Pension Application for Caleb Crayne

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 Tavern—the 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.)

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