Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 35,845, John Cotten, S.C.
Page 1

Service SC
Cotton, John or Cotton
Number S35845
Page 2

(Indecipherable) 14.8y3
John Cotton
St. Clair Co in the state of Illinois 
Who was a private in the regiment commanded by colonel Sumpter of the South Carolina (indecipherable) for the term of one year
Described on the Roll of Illinois 
at the rate of -8- Dollars per month, to commence on the 13th of July 1818
Certificate of Pension issued on the 5th of Sep. 1819 and sent to Danepbook Esq. Agent. 
Billsille Illinois 
(Cut-off) rears to 4th of Sep. 1819 = $129.96
Semi-and. all’ce ending 4 Mar 1820      48.
13 mo 19/31  4/30                                 $177.40
 
{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.
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Illinois Territory to wit [illegilbe}
Before me the undersigned p [illegilbe}g  [illegilbe} of the General Court of said Territory personally appeared &  [illegilbe} being sworn on the holy  [illegilbe evan}
gelists of almighty god, deposeth and saith, that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary was in North America where he enlisted in the service at Camden in South Carolina under Captain William McClintock in the fall after the Battle of the Eutaw Springs in said state that he continued in the American army in the character of Sargent during the said war that Captain McClintock was 
killed by the Indians that he (this deponant; does then pleases you Captain Woods, that three  [illegilbe} the Close of the war the aid Captain Woods gave  [illegilbe} and honorable discharge that the deponant never received any Land for services nor wages for the three months  which he last served - that he lost his discharge by being washed off of his horse crossing a river that after losing his discharge he applied to the Governor of Georgia for a certificate of his having been a soldier in the aforesaid war, which he obtained, and which will more fully appear  [illegilbe}  being
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had to the printed certificate [illegible]
sent, and that from his reduced circumstances needs the assistance of his country for support
John Cotton
Sworn to and subscribed
before me at the 13
of July AD 1818
Jesse B Thomas

Illinois Territory  [illegible]
I do certify that the above mentioned John Cotton is an old and is
 [illegible] man (being a cripple) that he is a man of good character and thinks he 
needs and  [illegible] the assistance of his government for the  applicant having an exper
 [illegible] being  [illegible]

Given under my hand
the 12 day of July AD
Jesse B Thomas

[Upside down]
The  [illegible] official character and  [illegible] 
should be attended by the county clerk 
under his seal of office

[sideways in left margin]
The applicant having
filled out the within blank
declaration will turn the
the same with the old declaration  [illegible]
Required the evidence of two credible and depot  [illegible] witnesses duly 
taken and authenticated
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District of Illinois

On the 19th day of June 1879 before me Judge of the district court of the united states for the district of Illinois personally appeared Thomas Isbell and Temperance Isbell who being duly sworn depose d and say that they were well acquainted with John Cotton before and since the revolutionary war in the states of north + south carolina and georgia that they said cotton lived in south carolina at the time the defendants suppose he enlisted.

They did not see him enlist but they were neigh-bors and understood from him that he was in the services. That we was absent some time and returned home occasionally to see his mo-ther and friends.

And these aforementioned deposants understood he was was on furlough.

These deposants had the same facts from the mother of said cotton. And it was generally understood at this time that he was enlisted in the services.

The deposants cannot recollect at this time how long said cotton was in the services but are very certain it was a long time.  More than a year, indeed it might have been five years

The deposant Thomas Isbell states that he is sixty four years old and the deposant Tempe-rance says that she is about fifty eight years old.  

The deposants say that cotton is about the same age as deposant Thomas Isbell.

