Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11,237, for Jesse Phelan, Pennsylvania
Page 1

 Service: Continental Penn.
Phelan, Jesse
Number S11237

Contents: carded
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Maryland 32, 178
=======================
Jesse Phelan
Of Anne-Arundle Co in the State of Maryland
who was a Private & Ensign in the company commanded by Captain Walkers of the rgt commanded by Coll Stewart in the Fying Camp, Pa. line for 6 months

Pa and Continental
June 22/05
Records completed 
===========================
Inscribed on the Roll of Maryland
at the rate of 20 Dollars ____Cents per annun to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
=========================
certificate of Pension issued the 27th day of July 1844 and sent to Pensioner Baltimore
=======================
Arrears to the 4th of Marc h 1844--------260-
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep "-------10-
-------------------------------------------$270:00
{Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832}

RECORDED by D. Brown Clerk
BOOK E 2 VOL. 5 Page 109,
Page 3

Baltimore Feb 8th.1844

Sir
Enclosed you will receive my Father in law Jesse Phelan's papers; his application for a pension under the Law of Congress 7th June 1832, again he renews this application in consequences of my having searched out persons who was on the same service with him and will I have no doubt be able to establish his claim through their testimony which will be received as soon as practicable and sent to the pension office - therefore  be pleased to send me the Law regulating such cases and noting the parts in it which must be completed with
and I will ever remain
your humble Servant 
William Weble 

J.L. Edwards Esq
Committee of Pension
Washington City
Page 4

State of Maryland
Howard District Ann-Arundel County to wit:
Be it remembered that on this Sixth - day of February - in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four before the subscriber's Justices of Orphan's Court for Howard District, Anne Arundel County aforesaid the being a Court of Record, Personally came Jesse Phelan, aged eighty nine years now a resident of Baltimore County and State aforesaid, but formerly a resident of (ineligible) in the county of Jefferson in the State of Virginia, and previous to that a resident of Chester County in the State of Pennsylvania, who being duly sworn on the Holy -----of Almighty God doth on his doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the  Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1882. That he entered the service of the United States in the war of the Revolution under the following named officers as served as herein: that he was born in Chester County in the State of Pennsylvania and remained in said County until he attained the twenty first year of his age. He entered the service as a Volunteer and was Commissioned as Ensign for three years or during the war in the flying camp in the second Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line in June, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five in  Captain Calken's company under the command Colonel Steward's and served in said company for the space of two years when he was transferred to Captain McClellan's Company of said Regiment under Colonel Steward and north in which he served about four months- he was then transferred to the company of Captain James H. Cooke of Proctors artillery and remainder on service with him for six months, 
Jesse Phelan further states under oath that he also served under Captains Whalen and Webster services was of minor importance.  
McLane Brown
Thos S. Hebert
Page 5

a heavy cannonading - he afterwards marched to Princeton and fought in that battle, from thence he went to Philadelphia - thence to Brandywine, State of Delaware, and fought in that battle, which occurred in September, Seventeen hundred and seventy seven, - thence on to and became engaged in the massacre of Paoli,- thence on the Germantown and fought in that battle when he returned to Valley Forge, and took up winter quarters; afterwords, in the following spring they crossed the Delaware to Jersey, thence to monmouth, and was there engage in three battle thence to Stoney Point and partook in that battle - after which his company together with many others, proceeded South through the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, and also Maryland by the head of Elk at the head of the Chesapeake Bay, and through the State of Virginia to York-town, and fought in that battle and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis: He, deponent, hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension list or roll of the agency of any State, having been unable heretofore to procure his daily bread by his own living he was unwilling to become a pensioner on the bounties of his country, but recent affliction and growing infirmities have reduced him to dependence thereon. He therefore prefers his claim. And this deponent further declares, that after rendering the within services he was discharged by his captain.               
 In testimony whereof this deponent hath hereunto subscribed his name on the day and year first herein above written.                   
Jesse Phelan      
McLane Brown                    
Thomas S. Herbert                  
Justices of the Orphan's Court of Howard District of Anne Arundel County, Md                
The justices of the Orphans court of Howard District of Anne Arundel County do certify that after a careful personal examination of the deponent in the above case, we believe him to be strictly correct in reference to his having served as ensign in the Revolutionary War, as he has set forth in his written Declaration.                
McLane Brown              
Tho. S. Herbert                
I Washington Gaither, Register of Wills for Howard District, of A. A. Co. do hereby certify that, McLane Brown and Thomas S. Herbert Esqs. were acting Justices of the Orphans' Court of said District, at the time of the making the above declaration.              
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office this sixth day of February in the year of Our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty four.                 
Washington Gaither, Register of Wills for Howard District of Anne Arundel County
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J.L. Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions

I have been informed that Mr. Jesse Phelan of Baltimore County in the neighborhood of Ellicott Mills has made application to be placed on the pension Roll of the united States.  It gives me great pleasure to state that I have known Mr. Phelan form my earliest recollection and have lived near to him for the greater portion of my life.  I have always any on all occasions found him to be a man of strict veracity -- therefore I have no doubt but that the facts setforth in the within declaration are strictly correct, as I have heard it frequently mentioned by old persons, that Mr. Phelan was in the service of the united States during the Revolutionary war   Consequently I have no doubt his justly entitled to a pension

Tho Burgess Staff of 
B. Howard Dept 
of Anne Arundel Co

Having known Mr. Pelan for several years as a resident of the neighborhood of Ellicott Mills we can fully express our concurrence with what Mr. Burgess has said of him.

Wm Denny M.D.
Ellicott Mills Md
Feb 6th 1844

J.P. Kennedy
Edward Gray
Page 7

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jesse Phelan-S.11237
BA-J/AWF

Mrs. L. St. Clair Allen
Keyser 
West Virginia

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Jesse Phelan.

The data furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S.11237 based upon the Revolutionary War service of Jesse Phelan.

He was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, date not stated, nor at the names of his parents given.

While residing in Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania, Jesse Phelan enlisted in June 1776, served as ensign in Captains Walker's McClellan's James H. Cooke's, Evans, Israel Whalen's Webster's companies, Colonel Stewart's Pennsylvania regiment, and Colonel Proctor's Artillery regiment; he was in the battles of Flatbush, White Plains, crossed the Delaware with General Washington, in the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Paoli, Germantown, wintered at Valley Forge, in the battles of Monmouth, Stoney Point, Yorktown and was discharged in September 1782.

Jesse Phelan was living in 1835 in Bolivar, Jefferson County, Virginia. He was allowed pension on his application executed February 6, 1844, then aged eighty-nine years and living near Ellicott Mills, Baltimore County, Maryland.

William Webb of Maryland in 1844 referred to the
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soldier, Jesse Phelan, as his father-in-law. Thomas Phelan was recorded as a second lieutenant in the service at the same time as Jesse Phelan, his relationship to the soldier not stated.

There are no further data in this claim concerning the family of Jesse Phelan.

There are no further data in this claim concerning the family of Jesse Phelan.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address to whom sent and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C. citing the following data:

Jesse Phelan
Certificate No. 32178
Issued July 27, 1844
Rate $20,00 per annum
To commence March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1831
Maryland Agency

Very truly yours
A.D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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[on the right side]

11234
INVALID.
[WRITTEN VERTICALLY] Rev Wa

File No.  11,237
Jesse R Phelan
Priv & Ensign Rev. War

Act: June 7 1832

Index: --Vol. A, Page 293

(Arrangement of 1870.)


[on the left side and written vertically]

1934- [an illegible word, followed by a series of ditto marks, then more illegible words]
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Rejected          
8107 Jesse Phelan          
Consolidated with O W Inv File #11237              
The printed list of 1852 gives cause of suspension as: "No proof of service, name not on Penn rolls- papers withdrawn"
Page 11

Jesse Phelan              
Maryland             
Act 7 June 1832            
See letters to W Webb and W W Curran, July, 20, 1844        
 Jesse Phelan Va 
Suspended           
Let [letter] J Fouke 27 Mar 35 (copy inside) 
Let J. Fouke 13 Apr    
Let J. Fouke 20 June     
Let  Ed Lucas 5 Feb  25 Feb / 35    
Let Ed Lucas Jany 9 36    
Let Ed Lucas  Feb 29 36 cannot find  
Let May 14  paper 
Returned   
8167
Page 12

Jesse Phelan
Private
Flying
Camp
6 months
Maryland Roll
---
Act 7 June 1832
---
$20 per an
-
Send cert to the
Pensioner at
Baltimore
Mary'd
Page 13

