Originally Published by the ECHGS and used here with their
permission
Some of the words in this transcript may be misspelled. This is how they were
spelled in the original
John and Elsee Stufflebean
R 10, 283 1/2 New York
In Estill County, Kentucky, on the 20th August 1832, in open court, before James McQuinn,
Samuel Tipton and Sampson Waters, Justices of the Peace in Estill County, John
Stufflebean, resident of Estill County, aged about 80 years made oath: That he was born on
the east side of the Hudson River not far below Albany, New York. That in 177?, he was
living on a small river or creek which empties into the Delaware River. He thinks it was
called Navasene or Nevasing (?). He lived not more than 8 or 10 miles from the
Penssylvania Line and the New Jersy Line. That he enlisted in 1775 or 1776 or about that
time in the service of the United States under Captain James Frontiers. He recollects of
being stationed for a while at Hackensack, New Winston, Pasamus (?) and other small towns.
He recollects of receiving 10 pounds as bounty money when he enlisted. About 2 years after
he enlisted he went by direction of his Captain with others of the company to spy and
guard the neighborhood of the Deleware in New York against the Indians. While out, he was
surprised at the house of one Cajaw Indian near the Delaware and taken prisoner by the
Indians and Tories. Brant commanded the Indians. Brant was an Indian, either part, or full
blooded and was called Colonel Brant. He was said to have been commissioned by the King.
That this deponent with some others who were taken prisoners were taken by the Indians of
the Delaware after going up up it for some distance on logs or rafts. They afterwards
corssed the Susquehanna River. That they were taken to the Mohawk settlement of Indians
where this applicant with others were compelled to run the gauntlet. He continued a
prisoner with the Indians about 8 months. He was about 18 miles below the Falls of the
Niagra. He was sold by the Indians to Colonel Brittain, the British Commander then. Next
he was taken to Detroit and remained there about 2 years or more. At length, he with with
five others, on the 26th of April (years forgotton) ran away from Detroit, went down the
Lake of Water for 100 miles or more, through a wilderness and came to the Muskingham (?)
River to the Ohio. There they fell in with James Garrard's company to Kentucky. He joined
this company in coming to Kentucky and has resided here ever since. For reference as to
the truthfulness of his statements, he referred to his brother Michael Stufflebean, who
resides somewhere in Illinois. In 1828, he went to Illinois and took his brother's
affidavit with a view of making application for a pension but never made application nor
did anything more in the business.
Samuel Kelly, clergyman, of Estill County, Kentucky, and Will McQuinn, also a resident of the same county, made certifications that they are well acquainted with said John Stufflebean and to their belief in his statements. That said John Stufflebean is a man of good character, a plain, honest Old Dutchman. That they have known him for about 30 or 40 years.
A letter written from Lawrenceville, Illinois, on November 26, 1832, to Daniel Bush, Esquire of Estill County, Kentucky, from John C. Reilly, postmaster of the above city, states in parts: Your letter of inquiry about Michale Stufflebean was received. Mr. Stufflebean left this county about 3 years ago, for the county of Vermillion (Indiana). I was well acquainted with him while he lived in the neighborhood. He died about 18 months since I have been informed by one of his sons.
In Lawrence County, Illinois, before Valentine Bradley, justice of the peace, Michael Stufflebean made deposition, on June 12, 1823, that his brother, John Stufflebean was an enlisted soldier in the Revolutionary War under Captain Jacob Dewit of the American Army.
In Estill County, Kentucky on the 21st of January 1833, before Justice of the Peace in Estill County, Kentucky, John Stufflebean, resident of said county appeared and made declaration supplementary to the former one. He stated that he was about 20 years of age when the tea was destroyed at the Boston Harbor. (This occured on December 16, 1773)
John Stufflebean appeared in court in Estill County, Kentucky on March 4, 1842, and made oath before Robert Clark, clerk of the court, and David Snowden, Justice of the Peace, that the reasons for his leaving the state of Kentucky, and removing to Illinois are that he is of advanced age, not able to keep house and that his son Jacob Stufflebean has come after him to live with him in Illinois.
In Randolph County, Illinois, on the 5th of September 1842, before Dwight Hunt, Justice
of the Peace, in said county, John Stufflebean appeared and made oath: That he is the same
person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Jacob Dewitt. That his
name was placed on the pension roll of Kentucky from whence he has lately removed. That he
now resided in Illinois where he intends to remain. That his reasons for removing to
Illinois from Kentucky, are that he might spend the remainder of his life with his son who
now resides in Illinois. That his wife is living and that the support and friendly
administration of some person is necessary for his and his wife's company and comfortable
enjoyment of life.
In Randolph County, Illinois on April 13, 1845, Elsee Stufflebean, resident of Randolph
County aged 83 made oath: That she is the widow of John Stufflebean who was a private in
the Revolutionary War. Said John Stufflebean was transferred from the Roll of Kentucky to
that of Illinois on the 5th of October 1842, and resided there till the time of his death.
That she was married to said John Stufflebean in the fall season which she thinks was in
the year 1792 or 1793. It took place at a town called Paris, in Bourbon County, Kentucky
more than 51 years ago. That she and said John Stufflebean lived together harmoniously and
uninterruptedly from the time of their marriage till the time of his death. That they had
10 children. Their marriage ceremony was performed by one John Todd whom she thinks, was a
minister of the Gospel. At the time of her marriage to said John Stufflebean, she was a
widow of Joseph Ketchum, deceased and her maiden name before her marriage to said John
Stufflebean was Elsie Larrison. That her last husband, said John Stufflebean, died on the
16th of January 1844, near to the town of Kaskaskie in Randolph County, Illinois, at the
advanced age of 110 years, 11 months and 1 day.
In Randolph County, Illinois on April 13, 1845, Jacob Stufflebean, resident of Randolph
County, aged 45 made oath that he was well acquainted with John Stufflebean during the
whole of his entire life and is equally well acquainted with his wife. He made
certification as to the truthfulness of the statements of said John and Elsee Stufflebean.
A letter written June 23, 1848, from a Pennsylvania office to David J. Baker, Esquire,
Alton, Illinois, stated that the claim of Elsie Stufflebean, widow of John Stufflebean had
been examined, but that she could not receive a pension for the reason that her husband
had received a pension for the entire period of to which it's provision are limited.
A letter written from H. C. Simpson, from Randolph County, Illinois, on January 24, 1887,
to the Honorable Secretary of the War, Washington, D.C., stated in parts: I write to you
in regard to an old Revolutionary War soldier who died here and lies buried without
anything to mark the grave of the remains of one who spent the whole time of the grand
struggle which wrought so grand a change and founded the liberty of which the Americans
about so feelingly. He drew a pension from the Government of the United States, to the
time of his death which occured sometime in December 1844 or January 1845. He was said to
have been born about two years after The Great Washington (about 1734) and consequently
was 110 years, 11 months of age at the time of his Death. He pleased for a marker to
be placed at the grave, and assured the Honorable Secretary of War, that he would attend
to erecting it properly.
John Stufflebean of Estill County who was a private in the company commanded by Captain
Dewitt in the Pennsylvania line for 2 years of inscribed on the pension roll of Kentucky
agency to commence on 4th of March 1831, certificated of the pension was issued 29th of
March 1833.
On back of the pension certificate was recorded: Transferred to Illinois from March 4,
1842.
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