Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13524, for Bowers Jacox, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Jacox, Bowers
S. 13524
CONTENTS
carded

1372 14.578 New York 4518
Order to pay 3 rd Oct 1837.
Bowers Jacob
Resided in the State of N. York who was a Private in the Camp commanded by Captain Blair of the Regt commanded by Col. Nichol in the N. York line for 18 Mo.
Oct 20. May 1836
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 60 Dollars _____ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of May 1833 and Sumner D. Dyer Clerk.
  Arrears to the 4th of Ma '33  $120    Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Ap '33  30     $150  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by E. Clarke Clerk. Book 8. Vol. 4. Page 92.

Declaration of 21372 Bowers Jacob

State of New York, } ss.
Rockland County, } On this twenty seventh day of November - in the year A.D. 1832. personally appeared in Open Court, before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas, now sitting, Bowers Jacob, a Resident of the town of Clarkstown, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, aged — Eighty five 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, under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated That early in the year 1776 he assisted for more than one month a building Fort Put and Fort Montgomery, then in the month of October - of the same year, he enlisted for five months, in a company commanded by Capt. William Blain, in a Regiment commanded by Col n Nicholl, of Goshen, (at Warwick, in Orange County) and first went to West point, then to New-York, then to Long Island, and retreated from there with Gen d Washington Army, then went to White plains, and was in the Battle fought, there, and was discharged at Peekskill when his time of service was expired, and then went home to the town of Warwick, then early in the Spring of the year 1777, he, at Warwick aforesaid, again enlisted in the aforesaid company under the same Capt t , and in the same Regiment for five months, and continued under the same Capt t by enlistments of five, four and three Months until the winter of 1802. That is, as soon as one term of enlistment had expired he immediately enlisted again, that they went to Coeshecton after the Indians was near the American Army when Gen d Burgoin was taken, and belonged to the guard that guarded the prisoners as far as Easttown in the State of Pensylvania and there delivered them to the Pensylvania line, was at the Battle when Fort Montgomery was taken, was at Valley Forge, lay a long time at Minisink and was with the American Army at Yorktown when Cornwallis Army was taken prisoner, shortly after which time he was discharged after arriving at Warwick aforesaid, that he has no Documentary evidence of any of his services, as the discharge he received at Peekskill, at the expiration of his first term of enlistment, is lost, which was the only discharge in writing he ever received, and knows of but one man now living that he can prove any of his services by, That during the Revolutionary War he resided in the town of Warwick aforesaid, and in the year 1785, removed from there to the town of Orange, in the county now Rockland and resided there until about eight years back, since which time he has resided with his Daughter in the town of Clarkstown aforesaid, being a pauper of the said town of Orange and by that town supported, that being long a resident of the new County of Rockland he is well known to many of the principal citizens thereof, who can testify As to his Reputation. —

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.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
In open court
David Pyle Clerk
BOURNE JCO
We Dowah J Tallman and Garret Oblenis residents of the town of Clarkstown, being duly sworn do depose and say that we have been personally acquainted with Bowers Jacob for thirty years, and believe him to be eighty five years of age and it has always been reported that he did serve in the Revolutionary War that he is a person who has always been a good reputation, and that his Bath is entitled to credit - the words "and believe him to be eighty five years of age" interlined before sworn to -
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
In open court. David Pyle Clerk
Dowah J Tallman Garret Oblenis
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that they are personally acquainted with Dowah J Tallman and Garret Oblenis, who have signed the preceding certificate, that they are residents in the town of Clarkstown aforesaid and verily believe them to be credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. And the said court also hereby certify, that all the above proceedings were in open court.
Per Curiam
David Pyle Clerk
I, David Pyle, Clerk of the court of Common Pleas of the county aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of Bowers Jacob for a pension
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office, this twenty seventh day of November. 1832.
David Pyle

Declaration of Jacob Powers Declaration

State of New York Orange County
On this 7 th day of November 1832 Personally appeared before Edward Wetting one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Orange and Samuel Ketchum a Resident of the Town of Newburgh in said County aged Seventy five years who being First duly sworn doth depose and say that he was Well acquainted with Bower, Jacob. Was a Resident of the Town of Clarkstown in the County of Rockland and State of New York knoweth him to have Enterted Early in the year Seventy Six in a Company Commanded by William Brain in Col. Nicholas Regiment. Knows him to have been at the Battle of White Plains and to have served throughout the whole Revolutionary War has been in the heart of Spring, frequently during the Revolutionary War and believes that he has served and by him stated in the Armed Detachment having seen him in the United States Service at different times from the year 1776. to 1782 and when seen was always, in the Service of the United States. Samuel Ketchum
Sworn and Subscribed to. This the 7 th day of November 1832 Before me
Edward L Wetting Justice of the Peace

I Certify that I am Well acquainted with the within named Deponent Samuel Rithum, and do hereby Certify that he is a man of good Character and Sound Mind & Memory — Edward St  St  William  William
I Asa D  D  Denning  Denning Clerk of the County of Orange & Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the said County in the State of New York do hereby Certify that Edward St  St  William  William Esq. the person the within affidavit was sworn and whose name is subscribed to the above Certificate, was at the time a Justice of the Peace in & for the said County — and duly empowered to administer Oaths — In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 9th day of December 1822 Asa D  D  Denning  Denning

Mr. 21.372
Bowers Sacoy Rockland County N.Y.
admitted. 18 mo. Private.
David Pyle Sgt. Clarkstown P.O. Rockland Co N.Y.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Bowers McCoy, Rockland County N York
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1776 more than 1 White Plains Bulding Fort Rel of Montgomery 85 years Living Witnss   Enlis 1776 5 Private Captlain Col. Neall Genl Washington Fort Montgomery To West Point Orange Co N.Y. Traditionary   Enlis 1777 5 " " " York Town To Tappan Long Is to White Plains   " " 4 " " " To Castleton   " 1781 3 " " " Easttown Pa Valley Forge Minisink  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I, _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. _____ who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the _____
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person.

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 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, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if 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 services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Daniel D. Davidson Exam Clerk

Rev War
INVALID.
Rev
File No. 13, 524
Bowers Jacob
Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 191
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Mechanics Bank New York 30 th Sept 1837
Sir
I enclose the papers, for your examination in the case of Bowers, Incox deceased, a Private at $60 per annum under the act of 7 th June 1832,
The children claim the balance due from the 4 th of March 1836.
Very Respectfully
Young Atty Servt
J. Lovillan P l
James L Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington