Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12551, John Cowing, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Lowing, John
S. 12551
carded
CONTENTS

New York
John Cowing
of P'katangue in the State of N.Y. who was a private in the Cont. by Captain Sheldon of the Regt. commanded by Col. Murray in the Highlands line for 6 m. V.29R.
949
Inscribed on the Roll of N.Y. 20 at the rate of 23 Dollars 20 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of Aug 1832 and Dutton Brown & Fren P'katangue
Arrears to the 4th of Dec '33 $46 40 Pension allowance ending 4 Sep '33 11 60 $58 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by P. C. Stiles Clerk. Book E, Vol. 3 Page 57

Chautauqua County ss Josiah Morse of Mina in said County, aged seventy years, being duly sworn and clothed swear that he is himself a Pen- sioner, he further swears that he is well acquainted with Capt John Cawen of Elliotte and has known him from his youth, he further swears that during the revolution war and the year that Andr was executed, said Cawen served at least six months, and this deponent believes more, in the revolutionary Army, that he served at Watpait and other places on the north river, that said Cawen resided at Chester- field in the state of Massachu- setts, this deponent further says that said Cawen has always sustained an ex- cellent character for honesty & veracity -
Sworn & subscribed this 19 of October 1832 Before me
Josiah Morse
E. T. Foote Judge Chautauqua Co. Pleas
and the ordinary drills & exercise - that the

Josiah Morse

State of New York County of Chautauqua } S.
On this 26 th day of June 1833, personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting, John Cowing a resident of Ellicott in the County of Chautauqua and State of New York, aged Seventy 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 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: In the year 1779 early in July he enlisted at Chesterfield Hampshire County & State of Massachusetts where he then resided, under Capt. H. Clapp of East Hampton, with Noah Pratt, William Turner, Joshua Buck, Elisha West, Sgt Wilder, Saba Bolton, & some others of the same Town, that the Lieutenants name was Syman, and Ensigns Alcott, one of the Sergeants name was Bolton, & one Clapp, nephew of the Captain, — that soon after his enlistment the Company marched to Pittsfield by the way of Worthington, Peru, & Dalton and there joined the Regiment under the command of Col. Israel Chapin, First Col not recollected, Major Syman of North Hampton, Adjutant Joshua Morse, Quarter Master — Strong, that the Regiment immediately marched to Hudson by way of Great Barrington, where they remained two days, from thence to Poughkeepsie, when orders were received for Col Chapin to March direct to Albany, which he did — that the Regiment remained at Albany until this declarant was discharged, & the Regiment disbanded early in October of that year — that while the Regiment lay at Albany orders were twice received to furnish with three days provisions & march first to Fort Stanwix, & the last time to West Point, but the orders were generally countermanded before the Regiment was at either time prepared — that the only service performed at Albany was keeping guard and the ordinary drills & exercise — That he

enlisted for the term of three months, & served out his time in the manner above stated, and was discharged by the Col. at Albany aforesaid in the State of New York, by parole early in October as before stated - That in the year 1781, the last of July or first of August he again enlisted at Chesterfield aforesaid for the term of three months, with Sot Wilder (who was with him the preceding year), Asa Gurney, Samuel Hunt, & some others, under Capt. Sheldon, Lieut. Gates, & Ensign Clapp, - that the Company directly marched to Worthington the place of rendezvous for them, where they joined the Regiment, under the Command of Col. Murray, Lt. Col. not recollected, Major Pomeroy, Adjutant Syman, that the Regiment marched by Companies, from Worthington direct to Hudson, N.Y. where the Regiment was formed, & marched direct to West Point, that two or three weeks after they arrived at West Point, this declarant was sent with a great number of other soldiers 200 in all to a place up the river then called "Skin Partners" to chopping wood to take to West Point for the following winter in which service he was engaged three weeks including the time of traveling to & from that place - After his return the Regiment & the whole body of soldiers then at West Point were actively engaged in guarding the forts, removing a great quantity of Military Stores from some barns, to a bomb proof on the Point, that the forts were all manned & every preparation made in expectation of the enemy - That Gen. Arnold had command at West Point at that time, but had escaped from West Point on the same day that the soldiers returned from their chopping expedition, that after his desertion the militia came in from various directions & the forts were filled - the shores of the river at were set with

guards to give the earliest intelligence of any movement on the part of the enemy - That previous to the discovery of the treason of Arnold & his desertion the soldiers were considerably scattered, & the cannon in some of the forts dismantled - That Gen Washington arrived at West Point soon after Arnolds escape - That just before his term of service expired he was sent to Fort Montgomery on a weeks guard, & when he returned to West Point the Regiment to which he belonged was discharged, & had all left that place except one Lieut. this declarant was then discharged, after having having served three months & four days, his term of enlistment having expired four days before his discharge, by reason of a neglect to relieve the guard at Fort Montgomery at the proper time - He recollects that there were several regiments at West Point, but does not recollect whether they were Continental or Militia, nor does he recollect the names of the officers -
In the year 1777, after the surrender of Burgoyne this declarant was called out by the public authority to guard a large quantity of provisions provided for the American Army, which were stored at Worthington Mass. and at the time that Burgoyne's army was retreating, that he was employed in that service three weeks, that he was at that time under Col. Ager, & was dismissed after the army had retired -
That he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can produce who can testify to the same, except Josiah Morse whose affidavit is hereto annexed, but who is in error in regard to this declarants serving six months in the same year, although he is correct as to length of time or nearly so, and was acquainted with this declarant at that time - That this declarant

was not present when said affidavit was made, and that soon after the said Morse removed from this County to Massachusetts & he has not since heard from him -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State - He further says that in answer to the interrogatories, that he was born in North Hampton, Massachusetts, on the 17 th day of March 1763 - That he knows of no record of his age unless there is one in the Town Clerk's office of North Hampton or Chesterfield - That he was living at Chesterfield aforesaid when he entered the service, and after the war continued to reside at that place till 1828, when he came to this (Chautauqua) Co. by which he has since resided that he enlisted - was never drafted or a substitute - that he knew no other officers whose names he can now recollect, & no other regiments, than those above stated - that he never received a written discharge, and when his term of service expired as above stated was discharged by parole - that he is acquainted with the Rev. Gacenus M Palmer & Rufus Pier Esq & has known nearly five years -
Sworn to  marks made the day of year aforesaid
John his  marks Corning
Artemas H. Arick a Judge of Chautauqua County Court
We, Samuel A. Brown  the  James M. Palmer  to  residing in the Town of Ellicott in the County of Chautauqua, and Rufus Pier residing in the same Town, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Corning, who has
Subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy years

morning was acquainted with John Corning, who has
Subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be twenty years of age; that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion, and that he is a man of strict truth & veracity -
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid Solomon Harrick a judge of Chautauqua county courts
Rufus Piver Sam l . A Brown
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, & serves as he states. And the Court further Certifies that Rufus Piver & Samuel A Brown Esq rs , who have signed the preceding Certificate, are residents of the town of Ellicott in the County of Chautauqua, and that they are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit - And further that they are satisfied that said applicant had agreed with Guckens M c Palmer who is a Clergyman residing in Ellicott to attend Court and certify for him, but that said Clergyman could not attend in consequence of sickness, which was not known to said applicant until it was too late to procure another

I James B Lowry Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Cham- paigne, Do hereby Certify, that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of John Corning - And I do for a pension - And I do further Certify that Artemas Hearick Esq before whom the forgoing dec- laration & certificate were subscribed & sworn, was at the date thereof, & now is a Judge of said Court, duly commissioned and sworn, and that I am well acquainted with his signature, & the same thereto subscri- bed are genuine -
In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 28 th day of June 1833
James B Lowry Clerk
John Corning -

No 25917 John Cowing Chautauqua County New York
Admitted Private 6 mo & 29 days
319
Brown & Tew Chautauqua County New York

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 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. 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, shewing the Service of John Cowing Chautauqua County New York
   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.     Enlisted July 1779 - 3 - Private Capt Clapp, Col Chapin Major Lyson, 70 Years Hampshire County Massachusetts Traditionary evidence, papers correctly attached -   Enlisted Aug t 1780 - 3 4 " Capt Sheldon, Col Murray   Called out 1777 - - 21 " Col Ager  
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 days 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 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 fix 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.
[l] The notes from [a] to [j] 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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] 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.

Rev. War.
12551
INVALID.
Rev. War.
File No. 12,551
John Cowling Priv. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1932
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 78
[Arrangement of 1870.]