Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20,749, Ralph H Bowles, Mass.
Page 1

(8-1776)

SERVICE                                         NUMBER
Mass.               Bowles, Ralph H.   W.20.749
                         Hannah
B.L.Wt 115_200 Lieut
Issued Jan.12,1799
no papers
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Hannah Bowles
widow of Ralph H Bowles
Mass.
who was a Lieut and Adjutant
in the Revolution
for 2 years.
Inscribed on the roll at the rate of 
477 dollars 00
cents per annum, to commence on
the 4thday of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the
11 day of July, 1844
and sent to Pensioner
at Brooklyn, New York
[Act of March 3, 1843]
Recorded i book A
Vol. 1 Page 271
Increased from $320 per annum. Deduct all former payments under this Act.
[illegible]
To Mass from 4 March 1844
2 July 1845.  Notification
to L. M. Stone, Boston, Mass.
Let to S C Bowles
Oct 19, 48
Page 3

State of Massachusetts Suffolk [illegible] On this twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, before the Hon Peter O. Thacher Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston personally appeared Hannah Bowles, aged seventy two years in October last now Resident in Boston, County of Suffolk & State of Massachusetts, being . duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath declare, as follows, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of an act of Congress entitled an act granting half pay & pensions to certain widows and for other purposes, passed the seventh day of July A.D. 1838. That she is the widow of Ralph H. Bowles, late of Machias in the County of Washington now State of Maine; but formerly part of Massachusetts That the said Bowles her said late husband was a Lieutenant, & adjutant also for several years in the first Massachusetts Regiment in the Continental army, in the war of Revolution,
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said Regiment being commanded by Col. Joseph Vose. That he was, as she fully believes, in the military service of the United States seven years & over, viz, from some time in the year 1775 to the end of the war, & was one of those few who were retained in Service till the spring of 1784 at West Point, or New York, as she has often heard him say, and during a great portion of the latter part of his service that he was Lieutenant adjutant with the pay of $11.18 per month. All which will appear from the army book or records of Massachusetts Line to which she begs to refer as well as to the annexed certificate of the Secy of Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereto annexed - but [illegible] to add that the said records here do not come down lower than the year 1780 and that the said army books at Washington for 1781, 1782 & 1783, may also be seen to confirm her statement, & to prove the rank and wages, as well as the
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service of her said late husband aforenamed for it is her belief that he served more than two full years as Lieutenant adjutant, with the pay of $11.18 a month. She further declares, that she was married to the said Ralph H. Bowles, by the Revd Mr Lyon, at Machias aforesaid, on the thirtieth day of April 1788 having been published as the law required on the thirteenth day of sd month - as will more fully appear by the annexed certificate & depositions- That said Bowles died in October 1813 and that she has never been since married to any other person, but is still his widow. That she was not married to said Bowles prior to the expiration of his said service in the army of United States but before the first day of January 1794 viz on 30th of April 1788. She further says that her said husband died at said Machias, where he had lived from A.D. 1784 - That she resided at Machias
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aforesaid till about three years ago and has since resided with friends and relations in Barton, aforesaid, and vicinity.   {The word "years" between lines 5th and 6th of page [illegible] before signature.  Witness:  Peter Thatcher}
Hannah Bowles

Subscribed and sworn to, on the day and year first aforesaid, viz. August 20th 1838 before me, And I certify that the said Hannah Bowles, by reason of bodily infirmity is unable personally to attend in court.
Peter O. Thacher, Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Barton

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk
I, Thomas A. Phillips, Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston, hereby certify that Peter O. Thacher, Esquire is Judge of said Municipal court and that the signature on this purporting to be his, are genuine.
Witness my hand and the seal of said Court hereto set this twentieth day of August AD eighteen hundred and thirty eight.
Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk
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I, Katharine Foster, wife of Simon Foster, Esq. of Cooper in the county of Washington and state of Maine, depose and say that in the spring of one thousand seven hundred and eight eight I was present at the marriage of Capt. Ralph H. Bowles to Miss Hannah Crocker by the Rev. James Lyon at the dwelling house of George Stillman Esq. at Mathias in the then county of Lincoln and District of Maine and that Stephen Jones Esq. and wife, and Doctor Parker Clark and wife, also of said Machias, since deceased, were also present.  I further say that I have been on terms of friendly intercourse with the said Capt. Ralph H Bowles and his wife until his death, and since then with the said Hannah now his widow, who resides with her children in Boston and New York, to the present time and this deposition is given at her request.
Katharine Foster

