Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3059, John Dowel, N.C. S.C.
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3 - 1776)

SERVICE
N.C.
S. C.

Dowel John
or
Dowell 

NUMBER
R. 3059

CONTENTS
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State of Tennessee
County of Jackson
On this 3rd day of February 1851 before me John Terry
a Justice of the Peace for said County of Jackson personally appeared
John Dowel a resident of said County aged about eighty seven 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 act of Congress
passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer
private in Burke County State of North Carolina where he then
resided under Captain Peter Ford in December 1779 the day of
the month not now recollected but it was sometime during the
last of that month, to serve a tour of three months in the
State of South Carolina. applicant does not remember the
names of the Lieutenant and Ensign. he marched to a small
town in South Carolina on the Wateree river where the company
rendevoused, he marched thence under said captain crossing the
Catawba river to Monk's corner and thence to Charleston - it
was then expected that the British would surround or attack
Charleston. The regular soldiers of the American army were
on duty in the City and applicant and his fellow soldiers of the
militia were engaged in cutting and hauling pine timber to construct
a picketing or defence outside of the breastworks - Applicant does not
recollect to what regiment he was attached nor does he recollect
the names of any of the regular officers who were then in the
City of Charleston as the duty and sort of service in which he
was engaged did not bring him immediately under their command
Applicant remained at Charleston under command of said Captain
Ford, until the first of March 1780 when he and the rest of the company 
in which he served and he believes all the militia were marched
out of the City in the night, to avoid the enemy, and dismissed from the
service as applicant understood on account of the scarcity of
provisions and Charleston was then about to be surrounded by the
British army - Applicant did not receive a written discharge but
he was regularly dismissed by his Captain. Applicant did not serve
out the full term of his engagement for the reason above stated
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but he served during said term at least two months.
Applicant again entered the service of the United States as a private by
enlistment in said County of Burke where he then resided in
September 1780 under Captain John Sumpter [Sumter] to serve for the term of ten months - he was marched to South Carolina on the Wateree
and placed under the command of Captain McKinzie [William McKenzie] and Lieut. John McKinzie the captains brother, and was attached to a regiment commanded by Col. Wade Hampton. the Major's name he thinks
was [William] Buford - applicant was marched about from place to place
on the waters of Wateree, Congaree and Santee in said State of South Carolina to protect the inhabitants from the Tories and keep them the Tories in check - according to applicants recollection General [Thomas Sumter] Sumpter was commander of the troops with which he served but he does not recollect that he ever saw Genl Sumpter -
Applicant served out his full term of ten months when in July in the same year he was discharged he thinks his
discharge was signed by Col. Hampton, but said discharge has long since been lost and applicant of course cannot now refer to it and must depend entirely upon the
frail recollection of an old man. But applicant is certain that he served out his full term of ten months when he was honorably discharged - No important events took place and no battle was fought by the army in which he served - but applicant underwent great hardships of cold &
hunger and want of clothing - Applicant served in the war of the Revolution in the service of the United States during the two terms of his engagement as above stated at least ten or twelve months or one year. Applicant does not now recollect the names of any other the regular or continental officers with whom he served except those above named - Applicant has no documentary evidence and he knows of no person
whose testimony he can procure, except Richard Heron who lives in
DeKalb County in this State near the line of this county. he can testify to his service - And he cannot prove the particulars of his service - but applicant cannot say what he will prove, and refers to his affidavit which he will try through his friends to
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procure. Applicant was born in Albemarle County State of
Virginia in the year 1764, has no record of his age -
since the Revolution he has lived in Burke County North Carolina, Cumberland
County Kentucky in Overton County, Smith County and Jackson
County in the State of Tennessee in which last County he now
lives. Some of the persons in applicants neighbourhood by whom
he can prove the reputation in the neighborhood of his
having been a soldier of the Revolution and who can testify to his character & veracity are Carr Terry, Curtis
Terry, James M. Loftis, Abraham Buck, Henry
Bullington, Joseph Lacock, Isaac Whitaker & Montgomery Kinnard.
No clergyman lives in his neighbourhood -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or
annuity except the present; and declares that his name is
not on the pension roll of the agency of any State -
One and the principal reason why applicant did not apply
sooner for a pension under said act of Congress, is that he expected
to procure the evidence of Annanias Allen of Jackson
County Alabama who came from Burke County North
Carolina and was acquainted with Applicant both in
said County of Burke & in this county -Applicant made
an attempt to procure his affidavit and failed as he
thinks through a mistake in Allen sending an affidavit
in favour of applicants Brother - and before he
procured another, Allen died - Applicant did not know
that he could procure the affidavit of Richard Heron
until within about three months. Heron lives about
15 or 16 miles from applicant - John Dowel
& John Terry a Justice of the Peace for said County of Jackson
and State of Tennessee do hereby certify that the foregoing declaration
was carefully read over to the applicant John Dowel
and that he subscribed the same in my presence at his own
house in said County of Jackson and was sworn to the same by
and before me according to laws I further certify that said
John Dowel resides 16 miles from the seat of Justice of said
County and that owing to his age and bodily infirmity he
is unable to appear in Court and cannot attend the court -
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I further certify that I am well acquainted with said
applicant and reside about one mile from him and that in
my opinion he is of the age mentioned in the foregoing declaration.
I further certify that I propounded to him the following
interrogatories - 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, & where
do you now live? 4 How were you called into service; were
you draughted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute,
and is 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 service - 6 Did you ever receive a discharge
from the service, and if so by whom was it given and what
has become of it? 7 State the names of persons to whom you
are known in your present neighbourhood and who
can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your
services as a soldier of the Revolution - The answers to
the foregoing questions are embodied in the foregoing declaration -
And from the answers given as above I am of
opinion that he served as stated in said declaration -
February 3rd 1851 -
John Terry (seal)
Justice of the peace for Jackson Cty
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

