Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,072, Charles Gowens, Va.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE    NUMBER
[handwritten]Va.  Gowens, Charles   S.31072 [/handwritten]
[handwritten] B.L.Wt.26106-160-55 [/handwritten]

CONTENTS
Page 2

25242
Kentucky
Charles Gowens 
of Gallatin in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the com commanded by Captain Shelton of the regt. commanded by Col Munroe in the Virginia line for 9 months.

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the  sale of 30 Dollars  - cents per annum, 

Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of Dec 1833 and Ken Roll Johnson H8

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 75.00
Lemi-ant allowance ending March 15.00
                                                       =====
                                                        $90.00

Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Danl Boyd cleerk  
Book E Vol. 7 Page 11

Reg 3' M 55- 59688
Page 3

(3-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
[handwritten]Va. Gowens, Charles S.31.072 B.L.Wt.26106-160-55[/handwritten]
CONTENTS
Page 4

[3-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
[handwritten]Va Gowens, Charles S.31.072 B.L.Wt.26106-160-55[/handwritten]
Page 5

State of Kentucky
Gallatin County 

On this 22d day of October 1833 personally appeared before Tomson Blunt a Justice of the Peace in and for Gallatin County Ky and one of the Justices of the Gallatin Cnty Court Charles Gowens a resident of the said County and State aged 70 years who being first duly sworn according to law upon his oath makes 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 herin stated that is to say being a resident of Henry County Virginia He did about the 1st of September in the year of 1779 enter the service of the United States as a private Volunteer soldier upon a tour of six months in the company of Captain Jonathan Hamley that the name of his lieut. was Edw. Laturn that he readily roused with his company at the neighbourhood muster ground and was marched from there by his captain into South Carolina and there was attached to the Regiment of Col Munroe that he was then marched to a place called 96 near Charlestown where he was kept for some time and then was marched as part of the uard for some prisoners from 96 to Winnsborough where he was kept stationed guarding said prisoners and some public stores until the full expiration of his term of service and having fully and faithfully performed the same he was discharged and returned home. 
He further states and delcares that in the month of May 1781 as well as he remembers he again entered the service of the United States as a private volunteer soldier upon a tour of three months in the company of Captain Shelton - that he rendezvoused wih his company at the Russell Creek meeting house in the said county of Henry Va and was marched from there by his captain up the Dan River - the tories were very bad in that quarter of the country and that the cmopany was raised by Capt. Shelton on purpose to act against them and keep them down - that the said company acted aeparately from any other - and that he thus declared and his said company were most of their time at a place called the hollow on the Dan and from that point made frequent excursions against the tories.
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2 - that he continued actively and actually engaged in the service as above named during the whole period of his said tour and at the termination thereof he was discharged and returned home

He states that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service.

He  hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension on annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state_

Sworn to and subscribed this day + year aforesaid 

his
Charles X Gowens
Mark

Interrogations put to the above named applicant by the said Tomson Blunt Justice of the peace as aforesaid 

1st where and in what year were you born?

Answer I was born in Henry County Va. in the year 1763.

Q. Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?

Answer I have none

Q. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?

Answer I lived in Henry County Va when I was called into the service and there continued to reside after the war till about the year 1797 and then moved to the state of Kentucky and have been there residing ever since and about the year 1815. I left Harrison Cty Ky + moved to Gallatin County Ky where I still live.

4th How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?

Answer - I volunteered.

5th 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 now recollect and the general circumstances of your service

Answer  - Upon my first tour I was in South Carolina and whilst there in the service I saw Capt Small Col. Munroe + Col. Martin I was finally discharged at Winnsborough at the expiration of my tour- Upon my second tour my company acted separately against the tories on the Dan River in Virginga and I saw no officers that I now remember except my own.
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6th. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it. 
Answer I rec'd discharges signed by my officer which I have lost
7th 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 
Answer I will name Benjamin Tiller & James [Furnish?]
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Charles Gowens X his mark