Washington ss; Cooper August 7th 1838  personally appeared the abovenamed Katharine Foster and made oath that the foregoing deposition by her subscribed is true, and I certify that she is a credible witness and her deposition is entitled to full belief.  Before,
John Cooper, Justice of the Peace. [illegible]
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I certify that the following is a true copy of the Town of [illegible] of the marriage of Ralph H Bowles and Hannah Crocker with the exception of the date of the publication which is [illegible] on the record in fair legible figures as 
follows:
Publishment Date:  Seventeen hundred eighty eight thirteenth April
Marriages: Names: Ralph H. Bowles and Miss Hannah Crocker
Place of Abode:  Machias
By Whom Married:  Rev. James Lyon
John S. Kelly, Town Clerk

I, John Kelly, abovenamed, depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk of the town of Machias in the county of Washington and state of Maine, and that the above is a true extract from the record of said town with the exception abovenamed, as certified by me.  I further testify and say that Ralph H. Bowles, Esquire named in said certificate was Town Clerk of Machias for the year 1788 and said record is the proper handwriting of said Bowles and that the records of marriages of said town at that early period do not give the date of any marriages, but only of the publishment of the intention of marriage, which usually preceded the marriage by two weeks.
John S. Kelly, Clerk of the town of Machina
Page 9

State of Maine
County of Washington

On this eighth day of August 1838, the within named John S. Kelly made oath to the truth of the aforegoing deposition by him subscribed, before me,
Rufus K. Porter, Justice of the Peace
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I, John Cooper formally of Mathias now of Cooper in the county of Wahington and state of Maine, depose and say that I was well acquainted and on terms of friendship with Capt. Ralph H. Bowles (mentioned in the deposition of Katharine Foster taken before me this day) from the year 1790 to his decease which took place according to a memorandum in my journal, Oct. 30, 1813.  That during that time, I have often conversed with him on subjects connected with the Revolutionary War and read the records he kept as Adjutant of the 1st Massachusetts Regiment, that I have frequently been with the said Capt. Bowles in company with the late General David Cobb, Col. John Crane and Major Lemual Trescott and have often heard these officers speak in high commendation of his services, that he entered the army soon after hostilities commenced and continued in it to the close of the war and for the last five years was Adjutant as before mentioned.  I further say that I was constantly acquainted with his wife and family as a friend and neighbor during the time above mentioned and since his decease with Mrs. Hannah Bowles who remains his widow to the present time.
John Cooper

State of Maine
Washington Co.
On this 7th day of August, 1838 the abovenamed John Cooper Esquire made oath to the truth of the aforegoing deposition by him reduced to writing and subscribed before the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace within aforesaid county.  And I certify that the said John Cooper is a credible person and that his deposition aforesaid is entitled to full credit and belief. 
Rufus K Porter, J P
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State of Maine
Washington County
I Aaron L Raymond Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within the county and state aforesaid do hereby certify that Rufus K Porter and John Cooper are severally Justices of the Peace in and for said county duly commissioned and qualified and that their signatures to the papers hereunto annexed are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the court of Common Pleas this fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.
A L Raymond, Clerk as aforesaid
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April 27. 1848
Lieutenant  Bowles
case of Hannah Bowles
Widow of Ralph
1422, N.Y. Mass
Page 13

Boston, April 24, [illegible]
J L Edwards Esq
Dear Sir,
At the time my mother, Hannah Bowles, widow of Ralph H Bowles, a Revolutioary Officer, applied for a pension under the Law of 1838 (I think it was) she sent to your office, my father's commission with other papers as vouchers which is now I presume in the Pension Office.  As my mother is deceased and those will probably be no further use for this commission, I should consider it a special favor if you would forward it to me, if this can be done consistently with your rules in such cases.  I merely with to preserve the commission in my family which of course is of more value to me than to any other person.  I did think of requesting the favor of [illegible] J G Palfrey, Member of Congress from our state to attend to the matter, as he knows me, but do not wish to trouble him until it should be necessary.  Please drop me a line by mail, whether my request can be complied with or not. & oblige
Yours very respectfully
L C Bowles
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March 5,1844
Date stamped: New York, Mar 1

