Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 1450, for John Mc Calla, Maryland
Page 1

(3 - 1776) SERVICE 
Continental (Md)
CONTENTS 

McCalla, John 
Margaret 

NUMBER 
W. 1450
Page 2

8535
Tennessee 
 
Margaret McCalla 
widow of John McCalla 
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1818 
and who died on the 16 June 1835 
of Knox Co in the State of Tenn 
who was a Dragoon in the Compy 
commanded by Captain Hopkins 
of the Reg commanded by Col Moylan in 
the Penna line for 2 years 

Inscribed on the Roll of Knoxville 
at the rate of 100 Dollars ____ 
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836 and ending on the 2d day of Augt 1839 by her Death 

Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of 
July 1844 and Sent to Hon J W Blackwell
Total Amount $_______


[Act July 7, 1838.] 
Recorded by F. D. Swann Clerk 
Book D Vol. 1 Page 351 
Pay to Andrew & Wm McCalla 
Nancy Dickson and Margaret 
McBall [McBath] only Sur. Children 

letter to Payb J J Newman Oct 22d 1844. 
Rep. 13 July 44
Page 3

17.356. 
East Tennessee 

John McCalla 
of Knox Co in the State of E. Tennessee 
who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Hopkins of the Regiment commanded 
by Colonel Moylan, in the Pennsyla [Pennsylvania] 
line , for the term of three years, 
from 1777 to 1780 
on Roll 

Inscribed on the Roll of E. Tennessee 
at the rate of eight Dollars per month, to 
commence on the 5 day of October 1819 

Certificate of Pension issued the 2 of June 
1820 and sent to S. Powell 
Kingston, Ten 

Arrears to 4th of March 1828, $40. 
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sep: 1820 48 
[Total]   $88 

Revolutionary Claim, 
Acts March 18, 1818, 
and May 1, 1820. 

Continued 27 May 1829, & notification 
sent to R. G. Dunlap Knoxville 
Pension commencing 17 April 1829 
Amount due 4 Sep: 1829-- $36.80
Page 4

Decoctation [Declaration?]

In order to obtain the benefit of the 
act of Congress of the 7th July 1838 entitled 
an act granting half pay and pensions 
to certain widows 

State of Tennessee } ss
On this the twenty ninth day of May 
eighteen hundred and thirty nine, 1839, personally appeared before me Leonard Wood 
a Justice of the County Court of 
Blount County and State of Tennessee aforesaid, 
Margret McCalla a resident of East 
Tennessee and County aforesaid aged 83 eighty 
three years who being first duly sworn 
acording to law doth on her oath 
make the following declaration in 
order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress pased July 7th 1838 entitled an act granting half 
pay and pensions to certain widows 
that she is the widow of John McCalla , 
who was an inlisted [enlisted] soldier and served 
under Captn David Hopkins in a regiment of Light Dragoons commanded by Cornel [Colonel] Stephen Moylan as shown by his Discharge
Page 5

The deceased was a pensioner as the 
documents in the office of the War Department 
will show under the provisions of the 
act of the 1st March 1823 

She further declares that she was married 
to the said John McCalla on the 19th of Febuary, 1789, Seventeen hundred and eighty 
nine in Montgomery County State of 
Virginia and from thence moved with 
the said John McCalla to Knox County and 
State of Tennessee aforesaid and that her 
husband the aforesaid John McCalla 
died on the 16th day of June eighteen 
hundred and thirty five in the said 
County of Knox and State of Tennessee 
aforesaid aged about 86 years 
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 hundred and ninty four 
viz at the time above stated 
and that she has not been since married Margaret McCalla her X Mark 
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and 
year above written, before me 
Leonard Wood 
Acting Justice of the Peace
Page 6

I certify that the applicant Margret McCalla cannot, from bodily infirmity attend the Court
Leonard Wood 
Acting justice of the Peace 

State of Tennessee}
this the 29th day of May 1837 personally appeared 
before me Leonard Wood a justice of the Court 
of Blount County and State of Tennessee aforesaid 
Andrew McCalla and makes oath that there can 
be no record found of the Marriage of John McCalla and Margaret McCalla but the family 
record and also further makes oath that the family 
record was kept in a small Bible and that the said Bible is now worn out and destroyed and he further makes oath that the following is a true coppy [copy] of a coppy taken by him from the original before the 
said Bible was worn out and has by him been kept ever since

