Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7762, for John Oaks, New Hampshire

SERVICE
NUMBER
Boat Service Lake Champlain N.Y.
Oaks, John Thankful
R 7762
CONTENTS

10272
Thankful Oakley
N.Y.
Oct 7 th July '38
Pantheon office Washington

State of New York } ss Livingston County }
On this 4 th day of November 1843 personally appeared before me Willard H Smith one of the Judges of Livingston County Courts, Mrs Thankful Oaks of Wheatland Monroe County State of New York aged 76 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by an act of Congress, passed July 7 th 1838, entitled "an act granting half pay pension to certain widows" That she is the widow of John Oaks who was a soldier of the Revolution. That she has learned from her said husband & others that he resided before his enlistment in the army at Boston in the State of Massachusetts, and that he first enlisted in the Land Army at Manchester N. in the State of New Hampshire, under Captain Curtis. The exact time he so enlisted Mrs Oaks is unable to state, That he was afterwards transferred on board of the "Liberty Schooner" as ship Carpenter, under Montgomery and Arnold, then lying at St. Johns on the Northern part of Lake Champlain during the early part of the Revolutionary War. That he afterwards sailed up & down Lake Champlain on board of said Ship - which acted as a ground Ship. That he was present at the sinking of boats at Ferris Harbor \frac{3}{4} of a mile South of Basin Harbor, & that he was finally taken prisoner at Addison Vermont by the Indians & conveyed to Quebec where he remained in Jail for nearly three years. That he was afterwards engaged during the last war as Ship Carpenter at the Burlington Vermont Navy Yard

under Captain Lacey, where he died in the year 1813, or 14
She further declares that she was married to the said John Oaks on the 4 th day of Nov. in the year 1785, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January, seventeen hundred & ninety four, in at the time above stated that they were married at the town of Shoreham, Addison Co Vermont, by one Thomas Rowley a magistrate & that she has no family record of said marriage } her
Sworn & subscribed before me this } Thankful X Oaks 4 th day of Nov - 1843. mark
W. H. Smith First Judge of Livingston County Courts
I Willard N Smith First Judge of Livingston County Courts do hereby certify that I am upon inquiry of the family & acquaintance of the above named Thankful Oaks satisfied that the said Thankful Oaks is unable on an account of old age and bodily infirmity, & the distance from her residence, to appear in Open Court or before any Judge of the Morris County Courts at his office to make the foregoing declaration
W. H. Smith

State of New York Livingston County Clerk's Office } n
I Samuel P. Allen, clerk of said County do hereby certify that Willard H. Smith, Esq., before whom the foregoing declaration was sworn to and subscribed, & whose name is attached thereto & to the certificate following such declaration, was at the time the said deposition purports to have been taken, First Judge of the County Courts of said County, duly appointed & qualified to act as such. And also that I am well acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe the name thereto subscribed to be his genuine signature.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County, this 29th day of November, A.D. 1843.
Samuel P. Allen, clerk

March 15 1939.
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BA-J/GC John Oaks R.7762
Mrs. Sam T. Miller 3140 Clay Street San Francisco, California.
Dear Madam:
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in pension claim R.7762, based upon service in the Revolutionary War of John Oaks.
Date and place of birth of John Oaks and names of his parents are not shown.
John Oaks married November 4, 1785, in Shoreham, Addison County, Vermont, Thankful -- (her maiden name not stated).
The soldier's widow, Thankful Oaks, applied for pension November 4, 1843, at which time she was aged seventy-six years and a resident of Wheatland, Monroe County, New York. It was alleged that John Oaks was a resident of Boston, Massachusetts before entering the service; that he enlisted in the "land army at Number Four, New Hampshire" under Captain Curtis, that he was afterwards transferred on board of the "Liberty Schooner" as ship carpenter under Montgomery and Arnold, then lying at St. Johns on the northern part of Lake Champlain during the early part of the war; that he sailed up and down Lake Champlain on board of said ship which acted as a guard ship; that he was present at the sinking of boats at Ferris Harbor three-quarters of a mile from Basin Harbor; that he was finally taken prisoner at Addison, Vermont, by the Indians and conveyed to Quebec where he remained in jail for nearly three years, and that he was afterwards engaged in "the last war" as ship carpenter at the Burlington,

