Lemuel Cook
Last survivor of the Revolutionary War
 This
By Frank W. Cook as told to him by Lemuel Cook.
Lemuel Remembers Washington
As a young lad I had an opportunity none will have again. We, the Cook kids who
grew up at Clarendon were told about the Revolutionary War by it's last soldier,
our Great Grandfather, Lemuel Cook, who we more affectionately called grampa
Lem. He would delight in telling us about his life and we were glad to listen.
We'd watch for Lemuel to come out and sit in his rocker either on his front
porch or under the big old elm tree in the front yard, as he always did on warm
summer afternoons. We would watch for him to motion us to come over with his
cane, he always knew we were watching and would run to see who would get there
first for the best seat. It would usually start with a question. Tell us about
George Washington, what did he look like? He would say "let me think on it", a
gleam would come to his eye and he would begin to speak slowly and deliberately.
I saw General Washington a few times, said a few words to him and he back to me.
I'll not forget. First time I set eyes on him was at White Plains or
thereabouts. I'd joined up at the first call and those first couple of years
were hard ones. Our company was resting near White Plains after being pushed off
the Island and out of New York City and. up River. My job was with Major
Tallmadge, being in the Light Dragoons we had horses to take care of. Mine was a
good ole Bay I'd brought from home. I was caring for my horse and a couple of
others that needed rubbing down and heard a commotion a ways down the road. I
could see by the uniforms it was officers leading several company's of Foot. One
fellow sat in the saddle head and shoulders above the others. I knew he must be
the General, we had heard how large a man he was. As they came closer all I
could do was stand there with my mouth open. An officer in front gave me a dirty
look like to be saying, "How Come you don't salute?" I whipped off a good fancy
one. The officers dismounted and went to talk with the Major I suppose. I went
back to my horse, a while later the General came around the headquarters where I
was, to stretch his legs I suppose and said, "Is that your horse soldier?" "Yes,
Sir", said I coming to attention. He put me at ease and asked my name, "Lemuel
Cook, from Connecticut, Sir". "That's a right smart mount you have there Lemuel
Cook from Connecticut". "He's done good by me, General" said I. "Well, you take
care of him, you will be glad you did", with that the General went about his
business. That's all there was to it, I'll never forget though, all the things
that must have been pressing on him he took time for a kind word. He had the
kindest look in the eyes I've ever seen. Got the chance to see him a few times
more being in the quartermasters, they called us artificers in them days. Didn't
see him again until some two, maybe three years later. We were going down thru
the Head of Elk, things were better, we had been winning we knew we had a big
battle coming up somewhere to the south. Scuttle butt was that the General had
gone on ahead and would meet us along the way. Ws had stopped and I was minding
my own business paying' no mind to no one when I heard a rich full voice say,
"Lem Cook, is that you?" "I thought that might be you with that Bay." I had
whirled around with my eyes bugging out and mouth wide open again, amazed that
he had remembered me. I finally managed a "Yes Sir", "It's very good to see you
Sir". "I admire the lines of your Bay, Lem, I have one like it at Mount Vernon,"
"Yes Sir, he's a little worse for wear but I've been keeping.' your advice, my
brothers made me promise to bring him back to the farm when the ~r was done."
11That's what we are about, Private" and with that the General was gone as
quickly as he appeared. I'd grow~ six inches since last time we'd met, he must
have recognized the horse than me. It seems as though he still towered a foot
over me. But I was ten. feet tall after that, they all asked "How come the
General knows you?" they all asked. I didn't tell 'them. We saw him again at
Yorktown, which turned out to be the big one where we was heading. Last time I
spoke to him was at Danbury when he gave me my discharge, I was standing there
with my brother, still have my' discharge here someplace, but will have to tell
you about that another time. The General had a look about him you don't forget,
there's hardly any words to describe him. Those were hard days for the most part
but there was some good things about them too.
