Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6,775, for Joshua Mc Lain, Maryland
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(3-1776)

SERVICE | NUMBER
Md. | McClain, Joshua | R. 6,775
or McLane
Elizabeth

CONTENTS
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177 
The petition of 
Elizabeth McLain
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State of Maryland Frederick County 

On this fifteenth day of February one thous
and eight hundred and forty nine personally appeared 
before the subscriber Elizabeth McLain a resident of 
Urbana district in the County of Frederick aged 
seventy years who being duly sworn according to law doth 
on her oath make the following declaration in order to 
obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of 
Congress passed July 29th 1848.

I am the widow of Joshua McLain a soldier of 
the revolution a resident of Frederick County a vol
unteer who entered the service with Capt Ralph Hillery 
(by reference to whose commission the date may be de
termined) at Fort Frederick it was about the time however when Phil
adelphia was menaced by the British and joined 
the army under Washington, in time to participate 
in the battle of Brandywine, was in the action of 
Paoli and Germantown and wintered at Valley 
Forge and when the army retreated through 
New Jersey in the following spring was in the battle 
of Trenton after which his company was disbanded 
he having served a period of nine months.

On several occasions afterwards he performed 
military services but there are no records to establish 
these facts but by reference as above stated; they were 
always performed under Captain Hillery who com
manded a company of select militia, to which he
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belonged.  He married the petitioner on the third 
day of November 1796 and died on the 27th day 
of March 1815.  Ever since which she has rem
ained a widow.  She applied for a pension in 
1845 but owing to the then existing law her case 
was not embraced and being now in reduced cir
cumstances, borne down with age and infirmity 
prays for that relief which may be afforded 
under the act of July 29th 1848 respectfully 
referring you to the testimony accompanying 
the petition.  From bodily infirmity she is 
prevented from attending court
Attest
Joseph Stretch | Elizabeth her X mark McLain
Sworn to and subscribed 
on the year and day above 
written before | Joseph Stretch
[illegible]

STATE OF MARYLAND, 
FREDERICK COUNTY, Sct.

I HEREBY CERTIFY, That Joseph Stretch 
Esquire before whom the annexed affidavit was made, and who has 
thereto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the 
Peace of the State of Maryland, in and for the County of Frederick, duly commissioned and sworn.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereto set my hand, and 
affix the seal of Frederick County Court, this 22d
day of February 1847
Wm B Tyler
Clerk of Frederick County Court.
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I hereby certify that Elizabeth 
McLain is now and has been a resident 
(according to the most respectable testimony) 
of Frederick County all her life and as a 
wife, lived with her husband until his 
death.  She is now so afflicted with palsy 
as to render it impracticable for her to 
attend a court.
Joseph Stretch
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[Struck out: Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1876.]

[Stamp] REJECTED 

6775
P. O. 
Elizabeth McLain 
Service: wid of Joshua

Enlisted:  , 18 .
Discharged:  , 18 .

Application filed: , 18 .

Alleges:
Re-enlisted:

Attorney:
P. O. 
Recognized. Contract.
Cert. of Dis.  Searched for , 18 .
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[This image cannot be transcribed]
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House of Rep. Mar. 3. 1849

Col. Edwards

Dr Sir

Enclosed I send you the 
application and proofs of Elizabeth 
McLain, a widow of a surviving officer 
or soldier of the Revolution, claiming 
a pension under the act of 1848.

Very Resply
Yr Obedt Servt

J Dixon Rosua
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[Envelope with notes]

[Note] Hyatttown 
July 13

[Note written vertically left margin]
W. Allison 
Eliz. McLain

[Address] 
5 

Maj. James L Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington City D C
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[illegible] Canna July 20th 1849

Dear Sir

You will please to let me hear the result 
in my mothers case for pension she is the widow of Joshua
Mclane decd and it will be a great favor as she 
is old and infirmity [infirm] and in [repeated: in] need therefore wish to 
hear from you soon.