April 6, 1927

Summers Hardy
705 Sinclair Bldg.,
Tulsa, Okla.

Sir:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 3059 it appears that John
Dowell was born in 1764 in Albemarle County, Virginia.

He applied for pension February 3, 1851 while living 
in Jackson County, Tennessee and stated that while a resident
of Burke County, North Carolina he enlisted in December 1779
and served two months as private in Captain Peter Ford's
North Carolina Company, and enlisted again in September 1780
in Burke County, North Carolina under Captain John Sumter,
marched to South Carolina and there placed in Captain McKinzie's Company, Colonel Wade Hampton's Regiment under General
Sumter and served ten months.

His claim was never completed, due to his having applied
at such a late date and his inability to furnish proof of his
alleged services as was required by the pension laws, owing to
the death of witnesses with whom he had served.

It is not stated whether he was ever married.
Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.

[partially illegible handwritten note in the left margin]

& in the  Claim of this soldier 's bro   Geo.  it is stated
that they served this 10 months together Hence
this letter is written in this way John's affidavit 
in George's claim
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38.180
______
John Dowell,

Tennessee
3oJq
Act June 7, 1832

[writing in right margin is illegible]
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November 9, 1936.
Mr. Paul E. Dowell
BRush Creek Public School
Brush Creek, Tennessee.
RA-J/ILL
John Dowell
R. 3059
Thomas Dowell
W.C. 3254
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the revolutionary War records of John and William Dowell, who served in the Revolutionary War, and Thomas and Ambrose Dowell who served in the War of 1812, all of whom lived in Albemarle County, Virginia.
There are no claims for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary Was of a William Dowell of Virginia, nor for service in the War of 1812 of any Ambrose Dowell. The records of John Dowell who served in the Revolutionary Wat and that of Thomas Do well who served in the War of 1812 are furnished here in as found in pension claims based upon their service in said wars.
JOHN DOWELL-R. 3059.
John Dowell was born in the year 1764, in Albemarle County, Virginia; the names of his parents were not given.
He lived during the Revolutionary War in Burke County, North Carolina, Afterwards lived in Cumberland County, Kentuky, from which state he moved to Tennessee, living in Overton, Smith and Jackson Counties in said state.
John Dowell applied Febuary 3, 1851, while a resident of Jackson County, Tennessee, for the pension which might have been due on account of his service in the Revolutionary War. He stated then that, while a resident of Burke County, North carolina, he enlisted in December 1779, and served two months as private in September 1780, in said Burke County, under Captain John Sumter, marched to South carolina,
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and there placed in Captain lickinsie's company, Colonel Wade Hampton's regiment under General Sumter and served ten months.
His claim for pansion was never completed, because of his having applied at such a late date and his inability to furnish proof of his service by his comrades who were then dead.
John Dowell referred to his brother, but did not state his name. He made no reference to wife or children.
------------
Thomas Dowell -W.C> 3254.
Thomas Dowell enlisted in Albemarle County, Virginia, and served from August 29,1814 to Febuary 6, 1815 as a private in Captain McCullock's (McCullough's) company of Virginia militia.
January 6, 1851, the soldier applied for the bounty land which was due on account of his service in the War of 1812; he was then a resident of Albemarle County, Virginia, and gave his age as sixty-six years. On this application, he was allowed 80 acres of bounty land on warrent #30714, under the Act of 1850. He applied March 23,1855, for additional bounty land under the subsequent Act of 1855; on this second application. He was allowed 80 acres of bounty land on warrant #7609. In 1855, he gave his age as sixty-eight years. He did not state the date and place of his birth, nor the names of his parents.
Thomas Dowell died November 26, 1869 in Albemarle County, Virginia.
The soldier married May 6, 1813 in Albemarle County, Virginia, Frances Collins; the names of her parents and the date of her birth were not stated.
Frances Dowell, the soldier's widow, was allowed pansion on her application executed March 9, 1872. She was then aged eighty-five
2.
