Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 18,935, William Cowen, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Cowen, William "Cowin,
No. 18935
Jane
CONTENTS

2901
New York Albany
Jane Crown widow of William Crown N.Y.
who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of July 1849 and sent to
L. Jenkins Albany N.Y.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 40 Vol. 4
Reported July 9/49

Matter of - 3836 Jane Cowan widow
For Pension

State of New York
Washington County ss.
On this third day of September One thousand eight hundred & thirty eight personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas held at the Courthouse in the town of Salem in and for the County of Washington before the judges there of Jane Brown a resident of the town of Fort Edward in the said County of Washington & State of New York aged sixty nine years, who being duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 7. 1838. entitled an act granting Half Pay and Pensions to certain widows. that she is the widow of William Brown that she is informed & believing that her said husband enlisted & served as a private in Capt. Stockwells company of Infantry - for the term of nine months in the year 1779. & was marched to Plenkeshorough. & that the said William Brown served out the full term of nine months and was discharged on the first day of January 1780. and that she said William in the same year 1780. the said William Brown was entiled into the continental establishment in the service of his country & taken a prisoner by the common enemy. & carried into Canada where he was confined in prison a considerable time but the precise time this deponent is unable to state only from the information derived from the depositions hereto annexed.
She further declares that she was married to the said William Brown in the Month of August 1791 - by the Rev. Samuel Proudfoot then of Salem but now deceased, from whom she believes that she did not take any certificate of her marriage nor can she obtain any such certificate as she believes that her husband the said William Brown died on the 27th day of March 1816. that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January seventeen hundred & ninety four viz at the time above stated since she has remained the widow of the said William Brown & still is such widow & has not since married known to & subscribed on the day
2 years above written in open court Edward Dodd Clerk
Jane X Brown her mark

Edward Dodd Clerk of the County courts of the County of Washington do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jane Cowan widow for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this third day of September 1838.
Edward Dodd Clerk

Rev. and 1813 War Section. Ans Ans
July 17, 1925
Allen & Allen 22 Brinkerhoff St Plattsburgh, N. Y.
Gentlemen:
I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 18935 , it appears that William Cowen enlisted in 1779 and served nine months as private in Captain Stockwell's Company, Colonel Webster's New York Regiment and was discharged January 1, 1780.
He enlisted in 1780 and served in Captain Adiel Sherwood's Company, Colonel DuBois' New York Regiment, in October of 1780, he was taken prisoner and held in Chambly and Three Rivers, Canada until the fall of 1781 or 1782.
He died March 27, 1816.
Soldier married in August 1791 in Salem, Washington County, New York, Jane Mathews. She

was allowed pension on her application executed September 3, 1838, while a resident of Fort Edward, Washington County, New York, aged sixty- nine years.
A large family of children is referred to, no names are stated.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

Albany 4054
Jane Cowen widow of William Cowen
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 27. March 1816 of Washington Co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Stockwell of the regt. commanded by in the N. York line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 80 Dollars ————— Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st day of August 1839 and sent to Phoebe Curtis Salem, N.Y.
Arrears to the 14th of March '39 240.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept., 40.00 $280.00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by D. Brown Book A. Vol. 2
Clerk. Page 72

Recd. of Hon. David Russell, Sept. 10. 1839

State of New York
Washington County ss.
Margaret Mc Farland resident of the town of Salem in the said County of Washington aged Twenty four years & upwards who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that she was well acquainted with William Coven long before the year one thousand seven hundred & ninety one & with Jane Coven before & after said year aforesaid that the said William Coven & the said Jane Coven was joined in lawful wedlock by the Rev James Proudfoot at the town of Salem aforesaid in the month of August 1791 at the solemnizing of whose marriage she was personally present & well remembers the fact that the said James Proudfoot has been dead for a great many years & that the said William Coven did sometime in the year 1816 as she believes that the maiden name of the said Jane Coven to her said marriage with the said William Coven was Jane Mathews
Known to me to be the person described
before me this 1 st day of
December 1838. Attesters
James A. Farland
Justin Pease
Her Margaret Mc Farland Mark
James B. Stevenson
James Wilson
State of New York
Washington County ss.
Personally appeared on this 1 st day of December 1838 before me the undersigned, one of the Justices of the peace of the said County of Washington Margaret Mc Farland a person well known to me who made her mark in the presence of me & the said witnesses to the above deposition after being duly sworn according to law & that full faith & credence is to be given to her attestation.
James A. M c Farland Just. Peace

State of New York County of Washington Sp I Edward Dodd clerk of the said county hereby certify that James AM c Farland Esq. is a Justice of the Peace as within and that the within signatures purporting to be his are genuine
Given under my hand and official seal this 1 st day of December 1838
Edward Dodd Clerk

V N. York 3836, Jane Cowan let to P. Cuntz 25 May 1839
Act July 1838

6155.
Albany, N. York
Jane Cowen
widow of William Cowen
who was a Private
in the Revolution
Rep?
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21. day of Sept. 1844 and sent to S. M. Bragg Troy. N. York
[Act of March 3, 1843]
Recorded in Book A, June 17, 1844
Vol. 2, Page 73

6443
Jane Cowen
acts 43 & 44
$80 per an
J. M. Bragg Troy N. York

Yaz
Sept 14. 1864
Sir
The enclosed is the declaration of Jane Cawin for a pension under the act of March 3 d 1843. The reason she has not applied sooner is that she could not get any one to assist her in making out her papers.
Respectfully yours L. M. Bragg
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D.C.

Ed AM 6/13/53
James L. Edwards Esquire Commissr of Pensions War Dept. Washington City -

Albany Aug. 30. 1848.
James L. Edwards Esquire, Comt. of Pensions, Sir,
I enclose the declaration of Mrs. Jane Bowen, for the purpose of obtaining her pension certificate, under the Act of 2 d Feb y . 1848 -
Very respectfully, Yours obed t Serv t Emuel Jenkins.

Salem ny Sept 1
in at Sept 4 free
Dear L. Edwards
Ann Cowan Pension office Washington D.C.

Calcutta August 31 st 1830.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Dr. Sir
The pension paper of Mrs. Jane Cowan was forwarded to your office some months since for the purpose of obtaining her pension under the act of the 24 July 1856 & the act amending the same. Will you have the goodness to inform me the stage in which her business is here & whether the pension is granted if so please to forward the certificate to me as soon as convenient.
I am Respectfully D. N. Sircar

3836 NY — Dec 12 7 July 1838
Galena N.W. Dec 8 1838
Hon J. G. Edwards.
Pension Office Washington D.C.

Salem, Washington Co. N.W.
D. L.
Inclosed is forwarded to you the Pension papers of Mrs. Jane Cowan which please to take charge of & bring the immediate attention of the Commission as to its investigation on account of the extreme indigence of the applicant -
Rev D. Russell may be communicated with should you wish further further evidence -
Respectfully yours P. Curtis

State of New York Washington County ss. James Wilson of the town of Union Wilson in the County of Washington aforesaid age Sixty Six years & upwards, being first sworn according to Law, doth depose & say, that he was well ac- quainted with William Conner & became so about the time of his Marriage with Jane Conner in the year 1791. That the maiden name of the said Jane was Jane Mathews with whom this deponent was well acquainted with with her family. That the said William Conner mentioned in the declaration of the said Jane Conner hereto annexed lived with the said Jane until his death in 1836 & that they raised a family of children & lived together as man & wife that the said William died at the time aforesaid leaving the said Jane Conner his widow & who hath never been married to any other person & that she still re- mains his widow as this deponent truly believes.
Subscribed & sworn to James Wilson this 1 st day of December 1838
Before me
J. Curtis Justice of peace
State of New York Washington County ss. Personally appeared on this 1 st day of December 1838 before me the undersigned one of the Justices of the peace of the said County of Washington James Wilson a person well known to me who signed in my presence his name to the above dep- osition after being duly sworn according to Law and that full faith & credence be given to his attestation.
J. Curtis Justice of peace

State of New York Washington County
I Edward Dodd clerk of the said county hereby certify that Philo Curtis Esquire is a Justice of the Peace as within and that the within signatures purporting to be his are genuine
Given under my hand and official seal this 1 st day of December 1830
Edward Dodd Clerk
16

4054 V 3836 Jane Cowan
Ad. July 7. 1838
Married Aug 1791
Her husband died 27. March 1816
Vol 3 page 13. Capt Adair Sherwood - William Cowan Byssus
Admitted
Private 2 years
Philo Curtis Esq.
Salem
New York

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., May 22 , 1922
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Wm Bowen a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (for his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. W. 18935
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1779 1780 9 mos. April 1, 1780 Priv. Stockwell Webster N.Y.   Adiel Sherwood Du Bois   In Oct. 1780 he was taken prisoner & held in Chambly & Three Rivers, Canada until the Fall of 1781 & 1782.  
Battles engaged in, None stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Not stated
Date of application for pension, Sept. 2/1838 - Her ch. also
Residence at date of application, Fort Edward, Wash Co., NY
Age at date of application, she was 69 yrs old.
Remarks: Sol. mar. Aug. 1791 in Salem Washington Co. NY. and Mott. evr: he d. Mar. 27, 1816. leaving a large family - names of ch. not stated.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

SETH S. ALLEN BENJAMIN I. ALLEN
ALLEN & ALLEN ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS AT LAW 22 BRINKERHOFF STREET PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK
TELEPHONE 107-J
May 16th, 1925.
United States Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:-
Will you send us a copy of pension of William Cowan who was a Revolutionary soldier, we think, enlisted from Washington or Albany County, New York.
Very truly yours,
Allen & Allen
SSA/P.

Re-Send
2242
THE HAVANA NATIONAL BANK
CAPITAL $100,000.00
HAVANA, ILL.
C. P. KING, PRESIDENT. A. D. CULLINANE, VICE-PRESIDENT. O. D. COVINGTON, VICE-PRESIDENT. P. D. DIEFFENBACHER, CASHIER. L. W. ANNO, ASS'T CASHIER.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir;
Kindly give me all the information you have regarding one William Cowen rank not stated who served in the Revolutionary War in Capt. Adiel Sherwood's Company, Col. Morris Graham's Regiment, New York Levies also known as 3rd Regiment, New York Levies. Service commenced September 1, 1780.
Also one William Cowan, rank not stated who served in Van Woert's Regiment, New York Militia.
I am particularly interested in the birth dates and the names of their wives.
The Adjutant General, Washington, D.C. referred me to your department.
Thanking you I am,
Very truly yours,
Sylvia Louise Dieffenbacher
Mrs P.D. Dieffenbacher, 124 S. Orange St., Havana Illinois.
ney

Rev WIDOW, &c.
1922, May 22. hist. to Mrs. P. D. Dieffenbacher - Ev. 1925 July 17. Hist. to Allen & Allen awz.
File No. 18985-
Jane Bowers widow of William Bowers Dis. New Mar.
Act: Feb 22 48
Index:—Vol. A Page 150
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Ohio } Erie County } ss
I David Caswell of Sandusky city & county & State aforesaid being duly sworn declare & say That I was Seventy four years of age in the month of March last. & that in the year AD 1780 I served as an enlisted soldier with William Cowan late of Washington county New York in Captain Adiel Sherwoods Company of levies, raised at the request of the Continental Congress to reinforce the Army of the United States & guard the Northern frontiers. Our company was attached to Col Dubois Regiment in the Continental line, In July of the same year we were stationed at Fort Ann, as a scouting party to watch the enemy on Lake Champlain. In October following our whole company was taken prisoners, by a large party of British Troops, Tories & Indians. We carried prisoners to Canada and put in a common jail. Some time thereafter I was separated from the said William Cowan and taken to another prison below the town of Montreal & there confined & was not afterwards in the prison with said Cowan. I cannot say precisely how long he was kept in confinement, but think he was released & sent home in the fall of AD 1781. There was however no general exchange of prisoners till the fall of AD 1782. but there were some partial exchanges made before that time.
I lived in Washington County, New York, before the commencement & after the close of the war of the Revolution & was well acquainted with William Cowan until the time of his death. He left a widow & large family & when in the service he was esteemed by his officers a worthy soldier, & a true friend to his country. And further this deponent saith not.
David Caswell
State of Ohio Erie County ss. - Personally came before me this 24 th day of October AD 1838. the said David Caswell & upon his solemn oath says. That the foregoing

Affidavit by him subscribed is true in substance & in fact. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year last aforesaid, before me
John Beatty justice of the peace in & for said county.
State of Ohio Erie County } I do hereby certify that the said " " } John Beatty — is a justice of the peace within & for the township of North in said county of Erie & is by law duly authorized to administer oaths, That I am acquainted with his hand writing & have no doubt that the above is his true & genuine signature, In testimony whereof I do hereby subscribe my name & official Seal this 24 th day of October A.D. 1838. Zenas W. Barker Clerk Erie Com. Pleas

State of New York Washington County ss.
James Rogers of the town of Selron in the said County of Washington aged seventy five years & upwards who being Sworn deposeth & saith that he was well acquainted with William Cowan in the year 1779. that this deponent & the said William Cowan served in Capt Stockwell company & as this deponent believes in Col Melstus Websters Regiment in the Army of the Revo- lution on the Continental establishment. that at the time this deponent entered the said Company, he found the said William Cowan in said Company doing duty as a soldier therein at Skenesborough now Whitehall which was as near as he can now recollect about six months previous to the time of the ex- piration of the said Companys term which was for nine Months and this deponent & the said William Cowan were both honorable discharged from said Company on the first day of January 1780. and as this deponent was informed & under- stood that the said William Cowan served the whole term of the said nine Months in which this deponent as aforesaid states to have served a portion of said nine Months. And this deponent further saith that in the Month of March 1780. this de- ponent was taken a prisoner in the service of the United States & car- ried a Prisoner to Canada & there imprisoned at Chambly & that the said William Cowan in the fall of the same year was brought into Canada a prisoner from the United States Army & there confined with this deponent in the same prison with a few days. & from said Prison the said William Cowan was re- moved to another Prison at the River Brant & there confined as a prisoner. that he understood that the latter statement of the said William Cowan was also for nine Months entertainment in the service of the said United States. and this de- ponent further saith that after the said William Cowan left this deponent at the Prison in Chambly this deponent next saw the said Cowan in this County in the year 1782 in the fall of the year & that he believes that the said William Cowan had then recently returned from his captivity & impris- onment in Canada further saith not
Subscribed & Sworn to this 18 th day of September 1838. Before me P. Curtis Justice Peace
James Rogers

State of New York Washington County ss. Personally appeared on this 18 th day of September 1838. Before me the undersigned one of the Justices of the peace of the said County of Washington James Rogers a person well known to me who signed in my presence his name to the above deposition after being duly sworn according to Law and that full faith & credence is to be given to his attestation. P. Curtis Justice of the peace
State of New York Washington County ss. I Edward Dodd Clerk of the said county hereby certify that Philo Curtis Esq. is a Justice of the Peace as above and within and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are his.
Given under my hand and official seal this 18 th day of September 1838
Edward Dodd Clerk

State of New-York, } ss. County of Washington }
On this twenty eighth day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Washington in the State of New York, Jane Cowen a resident of the town of Fort Edward in the said county of Washington aged Seventy nine years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed on the 2d February, 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War:
That she is the widow of William Cowen , who was a private in the Army of the Revolution , and on account of whose services she was pensioned under the Acts of Congress of 7 July 1838 , 3d March 1843 & 17 June 1844 ; and the annual amount of the pension which she received under the Act of 17 June 1844 , was Eighty dollars .
She further declares that she is still a the Widow , the decease of her husband makes her weak in consequence of old age . Sworn to & subscribed on the day { Jane + Cowen (your just above written before me) } Mark * Timothy Stoughton Justice of the Peace William Brown Witness
I certify that the above Declaration is personally known to me, * Timothy Stoughton Justice of William Brown the Peace
State of New-York, } ss. County of Washington }
I, William R. Miller Dep. Clerk of the said county, do hereby certify that Timothy Stoughton was on the day of the date of the above Declaration, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county, duly elected and sworn, and that the signatures to the Jurat of the above Declaration and to the above Certificate, purporting to be his, are genuine.
L.S.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the said county, this 28 day of August 1848.
Wm. R. Miller Dep. Clerk

State of New York } Washington County } 85
On this the fourth day of September, one thousand eight-hundred & forty four, personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Washington and State of New York, Jane Cawein a resident of Fort Edward in the County of Washington and State of New York, aged 76 years, who being first duly sworn, according to Law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of Congress, passed on the 3 rd of March, 1845, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War. That she is the Widow of William Cawein, who was a private in a Company during the Revolutionary War, and that she received a pension of fifty dollars per annum under the act of July 7, 1838. She further declares that she is a Widow of the aforesaid William Cawein, and that she can not write her name.
Sworn to and subscribed on the 3 rd day and year above written Before me
Jane her X Cawein Mark
Nicholas McIntyre Justice of the Peace
I Nicholas McIntyre certify, that I personally acquainted with Jane Cawein who is described in and who executed the foregoing declaration, and I know her to be the identical person described in the above declaration.
Nicholas McIntyre Justice of the Peace

11443
State of New York Washington County ss. I Henry Shiphead clerk of said county do hereby certify that Nicholas McIntyre Esqr was on the day of the date of the within Inuit and certificate a Justice of the Peace in and for said county duly elected and qualified and that his signature within subscribed is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said county this 16 th day of Sept r AD 1844 H Shiphead clk

May
Adolphus
Salisbury June 5
Jane Cowan, free file
June
Hon.
J. G. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

State of New York Washington County, ss
Alexander Proudfit late of the Town of Salem in the said County but now residing in the City of New York aged fifty eight years or more being first duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that the Rev d James Proudfit the father of this deponent who died at the said Town of Salem more than thirty five years since who was the settled pastor of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Salem until near the close of his life that this deponent became his immediate successor over the congregation of said Church and officiated as their pastor until the last three or four years being a period of forty years or more, that this deponent during the last aforesaid time was well acquainted with William Cowan and Jane Cowan now the widow of the said William, during his life and that they lived together as husband and wife for many years and as this deponent believes until the death of the said William and that they were generally reputed as husband and wife and this deponent further saith that he remembers to have seen a minute book which contained the names and dates of the marriages of the persons who were married by the said Rev d James Proudfit during his ministry in said Church that the said minute book has been mislaid or lost by time or accident, that from this circumstance this deponent is unable to testify whether any record was made of the said marriage of William Cowan & Jane Cowan by the said Rev d James Proudfit he further states the said William and Jane both were members of his Church for many years and that the testimony of Margaret McFarland is entitled to full credence and that her affidavit, which this deponent is informed she has made, that she was present at the ceremony of the marriage of the said Jane her Sister to the said William Cowan is entitled to credit and belief, and this deponent further saith, that he has no knowledge of any record of the said marriage.
first the words last, and, is entitled, interlined before the same was sworn to.
Sworn and subscribed before me
This 3 rd day of June 1839. James McFarland 3/ Allen Proudfit 2 Deut Plan 3

State of New York
Washington County
§ss I Edward Dodd Clerk of the said county hereby certify that James A. M c Farland Esquire is a Justice of the Peace as within and that the within sig- nature purporting to be his is genuine.
Given under my hand and official seal thereon June 3 rd 1839
Edward Dodd CLK
State of New York
Washington County
§ss The undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, certifies that Alexander Proudfoot being well known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the annexed deposition, came and made solemn Oath to the same before me this 3 rd day of June 1839 and that full faith and confidence is to be given to his attestation and that he is credible.
James A. M c Farland Justice Peace

Salem June 4 th 1830
83
Hon J. G. Edwards
Dr Sir Inclosed I forward you the Affidavit of Rev. Mr. Provost D.D. who was the Success- or of the late deceased Rev. Mr. Provost. that the minute Book containing Marriages is mislaid or lost by time & accident. This testimony I concern fully accounts for the record if any, existed to let in the next best evi- dence tho' of an inferior grade it would be competent in common law Courts & admissible, in addition he states as to the affidavit of Mrs. Margaret McFarland the sister of the widow Conan that her testimony is entitled to credit who was a witness of the Marriage of Mr. Conan to Jane her Sister you will therefore if satisfied of the claim be pleased to lose no delay in expediting the proceedings & when the Certif- icate is made, forward the same to me, the widow is absolutely needy & dependant for her living.
Respectfully yours
Philo Curtis