Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 18493, for John Lowell, Massachusetts
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Massachusetts
Lowell, John
Number S 18493
Carded
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10.194
Maine
John Lowell
Lincoln in the State of Maine
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Blisdel of the regiment commanded by
Colonel Whitmore in the Massachusetts
line for 19 months 17 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine
the rate of 26 Dollars 21 Cents per annum, to 
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23rd day of March
1833 and sent Nathaniel
Coffin Wiscasset Maine
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 September
$130.42
$32.61
$163.03
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk
Book E. Volume 1st Page 31

[opposite page:]
Date of death not on he A book. SLL
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State of Maine.
LINCOLN, SS -- 
I, NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County
of Lincoln do hereby certify that the annexed paper, signed
by the Judge and attested by the Clerk, contains the
of the
contains the original proceedings of the ___Court of Common Pleas, at a special session thereof holden at Wiscasset
Honorable John Ruggles one of the judges of said court on the thirteenth day of September AD 1832 in the matter
of the application of John Ruggles for a Pension.
Court this Sixth
IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said court this sixth 
day of October
Nathaniel Coffin
A. D. 1832.
CLERK
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DECLARATION.
in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June, 1832.
STATE OF MAINE.
COUNTY OF LINCOLN, SS.
On this thirteenth day of September personally appeared in open Court, before John Ruggles of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting, John Lowell a resident of Woolwich in the County of Lincoln and State of Maine, aged seventy four years who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration,
in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States
under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.

In April in the year 1776 he enlisted at Plum Island near Newbury Port in the war of the revolution for one year on the continental establishment in Capt. Blasdells Company of infantry as a private, in Col.  Whitmores Regiment in the Massachusetts line as he supposes, intending to go to Ticonderoga, but was afterwards stationed in the fort on said Plum Island near Newbury Port and there served out the time -- 
In the spring of the year 1777 about May he thinks he enlisted into Captain Blasdells Company in Colonel Wigglesworths Regiment
Massachusetts line on the continental establishment for ten months and served out the time and was discharged at Valley Forge & while there helped to build the huts, he was at the capture of Burgoine, and further states that he cannot now find any surviving witness of the above services, and in want of such testimony he hereunto annexes the deposition
of Levi Lecthers which was taken on his memorial to Congress the last winter
said Lacthers has since died- and said Lowell also annexes that memorial & asks leave to refer to the same for the reason of his not sooner applying for a pension, viz.
that he had been the keeper of Light House at a small salary- he also annexes a bill which passed in his favor in the House
of Representatives on that memorial, which bill was not acted upon in the Senate, as the law of June 7, 1832 was supposed to take up the whole subject- all the above services were continental as he believes ~
He was born in Seabrook in the State of New Hampshire in the year 1758. I have no
record of my age in my possession- lived in Amesbury when called into service-lived 
in Georgetown in District of Maine after revolutionary war, and now live in Woolwich-enlisted voluntarily- have already listed officers as he can recollect- thinks he was discharged
in writing which is lost- as to my veracity and belief of services refer to Isiah R Hedge & Simeon Farnham


He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
John Lowell


Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesiad.
John Ruggles
Judge of said Court
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We, Isaich Hedge residing in Woolwich
and Simeon Farnhem residing in Woolwich hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Lowell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy four years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur
in that opinion.
Isaiah N. Hedge
Simeon Farnham

State of Maine.
LINCOLN, Ss. Sworn and subscribed this twentieth day of September A. D. 1832

Before me, J. Bailey Justice of the Peace
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories
prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Isaiah Hedge who has signed the preceding certificate, is resident in Woolwich and
that Simeon men who has also signed the same is a resident in the Woolwich
and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
John Ruggles J.C.C.P. [judge court of common pleas].
Attest Nathaniel Coffin Clerk

State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Jere Bailey Esquire whose name is affixed to the above certificate, as a justice of the peace is legally commissioned and duly qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature, to me well known. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas this 4th day of October AD 1832
Nathaniel Coffin
CLERK.
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John Lowell
Maine
Private 19 months 17 days
14,0 44
Nathaniel Coffin Esquire
Wiscasset Maine
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Brief in the case of John Lowell
County of Lincoln
in the State of Maine
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 74
State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[Table of four columns, headed:]
Period  || Duration of Service || Rank || Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.

