Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18359, Robert Cochran, S.C.
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( 3- 1776 ) SERVICE S.C. Cochran , Robert NUMBER S. 18359 carded
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23613 South Carolina  Robert Cochran  Edgefield in the  State of So. Ca.  who was a pri. & Lieut. in the __ commanded by Captain  __ of the  Regt commanded by Col. Flitch  in the S. Carolina line for  10 months. Inscribed on the Roll of So. Carolina at the rate of  93 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March  1831. Certificate of  Pension issued the  8th day of Mar.' 34and sent to  Hon . Geo. McDuffie H.R.  Arrears to the 4th of March ' 34  $ 279.99 Semi-anl. allowance ending  4 Sept. '34 $ 46.66 ( total  $ 326.65 ) {Revolutionary  Claim Act June 7, 1832 } Recorded by Nath . Rice Clerk  Book E Vol. 6 Page  64
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[ State of South Carolina Edgefield District ] On this  29th day of October  in  the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred  and thirty two personally  appeared  in open  Court  before me  Richard Gautt one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions  of the said State now sitting in and for the  District aforesaid   Robert Cochran  a resident of the  District and  State aforesaid aged seventy seven years and eight months 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 the 7th  1832.That he entered the service of the United States  in the  summer of the year  seventeen hundred and  seventy  six ( 1776 ) as a private in a company of Militia  commanded by  Capt. Leroy Hammond, which said company   was attached  to a Brigade commanded by Major  Andrew Williamson . That this  deponent with the  militia  company  aforesaid made an expedition to  Cambridge in this State  against a body of  Tories under the command of  Col. Fletcher
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an officer in the British service  that they  met  near  Cambridge when the  officer terminated  by a  conference of the officers.  That in the    ..  ( illegible ) of the summer  of seventeen hundred  and seventy  six he  was in several expeditions against  the Cherokees  which said expedition  was under the immediate command of  General Williamson and the company to which this deponent was attached  was commanded by   Capt. Leroy Hammond - that this deponent  was with said expedition  about   six weeks - that he  was in no  battle  against the  enemy - that  however  they  demolished their  dwellings , cut down their corn.   That in the winter of  seventeen hundred  and seventy seven he was  in an  expedition  under the same officers against the  Creek Indians  - that they  did  no engage with the enemy  but drove them before  them , But in the same  winter he marched  to Stono in a  company commanded by Capt. John Hammond that he was then attached to  the Department of the company  General  Purchases. That in seventeen hundred  and seventy eight  under Captain Nathaniel Bacon he marched to the  Sister's Ferry  where he was stationed  for two months - that he  was then and there attached to a Battalion  under the command of  Major Hugh  Mid-
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dleton . That  said deponent in the year seventeen hundred and seventy nine  was elected first Lieutenant of  Militia company  commanded by  Captain Bacon - that early in the year seventeen hundred and eighty  that this  deponent   went to  Georgia under the command of  Capt. Bacon - that he was  there stationed  in the  character of first Lieutenant  of sad  company  at a place in the extremity of Augusta  called the backhand  for two months - said deponent  acted as Lieutenant  for  at least two years. That in the year seventeen hundred  and eighty one  he marched in a  Regiment commanded by  Col. Hammond to Columbia where he was stationed for a length of time with the main body of the army. That  this deponent  was  often engaged in  ... ( illegible ) expeditions  and  particularly  against  a certain distinguished  Tory Leader by the name of Cunningham. This deponent  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 in open Court  before  Richard Gautt ( signed ) P. Judge Robt. Cochran  ( signed )
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We Joshua Hammond  & William Dawson  do certify that Robert Cochran is reputed by those who know him  to have been a soldier of the  Revolution and that we agree to that opinion.  and we further state that we believe said Robert Cochran  is worthy of belief and that what is stated in the foregoing declaration  is true , that said Robert was in service  with us. Sworn to and subscribed  the day and year above before me. A B Addison ( signed ) Q.U. Joshua Hammond ( signed ) Will Dawson ( signed )  ( vertical notes ) ( Hon.  D H Lewis HR ) ( Robert Cochran Declaration )   ( must specify ) And the said Court  do  hereby declare their opinion 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  Joshua Hammond  & William Dawson  who have signed the preceding certificate  are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. Richard Gautt  ( signed ) P. Judge  I Jefferson Richardson clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Edgefield District do certify that the above  contents  are original accounts of the  circumstances  in the case of  Robert Cochran in the matter of his application for a pension .  In testimony whereof  I have set my name and  .. ( missing text ) this  6 November 1832.  J Richardson  ( signed / sealed ) C.C.P.
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[South Carolina Edgefield District ] Personally appeared before me  the  undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the   District aforesaid  Robert Cochran  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, ad in the following grades. viz  not less that twelve months as a private under  Col.Hammond,  about  the first of February  1780  he was duly  elected  and commissioned  a second Lieutenant  in which grade he served about t months and then was promoted to the office of first Lieutenant in which grade he served not less that six months. Sworn to before me  Chelsey  B Cochran ( signed ) J.P. April 4th  1833  Robert Cochran  ( signed )  [ South Carolina Edgefield District ] Personally appeared   before me  Chelsey B Cochran  a Justice of the peace in and for the District aforesaid  John Tarrant  a clergymen who being duly sworn  saith that he believes that  Robert Cochran may be of the age  of seventy eight , that he thinks he is a person of veracity  and that he is a regular member of the Methodist  Church. Sworn to before me   Chesley B Cochran (signed ) J.P. April 5 1833. John Tarrant ( signed )
