This chapter contains copies of certain legal documents obtained from the National Archives Trust Fund Board, P. O. Box 100221, Atlanta, GA 30384, by Dianne S. Herren and given to me by Mary Helen Morrison, both from Newell, Alabama.  They are copies of documents originally filed with or received from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, relating to a request for pension by Eunice Fowler.  These copies are my best effort to translate the hard-to-read script writing.  I do not claim to be an expert in the translation of such writings, and there might be a few mistakes. However, for the most part, I believe they represent a factual account of information contained within each document.  I hope this work proves useful to anyone viewing the documents for the purpose of obtaining genealogical information.  At any point where I was not sure of the word used there is a blank line.  If I made a guess, a footnote appears.

     Samuel Fowler lived in Georgia before moving his family to Randolph County, Alabama.  While there were many Fowler families living in Georgia when he married Nicey Hilburn, I was unable to connect our Samuel Fowler to any of those families..  There were no documents connecting Samuel with the Fowler families in Randolph County, either.  However, I believe he was in some way related to each and every elder Fowler head of the household in Randolph County in 1860.  His common name, lack of birth record keeping in Georgia, limited census information before 1850, and the absence of legal documents, other than Samuel Fowler's war and marriage record, makes it almost impossible to trace this family beyond 1850.  Samuel, Richard, Dempsey, Joel, Miles, John W., and Thomas Fowler were probably closely related.

     It is likely that James Halpin knew members of the Fowler family while in Cherokee County, Georgia, during the 1840's.  James arrived in Alabama about 1843, Richard Fowler arrived about 1848, and Samuel Fowler arrived after 1857.  A closer research of land records would most likely lead to more definite departure and arrival periods in their migration to Alabama.  All Fowler's living in Randolph County had some connection to Fowler families in Georgia.

     What is available here in this document is available to anyone who cares to spend time at a regional library.  My purpose is to present the data collected to date, and I hope someone in the family will take up the quest to learn the origin of the Samuel Fowler family through a better research effort than mine.  Even though I have had limited success, I dedicate every second of time used in this project to my mother, Rilla Maye (Fowler) Ricks.  Like so many mothers, she was and is a guiding light in my life, even as she rests in her grave in Valdosta, Georgia.  I know there is a place reserved for her in heaven.

Donald M. Ricks
1992

State of Georgia}
County of DeKalb}
     On this 28th day of October, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and Fifty personally appeared before me Wyllys Buell a Justice of the Peace duly authorized to administer oaths within and for the County and State aforesaid Samuel Fowler, aged 62 years, a resident of DeKalb County in the State of Georgia, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Samuel Fowler who was a private soldier in the Company commanded by Captain William A. Underwood in the Regiment of Georgia Infantry commanded by David Booth in the War with Great Britain, declared by the United States on the 18th day of June, A. D. 1812.
that he was drafted in the 1st Clafs(?) at Thomas Penn's place in Elbert County, State of Georgia on or about the first day of September A.D. 1814 for the term of six months and continued in actual service in said war for the term of six months, and was honorably discharged at Fort Hawkins on or about the 26th day of April A. D. 1815 on account of expiration of war, as will appear by the muster rolls of his company, having received a written discharge which is lost, destroyed, or from lapse of time is now impossible to state.

     He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he may be entitled under the "act granting bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States," passed September 28th, 1850.
       [Signed]  Samuel Fowler

     Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written.  And I hereby certify, that I believe the said Samuel Fowler to be the identical man who served as aforesaid, and that he is of the age above stated.
       [Signed]  Wyllys Buell
        Justice of the Peace

     Acknowledged and subscribed before me
a Justice of the Peace in
and for the county of DeKalb
and State of Georgia this
26 day of October 1850
       [Signed]  Wyllys Buell
        Justice of the Peace (Seal)

(Seal)       [Signed]  Robert M. Brown  Clerk.

