Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5831, for William Kelley, Maryland
Page 1

Service
Md.         Kelley, William
Number: R. 5831
Martha
Page 2

State of Maryland
Baltimore City
On this first day of February eighteen hundred and thirty nine Before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland in and for the City of Baltimore aforesaid, Personally appeared Nicholas Kelley a resident of Carroll County in the State aforesaid aged about forty six years who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he is personally acquainted with Martha Kelley, a resident of said Carroll County; That he knows her to be the widow of William Kelley late of said County deceased; That the said William Kelley was also personally known to him, and was reputed to have been an officer in the War of the Revolution, in the Maryland Militia; and that he died on the 22nd day of February in the 1818; That the said Martha Kelley, widow of the said William Kelley is now living in Carroll County aforesaid that she hath not married again but still remains the widow of said William Kelley deceased; and that she is now about applying for a Pension from the United States on account of the Military services of her said Husband
Sworn to and subscribed Nicholas Kelley by the said Nicholas Kelley before my, and I do hereby certify that the said Nicholas Kelley is known to me as a respectable citizen of Carroll County in the State of Maryland and entitled to full credit
Sworn before John Wright
a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland in and for the City of Baltimore
John Wright
Page 3

State of Maryland Baltimore County I [hereby, smudged] certify that John Wright, gentleman, before whom the within deposition was made and who has signed his name thereto was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace of said State in the City of Baltimore duly commissioned thereto. In Testimony whereof I thereto set my name and affix the Seal of Baltimore County Court, the first day of February 1839
Thos Kell Clk of Balt
County Cot.
[written sideways]
4325
4325 
Martha Kelley of William Maryland
Page 4

State of Pennsylvania
Huntingdon County S[illegible]
Be it remembered that on this seventeenth day of March in the year eighteen hundred and thirty eight before me the subscribed a justice of the peace of the State of Pennsylvania in and for Huntington County personally appeared William Loveall of the said County and State, and made oath on the Holy Evangelists of almighty God, that he was acquainted with Martha Loveall before her marriage with William Kelley a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and that he knew her at the time she intermarried with the said William Kelley which was before the said William Kelley's revolutionary services and that he further knows the said Martha Kelley to be the widow of the said William Kelley.
Sworn before me as aforesaid this twentieth day of March one thousand eight hundred thirty eight
Matthew S. Campbell 
William Lovell
Page 5

State of Pennsylvania
Huntingdon County 
I, Robert Campbell, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said county, do certify that Matthew F. Campbell, the person before whom that the foregoing affidavit [some words crossed out] was made is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Huntingdon duly commissioned and qualified according to law, and that all his acts here as well as elsewhere are entitled to full faith and credit; and I do also certify that I believe the signature "William F. Campbell" is the genuine signature of said Justice. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 28th day of March A.D. 1838.
Robert Campbell Pro
Page 6

William and Martha Kelly was married January 1st 1778
Sarah Daughter of William and Martha Kelley was Born October 26th 1778 and Dyed april 12th 1791
John Son Dito was born May 17th 1781
Mary Second Daughter of Dito was born July 30th 1784
Nicholas Second Song of Dito was born July 18th 1785 and Dyed November 20th 1788
Urath third Daughter of Dito was born June 22nd 1789 and Dyed February 19th 1793
Nicholas third Son of Dito was born February 11th 1793
Sarah fourth Daughter was born May 21st 1796
Joshua fourth son of Dito was born November 21st 1799
Page 7

Rachel fifth Daughter was born april 19th 1803
[illegible section]
Elizabeth Sixth Daughter was Born march 22nd 1807
Page 8

State of Maryland
Carroll County Orphans Court
On this 28th day of January eighteen hundred and thirty nine before the Orphans Court of Carroll County, in the State of Maryland, the same being a court of Record, Personally appeared Martha Kelley, resident of said County, aged seventy nine year, 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 by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836; That she is the Widow of William Kelley, who at a very early period of the war of the Revolution was in the actual service of the United States, as an ensign in the Soldiers Delight Battalion of the Baltimore County Militia; and who was afterwards promoted to the rank of Captain, in said Battalion; and was at one period the full term of six months in the actual service of the United States, at or near the head of Elk on the chesapeake bay, in or about the year seventeen hundred and eighty two; She further declares that she was married to the said William Kelley on the first day of January seventeen hundred and seventy eight; that her husband the aforesaid William Kelley died on the 22 day of February in the year eighteen hundred and eighteen; and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will now fully appear by the proof hereto annexed.
Martha X Kelley ["her mark" written around the "X"]
Sworn to and Subscribed, on the day and year first above written, before
Abraham Wampler
Wm Jameson
Justice of the Orphans Court
Page 9

State of Maryland, Carroll County; To wit:
I John Baumgartner, Register of Wills, for Carroll County aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Abraham Wampler, William Jameson
before whom the aforegoing declaration was made and signed, were at that time Justices of the Orphans Court of Carroll County aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified according to law.
In Testimony whereof, I hereto subscribe my name, and affix the seal of office, this 28th day of January 1839
John Baumgartner Register of Wills for Carroll County Maryland
Page 10

February 28, 1935
BA-J/EEL
William Kelley-R.5831
Dr. J. Thomas Kelley
1313 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Captain William Kelley, of Maryland, perhaps of Baltimore County.
The Revolutionary War records have been searched and the record found of only one William Kelley (or other spelling) who served in the Maryland Troops and only the one in which the application for pension was made from that state. The papers have been examined in that claim, R.5831, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War and the following data found.
The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of William Kelley are not shown.
He married January 1, 1778, Martha Lovell. The place of their marriage, date and place of her birth and names of her parents are not stated. 
The soldier died February 22, 1818, place not shown.
Martha, widow of William Kelley, applied for pension January 28, 1839, on account of the services of her husband in the Revolutionary War, at which time she was aged seventy-nine years and resided in Carroll County, Maryland. It was stated that William Kelley was appointed August [illegible] 1777, ensign in the "Soldier's Delight Battalion of Baltimore County", and rendered services as an ensign and that under his appointment of February 8, 1782, as captain, he served six months in the Maryland Troops.
Her claim was not allowed as proof of service of six months was not furnished with the regulations of the pension laws.
[handwritten]
Mrs. K dictated this [illegible] in regard to rejection
Page 11

The names of the following children are shown
Sarah, daughter of William and Martha Kelley, born October 26, 1778, died April 12, 1791.
John, son of William and Martha Kelley, born May 17, 1781.
Mary, daughter of William and Martha Kelley, born July 30, 1784.
Nicholas, son of William and Martha Kelley born July 18, 1785, died November 20, 1788.
Urath, daughter of William and Martha Kelley, born June 22, 1789, died February 19, 1793.
Nicholas, son of William and Martha Kelley, born February 11, 1793, in 1839 was living in Carroll County, Maryland.
Sarah, daughter of William and Martha Kelley, born May 21, 1796.
Joshua, son of William and Martha Kelley, born November 21, 1799.
Rachel, daughter of William and Martha Kelley, born April 19, 1803.
Elizabeth, daughter of William and Martha Kelley, born March 22, 1807.
William, son of William and Martha Kelley, date of birth not given, in 1839, William was sheriff of Carroll County, Maryland.
In 1839, one Moses Kelley was aged eighty-nine years and resided in Carroll County, Maryland; no relationship to the family was stated. 
In 1838, one William Lovell lived in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, and stated that he was acquainted with Martha Lovell before her marriage to William Kelley, but did not state his relationship to said Martha. There are no further family data.
Your stamped, self-addressed envelope is returned herewith.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
Page 12

In reply to your request of, received for a statement of the military history of William Kelley a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in [“kin ( or” crossed out] his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
Rej. 5831
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. COLONEL. | STATE.
Aug. [August] 29, 1777 | Ensign | Soldier’s Delight Battln [Battalion] Balto [Baltimore] Co [County], Md. [Maryland]
Feby [February] 8, 1782 | 6 mos. [months] | Capt. | 
(Not used)
8786 Claim Martha Kelley [illegible] 
1782 | 8 mos. [months] | Cap. | Wm [William] Kelley |
Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment,
Date of application for pension, Jany [January] [illegible] 1839
Residence at date of application, Carroll Co. [County] Md. [Maryland]
Age at date of application, 79
Remarks: [illegible] Jany. [January] [illegible] 1778 Martha Lovell He died Feby. [February] 22, 1818. Children Sarah born Oct. [October] 26, 1778 d. Apl. [April] 12, 1791. John b. May 17, 1781 Mary b. July 30, 1784. Nicholas b. July 18, 1785 d. Nov. [November] 20, 1788. Urath b. Jany. [January] 22, 1789 d. Feby. [February] 19, 1793. Nicholas b. Feby. [February] 11, 1793. Sarah b. May 21, 1796. Joshua b. Nov. [November] 21, 1799 Rachael b. [illegible] 19, 1803. Elizabeth b. Mrh. [March] 22, 1807
Very respectfully,
Page 13

