Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 2315, for James Mc Clelland, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(3-1776) 
SERVICE 
Penn. 


McClelland, James [middle column]
Sarah

NUMBER
W. 2315 
B.L.W. 11069-160-55

CONTENTS
Page 2

Indiana 26562
James McClelland 
of Jefferson in the State of Indiana 
who was a private in the Company commanded
by Captain Doherty of the Com'y commanded 
no Colonel in the  [N. Carolina crossed out]
line for 7 months and 10 days 
Penn. 

Inscribed on the roll of Indiana 
at the rate of 24 Dollars 44 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension Issued the 15 day March
1834 and Sent to Hon
John Carr House of Rep

Arrears to the 4th of March 1834. $73.36
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept   12.22

$85.358
double line 

Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk
Book E Vol. 7 Page 121

Orderr to pay 23 Sept. 1837
Page 3

[left margin bottom]
Regs m 55-66546

[vertical middle of page]
Date of death not on - aw


2236
Indiana Madison

Sarah McClelland 
window of James. McClelland 
who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a private Penn.


Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
24. Dollars 44.
cents per annum, to commence in 
the 3d February, 1853.

Certificate of Pension Issued the 
4th day of October 1853
and sent to E. Easton 
Cincinnati 
Ohio.

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 3, 1853, page 190 Vol. A
(1832)
Page 4

[illegible-number]
Act March 3 / [illegible]
Apl 12 / [illegible]
Sarah McClelland widow
James McClelland
Private Rev. War 
N. C. Mil
War Rev.
Now a Pensioner of the U. State
Ind’a Feby 53-2236

[super imposed diagonally]
No 11.069 fr Nov 23/55

Boynton
Private
Pa militia
A’d 160 acres Nov 23 /55
Dodge

Richard Hill, agt
Cincinnati
Ohio

Rej’d J F L

Cer R Hill 11 / 55
Let [illegible] 20

Vol M 1 page 90
Page 5

66.546.
Act 3rd March 1855

8th Section

Sarah McClelland

Widow Of James 
McClelland Pvt
N.C. State Troops
Revolution 

Bounty Land
Richard Hill
Cincinnati 
Ohio
Page 6

State of Indiana 
County of Jefferson
On this Second day of April 1855
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for said County,
Sarah McClelland _______aged 76 .
years a resident of Said County_
who being duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration,
in order to obtain the benefit of provision mafe by the 8th section of the Act of Congress,
approved April 3rd 1855~
That she is the Widow of James McClelland late 
of Jefferson County Indiana who was a 
private of the North Carolina State troops
in the war of the Revolution, and a pensioner
of the United States at $24.44 per anneum
under Act of 7th June 1832- that she was 
Married to him in Said County on 5th October
1805. That her name before said marriage 
was McKinley. That her said husband 
died on 24th day of January 1840-She further
declares that she is now a pensioner at
the Madison VA Agency at $24.44 per
annum as his widow under 2nd section of the act of July 3rd 1853 , she further declares
that she is now a widow.
The she constitutes and appoints Richard Hill of Cincinnati
Ohio her Attorney in the premises to recive her warrant.
Sarah McClelland her mark
attest James H. Rankin
William Sargent 
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year first above written, before me, and I Certify
that the claimant is the identical person she represents herself to be & that I have no interest in her claim
Henry P. Lee
Justice of the Peace (over)
Page 7

we James H Rankins and William Sargent 
Residents of Jefferson County in the state of
Indiana upon our oath declare that the within
declaration was signed and acknowledged by 
Sarah McClelland in our presence_ that we 
are intimately acquainted with her and have 
been acquainted since the death of her 
husband James McClelland which took
place 24th January 1860 and therefore know
that she has not again married and is
now a widow. We further declares that 
to our knowledge the said James was a Pensioner of the United States, for service 
in the war of the Revolution, and that 
the said Sarah is now a Pensioner as
the widow at the rate of $24.44 per annum. We also declare that we are 
disinterested persons.
James H Rankins    [signed]
William Sargent [signed]
Sworn to and subscribed 
before me this day and 
year first within written and I Certify that the deponents
are known to me to be credible
persons. Henry P Lee
Justice of the Peace
Page 8

