Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20,747, John Bower, Conn.

SERVICE
Conn.
Bower, John Catharine
NUMBER
W. 20,747
CONTENTS

2 Connecticut 91 Catharine Bower widow John Bower decd. late a of Hartford Co in the State of Connecticut who was a Pirate in the Army commanded by Captain Granger of the Regt. commanded by Col. _____ in the Connecticut line for 20 months & 24 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 69 Dollars 34 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Oct. 1836 and sent to Mrs. Bower Challoner East Windsor Ct.
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1836 $381.37 Semi-annual allowance ending March 37. 34.67 Total $416.04
4 July 1836
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Willard A. Hudson Clerk Book _____ Vol. 1 Page 75

Cath e Bower's Application

State of Connecticut } Ss Hartford County } Dist Windsor
On this 29 th day of August A 1836 personally appeared before the Court of Probate for the District of East Windsor in Hartford County now sitting Catherine Bower a resident of said East Windsor aged 75 years a credible person who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 14 th A 1836.
That she is the widow of John Bower, late a resident of said East Windsor who was a private Soldier and a Sergeant in the Army of the Revolution. The pay warrant which she has often seen is now lost. That she declares her said husband entered the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war. That he went to Roxbury in Janry 1776 and staid between two and three months that he went in Janry & returned in April which will be proved by Asahel Greens testimony.
And that he entered the Army again in June of the same year & went to New London & Groton & staid seven months as Mr Asahel Green who was with him will testify.
And that he again entered the Service the first of March 1781 in Capt Grangen company & went to White Plains Horse Neck & other places and staid several months. as will be proved by the evidence of Mr Jonathan Clark who was with him in the Service: said to be one year this tour.
That she was born September 10 th A 1761

She further declares that she was married lawfully to the said John Bower at said East Windsor by the Rev Joseph Perry on the 28 th day of February A 1780. That her husband the aforesaid John Bower died on the 23 rd day of March A 1825. And that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Catherine Bower
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year above written
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, that the within named John Bower deceased was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as is stated in this declaration, & that the applicant Catherine Bower is the surviving Widow of said John Bower married to him before his last period of service in the Army of the Revolution, and that she has never since married & that she still survives as his Widow. The said Widow Catherine Bower, the applicant has produced in court the Family Bible containing the Record of her marriage with the said John Bower and also the Birth of Seven Children which appears to have been fairly & honestly made, which states that they were married on the 28 th of February A 1780!
I Henry S Kingsley Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of East Windsor in Hartford County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Catherine Bower for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand

and Seal of Office this 29 th day of August 1836
And I the said Clerk do further certify that Jonathan Clark of Somers in Tolland County and State of Connecticut before whom the Affidavit of Jonathan Clark Senior was taken the same that is connected with this application is a Justice of the Peace for said Tolland County, for the year A D 1836, and that his commission will continue in force untill June A D 1837; And that the signature set to said affidavit is his genuine signature.
And I further certify that Alexander Wells of East Windsor is a Justice of the Peace for Hartford County in the State of Connecticut that his commission will continue in force until June A D 1837, and the signature affixed to the affidavit of Asahel Green & Mary Rock well and Hannah Grant enclosed with this application is the genuine signature of the said Alexander Wells Justice of the peace.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and the Seal of office of the said Court of Probate this 29 th day of August A D 1836.
Attest Henry S. Kingsley Clerk