B 
NY
Add form of Hannah Bowles

J L Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of  Pensions
Washington DC
Page 15

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Secretary's Office, Feb 26 1844

I hereby certify that from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this department, it appears that the name of Ralph H Bowles is borne upon the Continental army book, and the the 1st Regiment Col. Vole from Jan 1, 1777 to Dec 31, 1779 being 4 days as ensign @6L  and 2 p per month and 6 days at Lieut. @ 8L  per month from Jan 1, to Dec. 31 1780.  12 months as Lieutenant and Adjutant in the same regiment at [illegible] per month and upon a return of said regiment to March 2, 1782 as Lt. and Adjutant.
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And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the
search was made by myself and my clerks alone: and that said application and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts
and circumstances which tend to satisfy me of the identity of the party described in the application with the individual who rendered
the service.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written
John C Palfrey
Secretary of the Commonwealth
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New York, Feby 23 1844
John G. Palfrey Esq.
Dear Sir,
My mother in law Mrs. Hannah Bowles has made an application for an increase of her pension and has forwarded such evidence as she had in her possession of her husband Ralf H Bowles services as Lt. and Adjutant in Col. Vose regiment.  I send you herewith an answer to her application, with a request that you will send me a certificate of the amount which said Ralfe H Bowles recd for his services.  I enclose two dollars which if not enough to pay for your trouble, I will [illegible] send the balance on  rec't  of your answer to this letter which I hope will be as early as possible and not to send it on to Washington in order to receive the pension by the 4th of March.
Resp'y Yours
F A Bundle
Pension Office, Washington, July 20th 1844
Madame,
I have the honor to inform you that your application for an increase of allowance under the Acts of July 1838 and 3 March 1843 has been examined and as the rules require the best attainable evidence it will be necessary to show by the books in the secretary's office at Boston the amount of pay which your
over
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husband received as Lieutenant and Adjutant. The allowance to you must correspond in amount with actual monthly pay 
I am Very Respectfully 
Your obedient Servant
G W Camp 
Copy
Mrs. Hannah Bowley
Brooklyn New York
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Brooklyn Feby 29th 1844
J L Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir, 
I herewith send you Mr. Secretary Palfrey's certificate in relation to my husband's service in the Revolutionary War by which I observe he acted as Lieut. and Adjutant from Jany 1t 1780 to March 2 1782. I have in my possession an orderly book left by my husband showing that he acted as Adjutant as late as June 1783 and by reference to a list of officers belonging to the Society of the Cincinatas form May 10th 1783.  Ralf H Bowles name there appears as Lieut. Adjutant.  Hoping that these [illegible] will be evidence sufficient to enable me to the to the allowance claimed.  I subscribe myself,  
Yours Respy,
Hannah Bowles
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Revy
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 20749
Hannah Bowles
Widow of
Ralph Bowles
Lieut Rev War
Act: March 3d 43
Index: Vol A, Page 75
Page 21

Bowles, Ralph H.
Mass. W.20749

A list of the officers of the 1st Mass regt. with the dates of their commissions signed Joseph Vose, Col. dated Y. Hutts, May 10 '82 has been removed from this case to be sent to the War Dept.

Sent to War Dept. Jan. 16, 1913

L. H. April 15, 1911
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459
New York City
=====
Hannah Bowles
widow of Ralph H. Bowles
who was a pensioner under the Act of --
and who died in October, 1873
of Brooklyn in the State of New York
who was a Lh & Ajh in the company
commanded by Captain ----- of t he
Regt. commanded by Col. Cose in
the Mass. line for 2 years
=====
Inscribed on the Roll of New York City
at the rate of 47 Dollars --
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day
of March, 1836.
=====
Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of
July, 1844 and sent to
Pensioner, at Brooklyn M.V.
====
Total amount, $
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by Thos. Lumpkin Clerk,
Book D Vol. 1 Page 149
Increased from $32.01 per
annum. Deduct final payment
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left column
Let to Thos. Bulfinch Sept. 5 '43
" " F. A. Burrall Sept 21 '43
" " Mr. H. Bowles July 20 1844
per [illegible] to same Apl. 3, 1849
Rev Angl 10

