In This Article
His Story
On March 2, 1822, Stephen Howard wrote to the United States secretary of war from Swanton, Vermont. He was defending a military reputation that he believed had been unfairly attacked.
Someone had apparently accused Howard of deserting the American army during the Revolutionary War. Howard responded with an extended account of his service in the First Maryland Regiment. He described military duty in Philadelphia, the movement of Hessian prisoners, work connected with the defenses at West Point, and the march south that ended with his capture at Camden in August 1780.
Howard insisted that he had remained with his American regiment until British troops took him prisoner. His response was especially forceful because he had subsequently spent years under British control, a circumstance that could easily be misunderstood without knowing how he had entered that service.
His pension papers describe a remarkable military journey. Howard claimed that he was wounded and captured during the Battle of Camden, confined aboard a British prison ship at Charleston, and later transported to Jamaica. He maintained that he was forced into British naval or military service before eventually escaping and returning to the United States.
Years afterward, Howard served again in the American military during the War of 1812. Supporting statements identify him as a sergeant in the 11th United States Infantry, demonstrating that his military experience extended beyond the struggle for independence.
By 1820, however, Howard was an elderly farmer in Vermont. His property declaration described a leased farm, livestock, debts, and a household that included his disabled wife and four young children. He attributed his limited ability to work partly to a wound received during the Revolution.
His life is preserved through an unusually extensive collection of declarations, petitions, witness statements, pension-office correspondence, and family testimony. Those records reveal both the extraordinary experiences Howard claimed and the difficulties of reconstructing a soldier’s life from documents created many years afterward.
Early Life
Stephen Howard identified his birthplace as Leonard, in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. In a petition dated September 14, 1833, he stated that he had been born on June 14, 1758.
That date must be treated with caution. His March 1818 pension declaration describes him as sixty-three years old, while his July 1820 declaration gives his age as sixty-five. Both suggest a birth earlier than 1758.
Howard’s 1833 petition explains that a family Bible record of his birth had been destroyed in a house fire. He stated that he had subsequently made another record of his age.
The original birth entry has not been independently verified, so June 14, 1758, remains a date reported by Howard rather than an established civil or church record.
St. Mary’s County was among Maryland’s oldest settled regions. Its communities were connected to the Chesapeake Bay economy through agriculture, trade, and the waterways that linked southern Maryland with other colonies.
Howard’s parents and siblings have not been reliably identified from the reviewed pension records.
Revolutionary War Service
Enlistment in the Maryland Line
Howard reported enlisting on September 17, 1776, in the First Maryland Regiment. He identified Captain Roxburgh as his company commander and stated that Captain Lynch had recruited him.
His later petition associated the regiment with Colonel Smallwood, while other pension declarations identify Colonel Adams as his commander.
These references may concern different periods in the regiment’s history. They should not be treated as evidence that Howard belonged to several unrelated units.
He described his enlistment as being for three years or the duration of the war.
Military Duty in Philadelphia
In a statement written in February 1822, Howard reported that he was performing duty with the First Maryland Regiment at Philadelphia during the spring of 1778.
Philadelphia had been occupied by British forces since September 1777. During the spring of 1778, the British prepared to withdraw, while the American army sought to regain control of the city and surrounding region.
Howard’s statement places him in Philadelphia during this period, but it does not establish his personal participation in a specific battle there.
Escorting Hessian Prisoners
Howard stated that during the early summer of 1778, he was assigned to accompany Hessian prisoners to Elizabeth Town, New Jersey.
Such assignments were part of the Continental Army’s wider responsibilities. Prisoners required supervision, transportation, and coordination between military posts.
Howard’s account is valuable because it describes military work outside the battlefield. Continental soldiers frequently performed guard duty, escorted prisoners, maintained fortifications, and carried out other tasks necessary to sustain the army.
Service at West Point
After the prisoner escort, Howard reported being sent to West Point, New York.
He stated that he served under a lieutenant whose surname appears as Hugo or Guigo in the transcriptions and helped construct blockhouses.
He also recalled duty near Buttermilk Falls and mentioned Generals Israel Putnam and William Smallwood in connection with his service.
West Point occupied a strategically important position along the Hudson River. American fortifications there were intended to help prevent British naval forces from controlling the river corridor.