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Additional amended declaration  of Robert Cochran  In answer to the objections set forth by the pension department . The deponent  states that  in  Jume 1775  (  instead of June  1776  as mentioned in the original declaration  ) he volunteered as a private under  Captain  Leroy Hammond  , that he under  the command of  said officer was in the neighborhood of  Cambridge S.C.  on expedition  against the tories , that he was one month  at least  under  the orders of the officer commanding  , they were then disbanded. That in July 1776  , there was again a call  for volunteers  , that he  then volunteered under  Captain  John Hammond  Senr. in an expedition  against the Cherokee Indians, the company  attached  to a Regiment  commanded by  Col. Leroy  Hammond  and attached to a Brigade commanded by  General Williamson , that he was in actual service  with said Brigade for one month  & a half , that he then procured a  furlough for a stated period and previous to the time  which it was necessary for him  to return that  he hired a man  and  sent him as a substitute which was received by the Captain  commanding , the company continued  with said with same company  until the company was disbanded. which tour of the said substitute was one  & a half  months  , that from that time  until  August 1777  he was frequently  called out by Captain  Hammond  on expeditions for a few days at a time for the purpose of  suppressing the depredations of the tories, that in  August 1777  the deponent again  volunteered under Captain  John Hammond in  an expedition  against the Creek Indians, the command was under  the direction of  Major Andrew Pickens, Col. Leroy  Hammond and Brigadier  General Andrew Williamson , that the company was raised for no specific time , but to serve during the expedition   against said Indians. That the company  to which he belonged was in active service  for two months, he forming  serving  as one of the company  , there  was again a call for volunteers that this deponent  volunteered under the said Captain  John Hammond - that they embodied at Liberty Hill  in  South Carolina near Augusta  Georgia , that he this deponent  was in active service  either in the encampment or  in scouting through the country by the orders of the officers in command from that time  until
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some time in the month of May following  in all he this deponent  is confident  that was then under the  orders  and in active service four months, that the company  was then discharged  it  being in the spring of the year , planting season  of the year . That the militia was again called out that he  again volunteered  under  Captain John Hammond the first of July  and marched to Stono, the company  attached to the  Brigade commanded by   General Williamson , that  after being  there in  service a short time  he e was attached  to the department of the commissary  General Purchases as one of his  guards, that  he was then in  actual service one month and a half. he deponent further states  that  from the first of  December 1778  to the first of  February  1779  , that he acted as a substitute under  Captain  Nathaniel Bacon at Sister's Ferry  for two months - the company  was then discharged during  this , and of  the two months served the deponent was elected  and commanded as second Lieutenant under Capt. N. Bacon and was  immediately called into service at a place called the Cubboard in the  State of Georgia when he remained stationed for  two months  , the company  was then discharged , the deponent during the two months was   promoted to first Lieutenant & on  the  17th day of June  1780 a  large portion of the Regiment  commanded by  Col. Hammond took  paroles , he this deponent  was paroled as a first Lieutenant - the deponent  continued at Liberty  until in the month of  September , he was then taken prisoner and  retained in  close confinement  at Augusta until the first of  May  1781 - when  the  fortifications of the British was taken by the  Americans a few days before the Americans  had taken possession of the fortification  of the  British  the deponent made his escape from them, and  immediately ' say the first of June 1781  resumed his command as first Lieutenant under  Capt. N. Bacon the company  attached to the Brigade of General Andrew Pickens of South Carolina , they  were marched from the upper part of the  State of So. Carolina to the Congaree River, some time in August , the deponent was taken sick and got a furlough to return home.
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in the above tour  the deponent states that  he was in actual service  two months and that after the recovery of  this deponent's health , that he was from that time until the close of the war frequently engaged as first Lieutenant  in  commanding of scouts in various parts of the State against the  tories until the end of the war. Sworn to  before me  1st February  1834. J Ferry ( signed ) Q. U. Robt. Cochran  ( signed )  [ The State of South Carolina Edgefield District ] I Humphreys Boulware clerk of the Court of  Common Pleas for the  District of Edgefield  in the  State aforesaid do hereby certify that  J. Ferry  Esquire  whose name appears  to the above affidavit is  Commissioner of the Honorable Court of Equity & therefore Justice of the Quorum  Ex- officio  and that due faith  and credit  are and of right  ought to be given tohis attestations as such. Given under my hand  & seal of office  at Edgefield Court House , the eighth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four. H. Boulware ( signed / sealed ) C.C.P.
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admit as private 12 mo .. $ 40.00 4  Lieut .. $ 53.33 ( total  $ 93.33 ) Hon . Geo. McDuffie ( vertical on page ) Edwards esq. Pensoin Office
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Dr. Sir,  I enclose Robt. Cochran's  amended declaration  . It is a pretty good  history of the  particular war in  So Carolina  & contains  upon the force of it the  stamp of their duty.  Your obt. servt. Geo. McDuffie ( signed )
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of                                   Robert Cochran                                                         which require                                               further proof or explanation. 

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 
                                                                                                             Yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? ______

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                    Yes
                                                           

V.* Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amout of pension he is entitled?  No
a more particular statement of his services as a [illegible]
is required showing the length of each tour &c.
                    
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?        
                                                                                                                 Yes
            

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?                                                                       Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?        Yes


IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?          Yes


X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?                                                  Yes
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No


XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?   No


XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?  Witnesses


XIV.+ If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified that he, she ot they are persons of credibility? Yes

Has the the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? ----
                                 #



XV.  Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?  Yes



XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?   Yes



XVll. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? No

                           

                                                          ________________________________
                                                                     EXPLANATORY NOTES. 

QUERE V. 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 _____ months, and ____days,
I served as a_____ For_________months   and ______days, 
I served as a __________; and for such service I claim a pension.
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Hon. G. McDuffie
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3
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. 

†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service
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 claimants 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.
‡QUERE XVI.  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 paper  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 oflicer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
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# Evidence of the claimant having
received a Lieutenant commission and
of his having served as such is required
.
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[ South Carolina Edgefield District ] Personally appeared  before me Chesley  B Cochran   a Justice of the peace in and for the  District aforesaid   William Wash   who being duly sworn  saith that he believes Robert Cochran  to be about seventy eight years of age, that he  has personally known Robert Cochran  about forty  years, more or less , that he is a person of veracity  , that he  believes all that  Robert Cochran says  in regard tohis revolutionary services that  Robert Cochran  is an acceptable member of the Methodist  Church.  Sworn to before me Chelsey B Cochran ( signed ) J.P. April 5, 1833  William Wash  ( signed ) The applicant further states that in answer to the interrogatories of the  War Department  that he was born  on the  3rd April 1755  in the State of North Carolina  agreeable to a family record  which he has  fortunately seen , which he believes is now in the possession of a relation in the western country. The applicant further states that  he never received a written discharge  that he  has no  documentary evidence on which to rely  for verification of his declaration  herein made  & set forth, but  would  refer the Department to  affidavit of  Josua Hammond  & William Dawson with whom he  served during the time  mentioned in this declaration . The applicant further states that he was duly commissioned  as second Lieutenant  by  Col. Leroy  Hammond  on Feb. 7th  1780, that  in  May following  he rose by the right of rank to first Lieutenant and continued
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to hold that commission during the war , that  during the time he was  acting as Lieutenant  his house was robbed a  & his papers burned by the Tories & British and  thereby lost  his commission. Sworn to before  me  12 day of April  1833. J. Richardson ( signed ) clerk  Robert Cochran ( signed )  I Josiah J. Evans Presiding Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Edgefield District at Spring Term  1833  certify that I have examined the amended declaration  of Robert Cochran  as sworn  to by him , I believe the facts to be true. Josiah J Evans ( signed )  13 April 1833. I Jefferson Richardson  clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for  Edgefield District  do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the amended declaration   & proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Robert Cochran - and I do further certify that  Chelsey B Cochran  is an acting Magistrate for the  District of Edgefield . In witness whereof I have  hereunto set my hand  & seal  of office this 13 day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three. J. Richardson ( signed / sealed ) C.C.P.
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P
18359
INVALID.
_________
18359
Robert Cochran
Lient  Rev War
____________
Act: June 7" 32

Index: -- Vol. 1   , Page 440

[Arrangement of 1870.]