Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 41,844, for William Mc Kelvey, Pennsylvania
Page 1

Penn. McKelvey, William S.41.844
Page 2

Notification sent the 6th August 1821, to
Ara Sanford, Esqr Aurora, Ohio

Pittsburgh 14.534
Ohio 14.354
William McKelvey
of Greenfield
in the state of Ohio
who was a private
in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Craig of the Pennsylvania
line, for the term of six years
scribed on the Roll of Ohio
at the rate of 8
Dollars per month, to commence on
the 11th
of June 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th of Sept 1817
and sent to Stephen Meeker Esq.
Greenfield Township
Ohio
Arrears to 4th of Sep 1819
118, 40
Semi-anl all'ce ending 4 Mar 1820
48
$166, 10

{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.}
Continued
Page 3

Wm. McKelvey
priv.

March Term, 1820

notice of continuance sent
6th Aug 1821 to 
Asa Sanford Esqr
Aurora, Ohio

The pension certificate in this
case was sent to Stephen Meeker
Esq  Greenfield township, Ohio
on the 6th Sept. 1819 - but applicant
says he never recd it

Mr Edwards
Page 4


Rec’d 19 Feb. 1821
If the word citizen on the front
 page, was interlined by the clerk, 
he should certify to the fact. 

War Office Washington City

Aurora, Ohio

Mr Edwards

The pension certificate in this
case was sent to Stephen Meeker
Esq Greenfield township, Ohio
on the 6th Sept. 1819 - but applicant
says he never recd it
Page 5

District of Ohio Huron Court of Common Pleas
October term 1820
On this 30th day October AD 1820
Personally appeared before in open Court being
a Court of Record for the County of Huron Ohio,
William McKelvey aged 61 years Resident in
Greenfield in said County who being duly sworn
according to Law doth on his oath declare that
he served in the Revolutionary war as follows:
He enlisted for three years or during the war on
the 18th day of May 1777 in the State of Pennsylvania
 in the Company commanded by Capt
Reese in the Regiment commanded by Col Thos
Craig in the line of the State of Pennsylvania
on the continental establishment. That he continued
 to serve in the said Corps until the
15th day of January 1781 when he was honorably
discharged from said service at Trenton
in the State of New Jersey. He was in the
Battle of German Town, Springfield, of Stoney
Point and a great many smal skirmishes
in the same Regiment & Corps aforesaid during the
said Term. The date of his Original declaration was
 on the 11th day of June 1818 & that he
has never received a pension altho the same may
be ready, the number of his certificate being unknown.
And I the said William Do Solemnly swear that I was a resident [insert]citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have
Page 6

not since that time by gift sale or in any
manner disposed of my property or any part
thereof with intent thereby to diminish it so
as to bring myself within the provisions of an
act of Congress entitled an act to provide for
certain persons engaged in the land & naval
services of the United States in the Revolution
any war passed on the 18th day of March
1818 and that I have not nor has any
person in trust for me any property or
securities contracts or debts due to me nor
have I any income other than what is contained 
in the Schedule hereunto annexed
and by me subscribed to. The Schedule of the estate
 of the said McKelvey as follows - to wit the declarant
 has no real estate, No personal property (necessary 
Bedding & clothing excepted) except 2 Small Potts,
One bake oven, one Bake Kettle, a few
cups & Saucers and a very few other poor worn
out & Broken articles of furniture the whole
of which personal property does not exceed
in value the sum of Twenty Dollars.
Signed Wm McKelvey
Sworn & Declared in open Court
Jas Williams Clk
Page 7

The said William has no occupation & has no
ability to procure any being through weakness & 
infirmities of age totally for 4 years past to do any
work whatever. He has 4 children residing with
him to wit one son aged 19 years Robert J.
McKelvey with a right arm lame Eliza a daughter
16 years old & Polly 13 years old sickly unable to
do any work & Julian 7 years old the while
of which children instead of contributing are a burden 
to his support-
Wm McKelvey
Sworn to & Declare in open Court on the 30 -
October 1820 before
J S Williams  C C P

I James Williams Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas
 in & for the County of Huron & State of
Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing oath & 
the Schedule hereto annexed are truly copied from
the Records of the said Court and I further certify
that it is the opinion of the said Court that the
total amount in value of the property exhibited
in the aforesaid Schedule is twenty Dollars.
In Testimony whereof I have hereto
set my hand & seal of said Court
this 18th day of February AD 1821
Jas Williams C C P
Page 8

Rec’d 19 Feb. 1821
If the word citizen on the front
page, was interlined by the clerk,
he should certify to the fact.