Jesse Phelan
Va
Page 14

Isaac Fowk

June 20th 1835
A. L.
Page 15

Depart of War
Penn’a Office
June 20th 1835
Sir
I have rec’d the additional testimony case of Benj Elliott and Jesse Phelan, but it not deemed sufficient.  
Mr. Guest the affiant know nothing of his own personal knowledge of the alleged service of the claimant, he being [unreadable] in connextion with the continued army in 1777, [unreadable] claimants std that they continued – one [unreadable] 1780 [unreadable] which the year 1781 having served from 3 to 5 years, do not know if this service can be found when it [unreadable] The papers remain on file.
James
Isaac Fowke Esq
Harper Ferry 
Va.
Page 16

Hon Edward Lucas
H R
Jan 9. 1836
OC
Rec'd Vol 4 p 388
Page 17

War Dep
Pension Offfice
Jan 9. 1836

Sir,
I have again very carefully examined the case of Jesse Phelan and I find the objections to the claim much stronger than they first appeared to be. He and his witnesses swear that he belonged to the Pennsylvania Continental line: and now he states to verbally that he was a volunteer. The statements of the claimant are so at variance that they cannot be relied upon.  The deponent could not under the circumstance of the case be justified for granting a pension.
I have the honor
Hon Edward Lucas
House of Rep.
Enter this on Index
Va. case
Act 1832
Page 18

Hon. Edw. Lucas
May 14 1836
OL
Rec'd Vol 40 pa 487
Page 19

Depart of War     
Penn Office   
May 14  1836
Sir
I return herewith the letter of Mr. Isaac Fowke, and the accordance with his request, the papers of Jesse Phelan the receipt of what you please to acknowledge.  
The claim was presented to this office in July 1831 under act of June 7, 1832, accompanied at the same time with  a claim of Benj Elliott, and then several allegations were attempted to be sustained by the testimony of each [unreadable].   They both alleged that they had served for several years in the Continental line of Penn.  From the fact that the rolls of the Penna line did not bear  either of the names and from the having so long delayed to apply for pension, where of they had served as set forth in the declaration they would have been entitled under an act of March 18 1818, the proof was deemed insufficient               
Hon Ed Lucas         
H of Rep
Page 20

June 6 1844
Declaration and statements under oath of Lieut John Schute in the Revolutionary claims of Jesse Phelan
Add Proof
Jesse Phelan
Presented by Wm. W. Curran
Page 21

State of Maryland              
Baltimore County } To wit                    
Be it remembered that on this twenty third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland in and for the said County. Personally appeared Thomas Forrest aged eighty six years a resident of the county aforesaid and formerly a  resident of the State of Pennsylvania and made oath in the holy Evangely of Almighty god, that he was intimately acquainted with Jesse Phelan now present and who is living at this time near Ellicotts Mills in the aforesaid County. Commencing early in the spring of the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven to the year seventeen hundred and eighty during the times the said Jesse Phelan was acting in the capacity of an Ensign in the second regiment and a part of the time in the first regiment of Artillery of the Pennsylvania line the said Jesse Phelan also served about four month in Captain McClennan's Company of the 2d regiment, afterward he was attached to and served about six months in Proctor's artillery as aforesaid, the said service having expired in or near the spring of the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight as well as this deponent can recollect, this deponent further declares that afterwards the said Jesse
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Jesse Phelan was attached to the second regiment and rendered services to the United states in his respective stations up to the time of this deponent leaving the Revolutionary Services as aforesaid which was in the spring of the year Seventeen hundred and eight and this deponent further declares that he well knew the said Jesse Phelan at times and places during their Revolutionary services and frequently met and chat together in camp and spoke freely about their service and also of the battles they fought in this deponent further declares that the said Jesse Phelan served three years in the different stations aforesaid during the Revolutionary War, and that he left him in Service this deponent has no further knowledge of the length of his service than already aforesaid, this deponent also declares that he knows the said Jesse Phelan who is applying for a pension for the aforesaid services to be the same Identical person and belives him to be justly entitled to a pension for and upon account of the aforesaid service,

Thomas Forrest his mark

Sworn and Subscribed to before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace as aforesaid 

John Ash
Justice of the Peace for Baltimore County
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State of Maryland
Baltimore County To wit

This is to certify that I John Ash a Justice of the Peace of the state in and for the  county aforesaid am well acquainted with Thomas Forrest the old and honorable gentleman who has sworn and subscribed to the deposition of facts on the facts on the opposite page until that he is a person of good character and standing and I believe his statement to be strictly correct - In testimony whereof I subscribed my name and seal on this twenty third day of April
1844-----------John Ash (seal)

State of Maryland Baltimore County ss
I hereby certify that JohnAsh Esquire before who the within deposition was made and who hath thereto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland in and for the city of Baltimore duly commissioned and sworn.

