Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 21,688, Obadiah Bowen, Continental Mass.

SERVICE
Continental Mass.
Bowen, Obadiah Rose
NUMBER
W 21,688
CONTENTS

Reported
690. Rhode Island Rose Bowen widow of Obadiah Bowen who served in the Revolutionary war, as a private.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14. day of July 1848. and sent to
Anson Smith. Hostler Rd.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 2, Vol. 3.

5592 Rose Bowen widow of Obadiah R.I.
Act 7. July '38.
on final settlement
admd 2 yrs here 80
No deduction
J. S. Tourtellot Esq. Chepachet R.I.
5592 Rose Bowen's Application for a Pension Act of July 1838

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Providence ss. Gloucester May 11th A D 1839
On this Eleventh day of May A D 1839 personally appeared before the Hon. Court of Probate of the town of Gloucester in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island, Rose Bowen a resident of the town of Burrillville in said County aged sixty eight (68) years, 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 7 th 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows," That she is the widow of Obadiah Bowen late of said Gloucester deceased, who was a soldier of the revolution and an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress passed March 18 th 1818 as will appear by the papers hereto annexed marked A & B — that the said Obadiah her said husband served in the war of the revolution as a private soldier for the space of three years as will appear by said papers hereto annexed marked A & B to which she refers. She further declares that she was married to the said Obadiah Bowen in the month of December in the year seventeen hundred & eighty nine (1789) the day of the month she cannot recollect, that she was married at the house of Nathaniel Wade Esq. by said Nathaniel Wade at that time a Justice of the Peace in & for said town of Gloucester that her husband the said Obadiah Bowen died at said Gloucester on the twentieth day of November in the year eighteen hundred and eighteen (1818) That she was not married to her said husband prior to his leaving the service but that said marriage took place previous to the first day of January A D 1794 viz. at the time above stated. She further declares that Joseph Churchill whose deposition is hereto annexed marked B. is not now living and that she has no means of proving the services of her said husband in the revolution excepting by the documents hereto annexed, and the rolls of Jackson

agreement of the same are to be found to which she refers.
Attest Clovis H. Bown
Rose her  X Bown mark
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year aforewritten in open Court. In testimony whereof I Clovis H. Bown Clerk of said Court have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the day and year first aforewritten at said Gloucester
Clovis H. Bown Probate Clerk.
The State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Town Clerks Office Gloucester
May 13 th 1839
I Clovis H. Bown Town Clerk of said town of Gloucester in the County of Providence duly appointed & legally qualified, do hereby certify that I have carefully examined the record of marriages &c. of said town in this office, and do not find the marriage of Obadiah Bown to Rose Phillips therein recorded.
I further certify from my own knowledge that a great many marriages have been consummated in said town of which said no record has been made in this office.
Clovis H. Bown Town Clerk
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Providence ss Gloucester May 13. 1839 Then personally appeared the aforenamed Clovis H. Bown Town Clerk of said town of Gloucester and made sol- emn oath before me to the truth of the statements contained in the foregoing certificate by him signed and I certify that said Clovis H. Bown

who is well known to me is a credible person and that his statements are entitled to credit
Job Armstrong For C.C. Pla.
Oliver Wade of Gloucester in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island aged (65) years being firstly engaged according to law, do testify and say, that I am a son of Nathaniel Wade Esq. late of said Gloucester deceased, who was for many years during his life time a Justice of the Peace in and for said town of Gloucester. I further say that during the time my father acted in the capacity of Justice of the Peace as aforesaid Obadiah Bowen late of said Gloucester deceased and Rose Phillips came to the house of my said father the said Nathaniel Wade with whom I then lived and were by him married in my presence. I further say that it appears by a marriage certificate in my possession that I was married on the 28th day of December 1794. The said Obadiah and Rose were married a number of years previous to my marriage. I did not change my mind with the matter so as to be able to state positively the year or season of the year when said marriage took place between the said Obadiah & Rose I recollect however that it was cold weather, and am positive that it took place previous to my marriage and that mine took place as appears by the certificate above referred to. I further say that I have no reasons to doubt that the marriage of the said Obadiah and Rose took place in December 1789. I further say that said Obadiah Bowen died some twenty years ago. Oliver Wade State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Providence ss. Gloucester June 3 rd 1839. Then personally appeared the aforesaid Oliver Wade signer of the foregoing deposition and made solemn oath to

