Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14977, Alpheus Bowers, Conn

SERVICI
born
Bowers, Alphens
NUMBER
D. 14977
CONTENTS
carded

Connecticut 9497
Alpheus Bowers
of Sudbury in the State of Conn. h who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Chandler of the Regt. commanded by Col. Ledyard in the Conn. Troops line for
16. Mo. & 29. days.
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn. h at the rate of 56. Dollars 54 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 d day of May 1833. and delivered Simeon Davis, present
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. 113. 08.
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. — — 28. 27  $ 141. 35.
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. B. Francis Clerk. Book C. Vol. 3. Page 4.

Alpheus Bowers. 1761-28.
PO
Admitted
Private 16 months & 29
Cont. Troops
From the Battery
Enter Service 1779
Left Service 1780
With the Battery
From the Battery
From the Battery
From the Battery
Simon Davis Esq. Present
3 - When in

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7-1832
State of Connecticut } County of Windham } ss
On this 18 th day of July, A D 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the County Court of the County of Windham aforesaid now sitting Alpheus Bowers a resident of the town of Dudley - in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts 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, and served as hereinafter stated that in 1777, was drafted in a militia train 2 months to Groton fort Griswold, in May under Capt Samuel Chandler of Woodstock under Col. Sedgwick I believe, served out the time there before I came away in October for 6 months, into Capt John Hins of Ashford Co. Col. Ely Regt, was in Sprague's expedition of that year, went from Groton to Litchfield & then marched to Stamford, here met Col. King's bridge, was discharged at Stamford Ct, when Col. Ely was this year taken by the British going up the sound.
In 1778, was drafted 2 months
2 into Capt Crofts Co. to New London, went & served out the time in the fall of the year, September I believe,
2 In 1779, in June, was drafted 2 months to New London, in Capt Daniel Lyons, Co. under Genl. Tyler, served out the time. same time I was drafted for 5 1/2 months I believe to go to Meriden - in Capt Webb's Company, in Dyer's Regt, in Genl. Parsons' Brigade, was at Morris town in New Jersey, was discharged the last of January 1780, the hard winter.
16.29
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
The following interrogatories were by said Court propounded to said applicant. viz.
1 - When and in what year were you born in Dudley, Mass. Sept 28, 1761
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so when is it
I suppose it is in the Record in Dudley

3- When were you living when called into service; when have you lived since volunteer or were you a substitute? And if a substitute for whom the revolutionary war and where do you now live - when called into service lived at Thompson Ct. when I lived over 80 years, after that lived 25 years in Rhode Island & for 4 years past in Dudley MS
4 How were you called into service; were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute? And if a substitute for whom -
I do not now remember further than as I have stated
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 service I remember Genl Parsons, Genl. Huntington, Genl. Hyles, Genl Washington, Genl Putnam.
6 Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it
I recd one for one town & brought it to my father, & I do not know where it is now.
7 State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbor- hood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief in your services as a soldier of the revolution Ephraim Slaughton Amos Green & John Gleason
Alpheus Bowers
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid before the County Court for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut
Attest Almin Bolles Clerk
We Ephraim Slaughton a gentleman residing in the town of Woodstock in said Windham County and Amos Green residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Alpheus Bowers who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be years of age that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion

to the S r . Ephraim Houghton do testify and say: further that I know the S r . Alpheus Bowers as a soldier in Capt. Dinsmore's company as he has stated, at New London, in 1779, and also as a soldier in 1778, in Capt. Croft's Co. at New London I believe 2 months therein . To the S r . Amos Green says. that he knows S r . Bowers, as a soldier, in Capt. Hies company as he has stated, in Col. Dyer's Regt. for 6 months. I believe I was a soldier there & at Sperry's Expedition with him and from there went out
Ephraim Houghton
Amos Green
Sworn, and subscribed, on the day and year aforesaid, before the County Court for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut
Attest Amos Bolles Clerk
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 Ephraim Houghton who signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the Town of Woodstock aforesaid, and that Amos Green (residing in the said Town of Woodstock Thompson), and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Attest Amos Bolles Clerk
I Amos Bolles Clerk of the County Court for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Alpheus Bowers for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court This 18 th day of July A.D. 1832
Amos Bolles Clerk

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Alpheus Bower , which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? NO III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? NO IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? V. * Has he mentioned 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? VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? ev
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
 EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state 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.
† QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
‡ QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
Witnesses should be forth in detail what they may know of declarants services.

Deposition Alpheus Bowers for a Pension —

Rev has
14 977 INVALID.
File No. 14 977
Alpheus Bower Phil. Penn. war.
Act: June 7th 1852.
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 89
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Reason in Alpheus Bagg's leave. for making his Declaration out of the State

In the case of the application of Alpheus Bowers, for a Pension.
The reasons of his applying at a Court in the State of Connecticut: and not in the State where he resides. are.
That at the time of the service performed he was an inhabitant of Thompson Conn. and most of his witnesses reside there.
He lived within 5. or 6 miles of the Court. in Conn. & 20. Miles from the Court in Massachusetts. & in one day he could do his business at the Court in Conn. which would take a week or more

in Massachusetts, beside the additional expense of taking his witness to the at Court.
And lastly there is no authority in any of the New England states to compel a witness to go out of the state to testify — all which is submitted
Pray — Simon Davis Atty for Alpheus Bowers.

I Charles Brown of Charlestown, in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being seventy seven years of age - do testify and say, that I know that Mr. Alpheus Bowdoin of Dudley - had in 1777 of Thompson Connecticut was drafted in 1777 for two months, into a company commanded by Captain Samuel Chase of Woodstock Connecticut. I was drafted into the same company at the same time and we both served two months. The company was stationed at Fort Griswold in Groton opposite New London - Mr. Richardson was our Lieutenant - Col. Ledyard was our commandant of the Fort. After our time was out we both enlisted into the service of the United States for six months, into a company commanded by Captain John Buel of Oxford Connecticut. Samuel Grover was our Lieutenant. and Benjamin Townsend of Thompson was Ensign. Col. Ely of Litchfield Connecticut was Colonel of the Regiment. We were stationed a part of the time at Fort Griswold, and a part of the time at Little Connecticut in Rhode Island and part of the time at Horse Neck in State of New York - when the term of our enlistment expired We were stationed at a place called Stanford. After we returned home in 1779. We were both drafted again for two months into the Army of the Revolution. into the company commanded by Captain Daniel Lyon of Woodstock, a Mr. Mason of Thompson was lieutenant. We both remained in the company until our time was out. This term of service was performed at New London

I do not remember the name of the Colonel of the Regiment at this time General Tyler was our Brigadier General Charles Brown
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Boston Augt 10. 1832. Then personally appeared Charles Brown who signed the above Affidavit in my presence and made solemn oath, that the same is true before me
Frederick H. Botton Justice
I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Charles Brown many years and know that he is respected to be a man of veracity by his neighbors
Frederick H. Botton

I Albron Reynolds of Southbridge in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being now in my eighty second year of Age - do declare that I was drafted into the Militia in 1778 for two months - and served two months at New London in Connecticut - I positively know that Mr Alphonso Bowers then of Thompson Connecticut now of Dudley Mas- sachusetts served two months in the Con- necticut or Continental Troops at New London He hath belonged to the same Company which was soon marched by Captain 1 St further the deponent saith not
Albron his Reynolds mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcester ss July 23 d 1832 Then personally appeared Albron Reynolds who signed the above Affidavit by his mark in my presence and made solemn oath that the same is true before me -
Frederick, 38, 82 Stone Justiciar.
I hereby certify that Mr Albron Reynolds is reported to be a man of truth by his Neighbors -
Frederick, 38, 82 Bottom Justiciar

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, fs.
I, Abijah Bigelow, clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said county of Worcester, do certify, That Frederic W. Bottom, Esquire, before whom the foregoing Depositions of Charles Brown and Albroon Reynolds were sworn to, was a justice of the peace within and for said county of Worcester, at the time they appear to have been sworn to, and still continues to be such justice - and that the signatures of said justice to the certificates of said depositions being sworn to as aforesaid, appear to be in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof, I hereto set my hand, and affix the seal of said Court, at Worcester, this twenty third day of April, in the year 1833.
Abijah Bigelow, Clk.

at the County Court held at Thompson in and for the County of Windham and State of Connecticut on the 17 th Day of July 1832. in open Court personally appeared Elias Child, of Woodstock in S d County & made solemn att. that he was a S r in Capt Sam l . Chandlees Company in Col Dyer's Reg t . of Militia, on a sent on a tour of duty to Groton Ct. in the Spring of 1777. kept a private Roll of Co y . Company - which I now have & find on it the name of Alpheus Barren. & I know him as a Soldier there for two months
Elias Child
Sworn to and subscribed and the day & year first above the County Court, for the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut.
Attest. William Bolles Clerk