Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12538, Rufus Cole, Mass.
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SERVICE
Mass.

Cole, Rufus

NUMBER
S. 12538

carded

CONTENTS
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[ text on left side of document]
let to Mr Fleming April 4. 1839
Let to E Pearson, July 20. 1835

8738
New York
Rufus Cole
Ticonderoga in the State of New York
who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain________ of the Regt: commanded Col Arnold in the Mass ma
for a time for 8 mo 5 ds.

Inscribed on the Roll of New at the rate of 26 Dollars 22 Cents per annum to  commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
York

Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of Apl
1833 and sent to E. Pearson Ticonderoga

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $52.44
Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept. 13. 11
$15.55

{Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk
Book (C or E?)  Vol. 4 Page 16
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Pension [illegible]
Rufus Cole
No. 5594

admitted
 8 mo. 5 days  Private
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State of New York
County of Essex ss.

On this 11th day of August A.D. 1832
personally appeared before me Wolcott [illegible] of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County aforesaid Rufus Cole a resident of the town of Ticonderoga County & State aforesaid aged eighty 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 & served as herein stated:
That he was out five several terms as follows:

First Term. His officers were as he recollect, Samuel Wright Captain, William Wheeler, Lieutenant Benedict Arnold Colonel.  That he enlisted for the term of seven months about the first of May one thousand seven hundred & seventy five that he joined the regiment, at Ticonderoga Fort about the middle of May 1775 & that he served at the last mentioned place & at Crown Point till on or about the 20th of July for following when he was discharged at the latter place in consequence of Colonel Arnold being ordered or called
to some other station or post, that he was in no battles that he knew was with a regiment under the command of Colonel Easton at Crown Point whether Continental or state troops he cannot recollect, said regiment was of the Connecticut line, that he knew Colonel Ethan Allen with his Green Mountain boys, also Captain [illegible] and Colonel Seth Warner, & Captain Cochrane, Colonel Easton & Captain Brown - the facts & circumstances within
his recollection are the following - Colonel Arnold & Allen were at Ticonderoga & Crown Point & quarrelled about the command, each claimed to be superior at Ticonderoga they had a clinch, at crown point on a certain day Colonel Easton & Arnold had a guard about the command, Colonel Easton would order the soldiers to parade & Arnold [illegible]
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give counter order & when Colonel Arnold ordered the men to parade then Easton would give counter orders & so they continued to conduct till Colonel Arnold  became enraged & kicked Colonel Easton all over the parade --a sloop & schooner had been taken from the British by Arnolds men which they Arnold men, after being dismissed, as they were apprehension they should not get their pay, took possession of & put Arnold aboard one of them & confined him there, they [illegilbe]
them between Ticonderoga & Crown Point, the troops or land supposed the men on the sloop & schooner were a going to desist to the British & they therefore attempted to take the
vessels, soon after this another commander came whom he believes to be Gen Schuyler & arrangements were then made respecting their pay & the vessels together with Colonel Arnold were surrendered up on the morning Fort Ticonderoga was taken a party of Americans wishing to view the Fort & the breastwork &
places around it left their guns in one of the barracks in charge of one Brown a crazy man who when they returned he refused to deliver up their guns & shot at them & wounded
did some of them & they had to shoot Brown before they could get their guns, one of those wounded by Brown was Major Warren-- your applicant did not [illegible] at Ticonderoga till a few days after this last accident but it was with its circumstances related to him & he also
was those who were wounded by Brown & they then had their arms [illegible] up-- your applicant was a resident of
Williamstown Berkshire County Massachusetts when he enlisted & went from there to Pownal Vermont & from that place was accompanied by Lieutenant Wheeler & others -- they
continued their march through the country then a wilderness till they arrived at Ticonderoga at the time aforementioned --Arnold & Allen were there when we were dismissed--  Arnold however lift as soon as we were dismissed & went to the South or East do not recollect which this applicant staid some day after he was dismissed Allen had gone
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when he went

Second Term- his office this term whom he recollects were were Captain Gave Stratton, Lieutenant Seth Luce, Colonel Brown --That he entered the service on or about the first day of April 1777 he left the service on or about the 20th day of May following at the time he entered said [illegible] he was a resident of the town of Williamstown Berkshire County, Massachusetts, he was drafted, engaged in no battles, that he went or mustered  under Captain Isaac Stratton from the place of his residence to Albany on the Hudson river & there joined the regiment under Colonel Brown from thence he maned
to Saratoga where he was shifted into Captain
Rowleys Company whose lieutenant was one Castle - he then marched to fort Edward, thence to what was called Bloody Pond near the head of Lake George, thence
to what was called Jessup Patent on the North river thence back by Fort Edward to Saratoga & there discharged - the object of this march to Jessup Patent was to destroy a party of Tories & Indians which were at the Patent but they were gone from the Patent when
we arrived -- we sent some [illegible] to discover some trace of them but they returned without discerning the said tories & Indians --the party of which this applicant was one which went as above mentioned to destroy the said tories & Indians were composed of ten men
out of Captain Strattons Company & a certain
number out of each of the other companies at Albany making in all as it was said about 400 men all of whom, as this applicant verily believes were dismissed at
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Saratoga as above mentioned & at the time above mentioned this applicant recollect the names of no other continental officers except Colonel Warner & Major Lusk- That he has no documentary evidence, he never received any written discharge & he knows of no person who can testify to his services

