Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22,695, William Cotton, Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn
Cotton William
S. 22,695
Born in England
CONTENTS

P 22705 Pennsylvania William Cotton,
of _____ in the State of _____ who was a _____ in the _____ commanded by Captain _____ of the _____ commanded by _____ in the _____ line for 19 Mos. & 15 days.
Inscribed on the Roll of _____ at the rate of 65 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of Decr., 1833. and sent to
Rev A. Stewart Arrears to the 4th of _____ Semi-annual allowance ending H. R.
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. R. Palmer Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 5 Page 10.

Fayette County Ky. Pres. assy June - 3 P.
On the 5th day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty three persons duly appeared in open court before the judges of the court of common pleas of said county now sitting William Cotton aged eighty five years who being duly sworn according to law did on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of August 18th 1818 the 7th of June 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following several officers hereinafter mentioned as hereinafter stated.
That he first entered the service as a militia man in Bedford county Penna under Captain Hugh Harrington col. Geo. Ashman joined the fort of Fort Mifflin below Fort Littleton in Bedford county Penna where he remained from Oct 1811 until the fall of 1812 - say first of September till the first of April guarding the altitudes against the Indians making seven months he remained after his term of two months expired under new engagements as a volunteer this was in 1778-9 - He next went out in the summer of 1779 on a scout and acted as a spy for five months in guarding the frontier against the Indians who made frequent incursions on the settlements and committed many murders & robberies - in this service the militia acted in very small bodies generally & without any except non commissioned officers. In the fall of 1779 He again went out under Captain Harrington and was out guarding the forts erected for the defense of the settlements for three months when they were discharged - In the summer of 1800 about the middle of June he again went out being young & active as a spy and scouted constantly in different scouting parties until the first of November during this time he was wounded in an attack made on them by the Indians in the night by a bullet through the the right leg about mid way between the knee & ankle the same having just missed the bone & hip - through the muscle & sinews of his leg which caused him for a long time the scar of which is still visible this was the last service he rendered except a few days at a time in 1781 & 1782 on the frontiers as a spy at which he believes it would have been a full time duty if he had not undertaken to supply the time the four towns above mentioned amount to sixteen and a half months for which he claims a pension - He has no discharge or other documentary evidence nor does he know of any witness living before testimony he can procure to prove his

Services which were rendered principally in Bedford and the adjacent counties in Pennsylvania.
He hereby relinquishes all claim to any other pension or annuity whatever except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
In answer to the interrogatories agreed to be put by the war department he answers as follows
1 That he was born in Nottingham England about the 25 th December 1748 that he came to the United States on the 14 th of June 1770. 2 He has no record of his age 3 That he resided in Bedford county Penn a when he went into the service that he continued to reside there until about thirty three years ago when he removed to Fayette county Pennsylvania in which he still resides 4 He went out as a drafted militia man and returned after his term expired as a volunteer & also went out as a Indian spy, & scout — as they were called — 5 That he went under captain Hugh Harrington, Colonel George Ashmun seen as such 6 That he has now neither discharge 7 That he can prove his character and his reputation as a recruiting soldier by the Revd John Phillips & Jacob Lowry both of Fayette county Penn a
Sworn & subscribed in Open court 5 th Sept 1833
Rich d Beem Party
William his Cotton mark

Fay the County of Pennsylvania
Before me the Subscribers a Justice of the peace in & for said county personally appeared William Cotton who being duly sworn deposits & saith that by reason of old age and enfeebled life of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he he served not less than the period mentioned below and in the following grades, viz. For seven months as a volunteer militia man & part of the time by draft under captain Hugh Harrington & Co. & for service in Bedford Co. Pa. from September 1778 to April 1779. I also served as a volunteer & sent out by against the Indians in 1779 in the same county under the same officers other for five months. The next time was for three months under Capt. Harrington in the latter part of 1779 & first of 1780 as a militia man against the Indians. The next & last regular time of militia service was rendered in 1780 from June say 14 th to the first of November under different officers in guarding & protecting the frontier against the Indians entering forts & possessing & watching the movements of the various parties of the time under various officers as occasion required. he was also out as stated in 1781 & 1782 for short periods against the Indians of which he cannot now undertake to speak with certainty as to time or officers & therefore makes no claim but claims as above stated for 7 months five and three months & 4 1/2 months making nineteen & a half months for which he claims a pension. in the last mentioned term

of four and a half months he mind a wound in the right leg by a ball which disabled him for a long time the scar of which is still visible
swore & subscribed before me this 7 Nov. 1833. Before James Lindsay
Wm. H. P. Lutterton clerk
I hereby Certify that I know James Lindsay is a Justice of the Peace & that I have him sign the above
December 13 th 1833
A. Stewart
The applicant for habeas corpus in the case referred to & from its appearance & the minute account of it given by him & his known good character for truth & veracity I am perfectly satisfied of the truth of his statements & the justice of his claim
A. Stewart
13 Dec. 1833

