Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 6835, for Michael Mahony, Maryland
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Md. Mahony, Michael R 6835
CONTENTS

[two columns below; both blank]
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1
County of Sydney in the Province
of Nova Scotia

John Kell of Antigonish in the County of Sydney
and Province of Nova Scotia Farmer maketh oath
and saith that in the year of our Lord one thousand
seven and seventy eight he this deponent became acquainted
with Michael Mahoney and his brother
Samuel Mahoney who served as American Soldiers
in the Revolutionary War of the United States. This
deponent was on board of a Transport in the British
Service at New York in the year before mentioned
He this deponent was then about eight years of age and
was taken on board by his Grandfather who was a Seaman
on board of the Said Transport. he this deponent knows that
the said Michael Mahoney and his Said brother Samuel
Mahoney were put on board of the Said vessel by the British
Authorities as American Prisoners. They were taken from the
Sugar house at New York with several other Prisoners. Deponent
does not recollect the name of the Said Vessel but knows that
She was a British Vessel and in British service. That a number
of other persons were put on board as prisoners also at the same
time. That shortly after the said vessel sailed for and arrived at
Sydney Cape Breton at that time in possession of the British -
The said Michael Mahoney and Samuel Mahoney with the other
persons were detained as prisoners aforesaid at the coal mines
at Sydney aforesaid until peace was proclaimed between Great
Britain and the United States - And this deponent further
saith that he is certain from the restraint put upon the said
Michael and Samuel Mahoney and the other persons that
were taken from the said Sugar House at New York that they
were actually American prisoners they being treated as such
on board of the said vessel and Subsequently as the Coal mines
at Sydney until peace was proclaimed - And further that since
that time he has been acquainted with the said Michael and
Samuel Mahoney and knows that they deservedly posess
Characters for honesty sobriety and industry in this community
and that Statements made by either of them are entitled 
to full Credit - And this deponent further saith that he has
been acquainted with Mary Mahoney wife of the aforesaid
Samuel Mahoney for upwards of Forty Years - knows her to
be
Page 3

be the wife of the Said Samuel Mahoney and was present
at their wedding at Antegonish Harbour in or about the
year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and ninety
four since which time they have lived together as husband
and wife and have had a number of Children since that 
time and lastly that upon enquirey [inquiry] deponent has been informed
and verily believes that no record public or private has been
preserved of the marriage of the said Samuel Mahoney and
Mary Mahoney
John Kell

Sworn to before me in open Court at
Antigonish this fourth day of July
Anno Domini 1840 -
W. D. Lawers

John Cunningham of Antegonish in the County of Sydney one
of the Justices of Her Majesty's Superior Court of Common Pleas
for the County of Sydney in the Province of Nova Scotia maketh
oath and saith that he this deponent has been acquainted 
with Michael Mahoney and his brother Samuel Mahoney for
upwards of Forty Years that the Characters of the said Michael andSamuel Mahoney for honesty and industry have been unimpeachable
and that Statements made by them Should be entitled to full
credit and belief. That during that period he has believed and atthe present time firmly believes from General and public report
that the Said Michael and Samuel Mahoney Served as Soldiers
in the army of the United States during the war of their Independence
and that they were Subsequently taken prisoners by
the British and never heard any thing stated to the contrary -
And further that the Said Michael and Samuel Mahoney have
during the said period resided at Antegonish until January
or February last when the said Samuel Mahoney died at Antegonish
aforesaid - And further that the said Samuel Mahoney left a widow named Mary Mahoney and a large family
of sons and daughters -----
John Cunningham ICP.
Sworn to before me in open court at Antigonish
this fourth day of July Anno Domini 1740
WD Lawers
Page 4

