Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 36,423, Ephraim Bowers, Conn
Page 1

SERVICE, NUMBER
Conn Bowers, Ephraim, S. 36,423
Page 2

N A enlisted
May 1821 Notification sent to John Fish Rev
5 July 1842 Middletown Connect
440
Connecticut Roll
Ephraim Bowers
Sumner Sumner Private
Connecticut line
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of Eight Dollars per month to commence on 
the 17th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 8th of May 1818
and sent to S. T. Hosmer Esqr
Middletown, Con
Arrearages to 4th Sept 1818
4 months 18/30 $36.80
Revolutionary claims,
Act 18th March, 1818,
6 years from 77 till close of
War
[illegible]
Page 3

I Ephraim Bowers of Chatham, County of Middletown
and State of Connecticut do testify That I belong 
to the army in the war of the Revolution from the
winter of One Thousand Seven Hundred and
Seventy Seven to the end of the way that I
enlisted into the Company then commanded by Capt
Robert Warner, in the Regiment commanded by
Samuel Wyllis Esq. in the Connecticut line for
during the war and served in that Company about
two years, & then was transfered into the Company
commanded by Capt Edward Ealls in the same Regiment
in which Company I remained {illegible] the [illegible]
of the war that I was regularly discharged in the
month of June One Thousand Seven Hundred &
Eighty three from the army, by a written discharge
Signed by his Excellency Gen Washington, which discharge
I have lost
I further certify that I am poor
and am wholly destitute of property, and
get my living by hand labor and by reason of
my recorded circumstances in life, I am in need
of assistance from my country for support and pray
that in the provision made by the late act of Congress
for Revolutionary Soldier
Middletown March 26th 1818 Ephraim Bowers
State of Connecticut Middlesex county, I
Arrived Chatham March 26th 1818. Personally came
Ephraim Bowers of Chatham in said County
signer of the proceeding deposition before me Stephen Titus
Hosmer a Judge of the Superior Court for the State of
Connecticut, and made solemn oath to the truth thereof
Titus Hosmer
Page 4

I Robert Warner of Middletown, County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut do testify
That I commanded Company in the Regiment
command by Samuel Wyllis Esq in the war of
the revolution until  war when I was appointed
Major in the same Regiment and served until the close
of the War, I knew  Ephraim Bowers of Chatham
the sign of the preceding Deposition before the
man of the Revolution & have known him where
since He enlisted into my Company I served
about two years in it & then was transferred to
the Company of Capt. Edward Cells in said Regiment, & served to the end of the War, when
he was any discharged the said Ephraim
Bowers is poor, wholly destitute of property &
having heard his aforesaid Deposition read
I know & declares that the facts therein
are truly stated further Saith he &
Middletown March 26th 1818, Robert Warner
State of Connecticut Middlesex County, is. And
of Chatham March 26th 1818. Personally Came Major
Robert Warner of said Middletown, Signer
of the preceeding deposition, before me Stephen
C. Titus Hosmer a Judge of the Superior Court for the
State of Connecticut, and made Solemn Oath
to the truth thereof S Titus Hosmer
C. I Stephen Titus Hosmer a judge
of the Superior Court for the State of
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Connecticut do Certify That it appearing to my
satisfaction, that Ephraim Bowers the Signed
of the first Deposition on this paper, served
in the revolutionary was against the common
enemy as in his Deposition he has fortified I
,therefore, transmit the proceeding testimony
S. John Hosmer
Middletown Court Clerk 24 [illegible] 1818
To the Honorable the Secretary for the Department 
of War
J. John Fisk Clerk of the Superior
Court for the State of Connecticut
do certify, that the Honorable
Stephen Titus Hosmer of Middletown in the
State aforesaid, is one of the Judges of the
said court, and that his name subscribed
to the proceeding certificate marked A.B.C.
is his proper hand writing and signature
In testimony whereof I have
hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal
of the said Court at Middletown aforesaid
on this 17th day of April 1818
Jno. Fisk Clerk
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No 67.
Ephr. Bowers
[illegible]
440
7 May 1818
Middletown Conn
4
Page 7