Record. 
John and Margaret McCalla was married the 17 of February 1789 John McCalla departed this life June 16th 1835 aged about 86 years Andrew McCalla
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me 
Leonard Wood 
acting Justice of the Peace
Page 7

State of Tennessee Blount County 
I Nathaniel Ragan Clerk of the County 
Court in and for the County and State 
aforesaid Do certify that Leonard Wood Esqr. whose name appears to the within 
Declaration, is now, and was at the time 
of signing the Same an Acting Justice of 
the Peace in and for said County, and that 
his signature appears to be in his own 
proper handwriting 
Given under my hand and 
Seal of Office, at Office 
in Maryville, County and 
State aforesaid this 30th day of 
May A.D. 1839. 
Nathaniel Ragan Clerk

6321
Margaret McCalla 
Tennessee
Page 8

Finearth [?] Va
May 20

Jacob Newman Esq 
Knoxville 
Tennessee
Page 9

Know all men by these presents that we 
John McCalla and John McElwain of the County of Botetourt are held and firmly bound to Beverly Randolph Esq 
Governor of Virginia and his successors in the sum of Fifty 
pounds current money, to the payment whereof well and truly 
to be made, we do bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and 
administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents 
Sealed with our seals this sixteenth day of January, 1789, and in the thirteenth year of the Commonwealth.

The condition of this obligation is such that whereas 
there is a marriage shortly intended to be solemnized between 
the above bound John McCalla and Margaret McBeath 
of the County of Botetourt, for which he hath this day obtained 
a license, if therefore these shall be no lawful cause 
to obstruct the said marriage, then this obligation to be void 
otherwise to remain in full force 
Sealed & delivered in 
the presence of H. Bouyer 
John McCalla (Seal)
John McElwain (Seal)

Virginia, Botetourt County, Sct 
Ferdinand Woltz, Clerk of the County 
of Botetourt in the State of Virginia, do hereby 
certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original 
bond upon which John McCalla obtained a license for his 
marriage with Margaret McBeath which original bond is filed in my office.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 
signed my name and affixed the 
seal of my said office this 20th 
day of May in the year 1844 
Ferdinand Woltz CBC
Page 10

I James McDowell one of the presiding
Justices of the County Court of Botetourt in the 
State of Virginia, do hereby certify that Ferdinand Woltz whose name is affixed to the foregoing certificate, 
is now and was at the time that he signed 
the same, Clerk of the said County Court of Botetourt,
that the signature thereto, purporting to be his, is genuine 
and his attestation in proper form. 
Given under my hand and seal this 20th day of May, 1844 
James McDowell J. P (Seal)

(Clerk fee 73 cents)
Page 11

Dear Sir,
There is no record of the Marriage in 
our office, & I send you, therefore, the next best evidence 
that can be had. at the date of this marriage people were 
more negligent about returning marriages to the Clerks office 
than they now are & we are frequently called upon to furnish 
copies of the Bond upon which the license was granted 
Respectfully 
Wm Robinson D.C.[?]
20th May, 1844
Page 12

State of Tennessee 
KnoxCounty ⎬ 
April Sessions 1829 
Declaration in Order to be placed on 
the pension list, under the act of the 18th March 1818- 

On this 7th day of April 1829 personally 
appeared in Open Court it being 
a Court of Record for the County of 
Knox John McCa[lla] [resident] in said 
County, aged [illegible] who being first [?] sworn according to 
laws, doth on [his] Oath make the following [declaration] in order to obtain 
the provisions made by the acts of Congress 
of the 18th March 1818, and the 1st of 
May 1820 that he the said McCalla enlisted 
for the term of three years in April 1777 in 
the State of Maryland in Capt Hopkins’ Company in the Regiment commanded 
by Colonel Stephen Maylon in the line of the State of Maryland, on the Maryland 
Continental establishment, that he continued 
to serve in said Corps until discharged 
on the 14th day of April 1780 
in the State of Connecticut in Colchester 
that he [hereby] relinquishes every claim 
whatever to a pension except the present
that his name is not any any[sic] roll except Maryland as he believes, and that the following are the Reaso[ns] for not making 
an earlier application: that Declarant 
was placed [on] the pension list on the 
fifth of Oct 1819 at which time him had 
his Original discharge, and his attorney 
given him a Copy which is here set out 

“John M Calla who is discharged, has [?] Mission to act in the regiment as a Volun
Page 13

teer until further orders - Colchester 14th April 1780 

Stephen Maylon Colo Com L.D.”

