Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,170, Timothy Cossit, Conn.

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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Conn. 

Crossit, Timothy

NUMBER
S 23,170

CONTENTS

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Typed form completed in handwriting

28806 New York

Timothy Cossit
Onondaga Co in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Bray of the Reg’g commanded by Col Coo in the Conn’t line for 16 months

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cants per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 24th day of June 1834 and sent Hon W. Taylor Ho Reps

Arrears to the 4th of Mar. ’34.                $99.99
Semi-ani. allowance ending 4 Sep ’34    16.66
                                                                    ---------
                                                                    $116.65

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Jno. Cromwell Clerk,
Book E  Vol. 4. Page 131

Sec letter to T.W. Olcott [?] Pay’t Nov. 21, 1835 - do to fame & Hon W. Taylor Dec. 30, 1835

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Timothy Cossit
[strikethrough] Timothy Cossit [strikethrough]
20356

admid
10 mo. pri.
$33.33

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And the Said Courts do hereby declare their opinion after investigating 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 Courts further certifies that it appears to them that Samuel Humphrey [strikethrough] of La Fayette [strikethrough] who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in the town of La Fayette, and that Richard Hiscock who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Pompey and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit - 
Daniel Moseley
Vice Chancellor

I Daniel T Moseley Deputy Clerk of the County of Chancery of the seventh Circuit for the State of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said County in the matter of the application of Timothy Cossit for a pension.

In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 21st day of September 1832
Daniel T. Moseley
Deputy Clerk

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State of New York
Onondaga County ss.}
Russel Taylor of the town of Marcellus in the county of Onondaga & State of New York being duly sworn deposeth & saith, that he is acquainted with Timothy Cossit of the town of Pompey, County of Onondaga & State of New York, that he is about seventy eight years of age: and this deponent has been acquainted with him from his boy hood: that the Said Timothy Cossit Enlisted in Captain Brays Company of Connecticut State troops in the army of the Revolution about the month of November in year seventeen hundred & seventy six, at Simsbury in the State of Connecticut, when this Deponent and the Said Timothy then resident. That the said Timothy Enlisted as aforesaid as a Sergeant & the Deponent & the said Timothy aforesaid Enlisted with Lieutenant Joel Hilgley for the term of four months that a few days after said Enlistment this deponent & the said Timothy joined the company commanded by said Captain Bray & immediately marched with said company to White Plains in the State of New York where they remained a short time; when they were marched to West Chester; where they remained until their said term of four months had expired. That said Company belonged to the Regiment commanded by Colonel Cook but the companies of said Regiment were not collected together at any time during said term of four months. This Deponent further saith that in the year seventeen hundred & seventy five if was reported  & understood in the neighbourhood of the said town of Simsbury, when this Deponent & the said Timothy then resided that the said Timothy had enlisted as a Soldier in the army in a Company commanded by Captain Elihu Humfrey of the Connecticut State troops; That this Deponent knows that the said Timothy was absent & as he thinks

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about the term of six months & it was generally reputed & believed in the neighbourhood & this Deponent was then informed & verily believes the fact so to be, that the said Timothy when so absent had gone to Roxbury, as a soldier in the company of said Captain Humfrey. This Deponent well recollects the time when said Timothy returned from Roxbury & had frequent conversations with him, in relation to the events that transpired during the said Timothy’s tour to Roxbury from all which this Deponent verily believed that the said Timothy served as a Soldier in the company commanded by said Humfrey for the term of six months. And further this Deponent saith not.
Russel Taylor

Sworn and Subscribed before me the 3rd day of September 1832.
Myron L. Mills
Justice of the peace

State of New York
Onondaga County SS}
On this third day of September 1832 came personally before me the above named Russel Taylor & made oath that the facts stated in the above affidavit are true. I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Russel Taylor & that he sustains the reputation of a man of truth & integrity.
Myron L Mills
one of the Justice of the peace of Marcellus in the County and State afforesaid

State of New York
County of Onondaga}ss 
I Reuben L. Hess Clerk of the said County do certify that Myron L. Mills whose name is above subscribed was on the 3rd day of September 1832 on of the Justices of the peace in and for the said County and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his several signatures above subscribed to be his proper hand writing and signature. Witness my hand and official seal this 10th day of September 1832. 
R.L. Hess clerk

There is an attached seal

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State of New York
Onondaga County ss.}
On this twenty fifth day of September in the year eighteen hundred & thirty two personally appeared in open court, in a Court of Chancery held before the Honorable Daniel Mosely of Chancery of the seventh circuit of the state of New York & vice Chancellor therein now sitting Timothy Cossit a resident of the town of Pompey County of Onondaga & State of New York and seventy eight year: the ninth day of September AD eighteen hundred & thirty two; who being 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 7 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1773 with Capt. Daniel Humphrey & served in the second regiment of the Connecticut state line under the following names of officers Colonels & Lieut Cols names not recollected. Capt Daniel Humphrey Lieut Andrew Hillin & Ensign Daniel Higley that he enlisted for a term of six months & then resided at Simsbury in the state of Connecticut & immediately joined said company at Simsbury but did not march with said company owing to his sickness: where he remained until his said term had expired within one month when his brother took his place in the army & he returned home. That Roxbury above mentioned is in the state of Massachusetts near Boston. That in November 1776 he again enlisted in the army of the United States as a sergeant with Lieutenant Joel Higley for the term of four months, that a few days after said enlistment he joined the company commanded by Capt. Bray in the Connecticut line & then marched to White Plains in the state of

