Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5814, for John Keever, Maryland
Page 1

Service
MD

Name
Keever, John
Mary

Number
R.5814
B.L.Wt. 61232-160-55
Page 2

Left Side Page
169,100 A.A. non 3
June 15/55

Mary Keever wid of
John Keever Priv
Capt. Pree
Co. blank

1781
Md Mil.
Rev War

61.232 issued Apr 27th '57

No 1600 Apr 25/57
Boynton
Vol K Page 34

Claimant
Waterford
Washington Co Ohio

Right Side Page

Let Claimant July 2/56
or J.D. Chamberlain Nov 17/56
Page 3

State of Ohio ⎬ 
Washington County ⎬ ss 
On this 7th day of July in the year of our Lord eighteen 
hundred and fifty seven personally appeared before 
me John D. Chamberlain a Notary Public within and for 
said County Mary Keever a resident of Morgan County 
in the said state of Ohio aged seventy five years 
who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth 
on her oath make the following declaration in order 
to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the 
act of Congress, pass on the 3d February, 1853 granting 
pensions to widows of persons who served during or 
in the revolutionary war; that she is the widow 
of John Keever who was a private under the command 
of Captain Price in a volunteer company of the 
State of Maryland (Reference being had to Bounty Land 
warrant No 61,232 dated 27th day of April 1857) 
she further declares that she was married to the said 
John Keever on the 2d day of September 1813; that her 
said Husband died on the 23d day of January 1852, 
that she was not married to him prior to the 2d day 
of January, eighteen hundred, but at the time above 
stated. she further declares that she is now a widow 
Attest John Tucker 
Mary Keever her [handwritten] + mark 
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above 
written before me 
In testimony of which I have 
hereunto set my hand and affixed 
my official Seal; and I certify that 
Mary Keever is a person known
 to me to be the identical person 
that she represents herself to be 
John D. Chamberlain 
Notary Public 
N.B. My commision is on file in the office of the Interior
Page 4

We John Tucker and Mary Jane Chamberlain residents of Watertown in the State of Ohio upon our 
oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed 
and acknowledged by Mary Keever in our presence; 
and that we believe from the appearance and 
statements of the applicant that she is the Identical 
person she represents herself to be 
John Tucker 
Sarah Jane Chamberlain 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year within written 
John D. Chamberlin 
Notary Public
Page 5

State of Ohio 
Washington County ⎬ ss
On this 5th day of June A.D. one thousand 
eight hundred and fifty five personally 
appeared before me a Notary Public an
officer authorized to administer oaths for general 
purposes within and for said County and 
State Mary Keever aged seventy three years 
a resident of Center Township Morgan County 
Ohio who being duly sworn according to law, 
declares that she is the widow of John Keever
deceased who was a private in the company 
commanded by Captain Price in the war of the 
Revolution with Great Britain that he volunteered
in Middletown, Frederick County Maryland on or about the latter 
part of the summer in A.D. 1781 for a term I do 
not recollect as all I do know I got from 
him in his lifetime as to his service he said 
that he was honorably discharged at or 
near York Town having served some thirty 
days on hearing of the surrender of Cornwallace [Cornwallis]
She further States that she was married to the said John Keever in Jefferson County Ohio 
on the 2d day of September A.D. 1813 by one 
Richard Price a Justice of the Peace and 
that her name before her marriage was Mary Boby [Roby] and that her said husband 
died at Centre Township Morgan County 
on the 23d day of January A.D. 1852 
aged eighty nine years and seven months 
and that she is now a widow 
She makes this declaration for the purpose of 
obtaining 
the bounty land to which she may be entitled under 
the act approved March 3rd 1855 
Attest John D. Chamberlin 
Mary Keever her [handwritten] + mark
Page 6

We John Tucker and Sarah Tucker residents of Watertown Washington County and State of Ohio 
upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration 
was signed and acknowledged by Mary 
Keever in our presence; and that we believe and know that that applicant is the identical 
person she represents herself to be having lived by or near her and her husband upwards 
of twenty years and known their children 
that are some forty years old 
John Tucker 
Sarah Tucker 
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the 
day and year above written; and I certify 
that I know the affiants to be credible 
persons; that the claimant is the person 
she represents herself to be and that I have 
no interest in this claim 
In testimony of which I 
have hereunto set my hand 
and affixed my official 
Seal this 5th day of 
June A.D. 1855 
John D. Chamberlain 
Notary Public
Page 7

