Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7098, for William Mefford, Maryland
Page 2

32.925
William Medford
Pennsylvania 
rejected
Page 3

State of Pennsylvania 
Fayette County } ss. 
On this 7th day of April 1835 personally appeared in open Court 
before the Judges of the Court of Common pleas of Fayette County 
now sitting William Mafford a resident of said County aged 
Seventy five 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 the 7th day of June, 1832 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following 
named officers, and served as herein stated Viz, Sometime in the 
month of December 1781 he was called out in the Maryland Militia 
and entered the same in Fredericktown in that state in a Company 
commanded by Captain John Ickes, from whence he was march in said 
company to guard some British Prisoners taken from General 
Cornwallis’s Army, was dismissed from said company sometime 
in March 1782, he afterwards entered into the Naval service in the 
City of Philadelphia sometime in the month of April following 
on board of a vessel he believes called the Philadelphia Commanded
by Captain Thomas Lollard, then put out to Sea  and was Captured
the 21st of the same month (being Sunday) by the British Frigate 
Charleston of 44 Guns, was then shipped on board the British Ship 
of War Rotterdam of 50 Guns, where he was taken a Prisoner of war 
to Charleston South Carolina, there remained off Charleston for about 
a week thence to Barbadoes in the West Indies where the vessel lay
about three days, thence sailed to Antega where he was put on board 
of a Prison ship and there detained a prisoner of war till the 5th 
day of February 1783 on the evening of which day he was exchanged
and sailed on board of a Vessel for St Kitts where he landed the 
following day, then sailed from thence on board of a vessel for Baltimore
Page 4

[Bal]timore where he arrived on the 16th day of March following 
and on the following day shipped on board of a Privateer Schooner 
at Annapolis under the Command of Captain Olaneel Continued on
board of her untill the 23d day of April following when peace was 
proclaimed. He never received a discharge nor did he deem it at 
that time to apply for a discharge - He hereby relinqushes every claim 
whatever 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 in 
the Union. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Will Mefford
Coram Richd Beeson Prothny 
We Daniel Rogers and Caleb Trevor residents of Fayette County 
State of Pennsylvania hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with 
William Mefford who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration 
and that we believe him to be seventy five years of age; that he is reputed 
and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been 
a Soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion 
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Caleb Trevor
Daniel Rogers 
Coram Richd Beeson Prothny

The petitioner makes the following answers to the interrogatories directed to be put him 
1. I was born on the ninth day of April 1760 
2nd. I took the record of my age from my Fathers Bible and copied it into my own 
3rd I was a resident of Frederick County Maryland when I was first 
called into the service of the United States. I resided in Burlington County
Page 5

New Jersey for eight years after my discharge from the revolutionary 
Service and have resided ever since the year 1796 in Fayette County Pennsylvania 
4th The whole of Captain Ickes Company of which I was a member volunteered 
their service to guard the prisoners taken from Cornwallis & Army from 
Fredericktown Maryland to Little York Pennsylvania 
5th I recollect the name of Captain Joseph Wilson from the same County who 
acted as Major the names of the other officer I do not recollect 
6 I never received a discharge from the service neither did he deem it 
expedient at that time to apply for one.
7 I can testify several names in my neighbourhood who are well acquainted 
with me and who can testify as to my character for veracity and their 
belief of my being a Soldier of the revolution, to wit Daniel Rogers 
Caleb Trevor, Alexander Johnston, William Davidson, James Whaley 
John Fuller Doctor James C. Cummings Elisha Clayton and several others 
I might mention.

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War 
Department; that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier 
And served as he states. And the Court further Certifies that it appears to them that it appears Caleb Trevor and Daniel Rogers who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of Connellsville Fayette County both of whom are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to Credit.
I Richard Beeson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Fayette County 
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of 
the said Court, in the Matter of the application of William Mefford for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 7th day of April AD 1835 Richd Beeson Prothy
Page 6

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECODS SECTION.  3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
R.F. 7098
BUREAU OF Pensions.
Washington, D.C.           19


In reply to  your request of ___, received ___ for a statement of the military history of William Mefford a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
LENGTH OF SERVICE.
RANK.
OFFICERS UNDER HOW SERIVCE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
COLONEL.
STATE.

Dec. 1781  Mch. 1782  Pvt.  John Lakes  Md.
Apr. 1782  Thomas Lollard on ship Philadelphia
Captured Apr. 21 by British frigate  Charleston, taken to Barbados and Antigua & imprisoned until July 5, 1783 when he was exchanged.