The deposants always understood that the said cotton had his shoulder broken in the
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service and when he returned to his friends they say that it had been done.  The deponants always heard him complain that he was disabled by this injury and have no doubt that his arm was much weakened by it - the wound is still to be seen on his left shoulder 

sworn to before me
Nathl Pope District Judge

I have carefully examined these witnesses and have no hesitation in giving full credit to the forgoing deposition - they identify mr cotton

Nathl Pope
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Recd C Jan 1821  51.
[illegible] Record of
John Cotton Schedule & 
for pensions

[illegible]
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State of Illinois
St Clair County
Circuit Court
On the 21st day of Nov 1880 personally appeared in open court, being a county of Record for St Clair County in the State of Illinois John Cotton aged about Sixty five and sixty seven years resident in said County who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follow to wit, In Captian William McClintock's 

in the Regiment Commanded by Col or Genl Sumpter in the line of the State of South Carolina on Continental Establishment, that I made my original declaration in order to claim a pension on the 19th day of June 1819 that by the Certificate of J C Calhoun Secretary of war bearing date "the Sixth day of September 1819 no 14,893" I was inscribed on the pension list roll of the Illinois Agency, and I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any act thereof, with intent thereby so to  diminish it or to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress Entitled, "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the revolutionary war." passed on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Scheduled Annexed and by me subscribed

A schedule of the real & personal Estate of John Cotton
One small light waggon  $75.00
One horse 20.00
two cows & calves 24.00  
one Bureau 24.00
one cupboard 15.00
one shot gun 5.00
castings  8.00
17 freelyards 1.50
cupboard furniture 6.00
10 p hoe, plough, 1  [illegible] one saw, 1 drawing knife 6.00
1 trunk & 3 barrels 5.50
one hog 1.25
corn 25.00
four chairs 2.50
[illegible] and chains 2.00
[illegible] 5.00
[illegible]  1.50
total $218.25     $218.25
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My occupation is that of [illegible] of Cakes, income thirty dollars, but declining so far, that I cannot expect to make so much  [illegible] year my family consists of one wife aged forty years, four children the first a boy of ten years of age, the second age of Eight, the third a girl of Six, and the fourth a boy of three and a half year of age.
And I owe debts to various persons Amounting in the whole to $266.00
John Cotton

Sworn to and declared on the 21st day of November 1820 before The Circuit aforesaid

I John Hay Clerk of the circuit county of St Clair County in the State of Illinois Do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of said court; and I do further certify that is  the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is two hundred and eighteen Dollars and twenty five cents.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court at Belleville this 11th day of December in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred Seventy and the independence of the United States of America the forty fifth
John Hay
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O. W. and N. Division.  3-525.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C., 190
S. File 35,845

In reply to your request of , received,  for a statement of the military history of John Cotton 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.

pensioner as Cotton

[columns separated by / ]

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT / LENGTH OF SERVICE / RANK / OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED CAPTAIN / COLONEL/ STATE 

Fall 1781 / / Sgt / William McClintock Woods/ Sumter  / SC
discharged 3 mos after close of war in Augusta, Ga
Battles engaged in, a battle (name illegible) when he had his shoulder broken
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Enlisted at Camden, SC
Date of application for pension, July 13 1818  Cl al
Residence at date of application, St. Clair Co, Illinois Ter in 1820
Age at date of application, [corssed out 63 years]  "about 65 or 67" in 1820
Remarks:  In 1820 soldier referred to his wife aged forty years, a son aged 10 yrs, a daughter aged eight years, a daughter aged 6 yrs and a son aged 3 1/2 yrs names not stated 

Very respectfully

Commissioner

31793b5mIC-07
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35845
Revy INVALID

ile No. 35-845
John Cotton
Ps Rev War
Act: 18th March 18
Index  Vol 2  Page 91
[Arrangement of 1870]

1911 Mar 7 Hist
Mrs Chas Adna Smith
1914 Dec 22 history to Mr. J L McKinnie  M B H
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FORM 3625.   9-09 4m  rs

EMPLOYES' HOSPITAL SERVICE
OFFICE OF CHIEF SURGEON.
Texarkana, Ark.,  Feb. 23 1977

COTTON BELT ROUTE
C A SMITH
Chief Surgeon

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington

Can you give me any dates or war records of Moses Taylor born 1763 in South Carolina.  He entered the Colonial army at fourteen years and fought through the colonial army Died Nov 6 1821 in Georgia

