The Bowen Family

Lee Co., VA / Hancock Co., TN

Bowen Revolutionary War Records

Reuben Bowen - Pension Application for Service to Virginia during Revolutionary War

State of Tennessee, Hawkins County
On this 28th day of November 1832 personally appeared before the Justices of the Court of Pleas and quarter sessions for the said county, Reuben Boin (it is sometimes spelled Boing) a resident of Hawkins County, Tennessee though he has, until recently resided in Lee County, State of Virginia, aged seventy six 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 1775 with Captain John Dewitt for three years in the 5th Regiment of the Virginia line under the following named officers.  His Colonels name was John Marks, his Captain John Dewitt, and he thinks a Major McElhany also belonged to said Regiment, but he cannot definitely recollect the names of any men of the field or company officers his memory having failed him very much, that when enlisted he resided in the county of Albemarle state of Virginia and enlisted in the town of Charlottesville in said county, that after being enlisted he with his said Captain remained in Charlottesville some ten or fifteen days, when the recruits were marched by said Capt. Dewitt to Williamsburgh in Virginia, and from thence their declarant was marched by his said Capt. to the town of Hampton the latter end of October of the same year he enlisted, where they arrived after marching all night, at which time the Enemy was firing upon the said town from their shipping.  This declarant was among the troop, who forced the Enemy to retire after receiving a brisk fire from our troops, the Enemy lost some men in the action, and a small vessel of theirs was captured by us.  From the town of Hampton this declarant was with other troops ordered to march to Norfolk to defend that place and he thinks he was under the immediate command of Col. Stephens thought a Col. Woodford took the command when the battle took place at the Great Bridge, in which battle Col. Fordyce, one of the Enemy, was killed.  This declarant was in that battle.  The American commander (Col. Woodford he thinks) raised some breastworks on the north side of Elizabeth Town not far from the British fort, and after continuing for a few days, the British attempted to storm the works on or about the 9th of December, and in marching up under a galling fire and while animating his men the said Fordyce was killed near the breastworks raised by our troops.  Shortly after said battle, the British left the Fort and our troops proceeded to Norfolk, after remaining some time in Norfolk, during which time the Enemy burnt a great part of the town and it becoming sickly this declarant was marched under the command of Col. Stephens to the city of Baltimore and from thence to Philadelphia where the troops remained some time, at which place the troops joined General Washington, and from thence this declarant was marched back to Baltimore and from thence he was marched with the troops to Charlestown, and this declarant states that he was in the battle of Charleston.  When the British was upauled at that place.  This declarant being on duty in Fort Moultrie at the time, which battle took place about the latter part of June 1776.  This declarant was afterwards in the battle of Brandywine when the Americans under Washington were defeated by the British in September 1777.  And shortly afterwards this declarant at the insistence of General Washington became one of his life guards, and retained as one of his life guards until his term for which he enlisted expired which was sometime in the latter part of the Summer of 1778.  He is not certain of the day & month, but he thinks in August when he received a written discharge from Genl Washington having served three years. 

This declarant also states that shortly after his term of three years expired, he was discharged by Genl Washington he entered the militia by being drafted for eighteen months, under Captain John Hudson in he thinks the 9th Regiment (he does not now recollect the names of the field officers) in the County of Albemarle and continued doing duty in Virginia and also in Maryland until his term expired.

That his said discharges were left by him with his father after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis and they were burnt up in his father's house in Albemarle in the year 1782.  This declarant states that he was born in Lunenburgh in the State of Virginia upon MeHerron River & he resided in the States of Virginia & Tennessee since the Revolutionary War.  He He truly relinquishes every claim 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.

Sworn to Gerlerabed the day and year aforsaid.  Reuben (his X mark) Boin
W.B.. Mitchell

And the Said Court do hereby declare their assertion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.

I, Stockly D. Mitchell, clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for Hawkins County do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Reuben Boin for a Pension.

In testimony whereof I have here unto set my bond and seal of office, this 29th day of November AD 1832.  A.D. Mitchell, Clk  by W.B. Mitchell DClk

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Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, from 1726 to 1871  By Joseph Addison Waddell

The first regiment was to consist of 544 rank and file, with a colonel, lieutenant-colonel, major, 8 captains, 16 lieutenants, and 8 ensigns; and the second of 476 rank and file, with seven companies and corresponding officers.  The field officers were appointed by the Convention, Patrick Henry to command the first regiment, William Woodford the second.  The companies were to consist of 68 men each, to be enlisted in districts, and to serve one year.  The companies raised in the district to be "expert riflemen."  The company officers were appointed by the members of the Convention from the district.