Third Term - That he volunteered in the same year (1777) on or about the first day of July - his officers were Captain Smedley Lieutenant David Johnson  General Schuyler & Brigadier General Poor recollect others --he was dismissed on or about the 15th day of the (Aug?) following. That he joined at the time above stated first of Illy) at Fort
Edward General Schuyler Army & General Poors Brigade, marched with Captain Smedley together with Captain Clark & his company & others not recollected to the head of Lake George then back to what was then called the
Halfway Brook where we staid nearly a week thence we marched to Fort Edward then along the Fort Ann road to Kingsbury to a place called Jones Mills where a part of those
with us were dismissed & this applicant was then transferred into a company commanded by Captain Norton & Lieutenant King & he was then in a skirmish with the Indians, that he was employed on small parties or scouts a
considerable part of the time till he returned to the Army from the scouting parties to at Fort Edward or near there the any having removed during their absence about two miles to the South of the Fort - That he saw at Fort Edward & pursued the Indians who murdered Miss McBrea & a Lieutenant & he also assisted in bringing in & burning their bodies. then marched down the river (Hudson) ahead
some skirmishing with the Indians, that he saw General Arnold fired upon by a small party of Indians in ambush -- they wounded his aid or waiter. crossed the river and
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encamped at Saratoga & Staid there about a week when he was dispatched with a small party up Fish Creek to destroy bridge & bringg in the bodies of five men who had been
killed & scalped by the Indians returned to the army after executing the above dates then marched down to Stillwater while there a small party went out to the West of that place five or six miles in pursuit of a party of Indians that
were lurking about in that quarter, six of said party of the others & went a small distance to a small house with the owner of it (who had left it) for the purpose of taking away some property there, having arrived at said house a sentinel was placed at the door & the rest went into the house while they were in the sentinel was shot down by the Indians as
one of those in the house looked out of a small Window he was fired upon by an Indian but not materially injured he returned the fire & that the Indian dead, the name of the
man who shot this Indian was Josiah Brown a continental soldier he shooting, immediately went out disarmed the body of the Indian & scalped him in sight of the member of other Indians who all fled-- Brown sold this
scalp to some of the officers-- it was adjudged to have $5 work of silver worked into the [illegible] this applicant recollect 
but readily appeared at Schuylers Ville between Generals Poor & Schuyler the circumstances he has forgotten he was dismissed at this place (Stillwater) by General
Arnold but we who were dismissed were directed to stay in the camp till dark & then leave it & keep in a body we arrived at a place called Halfmoon & was then discharged
the next day after arrival on or about the 15th day of August following -- that he knew Colonel Herrick of the Green Mountain Rangers, Colonel Warner, General
Schuyler, General St Clair, General Arnold & General Poor-- That he has no written discharge nor ever had his no documentary evidence nor does he know of any one
who can testify to his services
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Fourth Term. 
That his officers were Caption Clark, Colonel Simons, Adjutant Joseph Skinner - That he entered the service on or about the last day of August 1777 & joined the regiment at Bennington Vermont, marked to Manchester came same state & from thence to Granville New York & on to Whitehall then called Shenesboro there halted Colonel Brown with whom we were destined to cooperate in having [illegible] in getting possession of Ticonderoga i& some of its fortifications --
he also retook from the enemy some Americans who were the prisoners at that place-- we then went back to Gean
ville thence to Pollet Vermont & thence back & forth in [illegible] or small parties reconnoitering the Country in the rear of Burgoynes Army intercepting all supplies to his
army on tories or any others had several skirmishes & some battles during this term the principal of which were at Saratoga & Stillwater that he entered the service this term a substitute for one Joseph Morse continued in the service till the last of October same year when the militia were discharged their services being no longer needed in the reduction of General Burgoyne & his Army. they having surrendered near the middle of the same month (October) we were discharged at Pollet Vermont did not receive any written discharge has no documentary evidence & knowledge of evidence & knows of  no person who can testify to his services - he knew no officers
during this time except thou above mentioned in his fourth statement

Fifth term. That his officers were Captain Clark Colonel Simons & General Ethan Allen he entered the service on or about the first day of October 1780 & left it the last day of the same month -- marched from his residence to Castleton Vermont where we joined General Allens regiment, we were destined to dispel a party of tories & Indians-- did not find them
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we scoured about the county adjacent to Castleton till the last of October the time above stated, & were then dismissed at Castleton -- he entered the service at this time
as volunteer -- knew of no officers other than those under whom he served-

This applicant was born in the year 1752 at the town of Chatham Massachusetts. He has no record of his age at each of the above period when he entered the service he resided in the town of Williamstown Massachusetts in the County of Berkshire - he is known to Levi Wilcox, Isaac Morse,  Lyman S. Allen & Harvey Church who can testify to his character for veracity & to their belief of his service of as a soldier in the revolutionary war the times above stated. He has resided since the Revolutionary war in Shelburn Vermont & for the last 33 years in the town of Ticonderoga Essex County New York where he now resides. He never received any written discharge has no documentary evidence & knows of no person who can testify to his services in either of the
above terms

