Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 10215, for David Mc Knight, Pennsylvania
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(3-1776)
SERVICE  NUMBER
Penn.  McKnight, David  W.10215
Elanor  {B.L.Kt1439-200.Lieut Issued July 16, 1789  No papers
Page 2

966.
Indiana  Madison
Elenor McKnight 
widow of David McKnight who was a Lieutenant in the Penn. line Pa for 2 years.
_____
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 320 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
______
Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of July, 1843 and sent to J. McKnight,
Rising Sun,
Indiana.
______
[The following is contained in brackets in the original document. The closing bracket is not shown in the original.]
[Act of March 3, 1843.
Recorded in Book A.
Vol. 1. Page 179.
Page 3

{677}
FAMILY RECORD.
MARRAIGES.
David McKnight And Eleanor Maclay were Married on Thursday the 18th November 1790.
______
James Bayly And Elizabeth McKnight were Married on Wednesday the 6th March 1816.
______
Jesse Reeder, And Mary McKnight were Married on Thursday the 11th April 1816.
______
Ralph Turner And Jane McKnight were Married on Thursday 11th Dec 1828.
_____
David McKnight And Juliana Turner were Married 15 Oct 1829.
____
Job Haines And Eliza P. Bayly were Married on Thursday 8th Dec 1831.
_____
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{678}
FAMILY RECORD.
BIRTHS.
David McKnight Born 25th August 1760
Eleanor Maclay Born 20th February 1769
_______
Molly McKnight Born Wednesday the 25th April 1793.
_______
Jane McKnight Born Monday the 12th April 1795.
_______
Elizabeth McKnight Born Tuesday the 14th March 1797.
_______
John McKnight Born Friday the 19th April 1799.
_______
Catherine McKnight Born Tuesday the 24th November 1801.
_______
David McKnight Born Tuesday the 3rd April 1804.
_____
Ebenezer Finley McKnight Born Wednesday the 9th April 1806.
_____
Eleanor McKnight Born Thursday the 17th March 1808.
_____
Charles Maclay McKnight Born Saturday the 8th December 1810.
____
William McKnight Born 10th April 1814.
______
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{679}
FAMILY RECORD.
BIRTHS.
John Maclay born May 17th 1734 Died October 17th 1804 aged seventy years and six months.
______
Jane Maclay Born December 20th 1734 Died April 3rd 1812 aged seventy seven years 4 months.
____
Catherine Maclay Born July 28th 1760

John McKnight was born in Scotland & was married to Jane McAlister & removed to Silver Springs in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania where John, David, Mary and Jane, were born.
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{680}
FAMILY RECORD.
DEATHS.
Catherine McKnight died on Friday the 8th April 1803 at 14 past 6 OClock in the Morning.
______
Charles Maclay McKnight Died on Wednesday the 17th April 1811 at 8 Clock in the Evening.
______
Eleanor McKnight Died on Sunday the 17th January 1813 at 1/4 past Eleven Clock in the Evening.
_____
William McKnight Died on Sunday 23rd June 1844.

David McKnight Died on Sunday the 13th May 1821 at 6 Clock in the evening in the 61st year of his age.
________
Page 7

State of Indiana }
County of Dearborn } ss
On this Twenty Eighth day of August AD 1838 personally appeared before me one of the Judges of the Circuit Court in and for the County off Dearborn and State aforesaid Eleanor McKnight aged Seventy years a resident of Rising Sun in the County and State aforesaid who being duly affirmed according to Law doth on her solemn affirmation make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows. That she is the widow of Lieut David McKnight who was a Lieut in the fifth Pennsylvania Regiment and served until the end of the war. She further declares that she was married to the said David McKnight on the Eighteenth day of November in the year Seventeen Hundred and Ninety and that her husband the aforesaid David McKnight died on the Thirteenth day of May in the year Eighteen Hundred and Twenty one and that she has remained his widow ever since the period of his death as will more fully appear by reference to proof [illegible] to annexed and that she was not married to her husband prior to his leaving the service but that she was married previous to the year 1794 [illegible] at the time above stated she further saith that she makes this declaration before me a Judge of the Court on account of her inability to appear in open Court and the said Judge do certify that the above named declarant is not able to appear in open court on account of her bodily infirmity.
//s// Eleanor McKnight
Affirmed and subscribed before me the day and year above written.
//s// John Livingston
Page 8

