Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16324, Andrew Bower, Va.

SERVICE
Va.
Bower, Andrew or Bowen
NUMBER
S. 16324
CONTENTS
carded.

13598 Indiana
Andrew Bower of Montgomery in the State of Indiana who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Evans of the [blank] commanded by [blank] in the [blank] time for 6 months Private 3 [blank] Life
Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana the rate of 3 Dollars 50 Cents per annum commence on the 4 day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of May 1833 and sent to John Wilson near Crawfordsville
Arrears to the 4th March 62 50 Semi-annual allowance ending 4th April 15 50 $77.50
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk Book 8 Vol. 7 Page 105
certificate returned & altered from Andrew Bower to Andrew Bower and sent to John Wilson Crawfordsville 19 Sep 1833

Andrew Bower
7, 24346
Pintura Papers

State of Indiana Montgomery County } ss
on this 19 th day of March 1833. Personally appeared in open court before John R. Porter, President Judge & James Stitt and Absalom Fletcher Associate Judges of the Circuit Court of the County aforesaid now sitting Andrew Bower a resident in the County of Montgomery aforesaid & State aforesaid aged Eighty 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 acts of Congress passed June 9 th 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, namely, under Capt. Isaac Evans (colonel name not recollected), in the year 1777 as piper in P. company, which was not long after the battle at German town & the British lying in Philadelphia at the time at Brandywine . That he entered the service at Barkley County Virginia, and continued in the service on this call for the term of three months, in the Militia service - principally engaged in scouting parties, watching the movements of the enemy - that he was honorably discharged, by his said Captain, by orders from General Washington  whose name he is not sure of but which discharge is lost by time & accident That Afterwards in the year 1781, this applicant again entered the service in the Militia, as a substitute for Robert Campbell, in the company commanded by Wm Porter, went from Barkley Co. Vt. and entered the service under General Mendenburgh and served for three months principally engaged in watching the enemy, and at the expiration of this term we left the British at or near Richmond, Vt. where we were relieved & returned home Soon after we returned home, another call was made and this applicant again entered the service in the Militia under Capt. Horace Perimeter (or perhaps John Perimeter), for three months, in this tour Lord Cornwallis & troops, surrendered at Little York, after which this applicant, about the expiration of this last term, or as he thinks after it, he was again, discharged

That he received pay in Congress or continental paper which was of little or no value to him. - that he has no documentary evidence & knows of no person living by whom he can prove his services. whose testimony he can procure.
that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not, to his knowledge or belief, on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
That he was born in York County Penn s ylvania, have no record of his age at this time, was born from best information, in the year 1753 - 16 th of February - he was drafted into service the first & last tours & was a substitute the second tour - each a tour of 3 months in all five months or a little over. that he did receive regular discharge for said terms: but has lost the same. Laverne Hays
of his present neighborhood, can testify as to my character for veracity & their belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution. Andrew Borver
Sworn to in Open Court
March 19 th 1833 John Nelson Clk
We Laverne Hays, and in the County of Montgomery State of Indiana hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Andrew Borver, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed this day & year aforesaid.
John Nelson Clk
his Laverne Hays mark
Daniel Daugherty

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 certify that it appears to them that Lavener Ways and Daniel Dougherty, who has signed the preceding certificate are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
John R Pater James Stitt Abraham Ketcham
I John Wilson clerk of the court of Montgomery County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the Application of Andrew Bower for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal
of office this 19 th day of March A.D. 1833
John Wilson clk

No 24346
Andrew Bower Montgomery County Indiana
from 1777 private life 9 mos.
P. 6 mos. — $20. —
Life 3 " — 11
 $31.
Capt Evans
va
J. Wilson Bk Montgomery County Indiana Crawfordsville

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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, shewing the Service of Andrew Bower a Montgomery County, Indiana
   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.     Served 1797 3 — fifer G. Mullenburgh Capt Evans 80 years Berkley County Virginia Tradit. many evidence, witnesses certified credible, no singularity to reason given   Sub 1781 3 — — Capt Porter   Drafted — 3 — — Capt Perimeter  
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 days 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 [j] 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.

