John MacLain - Centre County, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Don Marsh. McClainExchange@mexia.com USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. ____________________________________________________________ Rev War: John MacLain - Centre County, Pennsylvania R1200 Publication: The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Vol. XXVI, 1969-1970. Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia 19107 JOHN MacLAIN, aged about 69, resident in the Township of Potter, Centre County, on 24 April 1821, personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of Record, and being sworn, declares that he served as a soldier during the war of the Revolution as follows: In the spring of 1778 he enlisted to serve during the War in the City of Albany in the State of New York, with Capt. AARON AUSTIN who commanded a company in the 3rd New York Regiment under Colonel WILLET. About one week after his enlistment he was marched to Fort Stanwix (Rome, N.Y.) where he joined the Regiment and remained there until the fall of the year, when we were marched to the Barracks near the northern and northwestern frontier of New York, under the command of General JAMES CLINTON, during which time they had no engagements with the Indians. We eventually passed down the northeast branch of the Susquehanna River to Tioga point (Athens, Pa.) where we went37 the Troops under General SULLIVAN to whose command we were attached. We then marchd up the Genesse38 River for the purpose of destroying the Indians corn crop. Having effected this object, we were marched on to Cayuga Lake, from whence, in the fall of 1779, we returned by the way of Wyoming and Easton,39 through (blank) in Jersey to winter quarters at Morristown. In the ensuing summer we were under the command of Colonel Courtland and attached to the command of the Maarquis La Fayette, and passed the winter, after having been marched and placed in different Garrisons during the summer, at Saratoga Barracks. During the winter of 1781, the 3rd New York Regiment was consolidated with the 1st New York Regiment; in the spring of that year they were marched to join the main army, Colonel VANDYCK then commanding the first Regiment, and were present at the seige of York Town in Virginia and the capture of Lord CORNWALLIS. After which circumstances having taken place, they were marched back to Jersey and passed the winter in huts at Pompton in New Jersey. He continued in the service until the spring of 1783, when, after having passed the winter at Newburgh, in the State of New York, he was discharged, having served out his time faithfully. His discharge was burned in the City of Philadelphia, either in the year 1787 or 1788. He receives no pension, either from the United States or from any of the Individual States. He has no other property than what is contained in the annexed schedule. (The schedule included live stock, farming implements and household furniture for a total value of $229.) I am a Shoemaker by Trade, but am unable to work at it because of an affliction of my breast and my extreme age. I have a wife advanced in years and in bad health; I have no children. The property on which I reside belongs to the heirs of JAMES POTTER, Esq., deceased, on which I am permitted to live during life on the payment of an annual rent of $26.67. I am old and infirm, unable to work to support myself, and in need of the assistance of my country for support. I am also indebted to an amount larger than the appraised amount of my property. /s/ JOHN (X) MacLAIN. Sir: I herewith return JOHN MacLAIN's letter to you, together with his declaration. He has omitted to set forth the age of his wife and her ability to labor. When he shall have supplied that emission, and returned his declaration to this Department, a final decision will be had on his claim. The memorandum respecting the Administrator of HENRY MICHAEL is also returned, and I have to inform you that the claim for arrearages of pay will be settled at the 3rd Auditor's Office, and that for land at the Bounty Land Bureau under the care of NATHANIEL CUTTING, Esqr. I am respectfully, uyr. obt. Servt, /s/ J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions. On 28 January 1823, personally appeared in open Court of Record for the County of Centre, JOHN M'CLAIN who, being duly sworn doth depose and say that in addition to the facts sworn to by him in the affidavit made by him on 24 April, 1821, and to which this is annexed, that his wife AGNES M'CLAIN is 57 years of age, that she is afflicted with Rheumatic pains and is totally unable to assist in the support of herself and this deponent. /s/ JOHN (X) M'CLAIN Pension granted 25 February 1823, at the rate of $8. per month under the Acts of 18 March 1818, 1 May 1820; inscribed on the Roll of New York, and to commence 24 April, 1823. Certificate sent to Hon. JOHN BROWN, H.R. (File S 40127) NOTES: 37 This was on 22 August 1779, according to Ward, II, 641, cited in Note 25. 38 According to Ward, loc. cit., they marched up the Chemung, not the Genessee. 39 They were at Wyoming on 30 September, and at Easton 15 October, 1779. Ward, II, 644.