State of Connecticut } Hartford County } Is East Windsor Before the Court of Probate for the District of East Windsor in Hartford County & State aforesaid
On this 29 th day of August 1836 personally appeared John Bower the resident of Windsor in Hartford County & State of Connecticut aged 63 years a credible person who being first duly sworn accord- ing to law deposes and says
That he is as he supposes & believes the Son of John Bower late of the town of East Windsor in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut now deceased the Son of said Bower by his first wife
That he distinctly recalls the Marriage of his father aforesaid to his Step Mother Catherine Bower now the sur- viving Widow of the said John Bower my father That I well remember my said father's going into the Army after that period and remaining what seemed to me a very long time
And that he has not the least doubt that the time of his said father's Marriage with the surviving Widow was at the time stated in the Record in the Family Bible viz on the 28 th of February A 1780. Tho' I was then so young that I made no record of it myself at the time, My said Father died at East Windsor aforesaid on the 23 rd day of March A 1825
His said Wife & Widow Bower never since Married And the copy of the Record transcribed in the afo- re said of Jesse Charlton I believe the true and faithful record of the Marriage of my said Father to his second Wife Catherine Bower & of the Birth of her Children & I am no way personally interested in this application I well remember my Mother in law receiving letters from my father while he was in the service and I remember their Marriage previous thereto. I have seen James Subscribed this day a year aforesaid

several years after he left the service his Warrant as a Sargeant granted I should think by Col Dimon but the warrant is now lost he carried it about in his pocket book: but how much of his time he acted as Sargeant I cannot exactly specify
John Bower
Sworn and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid before said Court of probate
Attest Henry S. Kimball Clerk
John Bower Affidavit

J. W. Summers Affidavit

State of Connecticut
Hartford County ss East Windsor
On this 10 th day of September A 1836
Personally appeared before Joshua Risley Esq, a justice of the peace for said Hartford County Capt James White Skinner a resident of said town of East Windsor aged 59 years who be a credible person well known to this court who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on oath declare That he has been well acquainted with John Bower, now deceased, & with Catharine Bower his Widow for more than fifty years; that he has lived one of their neighbors for thirty six years, And that Twenty five ago, at least, there was brought to him by Mrs Bower an old Bible mutilated and worn out which contained what had every ap- pearance of being an original entry of Record of the Marriage of the said John Bower with Catharine Starks now the Widow of said John Bower with the request that she the said present would copy it into another Bible then pre- sent to him that she made a true and faithful copy of said original record into the new Bible which Bible now lies before him and from which

he now cuts and separates said record and in presence of the court attaches and secures it with his own hand to this deposition declaring it all to be in his own hand writing and made at said distant period of twenty five years except the entry of the death of the said John Bower March 23 rd A 1825 aged 88 and J. B. on the second line from the top which was by another hand appearing from the color of the ink & form of the letter to have been made at the time and by the same hand that made the record of his death, which I believe to be rightly entered as to the date, and he believes that the reason why the Bible was brought to him to be copied was that Mr John Bower and Mrs Catherine Bower were very poor writers.
James M Skinner
Sworn and subscribed the day and year above mentioned and the court certifies that the leaf was separated from the Bible and annexed to this deposition in presence of the court.
John Parley Justice of the Peace

I, ROYAL R. HINMAN, Secretary of the State of Connecticut, and Keeper of the Seal thereof, do hereby certify and make known to whom it doth or may concern,
THAT Joshua Wisly Esquire, is, and for more than seven months last past, has been a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Hartford — in said State, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified, having full power and authority, by the laws of said State, to take the acknowledgment of Deeds and to certify the same; also to administer oaths to witnesses and to take Affidavits and Depositions out of Court, and to give certificates thereof; and that full faith and credit may and ought to be given to the official acts and attestations of the said
Joshua Wisly in Court and Country
In testimony whereof, I have, in my capacity of Secretary as aforesaid, hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of said State, at the City of Hartford, in said State, the 12 th day of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty six
And I further certify that the above is his genuine signature as proved to me — Royal R. Hinman Justice of the Peace

February the 20 1780
SB I was married to my Catharine Starker the daughter of Stephen Starker
 Ledene Bower Born the 6th day of March 1783  Cyrus Bower Born March 20 1785  Ebenezer Bower Born August 20 1787  Rhoda Bower Born March 1789  Abigail Bower Born October 31 1791  Abner Bower Born March 1793  Abner Bower Born June 26 1795  Abner Bower Born 1797 
Mr John Bowers Died 23-1825 Aug 88