Michael Mahoney of Antigonish in the County of Sydney and Province
of Nova Scotia Farmer maketh oath and saith that he this deponent enlisted
as a private and his brother Samuel Mahoney as a corporal in Captain
Daniel Stulls company of Maryland State troops - on
the twenty second day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand
Seven hundred and Seventy Seven That this deponent and the said Samuel
Mahoney served in the said Company until the twenty Second day of August
following when being engaged in action they were taken prisoner by the
British at Staten Island They were immediately sent to the Sugar
House at New York where they were detained with a number of other
prisoners for a number of days  at the expiration of which time this deponent
and the Said Samuel Mahoney were taken with some other of the
Survivors of the Said prisoners and put on board of and carried in a British transport from the Said Sugar House at New York aforesaid to
the Coal mines at Sydney in the Island of Cape Bretton then in possession
of the British were they were kept at work as American prisoners until
the peace was proclaimed between Great Britain and the United States
That this deponent and the Said Samuel Mahoney shortly afterwards came
to Antigonish aforesaid where this deponent has since resided and the same
Samuel Mahoney also during the remainder of his life Ant this deponent
further Saith that he has been acquainted with Mary Mahoney mentioned
in the Affidavit of John Kele hereunto annexed nearly fifty years he this
deponent was present at Antigonish and saw the said Samuel Mahoney
married to the said Mary Mahoney by a Mr Whitmore a magistrate duly
authorized by Government to solemnize marriages on or about the Sixth day
of May in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and ninety
four - And this deponent further saith he was present at Antigonish
about three months after the last mentioned date and saw the said
Samuel Mahoney again married to the said Mary Mahoney by the
Revd James J. Donald a Roman Catholic priest according to the rites
and ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church And this deponent
further Saith that he has made enquiry and cannot find that any record
either public or private of either of the said marriages of the said Samuel
Mahoney and Mary Mahoney has been preserved but on the contrary
has been informed and verily believes that now such is estant And
this deponent lastly saith that the said Samuel Mahoney died at
Antigonish aforesaid in January or February last past leaving the
Said Mary Mahoney  his widow with a large family, the sons and
daughters of the Said Samuel Mahoney
Michael Mahoney
Sworn to before me in open court at Antigonish
this fourth day of July Anno Domini 1840
W.D. Lawers -
Page 5

We the Subscribers inhabitants of Antigonish in the County of Sydney
and Province of Nova Scotia do severally make oath and say
that we have been acquainted with Michael Mahoney and his
brother Samuel Mahoney for a number of years - They The Said
Michael and Samuel Mahoney have resided at Antigonish aforesaid
for a number of years past and have been known as persons of
unimpeachable honesty industry and integrity and whose Statements
are entitled to full credit and belief and that from General and
public report the we firmly believe them to have Served as American
Soldiers during the revolutionary war of the Untied States and
that they were Subsequently taken prisoners by The British and
further that We have never heard anything stated to the contrary

+ William Fraser Gp. Tanen
& vicar apostolic of Nova
Scotia and Cape Breton

Alexander McDougall Member
of Assembly for Nova Scotia

Richd J Fonestall Member
of Assembly for Nova Scotia

RM..[illegible] J Rand
Lieut Col Militia

Geo Brenan J.P.

William Carrie [illegible]

James Milkie, Capt. Militia

Sworn to before me in Open Contat
Antigonish this fourth day of July
Anno Domini 1840 ~
W.D. Lawers.
Page 6

I William Quincy Sawers Esquire Chief Justice
of her Majestys Inferior Court of Common Pleas
for the County of Sydney in the Province of Nova
Scotia do hereby certify that the several affidavits
hereunto annexed were severally attested before
me this day in open court and that the several
deponents subscribing the same, that is to Say
John Kell, John Cunningham, Michael Mahoney
William Fraser, Alesander McDougall. Richard
J Forrestall. Robert N Henry, George Brenan
William Curry and James Wilkie did severally
make oath and say that the statements made
in the said affidavit to which they respectively
subscribed were correct and true. And I do hereby
further certify that the said several deponents are
persons of respectability and credibility and are
the persons which they by the said affidavits are
represented to be and that their statements jointly
and severally made as aforesaid are entitled to
full credit and belief - In Testimony where of I
have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said
Court in Open Court at Antigonish this fourth
day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and Forty. ~
William Quincy Sawers
Chief Jus. Com. Pleas
East Div Nova Scotia
Page 7

