Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22899, for Neal Mc Kay, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Penn.

McKay, Neal

NUMBER
S.22899


CONTENTS
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11.105
Pennsylvania
Neal McKay of Erie Co in the State of Pennsylvania who was a Sgt & Pr in the Company commanded by Captain Brown of the Regt commanded by Col Smith-- in the Pennsylvania line for
2 mo Sergeant   $10.00
8 " Private    $26.66

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 36 Dollars 55 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 27th day of March 1833 and Sent to Thos [Thomas] H Sill Erie Pa

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $73.32
Semi-anl. annual] allowance ending 4 Sept 1833 18.33
$91.65

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by John T. Sprague Clerk
Book E Vol. 5 Page 39
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No 4384
Pennsylvania
Suspend. Ply. 5. 14.16
Nov. 13. 1832 
P-52
Thomas H. Till
Erie Penna
Admitted
2 mo. Sergeant $10.00
8 " Private  26.64
10 " $36.64
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BRIEF in the case of Neal McKay of Waterford County of Erie in the State of Pennsylvania
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 85
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and field Officers under whom he served.  
In 1776   |  2 Months | as a 1 Sargt [Sergeant]  |  Capt [Captain] Rogers & Brown Col Rogers Lord Sterling
Nov " | 5 Months | 2d Lieut [Lieutenant] |  Capt [Captain] Rogers Genl [General] Ewing
Sept 1777 | 2 months | Private |   Capt [Captain] Crane, Col Patterson  Genl [General]  Potter
                  | 1 Months | do | Capt [Captain] Sawyer. Col Smith
5. In what battles was he engaged? Brandywine
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Hanover, Pennsylvania
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? They are
not properly attached & duration of service not stated sufficiently definite
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Jas Wilson
Examining Clerk.
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State of Pennsylvania}
Erie County SS}
On this Seventh day of August A D 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Erie being a court of Record now sitting Neal McKay a resident of the town of Waterford in the County of Erie and State of Pennsylvania aged eighty three years who being first duly sworn according to laws doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
That at the time he performed the services herein set forth he was a resident of the Township of Hanover in the County of Lancaster (now Dauphin ) in the State of Pennsylvania
Some time in the month of August immediately after the Battle of Long Island and General Washington's retreat from that place as the applicant
believes in the year 1776 this deponent belonged to the Company of Militia commanded by Capt [Captain] James Rogers of Hanover aforesaid after the said Battle on Long Island orders were received for the militia to turn out and go to the scene of action. Capt [Captain] Rogers' company of which I was then first Sergeant turned out and were marched to Lancaster in Pennsylvania. Capt [Captain] Rogers who commanded our company was at that time out on service and Battle of Long Island and was in Lord Sterling's Brigade or Division. Our company was marched to Lancaster under the command of Lieutenant Rogers the whole Battalion was marched to Lancaster under the command of Col Rogers. After we had arrived at Lancaster, the two companies were formed into one and were commanded by Capt [Captain] Brown
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I was first Sergeant in Capt [Captain] Rogers company, the company commanded by Capt [Captain] Brown was marched from Lancaster by the way of Philadelphia Trenton and Brunswick to Amboy in New Jersey. I went along with them as a volunteer. When we arrived
at Amboy a part of Capt [Captain] Brown's company was formed into what was called the "Flying Camp". I volunteered to go and join my Captain (Capt [Captain] Rogers) who was then at Fort Constitution (since called Fort Lee) on the North River a little above N York
I found Capt [Captain] Rogers at Fort Constitution, he was about returning home.  Soon I was placed in the company of Militia commanded by Capt [Captain] Green. I was marched across to Fort Washington and from thence to De Lancy's Mills across Harlem river and from thence back again to Fort Constitution. There was a man belonging to the company commanded by Capt [Captain] Green by the name of Robert Martin, his leg had been shot off in the Battle of Long Island. I was ordered to press a waggon [wagon] and take him home. he liveing [living] in the same town with me. I pressed a waggon [wagon] at Newark and took him to Trenton and we went from thence to Philadelphia by water At Philadelphia I pressed a Virginia waggon [wagon] and took him to Lancaster; I there joined a waggon [wagon] from our own neighbourhood [neighborhood] and took him home.
I was more than two months gone on this tour of Service
In the month of November or December 1776 orders came from General Washington offering a bounty to Volunteers to turn out and join his army Ten dollars were offered to those who would join on a certain day; to those who would join after wards seven and five dollars. A number of
men turned out and volunteered from our town and neighbourhood [neighborhood]. I was elected Second Lieutenant of the company. We marched on to Philadelphia. On our way to Philadelphia six or eight miles west of the city, we met the
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Hessiens [Hessians] who had been taken Prisoners at Trenton and Princeton. we went on to Philadelphia. James Rogers was our captain and James Wilson our first Lieutenant. We were paraded before Genl [General] Ewing of the Militia. He ordered that every officer must parade with ten men. There were but twenty one privates in our company; the Captain paraded with ten and the first Lieutenant with ten There was but one left for me I then enlisted with ten men as volunteers in Philadelphia who joined our company and I paraded with them (the same day before General Ewing
The next morning our company was paraded and was ordered to march to Trenton. We went on to Trenton; we were the first company that went into Trenton after the Battle. We were then marched on to the head quarters of Genl [General] Washington at Morristown N Jersey
We remained there during the winter untill [until] the spring of 1777. About the last of March or first of April we were discharged by Genl [General] Washington and ordered to go home. He ordered us on our way to Philadelphia to take charge of twenty five prisoners to Philadepha [Philadelphia] Which we did and lodged them in the new jail in Philadelphia. We then returned home; I was engaged on this tour from the time I left home untill [until] the time I returned home about five months. At the time we were out on this tour we were known by the name of the "Paxton Riflemen"
