Revolutionary War Pension: Widow of David McKNIGHT (1838-9) Cumberland Co., PA

Contributed by: Helen (billmc@pickens.net)

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Revolutionary War Pension Application #W10215
Eleanor Maclay McKnight, widow of David McKnight,
Who was Lt in PA Line for 2 years

[I ordered this application in 1971 from General Services Administration NARS. 
Noted on the order form was “Blwt 1439-200”. I did not order the Bounty land 
warrant as this is NOT our David McKnight (1755NC-1809TN) who married Eleanor 
Lewis.]

[1st page]

966
Indiana Madison
Eleanor McKnight, widow of David McKnight who was a Lieutenant in the Penn. Line 
Pa for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 320 Dollars ____cents per annum, to 
commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of July, 1843 and sent to J McKnight, 
Rising Sun, Indiana
Act of March 3, 1843. Recorded in Book A, vol. 1, Page 179.

[Next in the file is a 4-page handwritten Bible Record, which I posted under 
“Bible” on GenConnect, Cumberland Co. PA, 21 March 2000.]

[Page 2 of application]
State of Indiana
County of Dearborn
On this Twenty Eighth day of August 1838 personally appeared before me one of 
the Judges of Circuit (“of Common Pleas” marked out) court in and for the County 
of Dearborn and State aforesaid Eleanor McKnight aged Seventy years a resident 
of Rising Sun in the County and State aforesaid who being duly affirmed 
according to Law doth on her solemn affirmation make the following declaration 
in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress 
passed July 7th 1838 entitled an act granting (__?) pay and pension to certain 
widows. That she is the Widow of Lieut David McKnight who was a Lieut in the 
fifth Pennsylvania Regiment and served until the end of the war. She further 
declares that she was married to the said David McKnight on the Eighteenth day 
of November in the year Seventeen Hundred and Ninety and that her husband the 
aforesaid David McKnight died on the Thirteenth day of May in the year Eighteen 
Hundred and Twenty one and that she has remained his widow ever since the period 
of his death as will more fully appear by reference to proof hereto annexed and 
that she was not married to her husband prior to his leaving the service but 
that she was married previous to the year 1794 viz at the time above stated. She 
further saith that she makes this declaration before me a Judge of the Court on 
account of her inability to appear in open Court and I the said Judge do certify 
that the above named declarant is not able to appear in open court on account of 
her bodily infirmity.
Eleanor McKnight
Affirmed and subscribed before me the day and year above written.
John Livingston

[Next page]
State of Indiana
Dearborn County
I Aleseander U Dill Clerk pro tem of the Dearborn circuit court, do certify that 
John Livingston before whom the written instrument or affadavit was Sworn to and 
Subscribed by Eleanor McKnight and who has certified the same was at the date 
thereof and now is one of the (apporiate?) Judges of the Dearborn circuit court 
and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts as such 
(apporiate?) Judg and I further certify the foregoing Signature to be genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of our said court 28 day 
of August 1838.
Aleser U Dill, clerk pro tem

[Next page]
State of Pennsylvania
Cumberland County
On this ninth day of March, One thousand Eight hundred and thirty nine, before 
me the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County, personally 
appeared Mr Samuel Maclay, aged Seventy (two?) years, who being first duly sworn 
according to law, doth on his solemn oath depose and say that he is well 
acquainted with Mrs Eleanor McKnight, named in the annexed declaration, that her 
maiden name was Maclay, and that he this deponent was present and witnessed the 
marriage ceremony of the said Eleanor McKnight with Lieutenant David McKnight. 
That it was duly solemnized by the Revd Doctor Lang on the Eighteenth day of 
November, One thousand Seven hundred and ninety, at the house of Mr John Maclay 
in the presence of a [“large”marked through] number of witnesses – And that the 
said John Maclay lived at that time in Franklin County, Pennsylvania – Deponent 
further saith that the said David McKnight and the said Eleanor his wife lived 
together from the time they were married until the decease of the said David 
McKnight, and had Several Children, and that the said David McKnight was reputed 
and believed to have been a good and faithful Revolutionary officer by all who 
knew him, as deponent believes, and that he the said Lieutenant David McKnight 
died in the year Eighteen hundred and twenty one. And that she the said Eleanor 
McKnight has remained the widow of the said David McKnight ever since her 
husband’s decease. All of which Deponent believes.
Samuel Maclay
Sworn and Subscribed the 9th March 1839
Coram
Jacob Sniders

State of Pennsylvania
Cumberland county
I George Sanderson Prothonotary of the court of common Pleas of Cumberland 
County Do certify that Jacob Snider is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for 
Cumberland County in the State aforesaid to all whom act in that capacity due 
faith and credit are and of right ought to be given throughout the United States 
& elsewhere & that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine. In 
testimony wherof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said office 
at Carlisle this 11th day of March 1839.
Geo. Sanderson, Prothy

[Same page, but upside down]
State of Pennsylvania
Cumberland County
I do hereby certify that I am personally and well acquainted with Mr. Samuel 
Maclay, the within named deponent, and that he is a highly respectable gentleman 
and entitled to full faith and credit as a witness.

Jacob Sniders

A Justice of the peace
Shippensburg, Pa
March 9th 1839