Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 21676, for James Mc Dowell, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(3-1776)
Service: Penn

McDowell, or McDowel, James
Elizabeth 

Number R. 21676


CONTENTS
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State of Pennsylvania 
Westmoreland County ss. 
Before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid personally appeared John L Campbell  a resident of the County aforesaid who on his solemn oath says That he was well acquainted with the late James McDowell Esq and with his widow Elizabeth McDowell the present applicant That Deponent is now in the sixty third year of his age and has resided all his life as their neighbours. That the said James McDowell and Elizabeth lived together and were reputed as man and wife from the Earliest acquaintance Deponent had with them until the death of the said James McDowell That they raised a large family of children the Eldest of whom John McDowell is over sixty two years of age. That Deponent has often heard the family state That the family record of births marriages and deaths contained in an old bible was lost and destroyed accidentally at the Death of James McDowell Deponent further states that he had frequent conversations with the said James McDowell during his lifetime in relation to his services during the Revolutionary War. That the said James stated to Deponent that he was in the Campaign against the Indians under General Han [Hand] that from the year 1778 to the year seventeen hundred and Eighty three he was engaged in the service of the Government at Fort Ligonier. That he had assisted to build Fort Ligonier Deponent
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also recollects of the said James McDowell frequently speaking of a tour of duty he performed in the spring of Seventeen hundred and Seventy Seven when he marched from Ligonier valley Westmoreland County Pennsylvania to Amboy New Jersey in Capt Shannons Company That the said James McDowell further stated that the said Company was attached to Col John Procter Detachment That the said James McDowell further stated that his whole term of service in the Revolutionary war amounted to over three years Deponent further states That the said James McDowell died in the twenty seventh of January Eighteen hundred and twenty nine and that his widow Elizabeth the present applicant remains a widow and is still unmarried That the said James McDowell was generally reputed in the neighborhood as Revolutionary soldier - That Deponent has often heard him and other Revolutionary soldiers speak of their Campaigns - That the said James was a man of great respectability of character and that he the present Deponent is uninterested in the present application 
Sworn to & subscribed before   ) John Campbell [signature] 
me this 2nd day of January 1852 
Saml Hood
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I hereby certify that John L Campbell who makes the foregoing affidavit is a man of good repute for truth and veracity 
Saml Wood
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State of Pennsylvania 
Westmoreland County ss
On this Sixteenth -- day of April -- A.D one thousand Eight hundred and fifty one personally appeared before the undersigned one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County Elisabeth - McDowell a resident of Westmoreland County Pennsylvania aged Eighty two- years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the Benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4 AD. 1836  That she is the widow of James McDowell who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war  That her said Husband performed in the said war the following services viz. He was a private soldier in Capt Samuel Shannon’s Company and marched in the said Company from Westmoreland County to Amboy New Jersey  The said Company was attached to Col. John Procter's Detachment  This service was performed in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy Seven-  That in the following ^year^ he was in the United States service for three months at Fort[crossed out] building Fort Ligonier in Westmoreland County  That in Seventeen hundred And Seventy Eight he was engaged for six weeks from the month of February in an Expedition against the Indians Expedition commanded by General Hann [Hand]  That during the summers of Seventeen hundred and Seventy Eight Seventy Eight, Seventy nine, Eighty, Eighty one Eighty two And Eighty three the said James McDowell was Engaged in the service of the United States at Fort Ligonier Westmoreland County during a portion of which time he had the command of the said Fort  That the whole term of service of the said James McDowell during the Revolutionary War accounted to Three years and two    Deponent learnt the facts above stated from her husband and from his companions who were Engaged in the United States Service at the same time - She further declares that she was married to the said James McDowell on the Sixteenth day of April in the year one thousand seven hundred & 87 that her husband the aforesaid James McDowell died on the twenty ^Seventh^ day of January in the year of our one thousand 8 hundred & 29 and that she has remained a widow ever since
(over)
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that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed 
Sworn to and subscribed before     Elisabeth her Mark Mcdowell
me the day & year first above written
John Moorhead

