Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16040, William Bowling, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Bowling, William Bawling
S. 16040
CONTENTS
carded

Ohio 19. 748.
William * Barrington of Fairfield Co in the State of Ohio who was a Corporal in the Company commanded by Captain Archie of the Reg t commanded by Col Barrett in the Virginia Ho p for 7. Months and 18 days.
* Bowling
W.W.R. Mar. 13 1908.
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 25 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of Sep. 1833 and sent to Hon. D. W. Brown Lancaster Ohio
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833. $ 63. 33. Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 March 1834. 12. 66
$ 75. 99
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. S. Evans Clerk,
Book E Vol. 8. - Page 3
Paid at the Treasury under the act of the 4 th March 1834 from 4 March 1837 to the 4 th day of Sep 1837. Agent noted 1838.

State of Ohio, Fairfield County ss.
11 th day of March 1833
On this day 31 st December 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas, now sitting, William Boozing a resident of Amanda Township County aforesaid, aged seventy-four years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declarations, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832, -
He states that he sometime in 1775, entered the service of the militia in Westmoreland, County Virginia, under Col. Wm. Barnett and Thomas Jett, and Captain Peter Jett for a two months tour, in which service they watched the movements of the British Fleet, then lying in the river Potomac in said County, but was dismissed from service after the fleet went away, and directed to remain ready for further service at warning. In this tour they remained at least twenty days, and was discharged, but was then held himself in readiness which he did for the remainder of his tour.
In 1776 he was again drafted for a tour of two months, and was placed in a company commanded by Capt. Peter Jett, in a regiment commanded by Col. Wm. Barnett & Thomas Jett, and was manœuvred to the river where he watched the shipping of the enemy in which service he continued at least twenty days and was discharged as before -
The 3 rd time he was drafted for a like tour of duty, and was out until the

Same officer for days only, I was again dis- charged. There was a false alarm. He then marched into Stafford County, where he was clapped in the brig  brigade about the year 1779 he, with his class, was called out for a term of two months, but served only two days, being a false alarm, and was discharged. He was again, in the same year, called out in his class, to perform another term of duty of two months, and served again only two days, being a false alarm - with these terms, he went out in a company commanded by Capt. James Allen in a Regiment commanded by Col. Wm. James Garrett.
In the year 1780 there was a call for troops of volunteers for two months term of duty and was placed in a company commanded by Capt. Thomas Montgomery, in a battalion commanded by Major John Griggs, and was marched to the Hill Plains, then to Telford, where they delivered up their arms and were discharged by Genl. Greene for a full term of duty.
In the year 1781 the class to which he belonged was called out for a term of duty, of two months, under Col. Wm. James Garrett, in a company commanded by Capt. Nathaniel Pilsbry. They were marched to Fredericks- burg and the Rappahannock Ferry, on the Rappahannock river, beyond these

Places, when we were discharged by Col. William Garrett for a full term of duty -
In the same year, after the surrender of General Wallis, his class was again called out for a term of two months duty - He was placed in a company commanded by Capt. James Prinn, in a Regt. commanded by Col. Wm. Phillips, and was marched to Winchester to guard the prisoners, from which place they went back into Stafford County, where he was discharged by Col. Wm. Phillips for a full term of duty - All of his services were performed while he lived in Westmoreland & Stafford Counties after -
said
He states that he was born on the 13 July 1758 in Westmoreland County, Virginia, where he resided until he removed to Stafford Coun- ty as a young man during the war - He continued to reside in Stafford County, until four or six years ago, when he removed to another township in said County of Fauquier, where he has ever since resided - He now has no record of his age, and never received a written discharge for any of his services, and has no documentary evidence by which he can prove them - He has stated with as much precision as he can the times & places in which he attended the

Success the names of the officers and whom he served. He states that he is well known to the Rev. Jacob Myers of said County and to Michael Blum of said County who will testify as to his veracity and the truth of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
He hereby acknowledges every claim to a pension or an annuity as at the present time, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to in open court Allan Van Buren Clk.
Wm Bowlin mark
We Rev. Jacob Myers a clergyman and Michael Blum residing in the County of said Wm Bowlin, who has sworn to and subscribed to the above declaration, hereby certifying that we are well acquainted with said Wm Bowlin; that we believe him to be seventy four years of age, that he is respectable and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides, we have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to in open court Allan Van Buren Clk.
Jacob Myers Michael Blum

The State of Ohio Fairfield County
Personally appeared in open court before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, Charles Bowling, & made oath that he and his brother William Bowling lived with their father during the revolution and he knows that his said brother William did perform services in the militia as he has stated in his declaration made to procure a pension
(soon to be Charles Bowling)
in open court, who is a nephew of credibility
Charles Bowling
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after hearing the allegations of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department, that the above applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and the court further certify, that it appears to them, that Jacob Myers who signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in Fairfield County and State of Ohio, and that M c Lean who also signed the same is a resident in the same county and state and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit —

The State of Ohio Franklin County &c
I Hugh Boyle clerk of the court of common Pleas of the county of Franklin do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of William Bowling
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 11 th eleventh day of March 1833 —
Hugh Boyle Atk.
el

26. 571
William Barring Ohio
Adm 7. Months & 18 days $ 215.33.—
Hon W. W. Irwin Lancaster Ohio

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
12 th Sep. 1893
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. These 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 William Bowling—
   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.     1775 20 Cap. Scott 74 years.   1776 20 Col. Barret Westmore Traditionary   4 Cap. Scott lands Co { living Witness   Col. Barret Virginia   Same Officers   1779 21 Cap. Allen   " 21 Col. Barret   1780 21 Cap. Montgoy   1781 21 Major Grigg   " 21 Col. Barret   Col. Philips   6 48  
3 18
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) _____, who has 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 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 here 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 [i] 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.
[t] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration:

I 16040
INVALID.)
File No. 16040 William Bowling Pri. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Sept 8. No Entry,

Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office, Sept. 8 th 1838.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," William Bowling a Pensioner on the Roll of the Ohio Agency, at the rate of twenty five Dollars and thirty three Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June, 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March 1837 to the 4 th of September 1837.
Respectfully, yours,
William H. Parris Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.
57.0 cash also agreed