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James Hamilton
On
May 12-1834, the above named soldier appeared in open court, a
resident of said county and state, aged 71, states he entered the
service in 1780 as a volunteer in a company raised in Fayette Co,
Penn. For the purpose of marching to the protection of Pittsburg
against the Indians, the company and he that time went to Pittsburgh
and there remained at least two months. He does not remember the
name of any officer, who was on service at this time. He was a
private and although he was on service longer than two months, yet
as he cannot remember how much longer, he only claims for two
months. Which he does remember, he resided at the time in the county
of Fayette, Pennsylvania. He again entered the service in 1781. He
entered as a volunteer under Capt. John VanMeter, the Col was
Benjamin Cole, the company was also raised in Fayette Co, Pa and
marched from that county to Black Bottom Station on the Ohio below
Pittsburgh. The company was raised to protect that station against
the Indians. He was on service this time two months. He
again entered the service of the U.S. about the close of the same
year as a volunteer under Captain John VanMeter, and Col Proctor,
the company was raised in Fayette Pa and marched to Wallace’s
Station on the water of Cangremaugh or Black Lick, branch of the
Alleganies? to protect
the station against the Indians. He was on service this time four
months. He was in no battle this time. He was a private, he
remembers the name of no other officer attached to the company. He
again entered the service to or 3 months afterward as a volunteer in
the company of Capt. Thomas Morton. The Col was James Smith. This
company was raised in Fayette Co, Pa, and marched to the mouth of
French Creek at an old place or town called Vanangain? Penna. This
was a campaign against the Indians. He thinks that Phillip Howell
was Lieut. He remembers the name of no other officer. He was on
service this time six weeks. He again entered the service of the
U.S. some short time afterwards as a substitute for James Wilson
in the command of Lt. Speringer. He thinks that Proctor was the
colonel. The company was raised in the same county and marched to
Legardens Old Mill about twenty-five miles above Pittsburgh to
protect it against the Indians. He was on service this time two
months, does not remember the names of the captain or any other
officer. He
again entered the service some short time afterwards in a company of
spies – 15 in the company – John Sherar was Capt, Gibson was
Lieut, he served this time in this company six months, the service
was that of protecting and guarding the Pennsylvania frontiers
against the Indians, he still resided in Fayette Pa. He was born in
Berks Co, Penn, and moved from there to Cecil County Maryland and
from there to Barclay Co, Va (Berkley Co?) and from there to Fayette
Co, Pennsylania. He was born in Dec 1763, he moved from Fayette
County Pennsylvania to Fayette Co, Ky, 41 years ago and has lived in
it ever since. He lives in the same neighborhood with Col H B Card,
Dr Shephard, James Headley, he knows Hon. W.T. Barry. His tours are
as follows: 1 two months, 2 of two months, 3 of four months, 4 of
one month, 5 of two months and 6 of six months. George Boone, a
clergyman and Samuel Taul state that they are well acquainted with
said applicant. State of Kentucky, Fayette Co. On March 11-1833 personally
appeared James Hamilton in open court, a resident of said county,
aged 69 who states that he entered the service, volunteering to go
from Pittsburgh to Beech Bottom Station; _______ the Ohio River against the
Indians in his 18th year on this – he thinks but is not
sure that he was that old, he was not on the muster roll tho he
performed this trip and was employed in it two months. His captain
was John VanMeter, afterwards there was a little campaign to start
from ____ to New Camerstown, Col Lynn was commander and Mr. Farmer
was captain, he volunteered on this expedition but in consequence of
the want of provisions on that some others were discharged and sent
back, the next time he served was under the same captain at
Wallace’s Station, at a place on the water then called Comemaugh.
He next volunteered and served a campaign under Col James Smith, but
old Vanaugh on French Creek, Pennsylvania, he thinks up the
Allegheny, about 180 miles above Pittsburgh, the station was
evacuated before they reached it. Thomas Morton was captain and the
Lieutenant’s name was Peter Wedell, who only went days march and
then left them. Howell was surgeon? He next went as a substitute for
a man by name of J_____ Wilson he thinks to a place formerly called
Teagardens Old Mill, on then from Pittsburgh to Hannahstown 25 or 30
miles above Farmer Place, he served on this expedition not more than
a month; he was sent out as one of a scouting party and discovered 3
large trails of Indians making in towards the settlements; that the
party made into the settlements and gave notice what they had seen
on the second day after they gave the notice the Indians got into
Hannah’s Town, destroyed the place, took Col Hannah and his wife
and two daughters prisoners and carried them to Detroit. They were
much harassed by the Indians, he stayed out all times ready to
march at a moment’s warning and was so often out a few days at a
time, that he supposed it necessary to go into detail of all the
various exercises he made during the whole time, he resided in the
Monongahala country about 18 miles above Pittsburgh. He has no
written evidence of his services.
Source: Records of Revolutionary War Pensions of Soldiers who Settled in Fayette County Kentucky Annie Walker Burns, compiler, Washington DC, 1936 Copy held by the Kentucky Room, Lexington Public Library Call number: R976.947 B4128r KY1936 |