Fisher Family Genealogy

Military: Kean, James - Excerpts from Revolutionary War pension file No. S22342

Military: Kean, James - Excerpts from Revolutionary War pension file No. S22342



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  • Title Military: Kean, James - Excerpts from Revolutionary War pension file No. S22342 
    Short Title Military: Kean, James - Excerpts from Revolutionary War pension file No. S22342 
    Publisher National Archives, Textual Reference Branch  
    Call Number Revolutioary War pension No. S22342 
    Repository National Archives 
    Source ID S427 
    Text The following excerpts from James Kean’s Revolutionary War pension file describe his service in Colonel Archibald Lochry’s expedition against the Ohio Indians in 1781. Kean was rifle man In Captain Thomas Stokely's company of rangers on Lochry's ill-fated expedition against the Ohio Indians of 1781. On pages 4 through 8 below, Kean seeks a military pension for his service on the expedition. He recounts that he was captured by Indians when the expedition was attacked and defeated on the Ohio River in August 1781. He was held by the Wyandot Indians for almost three years before escaping and returning home. Robert Orr testifies in support of Kean's pension application on pages 11 and 12. Kean in turn provides support for the pension application of Cary Quigley here.

    Kean and Orr's testimony contains several factual errors. Colonel Lochry's name is spelled incorrectly throughout both depositions. Kean also states that Lochry's Expedition was defeated on 16 August 1781. The accepted date is 24 August 1781. Finally, Orr states that Lochry's men pursued General Clark down the Ohio and were "within a few miles of him as they supposed and fifteen or twenty miles below the mouth of the Big Miami" when they were attacked. Clark was in fact a half day and almost a hundred miles downstream of Lochry--he may even have already encamped at the Falls of the Ohio (now Louisville)--when Lochry's party was attacked. The accepted location of the attack at what is now called Laughery's Creek is near Aurora, IN, ten, not fifteen or twenty, miles downstream of the Big Miami River. For more information on Lochry's Expedition see here.



    (page 4) —————

    State of Pennsylvania
    Westmoreland County SS

    This twenty fourth day of November eighteen hundred & thirty two personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Said County now Sitting James Kean a resident of Derry Township in the County of Westmoreland aforesaid & State of Pennsylvania aged Seventy two years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 -

    That he entered the Service of United States under the following named officers & served therein as herein after stated -

    That in the Spring of the year 1779 he enlisted at Hannah’s town in the said County of Westmoreland as a common Soldier in a Company of Rifleman commanded by captain Matthew Jack. under first lieutenant William Guthrie, for the term of six months – During the early part of this term Deponent Deponent was at Wallace’s Fort on the Waters of the Conemaugh, a frontier post – In the summer of 1779 deponent marched to Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh) & there joined Colonel Broadheads regiment – From Pittsburgh deponent accompanied Colonel Broadhead on his expedition up the Allegheny River against the Indians – During this

    (page 5) —————

    Expedition Fort Bayard was built near Kittanning by the Army & the Muney? towns destroyed (villages of the Seneca Indians, ed.) – Declarant Recollects of but one skirmish that took place with the Indians during that Campaign – In the fall of 1779 the army Returned to Pittsburgh where after his term of Six was Expired declarant was discharged – Declarant of the officers attached to that Expedition, in addition to those already mentioned declarant remembers the names of Major Bayard & Colonel Gibson - & Captain Samuel Brady –

    In the Month of June 1781 Declarant Enlisted in Captain Stokely's Company of Rangers for & During the War (as he thinks) Colonel Loghrey Commanded the Ranger Detachment – Soon after his enlistment declarant Marched to Wheeling on the Ohio, where Colonel Loghrey Expected to be joined by Genl Clarks troops – On finding that Clark's detachment had gone on down the River, with orders to Loghrey (inserted him) to follow Colonel Loghrey's detachment immediately Embarked & passed down the Ohio – On the 16. August 1781. being then below the Mouth of the Big Miami, they were fired on by a large party of Indians commanded by Girty & Brant by whom the whole party were either killed or taken prisoners – Declarant was among the prison

    (page 6) ———— -

    ners – He was taken by the Indians first to Wapatougeka – now Chilicothe – thence to the mouth of upper Sandusky, thence to lower Sandusky – afterward to the Mouth of Buffalo Creek from whence declarant Made his Escape in the year 1784 & descended the Allegheny River to Pittsburgh – where he returned home – He was near three years a prisoner among the Indians – He has no documentary Evidence of his services that he knows – Captain Matthew Jack under whom he first Enlisted & Captain. Robert Orr who commanded a company at Loghrey’s are Still living & can't certify to the declarants services (inserted That he served all during the Revolutionary War for the term of three years & six months including his captivity for which he claims payment)

    And I do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present – & declare that my name is not on the pension Roll of any state the agency of any State.
    1. Where & in what year were you Born?
    Answer – In the County of Donegal in Ireland - & I believe in the year 1760 –
    2 Have you any Record of your age & if so where is it?
    Answer – I have no record of my age –
    3. Where were you living when called into Service – where have you lived since the Revolutionary War – And where do you now live?