Mr. Ben Tiller ___ a clergyman residing in Gallatin County, Ky and James Furnish residing in the same county & state hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Charles Gowens who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding declaration that we believe him to be 70 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion. We further certify that from infirmity of body he cannot attend court to make his declaration. 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Benajmin Tiller
James Furnish
and I the said T. Blunt  Justice of the Peace & member of the Gallatin County Court as aforesaid do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the mater and after putting the interrogatory prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states: and I further certify that from his infirmity of body he cannot attend the proper court to make his declaration and that it appears to me that Benjamin Tiller who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in Gallatin County Ky and that James Furnish who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County & State and are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit -  Given under my hand this 22nd day of October 1833

Tomson Blunt [JP?]
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[handwritten]State of Kentucky
Gallatin County
I Richard P. Butler Clerk of the court of Gallatin County in the State of Kentucky hereby certify that Tomson Blunt whose name appears to the preceding certificate was at the date thereof and still is a Justice of the Peace for Gallatin County and one of the Justices of the Court of which I am clerk and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is his genuine signature and that the foregoing were this day presented to my office as the original proceeding in the matter of the application of Charles Gowens for the pension by the said Justice
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix my seal of officer this 27th day of October 1833
Richard P. Butler
Clerk of the Gallatin County Court

[left margin handwritten] Charles Gowens
Page 9

[handwritten]
59688
County land claim
Charles Gowens
Act  Mar 3rd 1855
Revolutionary War
Presented by H J Abbett
of Warsaw Kentucky
Page 10

State of Kentucky
Gallatin Country [unintelligible]
On this 7th day of April AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peach within and for the country and state aforesaid Charles Gowens aged 93 years a resident of the country and state aforesaid who being duly  sworn according to law declares that he is the identical Charles Gowens who was a private in the company commanded by Capt J Hamby in the Regiment of Virginia Militia commanded as he know remember by Col Monroe in the Revolutionary war. That he volunteered in Henry County Virginia about the 1st of September 1779 for the term of six months, and continued in actual service in said Revolutionary war for a period of more than fourteen days and was honorably discharged at Petersburg VA as he now remembers. He cannot now say what has become of his discharge. He further states that he is now a Revolutionary Pensioner and draws the sum of $30 per annum half yearly to wit - the fourth of March and 4th of Sept.$15. each by [unintelligible] his Revolutionary Pension Certificate now in his possession dated the 14th day of December 1833 and signed "Lew Cass" Secretary of War" He refers to the papers on file in his application for pensions for the evidence of his services and the Rolls of Hambys' company.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land to which he may be entitiled under the act approved March 3rd 1855. He also declares that he has not received a warrant
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for bounty land under this or any other act of Congress nor made any other application therefor. 
He hereby appoints H J Abbott of Warsaw Kentucky his true and lawful attorney to prosecute this his claim for land to receive a certificate or warrant when issued and do all other acts necessary and proper in the [unintelligible].
Attest  David Huston 

His 
Charles X Gowns
Mark

We David Story and Whit Hawkins residents of the County of Gallatin and State of Kentucky upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Charles Gowens, in our presence, and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that he is the identical person he represents himself to be, David Story Whit Hawkins

The foregoing declaration and affiants were sworn to and authenticated before me, on the day and year above written and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons that the claimant is the person he represents himself to be and that I have no interest in this claim.
David Huston J P [unintelligible]
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State of Kentucky
Gallatin County [unintelligible] -
I Hiram Baldwin Clerk of the County Court in and for the County and state aforesaid do hereby certify that David Huston Esq before whom the foregoing Declaration and affidavits were made and acknowledged is and who has thereunto subscribed his name, is, and was, at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and state aforesaid - duly commissioned and sworn and that his signature thereto is genuine.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of said County Court, this 7th day of April 1855.

Hiram Baldwin
[unintelligible]
Page 13

[Words cut off of form] / applicaiton for pen-
sion on file in this Bureau. 
Charles Gowens [?] File 31072

[table follows]

Dates of Enlistment or appointment
Length of Service
Rank
Officers under whom service was rendered: Captain / Colonial 
State

Sept. 1, 1779 
6 mos
Pvt
Jonathan Hamley
Munroe
Va

May 1781
3 mos
[blank]
Shelton 
[checkmark]
[blank]

Battles engaged in, 1
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Henry Co VA moved to Ky in 1797
Date of applicaiton for pension, Oct 22, 1833. His claim was [?]
Residence at date of application, Gallatin Co Ky.
Age at date of application, 70 born in Henry Co Va in 1768
Remarks: No data as to family
Page 14

Record Division.

