Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1,800, Joseph Cox, Md.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE | NUMBER
Md. | Cox, Joseph | S. 1,800

carded

CONTENTS

This Envelope Includes
FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER 
[illegible] H.J 5-23-57
Received from GAO
Page 2

5926
Jonesboro Agency
Joseph Cox
of Sullivan in the state of Tennessee
who was a Private in the company commanded 
by Captain Lain of the Regt commanded
by Thos Merryman in the Maryland
line for militia.
One year
Inscribed on the roll of Jonesboro Agency, 
at the rate of 40 dollars 00 cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of Feb. 1838 and handed to Hon John Blair.
Arrears to 4th of September, '32  60
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Mar 1833  20
$80.00
{Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Wm B Palmer, Clerk
Book D, vol. 9, Page 204
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6th April 1838 from 4 Sept 1837 to 22 Feby 1838, the day of his death.  Agt notified 15 March 1839.
Page 3

State of Tennessee Sullivan County.
September Term 1832

On this 25th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open 
Court before the Honorable Edward Scoth, Judge of the Circuit 
of Law & Equity for said County now sitting, Joseph Cox 
a resident of the county of Sullivan & State of Tennessee aged 
seventy one years who being 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 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the 
following named officers and served as hereinafter stated, to wit, 
that in the spring of the year 1780, he was a resident 
of the County of Baltimore in the State of Maryland & [illegible]
[illegible] in said County as a minute man under Major Merry
man, Lieutenant Majr Elijah Merriman Captn William 
Lain drew arms & amanitioin [ammunition] from the magazine 
in Baltimore & continued in said service for between 
[illegible] & fifteen months untill [until] the surrender of Lord 
Cornwallace [Cornwallis].  for which service he drew half pay for 
the above specifyed [specified] time of [illegible] or fifteen 
months.  his object or the object of the Regiment to 
which he belonged was to keep the British from 
landing at Baltimore, during which term of service he was often 
permitted to return home to his fathers family 
he states that he served in all in the war of 
the revolution against the British not less than 
thirteen months & half.  he states that he was never 
marched out of the said County of Baltimore 
that he was in no battle during his said term 
of service but was repeatedly formed in a 
line of battle.  when the British were about
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to land their troops, he stated that there 
were [struck out: main] a number of Regulars in the 
fort below Baltimore but he does not recollect 
the names of any of the officers.  he states that shortly 
after the surrender of Lord Cornwallace [Cornwallis] at York 
he was called on to return his arms to the 
magazine at Baltimore which he done. 
he states that he has no documentary evidence 
of his service, nor does he know of any person 
whose testimony he can procure who can 
testify to his service.  he states there is 
no resident minister of the 
Gospel in his neighbourhood [neighborhood] 
who can testify to his service 
as required by the War Department 
he hereby relinquishes every 
claim whatever to a pension 
or annuity except the present 
and declares that his name
Page 5

year last aforesaid
Wm Anderson Clk  Joseph Cox

We Thomas Cox and John Lawrey residing in 
the County of Sullivan and State of Tennessee hereby certify, that 
we are well acquainted with Joseph Cox who has subscribed 
& sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy 
one years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the 
neighbourhood [neighborhood] where he resides to have been a soldier of the 
Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and 
subscribed this 25th day of September 1832.
Wm Anderson Clk  Thomas Cox 
John Lawrey
Page 6

And the said Court doth hereby certify [struck out: that he is well acqu
ainted with] & declare their opinion after the investigation of 
the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by 
the War Department, that the above named aplicant [applicant] was 
a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states.  And the Court 
further certifies that it appears to them that Thomas Cox 
and John Lawry who have signed the preceeding [preceding] 
certificate are credible persons and [struck out: enti
tled to] their statement is intitled [entitled] to credit
Edw Scott one of the Judges 
of the Circuit Courts of Law 
& Equity in & for the State of 
Tennessee aforesaid

[Note written vertically right margin]
Joseph Cox
12,332

I William Anderson Clerk of the Circuit 
Court for said County do certify that 
the foregoing contains the original 
proceding [proceeding] of the Court in the case of the
application of Joseph Cox for a pension
[Blurred seal of office] In Testimony whereof I 
have hereunto set my hand 
and affixed my seal of office 
this 27th day of September 1832
Wm. Anderson Clk

Joseph Cox is known to me, and is a man 
of [illlegible] & [illegible] but whose character 
for veracity I have never heard doubted
J Blair
Page 7

State of Tennessee } Be it known that before me Jacob T. 
Sullivan County } Messick a Justice of the Peace in and for the 
County aforesaid personally appeared William Rhea guardian of Temper
ance Cox and make oath in due [illegible] of law that the said Temperance Cox is 
still living that she is the Reputed Widow of Joseph Cox deceased the iden
tical person who was a pensioner and is now dead and to whom a certificate 
of pension was issued of which the following is a true copy