right column
7422
New York City
=====
Hannah Bowles
widow of Ralph H. Bowles
who was a Lieutenant
in the Mass. line
for 2 years
=====
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
320 Dollars ---
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
=====
Certificate of Pension issued the
10th day of August, 1843
and sent to Pensioner
Brooklyn
N.Y.
=====
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1 Page 101.
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459
Massachusetts
=====
Hannah Bowles
widow of Ralph H. Bowles Decd.
and who died in the month of October 1813
of Boston in the State of Mass.
who was a Lieutenant in the company commanded
by Captain ---- of the Regt commanded
by Col. Vose in the Mass.
line for 2 years
=====
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass.
at the rate of 32o0 Dollars -- Cents, per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
=====
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Sept
1838 and sent to L. C. Q.
Bowles Boston Mass
=====
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1838 $800.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Marc '39 160..00
$960.00
{Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk,
Book A. Vol. 1st Page 70
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
=====
Secretary's Office, August 14th 1838.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that Ralph Bowles served as Ensign and Lieutenant in Colonel Vose's Regiment from January 1 1777 to December 31 1779. Thirty six month - viz. 6 mo. 4 days as Ensign at £6 per mo. and 29 mo: 26 days as Lieutenant at £8 per month and it also appears in the account of Ralph H. Bowles, that he was allowed "Depreciation on additional pay as Staff Officer from February 1779 to December 31 1779 is 10 months 10 days at £3.18" and Ralph H. Bowles served also as Lieutenant and Adjutant in said Colonel Vose's Regiment from January 1st to December 31 1779. Twelve  months at £11.18/per month.
In testimony whereof I have
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have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth the date above written.

John P. Bigelow
Sec'y of the Commonwealth
Page 27

I, James Savage of Boston in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged fifty four years, testify and say, that I am well acquainted with Mrs. Hannah Bowles, widow of the late Ralph H. Bowles, deceased, formerly of Machias in the State of Maine, where he was postmaster, when I resided there over forty years since; that said Bowles was an officer in the revolutionary war, as I often heard, and has been dead more than twenty years, and that said Hannah has never been married since the decease of said Ralph, that my acquaintance was sufficient in said Bowles's family, when I was young, being often in the house, and accompanying two or three of their children to school in a compact village, and for many late years t hat said Hannah has visited at my house in this city, and several times passed some days or weeks there, being aunt of my wife.
Boston 21 August 1838 Jas. Savage

State of Massachusetts
Suffolk SS Boston, Augt. 21, 1838
Then personally appeared the above  names Jas. Savage, well long known to me as a highly credible citizen, a worth & able magistrate & many years of the Senate & Executive Commit of P. Mass & made oath
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that the foregoing statement by him subscribed is true.
Before me Alden Bradford
Just. of Peace [illegible]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office, Aug. 21, 1838
I hereby certify that the above Alden Bradford is a Justice of the Peace for the county of Suffolk. [illegible] hand & the Seal of the State.
John P. Bigelow
Secrey' of the Commonwealth
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
=====
Secretary's Office, Boston May 25 1843
I hereby Certify, That at the dates of the annexed attestations Theodore Earnes was a Commissioner to take Depositions &c. in the State of New-York to be used in this Commonwealth and Lowell M. Stone was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Jno. A. Bolles
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Page 30

State of New York }
Kings County } SS.
Be it known that on t he thirteenth day of May, 1843, personally appeared before me, the subscriber, a Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts within the State of New York, Hannah Bowles now residing in the City of Brooklyn in the State aforesaid formerly a resident of Boston County of Suffolk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy seven years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed on the 3d day of March, 1843, granting pensions to widows of person who served during the Revolutionary War.
That she is the widow of Ralph H. Bowles who was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War, and served as she verily believed as stated by  her in her original declaration for a pension under the law of the 7th of July 1838 to which declaration and the papers accompanying the same now on file in the War Department she would refer for a more particular statement of his services & for the proof of her marriage, identity, & the time of her husband's death.
She further declares that she was pensioned under said act at the rate of Three Hundred & Twenty Dollars per annum, which amount she received from the 4th of March 1836 to the 4th of March 1841 at the agency in Boston, Massachusetts, and at the time of receiving her last payment surrendered the Pension Certificate granted to her under said act to the Pension Agent at the said city of Boston, agreeably to
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the rules of the Department.
And said declarant further alleges that she has not intermarried since the decease of her said husband, but is now and ever since has been the widow of said Ralph H. Bowles deceased, as will more fully appear by the proof hereto annexed.
And further she saith not.
Hannah Bowles
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first within written.
Before me Theodore Earnes, Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts within the State of New York.