LEMUEL COOK Was born at his Father1s farm in Northbury the eighth of nine
children. Only five survived due to an epidemic that hit the family, the year
Lemuel was born. It is not known but it is thought that his father received a
part of the real estate that Henry III held at Northbury. It is known that they
jointly owned a hundred acre section. In any event the family remained in the
Thomaston - Plymouth vicinity and that the family were members of the First
Congregational Church of Plymouth, which had been founded by Lemuel's
grandfather, which was then called the Northbury Society. When Henry 4 died the
family was left in depressed circumstances, but through it all the family
remained together. Hannah became the guardian for True, Lemuel and Mary. Selah
was only 16 but was apparently able to take care of himself and to contribute to
the well being of the family. At the outbreak of the Revolution in 1775 Lemuel
was the first of the Cook sons to enlist, Selah the second in 1776 and served
for six months and returned to Northbury and then reenlisted in 1782 for 3
years, Trueworthy enlisted in 1777 and served for 3 years returning to Northbury
to care for his mother while the other two fulfilled their service to their
country. Seleh also remained at the farm during the period that True and Lemuel
were fighting so that there was someone always at home to assure that the family
was well looked after.
Lemuel served for the entire war and he was wounded several times but never
seriously enough to keep him out of the thick of it for any length of time.
Having received his discharge at the close of the war, Lemuel returned to
Northbury where he married Hannah Curtis in 1783. They remained in Connecticut
for several years and about 1788 the family came to Clinton, Oneida County, New
York, where Lem later received 100 acres of Bounty Land for his service during
the war. His brothers also came to Clinton, it is known they were first settlers
of the town in 1788, their mother was also among the group that came with the
Plymouth Congregational Society, as they are all mentioned in the early church
records at Clinton during the first year of settlement. Lemuel and his family,
for some reason returned to Plymouth before 1795 as he was one of the
incorporators of the Village of Plymouth that year, changing the name from
Northbury. He remained in Connecticut until 1804 when he returned to New York.
The family settled at Pompey in Onondaga County. Both True and Selah had also
emigrated there with their families before 1795, and here again they were first
settlers of the town where they both purchased large tracts of land. True later
went north to Granby Center, N.Y. where he died in 1822, nothing further is
known of Selah it is thought that he remained at Pompey.
Lemuel purchased a farm of 60 acres which had originally been part of True's
holdings. The farm was in the Military Tract at Pompey at the southern edge of
the Indian reservation and was located a short distance north of the village on
the Henneberry Poad. He was successful in operation of the farm for a number of
years. In 1818 he applied for his first pension, his wounds had begun to make it
increasingly difficult for him to perform the hard labor required in the
operation of the farm, particularly a farm as large as his and his younger sons
then living with him were not yet old enough to be of much assistance to him.
Both Lemuel Jr. and Miles were also residing at Pompey at this time, they
undoubtedly were able to help their father to some extent, but they had farms
and families of their own to take care of making it difficult to extend the
extensive assistance which was obviously necessary. In 1821 Lemuel sold the farm
at Pompey and came to North Bergen in Genesee County where Curtis had emigrated
a few years before.
Curtis was as yet unmarried and had come to western New York with Richard Brown
and his family and had helped him carve out an existence in the wilderness, they
were the first white settlers at Byron. With the help of Curtis as they
apparently pooled their efforts until 1824, when Curtis married , Lemuel's
youngest sons Gilbert and Saleh were then able to be of great assistance to
their father in the operation of the farm and they did quite well and prospered.
In 1828 Lem purchased a section of Curtis' first farm and he also owned other
large sections at North Bergen. About 1832 the family removed to Clarendon a
short distance north an west of the farm at North Bergen, where Lemuel was to
remain the rest of his life. Gilbert married and Selah remained with his dad and
between the two all did well at Clarendon. Elm's farm reached 100 acres and was
located on the South Holley Road at the southeast corner of the Munger Road. The
farms of his sons and grandsons were also located very near and abutted Lemuel's
last farm. After the death of his first wife Lemuel married again, his wife Ruth
was a former resident of Monroe County in the town of Sweden before her
marriage.
Lemuel and Selah worked the farm until 1851 when Selah decided to try his hand
on his own in Michigan and removed to Flint in Genesee County. Lemuel retired
from farming shortly thereafter and sold the farm to Rathburn Tousley his
grandson, who helped Lem after Selah left and continued to operate the farm for
a number of years before he emigrated to the Dakota Territory. Lemuel remained
at the farm until 1860 when his wife died and abided by the wishes of his sons
that he should take life easy after nearly 80 years of farming. He divided his
time between Gilbert and True who took care of him during his declining years,
and often walked to Clarendon with the help of a cane he was then obliged to use
to pick up his pension, and to see that his grandsons and great grandsons held
of his exploits in the war and among the Indians which he always enjoyed
recalling.
