Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2788, for John Mc Elnay, Pennsylvania
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Penn

McElnay, John
NUMBER
S.2788
Carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

4.952
Pennsylvania Phil’a
John McElnay dec’d 
of —-in the State of Penn’a
who was a private in the Compy commanded 
by Captain Albright of the Regt commanded
by Col Miles in the Penna
line for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of [blank]
at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum 
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831 & ending
21 November 1841

Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of
May 1831 and sent to V Ellis Esq,  Present

Arrears to the 4th of---
Semi-annual allowance ending —

Inc’d from from $63.33

Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by H R Weightman Clerk
Book E.2. Vol. 5 Page 41
Page 3

John M Elnay
Pal ine
Act 7 June 32

claims an
Increase

Vespasian Ellis
Atty
Page 4

To the Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
The undersigned Samuel McElnay,
(sometimes called McNay, he having for some
years written his name McNay instead
of McElnay) represents that John McElnay
late of Adams County Pa. was a pensioner
of the United States & pensioned at the rate
of $63.33 pr year for 19 months services as a
private. That it appears by the testimony
on file in said Claim that s’d John McElnay
enlisted in the spring of 1776 to serve till
1 Jany 1778 - that after going into service
he was taken prisoner & confined-- & finally
parolled, that he remained a prisoner on parole
till exchanged in May 1778, according to the 
testimony of Lt McPherson. That of consequence
 he was to be in all respects regarded as though in actual
Service till May 1778 a period of more than two years from the time
Page 5

of his entering the service to wit in
the Spring of 1776. That sd. McElnay
died on the 21 day of Nov 1841, leaving
no widow, leaving Mary McElnay
John McElnay Agnes McElnay & also
Joseph, Hannah, Margaret,
Rebecca, James, & Samuel McElnay, 
his present surviving children &
only heirs. That the undersigned Samuel
McElnay  is theExecutor of the last will of
 said John McElnay and claims as such for
 the benefit of himself & his brothers & sisters afs’d
whatever arrears or increase may be due them. He represents that instead of $63.33 per annum the said McElney was entitled to Eighty dollars per annum from March 4 1831 to the day of his death to wit 21st November 1841.
Page 6

and he therefore claims the increase 
of $16.67 pr annum from
4 March 1831 to 26 Nov 1841
Respectfully Submitted
Vespasian Ellis
his attorney
Page 7

Pennsylvania
Adams County

On this twenty-seventh) day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before the judges of the court of common pleas now sitting, John McElnay, a resident of Hamiltonban Township in the county of Adams and state of Pennsylvania, aged eighty years, who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath made the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.

  That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and sworn as herein stated.

That he was born on the 11th day of July 1752 as he believes from the information he has.  He has no record of his age; that he was born in that part of York County, which is now part Adams County, Pennsylvania; that he lived there before and ever since the Revolutionary War and still lives there.  

That he enlisted with Lieutenant William McPherson early in the spring of 1776, said W. McPherson was second Lieutenant of Captain Philip Albright's company in the battalion commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Piper of the first rifle regiment of Pennsylvania State Troops, commanded by Colonel Samuel Miles. 

He enlisted to serve till the first of January 1777 but the day he enlisted he does not recollect.  Early in May 1776 he marched with Lieutenant McPherson to York and there joined Captain Albright's company, went with the company to Philadelphia; when there it was proposed that they should volunteer to go towards New York as men were much wanted then, and they being state troops were not obliged to go out of state.  As an inducement to go out of state, they were promised land equal to the regular troops, but whether the person who made the promise had any authority to do so, was not known.  He never got the land.  

He went with about half of the regiment volunteers to go wherever they were ordered and marched through New York under the command of Lieut. W. McPherson to Brunswick, Amboy, Hackensack and Elizabeth and back and forward in that neighborhood till they were ordered to New York. After remaining there a few days they crossed over to Long Island shortly before the battle of Long Island on the 27th August 1776, which battle he was in.  

After they were defeated and the men all scattered, he made an attempt to escape and went through a swamp, but finding the enemy there, he returned to the swamp and climbed up a very bushy tree full of branches and leaves and there remained from Tuesday evening till Thursday evening. 

