Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,957, Thomas Coker, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER
N 6
Coker, Thomas
S 30957
CONTENTS
This Envelope Includes
FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO

Kentucky 20.993
Thomas Riker
Harlans Co. in the State of Ky. he was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain John Riker of the Ky. Light Arty. Col. Meredith in the 1st Ky. Cav. Regt. Ky. Militia.
8 1/2 Mo. at $28.33
Died in the State of Kentucky the 10th day of March 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of August
to his widow Mrs. B. Riker, Harlans Co., Ky.
Amount of Pension $85.00 Interest during widowhood $14.16 3/4
Died Jan 6 1835 $99.16 3/4
Anthony Riker Jan 7 1835 D. C. Sprague Clerk Vol. 7

30-715
That looker Ken
f 0775 p 8 1/2 m #28.33
10. 6. Washington City Commissaire of Prison Sent J. P. Bowers
Ken
Aug 11 th
Dear Garrison July 20 Sir
To Wallinger Barkerville Ken

Declaration
In Order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th June 1832
On this 14 th day of April 1834 personally appeared before Samuel Marks an acting justice of the peace for Harlan County Kentucky Thomas Coker a resident of Yellow Creek in the county of Harlan and State of Kentucky aged 73 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 the 7 th 1832
I volunteered in the Militia of North Carolina in Surry County in the year 1779 as well as I remember for a tour of three months under William Shepherd Col John Horn Capt Thomas Coker a cousin of mine Lieut John Harper Ensign we rendezvoused at Surry Court house we marched thence into Wilkes County thence into Rowan thence to Guilford our business in this tour was to disarm, and stop up the fords - we returned to Surry after this tour and continued there actively engaged in the same sort of employment until my 3 months was out I received no written discharge for this service
In the Spring afterwards being 1780 as well as I remember I was drafted for a tour of 3 months in Surry County North Carolina under Rutherford Gen Martin Armstrong Col William Meredith Capt - we marched thence to Salisbury town and there was stationed

while - thence we marched to Peder and crossed it at the Chisaw Hills - we marched thence to Rogers mills - a little above them we met with the army under Genl. Gates - we joined Gates and turned down passing Rogers Mills on our road to Camden before we reached Camden My company was put under the orders of John Armstrong a continental Col who had married My Sister - at the Green swamps we had a battle with the British - the battle was commenced in the night and the corps to which I belonged commenced the action - in this engagement I rec d a slight wound on the right arm from a musket ball - we got whipped and had to retreat - every man I believe made for his home - the road towards Surry was crowded with soldiers but among the militia no order was preserved - I do not remember that any officer took command on the retreat - I lacked but a few days of completing this tour of 3 months when the battle was fought - I feel confident not more than 15 days and then before we could reach our homes we had to travel near 200 miles - I rec d no written discharge for this service
In the fall of the same year I was drafted again in Surry county North Carolina for a tour of 3 months under - Grimes Maj. - Kimmins capt - we marched again from Surry county house to join the Main Army - we went as far as a place called the White Plains and there was ordered back to go against a parcel of Tories - thence we marched to Cross creek thence we marched towards the Chisaw

Hills - we did not meet with the band of Loins we were in search of they took to the swamps and ended our pursuit - we killed two men in those parts that I understood was the best and best of the Loins - when my 3 months was out I was discharged at Salisbury Town I rec d no written discharge for this service
I have no documentary evidence of my service - I have heard that Nicholas Horn has a distance of 50 miles near Knoxville Tennessee by whom I could prove some of my Loins, but I have no horse and am not able from bodily infirmity to walk so far I know of no person else living, by whom I could prove any portion of my service - I am not able to go to court a distance of 30 or 40 miles because I have no horse - am too poor to buy one and am unable from bodily infirmity to walk In all my Loins I served as a common soldier
I hereby relinquish every claim to a pension or annuity except the pension, and I declare that my name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state
Answer to Ques n 1 st I was born in Bruns county state of N. Carolina I do not know the year in which I was born
2 I have no record of my age - and my recollection of what my parents have told me is very imperfect - I know I volunteered before I was 16 and returned that Loins
3 I was living in Surry county N. Carolina when ended with the service - after the revolution I moved to Laurens county S. Carolina and lived there 22 years - then to Franklin city Georgia thence to Livon county Tennessee - thence to Yellow creek now Harlan county where I have lived off and on about 17 years