169100
Page 8

Ohio of State Morgan Countey 
September the 1st 1856 Before me one of the Justice of the 
peace within and for said County personally came Before me William 
Keever after being duly sworn according to law deposes and says 
that he has been acquainted with John and Mary Keever some 
40 or 50 years and that he maried [married] Mary Roby in the year 
of 1813 that they ware lawfully maried and lived together as man 
and wife should do and raised a family of some 5 children and 
the said children have married and raised familys also i have herd 
him say that he has lived the in the state meriland [Maryland] and I know of him having 
lived in the stat of Pennsylvania and he came to Ohio State 
About the year of 1801, he lived in Jefferson Co Ohio som 30 
years and then moved to Morgan County Ohio and lived the 
remainder of his days which he died in 1852 leving mary
Keever a widow an stil remains widow and during all my 
long acquaintence with him he stood as one of the Noblest caracters [characters] 
for varacity [veracity] and truth and from my earlyes acquaintance 
til my last he had allways been reputed to have been a 
Revolutionary soaldier [soldier] in the army of the United States in conversation 
with him as much as 40 years ago i have herd him tel me and 
others a great meny incidents that acured [occurred] when was a soldier 
in the revolution war and of one Poe making his escape 
from him when he was set gard over some prisoners and 
and a great meny other things if could be recolected 
the State of Ohio Morgan County ⎬ SS 
The foregoing affadavit was sworn to and subscribed before me 
on the 2nd day and year above writen and I certify that 
I know the afliant [affiant] to be a credible person and a person 
wel known to me 
William Keever 
Sworn to and subscribe to before me in my 
presents this first Day of September AD 1856 
James R. Ball J. P.
Page 9

Additional Evidence
Waterford Ohio STAMP

FREE

The Honorable J Minot
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

Mary Keever
John - Ohio
Original

Cole
Application Jan 1853
Page 10

169100

L P Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

Waterford Ohio STAMP
Page 11

No 6535 
Mary Keever 
Widow of John 
Ohio 
John D. Chamberlain 
October 28 1856. 
Same July 21 1857.
Mary Keever. May 28/59
Same June 16 /60 

5814

3 Febr 1853
Page 12

5814
Mary Keever

REJECTED
Page 13

State of Ohio 
Washington County ⎬ ss
Before me a Notary Public within 
and for said County personally came Sarah Tucker 
aged forty two years who after being duly Sworn
according to law deposes and says that she has 
been intimately acquainted with John Keever and 
Mary Keever from her childhood up to John Keevers 
Death and with the widow untill this time that 
she knows that John Keever was reputed to have been a Revolutionary soldier in the army of the United States against Great Britain that she has been in his company with others when their conversation was on the incidents that happened 
when he was a soldier that she has heard several persons advising him to apply for a pension and 
his reply was "that he could live without it”
he stated that he was guard over a deserterter 
by the name of Poe that it was about the time 
of Lord Cornwallaces [Cornwallis] surrender that he was 
discharged that John Keever and his wife Mary 
Keever lived in Jefferson County Ohio from he 
earliest recollection until 1836 when he moved 
into Morgan County Ohio and there resided until 1852 when he died leaving Mary Keever his 
widow which she now is the said John Keever 
and Mary Raised a family of five children 
that are married I believe the said John Keever to be a man of Truth and veracity 
Sarah Tucker 
Sworn to and subscribed before me 
In testimony of which I have hereunto 
set my hand and affixed my 
official Seal this 15th day of October 
1856 I certify that Sarah Tucker 
is a person well known to me and 
is entitled to credit 
J.D. Chamberlain 
Notary Public
Page 14