Dr. J. Thomas Kelley
1312 Fifteenth Street N.W.
Corner of Rhode Island Avenue
Washington, D.C.
Office Hours: by appointment
Telephone North 0188
February 21, 1935
Miss Wilson or Miss Chamberlain
Revolutionary Record, Pension Department
U. S. Interior Building
Washington, D.C.
Dear Madam:
Re: Captain William Kelley
Do you have on your files any record in regard to a Captain William Kelley of Maryland, perhaps Baltimore County, that served in the Revolutionary War?
Thanking you, I am, 
Very sincerely yours,
[signature]
J. Thomas Kelley, M. D.
Page 14

Martha Kelley
Wid[ow]. of William

Printed list of 1862 shows cause of rejection
"He did not serve six months"
Page 15

From paper relative to Mrs. Kelley death
Rest in claim of Martha Kelly [sic]
S. File 8786
Page 16

War Dept. Pen Office
July 2, 1839
Sir
The papers in the case of Mrs. Martha Kelley widow of William Kelley dec'd have been examined [some words crossed out] It is alleged that the husband served six months as a captain in the Maryland Militia in 1782 and the testimony of a witness is exhibited who alleges he served that time with the claimant's husband. There was no such service in 1782 as alleged and if the witness had performed such service he would in all probability have ["himself" placed here] applied for a pension for said service. The [illegible] act of
Page 17

4 July 1836 does not provide for any widow whose husband did not perform six months actual service. The claim has therefore been rejected and no papers filed in this office.
Alex Yearley Esq
Baltimore 
Md
Page 18

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
[written sideways]
July 22
Mrs. Kelley
Page 19

Balto July 18, 1839
J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
Yours of 2nd inst relative to the claim of Martha Kelley has been rec'd [received] + shown to her son William Kelley Esq (sherriff [sic] of Carroll County Maryland) he says that, Moses Kelly - the witness, who testified that he served six months with Capt William Kelley dec'd -  is now actually receiving a pension for that service; his resident is ["now" inserted] somewhere at the West (perhaps Ohio) and that his Testimony was given when on a ["recent" inserted] visit to his friends in Carroll County aforesaid.
Be so good as to see of said Moses Kelley is receiving said Pensions. In the precise date of the service, his memory may have failed him, but as to the fact of the service it would seem, he could not be mistaken. If you find the fact to be that the witness is now receiving a Pension for his alleged services under said Capt Wm Kelley at or about the Head of Elk in the Revolutionary War. Perhaps you may yet allow the claim of Mrs. Martha Kelley above named, as supported by the Testimony of him, the said Moses Kelley.
Very Respectfully
Your obt Servt
Alex Yearley
Page 20

Martha Kelley
Wid Capt Wm do [ditto]
for 
Rev. Pension Act 1836
Suspended, Maryland
See papers
(soon, please)
L. B. True
Present
Page 21

Martha Kelly [sic] Wid of Capt William Kelly [sic]
Page 22

War Dept. Pen. Office 
July 22d 1839
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 18th inst in the case of Mrs. Martha Kelly [sic] widow of William Kelley dec'd I have to inform you that the name of the witness Moses Kelley cannot be found as having been allowed a pension. A person of that name applied from Kentucky and his papers were returned for further testimony. His claim was not allowed, as a pension of the Kentucky agency. If the witness [illegible] a pension it should be stated at what plan it is paid. 
A. Yearley Esq
Baltimore
Md.
4325 act 4 July 1836
Page 23

Pen Office
May 20, 1840
Sir,
A further examination of the claim of Mrs. Martha Kelly [sic] widow of William Kelly has been made and the papers of Moses Kelly who was a pensioner of the Ohio agency, referred to. He makes no mention in his declaration of having served under Captain William Kelly the claimant's husband. A witness in the case states that Moses Kelly served three months under Captain William Kelly in 1778, but as he was not commissioned as appears by Mr. Brewer's certificate with February 1782 there must be an error as to the statement made by the witness ["of" crossed out] as to his having been a captain at that time. No actual services was performed by the Maryland militia at the head of Elk in 1782, and the service to which the witness in the claimant can testify
Page 24

must have been that in 1778, at which time William Kelley was an Ensign. There having been only three months service proved, a pension cannot be allowed.
A. Yearley Esq
Baltimore,
Md.
Page 25

L.B. True
Present
April 16/67
L.B. True
Page 26

Martha Kelley
Maryland
Rejected
["lot L July 1839" crossed out]
A. Mearley
[illegible crossed out]
[illegible crossed out]
did not serve six months in 1782.
831
At 4 July 1836
Page 27

