REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION - JOSEPH KENNEDY Contributed by: Joanne [jmay@hpnc.com] ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** State of Kentucky - Madison County On the 13 day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before Wm Goodloe, James Dejarnett & Jos. Turner justices of the County Court in & for the County of Madison aforsaid, now sitting, Joseph Kennedy a resident of said County aged 72 years 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That in 1776 on the 1st day April he came to Kentucky from Burk County North Carolina, in January or February 1777 the Indians commenced hostilities at Boonesborough, one man was killed & another wounded at or about __ he was enrolled under Daniel Boone as Capt & did duty under him as a soldier. Standing sentry at night in the Fort at Boonesborough, acting as spy in watching for Indians & Indian signs during the day. In March, 77 the Indians came to Boonesboro & early in the morning fired on two men, one was killed. We issued out from the Fort in pursuit of the Indians. Not far from where they had scalped the man they had killed we fell in with a large party of them. They fired on us, four of our men were wounded, after returning their fire we were compelled to retreat to the Fort. In April 1777 there were about 24 or 25 of us men, mostly all young men, under Capt Boone. We were divided into two divisions. One half was ordered out on duty, day about, to act as a guard & spies against the Indians. While the other division endeavored to plant a little corn. That while on guard with others a large party of Indians made their appearance, we fired on them & being far outnumbered were compelled to retreat to the Fort. That in the retreat he was wounded with three balls, one of the shots supposed to be mortal, but he recovered after much suffering. After recovering from his wounds in the Fall 1777 he went into North Carolina & while there in Charlotte County a regiment of Militia was ordered out under the command of Col Alexander to suppress the Tories under a Tory Colo by name of Moore. I took the place of an old uncle of mine who had a family, by the name of Kennedy & served out the tour. Cannot say how long I was out, but think between one & two months. In March or April 1779 I returned to Kentucky & was engaged in defending Logan's Fort or Station, going out on scouts after the Indians, acting as a spy & guard. Till the last of May or 1st June same year when Gen'l George Rogers Clark sent an express to Harrod Station & also to Logans for as many young men as would turn out and volunteer to come & join him at Vincennes or Post Vincennes as then called. About 40 or 50 of us turned out. I was in a company commanded by Hugh McGary, we went on & found Gen'l Clark & were out about two months. In the Spring 1780 the Indians continued their depredations in Kentucky. A company was organized at Kennedy Station and the Crab Orchard at this time. My brother John Kennedy was appointed Captain, William Moore at the Crab Orchard Lieutenant & I was appointed Ensign at Kennedy's Station. The company was engaged in defending the Stations aforsaid & the country, frequently out on scouting parties following the Indians. In the summer of 1780 Gen'l Geo R. Clark ordered a Campaign against the Shawnee Indians after the British & Indians had been in Kentucky & taken Martins & Riddles Stations on Licking River. I turned out a volunteer & went on the Campaign as Ensign. My Bro. John Kennedy my Capt, Levi Todd Major, Benj Logan Colo., Gen'l Clark Commander in Chief. We went to the Pickaway towns on the Big Miami. Near the towns the Indians met us & we had a very warm engagement. On the left wind Maj Todd's battalion, in which I was, the Battle was warm & a great many were killed & wounded. We killed a good many Indians. We were gone about two months. After returning from this campaign I was engaged in scouting & guarding the Country till Oct 1780 when I went to North Carolina. On my return on the 26th Dec, 80 at the foot of the Cumberland Mountain the Indians fired on us, killed three men & took us prisoners. I was taken to the British in the State of Georgia, through the Indian Nation, to a place called Augusta or Augustus town where the British had a Fort, Commanded by Col Brown, a British Officer. I remained a prisoner with 36 fellow prisoners till sometime in the Summer 1781, when the Fort was taken by Colo Lee & I obtained my liberty & returned to Ken'y in the Winter, 81-2. In the Spring 1782 I was appointed Lieut. by the County Court of Lincoln, Kentucky & was ordered out by Colo Benj'n Logan with men as Lieut. to guard the country __ & act as spies against the Indians. I continued in service ranging the frontier of Lincoln County & the now counties of Madison & Garrard till the Blue Lick defeat in August 1782. I was not at the Battle, but helped bury the dead. Shortly after Gen'l Clark ordered a Campaign against the Shawnee Indians. I turned out volunteer as Lieutenant, George Adams Capt, often crossing Ohio. I was attached to Capt John Wood's Company. Benj Logan Colo, Gen'l Clark Commander. We went to the Shawnee towns Big Miami, where we had some fighting, killed some Indians, had some men killed, some wounded, were gone about two months. He continued occasionally to fight Indians till 1786 when he commanded a Company under Gen'l Geo. R. Clark and went on a Campaign against the Indians. Has resided in Madison County ever since. He has no documentary evidence by which he can prove his services, but believes there are many living witnesses, by which he can prove almost all the facts in this declaration. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Sworn & subscribed this day & year aforsaid. (signed) Jo Kennedy Oswald Townsend, John Tuder, Wm Martin, residents of the county of Madison aforsaid do hereby certify that we are & have long been well acquainted with M_ Joseph Kennedy, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be 72 years of age, we further certify that for forty years & more he has been reported & believed a soldier of the Revolution and Indian fighter & spy. Said Townsend states that he has known him since 1776 & knows that he performed most of the services noted in his declaration. All certify that they believe the statement true. Townsend states that he knows he was Lieut. & Ensign as stated in said declaration. Said Tuder has known him forty seven years. Sworn & subscribed this day & year aforsaid. (signed) Oswald Townsend, Wm Martin, John Tuder.