James Shaw Pension

Submitted by Nancy Poquette August 18, 2006


Pension Application Of James Shaw, National Archives Microseries M804, Roll #__, Application #W9288
District of Kentucky, Campbell Circuit, on the 1st day of July, 1822,

James Shaw, aged 65 years: “That he enlisted under Captain David Greer [Grier] of the 6th battalion of Pennsylvania on Continental establishment, on the 4th day of January 1776, to serve for one year. That said battalion was commanded by
Colonel Irvin, and the brigade by General Thompson. That he was marched to Canada and was in the Battle of Three Rivers where we were defeated and retreated to Albany where he was discharged. That he was discharged by Dr. Brown while he was in the hospital of December 1776. That his discharge is lost or mislaid without his ____ or consent, so that it cannot be found. That he has never drawn any pension heretofore from the United States or any government. And that as a volunteer, he was in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown…”

“I have 300 acres of poor, 3rd rate, hilly land, worth not more than $100. One horse worth $25.00
2 cows worth $5.00 each, 10 sheep-$5, 6 hogs-$6, total $26; 2 beds-$20, household and kitchen utensils-$15 at $35; 1 plow-$2, one ax-$1, 3 hoes-$1 at $4."

“That his family consists of himself and his wife, aged about 64 years, both aged and infirm and unable to support themselves by labor. That he has living with him a son, not more than sufficient to support himself. He has a daughter, now a widow, together with her son, and have to be supported. He has another daughter named Betsy, 18 years living with him, merely able to support herself.”

Campbell County, Kentucky, August 22, 1842, Anne Shaw, aged 83 on the 5th day of March last: “That she is the widow of James Shaw who was a private in the Army of the Revolution and at the time of his enlistment, he lived in York County, Pennsylvania state. He was born in Ireland and came to America in the year 1773. That on the 4th day of January (as she believes) then in his 18th year, he enlisted as a private for one year under Captain David Grier. That he was sent to the north. That he was at the Battle of Trois Rivières, otherwise Three Rivers, and belonged (she thinks) to General Thompson’s brigade, where they were defeated by the British and the Indians, and 26 of their company taken prisoners. He then retreated to Albany in the state of New York, where he lay sick a long time, where he was honorably discharged, having served out the whole term for which he enlisted, being one year.”

“She does not know what became of his discharge, after which he served one tour of two months as a volunteer, and one tour of two months as a substitute, during which he was in both of the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. She thinks his captains name was John Laird, or at least one of them.”

“This is all of his services that she knows of before her marriage with or to the said James Shaw. She further declares that she was legally married to the said James Shaw on the 5th day of March, 1778, and that in the month of
December, 1779, she moved to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, where again he entered the service in the month of February as Lieutenant and Indian Spy, and continued in the said service until the end of the war, which she believes to
be about three years, but is positive it was at least two. This honor was given him, as she believes, for his honorable conduct and severe suffering during his first 3 tours in the years 1776, 1777 and 1778.’

‘While in Westmoreland County, she became acquainted with Martha Boyles, who is knowing to her husband’s services. She is still living. Also she is acquainted with George Graden of this county, who is a clergyman. Also with Joseph Dicken and Thomas Stephens, with whom I have been acquainted for more than 40 years. She further declares that her late husband, James Shaw, had his pension papers made out about the year 1821, and sent them to John T. Johnson to get his pension, from whom he received a letter that if he would meet him at Lexington, KY, he could draw his money, as I understood it. My husband went, but owing to some difficulty, he could not draw. What it was, she knows not.”

“He again made out his papers in the year 1823 and proved his services by Felix McIlheny of Harrison County, KY and John Killin of Adams County, Ohio (who I am informed is still living) but before anything was done that she knows of, her
husband died, which was on the 18th day of October, 1823, and that she has remained a widow ever since. The reason that she never applied until now was that although often told that perhaps she could get a pension, she never know certainly. She has resided for the last 30 or 40 years on the same farm she now lives on.”

“On this 16th day of September, 1842, Martha Boyles, aged 94 years on the 19th day of August last: “That she is the identical Martha Boyles named in the foregoing declaration of Anna Shaw, and that she knows her to be the widow of James Shaw, named in said declaration, as being a revolutionary soldier and Indian spy, and that she became acquainted with them, the said James and Anna Shaw about the beginning of the year 1780 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania state, and that in the following spring, that is in February, March, or April, saw James Shaw volunteered and joined the militia as an Indian spy (generally then called scouts) and together with her own husband continued in the said service until the close of the war. They were at home many times during that period, but always held themselves ready to go at a minute’s warning.”

“She remembers well, that in the aforesaid month of February, the Indians came to Leach’s Ford and killed Mrs. Leach, David Maxwell and wife, and John Hutchinson and took several prisoners and burned the fort. The Indians continued very troublesome until the end of the war, which was about three years. She knows it to be at least two years. That she has been acquainted with the said James and Anna Shaw for at least 60 years until his death, which was on the 18th day of October, 1823. That although she did not see them married, she knows they lived together as man and wife upwards of forty years until his death and raised a large family. The said Anna Shaw is a credible person belonging to the Presbyterian church…etc.”

They removed to Campbell County, KY in 1796. Anna Shaw was born March 5, 1759, place not given. Maiden name was not given. Six children were born before they moved to Kentucky. It was stated in 1842 that their oldest son “has been
elected to represent the County of Clermont of Ohio several times.” The widow was still living in 1850 with a son.”


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