State and District of Connecticut, ss.
ON this 20th day of June 1820 personally appeared
in open Court, before the adjd County Court holden at Middletown
within and for the County of Middlesex
in said State, on the
20th day of June 1820, the same being a court of record, proceeding according
to the course of common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of
its proceedings, and having power of fine and imprisonment, Ephraim Bowers
aged Sixty eight years, resident in the town of Chatham
in said
State, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary
war, as follows: That he the said Ephraim Bowers enlisted for the term
of During the war on the day of Dec.
in the year 1777 in Peekskill in the State of New York
in the company commanded by Captain Ebenezer Sumner in the regiment commanded
by Colonel Samuel Wyllys in the line of the State of
Connecticut on the continental establishment. That he continued to serve in the said
corps until June 1783 when he was discharged
from the said service in West Point in the State of New York
That he made a declaration to obtain a pension under the law of the 18th of March 1818, as nearly as he
can recollect, having no minutes, on the17th day of April 1818
and had transmitted to him a Certificate for pension from the Secretary for the Department of War,
No. 440-
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March,
1818; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or
any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of
Congress, entitled, "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the
United States in the Revolutionary War;" and that I have not, nor has any person, in trust for me, any
property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained
in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
I do further solemnly swear, that I was in the battles of Long Island skirmish
at Elizabeth Town-
That I am by occupation a shoemaker
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That the number of my family residing with me is Two
and their names
and ages are as follows:
Abigail my wife aged 62 yrs
as laborer my son aged 18 yrs
That my son can assist some what by his Labour
in the support of his parents that from the
Loss of my eye sight I am unable to work
at my trade and the Asthma with other
Infirmities incident to old age prevents my
Labouring unless very moderately and that
without my Pension I must come on the Town
for support
Ephraim Bowers
Page 9

SCHEDULE Annexed to the Declaration and oath above made and taken before
the Court aforesaid.
1 House and 3 acres of Land Belonging to my wife 250.00
Improvement and are worth per year 15.00
2 Hogs $5, 4 Chairs $1.00, 1 old ax 25, 1 old hoe 20, 6.45
1 old Sythe 25 , 1 shovel 75, 1 pot 50, [illegible] 25, 1.75
1 old pr Tongs [illegible], 2 Tables $2 , 2.17
25.37
Debts which I owe about 55.00
Ephm Bowers
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I John Fisk Clerk of
the Court of Common Pleas [illegible] aforesaid,
do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath and Schedule annexed
are truly copied from the record of said Court. And I do
further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the
total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid
Schedule, is twenty five 
dollars and Thirty seven cents.
IN TESTIMONY whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on
this 20 day of June 1820
Jno Fisk Clerk of [illegible] Court
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County of Middlesex ss. County Court
of this 7th day of April 1824 Personally
appeared in open Courts in the County Courts
for the County of Middlesex State of Connecticut
being a Court of Record proceeding according 
to the course of the Common Law and having
a Jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount
Ephraim Bowers resident in said County
aged Seventy two years who being first duly
Sworn according to Law doth on his oath 
make the following declaration in order
to obtain the provision have by the acts
of Congress of the 18th of March 1818 and the
1st of May 1820 that he the said Ephraim Bowers
enlisted for the Term of during the War on
the day of Dec 1777 in Peekskill in the
State of New York in the Company commanded
by Capt Ebenezer Sumner in the Regiment Commanded
 by Col Samuel Morris in the line
of the State of Connecticut on the Continental
Establishment that he continued to serve in
said corps until June 1783 when he was
discharged from said service at West Point
in the Sate of New York that his name
has been placed on the Pension list and
draw therefrom on account of his property
and in pursuance of the act of the 1st of
May 1820 I do solemnly swear that I
was a resident Citizen of the United States
on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I
have not since that time by gift sale or
in any manner disposed of my property
or any part thereof with Intent thereby
or to deminish it as to bring myself within
the provisions of an act of Congress
entitled an act to provide for certain
persons engaged in the land and naval
service of the United States in the Revolutionary
War passed on the 18th day of
March 1818 and that I have not nor
has any person in trust for me any
property or securities contracts or debts due to
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he nor have I any income other than what
is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed
and by me Subscribed-
Schedule of Property belonging to
Ephraim Bowers necessary clothing and
bedding excepted amounts [illegible]
6.38
1 Porridge Pot 75 -3 Teacups & saucers 12
1 Broken Iron dish Kettle 15 - 3 old cloths chests 1.50
1 Frying pan 38 - 4 Poor old chairs - 1.50
1 pair [illegible] 34 - 3 old Tables 2.00
1 Pair tongs 67 - 6 knives & 3 Forks 25
1 Iron Crane with hooks 75 - 1 Pan Lanthorn 34 - 1 ax 2 shovels 50 - 96
1 Iron Skillet 20 - 1 hoe 20 - 3 old barrels $1 - , trammel 50 - 1.70
Tea Pot 50 - 2 Plates 6 - 56 - 1 Iron tea Kettle 56 - 3 Drink bottles 15 - 71
4 Pewter spoons 20 - 1 Earthen platter 10 - 30
1 Small Brass Kettle 2.00
1 Tin dipper and skimmer 12
1 milk pail 25 - 1 half pint tin measure 6
2 Pewter [illegible] 34
1 Bible  2.00
$6.39 - $16.61
that since the Exhibition of the First Schedule
the following changes have been made in
his property that the house and three
acres of Land mentioned in my first Schedule
belonging to my wife to the Improvement
of which I was entitled has been taken by
virtue of an Execution against me in
favor of Asaph Hall and that my whole
interest on said house and Land has been
transferred to said Hall by Process of Law-
That the number of my Family residing
with me is one riz. my wife Abigail aged
Sixty six years who is infirm and unable 
to labor, that I have in a great measure
lost my eye sight which together with an
inveterate asthma and old age entirely prevent
me from labour and that since I am
deprived of my land I have no manner of
resource for supporting myself but am
actually maintained by the Town of Chatham
and that in fact he is in such indigent
as circumstances as to be unable to support
himself without the assistance of his
Country
Ephm Bowers
Page 13

