Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 3,104, for William Mc Kennan, Delaware
Page 1

(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
Del.

McKennan, William
[blank] Elizabeth

NUMBER
W. 3.104

B.L.Wt. 1471 -300- Capt.
Issued May 30, 1789
No papers.

CONTENTS
Page 2

Dead
Paid at the Treasury {illegible]
The Act of the 6th April 1838
from 4th March to 16. April 1839 the day of her death [illegible] codified 4th Jany 1840

[illegible]
Elizabeth McKennan
widow of William McKennan, 
who died on the 14 January 1810
of Wellington in the State of Pennsylvania
who was a Capt. in the Company commanded
by Captain McKinnon of the Regt commanded
by [illegible] in the Delaware line for 2 years

Delaware Line
Inscribed on the Roll of Pittsburgh
the rate of 480 Dollars -- Cents per annum,
commence on the 4th day of March, 1836

Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of Aug
1838 and sent to J. McGinnis [illegible] Capt.

Arrears to the 4th of Mar '38 $960.00
semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep. 240.00
$1,200.00

Five years pension

Revolutionary Claim,
Act July 7. 1838.
Section the 1.-

Recorded by R. Burden
Clerk,
Book    Vol. 2
Page / 58
Page 3

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office
December 24th 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 childen
of Elizabeth McKenn. a Pensioner on the Roll of the Pittsburg, Pa. Agency, at the rate of four hundred & 80 Dollars [crossed out "and" "cents"] per annum, under the law of the
7th July 1838. to the 16th April has
been paid at this Department, from the
[number illegible, possible 4] of March
to the 16th April 1839, the day of her death

Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parr
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 4

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Con-
gress  [Congress] of the 7th July, 1838, entitled an act gran-ing [granting] half pay and pensions to certain widows"


State of Pennsylvania
Washington County 

on this the twenty fifth day of July eighteen
hundred and thirty eight personally appeared be-fore [before] the undersigned an Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Washington aforesaid Mrs. Elizabeth McKennan a resident of the borough of Washington in the County of Washington aforesaid, aged between seventy seven and seventy eight years, who, being first sworn
according to law, doth make the following decla-ration [declaration] on her oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by an act of Congress pas-sed [passed] July 7th 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows." That she is the
widow of William McKennan Esquire, formerly of the State of Delaware, late of the County of Washington Pennsylvania aforesaid, deceased, who was a Captainvin the Delaware Regiment, in the Army of the Uni-ted [United] State -

She further declares that she was married to the said Captain William McKennan on the fourth day of August in the year, as she believes, of seventeen hundred and eighty five; that her husband the aforesaid Captain William McKennan died on the fourteenth day of January eighteen hundred and ten; that she was not married to him prior
to his leaving the service; but the marriage took
place previous to the first of January seventeen hun-dred [hundred] and and ninety four, viz. at the time above stated - She further declares that she distinctly recol-lects [recollects] the month and the day of the month in which
Page 5

her marriage was solemnized, yet, from age and infir-mity [infirmity] she cannot positively [underlined] designate the year, except
by a reference to her age at the time of her marriage and the period of the birth of some of her children. The date of her birth is recorded in the old family bi-ble [bible], in her possession, and that part of it is preserve.
She was born on the eighteenth day of April seven-teen [seventeen] hundred and sixty one, and the recollects dis-tinctly [distinctly], that at the time of her marriage, she was twenty four years and three or four months old. She further
states that the old family bible to which she refers contained a record of the date of her marriage, but that [illegible] any use, the leaf in which the entry was made, has been torn out, and is lost; That she was married by the Rev. Thomas Reed D.D. a regular minister of the Presbyterian Church in the State of
Delaware, and that so far as she knows, there
was no town, county, parish or church record
made of her marriage

Sworn to and subscribed 
[unknown word crossed out] the day and year
above written, before
[illegible name, possibly Thom] McKennan

Elizabeth McKennan [signature]

At the same time personally came Elizabeth A.
Morgan, the widow of George Morgan Esquire, deceased, who after being sworn according to law, doth depose and say that she is fifty years of age, and that from her earliest recollection Captain William McKennan an officer in the Revolutionary war in the Delaware Regiment, and Elizabeth McKennan, who has made
the preceding declaration, lived together, and were reputed and considered as husband and wife. Her recol-lection [recolection] of them embraces a period of at least, forty five years, when they were living together in the State of
Delaware. At that time they had two children
living, one of whom was but a few months younger
Page 6

than this [illegible]. She was adopted [or accepted] as a child, in their family, when they lived in Delaware; moved, to the Wes-tern [Western] County with them, and remained with them till her marriage. Since her marriage she has lived in the vicinity of Washington, and has continued her intima-cy [intimacy] with the family. She said Elizabeth McKennan is her Aunt, and she has always been as a child in her
family. Her uncle William McKennan died in eight-een [eighteen] hundred and ten, and her said Aunt has ever since remained his widow.

