Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2,356, Samuel Cotton, Conn. Navy

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Cotton, Samuel
R. 2,356
Navy
CONTENTS

To the Honorable
The Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled,
The prayer of your petitioner, an aged crippled soldier of the Revolution, under the pressure of years, bodily infirmities, and honest poverty, humbly and respectfully represents,
That your petitioner, Samuel Cotton, is a native of Middletown, in the state of Connecticut; that he was recently a resident in the County of Tompkins, in the state of New York; and that he now resides with his son, Shubael B. Cotton, in the City of New York. That in the year 1776, in the month of April, in the aforesaid town of Middletown, he enlisted in the continental army, in the regiment of Colonel Sage, and the company of Captain Joseph Churchill, of which Asahel Clark, whose deposition accompanies this memorial, was sergeant. That he marched to New York and was stationed on Governor's Island at the period of the Battle of Long- Island, that he was in the army of Washing- ton when it retired from the city; that he was in the battles of White Plains, Kingsbridge, and all the skirmishes of that period which occurred on York Island, during the term of his enlistment. That he was honourably discharged at the expira- tion of the said term, in November, 1776. That early in the year 1777, he volunteered as a minute man , in the company of Captain Blackman. That he afterwards served in the private army

him on the Pension List of the United States, agreeably to the acts in such case made and provided. And, as in duty bound, will ever pray
Samuel Cotton
City & County of New York ss: James B. Dheys a Notary Public, duly commissioned and sworn residing in the City of New York, hereby Certify That on the Eighteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty, personally came and appeared before me Samuel Cotton who has signed the within Petition: Who being by me duly sworn did depose and say that the matters set forth in the said Petition are just and true in all respects. — In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this Eighteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty. —
James B. Dheys Notary Public

I, RICHARD B. CONNOLLY, CLERK of the City and County of New-York, and also Clerk of the Supreme Court for the said City and County, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That James B. Sheys whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the proof or acknowledgment of the annexed instrument, and thereon written, was at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment, a Notary Public, in and for the State of New-York, dwelling in the said City, commissioned and sworn. And, further, that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of such Notary Public, and verily believe that the signature to the said certificate of proof or acknowledgment is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said Court and County, the 4 th day of June 185 6
Rich d B. Connolly Clerk.

State of New York City and County of New York ss
On this Sixth day of June one Thousand eight hundred and fifty six, personally ap- peared before me a Notary Pub- lic within and for the State aforesaid Shubael B. Cotton who being duly sworn accord- ing to law, deposes and says that he resides at N o 253, Hud- son Street in the City of New York, that he is the identical Shubael B. Cotton, formerly first Lieutenant in the Revenue Ser- vice in Florida, under the administration of Presidents Monroe, Adams, and Jackson That he is the son and only Heir at Law of Samuel Cot- ton (deceased) who was a native of Middletown in the State of Connecticut who resided with this deponent in the City of New York -
That in April in the year 1776 in the aforesaid town, the said Samuel Cotton

Enlisted in the continental Army in the Regiment of Colonel Sage, and served in the company commanded by Captain Joseph Churchill as set forth in the accompanying affidavit. That Deponent makes this application for the Amount of Pension that his father might have been entitled to during his life time. That the said Samuel Cotton his father Died at the town of Newfield Tompkins County in the State of New York on or about the 18 day of July 1836, that this deponents Mother whose name was Sarah Banks Cotton Died at the said Newfield on or about the eighteenth of October 1839, leaving only two children her surviving viz - this deponent and his brother William Cotton who has since Died , leaving this deponent the only heir at Law as none of the brothers or sisters

of claimant (all of whom are deceased) left any children or descendants now surviving
That he is well acquainted with the signature of the said Samuel Cotton his father in the accompanying affidavit, having frequently seen him write, and that his deposition is worthy of all credit.
Sworn to before me J. H. Brown Notary Public
Shubal B. Cotton
Joseph Gordon being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he resides at No. 244, West 17th Street in the City of New York, That he was well and intimately acquainted with Samuel Cotton and also with Shubal B. Cotton now present from the same time to wit the year 1829, and resided in the same house with them and that they acknowledged

each other as father and son and were well known as such And that the deposition of Shuball B. Cannon is worthy of undoubted credit And further that he this Deponent is disinterested
I was in before May and I certify that deponent is then a credible person and that I have no interest in the claim
Joseph Marks His Gordon
George Brown Joseph Marks