He then attempted again to escape and he supported a good prospect of escaping when a party of the enemy came on him in the dark before he was conscious of any person being near him (the night was very dark and raining) and took him prisoner, his money from him and put him on board a man of war and put in irons.  He remained in that situation from Friday till Sunday.  He fared midling with them, except being in irons. 

On Sunday he was put into a prison ship where he was very badly treated, neither getting sufficient provisions or water and what they did get was so bad that no person who was not starving would eat or drink it.  He thinks he was there six weeks on board the prison ship.  

He with other prisoners were then sent to New York and kept in the French Church treated very badly and nearly starved.  There he again saw Lieut. McPherson with others who
Page 8

gave him two eighteen penny pieces which was a great treat to him.  Sometime after that he took sick and through the interference of his colonel who was also a prisoner he got leave to go home on parole about the last of December 1776. 

He started and with great efficiency got to Philadelphia where (he being still sick) he was put into the hospital and remained there about the first of February 1777 when his brother brought a horse for him and took him home.  

He remained at home still sick till the fall of 1777. When he was able to travel a little he went to Col. Piper's (?) house, supposing he had got home and to know from him what he should do if he became able to do duty and whether he should join the army again or not as he was a prisoner on parole.  When he got to the place where Col. Piper had lived, they had just heard that he had died a prisoner.  

After he returned home in the spring of 1777 and after the time for which he had enlisted had expired, he was taken by some of his neighbors as a deserter and put in jail in York.   After he had been in jail some time he was brought before the Board of War, who discharged him and sent him home.  Shortly after which he heard that his services were exchanged and he never went back. 

He was little acquainted with other officers.  That he has mentioned Thompson, he thinks John Thompson was first lieutenant of the company to which he belonged, and saith Hake was third lieutenant or ensign.  Lieut. Col.  Brodhead had the command of them a short time after the[y] went into New Jersey but at Amboy or Elizabeth they were again under their old officers. 

This declarant further says that William McPherson esquire (his second lieutenant as 
beforesaid) whose deposition is hereto attached is lately deceased.

He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or an annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any state.
Signed:  John McElnay

We, Charles G  McClain a clergyman residing in the County of Adams aforesaid and David Willson residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John McElnay, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be near eighty years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Signed: C G McClain, David Wilson
Page 9

It is hereby certified that satisfactory proof has been
exhibited before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas
for the County of Adams in the State of Pennsylvania by the affidavits of James Cummingham and John Eiker, who are persons entitled to credit, that John McElnay who served as a private in thePennsylvania Continental line in the War of the
Revolution, and was placed on the U.S. Pension Roll
on the 31st of January A.D. 1833, under the act of
Congress 1832, and who resided in the County of Adams
aforesaid, near Fairfield, in said State of Pennsylvania died on the twenty first day of November, in the year A.D. eighteen hundred and forty one. And that Mary McElnay, John
McElnay, Agnes McElnay, Joseph, Hannah, Margaret, Rebecca,
James and Samuel McElnay and no widow
surviving him are the only surviving children of
the said John McElray who was a private
in the United States service as aforesaid,
In testimony whereof I have set my hand and seal of Office this twenty sixth day of December in the year A.D.
one thousand eight hundred and fifty
John Picking 
Prothonotary
Page 10