She knows very well the old family bible, which is now shown to her. It is almost worn out by use. She recollects distinctly and frequently to have seen in it a record of the marriage of her uncle and aunt; but the leaf containing that entry is to torn out and used up - only parts of two of the leaves of the old family record remain. On one of these torn leaves her aunt birth, together with the marriage of her parents is [illegible] [illegible];

"John Thompson Esq and Dorothea McKean were married by Doctor Allison, in Philadelphia, on Tuesday evening the 17th day of October 1758"
"Elizabeth Thompson born about 12 o'clock on Satur-day [Saturday] the 18th April 1761"

Sworn to and subscribed
on the day and year above
written before 
[name illegible, possibly Thos McKeever]

Eliza A. Morgan [signature]

At the same time personally came before me, Samuel Cunningham Esq. Register of Wills and James Blaine [illegible] Clerk of the Orphans Court in and for the County of Washington, Pennsylvania, each of whom, being
sworn according to law, doth depose and say that they knew Captain William McKennan and
his family ever since their arrival to the borough
of Washington, which was in the Spring of eighteen
Page 7

hundred and three. That [illegible] that time till the period of his death (which was in eighteen hundred and ten.) He and Elizabeth McKennan, who has signed the foregoing declaration, lived together, and were reported
and considered as husband and wife. 
That since the death of the said Captain William McKennan, the said Elizabeth McKennan has continued to reside in Washington, and still remains his widow.
They further depose and say, that they are well
acquainted with the reputation of Thomas Kean Thompson Esq. now a resident of Licking County Ohio. He formerly resided in Pennsylvania and
was Secretary of the Commonwealth, for eight or nine years, during the administration of 
[illegible] McKennan. He has always been reputed a gentleman of high character and of unimpeachable veracity.

Sworn and subscribed
in the day and year
above written, before
Thos McKeever

[illegible] Cunningham
James Blaine
Washington County Penn. ss

I Thomas McKeever, one of the associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and
for the County of Washington aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing declaration and depositions were made and taken before me at the residence of Elizabeth McKennan the applicant in the twenty fifth day of July eighteen hundred and thirty eight. I do further certify that the said Elizabeth McKennan is not able, from bodily infirmity, to attend the Court; and that she and the witnesses, where depositions have been taken
are persons of credibility. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and above written
Thos McKeever [seal]
Page 8

Washington County
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

I John Uric Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county do hereby certify that Thomas McKeever Esq before whom the foregoing proceedings were had
and whose signature and seal are appended to the same is an associate Judge in and for the County of Washington duly Commissioned and that to all his official acts full faith and credit right to be given.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
the seal of said Court at Washington this 27th day of July 1838

John Uric Prothy
Page 9

State of Ohio
Licking County

[illegible, possible Js!]

Before me the subscriber one of the associate
Judges of the court of [crossed out word] Common pleas in & for said county
personally appeared J. M. Thompson of said county (a native of the State of Delaware) now in the 69th year of his age, nearly complete,
who being duly sworn according to law deposeth & saith, that he hath a sister Elizabeth McKennan, late Elizabeth Thompson, still living, now & for many years relict of Col. William McKennan, late of Washington County in the State of Pennsylvania, deceased - that she was born in New Castle, State of Delaware, on the 18th of April 1761 & was married to Col. William McKennan, in the month of August, in the year 1785, in Redlion Hundred, in the County of New Castle & State of Delaware afs [abbreviation for aforesaid] by the Rev. Doctor Reed, a regularly ordained Minister of the Presbyterian church. This deponent further saith that he was present at the marri-age  (marriage) & hath a distinct recollection of it - he remembers that  [illegible] present at the wedding was the father of Col. McKennan then [illegible] minister of the Presbyterian church - that after the marriage, the married couple first resided in the Town of New Castle in Delaware afs from thence they subsequently moved to a farm belonging to deponents father in the vicinity of his resident farm in the county state afs & on the death
of this deponents father, to his late mansion farm, where they continue to reside till the year 1797 when they moved to Charlestown on the
Ohio river, in Brook County in the State of Virginia & finally to Wash-ington [Washington], in the County of Washington & State of Pennsylvania where they continued to reside till the death of the said Col. William McKennan, which happened on the 14th of January 1810, leaving behind him six children, at the time of his death - that for several years subsequent to the death of her husband, his widow, the said Elizabeth McKennan, continued to keep house, after which she took up her residence with her son T.M.T. McKennan Esquire, of the town of
Washington in Pennsylvania, in whose family she hath since re-sided [resided] & continues now to reside - This deponent further saith that the said Col. William McKennan & Elizabeth McKennan (late ElizabethThompson) from the day of their marriage till that of his death con-tinued [continued] to live, most happily, together as man & wife & that she hath since
continued to be & now remaineth his widow - This deponent further saith
Page 10