I, Leonard C. Bowles of Boston in the County of Suffolk of lawful age on oath testify and say that Hannah Bowles the applicant named in the foregoing affidavit is my mother. She was the wife of Ralph H. Bowles now decd. and was a pensioner under the law of 7th July 1838 as within stated. Since the decease of the said Ralph H., she has not intermarried but is still a widow.
Leonard C. Bowles

Commonwealth of Massachusetts }
Suffolk County } SS. City of Boston, 22d May 1843,
Personally came Leonard C. Bowles & made oath that the above affidavit by  him subscribed is true. before me
Lowell M. Stone
Just. Peace
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Brooklyn March 29 1844

J L Edward Esq
Comr. of Pensions
Washington
DC
Sir
You will recollect that on my application for an increase of my Pension, among other papers forwarded to your office was my certificate for pension for my husband's serving a Lieut. I am therefore without the means of collecting any thing from the office here, and as my circumstances are such, you will excuse me for again calling your attention to my application, and requesting you to form and me a certificate as soon as possible.
I am Respy. Your Obst.
Hannah Bowles
Page 33

Hannah Bowles
N.Y.
Acts 7 July 38
&
2 March 43
Increase
2yrs. Lt & Adjt
$476.00
Deduct what has
been paid under
each acat
Mrs. Hannah Bowles
Brooklyn
N.Y.
Page 34

Brooklyn July 5th 1844
Dear Sir,
I recd. your J. W. Crumps letter of 20th Feby last saying that the best attainable evidence was required at the Pension office, and that it would be necessary to show by the Secretary's books at the office in Boston the amt. of pay which my husband recd. as Lieut & Adjutant. I immediately sent to the Secretary [illegible] recd. from him his certificate, which was at once forwarded to your office. This letter I think missignd. by me if not it was by my son in  law Mr. F. A Burrall who has assisted me in furnishing the evidence in my case. This was about the first of March last. If necessary I can send on to Boston & get another certificate from the pay office. I am Respy. [illegible]
Hannah Bowles
Page 35

Jas. L. Edwards Esq.
Commsr. of Pensions
Washington
Bowles
Page 36

Boston, Augt. 20, '38
Dr. Sir,
[illegible[ hardly necessary [illegible] anything by way of explanation in the case of Mrs. Hannah Bowles whose papers are ["now" inserted] forwarded.
You are [illegible] our records a book of Revolut. army [illegible] are not after 1780.  But Mr. Bowles remained in the military service of U. States till 1784 & you know perhaps that a few troops were retained several months after the discharge of the army in Octor. 1783.  but this is not very important.  But it is important to see what is the record as to his rank & pay in 1781, 1782, & 1783 - which the [illegible] & heard him after say was Lieut. & adjutant with [crossed out word] a captain's pay - as was the case for some time in 1780 - you will perceive also that
Page 37

he r'ced a B as captain, octor 1783. His pay for over this year, I suppose, was 211. [illegible] as stated in certificate of Secy of the State of Mass. And his widow is entitled to such amount, as pension, as he rec? while in [illegible] in his highest grade. But what is legal + right you you will have done, I presume.

I would also state, that John Cooper, Esq. or Genl. John Cooper of Machias in the state of Maine has been well known to me 45 years. He is above 70 years old - has been sheriff of County, or a Justice of Peace, most of that time, + is now a highly respectable character - now lives in Cooper some miles from Machias but same county. Machias was a new place + with few people in 1784 + 88 + their records loose + imperfect.