(NOTE: copy of Power of Attorney cover page is shown below.  DMR)

ON THIS Seventh day of June A.D., one thousand eight hundred and Fifty one, personally appears before me, a Justice of the Peace,

within and for the County and State aforesaid, Samuel Fowler, aged sixty three years, resident of DeKalb County in the State of Georgia, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Samuel Fowler who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain John Ashley in the Drafted Regiment from Georgia commanded  by General Thomas Glascock and General Andrew Jackson in the war by the United States against the Florida Indians in 1817 and 1818, that he was drafted at Elberton, Georgia, on or about the first day of December A.D. (1817) Eighteen hundred and Seventeen for the term of three months and continued in actual service in said war for the term of Three months (or more) and was honorably discharged Hartsford, Georgia on or about the first day of March A. D. (1818) Eighteen hundred eighteen as will appear by by reference to the muster rolls of said company, his certificate of discharge having been lost or mislaid.

HE MAKES THIS DECLARATION for the purpose of obtaining bounty land to which he may be entitled under the "act granting bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States," passed September 28th, Eighteen hundred and Fifty.

        [Signed]  Samuel Fowler

SWORN TO and subscribed before me the day and year above written. And I hereby certify, that I believe the said Samuel Fowler to be the identical man who served as foresaid, and that he is of the age above stated.

        [Signed]  N. N. Welch J.P.

STATE OF GEORGIA}
DeKalb COUNTY}

I HEREBY CERTIFY that N. N. Welch, Esq., before whom the foregoing declaration was made, and who has thereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature is genuine.

             In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of the Superior Court for the County aforesaid, this 9th day of June 1851

        [Signed] R. M. Brown Clerk

Sworn to and transcribed       [Signed] Samuel Fowler
before me this May 28 1853
[Signed] N. L. Auger J.P.

Georgia}                       I Robert M. Brown, Clerk of the
DeKalb County}         Superior Court which controls a Court of Record do hereby certify that N. L. Auger, Esq., whose personal signature appears to the foregoing affidavit is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn and that full faith and credit should be given to his official act as such Justice of the Peace in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of the Superior Court of said County this 1st day of June 1853

(SEAL)         [Signed] R. M. Brown  Clerk
           SC De
            1
            Ga

State of Alabama}   On this the 30th day of April AD, one thousand
Cherokee County}  eight hundred and fifty-five, personally appeared before Mr Daniel R. Hood, a Justice of the Peace in and for Cherokee County, Alabama, Samuel Fowler, aged 66 years, a resident of Cherokee County, Alabama, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Samuel Fowler, who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain William A. Underwood, in the regiment of drafted militia commanded by Colonel David A. Booth in the war with Great Britain, declared by the United States on the 18th day of June 1812, for the term of six months, and continued in actual service in said war for six months.
     He also declares that he is the identical Samuel Fowler, who was a private in the company commanded by Captain John Ashley (the number of the regiment and colonel's name not recollected) in the war against the Seminole Indians in Florida (this service was performed sometime between the years 1817 and 1821: The General commanding at the time of this service in Florida was General Jackson and General Glascock:  drafted for three months and served out the time.  That he has heretofore made application for bounty land under the act of September 28th 1850, and received an eighty acre warrant, and forty acre warrant, both said warrants have since been legally disposed of, and cannot now be returned, the numbers of said warrants are not recollected, and no way to find out the numbers.
     He makes this declaration for the purpose of attaining the additional bounty land to which he may be entitled, under the act approved the 3rd day of March 1855.  He also declares that he has never applied for nor received, under this or any other act of Congress, any bounty land warrant except the two above mentioned.          [Signed] Samuel Fowler

     We, Edmond Roberts and James Carnes, residents of Cherokee County in the State of Alabama, upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Samuel Fowler, in our presence, that we believe the said appearance and statement of the applicant that he is the identical person he represents himself to be.       [Signed]  Edmond Roberts
                                                         James Carnes

The foregoing declaration and affidavit was sworn to and subscribed to before me on the day and year above written: and I certify that I know the applicant to be a credible person:  that the Claimant is the person he represents himself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim [Signed]    Daniel R. Hood
                                                                                                                 Justice of the Peace

The State of Alabama  I, William C. McDaniel, Judge of Probate of
County of Cherokee  Cherokee County, hereby certify that Daniel R. Hood whose genuine signature appears to the affidavit and  foregoing certificate as Justice of the Peace is and was at the time of making such a certificate duly and legally a Justice of the Peace duly commissioned and qualified as such Justice.
     Given under my hand and seal of office at ____ __ 24 th May AD 1855
                                                                                    [Signed] William C. Mc Daniel
                                                                                     Judge of Probate

