Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 41,185, for John Stowers, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Stowere, John or Stovers
S. 41,185
CONTENTS
[Blank lined area for entry]
[Blank lined area for entry]

60) Wannion
John Stevens, Col. Biglow's Reg. Mass. Volunteer Heavy Art. At 20 p.m. March 24 th April, 1865. P.M. March 24 th April, 1865 and 24 th March 24 th March 24 th . Vanguard of Expeditionary Corps
March 24 th 1865 5 th 31 st months of 100.60
(Rev. J. Clancey, Feb. 18 th March 24 th , 1865)
W. J. Nichols, Col. Com. 24 th Reg. Col. Biglow's Reg!
Dec 2 nd Oct 10, 1865 (Agree, etc.)
Paterson, New Jersey
20/20/1865
20/20/1865
9.11 1.1 1.1 1.1
Subscribed to the and James Agard's debt 20 March 1865

To the Hon. Secy of War
Samuel P. Hens

To & M'Intosh White Esq. Chief Judge of the County Court within & for the County of Windham and State of Vermont.
I John Stevens of Putney in the County of Windham and State aforesaid, claiming the benefit of an Act of Congress passed March 18 th in the present year of our Lord 1818, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War - So, pursuant to the provisions of the said Act, here, under oath, make the follow- ing Declaration (to wit)
That I the said Stevens, served as a Commissioned Officer in the War of the Revolution on the Continental Establishment which continued in the following manner . In the year of our Lord 1777 I entered the Army, and received the appointment of Sergeant Major in the 15 th Regiment, of the Massachusetts Line, commanded by Col. Timothy Pickering - in the year 1778 was promoted, and commissioned as Ensign, and not long after was further promoted, and commissioned as Lieutenant, with the appointment of Adjutant, in the same Regiment, in which I continued to do the duty of Adjutant, until the close of the year 1780 at which time I was dismissed from the Army in consequence of a reduction of the Regiment - the 15 th Massachusetts' Regiments being then consolidated into 10 Regiments, and the Supernumerary Officers thereby conse- discharged, of which number, I was one. My Commission with my pocket book and other valuable papers I lost, by having them stolen, from me, many years ago, which , which have never since been found or heard of by me - - - - - And I further, upon oath, declare, that I am now advanced in years, my health very infirm, and by reason of my reduced circumstances in life, I need the assistance of my Country for support. In witness thereof I hereunto set my hand this fourth day of April Anno Domini 1818 - - - - - John Stevens

State of Vermont } I hereby certify that on this Windham County ss } 4 th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four Capt. John Staves (who now is, and for many years has been a resident in the County aforesaid) personally appear- ing before me Phinehas White, Chief Judge of Windham County Court, made solemn oath that all the facts, stated in the foregoing declaration by him subscribed, relative to his entering and serving as an Officer in the Revolutionary War, and the manner of his leaving the same, the loss of his commission and his present reduced circumstances, and need of assist- ance from his country, are just and true.
I further certify that I am fully satisfied the said John Staves served in the Revolutionary War , as aforesaid, against the common enemy, as by him stated, and that he now needs assistance from his country for subsistence.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my official signature and have caused the seal of said Windham County Court to be annexed the same day and year above written.
Phinehas White } Chief Judge of Windham County Court
To the Hon ble : the Secy } of the Department of War }

The affidavit of Theophilus Converse & Joseph Winslow, Esquires, and Capt. Horace Bliss, Selectmen of the town of Pitsfield, generally depose and say that they for several years past, have been well ac- quainted with Capt. John Forrest, and that he has uniform- ly sustained the character of a man of truth and veracity. That so Forrest is advanced in years, and in an infirm state of health - and from their knowledge his pecuniary circumstances, are well satisfied that he is justly entitled to receive the benefits of the act of Congress - making provision for the officers and soldiers of the War of 1812 Revolution - - -
Theophilus Converse Joseph Winslow Horace Bliss } of Pitsfield
And here it is stated that the above affidavit was sworn to in due and legal form before me
J. White } Chief Judge of Windham County Court -
District of Columbia } I hereby certify that Washington 12 th April 1818 } Phinehas White subscriber to the above instrument is now the Chief Judge of the County Court in and for the County of Windham & State of Vermont
Attest Mark Richards

No. 59.
John Stowers.
Application for a Pension.
Winchester County, Vermont.
[Copy.]
John Stowers
100
John Stowers
Sept 18.
29 Sept 1820