Howard’s account suggests that he participated in military construction and defensive assignments, although the precise blockhouses and dates require verification.
Winter Quarters and the March South
Howard described moving to Morristown, New Jersey, in the fall of 1779, where soldiers constructed huts for winter quarters.
He then reported receiving orders to march toward Charleston, South Carolina.
According to his recollection, his column proceeded south but encountered British forces near Camden, where he was wounded and captured in August 1780.
The sequence he described is an important part of his testimony, although it does not establish a complete contemporary itinerary for his company.
Battles and Campaigns
The Philadelphia and New Jersey Assignments
In 1778, the American Revolution entered a new strategic phase following the French alliance with the United States. British commanders reconsidered their position in Philadelphia and prepared to concentrate forces elsewhere.
The British evacuation of Philadelphia in June 1778 led to renewed American military activity across New Jersey. Washington’s army followed the withdrawing British forces, eventually engaging them at Monmouth.
Howard reported performing military duty in Philadelphia and escorting Hessian prisoners to Elizabeth Town during this period.
His statements establish his claimed presence in the region but do not identify him as a participant at Monmouth or any other named engagement in that campaign.
Participation classification: Assignments personally reported in Howard’s 1822 testimony; no specific battlefield participation established.
The Hudson River Defensive Campaign
The Hudson River was one of the most important strategic corridors of the Revolutionary War. Control of the river could influence communication and movement between New England and the other American states.
American forces developed extensive fortifications in the Hudson Highlands, particularly around West Point. Defensive works, artillery positions, chains, and blockhouses were intended to make British passage difficult.
Construction required labor from soldiers as well as military engineers and specialized workers. Troops stationed in the area could be assigned to building defenses, guarding positions, transporting supplies, and maintaining military roads.
Howard’s own statement describes service at West Point under a lieutenant associated with engineering work. He specifically mentioned helping build blockhouses and performing duty near Buttermilk Falls.
These details connect Howard to the military defense of the Hudson River, although they do not identify a particular engagement in which he fought.
Participation classification: Personally reported military assignment; exact dates and construction details require corroboration.
The Southern Campaign of 1780
By 1780, British commanders had shifted major military operations toward the southern states. Their strategy sought to restore royal authority in Georgia and the Carolinas while weakening American military resistance.
The surrender of Charleston in May 1780 was a major British victory. The loss of American troops and supplies created a serious military crisis in the region.
Congress appointed Major General Horatio Gates to command the Southern Department. Gates moved toward the British forces in South Carolina, where the armies eventually met near Camden.
Howard reported marching south with the Maryland Line and reaching Camden in August 1780.
His testimony does not establish that he was personally present during the earlier siege of Charleston. Instead, he consistently associated his capture with the later battle at Camden.
Participation classification: Southern campaign service personally reported in pension testimony.
Battle of Camden
The Battle of Camden was a devastating defeat for the American army in the southern theater.
Major General Horatio Gates commanded an American force that included Continental soldiers and militia. The British army was commanded by Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis.
The armies encountered one another during the night before the battle. Fighting developed on August 16, when British regulars advanced against the American position.
Portions of the American militia broke under pressure, while Continental troops offered determined resistance. The collapse of the American position eventually forced a retreat and left many soldiers dead, wounded, or captured.
The defeat severely weakened the American military position in the South. Gates was subsequently replaced by Nathanael Greene, whose campaign adopted a different strategy for resisting British forces.
Howard repeatedly stated that he was wounded and captured at Camden on August 16, 1780.
His 1833 petition specifically connected the injury and capture with the battle, while his 1822 correspondence rejected allegations that he had deserted the American army before that date.
His widow Elizabeth later repeated the account in her pension declaration.
These are substantial pieces of personal testimony, but the exact nature of his wound and the circumstances of his capture have not been independently confirmed through a contemporary casualty list.
Participation classification: Personally reported in multiple pension-era statements, with supporting later family testimony.
Captivity at Charleston and Transportation to Jamaica
Prisoners taken during the southern campaigns could face prolonged detention, difficult conditions, and uncertain prospects for exchange.
Howard reported that after his capture at Camden, British forces transported him to Charleston and confined him aboard a prison ship.
