Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12537, Solomon Cook, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
book Solomon
S. 12537
CONTENTS
carded

15203
N. Hampshire
Solomon Cook
Res Co in the State of N. Hampshire who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Ellis of the Regt. commanded by Col. Bond in the Mass. Line for June
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Hampshire at the rate of 23 Dollars 93 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of June 1833 and sent to Edmund Burk Whitfield
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $46.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept 1833 11.66
$58.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. W. Army Clerk, Book Vol. 1 Page 76

Declaration of Solomon Cook.
24709

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
State of New-Hampshire, } ss. County of Coos
On this fifth day of March 1833, personally appeared in open Court, before the Judge of the Court of Probate  Cook , now sitting, Solomon Cook a resident of Whitefield in the County of Coos and State of N. H. aged 82 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 served as herein stated— He entered Col Ebenezer Darnes Regiment, the name of the other field officers he does not recollect. He recollects Col Darnes for he was an inhabitant of the same town with him. The names of the officers of the company which he belonged are Capt. Ellis , 1st Lieut. Keith , and 2nd Lieut. Davis . He entered the service about the middle of November 1775, and left the same about the middle of March following. He resided in the town of Oxford , Worcester County, Massachusetts was a volunteer and was engaged in no battle. He marched from Oxford through Tilton  Grafton and other intermediate towns to Hebron where he remained until his term of service expired. He belonged to the militia of the state of Massachusetts . He does not recollect particularly any Continental regiments or companies. Of the field officers he knew General Washington , Col Bray and Lt Pond . He served part of the time as a corporal and the remainder as a sergeant. was attached to the second division and was employed to receive and to draw the rations of the company. He has no documentation evidence other than the affidavit of Ebenezer Darnes which is hereto attached. He again entered the service of the United States in the month of August A.D. 1777 for the term of three months as a substitute for men by the name of Milcomb & Chase companies. He believes he served longer than the term of three months. He does not know the company officers nor Col Dane . Capt Bray about Sept Levi Dyer who are all he can recollect. He resided in the town of Oxford when he entered. He marched from Oxford through Massachusetts  Concord  Cambridge to the White Plains in New York . He was about three miles from that place when the engagement at the White Plains took place. Of the regular officers he knew Capt Howells . He was born in Nashua, Mass. in 1751. He does not know at this time any record of his age in existence. He resided at Oxford at the time of his enlistment and has since the revolution lived in the town of Southoff Bethlehem and Whitefield in the state of New Hampshire .
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed, the 6th day of March  Solomon Cook - As 1833 in open Court before me
We, Benedick Beman  B. Huntington Judge Probate and Asa B. Cole residing in Lebanon  Whitefield hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Solomon Cook , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be in May next Eightytwo 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 18th day of March 1833 in open Court before me B. Huntington Judge Probate 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 certifies, that it appears to them that Benedick Beman  Asa B. Cole who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the town of Whitefield and that Asa B. Cole , who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Whitefield a Chapman and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Benjamin Huntington Judge Probate
I, Sarah Williams Clerk & Register of the Court of Probate for said County of Coos do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Solomon Cook for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this 6th day of March A.D. 1833.
Sarah Williams Clerk & Register of Probate

24708- Solomon Cook N. H.
Providence Marks
Edmund Burk Whitefield N. H.

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 subjjoined 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. Those 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, shewing the Service of Solomon Cook. N.H.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. 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 supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Nov. 1775 - Oct. 1776 1 4 Private Col Ellis 6th Lorne { part of the above time a Corporal 82. born in Mass { entered there and now lives in Whitefield N.H. one surviving witness proves his first term of service - Credible Certificate of a Clergyman and Citizens   Aug. 1777 - Sub. 3 Col Lamb. Col Rouse  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

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 } ss. County of }
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 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 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.
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) _____, who has 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 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 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

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. { 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, 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 traditional 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 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 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. 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 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 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 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 signature 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 in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditional 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.

October 27, 1937.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Mr. Edgar M. Bowker Whitefield, New Hampshire
BA-J/ady Solomon Cook S.12537
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter relative to Solomon Cooke, a soldier of the Revolutionary War and War of 1812.
The War of 1812 records of this office fail to show that a claim for pension was ever made on account of the services of Solomon Cook as described by you, all spellings of the names searched.
The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.12537, based upon the military service of Solomon Cook in that war.
Solomon Cook was born in May 1750 in Westbury, Massachusetts, day, and the names of his parents are not stated.
While a resident of Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Solomon Cook enlisted in November 1775, served as corporal and sergeant in Captain Ellis' Massachusetts Company under Colonel Ebenezer Learned and was discharged in March 1776. He enlisted in August 1777 and served three months in Captain Abijah Lamb's Company, Colonel Rand's Massachusetts Regiment.
After the Revolutionary War he lived in Landaff, Bethlehem and Whitefield, New Hampshire.
He was allowed pension on his application executed March 5, 1833, at which time he was a resident of Whitefield, Coos County, New Hampshire.
There are no family data.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Date of death not on a/p

