Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 10,750, Alexander Gowdy, Conn.
Page 1

SERVICE
Conn.

Gowdy, Alexander

NUMBER
S 10.750

carded
Page 2

[left side]
See letter to Wm G. Bates Oct 26 1836 0 80.6 pane & P Agt 11 Nov 1826
Letter to W. G. Bates 29 Sept 1837
Letter to W. G. Bates 7 Oct 1837
Order to pay 7 Oct 1837

Letter to W. G. Bates 15 March 1838
" Pension Agent 15th March 1838

Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6th April 1838
from 4 March 1838 to 2 Sept 1838, the day of his death 
agt notified 5 June 1839.

Dead

[right side]
6014

Connecticut
Alexander Gowdy
the State of Connecticut
who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Wales of the Reg commanded by Col Chapman in the Conn line for 12 mo Private    $40.00

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 40 Dollars per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd day of Feb 1833 and sent to L. T. Pean [illegible]

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832   $60.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 1833  $20.00
___________
$80.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Vinal Luce Clerk,
Book D Vol. 3 Page 44
Page 3

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
State of Connecticut
County of Hartford
Probate District of Enfield
On the 16th day of November 1832 Personally appeared in open Court before Wm Dixon Esq judge of the court of Probate for the district afore now sitting Alexander Gowdy a Resident of Enfield in the County of Hartford in the State of Connecticut aged seventy one 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That in the year 1777 he was residing in the town of Stafford in the state of Connecticut with one Jonathan Burroughs as an apprentice to Learn the Trade of Cloth dressing that in the latter part of March or for part of April of that year S Burroughs was Drafted from a Company of Militia in S town of Stafford to serve at New London in S State. that at the request of S Burroughs he the S Gowdy offered to serve as a substitute for S Burroughs. that he was accepted as such & immediately marched to New London in a Company commanded by a Capt Wales of Union in S State. he does not recollect the Christian name of S Capt. that John Prentice of Somers was Lieut and Abner Wood of Stafford was Ensign. that the Regiment in which he served was commanded by a Col Chapman of Tolland. that he was stationed at the Southerly part of New London near Fort Trumbull. that most of the company were dismissed & returned home at the Expiration of two months. that
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Lieut. Prentice & a few men in the Company among he the S Gowdy was and agreed to continue in the Service another month. that he did the service and at the Expiration thereof the new drafts came in. he then immediately agreed with a man by the name of Alden who came in among the new drafts to serve as a substitute for him for the term of three months that he was accepted as such & served as a substitute for Alden a further term of three months in a company commanded by a Lieut Wood in a Regiment Commanded by a Col Jones of Hebron in S State. that at the Expiration of S six months service he did not return to the service of Burroughs in Stafford but went home to Somers his native Town. where he continued until Sept 1778 when he was drafted from a Company of Militia in S Somers to serve again at New London that he immediately marched there in a Company commanded by a Capt Felt that he does not recollect the names of the other commissioned officers of the Company that the Regiment was commanded by a Col Porter of Hadly in the state of Massachusetts that he served there this town the term of three months & was stationed in the town during the whole time. That in the summer of the year 1780 he again entered the service. he now served as a substitute for a man by the name of Wallace of Ellington in S State. that S Wallace was drafted to serve as one of the Guard over the Refugee  Prisoners at New Gate Prison in S State. that he took the place of Wallace & served as one of the Guard of S Prison for the term of three months a part of the time under a Lieut Sheldon of Suffield & the residue under a Lieut Thrall of Windsor. he now received a written discharge from the service and knows of no documentary evidence of the service he cannot recollect nor has he any means accertaining
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the precise time of the beginning or ending of either of the four terms of service mentioned. but he has no doubt that he served the full twelve months in the whole. that he served the whole time as a Private. that he was born in Somers in the county of Tolland in the state of Connecticut Feb 3 1760 he believes his birth is recorded in the Town Records of Somers. he resided in Stafford when first called into the service & in Somers afterwards as mentioned before. he continued to reside in S Somers for many years after the Revolutionary War. he then removed to Russell in the county of Hampden & state of Massachusetts when he continued untill a few weeks since when he came to reside with a daughter in said Enfield where he now resides. that his present residence in S Enfield is less than a mile from his former residence in S Somers. and that he was equally well known & acquainted in both Towns when he resided in Somers. that there is no clergyman to whom he is known who can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution. but that there are a great number of Persons in his present neighborhood to whom he is well known & who can so testify. He knows but one person living whom he recollects as having served with him at either term of service. Zerah Kibbe now living in S Somers served with him the first three months at New London. he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any state.
Alexander Gowdy