Col Niles says his [illegible] he in are used to be
Page 11

April 12, 1934
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
[initialed]
BA-J/EEL
John McElnay-A.2788
Mrs. John J. Reimers
Genoa
Nebraska
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letters in which you request the Revolutionary War record of John McElnay of York or Adams County, Pennsylvania.
A very careful examination has been made of pension claim, S.2788, based upon the service of John McElnay, and the data given below has been found therein. These official reports have been accepted by various historical, patriotic and genealogical societies as authentic.
John McElnay was born July 11, 1753 in York (that part which was later Adams) County, Pennsylvania, where he always lived.
John McElnay enlisted about March 1, 1776, served as a private in Captain Philip Albright's Company, Colonel Samuel Miles' Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, was in the battle of Long Island, where he was taken prisoner and held on a prison ship and in the French Church in New York until a few days before Christmas, 1776, when he was paroled: he reached Philadelphia on his way to his home, entered a hospital and remained until sometime in February, 1777, and was finally exchanged in May, 1778.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 27, 1832, while residing in Hamiltonban Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. He signed John McElnay, but not by mark.
He died November 21, 1841.
The soldier left no widow but the following children survived him: Mary McElnay, John McElnay, Agnes McElnay, Joseph McElnay, Hannah McElnay, Margaret McElnay, Rebecca McElnay, James McElnay and Samuel McElnay. Their ages and places of residence are not shown
nor is the name of their mother given.
Page 12

John McElnay's son, Samuel, was appointed executor of his father's estate. In 1850, he was a resident of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and signed his name Samuel Morey.
There are no further family data.
It is regretted that your letters could not have been answered sooner.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.
Page 13

1906 July 20. Hist to Mrs.
Mary J. Cook & J. M. Sprowls

1906 July 31 To Mrs David M Yates

1906 Aug 7 To MIss Mynie McGlaughy

1917 Apl 20. to Mrs L. S. Overpeck [cents]

1917 June 15,  Mrs. Overpeck referred to abstract for place of birth & advised as to 1812 Claims  [cents]

1918 Dec. 3. To Katherine Foster  [cents]

1919 Mch 3 To Cora Lovett Doverspike  [cents]

1833 May 1 - Sent to Miss Gertrude McNay - eel

1934 Apr 12 Hist to Mrs John J. Reimers - eel



Rev War
2788
INVALID.
File No. 2788
John McElnay
Privt Rev War
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 243
(Arrangement of 1870.)
Page 14

4952
Pennsylvania
John McElnay 
of  —-- the State of Pennsylvania
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Albright of the Reg commanded
by Col Miles-- in the Pennsylvania
line for Private 19 mo.  $63.33

Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania
at the rate of 63 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 31 day of January
1833 and sent to Hay F.H. Crawford House Reps.

Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832 $94.99
Semi-an’l allowance ending 4 March 1833  31.66
$126.65

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832. 

Recorded by Vinal Luce Clerk,
Book D Vol. 6 Page 70
Page 15

Increase,
John McElnay dec’d
Penn
Act 7 June 1832
Adm’d 2 yrs pri - $80 per
annum from 4 March
1831 to 21 Nov’r 41 when
he died. Former payments
at $63.33 per annum to be
deducted.

Payable to Mary
McElnay, John McElnay
Agnes McElnay, Joseph McElnay
Hannah McElnay Margaret McElnay
Rebecca McElnay James McElnay  and
Samuel McElnay, only
living children.

Cert to
V Ellis
Present
Page 16

Statement to 
Mrs Mary J Cook
Washington, Iowa 

Also
J.M. Sprowls
Union Bulley G. St
Page 17

Rev. Sec. m

#4527 Winthrop St EE
Pgh [Pittsburgh], Pa.

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Will you please send me Military service of 
John McElnay who was in the
Rev. War -  Dep of  Interior
Bureau of Pensions, Wash D.C.
J. S. C. Surv File 2788- Rev. War

Date of application for Pension Sept
12th 1832 & oblige - address is
Cora Lovette Doverspike
#4527 Winthrop St EE
Pgh [Pittsburgh], Pa.
 Feb 19 - 1919
Page 18

O W & N  C
631 Congress Street
Ottawa, Ills.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I am informed
that my great great grandfather, 
John McElnay, was a soldier
in the Revolution and a
pensioner; if such is the
case will you kindly send
me his pension record. I
want to use it for D.A.R.
Page 19

purposes.
This John McElnay lived at Gettsyburg, or just outside that city, when he died.
Thanking you in advance,
I am
Very respectfully,
Mrs. David M. Yates
631 Congress St.
Ottawa, Ill
July 24th '06.
[stamped] U.S. PENSION OFFICE A JUL 26 1906
Page 20