The certificate may be sent
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her son L. C.  Bowles of this city, where she at present resides with her relations.
With respect, Alden Bradford
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Boston, 26th Dec. 1844

Sir,

I herewith enclose the applications of Hannah Bowles & Daniel Shed to be transferred to the Massachusetts agency.
I am very respectfully,
Your obt. svt.
L. M. Stone

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Comr. of Pensions
Washington 
D.C.
Page 40

Brooklyn 14th Feby. 1844
J. L. Edwards Esq.,
Sir
About the first of Nov. last I wrote you on the subject of an increase of my pension and claiming arrears due me for extra services performed by my husband Ralf. H. Bowles as Adjutant.  In my letter I enclosed such proof of those services as I thought would be satisfactory and also my pension certificate for his services as Lieutenant.  It is now more than three months since I wrote you on this subject and as I have not heard from you in reply and as the 4th of March is drawing near when I shall be entitled to another payment which I shall [illegible] stand in need of, I [illegible] respectfully call your attention to the subject and request that you would send me a certificate that I may be able to draw from the Pension Office in New York the amount that [word crossed out] that may be partly due me.
I am very respectfully 
Hannah Bowles
Page 41

IN PURSUANCE
Of an ACT of 
CONGRESS
Of the Thirtieth Day of SEPTEMBER
A. D. 1783,
Ralph Bowles Esquire is to Rank as Captain -- by Brevet, in the ARMY of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA.

GIVEN under my Hand, at Princeton the Tenth Day of October 1783
T. Lincoln
Elizas Bondinot Esq.
Page 42

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED

To Ralph H. Bowles Gent. Greeting. We, Reposing especial trust
and confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct, and Fidelity. DO by these presents constitute and [illegible] you, to
a Lieutenant in the first Massachusetts Regiment
in the Army of the United States, to take rank as Lieut from the 4th day
July 1777; You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a
Lieutenant by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And
we do Strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers, under your command, to be obedient to your orders, as
Lieutenant And you are to observe, and follow such orders and directions
from time to time, as you shall receive from this, or a future Congress of the United States, or Commander in chief for the time being of the Army of
the United States, or any other your Superior Officer; according to the rules and discipline of War, in pursuance
of the trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue inforce until revoked by this, or a future Congress, the Committee
of Congress beforementioned or a Committee of the States.

Witness his Excellency Saml Huntington Esq President of
the Congress of the United States of America, at Philadelphia the 29th
day of September 1779 and in the fourth year of our
Independence.
Sam. W Huntington, President

[bottom left]
Entered in the War Office 
and examined by the Board
I Attest
Ben Stoodert. Secretary of the Board of War
Page 43

Mrs. Hannah Bowles. Augusta, Me. Oct. 28, 1843
Madam,
I have received your letter of the 26, instant, in relation to your deceased
husband's service in the revolutionary army as Lieutenant & Adjutant, requesting
my affidavit of that fact, & of the number of years he was Adjutant; & I am happy 
to have it in my power to transmit you the inclosed document. The period of
service as Adjutant, in order to sustain your claim to an increase of his pension, must
be two years. And I am confident it was more than that space. That my effort
to aid you in the premises, may answer your expectations, & thus serve to render the
decline of your valuable life more comfortable & happy, is the desire of your affectionate
friend & humble servant H Sewall

I Henry Sewall of Augusta in the State of Maine, aged ninety one
years, do hereby certify & declare, that I was personally acquainted with Ralph H 
Bowles in the Revolutionary War, & knew him to be a Lieutenant & an Adjutant in
Col. Joseph Noses Regiment of the Massachusetts line, at the close of the war; & that
he held the office of Adjutant from an early stage of the war, certainly more than
the space of two years previous to the declaration of peace.
H Sewall

Kennebec ss. Augusta October 28th 1843, Personally appeared 
Henry Sewall and made solemnly oath that the
facts stated in the above certificate by him subscribed
are true. Before me
Wm. M. Stratton, Justice of the Peace.