Deposition of Ebenezer Street.
24708

I Ebenezer Streater of Lisbon in the County of Grafton & State of New Hampshire of lawfull age being in my seventy seventh year Testify & say that at the commencement of the Revolutionary War, I lived in the Town of Oxford in the State of Massachusetts that soon after the Lexington Battle I enlisted in the service of the revolution for eight months under Capt. Campbell of said Oxford & was attached to Col. Larnads Regiment & that we were stationed at Roxbury Massachusetts & that some time that season while we lay at said Roxbury Solomon Cook the Person who is now in my service with whom I had been acquainted with Prior to that time & whom I have no hesitancy in saying is the same Solomon Cook that joined said Larnads Regiment under Capt. Ellis and that said Cook my wife & others were quartered together in the same House called the De Moody House
Ebenezer Streater
State of New Hampshire Grafton ss. Lisbon 22 nd November 1832 Then personally appeared Ebenezer Streater signor of the above Deposition & made solemn Oath that the same is true before me the Subscriber and I further state & certify that I am well acquainted with the said Ebenezer Streater & have been for a number of years & that I consider him a credible Disinterested Witness Timothy Taylor Just of the Peace
Grafton ss State of New Hampshire.
I George Woodworth Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, Being a Court of Record in and for the State of New Hampshire, do hereby certify that Timothy Taylor Esq. before whom the within deposition attorney was  taken  statement , is a Justice of the peace for the county of Grafton and that I believe his name within subscribed to be his true and proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of said Court at Hanover on this sixth day of March one thousand eight hundred thirty three.
Woodworth Clerk

This Lt. was David Keith & his Capt. was Samuel Ellis -
See Mass. Pals. & Sailors Page 30 -
David Keith & page 315 - Samuel Ellis -

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C. May 24 , 19 91
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Solomon Cook a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Nov. 1775 to Mar. 1776 Corp + Lgt. Ellis Ebenezer Larned Mass.   Aug. 1777 3 mos. Abijah Larned Rand        
Battles engaged in, None
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Oxford, Worcester Co., Mass.
Date of application for pension, Mar. 5, 1833. Cl. al.
Residence at date of application, Whitefield, Coos Co., N. H.
Age at date of application, b. 1750 in Westerly, Mass.
Remarks: No fam. data
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

EDGAR M. BOWKER ATTORNEY-AT-LAW JUDGE OF PROBATE, COOS COUNTY
WHITEFIELD, N. H.
October 13, 1937
A. D. Hiller, Executive Assistant to the Administrator Veterans Administration Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Re: Solomon Cooke
The gravestone of the above-named in this town is marked "Soldier of 1776," with dates 1749-1835 and, in some other records which I have, he is described as a soldier in the War of 1812.
His father, Robert Cooke, lived in Oxford, Massachusetts, and I assume that Solomon was born there.
His wife's name was Sally.
Kindly inform me what your records show with reference to the war service of the above-named, and greatly oblige.
Yours respectfully,
E. M. Bowker
EMB/ARM

Mary Chilton Chapter D. A. R. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
May 3, 1921.
Dept. of the Interior Rev. War Dept.
Gentlemen!
The enclosed letter has just been received - The name should here have been Solomon Cook instead of Solomon Clark, a mistake made in copying.
May I ask you to look up the record of Solomon Cook? - The Chapin Genealogy states that he drew a pension many years.
Very truly yours,
Lucy Hopkins Ayres.
Registrar
Mary Chilton Chapter D. a. R.

Mary Chilton Chapter D. A. R. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Apr. 2 - 1921
Re Vot. 1 LB
Dept. of the Interior Bureau of Pensions Rev. War Dept.
Gentlemen:
Have you a record of service of Solomon Cook b. 1749 Oxford, Mass. Cook d. 1835 Whitefield, N.H. m. 1. Salina Blandin 2. Hannah Shattuck
If so, please send me a copy.
Thanking you for this courtesy.
I am Very truly yours
(Mrs. Amos E.) Lucy Hoskins Registrar
Mary Chilton Chap. D.A.R.
Sioux Falls, S.D. 910 S. Phillips Ave.

Rev has
12534 INVALID.
File No. 12, 6-37
Solomon Cook
Pr. Rev War
Act: June 14 th 32
Index: —Vol. a , Page 77
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1921, May 24 hit to Mrs. Amos E. (Lucy H.) Ayres. EW 1937 Oct. 27 dist. to Edgar M. Bowker a.D. 45