Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,124, John Bowen, Va.
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(3—1776)
SERVICE  Va. 
Bowen, John 
NUMBER  S. 32,124
CONTENTS
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Georgia 23,H.3
Ctf 23463
John Bowen
of Gwinnett in the State of Geo.
who was a P in the Company commanded by Captain Jones of _____ commanded by ____ in the [crossed out: N. Car:] Va.
line for 8 mo: 5 days—Va

Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia
at the rate of 27 Dollars 22 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 28th day of Jan:34
and Sent Wm Maltbie
Lawrenceville_Ga:

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 [$]6805
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar: 3rd.  [$]13.61
[=] $81.66
"Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Nath: Rice. Clerk
Book E  Vol. 6  Page 86

Paid at the Treasury under
the Acts of the 6th April
1838 from 4th Sept 1838 to
4 Sept 1839. Agt notified
3d June 1840

Paid as above from 4 March
to 4 Sept 1840. Agt notified
11. Nov. 1841

letter to W Morel Dec 18. 1849
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State of Georgia  Gwinnette County
Interior Court  Sitting for ordinary
purposes. July Term 1833.  Came in person before said Court (the same being a Court of record) John Bowen who doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to avail himself of the benefits of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832.
That he entered the service as a drafted Militiaman under Captain Birnis Jones.  that his Lieutenant's name was Robinson.  that he entered this service about the first day of June 1780, in Macklenburgh [Mecklenburg] County in the State of Virginia.  that he was marched from thence by the above named officers to Hillsborough in the State of North Carolina - a place of Rendezvous - at Hillsborough joined General Stephens and under his command marched into South Carolina to near Rugely's militia then joined General Gates on the 15th day of August and was with him on the 16th in the defeat at Camden.  That the Militia was scattered on that occasion and that he fell in with one Major Morrison or Morris under whose command he served until his term of service expired which was on the first day of November 1780.  having served in this tour five months.  He received of Major Morris (or Morrison) a written discharge—which he has since lost—that he knows of no person living
by whom he can establish the facts connected with the above stated service.
That he returned home to Mecklenburgh Co. in Virginia after the expiration of the above stated term of service— and remained there until about the 15th of February 1781—when he was again drafted as a
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private militia Soldier & accordingly entered this service under the command of Captain Benjamin Ferrel & Lieutenant Clay.  and by them was marched to a place of  Rendezvous to wit old Luringburgh Court house-in said State of Virginia.  that after remaining there some days when in consequence of there being no call for so many soldiers at that time.  he was [crossed out: discharged] dismissed without any written discharge - having been employed in said service fifteen days.  that he knows of no one by whom he can establish this last mentioned service.
That about the first of August 1781, he again entered the service of his country as a private militia soldier for another months tour- under the command of Captain Samuel Martial.  The Colonel of this regiment was by the name of Lewis Burrel.  was rendezvoused at Newsom's Springs in Brunswick County in the State of Virginia aforesaid.  from there we was marched to James river and crossed the same at a place called hog island near Williamsburgh.  passed through Williamsburgh and then across the Pamunky and Mattapony rivers into Gloucester.  where they remained until the surrender of Lord Cornwallis.  which took place on the 19th of October 1781, according to the best of his recollection. That after reaching Gloucester the company he belonged to together with himself was attached to that Division of the Army which was commanded by General [Peter] Mulenburgh.  that a few days after the above mentioned surrender of Lord Cornwallis he was dismissed from the service - before his term had expired. That he received a written discharge from under the hand of Captain Martial which he has since lost.  that he was employed in such service two months and twenty days.  and that he knows of no person whose evidence he can procure at this time whereby to
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establish his said last mentioned service
That he was born in Mecklenburgh County in the State of Virginia in the year 1763—as he has been informed by his parents.  That his birth is recorded in a family Bible that originally belonged to his father.  and which is now in possession of his Brother who resides in Abbeville district South Carolina.  That after the close of the War he removed to Randolph County in the State of North Carolina where he remained one year  from thence he removed to Rowan County in said State where he remained one year--from Rowan County he removed to Greenville County South Carolina where he remained three years.  from thence he removed to Abbeville County in South Carolina where he lived he thinks about thirty seven years.  and thence he removed to Gwinnett County in the State of Georgia in which County and State he now resides. That James Longhridge Esqr, B.S. Smith, William Rakestraw Esqr, 
Daniel M Smith & divers others of his
neighbors (as well as the Clergyman & Freeholders who have given their assurances) can & will as he believes if required can "testify as to his character for veracity as to their belief of his service as a soldier of the revolution."
He hereby relinquishes his every claim whatever to any pension or annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any State.
John Bower
Sworn to & subscribed in open court the
day and year afore said
Wm. Maltbie  Clk:
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We Sterling Roberts a clergyman residing is this County of Gwinnette and State of Georgia and Willis Pruit residing in the same duly certify that we are well acquainted with John Bowers who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration.  that we believe him to be seventy years of age.  that he is reputed and believed in this neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sterling Roberts
William (x) Pruit (his mark)

