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The following excerpts from Patrick Hunter’s Revolutionary War pension file describe his service in Colonel Archibald Lochry’s expedition against the Ohio Indians in 1781. Hunter was captured when the expedition was defeated near the mouth of the Great Miami river on August 24, 1781. He was turned over to the British at Detroit, imprisoned first at Montreal, then elsewhere in Quebec, and finally taken to and held at New York City until released when the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783 ending the Revolutionary War. Hunters’s file also contains a deposition by his commanding officer on the expedition, Lieutenant Isaac Anderson in support of his claim. All transcriptions are as faithful to the source material as possible including spelling oddities (Lochry's name is frequently miss-spelled) and punctuation (which is often lacking). The remainder of Hunter’s file (not transcribed or shown) is largely comprised of payment record and summaries of the documents below written in response to various requests for copies of his file. A complete account of Lochry's Expedition including the testimony of other participants is available here.
(page 5) ————-
State of Indiana
Harrison County SS
On this 24th day of May in the year One thousand eight hundred and twenty seven personally appeared in open Court being a Court of Record and made so by the laws of the said State of Indiana for the County aforesaid & being one of the Circuit Courts in and for the second Judicial Circuit in said State, Patrick Hunter a resident in said County of Harrison aged sixty seven years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the acts of Congress of the 18th of March 1818 and the first of may 1820 - That he the said Patrick Hunter enlisted for the Term of three years some time on the month of January or winter of the year 1777 one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven in the State of Virginia in the campaign command by Captain McCormack in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Russell being the 13th Virginia Regt in the line of the State of Virginia on the United States Continental establishment, that he continued to serve in the said corps fifteen months when he was discharged from said Regiment 13th Virginia Regiment and attached to the Pennsylvania line and served in that line until the 24th of August 1781 at which time he was taken prisoner at
(page 6) ————-
Laugher’s defeat and remained prisoner until the 15th of Nov 1782 and paroled by General Carlton that he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension whatever except the present, hat his name is not on the Role of any State except it be placed on the Role, of this State and that the following are the reasons for not making an earlier application for a pension that he was informed that is was necessary to obtain the evidence of Revolutionary services - that he did not know nor ascertain where this evidence could be found or procured until last August that in August 1826 and the evidence was taken 18th Sept 1826 since which until this there has been no session of the Circuit Court in the County there being only two Terms of the Circuit Court in the year one in May and September and in pursuance of the act of May 1820. I do solemnly swear that I was a resident of citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provision of an Act of Congress nettled and Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War passed 18th of March 1818and that I have not nor has nay person in the trust for me any property, or securities, contracts, or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereunto annexed and by me subscribed (To wit) Schedule of property owned by Patrick Hunter —
Value
10 Head of Cattle $60.00
2 Calves 2.00
1 Mare 40.00
(page 7) ————-
And Brot Over $102.00
1 Saddle 4.00
1 Bridle .25
20 Head of Hogs (Added 4 20.00
1 Plough & a pair of horse gears 10.00
————
$136.25
This declarant further states that he has no trade this his occupation was that of a farmer; but from Old age and decrepitude he is not able to follow his occupation or pursue and business that would yield him a support nor is he now able from old age and infirmity to labour, That he has two daughters living with him, Ellen Miller a Widower about thirty five years old she has a son about 12 years old who also lies with me and Lucinda Hunter, aged about seventeen who are able to support themselves, except the child - This declarant further states that he is in such indigent circumstances as to be unable to support himself with out the assistance of of his Country or Government This declarant further states that since the 18th of March 1818 the following changes have been made in his property this declarant states that he did now own any land at that time - That his personal property has diminished since that time considerably - That he exchanged horses with one Orchard since the 18th of March 1818 which is the mare now estimated at $40.00 in his schedule - That he has often been compelled to dispose of his stock for the support and maintainance of his family - This declarant further states that in addition to the property named in the foregoing Schedule he has about 20 head of hogs worth $20 which added to the amount in the schedule will make the sum of $126.25 - That he has no so much as one six and a fourth cents on hand - This declarant further states That he has one plough and a pair of horse gears worth about $10.00 which added to the above will make a sum of $136.25
(page 8) ————-
Sworn to and declared in open Court on the 26th day of May 1827
H W Neth clk
State of Indiana ss
I Henry W Neth Clerk of the Harrison Circuit Court do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the Court that the said Patrick Hunter did serve isn the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy for the Term specified in his declaration under one engagement on the Continental establishment - I do also certify that the foregoing Oath and the schedule thereunto annexed are truly copied from the Records of the said Circuit Court, and I do further certify that is is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in Value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is one hundred thirty six dollars & twenty five cents - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court on the 26th day of May 1827 -
Hn W Heth clerk of the Circuit Court of Harrison County
(page 9) ————-
The State of Ohio Butler County ss
Be it known that before me William Hunter a Justice duly assigned to keep the peace in the county aforesaid personally appeared Isaac Anderson of the said county of Butler who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he served as a Lieutenant of a company of State Troops of Militia in the State of Pennsylvania in the War of the Revolution in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one under the Command of Colo Archibald Laughery the Regiment left Westmoreland County about first of August seventeen hundred and eighty one descended the Ohio river with the design to Join the troops then under the command of General Col Clark About the twenty fourth of August the Regiment having landed of the West bank of the Ohio river a few miles below the mouth of the Great Miami river in what is now Indiana state They were attacked by the Indians defeated and part of the Regiment taken Prisoners Amongst whom this deponent and the Ensign of the same company whose name was Patrick Hunter. this Company in which deponent and said Hunter werein was then under the Command of Deponent the Captain who had been approved to the Command of the Company having declined taking the command of said company. Deponent with others amongst which was the said Ensign Hunter were taken first to Detroit then to Montreal and from thence to in Lower Canada where we remained at least six months and untill Deponent and others by Scaling the Pickets got released from their confinement and at which time deponent left the said Patrick Hunter a Prisoner under the British at Montreal.
