Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 3048, Sparling Bowman, Md.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Md. 
Bowman, Sparling
NUMBER
S  3048
Carded
CONTENT
Page 2

4098
Tennessee  Jonesburgh
---
Sparling Bowman
Green Co in the State of Tennessee
who was a private in the Company commanded
by Captain Cressip of the Reg commanded
[by] Edwd  Pulnam in the Maryland
[li]ne for One year from 1775

Inscribed on the Roll of Tennessee
the rate of 40 Dollars - Cents per annum,
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of January
1833 and Seal Hon John Blair  H R

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832   60.00
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 1833 20.00
[total]  [illegible]     80.00

{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by Henry H Sylvester   Clerk
Book D.  Vol. 9   Page 96

Date of death [illegible words]
Page 3

Sparling Bowman
one year

Blair

3
3
3
2 1/2
Page 4

State of Tennessee Green County.
September Term 1832

On this fifth day of September 1833, personally appeared in Open Court before the Honorable Samuel Powel Judge of the Circuit Court of Law & Equity for Green County  Sparling Bowman  aged Eighty years, who being duly sworn according to Law doth make the following Decleration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. that in the year 1775. in July he was a resident of Washington Cty Maryland and enlisted for one year in said County under Capt Michael Cressep of the left Company at Hagerstown , & was marched to Boston Massachusetts & was there put under the command of General Putnam, & continued to serve under said officers untill the expiration of his Term of Enlistment, with the exception of Capt Cressep who died previous to the expiration of the Term of his enlistment. he states that he was discharged by Leutenant Moses Rollins at Statten Island, that on his march from Hagerstown under Capn Crissey to Join Putman at Boston, he passed through Frederickstown thence Tauney Town, thence to Lancaster, thence to Redding thence Bithlehem, Hartford East Town, on North River & to Boston. That they had frequent bombardments from the British at Boston that being the Winter quarters of the army, & in the Spring moved in to New York, & remained there some weeks was then received to Statten Island where discharged, Has lost his discharge in the great lapse of time, & cannot now produce it
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That he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person whose testamony he can procure who can testify to his service except that annexed. he hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the role of pensions of the agency of any State and that there is no resident minister of the Gospel in his vicinity by whom he can establish the facts in the Secretaries actualy [illegible]
Sparling Bowman
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first above written.
V. Sevier  Clk

We George House & Peter Harmon residing in the County of Green hereby certify that we are well acquainted With Sparling Bowman who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be eighty years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
Gor House
Peter Harmon
Sworn & subscribed the day year above said 
V. Sevier  clk

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
Page 6

that Peter Hansen & George House who have signed the foregoing certificate are resident citizens ofsd County are credible persons their certificate entitled to credit.
[signature illegible] 
Judge of the Circuit Court of the State of Tennessee

James Jack      }
Elizabeth Laney }
citizens of Green County personally appeared in open Court & made oath that they are personally acquainted with the foregoing declarant Sparling Bowman, resided in Hagerstown Maryland in the year 1775. when said Bowman enlisted into the army under Cape Cressep Elizabeth saw him march with the troops from Hagerstown, both knew of his being absent for about one year and at the expiration of the time saw him return home with the habitiments of a soldier of the universal understanding there was, that said Bowman had been during the years in in the army
Elizabeth her x mark Laney
James Jack
Sworn to & Subscribed in open Court this 5th day of September 1832
V. Sevier   clk

State of Tennessee }
Green County     }
I, Valentine Sevier clerk of the Circuit Court of said County do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Sparling Bowman for a pension & that the afforesaid of Elizabeth Laney above, was sworn [illegible words] in open Court the day of the date thereof. In testimony whereof I have set my hand & seal of office this 6 sepr. 1832
V. Sevier CCCGC   By M. Payne
Page 7

The within witnesses are citizens of Green
County & were sworn in open Court to their
statement & the Clerk directed to certify as to
their respectability; I know the clerks certificate
on a (illegible) & omitted the insertion therein
that the count were satisfied the witnesses as 
were credible.
J Blair

Washington City
10th Decr 1837
Page 8

October 20, 1937

Sparling Bowman
S. 3048
BA-J/AWF

Mr. Ray L. Bowman
Cedar Creek Academy
Greeneville, Tennessee

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your request for the Revolutionary War record of Sparling Bowman.

The data furnished you herein were obtained
from papers on file in pension claim, S. 3043, based
upon the service of Sparling Bowman in the War of the
Revolution.

The date and place of birth of Sparling Bowman
were not given, nor were the names of his parents
shown.

While a resident of Hagerstown, Washington
County, Maryland, Sparling Bowman enlisted sometime
in July, 1775, served as a private in Captain
Michael Cresap's Rifle Company in the Maryland troops,
marched to Boston, thence to New York, and was discharged
on Staten Island, after a service of one year.
He stated that he was in the service at the close of
the war, but no details of this service given.

He was allowed pension on his application executed
September 5, 1832, at which time he was eighty
years of age and living in Greene County, Tennessee.