STATE OF VERMONT.
COUNTY OF WINDHAM ss.
At the County Court, begun and held at New-Fane, within and for the County of Windham, on the second Monday of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty.....
PRESENT—Hon. PHINEHAS WHITE, Esq. Chief Judge. Hon. JOHN ROBERTS, Hon. GILBERT DENISON, Esqrs. } Assistant Judges.
ON this Twentith day of June, A. D. 1820, personally appeared in open court, being a court of record for the said county, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a civil jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of their proceedings, and having, in certain cases, the power of fine and imprisonment, John Stowers aged 69 years, resident in Putney in said county, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows— That he entered in Colo. Timothy Bigelow's Regiment as a Sergeant Major in 1777 in the Massachusetts line in the Continental Establishment. was in the battle of Monmouth & soon after in the Year 1778 was promoted to an Ensign, and in 1779 was further promoted to a Lieutenant, with the appointment of adjutant, & continued in the same regiment until the 31st day of Decr 1780, at which time a reduction of the army took place and his regiment being one of the reduced regiments, he received his discharge at West Point in the State of New York.
That he has received a pension under the act of the Congress of the United States of the 18th March, 1818, that the number of his pension certificate is 160, and the date of his original declaration is April 4. A. D. 1815.
AND I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, That I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen: and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled, "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen: And that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
SCHEDULE of real and personal estate, necessary clothing and bedding excepted. One Cow - Five Pigs - 3 Tables - One Brass Kettle - one iron do. 2 Iron Pots - one Griddle - One Frying Pan, & some small articles of tin ware - 15 Chairs - One Chest with drawers - 4 common trunks - some articles of crockery & glass ware - 9 Silver tea spoons - 3 Table do. 5 pitchforks & hoes - Two Shovels. John Stowers.
AND I do also swear that my occupation is that of a farmer, and am unable to do much labour - on account of ill health - That I have a wife aged 73 years & very infirm - two daughters, Harriet and Mary - one 38 years of age - the other 29 years of age - Mary is in a poor state of health - Harriet enjoys tolerable good health. John Stowers.
SWORN to and DECLARED in open court on the Twentith day of June, A. D. 1820, Before Gilbert Denison JUDGE.
I James Elliot , Clerk of the County Court for the County of Windham, in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the files and records of the said Court: And I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Seventy dollars, and  cents .
IN testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, in open Court, on this fourth day of July 1820.
James Elliot CLERK OF THE COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF WINDHAM.

Rev. & 1812 War Section
April 18, 1924
Theodore G. Sullivan 226 Orange Road Montclair, N.J.
Sir:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 41185, it appears that John Stovers , pensioned as Stovers, enlisted in 1777 as Sergeant Major in Colonel Timothy Bigelow's 15th Massachusetts Regiment, was commissioned Ensign in 1778 and Lieutenant in 1779 and also acted as Adjutant in the same regiment, was in the battle of Monmouth and served until December 31, 1780.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 4, 1818, while residing in Putney, Windham County, Vermont.
In 1820 he was sixty-nine years of age, his wife (name not stated) was seventy-three years of age, and he had two daughters, Harriet, thirty-eight years of age, and Mary, twenty-seven years of age. He died October 11, 1821.
It does not appear that pension was claimed by the widow of soldier.
Respectfully,
Commissioner

226 ORANGE ROAD MONTCLAIR, N. J.
April 17 th 1924.
Commissioner of Pensions Department of Revolutionary Archives Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:-
I have written your Department two (2) letters within the last few weeks under dates of March 20 th & April 4 th , and have received no reply to either.
The purpose of these letters was to get in- formation regarding the Revolutionary pension records of John Stowers a Rev. soldier of Mass. & Vt.
The said letters were written by the advice of the Secy. of the State of Mass. He certainly must not have advised me that the records were in your Dept & the information subject to any call, if it were not so.
Will you kindly direct that these letters be hunted up and the data for which I ask be given me without further delay?
Yours Truly Theodore G. Sullivan

225 ORANGE ROAD MONTCLAIR, N. J.
April 4 th 1924.
Commissioner of Pensions - Dept. of Revolutionary Archives Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:-
On March 20 th I wrote you asking for a copy of the Revolutionary and Pension Records of John Stevens of New England. As I have had no reply I assume my letter must have been mis- laid or mislaid. I am in- closing herewith a copy of the said letter.
I assume that the records of your Dept are for the benefit of any one to whom they would be of special interest.
I shall appreciate

Very much a reply at your Early commences Very faithfully yours
Theodore G. Sullivan
P.S.
I was directed to apply to you by the Secy of State of Boston Mass.