War Department Revolutionary Claim

I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of 
the 7th June 1832 Joseph Cox of the State of Tennessee Jonesboro 
Agency who was a private in the army of the Revolution is entitled to 
receive Forty Dollars and -- 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 18th day of 
February One thousand Eight hundred and thirty three
Examined and Countersigned | Lew Cass
J. L Edwards | Secretary of War

That the deceased pensioner resided in Sullivan County State of Tennessee 
for the space of upwards of thirty years before his death and that previous 
thereto he resided as he is informed Baltimore County Maryland 
Sworn and subscribed this 21st day of | William Rhea
January 1839 before me
Jacob T Messick J. Peace

State of Tennessee } Know all men by these presents that I William 
Sullivan County } Rhea of Sullivan County State of Tennessee guardian 
of Temperance Cox who is the Reputed Widow of Joseph Cox deceased who was a
Revolutionary pensioner of the United States do hereby constitute and appoint 
Abraham McClellan my true and lawful attorney for me and in my 
name to secure from the treasurer of the United States the ballance [balance] of said 
Joseph Cox pension from the fourth day of September 1837 to the 22nd day 
of Febry 1838 being the day of his death.  Witness my hand and seal this 
21st day of Janry 1839
Stated and declared in presence of | William Rhea [word Seal encircled]
Saml Rhea | guardian
B.L. Delaney
Page 8

Be it known that on this 21st day of Janry 1839 before the 
subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County personally appeared 
William Rhea above named and acknowledged the foregoing power of 
Attorney to be his act and deed.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto 
set my hand the day and year last above mentioned
Jacob T. Messick J. Peace

Be it known that on this 29th day of January 1839 before [words 
struck out] Peter Hasner third Auditor of the Treasury personally appeared 
Abraham McClellan the attorney named in the foregoing power of 
Attorney and made oath that the same was not given him by reason of 
any sale, transfer or mortgage of the pension or arrears of pension therein 
authorized to be recvd. by him.  Sworn and subscribed this day and 
year last above mentioned.  A. McClellan 
Peter Hasner 3d Aud 

State of Tennessee } I, John C. Rutledge Clerk of the County 
Sullivan County } Court for Sullivan County Do hereby certify 
that Jacob T. Messick Esq. whose name appears to the within 
affidavit and Certificate of Acknowledgement of Power of Attorney 
is now and was at the time of signing the same an acting 
Justice of the peace in and for said County and that his 
signature appears to be in his own proper hand writing 
Given under my hand and seal of office at office in 
Blountville this 21st of January 1839
[Blurred seal of office] John C. Rutledge Clerk
Page 9

State of Tennessee Sullivan County, County Court March 
Term one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight

Satisfactory evidence was produced to the Court by the
Testimony of John Anderson Sr. and Alexander Doggett that Joseph 
Cox was a pentioner [pensioner] of the United States at the rate of Forty 
dollars per annum was a resident of the County of Sullivan 
and State of Tennessee and died in the County and State 
aforesaid in the year one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty eight on the twenty second day of February and left 
a widow whose name is Temperance Cox

State of Tennessee Sullivan County, County Court April 
Term one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.

William Rhea appeared in Open Court and was 
appointed Guardian to Temperance Cox and entered 
into bond with approved security according to law

State of Tennessee } I, John C. Rutledge Clerk of the County Court 
Sullivan County } for Sullivan County do hereby certify that the 
above are true copies of the record of my office in these cases
In Testimony where of I have hereunto subscribed 
[Blurred seal of office] my name and affixed my seal of office at 
office in Blountville this the twenty first day 
of January one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty nine.
John C. Rutledge Clerk
Page 10

[illegible]
No. 5114. ✓

[illegible]
The Widow of 
Joseph Cox decd.

Pensioner 
per Act 7 June 1832
Jonesborough, Tennessee 
Act 6 April 1838 $19--

February 4th 1839
5

Recd. Febry 7th 1839 of the 3d  
Audr of the Treasury Reg
No 1110 dated 5-Just for 
Nineteen dollars in full of 
the within [illegible]
$19.-- A. M. McClellan
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[illegible] The United States 

To the Guardian of the widow of 
Joseph Cox decd. late a private & pensioner 
on the Roll of Jonesborough Tennessee 
under Act 7 June 1832.

For the pension of the deceased 
from 4 September 1837 to 22d February 1838,
the day of his death, 172 days at $40.
per annum per voucher filed herewith.
$19.00
______

Treasury Department 
Third Auditor's Office | Second Comptrollers Office 
February 4th 1839 | Examined by J L Cathcart 
By T. H. Hanson | 4th Febry 1839

FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER 

Received from GAO
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M.C.S.

Rev. & 1812 War Section 

May 22, 1924

Joseph Cox 
S. 1800

Mrs. L. W. Stratton 
1319 Vinton Ave. 
Memphis, Tenn.

Madam:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolution
ary War pension claim, S.1800, it appears that Joseph Cox, while 
residing in Baltimore County, Maryland, enlisted in the spring of 
1780 and served about thirteen and one half months as private in 
Captain William Lain's Company, Major Merriman's Maryland Regiment.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 
25, 1832, while a resident of Sullivan County, Tennessee, aged 71 
years.  He died February 22, 1838, leaving a widow, whose name is not  
stated.

Respectfully,

Commissioner
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Joseph Cox 
Sullivan County 
_____
$40.00 per ann
_____
Hon A. McClellan

Payments to be made 
at Jonesboro Ten.
by Wm. K. Blair, Esq.
Agent for paying Pensioners,  
in the Agency of Jonesboro
Tennessee

Recorded by N. Rice
Clerk, in Book D Vol 9
page 204
Page 14

WAR DEPARTMENT.

Revolutionary Claim.

I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United 
States, of the 7th June, 1832, Joseph Cox
of the State of Tennessee, Jonesboro agency 
who was a private in the Army of the 
Revolution 
is entitled to receive Forty --- dollars and 
[struck out: 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 
18th day of February 
one thousand eight hundred and thirty=three.
[Blurred seal]  
Lew Cass
Secretary of War.

Exam [covered by seal] }
Countersi [covered by seal] }
J L Edwards

FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER 

Received from GAO
Page 15

I Joseph Cox of the County of Sullivan and State of Tennessee 
do hereby assign unto Deevy & Alison all the money that may 
now be due me on the within certificate of pension from 
the United States and I do hereby covenant and agree with the 
said Deevy & Alison that the above assignment shall contin
tinue in force untill [until] the said Deevy & Alison shall be paid 
out of the said pension money the sum of [struck out: amount] forty seven dollars & 57 cents which 
I now at this time [word struck out] owe them and any other sum that I 
may be due them hereafter and I do hereby bind my self unto 
the said Deevy & Alison to give them all the necessary 
proof and sign any acknowledge all instruments of writing 
that be necessary and requisite to draw the said pension 
money from the United States and for the faithful 
performance of this [word struck out] agreement I do hereby bind myself 
my heirs executors and administrators &c. unto the said Deevy & 
Alison in the [illegible] sum of two hundred 
dollars  in witness whereof I have here
unto subscribed my name and affixed my seal 
this 24th day of October 1834. Joseph Cox

Witness William Wolford

[written vertically left margin]
No. 5926
Page 16

that he now resides in Sullivan County and has resided 
their [there] for the space of about 34 years past and that 
previous thereto he reside in Baltimore County Maryland
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT, 
Second Comptroller's Office, 
February 5th, 1839

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838 entitled "An
act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain 
Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury 
of the United States," the guardian of the widow of Joseph Cox, 
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Jonesborough, Tennse. Agency, at 
the rate of Forty Dollars [struck out: and Cents]
per annum, under the law of the 7th June, 1832, has 
been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1837 
to the 22d February, 1838, the day of his death.

Respectfully yours,

Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions, 
Present.
Page 18

To what time was Joseph Cox, act '32-
Jonesboro' Tenn. last paid?
J L Edwards 
Dec. 21. '38

pd to 4 Sep. 1837
JH
Page 19

[Two panels]
[Left panel]

Mch. 25-1901
Mrs Ella R. Despard
Parkersburg W. Va

1924 May 22 Hist to 
Mrs. L. W. Stratton, M.C.S.
(See letter in case of 
Edward Cox S 3170)

[Right panel]

[written vertically left margin]
Rev War.

1800
✓ INVALID.

File No. 1800
Joseph Cox
Priv. Maryland Line

Act: June 7. 1832.
Index:--Vol. A, Page 72

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]
Page 20

Joseph Cox

from 1780 private 
1 year
$40

[illegible] J Blair
Page 21

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pensions Claims, of which those  
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of 
Joseph Cox which require 
further proof or explanation.

I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

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

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 was when he served? 

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 amount of pension 
he is entitled?  No.

VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?

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

VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion?

IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?

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?
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2

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 revolu
tionary service?  

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason for not obtain
ing it? 

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?

XIV.  †If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness 
or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, 
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the 
regulations direct?

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?

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

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, 
if not, which of them is not so answered?  
1. 2 & 7

_________

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 recol
lection 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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3

[The following paragraph has a single brace { and 👉 shown in the left margin]
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 to in
definite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions 
merely state 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 objection
able.  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 em
ployed in any civil pursuit.  
†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 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 magis
trate 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 cer
tificate 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.
👉In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.