that he was stricken from the pension roll in 1820, as he now believes and only lately 
was informed of the late regulations in 
the War department in their Cases- 

And in pursuance of the Act of the 
1st of May 1820 I do solemly [solemnly] swear 
that I was a Resident Citizen of the 
United States, on the 18th March 1818 
and that I have not, at 
time, by gift, sale or in any manner 
disposed of my property, or any part 
thereof with the intent thereby so to diminish 
it as to bring myself within the 
provisions of an act of Congress entitled 
“An act to provide for certain persons 
engaged in the land and naval service 
of the United States during the Revolutionary war passed on the 18th day of 
March 1818-And that I have not nor 
has any person in trust for me, any 
property, or securities, contracts or debts 
due to me; nor have I any income 
other than what is contained in the 
Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed - that there has been no changes in his property except what time has made Declarant has only himself and his wife 
his children are all married - his wife 
is about 73 years old - and very feeble 
as well as declarant, neither an able 
to work, and is a farmer by occupation 

Schedule
Page 14

[From prior page: Schedule] of John McCalla’s property 
258 3/4 Acres of land third Quality worth per year in money $37.50 
One mare about 20 years old worth per year ___ 
Two cows worth per year $2.
Two beds a little furniture & nothing more 5.
[Total:] $44.50
Sworn to in open 
Court 7th April 1829 
John McCalla 
[Illegible]
Wm Swan D. C

“It is the opinion of this Court that 
the said John McCalla did serve in 
the Service of the United States, against 
the common enemy for at least the 
term of nine months under one 
enlistment during the revolutionary 
war, And that whole amount of 
the yearly value of his property as 
proved by the Oath of Charles Coken 
and Russell McBath disinterested witnesses, 
is no more than forty four dollars and fifty Cents as stated in his Schedule" 
I Charles McClung Clerk of 
the Court of pleas and 
quarter Sessions for the 
County of Knox in the State 
of Tennessee by
Page 15

my Deputy William Swan, do certify 
that the foregoing transcript is truly 
Copied from the Record in my Office 

Given under my hand and 
seal of Office at 
Office in Knoxville this 
17th day of April 1829 
Chas McClung 
By his Dep Wm. Swan 

Transcript For
John McCalla
[?]
 
R. G. Dunlap Esqr
Knoxville 
Tenn
Page 16

Revy WIDOW, &c. 
File No. 1450 
Margaret McCalla
Widow 
John McCalla 
Priv Penn. Line 

Act July 7 of 1838. 
Index: - Vol. M, Page 17 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 17

East Tennessee.
17.356 R

John McCalla, 
of Knox Co in the dist. of E. Tennee. 
who was a private in the regiment commanded by 
Colonel Moylay of the S. Drag. Penna.
line, for the term of three years. 

Inscribed on the Roll of East Tennessee, 
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 5 of October, 1819 

Certificate of Pension issued the 2 of June, 1820. and sent to Saml Powell, judge, 
Kingston, Roane Co. E Tennee.

Arrears to 4th of March 1820 $40 " 
5 mos.
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4. Septr.} 1820
 48 " 
[total:]  $88 “

{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.}
Page 18

Margaret McCalla
of John

Suspended 
See letters 3 Debr [December] 
to Hon. J. L. Williams & 
Clk Court Montgomery Co Va

letter Recd from Clerk of Court
Va, no public record of marriage 
[?] 25.


Act 7 July 1838
Page 19

John McCalla E. Ten [East Tennessee]
Act 18 March 1818

to what time paid ?
Pen: Office 
Jan. 30, 1840 

[Answer]
Died 1835
Died 16 June 1835 pd to that period
JH
Page 20

N 22. 1840 
OM 

The Secretary of the 
War Department 
Washington City
Page 21

Virginia Montgomery Co House 
Febry 14th 1840 
Sir.
I received on yesterday a letter from 
you requesting me to inform you, if 
the records of my office afford any evidence 
of the marriage of John McCalla and 
Margaret his wife; and in answer to 
your request I would say, that I 
have examined my office carefully 
and can find no evidence whatever of 
such marriage. I did not confine my 
examination to the particular year named 
in your letter, but examined before and 
after that date.
I am respy 
Yr obt Svt
R.D. Montague
Page 22

