The following transcription was submitted by Martha Burns of Anaheim, CA for inclusion at the Genealogy
in Washington Co., PA web site in April 1998.
Martha writes:
Caleb Crayne and wife Catherine sold land in Greene County to Cary
McClelland in deed entered in Deed Book 1, p339. Cary McClelland was born
on March 13, 1750, in Ireland, and had migrated by 1776 when he enlisted in
the Regiment of Col. Walter Stewart, serving in the battles of Brandywine,
Germantown and Princeton. His pension application follows:
State of Ohio, Knox County: On this 31st day of May AD 1834 personally
appeared in open court, before the judges of the court of common pleas of
Knox County now sitting, Cary McClelland, a resident of Pleasant Township
in the County of Knox and state of Ohio aged 80 years on the fifteenth of
March last, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath
make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the act
of Congress passed June 7, 1832, that he enlisted in the army of the United
States sometime in April, 1776, with Seargent Major Marshall, Seargent
Major Nelson was a person, taken at St Johns, and put the regiment that
claimant was in through their exercise the first time, after their
rendivous at Marshy Sook by the request of Colonel Stuart. Claimant served
in (the members of regiment not recollected) but was called Col Stuart
regiment or the Pennsylvania Riflement and (as claimant thinks) of the
Pennsylvania line, under the following named officers. To wit Col Walter
Stuart and Captain John Marshal, Lieut. (names not recollected at this
time, thinks only) Ensign Spears, claimant resided when he entered the
service within five miles of Bushtown in Harford County, Maryland. Entered
at the Trap Tavernthe day before they rendivouzed the company that
claimant was in. Drawed their capes and hunting shirts at Lancaster,
Penna. Cape and the shirts was marked P. Rendivoused at Marshy Sooks.
From there we marched to Lewistown to subdue a set of Tories. Then to the
best of his recollection came back and built Red Bank Fort. Then to
Philadelphia. Thence across the state of New Jersey to Long Island and won
the battle of that place. They arrived on Long Island about 8 days before
the battle commenced.
Early in the morning we were completely surrounded by the British and were
ordered to break through British ranks which we did at the loss (as was
supposed at that time) of about ---- men. We took fifteen prisoners and
reached a fort on Long Island between the battleground and New York where
we staid one night. The next night we crossed the East River over to New
York where we remained about three weeks. While we remained at New York
the Roe Buck, a British man-of-war-----passed up the North River to make
observations on the state of the American army. From New York we marched
to the battle of White Plains, which declarant was in. Then up the North
River to Dobbs Ferry where we crossed the North River. Then on the Jersey
side to Brunswick, then to Princeton, and from there to Trenton. Followed
up by the British who placed the Hessians at Trenton. We crossed the River
at Trenton and marched (9 miles) up to McCastles Ferry.
The night before Christmas, Washington recrossed the Delaware River,
marched to Trenton, and took the Hessians stationed there on Christmas Day.
After taking the Hessians we marched back to McCastles Ferry, our
encamping ground, where we laid about eight days, then crossed the Delaware
River and marched into Trenton again. While we were there, the British
came up with a large army. We staid in town til they came in sight of
town, and the British took possession of Trenton in the dusk of the
evening. Washington gave orders to every man to build a fire about two
yards apart, and while the fires were burning Washington marched us around
the enemy and onto Princeton which the British had left the day before.
The British had left a guard at Princeton over the baggage. Delcarant
heard G Washington tell Gen ______ to detach a body of men and go and
attack the guard. Declarant was one of the detachment.
In the first of the engagements Gen _______ had the hoof shot off his horse
with a three pounder and was himself wounded in the groin and fell. After
that we had to push bayonets at the right and left wings and Gen M_____ was
stabbed seven times with bayonets. When we retreated a little distance,
and was relieved by Gen Washington with a reinforcement. The British guard
then surrendered and we took all the baggage. Gen Mer____ survived this
action but a short time. From here we marched towards the British
headquarters at Brunswick. Left behind eight men falling trees across the
road and pulling up bridges to keep back the British.
Washington took the Morristown Road and the British went on to Brunswick.
Laid at Morristown, Chatham and other parts of New Jersey all the spring
and for most of the summer. Gen Stephen was commander at Chatham.
Skirmishing was the most that took place at this time, on until the battle
of Brandywine which declarant was in. Marched to Chads Ferry to meet the
British were it was expected they would cross but they went up the stream
about three miles. Washington marched his army up in brigades to resist
their crossing. The contest continued the remainder of the day. The PR
regiment arrived about 2 hours Sun, and fought on until dark. Washington
marched his army off that night and the next day marched to Philadelphia.
Thence to Valley Forge.
Gen Washington marched in the evening to Germantown where we had a battle.
Early on the ensuing morning our _____ we attacked the British and beat
them back to the middle of town, when unfavorable circumstances _____a
confusion in our ranks. The British got round us and we were compelled to
retreat back to Valley Forge. Where claimant remained some time when his
term of one yar and nine months enlistment expired. Declarant received a
written discharge from Capt Marshall and Col Stuart which he has lost.
Declarant was born in Ireland on the 15 of March AD 1753 had no record of
his age. He was living within five miles of Buckstown, Harford County,
Maryland, when he entered into the service of the United States. After the
Revolution declarant moved to Pennsylvania where he lived about fifty years
and moved from there to his present residence. Declarant hereby
relinquished every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the
present and declared that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency
in any state. Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid. Cary
McClelland
Cary McClelland died in Ross Co, Ohio, on March 8, 1846, and is buried in
the Bell Cemetery at Utica. Cary McClelland was married twice, to a Miss
McVay, and second to Henrietta Myers, who died in 1829. Henrietta was a
widow when she married Cary McClelland. (He was father to 19 children.)