The state of Indiana County of Jefferson SS
 I John G Sering Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said County certify that Henry P Lee Esq before whom the foregoing affidavits were made and whose genuine signature appears thereto was at the same time an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned & qualified as such.
 In testimony whereof I have hereunto said my name & affixed the seal of said Court this 3rd day of April 1855. 
John G Sering Clerk
Page 9

State of Indiana Jefferson County ss
On this 6 day of March 1834, personally 
appeared before the Hon
Judges of the Circuit Court of the County
aforesaid now sitting James McClelland a resident
of of this State and County, aged 75 years and who being
 first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make
 the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of
 the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he was born in the County of Derry
Ireland on the 29th day of March 1759, 
emigrated with his father's family to Fayette
County Pennsylvania at the age of 12 years
where he continued to reside until he entered in the
 service of the United States: That he was 
drafted (he thinks) in the year 1776 in the
month of September, and marched
under the command of Capt James Doherety
(the Lieut’s name he does not remember) to Stradlers Fort
 on Dunkard’s Creek, where he was stationed and served
one month from some time in September
until the same time in October, for he 
distinctly remembers that he was drafted
for the term of month and that he
served the whole term, was discharged
and returned home. That in the month of
September 1777 he volunteered, with others,
under the command of Capt. James Doherty
Lieut. Ralph Naylor and Ensign Van
Swearingen, against the tories, 18
of whom they captured and conveyed to Winchester
Page 10

Va to be confined in prison; and from thence returned
and after an absence of 5 weeks that he 
was again drafted the year 1778 or 1779.
he came to [illegible] [New Brunswhich?] and marched under command of Capt. James Doherty, Lt Micheal Pratt, ] 
and Ensign Thomas Carr father of
the Hon John Carr Representative to Congress from this District, on the 10th of August to Fort McIntosh
and remained McIntosh's campaign until
the following Christmas when having been discharged 
he returned home. That he removed from Fayette County, Pa  to Shelby County Ky in 79
and from thence in the year 1811 this
County, where he has resided ever since.
That he has no documentary evidence
of his service; and he knows of no person
whose testimony he can procure who can 
testify to his service, in this county. And he 
relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his
name is not on the pension Roll of the
agency of any state
James McCelland his mark

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Page 11

We Jacob Stucker and William Stucker residing in the County of Jefferson and State of Indiana hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James McCelland who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 75 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been 
a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Jacob Stucker
William Stucker

And the Court hereby declares their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named 
applicant was a soldier and served as he states; and the court further states that it appears to them that Jacob
Stucker and William Stucker, who have
signed the preceding certificate, are residents
of the County of Jefferson and State of
Indiana, that they are credible persons
and that their statement is entitled to Credit
M.C. Eggleston Pres’t Judge
D. Blackmore Ass. Judge

I, Richard C. Talbott, Clerk of the Jefferson
Circuit Court, do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings
of the said Court in the matter of the
application of James McClelland for a pension
Page 12

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
 set my hand and seal 
seal of office this 6th day
of March 1834
[illegible] Talbott Clk

[answers to interrogatories]
1st In Derry Cty, Ireland in 1759.

2nd I have at home. 

3rd In Fayette County. In Pa & Ky. In Indiana.

4th Was drafted twice and volunteered once.

5th Can’t remember my regular officers except Capt. James Neal & Lieut Bazil Prather, while the only Regiment I remember was the Pennsylvania Regt. That I [illegible] [illegible] referred to the foregoing declaration for the general circumstances of my service. 

6th  I received 3 written discharges but they are all lost.

7th Jacob Stucker and William  Stucker,
Stephen Gudgell, Charles Hall, [illegible] Glover 
and many others.

