Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,187, William Cotton, N.C.

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Service NC
Cotton, William
Number S 32187

Born in Va_

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              (left hand side)
 25384
 Indiana

William Cotton
of Franklin County in the State of Indiana
who was a  private  in the  (illegible ? Company?)  commanded
by Captain Leek of the reg’t. commanded by
Col. Martin  in the NC line for  1 year and 6 months
 
=========================== 
Inscribed on the Roll of West  Indiana
at the rate of    62  dollars   per  year
to commence on the    4th day of March, 1831.
==============================
Certificate of Pension is issued on the 3rd day  of Jan  1834 and  (illegible -  ?? S S) 
Harding Versailles 

Arrears to the 4th of Sept                      150.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March       30.00
	 				$ 180.00
                                     Revolutionary Claim
			Act June 7th, 1832 
Recorded by Dan’l.  Boyd
Book  E    Vol. 7   Page   107

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Declaration
William Cotton for a Pension
State of Indiana
Franklin County                      On this 27th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three, personally appeared before me, the undersigned, the sole Judge of the Franklin County probate Court in and for the said County of Franklin, and seat of Indiana, William Cotton, a resident of the said county of Franklin and Eighty four years the 28th  day of February next, who by reason of extreme bodily infirmity is unable to appear in open Court for the purpose of making this, his application for a Pension, 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 7th 1832.  He entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and (illegible) as herein stated.
In the month of March, 1780, he volunteered and served for six months Gen’l Sumpter, Col. Martin (Maj. forgotten)  Capt. John Leek; the name of the company officers, he has forgotten.  He left the service in the month of September, same year after serving faithfully for six months when he was discharged by Col. Martin. He then afterwards, in the month of November same year, volunteered a second time for six months and served out the full length of his term under Gen’l Rutherford, Col. Martin, Maj. Canada Capt. John Leek (Time forgotten) and Eunice Walker. He left the service this second term in the month of May, 1781 after first being duly by Col Martin,  This term added to his former service, making the term of One Year.   This second term, he was in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in N. Carolina.  He then in the month of July 1781 volunteered a third term, and served under Gen’l. Sumpter, Col. Martin, Major Canada, Cap John Leek and Eunice Walker.  He left the service the first of January 1782 after being duly discharged by Col. Martin.  This term added to his former terms makes the terms of Eighteen Months for which he claims pension.  At the time he entered the service at all of the several times he resided in Guilford County, North Carolina and continued to reside there until the War was over.  During his first term, he was in the Battle of Cross Creek in N.C., where the Americans defeated the British and in his second term, was in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, N.C.  During his first term, he marched from Dan River to Guilford Courthouse, from thence to Sandy River, from there to Cross Creek where the engagement took place; from thence he marched back to Guilford Courthouse where he remained stationed as a guard until he was discharged in September 1780.  During his second term, he marched from Dan River from Guilford Courthouse, from thence to Blues Creek, from thence to the waters of Peedee; from thence (after remaining there for some time)  he marched to the Swamps; from thence up the (illegible) roads, from thence to the Cross Roads;  from thence to Guilford Courthouse, where he was engaged in the Battle; from there to the Cross roads, where he was  discharged.  During his third and last term, he marched against the Cherokee Indians and passed across the Mayho, from thence to French Broad from thence to Noley Chucky, from thence to the Cherokee Towns for many miles in the wilderness where he remained for about three months when he was marched home to Guilford County by the way of the waters of Peedee, from thence across the River (illegible), from thence he marched to Guilford Court house where he was discharged.  Applicant thinks it his duty to state to the Department that this marches may not be exactly (illegible)

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  but in consequence of his extreme bodily infirmity and consequent mental imbecility, he cannot be more exact.  During all of his terms, there were many Regular soldiers with the troops where he served, be he cannot now remember the particular Regiments with Regiments and Companies than the one to which he belonged.  He remembers  Gen’l. Green, Gen’l. Sumpter, Gen’l Rutherford, Col Martin and some others.  He has no witness or documentary Evidence.  He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension  or assistance except to the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the (illegible) of any states.