Deponent does not recollect that he has seen Mr. Hunter since he left him under the command the troops at Montreal but has corresponded with him by letter and from recitals of things which transpired when they were together as said before or after their Capture by the Indians as is herein before stated he is well satisfied that the said Patrick Hunter is now a Resident of the state of Indiana near to Corydon or Lacoma in the said state of Indiana and likewise that the
(page 10) ————-
said Patrick Hunter is an Applicant for the benefits of the Act of Congress of the seventh of June last entitled ”An act supplementary to “an act for the relief of the surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Revolution” - And also that the said Patrick Hunter enlisted the service as Ensign of the Company which was commanded by Deponent as herein before stated and deponent saith not.
Isaac Anderson
Sworn to & subscribed before me at Hamilton in the County aforesaid the fourth day of December One thousand eight hundred and thirty two - And further I hereby certify that the said Isaac Anderson the Deponent is a resident of the said county of Butler and that he is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit
William Hunter
(page 44) ————-
State of Indiana, Harrison County, Harrison Probate Court SS.
On this 12 day of February 1833 personally appeared in open court before William A. Porter sole Judge of the Probate Court in and for the said county and state aforesaid now sitting Patrick Hunter resident of Boone Township and county aforesaid 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 7 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated - that he served as an Ensign in the company of Pennsylvania state troops in the war of the revolution commended by Lieutenant Isaac Anderson the Captain of said Company whose name was John Shearer having declined taking the command of said Company in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one under the Command of Col Archibald Laughrey - the regiment left Westmoreland County about the first of August in the year last aforesaid, and descended the Ohio river with the design to join the troops then under the command of General Clark; that they landed on the west bank of the Ohio River a few miles below the mouth of the Great Miami river in what is now the state of Indiana on the 24th day of August same year were attacked by the Indians defeated and a part of the regiment taken prisoners amongst whole was this applicant the said Lieut. Anderson, Capt Stokely and others, amounting in the whole to sixty four, that there were forty two killed in said defeat. This applicant
(page 45) ————-
amongst others was first taken to Detroit, thence to Montreal in Lower Canada. That some of the prisoners at this place, amongst whom was the said Lieut Anderson scaled the pickets and affected their escape, after which this applicant was taken to Quebec and there kept until about the 10th of October 1782. From this place they were conveyed to the City of New York first on board a schooner to the Island of Beck in the St Lawrence, thence on Board a fleet commanded by Capt Nelson to the city of New York at which place we landed about the last day of November of first of December 1782 and was there detained a prisoner until the January following, at which time he was released on parole; that his parole was signed by Sir Guy Carliton then at New York; that he Continued a prisoner on parole until peace was made in 1783. That the whole time during which he was employed in the service of the United States in this Campaign including his imprisonment as aforesaid, was from the 1st of August 1781 to the 1st of January 1783, excepting the time he was released on parole. This applicant was born in the north of Ireland in the year 1760, that he has no record of his age, that he was living in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania when called into service; that since he left said service he has resided in Kentucky 27 years that he now resides in Indiana and has resided there since 1810; that he joined said company of state troops and held the commission of ensign as above stated, but cannot state by which the Governors of Pennsylvania it was signed that his commission was taken from him by the Indians when held a prisoner as aforesaid. He thinks there were no regular troops on said campaign Capt Stokely commanded a company of rangers
(page 46) ————-
who were engaged for three years That he is known in his present neighborhood to Benjamin Adams & Jno W Payne who can testify as to his veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution; that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure of his said services, except Lieut. Isaac Anderson herein before mentioned, whose deposition accompanies this declaration.
He herby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is only on the pension roll of the agency of the state of Indiana
P. Hunter
Subscribed and sworn to in open court the day and year aforesaid
H. W. Heth clk
We Benjamin Adams a Clergyman residing in the township of Harrison and county of Harrison and Jno W Payne residing in the township of Harrison and county aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Patrick Hunter who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 72 years of age; that he is reputed an believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Benjamin Adams
Jno W Payne
Subscribed and sworn to in open court the day and year aforesaid
H. W. Heth clk
And the said county do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed but he War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court
(page 47) ————-
further certifies that is papers to them that Benjamin Adams who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the township of Harrison and county aforesaid, and that John W Payne who has also signed the same is a resident in the same township and county, and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Henry W Heth Clerk of the Probate Court of the County of Harrison in the State of Indiana do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the organ proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Patrick Hunter for a pension
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 16th day of February 1833
H. W. Heth Clk |
Fisher Family Genealogy
