Claims & Memorials Memorial of Robert Cook of Massachusetts To the Honourable Commissioners Apointed to Enquier into the losses and Services of the Loyalists who have Suffered, in their Right and Propperties and Professions for their Atteachment to the British Goverment The Memorial of Robert COOK A Refugee from the County of Suffolk, within the Province of the Massachusitts Bay in New-England Humbly Sheweth [torn] Memorialist by means of his Loyalty to the best of Sovereigns; and Firm Atteachment to the British Goverment has actualy Suffered in his Person-- and in his Property to the amount of Two hundred and Fifty pounds sterling by being Robed on Long Island of all his Notes and Bonds for money and other valuable papers as well as his wearing Apparil and his other Camp Equipage; and done when your Memorialist was on actual Service for his Majesty by General HOWs orders, so that it was very Destressing indeed. As to your Memorialists Services, for King George the Second; and King George the third, It has been as Follows. Your Memorialist was a Private Soldier in the year 1745, and 1746, in a Provintial Regiment raised by Governor SHIRLY for His Majesty Service-- Furthermore your Memorialist Served His Majesty from 1755 untill 1761 the last of the time was a Lieutenant in Coll. SALTONSTOLLs Regiment and in the year 1775 when the troubles began your Memorialist Collected as Many Loyalists as he could to Surpress the Mobbs and Riotts; that began to be so Frequent: for which your Memorialist was made Prisoner; by the Rebels; and never had no more Peace among them untill he made his Escape to the Kings Troops at Boston in the begining of June 1775, leaving a Wife & thirteen Children. Furthermore your Memorialist Commanded a Company in Lt. Col. Robert ROGERS Regt. called the Queens American Rangers from the [torn] of August 1776 untill the 18th of March 1777. Your Memorialist having done all he could in the differant stations he has been in, to the utmost of his Power and now upon the decline of life: humbly Prays that your Honours will please to take his case into serious consideration and Grant that releif; that is Just and reasonable-- and your Memorialist as in Duty Bound will ever Pray Robert COOK Carleton January 26th 1784 on St. Johns River Great Britain, Public Record Office, Audit Office, Class 13, Volume 107, folio 12. Claims & Memorials Witness of behalf of Robert Cook of Massachusetts I do hereby Certify that Some Time in the Month of March 1777, Col. INNIS Inspector General of Provintial Forces, did in my presence Say that it was the Commander in Chiefts General HOWs Orders to him to return the Generals Thanks to Captain COOK for his past Services as a good Officer in the Queens American Rangers and to assure him that he should be provided for in one of the new Corps. Harlem May 27th 1779. Wm. FOWLLER Capt. Loyal American Regt. A true Coppy of the of the [sic] oreginal which I have by Me. Claims & Memorials Petition of Robert Cook of Massachusetts To the Honorable the Commission[er]s Appointed by Act of Parliament further to Enquier into the Losses and Services of the American Loyalists &c &c &c The Petition of Robert COOK Humbly Sheweth That Your Petitioner is an American Born and Resided in the Town of Wrentham in the County of Suffolk and then Province of the Massachusitts Bay untill the Rebellion began at Boston in the Month of December 1774 Collected 25 Loyal Men in Arms in order to opose a Rebel Mob then Asembling to Destress the Loyalists in said Town but being overpowered ware made Prisoners by the Rebel Mob and Suffering many Cruel Insults and Signing there Forced Acknowledgements was Set at libberty for that time - again aboute 14 Days afterward your Petitioner was made Prisoner by the Rebels and narrowly Escaped with his life - again aboute the 22nd of April 1775 was made Prisoner by the Rebels and Closely confined at a Committee Mans House but finding means your Petitioner made his Escape and Fled for Refuge and Protection to the Royal Army then at Boston as early as the 6th of June 1775 and ever after Remained within the British lines and Service and when at Staten Island Obtained a Warrant of Lt. Collo. ROGERS Commandant of the Queens American Rangers Dated the 14th of August 1776 to Raise a Company which Your Petitioner did Efect and Joyned the Said Regiment on Long Island and the Day the Battle was Fought on Sd. Long Island while Your Petitioner was on His Majestys Service was Robbed of all his Bagage and Cloathing to the value of 20 pounds Sterling and in Bonds and Notes of Hand to the amount of £ 230 pounds Sterling. >From Long Island your Petitioner landed with the said Regiment at Frogs Neck and remained and Did Duty in Said Regiment during the whole time that Sd. Lt. Collo. ROGERS Commanded it which was untill the 18th of March 1777 when it pleased the Commander in Chief to Discharge all who Commanded Companies but Two in the Sd. Regiment which disappointment Caused your Petitioner to Memorial General HOW to be continued to Command his Company in Sd. Regiment and your Petitioner Received for answer by the Inspector General Collo. INNIS that it was the Commander in Chiefs directions to Him to announce His Excelencys thanks to your Petitioner for his Past Services as a good Officer in the Sd. Queens Rangers and that your Petitioner Should be Provided for in Some other New Coar in Consequence of which your Petitioner ever held himself in readiness but never have been Provided for to this Day but remains destitute of any Pay from Goverment - the pay that your Petitioner has received was from the 14th of August 1776 untill the 18th of March 1777 and no longer as a Coppy of Collo. INNIS's order will Shew and Captain FOWLERs Certifycate will Shew concerning the approbation of the Commander in Chief, in Regard to your Petitioners Services being Approved of and as your Petitioner is Conscious that he has ever Exerted himself to the utmost of his Power not only in the late Rebellion but in Two Wars before the late Rebellion and in 1761 was a Lieutenant in a Provincial Regiment as a Coppy of his Commission will Shew and now on the decline of life by reason of age and a Family to maintain in this new Country and nothing to begin with. Therefore your Petitioner Prays that his Case may be taken into Your Consideration in order that your Petitioner may be enabled under your Report to Receive Such Aid and Relief as his Losses and Services may be found to Deserve. And your Petitioner as in humble Duty bound will ever Pray &c. Robt. COOK City St. John New Brunswick March 17th 1786 Great Britain, Public Record Office, Audit Office, Class 13, Volume 21, folios 120-121. 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