Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,185, Mathew Cockran, Va.

Page 1

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[3-1776]

SERVICE
Va.

Cockran, Mathew
or Cockram, Matthew

NUMBER
S. 32,185

CONTENTS

Page 2

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] Georgia 23, 444

Matthew Cockran 
of Morgan in the State of Geo:  

who was a Pri [Private] in the - - commanded 
by Captain White of the Regt [Regiment] commanded by Col Montford in the Va. 
line for 6 months -

Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia 
at the rate of 20. Dollars – Cents per annum 
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of June 34 and sent A. K. Leonard Madison C. H. Ga

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 	50
Semi-anl. [annual] allowance ending Mar ’34	10
$60-

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by N Rice, Clerk
Book E Vol 6 Page 87

[right side of page] Let [Letter] to Hon W.C. Dawson 2 Feb 1855
1857 April 4 to I. S. & R. H Gallagher

Page 3

State of Georgia}
Morgan County} SS On the 3rd day of June 1833 Personally appeared in Open Court before the Justice of the Inferior Court sitting as a Court of Ordinary, Matthew Cockran a resident of Georgia in the County of Morgan and State aforesaid aged about 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 said as herein as stated towit [To Wit] he resided in the County of Mecklenburg, State of Virginia and entered the Service the prior time he cannot recollect but believes it was about three or four months previous to the battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina under the Command of Gen Greene, Colo Monfort [Robert Munford] and Captain White as a Volunteer he joined the headquarters at Hillsborough North Carolina and marched from there to Guilford Courthouse where this deponent was engaged in the battle which was fought at that place after the battle was over we march[ed] to Ramsey Mills on deep River and after a few days we were again marched to Hillsborough and then was discharged by Colo Monfort [Munford] who gave me a written discharge which was stolen from me by a robber which time of service contained Six months this deponent has no documentary evidence and prove of no pardon except the affidavit of Robert Brooks herewith annexed by whom he can establish is service.  I hereby relinquish my claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State.

Page 4

Question 1st When and in what year were you born.
Ans. I was born in Lunenburg County State of Virginia the year and day I cannot state having no record of my age…
Quest. 2nd Have you any record of your age and if so when is it
Answer…Unknown
Quest. 3. Where were you living when called into Service, where have you been living since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live
Ans…I was living in Mecklenburg County State of Virginia when I entered the service.  I have lived since in South Carolina, Kentucky and now living in Morgan County, Georgia
Question 4 How were you called into service when you drafted did you Volunteer or were you a Substitute, and if a substitute for whom
Answer…Volunteer
Quest. 5 State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served in the Continental Militia regiments as you can recollect, & the general circumstances of your services
Answer…General Greene.  I recollect no others the circumstances of the time of this tour of service I have before stated
Quest. 6 Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it
Answer…I received a discharge from Colo Monfort [Munford] which has been stolen from my possession
Quest. 7 State the name of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and good behavior in your services as a soldier of the revolution
Answer…Jonathan Davis & Robert Roger

Page 5

Sworn to and subscribed before me}
this day and year aforesaid} 
Matthew [his + mark] Cockram

Test John W. Porter C.CO}

Mr. Jonathan Davis a clergyman residing in the County of Taliaferro and Robert Rogers residing in the County of Morgan do hereby certify that we are acquainted [with] Matthew Cockram who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be about Seventy years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood & where he resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Jonathan Davis
Robert [his + mark] Roger

And this said Court do hereby declared 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 certified that it appears to them that Jonathan Davis who had [crossed out - and that] signed the proceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in this County of Taliaferro and that Robert Rogers who has also signed the same is a resident in this County of Morgan…and is a accountable person and that this statement is entitled to credit.

Isaac Watkins J.J.C.
Elijah E. Jones P.P.C.
Can Leonard J.J.C.

Page 6

I John W. Porter, Clerk of the County Ordinary do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Matthew Cockran for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 3rd day of June 1833…

John W. Porter, CCO

Page 7

Matthew Cockram 
Morgan County
Geo declaration 
for Pension

[written sideways] Col. Rogers

Page 8

Georgia Morgan County personally appeared before me Fielding W. Arnold a Justice of the peace in and for said County and State Matthew Cockram the applicant for a pension agreeable to his declaration of the third June 1833.  Who being duly sworn saith and submits the following amendatory declaration on oath that he volunteered for the comm of three months and entered the service of the United States in the County of Mecklenburg in the State of Virginia at the time stated in the original declaration under the command of Col Montfort and Captain White and marched and joined General Greene’s Army in the State of North Carolina from thence marched to Hillsboro where the term of the militia Comprising three months expired. Volunteered a second term of three months under the same Captain White; marched from thence on towards little York when we arrived in about twenty miles of that place.  Received information of the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis Army, after this word reached us of the surrender we marched back to Virginia and was discharged after a service of three months at Mecklenburg Courthouse in Virginia; and that the two terms of service embraced a full period of Six months
Sworn and subscribed before me}
Dec 3rd 1833}
F. W. Arnold JP}