Sworn & Subscribed in open Court the day & year aforesaid
Wm. Maltbie Clk:

And the said Court do hereby declare this 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 & served as he states.  and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Sterling Roberts who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident of the County of Gwinnett and State of Georgia.  and that Willis Pruit who has also signed the same is a resident in the same State & County.  and is a credible person.  and that their statements are entitled to credit. 
H.H. Allen J.I.C.
A.G. Van Elkingburgh J.I.C
Joseph A Rewes J.I.C.

Georgia
Gwinnett County
I William Maltbie Clerk of the Inferior Court for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Willis Pruit for a pension.  In testimony whereof I [have] hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 1st day of July 1833.
Wm. Maltbie C.I.C
[Seal affixed]
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Georgia
Gwinnette County
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in & for said County John Bowen and being duly sworn saith on oath 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 the following grades.  That for five months I served as a drafted militiaman in the year 1780.  For 15 days I served as a private militia soldier in the year 1781. That for two months and 20 days I served as a private militia soldier in the year 1781.- and for such service I claim a pension.  The particulars of the above services will be seen by referring to his original declaration.  He further states in answer to an objection made by the the war department to our statement in his said original Declaration_ that drafts in the militia in the State of Virginia were made at that time for 5 months instead of 3.  and that he was drafted for that time & actually served that length of time.  of this fact the Department can be satisfied by referring to any of the surviving revolutionary officers in the State of Virginia—who are acquainted with the military regulations of that State at the above period.
John Bowen

Sworn and subscribed before me this 24th day of 
December 1833. 
John Mills JP
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Georgia
Gwinnett County

I William Maltbie Clerk said County hereby certify that John Mills whose name appears to the foregoing amendment to his Declaration & affidavit of John Bowen as a subscribing witness is and was at the time of subscribing the same and acting Justice of the Peace for said County, & that full faith and credit ought to be had & given to his attestation as such and that the same in due form given under my hand & seal of office this 24th day of December 1833.

Wm. Maltbie C.J.C.
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Mrs. R. T. Hulsey
93 Green St.,
Gainesville, GA.

Madam
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 32124 it appears that John Bowen was born in 1783 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
While a resident of Mecklenburg County, Virginia he enlisted June 1, 1780 served as a private in Captain Binns Jones' Virginia Company, was in the battle of Camden, after which he served under Major Morris or Morrison until November 1, 1780.
He enlisted February 15, 1781 and served fifteen days in Captain Benjamin Ferrel'ss  Virginia Company.
He enlisted August 1, 1781 and served two months and twenty days as a private in Captain Samuel Martial's Company, Colonel Lewis Burrell's Virginia Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
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July 1, 1833 while a resident of Gwinnett County, Georgia, to which place he moved from Abbeville County, South Carolina.
He died January 24, 1850 leaving children, their names and name of his wife not given.
The above noted is the only soldier by that name, of Ga. found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
May 30th, 1840.