His accounts differ slightly concerning the duration of confinement. One declaration describes approximately six months and twelve days, while his later petition describes seven months and fourteen days.
He stated that he was subsequently taken to Jamaica and placed under British naval or military authority.
Howard insisted that he had not voluntarily enlisted in British service. His testimony described being compelled to serve after imprisonment.
Two witnesses supplied additional evidence. Francis Delong stated in 1840 that he and Howard had been prisoners at Charleston and had been transported together to Jamaica. Lawrence Brow testified in 1822 that he encountered Howard as a prisoner and knew of his transportation to Jamaica.
These statements support important portions of Howard’s captivity account, although the precise circumstances of his later British service remain dependent upon retrospective testimony.
Participation classification: Personally reported captivity, supported by later witness affidavits.
Military Service During the War of 1812
Stephen Howard’s military history did not end with the American Revolution.
A July 13, 1822 certificate signed by A. T. Brown states that Howard enlisted in the 11th United States Infantry during the War of 1812, served as a sergeant, and was discharged in New York during the summer of 1815.
Another certificate, attributed to Joseph Berman, a former captain in the 11th Infantry, describes Howard’s service under his command and states that he appointed Howard an orderly sergeant.
Berman praised Howard’s conduct and reliability during that later period of service.
These documents are valuable because they distinguish Howard’s Revolutionary War service as a Maryland private from his later service as an American sergeant.
The reviewed records do not establish a specific War of 1812 battle in which Howard personally participated.
His second period of American military service also became relevant to his disputes over reputation and pension eligibility. In his 1822 correspondence, Howard referred to hostility that he believed had followed his return from that war.
Military Records and Bounty-Land Claims
The Maryland Muster-Roll Certificate
One of the strongest administrative documents in Howard’s file is a certificate issued from the Maryland Auditor’s Office on May 31, 1819.
The certificate states that surviving muster rolls identified Stephen Howard as a private in the First Maryland Regiment, with an enlistment date of June 21, 1779, and a discharge date of August 16, 1780.
These dates differ substantially from Howard’s own claim that he enlisted on September 17, 1776.
The certificate therefore supports his identity and service in the Maryland Line but does not independently confirm the entire service period he described.
The Missing Bounty Land
In 1833, Howard petitioned the Maryland legislature for a military land grant.
He asserted that he had enlisted with the expectation of receiving two hundred acres of land and had never received the promised award.
Howard argued that his capture and subsequent absence explained why his name had not appeared among those receiving military bounty land.
He also claimed unpaid military wages dating from his capture.
The file contains correspondence concerning his claim and indications that Maryland authorities did not approve the requested relief.
These records establish that Howard pursued the claim, not that the state ultimately awarded him land.
A Destroyed Pension Certificate
Howard’s papers also describe the destruction of important personal documents in a house fire during 1833.
Correspondence from January 1834 states that his pension certificate had burned and that he sought a replacement.
Later proceedings required proof of his identity and entitlement before pension payments could continue without interruption.
The loss of personal documents would also complicate his widow’s later efforts to prove their marriage.
Revolutionary War Pension
The 1818 Application
On March 27, 1818, Howard appeared before Judge William Brayton in Franklin County, Vermont, seeking a Revolutionary War pension.
He stated that he had served in the First Maryland Regiment under Captain Roxburgh and Colonel Adams.
His application described his captivity and later escape from British control. He also declared that his financial circumstances required public assistance.
The pension roll records an allowance of eight dollars per month, beginning March 27, 1818.
A certificate was issued on June 7, 1819, according to the pension records.
The 1820 Property Declaration
On July 11, 1820, Howard appeared before the Supreme Court in Franklin County, Vermont, to provide the financial information required under federal pension legislation.
He described a farm of approximately one hundred acres, of which only five acres were improved, with a log house.
Importantly, Howard did not claim to own the land outright. He stated that he held it by lease and faced legal proceedings concerning unpaid rent.
His property schedule also listed livestock, including sheep, hogs, and a calf. The transcription records thirteen sheep valued at thirteen dollars, two hogs valued at eight dollars, and a calf valued at five dollars.
Some other livestock details are difficult to interpret from the transcription.
The court certified the total scheduled property value as sixty-six dollars and stated that nothing remained free from debt.