Application of Shubael B. Cotton for Pension due to him as the Wid. of the late Samuel Cotton
P. Morone 27 Chambers St New York

June 23, 1937
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Mrs. Arthur Cotton 331 North Keystone Avenue Sayre, Pennsylvania
SAMUEL COTTON R. 2356 BA-J/MLB Q
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Samuel Cotton who, you state, was born November 7, 1759, in Middletown, Connecticut, served under Captain Churchill and Blackman in the Connecticut troops, married Sarah Banks in December, 1779, and died in 1826. You state, also, that this soldier is listed on a pension roll of 1818 from Middletown, Connecticut.
There is no claim for pension on file based upon service of a Samuel Cotton in the Revolution whose name is borne on a pension list of Connecticut in 1818. The only pensioner of a similar name found on that roll was Samuel Colton, of Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, whose wife was named Lois.
The record of Samuel Cotton follows as found in pension claim, R. 2356, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War. There is no charge for furnishing you this information.
Samuel Cotton was born in Middletown, Connecticut. The date of birth and names of his parents are not shown.
Samuel Cotton applied for pension May 18, 1830, at which time he was aged seventy years and a resident of New York City. He stated that he enlisted in Middletown, Connecticut, in April, 1776, served as private in Captain Joseph Churchill's company, Colonel Comfort Sage's Connecticut regiment, that he marched to New York, was in the battle of Long Island and in the retreat from New York, in the battle of White Plains and in all the skirmishes of that period on York Island and that he was discharged in November, 1776; that he volunteered early in 1777 as a minuteman, served in Captain Blackman's Connecticut company and was in the battle of King's Bridge, length of this tour not given; that he afterwards served on board the private armed ship, "Hancock" which, after two hours' action, blew up the British Frigate, "Levant" and continued in such service during the remainder of the war.

Samuel Cotton's claim for pension was not allowed as proof of service was not furnished in accordance with the requirements of the pension law.
The soldier died about July 18, 1856, in Newfield, Tompkins County, New York, his former place of residence, but at the time of his death he was residing in New York City with his son and only heir at law, Shubael B. Cotton, who had been a lieutenant in the Revenue Service during the administrations of Presidents Monroe, Adams and Jackson, and who in 1856 was residing at 233 Hudson Street in New York City.
Samuel Cotton married Sarah Banks. The date and place of her birth, age and names of parents are not given. She died in Newfield, New York, about October 18, 1859, survived by two children - William Cotton who died prior to 1856, and Shubael B. Cotton then still living, who stated that his brothers and sisters were all dead and left no children.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

Samuel Cotton - revolutionary pension -
Dec. 15 th 1830
Ref d to the Com ee on Military Pensions -
Dec. 23 rd 1831
Ref d to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions
Jan y 16 th 1832
Com ee disch d - to lie
Letter
Cambridge Feb y 1832

No 3473 Samuel Collins
62 N. York St. Lawrence Island Montgomery
23 56
June 7 1832

Record Division.
December 18, 1907.
Mr. T. A. Fuller, 675 Potomac Ave., Buffalo, N. Y.
Sir:
In reply to your letter dated the 7 th and received the 10 th inst., you are advised that a careful search of the records of this Bureau fails to show that a claim for pension was ever filed for any Samuel Cotten of Connecticut other than Rejected File 2355, whose history you were furnished December 3, 1907, and he was never allowed pension.
The only pensioner in Connecticut under the Act of March 18, 1818 of a similar name is Samuel Golten (Widow File 17663) of Windsor, Conn., whose widow was named Lois.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.,
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Samuel Cotton , a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. Rey. 2356
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr. 1776 to Nov. 76. Pvt Joseph Churchill Comfort Sage Conn.   1777 Militiaman Blackman   — — — General Arms Genl. Hancock  
Battles engaged in, Stillwater, Saratoga, Red Bank, Brandywine, White Plains
Residence of soldier at enlistment,
Date of application for pension, May 18, 1830.
Residence at date of application, New York City
Age at date of application, born in Middletown Conn. - aged 71st yr. in 1830
Remarks: Sol. died at Newfield, Tompkins Co. N.Y. July 18, 1836. His wife Sarah (Barker) Cotton died at Newfield N.Y. Oct. 18, 1839. Only two children survived, William, and Sarah B. no other names stated. His claim was not allowed, service not satisfactorily proved.  Very respectfully,

