Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2775, for John Mc Clain, Pennsylvania
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Service: Penn, Va

McClain, John

S2775
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5555

Pennsylvania

John McClain of ___ in the State of Pennsylvania who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Herod of the Regiment commanded by ____ in the Pennsylvania Line for 18 months Private......  $60

VA and PA Line records corrected Feb 6, 04

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 60 Dollars and no cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of march 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of February 1833 and sent to Hon J [illegible], House of Reps

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1832  $90.00
Semiannual allowance ending 4th March  $30.00

Total  $120.00

Revolutionary Claim Act, June 7, 1832

Recorded by Vinal Luce, Clerk
Book D Vol 6 Page 70

***** 
Let to A Brown, Aug 17 1839
Dead

Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 4th April 1838 from 4th Sept 1838 to 1838, the day of his deah.  Agt notified 4th June 1840
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Second Comptroller's Office,

May 20th 1840

Sir

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States, the children of John McClain deceased a Pensioner on the Roll of the Philadelphia Agency, at the rate of Sixty Dollars and no Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1838 to the 9th Nov. 1838, the day of his death.

Respectfully, yours
Albion K. Parris

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present
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State of Pennsylvania
County of Mercer

On this nineteenth day of November 1832. Personally appeared in open Court, Before Henry Shippen, President Judge and the associates. Being the SPecial Court of Common pleas of Mercer County now sitting, John McLane, a resident of Lachawenock Township, Mercer County and State of Pennsylvania, aged 76 years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the
benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.

That the first of May 1776 he was engaged in building a Fort at the flats of Grave Creek in Virginia, on the Frontiers where the Indians were very troublesome.  That he served as an Indian Spy through that summer.  Captain William Herod took command of the party in the fall for one month, when Captain John Wall took the command. There were a number of Families came into the Fort for protection. The Indians came into the settlement near the Fort and carried off Horses and other property, through the summer.  In one instance, a party from the Fort followed and overtook them, killed some of them, got one on the grounds, and recovered some of the Horses. Again the Indians came in and took horses, a party followed them across the Ohio River, overtook and had a skirmish with them.  This deponent was one of the party but the Indians were too many in number and our men had to retreat, and such inroads and pursuits were frequent. Towards the fall, there was an old Lady in the Fort become uneasy, and would return to their home several miles distant.  Near their house her and two of her sons crossed the Creek among the first; and before the guard that was with them got over, she with one of her sons rose the bank near their house, and were both shot and killed. The other son was not discovered by the Indians, concealed himself among Willows, and in the night made his escape and returned to the Fort. That fall but afterwards two other sons of the same parents insisted on going out to hunt deer.   This deponant was on guard, and would not permit them to go. They obtained leave from an officer present, and went out, and in about fifteen minutes were both shot killed and scalped; one survived a few hours.  These circumstances are mentioned to show that there was a necessity for his and the service of others; many more might be mentioned.  This deponant continued in the service untill August 1777 when, after many applications for help, we found that there was a force or such a number of Indian approaching the Fort as would be able to take it.  We were obliged to quit it and move about 12 miles to a fort where wheeler now stands.  At Wheeler this deponent was under Captain Mason for a few weeks, when he with his Father's family moved into Pennsylvania. Making in all about one year and four months.  (It may be observed that John Caldwell
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The witness at the end of six months left the Fort at the flats which is the reason he mentions six months.) Again in the last of August or beginning of September 1778.  The Indians came in, and killed one man, near what was now Fort Jackson, now in Green County, Penn.  This produced an alarm and a number of men with this deponent volunteered, followed the Indians but could not overtake them; but cannot recollect how long he was out, it was a short tour.   Again there was a draft made for one month to guard the Surveyors and their party who were to run and cut the line between the States of Virginia and Pennsylvania. In the month of ___ in 1779, when this deponent was one of them.  but some difficulty arose, and they did not proceed to cut the line and we were dismissed.  Capt Joseph Becket was the officer in command.  Again there was an alarm at Walton Fort.  Indians had come in and killed one or two men. He with others volunteered for a short time, the time not recollected. Again in the month of _____ (not recollected) 1779 this deponent was drafted for one month to guard a Block house on Turtle Creek, Allegheny County, Penn, under Capt Joseph Becket.  served out the month and was dismissed by the Captain. These services were rendered or performed in small body, no Regular Troops in the service, with us making in all about and not less than one year and seven months. 
 He states that he has no documentary testimony of his service nor any living witneses that he knows of except what he has procured. That he served longer than he has stated above

Quest. 1:   He was born 3 day of Feby 1761. In the State of New Jersey.  he has a record taken from his Fathers record of his Family. 
He was living in Ohio County in Virginia when called into the service- he has lived in Pennsylvania ever since the war and the last twenty five in Mercer County where he now lives

He was drafted; volunteered, and one tour a substitute for one month for his Brother Aligah McClain.