that, as he hath always understood & verily believes, the above named Col. William McKennan entered into the service of his country about the commencement of the
revolutionary war, as an ensign or lieutenant, & remained in the service till its close, at which period & for some time previously
he held the commission rank of Captain in the Delaware regiment, that during the revolutionary struggle he was engaged in
much active service, having been personally present in many of the hard fought battles, amongst other that of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Camden & at the siege of York Town & capture of Cornwalles -- at the battle of Germantown he was severely wounded in the arm which caused him much suffering & expense in after life. The
wound having become inflamed & the arm having to be lanced & many pieces of the fractured bone extracted, this deponent will remember after his marriage when he had to place himself under the care of an eminent Physician in Philadelphia & there remain
for several months before a cure was finally effected -- some of the superior officers of the said Col. William McKennan were General Smallwood, Col. Hall, Major John Patten - This deponent further saith that he hath been enabled to testify to the facts narrated in the foregoing deposition by recurrence to the family record transcribed, in his own hand writing, into his own family record
from the old family bible of his father -- from frequent conversations had, at various times, with the said Col. McKennan, in his lifetime, & with others conversant with the subject of the revolutionary contest & from this deponents own personal recollection & knowledge, and this deponent further saith not.
[signature] J.M. Thompson

Sworn to and subscribed before
me this 24th day of July A.D. 1838.
the interlineations in the ninth &
fourteenth lines in the above page
having been first made.
And I do hereby certify that the
deponent is a person of undoubted truth and
veracity, and entitled to full credit.
Samuel Bancroft Associate Judge C.C. Pleas
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The State of Ohio Licking County ss
J. Franklin Fullerton Clerk of
the Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby Certify that Samuel Bancroft Esq whose signature is attached to the within certificate is an associates Judge within and for said County duly commissioned and qualified according to law and that due credit should be given to his act as such associate Judge.

In Testimony whereof I have hereto
set my hand and seal of
said Court at Newark this 26th
day of July A.D. 1838
Franklin Fullerton Clk
[seal]
Page 12

May 4, 1931

Mrs. George E. McKennon
Mercer Hall
Columbia, Tennessee
Dear Madam:

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
AWF: MLB
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 3104, that William
McKennan, whose father (name not given) was a Presbyterian
minister and was living in 1785, entered the service about
the beginning of war as ensign or lieutenant in the
Delaware troops, was appointed October 27, 1780, captain,
and served some of the time under Major Patten and Colonel
Hall. He was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown where
he was wounded in the arm, Monmouth, Camden, siege of
Yorktown and capture of Cornwallis.
He married August 4, 1785, in Redlion Hundred, Newcastle
County, Delaware, Elizabeth Thompson, who was born April 18,
1761 in Newcastle, Delaware. She was the daughter of John
Thompson and Dorothea McKean who were married October 17,
1758 in Philadelphia.
William McKennan and his wife Elizabeth when first
married lived in Newcastle, Delaware; from thence he moved to
a farm owned by her father in Newcastle County, Delaware;
after the death of her father they moved in 1797 to Brooke
County, Virginia, and thence to Washington, Washington County,
Pennsylvania, where William McKennan died January 14, 1810.
His widow Elizabeth was allowed pension on her application
executed July 25, 1838, at that time living with her son,
Th. M. T. McKennan, in the borough of Washington, Washington
County, Pennsylvania.
Page 13

She died April 16, 1839.
It is stated that the soldier at his death left six
children; no names were given other than the son referred to.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner
Page 14

Rev-
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 3104

Elizabeth McKennan
Widow
William McKennan
Capt Rev. War
Act: July 7, 1838
Index: Vol. M. Page 18.
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1909 Jany 18 Hon. E. F.
Acheson advised soldier's
commission is not in claim
1931 May 4 - Hist to Mrs. George
E. McKennan [illegible]
Page 15

Washington Penn July 27th 1838

My dear Sir,
I have a favor to ask which
I have no doubt you will cheerfully
grant me. My mother is the widow
of a Revolutionary officer and is entitled
to an annuity under the law passed
at the late session. Her papers have
been drawn up according to the form
prescribed by the Department and the
case is, I think, fully and satisfactorily
made out. These papers I have enclosed
to you and by the favor of you to hand
them without delay to Mr. Edwards &
receive for her the pension certificate.
My mother is infirm and I will
thank you to hand in the papers immediately and I know Mr. Edwards will give it his earliest attention. Her marriage was solemnized by D. Reed of the Presbyterian Church in the State of
Delaware. He is long since dead and
kept so far as we know no church
Register. He was not pastor of the congregation in which my mother lived. The fact of the marriage is distinctly & fully
proved by her brother K.M. Kean Thompson Esq of Licking Co Ohio who was present at the time. He is a gentleman of respectability, worth, intelligence & business habits and is in the full vigor of his mind as may be discovered by
his deposition which was drawn by
himself and is in his hand writing.
Page 16