Thomas and John Cotton of South Carolina both fought in the Rev. war James McCormick of Surry N C fought as volunteer five years and six months in Rev. war
Can you [illegible] me any thing of Wades or Bonners from Va or the Carolinas

Respectfully
Mrs. Chas Adna Smith
804 Pine St Texarkana
Texas
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One [illegible] Wed W stamp reto TL

THE FRANKLIN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS

EDGAR S SCOTT, President
J O HUMPHREY, VICE PRESIDENT
EDGAR S BARNES, TREASURER
GEO B STADDEN VP & SUPT AGTS     
A G PORTCH, F A S ACTUARY
DR O F MAXON MEDICAL DIRECTOR
HENRY ABLES SECRETARY
WILL TAYLOR ASST SECY
B R HIERONYMUS ASST TREAS

Rev

HOME OFFIC
THE FRANKLIN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS

December 16, 1914.

Pension Department, 
Washington, D. C. 

Gentlemen: - 
Will you kindly furnish me with the record of service in the Revolutionary War of John cotton from South Carolina, who drew a pension in Adams County, Illinois, and oblige

Yours truly,
J L McKinnie
c/o The Franklin Life Ins. Co.
Springfield, Illinois.

A. 

[stamp]
PENSION
U. S. 
A
DEC
19
1914
OFFICE
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STATE OF GEORGIA

To all to whom these Preents shall come to be seen or made known:

WHEREAAS the Bearer herof, Mr. John Cotton, has acquainted us of his intention to depart from this State, and to travel into some other of the United States of America, and having applied to us for a Certificate of his Character; We, therefore, in Justice to Mr. Cotton, do say, that having known and been well acquainted with him for these several Years past, to be a Man that has always behaved himself with Prudence and good Conduct, and served his Country during the late War, as a faithful good Soldier, been esteemed a  [illegible] Friend to the Cause of America;  We, therefore, from the favurable Opinion we entertain of Mr. Cotton, do recommend him to the Notice of all People and that he may be received as a Citizen of the United States of America, is the earnest Request of 

Augusta, February 1, 1788. 

 [illegible faded signatures listed]
Page 15

Free

The Hon
John C Calhoun
Secy of War
Washington

[below written sideways]
OCJ cases
John Cotton
case

admitted
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Bellville Illinois
June 24th 1819

Sir

At the request of Mr Cotton I have the honor to inform [illegible] you the amounts which he has procured upon which he [illegible] to draw a pension from the United States.
Whatever may be the result of his application it is his own that you should communicate it to him at this place

I have the honor to be 
very respectfully 
your [illegible] 
Danl P Cook

The Hon
J C Calhoun Secy of War
Page 17

John Cotton Serg

South Carolina Line
Colo Pensioner
1781 5 yrs

admitted

[below written sideways]
John Cotton
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DISTRICT OF Illinois  , SS

On this 19th day of June 1819, before me, the subscriber, one of the Judges of the District Court of the United States for the said district, personally appeared John Cotton aged 64 years, resident in St Clair County in the said district, who, being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war: "That he, the said John Cotton enlisted for the term of five years or during the war on the winter of in the year 1781 - 1782 as he thinks in Camden in the State of South Carolina in the company commanded by Captain William McClintock of the Regiment commanded by Colonel or General Sumpter in the line of the State of South Carolina on the Continental Establishment; that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States, until three months after the close of the war, when he was discharged from service in Augusta state of Georgia that he was in the battles on the [illegible]  [illegible]  where he had his shoulder broken & thereby made a cripple and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services.
Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year aforesaid.
Nathl Pope
I Nathaniel Pope Judge, &c. as aforesaid, to certify that it appears, to my satisfaction, that the said John Cotton did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy for the term of nine months at one time, on the continental establishment; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.  I am also satisfied that he needs the assistance of his country for support.  Given under my hand & private seal these being no official seal provided
Nathl Pope
June 19th 1819

SEAL OF 
THE COURT