     On this 25th day of March, A.D., eighteen hundred and seventy eight personally appeared before me, the ______ Clerk of the Circuit Court _____, a Court of Record in and for the County and State aforesaid Eunice Fowler, aged forty six years, a resident of the County of Randolph State of Alabama who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Samuel Fowler, who served the full period of six months in the military service of the United States in the War of 1812, and who was the identical Samuel Fowler who was drafted in Captain William A. Underwood's Company, Ga Malitia, Regiment_____, Brigade_______, Division, at Elberton, Ga, on or about 10 day of October 1814, and was honorably discharged at Fort Hawkins, Ga on the 6th day of May 1815: that he was on detached service that most of the time he was out and was not in any engagement.  She never heard him speak of the ____ _____ a certificate that ____ was a part of his detached service, and for which service a Land Warrant No 16______ been issued.  No. not known, that she was married under the name of Eunice Pope to said Samuel Fowler, on the ninth day of December, A. D., 1852, by Robert McWilliams, a Justice of Peace near Decatur, Ga, there being no legal barrier to such marriage;  that her said husband died at his residence in Randolph Co, Ala, on the 8 day of January, 1862, and that she has not married since his death;  that at no time during the last rebellion against the authority of the United States did she or her said husband adhere to the cause of the enemies of the Government, giving them aid or comfort, or exercised the functions of any office whatever under any authority, or pretended authority, in hostility to the United States;  that she will support the Constitution of the United States;  THAT SHE IS NOT IN RECEIPT OF A PENSION UNDER ANY PREVIOUS ACT;  that she makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension rolls of the United States, under the provisions of the Act approved March 9th, 1818, and hereby constitutes and appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, C. W. BENNETT, of Washington, D. C., her true and lawful attorney to prosecute her claim, and obtain the pension certificate that may be issued;  that her post office is at Milner, County of Randolph, State of Alabama;  that her domicile or place of abode is one and one half mile west of Milner.
                                                                                                    her
                                                                                           Eunice X Fowler   Applicant
                                                                                                    mark
 ATTEST
[Signed] J. J. Poole
[Signed] F. M. Linley

STATE OF  Alabama}
COUNTY OF Randolph}

     In the matter of Pension claim of Eunice Fowler is
     Personally came before me, a Notary Public and Justice of the Peace, in and for the aforesaid County and State, Francis M. Fowler aged 25 years and Jefferson J. Fowler aged 21, citizens of the County of Randolph, State of Alabama, reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to foresaid case as follows:

that they are sons of Samuel Fowler, deceased, and Eunice Fowler the applicant. They state they recollect their father, Samuel Fowler, were present when he died and that he died about the 8 of January 1862, which date is marked on his Tomb Stone as the date of his death.  They both state that they were quite young when their father, Samuel Fowler, died but that they lived as husband and wife from the earliest recollection to the death of their father, Samuel Fowler.  They further state that their mother, Eunice Fowler, is still a widow, not married anyone since the death of Samuel Fowler, that they both live near her now and have since the death of their father, Samuel Fowler, and all the facts about which they testify further that no record evidence of the marriage of their parents can be blamed as none are known to exist.

     They further declare that they are not interest(ed) in said case, and are not concerned in its prosecution, further good will and provide care for a destitute mother.

       [Signed]  F. M. Fowler
                   J. J. Fowler
 

Department of the Interior
   Pension Office
Stamp dated Oct 15, 1878

STATE OF  Alabama}
COUNTY OF Randolph}

     In the matter of Pension of Eunice Fowler and as the widow of Samuel Fowler deceased

     Personally came before me, a Notary Public and Justice of the Peace, in and for the aforesaid County and State [___?___] M. Linley, age 45, and Elizabeth Linley, aged 47 years, citizens of the County of Randolph, State of Alabama, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, declare in relation to foresaid case as follows:

That about twenty years ago Samuel Fowler the late husband of the applicant and the applicant Eunice Fowler moved in the immediate neighborhood where affiants and the applicant now lives and both lived there as husband and wife until about the 8th day of January 1862, at which time  Samuel Fowler died.  Affiants state that they were present and saw Samuel Fowler buried and they further state that the applicant Eunice Fowler his widow is still a widow, that she has not married since the death of her late husband Samuel Fowler, that the applicant lives in one house of affiants and they know it would be impossible for her to have resumed marriage relations without their knowledge.
They further declare that they have no interest in said case, and are not concerned in its prosecution.

      signature  [Signed] F. M. Linley
           of
      affiants  [Signed] Elisabeth Linley

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
PENSION OFFICE

Washington, D. C., Nov 11th , 1878.

