Pension records, Thomas Cowan, Rowan County NC Thomas Cowan Declaration ****************************************************************** File transcribed and contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Billy Markland http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/rowan/pension/cowan1.txt USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ****************************************************************** Thomas Cowan Revolutionary War Pension Application-W18922 Thomas Cowan Declaration National Archives & Records Administration M804-667 Transcribed by Billy Markland State of North Carolina Rowan County On this 11th day of November 1853 personally appeared before the court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the county aforesaid now in session, it being a court of Record, Thomas L. Cowan, a resident of the town of Salisbury in the said county, aged about seventy three 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 July 4th, 1835 granting Pensions to certain widows, - that he is the son of the identical Thomas Cowan and Mary Barkley his wife and widow. That the said Thomas Cowan deceased, serv'd as a Private and an Officer in the Army of the Revolution in the North Carolina Militia; that he has frequently heard his father speaking of his services both as a private and as a captain in the Revolutionary War; that he heard him speaking of being at the Battle of Ramsour's Mill, and of being in the Skirmish at Cowan's Foard [sic] on the Catawba, when the British crossed that River, and also at the Skirmish at Torrence's on the same day. That he thinks he has heard him speaking of being at the battle of the Cow-Pens, and various other places which he cannot now recollect; that he cannot recollect the names of the Officers under whom he served, except GenL Lincoln; and that he has often heard him speak of his services under that General. That from the tradition of the neighbourhood, he thinks he was elected Captain in the year 1780, and that he serv'd his country in that capacity untill [sic] the close of the War. He further states, that his father Thomas Cowan & Mary Barkley his mother were married on the 30th December 1773, as appears from the Record in the Family Bible; and that they lived together as man and wife, from that period untill his death, which took place on the 4th day of December 1817, - that there is no other record proof of their marriage that he is aware of, that they raised a large family of children; the following of whom are still living, Viz, Thomas Lincoln, this declarant, Anna, Jane, James & Nancy. He further states that his mother Mary Cowan liv'd a widow from the time of her said husbands death, to the period of her own death, which took place on the 5th day of August 1836. He is not aware of any other evidence existing either as to the services of the said Thomas Cowan, or his marriage to the said Mary Barkley his mother, other than that herewith rent. Tho. L. Cowan Sworn to and subscribed in open court November 11th ­ 1853 James E. Kerr Clk. State of North Carolina Rowan County Court of Pleas and quarter Sessions, November term 1853 I James E. Kerr, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Rowan aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing declaration was produced in open Court, and was sworn to and subscribed by Thomas L. Cowan. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court, at office in Salisbury, this the 11th day of November 1853. James E. Kerr Clerk