In the month of September 1777 orders came for a class of militia to turn out for a tour of two months duty. I was drafted as a private in the company of Militia commanded by Capt [Captain] Ambrose Crane. We were marched to Lancaster and from thence to Chester and from thence to Wilmington (Delaware) and from thence to Gibsons Mill on Brandywine River There we joined Col Morris' Battalion, from Philadelphia. From thence marched to near the line of Newport (Pennes). [Pennsylvania] Then we were marched back to Wilmington and from thence to the Battle field of the Battle of Brandywine
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Myself and six others of our company were out on an advance guard at the time of the action during the forenoon of the day of the action. In the afternoon we joined our regiment. We were then drawn up in the line of Battle. We were in Genl [General] Potters Brigade. When the British troops came up about one half of our Brigade retreated, leaving about fifteen hundred men with whom I remained. Genl [General] Potter was much agitated and became almost furious at the desertion of his men. The ordered us to stand our ground untill [until] we were ordered to retreat - which we did After the Battle we were marched back to Chester the same night. Genl [General] Washington commanded in that Battle: Genl [General] Lafayette was there; I was not more than twenty rods from him when he was wounded Genl [General] Maxwell was there; his Brigade suffered very severely.
From Chester we were marched to Philadelphia We were paraded of the Commons there. Five hundred of us volunteered to cut away the embankment of the meadows below Philadelphia,  so as to prevent the approach of the British Army by that way. I was one of that number, but being attacked with the ague had leave to go to a relation in Philadelphia. I remained there several days untill [until] the alarm came that the British would be in Philadelphia by ten oclock the next day I then left the city (altho' [although] very weak) and went up the
Schuylkill eight or ten miles, there I fell in with my own company and joined Gen Potters Brigade at the Trap tavern two or three miles from Germantown. We were marched from thence across Perkiomen creek near to Pottsgrove and then marched back to the Trap tavern. In crossing Perkiomen Creek I had to wade in the water and the ague came on me again, my captain then ordered me to go to a house in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] and try to get better of my sickness. I went there accordingly and was there at the time the Battle of Germantown took
place: I heard the firing of the Battle but was unable from sickness to join the army
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The next day after the Battle I joined our Regiment at the Trap tavern; I had then only six days more to serve and my Captain gave me my discharge and directed me to go home. I then returned home having served two months as before mentioned
After this I removed into Cumberland County in the same State
Some years after (the year I do not recollect) at the time Freelings Fort in Northumberland County was taken there was an alarm raised and volunteers were called on to go to the defence [defense] of the County. I was at this time out of the muster roll having served my time. I volunteered to go and went to Sunbury. We were there organised [organized] and I was there put in Capt [Captain] James Sawyers
Company; Col Mathew Smith was our commanding Officer Capt [Captain] John Harris was second in command. From Northumberland town we marched to Freeling's Fort and from thence to Wallace's Fort. While at Wallaces Fort we were paraded and one hundred men of our party detached to go to the Big Meadows on Lycoming Creek. I was one of that party. We went in pursuit of the Indians but did not come up with them, from thence we returned to Wallace's Fort and then we were dismissed and went home having served a tour of one month
He has no documentary evidence and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services
He hereby relinquishes 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 answer to Interrogatories saith that he was born in Ireland in seventeen hundred
& forty nine-- has no record of his age- never had a discharge & did not wait for any commission
Has stated names of officers - 
That among his present neighbors in Gen W. Smith Judge J Vincent, John Boyd Esq
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The court propounded the following interrogatories to the applicant
1st Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so where is it
3 Where were you living when called into service Where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute? And if a substitute for whom?
5. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served; such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service
6. To a soldier. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?
To an officer- Did you ever receive a commission and if so by whom was it signed and what has become of it.
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, [neighborhood] and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution
who have been acquainted with him from thirty to forty years, and Revd [Reverend] Robt Reed for more than twenty years who can testify for him - 
After the war he removed from Paxton over the Susquehanna to Cumberland County, thence he moved to Northumberland County more than forty years ago - thence he came to Crawford County about thirty three ago. That above five years ago he moved
Crawford to Waterford Erie County his present residence -
Neal McKay
Sworn & Subscribed in open Court this 7  August 1832}
Edwin J. Kelso Pro}
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We Revd [Reverend] Robert Reed a Clergyman residing in the Erie County Pa and State of Pennsylvania and Genl [General] Wilson Smith residing in Waterford Erie County and State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Neal McKay who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; one of us for twenty one years & the other about forty years, that we believe him to be Eighty three  years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion,}
Robert Reid 
Wilson Smith
Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid}
Edwin S. Kelso Pro}
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and the additional testimony of Hons John Vincent 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 Revd. Robert Reid who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergymen resident in the Borough of Erie County of Erie and State of Pennsylvania and that Wilson Smith who has signed the same is a resident in the same County & State and State aforesaid and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
Henry Shippen
Predt [President] of 6 Dist [District]
Attest
Wilson J Kelso Pro
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this day of one
thousand eight hundred and thirty two
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Erie County ss.
I Edwin J. Kelso Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Erie do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Neal McKay for a pension In Testimony where I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said office this Seventh day of August 1832
Edwin J Kelso Clk [Clerk]
4386
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Rev & 1812 Wars Section
MMHF/eel