September 6th 1856 
State of Ohio 
Washington County ⎬ SS 
Before me a Notary Public 
within and for said County personally came 
Samuel Tucker aged fifty the years a 
person well known to me who after being 
duly sworn according to Law deposes 
and says that he has been acquainted with 
John and Mary Keever some 
twenty years that they lived together as 
Husband and wife and raised a family 
of five children the children are married 
they were [believed] to be husband and wife by ever[y] person 
and about the year 1852 the said John Keever died leaving said Mary Keever a widow 
which she now remains and that I believe 
the said John Keever to be a man of the strictest character for truth and veracity and 
I further state that John Keever has frequently in my presence told over to me and others in 
my presence that he was in the army of the 
United States against Great Britain called the Revolution and many incidents that happened while he was in said Service such as his 
being set to gard prisoners H was always believed in the neighborhood to have been 
a revolutionary soldier they lived in Jefferson 
County Ohio and moved into Morgan County 
and lived some fifteen years and died 
leaving Mary his widow which he[she] now 
remains 
Samuel Tucker
Sworn to and subscribed this 6th day of September in the year of our Lord
Page 15

one thousand eight hundred and fifty six
In testimony of which I 
have hereunto set my hand 
and affixed my official 
Seal this 6th day of September 
1856
John D Chamberlain 
Notary Public
Page 16

paid 
[stamp] WATERFORD OHIO
To the Comisheners of Pensions 
Washington City Columbia 
District
Page 17

FREE

To The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
District Columbia

Mary Keever
wid
John


Waterford Ohio STAMP
Page 18

Land Off of Md
Sept 20th, 1856

Mrs. Mary Keever

Madam,

I regret to inform you that after careful search the record of John Keever is not found in the Revolutionary Records of this office.

Very respectfully

Your Obedient Servant

J {illegible}
Page 19

September 6th 1856 
State of Ohio 
Washington County ⎬ ss 
Before me a Notary Public within and for 
the County of Washington and State of Ohio 
personally came John Berkhimer who after 
being duly sworn according to Law deposes 
and says that he has been acquainted with 
John and Mary Keever some fifty two years 
and that John Keever Married Mary Keever 
formerly Mary Roby in the year 1813 that they 
were lawfully married and lived together 
as man and wife and raised a family of 
five children and the children have married 
and raised families he said he was formerly from Maryland I also know that he moved to Jefferson County 
Ohio in the year 1801 and lived there until 
the year 1836 when he and I moved to 
Morgan County Ohio at which place he died 
in the year 1852 leaving Mary Keever a 
widow who stil remains a widow and 
during my long acquaintance with him his 
character was unimpeachable for truth and veracity and I further state that I have 
at several times in conversation with my 
father and others state that he was a soldier 
in the army of the United States against 
Great Britain and I have heared him 
State many incidents that transpired when 
he was in the Army such as his being 
set gard over some British prisoners and 
his being put gard over an American 
prisoner for desertion by the name of Poe 
and I know that he was always reputed
Page 20

to have been a Revolutionary Soldier from 
my earliest acquaintance I think no one 
ever doubted that he was a soldier in the 
army of the United States 
John Barkhimer
The foregoing affidavit was sworn 
to and subscribed before me on 
this 6th day of September A.D. 1856 
and I have satisfied myself from 
several person living near John 
Barkhimer that he is a man of 
truth and veracity and entitled 
to Credit 
In testimony of which I have hereto 
set my hand and affixed my 
official seal the day and year 
above written 
John D. Chamberlain 
Notary Public 

I hereby certify that the following 
is copied from a Book kept by the 
family of Mary and John Keever viz.
A daughter which appears to be their 
old Family Record at 
“Family Record 
John Keever was born on 6th of May 1762 
Mary Roby was born on the 25th of February 1782 was married to John Keever September the 2d 1813 
Deaths
John Keever Died January the 23d 1852 
in the eighty ninth year of his age,“
there were many other entries but I did 
not deem it necessary to copy 
Attest John D Chamberlain Notary Public
Page 21

61.232 
160 acres
Page 22

State of Ohio 
Washington County } ss
Before me a Notary Public within and for 
said County Personally came John Tucker and 
after being duly sworn according to Law deposes 
and says that he was acquainted with John Keever some some twenty before his death and at 
his death and that he was generally reputed and 
believed to be a Soldier in the Revolutionary army 
of the United States with Great Britain that he has 
frequently heard him in conversations with others 
stating circumstances relative to said war when he 
was a soldier such as his being on gard over a 
deserter by the name of Poe and of his being set as 
gard over some British prisoners and other incidents 
in said service and I know him to be a man [of]
truth and veracity he died in the year 1852 
leaving Mary Keever his widow the said Mary Keever & John Keever raised a family of five 
children 
The children have married and raised families 
that the said John Keever and Mary Keever lived in 
Jefferson County Ohio and then moved into 
Morgan County and lived about fifteen years and  
died leaving Mary Keever his widow which 
she is now 
John Tucker 
The foregoing affidavit was sworn to 
and subscribed before me on this 15th 
day of September A.D. 1856. I know 
John Tucker to be a man of truth 
and veracity that is his general 
character and that he is entitled to 
credit. In testimony of which I have 
hereunto set my hand and affixed 
my official seal this 15th day of 
October 1856 
John D Chamberlain 
Notary Public
Page 23