222 GRANGE ROAD MONTCLAIR, N. J.
March 20 th 19 th cent.
Commissioner of Pensions Revolutionary Archives. Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:-
I am anxious to secure the official Revolutionary records of John Stowers of New England who was my maternal great- grandfather.
In Heitman's Revolutionary Records he is listed among Mass. soldiers. In our family records it is stated that he lived, died and is buried in Putney Vt. He is also listed in Putney's local history as being one of Putney's Revolutionary soldiers who received a pension .

2 Re Revolutionary Records
226 ORANGE ROAD MONTCLAIR, N. J.
for services in the war of the Revolution.
Will you kindly give me the pension records of John Stowers as you find them in your Official Revolutionary Archives?
According to Heitzman, he was successively sergeant, ensign, lieutenant - and finally (our family history says, and on his gravestone it is so recorded) he was Captain .
Kindly give me 3
1 st The rank under which he received his pension. 2 d When that pension was out to him. 3 rd When the records indicate that he removed from Mass. to Vermont, and

3.
226 GRANDE ROAD MONTCLAIR, N. J. The length of his Military Service & H is for how many years he received said pension.
The date of death of Capt. John Howells in our family records is Oct. 11 th 1821 - at the age of 71 years. His wife Abigail Howells also died in Patney V th some years later. Did she receive his pension after his death?
The specific object of this letter is to identify John Howells of the Mass. records with John Howells of Patney V th
The courtesy of an early reply will be greatly appreciated. Very truly yours
Theodor Crane Sullivan

Copy
226 ORANGE ROAD MONTCLAIR, N. J.
March 20th 1924.
Commissioner of Pensions & Rev. Archives Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:-
I am anxious to secure the official Revolutionary Records of John Horner of New England who was my maternal great grandfather.
In Heitman's Rev. Records he is listed among Mass. soldiers. In our family records it is stated that he lived and died and is buried in Putney Vermont.
He is also listed in Putney local history as being one of Putney's Rev. soldiers who

3.
page 2 re. John Stevens
receive a pension for services in the War of the Revolution Will you kindly give me the pension records of John Stevens as you find them in your official Rev. Archives ? According to Heitman he was successively Sergeant, Ensign lieutenant and finally our family history says (and on his gravestone it is so re- corded) he was Captain.
Kindly give me:-
1 st . The rank under which he received his pension. 2 d . Where that pension was paid him. 3 d . When the records indicate that he removed from Mass. to Vermont. * 4 th . The length of his Military Service and for how many

3
Page 3 re. John Stowers.
Years he received said pension. The date of death of Capt. John Stowers in our family records is Oct. 11 th 1821 at the age of 71 years. His wife Abigail Stowers also died in Putney several years later.
Did he receive his pension after his death?
The object of this letter is to identify John Stowers of the Mass records with John Stowers of Putney Vt.
The courtesy of an early reply will be greatly appreciated.
Very truly yours
Theodore Greene Sullivan

41185
INVALID.
Key
1924 Apr. 18 Hist. 8 Theodore S. Sullivan
File No. 41185
John Stevens Lieut Gen M
Act: 18 March 18 m
Index: Vol. 8 , Page 388
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Free
Hon. Mark Richards, Esq.
Member of Congress
Washington City
Honored Mr. Richards have left W- The Secy of War will open this

Dorchester April 6 th 1842
Dear Sir,
I now take the liberty of troubling you with the application of Capt. Stevens, for a Pension, agreeable to the late act of Congress, which you will please to have obliging as to lay before the Hon. Secy. of War and if placed on the Pension list, forward to him or me a certificate of the same — Since I sent Capt. Loper's application — I perceive that all the requisites, conformable to the rules prescribed by the Hon. Secy. of War, were not literally complied with, in his case — Altho' he did not swear that he needs assistance &c. that defect is supplied by the affidavit of Mr. Martin — The want of the seal of the Court perhaps will be dispensed with by the Secy. when you come to send him the application of Stevens — with the Seal — The reason of the seal, being required, I conceive is to convince the Secy. that the person certifying, as Judge, is authorized to act as such — If hereafter the Seal cannot be dispensed with, you will please Sir, to return me the papers without delay —
I am, Dear Sir, very respectfully
Your Obedt Servt
D. White
P.S. Capt. Loper's Commission has been lost and is out of his power, but the copy from Mass. will perhaps supply that defect.
Hon. M. Richards Secy —

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Stowers, John GRADE Drummer LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 10404 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED December 24, 1790 to ~ not shown ~
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.