The whole State was divided into military districts, and the militia were ordered to embodied as minute-men.  The counties of Buckingham, Amherst, Albemarle, and Augusta constituted one district.  Each district was to raise a battalion of 500 men, rank and file, from the age of 16 to that of 50, to be divided into ten companies of 50 men each.

A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations in the American Revolution, 1774-1787  
By E. M. Sanchez-Saavedra

The 2nd Virignia Continental infantry was raised as a provincial or state defense unit according to an order by the third Virginia convention in Richmond on July 17, 1775.  This regiment saw considerable service in the Norfolk area against British forces and loyalists under Dunmore.  Colonel William Woodford, of Caroline County, became the de-facto commander in chief of Virginia's forces from October through December 1775, after which time he turned over his command to Colonel Robert Howe, of North Carolina.

After being taken into Continental service the regiment mustered at Suffolk and then marched north to join Washington.

The Independent Company of Albemarle was organized in Charlottesville before April 29, 1775.  It mustered twenty-three privates at first and later thirty-four.  Under Lieutenant Gilmer the company prepared to take part in the march to Williamsburg.  Colonel George Washington's circular letter telling the volunteers to remain at home reached them en route, and the men returned to Charlottesville.  On July 11 the company was organized as part of the Buckingham District Minute Battalion.  Lieutenant John Marks joined the 2nd Virginia Regiment of Foot as captain in late 1775.

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A Day Roll of Capt Francis Taylor's Company 2 Virginia Regiment of Foot.
Commanded by Christian Febiger Esq. for April 1778
                        Time of   Pay
Names             Rank  Service   Due     Occurrences
Francis Taylor    Capt   1 mo.     40
Francis Cowherd  1 Lieut           27
James Burton     2 Lieut           27
James Broadus     Sergt             8
John Bowen          "               8
Jeremiah Cox      Drum              7 1/3
Shadrach Hill     Corpl             7 1/3
Ransdell Abbot   Private            6 2/3
Andrew Harrison                     6 2/3
William Blair                       6 2/3
Henry Russell                       6 2/3
Perry Pallerson                     6 2/3
Robert White                        6 2/3
John Snow                10 days    2 16/72 Discharged April 10 time of... 
Benjamin Dawson          10 days    2 16/72     "           ...service expired
James Long               10 days    2 16/72     "                   "
John Bowen             2 mo 20 dy  17 56/72 Draught from Culpr 10th Feb 1778
John Burwell           2 mo 13 dy  16 16/72    "   from Fauquier 17th Feb 1778 
Solomon Bellow         2 mo 18 dy  17 1/3      "   from Orange 13th Feb 1778
Reuben Bowen           2 mo 18 dy  17 1/3      "   from Orange 10th Feb 1778
                                  240 dollars or 72 Virginia Currency
                                         Francis Taylor, Capt.
Pay Roll of Capt Francis Taylor's Company 2 Virginia Regiment.
Commanded by Christian Febiger Esq. for May 1778.
Names -            Rank    Dollars/month   Occurrences
Francis Taylor    Capt.     40
Francis Cowherd   1 Lieut   27
James Burton      2 Lieut   27
James Broadus     Serj       8
John Bowen          "        8
Jeremiah Cox      Drum       7 1/3
Shadrach Hill     Cor?       7 1/3
Andrews Harrison  Private    6 2/3
William Blair        "       6 2/3
Henry Russell        "       6 2/3
Ransdel Abbot        "       6 2/3
John Bowen           "       6 2/3
Solomon Bellow       "       6 2/3
Reuben Bowen         "       6 2/3
John Burwell         "       6 2/3
                           178      53"8" Virg Currency
                                    Francis Taylor Capt.
Pay Roll of Capt Francis Taylor's Company 2nd Virginia Regiment.
Commanded by Christian Febiger Esq. for June 1778.
                     Subsistence   Pay      Amount of
Names          Rank   for Month  for Month  Pay & Subs
John Bowen    Sergt                 10          10
Reubin Bowen                                     6 2/3
Pay Roll of Capt Francis Taylor's Company 2nd Virginia Regiment.
Commanded by Christian Febiger Esq. for July 1778.
                      Subsistence   Pay      Amount of
Names          Rank    for Month  for Month  Pay & Subs
John Bowen     Sergt                 10          10
Reubin Bowen  Private                             6 2/3
John Bowen                                        6 2/3
Pay Roll of Captains William Taylor, Francis Taylor, & James Upshaw's 
Company of 2nd Virginia Regiment 
Commanded by Christian Febiger Esq.  For August 1778
Name           Rank    Pay due  Occurrences
Reubin Bowen  Private   6 2/3
A list of Capt. Wm Taylor's Company of the 2nd Virginia Regiment.
Commanded by Christian Febiger Esq.  Sept. 9, 1778
                              Dates of     Number years
No.  Men's Names      Rank    Enlistments   Engaged for      Remarks
1    John Guerrant    Sergt   Aug  1 1777        3           Present
2    Hamlin Cole        "          "             "              "
3    John Bowen         "     Dec  2 1777        "              "
4    James Broadus      "     Dec 26 1776        "              "
5    Tapley Merritt     "     Feb 11 1778        1              "
6    Wm Clements        "     Feb 11 1778        "           Sick Morris Town
1    Shad. Hill      Corporal Dec  2 1777        3           Present
2    Thomas Porter      "     Jul 10 1777        "              "
3    John Phillips      "          "             "           Sick Prince Town
4    John Yarbrough     "     Dec  2 1777        "           Present
     Jeremiah Cox    Drummer  Dec  4 1777        "              "
     William Cole       "     Sep  4 1777        "              "
     Benjamin Adley   Fifer   Aug  8 1777        "              "
     William Beins      "     Aug 17 1777        "              "
5    William Blairr  Private  Dec  2 1777        "              "
6    John Bowen         "     Feb 10 1778        1              "
7    Davis Harris       "     Jul 20 1777        3              "
8    Richard Puckett          Aug 26 1777        "              "
9    John Robertson           Aug 15 1777        "              "
10   Samuel Hunt              Dec  4 1777        "              "
11   Herbert Pavery           Aug 26 1777        "              "
12   Joseph Flippo            Aug 28 1776        "              "
13   John Martin              Sep 16 1776        "              "
14   Elisha Gum               Feb 14 1778        1              "
15   John Clark                    "             "              "
16   William Jackson          Feb 16 1778        "           on command
17   William Grigory          Aug 20 1777        3           Present
18   John Robertson           Feb 14 1778        1              "
19   Isaac Smith              Aug 27 1777        3              "
20   Drewry Pilkinton         Feb 14 1778        1              "
21   Henry Russell            Dec  2 1777        3              "
22   Berry Jones              Feb 13 1778        1              "
23   James Roach              Feb 14 1778        1              "
24   Obediah Jackson               "             "              "
25   John Burwell             Feb 17 1778        "              "
26   William Cootes           Dec  2 1777        3              "
27   John Williams            Feb 12 1778        1           Present
28   John Rowe                Feb 14 1778        "              "
29   William Bowman                "             "              "
30   Francis Bush                  "             "              "
31   Reuben Allen             Jan 25 1776        3           on command
32   Charles Brisler          Feb 14 1778        1           Sick at Hospital
33   Robert Thomas                 "             "           Sick Morris Town
34   John Cook                     "             "           Com'd Phil'a
35   Randolph Abbott          Dec  3 1777        3           Frenchtrick Hosp.
36   Rowland McKinney         Feb 14 1778        1              "
37   James Kennon                  "             "              "
38   Benjamin Shinalt              "             "           on command
39   Solomon Bellow           Feb 13 1778        "           Waggen
40   Shadrach Chairs          Aug  1 1777        3           Present
41   Reuben Bowen             Feb 10 1778        1              "
     John Harris              Volunteer                      on command

                              William Taylor, Capt.
Pay Roll of Capt. William Taylor's Company 2nd Virginia Regiment of Foot
Commanded by Christian Febiger Esq. for November 1778
                     Pay for  Subsistance  Amount of
Names         Rank    Month    for Month   pay & subs   Casualties
John Bowen    Sergt                          10
Reuben Bowen                                  6 2/3
Muster Roll of Capt. Wm Taylor's Company 2nd Virginia Regiment
Commanded by Christian Febiger Esq. for December 1778
Names                 When Enlisted  Yrs   Remarks
John Bowen, sergeant    2 Dec 1777     3    on Command Hackinsack
Reuben Bowen           10 Feb 1778     3    on duty
Day Roll of Capt. William Taylor's Company of the 2nd Virginia Regiment
Commanded by Christian Febiger Esq. for January 1779
                     Pay for  Subsistance  Amount of
Names         Rank    Month    for Month   pay & subs   Casualties
John Bowen    Sergt    10                     10
Reuben Bowen Private                           6 2/3
Day Roll of Capt. William Taylor's Company 2nd Virginia Regiment
Commanded by Christian Febiger Esq. for February 1779
                     Pay for  Subsistance  Amount of
Names         Rank    Month    for Month   pay & subs Casualties
John Bowen    Sergt    10                     10
Reuben Bowen Private                           3 1/3  discharged 16th Feb 1779