State of Indiana }
Dearborn County } Set
I Alexander H. Dill Clerk pro tem of the Dearborn circuit court, do certify that John Livingston before whom the written instrument or affidavit was sworn to and subscribed by Eleanor McKnight and who has certified the same was at the date thereof and now is one of the associate Judges of the Dearborn circuit court and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts as such associate Judge and I further certify the foregoing signature to be genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of our said court 28th of August 1838. 
//s// Alex. H. Dill
Clerk pro tem
[Seal affixed to the left of the above]
Page 9

State of Pennsylvania }
Cumberland County } ss
On this ninth day of March, One thousand Eight hundred and thirty nine, before me, the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County, personally appeared Mr. Samuel Maclay, aged Seventy [illegible] years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his solemn Oath depose and say that he is well acquainted with Mrs Eleanor McKnight, named in the annexed declaration, that her maiden name was Maclay, and that he this deponent was present and witnessed the marriage ceremony of the said Eleanor McKnight with Lieutenant David McKnight. That it was dust solemnized by the Revd [Reverend] Doctor Lang on the Eighteenth day of November, One thousand Seven hundred and ninety, at the house of Mr. John Maclay (the father of the said Eleanor) in the presence of a [the word "large" is crossed out] number of witnesses. And that said John Maclay lived at that time in Franklin County, Pennsylvania; Deponent further saith that the said David McKnight and the said Eleanor his wife, lived together from the time they were married until the decease of the said David mcKnight, and had several Children, and that the said David McKnight was reputed and believed to have been a good and faithful Revolutionary officer by all who knew him, as deponent believed, and that he the said Lieutenant David McKnight died in the year eighteen hundred and twenty one, and that she the said Eleanor McKnight has remained the widow of the said David McKnight ever since her husbands [sic] decease. All of which Deponent believes.
//s// Samuel Maclay
Sworn & Subscribed, the 9th March 1839, Goram, 
//s// Jacob Snider.
Page 10

State of Pennsylvania }
Cumberland County ss. }
Seal  
I do hereby certify I am personally and well acquainted with Mr Samuel Maclay, the within named deponent, and that he is a highly respectable gentleman and entitled to full faith and credit as a witness.
//s// Jacob Snider
A Justice of the peace.
Shippensberg Pa.}
March 9th, 1839 }

[The following is written at the bottom of the page with the page rotated 180 degrees.]
State of Pennsylvania} 
Cumberland County ss}
[Seal affixed under the above]
I George Sanderson, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County Do certify that Jacob Snider is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for Cumberland County in the State aforesaid to all whose acts in that capacity due faith and credit  are and of right aught to be given throughout the United States & elsewhere & that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said office at Carlisle this 11th day of March 1839.
//s/ Geo. Sanderson Prothy
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Rev WIDOW, &c.
_____
File No. 10215
Eleanor McKnight
Wid. of David McKnight
Lieut. Pa. Line
___
Act: Mch [March], 3rd 43
Index:-Vol. M, Page 21
[The following was in brackets in the original document]
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 12

No. 2 The United States of America In Congress Assembled
To David McKnight Gent. Greetings. We Reposing especial trust [word blocked by seal] experience in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct, and Fidelity DO by those present constitute and appoint you to [words blocked by seal] Ensign in the Ninth Pennsylvania Regiment in the army of the United States to take rank as such from the 20th day [words blocked by seal] July 1780. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of one [words blocked by seal] sign by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging.  And diligently do truly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your command to be entrusted to you orders as Ensign. And you are to observe and follow orders and directions from time to time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United States or Committee of Congress for that purpose appointed, a Committee of the States or Commander in chief for time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your Superior Officers, according to the rules and disscipline [sic] of War, in pursuance of that expected in you. This Commission to continue in force until revoked by this or a future Congress, the Committee of Congress before mentioned, or a Committee of the States.
Witness his Excellency Samuel Huntingdon Esq. President of the Congress of the United States of America, Philadelphia the 31st day of July 1780, and in the fifth year of our Independence.
//s// Sam Huntingdon, President