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years. Frances Dowell was living then near Stony Point, in Albemarle County, Virginia.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name of person paid, and, possibly, the date of death of Frances Dowell, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following:
Frances Dowell, widow of Thomas Dowell,
Certificate #3254
Issued July 13,1872
Rate $8 per month
Commenced Febuary 14, 1871
Act of Febuary 14, 1871
Virginia Agency.
If you desire information regarding location [illegible] granted Thomas Dowell on account of his service in the War of 1812, you should apply to the Commissioner, General Land Office, this city and furnish that official the numbers of warrants, acreage, and Acts, as given in this letter.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
3.
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Brush Creek Public School
Paul E. Dowell, Principal
BRUSH CREEK, TENNESSEE
October 17, 1936
Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs:
In an effort to trace the decendents of John Dowell, emigrant from Great Britain who died it is believed sometime during the Revolutionary War, I find that he left at least four sons who, to my knowledge served in the wars as designated: William Dowell, served in Revolutionary War as private in Captain George McCarmick's Company, 13th Virginia Regiment, also designated 9th Virginia Regiment, late promoted to corporal, transferred to Colonel' Campbell's Company, same Regiment, and later promoted to lieutenant.
Thomas Dowell served in the War of 1812 as a private on Captain Joseph R. Gilbert's Company, attached to the 6th Regiment (Coleman's) Virginia Militia.
Ambrose Dowell served in the War of 1812 as a private in Captain Reuben Herndon's Company, Stapleton Crutchfield's Detachment Virginia Hilitia, stationed at Hampton.
John Dowell is not shown as having a soldier's record but may have been a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
These sons evidently lived in or near the present site of Albermarle County, Virginia, before these wars, and I presume, were recuited from that section.
Any information which might be obtained from the Veterans Admnistration as to the reccords, ages, families, places of residence, or other items of personal or family history concerning these or other Dowells will be appreciated.
Respectfully yours,
Paul E. Dowell
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REJECTED
3059
John Dowell

1927. Apr. 6 - Hist to
Sunners Hardy See
his letter in cl of
Geo. Dowell, S.32222
1936-No. 9. Hist to Paul E. Dowell
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official business Wm Cullom
Hon L. P.  Waldo
Com of pensions
Washington City
D C 

[vertical]
John Dowell
Ten -  [illegible] 1832


Hon Wm Cullom
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Gainesboro Ten
Apl 9th

(John Dowels applicate for Pension)   free

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
(D Ca)

[vertical]

38180
April 21 1851
John Dowel
Decl of
Gainesboro 
Tennessee

[illegible]

original
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COPY
July 7, 1851
John Dowell, Esq.,
Gainesboro, Tenn.
Sir: Your application for a pension under the Act of June 7, 1832 has been received. You must know that claims preferred at this late day are necessarily examined with great caution. It is difficult to procure the testimony of those who themselves served in the Revolution, but as the difficulty arises from the voluntary neglect of the claiment it does not operate as a reason why such evidence should not be required. your claim, therefore, cannot be amitted unless you shall prove the amount of your services by some who themselves were engaged in it. The vauge recollection of a mere boy as to the time of entering and leaving it weighs nothing. In addition to the oral testimony required, you must produce the certificate of the Comptroller of North Carolina showing what payments were made you.  it would seem indeed that your officers were in the South Carolina service, but the place of your enlistment is inconsistent with such a supposition, and you will be required to show by what means you entered the service of that state while you resided in North Carolina.
Triplett
F.S. Evane, for Comr.
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Hon. Wm Cullon
Feb. 13/33
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Pension Office,
February 13, 1855
Sir,
In reply to the letter of Mr. John
Dowell, communicated by you, and
which is herewith returned, I have the
honor to enclose the copy of a letter to
him dated July 8, 1857, which will inform
you of the condition of his claim. No
evidence has since been filed.
Very respectfully
RC

