Pension application of John Laney S18486 f16VA
Transcribed by Will Graves 8/26/13
[Mason County Kentucky]
On this the 11th day of February 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the
Justices of the County Court of Mason now sitting John Laney a resident of the County of Brown in the State of Ohio aged seventy-four 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 act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the command of Captain John Gillison [this MAY be a mistaken reference to Captain Samuel Gilkerson] sometime in the month of December 1779 – as a drafted militia man for three months – that their services were not required on that tour for longer than one month and that he was honorably discharged at the expiration of that time. That afterwards he was drafted into the service again under Captain Aaron Mercer for three months that they rendezvoused the last week in July at Winchester, Frederick County Virginia and from thence marched to Staunton, where they joined Colonel Mathews' Regiment – and after having performed the full term was discharged on the 9 or 10 of November 1780.
That in May 1781 he again entered the service of the United States as a volunteer, in the capacity of Lieutenant to Captain Joseph Barnes Company, and Colonel Nysong's [this MAY be a mistaken reference to John Hisewanger's] Regiment. That the company was raised in Frederick County Virginia, Joined the Regiment on Shenandoah River, and marched to the Blue Ridge with a view to stop the progress of Colonel Tarlton [Banastre Tarleton] through the country – that he was engaged in this service about 10 days but the time is not precisely recollected.
That about the 8th day of July 1781 he was again drafted into the service for three
months under the command of Captain Nathaniel Ashby, of Colonel William Dark's Regiment, in General Stephens [Edward Stevens'] Brigade. That he entered the service in the County of Frederick Virginia – that he joined the Regiment at Berry's Ferry on the Shenandoah [River] – marched thence to Fredericksburg – thence to Holseas Forge [sic, probably Holt's Forge] and joined the Brigade – thence to Hanover, thence to Mount Rock on the Pamunkey [River] – thence to Bottoms Bridge & thence to the Maubon Hills [Malvern Hills], where the [sic, they] joined Generals Steuben & Lafayette. From thence they marched to Richmond – thence to Williamsburg & thence to the Drinking Springs where they were received by General
Washington – From thence they marched to Little York where they besieged. There he remained until a few days before the surrender when they returned to Winchester and were relieved and discharged about the 15 day of November 1781 at Captain Ashby's house.
He states that he was born in the County of Lancaster Pennsylvania on the 9 day of
September 1758. That he resided in Frederick County during the whole of the time that he served the United States that he has a record of his age in a family Bible.
That he has no documentary evidence to prove his services and that he knows of no
person whose testimony he can procure except the statement of his younger brother William Laney – who was a boy of sufficient age at the time to recollect his leaving home and returning at the several terms of service and his officers. That the several discharges which he received have been long since lost but were Honorable & given by his proper officers.
He states that he resided in Frederick County Virginia after the revolution until about the year 1805 when he removed to Washington County Pennsylvania there he remained 4 years, then removed to Ohio where he now lives.
He also states that he is well known to Stephen Wilson, Joseph Cornwell, William
Poyntz [?] who can speak of his character for veracity and their belief as to his services in the revolution.
He hereby relinquishes all claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. Sworn & subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
S/ John Laney
[James Taylor & Joseph Wilson gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
Mason County Kentucky
Personally appeared before me an acting Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid Nicholas D Coleman who made oath that he prepared the papers in the case of John Laney for a pension and that the reason why said Laney did not apply in Brown County Ohio the place of his residence and did apply in the County of Mason Kentucky were as follows – viz. That said Laney resides at a considerable distance from Georgetown the seat of Justice for Brown County, and has but little intercourse with that place – and that he resides much nearer Washington the seat of Justice of Mason County Kentucky – and has considerable intercourse with Maysville in the same County that it was much more convenient and was believed by himself the said Affiant Coleman not to be a matter of any importance whether the said application was made in one County or another provided the facts were properly authenticated. That the County of Mason was selected because it suited the convenience of said Laney & his witness – and also of said Coleman & not with any view whatever to impose upon the War Department any Statement either in relation to his services or his credibility or the general rumor of his neighborhood in which he resides. That this, the said Coleman believes to be the fact from a conversation with said Laney at the time of his application in which said Coleman informed said Laney it would make no difference.
Sworn to this 4 day of May 1833
S John L Brooks, JP
Harrison County Kentucky
I William Laney a resident of Cynthiana Harrison County Kentucky do certify that in the year 1779 John Laney who is my elder Brother was drafted in Frederick County Virginia to serve three months as a private soldier in the Virginia Militia; that he belonged to Captain John Gilkerson's Company in Colonel Nysong's Regiment; That I recollect when he started from home to serve this tour of duty, and also when he returned after his term expired. That in 1780 he the said John Laney was again drafted in the same County to serve for three months as a private soldier in the Virginia militia, That he belonged to Captain Aaron Mercer's [also spelled Aaron Merser's] Company in Colonel Mathews' Regiment; that the Company started from Winchester Virginia to Staunton and that this affiant went with said John Laney and carried his knapsack for a mile and a half and I well recollect when he returned home after serving out his tour of duty. That in May 1781 he the said John Laney, volunteered his services as a Lieutenant in the Virginia Militia for the purpose of meeting Colonel Tarlton [Banastre Tarleton] in Albemarle County – that he belonged to Captain Joseph Barnes' Company in Colonel John Nysong's Regiment. That I recollect when he started from home & when he returned – but does not recollect the length of the tour. That in July 1781 he the said John Laney was again drafted in the same County to serve as a private soldier in the Virginia militia for 3 months – that he belonged to Captain Nathan Ashby's Company and Colonel William Dark's Regiment. That I recollect when he started from home & also when he returned after serving out this tour of duty.
Subscribed & sworn to this 21st day of April 1833
S/ William Laney, X his mark
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $24.44 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for service as a private for 7 months and 10 days in the Virginia militia.]
https://revwarapps.org/s18486.pdf