January 16, 1929

Mrs. Winifred McKay Mayer
Room 2, Postoffice
Oakland, California
Madam:
I advise you that in the papers on file in the Revoolutionary
War pension claim, S. 22899 of Neal McKay, it is
not stated in what place in Ireland he was born. He
only stated that he was born in 1749 in Ireland.
The Revolutionary War records of this bureau fail to
afford any information in regard to John Underwood of
Maryland.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Page 14

Revolution
22899
INVALID.
File No. 22,899
Neal McKay 
Sergt [Sergeant] Rev War
Act: June 7" 32" 
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 258
{Arrangement of 1870.}

1909, Aug. 25. Hist. to Mrs. Nancy C. Morrow M. B. H.
1919 Feb'y [February] 4 Hist to Mrs. Clair McGumphrey
1929. Jan. 16 Winifred McKay Mayer advised record of place in Ireland where he was b. not given - MMHF
Page 15

[circle stamp upper left]
RECORD DIVISION AUG 18 1909

[circle stamp right]
TIDIOUTE PA.
AUG 16 11 AM 1909

[circle stamp lower left]
PENSION OFFICE U S 
AUG 17 1909

[POSTAGE STAMP]
POSTAL CARD
THE SPACE BELOW IS FOR THE ADDRESS ONLY.
Commissioner of Pensions
Department O
Washington, D. C.
Page 16

Kindly send the pension record of
Neal McKay, ser and P. P. M., pensioned March 27, 1833,
at the age of 85, in Erie County, Pennsylvania
to my address as soon as convenient.
Yours Sincerely
Nancy C. Morrow
Tidioute, Pa.
Aug. 16, 1909.

22899
Page 17

I first became acquainted with Neal McKay, in the summer of 1792 for the last thirty years I have been well acquainted with him-
Independent of his character for truth & veracity which was always good I am confirmed in the belief that his whole Statment [Statement] is true from his having in conversation with me at different times detailed the occurrences of the Indian war in 
Northumberland County in the years 1777. 8 & 9 in which he took part many of which facts were within my knowledge - his Different Statements were always consistent
with each other and with my knowledge of facts
John Vincent
Sworn & Subscribed in open Court this 7th day of August 1832
Edwin J. Kelso Pro

State of Pennsylvania} 
Erie County Ss}
I. Edwin J Kelso Prothonotary &c. of Erie County do certify that John Vincent Esquire is one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County and that he is a man of truth and veracity
Witness my hand this 17 Jany [January] 1833-
Edwin J. Kelso
Page 18

