Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16,540, Abel Cook, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Cook, Abel Mary
N. 16,540
CONTENTS
[Blank lined area for contents]
[Blank lined area for contents]

9747.
N. York
Mary Cook, deceased, widow of Abel Cook,
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the — in 1813 — of St Lawrence (in the State of N. Yk.) who was a private in the company: commanded by Captain Phillips,
Regt: commanded by Col. Moseley — of the the Mohawk & Oneida line for 13. 2 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany, at the rate of 43 Dollars 50 Cts Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836. & ended 21 March 1837 She died in 1842
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 — day of Nov. 1845 and sent to A. S. Waterloo, N. Yk.
Total amount, $ 217 75
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by Abel Stearns Clerk. Book — Vol. 1 — Page 151
Dec. 1. 1845. Refused at Albany, N. Y. by letter —
Pension no. addition made Dec 11. 68 Hann day into to A. S. Waterloo, N.Y.

11823 John H. Sherburn
adm. Est 1
Mary Cook W
widow
Abel Cook
abt July 7. 1838
Admiral Ely
Marr'd 1779 Watkins N York
husband died 1813 Albany
Mother died 11 th July 1842
Re April 11. 1845.

State of New York
St Lawrence County, ss. I Charles G. Myers, Surrogate of the County of St Lawrence in the State of New York do hereby certify that John R. Thurber of the town of Morristown in the County and State aforesaid has been duly appointed Administrator of the estate of Abiel Cook widow of Abiel Cook late of the town of Morristown in the County and State aforesaid deceased.
I further certify that at a Surrogate's Court held by me at Ogdensburg in the County and State aforesaid personally appeared before me John R. Thurber above named aged seventy years who 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 July 7 th 1838, that he is the husband of Dinadama Cook who is the daughter of Abiel Cook and Mary Cook both deceased. That the said Abiel Cook as he has been informed and believes to be true was a soldier in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary war and was also engaged in the United States service as Captain of a United States Ship of war or a private armed vessel. That as he has been informed by the said Abiel in his lifetime by his family he the said Abiel served during the Revolutionary war in West Springfield Massachusetts. That the said Abiel, as he believes was married to Mary Hitchcock either in Westfield or West Springfield Massachusetts, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy nine. That the said Abiel Cook died in the month of January 1813 and left the aforesaid Mary Cook his widow and a family of several children; that the said Mary Cook did not intermarry.

but continued his widow until her death; that the said Mary Cook died in the town of Morristown, County and State aforesaid in the month of February One Thousand eight hundred and forty two (1842); that her children who survived her at her death are living some in Canada & others remote from each other and that their names and residences are as follows. Diadema Thurber wife of John K. Thurber this declarant in Morristown aforesaid - Roswell Cook of Natilda Upper Canada Jesse Cook of late of Owings New York the place last aforesaid Constant Cook of Natilda Upper Canada John Cook of the place last aforesaid and Anna Cook wife of Benjamin F. Rankin of Watkins in the County of St Lawrence
That he believes there is no family record of the marriage of the said Mary and Abel in existence that the aforesaid Mary Cook made an affidavit in 1841 before Charles Richardson Esq. with a view to obtain a pension, to which, this declarant refers - This declarant as Administrator of the Estate of Mary Cook aforesaid deceased asks for such amount of Pension as by law the said Mary was entitled to at her death and that the pension may be made payable to him as such Administrator, on account of the difficulty of obtaining a legal power of Attorney from all the heirs of the said Mary  Subscribed, declared & sworn to on this day and year first above written before me In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of my office at Ogdenburgh this 13 th day of December 1844  John K. Thurber Administrator  This 13 th day of December 1844  C. B. M. M.