[circle stamp]
PENSION OFFICE APR 15 1917

2961 Harris St. Omaha
April 12, 1917.

Pension and War Dep’t. Have
you any records showing
that John McNay of near
Waynesburg, Pa. fought in the
Revolutionary War? He fought
all thru the war and I
wish to prove it, so I can
join the D.A.R.
His wife's maiden name was
Hannah Brown and they had
five children (that we know of)
Joseph, Betsy, James, Mariah
and Brown. 
He had a brother Brown
Page 21

who was killed during the war.
He changed his name from McElnay to McNay, but we think this was after the war.  Some say that in Scotland, they spelled it MacElnay, but I don't know If the records of Pa. show from what part of Scotland he came I would like to know.
At one time, during a rebellion they were driven out of Scotland but my mother thinks they went back to Scotland, before coming to America. I'm [page ends]
Page 22

telling all I know as it may aid you in deciding which "John" I'm interested in.
Thanking you very much, I am
Mrs. L. S. Overpeck.
Page 23

O W & N  c
[circle stamp]
O W & N DIV FILES JUL 31 1906

Mt Gilead R D No. 5

Dear Sir
As my mother is a
Grand daughter of
Mr John McElnay who
served in the Revolution
War. She desires vary
much a copy of his
service. As she remembers
him well. She cannot
remember how long he
served or her much
Pension he received
Page 24

She would be so greatful
to you for the history
for the Family. If this
in permisible. I hope sincerely
this is not asking to 
much. Am a little afraid
we do not have the right
Address. You will be
doing us a great kindness
by sending this.
With our many
thanks, Yours
Miss Mynnie McGaughy
Mt Gilead R D No 5
Oblige

Miss Mynnie McGaughy
Page 25

Rev Sec
2961 Harris St. Omaha Neb.
Rev War Records Section - Refering
to your letter of April 20th in which
you so kindly gave ancestors military
me my ancestor’s military history. “I.S.C.
S. File 2,788 Rev. War,” I wish to ask
if his birth place was given as Scotland.
And can you tell me where
and when he was married.
His name was John McElnay
Respectfully,
Mrs. L.S. Overpeck.
June 9-17

P.S. Did his son Joseph take part in
the war of 1812. If so, I would like
his military history. He married
Page 26

Margaret Hunter and their
children’s names were
Samuel H.
Robert
John Dowey
Nancy
Hannah
Joseph Brown
Maria
Margaret M.
He, too lived near Waynesburg
Pennsylvania.
Page 27

Wind Ridge, Pa.
March 14, 1933.

Honorable Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, District of Columbia.

Dear Sir:
Will you kindly send me some copies of the Military History
of John McElnay of Adams County, Pennsylvania, a soldier of
the Revolutionary War. He was my great-grandfather and I
would like a statement for family history.
I have been advised this information can be had free of cost.
Am I correct?
Thanking you in advance, I am
Yours respectfully,
Gertrude McNay

[left margin]
Writer’s name McNay also


[circle stamp]
RECEIVED
MAR 16 1933
MAIL SUB-DIV
VETS ADM
READER #3
Page 28

Rev War 

Peru State Normal School
Peru, Nebraska

SCHOOL INFIRMARY
KATHERINE H. FOSTER. R. N.
Resident Nurse

Nov. 24, ‘18

[circle stamp]
PENSION OFFICE NOV 26 1918

Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Will you kindly send me the
military history of John McElway of Penn, for 
the war of the Revolution; and any personal
history that may be recorded with it.
Thanking you
I am,
Most truly,
Katherine Foster
Page 29

Genoa, Nebr., April 4, 1934
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs:
Several weeks ago I wrote to you requesting the complete
Revolutionary War service for John McElnay Adams of York
county, Pennsylvania. Please will you send it very soon? We
wish to have it in a family genealogy and need it it now.
I want an exact copy of his application for pension and
his service Thanking you, I am
Very truly yours,
Nellie C. Reimers
Mrs. John J