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section AWP/eel
March 27, 1929
Honorable E. Hart Fenn House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
My dear Mr. Fenn:
In response to your letter of the 23rd instant, enclosing a letter from Miss Mary Francis, 101 Elm Street, Hartford, Connecticut, I have the honor to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W.20747, it appears that John Bower (nowhere in the claim does the name appear as Bowen) enlisted in January, 1776, and served two or three months as a private in Captain Jonathan Wells' Company, Colonel Erastus Wolcott's Connecticut Regiment. He enlisted in June, 1776, and served seven months in the same company. He enlisted, March 1, 1781, and served one year in Captain Granger's Connecticut Company.
It is stated that he served as a sergeant but in which tour of service it is not shown.
He died, March 13, 1825, at East Windsor, Connecticut, aged eighty-eight years.
See letter to Mr. Fenn! To Hon. E. Hart Fenn! March 27-29

The soldier married, February 28, 1780, at East Windsor, Connecticut, Mrs. Catharine or Catholine Starks (Starcks), daughter of Stephen Starcks. She was born, September 10, 1761.
She was allowed pension on her application executed August 29, 1836, at which time she was living in East Windsor, Connecticut.
Their children were:
Lodeme born September 6, 1783. Cyrus " March 28, 1785. Erastus W. " August 28, 1787. Rhoda " November 22, 1789. Abigail " October 31, 1792. Abner " April 6, 1795. Azel " January 22, 1797.
A son, John, by soldier's first wife, was aged sixty-three years in 1836, and residing in Windsor, Connecticut, the name of his mother is not given, nor are there any details as to said marriage.
Very truly yours,
E.W.Morgan Acting Commissioner.

Jesse Charlton East Windsor Hartford County Connecticut
66.67 2.67 69.34
333 3.33 2.67
34670 3467 351.37

SEVENTIETH CONGRESS
E. HART FENN, CONN., CHAIRMAN CLARENCE J. MCLEOD, MICH. JOHN E. RANKIN, MISS. HAYS B. WHITE, KANS. ARTHUR H. GREENWOOD, IND. LLOYD THURSTON, IOWA RALPH F. LOZIER, MO. FREDERICK W. MAGRADY, PA. MEYER JACOBSTEIN, N. Y. HENRY L. BOWLES, MASS. SAMUEL RUTHERFORD, GA. FLORENCE P. KAHN, CALIF. HENRY D. MOORMAN, KY. ALBERT JOHNSON, WASH. JAMES M. FITZPATRICK, N. Y. DANIEL A. REED, N. Y. RENE L. DE ROUEN, LA. HUBERT H. PEAVEY, WIS. ROBERT H. CLANCY, MICH. J. HOWARD SWICK, PA. C. G. SELVIG, MINN.
J. ROBERT CONROY, CLERK
COMMITTEE ON THE CENSUS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, D. C.
March 23, 1929.
Hon. Winfield Scott,
Commissioner of Pensions.
My dear Mr. Commissioner:
Kindly give me the military and pension record of John Bowen, W 20747, as asked for by Miss Minnie Francis of 101 Elm St., Hartford, and oblige,
Yours very truly,
EHF G. Enc. 1.
E. Hart Fenn

tory - P Bower Cleveland Ohio.
WIDOW, &c.
File No.
20747
Catharine Bower
Widow of
John Bower,
W.H. Allen Mar.
Act
July 1 st 86
Index: Vol.
15
Page
15
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Apr. 19-1897- His to Mr. Buckland 45 Academy St. C
1929- March 27- Wish to Cong. E. Hart Bunn for miss Mary Francis cards.