In testimony whereof I here to set my hand and affix the seal of Baltimore County Court on this 29th day of April 1844
Tho Kell Clerk
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State of Maryland
City of Baltimore 
To wit
On this twenty fifth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four Before the Subscriber a justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland in and for the said City personally appeared Lieutenant John Schute aged eighty eight years a  resident of the said city and oat on the Evanagely of Almighty God. That he was intimately acquainted with Jesse Phelan who is at this time residing near Ellicott Mills in Baltimore County in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven, seventy eight, seventy nine and seventeen hundred and eighty and during the whole time the said Jesse Phelan was acting in the capacity of an Ensign in the Pennsylvania Line and rendered active service in Captain Mc Clennan's company of the second regiment for at least four month afterward he was attached to the first regiment of Artillery under Colonel Proctor and he rendered active service in the said regiment for at least six months the said service ended sometime in the spring of the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight afterwards the aforesaid Jesse Phelan was attached to the company of Captain Evans  who also belonged to the 2nd Regt. and others that he cannot recollect at this late day. And this deponent further declares that the aforesid Jesse Phelan
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rendered active service regularly in the different and many positions aforesaid in the Revolutionary War up to the Spring of the year Seventeen hundred and Eighty at which time this deponent left the services aforesaid but he will recollect at different times hearing persons that served during the whole of this Revolutionary war. States that the same identical Jesse Phelan served in and through the greater part of this Revolutionary war. And this deponent further declares that while in active service, the said Jesse Phelan and himself fought in the Battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and Stoney Point. And this deponent declares under Oath that Jesse Phelan who is spoken of in this instrument of writing  is the same identical person that rendered the aforesaid service and believes him to be justly entitled to a pension from the United States further this deponent sayeth not 
John Schute his mark

Sworn and subscribed to before me
this subscribe A justice of the Peace of the state in and for the city aforesaid.
Nathan Warfield Justice of the Peace for the city of Baltimore.
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State of Maryland
City of Baltimore To Wit
This is to certify that Lieutenant John Schute
whose statements one contained on the opposite and this side is personally known to me to be an old Gentleman of great Respectability of Character of Strict honour and integrity and that the most implicit confidence can safely be placed in his statements, Given under my hand and seal this twenty fifth day of April 1844
Nathan Warfield [seal]
State of Maryland
Baltimore County Sct.
I hereby certify that Nathan Warfield Gentleman
before whom the aforegoing affidavit was made 
and who has thereto signed his name was
at the time of so doing one of the
Justices of the peace of the State of
Maryland in and for the City of Baltimore
duly commissioned and sworn
In Testimony Whereof hereto
set my hand and affix the seal of
Baltimore County Court this 26th
day of April 1844
Thos Kell Clk
Page 27

W. W. Curran
20 July 1844
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                                                                                        331
                                                                                  Pension Office
                                                                                   July 20. 1844

Sir
In answer to your letter relative to the case of Wm Jesse Phelan, I have to inform you that his case has been examined and reported to Wm William Webb, who sent the papers to this office

Wm W Curran Esq
Baltimore
Mary'd
Page 29

20 July 1844
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                                                        378
                                                Pension Office
                                                July, 20, 1844

Sir
I have made a very careful examination of the papers in the case of Jesse Phelan; and I am sorry that I cannot discover sufficient evidence to authorize the Dept to grant a pension for the time claimed.  If he was a commissioned officer, as alleged, and served so long as set forth in his declaration his name should be found on our rolls of continental officers.  In no case like this can we allow the claimant the pension of a commissioned.  From his own statement and the affidavits of his witnesses, it is very probable that he might have belonged to the Flying Camp, which was in the service six years (months) but I do not think that he held a commission.  The Dept would be willing to allow the pension due to a private soldier for six months' time; but mothing more.

William Webb Esq
Baltimore
M'd
act 1832
2032567
Maryland Index
Page 31

Depart of War
Pension Office
March 27, 1835

Sir
I have examined the additional explanation in the cases of Jesse Phelan and Benje Elliot & find it wholly unsatisfactory.  They shew most conclusively that neither of the claimants, ever served in the manner described, if at all. 

