Guilford County NcArchives Military Records.....Cook, Thomas 1832 Revwar - Pension ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com May 23, 2006, 3:56 am Pension Application Of Captain Thomas Cook Pension Application of Captain Thomas Cook, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 640, Application #S31618 “…Personally appeared, Thomas Cook, a resident in the eleventh district of Henry County, Georgia, aged eighty years…I entered the service in the revolutionary war as a volunteer in the year 1776, in July, under Capt. John Leek in Guilford County, North Carolina, first lieutenant in said company, John Davis, said company belonging to Col. Martin’s regiment of said county and state. We joined the main army under Gen’l Rutherford in Rowan County, State of North Carolina and from said county marched to the Cherokee nation where we burned and destroyed sixteen towns and villages together with as many of the Indians as we could get hold of. I then returned home which was on about the first of Nov. in said year (1776), being out four months. In the fall 1777, I was elected 1st lieutenant of a company in Col. Martin’s regiment, Guilford County, North Carolina. We cruised about, first one place and then another in said state without doing much of importance, but keeping the Tories in proper subjection. In Jan. 1778, I was elected Captain of a company in Col. Martin’s Regiment-knocked about that year, doing but little of note, but always keeping ourselves in readiness for any emergency. This was our instruction from our Colonel. In the ____ spring? fall? summer? of said year we marched through North Carolina and South Carolina into Georgia on the Savannah River, where we was joined to the main army under Gen’l Lincoln, continuing on the river until Lincoln marched for Stono (leaving the militia under the care of Gen’l Moultrie) which was in the spring of the year 1779, at which time I was dismissed to go home by Gen’l Moultrie, and done so.” “Immediately after Gen’l Gates defeat, I raised a company of horsemen consisting of thirty called & known by the ?Rangers? We then directly marched out and joined Col. Davis & Brisborn in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. This was in the fall and winter of 1780. We remained there scouting and knocking about until the British came over the Catawba, when we were forced to retreat back over Yadkin. I then got a pass and went home, during which time the British advanced? to Camden.” “In the first of the year 1781, I returned and joined the army then under the care of Gen’l Greene, and directly after I joined Greene, he was compelled to flee before the British through North Carolina into Virginia, I among the rest. I still kept with Greene till after the Battle of Guilford, in which I bore a part, as Captain. Gen’l Greene pursued the British to Ramsey’s Mills on Deep River, and then they evaded his vigilance.” “From said Mills, I returned home with my company by my Gen’ls instructions and order to keep them during our stay from the main army in readiness, for any call that might emanate from him. I done so until I was informed that peace was made. I then disbanded my company after having been ____ in my country’s service for upwards of six years, four of which I acted in the capacity of Captain. I was commissioned Captain by Gov. Caswell of North Carolina. The commission I have long since lost, taking no care at all of it, for I never expected to receive any pay but what I had at this late day. Time has nearly worn me away, but thank God, my mind continues vigorous and sound.” His testators were listed as: Rev. Henry Hardin, of DeKalb Co, GA, Judge Charles Gates, of the county of Walton, GA, and Theodosius Cook [his brother] County of Pike, GA, who was in the Battle of Guilford with him. “I was born in the State of Virginia, Hanover County, in the year 1752, on the 15th of May. I have a record of my age at home, transcribed from my father’s Bible.” In additional pages of deposition, Thomas Cook says the following: “By reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the proper length of his service; but according to the best of his recollections, he served not less than the periods below and in the following grades. As before stated in my former declaration, I entered the revolution on the tenth day of July, 1776, marched to the Cherokee nation in an embodied corps in Col. Martin’s Regiment, and General Rutherford’s division or brigade, of the militia. There stayed in this service (actually) until the 25th of Nov. when we returned home, being out 4 months and fifteen days. This was known as the Cherokee Expedition.” “In the year of 1777, in September, I was elected Lieutenant of a company of Martin’s Regiment, attached to the same brigade as before, and in this year I served mostly in actual service in the lower part of the state of North Carolina in pursuit of the Tory commander McCloud, who was protected and supported by what was then called the Highland Scotch Tories. All the aforementioned service was by lawful and competent authority of the state of North Carolina. This last expedition was known as the Scotch expedition. I served three months. Col. John Pacely [Paisley] was our Col. in this affair.” “On the first of January 1778, I was ordered out again to cover parts of state of North Carolina in ____ _____ as before (in the year 1777), in pursuit of the Tories in the Scotch settlements of our state. In the winter of 1778 we came upon the Tories commanded by McCloud, near a bridge near to a place