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 any State nor Agency whatever nor never was.

John McLain

Sworn and subscribed in open court 
November 19, 1832.

W S Rankin, Prot
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September 15, 1933


xxxxxxxxxxxxXXXX
Mrs. A. J. Calderwood
319 Poplar Avenue

Grove City, Pennsylvania

John McClain, S. 2775
,Jonathan Riggs, S. 22952
BA-J/MLB

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your request of recent date, for the records of John McClain and Jonathan Riggs, soldiers of the Revolutionary War who were pensioned in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.

Their records follow as found in claims for pension based upon their service in the Revolutionary War.

JOHN McCLAIN
S. 2775

John McClain was born February 3, 1761, in the State of New Jersey; exact location of birth and names of his parents not shown.

While residing in Ohio County, Virginia, he enlisted May 1, 1776, served as a private under Captains William Herod or Herred, John Wall and Mason in the Virginia troops, assisted in building a fort at the flats of Grave Creek on the frontier of Virginia, was stationed at said fort as a guard and went out on short tours against the Indians; he remained at said fort until August, 1777, and a few weeks later moved with his father's family into the State of Pennsylvania, where he volunteered in August or September, 1778, served a 
short tour against the Indians, length of said tour and officers' names not given; again enlisted for a tour of one month to guard the surveyors who were " to run and cut the line" between Pennsylvania and Virginia, but as the work was not done at this time, was dismissed. This tour was in Captain Joseph Becket's Pennsylvania Company, under whom he served two other tours, one of which was in 1779 when he was engaged for one month guarding the blockhouse at Turtle Creek in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; one month of his service was as a substitute for his brother, Abijah McClain, no details of which were given. The soldier stated that he served in all one year seven months, and was in several skirmishes with the Indians.

He was allowed pension on his application executed November 19, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Mercer County, Pennsylvania, where he had resided for twenty-five years.
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John McClain died November 9, 1838, place not stated.

The name of soldier's wife was not shown in the claim. Reference was made to children, but number and their names not designated.

***** 

JONATHAN RIGGS
S. 22952
Jonathan Riggs was born June 19, 1745, in Somerset County, New Jersey, the names of his parents not stated.

While residing in said Somerset County, New Jersey, he enlisted in May or June, 1775, served at various times on short tours, amounting in all to two years six months as sergeant under Captains Bailey, DeGrats (probably meant for De Groot), Johnston, McCoy, Cook, Parker, and Colonel Taylor, in the New Jersey troops, and was in several skirmishes including Quibbletown, Scotch Plains, was at the burning of Somerset Court House and the battles of Woodbridge, Staten Island, Monmouth, Elizabethtown, Connecticut Farms, in a skirmish at
Bartley's Bridge near Springfield and in the battle of Springfield.

The soldier moved from New Jersey, date not stated, to Washington County, Pennsylvania, thence to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, where he lived a number of years, then to Venango County, Pennsylvania, and from there to Mercer County, same state.

He was allowed pension on his application executed January 24, 1833, at which time he was residing in Sandy Creek Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania.

No reference was made in the claim to wife or children.

In 1847, one Thomas H. Riggs was living in New Bedford, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, his relationship to soldier not shown.

For information in regard to the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of the person paid and possibly the date of soldier's death, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city,

- 2 -
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and cite the following data:
Jonathan Riggs, 
Certificate No. 25836, 
issued January 14, 1834, 
rate $180 per annum, 
commenced March 4, 1831, 
Act June 7,1832, 
Pennsylvania Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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January 30, 1903
J S DuShane - New Castle PA

****
1933 Sept 15 - Hist to Maj A J Calderwood (rec letter incl S.22952 of Jonathan Riggs)

**** 
INVALID

File No:  2775
John McClain
Private, Rev War

Act:  June 7, 1832
Index:  Vol A, Page 243
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James L Edwards, Esq
Pension Officer
Washington City
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J L Edwards Esqr

Sir: 

John McLean of this County has called [illegible] his certificate of pension is for thirty dollars. He thinks this must have been a mistaken as he says he provided service of nineteen months in all. I wish you would look at his application for any mistakes.  I would be glad you would write to me soon and it may be corrected. 