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year afore
Wm. Dixon, Judge
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I certify that Alonso Barth whose signature is affixed to a certificate hereto annexed in his own proper hand is Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Enfield duly appointed & sworn according to Law.
Wm. Dixon Judge
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS

Record Division 
Revolutionary War Records Section

Washington, D.C., Apl 26, 1922

In reply to your request of ........., received .......
for a statement of the military history of Alex. Gowdy a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. 10750

[column titles]
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
LENGTH OF SERVICE.
RANK.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
STATE.

Mar or Apl 1777; 3 mos.; Pvt.; Captain Wales; Colonel Chapman; Conn.
Immediately after; 3 mos; Lieut Wood; Colonel Jones
Sept 1778; 3 mos; Captain Felt; Colonel Porter
Summer 1780; 3 mos; Guard; at New Gate Prison

Battles engaged in, none stated

Residence of soldier at enlistment, Stafford & Somers, Conn.

Date of application for pension, Nov 16, 1832 al.

Residence at date of application, Enfield Hartford Co, Conn.

Age at date of application, b. Feb 3 1760 in Somers, Tolland Co. Conn d. Sept 2 1838

Remarks: In 1832 he lived with a daughter, he had children living in Russell and Granville Mass and Enfield and Lebanon Conn. No names are stated, nor that of wife.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 8

[left side]
Dec 26 1902
Geo D. Bradley
Stonington Con.

June 1 1905 Histy to 
Mrs O. P. Park
New Bedford Mass

1922 Apl 26 hist to Miss Virginia E. Place E

1924 Nov 15 Hist to Mrs B. H. Thornton 

[right side]
Rev War
10750
INVALID

FILE NO. 10,750
Alexander Gowdy
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7 1832

Index: - Vol. A, Page 146

(Arrangement of 1870.)
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Zerah Kibbe of Somers in the county of Tolland & state of Connecticut of lawful age, testify & say that I was before & during the Revolutionary War & am now well acquainted with, Alexander Gowdy, now residing in Enfield in the county of Hartford in said state of Connecticut. That in the year 1777 and early in the spring of that year I believe in the month of April the said Gowdy went to New London in said state & served there as a private in Capt Wales company of drafted militia for the term of three months. He served in a regiment commanded by a Col Chapman of Tolbans. John Prentice of Somers was Lieut and Abner Wood of Stafford was Ensign. I well recollect that said Gowdy served the full term of three months. That a part of the company were dismissed at the end of two months. That said Gowdy & myself were among them that remained for three months. That I then went home & left said Gowdy in the service and how much longer he continued in the service I know not. & further this deponent saith not.
Zerah Kibbe

State of Connecticut
County of Hartford
Probate District of Enfield}Ss.
On this 16th day of Nov 1832 Then personally appeared in open court before Wm. Dixon Esq Judge of the Court of Probate for the district aforesaid, Zera Kibbe who subscribed his name tot he foregoing deposition and made solemn oath to the truth of the same.
Wm. Dixon Judge
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I, Thomas Day, Secretary of the State of Connecticut, and keeper of the Seal thereof do hereby certify and make known to whom it doth or may concern.
That William Dixon Esquire, whose name is subscribed in his proper hand writing to the foregoing certificate, is, and or more shall shall be meant last past, has been Judge of the Court of Probate within and for the Probate District of Enfield in this state, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified, that said court is a court of record and consists of said Judge also having a proper seal belonging thereto, with power to administer the oaths to witnesses touching all matters [illegible] said court with power also to appoint and swear a clerk, and that full faith and credit may and right to be given to the official acts and attestations of the said Judge in court and country.
In testimony whereof, I have, in my capacity of Secretary of aforesaid, hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said state, at the city of Hartford in said state, the 13th day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three.
Thomas Day
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Second Comptroller's Office

May 18th, 1839

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838 entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States,". The children of Alexander Gowdy, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Connecticut Agency, at the rate of forty Dollars {"and cents" crossed out] per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March, 1838, to the 2nd Sept, 1838, the day of his death.
Respectfully, yours,
J. Seaver
Acting Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
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Free