C H. Rhett. 
for Commissioner 

Mrs Mary Keever 
Waterford, 
Washington Co. 
Ohio

Dodge
Page 24

Pension Office, 
July 22, 1856. 
Madam:
Your application for bounty land 
under the act of March 3, 1855, No 169.100, as the 
widow of John Keever, has been examined and Suspended 
The proof filed in your case is not satisfactory 
evidence that you are the widow of John Keever  
you should prove your marriage with him by public 
or private record if any such exists, and if not, by the 
affidavits of persons who can testify that he and you 
lived as man and wife and were always so reputed, and 
that you are now a widow; and they should testify 
whether your late husband was reputed to have been 
a Revolutionary soldier, and where he came from. 
There is no evidence in this office of the 
alleged service of John Keever in the Revolutionary war. 
you should send to the Register of the Land Office, at 
Annapolis, Maryland for a certificate of your late husband's service 
I am, Very respectfully 
Your Obt Sert,
Page 25

Pension Office, 
October 28th 1856. 
Sir:
Some papers have been received at this 
office, marked "additional evidence,” which appear to have 
reference to an application for pension for Mary Keever 
as widow of John of Ohio; but I do not find that she has 
ever made such an application. If she never has and intends
to prosecute a claim, she should appear before a 
Court of Record and distinctly set forth the service for which 
she claims a pension, and prove the truth of her allegations 
by witnesses who are cognizant of her husbands services.
She should also show when she was married by record evidence 
if it can be obtained 
The papers have been filed under the act of Feby 3 1853 in the name of Mary Keever,
 I am respectfully 
Your Obt. Servt
S Cole 
for Commissioner

John D. Chamberlain, Esqr., 
Waterford,
O[hio]
Page 26

Mr. J Minot or the Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

Waterford Ohio STAMP

Mary Keever
sent Feby 53
add'l evidence
Page 27

Mr Cole Commissioner &c.
I received yours of the 28th Oct 1856. 
and reply by saying that the papers or application of Mary Keever are on file in 
the Office and the papers forwarded are 
in accordance to the suggestions of C. H. Rhett 
for Commissioner dated July 2d 1856 enclosed Claim No 169,100. Mrs Mary Keever lives in this 
Neighborhood with her son in law she is old and 
infirm she is poorly able to get about much 
and there are few persons here from Jefferson 
County where she formerly resided all that she 
knew Viz. Mr Barkhimer the Mr Tuckers all unhesitatedly 
say that John Keever was always reputed 
to have been a revolutionary soldier I suppose 
that is impossible for her to prove by living 
witnesses his service I have no doubt 
myself of his being a soldier from my 
conversation with the witnesses and their affidavits 
she also showed me a family record showing their 
births Marriages &c I believe there were no 
records of Marriages kept when she was maried
but the Affidavits show conclusively that they raised a family that are married and have 
always lived together as husband and wife 
State of Ohio Washington County 
Waterford October 
7th 1856
Yours Respectfully 
John D. Chamberlain for Mary Keever
Page 28

169.100. Act March 3, 1855. 
June 15, 1855. 
Mary Keever, widow of 
John Keever - private 
Capt Price 
Col --- Md. Mil.
[?] 1781. 
Revolutionary War. 
Original brief enclosed.

