Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,627, George Cook, N.C.
Page 1

N.C. Cook George S.31.627
Page 2

see letter to Hon. J. L. Cleveland
May 15.1839-same June 15.1839

Georgia N. 27.824
George Cooke
of Elbrit Co. in the State of Georgia
who was a Private in the _________commanded
by Captain Lenore of the Right, commanded 
by Col. Shelby in the North Carolina troop 
line for 7 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia
at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834
Certificare of Pension issued the 2 day of June
1832 and deref to Tia Chistian
Elberton C. H. Ga
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834           69.66
Semi anl. allowance ending 4 Sep. "        11.66
$81.65
Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by D. Brown             Clerk, 
Book E. Vol 6 Page 87
Page 3

S.S.
State of Georgia,
Elbert County,
On this twentieth day of January in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty four, personally appeared in open Court, before Beverly Allen, Dillard Herndon, Isaac Almond & Rott B. Christian Justices of the Superior Court in and for Elbert County state of Georgia, now sitting, George Cook, a resident of Elbert County and State of Georgia aged sixty nine years two months and a few days, who being being first duly sworn
Page 4

having served two & half months as a private in the service of
the United States during the Revolutionary War, General
Green and Morgan remained in the Rear of our Batallion
as we marched to Virginia with the prisoners, as he supposed
to prevent Cornwallis from retaking of them.
That he also was drafted as a private in the State of
North Carolina Wilkes County in the latter part of the year
Seventeen hundred and Eighty one the day or month he
does not recollect, under Captain Cleveland in a Mounted
Infantry Company, joined General Butler and Rutherford
on their march to Wilmington in the State of North Carolina
and that his company with a Colonel Smith were detached
with about four hundred mounted men and Marched through the lower part of South Carolina, and then to
Wilmington in the State of North Carolina, on the West
side of Cape Fear River, and that the detachment had
had two engagements with the Enemy, that he left the
main Army and travelled from near Wilmington North Carolina
in Company with his Captain and six private
for Wilks County, after having marched about two hundred
Miles were attacked by about thirty Tories Commanded by a
Tory Colonel by the name of Fanning, as he understood, where
he became seperated from this Horse and Company and
after having served two & half months as a private in the Revolutionary War was discharged in the year seventeen hundred and Eighty one, making in all at the several different
periods, seven months service which he performed as a private in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary War and that there were no continental Regiments or
officers directly with the troops where he served, except Genl
Green and Morgan who followed in his rear when marching from North Carolina to the State of Virginia with the
prisoners as before stated. That he has no documentary
evidence, and that he knows of no person, whose testimony he
can procure except Benjamin Brown who can testify to his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Page 5


says that he was born in Granville County State of North Carolina
on the eighteenth day of November in the year one thousand
Seven hundred and sixty four; that he has a Record of
his age in his fathers Bible who has long since been dead
which Bible is not now in his possession.
That he resided in North Carolina Wilkes County when
first called into service, and in Wilkes County State of North Carolina
the second time when called into service, and in
Wilkes County State of North Carolina the third time
when called into service, that he has resided a part of
the time since the Revolutionary War in the States of
North Carolina and South Carolina and for upwards
of forty years last part in the State of Georgia where
he now resides in Elbert County,

The first time when called into service says that he volunteered, the second time he substituted for one Randall
Mabry,  the third time when called into service that
he was drafted, say that he served not immediately with (illegible)
Regular officer or Continental Regiments, and only
with his own Militia Regiment or Battallion,
says that he only received one written discharged given
him by Lieutenant Baker in the absence of Captain Nall
who had left the Army before he was discharged in Virginia
which has long since been lost or destroyed, for the other
two tours of service he received no written discharges,
He states that the names of persons to whom he is known
in his present neighbourhood, and who can testify to his
Character for veracity, and their belief of his service as a soldier
of the Revolution and Thomas Jones, Benajah Houston, James Bell, Benjamin Brown, & the Honorable Wiley Thompson
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
Test
Ira Christian
(illegible) Inferior court
Geo Cook
Page 6

We Thompson S Gleen a Clergyman residing in Elbert County
State of Georgia, and Green W Smith residing in the same place
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with George
Cook, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration
that we believe him to be sixty nine 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
Ira Christian Clrk of Inf Court
Thompson S Glenn
Green W Smith

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after
the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatives
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 Thompson S Glenn who has signed the proceeding
Certificate is a Clergyman, and in Elbert County
-
State of Georgia, and that Green W Smith who has also
Signed the same, is a resident in the same place, and
is a creditable person, and that their statement is entitled
to credit
Issac Almand J.J.C.
Dillard Herndon J.J.C.
Beverly Allen J.J.C
Robt B. Christian J.J.C.
I Ira Christian Clerk of the Inferior Court in
and for Elbert County State of Georgia, do hereby certify
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the
said Court in the matter of the application of George Cook
for pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and the seal of the
Office this twentieth day of January
in the year one thousand eight hundred
and thirty four M.A. Christian Clk
Inft Court E.C. Ga
Page 7


for a statement of the military history of George Cook
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information
as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 
S. F. 31,627
DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.
Sept or Oct 1780
Late in 1780
Late in 1781
LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
 2 mos
2 ½ mos
2 1/2 mos
RANK.
Pri
.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Lenois
Nall
Mtd infantry
Colonel.
State
NC
Battles engaged in, In several engagements, one with party of Tories under Colonel Fanning
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Wilkes. N.C.
Residence at date of application, Elbert Co. Ga
Age at date of application, B in Granville Co, Nov., 18 1764
Remarks: (check mark)
Page 8