fore me to the truth 42 of the statements therein contained. And I certify that said Oliver Wade who is well known to me is a credible person and that his statements are entitled to credit
Job Armstrong Jas. C. C. Pheas.
I Timothy Sweet of Gloucester in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island aged (58) years being firstly engaged according to law do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Obadiah Bowen late of said Gloucester deceased who resided at the time of his decease in the neighbourhood where I now dwell. The said Obadiah Bowen died at said Gloucester more than twenty years ago. The said Obadiah left a widow who is Rose Bowen now residing in Burrillville the town adjoining Gloucester who still remains his widow never having been married since the decease of her said husband the said Obadiah
Timothy Sweet
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Providence S. Gloucester June 3 rd 1829 Then personally appeared the above named Timothy Sweet signer of the foregoing deposition and made solemn oath before me to the truth of the statements therein contained. And I certify that said Timothy Sweet who is well known to me is a credible person and that his statements are entitled to credit
Job Armstrong Jas. C. C. Pheas.

I Nicholas Tucker of Gloucester in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island aged 69 years being firstly engaged according to law do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Rose Bower now residing in Burrillville in said County of Providence widow of Obadiah Bower late of said Gloucester deceased.
I was present when the said Rose and Obadiah were married, the said Rose's maiden name was Phillips. I went with the said Obadiah and Rose from the house of the said Rose's father to the house of Nathaniel Wade Esq. in said Gloucester where they were married by said Nathaniel Wade at that time a Justice of the Peace in and for said town of Gloucester. Said marriage took place in the month of December seventeen hundred and eighty nine. The reason why I can thus state the year is that in the fore part of April previous to my being eighteen years of age in May I left Rhode Island and made a journey to the north part of Vermont and British Provinces. and I am positive that said marriage took place previous to my leaving Rhode Island as aforesaid and in the month of December previous. I further say that I was well acquainted with the said Obadiah Bower and I will recollect that the said Obadiah was absent from this town in which he belonged when I was a boy, and when he returned it was said he had been in the United States service.
Nicholas his X Tucker mark
Attest Jesse S. Townsley
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Providence ss Gloucester May 10 th 1839 Then personally appeared the aforementioned Nicholas Tucker who in my presence subscribed the foregoing deposition by making his mark being unable to write his name and made sol-

sworn oath to the truth of the state- ments herein contained. And I cer- tify that said Nicholas Tucker who is well known to me is a credible per- son and that his statements are en- titled to credit.
Job Armstrong J. at C.C.P. Phila

Obadiah Berven Priv:
Judges certificate as to claimants indigent circumstances wanting
Also the certificate of the Judge as to his belief of the services of the Applicant is wanting - and further evi- dence of services wanted -
Col. H. Jackson's Mafraught Rept.
1700 - 3 years -
13 th May 1810 -
115

95 I Obadiah Bowen of Gloucester in the County of Providence & District of Rhode Island being now fifty seven years old on solemn oath do declare and say - that in the month of January 1780. I enlisted as a private soldier in Capt Woodbridge's company & Col. Henry Jackson's regiment & Gen. Glover's Brigade, which regiment was of the continental army of the United States, & of the Massachusetts line, In which service I continued three years being the time for which I enlisted, & was then discharged. My said Genl Glover at West Point in the State of New York - but my discharge is now lost. I further declare that I am now in reduced circumstances & stand in need of the assistance of my country for support according to the provisions of the late act of Congress. Obadiah Bowen
A

Rhode Island District
Be it remembered that on this 13 th day of May 1818 came before me the within named Obadiah Bowen & made solemn oath to the truth of the within declaration by him subscribed In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & have caused the seal of the Court to be hereunto affixed -
David Howdell
District Judge.
The signature of the Judge and the seal of the Dist Court of the U States are hereunto affixed Witness Benjamin Cowell Clk.

95 I Joseph Churchill of Gloucester in the State of Rhode Island on solemn oath do declare and say that I am acquainted with Obadiah Bowen of said Gloucester. & know that the said Obadiah was in the army of the United States more than two years - we were at West Point together, also at the High Lands in the State in New York I was in General Hovey's Brigade of Col Smith's regular regiment of the Massachusetts line - General Hovey's Brigade. Col Jackson's regiment - was stationed also at West Point & being acquainted with the said Obadiah before we entered the army frequently met him, - I believe him now to be in destitute circumstances - Joseph Churchill Mark Attest Bena Fowle
Providence on this 14 th day of May came before me the above named Joseph Churchill & made oath to the truth of the above deposition to which his mark is affixed - said deposition was taken at the request of Obadiah Bowen, to be used as evidence on his application for a pension at the War department of the United States - Jeremiah B. Howell Just: Peace -
B

State of Rhode Island &c
Providence Ye. I John W. Smith Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within & for the County of Providence in said State, being a Court of record, do hereby certify that Job Armstrong Esquire before whom four of the annexed affidavits were sworn is a Justice of said Court of Common Pleas: that by law he is duly authorized & qualified to admin- ister oaths & take depositions: (and that his aforewritten four signatures are genuine. I further certify that Oliver H. Brown Esquire, is Probate Clerk of the town of Gloucester in said County, (and his aforewritten signature is genuine. —
In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand & affix the seal of our said Court, at the City of Providence, this eighth day of June A 1839.
John W. Smith (S H) Clerk

Rose WIDOW, &c.
File No. 1688
Rose Bowen
Widow of
Obadiah Bowen
Prin New War
Act: Feb 2d 48
Index:—Vol. A , Page 76
[Arrangement of 1870.]

R. Island 4,000
Rose Bowen, widow of Obadiah Bowen,
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 20 th November 1818 of Providence in the State of R. Island who was a Pr. in the Company commanded by Captain Woodbridge of the Regt. commanded by Jackson in the R. I. line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of R. Island at the rate of 80 Dollars → Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of Aug. '39, and sent to J. S. Tourtellot, Chapman, R. I.
Arrears to the 14th of March - $240.00 Semi-annual allowance ending
40.00
$280.00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by R. Burdick Clerk, Book A Vol. 2 Page 2.

Rep July 1.
662.
R. Island
Rose Bowen
widow of Obadiah Bowen who was a Private
in the Rhode Island line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1st day of July, 1843. and sent to
Calvin Brown Hoster R.I.
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A. Vol. 1. Page 84.

5592
Vol. I. S. Louisville, July Aug. 3- '39
act 7. July 38.

Miss S. Fourbellor Esq
Chepachet Post Office
Gloucester
(R. I. Island)

Seig's Office,
Boston, Aug. 16. '84
Sir,
We have searched carefully but can find no evidence of the services of Charles Bowen. Most of our "Rocks" are in the Pendleton Office at Washington.
Yours truly & servt
John P. Bigelow
Secy of the Com'tee.
Mr. Southwick

Mr
Conven
J. P. G. E.
Shepherd rat Aug 26 1842 R. D. Hori.
H. Calaveras
Commissioner of Customs
Washington D. C.
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original letter.]

Chapachet Aug d 28 th 1839 P. N. Edwards Esq. Dear Sir
Your communication of the 3 rd inst. relating to the claim of Mrs. Rabe Bower widow of Obadiah Bower decd. has been received. In answer to your request that the evidence of the said Obadiah's enlistment in the Massachusetts line should be established by the records in the Secretary's Office in Boston I herewith send you the reply of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Mass. to my letter asking of him the desired testimony. Mrs. Bower knows of no means of proving the services of her said husband in the Army other than by the testimony transmitted with the declaration and reference to the rolls of the Regiment to which her husband is stated to have belonged. She understands of the people in the neighbourhood where the said Obadiah resided in his life time that he was a soldier of the Revolution and the Resolutions of Amherst (who is now living) establishing said Obadiah's service in Jacob Root's Regiment led me confidently to believe that his (the said Obadiah's) name would be found on the Rolls of said Regiment - and that an aged & needy widow would without delay receive the gratuity guaranteed to her by the laws of her country. In regard to the proof of the marriage of the said Obadiah & Rabe I have to say

that the very best evidence of that fact, which the case admitted of was transmitted with the applicant's declaration - to wit, the depositions of Oliver Wade and Nicholas Tucker two gentlemen of unimpeachable veracity who were present at the celebration of the nuptials. No record proof of any description concerning said marriage can be procured. Our town records of births marriages and deaths are very lean, family records particularly amongst the poorer class of the community, are by no means general. and church records during the time and previous to the revolution, are almost unknown in this section of the country.
In regard to the claim of Ebenezer Cole, I think it would be a useless expenditure of time and money to attempt further proof in support of the claim thereof. I had the fullest assurance from the old man that he could prove all the services which he set forth in his declaration, two months of which I have now no doubt he performed. I stated to the applicant as also the witness Place that the rolls of Dophams and Clotts regiments were probably in possession of the war department to which reference would be had and that if the said Cole served as he stated his name would be found there, to which both Cole

and I have replied that said Cole positively served as stated, and that they had no doubt that his (Cole's) name would be found in accordance with their statements on the said Rolls. Under such circumstances be- lieving his claim to be of a doubtful charac- ter at best I have no disposition to pursue the case further
Respectfully Yours Obdt. Servt. Jesse S. Burdett
means in the Army with Brig.

Hon. S. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.

Chesapeake June 8 th 1839
Hon. James L. Edwards
Dear Sir
I herewith send you the application of Rose Bowen - widow of Obadiah Bowen for a pension under the act of July 1838. The said Obadiah Bowen was a private soldier of the Continental Army in the Massachusetts line, his name will undoubtedly be found on the roll of Col. Jackson's Regiment Gen. Glover's Brigade in Capt Woodbridge's Company, with the assistance of which I believe her claim will be fully established.
Please direct to me at Chesapeake, Rhode Island.
Respectfully Your Obedt. Servt.
Jesse S. Southwick

State of Rhode Island County of Providence, ss.
On this twentieth day of April 1848 personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid Rose Bower a resident of Gloucester in the County of Providence aged Seventy eight years 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 on the 2 d of February 1848 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of Obadiah Bower who was a Private in the Revolution and that she received a pension of Eighty Dollars per annum under the Act of June 17 th 1844.
She further declares that she is still a widow.
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written, Before me,
Rose X Bower mark
Anson Smith, Justice of the Peace. Attest Obadiah Bower
I certify that the above named declarant is personally known to me and that she is the same individual who drew a pension under the act of June 17 th 1844 as stated by her in the above declaration.
Anson Smith, Justice of the Peace.

State of Rhode Island &c
Providence Yc.
I, John W. Smith Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Providence in the State aforesaid, being a Court of Record, do hereby certify that Anson Smith Esquire before whom the aforegoing two affidavits were taken, is a Justice of the Peace for the town of Gloucester in said County of Providence; that he is by law authorized and empowered to take depositions; and that the two preceding signa- tures purporting to be the signatures of said Smith, are genuine.
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of our said Court at the City of Providence this eighteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight [1848] —
John W. Smith Clerk
Abner Smith
Anson Smith Justice of the Peace

823 Declaration
Mose Barent
Admit, private $80.
R. Island Agency
Send to
Calvin Brown
Hoster
R. I.

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Providence ss.
On this thirteenth day of April A.D. 1843. personally appeared before me Anson Smith a Justice of the Peace in the said County of Providence Rose Bowen a resident of Gloucester in the said County of Providence aged Seventy three years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 3 d March 1843. granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of Obediah Bowen who was a Private in the army of the Revolution in the Massachusetts regiment or corps and that she received Eighty Dollars per annum under the act of July 7 th 1838. She further declares that she is still a widow Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before Rose her Bowen mark
Before me, Anson Smith, Justice of the Peace.
Providence ss. Gloucester April 13 th A.D. 1843.
Personally came before me Rose Bowen subscribed to the above declaration and made oath to the same in due form of law and I further certify that the said Rose Bowen is personally known to me Before me Anson Smith Justice of the Peace.

State of Rhode Island &c
Providence Jcs Clerk's office, Court of Common Pleas.
I, John W. Smith Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within & for the County of Providence, & State aforesaid, being a Court of Record, do hereby certify that Anson Smith Esquire, before whom the foregoing affidavit was sworn is a Justice of the Peace for the Town of Gloucester in said County duly qualified to act in his said Capacity: that by law he is authorized to administer oaths & take depositions: and that his signature aforewritten is genuine. —
In witness whereof I hereunto Set my hand, & seal of said Court, at the City of Providence this 25 day of April A D 1843.
John W. Smith Clerk