21 st Apr re letter to Penn: Phila - 22 nd " Phila
Presented to the Library of Congress by the National Bureau of Standards at the rate of 100 Dollars per annum as authorized on the 10th day of March, 1934.  Exempts of Pension Fund in the City of Philadelphia the sum of 100 Dollars and 50 Cents to the Rev. Dr. John H. Beardsley, D.D. known to the City of Philadelphia to be the Pensioner, during the year 1934.  8195.
Recorded by Wm. H. Palmer Book Vol. Page

Wm Cotton
pa
22.705
No 22705
Wm Cotton
An 1 yr 7 Months
15 days
40 20 3.33
1.66
$64.99
137.50 150.50
Hon. A Stewart Memphis

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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 subjoined 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. These 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 William Cotton
Duration of the

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, Boatsmen, &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.
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) 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 inquiry 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, deposes 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 time, 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.
[k] 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.
[l] 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.

See letter from Hon St Vincent - of the 14 th . April 1834 - afile -

Rev.
John J. Bishop New York
Dear Sir,
Oct 9 Nov
Sir
I wish the
pleasure to inform Cotton of Fayette County Pa made progress at Pittsburgh
for the purpose of
for respectfully
Edward
Chas H. Raper
19 Oct '34

William Cotton's Declaration
27.098

We the Reverend John Phillips and Jacob Lowrey both residing in Fayette County Pennsylvania do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Cotton who has signed the oath to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be Eighty five years of age he has sustained an unimpaired character for truth & honesty for upwards of thirty years & has never been known to state a falsehood he is a pious & conscientious man very poor who with an aged wife eighty three years old blind & helpless are entirely dependent on charity for support he has always been respected & beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & was captured in Fort Mifflin the wound in his right leg is still very visible & has always been understood to be by a bullet in the indian war.
Seven Subscribers in open Court 3rd Sept 1833
John Phillips Jacob Lowrey
Richd Beeson Proth
And the court do hereby declare their opinion. After the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the second department that William Cotton was a revolutionary soldier & served as an ensign. And the court do further certify that it appears to them that John Phillips who has signed the above certificate is a clergyman residing of Fayette County Penna and Jacob Lowrey who also signed the same is a resident of the same place & is a creditable person. And that their statement is entitled to credit.
Fayette County Penna. 3rd
I Richard Beeson Proth of the court of common pleas in & for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing con- tains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the appli- cation of William Cotton for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 5th day of Sept. A.D. 1833
Richd Beeson Pro

J. 22,695 William Cotton
Sept. 5, 1833. near Fayette Co Pa
b. Nottingham Eng. abt Dec 25, 1748 came to Am. - June 14, 1770.
about Bedford Co Pa Sept 78 Pa
Capt Hugh Harrington Col. George Ashmun
7m.
Nov 79 Spey against Ind. some of
5m.
Fall 79 Capt Harrington
3m.
June 14, 80 Spey wounded by Ind. in right leg off buckskin boot.
4 1/2
1781 + 82 few days at a time

President ISAAC F. MACK Sandusky, O.
Vice President WILLIAM H. HUNTER Chillicothe, O.
Secretary WILLIAM A. TAYLOR Columbus, O.
Treasurer Stumpson G. Harvey . Toledo, O.
Registrar William L. Curry . Columbus, O.
Historian George H. Twiss . Columbus, O.
Chaplain Rev. Julius A. Atwood . Columbus, O.
Ohio Society
Board of Management
Orlando W. Aldrich . Columbus, O. James H. Anderson . Columbus, O. Charles D. Probst . Columbus, O. Thomas M. Anderson . Sandusky, O. John W. Harper . Cincinnati, O. Moulton Hook . Toledo, O. James H. Bradford . Columbus, O. The President, The Vice-President, The Secretary, The Treasurer, The Registrar
Sons of the American Revolution
OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR COLUMBUS
Feb, 7th, 1905.
Hon. E. P. Ware, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
William Cotton who served as a Private in Pennsylvania Militia during the Revolutionary War, is supposed to have drawn a pension. I therefore write you by request of one of his descendants, asking you for a certificate as to the fact that he drew pension.
This is for use in an application for membership in the Ohio Society, Sons of the American Revolution.
Yours very truly,
State Registrar.

22695 INVALID.
July 24, 1905 Writ to M. L. Curry, Columbus
File No. 22695
William H. West
vs. West
Act: 1870
Index Vol. 1 Page 1
Amendment of 1870