Baltimore Jany 25 1840
J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
The enclosed copy of the Army and Naval Chronicle for April 11 1839 is presented in support of the belief that Moses Kelly (who is witness in support of the claim of Martha Kelly widow of Capt Wm Kelly) was a pensioner of the U. States and probably on the Ohio or Kentucky Roll. It is the belief of the widow & children of Capt Wm Kelly, that the said Moses Kelly did obtain his pension on account of services rendered in the Maryland Militia in the War of the Revolution under the command of ["said" inserted here] Captn Wm Kelly.
And while it is quite likely Moses Kelley may have forgotten the precise year of said service yet the fact of this actually serving cannot have been forgotten. And, it is also quite probably that Wm Kelly had the office and title of "Captain" sometime prior to the date of his Commission in 1782. It may also be observed that the tradition and belief exists in the neighborhood, that Wm Kelly did serve as a captain in the War of the Revolution.
If on examination you shall find that Moses Kelly the witness did serve, for the period which he states that he served under Wm Kelly and rec[eive]'d a pension therefor it is hoped his Testimony will be deemed satisfactory in sustaining the lcaim of Wm Kelly's widow Martha Kelly for a Pension.
Very Respectfully - Your obt Servt
Alex Yearley
Page 28

I, Moses Kelley, of Carroll County state of Maryland, aged eighty nine years, do hereby certify that I served as a private under the late Captain William Kelley, of the soldiers delight Battalion of Baltimore County Militia in the War of the Revolution during a term of full six months actual service, at or near Elkton (the head of Elk) in the state of Maryland in the year seventeen hundred and eighty two And I do certify that the said William Kelley was to my own personal knowledge then and there a captain of said Militia, in the actual service of the United States during a full period of six months, as aforesaid As witness my hand this Twenty Eighth day of January eighteen hundred and thirty nine
Test.
Wm Jameson 
Moses + Kelley ["his mark" written around the "+"]
State of Maryland
Carroll County
On the 28th day of January eighteen hundred and thirty nine, Before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for Carroll County in the state aforesaid, Personally came Moses Kelley and in my presence signed the aforegoing certificate and made oath according to law that the contents thereof are correct and true as therein stated And I do hereby certify from oral testimony received by me under oath of persons known to me as of good character and entitled to credit that the above named Moses Kelley is a person of good character and entitled to credit.
Wm Jameson
Justice of the Peace
Page 29

State of Maryland
Carroll County to wit
I hereby certify that William Jameson Esq. before whom the within affadavit [sic] appears to have been made, and who has subscribed his name thereto was at the time of so doing, one of the Justices of the peace of the state of Maryland, in and for Carroll County, duly Commissioned and sworn
In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of Carroll County Court this 29th day of January 1839
Wm Willis Clk
Page 30

Land Office, Annapolis, March 4th, 1838
I hereby certify that it appears by a roll on record in this office, endorsed "Militia Officers of Maryland," That the name of William Kelly appears upon said roll, to have been appointed an Ensign in the "Soldiers Delight Battalion of Baltimore County" on the 29th day of August 1777, and was promoted to the rank of Captain, in said Battalion, o the 8th day of February 1782.
George G. Brewer
Reg[istra]r Land Off. W. Shore Md.
Page 31

State of Maryland, Carroll County
Westminster
January 30, 1839
J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Herewith I send you my declaration and vouchers  - as the widow of Captain William Kelley of the Maryland militia in the War of the Revolution - in order to obtain a Pension under the 3rd section of the act of Congress passed July 4 1836. I am certain that my husband was in the actual service prior to his promotion to the rank of a captain. But, as I cannot now obtain the required proof thereof - I have to claim only an acct of his services as a Captain in or about the year 1782 as particularly stated in the affidavit of Mr. Moses Kelly who served under him. Referring you to the accompanying documents I am Very Respectfully
Your obt Servt
Martha + Kelley ["her mark" written around the "+"]
Witness Present
Joshua Smith
Please direct to the care of Alex Yearley No 10 St Paul Street Baltimore
Page 32

State of Maryland
Carroll County
On this twenty ninth day of January in the year eighteen hundred and thirty nine Before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for Carroll County, State of Maryland, Personally appeared Nicholas Kelley a resident of said county aged about 46 years who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that to his own personal knowledge that written paper attached hereto, purporting to be the family Record of William and Martha Kelley, is their true original Family Record, as the same was written and kept under the special direction of the said William Kelley
Nicholas Kelley
Sworn to and subscribed before me, And I do hereby certify that the said Nicholas Kelley is personally known to me as a person of good character and entitled to credit
Otho Shipley
Justice of the Peace