Served in Maxwell's Massachusetts Co. in the Revolutionary War. "This pensioner, at the age of 58, reported his services in 1820, extending from May, '77, to May, '80. He enlisted in Townsend, Middlesex County, Mass., in Capt. Hugh Maxwell's Co., Col. Bailey's Regt., and was regularly discharged. He was a cooper, crippled by rheumatism, and could work but a quarter of the time. He was worth $378.95, and his debts were $600.25. His wife, Sarah B., was 43, and they had five children: Betsey, Franklin and Aaron Cooley, aged 17, 15, and 13; and Mary E. and Maria F. Merrill, aged 4 and 2 years. His pension was soon ceased, and he made a second application, May 26, 1823, making a pitiful account of property used up or depreciated. He owed $349.50, and was worth $118.09. In his possession were 30 books, three pocket books, a washboard, umbrella and secretary. He was still alive in 1840, aged 80. In 1790 he was in Boxford, Mass." On his second application to show how his property had depreciated, his set of cooper's tools were much worn and reduced in value; 1 saw worth $1.75 was sold to Samuel Edwards in part payment for pasturing a cow; grindstone full half worn out; fifteen barrels disposed of to Messrs. Hull & Moseley for family supplies; three old kegs gone to decay; staves, headings, etc. made up, help paid, and debts due Sylvanus Tousley, Reuben Bennett, Morris Hall (Hull) & co., and W. & C. Gardner, paid, one barrel of soap used up; one axe, one wheelbarrow nearly worn out, lent and lost, two hogs, five pigs fatted and eaten; cash one dollars expended in going to Onondaga to make the schedule in 1820; debts due, supposed good and collectable, settled, except that of Slocum & Williams, and they dispute the demand; nothing received or can be from debts bad; one-half of pew in Christ church, Manlius, disposed of to Sylvanus Tousley towards a note held against him for the pew itself." He is buried in the Jareb Green lot. According to burial records, Asa's wife is buried in the Aaron B. Cooley lot as is one of their daughters, Sarah Moody Merrill. Their 21-year-old daughter, Maria, was removed from the Cooley lot to the Green lot.