St. Lawrence Co. Town of Morris Town & State of New York
Co. } On the 2 nd day of August one Thousand Town- } eight hundred and forty four personally ork } came before me, the undersigned Justice of the peace, Diadoma Thurber, and being duly sworn by me, deposes and says that the annexed is a true copy of the record of births of the children of her Father's family. Saw the annexed copy drawn from the original record, and that the original record was burnt some- thing like twenty years ago. The annexed copy was taken from the original, as near as this deponent can recollect, some time in the year eighteen hundred and eleven. Deponent further saith that her Father's name was Abel Cook, who departed this life in the month of Jan 1813. That her Mother's name was Mary, who also died in the month of February 1842. and further this deponent saith not
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 2 nd day of June August 1844 G. Richardson Justice of The peace
C. Richardson Justice of The peace
    Pounds Shillings Pence     515 20   103 66   12   36 00   4   64 00   44   64   136 res   56 res 20 res   

I certify that I am acquainted with the within-named Diadema Thurlow, and believe him to be a person of good moral character and of truth and veracity. August 7. 1844.
C. Richardson
State of New York County of St Lawrence ss I, Martin Thatcher Clerk of the said County and also Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County in the State aforesaid. Do hereby certify that Charles Richard- son is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of St Lawrence duly Elected & sworn that his term of Office commenced on the 1 st day of January 1844 and will expire on the last day of December 1847 & that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Justice and verily be- lieve that his signature subscribed to the foregoing affidavit & above written certificate is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of the said Court & County this the 17 th day of September A.D. 1844
Martin Thatcher C.R. By J. M. Ellis Deputy

    Born      Polly Cook  June 11 1780    Sarah Cook  May 20 1782    Rowell Cook  Oct 30 1784    Abel Cook  Apr 21 1787    Diadama Cook  Sept 22 1789    Sarah Cook  July 13 1792    Constant Cook  Feb 11 1795    John Cook  June 5 1797    Anna Cook  Apr 6 1800   

    Born      Polly Cook  June 10 1780    Sarah Cook  May 20 1782    Roswell Cook  Oct 30 1784    Abel Cook  Apr 24 1787    Diadama Cook  Sep 22 1789    Sarah Cook  July 13 1792    Constant Cook  Feb 1 1795    John Cook  Jun 5 1797    Anna Cook  Apr 6 1800   

with the within memo for to be a firm end of truth and champion.
Sketcher Clerk of the court in the State
before me this 22 day of August 1844 D. Richardson Notary of the peace
  12123600 10300 515 Pounds   12 20   36 10300 12   36 123600 4   00 594400 41   2010300 2   10 49   00   3   2   10   10   00 
Sketcher Clerk

By Town of Morristown St Lawrence County } Mary Cook being duly and State of New York } sworn deposeth and saith under oath that she is the widow of Abel Cook and that she was married in the town of West Sp- ringfield in the State of Massachusetts some time in the Revolutionary War. That the said Abel Cook belonged to the army when she was married. and served in the army after she married him until the close of the war-further saith that she does not know where he enlisted. but has heard him say that he was not drafted but vol- -unteered his services. further saith that he served as a Captain. in the said Revolutionary War has frequently seen his Commission does not know by whom the Commission was signed does not know what has become of said Commission. that said Abel Cook died some time in the late war-between Great Britain & the United States. in the town of Drelb. (now called Depoynt) further testifies that during the time between the close of the Revolutionary War. and his death. that he lived some of the time in Grandville and some time in Plattsburgh Shadyside and that after they moved to the place of his death and further says that the said Abel Cook has not to her know- -ledge, ever made application for a pension under any act of Congress Mary Cook Subscribed and sworn before me this 5 th day of February 1841 Chas Richardson Justice of The peace

on Town of Morris town St. Lawrence County and State of New York ss. Diadama Thurber personally came before me the undersigned Justice of the peace. deposes and saith that she is a daughter of Abel Cook. & that there was a record of her Father's (Abel Cook) birth and that said records are lost or destroyed. does not know what has become of them.
but she saw said records May the 29 th in the year 1810. and that then her brother reckoned up her Father's age (from the said records.) and he the said Abel Cook was then Sixty six years old. & that the said Abel Cook had a Captain's Commission. & has frequently heard the said Abel Cook say that he served as a Captain in the Revolutionary War. heard him say that he was on the ocean in some part of the said Revolutionary War. further saith that the said Abel Cook had a quantity of Continental Money heard the said Abel say that he was paid for his services in the war by this money has heard the said Abel say that he never had but one wife. & that they lived together 18 or 20 years and until she died. and further this deponent not.
Subscribed and sworn before me this 5 th day of February. 1841 before me Chas Richardson Justice of the peace

