Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 20,048, for John Low, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Privateer (Mass)
Low, John
S. 20,048
carded
CONTENTS

11 — 31 12 — 19 2 — 12  25 — 16 5  2 0 0
402 Massachusetts.
John Low, 2 nd M ate Seaman,
On board the private armed ship Genl Stark commanded by Capt W m Cross, in the Rev War.
Ratio of disability, Total 20. Jan y 1817. Date of claiming this testimony
Inscribed on the roll of Massachusetts. at 8 dollars per month, to commence on the 20 th of January, 1817.
Certificate of pension issued the 29 th of March, 1819 and sent to the Pensioner care of Isaac Ellwell, Esq r Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Arrears to 4th Mar: 1819. 25 16 / 31 mo. $ 204.12 Semi-ann. all ce ending 4 Sept 1819. $ 48.  $ 252.12
"Invalid Law 3 rd Mar: 1819"

31 12 19 11 12 18 12 19 2 4 25 18/31 8 $200 4.12 $204.12
8.372

Petition of John Low Seaman to the Honorable Secretary of War, in case of wounds received on board the Gen. Stark
transmitted by Gen. John Stark Seaman January 3. February 1817.

To the Honourable Secretary of War, your petitioner, a citizen of Gloucester, Mass. respectfully shews, that he served in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain, as a seaman on board the Privateer Gen. Stark, of this port, owned principally by David Pierce Esq., and commanded by Capt. William Cooe, both citizens of the aforesaid Gloucester; and that on the 20 th of August A.D. 1799 the said Gen. Stark engaged and captured a British Packet, in which engagement your petitioner had the misfortune, to lose his right leg, just below the knee, had his left leg badly shattered, and was severely wounded in his head and back: And your petitioner, not having, till lately, ascertained that the Law of the United States of the 10 th of April A.D. 1806, had been enacted, which provides that those who were wounded in any proper service , while in the line of their duty , against the common enemy, in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain, should, upon substantiating their claim, be placed on the Pension List of the United States; and which Law was declared should be continued in force, till the A.D. 1818, by a subsequent Law, enacted the 25 th of April A.D. 1812. And your petitioner, having ascertained that other citizens, who were wounded in the Private Service, during the Revolutionary War with Great Britain, have obtained pensions, under similar circumstances with himself, in virtue of the above mentioned Law of April 10 th A.D. 1806, and further, those, who were wounded, in the Private Service, during the late war with Great Britain, have also obtained pensions of the United States; he has, therefore, been induced to lay his claim, before you, as the proper authority, supported by such documents and testimony, as the above first mentioned Law requires. And he feels assured from the rank, which you hold in the United States, whose Liberty and Independence, your

petitioner toiled and bled to purchase, that you will make such a statement of his case to the Congress of the United States, as will induce that honora- ble body, to grant him such a pension, as they shall consider him justly entitled to.
John Scott
Gloucester Mass January 20 th A.D. 1817

Certificate & Affidavit of John Dow in his own case, seaman on board the Gen. Stark
Testimony of the John Miller seaman on board the Gen. Stark on the 10th of March 1817.

I the subscriber hereby certify, that living in this place, which is remote and peninsulated from the principal towns in this State, consequently not enjoying the ordinary means of information, I was, till recently, entirely ignorant of the Law of the United States, enacted the 10 th of April A.D. 1816, which provides, that those Invalids, who were wounded, while in the line of their duty , in any proper service, against the common enemy, during the Revolutionary War with Great Britain, shall, upon substantiating their claims, be placed on the Pension List of the United States, and which was declared should remain in force, till A.D. 1818, by a subsequent Law of the United States, enacted the 25 th of April 1812; And not having a knowledge of the above Laws, is the reason why I did not make application for a Pension before. And I further certify, that I am not on the Pension list of any State.
Gloucester Mass Jan 20 th A.D. 1817
John Ladd
Excc. ss Gloucester January 20 th 1817 then the Above named John Ladd personally appeared and was solemnly sworn to the truth of the above Certificate, by him subscribed before me.
Isaac Elwell { Justice of the Peace

I Isaac Elwell of Gloucester, Mass, in virtue of a Commission, dated the 13 th of January A.D. 1817 from the Hon d John Davis judge of Mass District authorising me to take the evidence, on oath, of such persons, as may be brought before me, by John Low of the aforesaid Gloucester, for substantiating his Claim to a Pension from the United States, do hereby certify that the said John Low is a Credible Witness, and sustains a respectable Character Gloucester ms January 20 th 1817
Isaac Elwell { Justice of the Peace
Certificate of Affirmation of John Low in his own case, taken on board the Gen. Stark
John Low his Affirmation before me the 20th of January 1817

Certificate & affidavit of Josiah Smith Surgeon John H. Hays Surgeon in case of John Dow Seaman on board the Gen. Stokes, also of certificate and affidavit of Moses Dyer
Transmitted by Col. John Williams, Superintendent of Seamen 2 nd July 1842