War Office Washington City

Wm. McKelvey
priv.

March Term, 1820

notice of continuance sent
6th Aug 1821 to
Asa Sanford Esqr
Aurora, Ohio

Mr Edwards

The pension certificate in this
case was sent to Stephen Meeker
Esq Greenfield township, Ohio
on the 6th Sept. 1819 - but applicant
says he never recd it

I James Williams Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas
 in the County of Huron & State of Ohio do hereby Certify that the word citizen over the 20th line from the top
of the foregoing Copy of Declaration for Pension was interlined by me.  In Witness thereof hereto set my hand & Seal of office this 15th July 1821.
Jas Williams C C P
Page 9

Case of Wm McKelvey 1126
Greenfield township, Huron Co Ohio

Judge
Stephen Meeker
Rec’d July 18, 1818.

Judge’s certificate as to 
claimant’s indigent 
circumstances wanting
Page 10

William McKelvey 
Pri

Col: Craig's
Pennsylvania Regt

1777 - # June [illegible]
11th June 1 Mar

 [illegible] 127  [illegible]

The certificate of the Judge
as to his belief of service of
applicant as well as of his
 reduced circumstances wanting
Page 11

William McKelvey Residing in the township of Greenfield
County of Huron & State of Ohio on his solum
oath declares and says as follows viz that he was
born in Ireland and is fifty Eight years of age that
he enlisted into the service of the United States
in the Revolutionary war with Great Britain
on the 18th day of May 1777 - in Chester County
 Pennsylvania Ensign James Lows the officer 3d Regiment
Pen[n]sylvania Troops Commanded by Colonel Thomas
Craig for the period of three years or During the
War. And Marched to Philadelphia and found the
army near Short Hills in New Jersey and was in several 
Battles viz Brandywine Germantown & Springfield
and served until the 15th Jan 1781 then was discharged
at Trentown New Jersey by General Ware & General
Irwin. The [w]hole time that he served was in the
Contin[ent]al Establishment. His Discharge by the Elaps[e] of
time he has lost. That he is in Reduced Circumstances
and needs the assistance of his country for support.
And that he knows of no other evidence in support of his
Claim and that he voluntarily Relinquishes his
Claim if any to every previous pension allowed him by
the laws of the United States. He therefore pray[s] for Relief
under the act of Congress passed the 8th day of March 1818 entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and Naval service of the United States in
the Revolutionary War.
Wm McKelvey
Page 12

The State of Ohio Huron County ss
Be it Remembered that the within
named William McKelvey personally
came before me Stephen Meeker an Associate
Judge of the Court of Common pleas in & for
the County of Huron in the State of Ohio
on the 11th day of June 1818 and made Solun
oath that the within statement by him
Subscribed is true.

In testamony whereof I have hereunto at Vermillion in the County of Huron State of Ohio aforesaid the same 11th
 day of June 1818 subscribed my name officially and have caused the seal of said Court to be hereunto affixed.
Stephen Meeker Associate Judge

I Do hereby certify that Stephen Meeker at the time of
making the above signature was one of the Associate 
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of
Huron and that he with his own hand made the
above signature of “Stephen Meeker Associate Judge”
In Testimony whereof I have hereto set
my hand & the seal of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Huron this 12th day of June 1818.
James Williams C C Pleas
Page 13

State of Ohio Huron County ss
 I Do hereby certify that I do believe that the within
 named Wm McCalvy did render the service to the
 United States in the Revolutionary war with 
Great Britten that is within stated and I also do certify 
that the said Wm McCalvy is in low circumstances and 
needs the support of his Country. Given under my hand
and seal at Vermillion this 20th day of July 1819.
Stephen Meeker Associate Judge {L.S.}
Page 14

[initialed] M.C.S.
Rev. & 1812 War Section
Rev. &1812 Wars Section.
February 15, 1928.
Major General Charles T. Menoher,
2227 - 20th St., N. W.,
Washington, D. C.
Sir:
I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 41844, it appears that William McKelvey was born in Ireland but the date was not given.
He enlisted in Chester County, Pennsylvania, May 18, 1777, as a private in Captain Reese's Company, in Colonel Thomas Craig's Pennsylvania Regiment, was in battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Springfield [4] and Stony Point [3] and was discharged January 15, 1781.
He was allowed pension on his application executed June 11, 1818, at which time he was fifty-eight years of age and was living in Greenfield Township, Huron County, Ohio.
In 1820 he referred to the following as his children: Robert F., aged nineteen years; Eliza, aged sixteen years; Polly, aged thirteen years; and Julian, aged eight years. He did not state the name of his wife,
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.
Page 15

41844
INVALID.
Revy
File No. 41.844
William McKelvey
Pri Rev War
Act: 18 March 18th
Index: -- Vol. S, Page 320
[Arrangement of 1870.]