From 1818 until the day he died Lemuel remained on the pension rolls, in 1828
his stipend allowance was increased to $l00 per year, in 1855 he received an
additional 60 acres of Bounty Land which he used for acreage at Clarendon. Under
pension laws passed by Congress in 1864 and 1865 he received $200 and $500,
which he received the last year of his life. There can be no doubt that he was
on the pension rolls longer than any other veteran of the Revolutionary War. He
remains the oldest resident ever to have lived in Orleans County. It has long
been kown by the family and a generally accepted fact that he was the Oldest
Survivor of the Revolution and that he was the Last of the survivors that were
on the rolls with him, the closest being at least a year younger.
By 1840 all of Lemuel's children had also emigrated to western New York and to
Clarendon, the family can now be found all over the United States and several
parts of the world. All of whom can trace their family line to a small country
village in western New York to a proud determined individual who has left us an
extremely rich heritage. The place where he rests is in the small family
cemetery where the peace is broken only by the wind in the trees and an
occasional visitor, time may obliterate the monument of stone marking his
passing but can never diminish the monument to his memory which is in each of
us.
LAST
SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION
by ELIAS BREWSTER HILLARD 1864
Interview
With LEMUEL COOK Surviving Dragoon
Of all the men who had marched with
Washington. and Arnold, with Gates and Greene and Mad Anthony Wayne, only seven
were still alive. All were past 100 years, the eldest, Lemuel Cook was 105 years
of age.
Lemuel Cook is the oldest survivor of the Revolution. He lives in the town of
Clarendon, Orleans County, New York. His age is 105 years. Mr. Cook was born in
Northbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut September 10th 1759 the son of Henry
Cook and a grandson of the first settler of the town also named Henry Cook. He
enlisted at Watertown when only sixteen years old. He was mustered in at
Northampton in the Bay State 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons in the command of
Colonel Elisha Sheldon in the Company of Captain William Stanton. He served
throughout the war and was discharged at Danbury, Conn. June 12, 1783. The
circumstances of his service he relates as follows?
"When I applied to enlist, Captain Hallibud told me I was so small he could not
take me unless I would enlist for the war. The first time I smelt gun powder was
at Valentine's Hill (Westchester, N.Y. Oct 1776). A troop of British horse were
coming, 'Mount your horses in a minute', cried the Colonel. I was on mine as
quick as a squirrel. There were two fires-crash! Up came Parrow, good old soul,
and said, 'Lem, what do you think of gunpowder? Smell good to you?'
The first time I was ordered on sentry was at Dobb's Ferry. A man came out of a
barn and leveled his piece and fired. I felt the wind of the ball. A soldier
near me said, 'Lem, they mean you, go on the other side of the road.' So I went
over, and pretty soon another man came out of the barn and aimed and fired. He
didn't come near me. Soon another came out and fired. His ball lodged in my hat.
By this time the firing had aroused the camp and a company of our troops came on
one side, and a party of the French on the other and they took the men in the
barn prisoner and brought them in. They were cow boys. This was the first time I
saw the French in action. They stepped as though on edge. They were a dreadful
proud nation. When they brought the men in, one of them had the impudence to
ask, 'Is the man here we fired at just now?' 'Yes,' said Major Tallmadge, 'There
he is, that boy.' Then he told how they had each laid out a crown and agreed
that the one that brought me down should have the three. When he got through
with his story, I stepped to my holster and took out my pistol, and walked up to
him and said, 'If I've been a mark to you for money, I'll take my turn now. So,
deliver your money or your life! He handed over four crowns and I got three more
from the other two."
Mr. Cook was at the Battle of Brandywine (September 11, 1777) and at Cornwallis'
Surrender (October 19, 1781). Of the latter he gives the following account :
"It was reported that Washington was going to storm New York. We made a by-law
in our regiment that every man should stick with his horse, if his horse went he
should go with him. I was waiter for the quartermaster, and so had a chance to
keep my horse in good condition. Baron Steuben was mustermaster. He had us
called out to select men and horses fit for service. When he came to me he said,
'Young man, how old are you?' I told him. 'Be on the ground tomorrow morning at
9 o'clock' said he. My colonel didn't like to have me go. 'You'll see,' said he
'they'll call for him tomorrow morning.' But they said if we had a by-law we had
to abide by it. Next morning old Steuben had got my name, there were eighteen
out of the regiment, 'Be on the ground' said he 'tomorrow morning with two days
provisions.' 'You're a fool,' said the rest, they're going to storm New York.'