Howard reported debts of approximately eighty dollars, apart from additional rent obligations.
A Family Facing Hardship
Howard identified himself as a farmer but stated that a Revolutionary War wound and rheumatism severely limited his ability to work.
He described his wife Elizabeth, aged approximately fifty-two, as disabled and unable to perform labor.
The household included four children: Alexander, Catherine, Susan, and Chloe.
Howard reported that the children could perform ordinary tasks for their ages but were physically small.
These details document the household’s circumstances in 1820. They do not establish that Howard experienced the same level of poverty throughout his entire adult life.
Transfer to New York
By May 1834, Howard had moved from Vermont to Clinton County, New York.
In a sworn transfer application, he explained that his children had moved to New York and that he wished to live near them.
He requested that his pension payments be transferred to the New York agency.
Elizabeth Howard’s Widow’s Pension
Following Stephen’s death in March 1843, Elizabeth Howard applied for widow’s benefits.
Her March 3, 1845 declaration described his Revolutionary War service, imprisonment, transportation to Jamaica, and their marriage.
A pension record identifies Elizabeth as the widow of a Maryland Line private and records an annual allowance of eighty dollars, beginning March 6, 1843.
The certificate was issued March 20, 1846, according to the transcribed pension-office record.
The file contains further correspondence concerning the administration and transfer of her payments.
From His Account and Original Testimony
Stephen Howard’s Defense of His Military Service — March 2, 1822
Howard wrote to the secretary of war after learning that he had allegedly been accused of deserting the American army in 1778.
He rejected the accusation and described his assignments in Philadelphia, New Jersey, West Point, and Morristown.
He maintained that he remained in the First Maryland Regiment until he was wounded and captured at Camden on August 16, 1780.
His letter also expressed resentment toward individuals whom he believed had attempted to damage his reputation after his later military service.
Source: Images 4159589_00373.jpg and 4159589_00374.jpg. Paraphrased from the archival transcription.
The February 1822 Military Statement
Howard described escorting Hessian prisoners to Elizabeth Town, serving at West Point, working near Buttermilk Falls, and marching to Morristown before heading south.
He stated that he was wounded and captured at Camden and subsequently confined aboard a British prison ship.
He denied voluntarily entering British service or deserting the American army.
Source: Image 4159589_00376.jpg. Paraphrased from the archival transcription.
Lawrence Brow’s Supporting Affidavit — July 13, 1822
Lawrence Brow stated that he had been in British service at Charleston in 1780 and encountered Howard after Howard was brought there as a prisoner.
Brow reported that he understood Howard had been captured at Camden and that the two subsequently traveled to Jamaica, where Howard remained under British control.
Source: Image 4159589_00366.jpg.
Francis Delong’s Testimony — March 4, 1840
Francis Delong, himself identified as a Revolutionary War pensioner, testified that he and Howard had been prisoners at Charleston during 1780–1781.
He further stated that British forces transported them together to Jamaica.
This testimony is important because it independently recounts portions of Howard’s captivity story, although it was recorded decades after the events.
Source: Image 4159589_00357.jpg.
Elizabeth Howard’s Testimony — June 16, 1845
Elizabeth stated that she married Stephen in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1784, while he was in British service.
She described their movements through Halifax, Quebec, Montreal, Niagara, and the Lake Champlain region before Stephen escaped from British service and settled in Vermont.
Her account gives an escape date of approximately 1795 or 1796, which differs from Stephen’s 1833 petition giving April 16, 1786.
Source: Image 4159589_00349.jpg. The discrepancy has not been resolved.
