Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 35208, Reuben Cookson, Mass

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Cookson, Reuben,
S 35208
CONTENTS

6549
Maine
Reuben Cookson,
private, Col. Grafton
Massachusetts line - 1 year.
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of the District of Maine at the rate of — 8 — Dollars per month, to commence the 28 th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th of Feb. 1819 and del d R. L. Dore,
Arrears to 4th of Sep 1818. 4 mos 7/30 - 33. 86 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 th March 1819. 48. 00
$ 81. 86
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Unity,
continue
Modification sub July 12 th 1820 to
R. L. Dore Esq.
Augusta Maine

House of Representatives Jan'y 20. 1869 I certify that John Melvin within named is a credible and disinterested
witness -
Joshua Gage

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I Reuben Cookson, aged seventy three years, a citizen of the United States, born in Wellsfleet, in the state of Massachusetts, now resident in Unity in the District of Maine, upon oath testify and declare, that in June 1775 I enlisted as a private soldier, in the war of the revolution, against the common enemy upon the continental establishment, for the remainder of the eight months service, in Capt Wentworth Stewarts company, and Col Phinneys regiment, of the Massachusetts troops or line. This period I served fully out, and reenlisted as a private in the same service and upon the same establishment, for the period of one year, in the same company and regiment, under the same officers and in the same line. I continued in this service until the last of Novem r 1776, principally in the Hospital, at a place called Swalls point, near Brookline. I marched with the troops as far as Charleston, New Hampshire, and then left the service. This was my last Continental service; having served in the continental army more than fourteen months. From my reduced circumstances in life I am in need of assistance from my country for support. And I hereby relinquish all my claim to any pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States, if any, but I am not to my knowledge borne on any pension list whatever. I request that I may be placed upon the pension list for the District of Maine.
Reuben his Cookson mark
Kennebec Jd.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
On this twenty eighth day of April A D 1818 the above named Reuben Cookson, after having been carefully examined, made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed.
Before me.
S. S. Wilde
Jus. Sup. Jud. Court for 1 st Comm th
I John Melvin aged seventy years, of Unity in the District of Maine, upon oath testify and declare that I well know the above named Reuben Cookson, that I am well knowing to his having served in the revolutionary war for more than fourteen months as he has above stated. I served in the army myself and in the same regiment with him during the same time by him stated. From his reduced circumstances in life he is in need of assistance from his country for support. He sustains the character of a man of truth.
J. Melvin
Kennebec Jd.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
On this twenty eighth day of April A D 1818, the above named John Melvin, after having been carefully examined, made oath to the truth of the above Deposition by him subscribed.
Before me.
S. S. Wilde
Jus. Sup. Jud. Court for 1 st Comm th

(Copy)
State of Maine.
I, Reuben Cookson within named do solemnly swear, that on the twenty eighth day of April 1818, I made application, in pursuance of the within mentioned law of March 18, 1818, before Judge Wilde , and was afterwards placed upon the pension list roll of the United States, for the District of Maine Agency. And I, the said Reuben Cookson , do further solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Witness J. Nichols
his Reuben Cookson marks
KENNEBEC, ss.
ON this eighteenth day of May 1820, Reuben Cookson before named, after being duly cautioned and examined, exhibited and subscribed the within schedule, and took and subscribed the foregoing oath, before me,
Nathan Weston Junr.
Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas.
A true Copy
Attest J. M. Davis cler.
J. M. Davis, Augusta, Maine.
Mar 1819
6 1/2 18 3/4
6549
Reuben Cookson
88

State of Maine.
I John Davis Clerk, for the County of Kennebec of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the second Eastern Circuit, embracing the counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court ; and that the original was exhibited in open Court ; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, including debts due to the declarant therein stated, is Twenty five dollars and sixty seven cents ; and deducting therefrom the amount of what the declarant owes, as set forth in said Schedule, the value of said property in the opinion of said Court, is Twenty five dollars and sixty seven Cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twentieth day of June 1820.
John Davis Clerk of said Court for the County of Kennebec

(Copy)
State of Maine.
Pension Certificate N o 6. 549
To the Honorable the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset.
I, Reuben Cookson of Unity in the County of Kennebec aforesaid, a pensioner on the Maine roll, under the law of the United States, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th March, 1818, do hereby exhibit the following schedule of my whole estate and income (my necessary clothing and bedding excepted,) viz;
One Cow of the value of twenty dollars.
One Sheep of the value of one dollar & fifty cents.
One Swine of the value of two dollars.
Furniture, besides my necessary bedding, of the value of four dollars. —
One hoe of the value of sixty seven cents.
I have no debts due to me.
The income from the above property, may be five dollars a year, but not exceeding that sum; besides which I have no income derived from property trade or profession.
I am seventy six years of age, infirm and wholly unable to labor. —
Except the above I have no estate or income, whatever, besides my necessary clothing and bedding. —
Witness J. Nichols Reuben Cookson his mark
A true Copy
Attest John Davis Clerk
1244

