Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,648, Ishmael Bowker, Mass.

SERVICE  NUMBER  Mass.  Bowker, Ishmael  S. 29,648  CONTENTS  Blank lined area for contents entry  Blank lined area for contents entry

21. 919 Massachusetts Ismael Bowler , of Palmer in the State of Massachusetts who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Turner of the Regt. commanded by Col. Tutchell in the Massachusetts line for 2 years " " "
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 day of Nov. 1833 — and Sister Mary Bliss Springfield
Arrears to the 14th of Sep. 33 $ 200 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 M. 34 40 $240
Recorded by Revolutionary Claims Act June 7, 1832. Go. C. Giles Clerk Book 8. Vol. 2. Page 12.

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office; July 23. 1832.
I hereby certify that on an examination of the military papers relating to the War of the Revolution, remaining in this Office, I find the name of Ishmael Baker borne on three several pay rolls of "Capt. Thomas Turner's Company, Col. Thomas Marshall's Regiment in the service of Massachusetts Bay"; and that it appears from said Rolls that he served in said Company from May 31. 1776 to Dec. 1. 1776, inclusive; — and that the names of Isaiah Sampson and Colson Sampson are also borne on the same Rolls.
Edward D. Fages. Secy of Comm.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Hampden } of
On the fourth day of September A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the hon. Oliver B. Morris Judge of the Probate Court being a court of Record within said Commonwealth, now sitting at Springfield within said County of Hampden Ishmael Bowker a resident of Palmer in the county & Commonwealth aforesaid aged 70 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 & served as herein stated. That he was born in the town of Bridgewater (now East Bridgewater) in the County of Plymouth & Commonwealth aforesaid on the 5 th day of March 1762; - that he went to which with his mother in Pembroke in said County & there, when entering the 15 th year of his age, he enlisted as a private under Capt. Thomas Turner, viz in April or May 1776, for the period of three years; - that he rendezvoused first at Boston in May in Col. Marshall's Regiment, & was stationed at Castle Williams in Boston Harbor for the period of six months doing garrison duty; - that Smith was a Lieut. in Turner's Company; - that there were three companies beside Turner's on the Castle, one of which was commanded by a Capt. Israel Stetson or Stetson; - that during that term of Turner's & another company went across to Nantasket where two British vessels were taken by their freight with farmers & farming utensils under the following circumstances as related at the time viz said vessels arrived off the harbor & not knowing that the British had evacuated Boston, called for a Pilot who went off & brought them into Nantasket roads & were brought too & captured by the troops & the persons on board sent up to Boston with the vessels, under conduct of a ship's crew from a vessel in the harbor.
That after the expiration of his garrison duty at Castle William as aforesaid he marched in his company under Capt. Turner across the country to Ticonderoga; - that they went into winter quarters at Fort Ti immediately after their arrival; - that no occurrences took place till next spring & summer except occasional scouts of Indians picking off now & then a man; - that he was 3 or 4 times during his station in the Fort picked for a scout to go up to Crown Point.

to look out for movements of the enemy & for marauding parties of British & Indians; - that he was seldom or never on one of said scouts when one or more of their men were not picked off by the Indians; - that on one of these expeditions he saw the fleet containing Burgoyne's army approaching which afterwards landed at Crown Point; - that he soon returned immediately to the Fort, the the garrison of which was under the command of Genl St. Clair; - that Burgoyne's troops did not march down immediately upon the Fort as was expected, but marched around early in July 1777 & took his position on Mount Defiance which overlooked the Fort, which was immediately by abandoned by the American troops who marched across across an arm or part of the lake on a pont bridge to Mount Independence; - that he was in the van guard on the re- treat, & knew nothing of the engagement by the men with the British advance except hearing the guns; - that the van proceeded down to Bennington in Vermont under the command of a Colonel whose name is not recollected; at Bennington they had a skirmish with a body of British & Indians; - that he soon after went to Sara- toga & to Stillwater; - that there were two pretty general engagements which led to the surrender of Burgoyne; - that he was in the left wing of the army the whole of which was under command of Genl Gates, the right wing under Genl Arnold, & the name of the commander of the left wing is not recollected; - that the next day, or the second day after one of the engagements he witnessed from the American Camp the Military funeral services of a British Genl Officer who had been killed, & heard the music, & the minute guns distinctly; - that about the middle of September the British army marched out - stacked their arms, - the Americans marched in & took possession; - that he soon after marched down to Albany & thence down to West Point which had been a short time before invested by the British from New York & again deserted before his corps arrived; - that there were slight skirmishes with the British Tories & Indians till they went into winter quarters at West Point; - that the latter place seemed to be their rallying point though during the summer when the seat of War seemed removed southward they were scouring the Country sometimes in the Sussex & sometimes in Connecticut; - that at one time in the summer of 1778 he was engaged in bringing off

in boats persons & effects from Long Island to the main land in the night, with muffled oars - a British Frigate then lying between New London & P t Island; - that every night on their arrival at the Island a paper was concealed in a rock known to them, giving the necessary information; - that he was drafted out, or selected for that service in consequence of his having been to sea when a boy of 11 years old; - that he was during said time frequently at White Plains & at one time remained there a few weeks or more; - that they were kept moving most of the time & he cannot recollect with distinctness the times of their movements, or the places to which they marched; - that from these various expeditions & movements he returned to New Point for Winter Quarters; - that he had a discharge in writing nearly made & delivered some time in March or April 1779; -
And the applicant states further that he is confident that he was (after his arrival at Ticonderoga & before its evacuation) arranged into Capt. Stutson's or Stetson's company from P t Capt. Turner; - that he remembers a Col. Warner in the northern army but the names of most of the officers he has forgotten; - that Col. Sampson & Israel Sampson of Duxbury in the County of Plymouth & Israel Sampson of Pembroke in said County were both with him in the service at Castle William, & were there six months and also James Crooker or Crocker was with him at P t Castle six months & was a 9 months man with him at New Point, White Plains &c.; - that in 1829 he procured the deposition of the P t Sampsons & Crocker with a view to obtain a Pension under the former law; - that he forwarded his papers which were returned with a statement that the affidavits were not sufficient & that his name was not on the roll of Mershells Reg t ; - that he has no property whatever & has not had to the value of one hundred & fifty dollars at any one time for thirty years past & thereby by reason of his poverty has been unable to procure new affidavits as the deponents live nearly  more than 100 miles from his place of residence; - that he has sent to the Secretary of State of this Commonwealth, who returns the annexed affidavit as to his service in Mershells Regiment; - that his name is there written Baker which is the name now in which is used & is now by many pronounced; -

that he annexes said affidavit & has no other documentary evidence; - his mitter discharge was taken from him when engaged in the sea service in 1780 or 1781 on board the Letter of Marque the Betsey of 16 guns commanded by Capt. Williams of Boston for Dominique which was captured by the British armed vessel the Charming Sally, & he with the crew was carried prisoner to St. Kitts; -
And the applicant further states that after his discharge at West Point as aforesaid he returned to Pembroke, & after staying there a few weeks he enlisted on board the Continental Ship Columbia of 20 guns for an eighteen months cruise; - that he assisted to fit her for sea; - that he was doing duty on board 3 or 4 weeks when being seized with the small pox he was put on shore at Hospital Island then so called in Boston Harbor, & while there the Columbia sailed on her cruise; - that he remained on the Island 8 or 10 weeks doing work there after he began to be convalescent, & then went to Boston.
That subsequently he went on board & served during the residue of the War in the Letter of Marque above mentioned & other private armed vessels. That about the year 1787 or 8 he removed to Ware in the County of Hampshire where he resided till about 40 years ago when he removed to Palmer his present place of residence, though in that time he has been often engaged as a mariner in the merchant service from the Port of Boston; - that he has no record of his birth, but but believes it was recorded on the Town Records of Bridgewater aforesaid.
That he has not known for several years any persons living who could testify to his services as aforesaid except the above named Sampson & Crocker & he does not know now that they are living; - that he has not been able to send to Bridgewater or Pembroke for certificates as to his reputation & identity; - that Asa Raymond of Hardwick is the only person within a reasonable distance whose testimony upon these points he could procure, & that he sent to him for his deposition, which is returned to

him in the informal shape which it exhibits in his the deponent own hand writing, & which the applicant hereto exhibits annexes for the purposes of aiding to prove his identity
And the Applicant prays the Secretary of the War Department, if any deficiency exists in the foregoing state- ment & accompanying proofs so as to preclude him from a full Pension under 5 th Law of June 7. 1832,) to give the following state- ment & the accompanying documents their due consideration to ascertain if he may not be placed upon the Roll of Pen- sioners under the Law of 1818 & the Laws in addition thereto.
The Applicant declares that when he removed to Palmer as aforesaid he bought the parcel of land of 5 3/4 acres as described in the accompanying schedule - built a log house thereon & had a small quantity of furniture, farming & shoemakers tools & from time to time some stock, though never at any one time since his residence in said Palmer has he been possessed, in any capacity, of any property, estate, or income to the value of One Thousand & fifty dollars, as before mentioned. That in early life he partly learned the Shoemakers trade & since his residence in Palmer he has spent his time in taking care of said land & cobbling in the intervals of his voyages; - that then he returned from his last voyage in 1819 & has since remained in Palmer; - that he did not attempt to procure a Pension till 1828-9 when his means were too straitened to allow him to prosecute the attempt successfully by looking up deposition, though he then went on foot-going & returning, nearly 200 miles to procure the depositions of the said Campions & Crocker, & the authentication of the certificates of the Magistrates; - that he then caused an inventory of his property to be taken by two judicious men whose appraisement was $118.05 & no more, whose certificate was exhibited to the Court at the time of making his application as aforesaid, & said orig- inal certificate, taken from the files of the Court, is hereto annexed; - that his property has since been wasting & lessening in value & that he has now no stock except a cow, & his ability to take care of himself & his wife is diminishing by old age & infir- mities; - that he did not then, & does not now know of any person living, except the said Crocker or Crocker who was on the Pension Roll as was said, who can testify to any service of the Applicant after he left Castle William; as above set forth. That though the

The said Affidavits of S Sampson do not fix the time when the applicant entered the service, the applicant would refer to the annexed certificate of the Secretary of State of Massachusetts to cure that defect, & also to the same to remove the objection that the applicant was not on the rolls of Marshalls Reg t as entered Thomas Barker .
And the Applicant further declares that he has not from the any clergyman who has had any opportunity of knowing him, & that the present of Cluett- man of Palmer has been settled there but a few months; - that he is known to Deacon Lebbeus Chapin, Philip Lamb, Reuben Shaw John Smith Solomon Brown, Seth Dunbar, and others; - that he cannot prove the attendance of persons from 3 d town at Springfield, but has obtained their deposition as to his identity, property & character which is hereto annexed.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any state. Thomas Barker
Given to subscribe the day & year aforesaid.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states. And the Court further states certifies that the above named Lebbeus Chapin and others whose names are affixed to the accompanying affidavits marked A. are residents in the 3 d town of Palmer, & are credible persons, & that their statements are entitled to credit. and further, that it is the opinion of the Court that the total amount in value of the property of the said Barker does

not exceed the sum of one hundred & eighteen dollars
I Justice Willard Clerk & Register of the said court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Ishmael Bowker for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office of the said court this fourth day of September A. D. 1832 -
Justice Willard

A.
We the subscribers citizens of Palmer in the County of Hampshire of Lawful age testify & say that we have known Ishmael Bouker a resident in said Palmer for 12 years past & some of us more than 30 years, and we believe him to be Seventy years of age; - that he always has been reputed to be originally from Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth, & last, before his removal to Palmer, from the town of Ware; - that he has made several voyages to sea from Boston (as we have been told & believe) several times since his residence in Palmer; - that he has worked some as a cobbler in a place remote from business occasionally; - that he has been possessed of a small tract of land in the northeasterly part of said town with a log house thereon which has been the principal part of his property, so far as we know, except occasionally some stock; - that we verily believe that at no one time within twenty years past  since he has been has he been possessed of property to the value of One hundred & fifty dollars, in any shape whatever.
And we further certify that the said Bouker is a credible person, & that he is now destitute & in our opinion, by his revolutionary service, is entitled to the bounty of his country.
And we further certify that his name is pronounced Buker & Bouker indiscriminately.  Philip Lamb John Smith Lebeus Chapin Solomon Brown Seth Dunsan Mather Shaw  Aug. 1832.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden County ss. Aug Sept 1 st 1832 Then personally appearing the subscribers to the foregoing affidavit by them subscribed and made oath to the truth thereof before me. Amos Hamilton Justice of the Peace and I also certify that they are credible persons.
Amos Hamilton Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden County ss. This certifies that Amos Hamilton Esquire is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Hampden duly qualified, and that to his acts & attestations as such, full credit ought to be given - and the signature of his name above is in his proper hand writing
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas & Court of Records within said Commonwealth this 4 th Sept. A.D. 1832 at Springfield
John Ingersoll Clerk

I Asa Raymond of Hampshire County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being of Lawfull Age Do testify and say that when I was a Child I recollect of seeing Ismael Barker and knew in my mind who he was and answered by stating his name and that he had just returned from the Army I think it was some time previous to the close of the revolutionary War. The said Barker is the same man who requests me to testify at this time. August 17 1832 Asa Raymond
Hampshire Jr. August 17, 1832
Then the said Asa Raymond Subscribed to the foregoing deposition personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the same before me
Joseph Cummings Jus Peace

Schedule
of Property belonging to Ishmael Bowker of Palmer.
We the subscribers, having been requested to appraise the property of said Bowker, do appraise the articles enumerated in this Schedule, together with all his real estate as follows at their fair and just value (the necessary clothing beds bedding excepted) as follows. viz.
  5 3/4 acres of Land with the log house thereon in said Palmer $ 50-00   1 cow 20-00   1. Horse &c. 5-00   4. Sheep 5-50   Farming tools 10-25   Shoemakers tools 9-00   Household furniture 14-50   1 Hog 3-20   1 hundred weight pork 9-00   118-05 
Palmer March 9-1829
Reuben Shaw
Calvin Ward
Hampden ss Palmer March 9th 1829. Personally appearing Reuben Shaw and Calvin Ward, Subscribers to the above schedule of property, and made solemn oath that they have appraised the several articles contained therein according to their best skill and judgment & that they believe it to contain all the property which the said Bowker is in possession of
Before me Amos Stone Justice of the Peace

10308
Isaac Bowker
Paint 2 years
1606
Jan 13 1833
P 416
21
11
21
21
23
William Bliss
John L. Russell
Strangford
Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Ismael Bowler  of Palmer in the State of Massachusetts  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 70 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     May In 1776 3 As a Private Gen. Gage Turner Col. H. North    The applicant claims for services on board the ship Columbia officers not named - new date of service
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Surrender of Burgoyne  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Pembroke Massachusetts  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By Documentary if his name is correctly spelled - By living witnesses also in part  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers are not attested or required it is not certified that Secret Committee is an acting part of the peace 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Nicholas Butts Examining Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By His Excellency Levi Lincoln Esquire, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over said Commonwealth.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Levi Lincoln KNOW YE, That William Loring Esq. and Welcome Young Esq. are Justices of Peace, in the County of Plymouth.
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned, and that to their Acts and Attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court.
In Testimony, Whereof, I have caused the Public Seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed, this fifteenth day of January A. D. 182 9 and in the fifty third year of the Independence of the United States of America.
By His Excellency the Governor.
Edward D. Dangs
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

12 1/2
William Bliss Esq. Counsellor at Law Springfield Mass.

additional Document A.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts -
Plymouth ss - July 31 st 1833 This may certify that I the subscriber in January 1829 was personally acquainted with James Crooker of East Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth, and that the said Crooker is now living, and that he was in Jan'y 1829 by me and among his neighbours, reputed to be a person of good character for truth, and that he is a Revolutionary Pensioner and draws a pension under the act of 1818 - Welcome Young. Justing Peace

This may certify that we Ebsen Samson of Dixbury in the County of Plymouth in the State of Massachusetts & Isaiah Samson of Pembroke in the County aforesaid yeomen - both being of lawfull age & sound mind & memory do testify & say (viz) that I the said Ebsen Samson was a soldier in the Revolutionary American War served six months on Castle William & knew Ishmael Bowker to serve the same six months on said Castle under the Command of Col. Marshall - all - & I the said Isaiah Samson do testify & say that I was a soldier in the American Revolutionary war & served six months on Castle William under the Command of Col. Marshall & that I knew that Ishmael Bowker to serve on said Castle as a soldier the whole of the same six months that I did
Dixbury January 13 th 1829
Ebsen Samson Isaiah Samson
Plymouth ss. January 13 th 1829 then personally appeared the above named Ebsen Samson & Isaiah Samson and made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement by them subscribed before me - William Loring Justice of the Peace

I James Crooker of East Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth & Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts do testify and say that Ishmael Bowker was in the service of the revolutionary war at West point and white plains nine months also six months at the Castle near Boston - While said Bowker was at West point and white plains he was in the same Regiment and Brigade with me viz in Col Bradfords regiment and General Pattersons Brig- ade - East Bridgewater Jan'y 10. 1829. James Crooker
Plymouth ss. Jan'y 10. 1829. Then personally appear- ed the above named James Crooker and made oath that foregoing statement is just and true in all its parts - Before me Wilcox Young Jus. Peace

We the undersigned citizens residing in the town of Palmer Hampden County Mass- chusetts hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ishmael Bowker of said Palmer 70 years of age & upward, & who has made application for a Pension - that we believe him to be of the age above mentioned, & that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been in the service of the United States in various ways, by sea & by land during the Revolutionary War, & we concur in that opinion.
Asahel Ward John, Speaker Michael Shad
Hampden ss August 28 th 1833 Then the subscribers to the foregoing affidavit personally appeared before me and severally made oath to the truth of the same. And I certify that they are citizens of respectability one personally known to me and their statements are entitled to full credit and belief -
Amos Hamilton { Justice of the Peace

Additional Document A.
I William Bliss of Springfield in the county of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Esquire testify & say that I was a partner in 1829 with Justin Willard of s d Springfield Esq practising as counsellors & attor- neys at Law - that I assisted Ishmael Bowden the present applicant for a Pension - that the foregoing Depositions of James Crooker and C. & J. Sampson are the same Depositions that were sent to us, in our partnership name of Willard & Bliss, on the 21 st of May 1829
William Bliss
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden ss. Oct. 24. 1833 Then personally appeared William Bliss subscribed to the foregoing affidavit & made oath to the truth thereof before me the subscriber Register of Probate for said county, and in witness whereof I here set my hand and affixed the Probate Court Seal of the Probate Court the same being a Court of Record within s d Commonwealth, this day & year above written.
Justin Willard

29 648 Rev INVALID.
File No. 29,648
Ishmael Bowker
Rev Mr
Act: June 7 th 1824
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 43
[Arrangement of 1870.]

To the Pension Office War Department

Accompanying this are the papers in the case of the application of Ishmael Bowker for a Pension, with the objections answered or complied with as far as is in his power so to do. He is very poor, old & decrepit & cannot make the necessary exertions to obtain additional evidence of service as required in the note to the " Brief Objections " sent back with the papers.
Any communications from the Department upon the subject of this Application if made to me will gratify & oblige the applicant.
William Bliss Springfield Mass.
Oct. 25. 1837