called Drowning Swamp, where we str___ a fight. This was known as McCloud’s Battle. And the designation of this service was the Tory expedition [actually called Moore’s Creek Bridge]. In this service I was out three months.” “In January 1777, I was elected Captain as stated in my former declaration, joined the Regiment at Guilford Courthouse, marched to South Carolina; General Rutherford command, west through South Carolina to the Savannah River, joined Gen’l Lincoln at a place called Smokey Camp. From said camp we marched to the Sisters Ferry on up river. From this last place we marched to a place called Turkey Hill and stayed some time at this place. From this place, Gen’l Lincoln and Moultrie marched us up to a place called Black Swamps. I stayed with General Moultrie at this place until the relief came from North Carolina; was then discharged by Moultrie. Gen’l Lincoln marched for Stono. In this service, I was out 5 ½ months and this was known as a five months service against the British; came home 1st June, 1779.” “In the fall or first of Sept. 1780, I was ordered to raise a company of Horsemen for three months; commanded by Davie & Brisbane; the main object of this expedition was to keep the British in check until the northern army came, Gates having been defeated. Marched to the Catawba River. Davidson was killed. In this tour, I was out three months in actual service. I joined General Greene on his retreat before Cornwallis and went into Virginia, and as soon as General Greene thought himself strong enough for Cornwallis, we marched back into North Carolina to Hillsborough.” “From there we went to Guilford Courthouse and continued there and thereabouts until the Battle. In the Battle I took a part for about three hours, which was hot. General Greene commanded. From the battleground we went to Ramsey’s Mills after Cornwallis. In this last service I was out three months. From Ramsey’s Mills, I was sent home to recruit? and raise men for General Greene, which I done. From this time up to the surrender of Lord Cornwallis my service was of such a nature that I am not able to describe it better than I have done in my former.” In an additional addendum to his declaration, Thomas Cook said: “That by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot say positively and exactly to the precise time of his service; but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the period below and in the following grades: In July the tenth, 1776, I entered the service as a private soldier in Capt. John Leek’s company (Guilford militia), North Carolina, Guildford County, Col. James Martin’s Regiment, Griffith Rutherford, General. Marched to the Cherokee Nation to suppress the Indians, burnt their towns and destroyed as many of the Indians as we could get of; remained in the nation as long as we could get provisions, and was compelled to return back again. On the 25th of Nov. landed at our starting point, being out four months & fifteen days. 4 months + ½. This was known by the Cherokee expedition. This service was in an embodied corps called out by competent authority, the state of North Carolina.” “On the 1st of September, 1777, I was elected first lieutenant of a company in Martin’s Regiment, company commanded as before by John Leek and attached to the said brigade, commanded by the same General (Griffith Rutherford). The intention of this service was to scout the country thereabouts for the Tories was very mischievous ____ in the lower part of the state alongside the seaboard. We were raised as the protectors of our state. McCloud was the Tory General who headed the Tories in the Scotch settlements as aforesaid. In this service aforesaid, I was out three months, when we returned back to our county & home. This was known in that day as the Scotch expedition.” “About Christmas or the first of January 1778, we were ordered out as before to the lower part of the state to hunt for the same Tory commander (McCloud), for the Tories, as soon as we had left that particular section commenced their mischief. Some time in the winter of [unreadable] upon McCloud in the Scotch settlements at a bridge (name of bridge not recollected) but near to a swamp called Drowning (Swamp) when we had a fight, and killed several of the Tories and caused McCloud to flee with the balance. Col. Pacely [Paisley] commanded our regiment at this time, Col. Martin, with some of the men remaining in the upper part of the state. We consumed the whole of this year as we did the latter part of the former, backward and forward continually. This was likewise known as the Scotch expedition [Moore’s Creek Bridge], making the whole in this kind of service fifteen months. I was commissioned by governor Caswell.” “Early in January 1779, I was elected Captain of a company in Col. Martin’s Regiment composed of Guilford militia, and was commissioned by Governor Caswell of North Carolina. Joined the Regiment at Guilford Courthouse, marched immediately for South Carolina, General Rutherford still commanding. Went through South Carolina directly to the Savannah River, joined General Lincoln at a place called the Smokey Camp about twenty miles below Augusta. From the Smokey Camp marched up the river to a place known as the Sisters Ferry. From the latter place, a detachment was sent over under General Ashe into Georgia, where they had a fight with British and got defeated. This is known by Brier Creek Battle or Ashe’s Defeat. During this expedition, I remained with the army under General Lincoln and was on guard at the time and