State of Connecticut Hartford County Ss East Windsor
On this 29 th day of August A 1836 Personally appeared before the Court of Probate for the District of East Windsor in Hartford County & State aforesaid, Jesse Charlton a resident of said East Windsor aged Sixty Years, a credible person, who being first duly Sworn according to law declares under Oath That he has in the presence & with the assistance of the Town Clerk or Register of said Town of East Windsor examined the Records of said Town in order to ascertain the exact time of the Marriage of John Bown deceased with Catharine Starks but he cannot find the record of it there and he finds that at that period viz 1780 & for many years preceding & following it, the number of Mar- riages Recorded was very few indeed, he thinks not one in fifty: about ten years since (the exact date he would not state) an Act of Assembly or Legislature enjoined it on clergymen & others & others uniting persons in Marriage to see that the same was entered on the Town Records.
He has also by due enquiry found that the clergymen who married them & who died in the year 1783 or 4 left no records.
He further declares that he has ex- amined the Record in Family Bible of the said Widow Catharine Bown. contain- ing the Record of the Marriage of John Bown with Catharine Starks on the 28 th day of February 1780 and also the Record of the Birth of all the Children his said Second wife bore him, which record appear to have been fairly made many years since

without the least appearance of fraud The following is a true copy of said Record of February 28, 1786 I was married to Mrs Catherine Starks the Daughter of Stephen Starks
Lodene Bower Born six day of September 1783 Cyrus Bower Born March 28 1785 Erastus W Bower Born August 28 1787 Rhoda Bower Born Nov 22 nd 1789 Abigail Bower Bower Born Oct 31 1792 Abner Bower Born April 6 th 1795 Azel Bower Born Jan 22 nd 1797
John Bower Died March 23 rd 1825 aged 88 Josse Churchton
Sworn & subscribed this day & year first named viz Aug 29 th A 1836
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office this 29 day of August A 1836
Attest Henry S. Kingsley Clerk
Josse Churchton Madam

{East Windsor September 12 1836 Connecticut
Sir,
Yours of the 6 th was received the 9 th inst with Widow Catharine Bowers papers returned for further action.
You require the record of the Marriage of the said Catharine Bowers with the said John Bowers, claimed to have been a soldier of the Revolution I herewith send it.
You ask for the certificate of the Comptroller it is sent herewith, but as owing to the imperfection of the Rolls of the revolutionary Army there is not all the information in the certificate you would wish to receive,
Permit me therefore to ask you to examine the Declaration of Asahel Green and of Jonathan Clark, in the first of these, the two first of Mr Bowers periods of service are set forth, and in Mr Clark's the third and last period is set forth, as appears by the Depo- sitions of Mr Green & Mr Clark, sent at first with Mrs Bowers application & now again transmitted.

The application of the said Asahel Green and the said Jonathan Clark was made under the act of June 7 th A 1832, They were both sent from Hartford County, Connecticut and were both granted in the winter of 1833.
Therein you fixed on a definite period after due examination and if you will take that for your guide as to time in your decision in this case Mrs Bower will be satisfied.
She cannot state any more explicitly as to the time than she has done in her Declaration. And as half a loaf is better than no bread it will be better to have the question settled soon, at a less term than it actually was, than to have it deferred several months and then to have a much larger sum allowed.
I am Sir with great respect your obed t Servant.
Jesse Churilton
Jamies G. Edwards Esq.

P. S.
Since writing the foregoing I have thought it might strengthen the proof of the exact period of the first service by sending an exact pay roll. I found among Capt Jonathan Wells papers in possession of his Granddaughter in East Hartford. They informed me that some of them had been taken away & many of them destroyed. This carries on the face of it (I think) intrinsic marks of being genuine.
I got no other roll from there except Capt Jones' not wanted in this case. The Comptroller's certificate shows that Capt Wells was out at the period stated and also that Capt Granger's services were at the time the affidavits state. Mr Asahel Green and Mr Jonathan Clark are both men of excellent character and whose memories are less broken than almost any men of their age.
With true respect I am yours
Jesse Cushman
P. S. I have not made an affidavit of the above. If the Commissioner of Patents should be in your office please to ask him whether I should be likely to tell you the truth.

Comptrollers Office Hartford Connecticut Sept 13 th 1836
I certify that the name of Capt Jonathan Wells appears on Haskell's Receipts under the following Head viz. The United States Dr to the State of Connecticut for sundry expenditures for the service and subsistence of troops stationed at New London for the defence of said State, where he is credited Jan'y 3 rd 1777 £1268-17-11. He is also credited the same amount on the Pay table Books under the same date.
The name of Capt Samuel Granger also appears on the Pay table Books where he is credited Sept 23 rd 1782 for account rendered, Specie £2383-16-9. War is also charged same date, the amount Capt Samuel Granger account rendered for pay roll Gen Waterbury's Brigade Specie same amount.
I further certify that there are no rolls in this office which will enable me to certify the precise length of time which Capt Wells & Capt Granger served Wm Field Comptroller

John Bower Serjt. decl n from Jan'y to Apr l Roxbury, Mass. & 7 mo. from June 76 at Groton & N'London - 69 days, N. roll from Jan'y - March 81. Capt Granger to N. York several months said to be one year -
M c Black served 14 m from 1 mar. 81. under Capt Granger & Genl. Watabury -
U. green - Jan'y 76. Capt Wells - 6 days  just Walcott between 2 & 3 mo. Roxbury
June 76 - same Co. & Regt. 7 mo. Groton & C. see their papers & allow what they authorized
Charlton verifies family record

J. Bower's widow.

East Windsor Hartford County State of Connecticut August 29 th 1836
Sir I herewith transmit the applica- tion of the Widow Catharine Bower of said East Windsor for a pension.
The Widow and the Son both testify That he brought home a Sergeant's Warrant from the army, Tho' they cannot specify how long he had it before he left the service.
If you find the case good as I doubt not you will. I will only say that an early attention to the subject would be a special favor as she is very poor and but a short remove from the Almshouse and all her own children are without property.
Respectfully yours
Jesse Charlton
James L Edwards Esq.

Asahel Greene
Catherine Burns
Afadawit
157
L. J. Bowin
McGreene is a Rev. ... with the ... 1839
no proof of Sergh towaras family record
76 - Jany. 2. 9. Capt. Wells - " June 6. 15. March 81. 12 - Geanger 20.24
adm 20.24 pre
Pepe Chauders E. Windsor Count
(Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page)

State of Connecticut } ss Hartford County } To West Windsor
On this 26 th day of August 1836 Personally appeared before the Subscribers of the County of Hartford the undersigned authority Asahel Green a resident of said West Windsor a credible person aged 83 years who being first duly sworn according to law declares & says that he was well acquainted with John Bower the husband of widow Catharine Bower of said East Windsor, that he served with him in the Army in the Revolution- ary War that the said Bower was then a pri- vate That he was with him in the first tour in Capt Jonathan Wells company in Gen Erastus Wolcotts regiment that they enlisted in the company it being State Troops he then about the latter part of January A D 1776 & came from East Hartford in company thro Bolton & Coventry Pomfret & to Boston & were employed sometimes on the fortification & were some time in Dedham & sometime in Roxbury that we were employed here between two & three months when we were discharged
Again I served in the same year in the same company & regiment which in June 1776 Marched from East Hartford thro New Britain & Colch- ter to New London in Connecticut the said John Bower served in the same company & me, we worked a part of the time on Fort Wold on Groton side of the river Thames, were part of the time doing guard duty in New London we were engaged in the service this time for a period of eleven months & were then discharged the manner of our discharge do not now recollect That he has been acquainted with John Bower & Catharine Bower aforesaid ever since he was in the