Rev  WIDOW, &c.
File No. 16540
Mary Cook
of William of
Abel Cook
Prin. Ben. Mun.
Act: July 7 th 1888
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 1419
[Arrangement of 1870.]

No 11823
Mary Cook dec d . Madow of Abel N.Y.
Act 7 July 1838
Adm o . 13 mo 2 days p d $48 50 per ann
from 4 March 1836 to 4 March 1841. Payable to dividends  the  to  the  the  the Hester, Rosuel Cook, John Cook, Jesse Cook, and  the  the  the Franklin and Constant Cook are, summing Children of Mary Cook dec d .
Admiral Ely Watertown N.Y.

11823
Mary Cook die
N.Y.
Letter to A. Ely. 17. May 1845.
abt 7 July 1838

Payment to be made
at
by
Agent for paying Pension- ers in the Agency of
Payable on the 4th March, and 4th September in each year.
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book Vol. Page by
Clerk.

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Widow's Pension.
I certify that in conformity with the act of July 7, 1838, May Cook, decd, who was the widow of Al Cook, who was a private, was entitled to a pension, at the rate of $43.50 per ann. comm: on 4 March 1838, and ending on 4 March, 1841, which will be paid upon the widow of production of the proper vouchers to Diadama Thurber, John, Roy - well, Jose, & Constant Cook and Agnes Franklin only sur- who was a living children of May Cook, deceased. This pension may be paid to John K. Thurber, administrator, on his and died on the day of producing evidence that he is, the administrator is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of _____ dollars and _____ cents per annum, commencing on the _____ and terminating on the 4th of March, 1841, unless the Pensioner married or died before the above mentioned date; in which case the pension is not payable after the time of such marriage or death.
Payable at Albany New-York
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 29 th day of Nov _____ one thousand eight hundred and 45
Examined and Countersigned.
Secretary of War.
Commissioner of Pensions.

Watertown April 5 1841
Sir
Jefferson County New York
I herewith transmit the declaration of John H Thurber administrator of estate of Mary Cook widow of Abel Cook for a pension from 4 th March 1836 to 4 th March 1841
Abel Cook resided at least Springfield Massachusetts in the Rev. War. served in the early part of 1776 under Col. Seagraves, Col. Reed Major church line - No record found, rolls not in Henshaw's Office Boston - See his certificate - If the rolls of Col. Reed's Regt for 1776 are in the Pension Office examination is requested. This part of the claim is sustained by the affidavit of Aaron Boardman. The list of the County of Massachusetts shows two periods of service the 1 st is 78, 7, 100 days & the 2 d is 78 nine months. Abel Cook & Mary Hitchcock were married at least Springfield in 1779. The only proof which a year's labor has been able to obtain is first the record of the dates of the births of their children, which shows, that 6 of their children were born prior to 1794. Second the affidavit of Obed Hitchcock to the marriage & registration testimony that the marriage is not on record in West Springfield or Westfield & that the town records are in a bad condition. This is the only proof that can be procured & if insufficient ends the claim. The right to ask for the pension is shown by the Surrogate's Certificate & it is respectfully asked that if the claim is allowed the certificate may be made payable to John H Thurber administrator, instead of all the children for the reason that the expense of obtaining

separate powers of attorney from all the children will exhaust the pension as a great measure There would be a full pension due if proof of the facts could be obtained of the tradition the children have of their father's services is com- plete, for they say he served greatly through the war and obtained the title of Captain which he bore through life-
Term of Service
1774 at Boston, see affidavit of Aaron Hardison
- 1776-77- 3. Mo 10 days
- 1778 9- as private
(Yr obed Servt Admiral Ely
J L Goddard Esq Comt of Pensions Washington