Sayre, Pa. May 27, 1937.
Smallwood Dept. Washington D.C. Sir;
In your pension records of Samuel Catton born. Nov. 7, 1759 in Middletown Conn. married Sarah Banks. Dec. 1779. he died 1836. does it tell who his parents were? he is listed in the 1818 pension roll from Middletown, Conn.
Samuel Catton, Middletown, private Blackmans Co. enlisted Mar. 30 1777. discharged in spring of 1780. also listed in Captain Churchills Co.
Would appreciate it very

much if you would write me in regards to this. also what are the charges for looking up the revolutionary record of a soldier.
Sincerely yours
Florence Batten
(Mrs. Arthur)
321 N. Keystone Ave.
Sayre.
Pa.

675 Potomac Ave., Buffalo, N. Y.
Hon. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:-
The published list of Connecticut pensioners of the Revolutionary War contains the name of one Samuel Cotton of Middletown, Conn., who served as a private in the 8th Co. Capt. Joseph Churchill 3rd Batallion of Chatham, in Gen. James Wadsworth's Brigade of Col. Comfort Sage's Regt of Middletown. Enlisted March 30, 1777, discharged May 1, 1780. He evidently died before 1832, as his name was not in the pension list of 1832. Can you give any further information from the pension records? I would like to ascertain if any pension was ever paid to his widow, or at what date the payment of the pension to him ceased.
Any light you can throw on these points will greatly oblige
Yours very truly,
J. A. Fuller
C-
Samuel Cotton

Eac 675 Potomac Ave., Buffalo, N. Y. Dec. 7, 1907.
Rev Hon. Commissioner Of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir;—
I have yours of 3rd inst. for which I thank you, but wish to ask for a little more information.
Is there more than one Samuel Cotton from Middletown, on the pension records, and if the name was on the General Pension Roll of 1818, would the claim be apt to be disallowed later?
According to the Conn. records there were two Samuel Cottons: one married Sarah Banks Dec. 30, 1779, and the other Samuel Cotton born May 9, 1760, married Lucretia Hamlin at Middletown Mar. 11, 1784.
The records give Samuel Cotton on the 1818 pension roll, but not later. Benjamin Gilbert of Middletown, and Noadiah Cone of Haddam, Conn., both in the same regiment and company, discharged at the same time, and on the pension rolls of 1818, 1832 and 1840, and were relatives of Samuel Cotton. While this is no proof of this being the Samuel Cotton on the rolls, as I understand the pension rolls are more or less imperfect, I thought possibly there might be some mistake.
Shall be pleased to hear further from you, and thank you for same in advance.
Yours very truly,
H. A. Fuller

1904 Dec. 3. Heir. to F. A. Fuller. W 107 Dec. 18. F. A. Fuller info no other Samuel Cotton W 1937 June 2-3 - Exh. to Mrs. Arthur Cotton MKB
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
9356
REJECTED
P. O.
Samuel Cotton
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
Recognized. _____
Contract. _____
Cert. of Dis. _____
Searched for _____
, 18

Mr. Cotton

War Department Pension Office April 15 1833.
Sir
The papers in the case of Samuel Bolton are herewith returned. The principal defect in the evidence is that He has not stated as explicitly as the regulations require, how long and in what grade he was actually in the performance of Military duty. He appears to have belonged during a part of the time to the Minute Service; but that Service does not entitle any one to a pension, unless it be clearly shown that the applicant was called out on a tour of active service in the field or in garrison. The enclosed printed sheet will point out the defects more particularly.
I have the honor to be Very respectfully Your Most Obedient Servant J. S. Edwards
Hon. C. C. Cambreleng New York
S. Bolton 204 Hudson St.

State of Connecticut Comptroller's Office Hartford Dec. 20 th 1856
I certify, that on application for evidence of the service of Samuel Cotton, in the war of the Revolution, I have examined the documents remaining in this Office, and find the name of Samuel Cotton, on a Pay Roll under the following heading viz, "Settlement with three Companies in Col. Henry Sherburne's Regiment before January 1780," where the said Cotton is credited with service as a private from May 30 th 1777 to Jan'y. 1 st 1780, 2 years 9 mo. 1 day. In another settlement with the said three Companies in Col. Sherburne's Regiment "for the year 1780," I also find the name of Samuel Cotton, where he is credited with service as a private from Jan'y. 1 st 1780 to March 29 th 1780 = 2 months 29 ds. making together the term of 3 years service.
Edward Prentiss, Compt. by Wm. Robinson Clerk.

