Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30996, James Dowden, Md.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE | | NUMBER
Md | Dowden, James | S.30996
Born Pa. or Va.
CONTENTS
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13726 
Kentucky
James Dowden
of Madison Co in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Tewneyhill of the regiment commanded by Maj Bell in the Virginia line for

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky 
at the rate of 80 Dollars~Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1841.

Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of June 1833 and sent to Joseph Turner Richmond

Arrears to the 4th of March            160.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4Sept    40.00
                                                          --------
                                                         $200.00
                                          {Revolutionary Claim, 
                                             Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk
Book 6    Vol 7    Page 7

Dcad. /(illegible)/ Dec. 1835 to P.CYo.
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12.737 
James Fowler 
Declaration 
For a pension
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declaration of James Dowden, in order to obtain the 
benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th June, 1832 
State of Kentucky 
Madison County } Sct
On this 13th day of Aug., personally appeared 
before the Worshipful, the County Court of Madison, 
James Dowden, a resident of Madison County 
and State of Kentucky, aged 75 years on the
14th day of Oct next, who being first duly 
Sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain 
the benefit of the provision made by the act of 
Congress, passed June 7 1832. That he enlisted 
in the army of the United States in the year 
1779, with Maj Thomas Bell, and served 
in the 1st Maryland Regiment of the Maryland 
line under the following officers
Maj Thomas Bell, Capt. Admerson [?]Tawneyhill;
[?] (or Josiah)Tawneyhill. He enlisted on 
his return from serving a volunteer tour on the St 
Lawrence on the Muskingham[?] river, just above 
Fort Frederick, and Marched Braddock’s road 
to Pittsburgh, and from thence to fort St. Lawrence, 
from thence back to Pittsburgh, from 
thence to the [?] and Mingo Towns, destroyed 
them and killed near 30 Indians, from thence 
to winter quarters at Pittsburgh, from thence
to fort [?], from thence to winter quarters 
at McIntush[?] on the Ohio river, from thence 
to the Delaware Towns and destroyed them and killed 
about 21 Indions, from thence to Anapolis 
to Gen. Smallwood. The next spring, (1782) 
reenlisted under Gen. Smallwood at Anapolis 
and marched under Capt Meese. the 
balance of his officers he cannot recollect.
From Anapolis we marched [?] on 
North river to Gen Washington, and wintered
at Smoke hill, from thence to Stony Point
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from thence to Smoke hill where we [?]
for the declaration of peace, from thence to Fredericktown Maryland and there wintered, from thence to Pittsburgh under Maj Marberry and wintered; and in the spring 1785 received 
a discharge for six years, signed by Capt.
David Luckett, and left it in the war office 
at Anapolis in the State of Maryland. Col. Richard
Campbell commanded when I was at fort 
St. Lawrence. The deponent was born the 14th of Oct 
1757. He has a record of his age in his father’s 
Bible, but he does not know where it is 
at present. I believe it was 
in Pennsylvania that my father 
resided. It seemed to be a matter of some 
doubt. I enlisted as above stated, and lived in 
Montgomery County [?] about five
years after my discharge, when I moved to Bourbon County in Kentucky, lived there 
one year and moved to Madison County, Kentucky where I now live. 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever 
to a pension or an annuity except the present,
and he declares that his name is not on the 
pension roll of any agency in any state. 
Sworn to and subscribed 
the day and year aforesaid 
James Dowden his [handwritten] mark 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant 
was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he 
States: 
[???]
I David Irvine Clerk of the County Court of Madison 
in the State of Kentucky, do hereby certify that 
the foregoing contains the original proceedings 
of the said court in the matter of the application 
of James Dowden for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand 
and seal of office, this 13th day of Aug. 1832
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12.737 
James Dowden 
Madison Co Kenty 

G. G Brewer
from 1779 private
2 years 
$80 



Joseph Turner
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BRIEF in the case of James Dowden
County of Madison in the State of Kentucky
(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? 75 years 
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period
In 1779 no time (illegible) in 1782 & in the spring of 1785 he served a (illegible) for the years signed by 6 (illegible) La (illegible)

Years 6
Months-
Days-
As a (Illegible) Privat to Cpl Tewneyhill Cpl M/Bell (illegible) allowed
" Capt Merse (illegible) allowed
Col. Campbell who at Fort St. Lawrence-
5. In what battles was he engaged? None
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Montgomery Co Virginia ?
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence , or by the rolls? His own allegation
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Current
XCertify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
Richard Cutts
Examining Clerk
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LAND OFFICE,
Annapolis, May 7th 1883

I Certify, that it appears by a Pay Roll in the Office, that James Dowden a 
private received of John Hamilton,
Agent of the Maryland Line, $80.00cts. arrears of pay from the 1st August, 1780,
to the 1st of January, 1782- also $80.00cts. pay from the 1st January, 1782, to the
1st January, 1783- also $43..30cts. from the 1st January, 1783, to the 15th of November
1783, also $18..80cts pay from the 15th of November, 1783 to 10th July 1784,
Gratuity,
Total received, $222.20 cts.
George G. Brewer
Register and Office W. S. Md.
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LAND OFFICE
May 1883
I certify that it appears by a Depreciation Pay Roll, remaining in my office, that James Dowden, a private of the Rawlings Regt. of the Maryland Line, received 34" 12" 3 Depreciation Money, issued to the Maryland quota of troops on Continental Establishment, on the 6th day of December 1781.
George G. Brown
Register Lane Office, W. S. Md.
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Northern Bank of Kentucky 
Lexington Nov 23d 1835

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Comrof Pensions 
Sir 
Doubts are entertained by 
the Pension Agent as to the propriety of paying 
the Pension claimed by a portion of the Children of James Dowden decd & therefore the papers are 
now enclosed for the opinion & instructions of 
the proper offices as to their sufficiency and the 
propriety of paying to the persons demanding payment.
Your letter of the 14th Inst is recd.
It appears from the Books of this Agency, that 
Isaiah Alley a pensioner under the act of June 7th 
1832 at $40 per year was paid on the 10th Apr 1835, to the 4th 
March 1835. The voucher’s were returned with 
the account for the 2d Quarter 1835.
Very respectfully
Yr Ob st
M. S Scott [?]
for Jn Telford Prest & Agt
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James Dowden
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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 James Dowden Madison Co. Kentucky which require further proof or explanation.

I. 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? BLANK
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 - NO
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension that the one under the act of June 8m 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? Ad if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? YES
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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
XII. If the Clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining 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? NO
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? NO
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? NO
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? BLANK
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? YES
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered Satisfactorily? And if not, which of them is not so answered? 5  7

Explanatory Notes
Quere V. In a case where the applicant cannot by reason of the loss of memory stated precisely how long he served, he should amend this declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, etc. 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 that the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For blank year blank months and blank days I served as a blank. For blank months and blank days, I served as a blank; and for such service I claim a pension.
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the periods 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 services. 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 objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicants served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places 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 any civil pursuit.

Quere XIV. Proof of Service
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on 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 certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet 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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30996
Revy
INVALID

File No. 30,996
James Dowden
Priv Rev War

Act: June 7, '32

Index Vol D Page 112
[Arrangement of 1870]