Mail Stamp - Knoxville, Tenn Oct 21

Mr. McCallin -scratched out

Wm McCall
Tenn

J.L. Edwards
Comm of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 23

Knoxville East Tennessee Oct 10th 1844 
Dr Sir 
In the Claim of Mrs McCalla heirs 
the agent Mr King at this place refuses to pay the 
administrator of Mrs McCall and sais [says] he has 
no instructions to do so the children are scattered I shoud [should] 
like for you to gave [give] him the instruction if it is agreeable 
to your mode of business. At Jonesborough Mr Blair 
pays similar Claims to the administrator pleas[e] drop me a line 
Yours with
Respect
Jacob Herman

J L Edwards Esqr
Page 24

6321
Margaret McCalla 
Decd Ten. 
duty 7 July 38 
m 89 d. 35 

on Roll Moylans Dragoons 

Admd
[?] Dragoon 

$100 from 4 March 36 to 2 Augt 1839 the 
day of her death- 
To Andrew & William Mc Calla 
Nancy Dickson & Margaret McBate 
only surviving children 
Hon J. W. Blackwell 
Athens 
Ten.
Page 25

Washington City 
June 4th 1844. 
Sir,
I herewith present you the declaration of Andrew McCalle accompanied by a letter from Mr Jacob Newman the atty. to which I respectfully call your attention as early as convenient. 
I am Sir, 
Very Respectfully,
Your Obt. Servt,
J. W. Blackwell 

Jas. L. Edwards Esq. 
Comm of Pensions
Page 26

Mail Stamp - Knoxville, Tenn May 25

Mr McCalla
Declaration
 
Hon J W Blackwell M.C.
Washington DC

P. Morrow

200

10.00
4.00
8.00
7.00
2.50
7.00
------
38.50
Page 27

Knoxville May 24th 1844 
Dear Sir 
I enclose you Mr McCalla declaration his 
Mother made a declaration for want of the proof of the marriag 
her claim was suspended with the proof of the marriage bond 
I think thair [there] can be no mistake in this claim 

I understand that thair is some alteration in the pension 
Law I wish to bring to your notice Mrs Hails Claim 
before the alteration Mr Hail satisfied the  department 
of her marriage with her husband Amon Hail but from the Department overlooking Amon Hails name 
his claim was suspended In justice to her she complied 
with the law at the time and I think they are bound[?]
to pay her her husbands name was at that time on the Rools [rolls] of Pensioners and Wm H Blair has since 
sent in the certificate on wich [which] her husband drew 
Yours With Respect 
Jacob Newman 

N. B
In the Claim of John Wood of Hawkins County Ten 
Mr Wood never told me he had made application for 
pension but to the service[?] I had no idea he ever had 
and he is well respected in his neighborhood for 
uprightness & I please show this to Mr Edwards for this is well as the Claim of Mrs Hail 
J Newman
Hon J W Blackwell
Page 28

Declaration 

In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th July 1838 
entitled an act granting half pay and pension to certain widows 

State of Tennessee 
Knox County } ss 
On this 6th of May 1844 personally 
appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the peace for the County and 
State aforesaid Mr Andrew McCalla a resident of said County 
aged fifty four years and after being duly sworn according to law 
doth on his oath make the following affidavit that he is the son of 
John McCalla who was a pensioner at the rate of $96 per anum 
That his his father the aforesaid John McCalla died on the 16th day 
of June 1835 leaving a wife Margarate [Margaret] McCalla and the following 
named Children William McCalla Nancy Dickison Margarate [Margaret] McBath 
and affiant he further declairs [declares] that his mother the aforesaid 
Margarate McCalla presented her application for pension but 
owing to some informality as he understood her claim was suspended 
he further declairs that his mother the aforesaid Margarate McCalla 
died on the 2  th day of August 1839 this affidavit is made to 
obtain the pension due the widow at her death under the act of July 7th 
1838 the marriage took place after the termination of the husband 
last service but before the first of January Seventy hundred and Ninty four 
Andrew McCalla 
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me 
a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid and I further certify
Page 29

that the said Mrs Margarate [Margaret] McCalla died on the 2   th day of August 1839 leaving the following named children Andrew McCalla Wm McCalla Nancy Dickson Margarate Margarate [Margaret] McBath In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th May 1844 
Michael Davis 
Justice of the peace 

