Source: Rev. War Pension Application
John Melick, Perry Co., OH November Term, 1833
Transcribed by Dawn Owings from scanned copies of the original documents.
Series: M805 Roll: 580 File: W428/BLWT 33770-160-55


Pgs. 1-3

"The State of Ohio
Perry County

Court of Common Pleas
November Term A. D. 1833

On the (blank) day of November A. D. 1833 -- Personally appeared in open court before the Judges of said Court now sitting, John Melick Senr., a resident of said Court, aged 79 years on the 7th day of December A. D. 1832, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following accorded? declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7th day of June A. D. 1832 -- That he was called into the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated -- viz. -- That he was drafted into the service of the United States sometime in August 1775 at Somerset County in the State of New Jersey, where he then resided for the term of three months, in the company of Captain Logan in the Regiment of Colonel Stephen Hunt of the New Jersey Militia that he was marched to Elizabeth Town and performed a variety of marches in that neighborhood, but was most of his said time of service in garrison at Elizabeth Town and was then verbally discharged sometime about the last of November 1775 by said Captain Logan after having served out his term of three months for which he was so drafted again in the early part of the Spring -- he thinks in the fors? part of April -- in the year 1776 declarant was drafted into the service of the United States in the Militia of New Jersey at the County of Somerset where he then resided for three months and served this term out under the same Captain Logan, and, as he best can remember, under Colonel ------- Taylor, the said Colonel Hunt having been deprived of his command on account of his internper????. That he was marched to many parts of New Jersey and among these parts he was marched to Powls** Hook & Station there for sometime in garrison and that some time in the fore part of 1776 he was discharged by said Captain Logan at Powls Hook in New Jersey ---

Again declarant states that -- according to the best of his recollection, but he cannot be possitively an account of the great ?????? of time -- on or about the first of October 1776 he was again drafted into the service of the United States in the militia of New Jersey under the same officers as last above mentioned at Somerset County aforesaid where he then resided for the term of 3 months, and served out the last term of service under the said Captain Logan & Col. Taylor -- and was marched to near the enemy's lines but cannot recollect the particular parts he occupied on this term nor at what part he was discharged, but that he did the service he is certain.

He well recollects that he was holden at all times during the whole years of 1776 & 1777 whether actually in the field or not, to be in readiness to march at a moments warning -- and he believes he was in the service more than 6 months in 1776 , but certainly as much as six months -- he was out in 1776 & 1777 at all seasons of that year -- in the service of the United States & under arms & engaged in no civil pursuits whilst out ---

Again declarant was drafted into the service of the United States in the Militia of New Jersey at the County of Morris he then resided about the month of March 1777 for the term of four months and that he served out that term of time under Captain Walter Lewis attached to the Regiment of Colonel Jacob Drake and was discharged at Elizabeth Town in New Jersey by said Captain Lewis wholly? in June 1777 that during this term of service he was marched to the parts near the enemy's lines and among others to Elizabeth Town and made various other marches the particular parts -- which now many he, cannot detail for want of memory -- again in the month September 1777he was again drafted into the same service at the county of Morris in New Jersey where he then resided, for the term of three months and served out his time, last time mentioned under the same Captain Walter Lewis and Colonel Drake performed various marches at many parts along the enemy's lines and among other parts was at a place called Pluckumin where he was discharged some time the latter part of December 1777at Elizabeth Town in his new home. Again declarant was out in the same service by draft in the Militia of New Jersey in the months of January & Feb. 1778 - But the particulars of the service or the particular officers he cannot recollect -- This declarant during almost the whole of the year 1778 was engaged as a Waggoner transporting provisions to the army. He was at the Monmouth battle, and in great danger there, aided in transporting the wounded American soldiers to quarters, after the battle -- He served in the Militia of New Jersey in the service of the United States in the months of April & May 1779 under Captain Logan of Somerset County in New Jersey, declarant having returned previously to his friend in that county, from the county of Morris, being regularly drafted -- But he cannot name the particulars of this service -- He feels a confusion of ideas as to many particulars on account of the loss of memory and the multuplicity of his services, but that he served as much time & even more than he states above, he is certain --

This declarant was engaged in various skirmishes with the enemy and particularly at Pluckumin a very serious engagement took place between the New Jersey Militia & the British troops where many Americans were killed and many badly wounded he was at Pawls Hook on guard when the American troops returned from Governor's Island -- was with the American troops when the British made an attack on Springfield and expand? to the enemy's fire while engaged in the throwing of a buast? work. The Militia with whom declarant served were attached to no portion of the Continental troops and he knows no particulars officers or regiments of Regulars of that army -- He recollects seeing one of Gen. Lee's aide de camps at Baskingridge about the time Genl. Lee was taken prisoner and of seeing some regiments of Regular troops passing one of the parts where he was stationed. Declarant never had any other than a verbal discharge -- Declarant was born at New Germantown in the County of Huntingdon in the state of New Jersey on the 7th day of December 1753 -- as he has been informed and believes -- he has no record of his age -- Since the Revolutionary war he has resided at Allegheny County in Penna. and in Perry County in the State of Ohio where he now resides and has resided there for 19 years last part -- That during the time stated in this declaration of his being in said service he was engaged in no civil pursuit -- That he has no documentary evidence & that he know of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his said service, that he served as a private in all the tours of duty but one and that then he acted as a Sergeant --

He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or aminity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State. Reference may be had as to the applicants choraster? & to the Reverend Samuel Plenty of said Perry County and to Thom. King of Clayton Township in the same county

John Melick (signature)

Sworn & subscribed to the day and year first aforesaid ~
John Beckwith, Clk.
C. C. P. P. C. O.