Deposition of Aaron Barden
State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Providence, ss
I, Albert G. Greene, Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Providence in the County of Providence, in said State, do hereby certify, that John Hawkins, who signed the preceding Cer- tificate, was on the Day of the Date thereof, a Justice of the Peace within and for the Town of Gloucester in said County of Providence duly elected.
In attestation whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and have affixed the seal of said Court, the 21 st day of December, A.D. 1844.
Albert G. Greene, Clerk.

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Providence ss
I Aaron Barron of the town of Gloucester County of Providence and State of Rhode Island aged eighty years do now and say that I was in the Army of the Revolution as a private in Captain Scagra- ves Company and Col. Maceen's regiment Col. Ebenezer Clapp 2 d Col. of said regiment, that I enlisted in the year of A D 1776 in the town of Roxbury in the State of Massachusetts, that I stayed at home awhile and then was called for to join the army by Capt. Abel Cooke of West Springfield field of Mass and went with him and joined the said army and immediately after a battle ensued in Boston in which Capt. Cooke was engaged a few months after the said battle I was taken sick and was carried by the said Capt. Cooke to West Springfield to the hospital and was there awhile and was then carried by said Capt. Cooke to New York with a number of others

and was afterwards engaged in the battles at Bonnington with said Capt. Cooke that I was acquainted with the said Capt. Cook for the space of about one and a half year
Aaron B. Deane
State of Rhode Island Providence } }
Be it known that on the fourth day of October A.D. 1848 before the undersigned a justice of the Peace for the town of Gloucester County of Providence State of Rhode Island personally appeared Aaron Bardean subscribed to the above and foregoing deposition and acknowledged solemnly on oath that the statements of fact by him subscribed are true I have been some acquainted with said Bardean and believe him to be a man of truth and veracity
Before Me John Hawkins Justice of the Peace

Sir
Watertown N.Y., Dec. 5. 1845
I beg of you to alter the accompanying certificate issued in favor of the heirs of Mary Cook, by the inserting between the words to and Diadasmia  John K. Thurber Administrator for the sole use and benefit of . The papers show Mr. Thurber administrator and without this alteration it will require great expense to obtain the proper vouchers upon which the money will be paid. Some of the children reside in Canada & others in different Counties in the State of New York. If the money is collected by the administrator, he pays it to the surrogates & the whole paid out as the Receipts of the different children obtained with but little expense. As this seems to be necessary I hope you will comply with this request. The Certificate will then be in all respects as to form like the one you sent by you to the Administrator of Lucinda Newman.
Yrs ob. Servt.
Admiral Ely
Col. S. L. Edwards, Com d of Pioneers, Newburgh

West Springfield April 1 st 1845
Mr Ely
Sir I have examined to the town Records from 1779 to 1794 and can not find any record of the Marriage of Abel Cook on the Book ————— The Town books at that time was keep in a bad condition
N. B. I should have wrote you before this time but, a Mr E. D. Cook in this town has an aged Mother who res with him and he thought she might know something about Abel Cook Marriage but she being on a visit from this place Mr Cook wished me to delay writing untill her return
I can Learn Nothing about the Marriage or death of the persons you named in your letter to me
Respy Yours
Adriel Ely Esq
Michael Marsh Town Clerk