State of Maine
County of Kennebec ss
I the undersigned Clerk of the Jud. Courts
for said County of Kennebec do certify that
William M. Stratton is a Magistrate as above
said and that the foregoing signature purporting
to be his is genuine.
Witness my hand & the seal of the Supreme Jud.
Court this 28th day of October A.D> 1843.
A. R. Nichols
Page 44

Brooklyn Nov 1st 1843
J L Edwards Esq
Dr Sir,
As my husband Ralph H Bowles
served as Lieutenant & Adjutant in Col. Joseph Vose Regiment
of the Massachusetts line in the Revolutionary War nearly
five years. I am inform[e]d that I am entitled to an increased
pension and arrear on a[c]count of such service
as Adjutant. I therefore enclose my present certificate
and do hereby apply and make ap[p]lication to him on
here on the pension list at the rate to which I am
entitled on account of my husbands services in the
Revolutionary War as Lieutenant & Adjutant, and to be from
which with another certificate. I also hereby make my
application for the sum that is now due me for said 
extra service of my husband Ralf H Bowles as Adjutant,
having thus far received a pension for his services as
Lieutenant only. I offer the enclosed affadavit of Mr
Henry Sewall who was an officer of the Revolution & who 
is now a pensioner, and also the enclosed list of officers
of the 1st Massachusetts Regiment will be satisfactory
evidence that my husband services as Adjutant will
entitle me the increase pension, and to the amount
of arrears applied for above. I have made this application
in accordance with suggestions in Mr Nathan Burs
letter which I also enclose presuming a more formal
application will not be necessary. I subscribe my self
Respectfully Yours
Hannah Bowles
Page 45

New York City Pension Agency
December 30th 1844

Sir
In reply to your letter of the 28th instant, al =
hiring to be informed to what time Hannah Bowles
was last paid, who is a pensioner on the Roll
of this Agency under Act 3 March, 1843 at 476
Dollars per annum, I have to state that she
has been paid to 4th March, 1844.

I am, very respectfully
your obedient Servant
[illegible signature]
[illegible]

J L Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington City
Page 46

Sept 20 43
Ny
[post marked 
NEW YORK
SEP 
18]

Han Bowles
NY wi act
20 
1422
act 43

James L Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Washington
City
Page 47

Brooklyn Sept 18.1842
J L Edwards Esqr
Sir 
Widow Hannah Bowles my mother in law who is entitled to a pension and whose name was placed on the Roll at the Pension office in New York about the 12 of Augt has not yet recd her certificate I have calld at the offices in Brooklyn & in New York expecting to find a letter for her enclosing the certificate The object in writing at this time is to ascertain if the certificate has been sent & if not that she may have one in order that she may get her pension
Resfy Yours
FA Bunale
Page 48

Boston Sep 1 1843
Dr Sir
On the 30th May last I enclosed Tendey affidavits for a renewal of pensions to widows and the law of 3d March last I received about two weeks ago certificates for all except Mrs Hannah Bowles, widow of Ralph H Bowles, which I would thank you to transmit & oblige
Yr obedt sert
Thos Bulfinch

James L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions &c
Page 49

617
Hannah Bowles
wid of Ralph H
Mass
Act 7 July 1838
married 1781
died 1813
Allow 2d Lieut $320
per ann
Noses Mass Regt
Ensign 1 Jany 17 Lieut mr
4 1777 adt May 1 79
Bret Capt 1783
Ser Rolls
L C Q Bowles Esq
Boston
Page 50

State of Massachusetts
Suffolk County } ss
On this twentieth day of December 1844 before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Suffolk personally appeared Hannah Bowles who on her oath swears that she is the widow of Ralph H Bowles who was formerly an adjutant & Lieutenant in the War of the Revolution; that for his services as aforesaid her name was placed upon the pension roll of the Massachusetts agency under the law of 1838 and subsequently upon the roll of New York City agency under the law of 1843 from which state she has lately removed to the state of Massachusetts county of Norfolk and town of Roxbury where she intends to remain & wishes her pension to be payable at the Boston agency in future
Hannah Bowles
Sworn & subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid Lowell M Stone
Just Peace
Page 51

I Leonard C Bowles of Roxbury in the county of Norfolk of lawful age on oath testify and say that Hannah Bowles within names is my mother and I know from personal knowledge that she is the identical person written described & that all the facts set forth in the written application are true and further say not
Leonard C Bowles
Suffolk County, SS December 20 1844 Then came Leonard C Bowles personally known to me to be a credible witness & make oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before Me
 L M Stone
J Peace
Page 52

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Secretary's Office Boston December 25 1844
I hereby certify that at the date of the annexed attestations Lowell M Stone was a justice of the Peace for the county of Suffolk
JP
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned and that to his acts and attestations as such full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth the date above written
John G Palfrey
Secretary of the Commonwealth