Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,388, William Bowden, N. C.
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Service: N.C.
Name: Bowden, William
Number: S.2388

Contents: carded
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West Tennessee

William L. Bowden
of Maury, in the State of Tennessee
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Nelson of the ___ commanded
by Col. Martin in the Virginia
line for 6 months and 11 days.

Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee
at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of July,
1833 and sent to W.E. Gillespie,
Columbia.

Arrears to the 4th of March, 1833 … $52.12
Semi-an. allowance ending Sept. 4 … $13.20
$65.32

Recorded by Danl. Boyd, Clerk
Book E, Vol. 7, Page 13

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832
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2388
INVALID.

File No. 2388
William Bowden
Privt. Rev. War

Act: June 7, 1832

Index — Vol. 27, Page 37

(Arrangement of 1870.)
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State of Tennessee } Court of pleas and quarter Sessions
Marion County } June Term A.D. 1839

Be it remembered that on this 11th day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty nine, William Borden a citizen of the county and state aforesaid, aged ninety one years, personally appeared in said court (which is now in session) who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following statement or declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed the 7th day of June 1832 – That he entered as a soldier in the army of the United States in the year 1776, and went into the service under the following named officers (viz) Capt. John Nelson, Lieutenant Robert Martin, Col. James Martin & General Rutherford, whom he served under during this term of enlistment in Guilford County, North Carolina in the company rendezvoused within one mile of Guilford courthouse – and from thence marched to Pleasant Garden, where they united with or joined the soldiers of Sergeant and Adair’s company, and were all placed under the command of General Rutherford – from thence they marched on the 3rd day of Sept. 1776 through the mountains crossing Little & Big Swannanoa rivers, also French Broad river & Pigeon river into the Indian Nation – passing through the same they destroyed the following named towns (to wit) Seneca, Tugaloo & Ellijay, all of which were situated on the Tennessee river – they also destroyed many other inferior towns during this march the names of which is not recollected – they also destroyed a great deal of corn & confiscated almost everything they met with belonging to the Indians – during this march through the Nation they fought no battle, but after several skirmishes they would have a run with the engagement not lasting long. William Moore who commanded the Indians was frequently at the head of them and with the Indians who were lying in wait for them – after doing all the damage they could do to the Indian Nation, they set out for home, and marched on immediately to…
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Catawba

Volunteer forth in the ___ river in North Carolina, where they were dismissed from service — this tour lasted for thirteen weeks, and he got no regular discharge from service.

Applicant further states that he again entered the service of the United States army as a soldier in the year 1781, but he can not recollect whether he was drafted or not, though he distinctly recollects that the company were all classed & the company he was attached to, was called into service. Applicant went & served this tour under the following named officers (towit) Capt. John Bethel, Maj. Joseph Vincent, adjutant James Armstrong & General Pickins. Applicant lived at this time being in Surry County North Carolina — they commenced the march about the last of January down to Haw river, where the principal American army stationed, commanded by General Pickins — they kept ranging about through the country with a view of ___ the British from furnishing their regular army with provisions (which were then stationed in Hillsborough). They acted during this tour as militia horsemen, and had a very warm engagement with the British at Whitsell mills on Haw river, at which battle Maj. Lewis was killed, together with several other men whose names are not recollected. The army kept ranging about for some short time after this battle, and then marched on to Gilford court house, where they arrived about the time that General Green retreated from the enemy where they kept ranging from place to place until dismissed (Applicant procured no discharge). This tour lasted eight weeks or two months. — Applicant further states that he again entered the service of the United States army, as a soldier, in the fall of the year 1781, but is not recollected whether he was drafted or when called into service he went under the following named officers (towit) Capt. Edward Lovell, adjutant Patrick Maginnis and Col. Isaacks, they ___ in Rowan County North Carolina where he was living, on to the Moravian town, which is now called Salem, where the General Assembly…
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…in defense, and Governor Martin retained their company to guard and protect the General Assembly from the enemy for some three or four weeks, and after the adjournment of the Legislature they marched on to Deep River, where they joined the army that was commanded by Col. Seawell, & there ranged about the country for a short time and was dismis’d without being engaged in any battle. This time lasted for ten weeks — Applicant got a discharge from Col. Seawell which he soon gave after the war was over, and after he left Carolina, lent it back to [illegible] and John Morgan to draw his pay, was afterwards informed by said Morgan that he had lost or misplac’d the same. Applicant has neither seen nor heard of it since. Applicant left the state of North Carolina in the year of ’84, and removed to the state of Georgia where he lived until the year 1815 when he removed to the state of Tennessee, where he has lived ever since —
Applicant has no documentary evidence of discharging that he has discharged the duty of a soldier as aforesaid but believes it of no man living by whom he can prove his actual
service. Applicant further states that there is no clergyman living in his neighborhood and by reason of his age & infirmity is unable to procure one to certify to his services — but Samuel Cunningham & James Holland living in his new neighborhood, men of respectability and entitled to credit, do testify to their acquaintance with the applicant,
and their belief of his having served as stated. Applicant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity
except the present, & he declares that his name is not on a pension roll of the agency of any state.

William Bowden
Sworn to and subscribed before me in open court this 17th day of June 1833
Thos. F. Booth, Clk

⸻

We Samuel Cunningham & Jas. Holland, citizens of the County of Maury and State of Tennessee, and residents in the same
neighborhood with the said William Bowden who signed the above declaration, do certify that there is no clergyman living in said neighborhood, that we are both intimately…
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acquainted with the said William Bowden who subscribes to and swore to the above declaration as aforesaid—that we believe him to be ninety one years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion, and have no doubt of the fact—

Sworn & subscribed before me in open court this 1st day of June A.D. 1833.

Thos. J. Porter Clk

Jas. Holland
Sam. Cunningham

⸻

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 this court further certifies that it appears to them that the said witnesses if have and J. Holland who has signed the foregoing certificate, are both citizens, residing in the same neighborhood with the applicant William Bowden, and are both credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to full credit.

In Mark J.P.  $1.00
James Webster  $0.50
Jacob Reese J.P.  $1.00

⸻

I Thomas J. Porter clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions holden at Columbia for the county of Maury and state of Tennessee do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Bowden for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office, at office in Columbia this 1st day of June A.D. 1833.

Tho J. Porter Clk
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Mr. Bowden  
Jan  

Fine – 1776 planted to be  
Carried … for 11 days  
5 on 1 day … 1.88  
2 on 1 day … 8.38  

… for business …  

J.C. Bowser, Jr.  

Nelson  
Clarke  

W.E. Gillespie  
Columbia  
Te.
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Columbia 18th June A.D. 1839

Dear Sir – I avail myself of an opportunity through the medium of this letter to return the declaration of William Bowden after making the necessary amendment to the same. I have no doubt but what you will consider it amply sufficient to justify the department in granting him a pension. But if there should be anything proposed in the same I wish you would return it to me for amendment again as I have no doubt but what Bowden is much entitled to a pension as any man who has made application. You will please forward his certificate to me, and oblige your humble servant.

Respectfully,
W.C. Gillespie