No more idea of it than going to Flanders. My horse was a bay, and pretty. Next
day I was the second on parade. We marched off towards White Plains. The 'left
wheel' and struck right north. Got to King's Ferry, below Terrytown, there were
boats, scows, etc. We went right across into the Jerseys. That night I slept
with my back to a tree.
Then we went to Head of Elk. There the French were. It was dusty, 'Peered to me
I should have chocked to death. One of 'em handed me his canteen, 'Lem,' said
he, 'take a good horn, we're going to march all night.' I didn't know what it
was, so I took a full drink. It liked to have strangled me. Then we were in
Virginia. There wasn't much fighting. Cornwallis tried to force his way north to
New York, but fell into the arms of LaFayette, and he drove him back. Old
Rochambeau told 'em, I'll land five hundred from the fleet against your eight
hundred.' But he darnst. We were on kind of a side hill. We had plenty little to
eat and nothing under heaven to drink. We hove up some brush to keep the flies
off. Washington ordered that there should be no laughing at the British, said it
was bad enough to have to surrender without being insulted. The army came out
with guns clubbed to their backs. They were paraded on a great smooth lot, and
there they stacked their arms. Then came the devil-old women, and all (camp
followers). One said, 'I wonder if the damned yankees will give me any bread.'
The horses were starved out. Washington turned out with his horses and helped
them up the hill. When they see the artillery, they said, 'There, them's the
very artillery that belonged to Burgoyne.' Greene came across from the
southward, the awfulest sight you ever see; Some I should presume had a pint of
lice on 'em. No boots nor shoes."
The old man's talk is very fragmentary. He recalls the past slowly, and with
difficulty, but when he has his mind fixed upon it, all seems to come up clear.
His articulation also, is very imperfect, so that it is with difficulty that his
story can be made out. Much of his experiences in the war seem gone from him,
and in conversation with him he has to be left to the course of his own
thoughts, inquiries and suggestions appearing to confuse him. At the close of
the war he married Hannah Curtis of Cheshire, Conn. and lived a while in that
vicinity, after which he removed to Utica, New York. There he had frequent
encounters with the Indians who still lived in the area. One with whom he had
had some difficulty over cattle assailed him at a public house, as he was on his
way home, coming at him with great fury, with a drawn knife. Mr. Cook was
unarmed, but catching up a chair he presented it as a shield against the Indians
thrusts until help appeared. He says he never knew what fear was, and always
declared that no man would take him prisoner alive. His frame is large and his
presence commanding, and in his prime must have possessed prodigious strength.
He has evidently been a man of most resolute spirit, the old determination still
manifesting itself in his look and words. His voice the full power of which he
still retains, is marvelous for its strength and volume. Speaking of the present
war, he said, in his strong tones, at the same time bringing down his cane with
force upon the floor, 'It is terrible, but terrible as it is the rebellion must
be put down'. He still walks comfortably with the use of a cane, and with the
aid of glasses he reads his book, as he calls his Bible. He is fond of company,
loves a joke and is good natured in a rough sort of way. He likes to relate his
experiences in the army and among the Indians. He has voted democratic since the
organization of the government, supposing that it still represents the same
party it did in Jefferson's time. His pension, before it increased, was one
hundred dollars. It has now increased to two hundred dollars. The old man's
health is comfortably good and he enjoys life as much as could be expected at
his great age. His home at present is with a son whose wife, especially seems to
take kind and tender care of him. Altogether he is a noble old man, and long may
it yet be before his name shall be missed from the rolls of his country's
deliverers. -Elias Brewster Hillard.
This piece has been published several times in various forms. The original
author's manuscript is at the New York State Library at Albany, which also
included two pictures of Lemuel.
Copy of Article
in Rochester Union Advertiser May 22, 1866
LEMUEL COOK - THE LAST REVOLUTIONARY
PATRIOT AND PENSIONER - DEAD
Lemuel Cook, who is believed to be the
last of the Revolutionary heroes and pensioners, died at Clarendon, Orleans Co.
New York on Sunday evening, the 20th at the home of his son True W. Cook.