Service having lived in the same parish with them for many years. The precise date of their marriage I cannot recollect but is acquainted with the fact that she lived with him as his wife at the period of his death & has never married since.
Asheal Green
Sworn & subscribed the day & year above mentioned
Alexander Wells Justice of Peace
new x

State of Connecticut } Tolland County } ss Somers.
Before me Jonathan Clark Justice of the Peace for Tolland County in sd State on the 24 th day of August A 1836
Personally appeared Jonathan Clark Junior a resident of Somers in the County of Tolland & State of Connecticut aged 73 years and 3 Mo s a credible person who being first duly sworn according to law declares;
That he was well acquainted with John Bower late of East Windsor in the County of Hartford & State aforesaid now deceased, That he served with him as a Soldier in the Army of the Revolution.
That he served with him for the term of one year in Capt Grangers Company under Genl Waterbury.
That they entered the Service in said Company on the 1 st of March A 1781. That they marched thro' Stamford to East Chester and White Plains then back to Horse neck where we assisted in building a garrison we marched back as far as Stamford in Connecticut where we were Stationed some time: while we were at East Chester on the second of July we heard the firing between Genl Washingtons life guard & about eight hundred of the enemy near Valentines Hill so called & some of our Men who were wounded came & joined our detach- ment we were dismissed at Stamford at the end of our term which was one year & were dismissed or discharged honorably but had no written discharge.
Jonathan Clark Junior
In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my name and declare the above to be the signature of the deponent. Jonathan Clark Justice of Peace

Mr Clark Senr is a Pensioner under the act of 1832.
He then lived in East Roxbury and now in Dorchester, Middlesex County, Connecticut, his Nephew is the Justice appointed by the name of Jonathan Clark. He is a Unitarian minister by profession and always signed his name without either Jr or Senr & when the Rev. Gentleman moved into State Street, to distinguish them the Poets style of Junior .
Jonathan Clark 11 Jan

Brookville Mrs. Green Hannah
Mrs. Mary Brookville Hannah

State of Connecticut I Hartford County ss To East
On this 26 th day of August 1831
Personally appeared before me the subscribing authority Widow Mary Rockwell aged 78 years a person of veracity a credible person
it residents of
East Windsor in Hartford County
aged  years a credible person
Who being first duly sworn according to law doth under oath declare & say that she has been well acquainted with Catharine Bower for more than Fifty Six Years That she has lived near her all that time & remembers well the Marriage of the sd Catharine Bower now a Widow to John Bower now deceased She was his second Wife & I remember well his being gone into the Army after they were married I was in the habit of see- ing her frequently during that time and tho' I have no record of the time when they were married I have no doubt it was as early as the winter of the year 1750 I have lived near them & been acquainted with the family all this time she sd Catharine has remained a Widow since the death of the sd John Bower Mary Rockwell's cross *
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid In testimony whereof I hereto affix my name. Alexander Wells Justice of Peace

Widow Hannah Bant Affidavit

State of Connecticut ss Hartford County ss Court Windsor
On this 26 th day of August A 1836
Personally appeared before me the subscribing authority The Widow Hannah Grant a resident of sd Town of East Windsor aged Eighty eight years a person of veracity who being first duly sworn according to law declares under oath That she is well acquainted with Catharine Bous the Widow of John Bous deceased late of sd East Windsor her name before she was Married was Catharine Marks she lived with me when she first came into this town from Colchester  Colchester in Connecticut where she  was born & from about the age of nine years she lived with the deponents sister in Colchester  Colchester till she was about 18 years old then she came to East Windsor & lived a year or two & then went to keep house for Mr Bous she was several years younger than Mr Bous & came to ask my advise about Marrying him. She Married him and after that he went into the Army as she lived near me all the time I remember it well she is now the Widow of the said John Bous deceased & has never been married since his decease. Hannah Grant
The above alterations were made before signing
In testimony whereof I hereto affix my name & declare the above to the signature of the deponent
Alexander Wells Justice of Peace