Transcribed Memorial (Claim) of Thomas Cory and Sarah Cory, American Loyalists

Date: 13 Mar 1786 [unknown]
Location: Queens, New Brunswick, Canada

The purpose of this page is to share the transcribed memorial, or claim for compensation, filed by Sarah (Smith) Corey (1726-1816) and her son Thomas Cory (abt.1753-abt.1836) for losses their family suffered during the American Revolution.

I transcribed these pages from images of the original documents.^[1] The original spelling and punctuation are preserved to the best of my ability. There are a few words I could not make out, and I did not include all the values of the line items in the inventory of the Corys' estate.

363 [handwritten] 182 [printed]

(New Claim)

To the Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament for enquiring into the Losses and Services of the American Loyalists.

The Memorial of Thomas Cory and Sarah Cory late of West Chester County in the Province of New York but now of Queen's County in the Province of New Brunswick,

Humbly Sheweth,

that your memorialists being Son, Heir, and Executor and Widow & Executor to Griffin Cory deceased beg leave to inform your Honours that we shall bring forward sufficient Vouchers and Witnesses to prove the Charge made in the annexed Account of Claims and the steady and firm attachment of the deceased to the British Government when living and the early and continued opposition he made to the Rebels proceedings and his being obliged to leave his Estate and take Refuge within the British Lines long before his decease and than Thomas Cory one of your Memorialists left his Home in the year 1775 and enlisted himself a Private Soldier in the New York Volunteers where he remained during the War.

[page break] 364 [handwritten]

Your Memorialists therefore humbly pray your Honours will please to consider their unhappy Case and the annexed Account that they may under your Report have such Compensation made as shall appear reasonable and just, and as in Duty bound your Memorialists shall ever pray.

Signed Thomas Cory her Sarah X Cory mark Queen's County Province of New Brunswick 13 March 1786

[There is something over the 13 that looks like it might be a 12 with a strikethrough.]

[page break] 365 [handwritten] 183 [printed]

The undermentioned being the Losses suffered and sustained by Griffin Cory late of Westchester County in the Province of New York deceased and Claimed by Thomas Cory and Sarah Cory as Son & Heir and Executor and Widow & Executor to the deceased.

3. Tracts of Land lying & being in Westchester County in the Province of New York containing 267 Acres & 97 square Rods with one dwelling House, Barn Orchards Meadows &.ce [?] estimated to be worth..... £2000 [I can't tell what's after the 2000, but it appears after the other numbers too.]

[To the right of this list of items is a column of figures. These figures are hard to read.] 1775 November 9th Taken & destroyed by the Rebels 20 Bushels Oats @ 2/... To 7 Bushels of Wheat... @6/... To 10 Bushels Rye... @4/... To damages done in the House, Clothing [?] Bedding Wasting and taking away... To 26 Load of Hay... To 1 Barrel Sugar... To 2 Stacks of Rye 50 Bushels each... To 10 Load of Hay To 3 Cows £18... 8 young Cattle £22 To 2 young Horses £16 one Ox Cart £10 To Farming Utensils £5. 3 Plows & Plow Irons £6 To a Lott of Blacksmiths Tools To 58 Sheep To 4 Acres of Wheat, supposed to be 60 Bushels To 50 Bushels of Wheat To 100 Bushels of Oats To 200 Bushels of Flax Seed @ To 30 Bushels of Corn To 4 Tables £3. 3 Beadsteads £1.16 3 Wheels [?] £1.11 To Bed & Bedding £6. 6 Fat Cattle £36. To one years “Rent of the Farm

Ninety nine acres of the Land were mortgaged for a Sum of Money under one hundred Pounds to the Loan Office of Westchester County – otherways we know of no Impediements. [page break] 366 [handwritten] St. John 19 February 1787. [with that same mark that looks like a crossed through 12 or possibly a capital N? Above the 19]

+Evidence on the Claim of Sarah Cory Widow & Thomas Cory eldest Son of Griffyn Cory deceased late of New York.

Claimant Thomas Says,

He and his Mother came in September [with a little flourish] 1783, came to this Place, landed up the River at Gage Town, there remained, heard of Captain Vanderburgh but it was too late.