State of Pennsylvania}
Erie County ss} 
I Edwin J. Kelso Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Do hereby certify that the within (contained on two and a half Sheets of paper attached by a red-
Ribbon on which the seal is Affixed) contains the original proceedings of the said Court
in the matter of the application of Neal McKay for a pension -
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 17 day of January 1833-
Edwin J. Kelso Prothy [Prothonotary]
[ribbon on left margin]
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State of Pennsylvania}
Erie County ss:}
Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace for the County
of Erie aforesaid Neal McKay of the Town of Waterford in the said County of Erie, who being duly sworn, deposeth [deposes] and saith, that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned blow, and in the following grades: For five months I served as a
Lieutenant, for five months I served as private, and for such service I claim a pension
Neal McKay
Sworn and [illegible] this 17th day of January 1833 - Before me
Giles Sanford
Justice of the Peace

State of Pennsylvania}
Erie County ss}
I Edwin I Kelso Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of
Erie. Do hereby certify that- Giles Sanford Esquire before whom the above deposition was taken was at the date of the same an acting Justice of the Peace
Witness my hand & seal of office this 17th January 1833
Edwin J. Kelso Pro
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Col 7 - 929
Page 21

Rev Sec
Feb. 12-1919.

U. S. Pension Bureau
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Will you kindly advise me if a pension was
granted for service in War of the Revolution to
Priv. Jno. Patterson, of Capt Wm. Allens 1st. Co. 9th Batt.
Lancaster Co. Penn. Militia, commanded by Lt. Col. Rodgrs?
Or was a pension granted to widow of above
Jno. Patterson? If so what was his record of service?
What was his wife's name? what was the date
of their marriage? Can you give me any other
information about this Jno. Patterson?
Was a pension granted to Neal McCay of 
Northumberland, Pa.?
Was a pension granted to Rachel Thornton McCay
wife of Neal McCay? If so what was his record of
service
Was a pension granted to Israel Thornton of
of near Northumberland Pa.? was a pension granted to
his widow? If so what was the record of service?
Thanking you in advance
for answers to above
I am Truly yours,
(Mrs.) Claire McGlumphy
Salem, Ill.
Page 22


Room 2 Post Office

Oakland Calif
Oct. 31 1928

[circle stamp]
PENSION OFFICE U S
NOV 6 1928

Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Sirs
On August 7th
1832 my great great grandfather
Neal Alexander McKay, a
Revolutionary soldier put in
an application for a pension
which was allowed.
The number of the pension
was #22899.
I wish to get the exact place
of birth of my great great grandfather.
It was some place in Ireland, 
but can not find out the
exact place. Would you have
any record of this. Any
information that you could
give me along this line would
certainly be appreciated.
I am writing the family
Tree. My relative (grandfather)
lived in Waterford Penna when
his claim was put in.
Page 23

I had another relative
who fought in the Revolutionary
war-  a great great grandfather
John Underwood who I believe lived in Baltimore Maryland.
Can you give me
any information about him,
or tell me how
I could get the information. 
Yours truly
Mrs Winifred McKay Mayer
Page 24

In reply to your request of the 16 inst, received the 17 inst
for a statement of the military history of Neal McKay S.F. 22899, 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.
Aug. 1776
Nov. 1776
Sept c
[In reply to your request of the 16 inst, received the 17 inst
for a statement of the military history of Neal McKay S.F. 22899, 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.
Aug. 1776
Nov. 1776
Sept 1777
[1777?-check mark]
LENGTH OF SERVICE.
2 mos.
5 mos.
2 mos.
1 mo

RANK.
1st Sgt
2” Sgt
Pvt
Pvt

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
 James Rogers, Brown, Green
James Rogers
Ambrose Crain
James Sawyer, John Harris

COLONEL.
Rogers
Parton's Riflemen
Moore
Mathew Smith

STATE.
Penn
Penn
Penn
Penn

Battles engaged in, Brandywine
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Hanover Township, Lancaster Co. Pa.
Date of application for pension, Aug 1822
Residence at date of application, Waterford, Erie Co. Pa.
Age at date of application, Born in 1749 in Ireland.
Remarks: His claim was allowed There is no family data.

LENGTH OF SERVICE.
2 mos.
5 mos.
2 mos.
1 mo

RANK.
1st Sgt
2” Sgt
Pvt
Pvt

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
 James Rogers, Brown, Green
James Rogers
Ambrose Crain
James Sawyer, John Harris

COLONEL.
Rogers
Parton's Riflemen
Moore
Mathew Smith

STATE.
Penn
Penn
Penn
Penn


Battles engaged in, Brandywine
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Hanover Township, Lancaster Co. Pa.
Date of application for pension, Aug 1822
Residence at date of application, Waterford, Erie Co. Pa.
Age at date of application, Born in 1749 in Ireland.
Remarks: His claim was allowed There is no family data.