Matthew [his + mark] Cockram

Page 9

Georgia Morgan County, I Alexander K Leonard Clerk of the Inferior Court of the County and State aforesaid do certify that Fielding W. Arnold whose name appears to the foregoing affidavit as a subscribing Witness & is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County and that his faith and credit ought to be had and given to his attestation as such. 
Given under my hand and seal of office this 4th day of December 1833.

Alexander K Leonard Clerk

Page 10

Matthew Cockran 20$ per annum, paid to 4 Sept 1844

Robr [Robert] J. Swimson 
Auditor

Page 11

Pension Papers of Matthew Cockran 
Pensioner, Morgan Co. Georgia

Jno S. Gallaher

Mar 28/57

23L1L1L1

Page 12

Senate Chambers 
29 Jany [January] 1855

The Honorable 
Mr. Waldo
Comm. of Pensions,

A Revolutionary soldier in Georgia by the name of Cockran, received a pension for many years preceding his death - he died about eight years ago – leaving a widow - a second wife, which he married, twenty five years ago – she now asks for a pension - & the unpaid portion of her husband’s pension – is she entitled to any pension under the Laws?
If there any paid portions of her husbands’ pensions, of course, she is entitled to it? Cockran was an applicant from Morgan County Georgia – his given name, I have forgotten – will you be able to say by references to the cases - at what period he rec'd The last payment. Please reply to this notice so, that I may answer this confused letter of the widow.

Very respectfully
Wm Dawson

Page 13

Matthew Cockran, Ga
Act 7 June 1832,

Respectfully referred 
to the Third Auditor 
for date of last payment, 

S Cole, CC

Pension Office 
31 Jan ‘55

Page 14

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

32185
Revy INVALID Own

File No. 32,185

Matthew Cockran
Pri private] Revolutionary War

Act June 7 32’

Index: - Vol 2, Page 83

(Arrangement of 1870.)

Page 15

[typed sideways] J. L. Edwards, 
Commissioner of Pension

27,657
Matthew Cockran

Admit as a 
Private 11 mo [months] $20

13 Nov:
A. K. Leonard Esq 
Clk [clerk] Morgan Co
Madison CH
Ga

Page 16

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

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, (these:}). 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 [blank]

[column headings: Period when the service rendered: Duration of the claimant’s service Year Month Day: Rank of the claimant: Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served: Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service: Proof by which the declaration is support:]

The tour of service in the Virginia Militia was three months and not 6 -

I am respectfully, 
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, 
Commissioner of Pensions

Page 17

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 88. 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 enered 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. [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. 1 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 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 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 bis declaration (l) and he wilI 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

Page 18

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. To an Officer. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? 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 he 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 trans nit 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. ln a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of 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 [illegible], 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 in 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. 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 an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he 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 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 in 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 in 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 signatures of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The notes from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule to [illegible] 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.

Page 19

Georgia Morgan County personally appeared before me Fielding W. Arnold a Justice of the peace in and foresaid County Robert Brooks who being duly sworn saith that he is well acquainted with Matthew Cockran now resident of the County and State aforesaid and this deponent saith that the said Matthew Cockran entered the service of the United States of America the precise time this deponent does not now recollect and served the term of six months under the command of Genl Greene, Colo Monfort and Captain White and further saith that he resided at the time in Mecklenburg County and State of Virginia and this deponent further saith that he was with the same company and served with him.  Sworn to and subscribed before me this 21st day of February 1833.
FW Arnold JP
Robert [his+ mark] Brooks

Georgia Morgan County I do certify that so far as I know and believe the above name Robert Brooks is a man entitled to credit.  Given under my hand Jan 3rd 1833
FW Arnold JP

Page 20

Georgia Morgan County I Alexander K. Leonard Clerk of the Interior County for the County and State aforesaid do certify that Fielding W. Arnold before a hand the within affidavit was taken and subscribed is and was at the time and acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County and that due faith & credit ought to be had and given to his attestation as such 
Given under my hand and seal of office this 3rd day of June 1833.

A K Leonard