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section AWF/eel
January 4, 1930
Mrs. Eva B. Wells Box 43 Hanover, Indiana
Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.16324, it appears that Andrew Bower was born February 16, 1753, in York County, Pennsylvania.
He enlisted in Berkeley County, Virginia, and served in the Virginia Militia as follows:
In 1777, three months as a fifer in Captain Isaac Evans' Company; in 1781, three months in Captain William Porter's Company; and soon after this three months in Captain Permeter's Company, this last tour was at the time of the surrender of Cornwallis.
He was allowed pension on his application executed March 19, 1833, while a resident of Montgomery County, Indiana.
There are no family data.
The above noted Andrew Bower or Bowers, is the only soldier of that name found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.

Crawfordsville Ind
Sept 18 1891
Sept 18 1891
to the Secretary of War
The
mail
Pension Office
Washington City
D.C.

100 100
J L Edwards Commissy of Pensions
FREE
John Wilson Esq Crawfordsville Indiana
Hon. Lewis Cass, Sec. of War.
The undersigned, whose actual name is Andrew Bower, instead of Andrew Bowen, made his declaration in the Circuit Court of the County of Montgomery, Indiana, & whether it has been by some miss in the Clerk's writing my name or in my signature or by what means but the inclosed paper or Certificate was sent me in return, which in all respects answers except my name is put Andrew Bowen instead of Andrew Bower, as you see - and I can't take the oath of identity on this certificate - I can't swear that I am the same person named in this certificate when my name is not exactly named, I am at a loss to know what I ought to do, but have concluded to return this certificate and request that it be corrected to my actual name.
Very Respectfully yours & C.
Andrew Bower

16.324 INVALID.
File No. 16.324 Andrew Bower Andrew Bower & wife Pre & Post War
Act: June 7 th 39
Index:—Vol. A , Page 45
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Nov. 20-1902 Mrs. Eliza E. Davidon Crawfordsville Ind 1928 mch. 23 Hist. Co Mrs. J. E. McLean awg. 1930 Jan. 4 Hist. Co Mrs. Eva B. Wells awg.

awg
March 23, 1928.
Mrs. J. E. McLean, 336 Rawlings Street, Washington Court House, Ohio.
Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 16324, it appears that Andrew Bower was born February 16, 1753 in York County, Pennsylvania.
He enlisted in Berkeley County, Virginia and served in the Virginia Militia as follows:
In 1777, three months as a fifer in Captain Isaac Evans' Company; in 1781, three months in Captain William Porter's Company; and soon after this three months in Captain Permeter's Company, this last tour was at the time of the surrender of Cornwallis.
He was allowed pension on his application executed March 19, 1833, while a resident of Montgomery County, Indiana.
There are no family data.
The above noted Andrew Bower or Bowers, is the only soldier of that name found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Owing to the very large number of similar inquiries,

and the lack of a clerical force available for the purpose, the Bureau is unable to make immediate reply to each inquiry pertaining to soldiers of the Revolution.
Such information is furnished by courtesy of the Government and without fee, and letters are being answered as rapidly as possible in the order of their receipt.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT, Commissioner.

Box 43, Hanover, Indiana Nov. 19 - '29
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Please send me all the data you may have concerning the following Revolutionary soldiers:
John Rudolph Waymire who resided in Guilford County - now Randolph Co. - North Carolina. He died in 1801.
Jacob Fouts (Fouts) who was living in Randolph Co., N. Car., in 1782. He married Mary Magdalene Waymire in 1772.

Andrew Bower who lived in Rowan County, N. Carolina and came to Clark County, Ind. in 1820,
John Barnes of Virginia who came to Jefferson County, Indiana about 1807,
Thanking you for the information, I am, Very truly yours,
(Mrs.) Eva B. Wells

Washington C. H. O. July 25-1927
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir: —
Will you tell me if you have any record of a pension being paid to one Andrew Bowers of York County Pa. who served in the Revolution

as 2 nd class private in Capt. Andrew Boege Co. the 4 th B att of Militia in Lancaster County commanded by Col. Jacob Cagley.
When and for how long was the pension paid?
If there are any charges for this information I will be glad to pay same.
Thanking you for your help and hoping to have a prompt reply.
I am sincerely
Wanda Walford McLean (Mrs. J. E.) 336 Rawlings Street Washington Court House, Ohio.

April 30 1883 Pension Office
No. 24346
Rev. Lewis Cass Leary of Mar Washington City D.C.
Greensboro, Va. March 22