Pension Application of John McClain S2775
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Pennsylvania } SS
County of Mercer }
On this nineteenth day of November 1832 Personally appeared in open Court, Before Henry Shippen President Judge and the associates, Being the Special Court of Common pleas of Mercer County now Sitting John McLane a Resident of Lackawanock Township Mercer County and State of Pennsylvania aged 71 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 7th June 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated.
That the first of may 1776 he was engaged in Building a Fort at the flatts of Grave Creek in Virginia [near present Moundsville WV], on the Frontiers where the Indians were very troublesome, That he served as an Indian Spy through that Summer. Captain William John Wall took the Command. There were a number of Families Came into the Fort for protection. The Indians Came into the settlement near the Fort and Carried off Horses and other property, through the summer in one Instance a party from the Fort followed and overtook them killed some of them, got one on the ground, and recovered some of the Horses. again these Indians came in and took Horses, a party followed them across the ohio River, overtook and had a scermish with them, this deponant was one of the party. but the Indians were too many in number and our men had to retreat. and such inroads and pursuits were frequent; toward the fawl there was an old Lady in the Fort became uneasy, and would return to their home several miles distant, near their house her and two of her sons crossed the creek among the first, and before the guard that was with them got over, who with one of her sons rose the bank near their house, and were both shot and killed, the other son was not discovered by the Indians concealed himself among willows, and in the night made his escape and returned to the Fort. – That fawl but afterward two other sons of the same parents insisted on going out to hunt deer, this deponant was on guard, and would not permit them to go. they obtained leave from an officer present, and went out, and in about fifteen minutes were both shot killed and scalped. one survived a few hours. These circumstances are mentioned to show that there was a necessity for his and the service of others; many more might be mentioned this deponant continued in the service untill August 1777 when, after many applications for help, we found that there was force of such a number of Indians approaching the Fort as would be able to take it, we were all obliged to quit it and move about 12 miles, to a Fort where Wheelen [sic: Wheeling] now stands. at Wheelen this deponant was under Captain [Samuel] Mason for a few weeks. when he with his Fathers family moved into Pennsylvania, making in all about one year and four months. (It may be observed that John Caldwell [pension application S9146] The witness at the end of six months left the Fort at the flats which is the reason he mentions six months) again in the last of August or beginning of Sept’r. 1778 the Indians came in, and killed one man near what was called Fort Jackson (now in Green County Penna) this produced an alarm and a number of men with this deponant Volunteered, followed the Indians but could not overtake them; but cannot recollect how long he was out; it was a short tour. again there was a draft made for one month to guard the Surveyors and their party who were to run and cut the line [Mason-Dixon Line] between the States of Virginia and Pennsylvania. In the month of [blank] in 1779 when this deponant was one of them, but some difficulty arose, and they did not proceed to cut the line and we were dismissed, Capt Joseph Becket was the officer in Command. again there was an alarm at Waltveers Fort, Indians had came in and killed one or two men. he with others Volunteered for a short time, the time not recollected.
Again in the month of (not recollected) 1779 this deponant was drafted for one month to guard a Blockhouse on Turtle Creek. Alegheny [sic: Allegheny] County Penna under Capt Joseph Becket. Served out the month and was dismissed by the Captain. These services were rendered or performed in Small Bodys no Regular Troops in the service with us. Making in all about and not less than one year and seven months. He states that he has no documentary Testimony of his service, nor any living witneses that he knows of except what he has procured. That he served longer than he has stated above.
Quest. 1 . He was born 3 day of Feby 1761. In the State of New Jersey he has a record taken from his Fathers Record of his Family
He was living in ohio County in Virginia when called into the Service – he has lived in pensylvania ever sence the War and the last twenty five in Mercer County where he now lives —
He was drafted; Volunteered and one Tour a substitute for one month for his Brother Abijah McClain [pension application W7408].
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of nay State nor Agency whatever nor never was.
[signed] John McClain
Ohio County Virginia October 30th 1832
Personly apeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County John Caldwell of said County aged 79 years and being duly sworen further sayeth that he was well acquainted with John McClean in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six at grave Creek where the aforesaid John McClean assisted in building a fort at the flats of grave creek and searved for the term of six months under Captain William Herrad and Captain Wall Militia officers in actual service after the afore said moved away and further sayeth not Given under my hand the day and year above writen
[signed] John Caldwell
NOTE: A Treasury-Department document states that the children of John McClain received his final pension payment up to the date of his death, 9 Nov 1838.
http://revwarapps.org/s2775.pdf