April In 1776 enlisted ||1 year || Private ||Captain Blasdell, Colonel Whitmore
Spring 1777 || 7 months 17 days [illegible] of service ||Private || Captain Blasdell, Colonel Wigglesworth
5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? George Town Maine
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by document
proof, by traditionary evidence, by
evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary one living witness
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
George Taylor
Examining Clerk.
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled 
The petition of John Powell of Woolwich in the County of Lincoln and State of Maine aged seventy four years, respectfully showeth, that your petitioner enlisted in the war of the Revolution as a private in the year 1776
for one year on the continental establishment, in Captain Powells Company, Colonel Whitmore's Regiment Massachusetts line, as he supposes, and intending to go to
Ticonderoga, but was afterward, stationed in a Fort on Plum Island near Newbury Port, and served out said time. 
He then enlisted for ten months and served the time out and was discharged at Valley Forge- in this last enlistment he was in Captain Blasdells Company, Colonel Wigglesworths Regiment, in the Massachusetts line and
on the Continental establishment, and was at the capture of Burgoine and assisted in building the huts at Valley Forge.
Your Petitioner states that he was originally from Amesbury in the State of Massachusetts, and that he is the identical John Lowell mentioned in the deposition of Levi Leathers
hereto annexed, and that he knows of no other person excepting said Leathers who can remember any thing about his services, and that he is too infirm and poor to make
a journey to Amesbury to look up evidence.

Your Petitioner would now ask leave to state the reason why he did not apply for a pension at an earlier period He was a Light House keeper for twenty three years on a little Island called Franklin Island of about seven or
eight acres of rocks with a very little soil, about eight miles from the main land of Broad Cove, near the town of Bristol
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and Waldoborough in the State of Maine. I had a salary as keeper of this Light, called Franklin Light, of two hundred dollars a year, towards the last part of the time I received three hundred dollars a year, which with strict economy maintained my family. I desired to have my pension also but upon application was told by my agent that I had better not apply, as the Government would not probably give both. I did not apply.
In November 1830 I resigned the office of Light House Keeper on account of my old age and infirmities, and sickness of my wife, it not being considered safe for us any longer to stay on the Island, as there was no other family there.
I am now destitute of property, having none,
real or personal & am too old & infirm to labour, and no income. And as I have not been it but continued my business as long as my health & strength lasted, a request for assistance is respectfully made with much confidence.
Your Petitioner therefore humbly prays that he
May be placed on the pension list as a Pensioner
with such arrearages of pension as the justice of his claim renders proper, and as in duty bound will ever pray.
January 12. 1832
John Lowell
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State of Maine
Lincoln ss. January 14th 1832. Personally appeared
the aforenamed John Lowell and in my presence
subscribed the foregoing Petition, and made oath
that the statement of facts therein by him made
is true according to his best knowledge and
belief. "
Before me J Bailey Justice of the Peace
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Revolutionary and 1812 Wars Section
Miss Cora T. Featherstone
Shelbyville, Illinois
Dear Madam:
March 30, 1931.
Dear Madam:
You are advised that the Revolutionary War records do not
show a claim for pension or bounty land on file on account of the
services of a John Lowell who was born November 2, 1757 in Amesbury,