Claimant 
Waterford 
Washington Co. Ohio

No. 61.232. Issued April 27/57.
Page 29

Mary Keever 

Boynton 
Boynton
Page 30

Jan the 15 A D 1857 
Dear friend 
i received the note you sent me on 17 December 
you stated that the proof was not satisfactory I have 
sent all the proof the gentleman required of me To 
produce living witnesses it is imposible i have proven a nough to satisfy enny Court that i have a legal 
right to my Bounty land i have proven by three good sponsible witnesses that I has been acquainted 
with his my late husband from 42 to 56 years they 
all state that he was reputed to be a revolutionary soldier from the first acquaintaince to the last 
i wish to call your attention once more to the proof 
i have sent you and i hope it will be satisfactory to you all 
Mary Keever her + mark 
Writen By her request 

If you send me a note or my Warent
direct it to Waterford Washington Co Ohio
Page 31

April 16. 1857 
Respected Friends i write one time more to you concerning my claim for 
my Bounty land which i am justly entitled under the act of march the 3-1854 
my late huband served in the revolution war for the united states against great 
Britain as certain as there ever was a George Washington and as nie as i can 
recolect of hering [hearing] him say he was out three months lacking 3 or 4 
days and was hounerably [honorably] Discharged a few days after Corn Wallices [Cornwallis] surrender 
if you have the luck of finding the roll of Captain price you will find my 
husbands name & Henery [Henry] Keever & John Mires name on the rool they all 
vollenteerd in midletown Merryland [Middletown Maryland] at one time and was discharged at one time 
i hope you will give me fair play and search the rolls thearly [thoroughly] if my 
Circumstance is as it was in my husband time i never would bothered you 
you wrote to me in the first place that that the proof filed in my case was 
not sattisfactory Evidence and you wrote to me what i must prove and i have 
proven every thing you requested and no warent [warrant] yet I have proven a lawful 
marrage with John Keever and we have lived together and raised children 
i have also proven by his oaldest acquaintances from 45 to 56 years back 
that from the earlyest to the last acquaintance he had allways been reputed 
to be a revoutionary soaldier [soldier] which no man douted and i have proven 
his word to be impeachable and why should a poor widow be wronged out 
of her rights yours respectfully 
Mary Keever her [handwritten] + mark
Writen and worded by her request }
by John Tucker } 
N B, when you write or should 
send my Warent, direct it to 
Mary Keever Waterford Washington 
County Ohio
Page 32

April the 6 1860 
Waterford Washington County Ohio
Dear friend i write to you one time more Concerning my 
Claim for a pension a great menny of my Neighbours tels me that 
my Claim is just on the account of him my husband serven to the end of the 
Revolutionary war i can prove by responsible men that has been acquainted 
with him from 50 to 60 years and they are all willing to testify that they 
have herd him say that he was Discharged after Cornwallis surrender 
He has told how long he was out but my memory fails me i think
he must been out near six months or maybe over for what i herd 
i [?] This from Circumstances of what he has told me while he was 
in the service of what had hapened i hope you will not neglect me 
if there is any chance i hope you will send me a line to Waterford Ohio
i drew the Warent for Bounty land No 61232 ?]send me a line that i may know whether there is eny chance [?]
I hope you will forever [?] for what you have [?] In the prayer of your obedient friend
Mary Keever her [handwritten] + mark 

To Geo. [?] Whiting
Page 33

Waterford May the 23, AD 1859 
Washington County Ohio 
Dear friends i now iform you all that i am on the land of 
the living yet. And through the mercies of the great giver i may last a litle 
longer, I am the same Mary Keever that drew the land Warent for my late husband 
services in Revolutionary War. the number of the Warent i drew was 61232 isued 
the 27 of aprile 1857 And i want to know if there will be any chance of support 
from the governent in the way of a small pension my means of suport is scant 
i cant tel how long he was in the service, I have herd him tel a great meny things 
that accured [occurred] while he was in the service he has told me how long he was out 
but i cant remember correct he has told me he was out a few days over 
six months or a few days under six months i cannot say which 
but there is an old man that has been acquainted with my late husband all 
most Sixty years and he belives him to be out in the service six months 
and he says he is willing to be sworn to that affect and his word 
will go as far as eny mans word in Morgan Co. Ohio. And there 
is others believes the same but not as long acquaintance and if such 
testimony will do you i want you to write to me and state the shortest and esiest [easiest] 
way to persue for I am an old woman and cant get about very wel 
and if you cant grant my request I am under a great compliment for what you have done for me Very respectfuly yours writen and worded at her request by her Neighbour 
Mary Keever her [handwritten]+ mark
Direct to Mary Keever 
Waterford 
Washington Co. Ohio 

To the Commisioners of Pensions