Hon. Wm Cullom
House of Reps
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Washington City
Feby 9th 1855
Hon L. P. Waldo
Dear Sir
enclosed you will find the letter of
John Dowell of Tennessee a Revolutionary
soldier which I enclose to aid you
in finding his papers which I hope you
will be enabled to do and report condition
to me immediately & return the
letter to me Mr Dowell I know from
the tradition of the country to have been
a soldier of the Revolution and a
meritorious citizen and I bespeak
an Early Examination of his case as
he has already been long delayed
yours truly
Wm Cullom
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38180
John Dowel
[illegible]
Act 7 June 1832

Claimant
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State of Tennessee
County of Jackson
On this 3rd day of February 1857 the County Court of the
County of Jackson aforesaid being in session at the Court house
of said County, said court being a court of record, the original
declaration of John Dowel made and sworn to before John
Terry a Justice of the Peace for said County, and one of the
Justices of said Court, in order to obtain the benefit of the
act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 was produced in
open Court when the following affidavits was duly
sworn to in open Court
We Curtis Terry and Henry Bullington residing in said
County of Jackson and State of Tennessee hereby certify that we
are well acquainted with John Dowel who has subscribed and
sworn to the foregoing declaration, before John Terry a
Justice of the Peace for said County; and that we believe
him to be 87 years of age, that he is reputed and believed
in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a
soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in
that opinion.
Henry Bullington
his X mark
Curtis Terry
Sworn to and subscribed in open court
day and year aforesaid
S.W. Cassetty Clerk

I Richard Heron aged 83 years residing in the County of
DeKalb in the State of Tennessee hereby certify on oath that
I was well acquainted with John Dowel in Burke County in
the State of North Carolina during the war of the Revolution
and I am still acquainted with said Dowel who now
resides in the County of Jackson State of Tennessee who has
subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration before
John Terry a Justice of the Peace for said County of
Jackson. That said John Dowel entered the service of the
United States to serve against the British and it was understood
generally in the neighbourhood that he went as a soldier to
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the State of South Carolina I saw him about the time
he set out and saw him when he returned he was
absent about two or three months - it was then reported
and generally believed in the neighbourhood of said
County of Burke that he had served a tour of duty
in the service of the United States against the British
We both then lived in said County of Burk, I was then
a boy about 9 or 10 years of age and do not know
under what officer he served. I think it was in the
spring of the year when he returned. I have seen a
Captain Sumpter in Burke County aforesaid enlisting
or trying to enlist soldiers and said John Dowel some
time after he returned from the War the first time,
enlisted under Captain Sumpter, I think he remained
at home during the Summer after he returned the first
time from the war before he enlisted under Sumpter. I
saw him leave home the second time to serve in South
Carolina as it was said. He was absent this time
when he enlisted about ten months, I understood
he enlisted to serve ten months. Said John Dowel and
I lived in the same house - I have stated what I recollect
I wish I could remember the time better - I frequently
heard him after he returned from the war talk
about this having served - I heard him say when
he returned the first time, that he had been to
Charleston - I heard it frequently talked about his having been
in the war against the British - I never heard it contradicted -
I now live about 15 miles from said Dowel.
Richard Heron
his X mark

Sworn to and subscribed in
open Court this 3rd day of February 1857 -
J.W. Cassetty Clerk
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after
the investigation of the matter, that the above named
applicant was a soldier of the Revolution, and served as
he states. And the Court further certifies that Curtis
Terry Henry Bullington and Richard Heron who
have subscribed and sworn to the foregoing statements
are credible persons, and that their statements are
entitled to credit. said Curtis Terry & Henry Bullington
reside in the neighbourhood of said applicant, and
said Richard Heron resides in DeKalb County near
the County line of said County of Jackson. And we
further certify that John Terry whose name is signed
to the certificate of the foregoing declaration is a Justice of the
Peace for said County of Jackson and a Justice of this Court
and that his signature is genuine.
and the
Peter G Cox
Austin H. Morgan
William Gosser
Louis Fletcher

State of Tennessee
Jackson County
I Sampson W Cassetty Clerk of
the County Court of Jackson County do herby
certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the
application of John Dowel for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal
of office this 3d day of
February AD. 1851
Sampson W Cassetty Clerk