Other Court: Rev War Pension Application, James McCurdy, 1834: Westmoreland Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Michael S. Caldwell. msc@juno.com USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ____________________________________________________________ Excerpts from Revolutionary War Pension Application (S7214) of James McCurdy: 21st April 1834: A Statement, shewing the Service of James McCurdy: Period when the service was rendered: 1776, 2 months, rank of Private under Cap. Gibbs; Col. Hannen. 1776, 2 months, rank of Private under Cap Cochran. 1777, 2 months, rank of Private under Gen. Potter. 1777, 2 months, rank of Private under Cap. Marsh Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service: 78 years, Chester County, Penna. Proof by which the declaration is supported: Traditionary and a Living Witness. State of Pennsylvania; Westmoreland County S.S. On this Seventeenth day of February A.D. 1834 personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Please of said County now sitting James McCurdy a resident of Ligonier Township in the County and State aforesaid, aged Seventy Eight 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 provision made by the Act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein after stated. In August 1776 he was drafted in a company of Militia commanded by Captain Gibb and marched from "Fogšs manor" in Chester County Pennsylvania, where he then resided and was marched to a place called the "Blazing star" on the Raritan River about fifteen miles from the City of New York and was there attached to a Regiment then commanded by colonel John Hannen after our arrival, to which place our Company was marched without being attached to any Battalion or regiment, at this place re remained for two months for the purpose of preventing the British from advancing upon Philadelphia. General Washington visited us almost every day, having troops under his command placed at different places in this part of the country. After our tour of two months expired we were discharged at this place and returned home. In December of the same year, he was again drafted in a company of Militia commanded by Captain Stephen Cochran and marched to Philadelphia where his company was attached to a body of Militia under the command of General Potter. Our Colonels name I cannot recollect. We were chiefly in Garrison & employed in guarding the City keeping up a guard day and night. In this service he was continued two months which ended some time in February 1777 & at this place was discharged & returned home. In August 1777 he was drafted in a company of Militia the Captainšs name was not recollected and marched from Fogs Manor Chester County to Wilmington in the State of Delaware where we remained some time, from there we marched to the Brandywine & were attached to a body of Militia under the command of General John Potter we remained there till after the Battle. This declarants Company was on the left wing of the Army during the Battle. After the engagement he was marched to Chester from thence to Philadelphia thence up the Schullkyll to Swadis* Ford where we were discharged after having served a full term of two months, he returned home in October of the same year. In December 1777 he was again drafted in a company of Militia commanded by Captain William Marsh, and marched through Philadelphia to Burlington N. Jersey where we remained a short time & were then marched to Bordentown* and from that to Allen town, while we were at this place the American prisoners arrived who had been released by the British & presented a miserable appearance. At this three last mentioned places alternately we served a tour of two months and were discharged at Allen town in February 1778 and returned home. Declarant further states by reason of old age and the indignant* loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollections he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following **** -- viz As a Private in the Militia for Eight months and for such service I claim a pension. That he has no documentary evidence of his services and knows of no person living who can testify to his services as a soldier of the Revolution. That he cannot without expense and inconvenience produce in court the ****** clergyman ** where he resides, to testify as required by the War department, but produces two respectable persons for that purpose. He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present* and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any ****** in any state. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid above. Randal McLaughlin, Prot. James "his mark" McCurdy We Robert Piper, residing in Ligonier Township in Westmoreland County Penna and Thomas Pollock residing in Ligonier Township Westmoreland County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James McCurdy who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy Eight 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. Sworn & subscribed in Open Court the day and year aforesaid above. Randal McLaughlin, Prot. [signed] Robt. Piper [Thomas Pollock did not sign or make his mark.] Interrogation propounded by the Court to the Applicant: 1. Where & in what year were you born? Ans. I was born in the Parish of Belzashane in the County Antrim Ireland in the year 1756. 2. Have you any Record of your age; and if so, where is it? Ans. I have a record of my age in my fathers Bible now in my possession put there by my father. 3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War; and where do you now live? Ans. When called into service I lived in Fogšs Manor, Chester county Penna from where I removed to Ligonier Valley Westmoreland County Penna after the Revolution & where I now live & have lived ever since. 4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom? Ans. I was drafted in the Militia. 5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops when you served, such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service. Ans. Col Hannen. General Potter. Gen. Mifflin. Gen Anthony Wayne and General George Washington. And refers to the above declaration for answers to the residue of the interrogatory. 6. Did you ever receive a written discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given, and what has become of it? Ans. I never received a written discharge from any person. 7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. Ans. I refer to Hon. Thomas Pollock the Rev. Samuel Swan. John Pollock. James Wilson. Robert Piper & John Ogdon.