[round black stamp; faded image is illegible]
26
1/10 1/2

Thomas L. Thruston Esqr
Washington
United States
Pension Papers

[round black stamp inscribed as follows]
ANTIGONISH NS FE 4 1843

[round black stamp inscribed as follows]
ST ANDREWS NB FE 9 1843
Page 8

Antigonishe 3rd Febry 1843

My Dear Sir

I am extremly [extremely] surprised that notwithstanding
I have written four or five Letters directed to you about
Mahaneys affairs I am yet without without a reply

I have began to doubt that the
communications ever reached your hands or perhaps
that you had removed from your former place of residence
So that if this communication is unanswered I shall
be convinced that my conjecture is correct not believing
that my anxiety arises from any negligence on your
part and will consequently proceed to Washington myself
immediately on the opening of the Spring.

The great expence [expense]I
have already incured [incurred] will induce me to adopt this
measure for I cannot make myself easy under the
circumstances
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circumstances while there is any hope of obtaining
the amount due by the United States Government
for Mahaney's Services.

The old man is now in a 
very precarious state of health and unless some steps
are immediately taken in the matter in all probability
he will not live to reap any advantage from the
services of his youth being spent for what he may
then say was in the employment of an ungrateful
country.

There is another individual a Coloured
Man in the same situation of Mahaney and if
there was any chance of success he would immediately
also apply to yourself.

I sincerely hope the amount
of Mahaneys pay will be recovered as well for 
his sake as my own and if a power of Attorney
will procure the money an intimation to that effect
and it will be forwarded to you. At all events
an answer from you would be some consolation 
even
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even should it be unfavourable to my expectations
for I would then know the worst
I Remain
My Dear Sir
Your Ovt. Servt.
Robert Delaney

To Tho. L Thruston Esqr.
Page 11

For decision if the Secretary of War in
the case of Michael Mahoney, be
decision filed among rules, order &c.
of Secretary of War. -
Page 12

Wm Poisett is respectfully reminded of the case of the
old man from Nova Scotia, who is an applicant for
a pension, and in which Mr Thruston is acting.
The old man is still in the city on expense
waiting the Secretarys decision.
W.C
Page 13

06
Rejected

6835

act 7 June 1832
Page 14

Michael Mahoney
of Nova Scotia
D.C - Rejected.
[crossed out: Suspended]
Let: to  T.L. Thruston
Augst 26th:: 1840
Let to secretary of War - August 31, 1840.
"  " Thomas L Thruston, September 1, 1840.
Act 7. June 32
Page 15

[crossed out: Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.]

6835

P.O.
Michael Mahoney
Service:
Enlisted: , 18 .
Discharged: , 18 .
Application filed: , 18 .
Alleges: 
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.

Recognized. Contract.
Cert. of Dis. Searched for , 18 .