Entered in the War Office and examined by the Board.
Attest
//Ben Stoddert, Secretary of the Board of War
Page 13

The United States of America in Congress Assembled
To David McKnight Gentleman, Greetings. We Reposing official trust and confidence in your Patriotism, Valour [sic], Conduct and Fidelity DO by those present constitute and appoint you to be a Lieutenant in the fifth Pennsylvania Regiment in the Army of the United States, to take rank as such from the twenty third date of July 1780. You are therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a Lieutenant 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 Lieutenant. And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress for that purpose appointed, a Committee of the States, or Commander in chief for the time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your Superior Officer, according to the rules and discipline of War, in pursuance of the trust expected in you. This Commission to continue in force until revoked by this, or a future Congress, the Committee of Congress before mentioned or a Committee of the States.
Witness His Excellency John Hanson Esq., President of the Congress of the United States of America, Philadelphia the Ninth day of February, A.D. 1782 and in the Sixth Year of our Independence.
//s// John Hanson President

By Order of Congress
//s// B. Lincoln Secretary at War
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Eleanor McKnight
Indiana
_______
Suspended
___
let 18 July 1839
J.J. Moore
let 30 Sept 39 to do

Act 7 July 1838
Page 15

4663
Madison Indiana
______
Eleanor McKnight widow of David McKnight dcd.
[The line "who was a pensioner under the Act of" is crossed out]
and who died on the 13th May 1821 of Dearborn Ct. in the State of Ind who was a Lieut in the Company commanded by Captain [blank] in the Regt. commanded by Col. Minge in the Penna. line for 2 years
_______
Inscribed on the Roll of Madison Ind. at the rate of 320 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
________
Certificate of Pension issued the 29th day of Nov. 1839 and sent J.J.  Moore of Philadelphia Present
_______
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1839 $1,120.00
Semi=annual allowance ending 4 March 160.00
[Total] $1,280.00
{Act July 7, 1838}
Recorded by D.D. Addison, Clerk,
Book A Vol. 20. Page 221
Page 16

4969
Eleanor McKnight
Indiana
____
admitted

Sent 2yrs $320
Col. Minge, Capt [blank] 5th Reg. Pa line

died 13th May 1834

Act 7 July 1838

J. J. Moore
Philadelphia
Page 17

Philadelphia. March 15, 1839

J. L. Edwards, Esq.

Sir
I enclose you the papers in the case of Mrs Eleanor McKnight, widow of Lieutenant David McKnight, and would beg leave to ask for your early Report.

I am Sir
Very Respectfully Your Obdt. Svt [Obedient Servant]
//s// Jsohua J. Moore
Page 18

Philadelphia. Aug. 1st, 1839.

J.L. Edwards Esq.

Sir, 
Agreeably to you Instructions  I send you the enclosed papers in the case of Mrs. Eleanor widow of the late Lieutenant David McKnight.
If not incompatible with the Rules of the Department, may I presume to ask for the return of the leaf, agreeably to the request of the family contained in the accompanying note to me, by Doctor Job Haines.

I am Sir,
Very Respectfully 
Your Obdt. Svt.
//s// Joshua J. Moore
Page 19

V 4969
Eleanor McKnight
of David
Indiana

J.H. Moore esq.
Page 20

Philad. March 16th 1839

J.J. Moore esq.
Sir
This is to certify that Mrs. Eleanor McKnight widow of Lieut David McKnight is entitled to aid from the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati
Respt Yours
//s// Wm Jackson
Sec of the Penna. Society of the Cincinnati
Page 21

50

[A partially illegible postmark] 
JUL 
27
[illegible]
Mr. Joshua J. Moore
Philadelphia
Page 22

The State of Ohio, Montgomery County ss.
On this 29th day of July A.D. 1839 Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county and state aforesaid Doctor Job Haines, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth depose and say that the annexed leaves contain the births of the children of Eleanor and Lieutenant David McKnight and that the deponent cut said leaves from the original Family Bible. And further deposes that the aforesaid Eleanor had remained the widow of her husband the aforesaid Lieutenant David McKnight ever since his death, which took place in the year Eighteen hundred and twentyone [sic].
//s// Job Haines
Sworn and subscribed before me }
//s// John Folkerth justice of the peace }

