Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5850, for Hugh Kelsey, South Carolina
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SC   Kelsey, Hugh   R.5850
Margaret
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No.  6984
Margaret Kelsey
wid of Hugh
      July 1838
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State of Indiana        Morrow Probate Court
Morrow County Sct    August seven, 1847.

On this 12th day of August 1847 personally appeared in open court now in session at the courthouse in the Town of Bloomington in the state and county and state aforesaid, Mrs. Margaret Kelsey, a resident of the County of Morrow and State aforesaid aged eighty nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836, granting pensions to certain widows;  that she is the widow of Hugh Kelsey late deceased of Chester district South Carolina - as who was a soldier in the army of the revolution, and served the United States against the common enemy as follows, First her said husband commenced his services in the month of March in the year 1776 as a volunteer under Capt Dixon for the defense of Charleston and served in this campaign one month, he afterward enlisted under the said Capt Dixon for the term of two years, but was discharged at the end of one year, he was afterward drafted and commissioned his tour os service on the 4th of March 1779 under Captain Whiteside, and served four or five months, and was at Charleston when General Proust made his attack on that place in the month of May 1779.  A few days before the battle at the fish pond he entered the army (o rather the small party) of General Sumpter the regiment he was in was commissioned by Col Edward Lacy, and to the best of my recollection my brother Captain John Mills commanded the company to which he belonged;  he was with General Sumpter at the above named places (on Broad River) on the twelfth of November 1781.  When the said Sumpter was attacked at that place by a corps of British infantry and dragoons commanded by Major Wymens of house burning memory, he continued in Sumpters army and was in the engagement at Black Starks near Gyge River
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on the 20th of the above month (November) but cannot now recollect precisely the date of his return home from this tour of service, but I know he was at home when our oldest daughter was born, which was in March 1781 but started again a few weeks after that even on another tour of service under General Sumpter and Col Lacy, but cannot at this time recollect who was the captain that commanded the company he was in (it was about this time that my brother commenced raising his State Troop) he was but three or four weeks in service at this time.  After his return he was appointed by my brother Captain Mills as holster or harness maker to his troop, and employed in making holsters, sword scabbards, waist belts and caps.

And further I declare that I was married to the said Hugh Kelsey on the 20th of March seventeen hundred and eighty;  that my husband the aforesaid Hugh Kelsey, died on the 18th day of June 1817. and that I have remained his widow ever since that period.  I also declare that I have a family reared by Mary who married March 1808 and now a resident of the State of Tennessee and has had seven children, Elizabeth not married, Ernest married August 1810 had seven children she died in Carolina, Margaret was married April 1813 has had ten children and if living so far and I know is a resident of the State of Mississippi.  Susanna was married February 1822, has had eight children is now a resident of this state.  Thomas was married September 1825 has eight children and is now a resident of the State of Indiana.  And I further declare that I have no record entered of my husbnad's services, neither do I know that any such record now exists.

Subscribed and sworn to in open court on this day and date above written.

Margaret O (her mark) Kelsey
Milton M Whitingen Clerk PG
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State of Indiana             Monroe Probate court
Monroe County             August Seven 1847

And the Court doth hereby certify that it was shown in evidence to the satisfaction of the said Court that Mrs Margaret Kelsey the foregoing declarant is the Widow of Hugh Kelsey late of Chester district South Carolina also that she is a person possessing more than ordinary intelligence, and of unexceptionable moral character - a lady of more than ordinary worth, and that her declaration was subscribed and sworn to in open court.
                                             Aguilla Rogers
                                             Probate Judge

State of Indiana
Monroe County S   August Seven Monroe Probate Court 1847

I Milton McPhotridge Claerk of the Probate Court of said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Margaret Kelsey for a pension.  Whereupon the court orders that the clerk certify the same to the war department.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and office the seal of said court as clerk thereof at offices in Bloomington, this twelfth day of August 1847
Milton McPhotridge Clerk of PGMG
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Rejected
5850
P.O.  Margaret Kelsey
Service:  Hugh Kelsey
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Concerning letter of Thos Kelsey relative to case of Mrs Kelsey


Hon. James E. Wiath
Commiss of Pending  Present
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Washington Dec 18, 1850

Hon James E Heath
Commiss of Pensions

for

The enclosed letter states the inquiries to which I would solicit a reply which under much reply

Your Officant
Andrew Wylie Jr.
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Bloomington Indiana August 13, 1847

Mr. T L Edwards

Sir I send you through the agesory of all Beltis My Declaration for the purpose of attaining a pension.  Being in communication with that gentleman in another case connected with drawing pension and he having offered to attend to my case also if I wished him accordingly I have employed him to do so.

And to you Sir permit me to remark that although it appears strange that I have so long defered to make the present application yet I have (what to me appears) good reasons for my conduct.   It was not until a few months since that I was aware that I was entitled by law to draw pension.   Nor was I ever nor am I yet much disposed to beg a loss from Government..  But I think seeing my country is now able to reward me (in a pecanuary way) for the toils the promotions and sufferings which I endured for it where in its infancy and has offered such reward it would be a mark rather of pride than of greatness of mind to refuse the offer.

And indeed when we consider what their toils and sufferings were for did time and space permit I could give you a history of astonishing and pleasing full of woe and full of interests his recollection of it is so to me at least.)  I say when we consider what we who witnessed those days of ardent and momentous struggling for liberty had to endure the reward offered my indeed be called but pecuniary it is no reward for our struggles and anguish of mind but we
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have a reward for that also is the blessings of our country which we and our posterity enjoy.

Hoping Sir you will attend to my case and either directly or through Mr. Baltic give me such instrucitons as may be necessary.  I ........... yours be

Margaret Kelsey
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Sept 11 47
Cl 6984
Margaret Kelsey
Wid of Hugh
Ino
Act 11 July 1836

Ja. Lp. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City, DC
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Morganton WV
Sept 1 1847

Sir,
I enclose to you the Declaration of Mrs. Margaret Kelsey together with his Letter to your department regarding an examination of her claim - Mrs. Kelsey has made her said location without any knowledge of the records in the Comp Office of SC I am well satisfied and so far as those records verify her status is would seem that she should enjoy the benefits of the pension.  I will have on the earliest opportunity in furnishing you an account with the evidence in anifors office.  The SC line rolls I suppose are in your department -

Plaese examine this claim and report the same to me at Chester Court House South Carolina & oblyr
I am your very respectful 
S.A. Bettis
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No. 6984
Margaret Kelsey
SC
Lt SA Bettis Sept 29 '67
A Nytic  Feb 10/...

5850

out July 1836