Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8234, Henry Cook, Md.
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SERVICE   Md.
Cook Henry
NUMBER  18234.
Born in Germany
Res. at enlistment, N.Y. state

CONTENTS


Carded
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No. 11.792
MARYLAND
Henry Cook
of Baltimore Co in the state of Maryland
who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Vanheer of the Regt. commanded 
by Genl Lee in the Maryland line for 2 years
$80.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Maryland
at the rate of 80 Dollars_______cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
-
Certificate of Pension issued the
21. day of June 1833 and sent to Jas. F. Brice
Annapolis Md.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833
160.00
semi anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 1833 40.00

⎨ Revolutionary Claim, Act LJune 7, 1832

Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,

Book E Vol. 5 Page 102
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State of Maryland

City of Baltimore, Set:
On this Twenty first day of May in the year
of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and
Thirty three, personally appeared before the
Orphans Court for Baltimore County Henry
Cook, a resident of Baltimore City, in the County aforesaid, and State of Maryland aged Seventy 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, and served as herein stated; that he served under Captain Vanheer; that he entered the service on the Third day of January in the year One thousand seven hundred and Seventy seven and left the same on the Third day of January in the year One thousand seven hundred and eighty: that he at the time of
entering the service resided in Fishkill or Pigs
kill in the State of New York. that he enlisted
and was immediately ordered to repair to the Head Quarters of General Washington, who was then in
(the)
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the State of New York; that he served with the
Maryland Troops, that the names of the regular
officers were General Washington and General
Lee, he cannot recollect the names of any other of the regular officers; that he was wounded in his right hand at the battle on the North River.
that he has no documentary evidence, and that
he knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service, that he was born in a small village called Hahn in
Germany near the borders of Holland; that
he has no record of his age; that he was discharged on the Third day of January Seventeen hundred and eighty; that he was one of General Washington's Body guards, and belonged to the Troop of horse attached to the "Fourth Regiment Maryland line'
     The said Henry Cook 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 any Agency
Henry Clark his mark 
Sworn to and subscribed the
day and year aforesaid 
James Harwood
Henry Payson
Benj C Ridgate
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The following Interrogatories were then propounded
to the said Applicant
1st Where, and in what year were were you born?
Answer
Does not recollect the year, but supposes him
self to be about Seventy years of age
2nd Have you any Record of your age, and if so, where is it?
Answer-
Has no record of his age
3rd Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and here do you now live?
Answer - That he lived at the time of his enlisting at a small place called Fishkill or Pigskill in the State of New York, immediately after ward enlisting, he was sent to General Washington head quarters; after the war he resided in German Town, Pennsylvania. Afterwards lived in Philadelphia, and removed to Maryland in 1794, where he has continued to reside 
4th How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom
Answer. He enlisted-
5th 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 general circumstances of your service ┃
Answer - That he cannot recollect the names of any 
(of)
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of the regular officer except General Washington and General Lee; that he served in a troop of Horse belonging to the "4th Regiment, Maryland Line" and refers to his deposition as to all he now recollects as to where he served.
6th - Did you receive a discharge from the service and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
Answer - He received a discharge from the service doe does not recollect from whom he received it - that it is lost or mislaid.
7th - State the name of persons to whom you are known in your neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your service as a soldier of the Revolution.
Answer - James Mitchell, John Curran, Nathaniel Hitchcock and Overt Pearce and many others whose names he cannot now recollect.

Henry Cook - His X Mark

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

James Harwood
Henry Payson
Benjn C Ridgate
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No. 25347
Henry Cook Baltimore City
Maryland

Admitted
24 mo Private $80

Jas F Brice Annapolis, MD

E
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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 show what is necessary to be done. These 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 complying with this request greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement showing the service of Henry Cook Baltimore County, Maryland

Period when the service was rendered - Entered 3 Jan 1777
Duration of the claimant's services - 3 years
Rank of the claimant - Trooper
Names and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served - General Washington, Capt. Vanheer, Gen. Lee
Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service - 70 years, Fishkill, New York
Proof by which the declaration is supported - Traditionary evidence & one piece of documentary evidence papers correctly attached.

I am respectfully
Your obedient servant
J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
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-2-
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832. 

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. 3. 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, musicians 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 }ss. 

On this day of personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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. I 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 day 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 it 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
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3 

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 given 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 enquiry 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 follow 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 claim 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, 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 bis 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 mouths 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, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that 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 objectionable. 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 au embodied corps called into service by competent authority that lie was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil 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 his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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. 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 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 magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in 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.
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8234
Rev War
INVALID

File No 8234
Henry Cook
Pri Rev War

Act June 7th '32

Index Vol [illegible] Page 75

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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8234
Rev War
INVALID

File No 8234
Henry Cook
Pri Rev War

Act June 7th '32

Index Vol {illegible} Page 75

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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We John Curran and Obed Pearce residing in the City of Baltimore and State of Maryland hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Henry Cook who has subscribed and sworn to the aforegoing declaration, that we believe him to be about seventy 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.

John Curran
Obed Pearce

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

James Harwood
Henry Payson
Bemjn C Ridgate

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 certify that it appears to them that John Curran and Obed Pearce who have signed the preceding certificate re residents in the City of Baltimore and are creditable persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.

James Harwood
Henry Payson
Benjn C. Ridgate

Judges of the Orphans Court of Baltimore County
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I David M. Perine Register of Wills of the Orphans Court for Baltimore County do hereby certify that the aforegiong contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Henry Cook for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty-first day of May in the year eighteen hundred and thirty-three.

D.M. Perine
Register of Wills
for Baltimore County

SEAL
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Land Office, Annapolis, April 25th, 183(cutoff)

I certify that it appears by the muster rolls remaining in the office that Henry Cook enlisted as a private in the 4th Maryland Regiment for the term of three years on the 3rd of January 1777 and was discharged on the 3 day of January 1780.

George G Brewer
Reg. Land Office W S M