Mr Phelan says that he never rec'd any pay for his services, but was liberally supplied by his father from his own private means.  It is somewhat remarkable, that while W Phelan pretends to give the names of some 60 persons were in the Penn line, & men who did not serve in his company, yet he cannot name his own officers, for no such names as he has given are found upon the rolls.
Pete Phelan, the only man of the name, served the Penn line, several years, and rec'd as appear from the rolls at the close of the war $183.30
The case of Benji Elliot is as bad
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that of Mr. Phelan.
The rolls furnish the names of Robt and James Elliot, in the regiment which Benji, allegs to have serv'd, towit the 7N- but the name of Benji nowhere appears, neither the names of his officers     
Mr Elliot says that his cap't name was Jno Bush: there was a captain the 6th reg't of that name. There was a Capt Willis in the 4 Regt but as Lieutenant                 
Mr Elliot it seems too, served without pay, a never rec’d but a very small part; that was some times rec’d for the payment- from the Capt’n – from the Lieu’t: a very improble statement                   
On the whole the circumstances attending these two cases are such at to cast a deep shade of suspicion as to the correctness of the claimants statements.    The claims are rejected & the papers place on file       
JAM         
Isaac Fowke Esq 
Harpers Ferry VA
Page 33

Depart of War      
Pension Office              
April 13th, 1831       
Sir              
In reply to your letter of the 9th ult upon the subject of the claim of Benji Elliot and Jesse Phelan, I have the observation that altho' there is a strong presumption against these claims, yet upon the production of the proof required by the Department, the claims will yet be admitted.               
The regulations of the Depart require, in all cases, where the names of applicants are not found upon the rolls, where rolls exist, that their service shall be proved by the testimony of two credible witnesses, who while of their own personal knowledge be able state, the time of the applicants entering and the time and manner of his leaving the service: the name of the regiment, line, officers &c.   
As the applicants in the present case lived in Penn, I can hardly be supposed that they would have gone with any other state for the purpose of enlisting: that they did not enlist in Penn, the absence of their names upon the rolls is a [unreadable] indeed.  
The testimony Wm  Gilpen does not sustain the parties in their several allegations. He it appears belonged to the Maryland line, known
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nothing of the time of the claimants entering the service, nor the time and manner of their leaving it, or the company in which they served; He has a recolection that the claimants were serving with him in various places, which recollection is strengthened he says by conversing with them, and has been well acquainted with them for 20 years past.                      
All the soldiers belonging to the Penn line who applied, and few omitted so to do, were paid off after the peace.          
It remains for the claimant to make out that case. I will observe however, that where any two claims are of a doubtful character -the doubly entertained as to their justness, cannot be removed the - one testimony for the other.                    
James
Isaac Fowke, Esq
13 Apr / 35
G.C.
Record Goe 25 page 439
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Hon Ed Lucas, Jr

25 July 1835
Page 36

Department of War             
Pension Office             
Feb’y 25. 1835            
Sir     
I have rec’d the add’l papers and evidence in the case of Benj Elliott and Jesse Phelan, and have filed there with the original papers.   
As the proof required in these cases has not been furnished, it will be proper for a still farther explanation on each of the claimants before any [unreadable] can be had in the claims.    
They will state at what time and in what manner they received their pay for their service; whether paid them in person or to the agents-  the will also give the names of such persons within then remembrance as served in the same companies with them, and such other details as they may be able to give: whether any other persons of the name of Elliott or Phelan served with them in the same regiments &c   Upon the [unreadable] of the answers to the interrogatories,  a decision will be had all claims               
Isaac W. Fowke
Hon Edw Lucas Jr.
H. R.
Page 37

James Gest
Deposition
No. 3 Phelan
1754
90
44
Jesse Phelan
Pa.
No. 32,567
Page 38