Griffyn Cory lived in Courtlands Manor Westchester County. He had two Sons in the British Service, he was too old to bear arms, he went to Long Island, had a Protection there, died there in Anguish 1780, made a Will a short time before his Death whereby he gave his Wife Sarah a Legacy of £120 out of his Estate in Courtlands Manor and his Moveables.£20 to three of his Children, Claimant and two Sisters to be raised out of the said Estate, and the rest of his Estate between his other Sons to be paid when they came of Age. - Makes his Wife, Claimant Thomas & John Cory second Son his Executors. He left Sarah his Widow of the Claimants.

Thomas – Claimant. [page break] 367 [ handwritten] 184 [printed]

John – died in the British Service without Issue. Gilbert – at Gage Town Amos – dead without Issue Silvanus – at Gage Town Griffyn – Do Lewis – Do Morris – Do Claimant Thomas has been in the British Service all the War, in the New York Volunteers. His Father Griffyn had an Estate in Courtlands Manor. Produces Deed from Moses Travis to Griffyn Cory of 99 Acres in Consideration of £300 – 1770. Produces Deed from Jonathan Smith to Griffyn Cory of 86 Acres in Consideration of £404 – 1769. Produces Deed from Peter Secord to Griffyn Cory of 82 Acres in Consideration of £410 – 1774. These three Farms adjoined to each other, Says his Father was offered £1600 for them. About 30 Acres Meadow – there was not more than a sufficient of Timber Land. Produces [page break] 368 [handwritten]

Produces Copy of Judgement against Griffyn Cory declaring his Estate forfeit. Joseph Osborn bought it. There was a Mortgage of the Farm bought of Moses Travis.

Claimant Sarah says she went up the River immediately, never heard of the Act till she heard of Captain Vanderburgh.

Her late Husband lived in Courtlands Manor. From the first he was a friend to British Government. – Suffered greatly from Imprisonment and abuse, at last he was obliged to quit his Home and went within the British Lines at Long Island.

Claimant and Family were sent to him about seven or eight months after he went away. He died at Long Island in the year 1780.

Vi' Account of his Estate Supra [?] besides the Mortgage to the Loan office on his Estate there was some trifling Debt, cannot say how much, has he and one Bond. It was advertized for Sale.

Her husband went away in February 1778, in the following April they took possession of his Farm, Let Claimant Took

[page break] 369 [handwritten] 185 [printed]

Took his Moveables before they took possession of the Farm, they sold the Moveables [antendue? Attendue?] allowed her very little. Claimant has been here since her Husband's Death, one Hunt a Commissioner, of Forfeited Estates then owned it, one Osborn bought it afterwards.

Lost 17 Cattle, 3 Cows, 1 Horse, Furniture, 10 Hogs, 30 Sheep, Farming Utensils, Corn in the Chamber.

All her Children are now here, the eldest has served all the War. Gilbert served in a British Privateer. Silvanus now 22 Years of Age. The others Infants.

Solomon Dinjey Sworn,

Knew Griffyn Cory, he was always [ordained? Archened? Acckened?] a Loyalist, heard frequently of his Confinement. – He came within the Lines in February 1778, his Family were sent to him. Knew his Estate on Courtlands Manor, three Farms bought at different times. Remember him in Possession, above 250 Acres, a very good Farm. 40 Acres Meadow, 160 Tillage, the Rest Wood, heard him offered £1600 York Currency for it. He refused it. Asked [page break] 370 [handwritten]

asked £2000 York Currency for it, values it at 6 or [?] Acre – Never heard of any Debt but the Loan Office Debt. He had a good Stock of Horses, Cattle, Sheep. – Thought him a Man of Property, not in Debt. The whole to be paid to the Mother.

John Yeomans Sworn, Knew Griffyn Cory, he was uniformly Loyal, knew his Farm in Courtlands Manor, remembers him in possession, values the Farm near £2000 York Currency. Looked upon him as a Man clear in his Circumstances and not incumbered with Debts. He had a considerable Stock. Witness understood all the Family are here. +

[then there are two blank pages before the next claim begins]

Sources

1. ↑ Legal Record: "UK, American Loyalist Claims, 1776-1835"
   The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; American Loyalist Claims, Series I; Class: AO 13; Piece: 025
   Ancestry Record 3712 #8039 (accessed 8 October 2023)
   Name: Sarah Cory; Residence Year: 1786 - 1787; Previous Residence Place: New York; Correspondence Date: 19 Feb 1787; Correspondence Place: St John; Record Type: Evidence; Piece Description: Evidence; US Region: New York.