June 1890 suspend
 to Hon D R Harris
M C (see J. 42154 )
Lwb

Feb. 28, 1920. History
to Laura Bash aw

1928 28 Feb 15 hist
 to Maj Gen
Chas.T  Menobee
Personal request
mcs

1928 Aug 7 hist. to
Helen M. Rupp mcs

1928 Sept. 5. Hist.
to Bessie M. Paschal awf
Page 16

To be filed away
continued on the roll,
& notice sent-
Page 17

State of Ohio Portage County ss
Before me the subscriber one
of the Judges of the Court of
Common Pleas in and for the
County aforesaid personally came James
McKelvey who being by me duly sworn as the
law directs deposeth and saith that William
McKelvey served in the revolutionary war three
years and eight months in Colonel Craig’s
third Pen[n]sylvania Regiment and was honorably
discharged in the year 1781 and further this
deponent saith not.
James McKelvey
Sworn to and subscribed this 10th day of June
AD 1819-
Alver Day [illegible]

The State of Ohio Portage County ss
I Seth Day Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in 
said County of Portage do certify and make known
that Alver Day Esquire before whom the the foregoing 
deposition was made and who certified the service was at
that time and now is an associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of said County duly commissioned and
Sworn and to all whose official acts full faith and
credit is due; and that the above signature is genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and affixed my official Seal at Ravenna this tenth day of June
Anno Domini Eighteen Hundred and eighteen. 
S Day Clerk
Page 18

Mr Edwards

Free
Hon John C Calhoun
Secretary of War
Washington City
Page 19

Elyria
June 21st

Mr Edwards


Ohio 306
Rec’d 2 July 1821

Ex J L E

File this letter

Free
 Sanford PM
Huron O

Hon John C Calhoun
Secretary of War
Washington City
Page 20

Huron O June 18th 1821
Hon J C Calhoun
Sir
Herewith enclosed
you will receive the application of
William McKelvy to be continued
on the Pension List, which was returned
in consequence of the word citizen be
omitted. The Clerk of our court Jas
Williams on Examination finds that [when]
McKelvy made Oath that he was a
resident citizen of the United States
on the 18th day of March 1818, which
mistake of his he, J Williams, has corrected
 by interlining the word citizen.
Your Ob’t Serv’t
Asa Sanford
Page 21

Monmouth, Ill
R.R.7
Nov - 1st - 27.
Dear Sir:
As I am a descendant of the "McKelvey" family I am very anxious to take some records. The census of Pennsylvania, 1790 gives the folloing men in Revolution.
James McKelvey, Northumberland
William [McKelvey] Chester
William [McKelvey] York
John [McKelvey] Westmorland.
I know William McKelvey of Chester Co. later resided at Greenfield - Ohio Co of Huron & receive pension.  Would you please give me details of his life children etc -
Page 22

also I think there was another William McKelvey who enlisted at 16 yrs. of [age] in first Chester Co. Regiment 
He lost a limb in service & applied for pension in 1818 & it was awarded.
He died in Richland Co, Ohio 1840
If any records are given in lines of James, William, William, John, please write me & give details of their lives & family's -
I will gladly pay you for your trouble
Very sincerely yours
Bessie McKelvey Paschal
Monmouth Ill
R.R.7
Page 23

Mrs Kenneth Paschal
Monmouth Ill.
R.R. 7
Will you kindly give me a full record
of William McKelvey? Also were there
two Williams in Revolutionary War?
I have a record that shows he enlisted
from Chester Co. Penn and was six yrs
in service. He made application for
pension, June 11 - 1818.
Would like to have comple[te] family
record of one or both?
Please advise me at once and will
gladly pay due.
Thanking you. I remain
Yours sincerely
Bessie McKelvey Paschal
Apr 3.28

[circle stamp]
PENSION OFFICE U S 
APR 5 1923
Page 24

Hon Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir, 
Will you kindly give me a full record
of William McKelvey? Also were there
two Williams in Revolutionary War?
I have a record that shows he enlisted
from Chester Co. Penn and was six yrs
in service. He made application for
pension, June 11 - 1818.
Would like to have comple[te] family
record of one or both?
Please advise me at once and will
gladly pay due.
Thanking you. I remain
Yours sincerely
Bessie McKelvey Paschal
Apr 3.28