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New York from thence to West Chester where he remained until his said term of four months had expired the said company belonged to the Regiment Commanded by Col. Cook, but the companies of said Regiment were not collected together at any time during said term of four months; at the time of said enlistment he resided at Simsbury County of Hartford & State of Connecticut.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension of an annuity except the present & he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Timothy Cossit

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid}
Daniel Mosley
Circuit Judge & Vice Chancellor

We Samuel Humphrey Of La Fayette & Richard Hiscock of the town of Pompey County of Onondaga & State of New York do certify that we are well acquainted with Timothy Cossit who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty eight years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he lives to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion
Samuel Humphrey
Richard Hiscock

Sworn & subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Daniel Mosley
Circuit Judge}

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20356
Timothy Cossitt
Onondaga Cty
New York

Admd

Daniel Mosly
Onondaga
New York

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Typed form completed in handwriting

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office
183 --

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. 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 Timothy Cosit Onondaga Cty N. York

11 column table
| Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant’s service Years. | Duration of the claimant’s service Months. | Duration of the claimant’s service Days. | Rank of the claimant. | Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. | Names and Rank of General and Field officers. | Battles in which the applicant was engaged. | Country through which he marched. | Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. | Evidence by which the declaration is supported. | 

| 1775 | --- | 6 | --- | Pr | Cap Humphrey | --- | --- | --- | 78 Simsbury Connt. | Living Witness Traditionary |
| Nov. 1776 | --- | 4 | --- | Sergt. | Lieut Highley | Col Cook | --- | N. York | --- | --- |
                                10

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

J.L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions

The name of the claimant cannot with certainty be decrypted.

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yped form, not completed.

2

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832

The following regulations have been adopted:

This law has been construed to extend, as well as 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 of (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 country 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 herby 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 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 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 on 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

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Typed form


3
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 Records 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, (to 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 Peach, 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 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 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 his service; but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and is 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.”

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. Th 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 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 place where the service was performed: that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent of authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison: and for the time during which the service was pursued, 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 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 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 claimants 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 mut certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper office,.
     The noted from [a] to […] are equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State troops. The proof required by the rule a 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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Timothy Cossit at the rate of $33.33 per annum now on the Albany roll was paid at the city of New York  from the 4th March 1834 to the 4th Sept 1834. no other payment appears to have been made him
JH
3rd amt. office

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Typed form completed in handwriting

Revolution

23170

INVALID

File No. 23,170
Timothy Cossit
Prv Rev War

Act: June 7th 32

Index:-Vol. 2, Page 76

[Arrangement of 1870.]

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Pompey N.Y.
19 June

S Hon’l. Wm Taylor
Member of Congress
Washington City

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Pompey June 18th 1834

Sir
I send enclosed the papers of Timothy Cossit. I can see no difficulty except that the name could not be read. His application aught to be successful for there is no doubt he served precisely as he states. You probably know hi & if so you know him to be an excellent old man, his word is veracity - By a minute made upon the back of his papers by someone in the war department his claim seems to have been admitted to $33.33 - his name is Timothy Cossit By attending to this claim you will confer a favor upon him
Your Obd Servant
D. Gott

Hon’l Wm Taylor

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Mech’s. & Farmer's Bank
Albany Pension Agency
November 17, 1835

James L. Edwards Esquire
Commss’n of Pensions, 

Sir, 

I enclose vouchers in the case of Timothy Cossit upon which he claims pay from 4th March 1831 to 4th March 1834. He has heretofore been paid at this agency from 4 Sept. 1834 to 4 Sept. 1835.

Be pleased to instruct us whether we shall pay him upon the enclosed vouchers & upon whether the period from 4 March 1834 to 4 Sept. 1834 is still due to him. 

Very respectfully 
Your obt. Servant

Thos. W. Olcott

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State of New York
Onondaga County}ss
Timothy Cosset of Pompey in said county being duly sworn says that he executed the annexed papers (marked A.) at the time they bear date & sent there by his son Calvin Cossit to the Onondaga County Bank that as he has been informed by said Calvin & believe, the cashier of said Bank received said papers, to forward to the Pension Office to receive the amount herein claimed & paid to the said Calvin at the time one hundred dollars being the amount of said pension from the 4th of March 1831 to the 4th of March 1834 that said papers were made out at the office of Daniel Gott in Pompey & this Deponent believed them to be correct but he has understood & believes it to be true that said were forwarded to the Pension office by said Cashier & returned for informality & that no part of said sum of one hundred dollars for said service aforesaid has ever been received from the office for payer Pensions by the said Cashier or anyone in but that the whole amount thereof now remains due & unpaid. That before he knew said papers were returned for informality to said Cashier he forwarded his papers & received his pension from the 4th of March 1834 to the 4th of September 1834.
Timothy Cossit

Sworn & Subscribed to this 11th day of December 1833 before me,}
Horace Wheaton a commiss’r of [?]

State of New York
Onondaga County}ss 
Daniel Lott of Pompey in said County being duly sworn says - That the annexed papers (marked A) were drawn by the clerk of the Deponent executed by the said Cossit at the time that bear date. That he informed said Cossit that the Cashier of the Onondaga Co. Bank would probably advance him the money & send the papers to the office for

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the purpose of receiving the money afore them - that some time afterward he was at said Bank & was informed by said Cashier that the papers had been returned for the reason that no proper certificate that this Deponent was a [?] had been filed that afterwards he was at said Bank & was handed the annexed papers with the note in pencil mark written there & was stated that this Deponent verily believes, that no part of said one hundred dollars has been paid by the office for paying pensions, but that the fact remains due & owing  upon said Certificate and further saith not - 
Daniel Gott

Subscribed & sworn to this 11th day of December 1835 before me
Horace Wheaton, a commissioner of Deeds