8980
James McLelland
Indiana

from 1776 Pr
7 mos. 10  days $26.44
Page 13

Act 3rd Feb 1853
2nd Section

Application of Sarah
widow of James McLelland
Late of Jefferson County
Ia., and Pensioner under
Act of 7th June 1832
for service in N.C. State
Troops Revolution
For Pension

C Easton
Cincinnati
Ohio
Page 14

State of Indiana County of Jefferson

On this first day of July 1853 Personally appeared before sole Judge of the Jefferson Court of Common Pleas within and for said County, Sarah McClelland aged 75 years, a resident of said County & State, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of provision made by the 2nd Section of the Act of Congress, passed February 3d, 1853.
That she is the widow of James McClelland late of said
County who was a Pensioner of the United States under the
Act of Congress of 7th June 1832 for services in the
North Carolina State Troops in the war of the Revolution
That her said Husband died on the 24th day of
January 1849 and she further declares that she
was married to him in said County on the 5th
day of October 1813 by one Samuel McKinley a
Justice of the Peace, that her name before her
said Marriage was Sarah McKinley, and that
she has not again married, but is still a widow.

That she constitutes and appoints Eliphalet Easton of
Cincinnati Ohio her Attorney in the premises, with power of substitution, and to receive her Pension Certificate, which she request to to be made payable at the Indiana at Madison
Agency, for paying pensions.
Sarah McClelland her mark

Attest
C E Walker
John Favour
Addison Smith

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written, before me, at her residence in said County and I certify that
from bodily infirmity she is wholly unable to attend in open Court and further that I believe her above statement & declaration to be true and correct.
Charles E Walker Judge
Page 15

At same time and place personally appeared
John Favour and Addison Smith of
Lawful age, two Reputable and respectable witnesses,
who being duly sworn according to Law declare that they
were intimate with the present Sarah McClelland
and her deceased husband, the within named James
McClelland for 2 years previous to his decease
which took place by the knowledge of deponents on 24th day of January 1840 - that they lived together and were reputed
man and wife - that the said James was a Pensioner
of the United States for Revolutionary Services, and
having been intimate with the said Sarah since
his decease they know that she has not again
married but is still a widow. And further
that they are disinterested witnesses -
John Favour
Addison Smith

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day
and year first within written as Witness
my Hand
Charles E Walker
Judge of said Court

State of Indiana Jefferson County 
I John G Serring Clerk of the Jefferson Court of Common
Pleas within and for said County Certify that Charles
E. Walker before and by whom the within and foregoing
affidavits were taken was at the same time the Judge
of said Court within and for said County and that the
signatures attached to same respectively are genuine and
his proper name and handwriting. And further that the
said Court is a Court of Record, having General
Jurisdiction.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my Hand and affixed the seal of said Court
this first day of July 1853
John G Serring Clk
Page 16

State of Indiana Jefferson County Sct
I John G Serring Clerk of the Circuit Court of
 said County do hereby certify that James 
McClelland and Sarah McClelland were married 
on the fifth day of October AD 1815 by Samuel
McKinley a Justice of the Peace in and
for said County as appears from the Records
of Marriages now in my office.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and the seal of
said Court at Madison this Second
day of June AD 1853
John G Serring Clk
Page 17

March 6, 1936
James McClelland
W. 2315
BA-J/AWF
Mrs. Viola Coleman
Foster Apts.
Madison, Indiana.
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which
you request the Revolutionary War record of James McClelland, who received a pension in 1832, while living in Jefferson County, Indiana.
The data which follow were obtained from the
papers on file in pension claim, W. 2315, based
upon the service of James McClelland in the War of the Revolution.
James McClelland was born March 29, 1759 in
County Derry, Ireland; names of his parents were not given. He emigrated, when about twelve years of age, with his father's family to Fayette County, Pennsylvania; names of father's family not shown.
While residing in said Fayette County, James
McClelland enlisted sometime in September, 1776, served one month under Captain James Doherty, stationed in a fort on "Dunkark Creek". He enlisted sometime in September, 1777, served five weeks under same captain,
out against the Tories. He enlisted August 16, 1778 or 1779, served under same captain in General McIntosh's Campaign, until the following Christmas.
He moved from Fayette County, Pennsylvania in 1796 or 1797 to Shelby County, Kentucky, and in 1810, moved to Jefferson County, Indiana.
He was allowed pension on his application executed[page ends]
Page 18