[circle stamp]
RECEIVED
APR 7 1934
MAIL SUB-DIV
READER 10
VETS ADM
Page 30

[circle stamp]
RECEIVED
MAR 8 1934
MAIL SUB-DIV
VETS ADM
READER #15

[handwritten notes by pension office employee]
HGB
no Prn #3-13
no old war
no Mex war 
3/14/34
ker


Genoa, Nebr., March 6, 1934
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
Please will you send a copy of the application
for pension and war service of John McElnay Adams or
York County, Pa.
I wish to have an exact copy for a book of
genealogy, now being compiled for his descendants. Will
you write me did he sign the application or is it signed
with “his mark"?
Thanking you very kindly, I am,
Very truly yours,
Nellie C. Reimers
Mrs. John J.

[circle stamp]
RECEIVED
MAR 10 1934
PENSION INDEX
SECTION
Page 31

John McElnay
Sold
Page 32

Gettysburg Pa. Nov. 29th 1850
The Commissioner of Pensions and the several
 Departments of the Government of the United 
States at Washington, will please furnish Vespasian
 Ellis Esq, whatever information it is in their power
 to afford & to permit him to examine all papers filed
& records, in relation to the pension application,
proofs and claim of John McElnay, who
was a private in the Pennsylvania Continental line, 
in the war of the Revolution;
and in right of his services as such, was
placed on the pension Roll on the 31st day
of January AD 1833, under the act of
1832, and resided in Adams County Pa.
I make this request, as I am his Executor
and am myself entitled to whatever may
be due for such services- Samuel McNay
Witness
Jacob Gardner
D. McConaughy

John McElnay died about 1841.

allowed act June 7/32
Page 33

Gettysburg January 5th 1833
Dr Sir 
I take the liberty of returning the papers of John McElnay and Henry Black with such additional evidence as could be obtained; In the case of Henry Black, I went to Harrisburg myself, to endeavor to get some thing there, but failed. The offices there say that all such papers were transferred to the United States. I was however fortunate enough to obtain the papers referred to in my deposition, and I hope they will be
sufficient.
I am very respectfully your Ob’t Sewart
Samp'n S King
J. L. Edwards Esq
Page 34

John McElnay,

McConaughy
Page 35

Adams County ss
J.  A. Coburn Deputy Register
for the Probate of Wills & Granting
Letters of Administration in and
for said County do certify that
Letters Testamentary upon the
Estate of John McElnay late
a Revolutionary pensioner of Adams County
aforesaid were granted on the 24th day of November
AD 1841 to Samuel McNay Allias McElnay a
Son of said Testator and the Executor named in the
last Will and Testament of said John McElnay Deceased,
and that said Samuel McNay is now the Executor
of the said John McElnay deceased.
Given under my hand and seal of said office
at Gettysburg this 29th day of January AD 1851.-
W. W. Hamersby Regst.
J.  A. Coburn Dept.
Page 36

12.222

19 mo. pri
Adm
$63.33 per an

Hon. T. H. Crawford H.R.
Page 37

Pennsylvania Adams County ss
Before me one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared William McPherson Esquire, who being duly sworn doth depose and say that he is well acquainted with John Elway (who is about to apply a pension), that he this Deponent, was appointed a 2d Lieutenant in the first Rifle Regiment Pennsylvania State Troops, commanded by Col Samuel Miles, in the Battalion commanded by Lieut Colonel James Piper and Company commanded by  Capt Philip Albright, early in the spring of 1776. That immediately on receiving his Commission he commenced recruiting
and one of the first men he enlisted was the said John McElnay. That said McElnay marched with him to the line, and was always with him and under his command till the battle of
Long Island on the 27th day of August 1776, when he, deponent, was taken Prisoner, and understood that said McElnay was taken prisoner about the same time. He knows
McElnay was a prisoner as he saw him afterwards in New York, McElnay came to Deponent starving with hunger. He gave him a small sum of money to get something to eat, it was but a small sum as money was very scarce with him at the time. He has no further certain personal knowledge of his services, but a [illegible][illegible] and believes that McElnay took sick, and through Col MMIles or Piper got out home on parole and remained parole until they were all discharged in May 1777.
Wm McPherson