February 25, 1911.

Mrs. Etta Mae Gowens
Box 97,
Cameron, Texas.

Madam:

In reply to your letter dated the 16" and received the 20" instant, you are advised that a careful search of the Revolutionary War records fails to show that a claim for pension was ever filed for the widow of any soldier names Charles Gowens of the Virginia troops.

For date of last payment of pension, person to whom paid, and probable date of death, application should be made to the Auditor for the Interior Department, U. S. Treasury Department, citing the following data: Charles Gowens, Certificate No. 25.242, issued December 14, 1833, under Act of June 7. 1832, at the Kentucky Agency.

In order to identify any other pensioner named Gowens who served in the Revolutionary War, the full name is essential.

Very respectfully,

Commissioner.
Page 15

[illegible mark handwritten]
Rev. War Section.
3-1865
[horizontal line]
W.V. [vertical handwritten]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
WASHINGTON July 10, 1914.

Mrs. Etta Mac Gowens.
Caldwell.
Texas.

Madam: 
In response to your letter of the fourth instant. you are advised that in order to identify a pension claim. if filed. for the services of Charles Gowens in the War of 1812, in addition to his name, you should stat the organization in which he served. his place of residence at enlistment. the approximate date of his death and the given name of his widow.

Very respectfully,
GM Saltzgaber
Commissioner.
RECORD DIVISION JUL 18 1914 [circular stamp]

Mr. G.M. Saltzgaber,
Upon investigation, I find Charles Gowens was born in Henry Co. Va., about 1764, that he resided in 1857, in Gallatin Co. Ky.and had for 40 years. That he had previously resided in Harrison Co. Ky.,and his Revolutionary war pention [pension] No. was 25,242. Louisville Ky., agency, H.J. Abbott Atty., for pensioner.
Do not know wifes name, nor his commandre [commander] in the war Of 1812, but do know he was in that war, and as he drew a pension for the war of 1776, presume he did for 1812.
I want to know his wifes name, and names of his children and date of his death.
Sincerely,
Miss Etta Mae Gowens (handwritten]

PENSION U.S. OFFICE JUL 17 1914 [circular stamp]
Page 16

Rev. War Section
July 23, 1914
Miss Etta Mae Gowens,
Caldwell, Texas

Madam:
In response to your undated letter which was received on the 17th instant, you are advised that the records of the War of 1812 fail to show a claim on file for Charles Gowens of Virginia, and in the papers in the Revolutionary War claim of Charles Gowens. Ctr. No. 25,242, quoted by you. there is no reference to his having served in the War of 1812, not is there any data as to his family.
Very respectfully,

Commissioner
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ANNIE BROOKS DOBBIN GOWENS
EDITOR AND CHAPTER GENEALOGIST
ELIZABETH PADEN CROSS
ASSISTANT
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Historical and Genealogical Department
Sarah McCalle Chapter Daughters American Revolution
U.S. Commissioner of Pensions
War Dpt.
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
When was Chas Gowens [underlined] name last born on the pension rolls? And did his wife recieve a pension after his death? He applied for a pension Oct. 22, 1833 from Gallatin Co. Ky. He was [unintelligible] in Henry Co. Va 1763, Enlisted Sept. 1 1779, May 1781 under Jonathan H. Shelton. [unintelligible] Munroe Va. Was there any other Gowens from Henry Co. Va in the war of 1776?
Very Sincerely
Etta Mae Gowers
Feby 16-1911
Page 18

26106
[flourish]
Med [?] Careof [?]
Page 19

3-871.
RECORD DIVISION

Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Briefed by L.D.L.
Claim No. [blank]
Certificat No. [blank]
Claimant [blank]
Soldier Charley Gowens
Service Va
Additional Service Rev. War
No [blank] claim, State records [blank], 190[blank]

