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In the following pension declaration--pages 4 and 5 (below) from Andrew Dougherty's Revolutionary War Pension file--Andrew Dougherty seeks a pension for service as a militiaman at Fort Linger, Westmoreland Co., PA. He states that he volunteers for service in Apr 1780. He would have been roughly sixteen years old at the time. In May 1780, Andrew, his father, brothers Charles and Robert, and sister not named are captured by Indians. Charles and the sister are killed shortly after; Andrew, his father and Robert taken prisoner and transported to Lake Erie where they were given to British soldiers. They are taken to Montreal where they were kept until August 1782--roughly two years--when they are released, eventually traveling back to the Ligonier Valley. On arrival in October 1782, Andrew again volunteers for the militia. A year later the militia is dismissed and Andrew is discharged.
One page 6 of Andrew's pension file (highlighted), Mathias Fisher, affirms his capture and return. Robert Piper also affirms his capture and return on the latter half of page 6. On page 7, Randall Laughlin, a prothonotary, affirms the depositions of Mathias Fisher and Robert Piper. Page 7 closes with a deposition by William O. Minten? stating that, according to his father Alexander Minten?, "Andrew Dougherty trained at Fort Ligonier," was "a remarkably active young soldier" and that he was "often out on Scouts" with Andrew.
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State of Pennsylvania
Armstrong County
On this eighteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting in and for the County of Armstrong Andrew Dougherty a resident of Allegheny Township County and Sate a aforesaid aged sixty eight years who being first duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That enrolled himself in the militia under Captain Craig in the latter end of April 1780 in Ligonier Valley State of Pennsylvania. Captain Craig was raising a Company to guard the frontier. he told me to hold myself in readiness as he would call on me in a few days to join the company. In May I think on the 10th following My father and brother were taking the horses to pasture when I heard them shouting and looking round. I saw a number of Indians. I took my sister who was about two years old in my arms and ran to the woods. The Indians followed me and shot me through the right arm when running. The Indians the caught me and brought me back to the house where they had me father and brothers Charles and Robert prisoners. There were in all 24 Indians. The Indians then took the whole of us consisting of five (my Mother being from home) towards the Conemaugh river. About midnight they killed my younger brother Robert and my sister and took my father brother Charles and myself over the Conemaugh river and Blacklick - from thence they took us opposite to French creek on the River Allegheny where we crossed then to Mullet? creek (presumably Mill Creek in Erie County, PA) where they kept us 15 to 16 days. (next sentence crossed out). At Mullet? creek We were given to the British, they took us to Lake Erie for that to Niagara. where we remained till the middle of July from that we were taken to Montreal where we we kept until the 14th day of August 1782. and were released. We then started for Ligonier Valley by St. Johns Crown point Ticonderoga ?borough. Albany, Newburg through the Jersies to Easter Pennsylvania and from that to Ligonier valley- where we arrived on the 14th of October 1782. On my arrival at home I immediately enrolled myself again in the militia under Captain George Agur? whose company at that time was stationed at Fort Ligonier. I remained with him and that station until the beginning of October 1783 when the company were dismissed. I never received any discharge nor do I know that any of the company got discharged. He hereby relinquishes his claim to every pension whatever and declares that his name is not on the pension role of the agency of any State.
Interrogatory
(The following questions are from page 2 of the Regulations Under the Act of June 7 , 1832, which can be found on Page 15 of Andrews pension file. Because the questions are critically written in Andrews pension declaration, I have substituted below the actual questions written in the Regulations for clarity
1st (Where and I what years were you born?)
In Bedford county Pennsylvania age 68 years
2. (Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?)
Ans - I have no record of my age but visa information from my brother?
3rd Where where you living when called to service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you live now?)
Ans - I was living in Ligonier valley Westmoreland County and lived in Westmoreland County until about ten years ago - when I moved to Armstrong County where I have lived since
4 (How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?)
I was drafted as stated in my declaration. Never was a substitute
5th State the names of some Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.)
Ans. I can state nothing more that what is in my declaration
6th (Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by who was it given, and what has become of it?
Ans - Never rec’d a discharge
7th (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.
Ans - James E. Brown Robert Robinson Esquire
Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid in open court
F? Rohr es Pro (prothonotary)
his Andrew Dougherty mark X
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Westmoreland County Pa
Before me James McKelvoy one of the Commonwealth Justices of the peace personally came Mathias Fisher who upon his solemn affirmation affirmith & saith that he was personally acquainted with the within named Andrew Dougherty and knew him to be taken prisoner by the Indians in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & eighty on the headwaters of Loyalhanna creek in Ligonier valley & that he did not return to the year 1782—The said Mathias Fisher being an acceptable & creditable witness and seventy five years of age—resided in Ligonier Valley in the Year 1780 & has resided there since—
Affirmed & Subscribed
the Third day of June 1883
before me James McKelvoy
Matthias Fisher
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Westmoreland County Pa
(Seal) Before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in & for said County came Robert Piper, a respectable & creditable witness, who resided in Linger Valley in the year 1780, and has resided there ever since, and is sixty four years of age, and on his solemn oath saith that he was personally acquainted with the within named Andrew Dougherty, and knew him to be taken prisoner by the Indians in or about the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, on the head waters of Loyalhanna Creek, in Ligonier Valley, and that he did not return for more than a year afterwards—and further saith not
Sworn & Subscribed before me
the 4th day of June 1883
John Hill
Robt Piper sn
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State of Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County
I Randall M Laughlin, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Westmoreland in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Do hereby certify that James McKelvoy and John Hill Esquires, before home the preceding affirmation and deposition are made, and subscribed, and whose Signatures inter own proper hand writing, are to the said affirmation and deposition respectively annexed were at the time, and now are, acting Justices of the Peace in and for the said County of Westmoreland, duly con...? and appointed, and to all whose official acts and deeds full faith and credit are of right due.
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court, at Greensburgh, the fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty three 1833
Randall M Laughlin, Prot
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State of Pennsylvania
Armstrong County
Personally appeared in open Court William Minten? who on his solemn oath saith That he is personally acquainted with Andrew Dougherty an applicant for pension - and that deponent often heard his father Alexander Minten say - that the said Andrew Dougherty was trained in Fort Ligonier, and that he was a remarkably active young soldier and deponent further say that he has known the above applicant for upwards of fifty years and that from the statements he has heard of Mr. Dougherty the he believes he was in the Revolutionary War and that his father said, he was often out on Scouts with the applicant - and further saith not -
Sworn and Subscribed
This 19th day of September
AD 1833
F? Rohr es Pro (prothonotary)
William O Minten? his mark X |
Fisher Family Genealogy