Watertown Jefferson County New York Oct 28. 1845
Sir
I herewith send several letters, which I trust will remove the existing objections against the allowance of the claim of the heirs of Abner Cook dec d .
In your letter of 17 th May last you admit the 9 Mths service performed under Capt Ely & object to the 100 days under Capt Phillips. The Certificate of the Secretary of Massachusetts shews that the Abn Cook who performed the service under Phillips was of Hampshire County and that West Springfield formerly belonged to said County. The County of Hampshire was organized in 1662 and included Franklin & Hampden Counties. Hampden County, in which is situated West Springfield was not organized until 1812. The services then of Abn Cook appear to have been rendered first for Hampshire County - in which County is West Springfield - 100 days
20 of West Springfield - 9 Mths
3 rd Hampshire County - 22 days in all about 13 Mths - The affidavit of John Chapin hereunto I hope will prove satisfactory in regard to the marriage - & the Certificate of the Surrogate of Albany supplies an omission, which I had overlooked. I wish the certificate payable to the administrator for the sole benefit of Diadamia Thurber, Roswell Cook, Constant Cook, Jesse Cook, John Cook and Anne (Franklin) only children of Abn Cook dec d .
P.S. The included cert. covers 22 days of service more than the former one as you will perceive as the three terms all the services rendered by any one of the heirs of Abn Cook - in Massachusetts.
Col S. L. Edwards (Q.M. Genl) Mr. Abner Cook Adm l Ely

1 Town of Morris town - St. Lawrence County & State of New York ss. John H. Thumber personally came before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace, and said & saith that he was acquainted with Abel Cook before he died some ten or twelve years. was acquainted with his wife Mary Cook knew they lived together as man and wife during the said 10 or 12 years raised a large family of Children saw the said Abel Cook die in the year 1813 in the town of H Ecalp now called Depeyster has frequently heard Abel Cook say that he was in the market market and further this Deponent saith not. John Thumber Subscribed & sworn } this 5 th day of February 1841 before me
Chas. Richardson Justice of the peace personally came before me Homer Rowland known to me to be a man of truth and verac- ity, and says under oath that he is acquainted with Mary Cook. Diadama my Thumber & John H. Thumber and believes them to be persons of good moral characters, truth and veracity Subscribed & sworn } before me this 5 th day of Homer Rowland February 1841 C. Richardson Justice of the peace

State of New York St. Lawrence County ss. I Osmo V. Hollenback Deputy Clerk of the County of St. Lawrence do hereby certify that Charles Richardson was on the day of the date of the within certificate a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly appointed and qualified and that the signature within purporting to be his is genuine
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto affixed My seal of Office and Subscribed my name this 9 th day of February 1811
O V Hollenback Depty CR
Butts off Hollenback

January 1842
State of Connecticut Washington County
Be it remembered that before me Solomon T. Corbett a justice of the peace in and for the said county personally appeared Obed Hitchcock of Hartford in said county and made oath in due form of law that he is seventy three years of age, was born  in Springfield in the State of Massachusetts resided in that town until the year 1791 when he removed to the aforesaid county of Washington and has resided since that time in said county of Washington, that he this deponent well acquainted with the late Abel Cook and Mary Cook his wife both of them now deceased, that the said Mary was sister of this deponent and was about twelve or thirteen years older than this deponent, that his said sister Mary resided with an aunt of hers in West Springfield or Westfield adjoining said town of Springfield until the death of her aunt and after that in the family of her uncle at the same place until her marriage with the said Cook, that this deponent recollects that said Cook and deponent, said sister Mary visited at the deponent's father's house a short time after deponent understands they were married and before the birth of their first child in the year 1799 or 1800 deponent cannot certainly recollect which, that deponent then understands & has always since understood they were married before said aunt although he (deponent) was not a witness of their marriage, that they visited at that time as husband & wife and after that time resided together as such until the death of the said Cook - that the said Cook and wife