Yours,
[illegible]

Mercer
Mercer County

March 12, 1833
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Ohio County
Virginia

October 30th 1832
Personally appeared before me the subscriber, a Justice of the peace in and for said County, John Caldwell of said County aged 79 years and being duly sworn further saith that he was well acquainted with John McLain in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six at Grave
Creek where the afore said John McLain assisted in building a fort at the flats of Grave Creek and served for the term of six months under Captain William Harred and Captain Wall, Militia officers in actual service. After the aforesaid moved away and further sayeth not.

Given under my hand the day and year above written Sworn and subscribe before me subscriber

John Caldwell

Thos Buchanan (seal)

Virginia
Ohio County

I John McColloch Clerk of the County Court of the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas Buchanan Esqr by whom the foregoing deposition appears to have been taken and whose signature is
affixed thereto was at the time of taking and subscribing the same, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and sworn according to law to all whose acts as such due faith and credit is due and given

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of
said County Court at Wheeling this 1st day of November 1832

John McColloch Clk
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I am not acquanted with the written deponent. But I am well acquainted with John McLain.  He is one of our most respectable men.  No man can have a better character for truth and veracity. I am confident that he would be as he state the length of time served as written
The House of Representatives
July 6- 1833-

deponent proves but six months - applicant one year and seven months
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Mercer County

On this 19th day of November 1832 Personally appeared in open William McMillan Esqr who being duly sworn according to law, did depose and say that he has been well acquainted with John McClain who is now apply for a pension, for thirty years past, That he now lives in the neighbourhood with said McClain, that he has heard the said McClain relate circumstances about his services, after Indians during the Revolutionary War,  his being [illegible] on defending Forts, where the settlement were collected  more than twenty five years ago; has never heard his services disputed.  Says that said McClain is a man of good character, which he has sustained ever since he has known him. 
his truth and veracity has never been doubted to his knowledge, and that he believes said applicant to be of the age he represents

Wm McMillan

Sworn & Subscribed in open Court this 19th day of November 1832
Wm S Rankin Prot

Mercer County 

On this 20th day of November 1832. Personally appeared in open Court Alexander Brown a resident of the Borough of Mercer in Mercer County who being duly sworn according to law did depose and say that he has been acquainted with this applicant for Pension, John McClain, more than fifteen years; and believes that he has sustained a
good moral character, is a man of regular habits, and have never heard his character for truth and veracity doubted, and from his appearance would suppose he is the age he has represented (71 years) and I believe that his statement of his services to be true.

A Brown

Sworn & Subscribed in open Court this 20th day of November 1832

Wm S Rankin Prot

On this 21st day of November 1832 personally appeared in open court Adam Fowker resident in the Borough  of Mercer in Mercer County who being duly sworn according to law did depon and say that he has been acquainted with this applicant for pension John McClain more than twenty years and believes that he has sustained
good moral character, is a man of regular habits and that I have never heard his character for truth and veracity  doubted,  and from his appearance would suppose
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he is of the age he has represented (71 years) and that I believe the statement of his services to be true

Adam Forken

Sworn & subscribed in open court this 21st day of November 1832

Wm S. Rankin Prot

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the maller and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War department that the above named
applicant was a Revolutionary soldier or militia man and served as he states and the court further certifies that it appears to them that William McMillan, A Brown Esq and Adam Forkin who have signed the preceeding certificates are residents within said County and are creditable persons and that their statements are entitled to credit

Wm S Rankin Clerk

Mercer County

I William Rankin Clerk of the Court of Common pleas of said  County certify that the foregoing contains the original 
procedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John McClaim for a pension.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court this 23d day of November AD 1832

Wm S Ranklin Clerk
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NEW CASTLE CAPERT
SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

New Castle, PA
Jan 23, 1903

Commissioner of Pensions
(Old War & Navy Division)

Dear Sir:

To establish the claim of an applicant for membership to the SOns of the American Revolution, will you please give me such of the military and personal history of John McClain, Pennsylvania Troops and Indian Souct who lived in Mercer County, Penn, about 1835 and received a pension, as is confirmed in his application for pension or bounty land?

Yours truly,

J S DuShane