    (page 7) —————

    Answer. I lived in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania when called in to service - And have lived in the Same County & state ever since my return from the Indians in 1784 & now lives there –
    4. How were you called into service? Were you drafted – did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, & if a Substitute, for whom?
    Answer - The answer to this interrogatory is contained in the foregoing declaration –
    5. State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops when you Served – Such Continental & Militia Regiments as you can Recollect – & the general circumstances of your Service –
    Answer – I don't recollect any the names of any other officers than those mentioned in the foregoing Declaration – I believe that the 8th Pennsylvania & 9th Virginia regiments were in Broadheads campaign –
    6 Did you Ever Receive a discharge from the Service? and if so by whom was it Signed & what has become of it –
    Answer - I received a discharge in writing from Captain Jack after the War, which I have since lost – I did not Receive any other discharge –
    7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood

    (page 8) —————

    & who can testify as to your character for veracity & good behaviour & your services as a Soldier of the Revolution –
    Answer James Long, Col. James Guthrie

    James (his mark) Kean

    Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open Court
    Randall Laughlin Prot

    (page 9) —————

    West Moreland County SS

    Matthew Jack A credible Witness on his solemn owes declares, That he knows James Keane the appli declarant – That in the Winter or Spring of 1779 this deponent Enlisted the said James Keane in a company which the deponent Raised in the pursuance of orders Received from General McIntosh for the term of six months – this deponent knows that said James Keane Served as a Common soldier in this deponents Company during the whole period of Broadheads Campaign as stated in the foregoing declaration - And that this said declarant served faithfully during said Term of six months. And this deponent gave him as he believes a discharge honorably –
    declarant
    Mattw Jack

    Sworn & subscribed 22 Nov AD 1832. In open Court
    Randall A Laughlin Prot

    (page 11) —————

    State of Pennsylvania
    Armstrong County SS

    Personally appeared before me the subscriber an acting Justice of the Peace of said Commonwealth in and for the said County of Armstrong – Robert Orr Snr. Esqr who being duly sworn according to Law doth depose and say as follows to wit – That he is well acquainted with James Keane ever Since he came to this County and that in the Campaign against the Indians in the year 1781 – Said James Keane was a member of Capt. Thomas Stokely's Company of Rangers –. That in the spring or summer of 1781. Colonel Loughery was requested by Genl. Clarke to raise a few companies of the best Rifle men and accompany him (Clark )in an expedition against the Indians. That Col Loughery agreeing to do so, mentioned the matter to several of his acquaintances and that this deponent together with Capts Campbell – Stokely and Anderson raised companies and went with said Col. Loughery to Wheeling expecting there to find Genl Clarke but ascertaining then that Genl. Clarke had gone on they pursued him down the River in boats and when within a few miles of him as they supposed and fifteen or twenty - miles below the mouth of the Big Miami, They were fired upon

    (page 12) —————

    buy a large party of Indians under the command of Brant the Mohawk chief and the whole party about one hundred and six in number was killed or taken prisoners. That James Keane was among the number of those who were taking prisoners. That after sometime, the prisoners were divided among the several Indian Tribes. This deponent falling to the lot of a Wyandot was taken to Detroit and after wards exchanged. That some few days after said division of the prisoners we separated and this deponent heard or knew nothing of James Keane until some years afterwards he returned home two Westmoreland County Penna and lived with this deponent some time – Deponent further states that he saw Girty (Simon Girty) who was joined by Brant and went to the Kentucky, this was shortly after their capture – And further sayeth not

    Robert Orr

    Sworn & Subscribed before me this 23d day of February 1833
    J. E. Brown

    (page 13) —————

    Armstrong County, seal

    I, James E Brown before whom the within deposition was taken and subscribed Do hereby certify that I am personally well acquainted with Robert Orr senr. the within Deponent. That he is one of the associate Judges of said County and that he is a man of truth upon whose statements full reliance may be placed That he is the same Robert Orr who lately obtained a pension under the act of Congress of 1832 for services rendered to the County in the Campaign within mentioned In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 23rd day of February AD. 1833 –
    J. E. Brown, seal

    Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    Armstrong County, seal

    I, Frederick Rohrer, Prothonotary, of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county, do hereby certify, that James E. Brown, Esquire before whom the foregoing deposition was taken, and who makes the above certificate, is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly confirmed by the proper authority of the Commonwealth aforesaid, and qualified to act as such into whose acts as such do faith and credit is and ought to be given; and I do further certify that the signatures of the said James E Brown, Esquire.

    In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said office, at Kittanning this 25th day of February A.D. 1833

    Fred Rohrer Pro.
     

  • Documents
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 1
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 1
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 4
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 4
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 5
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 5
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 6
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 6
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 7
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 7
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 8
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 8
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 9
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 9
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 11
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 11
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 12
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 12
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 13
    Kean, James - Revolutionary War Pension File No. S22342, p 13

  •  Notes 
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      Original data:
      Publisher: NARA
      National Archives Catalog ID: 300022
      National Archives Catalog Title: Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, compiled ca. 1800 - ca. 1912, documenting the period ca. 1775 - ca. 1900
      Record Group: 15
      Short Description: NARA M804. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files.
      State: Pennsylvania
      Veteran Surname: Kean
      Veteran Given Name: James
      Service: Penn.
      Pension Number: S. 22342