Sworn to & declared on the 7 day of April
A.D. 1824 - before sd Court
Jno Fisk Clk  of Court
I John Fisk Clerk of the County Court
for Middlesex County aforesaid do
hereby certify that the sd Schedule
& oath have been admitted to the
Record of Court & that the same
are truly copied therefrom & I do
further certify that it is the opinion 
of the said Court that the
total amount in value of the
property exhibited in the aforesaid
Schedule is Sixteen Dollars & Sixty
One Cents - In Testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my Hand &
affixed the seal
of the sd Court
on the 7th day of April AD 1824
Jno Fisk Clk of sd Court
Page 14

May 23, 1929
Mr. Charles R. Hale
33 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, Connecticut
Sir:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary 
Wa rpension claim, S.36623, it appears that Ephraim Bowers
enlisted and served in Captain Ebenezer Sumner's Company,
Colonel Samuel Wyllys' Connecticut Regiment, and was in the
battle of Long Island, no dates of service given.
He enlisted in December, 1777, and served in Captain
Robert Warner's Company, Colonel Samuel Wyllys' Regiment
about two years, when he was transferred to Captain Edward
Eells' Company in same regiment, was in the battle of
Elizabethtown and several skirmishes and was discharged
in June, 1783.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
March 26, 1818, at which time he was living in Chatham,
Connecticut.
In 1820, he was sixty-eight years of age and referred
to his wife, Abigail, as aged sixty-two years and to his
Page 15

son, Ashbell, aged eighteen years.
There are no further family data.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner
Page 16

[illegible] the claim [illegible]
house and 3 acres of land, [illegible]

Restored Dec. 20. 1824
Cong Oct 7, 1821 sent
[illegible]
Page 17

1 March 1823
Connt.
Ephraim Bowers
Recd. 6 July 1824
Middle Haddam
June 31
Secr
Hon John C Calhoun
Secretary at War
Washington
[illegible]
Page 18