REMARKS
No claim except 
J # 31072
[blank]
Chief Division
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Cameron Texas
Commissioner of Pensions.
Washington, D.C.
Have you any record of Capt Conyers, from Kingstree Williamsburg Dist S.C. Revolutionary [added note in pencil underneath: Negative] service? Also that of William + Alex. Dobbie [added note in pencil over name: Negative], soldiers under Marines Brigade, likely, from the same location as Capt Conyers. Is there any record of pensions for Revolutionary service having been issued to Charles Gowens, Va. and Spencer Haynie [penciled note above name: Negative] , S.C.?
Respectfully Mrs. J.T. Gowens.
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59688 [unintelligible]
Charles Gowens
[unintelligible] Junmee 32-252
Boynton
[Round stamp} WARSAW, K[unintelligible] OCT 4 FREE
Commissioner of Pen
Washingt
D
[right half of envelope not scanned]
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31072
[unintelligible]
INVALID.
File No. 31,079
Charles Givens
[unintelligible] Rev War
Act: June 7th 32 [unintelligible]
Index: -- Vol. 2, Page 139
[Arrangment of 1870]
1909 May 10 Hist. [unintelligible]-
J.F. Gowens. V.L.M.
1911 Feb'y 25 - Mrs. Etta M. Gowens
that no widows claim is on file also to apply to and for [unintelligible] for date of last payment [unintelligible]. [unintelligible]
1914 July 23 Etta Mae Gowens informed no 1812 claims for this soldier [unintelligible].
Page 23

Date stamp that may indicate '81
59688
Charles Gowens
26106 160  [Sep] 26106 / 160
Boynton 
FREE [stamped]
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington D.C.
Page 24

59688
[illegible type in round stamp]
FREE
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington.
D.C.
Page 25

Warsaw Kentucky
May 17th 1806

Commissioner of Pensions
Will confer a favour on Charles Gowens (whose application No 59688 for Bounty Land under act Mar 30, 1855 was forwarded more than a year since) by informing him, whether or not as his case is now presented to the department. He will be entitled to a warrat and if so, where may he look for its issue - Mr Gowens is a Revolutionary Pensioner, and has no other proof of his service than that on file in establishing his claim to pension under act of June 7th 1832. Supposing the recent Act of Congress dispensing [?] the necessity of "record" proof will be satisfied by the evidence of his service on file in the Department as aforesaid [?] respectfully after a review of his case - which may have been past for want of "record" evidence of his service. 

Respectfully Charles Gownes 
By H J Abbett atto
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Warsaw Kentucky
Oct 4th, 1855

Hon'l J Minot: 
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir. I have just received yours of the 28th Sept. relating to the application of Charles Gowens. No 59688 under act of Mar 3d 1855 for Bounty Land.
In which you say, "The revolutionary service of the applicant does not appear of record in this (your) office." Also further, "The 3d section of said act requires a service of fourteen days to be established by record evidence."
The applicant sets forth the fact in his declaration that he is a Revolutionary Pensioner and refers to the records on file in the Pension Office upon which the government has [?] admitted his revolutionary service and in consideration of which, as proved by the records filed in his said application he avows a pension of $30 per annum under the act of June 4th 1832. I do not know the contents of the record on file in the Pension Office as referenced.
Page 27

to, but they must establish the service of Gowens for a period of more than 14 days, because under the act of Congress he would not have been admitted a Pensioner under a service of six months. Is not the proof on file in his service application for pension "record evidence" of his revolutionary service. If it is not will the department explain to me what kind of testimony is regarded as "record evidence". Further the applicant has in his possession an original certificate which is now before me which is as follows.
"War Department"
"Revolutionary Claim"
" Certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 4th June 1832 Charles Gowens of the State of Kentucky who was a private in the army of the revolution is entitled to receive thirty dollars per annum during his natural life commencing on the 4th of March 1831 and payable semiannually on the 4th of March and 4th of September in every year. [?] at the War Office of the United States.
Page 28

