Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12614, Ezekiel Cowles, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
bow-
bowles, Ezekiel
S 12614
CONTENTS
carded

Rev War
12.614 INVALID.
Examined by Capt. C.D. V.A. No. 2-192
File No. 12.614
Ezekiel Bowles Sergt. Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

9824. Connecticut.
Ezekiel Coombs.
of Farmington the State of Conn. & who was a S er v al iant in the Comp y commanded by Captain Norton. of the Reg t commanded by Col o Webb. in the Conn. & time for 6 mo. & 28 days. 2 mo. & 20 days. of this as S er v al iant. $29.77
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn. & at the rate of 29. Dollars 77 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 th day of June 1833 and sent to Samuel Whitman. Farmington Conn.
Arrears to the 4th of March '33. 59.54 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept r 1833. 14.89 $74.43
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Miss Palmer, Clerk, Book 6. Vol. 3. Page 81

State of Connecticut Hartford County } Farmington August 25 th 1832 -
On this 25 th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate for Farmington District in Hartford County, now sitting, Rachel Coles a resident of Farmington in the county and state aforesaid, aged 75 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 act of Congress passed
June 7 th 1832 -
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated - (viz)
1 st In the latter part of July 1776, on a general requisition of the militia of the state to go to New York, he, with the company to which he belonged under Capt John Porter went to New York, the regiment was commanded by Maj Simeon Strong, he remained, with his company at New York, till after the battle on Long Island, he then retreated to Kingsbridge, till where our Kingsbridge to White Plains and was then stationed, till the regiment was discharged by the commander in chief, and he returned home on the 23 rd September 1776, after an absence of about 2 months - 2 nd In the month of April 1777, at the time Danbury was invaded and the stores there destroyed, he volunteered, to guard with a party, a load of Gunpowder destined to that place, he went with it and arrived there soon after the British had retreated, and was in this service 14 days - 3 rd In the month of August 1777, he was drafted for a term of 3 or 4 weeks and joined a company under Capt Ichabod Morton, proceeded to Crown Point a few miles east of Pukekeeps in New York, and was then stationed - During this term his regiment with two regiments of the line, one from Rhode Island, and the other under Col. Webb of Connecticut, all under the command of Gen Sarmum, as he thinks, were ordered down the river, by night, to attack the British post at Kingsbridge; we arrived near the fort early next morning, and our advanced guard under Capt Alden of Col Webb's regiment, was attacked from the fort; some were wounded, and Capt Alden with others were captured. we then retreated to Crown Point, and he was discharged at the end of his term - 4 th In the month of September 1777, on the approach of Gen Burgoyne, he volunteered and joined a company under Capt Ichabod Morton, who was commandant of the regiment consisting of four companies of volunteers from the 15 th Con. militia, proceeded to Saratoga, was in the division action of the 7 th action, when Gen Arnold was wounded; and in the actions of the next days when Gen Simon was wounded, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne's army on the 17 th October, and was discharged on the 18 th or 19 th after a service of about 12 weeks -

5 th In the month of July 1779, on the invasion of New Haven, he volunteered in a company under Capt. Elihu Scott of the regiment commanded by Col. Moadiah Hooker, went to New Haven and remained there till the British retreated to their shipping and left the harbor - in this service 12 days - 6 th In the month of September 1779, he served as Serjeant Major, in a regiment of militia drafted for 2 months commanded by Maj. Ichabod Martin, the regiment was stationed on the sea board, from Stratford to Norwalk, he was stationed at Danfield Conn - he was in this service 2 months & 2 days - 7 th In the month of September 1781, he was drafted for a tour of 3 weeks, to go to New Haven, he joined at New Haven the regiment commanded by Lt. Col. Aaron Austin, was taken into the family of the Col. and served as his clerk or secretary through the term -
He has no documentary evidence of his service, but thinks he can prove the whole thereof by Col. Israel Bowles, Moadiah Woodruff Esq. and others as will follow -
In answer to the interrogatories propounded, he says to the - 1 st he was born in said Farmington, on the 14 th Day of September 1756 - 2 nd his birth is recorded in his family bible - 3 rd when called in service he was living in Farmington, and has lived there ever since - 4 th already answered - 5 th Besides the officers already named he recollects seeing Gen. Washington and others, at New York, Gen. Gates and others at Saratoga - 6 th He never received a discharge in writing - 7 th He is generally known in his town, county, state & elsewhere -
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 -
Ezekiel Bowles
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Isaac Whitman Judge of Probate Farmington District -
I Isaac Bowles residing in the town of Farmington aforesaid, hereby certify that, from my youth, I have been well acquainted with Ezekiel Bowles who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that I believe him to be 75 years of age, that I know he was a soldier of the revolution, and served in the years 1776. 1777 & 1779 as he has stated in his 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th and 5 th particulars above, as I

served with him in all these several terms, and know he is correct as to the terms, offices and incidents thereof —
Isaac Cowles,
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid —
Samuel Whitman Judge of Probate Farmington District —
I, Mordiah Woodruff residing in the town of Farmington aforesaid, hereby certify that I have been long well acquainted with Gabriel Cowles who has now subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that I believe him to be 75 years of age, that I know he was a revolutionary soldier, and served in the year 1779 at Fairfield in the regiment of Major Ichabod Preston as he has stated in his 6 th particular above, as I was in the same regiment during that time —
Mordiah Woodruff
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid —
Samuel Whitman Judge of Probate Farmington District —
I, Zenas Cowles residing in the town of Farmington aforesaid, hereby certify that from my youth I have been well acquainted with Gabriel Cowles who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that I know he served in the war of the revolution at New Haven in the year 1781, as he has stated in his 7 th particular above, as I was in the same town, and must have resided in the family of S t Col. Preston, as clerk or secretary, during that time.
Zenas Cowles,
Sworn to and subscribed this 31 st day of August 1832 —
Samuel Whitman Judge of Probate Farmington District —
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states — and the court further certifies that Isaac Cowles, Mordiah Woodruff and Zenas Cowles who have signed and sworn to the preceding certificates are residents in said town of Farmington, and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit —
Samuel Whitman Judge of Probate Farmington District —

I, Henry Nash, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Farmington, do hereby certify that the foregoing con- tains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ezekiel Cawles for a pension — And, I do certify, that Samuel Whitman, who has affixed his name in his own proper hand writing, as above, is Judge of Probate of Farmington District —
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office, this 31 st day of August 1852
Henry Nash Clerk
Ezekiel Cawles Farmington, pension 910 H

9152 Ezekiel Cowles Connecticut
Adm 6 Mo & 28 days 2 Months & 20 days thereof Sergeant Major
2. — 1.11 29.27. —
337 4 13.33
Whitman Samuel Whitman Farmington Connecticut

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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 subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those 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, showing the Service of Escheal Cowles Hartford Co Connecticut
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Jul 1776 about 2 - Privt Capt Norton M c Strong Sarago N York 75 (years) Traditionary   Feb 1777 - 11 - " " " Bridg Long Island 2 Evidence   Aug 1777 about 1 - " Morton Col l Ebb Sarago White Plains town 13 Witness   Feb 1777 - 1 - " Norton Genl l Warner Cramford Connecticut   " 1779 - - 4 " Scott Col l Hooker N York   Aug 1779 2 2 Sergt Norton " Sarago   Aug 1781 " " 18 " " " New Haven   Sayfield   Connecticut   New Haven  
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) 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 enquiry 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 required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper 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 three 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.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.