Mr. Cook according to his own statement was born in Plymouth, Litchfield County,
Connecticut. The year of his birth is uncertain, but from statements made to the
writer some years ago, when his mind was unimpaired, he was probably born in
1764. He was about 17 years old when he entered the service of his country in
the spring of 1781.
A writer for the New York Herald, in giving a sketch of the surviving
Revolutionary pensioners on October 10, 1863 states that, "He enlisted for the
2nd Light Dragoons, Col. Sheldon, but was mustered into Stanton's company of
infantry, and continued in that company and in the service of the United States
until June 1783, when he was, at the termination of the war, discharged at
Danbury, Conn."
He has retained in his possession a copy from the War Department of his
discharge, signed by George Washington, which states that he was a private in
the 2nd Light Dragoons, Conn. Regiment. His field officers were stated as Col.
Sheldon, Lieut. Jennison, and Major Benjamin Tallmadge.
The date of discharge is the same as stated in the Herald, it winds up as
follows; The above named Lemuel Cook has been honored with the badge of merit
for three years faithful service."
Soon after entering the service, Mr. Cook marched with the army to that
memorable campaign in Virginia,. and was at the closing struggle at Yorktown,
and witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis on the 19th of October 1871.
Mr. Cook moved from Conn. to Oneida Co., New York, thence to Bergen, Genesee Co.
and from the latter place to Clarendon, N.Y. where he has resided for about 30
years.
Mr. Cook was a life long Democrat in his politics, and until within a few years
ago was punctual in his attendance at town meetings and elections. He continued
to write his name to orders and pension papers until the last winter when he
became to enfeebled to write. His autograph has been sought for from all parts
of the country. In the spring of 1861 a Hartford publisher sent an artist to
procure his photograph, the first and only one that has been taken of him and
the picture is remaricably correct.
Among the last autographs is one now in the possession of the Bureau of Military
records at Albany, furnished at the request of Mr. Doty.
According to the statement of the Herald, there was on the twelfth of March 1861
12 surviving Revolutionary pensioners in the southern states. (This has now been
proved to have been entirely false.)
The funeral will take place tomorrow at 10 in the morning in a grove near the
house of his son, Curtis Cook, if pleasant, in the south east corner of
Clarendon. As 'Ir. Cook was a Mason he will be buried under its honors as well
as those of war, the Rev. Col. James T. Fuller has been sent for to officiate as
chaplain of the ceremonies which will be attended to the burial of the Last
Survivor of the Army of the Revolution.
Clarendon, May 22, 1866 -George M. Copeland.
There are several false statements made in this piece, but it is the most nearly
correct of any of the articles published at the time of Lemuel's death.
The following piece appeared in the ORLEANS REPUBLICAN May 24, 1866
Lemuel Cook Sr, the last of the Revolutionary heroes, died on Sunday night in
Clarendon, N.Y at the age of 107 years. He was born in Plymouth Conn. and at the
age of 16 years he entered the Army of the Revolution, first in the Dragoons and
then in the infantry under Colonel Sheldon. Mr. Cook in the second enlistment
served 3 years in the Army, was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at
Yorktown and took an honorable discharge at the close of the war which was
signed by General George Washington. Mr. Cook came to western N.Y, to reside
over 30 years ago. He has been in feeble health for a couple of years past but
up until 1864 was quite active The funeral of Lemuel Cook took place on
Wednesday, none of the churches were large enough to accomodate the crowd
attending so the body was taken to a nearby grove where he laid in state and the
funeral service was held. The masonic fraternity took charge of the proceedings.
The sermon was preached by the Reverend James M. Fuller, his discourse will be
remembered as a masterpiece, his text taken from the Psalms 44-1 to 3. The
burial was also with military honors at the family cemetery a short distance
down the road.
The following description of the funeral appears in Copeland's History of
Clarendon at page 284
A large procession brought Lemuel from the home of his son True to the woods
across from the farm of his son Curtis, where the funeral was held. A few boards
were placed in front of the speaker, where the coffin rested, and the large
audience seated themselves as best they could, and for two hours listened to the
eloquent words which came forth in memory of the departed soldier. The text was
taken from the words, "We have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us".
This was the most impressive funeral that ever took place in Clarendon, and the
only one that has ever been held in that most beautiful and grand of all God's
temples, the woods, where the golden pencils of light came streaming down
through the arches of shade in all the richness of glory and softness of perfect
peace and hollowed rest. In the words of Byron--"He has fought his last fight,
He has seen his last battle, No sound can awaken him to glory again."
