Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9699, for Malcolm Mc Donald, Pennsylvania
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Service:   Privateer (Penn)

McDonald, Malcolm

S.9699

carded
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1,057.
Pennsylvania
----
Malcolin McDonald
Seaman on board the Private Holker, during the revolutionary war
Penn - Privateer - Records OK  Dec 24 / 14
----
Ratio of disability,   Total

Date of closing testimony, 16 Decr 1823
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Inscribed on the roll of Pennsylvania at 8 dollars per month, to commence on the
16th December 1823.
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Certificate of Pension issued the 30th of Mar: 1824, and sent to Hon W. Brock, H.R.
----
Arrears to 4th Mar. 1824 - $21.29
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1884 - $48.00
(Total)  $69.29

Invalid
10 Apl 1806 and 4 Feb 1822
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(very faded)

Hon J Block, H.R.
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City of Philadelphia Ss.

Personally appeared before me Richard Peters, jude of the United States Court for the Eastern District of the State of Pennsylvania, in open Court Malcolm McDonald of the City of Philadelphia, who being duly sworn, doth depose & declare that he was in the Holker privateer, a private armed vessel fitted out of Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War with Great Brittain. that in early part of July 1780 he entered on board the Holker as one of the crew under the command of Captain Matthew Lawler of Philadelphia and on or about the 12th day of July 1780, being off Cape May, fell in with a brittish sloop of war & had a severe engagement in which action whilst engaged in the line of his duty at one of the
guns nearly at the close of the engagement, was wounded by a cannon ball, which shot took off his left leg a little above his knee, also the ends of the middle fingers of the left hand and further states that in consequence of his wounds his nerves are so much affected as to incapacitate him from the
employment of anything.  that he was but a few days in the Holker Privateer, and returned to Philadelphia where he has resided ever since, and has for the greater part of the time been in mercantile business, and in affluent circumstances, but now being poor, and a cripple, with the natural infirmity attendant on age applies for a pension that shall be adequate to his infirmity.  the deponent
further states that he never has made any application to the State or Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for any compensation or pension; nor at any time to the government of the United States: and that he never has till now made application for public munificence.

[Over]
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And the Reason why he has not made application for Pension at an early period was plain and conclusive;  that he was so far independent as not to ask to be placed on the Pension Roll of his Country; and the Reason why he has not made application the several years past since, he has become poor. It has been the general and prevalent opinion, that the men, wounded in the private armed vessels of the United States during the war with Great Brittain in the Revolution were not Entitled to it. and further states that he has been a citizen of Philadelphia ever since the Revolution, and now resides and keeps a retail shop at No 3 Decatur street in the City.

Sworn to & subscribed this 7th day of September 1823 In Court.

Malcolm McDonald

Richard Peters

I certify that I have been personally acquainted with the deponent for many years and have the utmost confidence in the authenticity of his statement and his general credibility.

Richard Peters
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Invalid

Rev'y Navy

File No  9699 - Navy
Malcolm McDonald

Seaman

U S Navy
Rev War
Act: June

Privateer - Records OK  - Dec 24/14
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City of Philadelphia

Personally came before me John Hallowell Esq President Judge of the Court of Common pleas & quarter Sessions for the City and county of Philadelphia, Isabella McPhail, of Southwark in the county of Philadelphia; who being duly sworn doth say and swear that she has been acquainted with Malcolm McDonald a [illegible] by birth who [illegible] to [illegible] in the year 1773.  They they both came to Philadelphia in the same [illegible] and now are [illegible] and knows that he [illegible] on board the Holka privateer under Captain Walton's [illegible] in July 1780.  That he was absent but a few days when he was brought home from the Holka being wounded to [illegible] in dock that he, the deponent, was with him as [illegible] for more than nine months from [illegible]; said the [illegible] was attached by [illegible] and that his woulds were on his left leg and above the knee and the [illegible] of the middle fingers of the left hand and that she the deponent was then acquainted with said McDonald from the years after this time.  She has known him to be a resident of Philadelphia [illegible].  That he has for the [illegible] part of the time been in the [illegible] since being wounded in the Holka privateer.  That [illegible] kept up a friendly [illegible] and she well knows him to be [illegible] who was brought from [illegible] the Holka privateer in [illegible].   