It was not stated whether Sparling Bowman was ever
married. One Sparling Bowman, Jr. was living in 1829
in Greene County, Tennessee, but it was not shown that
he was related to the soldier, Sparling Bowman.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of
Page 9

pension, name and address of person paid and possibly
the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply
to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office,
Records Division, Washington, D. C., and furnish the
following data:
Sparling Bowman
Certificate #4098
Issued January 10, 1833
Rate $40.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Tennessee Agency.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 10

1461
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
29 January 1829.
Sparling Bowman of _____ in the County of 
Green in the State of Tennessee has applied to the Secretary
of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled ""An Act for the relief of certain surviving
officers and soldiers of the Revolution,” approved the 15th of May, 1828. He states that he
enlisted in the Continental line of the army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and
continued until its termination, at which period he was a Private in captain
's company, in the _____ regiment of the Maryland
line; and that he received a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars, provided by the resolve
of the 15th of May, 1778; and further, that he was not on the 15th day of May, 1828, on the
pension list of the United States, and that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of
March, 1826, nothing.

The Third Auditor is requested to report how far the several statements are corroborated by
the records in his office.
By order of the Secretary
F.A. Dickens

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
THIRD AUDIT'S OFFIC
February 1829

It further appears that S. Bowman is not now on the pension 
line of any Agency, has has not been so since the 3d March 
1826.

The name of S. Bowman Cannot
be found among those of the Maryland line, to
whom Certificates for the gratuity of Eighty dollars
were issued-
Peter Hagner  Agent
Page 11

War Department
Bounty Land Office
7 May 1829.
The records of this Office do not show
that Sparling Bowman of the Maryland line
ever received or was entitled to bounty land
of the U. States.
Robert Taylor
Page 12

Sparling Bowman

adm

Mr. Blair
Page 13

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Sparling Bowman, which require
further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? It does

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? He did

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? He has

V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he
served, in served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension
he is entitled?  He has

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations;
He has

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832?
He has

VII. Has the Court given their opinion? Has

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? He has

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?
It is, is so distinguishable,
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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 was (illegible)

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
there is

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 has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? No
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under
his seal of office? Court

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?
It does

XVI. +Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? They are

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? (illegible) 
_______________________
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 a _____.  For ______ months
and ______ days, I served as a ______; and for such service I claim a pension."
(ILLEGIBLE)
Page 15

it is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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 for month is to
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

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 be 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 authenticated 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 end 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.
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4080_00687
Recd 12 May 1829 1461
2861.2966

Hon Samuel D. Ingham 
Secretary of
Treasury
Washington City

Generate to? 
3 August 1829
Revolutionary Claim
Free
Page 17

State of Tennessee
Green County ⎬
Before me John Harden a Justice of the
peace in and for said County and State of
Tennessee personally appeared this day
Michael Eddleman aged 75 years who made oath that
he knew Sperling Bowman who has applied
for a pension and that the said Sperling
Bowman did enlist for and 
during the war and continued in
its service till its amination that
the said Bowman was a private in
Captain Crissops under General Putman Company and that 
the said Bowman did enlist from 
the State of Maryland.
His
Michael X Eddleman
Mark

Sworn to and Subscribed
this 27th July 1827
John Hardin
Justice of the peace
Page 18

State of Tennessee pc
I Andrew Patterson Clerk
of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Greene
County, Do certify that John Harding Esq before whom
the within affidavit of Michael Eddleman, was sworn
was at the time an acting Justice of the peace for
the County aforesaid, duly appointed and qualified
with power to administer Oaths In Testimony whereof
I have hereunto subscribed my name
and affixed the seal of said Court
at Office the 1st day of August 1829.
A. Patterson
B V. Sevier Dec

The declaration has been sent to the office previous
to this and some additional testimony was was wanted
before a decision could be had in this case.

all communications will be sent to Wolpe G. Tennefas
Page 19

Greeneville T.
8h Jany 1829
Revolutionary Claims
[illegible] [?Tree?]

To the Honorable Richard Rush
Mail 
Secretary of the Treasury --
Washington City

1828 papers
to be filed 
with Ad 
ow Ind
#3048
Page 20

Recd 20 Jany 1829  [very light]

1461
State of Tennessee  }
Green County  }
For the Purpose of obtaining the benefits of the act entitled an act for the relief of Certain Surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the revolution approved on the 15th day of May 1828

I, Sperling Bowman of the County of Green and State of Tennessee do hereby declare that I enlisted in the Continental line of the Army of the Revolution for and during the War and Continued in its Service until its termination at which period I was a private in the regiment of the Maryland Line, and I also declare that I afterwards received certificate for the reward of eighty dollars to which I was entitled under a resolve of Congress passed the 18th day of May 1778 and I further declare that I was not on the fifteenth day of May 1828 on the Pension list of the United this declarant does not know the exact number of the regiment to which he belonged nut was commanded by Capn. [illegible] States  Witness my hand 6th day of January in year 1829 This declarant has lost his papers which he would have transmitted
Sperling his X mark Bowman
Signed & Subscribed Sworn to before me this 6th January 1839
R Maloney  [seal containing] JP.