-David Sturges Copeland 1888
Mrs. Nettie Cook Smith often spoke of her memory as a little girl following the
funeral procession from the home of True Cook on the Merrill Road, where Lemuel
lived the last years of his life, to the large wooded section directly across
from the farm of Curtis Cook on the fiunger Road for the funeral, and then on to
the cemetery service a short distance down the road to the west. Nettie was a
daughter of Franklin and grand daughter of Lemuel Cook Jr.
This article -By ROBERT SPENCER
It was July, 1864. Still
another year of agony and desolation faced the nation divided
by Clyil War.
"It is terrible." Lemuel Cook, 105, of Clarendon, Orleans County, New York, was
speaking of the carnage. "But, terrible as it is, the rebellion must be put
down." And, as though making an exclamation point, he brought down his cane with
force upon the floor.
Lemuel Cook was the oldest of the North's 12 surviving veterans of the American
Revolution. And for a moment, the old determination flared again and out of his
past, out of the present tumult and pain and pride, came the salty account of
another struggle - Yorktown, Oct. 19, 1781, final British defeat in the American
War of Independence.
Cook had been with General Washington's army at Yorktown and at Cornwallis'
surrender there. Of the latter, the very old man now spoke, "slowly and with
difficulty" and "his talk broken and fragmentary:"
"We were on a kind. of side hill. We had plaguey little to eat and nothing to
drink under heaven. We hove up some brush to keep the flies off. Washington
ordered that there should be no laughing at the British; said it was bad enough
to have to surrender ... The army came out with guns clubbed on their backs ...
Then came the devil - old women and all ... The horses were starved out.
Washingtcn turned out with his horses and helped them up the hlll ... Greene
came from the southard; the awfullest set you ever see. Some, I should presume,
had a pint of lice on 'em. No boots or shoes."
Cook's interviewer that summer day in 1864 was the Rev. Illias Brewster Hillard,
a Congregational minister from Connecticut. He was on a long journey - by rail,
stage coach and horse - to visit and photograph the last 12 pensioners of the
Revolutionary War. They lived from Maine to Missouri.
A strong sense of urgency spurred Hillard on the mission he had undertaken for
N. A. and R. A. Moore, Hartford, Conn., publishers, who wanted to record the
first hand stories and photographs of "The Last Men of the Revolution." Each man
already was at least 100 years old.
Near Rochester lived two of The Last Men: - - Lemuel Cook, of Clarendon, who had
served three years as a private in a Connecticut regiment, the Second Light
Dragoons. Before witnessing Cornwallis' surrender, he was at Brandywine and in
other battles. After the war he became a farmer near Utica. Late in life he went
to live with his son in Clarendon, five Miles south of Holley.
- - Alexander Milliner, of Adams Basin, Monroe County, about midway between
Spencerport and Brockport. He had been a First New York Regiment drummer boy for
3˝ years, was at the Valley Forge encampment and was wounded in the thigh at the
battle of Monmouth.
Hillard found that in the Continental army Milliner apparently was "the life of
the camp, could dance and sing, 'nothing troubling him over five minutes at a
time' ... he is small, more so than his picture would indicate." His enthusiasm
never waned. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Milliner, then 101, wanted to
take his drum. and go to Rochester and beat for volunteers. The drum now is part
of the permanent collection of Irondequoit Chapter, Daughters of the American
Revolution.
In the e'arly 1800s Milliner built boats and operated an Erie Canal dock in
Rochester. He died in 1865 at age 105 and is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery in
Rochester.
Still standing in Clarendon is the 143 year-old house in which Lemuel Cook lived
and where, in 1866, he died at age 106.
Since 1934 the house has heen the home of Clarendon Supervisor and Mrs. Alvin
Hilfiker. They have made many architectural changes in the building in the last
35 years.
The house is at 16575 Boots Road, near the Byron-Holley Road, in the
southeastern corner of Orleans County.
Hilfiker was elected Clarendon supervisor four years ago.
Cook's closest surviving relative is thought to be a great-great-grand niece,
Mrs. Gilbert L. Kishlar of 113 South Main St., Holley.
The above post card incorectly states his age at death as
102.
It was actually 106.