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares th at his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State-
Signature of Rufus Cole

Sworn to & Subscribedt he day & year aforesaid}
before me
Walcott Tyrrel Judge

We Lyman S. Allen & Harvey Church
residing in the town of Ticonderoga county of Essex & State of New York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Rufus Cole who has subscribed & sworn to the above, that we believe him to be eighty  years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we
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concur in that opinion
Harvey Judge 
Lyman S. Allen

Sworn to & subscribed concur in that opinion
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me
Walcott Tyrrel Judge

And the said Judge hereby is declare his opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories
prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states. And the said Judge further certifies that it appears to him that Lyman S. Allen & Harry Church who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the town of Ticonderoga County of Essex & State of New York & are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit & the said Judge also further certifies that the said
applicant cannot from bodily infirmity attend personally in Court & from present appearances will not be able to attend the sitting of the next Court in & for this County of Essex -
Walcott Syrel Judge

I Leonard Stone Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Essex which is a Court of Record do hereby certify that Walcott Tyrrell Esq. before whom the above Declaration
on oath is made is a Judge of this Court as aforesaid & that the signatures about purporting to be his signature is his
genuine signature. 

State of New York
County of Essex SS.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in & for the County of Ely aforesaid Rufus Cole of the town of Ticonderoga 

Gain the County of Essex aforesaid who being duly sworn [remainder of text illegible]
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in the County of Essex aforesaid who being duly sworn & deposeth  says that by reason of old age & the consequent loss of memory he cannot now positively as to the present length  of his service but according to the best of his
recollection he served not less then the period mentioned  below & in the [illegible] of a private soldier: For two months in his first term for one month & twenty days in his second term,  for one months & fifteen days in his
third term, for two months in his fourth term & for one month in his fifth term he served as a private soldier & this deponent further says that the [illegible] a Clergyman affidavit was
not obtained & made testifying to the deponents age that he was reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution
that no Clergyman resided in his vicinity nor does any now reside there who knew the above mentioned (?)or who was acquainted with & on the Deponent
Rufus Cole

Sworn & submitted this 17th day
of December A.D. 1822 before me
Frans Arthur
Justice of the peace
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Leonard Ston Clerk of the Court of
Common Pleas of the County of Chas, State of
New York & who clerk of the said County, do
hereby certify that the said Court is a Court
of record that Walk Equel Esquire before
whom the within declartion on oath of Reps
Cole was made & taken was at the date of
the said declaration & is now a Judge of said
Court & that the within signatures purporting
to be his signatures are his genuine sight
times - & further certify that Frances Arthur
the person before whom the within affidavit of the and Rufus Cole amending his and declaration was taken & made was at the date of the said affidavit & is now Justice of the Peace of the said County of Cher
that the within signature purporting to be
his signature is his genuine signation in
testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand & seal of office this Eighth day of December A.D. 1822
Leonard Show Clerk
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No. 5594
Rufus Cole

admitted
8 mo. 5 days  Private


5:11
P-4S

1 Sep 1832
12 Nov 1832


[text on left side of document]
2:00
1:20
1:15
2:00
1
_____________
8  -  5
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BRIEF in the case of Rufus Cole
of Ticonderoga in the State of New York
(Act 7 June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Before a Judge

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? It does so appear

3. How old is he? Eighty years

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.
Inlisted about 
1st May In 1775 for Seven months & discharged about the 20th July following

Entered the service about the 1st Apl 1777 and discharged 20th May following

Volunteered about the lst July 1777 and discharged 20th May following

Entered as a  Subsititute about the last of Aug 1777. Continued in the service until the last of October in the same year

Entered the service about the 1st Oct. 1780 and left it the last day of the same month.

Rank 
PRivate

Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
Col. Arnold
Col. Brown
Schuyler Brigade
Officers as before

5. In what battles was he engaged? Saratoga, and Still Water

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Williamstown -- Mass

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence,
by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence alone

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? the papers are considered duly authenticated, the impression of the Clerks seal passing
regularly and distinctly through each paper,

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case
above mentioned.
Wm Gordon    Examining Clerk
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12538
INVALID
File No. 12,538
Rufus Cole
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7 1832
Index: - Vol. A, Page 77

[Arrangement of 1879.]
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Moriah (?)
15 July 

J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington  D.C.

[text written sideways]
July 20 
(?) Attention 
NY 
Rufus Cole
NY and Wash
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Morich  July 12 1835

Dear Sir, 
I have searched for the names Rufus Cole of Ticonderoga N.G. in order
to prove his Pension - I sent to Albany
& was told them that his name had been
[illegible] to Vermont agent to Vermont
Pension office & still not found  -- I sent (?) to Albany &  was advised to send to you 
I therefore take the liberty to (?) of you relative to the matter [illegible] to inform me
whom his name may be found
Yours truly
E. Pearson
Rufus Cole

J L Edwards Esqr.

Rufus Cole