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., May 15 , 192 3
In reply to your request of _____, for the history of  Reuben Cookson , a soldier of the Revolutionary War, the following is taken from the soldier's claim for pension.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     June 1775 to Nov. 1776 Private Wentworth Stuart Edmund Phinney Mass.         
Battles engaged in, none stated.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, not stated.
Date of application for pension, Apr. 28, 1818. His cl. was allowed
Residence at date of application, Unity, Kennebec Co., Me.
Age at date of application, 73 yrs. Born in Yarmouth, Mass.
Remarks: No data as to family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

35 208
INVALID.
Ray
File No. 35-208
Reuben Cookson
His Rev mo
Act: 15 March 18
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 91
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1922-May 15 - Hist. Soc. Mr. John H. Allen - mss 14

Rev 1
April 4, 1923
Bureau of Pensions, Department of the Interior Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir: Please send me such details as you have concerning the application for a revolutionary pension by Reuben Cookman, of Pearstown (now Standish) Maine. I have his revolutionary service which shows desertion, which must have been disgraced as he is on the 1820 Pension Roll, page 60. I would like, if possible,

to get the full history of the case.
If his application for a pension mentions his daughter Mrs. Charles Meserve [Mary Cookson] I should be glad to know that,
Thanking you for your anticipated courtesy, I am, Very truly yours
John R. Allen.

Reuben Cookson
Reuben Cookson. Unity Kennebec Co. - p: Col. Phinney's Mass. Reg. June 1775. to January 1777 - 1 Year 6 mo
April 28 th 1810
Reuben - Phinney's Des t  was on the Continent - tal establishment
Admitted

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
To the Honorable the Secretary of the Department of War of the United States:—
The subscriber, being one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do certify to your Honor, that Reuben Folsom, a citizen of the United States, now resident in the District of Maine, within the said Commonwealth, on the twenty eighth day of April A D 1818, made application to me to receive his declaration under oath, and such other evidence as was in his power to produce; and to transmit the same, and the proceedings to be had thereon to your Honor, that he might be placed on the pension list of the United States, agreeable to the provision of an Act, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War," passed March 18th A D 1818, which declaration and the other evidence produced by the said applicant is hereunto annexed.
And I do further certify to your Honor, that after a careful examination of the said applicant and a full consideration of the evidence in the case, it appears to me, that the said applicant did serve as a private soldier, in the War of the Revolution, against the common enemy, upon the continental establishment, for more than nine months, as stated in his declaration aforesaid; and that, from his reduced circumstances he needs the assistance of his country for support.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and have caused the seal of said Supreme Judicial Court to be hereunto affixed, this twenty eighth day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
S. S. Wilde Jus. Sup. Jud. Courts for S. Comm th
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Kennebec ss.
The subscriber, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts, held within the said County of Kennebec, hereby Certifies, that the Honorable Samuel. S. Wilde Esq. before whom the foregoing proceedings were had, is one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of this Commonwealth, and that by the direction of the said Judge I have affixed unto his Certificate, bearing His Signature, the Seal of said Supreme Judicial Court. —
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand: — Dated at Augusta, in said County of Kennebec, this tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred & eighteen. — JOHN DAVIS

Peter Peter Affidavit
Reuben Cook

I Peter Biter of lawful age do testify, and say, That In the month of December 1775 I marched to Cambridge and joined Col. Edmund Finey's redgiment, That I there saw Reuben Cookson was of Unity who belonged to the same redgiment said Cookson was then in the eight month's service which terminated in about one month after, when said Reuben Cookson enlisted into the same redgiment with Capt. Winthrop Stuart for one year, and said Cookson, I continued in said redgiment together till the next August. When I enlisted into Col. Finnerys redgiment I enlisted under Capt. Winthrop Williams and belonged to his company one year
Peter Biter
Kennebec ss. October 3, 1818
Personally appeared the above named Peter Biter and made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed
before me
Rufus Burnham Justice of the Peace
Rufus Burnham Esq. is a Justice of the Peace for the county of Kennebec; and I give credit to the above testimony.
Nathan Weston Jur