James Hamilton
Pension Number S31098      Pennsylvania      

 

     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