| On The Trail of - Colonel CHARLES COCKE |
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| REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION OF CHARLES COCKE |
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[COPIES OF PENSION APPLICATION] [TRANSCRIPTION OF PENSION APPLICATION] Virginia Declaration State of Virginia, Lee county to wit On this 15th day of January 1838 personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Lee County now sitting, Col. Charles Cocke, resident of Clarke County in the State of Arkansas, aged eighty eight years the 12th day of November next, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832. That about the month of July in the year 1780, he was commissioned by the Governor of Virginia as a captain of Malitia, in the then County of Washington in the said State of Virginia, over a company of Rangers in the regiment at that time commanded by Col. Arthur Campbell, the number of which, the declarant has now forgotten. That he was stationed, with the company under his command, during the balance of that year, and in 1781 at the Rocky Station Fort, in the County of Washington but now County of Lee, on the old Kentucky trace, on the Southwestern frontier of Virginia, that during that time, which embraced a period of about eighten months, the declarant with some part of his command, was in constant service, either in acting as Spies, in pursuit of the Savages, or in guarding the Fort. That being himself very active and enterprising, and from his infancy accustomed to the woods, and well acquainted with the Indian character and wiley arts, he always himself, when spying was to be done selected two or three men of his command, on whom he could most depend for that Service, and with them acted himself as a spy, intrusting the protection of the Fort to [p. 2] his subordinates and the majority of the company that during this service, the declarant several times pursued the savages when they would make incursions into the settlements, murdering the inhabitants and stealing their property and on several occasions he was engaged in bloody skirmishes with the indians; and can say with certainty that he killed several of them himself on the occasions. That he too, was many times in this most imminent danger, when some times alone, and at other times with but one or two individuals in company and but for his activity and his thorough knowledge of the Indians habits and characters, he must often have fallen a victim of their savage ferocity. This mode of life, and duty continued from the year 1780 until Sinclairs defeat which the declarant thinks was in 1790. But his duties were no so incessant after 1781 as the Settlements were growing more populous, other Stations were created, and Major Andrew Lewis, Capt Hawkins and others were sent out with aids. Major Lewis, with his command visited this declarants station in 1782, which was the only aid he received before the close of the revolution in 1783. when Major Lewis was here in 1782 the declarant joined him in an expedition some distance down into what is now the State of Tennessee, toward the cherokee Towns, but although they were often in the immediate vicinity of the Savages, they had at that time no engagement with them. But the declarant has little doubt that this boldness and show of increased strength intimidated the Savages and made them more cautious and less frequent in their incursions to the settlements, so that subsequently up to the end of the revolutionary war although the declarant was continued in his command as a guard at the Fort. yet his duties were not so laborious, as previously, nor his dangers often so imminent after the revolution ended his duties still continued for some years, during which he has several active, short campaigns - previous to [p. 3] his appointment to the command of the Rocky Station Fort, he was on an expedition of about six weeks against the tories on new river who were about embodying to destroy the lead mines. This service he performed as a private soldier under the command of Capt. Henry Francis who was under the command of Col William Campbell and previous to this, and previous to this revolutionary war, he was on an expedition against the north western Indians in a company commanded by Capt William Herbert in a Regiment commanded by Col then Major Christy. Col. Christy with his command was sent to Point Pleasant, and the mouth of Kanawha when Col. Lewis defeated the indians at that place. This service was performed in 1774 as well as the declarant now recollects and he was engaged about six months on upwards. Commencing early in May, and ending the latter part of November following. For this last service the declarant supposed the act of congress has made no provision and he mentions it for the purpose only of showing that his early life was one of activity and danger. But he also supposes that from the time he took command of the Rocky Station Fort, about the 1st of July 1780 to the end of the Revolutionary war, he will be entitled to a pension as a captain which rank he held during that time commanding at the same Fort. The declarant hereby relinquished every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension Role of the agency of any State. His post office address is Greenville, Clarke County, Arkansas. Sworn to and subscribed this day and yr as first before written Charles Cocke [AFFIDAVIT OF WILLIAM YEARY] Virginia, Lee county to wit: This day William Yeary personally appeared before the court of Lee county and made oath that his [p. 4] father, when this affiant was about ten years of age, moved to the Rocky Station Fort, then in Washington, but which is now in Lee county Virginia, in the year 1780. That Col Charles Cocke was then a Capt over a Company of Rangers, in command at the said Fort in which command he continued for many years. And was then and has ever since been computed to be a brave and vigilant officer. That it was then said he was in many indian skirmishes. That he himself has killed several indians, and was a most cunning and active Spy. The affiant was born on the 4th day of January 1770 and now resides in the said County of Lee and further saith not. William Yeary Sworn and subscribed in open court on the 15th day of January 1838 Teste J.W.S. Morrison, D.C. [AFFIDAVIT OF WILLIAM EWING] Virginia Lee county court On this 15th day of January 1838 personally appeared William Ewing in open court, before the court of Lee county and made oath that in the year 1782 he came to the Rocky Station Fort, then in Washington but now in Lee county aforesaid at which time Col Charles Cocke was then in command of a company of Rangers at said Fort as a capt of Malitia. That he continued in command at said Fort as a Capt for several years after the affiant came to it and that the affiant was in several expeditions with him, against the indians. That said Cocke was always estimated, a brave and vigilant officer and although in command a vigilant unremitting and active spy. The affiant is now nearly Seventy four years of age being born the 19th day of June 1764, and has resided in the county of Lee ever since its establishment. And further this affiant saith not. William Ewing Sworn and subscribed in open court on the 15th day of January 1838 Teste J.W.S. Morrison, D.C. [PRELIMINARY FINDING OF THE COURT] And the said court, do hereby declare their opinion after [p. 5] the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War department that the above named applicant was a Captain and served as he stated. And the court further certified that William Yeary and William Ewing have been residents in this county for very many years, and have been known to some of the members of this court for more than forty years, that they are now citizens of this county and that they are both gentlemen of the highest respectability no person being intitled to higher credit as men of veracity and good character than they. State of Virginia, Lee county to wit: I, Alexander W. Mills, clerk of this court of Lee county, do hereby certify that the foregoing contained the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Col Charles Cocke for a pension. In Testimony where I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 24th day of January 1838, in the 62nd year of the commonwealth. Alexander W. Mills, Clerk [REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT] If a certificate of pension is granted me, I wish it forwarded to me, to Greenville Clarke County Arkansas, but if there should be any deficiency of proof let the papers be sent back to Lee courthouse Va directed to Col John D Sharp who will attend to my business and supply such deficiency. C Cocke [LETTER FROM A. H. SEVIER, ARKANSAS CONGRESSMAN] Washington City Feb 5th 1838 Will Col Edwards inform me if the papers referred to have been recd and if so whether they are in such a condition as to enable Mr Cocke to draw his pension. If any thing is lacking, the papers are to be sent to Mr Sharp as indicated in the enclosed letters but if all is right he wants his certificate sent to him at Greeneville Clark County Arkansas. Whatever is done in regard to it, I want to be informed of it that I may apprize him of the result. Yours _?_ A. H. Sevier Charles Cocke Arkansas --- Rejected --- See letters 7th Feb 1838, J. D. Sharp, and Hon. A. H. Sevier --- Service not performed by the authority of the State For self-defense |