			Sworn  to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
						my
					William Cotton
						mark
===

We,  Lewis Dewiese – a clergyman residing in the County of Franklin and State of Indiana and Charles Vancamp residing in the same county and state, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Cotton, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be aged Eighty four years, that he is respected and believed beyond a doubt in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion

		Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
					Lewis Deweise
				     Charles Vancamp
													And the said Henry Berry, the sole judge of the Probate Court of Franklin County in the said state of Indiana aforesaid, does hereby declare his opinion after the investigation of the 	(illegible) and after (illegible) the interrogatories presented by the War Department (illegible) the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the said Henry Berry, the said Judge of the Probate Court aforesaid further certifies that it appears to him that Lewis Deweise, who has signed the preceeding certificate as a clergyman resident in the County of Franklin and State of Indiana and that Charles Vancamp, who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County and State is a credible persons and their statements is entitled to full credit, and the said Judge further certifies that the said applicant, William Cotton, is wholly incapable of attending in open Court for the purpose of having his Pension application therein authenticated in consequence of old age and his extreme bodily weakness and infirmity.  And the said Judge further certifies that the foregoing proceedings were had before him at the residence of the said William Cotton and that the 7 Questions prescribed by the War Department were answered under oath and by the aforesaid applicant.  In Testimony whereof, I have herein set my hand and present seal this 27th day of November Anno Domini 1833						
						Henry Berry   (seal: Probate Judge seal
			     	seal   F. Court)

	Answers to the 7 Questions prescribed by the War Department – Answer to first Question:  I was born in Virginia on the waters of Smith River the 28th day of February, 1750. Answer to 2nd

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Question:  I have a record of my age furnished me by my sister it is set down in my Bible.  Answer to 3rd Question:  When I was (illegible) with the service all of the three terms, I resided in Guilford County, North Carolina and continued to reside there until the war was over.  I continued to reside in Guilford County for many years after the close of the war.  I then removed to Greensville County, South Carolina where I remained for many years, also I then removed to Franklin County Indiana where I now reside.  Answer to 4th Question: All three of my terms, I was a volunteer.  Answer to 5th Question: Gen’l Nathaniel Greene, Gen’l Sumpter, Gen’l Rutherford and Col. Martin were with the troops where I served and some others whose names I cannot recollect.  There were Regular troops and militia companies and Regiments with the troops also, but I cannot state the names of these Regiments or Companies or the general circumstances of any service and stated (illegible). Answer to 6th Question:  I never rec’d a written discharge.  I was told that it wasn’t necessary.  I was verbally discharged by my officers. Answer to 7th Question Enquire of Charles Vancamp, of Henry Eads, of William Tyner, of Henry Case and all who know me.
								mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day and			  William Cotton
year aforesaid							mark
State of Indiana
Franklin County                Personally appeared before me the undersigned Probate Judge of the Probate Court for the county of Franklin aforesaid, William Cotton, the aforenamed applicant who being first duly sworn according to Law, deponeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively to the precise length of his service or to the several places to which he marched exactly.  But to the best of his recollections, he can note only that the aforementioned (illegible) and in the following grades  (and that he marched as he has herein stated) To wit:  For one year and six months, I served as a private in the army of the Revolution in the service of the United States and for that service, I claim a pension
mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day and			  William Cotton
year aforesaid							mark

Henry Berry   (seal: Probate Judge
								                 F. C )

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State of Indiana
Franklin County                I Robert John, Clerk of the Probate Court of the County of Franklin aforesaid, do hereby certify that Henry Berry, Esquire, before whom the within and foregoing Pension application was authenticate at the time of authenticating and making the same was and now is sole Judge of the Probate Court of the County aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned and sworn into office and that full faith and credit are due and right to be given to his official acts as such, and that the within signature purporting to be his are genuine

			In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
			the seal of our said Court at Brookville, this 29th day of November, 1833.
						Robert John, Clk.
						P. C. F. C.