I Benjamin Elliot residing in the neighborhood of Bolivar Harpers Ferry Jefferson County, State of Virginia do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Jesse Phelan: that I have been acquainted with him from my youth upwards.  I recollect that he entered the revolutionary army in the year 1775.  To the best of my knowledge & belief, he entered in the service of the United States in the 2nd Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line in the Company commanded by Capt Whelan, 1st Lieutenant Evan Evans, 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Phelan.  & his Col was Williams Evans & that he the said Jesse Phelan received shortly afterwards a commission as ensign and acted as such in said company.  I also recollect distinctly that Jesse Phelan was attached to the Flying Camp under the command of Gen'l Anthony Wayne & acted as ensign whilst in that part of the army of the revolution.
I furthermore recollect that he acted as ensign for a considerable length of time under the command of Col W Stewart & Capt Walker & moreover that after the battle of Germantown he served a term in Capt Winters company in Col Proctors Artillery.  I also have a distinct recollection of a Lieutenancy have been offered Jesse Phelan by Gen'l Wayne, but owing to the desire of him own men he declined the offer of lieutenency to act as an ensign.  I imagine that Jesse Phelan must have left the service sometime in the year 1782, this however I do not know positively, as I did not go with the army to Virginia my term of service being nearly expired.  I also recollect that Jesse Phelan was in the Battles at Long Island, & White Plains & Trenton & Princeton, at Brandywine, at Paoli, at Monnmout & at Stoney Point.  When Jesse Phelan entered the Army of
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the United States he was living in Chester County Downing Town State of Pennsylvania & it is my opinion from a comparison with my own age recollection that he must be at this time about eighty years of age                
Given under my hand this 13th day of Feb 1835             Benjamin Eliot his mark
Teste 
Thos A. Moore
Personally appeared before the undersigned a justice of the peace in & for the County of Jefferson St of Virginia Benjamin Elliot & being first duly so on his oath saith that the statements contained foregoing certificate are true to the best of his knowledge     
Given under my hand & seal this 13th day of Feb 1835 
James B. Wager J. P. 
jus to son a I James B. Wager residing in Jefferson County State of Virginia do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Jesse Phelan, who has applied I understand for a pension for revolutionary service: I believe him to be eighty years of age & that he is reputed & believed in this neighborhood where he lives to have been engaged in the army of the revolution, & that I concur in that opinion.        Given under my hand this 13th day of February 1835          
James B Wager J.P.             
Personally appeared before me the peace in & for the County of Jefferson State of Va.  
James B Wager & being first duly sworn on his oath saith that the statement contained in foregoing certificate
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subscribed by him are true, to the best of his knowledge & belief.  Given under my hand & seal this thirteenth Day of February 1835
F. Bickham J. P. [seal]   
I James Gallaher residing in the County of Jefferson State of Virginia do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Jesse Phelan who has understand applied for a pension for revolutionary services: that I believe her to be eighty years of age: that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood when he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that I concur in that opinion. Given under my hand this 16th day of Feby 1835        
James Gallaher            
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace is for the County of Jefferson State of Virginia James Gallaher & being first duly sworn on his oath saith that the statements contained in foregoing certificate subscribed by him are true to the best of his knowledge & belief   Given under my hand & seal this 16th day of February 1835     
John Yates [seal]         
Virginia Jefferson County SS     
Feby 16 1835 the County Court of Jefferson County now sitting hereby certify that this day Jesse Phelan came into Court & being first only sworn according to law on his oath made the following declaration, that "in answer to the query why did he not apply under the act of congress of the 18th March 1818, he did not know there was such an act in existence, not till the time of his application -
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Hon E. Lucas Jr.
of he had made enquiry of a great many persons but could not gain any information of the subject or at least this world throw any light on the subject until very recently be happened to see the regulations of the War Department & he further states that he knows of no other person now living beside the proof he has now attained, who were acquainted with him in the time of his service in the revolutionary war, unless he possibly and find some of his contemporaries in the State of Pennsylvania, which could not be done without grant expense as he has not the means to undertake the journey, is impracticable to obtain. He further states that he is a man of temperate habits, abstaining altogether from ordered spirits of every description              Sworn & subscribed the day year foresaid                 Jesse Phelan
              