Sworn and subscribed this 9th day of December 1823 in open Court

Issabella McPhail

John Hallowell
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Philadelphia
December 8, 1823

I hereby certify that upon an examination of Mrs Isabella McPhail the within named deponent, I am satisfied of the truth of her affidavit and believe her to be a credible witness.

John Hallowell
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I do certify that having personally examined Malcolm McDonald for the purposes of ascertaining the nature and extent of disability occasioned by wounds received during the Revolutionary War whiles in the line of his duty on board the private armed ship Holka of Philadelphia, I find that in consequence of a wound of the left leg from a cannon short received in an action with a British ship, off the Capes of the Delaware on or about the 12th of July 1780, he suffered the amputation of his extremity above the knee; and in the same engagement suffered a further loss of both the extreme joints of the middle fingers of his left hand;  which injuries but more particularly the loss of his left leg, have rendered him permanently incapable of procuring a subsistence by manual labour, and thus entitled to the rate of Total Disability.  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3rd day of December 1823

G Emerson, MD
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City of Philadelphia

Personally came before me the within named G Emmerson MD who being duly affirmed doth depose and declare that the description of the wounds of Malcom McDonald are accurate and true.  Affirmed in presence of John Hallowell Esqr, President Judge of the Court of Common Please and Quarter Sessions for the city and county of Philadelphia this ninth day of December 1823.

John Hallowell
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I John Hallowell President Judge of the Court of Common Please and Quarter Sessions for the city and county of Philadelphia do hereby certify that G Emmerson MD a resident Phsyciain of the city of Philadelphis is highly reputable in his profession and entitled to full credit in his professional character.

Philad'a Dec 9 1823 - John Hallowell
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City of Philadelphia

Personally came before me John Hallowell Judge of the Court of Common Please and Quarter Sessions for the city and county of Philadelphia Bartholemew Archibald, a seaman in the Revolutionary War with Great Brittain and now a resident of the city of Philadelphia.  Who being duly swron now depose and declare that he has been personally acquainted with Malcolm McDonald, now an applicant for a pension and who resides at No 3 Decature Street in the city of Philadelphia, ever since he was wounded in the Holka privateer in July 1780 on the waters of New Jersey in an action with a Brittish sloop  or vessel of war, and that he the said Malcolm McDonald has been a resident of the city of Philadelphia and in the mercantile business on a portion of the drawbridge for the oceanfront of the time.  And that he has been a resident of the city of Philadelphia this whole time since he lost his limb in the Holka privateer with Captain Matthias Garbol in July 1780.

And that he the Deponent was a seaman on board the Holka privateer with said Malcolm McDonald and perfectly well recollects him and that he was wounded on board in the engagement on the 12th day of July 1780 and lost his left leg in the action and that the wound was as follows:  the left leg was shot nearly off by a cannon ball and soon after amputated by the surgeon in the cockpit above the knee and the ends of the two middle fingers were shot off at the same time; 
 the Holka being much injured in the engagement returned as soon as [illegible] to the port of Philadelphia  between Market and Chestnut  Streets and the [illegible] was safe and Malcolm McDonald was taken to his lodgings.
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and that he frequently visited him after his return into port in Dock Street near Walnut Street and resided in Dock Street himself within a square at the time.

The Deponent further states that he is now 72 year of age and a native of Philadelphia, and was a sergeant and fought in the Revolutionary war in the service of the Country.  Sworn subscribed this fifth day of December 1823

Bartholemew Archbald
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City of Philadephia

At the same time came William Butler of the city of Philadelphia now about ninety years of age, who being sworn doth depose and declare that he was with Captain Matthew Dawlin on board the privateeer Holka in July 1780 and well recollects Malcolm McDonald from the time he came on board at New Castle early in July 1780 and was present when he was wounded on the 12th day of July 1780 in an exchange with a Brittish vessel of war on the water of New Haven.  That he helped to carry him off of the deck up to the back part and that his wounds were so [illegible] by nearly shot [illegible] and shortly while [illegible] above the knee.  Also the [illegible] middle fingers at the same time.  The Holka [illegible] for the return into port and Malcolm McDonald was taken to his lodgings in Philadelphia and the business of the Holka was at an [illegible].  The Deponent states further he can readily recollct all the [illegible] pf Malcolm McDonald before the time he was wounded and has been particularly acquqinted with him from the time he lost his limb to the present time and that the foregoing affidavit of Bartholeme Archibald is [illegible] his personal knowledge the said Malcolm McDonald has been a resident of the city of Philadelphia since he was wounded in

(over)
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the Holka privateer in 1780 when he returned into port and was taken to his place of residence to get care of his wounds and has been personally acquainted with him as a [illegible] in the [illegible] or much after here ever since and that said Malcolm McDonald now resides at No 3 Decatur Street in the city and has since to keep a small retail shop for [illegible].