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(Left side, written sideways) :   
Th. Harding, agent
Versailles Ripley Co.
     Ind.

Right side
No. 28.793
Wm Cotton
   Indiana

From 1780  Private
18 months
  $60.00
Sideways on right:   William  Cotton

SS Harding
   Versailles
          Ind.

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January 11, 1936

		William Cotton  S.32187
		BA-J/AWF

Mrs. H Frank McClure
Brookville 
Indiana

Dear Madam 
    Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of William Cotton, private in the North Carolina Militia pensioned in 1831 in Franklin County, Indiana.

The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim S 32187, based upon the service of William Cotton in the War of the Revolution.

	William was born February 28, 1750 in the State of Virginia “on the waters of Smiths River”; the name of his parents are not stated.

	While residing in Guilford County, North Carolina, William Cotton volunteered and served as a private in the North Carolina Troops in Captain John Leek’s Company, Colonel Martin’s Regiment as follows:
	From sometime in March, 1780, six months, and was in a battle at Cross Creek; from sometime in November, 1780, six months, and was in the battle of Guilford Court House; from sometime in July, 1781, six months in an expedition against the Cherokee Indians.
	After the Revolution, he moved to Greenville County, South Carolina, where he “remained for many years” and then moved to Franklin County, Indiana.
	He was allowed pension on his application exe-

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cuted November 27, 1833, then a resident of Franklin County Indiana.

	Reference is made to the sister of the soldier, William Cotton, her name is not shown and there are no further data relative to his family.

	If you desire information in regard to the date of the last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C. and cite the following:

William Cotton
Certificate # 25384
Issued January 3, 1834
Rate 80.00 per annum
To commence on March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Indiana Agency

		Very truly yours,

		A.D. HILLER
		Executive Assistant to the Administrator

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Oct. 23, 1925

Miss Ellen K. Scott
Liberty, Ind

Madam,
             I have to advise you that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to Thomas Hughes was was born in Virginia on Jan. 10, 1752, and died there July 11, 1822, or to his widow, Sarah
	In the Revolutionary War pension claim,  S32187, it is not stated whether William Cotton ever married.
	For the date of death of said pensioner and the name of the person who received the last payment of his pension, you should apply to the Record Section, Civil Division, General Accounting Office, Washington, D.C. citing all of the following data: William Cotton, Certificate # 25384
Issued January 3, 1834, Rate 60.00 per annum which commenced on March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832
Indiana Agency

			Respectfully
				(signed)
			WINFIELD SCOTT
			Commissioner

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Rev and 1812 War Section

			April 7, 1925.

Honorable Richard N. Elliott
Connersville
Ind.

My dear Mr. Elliott:
	In response to your letter of the fourth instant, I have the honor to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S 32187, it appears that William Cotton was born February 28, 1750 on Smith River, Virginia. 

While residing in Guilford County, North Carolina, he served as a private in the North Carolina Troops as follows:

	From in March, 1780, six months in Captain John Leek’s Company, Colonel Martin’s Regiment and was in a battle at Cross Creek.
From in November, 1780, six months, in same company and regiment and was in the battle of Guilford Court House.
 From  July, 1781, six months in same company

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           and regiment and was out against the Cherokee Indians

He was allowed pension on his application executed November 27, 1833, while a resident of Franklin County Indiana.

	After the Revolution, soldier lived in Greenville County, South Carolina 
	
It is not stated whether the soldier was ever married

			Very truly yours,
	
			Commissioner

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O.W.and N. Division				3-525

 (illegible)     DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

(illegible)  File  32.187	Bureau of Pensions
         Rev				Washington, D.C.


	In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of William Cotton, a soldier in 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.
			
