Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1690, for Michael Mc Dowell, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
McDowell, Michael
S. 1690
CONTENTS
carded.

19559 East Tennessee
Michael McDowell of Blairsville in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Witham of the 1st Regt commanded by Col. Calhoun in the time for 9 months
Entered on the Roll of East Tennessee at the rate of 30 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Ex parte of Pension issued the 20 day of Sept 1832 and Richard
Robert Hazwell Arrears to the 4th of Sept 75.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 March 15.00 $90.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk, Book E Vol. 7 Page

State of Tennessee
This day personally
— Claiborne County
appeared before
Samuel Dowell Judge of the Circuit Court of Law and Equity in the State of Tennessee the same being a court of record Michael M c Dowell aged 85 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June the 7 th 1832 —
States that he entered the services of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated that he lived in the County of Bedford in the State of Virginia and some time in the year of 1777 or in the year of 1778 he was drafted to perform a three months service of duty in the services of his Country and that he belonged to Company Commanded by Capt. Arthur which said Company was attached to the Regiment Commanded by Col. James Colaway when marched to the lead mines in the western part of Virginia and we then built a fort and we were then stationed until such time of service had expired and then it was that Col d Colaway urged us to volunteer our services in the cause of our Country for the term of three months which this applicant did do in good faith and he states most positively that he did leave his Country under the command of Col d William St Bridger at the same fort and after his time of service had again expired this applicant returned home to his residence in the

State of Virginia in Bedford County and some time after his discharge returned home he again volunteered himself under Capt. Estlin and we then marched against the Indians who were  were committing many depredations upon the inhabitants of Virginia and this applicant states that he served in that campaign Campaign as long as his services was required by the Commanding Officer but the precise time he served he does not recollect and then being discharged from service he returned to his Residence in the County of Bedford And this applicant states begs leave further to represent to the department that some time after he had returned home from the last above mentioned Campaign he he united himself with some of his neighbours and friends to Geathers with the Ellisons of the County (Calling ourselves) Spies, with a view to protect the women & children from the steeling knife of the savages and after performing a great deal of hard labour in the service of our Country and after the spring of the year had set in and the Indians had left the frontier frontier we again returned home the applicant states that he believes taking the whole of his services together that he served in the course of his Country for the term of nine months although it may be more or it may be less

Said applicant also states that he has no documentary evidence of his services nor does he know of any living testimony by whom he can prove this his services as a few days ago went to see his Capt. to wit Capt. Arther who now lives in the State of Kentucky and that he found that the tongue of the said Arther is paralized and so select so that he can not speak so as to be understood which will make fully appear in the  by by reference to a document here with presented and signed by one of the Justices of the peace in said State hereby Relinquishes every Claim to a pension or an annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll Roll of any agent of of any State whatsoever
Sworn to in open Court
Dec. 1832.
I John Hunt a citizen of the County of Claibourn in the State of Tennessee do here by Certify that I am well acquainted with Michael McDowell who is making this application  for for a pension do state that it is true and believe in the neighbourhood where he lives that he was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and that I concur in that opinion
you have since the Revolutionary war, where do you now live

...may be, did you ...that, or if a substitute for whom State the names of some of the persons who were with the troops where you were, and the circumstances and like things ...general circumstances of your service.
But you never knew Michael Hane from the ...and, also, how he was it given, and what has be- ...State the names of persons to whom you are known during your present residence ...Michael Hane sworn to as a soldier in the Revolution open Court Dec. 26 1832 Mark E. S. Hunt
I James Giltut one of the clergymen of the Baptist Church do upon oath state that I am well acquainted with Michael Hane I making this application for a pension and have been for fifteen or twenty years and that I believe him to be the person of age he states and that it is generally believed in the neighborhood where he resides that he was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and that I concur in that opinion sworn to in open court Dec. 28. 1832 James Giltut E. S. Hunt Atty

Ph. 661.
19th 1872

I John Hunt Thug Sharp for the co of Claiborne in the State of Tennessee do State upon oath that I am well acquainted with Michael M c Dowell who is making this application for a pension and have been well acquainted with him for several years and that I believe him to be the years of age that he states and that it is reported and believed in the neighborhood where the applicant resides that he was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and that I concur in that opinion and that I also state that he is a man of good reputation and moral character known to me in all. John Hunt ap d 27 1833 J. Hunt Clk
and the said Court - do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogation 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 it that James Gilbert who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman Resident in the County of Claiborne in the state of Tennessee and that John Hunt who has also signed the certificate is a Resident in the County of Claiborne and state aforesaid and is a Credible person and that their statements is entitled to Credit. A correct copy of the minutes of the proceedings

No. 661.
I Fidelio S. Hunt Clerk of the Circuit Court of Clatsop County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Michael M. Snow for a Pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 17 th April 1833.
F. S. Hunt Clerk

26.661
Michael McDowell Clairborne Tennessee
from 1777 private 9 months. $30.
Fidelio S. Hunt Clerk of Clairborne Co. Tazewell Tennessee

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 subjoined 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, showing the Service of Michael M c Dowell
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1777 3 Pt. Capt. Arthur Col. Calaway 85 Wad Traditionary.   " 3 " Capt. Seplevick   " not recollected Capt. Arthur   " " "   Served in all 9 months.  
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. (L) 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 inquiry 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 fix 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 time 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 [a] 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.

See No.
1690 INVALID.
File No. 1690 Michael C. Dowell, Miss. Va. Line.
Act: June 7, 1832.
Index:—Vol. a , Page 242
[Arrangement of 1870.]