Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29090, Asa Cole, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
mass
bole, Asā
S 29090
CONTENTS

2.058 Massachusetts
Isa Cole
as. Ma st in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Arty ry commanded by Captain Dine — of the Reg t commanded by Col. Pitcairn in the Mass — line for 1 Year —
heart
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass s at the rate of 40 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of Aug y 1833 and further p d D. Hall Pitts field
Arrears to the 4th of Dec r 1831 $ 8 00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4th p d 2 00 $10 00
Revolutionary Claim, Ref d June 7, 1832. G. B. Atty
Recorded by G. B. Atty Clerk Book C. Vol. 2, Page 13
75 Pitts field

Asa Cook
New Marlborough
Application for Pension
Nov. 14 1832
18745

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Berkshire, ss.
ON this Fourteenth day of November A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable WILLIAM P. WALKER, Judge of the Court of Probate, within and for said County of Berkshire, now sitting,
Asa Cole , a resident of the town of New Marlborough in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy three 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.
That he enlisted and served in the Continental Army for the period of one Year - the year 1776 in a company commanded by Capt. Moses Soul in Col. Asa Whitcomb's Regiment - That he joined the army at Cambridge near Boston the first of January 1776 - in said company - That he was there stationed until the British evacuated the town on the 17 th day of March following - That he then marched with the Regiment aforesaid into Boston to protect & fortify the Harbor, and was there stationed until the first of August following when he marched with said Regiment to Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain where he was stationed until the first of January 1777 - at which his enlistment for the Year as aforesaid was ended and he was discharged - That he found his own Blanket and Clothes and Gun, and took his pay in continental money -
That he can prove the above service by
Zenas Wheeler of New Marlborough & Seth Hubbard of Sandisfield who both served with him in the same company thro' the year aforesaid

 1 - That he was born in Taunton, (Mass s ) Sept. 16. 1759  2 - That he has no record of his age.  3 - That he lived in New Marlborough when called into service, that he has lived there since the Revolutionary war and that he now lives there.  4 - That he entered the service as before stated by voluntarily enlisting and served as a soldier as before stated.  5 - That during his station at Boston then with the Troops - Genl. Washington - Col. Shepard & etc.  6 - That he never received a written discharge from the service.  7 - That the following persons to whom he is known can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution - viz t - The Rev d . Kerley Goodwin & Benjamin Sheldon Esq. 

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
Asa Cole
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
William P. Walker J. Roberts
We Harley Goodwin a Clergyman, residing in the town of New Marlborough and Benjamin Sheldon residing in New Marlborough hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Asa Cole who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 73 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.
Harley Goodwin Benjamin Sheldon
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W.P. Walker J. Roberts
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 Harley Goodwin who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident in the town of New Marlborough in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that Benjamin Sheldon who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of New Marlborough in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
W.P. Walker J. Roberts
I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Berkshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Asa Cole for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office of said Court of Probate, this fourteenth day of November in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Henry W. Bishop Register of Probate

L. W. B. I. 29090.
This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
December 9th, 1897.
Sir:-
Replying to your request for information concerning Asa Cole, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are advised that he made an application for pension on November 14th, 1832, at which time he was 73 years of age and residing at New Marlborough, Mass., and his pension was allowed for one year's actual service as a private in the Mass. troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Soul and Col. Whitcomb. He enlisted at Cambridge, Mass.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mr. Oswald P. Backus,
Rome, New York.

Mr. N.Y.
29090 Rev. INVALID.
Dec-9/97- Hist. to - O. P. Backus, Rome
File No. 29090
Abba Cole
Br Rev Mar
Act: June 7 th 89
Index: - Vol. 2 , Page 81
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Asa Cole
Mass
Paint 12 Months Capt Soule's Company Col White's Regt
1845
Parker L Hall Esq Pittsfield Mass

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Asa Cole which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yy V. * Has he mentioned 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? yy VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yy

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yy
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yy
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yy NO #
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yy
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yy
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? —
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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 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.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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 oath 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.
QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

June 19.
Mass.
En
Emerson Papers
Mass
John
Downey Esq.
See 3 at Boston
Mr. Abington
Will

Pittsfield, Berkshire Co Mass.
June 15 1832
Sir
Herewith I return the application of Asa Cole, with the proper certificate & seal in relation to the official character & signature of the Magistrate. —
Among the obj s ? noticed in a penil mark, it is stated that the "2 d " of the 7 interrog. &c. is not satisfactorily answered —
The applicant says in answer to the 2 d q n . Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it? — that "he has no record of his age". He has no means of making further proof of his age & time being no record of it, he is at a loss how to amend the answer already made.
I am very respectfully Yrs. H. Sir Parker L. Hale
Pittsfield Mass s
Hon. Jas. L. Edward Second Runners

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Berkshire, ss. I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County, do hereby certify that Parker J Hall Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition taken is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly and regularly appointed, and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and have no doubt that the Signature annexed to said deposition is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this fourteenth day of November A. D. 1832.
Henry W. Bishop Reg r Probate

We Zenas Wheeler of New Marlboro. and Seth Hubbard of Sandisfield all in the County of Berkshire Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age, do testify & say that Asa Cole of New Marlboro. enlisted and served with us, one year - the year 1776 - in the Continental Army - in a company commanded by Captain Moses Soul in Col. Asa Whitcomb's Regiment - That he joined the Army at Cambridge near Boston the first of January 1776 in said Company - That he was then stationed with us until the British evacuated the town on the 17 th day of March following - that he then marched with us into Boston to protect & fortify the Harbor and was stationed there until the first of August following when he marched with us in said Regiment to Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain where he was stationed with us until the first of January 1777, at which time his enlistment for the year as aforesaid was ended, and he was discharged with us.
Dated at Great Barrington November 14 th 1832
Zenas Wheeler Seth Hubbard
Berkshire ss. November 14. 1832, (Personally) appeared Zenas Wheeler & Seth Hubbard whom I certify to be credible witnesses, and severally subscribed & made oath to the truth of the above Deposition,
Before me, Parker L. Hall Just. Peace

OFFICES OF OSWALD P. BACKUS, COUNSELOR AT LAW, 107 SOUTH JAMES STREET.
COUNSEL TO THE ROME SAVINGS BANK. Assets January 1, 1897, $1,754,906.60 Liabilities, 1,496,251.66 Surplus, 258,745.03
PRACTICES IN THE COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES, NEW YORK, CONNECTICUT AND MINNESOTA.
Rome, N.Y. Nov 26 1897.
My Dear Sir,
Will you please furnish me with the facts shown by the records in your office regarding the Military record in the Recollection of Asa Coff a soldier from Litchfield or New Marlborough Mass. who died the trial in the latter place He drew a pension I think under the act of 1832.
Truly Yours Oswald P. Backus. His wife name I think was Susan