4 My first tour was as a volunteer - the 2 other tours were as a draft, man.
5 I knew Genl Yates - Col John Armstrong - Ben- de Kall that was killed at the Green Swamp - I do not know any of Regiments by Number
6 I never Rec d - any discharge from the service
7 I am known in my present neighbourhood to Harry Reims John Turner, Harry Gibson and many others who I doubt not if present would testify to my character for veracity and their belief of my ser- vices as a soldier of the revolution
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid
Thomas Booker
We Harry Reims John Turner and Harry Gibson residing in Harlan County Kentucky hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Booker who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration - that we believe him to be 71 years of age that he is respected and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion we further certify that the applicant lives at a distance of more than 30 miles from the court house that he has no horse and from our knowledge of his circumstan- ces has nothing to spare for a horse - and that from bodily infirmity he is unable to walk

to court
Henry Reims 3 John Turner Henry Gibson
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 non-resistant soldier and served as he states, and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Henry Reims John Turner and Henry Gibson who has signed the preceding certificate are credit persons and their statements entitled to credit the court further certifies that it appears to him that there is no clergyman who resides in the immediate vicinity of such applicant and that said applicant has no horse is too poor to buy one and from bodily infirmity unable to walk to attend court, given under my hand this day and date above written
Samuel Mark J.P.
I John G. Crump clerk of the court of Harlan county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings had before Samuel Mark a justice of the peace for Harlan county, as presented to me. I further certify that Samuel Mark is a justice of the peace for Harlan county Kentucky, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 16 th day of July 1834
John G. Crump Clerk of the court of Harlan county

Mr. Edwards
This claim was prepared before I saw you in May but owing to the death of Col. Sugg, County Court Clerk could not be certified. Your Answer through Mr. Kennison declining an additional compensation to Berry Lawood is satisfactory - it was my confidence in the truth of his statement which induced my letter - adams was as heretofore at Barboursville Ky.
Your friend
Frank W. Bellinger

250
Buddy Collins widow of Thomas Collins
$9.69
hook
31 36 9.30
31 2 36 31 4 22 53 162
12 8 33 2 36 4 9 44 13 9 31
6 Jan M 8 4 2
THOUGHT TO REPEAT
July 1885
2

Know all men by these presents, That I, Biddy Cooker widow of Thomas Cooker  Revolutionary (a) Pensioner of the United States, do hereby constitute and appoint Stephen Swift my true and lawful Attorney, for me, and in my name to receive from the Agent of the U. States for paying pensions in Lexington, State of Kentucky, the pension due me in right of my deceased husband, from the 4 th day of September 1834 to the 6 th day of January 1835 WITNESS my hand and seal, this 24 day of March 1835
Sealed and delivered in presence of
George M. Adams
Biddy Cooker  Mark
STATE OF KENTUCKY, Knox County, } ss.
BE IT KNOWN, That on the 24 day of March 1835 before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, personally appeared Biddy Cooker above-named, and acknowledged the foregoing Power of Attorney to be her act and deed.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand the day and year last above-mentioned.
James Pogue P.
STATE OF KENTUCKY, Knox
County, Set.
I, James F. Ballinger Clerk of the Court of Knox County, certify, that James Pogue is a Magistrate as above, and that the foregoing signature, purporting to be his, is genuine. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name, this 4 th day of May in the year 1835.
James F. Ballinger Clerk of the Court of Knox County.
STATE OF KENTUCKY, Fayette County, } ss.
BE IT KNOWN, That on the 9 day of June 1835 before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, personally appeared Stephen Swift the Attorney named in the foregoing Power of Attorney, and made oath that the same was not given him by reason of any sale, transfer or mortgage of the pension, or arrears of pension, therein authorized to be received by him.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year last above-mentioned, before me,
R. S. Todd J. P.
S. Swift
NOTE.—This affidavit must be signed by the Attorney.
(a) In this blank insert the word Invalid or Revolutionary, as the case may be.

STATE OF KENTUCKY,
Knox County, Set. March circuit Court, 1835
SATISFACTORY proof was this day made in open Court, by the oath of Richard
Ballin
that Thomas Koker
departed this life on the 6 day of January
was the identical person named in an original certificate, now here shewn to the Court, bearing date the 12 day of August 1834
John Forsyth
and signed by Thomas
Secretary of War, granting to the said Thomas a Pension of twenty eight dollars, & thirty three cents
per annum and numbered 20998
And it was further satisfactorily proven, to the satisfaction
of the Court, that Betsy Koker
is the widow of the said
Thomas Koker
and that she is now living.
I, James H. Ballin Clerk of the Court of said County, do certify, that the above is truly transcribed from the records in my office.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the seal of my office, this 28 th day of
May
183 5
James H. Ballin
RECORDED INDEXED