And that the applicant Malcolm McDonald is the individual [illegible] who was wounded on board the Holka privateer, a private vessel fitted out of Philadelphia and commanded by [illegible] during the Revolutionary War.   Sworn and subscribed the 8th day of December 1823

William Butler

Both sworn in open court and day and year aforesaid.

John Hallowell
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City of Philadelphia December [ ] 1823

I hereby certify that I have [illegible] subscribed by Benjamin Archibald and William Butler in this court and known to be credible witnesses and [illegible] before my court.

John Hallowell
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Pennsylvania
Philadelphia County

I, Matthew Randall, Prothnotary of the Court of Common Pleas for the city and county of Philadelphia do certify that the Honorable John Hallowell before whom the annexed affidavits have been made and who has thereto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing and still is President of the first Judicial district of Pennsylvania and presiding judge of the several courts comprising the same, duly commissioned and qualified to all whose acts as such full faith and credit is and ought to be given and will in Court of Justices elsewhere.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand affixed the seal of the said Court at Philadelphia the sixteenth day of December AD 1823

Matthew Randall
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Personally appeared in the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of the State of Pennsylvania in session in the city of Philadelphia:  The Honourable John Hallowell, President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the city and county of Philadelphia.  Who being duly qualified doth depost and declare that he has been personally acquainted with Malcolm McDonald, who lost his leg in the Holka Privateer, for about the space of thirty years, during which time he has known him as being in business in the merchantile line as of unitll the late war, when he stopped business and in 1814 was chose County Commissioner for this county of Philadelphia.  Having received this suffrage of his fellow citizens for said office in consequent of his failure in business and the loss of his limb in the Revolutionary War, and continued in office three years.

The deponent further states that he believes said McDonald has been a resident of the City of Philadelphia from the time he was wounded in the Revolution to the present time and that he is a man of good moral character and has ever been believed by the citizens of Philadelphia as a respectable and honourable citizen and that he understands he now resides at No 3 Decatur Street where he has been licensed to sell liquors by the proper authorities of the city of Philadelphia as a partial means of subsistence.

John Hallowell

Affirmed in open court before Richard Peters - 25th October 1821
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Personally appeared in the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of the State of Pennsylvania in session in the city of Philadelpha, Matthew Lawler, Esq, Gentleman, a captain of respectability who being duly sworn doth depost and declare that he has been for a long time personally acquainted with Malcolm McDonald who lost his leg in the Revolutionary War in the Holka Privateer under his command, a private armed vessel fitted out of the port of Philadelphia.  That in the month of July 1780 the particular cruise in which Malcolm McDonald was with him, to the best of his recollection did not exceed ten days from the day the Holka sailed from Philadelphia till it returned into port and the crew were all at liberty, the cruise being after no one was regularly discharged for having entered as a volunteer for the cruise, and having sustained severe damages in an engagement with a Brittish vessel of was with the number of men killed and wounded, returned to port and the crew were free.

The Deponent further states that he has been many years acquainted with Malcolm McDonald of the City of Philadelphia and the mode of life.  That he dealt as a grocer and was ever reputed an honorable and upright man in his dealings with the citizens of Philadelphia.  That he was for a considerable time quite successful in [illegible] if not affluent circumstances.  That in the fluctuation of casualties and losses to all men he understands McDonald has lost his property and has for several years been just reduced; that he still however retains his reputation and the personal respect of the citizens of Philadelphia.

The Deponent further states that he believes Malcolm McDonald has been a resident of the city of Philadelphia since the return of the Holka Privateer into the port of Philadelphia in July 1780 and that he went into business in the [illegible] being since of his wounds in the Holka Privateer and his Treaty of Peace with Great Brittain and understands that now keeps a small retail shop at No 3 Decatur Street about a square from the court above named.  Sworn to and subscribed this 7th day of October AD 1823.

