IN CONGRESS.
The DELEGATES of the UNITED STATES OF New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay,
Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jers[ey, Pen]nsylvania, the Counties of New-Castle, Kent
and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, N[orth-Car]olina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, TO
Michael Bowyer [torn, illegible]
WE, reposing especial Trust and Conf[idence in your] Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity,
DO, by these Presents, constitute [and appoint y]ou to be a Captain in the
12th. Regiment from the State [of Virg]inia
in the Army of the United States, raised for the Defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every [host]ile Invasion thereof. You are the[refore] carefully and diligently to disch[arge] the Duty of a
Captain by doing and performing all manner of Things thereunto belonging. And we do strictly
charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your Command, to be obedient to your Orders as a
Capt[ain.] And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from Time to
Time, as you sh[a]ll receive from this or a future Congress of the United State[s], or Committee of Congress,
for that Purpos[e] appointed, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United States,
or any other yo[ur] superior Officer, according to th[e] [Rules] and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the
Trust reposed i[n yo]u. This Commission to continue in Force until revoked by this or a future Congress. Dated at the [torn, illegible] Day of September AD. 1776. Seventy Six.
[By] Order of the [Congress]
John Ha[ncock PRESIDENT.]
[AT]TEST [Chas Thomson Secy
Sir
I have just received Instructions from the Board of
War to march my Battalion with all Possible Expedition to the
Assistance of General Washington, in the State of New Jersey,
and as your Company are One who are Ordered to form my
Battalion, you will Please to march them your Company with=
=out Delay the Nearest Route to the south Branch of Potomack,
and from thence by way of the Lost River to Winchester; you
are to Provide in the Neighbourhood of your station, Necessary
Pack Horses for Transporting your Baggage, your Certicates
for Provisions & Other Neccessaries will Be Paid On sight, & you
will be furnished at Winchester with such Articles as May
be wanting to fit your Company for services.
I am
sir
Yr
Very Obedient
Servant
James Wood
Fort Pitt 7th. March 1777
Captain Bowyer
On the service of the United States.
To
Captain Michael Bowyer.
or
Officer Commanding
at
Tigers Valley.
p Express
Know all Men by th[e]se Presents That I Alexander [McGrew] [torn, illegible]
[torn, illegible] In the County of Yo[rk] and CommonWealth of Penn[s]ylvania, Am Held and
firmly Bound unto Michael Bowyer Esquire, Capta[in] in the Twelfth Conti-
nental Regiment of the Virginia Forces, In the Su[m] of Thirty Six Pounds
current lawful Money of Pennsylvania aforesaid [to] be paid to the said
Michael Bowyer, or to his Certain Attorney Executors Administrators or
Assigns To the which Payment well and truly to be made I do hereby
bind myself my Heirs Executors and Administrators and every of
them firmly by these Presents Sealed with my [Se]al dated the Fifth
Day of May In the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred
and Seventy Seven -
Whereas Thomas Smith who is an Indent[torn, illegible] Servant unto a Certain
James Brackin of the County [of] York aforesaid, and [who] hath yet about One
Year to serve by Force [of] his Indenture did so[me] Time past absent him
self and ran away from his said Master, and hath not since until
now been heard of [by] his said Master - And Whereas he the
said Alexander M[cGre]w hath on this Day dis[c]overed him the said
Thomas Smith [torn illegible] Soldier in the [Co]mpany of him the
said Captain M[ichael Bow]yer --
Alexander MGre[w] [torn, illegible] taken upon him[self], That upon the [said]
Captain's paying [torn, illegible] [s]um of Eighteen Poun[d]s, for the Purchase
of the Remainder [torn, illegible] Time of the said Servant, for the Use
of the said James [Br]ackin, he the said Alexander MGrew will
engage to indemn[ify] the said Servant, unto the said Michael
Bowyer, his Heir[s] [a]nd Assigns from and against any further
Claim of him the [sai]d James Brackin his Executors or Assigns.
Now The C[on]dition of the above Obligation is such
That if the above [torn, illegible] unden Alexander MGrew or his Heirs
Executors or Adm[i]nistrators For and in Consideration of the
said Sum of Eight[ee]n Pounds lawful Money of Pennsylvania
having been paid unto him, for the Use of the said James -
Brackin, in [illegible] and in full Satisfaction, for the Remain
der of the Time of Servitude of the sa[id] Thomas Smith
in the said Indenture specified, Shall and will from
[torn, illegible] Time and at all Times hereafter forever, Save
[illegible]
[torn, illegible] and [torn, illegible] harmless and indemnified As well the said
Thomas Smith from any Just Claims [o]f the said James Br[akin]
his Executors Administrators and Ass[i]gns, As also him th[e]
said Captain Michael Bowyer, from all or any Damage[s]
which he may sustain from the said James Brakin
Executors Administrators or Assigns for, or on Account or
by Reason of [the] said Servant, Then [th]e foregoing Obligation
to be Void and [o]f none Effect or else to be and remain in ful
Force and Vir[t]ue -
Sealed and d[e]livered Alex M' Grew
in the Presen[ce] of us
Archd. M[clean]
[illegible]
May 5th. 1777 Received of Captain [Mic]hael Bowyer the Sum
Eighteen Pound Money of Pennsylvan[ia] On Account and for the
Use of James Brackin, being in lieu [torn, illegible] in full Satisfaction
for the Remainder of the Time of Ser[vi]tude of the before and
within named Thomas Smith -
Alex' M Grew
Witness present
Archid. MClean
[illegible]
John McDowell
Capt. Michal Bowyer of the 12th Virginia
Regiment hearby has leave of absence
from the Service in order to have his
Family inoculated, when that is Compleated
and the Family out of Danger he is to return.
The time this Business will take is once it [illegible] is the reason
that no particular number of Days is mention'd.
Given under my hand
By order of His Excellency Genl.
Washington this 11th [illegible] Novr. 1777
Chs Scott B. Genl.
Capt. Bowyer
Leave of Abss.