Sworn and subscribed July 6 1872 before me
Sam’l  King

I certify that William McPherson who made the above affidavit, was a credible and respectable person, as much as any in Adams County.
Sam’l  King
Page 38

Pennsylvania Adams County SS.
I George Welsh Prothonotary of
the Court of Common Pleas in and
for said County of Adams, Do hereby
certify that Sampson S King Esq
before whom the foregoing affidavit was
made and taken is and was at the
time of doing the same one of our 
Commonwealth Justices of the peace in
and for said County of Adams, duly 
commissioned and sworn to act as such and
that due faith and credit is given to all his
official acts and Deeds. And that the 
signature is the proper hand writing of
the said Sampson S. King Esq
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Gettysburg
being the sixth day of July 1832. [s/b 1872]
G. Welsh
Prothy
Page 39

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states; and the Court further certifies, that it appears to them, that Charles G. McClean, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the said County of Adams, and that David Wilson, who has also signed the resident of the same place and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
John Reed Pres’t Judge
David Pfeffer associate
Wm Elder

Pennsylv’a Adams County ss
I George Welch Prothonotary of the Court
Common pleas of Adams County do hereby certify
that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings
 of the said Court in the matter of the application of 
John McElnay---
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Gettysburg
the twelfth day of September 1832.
G. Welsh Prothy
Page 40

No. CXXIV, [H.R.]
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1805.
An Act for the Relief of John M'Elnay
1 WHEREAS it has been represented to the Legislature
2 That John M'Elnay a soldier in Captain Philip Allbright's
3 company of the first rifle regiment of Riflemen commanded by colonel
4 Samuel Miles in the service of the United States during the
5 revolutionary war had early in the spring of one thousand
6 seven hundred and seventy-six enlisted to serve until the first
7 day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight
8 marched to camp, and continued in service until the battle of
9 Long island in the month of August following when he was
10 taken prisoner by the British troops. that when he was released
11 he was in so bad a state of health that he lay a considerable
12 time in the hospital in Philadelphia and there received a 
13 furlough to go home. that he continued sick and incapable of doing
14 duty until the term of his enlistment expired. And whereas it
15 appears that he hath never received any pay for his services
Page 41

-2-
16 later than for the month of August one thousand seven hundred
17 and seventy-six nor any depreciation thereon. Therefore
1 Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
2 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly
3 met and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same That
 4 the accounting officers be and they are hereby directed to settle 
5 the arrearages of his pay and depreciation thereon due to John McElnay aforesaid from the
6 first day of September one thousand seven hundred and seventy
7 six until the first day of January one thousand seven hundred
8 and seventy eight. And the amount shall be paid out of
9 any unappropriated monies in the treasury of this Commonwealth
10 on a warrant to be drawn by the Governor in favor of
 11 John McElnay aforesaid
Page 42

Adams County
Before me one of the Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared John McElany, an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress passed June 7 1832, who being duly sworn doth depose and say, that he cannot state the exact day that he enlisted in the service of the United States as stated in his application, but he knows, that
it was in the last of February or first of March. That he had returned from the western country in January, and he was at home something more than a month before he enlisted, that he [illegible] Lieut McPherson to train his company, and that they marched to Philadelphia about the first of May. That he was discharged on parole at New York a few days before Christmas as stated in his application before refered to. In May 1777 he was informed that he was exchanged and no longer considered as a prisoner. On the 14th March 1805 an act was passed for his relief by the Legislation of Pennsylvania, a copy of which he incloses herewith.  The above is all the additional information he can give respecting his service.
John McElnay
Sworn & subscribed Dec. 29 1832 before me
Sam’l King

Pennsylvania Adams County ss
I George Welsh, Prothonotary of the Court of  Common pleas in and for said County of Adams
Do hereby certify that Sampson S King Esq
before whom the above affidavit was made
and taken is and was at the time of doing the same,
 one of our Commonwealth’s Justices of
the peace in and for said County of Adams duly
Commissioned and sworn to act as such and that
due faith and credit is given to all his official
act and deeds. And that the signature is
the proper hand writing of the said Sampson
S King Esq.-
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and affixed the seal of said Court at Gettysburg the 29th day
of December 1832.
G Welsh Prothy
Page 43

In reply to your request of —-----, received —--, 
for a statement of the military history of John McElnay 
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.  S.2788

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
Feb or Mch 1776

LENGTH OF SERVICE.
2 years

RANK.
Private

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Philip Albright

COLONEL.
Lt Col. James Piper’s 1" Battalion
Col. Samuel Miles Penn. Rifle Regiment

STATE.