Vermont Navy Yard under Captain Lacy, where he died in the year 1813 or 1814. Her claim was not allowed as she failed to furnish proof of his service as required by the pension laws.
No further family data are shown.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

V. 10272 Thankful Oakes N.Y.
in Suspended Letter to Hon. A. Smith 27 May 1864
7762
Act July 7 th 38

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
1939-Mch. 15 - Hist. of Mrs Sam T. Miller, C.C.
REJECTED
ny 62,
P. O.
Thankful Oakes
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18
1939-Mch. 15 - Hist. of Mrs Sam T. Miller, C.C.

Watsontown N.Y. Nov 30. 1843
J. L. Edwards Esq
Herewith I send You the declaration of Mrs Thankful Oakes and ask that the New Hampshire rolls & other documents in the possession of the Department may be searched for proof of his services As Early an answer as is practicable is desired
Respectfully Yours A. L. Lynde

Hon. A. Smith
28 May 1844

550 Pension Office
27 May 44.
Sir,
The papers in the case of Thankful Oakley, widow of John Oakley, claiming a pension un- der the Act of July 7 th 1838 have been examined and filed. As there are no New Hampshire Rolls in this office recourse must be had to the Sec 7 of that Statute. The date of the marriage is not established the declaration of the claimant which of itself is not sufficient being unconfirmed by records do- cumentary or parol evidence pub- lic or private. Enclosed is Mr Lynde's letter to you
Hon ble Albert Smith
Hop R

May 28 '44
Col. M. G.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Comm. Pensions Washington D. C.

J. L. Edwards Esq. Sir
I forwarded to you Office in Dec. last the Declaration of Mrs. Thankful Oaks of Wheatland Monroe Co. N.Y. setting forth the services of her husband &c. to which I have not as yet received an answer. Shall I hear from it at your earliest convenience also the case of Mrs. Hannah Fuller of Gainesville N.Y. for asking for a pension by virtue of her husband's services, under the act of 1838. July 34 The papers in the latter case was handed in to the P. Office by Hon. A. Smith M.C. from this District. Please let me hear from you in these cases & truly Obey - Very Respectfully A. L. Lynde
Nassau Myomings Co N.Y. May 24, 1844

Millar (Mrs Sam T) 3140 Clay Street San Francisco California.
San Francisco, California January-17-1939.
Veterans Administration - Washington D. C. Sir:-
Phillip Mortimer Brooke was a pensioner of the war of 1812 - was in battles of Yorktown, Chryslers Field and Sundys Lane. Moved from New York State to Lacota or South Haven Michigan Wife was Betsey Cooke - Will you please send me any record of pension granted Phillip Mortimer Brooke and summary of his papers?
1812-5 Res? Thankful Smith Cooke, wife of John Cooke died in Cleveland Ohio at the home of a daughter named Adell. If you have record of her pension or pension of her husband John or Jonathan Cooke please send the record and summary of papers to me. Thank you.
Most Sincerely. (Mrs Sam T.) Belva McCurdy Millar.

March 15 1939.
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BA-J/CC Philip M. Brooks W.C.5166
John Oaks R.7762
Mrs. Sam T. Miller 3140 Clay Street, San Francisco, California.
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the War of 1812 record of Philip Mortimer Brooks who moved from New York to Lacota or South Haven, Michigan and who married Betsey Oakes, and the Revolutionary War record of John or Johnathan Oaks, whose wife, Thankful Smith Oaks, died in Cleveland, Ohio at the home of her daughter, Odell.
You are furnished herewith the War of 1812 record of Philip M. Brooks and the Revolutionary War record of John Oaks.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator.