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Pension Application of Nancy C. Bowyer, widow of Thomas Bowyer: R1083

                        Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris

 

State of Virginia}

County of Montgomery.} Ss.

            On this 19th day of July 1858, personally appeared before Anderson Howard a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Montgomery & State of Virginia Nancy C. Bowyer, a resident of the County and State aforesaid aged 68 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 provisions of any of the Acts of Congress passed for the relief and benefit of the widows of officers and soldiers who served in the Revolutionary war, or any of the wars for which provision is made, by any or all of said acts.

            That she is the widow of Thomas Bowyer who was a soldier in the company commanded by Capt. Bowyer, and Col. [blank], which was attached to the division of the Army Commanded by Gen. [Anthony] Wayne  She further declares, that she was married to the said Thomas Bowyer on the 26th day of May 1814, and that her said husband, the aforesaid Thomas Bowyer died on the 21st day of August 1840; and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.     Nancy her X mark Bowyer

 

NOTES:

            The pension applications of Thomas Goodson (S6901) and Alexander Stewart (W8763) refer to a Thomas Bowyer of Botetourt County as a captain in the Virginia Continental line. Patrick O’Kelley lists a Captain Thomas Bowyer in the 1st Virginia Continental Regiment at the battles of Hobkirk’s Hill SC on 25 April 1781 and Eutaw Springs SC on 8 Sep 1781 (Nothing but Blood and Slaughter, Vol. 3. Booklocker.com, 2005).

            In the file is a letter from the Pension Office dated 20 Aug 1858 address to Nancy Bowyer of Christiansburg stating that, “No proof of your marriage or of the Service accompanied this declaration. I herewith send the proper forms and instruction for the preparation of claims of this description.” A reply written on this letter and dated 6 Oct 1858 notes that Nancy Bowyer had died and asks whether the pension would devolve “to the benefit of her children who are over 16 years of age.”