Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 22901, for George Mc Kee, Pennsylvania
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Service. Penn
McKee, George
Number: S 22901
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11.583
Pennsylvania
George McKee
of Northumberland in the state of Penna who was a pr in the Company commanded by Captain Gray of the Regt commanded by Col. Potter in the Pennsylvania line for

8 Mos  Private   26.66

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 21st day of May 1833 R.H. Hammond, Milton PA

Arrears to the 4th of  March 1833 -         $53.32
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sept 1833   $13.33                 
                                                                  $66.65

Revolutionary Claim,  Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by J.T Sprague, Clerk
Book E, Vol  5, Page 39
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No 24.791
George McKee
Northumberland Pennsylvania

Admitted
8 mos
$26.66

B.H. Hammond
Milton
Northumberland Co
Pennsylvania
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office, 183 [blank]
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. the notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the service of George McKee
Northumberland Co Pennsylvania

Period when the service was rendered.
Vol Dec 1776, Jany 77, March 77
Vol June 78 until Nov 78 

Duration of the claimant’s service
3 months 
5 months

Rank of the claimant. - Private

Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Capt Gray
Col Potter

Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
78 years
Northumberland Co Pennsylvania

Proof by which the declaration is supported.

Witness John Sample for 3 months service on
Dec’r 1776 to March 77 
& traditional Evidence

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia" and "volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service. Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of 
County of

On this __ day of ____ personally appeared (a) before
A.B. a resident (b) of ____ in the county of ___ and State, Territory or District of ____, aged ___ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) with and served in the (e) regiment of the
___ line, under the following named officers:
Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of ___.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. I ____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of  ____ for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this ___ day of ____& c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia.
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____ who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be ___
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.

And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _______ and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the ____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I ___ Clerk of the Court of ____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this ____ day of ____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction. If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a Soldier - Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
To an Officer - Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates. The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter. The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance. The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
conforming to the rule. The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned. The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served. Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For---year– months, and — days, I served as a —. For —- months and --- days, I served as a —------ and
for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or place where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit. 
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. 
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
Papers.


Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from (a) to (l) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note (j) applies to continental troops only.
This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
John N Ashton
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State of Pennsylvania Northumberland County ss---
On this nineteenth day of November in the year eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County now sitting George McKee a resident of Turbot Township in the said County of Northumb’d and State afs’d, aged seventy eight years past 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 June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated: That he entered a company commanded by Capt. William Gray, as a Volunteer in the month of December 1776 in the said County of Northumberland, where the applicant then resided.
That said Company was attached to a Battalion commanded by Col. James Potter. We were marched under Col. Potter to Trenton, and this applicant was present in his company
at the [cannonade] of  Trenton on the first or second day of January 1777. The morning after the said [cannonade] 
we were marched to Princeton, where we had an engagement with the British, in which the applicant took part: From Princeton we were marched to Morriston in New Jersey
and a few days after to the lines at Amboy.
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where we wintered, having frequent skirmishes
through the winter with the British. The applicant
was present and engaged in the Battles of Ash
Swamp and Piscatague [Piscataway]. On the 10th March
1777 we were marched back to Morristown and
discharged, the applicant returning home to his
residence in Turbot Township afors’d.
In June (to the best of applicant’s recollection)
of 1778 he entered as a volunteer in a company
raised by Capt. John Chatham of Northumberland
County, for the defence of the frontier settlements
in the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna
 from the inroads and depredations of the Indians.
And was actually engaged in such services until some time in the month of November of the same year. The applicant
was at Freeland fort at the time of its capture by the Indians, but escaped capture. The services of Capt. Chatham’s Company were principally employed in defence of the Frontier, extending from Fort Augusta to Fort [Hunter?] on 
the West Branch of the Susquehanna, a distance of about seventy miles.
To the best of the applicant’s knowledge he was born
in August 1754 in the County Donegal Ireland.
That the record of his age was burnt in his house
on the night of the the Capture of Freeland Fort.
I lived in Turbot Township Northumberland County
when I entered the service and have continued to
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reside there since the war.
I entered the service as a Volunteer as stated.
The names of some of the regular office under whom
I served are already given- applicant further recollects
that Robt Smith was a Lieutenant in Capt. Gray’s
Company - as also was William Clark and James
Murdoch. John Kelly was Major in Col. Potter’s
Battalion; but left us after the Battle of Princeton
and was succeeded by Thomas Robinson.
Col. Samuel Hunter had the principal command
on the West Branch.
The applicant had regular discharges from the
service but has long since lost them.
The applicant is acquainted with the Rev’d John
Bryson, Nathaniel Vincent, Gen’l. R. H. Hammond,
David Watson &c, &c who can testify to my character 
for veracity and their belief of my service as a
soldier of the Revolution. And he hereby relinquishes every
claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and
declares that his name is not in the pension roll or the agency
of any State.
George McKee his mark
Sworn & subscribed in open Court
the 19 November 1832
Edw’d Y Bright Prothy

