Pension Application of James McKee S16954
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia }
Rockbridge County } Sct.
On this 5th day of January 1835 before Justices of the County Court of said Rockbridge, said court being a Court of record and now sitting, personally appeared John T McKee Esqr. a resident in said County and State, who being first duly sworn in due form of Law, on oath, made the following statement, for and on behalf of his mother Nancy McKee, the widow of James McKee deceased, late of said Rockbridge, in order to obtain for said Widow, the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.
That he the said John T McKee in the son, and the said Nancy McKee the Widow of James McKee, who died a resident of said County of Rockbridge, on the 14th day of August 1832, aged at his death 80 years & 6 months.
The following statement is submitted upon his own knowledge, and statement from authentic sources.
That he the said James McKee dec’d. entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as hereinafter stated.
Question 1st Where and in what year was the said James McKee dec’d. born?
Answer. – He was born in the State of Pennsylvania on the 14th day of March 1752 and came with his brother to said County of Rockbridge [sic: formed in 1778 from parts of Augusta and Botetourt counties], and settled upon Kerrs Creek, in the year 1754.
Question 2nd. – Have you any record of his age if so where is it?
Answer – There is a record of the age of said James McKee, in possession of his brother, William McKee who will testify as to its contents.
Question 3rd. – Where was he living when called into service, where had he lived since the Revolutionary War – and where did he live at the time of his death?
Answer – He was living in said County of Rockbridge when called into service, and continued to reside in said County untill the day of his death.
Question 4th How was he called into service – was he drafted – did he volunteer – or was he a substitute? and if so for whom?
Answer – He was drafted in all his tours except one, and then he served as a substitute for his brother William McKee of said County of Rockbridge, now living, and who will testify as to his services.
Question 5th. State the names of some of the Regular officers, who were with the troops, where he served. such continental and militia Regiments as you can – and the general circumstances of his service?
Answer – That he was drafted as a militia man in the year 1776 during the summer of said year, for a tour of 3 months as is believed against the Cherokee Indians in Tennessee and served during said Tour, under Colo William Christian, then of Augusta County Va. Particulars not known.
That he served a second tour in the year 1776 or 7 as a substitute for his brother William McKee for a tour of 3 months against the Shawnee Indians in Greenbrier County Va when the Indians attacked Donnellys Fort [Donnally’s Fort near present Frankford WV]. In this tour he served 3 months William McKee will testify as to this tour. Particulars & officers not known.
That he was drafted for another tour of 3 months against the Indians on Ohio, at Point Pleasant in September 1777 and was stationed at the Fort at Point Pleasant under Col. [John] Dickinson, Capt Charles Campbell and Lieutenant Sam’l Davidson all of whom are now dead. In this tour he served 3 months. Farther particulars not known.
That he was again drafted as a militia man in January 1781 to Portsmouth in Virginia, and served as an Ensign under Col. John Bowyer, Capt Thomas Harrison and Lieutenant Alexander Wiley. In this tour he served as an Ensign from the 10th day of January of 1781 to the 25th of April 1781.
For evidence of this he refers to John Davidson of said County, a Revolutionary Pensioner [application S8304] under the late act, who served with him – also to William McKee.
That he was again drafted for a short tour, when as a militia man, in June 1781 – when the English Cavalry under Tarlton plundered Charlottesville [sic: Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton’s Legion, 4 Jun 1781], In which tour he served 2 weeks particulars and officers not known, for evidence of this we refer to William McKee.
That he was again drafted for a tour of 3 months as a militia man, in July 1781 and marched to Headquarters at Westham, six miles west [NW] of Richmond, and served in this tour under General [William] Campbell, General [Peter] Muhlenberg, Lafayette, General [Anthony] Wayne and Col. [John] Willis. In this tour he served 3 months; refer to the evidence of William McKee.
That he was again drafted as a militia man in October 1781 to oppose Lord Cornwallis, when he was taking york Town [Siege of Yorktown, 28 Sep - 19 Oct 1781], a short Tour of Two months. Particulars not known.
That he served in all during the war of the Revolution seventeen months and twenty nine days, the said John T McKee has good reason to believe during which time he served three months & fifteen days as an Ensign. For this amount of service a Pension is claimed for and on behalf of the widow of said James McKee.
Question 6th Did he ever receive a discharge, and if so by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
Answer. No discharge has been found amongst the papers of said James McKee.
— did he ever receive a commission and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
Answer. He never received a commission to my knowledge.
Question 7th. State the names of persons in said James McKees neighbourhood, and in your own neighbourhood, who can testify as to your character and as to their belief of the Revolutionary services of said James McKee.
Answer. He refers to the Rev’d. Andrew B Davidson, William McKee, John Davidson, William Gilmore & James Davidson as evidence in this behalf.
The above statement is believed by said John McKee to be correct.
He hereby, for himself and on behalf of the widow of said James McKee, Relinquishes all and every claim whatsoever to a Pension or annuity except the present and declares that said James McKees name is not on the Pension roll of the Agency of any state.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first above written. John T. McKee
I William McKee of the said County of Rockbridge do hereby certify, that I was well acquainted with James McKee dec’d. late of Rockbridge County – that he died on the 14th day of August 1832. That he was born on the 14th day of March 1752 in the State of Pennsylvania, having in my possession the Record of his age. That John T. McKee is the son of the said James McKee. I do hereby farther certify, that I know from my personal knowledge that the said James McKee, mentioned in the Declaration made by s’d. J. T. McKee, did serve against the Indians during the Revolutionary War, as stated in the Declaration aforesaid, three different Tours of military service, of three months each tour. the said James McKee having served one of said tours as a substitute for me.
I farther certify that I know from my personal knowledge, that the said James McKee, was drafted to Portsmouth in January 1781 under Capt. Thomas Harrison, as stated in the declaration aforesaid and that he served as an Ensign from the 10th Jan’y. 1781 to 25th April 1781.
I farther certify that I served with said James McKee when he was drafted at the time Tarlton came to Charlottesville. I marched with said James McKee as far as deep run Church [just NW of present Richmond], where he was discharged. In this tour he served 2 weeks as a horseman.
I farther certify from my own personal knowledge that said James McKee was drafted in July 1781 as stated in the above Declaration and that I served with him and saw, on the last of September 1781 in Williamsburg Hospital.
I farther certify that the said James McKee dec’d was always reputed & believed in his neighbourhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier & to have served as he states and that no doubts to my knowledge have ever existed as to his services. Sworn to & subscribed this 5th day of January 1835. William McKee
NOTE: On 4 Mar 1835 John T. McKee applied for the arrears of pension due to James McKee. He stated that Nancy McKee died 5 Feb 1835 leaving as her only heirs himself and “Andrew Bratton of Bath County in this state who intermarried with Mary Jane the daughter of said James McKee.”