State of Tennessee 
Knox County ⎬ ss 
1 May term 1844 County Court 
The declaration of Andrew McCalla certified on the 6th day of May 
1844 by Michael Davis a Justice of the peace for said County being 

submitted to the Court the said Court doth approve his procedings 
and acts in said case and hereby directs the Clerk to endorse the approvar[?] 
in the papers the Court further declairs [declares] that Margarate [Margaret] McCalla died on 
the 2  th day of August 1839 leaving the following Children Andrew McCalla 
Wm McCalla Nancy Dickson and Margarate [Margaret] McBath and that John McCalla died on the 16th day of June 1835 

State of Tennessee 
Knox County  } ss
I Geo. W. C. Cox Clerk of the County Court 
of Knox County do hereby certify that the foregoing procedings are the original 
proceedings had and approved of by the County Court of Knox County at 
its May term 1843 relative to the declaration of Andrew McCalla 
to obtain the benefit of the acts of Congress relative to Revolutionary pensions 
and I further certify that the aforesaid Michael Davis is and was 
a Justice of the peace for said County duly commissioned and qualified 
according to law and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Office in Knoxville this 11th day of May 1844 
Geo. W. C. Cox, Clerk
Page 30

State of Tennessee 
Knox County ⎬ 
I George M White do hereby certify that the 
aforesaid George W C Cox is the Clerk of the County Court of Knox County 
duly commissioned and qualified according to law and order[?] is 
due his official acts as such 

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of May 1844. 
Geo M White 
Chairman of the County Court of Knox County
Page 31

5747, 
John McCalla, 
Knox County, E Tennee [Tennessee]
5th October, 1819.

Colo. Moylan's regt. 
Light Dragoons, 
Penna line, April 
1777 to April 1780

found on the rolls. 

Admitted.

Samuel Powell, judge 
Kingston, Roane 
County, East Tennee
recd 4th[?] Feby 1820.
Page 32

State of Tennessee 
Knox County ⎬ October Sessions 1819 

John McCall a citizen of Knox County in the 
State of Tennessee aged seventy years this day 
personally appeared in open court and first 
being sworn deposeth and saith that he enlisted  
in the service of the United States in the 
revolutionary war as a comon [common] Soldier in the 
month of April 1777 for the term of three 
years under Capt David Hopkins in the 
town of Baltimore and was discharged 
in the month of April 1880 at Colchester in Connecticut that he belonged 
to 4th Regiment of Dragoons commanded by Colonel Stephen Moylan Said troop was 
raised in the State of Maryland that he was 
in the Battle of Iron Hill Brandywine & edgehill that he has lost his discharge and 
has not the means within his power to prove 
his services except by his own oath that 
he is old infirm and stands in knead [need] of the aid of Government that he never 
has been a pensioner and hereby relinquishes 
all claim to any other pension than that 
allowed by the late acts of Congress for 
which this is to procure-
October 5th 1819 
John McCalla 
Sworn to in open Court 
Wm Swan DC
Page 33

John Bayles makes oath that he has been acquainted with John McCalla for the 
space of fifteen years that he has always 
supported the character of an honest man 
and that he could depend upon any 
statement that he would make on oath or otherwise 
October 5th 1819 
John Bayliss 
Sworn in open Court 
Wm Swan DC
Page 34

I the undersigned Justice of the Court of 
Pleas and quarter Sessions for the County of 
Knox in the State of Tennessee having a knowledge 
of the character of John McCalla do say that I believe him a man entitled to credit and believe the facts as stated in his declaration to be 
true and that Wm Swan who has signed 
his name as the deputy Clerk is the deputy clerk of this County
James White Chm [Chairman]
Page 35

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim. 

I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States, of the Seventh of July 1838, Margaret McCalla, Deceased, who was the widow of 
John McCalla who was a Dragoon in the Revolutionary War was entitled to receive a pension at the rate of One hundred dollars per Annum 
Commg [commencing] 4 Mar 1836 & endg [ending] 2d Augt 1839 
day of her death which will be paid 
upon the pro.[?] of [illegible] Voucher 
to Andrew & Wm McCalla 
Nancy Dickson & Margaret 
McBath only survg [surviving] children 

Given at the War Office of the United 
States, this 13 day of July one thousand 
eight hundred and forty 4


Secretary of War

Examined and Countersigned.}

Commissioner of Pensions
Page 36

Knoxville Oct 27th 1839 
D Sir,
Enclosed are some papers handed to me 
by Mr Andrew McCalla for the benefit of 
his relative Mrs McCalla. You can 
advise me of your decisions[?] on these 
paper when I read Norton City 
with the greatest Respet 
Yrs
J. S. Williams

Mr Edwards