Revolutionary War Pension - Ohio County, (West) Virginia: JOHN McCLAIN SUBJECT: JOHN McCLAIN - Ohio County, (West) Virginia SUBMITTER: Don Marsh EMAIL: McClainExchange@mexia.com SURNAMES: McCLAIN MERCER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Book: Mercer County, Pennsylvania Soldiers, compiled by Paul W. Myers. Printed by Closson Press, 1935 Sampson Drive, Apollo, Pennsylvania 15613-9238 JOHN McCLAIN, b. February 3, 1761, in New Jersey, d. November 9, 1838?, in Lackawannock Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. "While residing in Ohio County, Virginia, he enlisted on May 1, 1776, and served as a private under Captains WILLIAM HERRED, JOHN HALL, and MASON in the Virginia troops. He assisted in building a fort at the flats of Grave Creek on the frontier of Virginia, and was stationed at said fort as a guard, going out on short tours against the Indians. He remained at said fort until August, 1777, and a few weeks later moved with his father's family into the state of Pennsylvania, where he volunteered in August or September, 1778, to serve a short tour against the Indians. He again enlisted for a tour of one month to guard the surveyors who were "to run and cut the line" between Pennsylvania and Virginia, but because the work was not done at this time, he was dismissed. This tour was in Captain JOSEPH BECKET's Pennsylvania Company, under who he served two other tours. One of the other tours was in 1779 when he was engaged for one month guarding the blockhouse at Turtle Creek in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. One month of his service was as a substitute for his brother, ABIJAH McCLAIN, no details of which were given. JOHN McCLAIN stated that he served in all but one year and seven months, and was in several skirmishes with the Indians. During his service McCLAIN served both as an Indian spy and a private i the militia. He applied for a pension on November 19, 1832, pension no. S-2775. Burial site is unknown. Ref. Fed. Pen. File, P.A. ----------------------------------------------------- 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.