I do hereby certify that the above named Deponent Doctor Job Haines is a highly respectable & and intelligent Gentleman, and worthy of all confidence as a witness. And further that the annexed leaves were cut from the said family Record in my presence.
//s// John Folkerth Justice of the Peace
Montgomery county, Ohio
Page 23

The State of Ohio, Montgomery County SS.
I Edward W. Davies, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said county, do hereby certify, that John Folkerth, before whom the within foregoing affidavit was made, was, at the time of subscribing the same, and now is, an Acting Justice of the Peace, in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; & that full faith & credit are due to all his official acts as such.
In testimony whereof, I, the Clerk aforesaid, have hereunto set my hand, & affixed the seal of said Court, at Dayton, in the said county this twenty seventh day of July eighteen hundred & thirty nine.
//s// Edw. Davies Clk

State of Ohio }
First Judicial Circuit } Set.
I William L. Helfenstein President Judge of the Court of Common of the First Judicial Circuit in the State of Ohio, do hereby certify that Edward W. Davies, who signed and attested the foregoing certificate, is the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for said county of Montgomery (in said First Circuit) and that the foregoing certificate of his is in due form of Law.
As witness my hand and Seal at Dayton, this 27th, day of July Anno Domini 1839.
//s// Wm. L. Helfenstein
Page 24

Dayton 27th July 1839

Sir, In compliance with your request I forward the enclosed Family record of David McKnight. Most of it being in hand writing of the father of the family & Husband of the widow; it is a [illegible] which the family regret to lose, and they hope if possible that it may be forwarded and returned to them, that it may be restored to its place in the family Bible.
Very respectfully Your [illegible]
//s// Job Haines
Page 25

Philada. Nov 9th 1839

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Sir
Agreeably to your Instructions contained in your Report of the 30th Sept last, in the case of Mrs. Eleanor McKnight.
I have now the honor of enclosing [illegible] the further proof as required in your said Report, and hope it may prove satisfactory to the Department.
I have the honor to be Sir
Very Respectfully
Your Obdt. Survt.
//s// S.D.S Bower
for Joshua Moore
Page 26

[Postmark]
[illegible]
MAR 30
[Illegible]

J. L. edwards Esq.
commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.

[The following is writing written on top of the address.]
175
Apr 7 1843
Indiana
Mar 3, 1843
Eleanor McKnight

$320 [illegible]

J. McKnight
Rising Sun
Indiana
Page 27

Indiana
Rising Sun, March 29th 1843

J. L. Edwards Esq.

Dear Sir
Enclose you will find an application from Mrs. Eleanor McKnight Widow of David McKnight dcd. formerly of Cumberland County Pennsylvania who was a lieutenant in the Revolution. Mrs. McKnight was in this place Rising Sun Indian and will be much obliged to you if will send her a certificate directed to this place.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Set.
J McKnight
Page 28

State of Pennsylvania }
Cumberland County SS. }
On this ninth day of March, One thousand Eight hundred and thirty-nine, before the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County, personally appeared John Maclay Esquire, of the Borough of Shippensburg in said County, who being duly affirmed according to law, doth on his solemn affirmation declare and say that he is personally acquainted with Mrs. Eleanor McKnight, named in the annexed declaration. That he knew her previous to and at the time of her marriage with David McKnight, and that he was present at said marriage. And that they were lawfully married by the Rev. Doctor Lang at her, the said Eleanor's fathers house, on the Eighteenth day of November, One thousand Seven hundred and ninety, in the presence of a large number of witnesses. He further declares that he was well acquainted with the said Lieutenant David McKnight, and that he was a worthy man, and was reputed and believed to have been a Revolutionary Officer by all who knew him, as this affirmant believes, and that he the said David McKnight died in the year Eighteen hundred and twenty-one, and that the said Eleanor has remained his widow ever since the period of her husband, the said David McKnight's, decease.
//s// John Maclay
Affirmed, and subscribed the 9th March 1839, }
//s// Jacob Snider

Cumberland County ss.
[The word "Seal" written] I do hereby certify that I am personally and well acquainted with John Maclay Esquire, the above named affirmant, and that he is a highly respected gentleman and entitled to full faith and credit as a witness.
Shippensburg March 9th 1839  //s// Jacob Snider
Page 29

