Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12548, James Cowden, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Wass
Bowden, James
S. 12548
CONTENTS
carded

No. 149-1 James 14827 Cowden
Chencago in the State of N. York was a Sergeant in the Comp y commanded Captain Cowden of the Reg t commanded Col. Morbrin y in the Ar t ill y here for 11 Mo s .
★ Mass. Line Sept. 19/35 Records corrected
Enscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 55 Dollars 55 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of July 1833 and to H. K. Pike At Chencago Co
Arrears to the 14th of Mar. '35 $111.10 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep. '38 27.77 $138.87
Revolutionary Claim, Enter June 7, 1832.
Recorded by G. C. Miley Clerk, Book E, Vol. 3, Page 57
Letter to Hon. J. P. Rogers Aug 28 June 1838.
Letter to Matthews & Morrison Nov 1838.
Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the act of the 6 th April 1838 from 4 Sept 1837 to 6 Sept 1838 the day of his death. Age Notified 15 June 1839.

James Corden's Pension application
25/55
Address all papers to P.O. Box 12 Norwich Connecticut N.Y.
advised 11 mo per yr

State of New York Chenango County ss
On this seventeenth day of October 1852 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Oyer & terminer now sitting at Norwich in and for the County of Chenango being a Court of Record Present
Hon Robert Moonell Circuit Judge
Ino Tracy
Levi Blydow
Charles York
Nathan Taylor
Judges
James Cowden a resident of the town of Plymouth in the County of Chenango and State of New York aged eighty six and upwards who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by 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 herein stated
In 1775 about the last of April enlisted for eight months at Pelham Hampshire County State of Massachusetts into a company commanded by David Cowden of Pelham Captain Robert Hamilton of Conway Hampshire County Lieutenant - the name of the Ensign does not recollect - the service was called State Service. The regiment to which his company was attached and belonged was under the command of Colonel Woodbridge - does not recollect the names of any other regimental officers - knows not who was the commandant of the Brigade as he was never reviewed by a General - in the course of a week after he enlisted he passed muster at Pelham - The Colonel mustered them, received no pay or bounty at the time he enlisted. joined the regiment at Pelham at the time he was mustered - remained at Pelham as a guard and in actual service at Pelham about six weeks and then went to Cambridge and there joined the army that was stationed at that place and remained there a week or ten days and then returned

to Pelham and remained there at Pelham until the time of the Bunker Hill battle - five or six days after the battle he again marched with his company to Cambridge and there remained about ten days and assisted in building a breast work on a hill called Ploughed Hill, and then went back to Pelham and there remained as a guard in actual service until sometime in September and then again marched with his company to Cambridge and was there reviewed by General Washington, remained there about a week and then returned to Pelham and then remained at Pelham until the expiration of the eight months for which he enlisted and then dismissed verbally by the Captain. Was engaged in no battle or skirmish during this term of service - This department served in the capacity of a Sergeant - Thomas McElliden. John White John Hamilton Privates served in the same company and were discharged with him.
In the year 1779 or 1780 as he thinks but he can not recollect the year - but it was the year the British burnt New London about the latter part of June. drafted volunteered for there at Pelham into a company commanded by Captain Dwight of Belcher Hampshire County Lieutenant Smith of Amherst Hampshire County. The ensign's name does not recollect - does not recollect the names of any of the regimental officers. - knows not who was the Commandant of the Brigade as their regiment was never reviewed as a regiment by a General - in a day or two after drafted  volunteered went with his company to New London and was there stationed - remained there three months keeping guard in the City and then was marched back to Pelham and was immediately discharged verbally by the Captain.

was engaged in no battle or skirmish during this term of service — This deponent served in the capacity of a sergeant. Joseph Smith Sergeant Ezekiel Conkey James Harkness John Crawford Ethan Cowan William H. Rose privates served in the same company and were discharged with him.
He has no documentary evidence of these his services during the revolutionary war and knows of no person whose testimo- ny he can procure to testify to his services.
In answer to the interrogatories required to be put by the War department to applicants for pensions he states as follows viz
1 st He was born at Worcester, Worcester County Massachu- setts, February 26. 1746 2 nd He has a record of his age at home in his bible 3 rd He lived at Pelham Hampshire County Massachusetts each time he entered the service after the war remained there until about the year 1791 and then moved to Cambridge, Washington County New York and there remained between four and five years and then moved to Norwich where he Chenango County and then removed to Plymouth Chenango County New York where he now resides 4 th He once enlisted and was once drafted 5 th He saw General Washington at Cambridge the General circumstances of his services

are stated as fully in the body of his declaration as he can recollect them
6th He was each time dismissed verbally by the captain
7th The names of James Birdsell cashier of the Bank of Chenango, Jarvis Pike Clerk of the county, Samuel Pike Justice of the peace, John Clapp Post Master, Rev. Sedediah Randall, Truman Eno, James Dyer and all late clerks all of Norwich Chenango County as men who his neighborhood who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution
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
Sworn to and subscribed James Coordon The day and year aforesaid Dep Clerk of said Court
Elisha A. Groom
We Sedediah Randall a Clergyman of the Baptist Church residing in the town of Hymnall Norwich and Truman Eno of the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Coordon who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be eighty six years, and upwards 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 & that we have never heard any doubts expressed by any person as to his having been such soldier Subscribed and sworn to the day & year aforesaid Elisha A. Groom P. B. Randall Dep Clerk

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 revolution war soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Leah  Edward  Trumbull  Trumbull who has signed the preceding certificate is a Baptist Clergyman residing in the town of Glynde  Church Chenango County and that Truman Enos who has also signed the same is a resident of the same place and is a credible person, and their statement is entitled to credit
State of New York } Chenango County }
I Jarvis K. Pike Clerk of the said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Cowdrey for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 17th day of October A.D. 1852
J. B. Purdie Dep Clerk

James Corden's Pension application
25/55
Address all papers to P. B. Prindle Norwich Connecticut NY
advised 11 mo per yr

No 25755
James Bowdoin Chenango County New York
Adm
James K Pike, 6th Chenango County New York.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 James Bowden Chenango 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.     Enlist Ap. 1775 — 8 — Sergt private Genl Washington Col Bowden, Colonel Woodbridge 86 years County of Hampshire Massachusetts Testimonial evidence, papers correct   Draft June { or 1779 1780 — 3 — Sergt private Col Bowden, Colonel Col Dwight  
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 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.

April 3, 1936
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Over
BA-J/ENL
James Cowden-3.12548
Ruth Henning 1251 N. Dearborn Chicago, Illinois
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of James Cowden, who was born in Pelham, Massachusetts, moved to Ohio, in 1837 and died in Franklin County, that state, in September, 1838.
The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.12548, based upon the military service in that war of James Cowden.
James Cowden was born February 26, 1746, in Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts. The names of his parents are not shown.
While a resident of Pelham, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, James Cowden enlisted about the last of April, 1775, and served eight months as sergeant in Captain David Cowden's Company, Colonel Woodbridge's Massachusetts Regiment. Part of the service was rendered at Cambridge, Massachusetts, and part at Pelham, doing guard duty. No relationship of his captain to the soldier was stated. He enlisted at the time of the burning of New London, Connecticut, marched to that place and served for three months as sergeant in Captain Dwight's Massachusetts Company.
In Mass S.D. as Cowden
In 1791, the soldier moved from Pelham, Massachusetts, to Cambridge, Washington County, New York, where he resided for four or five years, then moved to Norwich, Chenango County, New York, thence to Plymouth, Chenango County, New York.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 17, 1832, while residing in Plymouth, New York.
About 1837, he moved to the state of Ohio, county not given, where he died September 6, 1838.
Sol. in Mass S.D. in this serv. He said he enl. about the last of June, 1779 or 1780, but was uncertain except that it was at the burning of New London so I left out date & used "burning of New London" which was Sep. 6, 1781

There are no data as to the family of James Gowden. At the time of his death it was stated that he left neither wife nor children. Justin Morrison was made administrator of his estate. No relationship to the soldier was shown.
Very truly yours
A. D. MILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

Chicago Ill.,
March 14, 1936.
Pension Department, Washington D.C.
Gentlemen:
I would like very much to have record of wife and children of James Cowden born Pelham Mass 1745 served in Revolutionary War from Cambridge N.Y. moved to Ohio 1837 and died in Lunsford Franklin Co., Ohio Sept. 1838.
Very truly yours,
Ruth Hennings 1251 N Dearborn Chicago Ill.

Rev. Am.
INVALID.
12548
File No. 12,548
James Cowden Serg. Recv War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index: —Vol. 2 , Page 78
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1936-Apr 3-Visit to Rush Henrying. EL

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office,
May 13 th , 1839.
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," Justin Morrison, admin or of James Bowden, dec d , a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany, N.York, Agency, at the rate of fifty five Dollars and fifty five Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 1 st of Sept. 1837, to the 6 th Sept. 1838. the day of his death.
Respectfully, yours,
J. Seaver acting Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

FREE
Mr J. L. Edwards Com of Pensions Washington City

Columbus Ohio Nov 1. 1838
J. L. Edwards Sir
James Bowden a Revolutionary Pensioner moved from New York State to this something over a year since he drew one pension at Albany after he came here the next term they would not pay it saying he should be transferred to this State. his friends made application for a transfer, but he was old & had lost his recollection so that he could not tell his officers names therefore did not obtain it. he is since dead. there is about one years pension due him, his friends wish us to ask you where it should be drawn whither an Administrator should be appointed to draw it (he having no wife nor children) and what form & proof &c
Your Answer will much oblige
Yours Truly
Matthews & Morrison