I am sir your Truly 
Joshua Mclane
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Certificate of 
Benj Bennet
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I hereby certify that Joshua McLane has often 
told me and my father that he was in the Revo
lutionary war; and from the description of different 
battles that he said that had seen & had been in, 
I am fully persuaded that he told the truth.
Attest
E. H Rockwell | Benjamin Bennett

Frederick County, to wit:

On this 16th day of November 
1845 before the subscriber a justice of the peace of the State 
of Maryland in & for the County aforesaid personally ap
peared Benjamin Bennett and made oath on the 
Holy Evangely of Almighty God that the above certifi
cate contains a true statement of facts to the best of his 
knowledge & belief
Sworn before. Elihu H. Rockwell

STATE OF MARYLAND, 
FREDERICK COUNTY, Sct.

I HEREBY CERTIFY, That Elihu H. Rockwell 
Esquire before whom the annexed affidavit was made, and who has 
thereto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the 
Peace of the State of Maryland, in and for the County of Frederick, duly commissioned and sworn.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereto set my hand, and 
affix the seal of Frederick County Court, this 22d 
day of February 1849
Wm B Tyler [illegible]
Clerk of Frederick County Court.
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I hereby certify that Joshua McLain 
volunteered in the service of the United States 
in the war of the revolution under my uncle 
Capt Ralph Hillary at Fort Frederick in 
Frederick County Maryland The date
I believe to be in the year 1777 but this may 
be obtained by reference to the commission of 
Cap Hillary.  I have frequently heard them 
speak of different battles in which they 
participated.
James Hillary
Attest
Joseph Stretch

State of Maryland Frederick County
to wit On this 20th day of February 1849 
personally appeared before me the subscriber  
a justice of the peace for said State and County 
James Hillary and made oath on the holy 
Evangely of Almighty God that the above cer
tificate is a true statement according to the 
best of his knowledge and belief.
Joseph Stretch 

STATE OF MARYLAND, 
FREDERICK COUNTY, Sct.

I HEREBY CERTIFY, That Joseph Stretch 
Esquire before whom the annexed affidavit was made, and who has 
thereto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the 
Peace of the State of Maryland, in and for the County of Frederick, duly commissioned and sworn.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereto set my hand, and 
affix the seal of Frederick County Court, this 22d 
day of February 1849
Wm B Tyler 
Clerk of Frederick County Court.
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State of Maryland Montgomery County to wit

On this 23rd day of December 1845 
personally appeared before me Phillemon M
Smith a Justice of peace for said County 
Asa Hyatt Esqr who being first duly sworn 
according to law, states that he was well 
acquainted with Joshua Mclean for 
forty years back and well recollect of his 
telling me frequently of his having been in the 
Battles of Brandywine Paoli & Germantown 
and of his having been in service several 
years altogether, his widow Elizabeth 
Mclean is now living and is an old 
woman but how old I am not able 
to say Captain Ralph Hillary is well known 
in this section to have volenterd [volunteered] with his 
company to defend Philladelphia [Philadelphia] and 
I have not the least doubt but that the 
husband of the petitinor[ petitioner] did serve as 
set forth by her and further saith not 
Sworn and subscribed 
the day & year above 
written
Philom M Smith J. P.

I certify that the above named deponent is 
a gentleman of high Respectability and worthy 
of all credit as to any statement which 
he may make under oath or otherwise  
and that I believe him to be 58 years of 
[repeated: of] age
Phila. M Smith J. P
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State of Maryland Montgomery County 

I hereby certify that Philemon M Smith 
Gent by whom the within deposition 
seems to have been taken, was at the 
time thereof a Justice of the peace 
in & for the County & State aforesaid, 
duly commissioned & sworn
In Testimony whereof 
I hereto set my name & seal 
of office this 14th day of 
February 1849
[illegible] Stonestreet Clk
Montgy Coty Ct

[Note written vertically left margin]
Certificate of 
Asa Hyatt