[circle stamp]
PENSION OFFICE U S 
APR 5 1923
Page 25

[stamped] U.S. PENSION OFFICE D FEB 16 1920
[added] Rev Sec
Indiana, Pa,
Feb. 13, 1920,
Hon Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir,
Will you kindly give me the full war record of William McKelvey? The Old North West Genealogical Quarterly Vol. 1 Newberry Library, Chicago, Ill. says the government records show
that he enlisted in the Continental Army from Chester Co., Pa, and was six years in active service during the Revolutionary War and that he
made application for a pension June 11, 1818. I am unable to locate his family record, and would appreciate anything you can give me
Page 26

in regard to it.
May I also trouble you for the full war record of John Jamison
[added] none as described
who was a Lieutenant in the 5th Company, Westmoreland Co., Aug. 14, 1779. This record was taken from a report of Capt. Thos. Campbell's Company of Rangers stationed at Ft. Wallis, Oct. 7, 1779. Was he a pensioner? Would like date of his birth and death and any family record you may have.
Both of the above men were my Revolutionary War ancestors and I and desirous of securing all the information I possibly can concerning them.
Thanking you, I am,
Very truly yours,
Laura Bash
Page 27

Monmouth Ill. Oct. 9, 1927.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Washington, DC.
Dear Sir,
Will you kindly send me a copy of the pension record of William McKelvey, who served in the War of the Revolution, in Chester County, Pa. but made application for pension 1818 from Richland Co. Ohio. He was pensioned for six years service.
If you have a record of Jacob Anthony of Pa. as being a soldier or pensioner please include
that as well.
I am making these inquiries for a friend, who desired to join the patriotic societies, if eligible.
Very truly,
Helen Nye Rupp,
304 So Main St.
Page 28

[initialed]
August 7, 1928
Helen N. Rupp
304 South Main St.
Monmouth, Ill.
Madam:
I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 41844, it appears that William McKelvey was born in Ireland but the date was not given.
He enlisted in Chester County, Pennsylvania, May 18, 1777, as a private in Captain Reese's Company in Colonel Thomas Craig's Pennsylvania Regiment, was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Stony Point and Springfield and was discharged January 15, 1781.
He was allowed pension on his application executed June 11, 1818, at which time he was fifty-eight years of age and was living in Greenfield Township, Huron County, Ohio.
In 1820 he referred to the following as his children; Robert F., aged nineteen years; Eliza, aged sixteen years; Polly, aged thirteen years; and Julian, aged eight years. He did not state the name of his wife.
This is the only William McKelvey of Pennsylvania that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau and there is no record of a Jacob Anthony of Pennsylvania,
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner
Page 29

[initialed]
Rev. &1812 Wars Section.
September 5, 1928.
Bessie McKelvy Paschal,
R. R. 7,
Monmouth, Illinois.
Madam:
I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 41844, it appears that William McKelvey was born in Ireland but the date was not given.
He enlisted in Chester County, Pennsylvania, May 18, 1777, as a private in Captain Reese's Company in Colonel Thomas Craig's Pennsylvania Regiment, was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Stony Point and Springfield and was discharged January 15, 1781.
He was allowed pension on his application executed June 11, 1818, at which time he was fifty-eight years of age and was living in Greenfield Township, Huron County, Ohio.
In 1820 he referred to the following as his children: Robert F., aged nineteen years; Eliza, aged sixteen years; Polly, aged thirteen years; and Julian, aged eight years. He did not state the name of his wife.
Page 30

COPIED BY ADY
This is the only William McKelvey of Pennsylvania that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
Said records fail to afford any information in regard to any James McKelvey and John McKelvey.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.
Page 31

3 -- 525
REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C. ____ 19 ____
S 41844

In reply to your request of —---, received — 
for a statement of the military history of William McKelvey, 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.
May 18 1777 to Jan 15 1781

LENGTH OF SERVICE.

RANK.
Pvt

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Reese

COLONEL.
Thos. Craig

STATE.
Pa
Battles engaged in, Brandywine 1, Germantown 2 , Springfield 4, Stony Point 3
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Enl. in Chester Co. Pa
Date of application for pension, June 12, 1878 His cl. was al
Residence at date of application, Granfield Twp Huron Co. Ohio
Age at date of application, 57 yrs born in Ireland
Remarks: In 1820 he referred to his children, Robert F. aged 19
Eliza 16. Polly 13 and Julian 7 or 8,
There is no further data on file as to his family
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
6 -- 2856