[continued from previous page][exe]cuted March 5, 1834, then living in Jefferson County, Indiana.
The soldier, James McClelland, died January 24,
1840 in Jefferson County, Indiana.
James McClelland married October 5, 1915 in Jefferson County, Indiana, Sarah McKinley.  She was allowed pension on her application executed July 1, 1853, then a resident of Jefferson County, Indiana, aged seventy-five years.
There is no reference to children.
One Samuel McKinley was Justice of the Peace in
Jefferson County, Indiana in 1815. It is not stated
that he was related to the widow, Sarah McClelland.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 19

Revy WIDOW, &c.
File No 2315
Sarah McClelland
Widow 
James McClelland
Pri Rev War 
Act Feb 3. 1853.
Index: -- Vol. M. Page 17
{Arrangement of 1870.}

19[illegible] March 6 hist to Viola Coleman - awy
Page 20

6546
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855.
Received Apr. 12, 1855
James McClelland
Rev. War
Warrant 1069-160-55

Richard Hill
Cincinnati
Ohio
Page 21

11.069
Rev War
Page 22

Pension Office
Sept 22/53
Sir 
Please to report time 
of last payment to or
death of within named
pensioner.
Respectfully &c
L P Waldo
For Comm’r

F Burt Esqr
3 aud
Present

James McClelland
Act 1832 $24.44 pr an
Died 24th January 1842 (3)
Paid to his death
F. Burt
Auditor
Page 23

[illegbile}
 [Scan is unreadable]
Page 24

66.546
Sarah McClelland
Boynton

[circle stamp]
CINCINNATI, O 
NOV 17
FREE

Hon The Comm’r 
of Pensions
Washington D. C.
Page 25

No 2749 Feby 9, 1855
Appl of Sarah
McClelland
widow of James
McClelland
Jefferson Co
Indiana
26562
Act 3d Feby, 1853.
Rev
Allowed $24 44/100 per an
Con Feb 3 1853
E. Easton
Cincinnati
Ohio
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Pension Office, Official Business
Page 26

66.546
Sarah McClelland
Ind'a
Boynton

[circle stamp]
CINCINNATI, O
OCT 17
FREE

Hon The Comm’r
of Pensions
Washington D. C.
Page 27

No. 66.546
Additional Evidence
Sarah McClelland

Richard Hill
Cincinnati
Ohio
Page 28

Aud Genl’s Office
Harrisburg Oct. 30. 1855
Rich’d Hill Esq
We can send
two certified copies from
the record showing that
James McClelland received
at one time for service
(cant tell how long) £ 1.15.00
at another £ 0.14.0.  the
fourteen shillings certificate
shows that he was from
Bedford County - Fayette
County was formed out of
Bedford after the war.
These certif’s do not show
length of service. they
only show that so much
pay was [illegible] Commissioner
of Pensions can tell the length of
services by the amount.
Page 29

of pay acc't.
Very [truly yours]
A A Banks
Aud Gen'l
Page 30

Continued
Renewed
17897 3 9

11955  Moses Beard West. Co.  Mil  1 15 “ 1.2
~
68 James Clark do  1.15 “   2
69 James McClelland do 1.15 “  ½  1.2

Aud. Genl’s Office
Harrisburg Nov 14th 1855
I hereby certify that the
above is a true copy and
extract of the original
taken from certificate of
funded debt book B
remaining on file in
this office.
Witness my hand & seal
of office the day and year
above written.
E. Banks
Aud Genl
for A.A. Banks
Page 31

No 14255) A
£ 0.14.0 Specie
I Do hereby certify, that this state of 
Pennsylvania is indebted to James McClellan of
 Bedford Co. Militia - in the sum of fourteen
shillings - - - - Specie, with lawful
Interest from the first day of July, one thousand
seven hundred and Eighty three; the same being
due upon an Account settled in this office
Pursuant to an Act of Assembly, passed the
first Day of April 1784
Comptroller General's Office,
13 March 1787
W.Nicholson

