Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 19,372, John Clifford, Penn.

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Service
Penn

Clifford, John
Cottle, Elizabeth
(Former Widow)

Number
R19372

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Matthew Brooks
Deposition

Dietrius [illegible]

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[handwritten]

State of Ohio,
County of Cuyahoga 

Personally appeared Matthew Brooks, aged 76, a resident of Brookline in the County and State aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law, deposed and said, that he was a resident of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, for the term of forty years, to with: from the year 1801 to the year 1841, and for a large portion of that time held the office of constable [illegible] the office of Justice of the Peace.  For a period of from twenty-five to thirty years he knew personally and well, John Clifford, who resided in Moon Township in said Beaver County, and was the husband of her who is now Elizabeth Cottle, of Breeksville, Ohio, who also he knew for the same period personally.

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personally and well.  During the said period of my acquaintance with said John Clifford and Elizabeth Cottle, they lived together as husband and wife and were generally reputed to be such in that community; and I verily believe that they were duly and lawfully married. 

[illegible] further states that he has often heard the said John Clifford say that he served as a soldier in the Continental [illegible] during the Revolutionary War, and further, that said Clifford was generally reputed to have been a solder after Revolutionary War. 

[illegible] Deponent further states that he knew in said Beaver County, for a long period of years, Edward and William Stoops, who were said generally reputed to be brothers of John Clifford's wife, and he verily believes they

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they were her brothers, and that her maiden name was Elizabeth Stoops.

Deponent further states that said John Clifford and Elizabeth Cottle, while living together as husband and wife as aforesaid, [illegible] a large family of children. 

Dated, Cleveland, Ohio, March 26 A.D. 1851

[signed] Matthew Brooks

Sworn to and subscribed before me March 26th A.D. 1851

[signed] James Fitch Notary Public

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July 15, 1851

Messrs Dickins & Coombs,

Present.

Gentlemen:

I have examined the declaration of Elizabeth Coute, formerly widow of John Clifford, for the benefit of the Act of July 7, 1838, and you are informed that having been made before a Notary Public it cannot be received, and is herewith returned that she may make another before a Court of Record, as required by the Regulations.  

Her husband was not an applicant, as appears by the Registers, for the benefit of the Act of May 15th 1828; nor is there any evidence that he served either in the Line of Pa. to the close of the war, or in the three years service of that State.  The service claimed under Col. Craig, Capt. Gibson, in the 8th. Penn. Regiment must, therefore be established by the Records in the Office of the Secretary of State at Harrisburg, which should contain evidence of it, if rendered as alleged.  There is also no proof of the marriage that is satisfactory; and it will not be admitted that it took place prior to 1794, unless sustained by Record proof, or parole testimony based on record proof.  On what data has Mrs. Coute been enabled to fix the period of her marriage on the 25th July, 1785.

E. S. Evans, for Commissioner.

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No 14,365

Elizabeth Cottle, 
Widow of John Clifford, Ohio

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[handwritten]

Washington April 3rd 1851

Sir:
Enclosed we present the declaration of Mrs. Elizabeth Cottle, formerly widow of John Clifford, died. Claiming arrears of Pension due her first husband, Clifford, under Act of 15th May 1828, and a pension in her own right under Act of 1838 and subsequent acts.  Also, the deposition of Matthew Brooks, his support of said claim. 

It is alleges by [illegible] that her said husband enlists "for the war" and was discharged at the end thereof.  It maybe, however, that his enlistment was for three years, and his time did not expire till the close of the war.  In such case, there would be nothing due under the Act of 1828, but still the widow would be entitled under the Act of 1838 and subsequent acts.  

Very Respectfully
[illegible]

J E Heath Esq
County of [illegible]

Dickins & Coombs

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19372

Rejected

P.O. Elizabeth Cottle
Widow of John Clifford

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No 14365

Elizabeth Cottle, Ohio

[illegible] Dickins & Coombs, July 18 [illegible]

July 7, 1838

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[handwritten] 
Triplett
Clifford
Pa or Ohio

[illegible

J E Heath Esy
Court of Pensions