He was captured in the Battle of Long Island, put on board a man of war for a few days, changed to a prison ship for six months and then confined in the French Church in New York until a few days before Christmas 1776, when he was paroled sick and went to hospital in Phil’a and was exchanged in May 1778. 

Battles engaged in, Long Island
Residence of soldier at enlistment, York Co. Pennsylvania
Date of application for pension, Sept 12 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Hamiltonban Township,  Adams Co. Penn.
Age at date of application, b. 1753 in York Co. Penn.

Remarks: Soldier died Nov 21, 1841, leaving no widow, but the following children only: Mary, John, Agnes, Joseph, Hannah, Margaret, Rebecca, James & Samuel, all alive in 1850. Son Samuel had spelled his name McNay for many years. 
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
6 -- 2856
Page 44

May 1, 1933
BA-J/EEL
John McElnay-S.2788

Gertrude McNay
Wind Ridge
Pennsylvania
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request inform
tion in regard to John McElnay, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, of Adams County, Pennsylvania.

The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file
in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.2788, based upon the military service of John McElnay in that war.

John McElnay was born July 11, 1753, in York (that part which
was later Adams) County, Pennsylvania, where he always lived.

He enlisted about March 1, 1776, served as a private in Captain Philip Albright's Company, Colonel Samuel Miles' Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, was in the battle of Long Island, where he was taken prisoner and held on a prison ship and in the French Church in New York until a few days before Christmas, 1776, when he was paroled; he reached
Philadelphia on his way to his home, entered a hospital there and remained until sometime in February, 1777. He was finally exchanged in May, 1778.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 27, 1822, while residing in Hamiltonban Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. 

The soldier died November 21, 1841.

He left no widow but the following children survived him:
Mary McElnay, John McElnay, Agnes McElnay, Joseph McElnay, Hannah McElnay, Margaret McElnay, Rebecca McElnay, James McElnay and Samuel McElnay. Their ages and places of residence are not shown, nor is the name of their mother given.

[right margin-handwritten]
See Pa archives Vol 2 pages 612 & 615

Identified this place [Hamiltonban] on old map

He signed John McElnay, but not “by mark”
Page 45

John McElnay's son Samuel was appointed executor of his father’s estate.  In 1850, he was a resident of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and signed his name Samuel Nay.
There are no further family data.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER

Assistant to Administrator.
Page 46


Rev. War Section.
June 15, 1917.

Mrs. L. S. Overpeck,
2961 Harris Street,
Omaha, Nebraska,
Madam;
In response to your letter dated the ninth instant,
you are advised that if you will refer to the abstract furnished
you under date of April 20, 1927, you will find that
John Mornay (S. File 2788 Rev. War) was “born July 11, 1783
in York County, Pennsylvania," which fact was stated by him,
under oath, in his application for pension.
There is no reference to the date and place of his
marriage, or any family data in the papers on file in his
claim, other than that furnished you in said extract.

This Bureau has no record of a soldier of the War of
1812, unless a claim was filed herein, on account of his services, and in order to identify such a claim, the following
data is essential:
Name of soldier.
Names of some of his officers.
His residence at enlistment.
His residence after service,
Approximate date of his birth.
Approximate date of his death.
Name of widow.
Her residence.
Approximate date of her death.
Very respectfully,
C Tiernan
Acting Commissioner.
Page 47

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME McElreavy, Hugh
GRADE Private
LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 10,041
ACREAGE 100
ISSUED March 11, 1799 to - not shown-
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates.  Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.  Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in the National Archives.