Massachusetts.
The record which follows is that of one John Lowell who
rendered service in Captain Blasdel's Company, Colonel Wigglesworth’s Regiment.
It appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension
claim, S. 18493, that John Lowell was born in 1758 in Seabrook, New Hampshire, exact date not given.
While a resident of Amesbury, Massachusetts, he enlisted in
April, 1776 at Plum Island near Newburyport, served as a private in Captains Basdel's and Nowell's Companies in Colonel Whittemore's
Massachusetts Regiment, length of service one year. He enlisted in
May, 1777, served ten months as private in Captain Nicholas Blasdel's
Company, Colonel Wigglesworth's Massachusetts Regiment, was at the
surrender of Burgoyne and was discharged at Valley Forge.
After the Revolution, soldier lived in Georgetown, Maine
District and in Phippsburg, Maine District, where he was married.
The name of his wife and date of marriage are not shown.
He was keeper of "Franklin Light" on Franklin Island, about
eight miles from the mainland of Bristol, Maine, for twenty-three
1.
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years, resigning said position in 1830. He referred to his wife
and family who lived there with him, but did not give their names.
John Lowell was allowed pension on his application executed
September 13, 1832, while a resident of Woolwich, Lincoln County,
Maine.
One Stephen Lowell, of Amesbury, Massachusetts, lived in
Phippsburg, Lincoln County, Maine after the Revolution and was
married there, also died there prior to 1831, no relationship to
soldier stated.
The Revolutionary War records of this bureau fail to show
a claim for pension on file on account of the services of Abner
Lowell and James Marlow.
Very truly yours,
E. W. MORGAN,
Acting Commissioner.
Date of death not on A. B.
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John Lowell January 23d 1832 
Referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions April 11th 1832 Bill Number 542 Kavanaugh
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he is 74 years old enlisted in 1776 for a year on con 
Continental establishment Captain Rowels company Colonel Whitworths Regiment afterwards enlisted for months in Colonel Wigglesworths regiment and was
discharged at Valley forge. was at the taking 
of Burgoine. He gives a sufficient reason for
not making an earlier application- keeper of light
house at $200 a year which he has resigned by
too old and infirm to attend to it has no property
His service under both inlistments [sic] is proven
by Levi Leathers known to be a respectable witness
Favorable
back to 1st January [18]30
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John Bryant's position in John Lowells case
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State of Maine. TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. LINCOLN, SS -- I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Jere Bailey Esquire whose name is affixed to the annexed paper, as a JUSTICE OF THE PEACE is legally commissioned and duely qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature, to me well known. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas this sixth day of October A. D. 1832. Nathaniel Coffin CLERK.
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I John Bryant of Thomaston in the County of Lincoln and State of Maine aged sixty two years, on oath testify and say, that I am well acquainted with John Lowell of Woolwich in said County, and believe him to be about seventy four years of age..
I long ago have heard him, & one Stephen Norton of Thomaston in said County, with whom I have long been acquainted, talk over their services in the revolutionary war,
I have heard them state their travels, & the men & officers with whom they served - said Lowell has always from my first acquaintance with him been respected and believed in his neighborhood to have been a revolutionary soldier, & this belief has been general, &
I never heard any doubts upon the subject
John Bryant