State of Pennsylvania }
Cumberland County ss. }
[Seal added] I George Sanderson, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County, Do testify that the foregoing named Jacob Snider is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for Cumberland County in the State aforesaid to all whose acts in that capacity due faith & credit are one of rights ought to be given through-out the United States and elsewhere and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Office at Carlisle this 11th day of March A.D. 1839.
//s// Geo. Sanderson Prothy

[There is additional illegible text written below the above affidavit.]
Page 30

State of Indiana Dearborn County ss.
On this Twenty Third day of March 1843 personally appeared before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, Eleanor McKnight, a resident of Rising Sun in County of Dearborn aforesaid, aged Seventy four years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed on the 3rd March 1843, granting payments to widows of Persons who served during the Revolutionary War.
That she is the widow of David McKnight dcd. [deceased] who was a Lieutenant in the Revolution and died on the 13th day of May 1821. That under the act of Congress of 7th July 1838 she received a pension of three hundred and twenty dollars per annum.
She further declares that she is still a widow. 
//s// Eleanor McKnight
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me. 
//s// Joel De Coursey Justice of the Peace [The word "Seal" has been added next to the signature.]
In presence of 
//s// J. McKnight
//s// E. Jones

I William V. Cheek, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Dearborn County, Indiana Certify that Joel De Coursey Esq. is a Magistrate as above and the the foregoing signature purporting to be his genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this 29th day of March in the year 1843.
//s// William V. Cheek Clk

[There is small and faint writing written vertically upward in the left margin. It is largely illegible and no attempt to transcribe it has been made.]
Page 31

The State of Indiana }
Dearborn county } ss.
On the Eighteenth day of October A.D. 1839 personally appeared before me a justice of the Peace in and for said county Eleanor McKnight who being first duly affirmed according to law doth declare and say that her Husband the late Lieut. David McKnight did serve as a Lieut. in the fifth Pennsylvania Regiment under the command of Col. Frances Mentges until the close of the war and that his Captains [sic] name I do not recollect and further this affiant saith not.
//s// Eleanor McKnight
Affirmed to and subscribed before me
//s// Joel DeCoursey [The word "Seal" added]
Justice of the Peace

I do hereby certify that Eleanor McKnight is well known to me and that she is a highly respectable Lady and entitled to full faith and credit as a witness.
//s// Joel DeCoursey [The word "Seal" added.]

The State of Indiana, Dearborn County Set.
I William V. Cheek, Clerk of the Dearborn Circuit Court do hereby certify that Joel DCoursey Esquire before whom the above foregoing affirmation appears to have been taken was at the time of the taking the same an acting Justice of the Peace with and in the Court aforesaid duly commissioned & sworn into office and to all his official acts as such full faith
Page 32

and credit are due and ought of right to be given. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of Said Court at Wilmington this 29th day of October A.D. 1839.
//s// William V. Cheek Clerk
Page 33

State of Indiana }
County of Dearborn ] ss.
On this Twenty Eighth day of August A.D. 1838 personally appeared before me one of the Judges of the Circuit Court in and for the County of Dearborn and State aforesaid John McKnight and Mary Reeder who being both duly affirmed according to Law doth severally on their affirmations declare and say that they are well acquainted with Eleanor McKnight named in the annexed declaration and have known her both before and since the death of her husband David McKnight who died in the year Eighteen Hundred and Twenty one and that she the said Eleanor McKnight has remained his widow every since the death of her husband the said David McKnight.
//s// John McKnight
//s// Mary Reeder
Affirmed and subscribed this 28ty Aug, 1838, before me and I certify to there credibility.}
//s// John Livingston }

State of Indiana }
Dearborn County } Set
I, Alexander H. Dill Clerk Pro Tem of the Dearborn Circuit Court do certify that John Livingston before whom the witness affidavit was sworn to and subscribed by John McKnight and Mary Reeder and who has certified the same was at the date thereby and now is one of the associate Judges of the Dearborn circuit court and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts as such associate Judge and I further certify the foregoing signature
Page 34

to be genuine.
[A seal is attached] In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of our said court 28th Aug. 1838.
//s// Alex H. Dill 
Clerk pro tem