Pension Application of John Lowry: S5698
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia}
Bedford County} S.S.
On this 25th day of March 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the County . . . . . Court of Bedford now sitting the same being a Court of record John Lowry a resident of the said county of Bedford and State of Virginia 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 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he was drafted into service in the Militia of the State of Virginia and served for six weeks under the command of Capt. Nathaniel Reid, he thinks in the year 1780. He was stationed at New London in the (then) County of Bedford [now in Campbell County] and employed in Guarding some tories who had been made prisoners, and a quantity of ammunition and military stores there collected. When drafted he was a resident of the said County of Bedford. He was honourably discharged but his discharge has been lost. In the month of January in the year 1781 he was again drafted into service in the Militia of the State of Virginia and served three months. His company rendezvoused at New London in said County of Bedford and was marched from thence under the command of Capt. Joseph Poindexter. His Lieutenant was Jesse Tate. His ensign he thinks was Robert Cobbs [probably Cobb]. He was marched through Petersburg and joined the army commanded by Gen’l. Mulenburg [sic: Peter Muhlenberg] at Cabin point he thinks in the county of Prince George Virginia [actually Surry County]. the Regiment to which his company was then attached was commanded by Colonel Merriweather [sic: Meriwether]. the major was a Frenchman named De Cloman From Cabin point the army was marched to Mackey’s Mills from thence to a place called the Tan yard in the County of Suffolk, from thence to a place called Hale’s old field, near the Town of Smithfield. At that place he with others volunteered to march about 60 miles below for the purpose of watching the movements of the British army then stationed near the Dismal Swamp. They were stationed principally at a place called Edmond’s hills, at which place near its neighborhood they remained for three or four weeks. From that place they were marched to Prince George Court house where he was honourably discharged. That discharge he had for many years but it is now lost. When drafted for this service he was still a resident of the said County of Bedford. During this time of service he was in no engagement. at one time they were drawn up in line of battle near the fort where the British were stationed, but no engagement ensued, some cannon were fired by the British and one American was wounded He was discharged about the 15th or 20th of April in the year 1781. In the month of June in the year 1781 being still a resident of the County of Bedford– He was again drafted into the service and served for several weeks He was marched under the command of Captain Thomas Leftwich. His other officers he does not remember His company marched from the Town of New London aforesaid and crossed James River above Richmond at a place called Jude’s ferry. they designed to pass through Richmond but the small pox was then prevailing at that place. They joined the army commanded by General Lafayette at Bottoms Bridge a few miles below the city of Richmond [10 miles east on the Chickahominy River]. He does not recollect the regiment to which his company was attached but he was in General Steven’s [sic: Edward Stevens’s] brigade. He thinks his regiment was commanded by Col Holt Richardson. From Bottoms bridge the army was marched to a place called the Marbin Hills [sic: Malvern Hill in Charles City County]. At that place he recollects that Major [John] Overstreet was one of the field officers. From the Marbin Hills they were marched to New Castle a small town on the Pamunky river [sic: Pamunkey River] where they were discharged sometime in August 1781. He thinks that his company received no regular discharges. If they did his discharge has been lost When drafted he understood it was for a six weeks tour but served seven weeks. He does not recollect the names of any regular officers with whom he served during his last tour except Gen’l. [Robert] Lawson who commanded a brigade in Gen’l. Lafayettes army.
the said John Lowry in answer to interrogatories states
1st That he was born in the County of Goochland & State of Virginia on the 14th of March 1762.
2d that he has no record of his age. His father moved to the State of Kentucky, took the record with him & it has been destroyed
3rd That he was when called into service living in the County of Bedford, in which County he has lived ever since the Revolution.
4th That he was drafted into service as stated in the body of his declaration.
5th That he does not remember the names of any of the Regular officers who were with the troops or any continental or militia regiments except as is herein before stated.
6th He is well known in his present neighbourhood. His service as a soldier he can prove by John Hudnall with whom he served all the tour of duty herein before mentioned. Col David Saunders Cornelius Noell Sr. Capt. William Leftwich Simon M Noell and others can testify as to his character for veracity. There is no minister of the gospel living in his immediate neighbourhood He cannot therefore procure the certificate of a minister of his services. 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
John hisXmark Lowry