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United State," John Bowen, -- a Pensioner on the Roll of the Georgia Agency, at the rate of Twenty-seven Dollars and 22 Cents per annum, under the law of 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1839, to the 4th Sept. 1839.
Respectfully, yours,
Albion G. Parris
Comptroller.
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93 Green St.
Gainesville Georgia
March 30th, 1926.

Commissioner--
Record Division--Revolutionary War Records Section.

Dear Madam:
Will you please send me the war record of John Bowen and other required data for the admittance into D. A. R. He is listed in Ga. Roster of the Rev-
Also, if you have anything on John Dowling please send it to me. I think he enlisted from South Carolina.
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We have an old relic--a gourd--in our family, that he carried through the Revolution with him.
Thanking you in advance for your kindness and courtesy.
Yours sincerely
Helen Dowling Hulsey

(Mrs. R.T. Hulsey)
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32124
Revy INVALID

File No. 32,124
John Bowen, Ga
Pri[vate] Rev War

Act: June 7th 38"
Index:--Vol. 8, Page 46

[Arrangement of 1870.]

1926 June 2--Hist. to Mrs. R.T. Hulsey. MMNF
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27, 652      answered
Wm Bowen


Admitted as a private
8 mo 5 days. 27.2:2

&

13 Nov: 1833

Wm Maltbie

Lawrenceville

Ga
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined and the papers herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjoined notes you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace (thus: } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them, and you will by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A STATEMENT, showing the Service of...

Period when the service was rendered

Duration of the claimant's service.

Rank of claimant.

Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.

Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service.

Proof by which the declaration is supported.

Years.(--)/Months.(5, 2 & 8) /Days. (15, 20 & 5)
               
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions
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2

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:

This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c, Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service
4. Indian Spies

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.

State, Territory, or District of }
County of                              } ss.

On this            day of                  personally appeared (a) before 
A. B. resident (b) of                          in the county of                        and State, Territory or District of                 aged (c)           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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832.  That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)             , with                    and served in the                    (e) regiment of the                line, under the following named officers:                

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he serv[illegible] enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched.  This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) 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, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.                                     ,A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.

I                                       of the Court of
                             do certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of               
               for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of                                                  & c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in
the                                            and C. D. residing in (the same)    hereby                                                                          certify, that we are well acquainted                       
with                             , who has 
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
        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.

Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court]

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 A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the                                 
         and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
        and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I,                                      Clerk of the Court of                                 do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of       
                for a pension.


In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal                of office, this
            day of                          & c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 18

3  
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.

1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary warm and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6.  To a Soldier.  {Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given. and what has become of it?
      To an Officer: {Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?

7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
their acquaintance with  him, that they believe is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed  [illegible]. If one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been [illegible].  If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify [illegible] and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
____________________________________________

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow in the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 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 a _____________________.
__For_____year______months, and ______ days, I served as a _____________________ ; and for such service I claim a pension."

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 be and 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 inadequate, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
in the militia, &c. 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 applicant 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.

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 papers 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.

Proof of Service.

[j] 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 claimant's 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.

The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.

[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 19

Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office
June 5, 1854

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States, and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which Pensioners may receive their pensions from Pension Agents,

the children of John Bowen, dec. 

a Pensioner on the Roll of the Georgia
Agency, at the rate of Twenty Seven Dollars
and 22 Cents per annum under the law of the 
1st June 1832, have been paid at this Department,  from the 4th of Sept. 1849, to the 24th July 1850.

Respectfully yours,
23463
J. M. Broadhead
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 20

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
October 25th, 1841.

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States,"  John Bowen--a Pensioner on the Roll of the Georgia Agency, at the rate of Twenty Seven Dollars and 22 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, 
has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March, to the 4th Sept. 1840. 
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions, 
Present.