And the Court further certify that Benjamin Elliot James B Wager and James Gallaher who have signed the foregoing certificate are resident in Jefferson County - State of Virginia, that they are credible persons and this their statements are entitled to credit as it appears to them            
I Samuel J. Cramer Clerk of the County County Jefferson County do hereby certify that the foregoing certain the original proceedings of the County Court of Jefferson County & I do further certify that James B. Wager, F Bickham & John Yates who have signed the foregoing certificate are Justices of the peace, are Justices of the peace in & for the County of Jefferson State of Virginia that the foregoing signatures annexed to those certificates are genuine Signatures.                  
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 16th day of February 1835 - Samuel J. Cramer  c. j. c. c.
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I William Gilpin of Jefferson County State of Virginia hereby certify that I have a recollection of seeing Phelan in the revolutionary army: and to the best of my recollection he was serving with us in York, the Jersies, Pennsylvania. I have no doubt he was acting as an ensign for circumstance he has detailed to me. - My recollection of Phelans acting in the army of the revolution is strengthened by conversation with Phelan, in which he recounts fact that could not have come to his knowledge, unless he has been personally present in those scenes; they never having been put or record. I cannot state at this distance of time when he entered the service, but to the best of my recollection he belonged to the Pennsylvania Line. Jesse Phelan is now residing in Jefferson County in Bolivar.   I myself volunteered in the Maryland Line 1775 in the company commanded by left O.A. Williams & then enlisted for three years in 3 Md Regiment commanded by Col Ramsay under Capt Marbury    
Given under my hand this 17th day of March 1835    
Test Geo. B. Stephenson            
William Gilpin his mark   
Personally appeared before the undersigned a justice of the peace in & for the County of Jefferson State of Virginia William Gilpin I being first duly sworn, on his but said he statements contained in foregoing certificate subscribed by her are true to the best of his knowledge & belief. Given under my hand & seal this 17th day of March 1835             
Geo B. Stephenson [seal]
Page 43

Virginia Jefferson County to wit           
March 17th 1835 the County Court of Jefferson County certifies that it appears to them that William Gilpin, who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in the County of Jefferson, State of Virginia that he is a credible person & that his statement is entitled to credit.              
I Samuel J Cramer Clerk of the County Court of Jefferson do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court & I do hereby further certify that Geo. B. Stephenson, who signed the foregoing certificate as a justice of the peace, is a justice of the peace in & for the County of Jefferson, State of Virginia that his signature thereto attached is a genuine Signature           
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this 17th day of March 1835 Saml J. Cramer  
Clerk of the County Court of Jefferson County
Page 44

James Guest of Chester County Eastmantinell Township and State of Pennsylvania hereby certify that I have a distinct recolection of Jesse Phelan both before and after the war of the Revolution & distinct recolect that it was the neighborhood talk that he was an Ensign in the army and served from 1775 till after the taking of Cornwallace [Lord Cornwallis] at York in Virginia, he belonged to the said Ridgement [Regiment] of the Pennsylvania Line under Capt Walker under the command of Col Steward and I have a knowledge of seeing him there, I belonged to the fourth Regiment under Col Wagoner Capt Worths camp, I have no particular recolection of the time when he entered the Army but think it must have been some time in the year 1775 under Capt Isreal Whalen & I have no Recolection of the time he left the Army, but have every reason to believe that the he left it honorably as I never heard aught against his character   
Given under my hand this 28 day of May 1835 
James Guest his mark 
State of Pennsylvania Chester County }  Ss             
Be it known that before me Evan Evans a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared James Guest and being first duly sworn on his oath saith that statements contained in foregoing certificate subscribed by him are true to the best of his knowledge and belief Given under my hand this 28 day of May 1835    
Evan Evans J.P.C.C.   
Pennsylvania    
Chester County } SS.    I John W Cuningham Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas  in and for the County of Chester in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania do certify that Evan Evans Esquire before whom the foregoing acknowledgement was taken is and at the time at which the same bears date was one of the Justices of the Peace of said Commonwealth duly commissioned and qualified for the said County of Chester to all whose official acts as such full faith credit are and ought to be given              
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at West Chester in said the Twenty eighth day of May A D one thousand Eight Hundred and thirty five John W. Cunningham Prot.
Page 45

J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City, DC

July 19, 1844
Page 46

Baltimore              
July 16th 1844         
Sir            
Mr Jesse Phelan whose case I have in charge is now in Baltimore and extremely anxious to have hearing on his application for a pension.  The papers in this case that is his declaration and some evidence, were filed in your office some six months ago. I know the great mass of business you have before you precludes the possibility of your deciding promptly on each case as it may be presented but permit me to solicit the favor of you to take up this case, if it cause no relation of the rules of your office and make a decision upon it, especially as a partial hearing has been already had upon it long since. The old man is destitute, and common humanity calls for prompt action in his case. He tells me that he made application you some years since, for a pension which was refused for want of sufficient evidence This might be presented as another reason why his case, partially acted upon, should not be 1 thrown behind new case applications. Be pleased to write me at Baltimore, and oblige   
your obedient servant          
Wm. W. Curran            
To the Hon. J. L. Edwards    
Com Pens
Page 47

[unreadable] DIVISION
APR 19 1923
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
4307 Maine Ave    
W. Forest Park       
April 16, 1923         
To the Pension Dept             
Washington D.C.           
Will you kindly verify this statement - 
“Jesse Phelan who fought in the Revolutionary Was as ensign under Gen. Wayne Marryland Line Battles - Stony Point, Long Island, received a pension for his services up until
Page 48

his death in 1842
Died at the age of 90
Pension, I think must have
been sent to the post office
at the Ellicott Mills Md.