Military Service Record
| Full name | Stephen Howard |
|---|---|
| Birth | June 14, 1758, reported in his 1833 petition; inconsistent with earlier age statements |
| Birthplace | Leonard, St. Mary’s County, Maryland, according to his petition |
| Revolutionary War state | Maryland |
| Revolutionary War rank | Private |
| Regiment | First Maryland Regiment |
| Company commander | Captain Roxburgh, with variant spellings |
| Reported enlistment | September 17, 1776 |
| Maryland auditor’s recorded enlistment | June 21, 1779 |
| End of documented muster period | August 16, 1780 |
| Reported battle | Battle of Camden, August 16, 1780 |
| Reported wound | Wounded at Camden, according to his statements |
| Reported imprisonment | Charleston prison ship, followed by transportation to Jamaica |
| War of 1812 service | Sergeant, 11th United States Infantry, according to supporting certificates |
| 1818 pension rate | $8 per month |
| 1820 property declaration | $66 scheduled value; court reported nothing free from debt |
| Widow’s pension | Elizabeth Howard, $80 annually according to pension record |
| Death | March 6, 1843 |
| Pension file | W8949 |
| National Archives ID | 54937968 |
Later Life and Burial
Return to the United States
Howard stated that he escaped British service and eventually settled in the United States.
The timing remains uncertain. His 1833 petition places his escape in April 1786, while Elizabeth’s later testimony places the final escape and return to Vermont around 1795 or 1796.
The two accounts cannot be reconciled confidently without additional evidence.
Farming in Vermont
By 1818, Howard lived in Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont.
His 1820 declaration identifies him as a farmer living with his wife and four children.
The family’s financial position was difficult. Howard held leased land, owed rent and other debts, and stated that physical ailments limited his work.
Moving to New York
Howard later moved to Clinton County, New York, explaining in 1834 that his children had relocated there.
His pension documents identify connections with Chazy and the surrounding region.
Death in Lower Canada
Elizabeth Howard’s widow’s declaration states that Stephen died on March 6, 1843, while visiting a son in Lower Canada.
The name of that son and the exact location of Howard’s death have not been securely established from the passages reviewed.
Burial: No verified cemetery or grave location has been established.
Family History
Elizabeth Roy Howard — Wife
Stephen Howard’s wife was Elizabeth Roy, whose surname also appears as Ray in the pension documents.
Elizabeth stated that they married in Kingston, Jamaica, during June 1784.
She explained that their marriage certificate and family Bible record were destroyed in a house fire in 1833.
Her statements about Stephen’s British captivity, their travels, and his eventual escape provide unusually detailed family testimony.
Elizabeth was approximately seventy-six years old when she applied for widow’s benefits in March 1845.
Jane Howard McNamara — Daughter
Jane McNamara testified in March 1845 that she was the daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Howard.
She reported being born on October 24, 1795, at North Hero, Vermont, although she explained that her knowledge of the exact date came from family information.
Jane recalled seeing her parents’ marriage certificate and family Bible record before the house fire.
Her testimony helped support Elizabeth’s widow’s pension claim.
Alexander Howard — Son
Stephen’s 1820 household declaration identifies a son named Alexander, aged approximately sixteen.
His later residence, marriage, and burial have not been established from the reviewed documents.
Catherine Howard — Daughter
The same declaration identifies Catherine, aged approximately fourteen in 1820.
Additional records would be necessary to establish her adult identity and descendants.
Susan Howard — Daughter
Susan was approximately twelve years old in the 1820 household declaration.
Her subsequent life has not been reliably established from the pension passages examined.
Chloe Howard — Daughter
Chloe was approximately ten years old when Stephen prepared his 1820 property declaration.
The pension file establishes her presence in the household but does not provide a complete account of her adult life.
Rhoda Howard Chesbrough — Family Relation
Later correspondence identifies Rhoda Chesbrough in connection with the return of a family Testament that had been submitted during Elizabeth Howard’s pension proceedings.
An April 1880 letter refers to Elizabeth as Rhoda’s grandmother.
The precise relationship between Rhoda and Stephen Howard should be verified against the original documents because the transcriptions contain inconsistent wording.
Other Children and Family Relationships
Elizabeth’s later testimony states that two children were born during the family’s movements through the Caribbean and Atlantic region and died at birth.
She also referred to a surviving child born at Halifax in 1787.
The identities and full chronology of these children require further investigation.
The names documented above should not be assumed to represent every child of Stephen and Elizabeth Howard.
Original Sources
- National Archives, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application File W8949, Stephen Howard. National Archives Catalog, NAID 54937968.
- Stephen Howard, Revolutionary War pension declaration, March 27, 1818. Images 4159589_00251.jpg and 4159589_00252.jpg. Enlistment, regiment, imprisonment, and financial circumstances.