We John Bryson a Clergyman residing in Turbot Township, 
Northumb’d County and Rob’t H. Hammond, residing in same township & County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with George McKee who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be in the seventy
eighth year of his age, that he is reputed and believed in the
neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the
revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
John Bryson
R H Hammond

Sworn & subscribed the [blank] day of November 1832 in open Court
Edw’d Y Bright Prothy
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[crossed out with a large X- “
I Edward T Bright of Northumberland County do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of George McKee for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of office this [blank] day of November one thousand eight hundred and
thirty two.”]

 And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that John Bryson who has signed the preceding
certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Township of Turbot
in the County of Northumberland and that Rob’t H Hammond who has signed the same is a resident in the same Township and Count and is a credible person and their statement is entitled to credit.
Seth Chapman
Henry Shaffer
Jacob Gearhard ex

I Edward Y Bright Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Northumberland County do hereby certify that the forgoing
Contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the
matter of the application of George McKee for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 19th November A.D. 1832
Edw’d Y Bright Prothy
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22901.
Revolution INVALID.

File No. 22.901
George McKee
Pri Rev. War 

Act: June 7 '32

Index: -- Vol. 2, Page 258

Arrangement of 1870.
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Hon L Cass
Sec at War
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Milton Pa 18th Apl 1833
Sir
I herewith return
the declarations of John Sample
& George McKee old soldier
applicants for Pension, 
with additional evidence.
We trust there statements
are now sufficient to enable
 Them to draw their pensions. 
Please direct to me at this place.
Yours respectfully.
R H Hammond

Hon L. Cass
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George McKee
24791
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Personally came before the subscriber one of the
Justices of the peace of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania,  George McKee who being duly sworn
doth say that he entered the service in Northumberland
County as a Volunteer militia man, on the 10th day of
December 1776, to the best of deponent’s recollection, in a
company commanded by Capt. William Gray and
continued actively engaged in the service as is particularly stated in his annexed Declaration till his discharge at Morristown in New Jersey on the 10 day of March 1777 making a service of three months.
That in June 1776. the particular day deponent cannot recollect, he volunteered as a militia man in a company commanded by Capt. John Chatham in Northumberland County and served 
therein as stated in his Declaration a full period 
of Five months viz till in November 1778, 
making in the whole period of service of Eight
months as stated in his declaration-
That he has no documentary evidence of his services or
discharge - he did receive a discharge but deeming it formerly
of little value has lost it. Deponent does not know
 any living person but John Sample who can
testify to any portion of his services and Mr Sample
in the same company with deponent in the three
months service in [June.]
George McKee his mark
Sworn & subscribed the 9 April 1833.
before James Tharp
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Personally appeared before the subscriber one of the
Justices of the Peace of the County Pennsylvania
John Sample who being duly sworn doth depose
 say that he became acquainted with George McKee, 
the foregoing deponent, in December 1776.
That on the 10 December 1776 the said McKee and
this deponent enlisted as volunteer militia men [in]
a company commanded by Capt. William Gray in
Northumb’d County and were marched in said Company to 
New Jersey where we were engaged as stated by
said McKeer in his annexed Declaration until
our discharge at Morriston on the 10 March
1777, making a period of three months. That
Deponent has no knowledge of the further service
of the said McKee during the period of the war.
That he has been well acquainted with the said
McKee the greater part of the time since the war.
John Sample
Sworn & subscribed this 9 day of April 1833 before
James Tharp

I James Tharp the Justice above named do hereby certify
that I have been personally acquainted with the above deponent John Sample for a period of about thirty years
and believe his testimony to be entitled to the [foremost] credit.
James Tharp
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Northumberland County ss
I Edward Y Bright Prothonotary of the
Court of Common pleas of said County, do certify that James
Tharp whose name is attached to the foregoing affidavit was at the time
of signing and still is a Justice of the peace in and for said
County, duly commissioned and sworn; and that I believe
the signature thereto, is in his own proper hand and writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the Seal of said Court, at
Sunbury the Sixteenth day of April AD 183.
Ed Y Bright Prothy
per Chas W. Heging Depy