It will be necessary for you to make an affidavit before the Commissioner that
you have no interest in the application.
Be pleased to show this letter to Mr. Edwards
and I will be saved the necessity of addressing
him. Acknowledge the receipt of the papers
and enclose to me or to my care the certificate
when obtained.
I hope some time to have it in my power
to reciprocate the favor.
Yours very respy

[illegible] M.T. McKennan
Jno. McGinnis Esq
Page 17

22

Elizabeth McKennan
widow of William
Pa
act 7 July 1838

54/58- $925.52 [illegible]
54398 - [illegible] Jany 83

adm'd.
2 yrs Capt
480$

No deduction

Jno. McGinnis Esq.
Treasury Dep
Aug 1, 1838
Page 18

The United States of America in Congress assembled
To William McKennon Esquire Greetings We, reposing especial trust and confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct, and Fidelity, Do by these presents constitute and appoint you, to be a Captain in the Delaware Regiment in the Army of the United States. to take rank as such from the 27 day of October 1780; You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a Captain by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging.  And we do strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers, under your command, to be obedient to you orders, as Captain.  And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time as you shall receive from this, or a future Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress for that purpose appointed a Committee of the States, or Commander in chief for the time being of the Army of the United States, or any other superior officer, according to the rules and discipline of War, in Pursuance of the trust reposed in you.  This Commission to continue in force until revoked by this or a future Congress, the Committee of Congress before mentioned, or a Committee of the States.

Witness His Excellency Samuel Huntington President of the Congress of the United States of America at Philadelphia the 11th day of June 1781, and in the fifth year of our Independence.
Samuel Huntington President

Entered in the War Office and Examined by the Board
Attest
Jos. Carleton Secretary of the Board of War.
Page 19

Executive Department
Richmond Va July 18 1838

The foregoing is a true copy of an original Commission on file in this department

Wm H Richardson
[Sec Comm]
Page 20

22
Elizabeth McKennon
widow of William
[illegible]
ad 7 July 1838
comd
2yrs Capt
480$
no deduction
Jno McGinnis Esq.
Treasury Dep
Aug 1, 1838

Final settlement 54158. $925.57. Jany 82
                           54398.   589.50  -      83
Page 21

Mercer Hall
Columbia Tenn Mar 19.

Pension Bureau
W.S. Commissioner of Pensions -
I am writing to ask if you can give me any additional information regarding John Johnston Revolutionary soldier who was born 1740 d 1818 - served under Capt Moffett as a Sergt of militia in Col Matraus regiment in battles of Hanging Rock and Kings Mountain his widow in 1841 residing in Maury Co Tenn - drew a pension.  I want to establish the fact of his relationship to Eleanor Johnston the wife of Capt David [Craig] -M. C - she was his sister - and perhaps you can help me -
Did W M McKennon Capt New Castle Co Deleware draw a pension he was an invalid died 1803 I will appreciate an answer.
Sincerely Mrs. George E. McKennon
Columbia Tenn
Over
Page 22

also James McBride - 1777 who died 1807 - married Martha Young drew pension when he died.  I have made a mistake evidently in his date. his D.A R no 10754.
Page 23

John D. McKennan,
Attorney at Law
1305 Berger Bldg.,
Pittsburgh, PA.

January 11th, 1909.

Hon. E. F. Acheson,
House of Representatives,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Ernie:-

Some time during the '30's Elizabeth McKennan applied for a pension on account of the Revolutionary services of her husband, William McKennan, and it was granted.  I have a copy of the commision as captain issued to William McKennan by Congress of the United States in, I think, 1782, commission to date from 1780.  I have a notion that the original was sent to Washington, with other proofs, and may be still on file there.  If it is I would like to have it.  Would it be too much trouble to you see if it can be found?  If you can get it for me I would be under great obligations to you, but, of course, I don't want you to put yourself to any inconvenience.
Very truly yours,
John D. McKennan

Respectfully referred to Commissioner Warner with request that the writer be given information if possible about the matter in which he is interested.
Ernest F. Acheson
Jan 15, 1909
Page 24

January 18, 1909

Hon. Ernest F. Acheson,
House of Representatives.
My dear Mr. Acheson,
In reply to your letter dated the 15th and received the 16th instant, I have the honor to advise you that in the Revolutionary War pension claim of Elizabeth, widow of William McKennan, Wid. File No. 3104, the soldier's commission is not on file.
A paper in said claim signed William H. Richardson, dated Executive Department, Richmond, Virginia, July 18, 1838 states that the original commission is on file in that Department.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.