- Maryland Auditor’s Office, muster-roll certification, May 31, 1819. Image 4159589_00253.jpg. Identifies service in the First Maryland Regiment from June 21, 1779, to August 16, 1780.
- Stephen Howard, property and household declaration, July 11, 1820. Images 4159589_00245.jpg and 4159589_00246.jpg. Includes leased property, debts, livestock, occupation, wife, and four children.
- Stephen Howard, statement of military assignments, February 1822. Image 4159589_00376.jpg. Philadelphia, Hessian prisoner escort, West Point, Morristown, Camden, and captivity.
- Stephen Howard, letter to the secretary of war, March 2, 1822. Images 4159589_00373.jpg and 4159589_00374.jpg. Defense against accusations of desertion.
- Lawrence Brow, supporting affidavit, July 13, 1822. Image 4159589_00366.jpg. Testimony concerning Howard’s captivity and transportation to Jamaica.
- Joseph Berman, certificate concerning War of 1812 service. Image 4159589_00267.jpg. Describes Howard’s appointment as orderly sergeant.
- A. T. Brown, certificate of War of 1812 service, July 13, 1822. Image 4159589_00361.jpg. Identifies service in the 11th United States Infantry.
- Stephen Howard, petition to the Maryland legislature, September 14, 1833. Images 4159589_00367.jpg and 4159589_00368.jpg. Birth information, Camden, captivity, escape, and bounty-land claim.
- Stephen Howard, pension transfer application, May 28, 1834. Image 4159589_00269.jpg. Explains his relocation from Vermont to New York.
- Francis Delong, affidavit, March 4, 1840. Image 4159589_00357.jpg. Testimony concerning shared captivity at Charleston and transportation to Jamaica.
- Elizabeth Howard, widow’s pension declaration, March 3, 1845. Images 4159589_00255.jpg and 4159589_00256.jpg. Marriage, service, imprisonment, death, and pension application.
- Jane McNamara, affidavit, March 3, 1845. Image 4159589_00257.jpg. Family relationships and evidence concerning the marriage record.
- Elizabeth Howard, additional testimony, June 16, 1845. Image 4159589_00349.jpg. British service, family movements, children, and conflicting escape chronology.
- Elizabeth Howard, widow’s pension certificate. Image 4159589_00263.jpg. Records the annual pension and its commencement.
Historical Research Note
This biography is based primarily on National Archives pension-file transcriptions associated with Stephen Howard, pension W8949, National Archives identifier 54937968.
Birth-date conflict: Howard’s 1833 petition gives June 14, 1758. His ages in 1818 and 1820 suggest an earlier birth. The exact date has not been independently verified.
Service-date conflict: Howard claimed to have enlisted September 17, 1776. A Maryland auditor’s certificate records service beginning June 21, 1779. The discrepancy may reflect incomplete surviving muster evidence or errors in retrospective testimony, but no definitive explanation has been established.
Battle of Camden: Howard repeatedly claimed that he was wounded and captured on August 16, 1780. This is supported by later testimony but has not been independently confirmed through a contemporary casualty record.
British service: Howard consistently denied voluntarily entering British service. His widow described his forced service and eventual escape. The exact dates and legal circumstances remain uncertain.
Escape chronology: Howard’s 1833 petition gives April 16, 1786, while Elizabeth’s 1845 testimony places the final escape around 1795 or 1796. The accounts have not been reconciled.
War of 1812: Supporting certificates identify Howard as a sergeant in the 11th United States Infantry. This later military service is separate from his Revolutionary War service as a Maryland private.
Family history: Several children are identified by name, but the complete family structure remains uncertain. Additional church, census, probate, and Canadian records would be needed to establish all relationships.
Burial: The widow’s testimony places Howard’s death in Lower Canada on March 6, 1843. No verified burial location has been established.
Source limitations: The image references identify individual records in the supplied National Archives transcription collection. Ambiguous handwriting, dates, and names have not all been checked against the original manuscript images. Pension-era recollections have been distinguished from contemporary military documentation.
Portrait disclosure: The portrait accompanying this biography is a modern AI-generated artistic interpretation of Stephen Howard in Revolutionary War-era military clothing. It is not an authenticated historical likeness. Howard’s actual facial appearance, hair color, and beard are unknown.