Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6,769, Elijah Egleston, Mass.
Page 1

Service
Mass.
Egleston, Elijah
McKinstry, Bernice
  Former widow

Number R. 6.769

Contents
Page 2

Hon. J.L. Edwards
Comr. of Pensions
Washington city

[on side]
Sept 16 1840
Mass
[Add??]  of Bernice McKinstrey
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Great Barrington Sept 12. 1840
To the Hon. J.L. Edwards, Comr of Pensions
 Sir,
  Your letter to me of the 27th July last respecting the application of Mrs Bernice McKinstry as the Widow of Elijah Egleston, Decd (her former husband) was duly recd - As a friend to her, I have endeavored to find some explanatory evidence among the few, yes, very few, of the old soldiers of the revolution, respecting Mr. Egleston's Service in the revolution - But I find that nearly every one of them are dead, or removed from this county to the westward, & it is uncertain, if found, what they might be able to testify. In these circumstances I sent again to Sh[enr?]  Smith, who still lives in this town, & conveyed with him. He seems to be remarkable, for a man of his years, in remembering with clearness the events which he has testified of. When he gave his first deposition he stated that Josiah Egleston (who you say is on the roll of Capt. Downing) was also in the Campaign at New Haven with his Brother Elijah Egleston of this town. Smith is possitive [sic] that Elijah Egleston was in that Campaign, & he cannot account for it that his name does not appear on the roll - it might be omitted from accident - But Smith is so possitive [sic] of his Service that I have thought it my duty to take an additional deposition from him, before the same Magistrate who took the other - & I now send it to you.  I hope you will think yourself justified in allowing that service to the widow, upon the evidence I send you - She is a person of real merit, & in real want.
 I hope to hear from you favorably.
  Very respectfully,  Your Obt. Servt
  Henry Loop
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House of Representatives
Jany 21. 1845
Dear Sir
 By an error on the behalf of the petitioner Supplied to you some days since, for the papers in the case of Bernice Guenzer; it should have been [underlined] Bernice McKinstry [/underline] of Massachusetts, [word crossed out] whose first husband under whom she claims was   Egglestone.
 Please send the papers in the care of Bernice McKinstry & oblige yours.
  D L Seymour
 Ch. Com on Recd Pensions

J.L. Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions.
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Mass - 5101 - Act 1836
Bernice McKinstrey who was widow of Elijah Egleston
Let to hon. H. Loop
27 July 1840
 To same Sept 19 1840
to Hon. G.N. Briggs 14 March 1842 to Hon. G.N. Briggs Feby 4'43

Act 4 July 1836
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N 8660
[B]ernice McKinstry
Mass

Let to Hon G N Briggs feb 28'43
"  Hon J Rockwell May 25/44
" Hon D L Seymour feb 10 1845
"  "     [pos?]             "  [illegible]
Act 7 July 1838
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6769
Bernice McKinstry
Service: forner widow
  Elijah Egleston

REJECTED
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Washington Feby 14.1845
Col. Edwards
 Sir - I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from you of the papers in the case of the application of Bernice McKinstry formerly widow of Elijah Egleston of Massachusetts for a pension - Will you do me the favour of informing me of the reasons why her application was refused at the pension Office.
  yours resp'y
  D.L. Seymour
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Great Barrington
Elijah Egleston d. 1796
Bernice McKinstry = In [96 crossed out] 1802
  [Ma?] Egleston  1792    d.17

1  77  4 mo Silas Goodrich  Bennington
2 78 81  12 mo  Tho Ingersoll
  79  1 mo Downing &  O Com?
  80  4(3,10) Spoor   Vol. 22-214
  or vol 23 p 24  1780

+ [Aug?] 79 Vol 18 p 23?
  Jonah E  on to Conn
+ Oct 80  nd.

1  [g?] 403  Vol 19 p 136 Oct'77 not
2       408     " 20. 95  12 d  81  [Stettwah?]
         402  93
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N J Rockwell
May 25/44.
(B. McKinstry)
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House of Representatives
May 24, 1846

Dear Sir,
May I ask you to give me some
information about the matter refered
to in the enclosed letter from
Hon John Whiting?
Resp. and truly
Julius Rockwell 

J.L. Edwards Esq
Commr of Pensions
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8660
Bernice McKinstry
Mass.
act 7 July '38-
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25 Feby 1843
 Sir
 I send you the [?] of Mrs McKinstry. Ill be glad if you could act upon her case before Congress adjourns -
  Respy Yrs  G N Briggs
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Hon. Commr of Pensions
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To
The Hon. Comr of Pensions
Accompanying are the pension
papers of Mr]s] Bernice McKinstry. If
a certificate be granted, it may be
Enclosed to the Hon Henry Loop of Great
Barrington in this County. And if
further evidence be required, please address
Mr Loop upon the subject.

Most respectfully
Yours
H. W. Bishop