Matt Lawler

Sworn to in open court 1823

Richard Peters
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Philadelphia, September 19, 1823

To the Honourable Richard [illegible], Judge of the United States Court for the Eastern District of the state of Pennsylvania.

The petition of Malcolm McDonald respectfully showeth:

That having received from the Pension Office at Washington City several letters and sundry from J L Edwards Esq relative to a pension with instruction to make application to this Honourable Court to make the necessary proof before the Court, therefore pray the indulgence of the Court to accept the proofs and forward the proper documents for me to the Honourable Secretary of War for a Pension.

In duty bound and respectfully

Malcolm McDonald
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City of Philadelphia

Personally appeared before me Richard Peters, Judge of the United States Court for the Eastern District of the State of Pennsylvania, Matthew Lawler, Eqquire, formerly Commander of the private armed vessel called the Holka, fitted out of Philadelphia during the Revolution with Great Brittain.

He being duly sworn doth depose and declare that he had command of the Privateer Holka in the early part of the month of July in the year 1780.  That being near the coast of New Jersey on or about the 12th day of July 1780, he fell in with the Emery, a Brittish vessel of war and had a severe engagement in which action he had many of his crew killed and wounded on board.  That to the list of his crew a certain man was wounded on board by the name of Malcolm McDonald and that said McDonald lost his left leg in consequent of a shot from the Emery by a cannon ball whilst acting in the line of his duty on board.  That he knew little of said Malcolm McDonald at the time and believes him to have been but a few days on board, but has been personally acquainted with him almost ever since the Revolution and has even heard it asserted that Malcolm McDonald received his wounds in the Holka Privateer and has no doubt of the fact.

Mat Lawler

Sworn to and subscribed this 19th day of September 1823

Richard Peters
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I hereby certify that Matthew Lawler Esquire formerly commander of the private armed vessel the Holka, a privateer fitted out of this city, during the Revolutionary War, is a gentleman well known to me and entitled to the utmost confidence for his respectability.

Richard Peters
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City of Philadelphia - September 19, 1823

It is hereby certified that Malcolm McDonald was of the crew of the private armed vessel named the Holka during the Revolutionary War with Great Brittain and commanded by Matthew Lawler Esq, was wounded as set forth in his application for a Pension on or about the 12th day of July 1780, while in actual service in the line of his duty, and by satisfactory evidence and an accurate examination,  it is that on or about the 12th day of July 1780 being engaged with a Brittish sloop of War off Cape May adjacent to the State of New Jersey has received a wound in his left leg by a cannon ball, which he had to have had said limb amputated above the knee; also at the same time lost the ends of the second and third fingers of the left hand, and it is apparent that his [illegible] was seriously affected, and in all probability in consequence of said wounds.

Therefore we the subscribers, practicing Physiciains of the city of Philadelphia, after a full examination of the disability by known wounds received in the Revolutionay War in the Holka, privateer, Malcolm McDonald, with whom we have for many years been personally acquainted are of the opinion that in consequence of said wound and the loss of his leg, he is rendered incapable of gaining his subsistence by manual labor.

Thos Hudson
James Rush

Sworn to in open court 19th September 1823
Richard Peters
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I hereby certify that the above named Physicians are respectable in their profession and entitled to full confidence in their opinion as professional men.

Richard Peters
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United States
Eastern District of Penn

September 19th, 1823

This may certify that the foregoing proofs and affidavits relative to the claim of Malcolm McDonald for a Pension in consequence of his own wounds received in the private armed velled called the Holka, fitted out of the Port of Philadelphia.  During the Revolutionary War under the command of Captain Matthew Lawler of the city of Philadelpha were concluded and approved in satisfactory to this court on the 19th day of September 1823.

And the annexed documents are approved of by this Court and ordered to be certified to the Honourable Secretary for the Department of War at Washington City.

Given under my hand and seal of court on the date above.

D Caldwell Clr, Dist E
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**** NOTE THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT BELONG IN THIS FILE - DIFFERENT PERSON AND OUTCOME/DATES *****


THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES 
Form VAM-51 
12-5-41
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives 

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD* 

Name: McDonald, Michael

Grade: Private 

Line: Pennsylvania

WARRANT NUMBER: 9975    ACREAGE: 100    ISSUED: June 29, 1789

to M McConnell, assignee

The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of ""Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800"" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.