We Samuel M Beaty, a clergyman of Perry County & State of Ohio and resident therein and Thom. King of the same county & resident therein and in the neighborhood of the above signed John Melick do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Melick Senr. who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 79 years of age, that he is reported & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion --

Samuel M Beaty
Thomas King

Sworn & subscribed the day and year aforesaid ~
John Beckwith C.C. P. P. C. O.



Pg. 4

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after ???????
the interrogators prescribed by the war Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states & the court further certifies, that it appears to them that (blank) who has signed the above certificate is a clergyman of Perry County in Ohio & that (blank) who has also signed the same is a resident of Madison Township in the same county & is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit -- And the said court do further certify that the following interrogations were put to said applicant and that he on his said oath made the corresponding answers to the same, viz.

1st Interrogatory -- Where and in what place were you born?

Answer - In the county of Huntington in the State of New Jersey on the 7th December 1753.

2nd Interrogatory -- Have you any record of your age, is so where is it?

Answer - He has no record of his age, but learns it from his parents, believes it to be 79 years on the 7th of December 1832 --

3rd Interrogatory -- Where were you living when called into the service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?

Answer -- At Somerset County in New Jersey until the year 1(left blank) from there in County in (blank) until 1(blank) from there until the present time in Madison Township in Perry County in Ohio, where he now lives --

4th Interrogatory -- How were you called into the service? Were you drafted? Did you volunteer? Or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?

Answer -- He was drafted into service, he never volunteered, & was never a substitute.

5th Interrogatory – State the names of some of the Regular officers, who were with the troops when you served, such continental regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.

Answer – The Militia troops to which he was attached served separate from the Continental troops – he had no opportunity to know and did not ????????????? with the officers & regiments in the continental establishment – he saw an officer at Baskingridge said to be one of Gen. Lee’s aide de camps – and some Continental troops passing the parts where he was stationed

6th Interrogatory -- Did you ever receive a discharge from the service & if so by whom was it given, and what has become of it?

Answer – He never received any other than a verbal discharge.

7th Interrogatory – State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution?

Answer – the Reverend Samuel Beatty of said Perry County, and Thomas King of Clayton Township in the same county –

I John Beckwith Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Perry County and the State of Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings, except the declaration heretofore made by said applicant thereto attached, of the said court in the matter of the application of John Melick Senr. For a pension – In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and seal of office this (blank) day of November A. D. 1833

John Beckwith Clerk

JOHN MELICK’S DECLARATION



Pg. 5

War Department,
Pension Office,
15th June ~ 1833

Sir:

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist , which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A STATEMENT, showing the service of John Melick Perry Co., Ohio

Period when the Duration of the Names and ranks of the Age at present, Proof by which
service was rendered claimant’s service Field officers under whom and place of abode the declarant
he served. When he entered the is supported
service


1775 ---- 3 months --- Capt. William Logan, 78 years Traditionary
Col. Stephen Hunt Somerset, N. J.

1776 ----- 1 year --- Same Captain
Col. Taylor

1777 ---- 1 year --- Capt. Lewis
Col. Drake


I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions

The applicant should enter more into detail – It was not customary for the New Jersey Militia to be called out for one year service at a draft – it was generally in terms of one & 3 & 4 months, and generally monthly – that is – every other month



Pg. 6

INCREASE

OHIO

Mary Melick, widow of John Melick NJ
Who served in the Revolutionary war as a Private

CLEVELAND

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of $96 dollars 00 cents per annum, to commence on the 3rd February, 1853 ??? payments
27th July 1868 made once


Certificate of Pension issued 21st day of Nov. 1868
And sent to Mile B Stevens
Cleveland,
Ohio


Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3rd, 1853, Page 160 Vol. H No. 2
July 27th, 1868
J. N. Smith

Date of Widows death not in AB.


Pg. 7

State of Ohio Perry County
On this first day of September personally appeared in open court it being a court of record be fore me William M Brown Judge of the Probate Court for said County Mary Melick a resident of Perry County Ohio aged sixty-two years who being duly sworn according to the law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed February 3rd, 1853 that she is the widow of John Melick who was a revolutionary pension (clearly he means veteran) who drew a pension of eighty dollars at the Pittsburg Agency that the said John Melick at the time of drawing said pension was a resident of Perry County Ohio. She further declares that she was married to the said John Melick on the 29th day of May A. D. 1828 that her husband the said John Melick died on the tenth day of May 1834 that she was married to him at the time above stated. She further swears that she was a widow at the passage of the act and is still a widow and that she has never before made application for a pension.

Mary Melick (her mark)

Sworn to and subscribed in open court on the day and year above written

William M Brown
Probate Judge

I William M Brown Judge of the Probate Court



Vol. M 2-8

197417 Act & Mar?????
August ????

Mary Melick Widow
John Melick Pvt.

Pensioner – Ohio

Feby ’53 – 3113

????????????????????????? (illegible)

D. P. Olive
Sego,
Perry Co.,
OH

No. 33770 of July ??????



This is to certify that on the 29th day of May 1828 I joined in marriage John Melick and Mary Oyster. May 30th 1828.
E. Richman D. M. E. C.

The State of Ohio
Perry County S. S.

I William M. Brown Judge of the Probate Court in and for said county hereby certify that the above certificate of the Reverend E. Richman is truly copied from the record of marriage in my office and I further certify that the said Reverend E. Richman was at the time of Solemnizing said marriage and making said certificate a Minister of the Gospel of the denomination usually called Protestant Methodist and duly licensed to Solemnize marriages.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of said county Sarnesiset? This 21st day of November
A. D. 1853.

William M. Brown
Probate Judge