McMahan/McHaney Pension Application

This is the text of a document that has been found and authenticated, that indicates that at least one of the early ancestors used a different name originally than McHaney.  It has also been reported that one living relative had a family bible in excess of 140 years old that indicates that there were several variations of the name during the 1700's before it settled down to the current McHaney spelling.

Andrew McMahan Pension Application
(transcribed from copy of original by Ronald K. McHaney)

District of West Tennessee

On this 9th day of August 1820 personally appeared in open court being the County Court of Record for the County of Wilson in the State of  Tennessee Andrew McMahan, aged 59 years, resident in Wilson County in said district who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as fall (unreadable) in the first Virginia State regiment in a company commanded by Captain Thomas Hamilton, the Regiment commanded by Col. Bigson. He was in the battle at Monmouth, Guilford, Cambden, the Eutaw Springs.

And I Andrew McMahan do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th of March 1818 and have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of the act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval services of the United States in the Revolutionary War passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not (unreadable) my pension in trust for me any property or (unreadable) contracts, or debts due to me (unreadable), nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto answered (unreadable) and by me subscribed. The number of my certificate is 15-802.

Dated the 6th of November 1819

Schedule of property owned by Andrew McMahan

One tract of land containing 250 acres $500
One negroe boy aged 20 or 21 named Dick $300
5 or 6 head of cattle $25
2 head of horses $50
5 sows and some shoats $15
5 sheep $5
One note on Abner Watson $7
2 Cotton wheels $2
1 old still $1

Debts which I owe to others about eighty dollars.

I am at this time blind and have been in that situation about 8 or 9 years. For 6 or 7 years past I have not been able to distinguish any person. My family consists of only our daughter aged about 22 or 23 years old named Polly McMahan, myself, and the above named negroe boy. I never followed any trade, but my occupation was that of a farmer while I could see to attend to that business. At present being blind I have to keep the above named negroe boy constantly by me to attend on me.

Andrew McMahan
(his mark)

Sworn to and declared in open court the date above written.
 

To the honorable J. C. Calhoun, Secretary of War

The declaration of Andrew McMahan sheweth that he enlisted as a soldier in the revolutionary war in King & Queen county in the State of Virginia in a company commanded by Captain William Campbel in the first Virginia State regiment commanded by Col. Gibson in the continental line of said State in the winter of 1776 for the term of three years; that he served the United States as a soldier against the common enemy continually during said three years and at the expiration there was honorably dischared in Alexandria in the State of Virginia by Major Ellison by a discharge in writing which as been lost many years ago; that about the expiration of said three years he again enlisted in Alexandria in the third regiment of horse commanded by Col. George Baylor and by Lieut. Col. William Washington in the Virginia line upon continental establishment for and during the revolutionary War, that he served the United States as a horseman in said Regiment continually during the Revolutionary War and until peace was concluded and on Santee River in North Carolina the regiment was disbanded.

He is about fifty eight years of age, has been nearly blind about ten years and is now so blind that he can not distinguish objects tho he can still distinguish day from night. (Unreadable) has spent a great deal of his property in trying to be cured of his
blindness; his property consists of two mares and a colt, six head of cattle, a few hogs and some household furniture. He has a debt due to him of one hundred and fifty dollars and he owes thirty dollars and some small debts which he cannot ascertain.
He has no land nor slaves but lives with two unmarried daughters on his son's land in Wilson County Tennessee 18 miles S-east of Lebanon; that he knows of no person in Tennessee by whom he can (unreadable) the above services; that he is in
reduced circumstances and stands in need of the aid of his country for his support; he never has received any pension and releases all claim to any except that provided by the act of Congress of 1818 which he now claims.

State of Tennessee to wit:

Personally appeared before me, Thomas Stuart one of the judges of the circuit courts for the State of Tennessee, Andrew McMahan who has made the above declaration and made oath that the facts stated therein are true to the best of his knowledge and belief. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 18th day of August, 1819.

Thomas Stuart
 

State of Tennessee to wit:

This day personally appeared before me, Thomas Stuart one of the Judges of the Circuit court for the State of Tennessee, William McMahan who taketh oath that he is about twenty nine years of age and is son of the above named Andrew
McMahan and ever since he can remember has been informed & believes his father was a soldier in the revolutionary war as above stated; that he has been for many years blind and is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the aid of his
country for his support; that he is acquainted with his property and believes the statements made by him in the above declaration are true. He lives on this (unreadable) land. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 18 day of August, 1819.

Thos. Stuart Wm. McMahan

State of Tennessee to wit:

This day personally appeared before me, Thomas Stuart a judge of the circuit courts for the State of Tennessee, Theophilus W. Short, and made oath that he has known the above named William McMahan who is otherwise called William McHaney about three years; that he is a man well (unreadable) among his neighbors, is a member of the Baptist church and is considered a man of truth & honesty. He knows nothing of Andrew McMahan. Sworn to & subscribed before me this 19th day of August 1819.

Thos. Stuart T. W. Short

State of Tennessee to wit:

This day personally appeared before me, Thomas Stuart a judge of the circuit courts for the State of Tennessee Jefree Hodges aged sixty five years and makes oath that he became acquainted with Andrew McMahan in Pittsylvania County in the State of Virginia immediately after the close of the revolutionary war and has known him ever since. He had been sometime acquainted with said Andrews brothers; they were known by the name of McMahan and said Andrew was also known by the name of McMahan; after some time the name became adulterated and the young generations descended from these brothers were frequently called McHaney, and after some time many of them spelled their name McHaney; but how that alteration happened to take place this affiant does not know. When he first knew said Andrew McMahan he was drest in horseman's uniform and he was informed by said Andrew that he had served seven years in the American Army as a soldier, and he has heard it
spoken of by many people that (unreadable).