Mch. 17, 1783  Apr. 23, 1783  Capt.  Clancel on privateer schooner at Philadelphia

Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment, home state of Frederick County, Md.

Date of application for pension, Apr. 7, 1835
Residence of application for pension, Lafayette County, PA.
Age at date of application, born Apr. 9, 1760

Remarks:  There is no data on file as to his family.
The al. was rejected on the ground that he did not serve six mos. in a military capacity as required by the Act of June 7, 1832 under which he applied.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.
6--285C
Page 7

1920 Oct. 19
Hist. to Mrs. Theodore Westermann

REJECTED [stamp]

7098

P.O.
William Mefford
Service:
Enlisted:  18
Discharged:  18
Application filed:  18

Alleges: Printed list of 1852 gives cause of rejection

Re-enlisted:  He did not serve in a military capacity.

Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized.
Contract.

Cert. of Dis. searched for ___, 18
Page 8

487
Pen Office 
July 27. 1841 
Sir,
In reply to your letter of 
the 26th inst in the case of William 
Mefford I have to inform you 
that the letter from this office 
to Henry M. Lewis, Esq. of the 16th 
April 1835 an extract from which 
Is herewith enclosed will show 
the reasons for rejecting the claim.

Hon. H. W. Beeson 
H. R. 

O. C
entd in index
Page 9

July 26, 1841
[illegible]
William Mefford
H W Beeson [illegible]
Hon. J.  L. Edwards
Washington D.C.
Page 10

Washington 
July 26, 1841 
Dear Sir
Wm Mefford, as I am 
informed, applied throug his attorney 
H W Lewis for a pension some 4 
or 5 years ago. Lewis informed him
that no pension could be had &c. 
Mefford now whishes to know 
the reasons why &c. Mefford was in the navy during the revolution 
Very respectfully 
H. W. Beeson

Hon J. L. Edwards
Page 11

Rejected 
did not serve six 
months in a military 
capacity. See letter 16
April 1835 to Henry 
M. Lewis Connellsville 

See let. 27 July ‘41 Hon
H. W. Beeson 

7098
Act 7 June 1832
Page 12

War Department 
Pension Office 
April 16. 1835 
Sir 
The declaration of William 
Mefford has been ex[?]. He alleges 
that he was called out as a militia 
man of the State of Maryland in Dec 1781 
to guard a part of the prisoners taken 
at York Town and that he was in service 
until March 1782. He also alleges that 
He afterwards entered on board a vessel called 
the Philadelphia and while in said 
vessel was taken a prisoner. 
The vessel in which the applicant 
served was a private armed vessel.
No provision is made by the 
act of 7 June 1832 for services on 
board vessels of that description. 
Nor does that act provide for those 
whose military service was for a period less than six months. The claim has therefore been rejected 
and the papers filed in this office.
A letter was addressed to N. A. Stewart on the 
14th inst shewing what was required in the case of Andrew Reece who claims as an Invalid. Henry M. Lewis Esq
Connersville Penn

cn
Page 13

Connellsville Pa 
April 8 }.                37

J. L. Edwards Esquire 
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington City
D. C.

Jsa Apl 11
Page 14

Connellsville Fayette County Pa 8th April 1835 
Sir
I herewith send you an application of William Mefford of 
our County for a pension. I would thank you Sir to have 
his claim examined and let me know the result as early 
as convenient. I would likewise thank you Sir to let me 
know what has been done in the case of Andrew Reece an applicant 
for an Invalid pension, the Documents in his case I 
sent to you through Mr Stewart our Representative at the close 
of the sessions before last and have not yet recd any reply to them 
Very respectfully 
Your Humble Servt
Henry M Lewis 

To J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 15

Rev. Sec MK

September 9, 19XX

Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Revolutionary War Records Sec.,
Washington, D>C>

Dear Sirs:

I am seeking information concerning the Revolutionary service of William Mefford who was born near Fredricktown, Maryland. He is said to have been taken prisoner by the British While on board a war ship and taken to the West Indies where he remained a prisoner until near the close of the war. Upon his release he enlisted in the army but the only service then required of him was the guarding of prisoners.

The father of William Mefford also rendered service but as I do not know his first name suppose it would be practically impossible to locate his service.  This elder Mefford and five sons were in Revolutionary service.


With thanks for information given I am Yours very truly,
Mary C. W. Westermann

Mrs. Theodore Westermann,
11 Kraft Avenue
Bronxville, New York.


U.S. Pension Office Sep 10 1920 [stamp]