Middle Haddam Con. June 29th 1844
Sir
Inclosed is the application of Ephraim
Bowers for a renewal of his pension, accompanied
by the declaration & certificates required by
the act of Congress & the regulations of
the war department, and it is respectfully
hoped and believed that the department
will percieve the Justice of allowing to
the applicant the whole of his pension from
the time his name was stricken from the list
as it was done unquestionably from a mistaken
Estimate of his property in his first application
The land and house which was stated as his property
was at that moment encumbered by debts to
much more than its value, & he was at that time
& ever since in point of fact utterly poor and
destitute has been ever since his pension ceased
maintained in a great measure by the Town
The papers-- have been delayed, since his declaration in
Court by the difficulty of obtaining the certificate
of the Officer who served the Execution - Should
the pension be renewed - the Certificate should be
directed, care of Joseph Dart Esqr Middle Haddon
Con
I have the honor to be for
your Obt HJC Sert
C F Daniels
Hon J C Calhoun
Page 19

1 March 1823.
[illegible] County
Ephram Bowers
Recd 18 Oct. 1824
Joseph Dart
Middle Haddam, Cont
Middle Haddam
Oct 8th
Hon John C Calhoun
Secretary of War
Washington
Sept 1818
Page 20

Chatham Con. October 7th 1844
Sir
I enclose the Certificate in the case
of Ephraim Bowers with the affidavit
required by the department annexed, and
it is sincerely hoped that the papers will be
deemed satisfactory. And the applicant now
be allowed his pension, as it is believed that
his is as clear a case of Want & destitute as has
ever come before the War department-
And that he is among the most deserving of the
Revolutionary Heros
I am for your
Your most Obt. [illegible]
C F Daniels
Hon J. C. Calhoun
Secry at War
Please direct the Certificate to
Joseph Dart Esqr Middle Haddam Con
Page 21

State Connecticut
Middlesex County of Chatham June 29th 1824
I hereby certify that on the Twenty third day of December
1823 I had an Execution in my hands in favor of
Asaph Hall against Ephraim Bowers of said Chatham
for the sum of $41.41. That on said day last mentioned
I made demand of payment of the same of said Bowers
who neglected to pay it and not being able by diligent
search to find any personal estate belonging to said
Bowers and none being shown to me. I did on said day
aforementioned, by virtue of said Execution levy the same
on a certain price of Land with a dwelling house standing 
thereon in said Town of Chatham whereof the
said Bowers was seized and possessed during the natural
life of his wife, and which land contained by estimation
Six & an half acres the said Estate being incumbered by
a mortgage to Elisha Covell of said Chatham, for the
security of a note of hand for five hundred and fifty
dollars payable in five years from the 18th day of October
1823 the date of said Mortgage and an interest from
the 10th day of November of the same year, and
the premises aforesaid were agreeably to the Laws
of this State appraised by three indifferent free holders
who appraised the right title and interest of said
Bowers in and to the same taking into consideration
the incumbrance aforesaid at the Sum of Seventeen
dollars & fifty Cents as the true and just value of the
Same of Which valuation they made a certificate
under their hands and my fees thus far on said
Execution amounting to four dollars and Eleven Cents
Page 22

less the sum of thirteen dollars & thirty nine cents
to apply on said Execution. and on said 26th day of December
1823. I set off to said Hall the whole of the interest of said
Bowers to said described premises in part I also [illegible] of
said Execution & of my fees thereon and on the said last
mentioned day I caused the 
said Execution to be recorded in the records of Lands
in said Town according to Law
And I also certify that the above described premised
are the only real Estate in which said Bowers had or
has any title or interest whatever
Erastus Strong one of the
Constables of sd town of
Chatham
Middlesex Co. Chatham October 4th 1824
Personally appeared Erastus Strong constable of the town 
of Chatham and made Solemn Oath that the statement contained
in the foregoing certificate is just & true
before me 
Frank G. Comstock Just peace
State of Connecticut
Middlesex County
P. William H Fisk assistant
Clerk of the Court of Common
Pleas for County of Middlesex, duly appointed and
Page 23