Westmoreland County 
I John Moorhead -- One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid Do hereby certify that Elisabeth McDowell the above affiant, a woman of good repute for truth & veracity and that the foregoing declaration was made before me out of Court She being unable from bodily infirmity to attend Court, 
John Moorhead
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State of Pennsylvania Westmoreland County ss
Before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace
for the County aforesaid personally appeared
Margaret Best who in her solemn oath says
that she is now in the Seventy second
of her age - That she was well acquainted
 with James McDowell Esq
formerly of Ligonier Valley and with his
Widow Elizabeth McDowell - That se
lived within three miles of the said
James McDowell for between thirty and
forty years. That she has frequently
heard the said James M Dewell speak
of his services in the Revolutionary war
in Capt Samuel Shannon’s Company
and of his services rendered at Fort
Ligonier. That she distinctly remembers
conversations between the said
James McDowell and other Revolutionary
 soldiers concerning their service
in the Revolutionary War. Of the time
Shannon’s Company went down to
what they called the “Camps” and
of the Ash Swamp Battle in which 
they were engaged - That the said
James McDowell and Elizabeth
his wife were married in or about the
year Seventeen hundred and Eighty
Seven - About a year after our family
came from Virginia. Her maiden name 
was Elizabeth Kerns. I was not present
 at the wedding but recollect of the fact
 of their being married. They lived together
 as man and wife for many years & raised
 a large family. Esqr McDowell was a Justice
 of the peace and Elder in the Church and a man 
of great respectability of character and was generally reputed in the neighborhood as a Revolutionary
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Revolutionary Soldier by all his neighbours
and spoken of as such.
Margaret Best her mark

Sworn to and subscribed this 20th
February 1852 before me
Simon Detar J. Peace

I do hereby certify that Margaret Best who
makes the foregoing affidavit is a woman of
 Respectability and Go[o]d repute for Veracity
Simon Detar J.P.
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Pennsylvania Westmoreland County ss
Before the subscriber a Justice of the
Peace for the County aforesaid personally
appeared John McDowell and Sarah
Aushaw who on their solemn oaths
say that they are the children of the
late James McDowell Esq and the present 
applicant for a Pension Elizabeth McDowell.
That their ages are as follows James McDowell aged
seventy seven years, Sarah Aushaw aged forty six
years. That their eldest brother John McDowell is aged sixty three years. That they always understood from their
parents that the above were their ages. That their parents
 had nine Children. Deponent further state that the family
record contained in a family bible was worn out and accidentally destroyed owing to the age of the Bible
at the death of their father .
Sarah Aushaw
John Mc Dowell
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 8th day of May
A D. 1851 and I hereby certify that the above Deponents
are persons of good repute for truth and veracity
Saml Hood J. P.
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(3-224.)
No. 21.676 
Reoy
..................., Ex'r.
REJECTED (stamped)
OLD WAR WIDOW
Elizabeth McDowell (check mark over the last l in McDowell) of Pen (with a lower case raised n)
Widow of James McDowell
(Next line a bunch of words crossed out)
Died at ................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................other claim.
................................................................................................................................................................................................................,18  ,  ....................................................................
                                                                 Clerk.

Application filed: .........................................,18   .
Attorney: ............................................................................
P.O. ......................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................................................
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The Petition of
Elizabeth McDowell
Widow of James McDowell
of Penn’a a soldier of the
Revolution praying for a
Pension
July 28 1852 -
Refer'd to Comm’r on Invalid Pen’s
-
Mr Kuhn of Penn’a
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No. 7.811
Elizabeth McDowell
Widow of James
Penn
Let to Hon Jos. H. Kuhns June 14 / 62
Same, July 21 1862
Act July 4 1836
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Sir
The papers within referred
to are or ought to be on
file in the Pension Office
for I sent them in myself
on the 24th Feb last & on
or before the 17th June last.
They were acted upon &
the result communicated
to me in writing by Com’r
of Pensions
Very respectfully
Jos. H. Kuhns
Ho of Reps 16 July 52
F.F.C. Triplet Esq
for [Com’r?]
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Pension Office
July 14th, 1852
Sir,
In reply to your letter of yesterday asking for the
papers in support of the pension claim of the widow
of James McDowell of Penn & I have the honor to inform 
you none such are on file in this Office, nor have
we been able to find any evidence that she ever applied
His papers show that he was pensioned under the
Act of 7th June 1832 at the rate of $53.33 per annum.
Very respect'ly
Your Obt. St
F F C Triplet
for commissioner

Hon J. H Kuhns
H. of Reps
Kirby
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Ho of Reps US
July 13 1852

