I did not know of any other troops, than minute-men or other militia, being at Roxbury on this occasion; we had no conflict with the enemy.  Some times before the eight months men, mentioned above, were discharged, Capt. Carpenter made a call for volunteers, at Rehoboth, to go to Roxbury & serve
in place of the eight months men. I enlisted under Capt. Carpenter, went to Roxbury, & served more than three months
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My Lieutenant, during this term of service was John Perry the Ensign, Samuel Carpenter. On this occasion, the volunteers were regimented, as I knew by the manner of making
the return; but as we served in detachments, often small, & the whole regiment was never embodied, I cannot remember the names of the field officers, if I ever knew them. I was but a private soldier during this tour; & I believe our Regiment belonged to Gen in colus brigade. I cannot be precise as to the time Inwent to Roxbury, on this occasion; but it was before
the eight months men were discharged, & must 
have been in November or December 1775. Norcan I name the day, or even month when I was discharged, is in the winter, & probably, in March. There were no regular troops in the American army at this time, that ever knew of nor had we any fighting, where I was our business was to blockade the British army in Boston. Our force was composed of volunteers, or other militia
My next service was as follows. About the mid
of August, 1776. Capt. Simeon Cole, acting under the authority of Massachusetts, came to Rehoboth, where lived, a made a call for volunteers, to go to the City of New York, to serve three months. I enlisted & served
during that term, in the capacity or rank of Sergeant.
The subtlems of the company, to which I belonged, were Lieut. John Perry, & Ensign Frederick Brown. The Regiment, to which our company belonged, was commanded by Col. Carpenter, the other field officers were Lieut Col Lane & Maj. Williams. I marched along with
the company, soon after I enlisted & at first, a detachment, of which, I was one, was stationed at Horseneck, the S.W. corner of Connecticut; there we staid about two weeks. From that place the detachment was removed to Rege, near the L. Island-sound; but cannot say how long we staid there: We were, next,stationed at Mamaroneck, on the Pound, to guard
some any Stones, there, the whole Regiment being at different parts, within about two miles. While at Marmonach, a detachment from a British camp a few miles off came up & made an attack upon us, upon learning that the enemy were approaching the Regiment collected, & after a slight skirmish, the enemy enlisted. After this, teams were sent, on several nights use assessively.
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to remove the stores; which, with the assistance of the soldiers, they effected, in silence & secrecy, lest the end any should interrupt them. After this, the whole corps was, also, removed back into the country; but I do not recollect the name of the place: there I was sickened with a dysentery; but was compelled to perform duty, until, having served out the term of my enlistment, I was discharged, with the rest, about the time of the capture of Fort Washington by the British; & with much difficulty, & the assistant of others, at length, reached home.
Early in the year 1778, I was among others, selected,or drafted by the authority of Massachusetts, to serve a tour of duty of three months to guard the shore of Rhode island, below Providence, near the Potunct river; but being, at that time a teacher of a school,
I procured a substitute, a Swede, who was accepted, & whom I furnished with a Blanket, a knapsack &  five dollars, in money. The Swede served out the term for which I was drafted
after this, both while I resided in Rehoboth, & after I removed Vermont, I went, many times, upon alarms, which were frequent, & commonly of several days continuance; but it is impossible for me, at my advanced age, & at this distance of time, to particular them, or even to remember them, unless recalled by some association. At one time, I went as a volunteer to Nowland Jeny, while I yet resided at Rehoboth, under the authority, of Massachusetts, & served about two weeks; at another time, still living in my native town, I went, under the same authority, as a volunteer, to the same place & served about three weeks in both cases Gen. Spencer commanded the troops there collected; who  were all volunteers, or militia; but I cannot, on these numerous occasions, remember, so as to distinguish the subbornate officers, under whom I served, at the different times. Our business, at Howland's ferry, was to guard the court, at one time, an attach upon the British four upon Rhode Island, was, I believe, intended; but did not take place
You remark, in your letter to Mr. Harmon, that
you thought I made out more time of service, in my original declaration, than I could have served, at the times, I mentioned. There may be ground for this suspicion arising from that statement, as made by the Temple,
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but, as I dictated it, & believed it to have been written,there could have been no such circumstance; & Ia certain, that I performed much more service, in the whole, than I have been allowed foror can be allowed for, on account of defect of memorygreat lapse of time. Mr. Temple read over my original
declaration, to me, before I signed it, made oath to it but it is, notwithstanding, very possible, that there were errors in it, not observed by me. There could not have any internal errors, in it, I think unless Mr.T. designed to deceive me, as well as the government; for which, he could hardly have had an adequate motive. Whatever erros or mistakes there may be in that statement, I am as confident of the correctness of this, as one can be under my circumstances, of age, & of the distance of the times, when the facts occured: having careful read this, by myself, before signing it.

I am, respectfully your humble Servt,.
Abel Cooper
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Pawlet, Rutland Co. Vt. Feb. 26, 1835.

Hon. J. L. Edwards, Comr of Pensions

Sir.-- Herewith, you will receive a statement of the revolutionary services of Abel Cooper, a pensioner under the act of 1832- who is one of the unfortunate individuals, whose original papers were made out by the late Mr. Temple. I wrote this statement, at Mr Cooper's request, & dictation; it being impossible for him, at the advanced age of eighty six, to write so much, without the labor of many days.

He has carefully read it, & also, heard it read by
his daughter. He has been at the more pains in
assuring himself of the correctness of the present  representation, because, from your communication to G. W. Harmon Esq. who lately wrote you on  his behalf, he has some years, that he was imposed upon by Mr. Temple. As to Mr. Cooper, no man's character stands fairer; I have been acquainted with him  many years, & can give my testimonial to his unsuspected
integrity. It appears by his certificate, that he
has been allowed a pension of $50, annually. What statement Mr. Temple made, to procure this allowance, you have the means of knowing, according to Mr Cooper's present statement, he served a Sergeant of minutemen at Roxbury in 1775 --- 3 weeks as an enlisted private, at the same place, same year, 3 mo Again, as Sergeant, at Horseneck in 1776 --- 3 mos. Two tours at Howland's ferry, times not remembered. 5 weeks
---
Making in the whole -- -- 8 months
I think it probable that Mr. Temple put down the service of Mrs. Cooper's substitute in 1778, to the account of his service; which would make up the whole, to eleven months Mr. Cooper
was not aware, until I recently, informed him, that he was not entitled to a pension for his substitutes service with this, however, much would be wanting, to entitle him to a pension of fifty dollars. Perhaps a mistake, in computation, was made by the Clerk.-- Having written thus far sent for M Cooper's Certificate, in order to forward it, with these papers, from some pencil minutes, on the back of the certificate, which I now observe for the first time,
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to which, I request your attention, it is evident that Mr.Temple, who made these minutes, supposed that four ten months service had been allowed for, to wit, eight months as a Sergeant, which was correct for me only
the rest, as a private. He must, therefore, have computed the three months service of a substitute I hope you will think proper to return to Cooper a certificate for three months & three weeks service as a Sergeant, & three months & five weeks as are  vote. Rugs, doubtless, entitled to much more, & would obtain it, if he could remember the men short terms of service, when called out upon also; which were the most harassing expensive & meritorious, of all military service performed during the war.

I am respectfully
Your Olcott Temple
w. Harmon