Sir-
     In the claim of Eunice Fowler widow of Samuel Fowler for a pension under act of March 9-78, No. 17-588 proof of her marriage to the soldier is required. You are informed that proof upon this point is of value in the following order:
     1.  A certified copy of town, county, or other public record, or the sworn copy of a church record.
   * 2.  An affidavit of the officiating clergyman or magistrate.
   * 3.  The testimony of two or more eye-witnesses of the ceremony.
   * 4.  Affidavits of children whose age would show the date of marriage or commencement of cohabitation.
      5.  A copy of family record sworn to by custodian, certified by the magistrate to be correct, and that the original appears to be genuine.  When this class of evidence is furnished it must be shown by whom and when the record was made, and the date of the Bible, or other book, in which the record is made, must be given, and it should be corroborated by other evidence of at least as high order as the 6th class.
   * 6.  The testimony of two or more witnesses who know the parties to have lived together as husband and wife from the date of their alleged marriage, the witness stating the period during which they knew them thus to cohabit.
 Witnesses under the 2d, 3d, 4th, and 6th classes of testimony must state the circumstances or contemporaneous events by which they are enabled to fix the date of the marriage, and the witness should state their ages at the time they testify.
(paragraph Before any of the lower classes of evidence can be accepted, it must circled)   be shown by competent testimony that none higher can be obtained.
 If the claim is for service pension under the act of February 14, 1871, marriage must be proved at a date prior to February 17, 1815.
 If the claim is for service pension under the act of February 14, 1871, or March 9, 1878, proof will be required to show whether the claimant had again married since the death of the soldier on whose service the claim is made.
 The fact and date of death must be proved.
 The credibility of all witnesses must be certified by the magistrate before whom their testimony is executed, and the magistrate and all witnesses must state whether they have any interest in the claim.
 If the claim ....(rest of line unreadable)
 Return this Circular with the evidence
  Very Respectfully                                                        [Signed] J. A. Bentley
C. W. Bennett                                                                Commissioner
Washington, D. C.

GEORGIA  I do certify that Samuel Fowler and Nicey Hilburn
DEKALB COUNTY were duly joined in Matrimony by me this ninth day of Dec 1850.
                                                                          [Signed] R. McWilliams J. P.

GEORGIA  I, Hendley V. Bayne, Ordinary in and for the
DEKALB COUNTY County aforesaid do certify that the above is a true copy of the marriage license of  Samuel Fowler and Nicey Hilburn as appears of record in my office Page 99, 2nd Book of Marriage License.
     Given under my hand official signature and seal of the court of or of said county = 25th Nov 1878.
                                                                          [Signed]  Hendley V. Bayne Ordinary
Stamped by Department
of the Interior
Pension Office, dated
Dec 4, 1878

1812 Div
G.P.S.                                                                                              DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                                                                                                        PENSION OFFICE
D. A. Perryman
Rockdale, Ala                                                                                           Washington, D. C.  Dec 6th 1878

Sir:

     Relative to claim No 17.588 of Eunice Fowler widow of Samuel Fowler for pension under act of March 9th, 1878, you I am informed that claimant in her Declaration alleges that she was married to said Samuel Fowler under the name of Eunice Pope.  Whereas the record shows marriage of Samuel Fowler to Nicey Hilburn (date and place the same).
     Before further action can be taken in this case, this discrepancy must be explained-/With the explanation please return this letter.

     In the matter of Pension claim of Eunice Fowler, widow of Samuel Fowler,

     Personally came before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for aforesaid County and State, David A. Perryman, aged fifty-two years, a citizen of the County of Randolph, State of Alabama, personally known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, declares as follows:

That he was present when Mrs Eunice Fowler the applicant as above stated made application under the act of March 9, 1878, as widow of Samuel Fowler, deceased, and he further states that he done the writing in the claim and that the mistake in the name was made by himself and not by the applicant, that she the applicant told affiant that her maiden name was Eunice Pope, that she had married a man by the name of Hilborn and that he Hilborn had died - and affiant states that he put it down Eunice Pope instead of Eunice Hilborn as to the name to which she married the said Samuel Fowler in, he further states that her name is Eunice but is generally called Nicey.
     He further states that she has two sets of children, one named Hilborn and one named Fowler.
........further declares that he is interest(ed) in said case and is concerned in its prosecution, and is not related to said applicant.