reside in the Spencer county of Washington before This deponent remained to the same place & that This deponent resided near them in said county and was well acquainted with them and their family at the time some fifteen or twenty years when they removed to the town of Blackburgh , Clinton County , New York & from thence to the Natayug , New York , where the said Cook died and afterwards the said Mary removed to the town of Altavista in St Lawrence County where the said Mary died as this deponent was informed and believed in February 1841. And that this deponent has visited the said Mary since the death of the said Cook & during her residence in Altavista  St Lawrence And deponent further avers that the said Abel and Mary Cook had nine children viz. Patty Cook, Sally Cook, Roswell Cook, Abel Cook, Diadama Cook, Leah Cook, Constant Cook, John Cook and Anna Cook and further this deponent avers not.
Given under my hand the 21 st day of June 1841 and I hereby certify that I have well acquainted with the above named Abel  Hitchcock and know him to be a person of good moral character and of unswerving truth and veracity.
Abel Hitchcock
Simon S. Cramer Justice of the Peace.
State of New York Washington County ss 3 I Henry Shiphead Clerk of said County do hereby certify that Solomon S. Cramer Esq. whose signature is affixed to the annexed Sworn and certificate was on the day the same purports to have been done a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly elected and qualified and that his signature thereto subscribed is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said County this 10 th day of March 1845 H. Shiphead Clk.

I know all men by these presents That I John H. Thurber of Morristown in the county of St Lawrence in the state of New York have constituted and appointed John A. Bully of Boston Massachusetts my true and lawful attorney to examine and cause to be examined the records of Military services during the war of the Revolution to ascertain the services of Abel Cook deceased and husband of the late Mary Cook since Cook was a soldier or officer during said war and served in the Massachusetts line
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 11 th day of January A.D. 1844
John H. Thurber agent for the heirs of the late Mary Cook
State of New York } St Lawrence County }
Personally appeared before me John H. Thurber whom I know to be the person who executed the above power of attorney and acknowledged that he has so executed the same and for the purposes therein specified
dated at Morristown this 11 th day of Jany 1844
Subscribed & sworn before me this 12 th day of January 1844
J. Ophir & justice

The affidavit of Aaron Borden in my possession shows that Abiel Cook was a Captain, resided in West Springfield Massachusetts. Borden says that he enlisted in 1861 in Roxbury into Capt. Seagraves Comp Col. Stud. Regt. Col. Edward Clapp's 11th Regt. of said Regt. & stayed home a while & was then called for by Capt. Abiel Cook of West Springfield & joined the Army & immediately thereafter a battle ensued in Boston in which Capt. Cook was engaged & that afterwards he was taken by Capt. Cook with a number of others to New York & was engaged with Capt. Cook in the battle of Burnside & knew that said Cook is now alive about one & a half years.  Admiral Ely
C. S. Lane Esq. in the Service of State's Office Boston Massachusetts  Double  Post
PAID 37 1/2
450 1/2 J. H. Huntington

Westfield Mass Feb 12 1845
W. Ely Esq. Sir Yours of the 1 st Inst. is received and by your request I have made an examination of our records of Marriages from 1740 to 90 and find no record of establishment or marriage of the parties you mentioned in Abel Cook & Mary Hatchcock.
Respectfully Yours
W. A. Fletcher Clerk of Westfield

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston;
Oct 23 1845.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Abiel Cook is borne upon a Pay roll of Capt Benjamin Phillips's Company, in Col Timothy Robinson's reg t in the County of Hampshire, as a private from December 23. 1776 to April 1. 1777. 100 days. The names of the towns to which soldiers in said Company belonged, are not given upon the roll, but as it is alleged in the annexed letter that said Cook belonged to West Springfield, the presumption is, that he performed said service, as said town was originally included in said County. Upon a Pay Roll of Capt Samuel Hovey's Company, in Col Israel Chapman's reg t as a private from November 5 to 21. 1779.
3 Nov 10
22 22 days including allowance of ten miles travel, and in order to identify this service, as that of said Cook

