Pension Application of Betsy Arthur Bowles, widow of George Bowles: W5046
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia
Franklin County S. S.
On this 26 day of October 1843 – before me Cyrus Price a Justice of the peace in and for said county personally appeared Mrs. Betsy Bowles, a resident of said county Aged 88 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 provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 4, 1836: That she is the widow of George Bowles dec’d. of said county who was a private of Malitia, in, and during the Revo’y. war, and served two or more tours as such to witt, one tour at Gates defeat in the summer of 1780 [defeat of Gen Horatio Gates at the Battle of Camden SC, 16 Aug 1780] and one other tour of service at yorktown Va at the capture of Lord Cornwallis [Siege of Yorktown, 28 Sep - 19 Oct 1781] – being marched from thence after the surrender as a part of the guard that conducted the British prisoners to Winchester Va. That the tour at Gates defeat was performed under Capt. Jessee Hurd of the Bedford malitia and was a three months tour, which declarant knows he the said George Bowles her dec’d. husband served faithfully out to the end; and that the tour which he served a the Capture of Cornwallis was performed under Capt John Trigg of the Bedford malitia and was of a still longer duration than the one at Gates defeat – he having to go on to winchester with the prisoners in the latter tour. he left home the 7th August 1781 and returned the 25th of Nov. 1781 having been from home near four months. That her husband rec’d. a wound at yorktown in his leg, which was the cause of his death. She further declares, that she was married to the aforesaid George Bowles, her dec’d. husband in the County of Bedford by the Rev’d. Mr. Brandrum of the Church of England in the year 1774 or 1775 and month of Nov’r. that her husband the aforesaid George Bowles died the 7th day of June 1824; that her maiden name was Arthur, and has remained a widow ever since. all of which will appear by the proof annexed. Betsy herXmark Bowles
State of Virginia
Bedford County S. S.
On this 15th day of June 1843, before me Lewis C. Arthur a Justice of the peace in and for said county personally appeared Mr. William Arthur, a respectable resident of the County of Henry – who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath say – That he is 80 years old. That he was well acquainted with George Bowles dec’d. of the county of Franklin who was married to Betsey Arthur during the early part of the Revo’y. war – he thinks about 68 years ago (he dep. being about 12 years old at the time) in said County of Bedford. that the said George Bowles served two several tours of service or more in and during the Revo’y. War. to witt, one tour which dep. recollects distinctly that he served at Gates defeat so called at Campden S.C. under Capt. Jesse Hurd of the Bedford Malitia in the summer of 1780. dep recollects when the company to which said Geo. Bowles belonged left “Booths” another place of rendezvous and when he returned, leaving home the last of May or 1st of June and returned the last of August or 1st of Sep’r 1780. being gone and having served at least 3 months or more on such occasion. That the said George Bowles served one other tour of service in and during the Revo’y. war at yorktown Virginia at the Capture of Lord Cornwallis in Oct. 1781 and a continuation of said tour of duty after the surrender of Cornwallis to Winchester Virginia as a part of the guard that conducted the British prisoners from yorktown to Winchester. That said tour to yorktown was performed under Capt. Jno Trigg of the Bedford Malitia and was of between 3½ and four months duration – leaving home the last of August, or pulling fodder time, and returning home about the last of Nov’r. or 1st of dec’r. 1781 – making about seven months service in all that dep. knows of that the said George Bowles performed during the Rev’y. war. That said Bowles rec’d. a slight wound in the leg at yorktown which after he returned home continued to get worse (being inflamed from travelling) which finally terminated in his death about 19 years ago. that both of said tours of duty was performed by said George Bowles after he was married to Betsy Arthur aforesaid during the early part of the Revo’y. war in or about the year 1775. That independent of what dep knows of said George Bowles services in the Revo’y. war he has frequently heard him the said Bowles speak of his having rendered said tours of service, as above described by deponent and of the wound he had at yorktown, which was by having a log knocked off of his shoulder by a cannon ball while he was assisting in raising the Fort at Yorktown. Indeed it was notorious to every body at that time that he Bowles did render said service as described by deponant.
[signed] William Arthur