==================================================
THE LAST SOLDIERS
- F. W. Cook
In 1840, according to the Federal Census there were literally hundreds of
surviving Revolutionary Soldiers on the rolls of our country's deliverers. The
next quarter century would see them all swept away, all but one. By 1863 there
were only 12 Veterans living, Whose names appeared on the pension rolls and
Official records of the Nation. They passed to their reward in the following
order.
Amaziah Goodwin, Alfred, Maine died June 22, 1863 aged 105 years
Benjamin Miller, Albany, New York, died September 24, 1863 aged 100 years
John Goodnow of Boston, Mass. died October 22, 1863 at age 102
James Berman, of Missouri, died January 10, 1864 at 102 years
Samuel Downing, Edinburg, New York died March 16, 1864 aged 102
Jonas Gates, Chelsea, Vermont died March 18, 1864 at 101 years of age
John Pettingill of Henderson, New York, died April 23, 1864 at 99 years of age
Rev. Daniel Waldo, Syracuse, New York, died July 30, 1864, aged 103 years
William Hutchins of York, Maine, died August 4, 1864 at age 102 years
Adam Link, Sulphur Springs, Ohio died August 15, 1864 at age 103 years
Alexander Milliner, Adams Basin, New York died March 15, 1865 aged 105 years
Lemuel Cook of Clarendon, New York died May 20, 1866 at 107 years of his age.
Lemuel was clearly the eldest of all of these Last Survivors and he was without
any question the Last Pensioner the last year of his life. In 1867 the 39th
Congress gave pensions to two other men by "Special Acts" in their behalf
because they could not meet the criterion of previous pension laws, they were;
John Gray of Brookfield, Ohio who died March 29, 1868, age unknown, who served
less than six months; and Daniel F. Bakeman of Freedom, NY who died April 5,
1869. The only existing reference to his age is on his headstone which says he
wes 109 years,
nor is there any existing record of his service in NY where he said he served
nor in the National Archive., nor record of the testimony given before the 39th
Congress prior to the passage of his Bill. Be that as it may, while he lived
Lemuel was the Oldest and the Last Survivor and was born before the two that
were added to the rolls after his death. With any distinction there are and have
been those who would lay claim to it, I say let them prove it, if they can, none
have yet succeeded.
There are many Revolutionary Soldiers that appear in our Cook and related
families, we have yet to determine an exact number here are a few of them.
Selah Cook 1756-1809 Private Ct
Trueworthy Cook 1758-1822 Private Ct
William Tousley Jr. 1761-1827 Private Vt father of Orson and Matilda Tousley
Timothy Coleman 1752-1831 Lieut. NY father of Joshua Coleman
Jonathan Mason 1733-1771 Lieut Ct grandfather of Susan (Mrs. Lemuel Cook Jr.)
William Stewart ? NJ maternal grandfather Eva Bird (Mrs. Edgar Howe)
Benjamin Pettingill 1761-1844 Pvt. Mass mater. grandf. Amos P. wetherbee and
father of Mary Pettingill Rice (Mrs. Beckwith Cook)
Daniel Cook 1763-1806 Pvt Mass grandf. of Mary Ann wife of Homer Cook
William Millikin 1752-1808 Pvt NH great grandf. Julia - Mrs. Dallas D. Cook
Samuel Lewis 1749-1790 Pvt Mass great grandf. of Florence Lewis Harrison
Ebenezer Soul. 1750-1812 Pvt NY grandf. of Martha Jane - Mrs. Joshua Coleman II
Moses Holmes II ? grandf. of John Holmes II
These are only a few with connecting relationships in the 5th, 6th and 7th
Generations there are many many others. There are extensive records of their
service all of it most interesting. As many as 15 soldiers have been discovered
in one family, that number may prove to be greater. This seems to be the case in
many of our families, perhaps this is coincidence, we cannot know. In any case
it is remarkable, and something we have every reason to be proud and thankful
for. --- F. W.Cook
LAST
WILL AND TESTAMENT OF LEMUEL COOK
I Lemuel Cook, pf the Town of Clarendon in the County of Orleans and
state of New York, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, and being of
sound mind and memory, do make publish this my last Will and Testament, in
manner and form following: that is to say
Firstly, I give and bequeath to my eldest son
MILES COOK the sum of one hundred dollars, I also give and bequeath to my
daughter ESTHER COLEMAN the sum of ten dollars, I also give and bequeath to my
son LEMUEL COOK Junior the sum of two hundred dollars, I also give and bequeath
to my son WORTHY COOK the sum of one hundred dollars, I also give and bequeath