I hereby certify that I, being Surgeon of the Privateer Ship General Starks, commanded by William Coss, on the twentieth day of August 1779 John Law of Gloucester in Massachusetts received a severe wound in both his legs by a four pound Shot from a British Ship of force with which the said Starks was then engaged, said Law being one of the crew. That I amputated the right leg just below the knee; which has since been supplied by a cork or wooden leg. — A Skeleton of the left leg was with great difficulty saved. — That he was badly wounded in the head & back at the same time. — That the loss of one leg & the decrepitude of the other have been very sore impediments to him in all the ordinary pursuits of human life. —
Jasiah Smith
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss. Town of Gloucester December 16 th 1816 Then the above named Jasiah Smith above named personally came, and made oath to the truth of the above written Instrument by him subscribed.
before me W. Hunt Master of the Peace
I the subscriber hereby certify, that I was one of the crew of the Privateer Gen. Starks, of this port, owned principally by David Pearce Esq. and commanded by Capt. William Coss, and that on the 20 th of August A.D. 1779 the said Gen. Starks, engaged and captured a British Packet in which engagement John Law a seaman of the aforesaid Gloucester lost his right leg, had his left leg badly shattered, and was otherwise severely wounded, which misfortune consequently occurred, while the said John Law, was contending with the common enemy in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain, on board the said Gen. Starks, and caused him the great inability under which he labours. Felix Hardy
Essex, ss Gloucester January 20 th 1817 then the above named John Hardy personally appeared and was solemnly sworn to the truth of the above Certificate by him subscribed before me.
Isaac Elwell
Justice of the Peace

Essex, ss Gloucester January 20 th 1817 then the above named John Hardy personally appeared and was solemnly sworn to the truth of the above Certificate by him subscribed before me.
Isaac Elwell Justice of the Peace.
This may certify, that I the subscriber, was Capt. of the fore- -ship, on board the Privateer Gen. Stark, of the port of Gloucester, Mass, owned principally by David Pearce Esq. and commanded by Capt. William Coss; and that on the 20 th of August A.D. 1779, the said Gen. Stark engaged and captured a British Packet, in which engagement John Lou a seaman of the aforesaid Glo- -cester, and one of the crew of the said Gen. Stark, received a severe wound, by a four-pound shot from the enemy's ship, by which he lost his right leg, also a part of his left leg and was otherwise badly wounded. which misfortune has ever since, intirely disabled, the said John Lou from procuring his living by manual labour.
Moses Dresser
Essex, ss Gloucester January 1817 then the above named Moses Dresser personally appeared and was solemnly sworn to the truth of the above Cert. by him subscribed before me.
Isaac Elwell Justice of the Peace.
I Isaac Elwell of Gloucester Mass in virtue of a commission dated 13 th January 1817 from the Hon. John Davis judge of Mass District authorizing me to take the evidence on oath of such persons as may be brought before me by Moses Dresser of the aforesaid Gloucester for substantiating his claim to a pension from the United States do hereby certify that the said Moses Dresser is a Creditable Witness and sustains a reputable Character Gloucester Ms January 20 - 1817
Isaac Elwell Justice of the Peace.

I. Isaac Elwell of Gloucester, Mass, in Virtue of a Commission, dated the 13 th January 1817, from the Hon ble John Davis, judge of Mass District, authorising me to take the evidence, on oath, of such Persons, as may be brought before me, by John Low of the aforesaid Gloucester, for the substantiating his Claims, to a pension from the United States, do hereby Certify, that the within named John Hardy is a Credible Witness and sustains a respectable Character
Gloucester 14 th January 20 th 1817
Isaac Elwell } Justice of the Peace

I, Isaac Elwell of Gloucester Mass, in virtue of a Commission, dated 18 th of January 1817 from the Hon ble John Davis, judge of Mass District, authorising me to take the evidence on oath of such persons, as may be brought before me by John Low of the aforesaid Gloucester, for substantiating his Claim to a pension from the United States, do hereby Certify that the within Josiah Smith, Surgeon, is a Credible Witness and sustains a respectable Character.
Gloucester 9 th January 20 th 1817
Isaac Elwell { Justice of the Peace
Certificate of Affidavit of Josiah Smith Surgeon who before me personally appeared in case of John Low demand on him the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars for certificate and affidavit John Davis James [unclear] Col. John [unclear] and [unclear] [unclear] [unclear] [unclear]

The subscriber, having examined John Low, a citizen of this place, hereby certify, that he has lost his right leg, just below the knee; also has lost about four inches of the fibula, or small bone, of his left leg, and has large scars on his head and back, which must have been occasioned, by severe wounds; and that he is disabled, in such manner, as to render him totally unable to procure his subsistence by manual labour.
Gloucester Mass. Jan 20. A.D. 1817
Ebenezer Dale, Physician
A.D. 1817
Essex, ss. Gloucester, January Twentieth, day, then the above named. — Ebenezer Dale Personally appeared, and was solemnly sworn to the truth of the above Certificate by him subscribed before me.
Isaac Elwell { Justice of the Peace
I Isaac Elwell of Gloucester Mass in Virtue of a Commission dated the 13 th of January A.D. 1817 From the Hon ble John Davis judge of Mass. District, Authorising me to take the evidence, on oath, of such persons, as may be brought before me, by John Low of the aforesaid Gloucester, for substantiating his Claim to a pension, from the United States, do hereby certify that Doct r Ebenezer Dale, of the aforesaid Gloucester, has examined the degree of disability under which John Low also of said Gloucester labours in consequence of wounds, which he received on the 20 th of August A.D. 1779 on board the Private armed Ship, Called the Gen l Stark, is reputable in his Profession has a Diploma from the Mass Medical Society, and has officiated as Surgeon of the Garrison Stationed at Fort Defiance, during the last War with Great Britain, agreeably to a Contract with the Commander of this Military District.
Gloucester ms. January 20 th 1817
Isaac Elwell { Justice of the Peace