      [Signed] D. A. Perryman  [see note]

Department of the Interior
  Pension Office
Stamp dated Jan 2, 1879

NOTE: The spelling of Eunice's last name is given as "Hilborn" rather than the correcy "Hilburn," only in this document.

                                                                                                        Washington, D. C.  Jan 7th 1879

Sir:

     Relative to claim No 17.588, of Eunice Fowler, Widow of Samuel Fowler, for pension under Act March 9, 1878.  You are informed that the explanation of the discrepancy in the name of claimant before her marriage to Soldier as alleged in her declaration, and that contained in the Record Evidence of said marriage is not acceptable as it appears that the affiant has an interest in the prosecution of said claim.  The explanation must be made by the claimant under oath.  She will also state whether herself or Soldier had been previously married giving date of death so-
     With the explanation, please return this letter

Very Respectfully

[Signed]  J. A. Bentley
Commissioner
___________
C. W. Bennett
             Present

[Department of the Interior Stamp
Pension Office, dated Mar 15, 1879]

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT

In the matter of Pension claim of
Eunice Fowler as the widow of
Samuel Fowler of G M War of 1812

STATE OF Alabama
COUNTY OF Randolph
     Personally came before me, a Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for aforesaid County and State Eunice Fowler aged fifty two years a citizen of Rockdale in the County of Randolph and State of Alabama, well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, declare in relation to aforesaid case as follows:
That she is the applicant Eunice Fowler that she is called Nica Fowler and supposes that the party asking for license for her and her late husband Samuel Fowler gave her name Nice by mistake.  She states that she is the former widow of one Ebenezer Hilborn who went off in about 1846 to the Mexican War and was in a South Carolina Regiment and was killed in the early part of the war, the date she can't give=and she states that her late husband Samuel Fowler had also a former companion who died in DeKalb County, Ga=where she and the said Samuel Fowler were married and it was genuinely yes universally known that we were both marriageable proper or a license would never have been given us.  We were married.  I was recognized as the widow Hilburn and he as a widower= affiant further states that she in her application gave her name proper thinking her maiden name was called for=and also that since she received news of the death of Ebenezer Hilburn she has never heard anything more from him in about thirty two years.

signature required when any affiant signs by mark (2 persons)

[Signed] Henry Linley                                                                Signature of affiant
            F. M. Linley                                                                             her
                                                                                                Eunice   X  Fowler
                                                                                                            mark

[Stamp dated Mar 15, 1879
Department of the Interior
    Pension Office]

Hon. John C. Bluck
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D. C.

Sir:

     I have this day made careful inquiry into the case of Eunice Fowler, Cir No. 22131 (War 1812) P. O. Rockdale, Randolph Co., Ala. Knoxville Agency
     Samuel B. Fowler being interviewed says:  This pensioner is personally known to him,  that she is still living,  that she has never remarried or cohabited with any man as his wife since the death of her late husband the soldier and that she is the identical person she represents herself to be.

                                                                                    Very respectfully
                                                                                    [Signed] Clark Stocto
                                                                                    Special Examiner

Claim No. 17.588                                     SERVICE PENSION                               Original Case.
Act of Mar. 9. 78                                                                                                  Reopened from
Cert. No.  22131                                           War of 1812                                         Act of

Eunice Fowler                                                                                                           , widow of
                                                                                                                                 RANK:  Private
                                                                                                                         Captain    Underwood
Samuel Fowler                                                                                                   Regiment:     Militia
                                                                                                                             State:            Ga
Post Office:                            Milner, County of                Randolph                   , State of        Ala
Attorney:                            C. W. Bennett                                           , P. O.:                 Washington, D. C
                           County, State of        Pay                         , Fee                            10$                            ,Contract
                               .
Application filed  April 18th, 1878 .
                                     That soldier was drafted in Capt. Wm N. Underwood's Co, Ga
Alleged service.                Militia, for 6 months at Elberton, Ga, about Oct 10, 1814, and was discharged at Ft
                                      Hawkins, Ga, May 6th 1815. That he was on detached service most of the time, was
                                     not in an engagement
                                      {Third Auditor's report shows that Samuel Fowler,Private, Capt.
Record evidence            WM N. Underwood's Company of Ga Militia entered the 1st of
   of service.                    Sept, 1814, for 6 months and served till the 26th of April, 1815,the expiration
                                       of service.