to my son LYMAN COOK the sum of two hundred dollars, I also give and bequeath
to my daughter ELECTA TOUSLEY the sum of ten dollars, I also give and bequeath
to my son CURTIS COOK the sum of two hundred dollars, I also give and bequeath
to my son GILBERT COOK the sum of four hundred dollars, I also give and
bequeath to my grandson EDGAR HOWE the sum of forty dollars, and I do hereby
enjoin upon my son Gilbert Cook and James M. Hollister, whom I do hereby appoint
executors of this my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills
by me made, and that I also give good and sufficient bail that my wife RUTH COOK
shall be supported in a good and decent manner, with all the necessities of life
so long as she shall remain my widow, her support and living to be amply secured
to her before the above legacies shall be paid, unless in the opinion and
judgment of the executors, by and with the advice of the Surrogate there is
amply sufficient real and personal estate to pay the aforesaid legacy and secure
to my wife Ruth Cook her support and living as aforesaid. And lastly, as to
all the rest, residue and remainder of my personal estate goods and chattels,
lands, tensments of what soever kind and nature I give and bequeath to LEMUEL
COOK Jr., WORTHY COOK, LYMAN COOK, CURTIS COOK, MILES COOK, GILBERT COOK and
ESTHER COLEMAN and ELECTA TOUSLEY, to be equally divided between them. And my
Will is that the above legacies or bequeathments be paid to the above named
persons as soon after my death as the goods and chattels, real and personal
estate can be sold to good advantage by the executors. Whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal this 27th day of April in the year of our Lord Eighteen
Hundred and Fifty Five. LS.---------- Seal
Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Lemuel Cook, to
be his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, who have hereunto
subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator.
THOMAS TEMPLETON JAMES M.
HOLLISTER LS.
COPY ESTATE OF LEMUEL COOK FROM
THE OFFICE OF SURROGATE FOR ORLEANS COUNTY
PETITICN FOR PROOF OF WILL.
The petition of GILBERT COOK of the Town of
Clarendon in the County of Orleans and state of New York, respectfully shows:
That Lemuel Cook Sr. late of
the Town of Clarendon in the said County of Orleans, deceased, died
in the said town of
Clarendon on or about the Twentieth day of May in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, being at that time
an inhabitant of the County of Orleans;
that he died leaving a Last Will and Testament, which is now produced in the
Surrogate's Court of the said County of LEMUEL COOK Orleans, before the said Surrogate,
which bears the date 27th day of April in the year of our Lord 1855, and
by which said Last Will and Testament the said deceased nominated and appointed
Gilbert Cook and James M. Hollister executors thereof; that the said deceased
died possessed of Real and Personal Estate in the said County of Orleans; and
that the following named persons are all the heirs at law and next of kin of the
said deceased, and their respective ages and places of residence are as
follows:
TRUE WORTHY COOK, MILES
COOK, GILBERT COOK, CURTIS COOK all residing at Clarendon, Orleans Co., N.Y.
ELECTA
TOUSLEY, residing in Gaines, Orleans Co., N.Y. LYMAN
COOK, residing in Buffalo, Wisconsin
SELAH COOK, residing in Flint, Michigan All adult children of the said deceased
MERRITT COOK, CHARLES COOK, and FANNY HAMMOND
all residing in Clarendon, N.Y. HOMER COOK residing in Lake Mills, Wisconsin
grandchildren of the said deceased and children of LEMUEL
COOK Jr. deceased, and EDGAR HOWE residing in Flint,
Michigan grandchild of the said deceased and son of HANNAH HOWE deceased.
The above are all of full age and the only heirs
and next of kin of the said deceased.
SPENCER COLEMAN,
SIMEON D. COLEMAN, JOSHUA
COLEMAN Jr., ELECTA RUYDER, and SALLY HOLMES,
grandchildren of said deceased and children of ESTHER COLEMAN
deceased, all of full age and residents of Clarendon, NY.
and that
the Real and Personal Estate of the said deceased will not exceed the sum of
$2,000.00.
Dated July 14th 1866 GILBERT COOK
Witnessed by the Clerk of Surrogate Court.
LS. Seal
Although
the proceedings of probate were begun by the family there was never any final
disposition made by the court and the will was never probated.
Cook Genealogy
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