Hon J. E. Heath
Commr of Pensions
Sir
Please send me the papers on file in your
Office in in the matter of the application of the Widow
of James McDowell of Westmoreland County Penn’a
for a Pension &c for the services of her late husband as a
Revolutionary Soldier
Very respectfully
Jos. H. Kuhns
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No 8114 B.C.      £ 3.10.00. Specie
I do hereby certify, that the State of Pennsylvania is
indebted to James McDowell of Westmor’d Co. Militia
in the sum of three pounds, ten shillings Specie,
with lawful interest from the first day of July one
thousand seven hundred and eighty three; the same
being due upon an account settled in this Office-
Pursuant to an Act of Assembly passed the first day of
April 1784.
Jno Nicholson
Comptroller Generals Office
21 Decem, 1785-

Auditor Generals Office
Harrisburg Feby 4 1851
I certify the above to be a true copy of the original
on file in this Department.
Witness my hand and Seal
of office, the date aforesaid
John N Purviance
Aud Gen
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Certificate of
John Campbell Sen[r]
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State of Pennsylvania Westmoreland County ss 
This 23rd day of -
January A.D. 1851 personally appeared
before me Saml Hood a Justice of the peace
in and for said County John Campbell Sen
and after being sworn according to Law doth say that
James McDowell of Westmoreland County was in the
War of 1777 and at the time I was with him at
what is called Fort Ligonier. he was under Capt Sam’l
Shannon for a year or more and I know that
 James McDowell was with Capt Shannon to the Jersey
 line and to grave Creek below Wheeling but how long
he was in these two expeditions I do not know. and I know
that James & Elizabeth McDowell lived together as
husband and wife and raised a respectable family
and Elizabeth McDowell is yet the surviving widow of
James McDowell
John Campbell Senr
Sworn & subscribed before me 
the day and year above Written
Saml Hood
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No. 7.811
Elizabeth McDowell
Widow of James
Pa
Act 4 July 1836
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State of Pennsylvania Westmoreland County ss
Before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace for
the County aforesaid personally appeared
Thomas B. Campbell a resident of the County
aforesaid who on his solemn oath says that
he was well acquainted with the late James
McDowell Esq and with his wife Elizabeth
McDowell who is now making application
for the Benefit of the Pension Laws
That Deponent is now in the fifty Eighth
year of his age and resided all his life as their neighbor.
That the said James McDowell and Elizabeth
lived together as man and wife and were reputed as man and wife from the time that Deponent first remembered them until the death of said James McDowell. That they raised
a large family of children the eldest of whom
John McDowell is over sixty two years of age.
That Deponent has frequently heard the family
State that the family record contained in an
old bible was lost and destroyed accidentally
at the death of James McDowell. Deponent further states that he had frequent conversations with the said James
McDowell during his life time in relation to his services during the Revolutionary War. That he stated to Deponent that he was in the Campaign against the Indians under General Hand. That from the year 1778 to the Seventeen hundred and eighty three he was Engaged in the service of the Government at Fort Ligonier. That he had assisted to Build Fort Ligonier. Deponent also recollects of the said James McDowell frequently speaking of a tour of duty he performed as
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Spring of Seventeen hundred and seventy
seven, when he marched from Ligonier
Valley Westmoreland County Pennsylvania
to Amboy in New Jersey - in Cap’t
Shannon’s Company.  That the said
James McDowell further stated that
the said Company was attached to
Col. John Procter's Detachment.
That the said James McDonell further
stated that his whole term of service
in the Revolutionary war amounted to
over three years. Deponent further
States that the said James McDowell
died on the twenty seventh day of January
Eighteen hundred and twenty nine and
that his widow Elizabeth the present
applicant remains a widow and is 
still unmarried. Deponent further
states that the said James McDowell
was generally reputed in the neighborhood as a
Revolutionary soldier. That Deponent has frequently
heard him and other Revolutionary Soldiers Speak of
their campaigns. That the said James McDowell was
 a man of the highest respectability & character. That
he held for many years the office of Justice of the
Peace and for over twenty years was an Elder in
the Presbyterian Church. Deponent further states that he is no relation to the above applicant & has no interest whatever
in the above application.
Thomas B Campbell
Sworn to & subscribed before me
this 8th day of May AD 1851
Saml Hood J.P.
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I hereby certify that Thomas B
Campbell who makes the 
foregoing affidavit is a man of good repute
for truth and veracity.
Sam’l Hood