3
[?]
"This 14th day of December
one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
Examined and Countersigned
Lew Cass
Secretary of War
J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions"

A duplicate of this 'record' will be found according to an endorsement on the Back thereof. "Recorded in the Pension office in Book E Vol 7 page 11 by Dan Boyd Clerk"
It is respectfully asked, if this is not considered, 'record evidence'. The whole case and question of said applicant's Revolutionary Service was submitted to the proper Department of Government 20 [?] years since upon the record testimony then filed and which should be set in the archives of the county and upon full investigation thereof the head of the War Department issues his certificate in which he says "Charles Gowens of the State of Kentucky who was a private in the army of the revolution." And to which certificate the great seal of the War Department is affixed and the document recorded in the pension office. An [?] [?]
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upon the subject of evidence says "An exemplification under the War d seal is of itself a 'record' of the greatest authenticity" Is it not [compelling??] for the head of the War Deparment to give a certificate to the soldier that will establish his claim to serve as satisfactorily and be as much record evidence, as would be a ration on the roll or a discharge by some subordinate. With all due respect for the Pension Department, it is submitted whether or not the proof of service required by the government from a soldier to successfully establish his claim as a Revolutionary Pensioner is not at least prima facia (if not conclusive) record evidence of a[t] least "fourteen days" service in said Revolutionary War. It is also for the suggested, as it occurs to the Atto' of Gowens if he is not entitled to the county land, he is certainly not entitled to a pension. 
But the Government has admitted and of this she has made "record evidence" that Charles Gowens was a solder of the Revolutionary War for at least a period of nine months. Can she gainsay her solumn admissions of record and now ask of an old man tottering on the verge of his grave that he produce additional
Page 30

record evidence of a service rendered like seventy five years since. 
But whatever may be the rule of the Department on the [receipt?]  of this applicaiton. All the "record evidence" of applicants' service in the Revolutionary War that it is practicable now to obtain is on file in the Pension Office
And which it is respectfully asked may be examined in this application at the earliest day practicable. For if this old soldier is to be a recipient of the goverment's justice under her late [?] bill Actions cannot long be deferred. 
For his decrepit form and tottering gait tell too plainly that but a short time and his [due?] of March will be taken out for a land even better than that which in [?] life he helped to free. 
Respectfully H J Abbott
Atto for Gowens.
Page 31

Warsaw Kentucky
April 7th, 1855

Com. of Pensions

Sir. Enclosed you will find applications of Charles Gowens for Bounty and [illegible] you will accept the undersigned his atto. and [illegible] 
Respectfully, H.J. Abbott
Page 32

[The below number is the only thing appearing on this page]

54.688
Page 33

[The below is on the back of what appears to be some kind of document]

Charles Gowens
Admitted Oct 1832
Ky
[illegible]

[signed]
C.M. Bennett, Atty, Present
Page 34

State of Kentucky
County of Gallatin

Be it known, that on this 23rd day of June A.D. 1854 before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared, Charles Gowens a resident of said Gallatin County Kentucky and made oath according to law that he is the identical Charles Gowens whose name, under Act of 7th June 1832 has been placed on the Revolutionary Pension Roll at the rate of Thirty Dollars per annum.

That he is directly interested as a claimant in an increase, and makes this affadavit to be filed with such additional evidence as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.

Countermanding and revoking all Powers of Attorney and authority heretofore given, I herby constitute and appoint C.W. Bennett, of Washington City, my true and lawful attorney to prosecute this claim of mine any amount of Revolutionary Pension or Increase of Pension, that may be due; and for the purpose of establishing additional service by the soldier for whose military duty in the Revolution the aforesaid Pension was granted, I hereby authorize my said Attorney to apply for and obtain from the State archives or other sources, certified proofs of such service.  To examine all papers or documents in relation to said service on file in the Departments at Washington City or elsewhere; to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive for my benefit the Certificate for Increase which may be issued in satisfaction of said claim, which certificate I wish made payable at the Pension Agency of this State; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purpose herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present.  Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Agent and Attorney shall lawfully do in the premises.

[signed] Charles Gowens