State of Maine
Lincoln Ss. 
September 13, 1832
Personally appeared the above named John,
you before me Jeremiah Bailey one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the county of Lincoln and due examination and caution to testify and declare the whole truth maketh oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him signed in my presence The aforesaid Deponent is a disinterested person and of good credit in whose testimony confidence may be placed-
J. Bailey Justice of the Peace
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I Levi Leathers of Phipsburg, in the State of
Maine, but formerly of the State of New Hampshire aged about Seventy Six years, testify and say, that I was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and was at West Point about the time General Burgoine was taken, and about two months before that event took place, 
I was acquainted with Stephen Lowell and John Lowell of Amesbury in the State of Massachusetts who were both at the capture of Burgoine after they left the service removed to Phipsburg in the State of Maine, where they were married and lived some time, & where the said Stephen Lowell died, but the said John is
now living and present at the taking this depostion-
I well remember that Stephen and John
Lowell aforesaid were in a company command
by Captain Nicholas Blasdel, in Colonel Wigglesworths Regiment and General Glovers Brigade of Massachusetts- 
This John Lowell was in the service about twelve months the first time and ten months on the second tour, to the best of my recollection, and is now within two or three years of my age. 
Levi Leathers

State of Maine
Lincoln Ss
Phipsburg May 7th AD 1831
Then the above named Levi Leathers, made
solemn
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Solemn oath, that the foregoing deposition him subscribed is the truth according to best knowledge and belief. Taken at the request of John Lowell the day and year aforesaid, before Mark Langdon Hill. Justice of the Peace and of the [Quora]
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Jeremiah Bailey Esquire
Wiscasset
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Augusta March 2nd 1832
I hereby certify that I have for many years
past been well acquainted with John Lowell
who for a long time kept the Franklin Light
House on the coast in Maine and who is said
to have been a soldier of the Revolutionary war-
that he is esteemed and respected by those
who know him, and that his character for
truth and veracity is good and unquestionable.
I further say I can have no doubt of his being a 
Revolutionary soldier having frequently
heard him relate many occurences during
his service as a soldier, etc.
-
Hezekiah Prince
House of Representatives
12th March 1832
I am well acquainted with Mr Prince who had
signed the foregoing certificate, he is a Gentleman of high character
and is now a member of the
Executive Council of Maine
Edward Kavanagh
Member of Congress
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Certificate respecting Levi Leathers
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Bath, Maine
February 27. 1832
This may certify that I have for many years 
been acquainted with Levi Leathers of
Phipsburgh (Maine)
a Revolutionary
pensioner, that his
general reputation
for truth, so far as I know is good
and
that in my opinion his testimony given
under oath, would be received in a Court
of Justice, and he entitled to credit.
Nathaniel Groters
Ammi R. Mitchell
Joseph Sewall
House of Representatives
12th March 1832
I am acquainted with the Gentlemen who have signed
the foregoing certificate: they are Gentlemen of high standing
and character
Edward Kavanagh
Member of Congress
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Honorable Edward Kavanaugh
In Congress
Washington
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Washington February 28th 1832
Honorable Edward Kavanagh
Dear Sir
I am informed by the Honorable Judge
Bailey of Maine, whose letter I have this day
received, that the papers of John Lowell of Woolwich, Maine, have been forwarded to your care
with a view to obtain a pension for him as a
revolutionary soldier, and further he wishes
me to State to you, if I know Levi Leathers
and what his character is for truth and
veracity.
In reply to which I can only say that I
have lived in the same town with him for
more than forty years and know him well,
he was living when I left Maine in January
last, I suppose him now to be considerably up
wards of Seventy years old, he is a professor
of religion, and is a member of the same church
to which I belong, and his character for truth
and veracity, I think is unquestionable where
he is known
Very respectfully
Mark L. Hill
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22d CONGRESS,
1st SESSION.
H. R. 542.
APRIL 11, 1832.
Read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.
Mr. KAVANAGH, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions,
reported the following bill:
A BILL
Granting pensions to John Lowell, Jacob Hiler, Ephraim Hunt,
Job Phillips, and Levi Tracy.
1-Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
2- of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That
3- the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, authorized and 
4-required to place the names of John Lowell Jacob Hiler,
5- Ephraim Hunt, Job Phillips, and Levi Tracy, on the list of
6 -revolutionary pensioners, and to pay to each of them, during
7-his natural life, at the rate of eight dollars per month; 
8-commencing
9-on the first day of January one thousand eight hundred
and thirty,
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
John Lowell which require further proof or explanation.
1. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes
V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he
served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension
he is entitled? Yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal? Yes
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2.
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service?
No clergyman. Yes as to others
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain
ing it? No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness
or witnesses as to his service? Yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct? Yes.
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered: Yes 1st and 2nd
14th
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection
he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For___year___months, and___ days, I served as
as a ___;and for such service I claim a pension.
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the
pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions
merely state they served two years in the militia, etc. without specifying the tours; the names of the
officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objection
able. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration
of each term of engagement; the particular place

Where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in a civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found in the records of the department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheer of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate  must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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18493
Invalid
File number 18, 493
John Lowell
Private revolutionary war
Act June 7th, [18]32
Index:-Volume 1, page 228
arrangement of 1870.
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Shelbyville Illinois
February 16. 1931
The Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Will you please give me the
following information: Did John Lowell
born 11-2-1781 in Amesbury Massachusetts to
Abner and Elizabeth Lowell receive a
pension after having served eight months or to 
January 10. 1778 in Captain Blasdels Company
Colonel Wigglesworths Regiment of Massachusetts in revolution?
Also did Abner Lowell, born 1731 to Stephen
and Miriam Lowell serve in the
Revolution and have the rank of
of
Captain and did he receive a
pension?
Thanking you for whatever information
you may be able to give me.
Page 32

I am Yours truly. (Miss) Cora J. Featherstone P.S. also did the widow of James Marlow who enlisted in 1778 in the 5th South Carolina regiment and whose wife was Ellen Evans and was married to James Marlow in 1762 in Virginia receive a pension?