Pvt., William McWilliams

McWilliams, Pvt. William


 


State of Ohio


Knox Co.


 


On this 26th day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court & before the judge in & for the county of Knox now sitting Wm McWilliams a resident of Clay Township in the County of Knox and State of Ohio age seventy three 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 the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated to wit Capt. Joseph Ogle entered the service about the first of May 1777 and served five weeks as a volunteer and left the service in June same year, resided when he entered the service within about five miles of where Washington now stands in Washington County Pennsylvania (at that time considered a part of Virginia)  Entered the service as a volunteer and marched to the Beach Bottom on the Ohio River against the Indians then to the mouth of Short Creek and there assisted in building a block house and then up Short creek to a fort at vanmeters mill and then returned home-----And again on the 2nd of September 1777 he entered the service as a volunteer under Capt. Williamson to go to the fort at Wheeling (in consequence a body of Indians having attacked the fort at Wheeling on the 1st of Sept) he marched to Shepherds Fort and then the fort at Wheeling where he continued in the service until about the last of December the same year----having served within a few day of four months


 


And again in the month of August 1778 he entered the service under Captain Joseph Ogle (as a volunteer) and served under said Capt Ogle Lieut. John Bigs and Ensign Thomas Byers until when he entered the service as aforesaid—and marched to Montours Bottom on the Ohio River and crossed the River and marched with a part of General McIntoshs army to the mouth of the Beaver where they built a fort and then in the fall of the same year march3ed with General McIntosh army as far as tuscarawa [Tuscarawas] where they halted and built fort Laurens and in the month of December same year was discharged and returned home having served four months---And again in the spring of 1779 he was in the service one month at the station at Wheeling and at Shepherds fort on Wheeling Creek.  And again in the month of June 1779 he was in the service three weeks at the Station at Wheeling under Capt. Mason and again on the 6th of August 1779 he entered the service as a volunteer to go against the muncy Indians up the Aleghena [Allegheny] River and served under Col. Broadhead and Capt. Mason Lieutant Wm Bigs marched from Washington to fort Pitt and then up the Aleghena River above French Creek had a small engagement with a party of Indians, and destroyed their corn fields and returned to fort Pitt and there discharged having been  in the service six weeks.    Making in all one year and about two weeks, besides many other short intermediate tours of which he cannot now recollect the amount of time and the dates thereof being at that time living on the frontier, and for about three years almost continually harassed by the incursion of the Indians.  He also states that he knew General McIntosh, Col. Broadhead & Col. Gibson, Major Vernon, Lieut (?) and Finley Capt Hardin, Brady, Springer & Harrison of the regulars.


 


He also states that he has no documentary evidence and knows of no person whose testimony he can provide who can testify to his service except the testimony of Ab..McCalloch & John Caldwell of Virginia whose affidavid accompany this declaration.


 


He hereby relinquishes any claim whatsoever to a pension or an annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on any pension roll of any agency in any state.


 


                                                                                    Wm. McWillaims


 


Sworn to and Subscribed


The day and year aforesaid


                                                                                    Alex Elliott, Clerk


 


 


 


Pvt. William McWilliams pension number is W-4289.  He was born Down County, Ireland in 1759.  McWilliams was inscribed on the pension list, roll of the Ohio agency at the rate of $40 per annum.  His pension certificate was dated on the 14 March 1833.


 


He was a resident of Washington Co., PA  in 1777.  He most likely volunteered to be a part of the Washington County militia during his trip to the Tuscarawas Valley.


 


McWilliams moved his family in 1785 to Ohio County, Virginia.  In 1800 he moved to Belmont Co., OH in 1800 and then further west to Knox County, Ohio  at the time he applied for his pension.


 


He died 21 April 1840 in Knox County.  McWilliams was married 5 March 1793 in Washington, Co., PA, to Marry MERRITT McWilliams.  She was allowed pension on her application executed 15 July 1843, then 71 years of age.  They had at least one son, John McWilliams, born 31 January 1797.  He was alive in 1845 and resided in Knox County.


 


A headstone for William McWilliams was requested by the DAR Chapter, Kokosing, Mt. Vernon, OH.


 


Initial information regarding Pvt. William McWilliams and his role at Ft. Laurens was obtained by Shemenski, Pat of Canton, OH and submitted to the Friends of Ft. Laurens Foundation on 5 June 2008.  McWilliams’ pension application was transcribed by Fisher, Scott, Friends of Ft. Laurens Foundation on 1/4/09.


 


Pension application was obtained from Footnote.com.


 



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