Can you also let me know
what company he was in
and the name of his
captain? and the amount
of his pension

Thanking you

I am very sincerely
Lydia Webb Klinefelter
great grand-daughter of the
pensioners
Page 49

Mrs. Wm. E. Klinefelter
4307 Maine Ave
W. Forest Park
Balto. Md.

U. S. PENSION OFFICE 
G
APR'19
1923
Page 50

4307 Maine Ave
Co. Forest Park
May 23, 1923

U. S. PENSION OFFICE
May
28
1923


To the Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir:
Will you kindly send to the enclosed address any information your department may have of a Jesse Phelan and verify the statement here written Jesse Phelan fought in the Revolutionary War
Page 51

in the "Maryland Line" was under Gen. Wayne as "Flag Bearer".

Was in the Battle of Long Island wintered at Valley Forge.

He received a pension from the government

Died in 1842 in the 90th year of his age.

Copy of statement from his grandson James Webb born 1827 died 1908

If you will please hunt up the record of said pension. Will greatly oblige 
Yours.
Page 52

Lydia Webb Klinefelter
Address
Mrs. Wm. E. Klinefelter
4307 Maine Ave
W. Forest Park
Balto Md.
Page 53

RECEIVED 
APR 6, 1934


April 5, 1934

Veterans Administration,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs:
Will you please send me the REVOLUTIONARY WAR record of

JESSE PHELAN
who fought as private and ensign under General Anthony Wayne at Stony Point, etc.?

Ensign Phelan was a lineal ancestor of mine and I am seeking correct information at to his history at the time time of the Revolution. At eight years (80) years of age, he applied for a pension from the Government.

I think he enlisted from Pennsylvania. After the war he settled in 

Bertha W. Allen 
(Mrs. L. St. Clair Allen)
Page 54

April 6. 1934

Bureau of Pensions
Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs:
I am informed that your bureau can give me the information I desire about the REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORD of my ancestor.

JESSE PHELAN
who fought General Anthony Wayne at Stony Point was private and ensign. Phelan enlisted from Pennsylvania, I believe. I will greatly appreciate any information as to his war record.

Respectfully Yours
Bertha W. Allen 
(Mrs. L. St. Clair Allen)

RECEIVED
APR 7 1934
________________
RECEIVED 14 
VETS ARM
Page 55

Revolutionary War Records Section 3-525     
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR             
BUREAU OF PENSIONS             
Washington, D.C -----------------192                    
AWF
S.11237     
In reply to your request of -----------, for the history of Jesse Phelan , a soldier of the Revolutionary War, the following is taken from the soldier's claim for pension 
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT   June 1776   to Sept 1782    LENGTH OF SERVICE   RANK  Ensign or Pvt.    OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED   Captain Walker  Colonel Stewart   Captain McClellan  Colonel Proctor  Captain James H. Cooke  Captain Evans  Captain Whalen  Captain Webster STATE  Pa.
The Flying Camp was organized in 1776 (not 1777) & resided from June 1776 to Jan 1777 when Gen.  Mercer who was in command of it died after Battle of Princeton
Battles engaged in Flatbush, White Plains, two at Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Paoli, Germantown, Monmouth, Stony Point, Yorktown                  
Residence of solder at enlistment, Downing, Chester Co.- PA                 
Date of Application for pension, Feb 16. 1835  Claim allowed                        
Residence at date of application, Boliver, Jefferson Co. VA.                   
Age at date of application, Born in Chester Co - PA in 1755                  
Remarks: In 1844 soldier was living in Baltimore Co. Md.   Son in law William Webb referred to him 1844  but name of wife not stated.     No fur fam data.                   
Respectfully          
AW June 9 '23      Office note,  I put the officers as stated but even they could not be proved in the order he gave them.
Commissioner