Aud Genl’s Office
Harrisburg Novr 14th 1855
I hereby certify that the above is a
true copy of the original certificate
 remaining on file in this
office-
Witness my hand & seal of office
the day and year above written.
E. Banks
Aud Gen’l
pr A.A. Banks
Page 32

Brief in the case of Mrs Sarah McClelland widow of James[,] Jefferson County and State of Indiana act of Feb 8 1853
Claim, ("original," or "for increase.")
Proof exhibited, (if original)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Husband a pensioner under act of June 7 1832 at $24 44/100 per annum
Private
paid to his death
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim?  If so, what?
Marriage proved by public record
Death [proved by] auditors report
Identity [proved by] credible wittnesses
Name of residence of Agent
E Easton
Cincinatti
Ohio
Examining Clerk.
J L Gray
Page 33

J. L. Edwards E[sq]
Com. of Pensions
Washington
City
Page 34

Branch Bank
Madison Sept 16th 1837

J. L. Edwards, Com.
of Pensions
Sir
I enclose for [illegible] of pay’t vouchers 
in case of
Leonard Shoemaker 80.00
James McClelland 24.44
They have not drawn for one year.
Shall I pay them? Or in other words will you 
approve the pay’t as I have already paid them
them.
Very respectfully
J. F. D. Lanin
Just
Page 35

No. 66546
Cincinnati, Ohio
16th Nov 1855

The Com’r of Pensions

In compliance with request of your letter of 11th ultimo, I herewith [send] you evidence of James McClelland’s services in [the] Revolution. I hope it will be sufficient to enable you to issue a warrant  to his widow Sarah
Yrs Resp’y
Richard Hill
Page 36

No 66546 Act Mar 1855
Cincinnati, Ohio
16th Oct 1855

Hon the Comm’r of Pensions
Sir 

In above case of  Sarah McClelland, I have
[illegible] your letter of 11th requiring Record evidence of
 her husband’s (James McClelland’s) services in the Revolution - You state that he served in the Pa. Militia.
It was my impression that he served in the North Carolina
State Troops - Will you have the Goodness to
tell me in what service he performed duty, 
that I may endeavor to get the required evidence from the State Records.

Yrs Resp’y
Richard Hill
Page 37

[circle stamp]
RECEIVED JAN 21 1936
MAIL SUB-DIV
VETS ADM
READER # 17

Madison, Indiana
January 20, 1936
Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.

Cannot ident 1/23/36 cg

Sirs;
Will you please send me
the pension record of JAMES 
Mc-CLELLAND, who received a pension
in Jefferson County, Indiana, in
the year, 1832. He served with the
North Carolina State troops.
Yours truly,
(Mrs) Viola Coleman
Foster Apartments

[circle stamp]
A
RECEIVED JAN 22 1936
SEARCH SECT
INDEX 
SUB-DIV
Page 38

Wolf, Hart & Co. in
relation to James McClelland

Am’d Feb 5, 1868 - aks

James McClelland
11069
Page 39

WOLF, HART & CO.,
LAW AND COLLECTION OFFICE,
Rooms 5 and 6 Washington Building,
CORNER SEVENTH STREET AND PENN. AVENUE
Lock Box 51.
Washington, D. C. Feb;y 3d 1868
Hon. J. H. Burnett
Com. of Pensions
Sir
James McClellan was a 
soldier of War of 1812 since in an organization of
which Green Clay of Ky was Genl, Wm Dudley Col,
James D Jamett Maj, Dudley Farris Capt. We
have the honor to solicit information as to whether
any Land Warrant has ever issued in his favor.
His son James McClellan Jr. served in the
same Co. and has received a 160 acre Land Warrant
The old Gentleman was killed at Dudley’s Depot
May 5 /63
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servts.
Wolf Hart & Co
for James
Page 40

Nov. 6, 1906.
James McClelland
Mrs. Harry E. White,
692 Pontotoc St.,
Memphis, Tenn.
Madam:
In response to your letter of the 23d ultimo, received the 29th, you are advised that in order to identify a claim for Revolutionary War pension some of the following data is essential: place of residence at enlistment and after service: organization in which the soldier served; approximate date of death: given name of widow.
Very respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.