Before me Robert Malony a Justice of the Peace [illegible or crossed out words] County in the State of Tennessee personally appeared this day Sperling Bowman Jr. and Peter Harmon of the said County who did severally make oath that Sperling Bowman by whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed is generally refuted and believed to have been a soldier in the Army of the Revolution in manner
Page 21

as therein stated Witness my hand & seal this 6th Jany 1829.
Signed   
Sperling Bowman Jr[??]
Peter Hanson [?? Harrison or Harmon??]
Sworn to before me this 6th Jay. 1829 -
R Maloney  JP   [seal containing]  JP.

I Alexander Patterson Clerk of the Court of the County of Green in the State of Tennessee do hereby Certify that Robert Maloney before whom the foregoing affidavits were sworn was at the time a Justice of the peace and duly empowered to administer Oaths   In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Said
Court this 6th January 1829
A. Patterson  CGC
By V, Sevier, [illegible]

All Communications relative to the within will be forwarded to Jus. Wolfe Greenville, Tennessee
Sperling his X mark Bowman
Page 22

Rev War
3048
INVALID.
File No. 3048
Sparling Bowman
Pvt, Md, Line
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: Val. A, Page 37
[Arrangement of 1870]

1927 - May 23- Hist to C. G. Armitage   any
1937-Act 20- Hist to Ray L. Bowman   any
1937- Dec. 15 - Mr. Ray L. Bowman's receipt of further data acknowledged [illegible initials]
Page 23

December 15, 1957
Sparling Bowman  S.3048
BA-J/[illegible]:MLB     ow

Mr. Ray L. Brown
Cedar Creek Academy
Greeneville, Tennessee

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you furnish further information in regard to Sparling Bowman, S. 3048, Revolutionary War soldier, whose record was furnished you October 20, 1937.

Your letter has been placed on file. Your interest in the matter is appreciated. It may be stated, however, that only such data as are found in the original documents in such claims are incorporated in official reports released by this office.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 24

auf [initials in top right corner]
Rev. and 1812
Wars Section.

May 23, 1927
C. G. Armitage
Greeneville, P. O. Box 371
Tenn

Sir
I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 3048, it appears that Sparling Bowman, while residing at Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland, enlisted in 1775 and served one year in Captain Michael Cresap's Rifle Company, Maryland Troops.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 5, 1832, while a resident of Greene County, Tennessee, aged eighty years. It is not stated whether soldier was married.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Page 25

Cedar Creek Acad
Greenville, Tenn
Oct. 6, 1837
Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C
Gentlemen:
Please send me
all the information you
I have about Sparling
Bowman who fought
in the Revolutionary war.
I am his great great grandson
Yours truly
Ray L. Bowman

[stamp]
RECEIVED OCT. 8 1837  [rest illegible]
Page 26

[postcard front face]

Ray L. Bowman
Cedar Creek Academy
Greenville, Tennessee

THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS

Veterans Administration
Washington D.C.

[Postmark]
GREENEVILLE. TENN
CEDAR CREEK RUR [ILLEGIBLE]
OCT 7 1932  [illegible]
Page 27

[stamp]
RECEIVED NOV 9. 1937
MAIL SUB-DIV.
VETS ADM  READER # 12
[end stamp]

Cedar Creek Academy
Greenville, Tennessee
November 8, 1937

Gentlemen:
In the answer to my request of data of Sparling Bowman you said you didn't know whether he was ever married or not. I can supply you with a little more information concerning him if it will make your records more complete

Sparling Bowman was married to the daughter of Andrew Hixon in 1793 They had three sons: Thomas, Kennedy, and Sparling; and three daughters: Betsy, Katy, and Polly.

I hope that this will help you sometime,
Yours truly
Ray L. Bowman
Page 28

Greeneville, Tenn. May, 9th 1927.
To the Hon. Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir;-
I wrote to you several weeks ago asking information regarding Sparling Bowman who was a soldier in the American Revolution and on the United States pension. rolls. After the War he came to Tennessee and entered lands in this county in 1792.

I am very anxious to get a line on his war record and if you are not in position to get it for me will greatly appreciate it if you will kindly tell me to whom I should apply to get it. 

I am enclosing a stamped envelope for your convenience in giving reply for which I shall be greatly obliged.
Very truly yours,
C. G. Armitage

[stamp]
U.S. PENSION OFFICE R MAY 10 1927
Page 29

Greeneville, Tenn. March, 31st 1927.
To the Hon. Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:
I am seeking information regarding Sparling Bowman, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and a pensioner on the U.S. pension rolls.

I am not sure from what state he was enlisted but think probably from Pensylvania. He came from that state here and entered lands in the year 1792, so I think it likely he was enlisted from that state.

I would like to get his record of enlistment and service if you can give it to me. I will be willing to pay any reasonable expense connected with the service I am asking,
Very truly yours,
C.G. Armitage