Pension papers and mother's pension papers for Civil War veteran John L.
McAlister.
[Note: variants on surname will be McAllister, McAlister]
Pension # 305690
Parents of soldier; James McAllister (b. abt. 1810; died February 6,
1871); Jane McAllister (b. abt. 1816 (a resident of Braddock, Allegheny
county, PA in 1883; a resident of Duquesne, Allegheny county in 1891)
They Attest: That said soldier was their son, who never married and died a
single man, and left neither widow or children surviving him.
John L. McAllister (age abt. 19 years), enlisted as a Private of Captain J.
H. Williams' Company 'K', 1st Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, Volunteers;
enrolled on the 4th day of September, 1861, at Camp Wilkins, Pennsylvania,
for a term of 3 years.
Muster Rolls: Reported on roll to Oct. 31, 1861 as present, soborne
February 28, 1862. March & April of 1862 reported absent, sick in General
Hospital at Washington, D. C.; soborne to August 31, 1862. September and
October 1862 he is reported absent, detailed as cook in Fairfax Seminary
Hospital, Virginia; soborne to February 28, 1863. March & April, 1863
absent on fatigue duty at Bell Plain Landing. May & June, 1863, reported
absent at Dismounted Camp. July & August, 1863 reported as present,
soborne to April 30, 1864. May & June of 1864, reported absent, sent to
Dismounted Camp.
He was mustered out with company on September 9, 1864 at Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, at expiration of term of service.
He is also borne as JOHN L. MC ALLISTER on rolls of said company.
Description at time of discharge: John L. McAllister was born in Washington
County, in the State of Pennsylvania (dob abt. 1842); is twenty two years
of age, five feet ten inches high; light complexion, dark eyes and fair
hair, and by occupation, when enrolled, a carpenter.
From witness affidavit of August 1891: George W. McFeely, aged 47 and a
resident of Monongahela City, and Thomas Conner, aged 60 years, a resident
of Monongahela City state:
'That they were well acquainted with said soldier; that they were members
of the same company and Regiment with him; that during the winter of 1861
and 1862 whilst in camp at Camp Pierpont in Virginia, he became sick with
measles, and was never altogether well after that, during his term of
service. He was better ... from time to time, and able at times to do a
little duty, but most of the time he was not able for duty. That they knew
soldier after he came home from the army in 1864, and on up to the time of
his death and know that he was sickly most of the time from his discharge
to the time of his death."
John McAllister, Private, Company 'K', 1st Regiment of PA Cavalry,
volunteers, died March 11, 1872 (noted that cause of death was pulmonary
consumption/measles related which was contracted in the line of duty.
Surviving brother, who was under sixteen years of age at death of veteran:
George C. McAllister, born January 1860.
The varied forms were witnessed by many people, one of whom is named
NICHOLAS WILLIAMS, signed at P.O. address of Braddock, PA and dated
November 11, 1884. This is possibly the same Nicholas Williams married to
my ancestor Hannah Anne McAlister, and who might be the sister of said
John L. McAlister. Relationship not proved as of January 1998.