Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6723, for Stephen Mc Gown, New York
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(8-1776)                                                         Number
            Service
New York    McGown, Stephen                R6723
                                 Margaret 

Contents
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697
New York 24463
Stephen McGown
Otsego Co in the State of New York
he was a private in the Company commanded
Captain Whitaker of the regt
commanded
Col Alden in the N.Y. [illegible]
for 24 mo.

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of March
1834 and sent
Hon S. Page H. Reps.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 $240.00
[illegible] allowance ending 4 Sept 1834 - 40.00
$280.00
⎨ Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk,
Book E Vol. 4 Page 108
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State of New York
County of Montgomery

I hereby certify that the following is a true copy of the records of the Marriage of Stephen McGown & Margarett
Willson as the same appears upon the register of Marriage of James Cannon a Justice of the peace in the Town of
Cherry Vally Now Otsego County & Kept by him as his record as a Justice of the Peace [illegible]

Stephen McGown Married
Margarett Willson
August 1791

From which it appears that said Stephen McGown & Margarett Willson were duly married according to the laws of the State of New York By a Justice of the Peace in August Seventeen hundred & Ninety one

Mary Cannon

State of New York
County Montgomery ⎬

I Mary Cannon of the Town of Cherry Valley being first duly sworn saith that she is the daughter of James Cannon who was a Justice
of the Peace in the Town of Cherry Valley that I have the Book containing the Record of Marriage in my possession by him as a Justice of the Peace in & for said Town & the above is a true copy of the record of the Marriage of Stephen McGown & Margarett Willson as certified by her & that the date of said Marriage is [illegible] in fair legible figures Mary Cannon

Subscribed & Sworn the 16th day of
February 1844 before me
P. Wetmore(?) Justice of the Peace
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I further states that that the Book In my
Possesion containing the Record of Marriages

[NEW LETTER OVERLAID ON PREVIOUS]

STATE OF NEW YORK,
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, CLERK'S OFFICE.

I, Chester S. Brumley, Clerk of the County of Montgomery, do hereby certify that Pythagones Wetmon whose name is subscribed to the annexed affidavits and thereon written was at the time of taking such affidavit a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid dwelling in the said county, commissioned and sworn and duly authorized to take the same; and further that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of such Justice and verily believe that the signature to the said affidavits is genuine. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the
said county, the 22 day of February 1844

C.S. Brumby Clerk
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I further sate that the book in my possession containing the Record of Marriages of my father James Cannon is in his [illegible] proper handwriting.
Mary Cannon
[illegible] & sworn the 16th day of February 1844 Before Me
P. Wetmore Justice of the Peace
of Montgomery County
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STATE OF NEW YORK
Otsego County Clerk's Office, ss. } Samuel Refsell (?) clerk of said
County, do hereby certify that Jabez D. Hammond Esquire, whose name
is subscribed to the annexed Instrument was on the date of the same a Judge of Otsego [illegible] in and for said County, and duly authorised by law to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of said judge and verily believe his signature to the said Instrument is genuine. In testimony
whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said County, the 25th day of December A.D. 184..

Samuel Refsell (?)
Clerk,
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10672
Margaret McGown
NY
Act 7 July 38
M 91-d10oct42-
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10672
Margaret McGown
wid of Stephen
Cherry Valley
Otsego
NY.
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10672
To John L Edwards [illegible]
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington 
DC

Abm Van Horner
Agent for the Widows, [illegible]
Montgomery County
State of New York
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State of New York
Otsego County

On the 21st day of December 1843 personally appeared before the undersigned; one of the Judges of the County Courts in and for said County Margaret MCGown a resident of the town of Cherry Valley in said County Aged seventy three years & being first duly sworn according to law; doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed 7th July 1838: Entitled an act granting half pay & pensions to certain widows; that she is the widow of Stephen McGown who was a soldier in the war of the revolution as a private & militia man in manner and for the terms and under the officers particularly described & detailed in his papers, in the matter of his application for a pension under the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832. That said Stephen McGown received under said act last named, an annual stipend of $80. She further declares that she was married to said Stephen McGown on the 10th Day of August in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred & ninety one. That her husband the aforementioned Stephen McGown died the tenth day of October in the year eighteen hundred forty two – That she was not married prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January seventeen hundred ninety four; viz at the time above stated, and she further declares and says that her maiden name was Margaret Williams. That she was married at Cherry Valley Otsego County, N.Y. by James Cannon a Justice of the Peace at that time & place & further states that she still remains his widow.
Margaret X Mark McGown

Witness
Suley D. Hammond
George M Deteber

Subscribed & sworn before me the said judge, the day & year first aforesaid and I certify that said Margaret McGown is unable to attend Court, by means of Bodily infirmities.
Jabez D. Hammond Judge of Otsego County
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WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office
183

Sir:

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a 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. Those 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, shewing the Service of Stephen McGown Otsego Co. N. York

Period when the service was rendered.
1778
Duration of the claimant's service.
1 Year
7 Months
Days
Rank of the claimant.
Private
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
Captain Whitaker
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
Col. Alden
Battles in which the applicant was engaged.
-
Country through which he marched.
-
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
70
Cherry Valley
Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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 the 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. Personal 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, musicians, or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record in 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. a resident of (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 served under more than one term of enlisted, 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 an State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year of aforesaid.

[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 hereby 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 not (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 declarations; that we believe hime to be _ years or 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 day 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 at 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 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 applicant of _ for a pension.

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

Every applicant with 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 upon the transaction.

If such surviving witnesses 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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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 war, and where do you live now?
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?
6. {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 he 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
the nearest clergyman, 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 a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character 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 enquiry 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 of 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
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 opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
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[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 the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides.
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Rev'd. vol  30. p. 109.
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I.L   Edwards loye 

                Washington D.C.