could hear the guns.” “Immediately after the above fight, General Lincoln and General Moultrie marched the main army up the river to a place called Turkey Hill, opposite to the place where the British main army were encamped, on the Georgia side of said river. We remained at said hill three weeks in full sight of the British army. In this time we frequently had intercourse by conversation with the British. We marched from the latter place under our aforesaid General, still higher up the river to a place called Black Swamp. The day before we left Turkey Hill, General Lincoln had a road cut from the hill directly into the country for about six miles. This was done in sight of the British army, and as I thought, was done for a friend, but I now know the intention of our General in cutting said road for the day they quit the road, we directly marched up the river to Black’s Swamp. Stayed a few days.” “General Lincoln took the whole body of the regulars from the main army and marched for Stono. The balance of the army consisting of North and South Carolina militia was left under the care of General Moultry at Black Swamp, at which place I remained until the relief came from North Carolina, which was about the 1st of June in said year. This was a six months expedition with no particular designation but that of the United States expedition against the British. At this time, I received a written discharge from General Moultry to march my company home, and in our proper county, to be discharged. During our travel, we had from under the hand of our General, orders to draw provisions for my company at the various commissaries as we passed on. This brought about the middle of June 1779.” “After our return home, we were instructed by our General to hold ourselves in readiness to meet any emergency that might arise. From June 1779 until the first of Sept. 1780, I was not in any embodied corps doing service, but was frequently called out by our Col, who at this time was Pacely [Paisley] to suppress large bodies of Tories. During this interval of time, it is impossible to relate fully the kinds of service performed, for it was of a very unsettled nature. We did not remain home at any one time longer than about 2 weeks before we moved upon? Orders to scour the country and restore peace and quiet for awhile.” “In Sept. 1780, I was ordered to raise a horse company consisting of about 30 (thirty) or as many as I might think necessary, to meet the occasion, known as the rangers? I marched out and met Davie and Brisborn in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. From this county, we marched in a body and joined General Davison on the Catawba River, where remained scouting the country and harassing the British until Davison was killed. He was killed by the fire of a cannon across the river from the English side and by the British.” “After the death of Davison, we dispersed and fled over the Yadkin. We were in a very distracted state after the death of our General until Greene came to take charge of us. All this service was confined to the state of North Carolina. As General Greene passed through our state with his regulars for the south we were required to join him and march with him to the south, until he could or should intercept Cornwallis. We marched from Guilford towards Camden in South Carolina, where we supposed the British to be. We met him about the Catawba and General Greene’s forces being too feeble, he retreated before him, into Virginia. Now I received orders from General Greene to go back to my state and county to raise more men and meet him as speedily as I could-which I done. I met him at the High Rock Ford on Haw River and continued with him marching and countermarching through the country until we met the British at Guilford.” “In the Battle of Guilford, I bore a part under Greene; but our forces being too weak, we were forced to flee and give the ground. The British did not follow us as we guessed, just took our cannon and fired it upon us. I rode off with Greene? From the battleground and according to our agreement (if it should be necessary to give them the ground) we were to flee to the Ironworks 7 miles, which we did. The second day, including the battle day, Cornwallis sent to the General to come & bury his dead, which he did. From Guilford Courthouse, pursued Cornwallis to Ramsey’s Mills on Deep River, where we came in sight of them; but the river being high and cause? General Greene considered it not safe to undertake to cross for the British were on the opposite bank. I think the British used about ten thousand rails in the formation of a floating raft to pass over upon and after they had passed, were destroyed as much as was in their power, the means they had used in crossing.” “General Greene considered it safest and best for our common country, to retrace his steps, and push for the Eutaw Springs. Upon our arrival near the place we discovered the British. We halted and prepared to attack. I think the Battle was in Sept. 1781, but will not say certainly. General Greene gave Lord Rawdon a fight, and compelled him to retreat unto his British subjects and flee the country. During the battle, I and my company and several others was reserved by the orders of the commander in chief, to cover his retreat, should he deem it necessary for the safety of his country to make one. From the above place, I was sent back with my company and several more, to our proper County and state to protect and defend it and our women and children from the plundering of the Tories