[stamped diagonally across this page: REJECTED]
Page 16

Province of Nova Scotia}
County of Sydney to wit}

Joseph Langley of Antigonish in the County of
Sydney and Province of Nova Scotia Yeoman maketh
oath and saith that as near as deponent can
recollect he is now eighty four years of age. that
deponent was perfectly acquainted fifty four
years ago with Nathan Pushee, Michael Mahaney, 
Samuel Mahaney Walter Glasgow and Tephaniah
Williams all of whom from public and
general report as well as from their private conversation
this deponent is assured and verily believes
were Soldiers in the Service of the United States of
America during the war of their independence. That
this deponent has frequently being present when the
Said Michael Mahaney and Samuel Mahaney
asserted that they had been conveyed as prisoners
to the mines at Sydney Cape Breton - that they
were harshly used by the British - treated like Slaves
and compelled to work without receiving any renumeration
whatsoever - That this statement invariably
received the assent of the other persons above
named all of whom are since deceased. nor has
deponent any reasonable doubt as to the fact-
that the above named Nathan Pushee always
asserted that he was "bugle-man" or "trumpeter"
to Washington and that as such and for his 
service during the war, deponent believes he the
said Nathan Pushee received a pension from the
United States Government That deponent swears
that he has no sinister or interrested [interested]end in making 
this affidavit - that he makes it purely for
the sake of Justice and that he is convinced from
very many circumstances that the said Michael
Mahaney and Samuel Mahaney were the persons
they represented themselves to be and that their
declarations were and are entitled to receive full
credit.
Joseph + ^his mark^ Laugley

Sworn to before me at Antigonish
this Fifth day of July AD 1841
John Cunningthm
Custos Rotatorun
Page 17

Province of Nova Scotia}
County of Sydney to wit}

I, John Cunningham of Antigonish in the
County of Sydney and Province of Nova Scotia
Esquire First Magistrate of the said County
do hereby certify that Joseph Langley mentioned
in the within affidavit did in my 
presence make his oath thereto and swear
to the truth thereof. And I further certify
that such an affidavit made by the
said Joseph Langley is entitled to recieve
full credit.

In Testimony whereof
I have hereunto set
my hand and the seal
of the said County this
fifth day of July in the
year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred
and forty one - 
John Cunningham Custos [illegible]
Page 18

Th: L. Thruston Esq
Pensylvania Avenue
Washington

Pension papers

T.L. Thruston
[illegible]
July 20.1841
Page 19

Antigonish 6r Sydney 6 June 1841

Dear Sir

Enclosed you will find an affidavit of
Joseph Langley, one of the early companions of Nathan Pushee
and the Mahaneys, together with a certificate of the Custos of
this County. In my last I mentioned to you that I should
apply to the Honbl Wm Dodd of Sydney Cape Breton for
information respecting the documents, if any, kept by the British
Government at the time of the incarceration of the American prisoners
at the Sydney mines, and have received from him the answer, that
no documents, as far as he can discover, are extant - This is the
reason why, in accordance with the spirit of your letter of this 
25th April last, I have obtained the enclosed affidavit which
ought, I think, in the absence of strictly legitimate testimony,
to be admitted under the character of secondary evidence-
Should Mr Dodd's testimony as to the non-existence of records be
wanting, it can, in the course of a few weeks, be obtained.
Please write me by the very first opportunity and give me your
decided opinion on the whole affair, as I wish to have
every thing arranged previous to my visit to the United States 
which
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which, I hope, will be about the latter end of August
or beginning of September next - Mr Pushee cannot
accompany me - she is too frail -
I remain
Dear Sir
Your obt servt
Robt Delaney -

To
Th: L. Thruston Esqr
[illegible]
Page 21

(Copy.)
Pension Office,
August 31, 1840.

Sir,
I have the honor to ask your
opinion upon the following case:

In April, 1776, Michael Mahoney,
a native of Ireland, then residing in Frederick
County, Maryland, enlisted into the 7th regiment
of the Maryland lIne and was taken prisoner
on the 22d August, 1776 in the battle on Staton
Island. After a detention of several months
(he estimates it at nine months) in the "Sugar
House" and "Prison Ship" he left the Depot of
Prisoners, "by choice, to go to Cape Breton to work
the Coal Mines there with fourteen others. After
reaching Cape Breton they were not permitted
to leave the Island till the close of the War.
There was no military stationed there. He received
a pay or wages for getting coal, &c. Provisions
were regularly served out to the prisoners, &c." After
the war he continued to reside in Nova Scotia
to the present time. As he voluntarily exchanged
the situation of a prisoner of war for that of
an employee in the civil service of the enemy,
he cannot claim for captivity during such 
employment.
Page 22

But the question which I have the
honor to submit, it, whether it be not such
an abandonment of his enlistment as to draw
after it, like desertion, the forfeiture of all 
claims founded upon the merits of a previous
service.