Hon. J. L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

[sideways]
Oct 6
Mr. Evans
Page 13

Westfield, Hampden Co.
[illegible] Oct 2 1837

Sir:
In favor of the 29th alt enclosing regulations & form requested by mine of 23 Sept is recd & for the enclosure I am such indebted to you [illegible].
You also enclose the papers of Mr Gowdy, & remark that they are returned as not in accordance with the regulations of the department, as Mr. Gowdy, is a pensioner on the Connecticut Roll.
May I again trouble you to send me the instructions necessary to enable me to correct the claim, as I am ignorant of it, I then you enclosed containing nothing upon the subject, except a reference to Note B.
I will remark that the same Mr. Gowdy forwarded his power, [illegible] executed the last year, & you returned it with the objection that his signature was not genuine. I then forwarded to you my affidavit explaining the circumstances, in that he was unable to write, & you replied that the explanation was
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satisfactory & forwarded the [illegible] order for the payment. Mr. Gowdy also informed me that he had repeatedly drawn his pension from Hartford; since he has resided in Russell but he would be obliged to be transferred to the Boston agency.
I am sorry to vie you further trouble in this business but the very title of it was have to do in your possession must be an error for an inaquaintance with the parent of the deposeth.
I am Sir
with much respect
Wm G. Bates
Page 15

March 9

Hon J. L. Edwards
Commission of Pensions
Washington City
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Westfield Hampden Co. Mass.
March 7 1838.

Sir:
Some time since I received an interaction, which I have communicated to Alex. Gowdy of Russell in Granville that his pension would no longer be paid to him at the agency in Hartford, but must be transferred to Boston. 
I have to state the circumstances in relation to him, I will then adopt the course which by you shall be directed.
He is infirm & pool - is supported by his children, some of whom live in Russell, Granville, in this county & some in Enfield & Lebanon, Connecticut. He is then [illegible] Hartford from one place to another according to his desire, & has no regular place of abode. For the last two or three times he has been in
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Mass when his pension was drawn, which was the reason as I suppose that the intimation was given.
But as he may be the next time in Connecticut, it might be as well to lave him continue to draw at Hartford unless under a knowledge of the facts it should seem improper.
If you should conclude that it is not best to transfer his case to Boston, will you advise the office at Hartford to pay, as formerly, as they have recd contrary orders.


I forwarded several months since an application of George Phelps & Medad Fouler for pensions - but have had no reply - Mr. Phelps is in the poor house in one town & his wife is in the poor house in this town - & it
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will be [illegible] of humanity, to forward the decision of his case as fast as possible.
I know that all then cases are passing but if were there is one peculiarly so, the case of Mr. Phelsp is one.
I am with respect
Wm. G. Bates
Page 19

Hon. J. L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

[sideways]
Oct 20
Mass

Vouchers
A. Gowdy
Page 20

Westfield Hampden Co Mass
Oct 14th 1836

Sir:
I enclose you the Power of Attorney of Alexr Gowdy to draw his pension for the year past. I did not witness the name of the Regiments, as the memory of the pensioner is almost gone. If I should not be surprised if he is found to be incorrect in several other of his statements.
I am with respect
your obt sevt
Wm. G. Bates
Page 21

Free

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

[stamped]
Westfield
MSS.


[sideways]
Nov 3

Alex Gowdy
CT Roll 6014
Page 22

I William G Bates of Westfield Hampden County Mass, Counselor at Law, depose & say that, a few days ago, I do not remember the date, I saw Alexander Gowdy execute a power of attorney, to draw his pension from the Bank at Hartford, made, as I think, to Royale R Hinman, Act. Secy of State of Connecticut - that said Gowdy sat in his wagon, in front of my office, when he executed the same, & wrote upon a ledger laying in his lap. Either myself, or an other person, being then present, guiding his hand, which was so [illegible] that he otherwise was unable to write. That once before, the said Gowdy executed an instrument in my presence, & he then requested a person present to guide his hand, as it trembled so, he was unable to write. That soon after said Gowdy executed said power of attorney to draw said pension, I understand the same directed to J. L. Edwards Commr of Pensions Washington City, that said power of atty was executed in the presence of Linus other present besides myself, one of whom subscribed his name, at a subscribing witness, as I think.
Wm. G. Bates
Page 23

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden Ss October 29th 1836.
Personally appeared William G. Bates well known to me & to whom full credit ought to be given & made solemn oath to the truth of the within & foregoing affidavit by him subscribed.
Before me Augustus Collins
Justice of the Peace
Page 24