From Isaac Ellwell, who was commissioned by Judge Davis of Massa- chusetts, to take the evidence in case of John Law, an appli- cant for pension, to the secretary of War, transmitting all the evidence &c.
dated Gloucester. Jan y 20 th 1816,
Transmitted by the Secy of War to the Hon. A. S. John Quincy Adams 1817
Congress
W. Ellwell, written to 11 th June, 1817. acknowledging the receipt of the evidence &c.
To the Hon. Secretary of War
Washington City

To the Honourable Secretary of War
Gloucester Jan y 20 th 1817
Sir
In virtue of a Commission dated in Boston the 13 th of January A.D. 1817 from the Hon ble John Davis judge of Massachusetts District authorising me to take the evidence on oath of such persons as might be brought before me by John Low an Invalid who was wounded in the Revolutionary War for substantiating his Claim to a pension from the United States pursuant to an act of the Congress of the United States passed the 10 th of April A.D. 1806 - entitled an act to provide for persons who were disabled by known-wounds received in the Revolutionary War I have therefore proceeded in the premises, in conformity to my instructions from the said John Davis and have taken the evidence on oath, in case of the said John Low which I herewith transmits to you accompanied with the Affidavits Certificates and proceedings had thereupon. As Corroborative testimony I have thought proper to send the certificate and Affidavit of the Hon ble Josiah Smith of Newburyport which was given before a Magistrate in that place proving that he was Surgeon of the General Starks and attended the said John Low in his wounds I also inclose his petition and I hereby Certify that the testimony in case of the said John Low was closed before me this twentieth day of January A.D. 1817.
I am Sir very respectfully your Obl d Sa
Isaac Elwell { Commissioner and Justice of the Peace

Certificate & Affidavit of David Pearce Esq in case of John Pove seaman on board the Gen. Starke
Testified by Rev John Williams, Senior M. A. for the referees, S. Feb. 7. 1817.

This may certify, that John Low of Gloucester, Mass, enlisted and and served, as a Seaman, on board the Pirate armed Ship of 16 guns, called the Gen. Stark, of which I was the principal owner, and that after a successful cruise in A.D. 1779, he returned in the said Gen. Stark, with the loss of his right leg, also with his left leg dangerously injured, and was otherwise severely wounded, conse- quently was regularly discharged from the Gen. Stark. And the said John Low has ever since the aforementioned cruise A.D. 1779 resided in the aforesaid Gloucester; and having begun in a small line, with the patronage of a few friends, has obtained his living as a Grocer. And I further hereby certify, that all the officers and crew, of the said Gen. Stark, supported a high character for bravery and discipline, and during a number of enterprising cruises, they made several very fortunate captures, against the common enemy, in the Revolutionary War.
David Pearce
Essex ss Gloucester January 20 th 1817 then the above named David Pearce personally appeared and was solemnly sworn to the truth of the above Certificate by him subscribed before me.
Isaac Elwell { Justice of the Peace

I. Issac Elwell of Gloucester, Mass, in Virtue of a Commission, dated the 13 th of January 1817, from the Hon ble John Davis, judge of Mass District, authorising me to take the evidence, on oath, of such persons, as may be brought before me, by John Lowe of the aforesaid Gloucester, for substantiating his Claims to a pension from the United States, do hereby Certify that the within named David Pearce is a Credible Witness and sustains a respectable Character
Gloucester Ms. January 20 th 1817
Issac Elwell { Justice of the Peace.
Certificate of Official of David Pearce Esq in case of his pension on board the Gen. Starling
Testimony of David Pearce before me this 20 th day of January 1817

Rev Invalid Widow, &c. Army
File No 20048 John Low 2 d Seaman Ship Genl Starks
Act March 3 rd 1819
Index : Vol _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Massachusetts
John Low, an application for pen- sion, evidence transmit- ted by Isaac Ellwell, Esq. Gloucester, Mass. on 20. January, 1817.
Received at the Pension Office 11 th June.
To be laid before Con- gress at their next ses-
Congress

Massachusetts.
John Low, Seaman, Of the private armed ship General Stokes. In the Revolutionary War.
Ratio of disability, Total. Certificate No. 3
Time of closing the testimony. 3 20 th Jan y 1817
Shank 12-1818
Ref. to the Com ee on pension & Revol y & claiming.
Award of Congress, . . . . .
Regular