State of Georgia
Elbert County

Personally appeared in open
 Court before their Honor Beverly
Allen, Dillard Herndon, Isaac Almond and
Robert B Christian Justices of Inferior Court now setting
in and for Elbert County State of Georgia, Benjamin
Brown a resident of said County aged sixty nine years
and upwards, who being duly sworn according to
Law deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with
George Cook who has this day made his Oath
to a declaration for a pension under the act of
Congress passed June 7th 1832, that he was well
acquainted with the Applicant during the Revolutionary War, and knew of his serving some considerable time
in the War of the Revolution as a Private Soldier
but cannot say precisely the length of time which
he served,
Sworn to and subscribed
in open Court this 20th
day of January 1834-
Test
Ira Christian
Ck Inf. Court
E.C.
-
We Isaac Almond, Dillard Herndon and Robert B Christian Justices
of the Inferior Court in and for Elbert County State of Georgia, Certify that
Benjamin Brown who has made the above Affidavit is a creditable person
and that the facts therein stated by him we believe to be true. I testimony
Whereof We have hereunto set our Hands this 5th day of May 1834
Isaac Almand J.
Dillard Herndon J.J.C.
Robt B. Christian J.C
I Ira Christian Clerk of the Inferior Court of Elbert County, State of Georgia, Certify
that Isaac Almond, Dillard Herndon and Robert B. Christian are Justices of the Inferior Court
the above, and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be evidence
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the
seal of said Court and subscribed my name this
5th day of May 1834
Ira Chrishan ck
Inf. Court E. C.
Page 9

Priv for 2 mo in Wilkes Co. N.C. in Sept or Oct 1780
Capt Lenoar Sub for Randall Mabry for 2 1/2 mos
in same Co. in the latter part of 1780 under Capt Nall
same Co. in the latter part of 1781 Capt Cleveland
Joined Gen Butler 2 1/2 mo
Page 10

(Seal Decatur Jun 7 Ga.) Free
3 Geo Cook G.C.
Mail
J L Edwards
Com.
of Pensions
Washington City
Page 11


Decatur DeKalb Co Ga
June 6th 1839
Sir
I wrote you a few days Since
for a
Copy of George Cooks "Declaration
for a pension.
I did not want a copy,
but the names of the officers under whom
he
served
and the kind of service. I presume the Department
will not object to furnishing
this information
Respectfully
your
Obt Svt
Jesse F Cleveland
J L Edward
Com of Pensions
Washington City
D. C.
27824
Page 12

May 15

(Seal EDGEVILLE Ga
MAY
10)

Wee
J L Cleveland
Mr. J L Edwards
Com of Pensions
Washington City
mail

Com Geo Cook 27824
Page 13


Milliagville Ga

May 17 1839
Sir

Will you be so good as
to inform me by mail, who was
the officers
under whom, George Cook
of Elbert Co. Ga served in the War of
the
Revolution. By a reference  to
declaration in the pension office
the information I desire can be
procured, as he was a Pensioner and
the Georgia
Roll your attention
to this business will greatly oblige
you friend and obt Svt
Jesse F Cleveland
his
Mr J L Edwards
Com of
Pens
Direct your letter to Decatur, Dekalk
Co, Ga: my residence
Page 14

30.457-
Geo: Cook
Ga
Admitted
asa
private 7 mo
$23.33
11 apl m34


Ira Christian
Elberton C H
Ga
Page 15


WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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 compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
A Statement, showing the service of Geo. Cook
Period when the service was rendered
Duration of the
claimant's service.
Rank of
the
claimant.
Names and rank of the Field officers
under whom he served.
Age at present,
and place of abode
when he entered
the service.
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
┃ the credibility of Benj Brown must
be established by the certificate of the
Court, a time magistrat.

I am, respectfully,


Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 16

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1882.
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
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops, "militia, and volunteers, all
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.
S. ┃
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, mucicians 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
On this
day of
A.B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
of
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 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)
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
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of
& c.
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
and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
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 days 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
Page 17

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it giv-
To a Soldier on, and what has become of it?
To an Officer Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
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 the 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.
If 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
inquiry 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 before
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 or
low 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
conforming to the rule.
(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 cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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, desposeth and saith, that,
of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of service; but, according to the best recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the
following  grades:--For ___  year ___  
months, and ___   day, I
served as a______. 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,
and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served


in the militia, &c, without specifying the tours, the names of the officers the applicant served  the duration of each term of engagement;
his power pace or place 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 service was performed, he was not employed in 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
seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accept 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
who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's service entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the sa the regiment, company and  line to which he belonged.
The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The notes from
from (a)to(i)are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia in Volunteers and State Troops. The proof require note
(j) applies to continental troops only.
(k) This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
(l) 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
Page 18

31627
Revy INVALID.
File No. S1.627

George Cook
Prv
Rev War
Act June 7 32"
Index: -- Vol. 2
, Page 83
(Arrangement of 1870.]
Feb. 14. '08. Hist. to S. C. Reagan ┃
Letter with S.F. 42655: Zachariah Cook