Copy of letter dated Pension Office Mar. 12, 1857.
Sir I have examined and filed the Certificate of the Comptroller of Comm. showing settlements with a Soldier named Samuel Cotton of Col. Henry Sherburne's Regt. of the Continental Line of that State from May 30, 1777 to Mar. 29, 1780, and you are info. that that Soldier is not the Samuel Cotton reported by you. The latter claimed to have served from Apr. 1776 to Nov. of that year in Capt. Churchill's Co. of Col. Sage's Regt. and alleged that in the year 1777 he volunteered as a Minute man under Capt. Blackman (the latter service was in the militia) and that he afterwards served in the private armed ship Hancock. No proof whatever of the service alleged by him has yet been produced and unless the requirements of the office are complied with no practical benefit can result from the further prosecution of the claim.
D S Browne New York

Peru Office March 12, 1857.
Sir,
I have examined and filed the Report of the Comptroller of Connecticut showing settlements with a name same letter soldier of Col. Henry Sherburne, Reg't of the Connecticut Line of New York, from May 30, 1777  1777 to March 29, 1780, and you are informed that that soldier was not in the same letter reported by you. That soldier claimed to have served from April 1776 to November of that year in Capt. Churchill's Company of Col. Sages' Reg't, as alleged has, in the year 1778, been returned and of a New York man, under Capt. Mack man. (This letter serves as in the original) as that he afterwards served in the present and also Hancock's. No proof whatever of the same alleged, by him has yet been pro-

And, and only, the requirements of the office in completed work, no particular hours can result from the further pro- secution of the claim.
W. S. Jerome
Marshal
D. L. Browne Esq. New York

Pension Office
June 24, 1856
Sir:
The papers in the Case of Saml. Cotton decd. have been filed under the Act of June 7, 1832.
No additional evidence has been filed to change the aspect of the claim, since the letter of April 15, 1833. To Hon C.C. Cambreling was written.
The length & grade of his services must be established by record.
I return the Commission of Shabab B. Cotton.
Yrs Resp'tly Yours assisted Clemens
O. S. Brown Esq. 37 Ch. St. New York City. N.Y.

...rown M.H. M.H. 32
[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]

Pension Office June 24, 1835
Sir
The papers in the case of Samuel Cotten decd. have been filed under the Act of June 7, 1832.
No additional evidence has been filed to change the aspect of the claim since the letter of April 15, 1833 to Hon. C. C. Cambridge was written.
The length and grade of his services must be established by record.
I return the commission of Shabab B Cotten,
D. S. Broome Esq 37 Chambers St New York N.Y.

The Deposition of Amos Clark to be used by Samuel Cotton on an applica- tion to be placed on the Pension list of the United States. Taken & recorded up by me Franklin G. Comstock Assistant of the County Court for the County of Middlesex in the State of Connecticut

I Amos Clark of Chatham in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut being of lawful age depose & say, that Samuel Cotton formerly of Middletown in this State & who I am informed now resides in the Town of Newfield in the County of Tompkins in the State of New York, in the Spring of the year 1776 enlisted in the Company of Infantry commanded by Captain Joseph Churchill which Company belonged to the Regiment commanded by Col. Comfort Dyer, in the Connecticut line of the continental Army and that he continued in said Company the term of six months. I further depose & say that I was a member of said Company and was personally acquainted with the said Samuel Cotton, during said time - Chatham Connecticut, May 11 th 1830.
Amos Clark
State of Connecticut
County of Middlesex ss. Chatham May 11 th 1830
Personally appeared Amos Clark the deponent in the above deposition & made solemn oath to the truth of the same
Before me Franklin G. Comstock Associate Judge of the County Court for Middlesex County

Dear
Commissioner of Pensions
In I herewith transmit the proposition of Shubael B. Cattle Esq. and Joseph Gordon I also enclose his Commission (which will be returned if incorrect) I send some papers that Mr. Cattle had in his possession - and I hope that it may obtain an early consideration
Yours respectfully
J. S. Brown 37 Chambers St
New York
6 th June 1856-

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Cotton, Thaleus GRADE Private LINE Connecticut
WARRANT NUMBER 5671 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Apr. 19, 1790 to — not shown —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.