and British; for they were scattered over the whole country and distress and dismay covered our whole land. I was, by General Greene, ordered not to disband my company upon our return home, but to be ever vigilant and scout the whole upper country of our state, until he should require our assistance, and if he should, we would immediately be informed of it & ordered to march. I done as ordered until I received instructions from Headquarters that peace was made and no more war for us. Before which news, I was discharged from the service and ordered to discharge my company. I done so, which ended my labors. I think it was in the spring of 1783, that we were discharged as above stated.” “In this declaration amendatory of my former, I have endeavored to be as particular and definite in relation to my services as was in my power. I know one thing, that if I cannot satisfy the war department of my services my country is enjoying the fruits of my labor for sin pay spent in her service.” “In all of the above service, I was called upon regularly and legally by my country, and for the periods above mentioned, I was in the filed as a regular embodied militia soldier, as above stated. As I have formerly stated, I was not, during the above periods of time, engaged in any civil or other lucrative employment or _____. I was a blacksmith and would frequently and very often shoe horses for the men of my state. The men had no money to pay me and said state weren’t sworn though able to pay what she was compelled to pay??? So I went without pay. There is some difference in respect to duties in this declaration & the former, but I believe this letter to be as near right as my memory can serve.” “It is impossible for me to be strictly correct in the stating of the whole of the vents and occurrences which took place during the war. I am a poor old man and deserve the assistance of my country now that she is willing to pay me for my services rendered to her fifty years ago. But if I cannot do all that the war department requires me to do, I have made the best statement in my power and if this will not suffice, my cane? Must suffer. _____ ______ of all hearts know that what I have said is true and far be it from me in the very smaller degree to endeavor to practice a deception upon my country…” And in yet more additions: “Thomas Cook does on oath say: That in the month of July, 1776, he volunteered as a private soldier in the company of Captain John Leak, in Guilford County, North Carolina, which company belonged to the regiment raised in said county under the command of Col. James Martin, which regiment, with others, assembled at Salisbury, North Carolina, under the command of Gen’l ___Rutherford, which Christian name he thinks (but is not certain) was Griffin- they marched over the mountains to the Cherokee country on the waters of the Tennessee River, where they burned sixteen Cherokee towns, deponent was in this expedition which lasted at least four months.” “Shortly after, in the beginning of the year 1777, deponent was elected lieutenant in the company of the aforesaid Captain John Leech, and was frequently engaged for several weeks at a time, in scouting for Tories, the number of different services not recollected by deponent among the events of that year. He recollects that he was in the battle fought at a bridge near Cross Creek tour, in which battle McCloud, a Scotch General & a Tory, was defeated.” “In the year 1778, the particular time not recollected, was elected Captain of a company in Guilford County, North Carolina, and said company was attached to the aforesaid Col. Martin’s regiment. He received a commission as Captain from Governor Caswell of North Carolina. His commission is lost or cannot be found. Under this commission he marched his company to Smokey Camp on Savannah River, in South Carolina, and then joined the regular army under General Lincoln. And his company was attached to Major Nelson’s ___ of infantry. The only camped in various places, to wit, Turkey Hill, the Two Sisters Ferry, & Black Swamp. During several months in the immediate vicinity of the British army, which was on the opposite side of the river. This company was raised at the time of five months and was discharged at the expiration thereof by General Moultrie in the absence of General Lincoln.” “Deponent marched his company home and discharged them, but immediately thereafter, obeyed orders and was engaged more than half his time until Cornwallis with his army upon the Catawba River and there command constant active service which continued until after the Battle of Guilford. [The deponent has omitted to mention that his services as a captain commenced just before the defeat of General Ashe at Briar Creek in Georgia, when deponent joined Greene’s army on his retreat before Cornwallis into Virginia] and deponent was with Greene’s army when a number of North Carolina and Virginia militia was discharged at Ramsay’s Mills on Deep River. Deponent then marched his company home to Guilford County, North Carolina, & then continued to discharge his duty as Captain (being more than half his time in active service performing the usual scouting duties of that day) until peace was declared.” In a separate sheet, Benjamin Cook, his brother states: “That he is the same Captain Thomas Cook of the North Carolina Continental line, of the Army of the Revolution.” File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/guilford/military/revwar/pensions/cook38gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 22.7 Kb