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT					
Mch 80		 		
Nov 80		“	“	
July 81	

LENGTH OF SERVICE
6 mos.
6 “	“	
6 “	“	
		RANK   :  Pvt.
OFFICERS UNDER WHO SERVICE WAS RENDERED
CAPTAIN	COLONEL
John Leek	Martin

STATE:   NC

Battles engaged in:  Cross Creek     Guilford
Residence of soldier at enlistment	Guilford Co. NC
Date of application for pension  Nov. 27, 1833
Residence at date of application  Franklin Co. Ind.
Age at date of application:  
 B.  Feb 28, 1750; Smith River, Va
Remarks:  His claim was allowed from March 4, 1831 –
for date of last payment etc.

Very respectfully,
	
			Commissioner

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Brookville, Ind
	Nov 17, 1935

Dear Sirs,
       I would like very much if you would give me the revolutionary service of William Cotton who served as a private in the U.S. Militia and was pensioned 1831 while residing in Franklin Co. Indiana.  Many thanks.

	Yours truly
	Mrs. H. Frank McClure
(stamp:  received – Nov. 22, 1935)

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Liberty Indiana
				Sept 14, 1925
Pension Department
  Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:
 	I have from your records that in the Revolutionary War pension claim S 32187 that William Cotton was granted a pension.
He was born Feb. 28, 1750 on Smith River, Va. and served March 1780 for six months in Capt. John Leek’s Co. -  was in a battle at Cross Creek.
From Nov. 1780 in same Co. for 6 months in battle of Guilford Court House.
He applies for pension Nov. 27, 1833 while a resident of Franklin Co. Indiana.
Do your records give the name of his wife with date of birth, marriage and death and the names of their children?
Also the date of death of William Cotton
After the Revolution, he lived for a time in Greenville Co. S.C.

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Do  your records show that a pension was ever granted to Thomas Hughes who was born in Loudoun Co. Va. Jan. 10, 1752, died July 11, 1822.  His wife was Sarah Ogden, who was Jan     1760 and died Dec 5, 1845.
	I think he died in Virginia and she in Indiana.
	If a pension was granted, what war record is given.
	Is there any record of a Gooters or Gootters from Maryland.  Who had a son Richard who was born July 17, 1789
	I thank you for any information that you may be able to give me.

			Very sincerely yours
		(Miss)    Ellen K. Scott

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SIXTY EIGHTH CONGRESS
 			House of Representatives, United States
			      COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS, No. 3
			                            WASHINGTON
Connersville,
Indiana

April.
Fourth
1 9 2 6 .

Hon. Hayes Haymaker,
Deputy Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.

Dear Mr. Haymaker:-
	Can you give me any information relative to the military history of William Cotton, a Revolutionary War soldier who went to the war from South Carolina and afterwards drew a pension; moved to Brookville, Indiana and lived there until he died, or at least I understand his post office address was Brookville?

			Yours very truly

			Richard N. Elliott
				(signed)
RNE/vmb.
			Seal:  DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
			  APR  6 1925

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Madison Safe Deposit
and Trust Company
   CAPITAL, $150,000
MADISON, IND.
			Oct 29, 1906

Honorable Commissioner of Pensions
			Washington, D.C.

Sir:-
  I will appreciate the receipt of such information as appears of record in your office in the matter of the pension of William Cotton, who died in Indiana and who was a revolutionary soldier, including his rank, company, regiment and state from which he enlisted, when pension was granted, when discontinued, where it was received by him while in force and where and when he died, if shown by your records.  Thanking you in advance for the above, I am

			Very truly yours

			John W. Teris

John W. Teris
Madison, Ind.					Seal: O.W. & N Div
						Oct 31, 1906
						FILES

					Seal:  PENSION
					U.  Oct    S
					       31
					     1906
					  OFFICE

Page 19

Left hand side

32187
Rev’y INVALID

File No 32187
William Cotton
Pri.  Rev. War

Act  June 7th  32
Index   Vol 2   Page 89

[Arrangement of 1870]
				
Right hand side

1906 Nov 7   History to
John W  Tevis

1925 Apr 7   Hist to Cong Richard
N Elliot  Esq

1920 Oct 22  E K Scott
told how to ap for date of death etc.

1926  Jan 8   Hist to Mrs. H. Frank McClure