The claimant is awaiting your decision
upon this point, and it would confer a great
favor upon him to have the earliest attention
of the Department.

I have th honor to be,
very respectfully,
your obt. sert.

(Signed) J. L. Edwards.

Hon. Joel R. Poinsett,
Secretary of War.
Page 23

[vertically on the page: Aug 28. 1840. D.C.]

FREE
J. L. Edwards, Esqr.,
Commissr. of Pensions,
Washington City,
D.C.
Page 24

Land Office, Annapolis, 25th August, 1840,

Sir,

In reply to your letter of the 22nd Inst., I have to
state, that the names of Michael Mahoney and Samuel Mahoney appear
upon the Master rolls of the Revolution in this office to have enlisted
in Daptain Stalls Company of the 7th Maryland Regiment, Michael
Mahoney, enlisted as a private, the 22nd day of April, 1777, and
on the 22nd of August, 1777, is marked "missing", Samuel Mahoney
enlisted as a Corporal, the 22nd day of April, 1777, and in the margin of
Remarks opposite his name, there is the following Entry, - "22nd. August,
1777, Missing - off Rolls October 77." - By the rolls therefore, both
appear to have enlisted on the same day and are marked missing on
the same day, whether they deserted or not I am unable to say. -
The Pay rolls afford no evidence of their ever having received any pay while in service, I do not find either of their names upon any of the
Pay rolls.
Very respectfully
yr. obt. st.
G. G. Brewar,

J.L. Edwards, Esqr,
Page 25

35094
Michael Mahoney
DC
act 7 June '32
Page 26

District of Columbia
County of Washington} Sc

On this 31st day of August A.D. 1840
personally appeared before me William Cranch Judge of
the district court of the District of Columbia
Michael Mahoney, a Resident of the British province
of Nova Scotia, aged, He believes, eighty or more years
his exact age He does not know - who being first duly
sworn according to law doth on his oath make the
following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit
of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed
June 7, 1832. That He enlisted in the Army of the
United States in the year 1777 with Captain Daniel
Stull at Hagerstown in the State of Maryland and
served in the seventh Maryland Batallion [Battalion]
Regiment commanded by Col. Gunby - On the 22d
August following He was taken prisoner after a
pretty severe action on Staten Island in which
Major Powell of the same Batallion [Battalion]was killed.
Genls Sullivan & Smallwood, and Gel Labor (as the
affiant pronounces it) commanding the Canadian
Refugees were also present on that day - After being
taken prisoner He was taken to New York and put into
the Sugar House but was after some time put on board a
transport or prison ship with others in all 160 prisoners -
some time afterwards He with others, in all about forty
persons, all that were left of the 160 - from hard treatment
and
Page 27

and disease were again put into the sugar house. He afterwards, having now been more than
nine months a prisoner, left the Sugar House by choice
to go to Cape Breton to work the coal mines there-
with fourteen others He was put on board a vessel & did
not leave it until their arrival at Cape Breton - they
had traveled at Halifax, but the prisoners were not
allowed to leave the vessel - after reaching Cape Breton
they were not permitted to leave the Island until
the close of the War - that shortly after it had closed
he left Capt Breton & went to Prince Edward Island.
While at Cape Breton He was under the direction or
command of a person called Gov. Russel. there were no
military stationed there - He received no pay or wages
for getting coal from the mines but were allowed to
receive compensation from the shipping for assisting to
load coal on board with which they bought clothing
they were strictly looked after for about a year after
which were left pretty much to themselves while not at
work except as to the privilege of leaving the Island -
He never received any pay or bounty money from the
Government of the United States from the time of his enlistment
to this day
Michl. Mahony
Sworn before me
W Cranch.