Parole evidence.                [Blank]
   of service

Length of Service.          Before peace 171 days and 68 days after peace was declared
                                    {The identifying witness J. J. Poole and
Proof of Identity.             {T. M. Linley aged 58 and 45 years
Proof of loyalty. {
Admitted                 January 7th, 1879, to pension of EIGHT DOLLARS per month from   March 9, 1878 the
                                date ofpassage of the act. no pension previously aplied for
                                                                                        [Signed] R. Bkhivietards [?]
                                                                                        Pension Seal [type mising]
Age of  Seventy years , Bounty Land Claim  No. 280-40-55 issued
                                                                                        [Signed] N. E. Robinson
                                                                                        Bounty Land Search

Approved  March 25 , 1879                                                [Signed] Geo T Stiles
[Signed]  James T. Clements                                                            Examiner
             Reviewer
[Note: In a stamped box appears the following information:  "Entitled to $20 per month, commencing Sept. 8th, 1916, Under Act of Sept. 8, 1916, and dated 1-15-1917."]

State of Georgia}
CountyofDeKalb}
     On this 28th day of October, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and Fifty personally appeared before me Wyllys Buell a Justice OF THE PEACE duly authorized to administer oaths within and for the County and State afores                                                                     no             pension previously applied for
[Signed] R. Bkhivietards
Pension Sea[type missing]
Age of Seventy years , Bounty Land claim No. 280-40-55  issued
[Signed] N. E. Robinson
Bounty Land Search

Approved March 25  , 1879[Signed] Geo T Stiles
[Signed] James T. ClementsExaminer
                  Reviewer
4
Copy of circular letter issued by Bureau of Pensions

(Stamp: Law Division, dated Dec 6, 1916)
Copy of circular letter issued by Bureau of Pensions
(Stamp:  Law Division, dated December 6, 1916

Madam:
     The first section of the Act of Congress, approved by the President September 8, 1916, reads as follows:
     " * * * * That from and after the passage of this Act the rate of pension for a widow, now on the roll or hereafter to be placed on the pension roll and entitled to receive a less rate than hereinafter provided, who was the lawful wife of any officer or enlisted man in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States, during the period of his service in the Civil War, shall be twenty dollars per month, and the rate of pension of a widow of an officer or enlisted man of the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States who served in the Civil War, the War with Mexico, or the War of 1812, now on the roll or hereafter to be placed on the pension roll and entitled to receive a less rate than hereafter provided, who has reached or shall hereafter reach the age of seventy years, shall be twenty dollars per month; * * * "
     If you are pensioned as the widow of a soldier, sailor, or marine, who served in the Civil War, the War with Mexico, or the War of 1812, and if you have reached the age of seventy years, you should fill out the blank on the back of this communication and return the same to the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C., being careful to state correctly your pension certificate number, the name and service of the soldier, sailor, or marine, the exact date of your birth, the place of your birth, your name as it appears in your pension certificate, and your present postoffice address in full.
      If the evidence in your pension case shows that you are entitled to the increase of pension provided by this legislation, the Bureau will, as soon as possible, grant the increase.  If further evidence be necessary, a call for same will issue.
     No claim agent or attorney will be recognized in connection with this matter.

                                                                                                    Respectfully,

                                                                                                    G. M. SALTZGABER,
                                                                                                    Commissioner

Sep 21, 1916

Widow's Certificate Number 22131

Name of Soldier (or sailor)    Samuel Fowler

Service of Soldier (or sailor)  A private of Captain Underwood

Commission of Pension,

  Washington, D. C.

     Sir:  I am pensioned under the above certificate number, because of the service of the soldier (or sailor) named.  I was the wife during the Civil [inserted] I was entitled under the 1812 War.

     I am  89  years of age, having been born   Oct              1826, at   in N.C.                                               .

     I am entitled to the increase of pension provided by the first section of the Act of September 8, 1916.

                                                                                   (Signature)  [Signed] Eunice Fowler

                                                                                   (Post office address)                Wedowee
                                                                                                                                Alabama