Sworn, do certify that Franklin G Comstock
Esq was on the 4th of October last and now is a
Justice of the Peace within and for said County
of Middlesex as per commission on file in my
office and that his name subscribed to the
preceeding certificate is his proper hand
writing and signature and I further certify
that Erastus Strong was on the 26th of Decr 1823 and also on the 29th of June
1824 a constable in the town of Chatham and
that his name subscribed to the above certificate
is his proper hand writing and Signature
In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my Hand and
affixed the seal of said Court
this Seventh day of October
A D 1824
Wm H Fisk assistant Clerk
Page 24

Mr Edward
Recd 31 Augt. 1824
Middle Haddam
Augt 28 Free
Hon John C. Calhoun
Secy. of War
Washington
Page 25

Middle Haddam Augt 27th 1824
Sir
I sometime since forwarded to the War department
the application of Ephraim Bowers, for a
renewal of his pension Accompanied by all the
Documents required by the act of Congress and
your [illegible] instructions, to this applications no answer
has been received, although the application was forwarded
it is believed in June I beg leave respectfully to
request in behalf of Bowers who is in destressed circumstances
that I may be informed of the fate of the
Application
I have the honor for to be
very respy Your Obedient Serv
C F Daniels
Hon John C Calhoun
[illegible]
Page 26

Ephraim Bowers
440
Septr [illegible]
Page 27

State and District of Connecticut, ss.
On this 6th day of Octr. 1820 personally appeared
in open Court, before the County within and for the County Court holden at Middletown
within and for the County of Middlesex in said State, on the
26 day of Sept 1820, the same being a court of record, proceeding according
to the course of common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of
its proceedings, and having power of fine and imprisonment, Ephraim Bowers
aged Sixty Eight years, resident in the town of Chatham
in said
State, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary
war, as follows: That he the said Ephm Bowers enlisted for the term
of during the War on the day of Decr
in the year 1777 in Peckskill in the State of New York
in the company commanded by Captain Eben Sumner in the regiment commanded
by Colonel Saml Wyllis in the line of the State of Connecticut
on the continental establishment: That he continued to serve in the said
corps until June 1783 when he was discharged
from the said service at West point in the State of New York
That he made a declaration to obtain a pension under the law of the 18th of March 1818, as nearly as he
can recollect, having no minutes, in the month of March 1818
and had transmitted to him a Certificate for a pension from the Secretary for the Department of War,
No. 4.40
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March,
1818; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or
any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of
Congress, entitled, ""An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the
United States in the Revolutionary War; and that I have not, nor has any person, in trust for me, any
property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained
in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
do further solemnly swear, that I was in the battles on Long Island & at
Elizabeth Town together with some
skermishes
That I am by occupation a shoemaker
Page 28

I John Fisk Clerk of
the Court of Common Pleas in the Co. aforesaid,
do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath and Schedule annexed
are truly copied from the record of said Court. And I do
further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the
total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid
Schedule, is Fifteen
dollars and
IN TESTIMONY whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on
6th day of Octr. 14-820
Wm. Fisk Clerk of Sd Court
Page 29

That the number of my family residing with me is One & her name
and age is as follows:
Abigail my wife aged 62 years
that I have lost my eye sight to
a great degree which together with
the asthma has prevented me & still
does prevent me from working at
my trade that in consequence of
the suspension of my pension I am
now an incumbent on the Town
for support & that the rents & profits
of the House & three acres of Land belonging 
to my wife are at the disposal of the Select men of Chatham
who have taken my property into
their Hands
Ephm. Bowers
Sworn to and declared on the 6th
day of Octr. 1824 before the Court of Common Pleas for
Midx County
Jno Fish Clk
Page 30

SCHEDULE annexed to the Declaration and Oath above made and taken before
the
Court aforesaid.
Articles of furniture apps at $15
Ephm. Bowers
Page 31

36423
Revy INVALID
File No. 36, 423
Ephraim Bowers
Did Rev War
Act: 18 March 18
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 44
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1929 May 23 Hist [illegible] Chas R. Hale Sec
letter in [illegible] Bowers W 25265