Act 7 June 1832
Office of the Bank of the United States, Lexington, )
9 June 1835 }
RECEIVED of JOHN TILFORD, Agent for paying Pension to  for Dollars 59 — Cents, being for 4 month 2 days Pension, due to Betty Baker widow of Thomas Baker decd. from the 4 day of Sept 1834, to the 6 day of June 1835. for which I have signed duplicate receipts.
J. Swift City
Dolls. 59

June 10, 1930
Mrs. J.E. Balmer Leupp Arizona
Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.30957, it appears that Thomas Coker was born in Brunswick County, North Carolina, date not given.
While residing in Surry County, North Carolina, he enlisted and served as a private with the North Carolina Troops as follows:
From sometime in 1779, three months in Captain John Horn's Company, Colonel William Shepperd's Regiment and was out against the Tories. Thomas Coker, a cousin of the soldier's, was Lieutenant in this company at this time.
From the spring of 1780, three months in Captain William Meredith's Company, Colonels Martin Armstrong's and John Armstrong's (who married soldier's sister, her name not given) Regiments, and was in the battle of Gum Swamp where he received a slight wound in his right forearm from a musket ball, and from sometime in the fall of same year, three months in Captain Kinnins' Company, under Major Grimes.
After the Revolution, he moved to Laurens County, South Carolina, where he lived for twenty-two years, then moved to Franklin County, Georgia, thence to Sevier County, Tennessee, and thence to Harlan County, Kentucky.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 14, 1834, at which time he was aged seventy-three years and resided at Yellow Creek, Harlan County, Kentucky,

Rev. and 181 Wars Section EEL
where he had lived for about seventeen years.
Fison AB He died January 6, 1835.
It is not stated that soldier was ever married.
The above is the history of the only soldier named Thomas Coker, found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.

30.957 Thos. Cook
Apr. 14, 1864
Harlan Co. Ky - 71
79 - Surrey Co. N.C. Capt. Jno. Horn Col. Wm. Shepherd
Det. 3 mos.
Sp. 80 Capt. Wm. Meredith Col. Martin Armstrong Det. 3 mos.
Fall 80 Capt. Kennings Maj. Grimes Det. 3 mos.
After was moved to Laurens Co. S.C. then to Franklin Co. Ga. then to Danville then to Harlan Co. Ky.
Skirmish at Green Swamp S.C.

30957 Rev INVALID.
File No. 30,957
Thomas Coker
Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1824
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 82
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Oct. 17-1921 A.M. Hartfield City 1930-June 10-That. to Mrs. F. Palmer 8th

Payments to be made at Lexington, Ky. by W. A. R. Brister
Agent for paying Pension- ers, in the Agency of Ky.
Recorded in the Pension Of- fice, in Book C o Vol. 1. Page 8 by J. C. Spayd Clerk.
FINAL PAYMENT JUCHEER
Resided here 80

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Thomas Cox of the State of Kentucky who was a Private during the Revolutionary War is entitled to receive Twenty-Eight dollars and Sixty-Three cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States this 12th day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty- four
Wm. L. Marcy Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned. }
J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions.
RECEIVED TREASURY DEPT.
NOV 13 1834

Washington, D. C. Inter-State Com. Com. Oct 10th 1901
Dear Sir:
I would like to obtain, if possible, an abstract of the pension claims of the COXERS for service in the Revolutionary War. They lived in what was then Pendleton , and Laurens Districts in the state of South Carolina at the time of the Revolution and I suppose filed pension claims from that state. I understand there was only one or two invalid and one or two widows claims filed by members of the Coxer family - I think the Christian name of one of the soldiers was James Coxer and of one of the widows Annie Coxer . Thanking you in advance, I remain
Very Resp't. A. M. Hartsfield.
To Hon. H. Clay Evans, Commissioner of Pensions.

Leupp, Ariz. Mar. 26 - 1930.
Bureau of Pensions Washington D.C. Rev. & 1812 War Sect. M.C.S. - St. Louis.
First I wish to thank you for the records of Revolutionary Service of my Thomas Vernon and John Cantwell Grandfathers.
Have you any data on Thomas Coker of Mars Hill (or near there) S.C. who served under Marion in Revolution?
Have you anything on William Barnett - I do not know where he lived during Rev.
Do you have a record of service of John Cantwell Jr. in War of 1812?
o o h.

And of Thomas no O. H.  Vernon Jr. War of 1812 - From Va.
Sincerely yours -
Malcolm V. Balcer.
(Mrs. J. E.)