of West Springfield I will state that another roll of said Capt. Hapgood's Company was sworn to in Hampshire County. This last mentioned service was not included in a former certificate of the case, issued July 29. 1844, which certificates with the present contain all the evidence of service of any one of the names as shown by records in this office And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Palfrey; Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Watertown Linn County N.York July 27. 1841
Sir
In order to identify Abel Cook of West Springfield with our town of service, the evidence of which has been furnished by you in the following terms - "The name of Abel Cook is found upon a Pay Roll in this office in the Company of Capt. Benjamin Phillips Col Robinson from Dec. 23. 1776 to April 1. 1777 106 days a private" You are respectfully requested to furnish me with said evidence and Roll will show of the residence of said Abel Cook
Very Respectfully Yr obedient Abel Ely Atty for the heirs of Abel Cook
Hon. John G. Palfrey Secy of State Boston
68

State of New York St. Lawrence County ss. I, John Chapin of the Town of Oswegatchie in the County and State aforesaid being duly sworn before James O'Carty a Justice of the Peace of said County, depose and say that he is in the sixty seventh year of his age - That when this deponent was about seven or eight years of age he the deponent resided with his father in Granville in the County of Washington and State of New York, and sub- sequently resided in Hartford in the same County. That during the time of this deponent's residence in the County of Wash- ington aforesaid, he well remembers a person by the name of Abel Cook, who lived with in Hartford in said County with his family, comprising a woman and children - The wo- man's maiden name was Hitchcock, and was then reputed to be the wife of said Abel Cook. At the period she said Abel Cook and wife had some four five or six children. That the deponent resided in his father's family in Washington County, substantially until deponent's father and family re- moved into the Town of Oswegatchie and County of St. Lawrence about the year 1802. That the deponent was acquainted with the said Abel Cook and his said wife during the whole period of deponent's residence in the County of Wash- ington aforesaid. That sometime between the year 1802, and the year of the declaration of the late war (1812) the said Abel Cook & his said wife and family removed into the Town of Oswegatchie aforesaid (in that part of the town now set off & called Desfayster) about ten miles distant from the residence of this deponent. That this deponent believes the said Abel Cook.

removed into said town of Oweyatches about four or five years before the declaration of the War of 1812. That after the arrival of said Cook, the deponent was accustomed sometimes to be at his house, and well knows that said Cook and his wife and family were the same individuals whom he knows by the same names in the County of Washington. That the first acquaintance of the deponent with the said Abel Cook, his wife and family, was about the year 1786, and continued, with the intermissions herein before mentioned, until the time of the death of said Abel Cook. And further the deponent saith not.
Subscribed and sworn before On the 15 th day of July 1845
John Chapin
J. Bartlett
Stearns County Attest: Office of J. Martin Thatcher Clerk of said County do hereby certify that James C. Bartlett who made and subscribed to the above affidavit of John Chapin was at the time of taking the same a Justice of the Peace in said said County elected & qualified & duly authorized to take the same. And further that I am acquainted with the hand-writing of said Justice & verily believe that his signature above written is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said County this the 16 th day of July 1845 Martin Thatcher Clerk

Mary Cook du a widow of Abel Cook additional widows
Adulthood Watkins N.Y. Aug
1776. 3 mo 10 day Bapt Phillips, at Robinson 1778. 9 " Bapt Eliz. at Morrey 1779. " 22 Bapt. Sloper 13 mo 2 d.

State of New York
St Lawrence County ss
This may certify that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to me Charles D. Myles Surrogate of the County of St Lawrence of opinion that Abel Cook died in 1813 and that his widow Mary Cook died in the town of Morrisstown in the County aforesaid on the eleventh day of February eighteen hundred and forty two, and that she left her surviving six children who are all of lawful age and whose names are Dianadomea Thur- ber, wife of John K. Thurber Roswell Cook of Edwards- burgh Canada Abt Constant Cook + Julia Cook of the place last aforesaid + Lipe Cook of Oswego New York + Also wife of Benjamin Franklin Law of NY and that the above are the only surviving children of the said Mary Cook deceased
Given under my hand and the seal of my office at Ogdensburg this 19 th day of September 1845
C.D. Myles Surrogate