Westfield Hampden Co Mass
Oct 29 1836

Sir,
Yr note of Oct 26th is before me. I enclose my affidavit as to the circumstances attending the execution of the power of attorney, of Alex Gowdy. If further testimony is required, you will please specify the value of it & I will try to supply it.
I am &c.
Wm G. Bates
Page 25

Hon J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

[sideways]
Sept 28
Mr Evans
Page 26

Westfield, Hampden Co Mass
Sept 23rd 1837

Hon J. L. Edwards Esq
Commr of Pensions

Sir
I enclose Alex Gowdy's power of atty. I do not remember which particular proof is required of his identity he not having drawn his pension the past year. I made out his papers Apl 1 1837 but he can give no reason why he did not have it on, save that he did not know how to send it He is in his dotage, & unable to write his name, or do business probably.
I will be obliged to you for a copy if the regulations of your department in this respect & also of a copy of the act & regulations relating to widows particularly as urgent calls for information are made upon me.
With respect I am yr obt
William G. Bates
Page 27

Hillsgrove R. I.
Mar 22, 1822

The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir, - 
Will you kindly send me the Revolutionary War records and Pension record of Alexander Gowdy, who was a pensioner in 1832 and resided in Hartford County, Connecticut?
Thanking you, I am,
Very respectfully
Miss Virginia E. Place
Box 32, Hillsgrove
Rhode Island
Page 28

Rev. and 1812
War Section.

November 15, 1924

Mrs. B. H. Thornton
29 Prospect St.,
Thompsonville, Conn.

Madam;
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War Pension claim, S.  10750, it appears that Alexander Gowdy was born February 3, 1760 in Somers, Tolland County, Connecticut.
While residing in Stafford, Connecticut, he enlisted in March or April, 1777 and served three months as a private under Captain Wales and Colonel Chapman in the Connecticut Troops, immediately after he served three months as a private under Lieutenant Wood and Colonel Jones in the Connecticut Troops.
While residing in Somers, Connecticut, he enlisted in September 1778 and served three months as a private under Captain Felt and Colonel Porter in the Connecticut Troops.
He enlisted in the summer of 1780 and served three mos.
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as a private under Lieutenant Sheldon and Thrall, and was a Guard at New Gate Prison.
He was allowed pension on his application executed November 16, 1832, while a resident of Enfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, and stated that he resided with his daughter, her name is not given. 
He died September 2, 1838, leaving children, no names mentioned, nor is the name of his wife on record.
Respectfully,

Commissioner.
Page 30

Thompsonville Conn
Oct 31 1924

U.S. Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir,
In the "Connecticut Men in the Revolution" I find Alexander Gowdy of Enfield, Conn. in the list of names of the men who received a pension.
Will you please send a copy of his military
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record to me, as I wish to use his name for the D.A.R.
If there is any charge, kindly let me know and I will see it is paid.
Very sincerely 
Mabel Pease Thornton

Mrs. B. H. Thornton
29 Prospect St
Thompsonville Conn.
Page 32

10750
Alex Gowdy

Nov 16 1832
Enfield Conn - 71

77 Stafford Conn
Capt Wale
Col Chapman
Pvt 3 m

77 Lt Wood
Col Jones
Pvt 3 m

83/or 78 Capt Felt
Col Porter
Pvt 3 m

Summer 80 St Sheldon
Col ~
Pvt 3 m

Nv B

born Somers CT
Feb 3 1761

Died Sept 2 1838
Page 33

O W. & N.

May 22nd 1905

To 
Commissioner of Pensions

Will you please give me Data concerning Alexander Gowdy whose name appears on Revolutionary Pension List of 1837.

Respectfully address
Mrs. O. P. Park
26 Oak St
New Bedford Mass

[stamped]
US .S. P. D. 
MAY 24 1905
FILES

[stamped]
U. S.
PENSION
OFFICE
A
MAY 23 1905
Page 34

Stonington
Dec 12 1902

Chief of Pension Bureau

Dear Sir:
Can you please furnish me with data concerning Alexander Gowdy whose name appears on Revolutionary Pension List under date of 1832 under 23 Congress 1st Session 1833-4.

And Oblige
Yours Truly
Geo D. Bradley
Stonington Conn

[stamped]
U. S.
PENSION
OFFICE
D
DEC 12 1902