State of Pennsylvania Westmoreland County ss
I Andrew Graham Prothonotary of the Court of Common
 Pleas of the County aforesaid Do hereby certify
that Hon John Moorhead before whom one of the aforegoing affidavits was made and who has thereunto
subscribed his name was at the date of the making
thereof one of the associate Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas of Westmoreland County duly commissioned and
Sworn. And that Samuel Hood Esqr and Simon Delan Esq before whom other of the aforegoing affidavits
were made were at the date of the making thereof
acting Justices of the Peace for the County aforesaid
 duly commissioned and Sworn.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal of my 
office at Greensburgh this 20th day of 
February A.D. 1852.
A. Graham Prot
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To the Honorable the Senate and House of
Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
in General assembly met, the petition of James
McDowell of Donegall Township in the County of
Westmoreland humbly sheweth.
That whereas your humble petitioner 
is far advanced in life and is very infirm
and debilitated in Body (and also his helpmate
Frail and Debilitated) and petitioner being one of the
old Revolutionary Servents who was in different
campaigns and town Duty in the service of Defence of his
country during the Revolutionary war. My first
campaign from my present Residence to Amboy commencing in January 1777 and returned to Ligonier
in April. In October following your petitioner was
called into actual Service to assist to build a fort
at Ligonier which continued three months. February 1778 was again called into service on the Campaign
commanded by General Han, against the Indians
which continued six weeks.  And from this time
your petitioner was in actual service in fort Ligonier
every summer till the year 1783, and also part of the
time had the command of Fort Ligonier for which
your petitioner has not been compensated. The time
your petitioner has been in actual service would
appear to be three years and two months from
the above statements, and also the confidence reposed
in your Honorable Body. I submit the above to
your most faithful Deliberations, in confidence
that you will consider the cause of your petitioner
and grant that Relief you in your wisdom shall
think meet and your Petitioner as Duty will
Pray &c.

Westmoreland County SS.
Personally came before me one of the Commonwealth’s Justices of the Peace in and for said
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County. James McDowell, and being duly sworn
as Law directs, deposeth and saith, that the time
of Actual Service above written in the petition is
just and true to the best of said Deponent’s knowledge.  Witness my hand this 6th February 1827.
James McLean

We the Subscribers whose names are hereto
annexed do certify that James McDowell of
Donegall Township in the County of Westmoreland
hath to our certain knowledge performed the
Different services mentioned in his petition in
the Revolutionary war, amounting to three years
and Two months. This we do certify given under
our hands this Twentieth day of Feb. 1827
Wm. McDowell
Thomas Campbell Senr
William Carrier

I do certify that  the above is full and correct
copy of the petition and documents of James
McDowell, now in the files of the House of
Representatives
Wm Jack
Clerk of the House of Representatives
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D. Edward Cook Cont’d
Capt. Samuel Shannon’s Comp’y

8108 Samuel Shannon £ 16.0.0
8109 Thomas Campbell 10.3.4
8110 Robert McDowell 10.3.4
8111 George McDowell 8.10
8112 George Glenn 3.10
8113 William Galbraith 3.10
8114 James McDowell 3.10 

Auditor General’s Office
Harrisburg Feby 4 1851.
I Certify the above to be a true
Extract from funded Debt Book
B. page 46. pertaining to the
Revolutionary war and on file
in this Office.
Witness my hand and
seal of office the date aforesaid
John N. Purviance -
Aud Gen
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State of Pennsylvania Westmoreland County 
Before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace
for the County aforesaid personally
appeared John S Campbell, Robt Campbell,
Robt Ewing and Rebecca Campbell
who on their solemn oaths say that the
Husband of Elizabeth McDowell who is 
now applying for a pension, James
McDowell Esq was generally reputed
in his lifetime as a Revolutionary soldier,
And as such was considered by
other Revolutionary Soldiers and by
the people generally.
Jackie S Campbell
Robt Campbell
Robert Ewing
 Rebecca Campbell her mark

Sworn to and subscribed
before me this 8th day of May
A D. 1851 and I hereby
certify that the above
Deponents are persons of
good repute for truth
and veracity. 
Saml Hood J P