Pension Application of James and Susan White Callaway: W9771
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Missouri}
County of Howard} SS.
On this tenth day of October, 1832. personally appeared before the Honorable David Todd, Judge of the Howard Circuit Court, in the State of Missouri, James Callaway a resident of Howard County Missouri, aforesaid, aged about seventy six years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States, in the year 1777, with Captain Henry Paulding, and served in the Regiment under the Command of Col. John Bowman, of the Virginia State Line, and proceeded under them to Kentucky, for the purpose of defending the frontier settlements, at and near Boonesborough. He remained in the service, under the officers aforesaid, for the term of six months, the period for which he entered the Service, where being stationed between thirty and forty miles from his Captain, and an opportunity offering to reenlist under Captain Daniel Boone (since Col. Boon) he did so, neglecting to take any discharge from his former officer – in fact, not deeming it of any importance in the then condition of the Country. He remained stationed at Boonesborough under C[apt] Boone until about the first of January 1778 when he was detailed, among others, to proceed to the Blue Licks and make salt for our provisions for the garrison. Here he remained employed until about the 8th of February following when the whole party with whom he was were taken ([him] self among the number) by a party of [Shawnee] Indians and taken to their Towns in Ohio (near where Chillicothe now stands) where, after remaining several days in Consultation, it was at last determined to send a portion of the prisoners (himself among the number) to Detroit, which they reached in May. Here, he understood, he was purchased by the British Governor ([Henry] Hamilton) and remained until November following, without having much to do except attend roll-call every Sunday morning. About this time, he was employed by a resident merchant to go on service for him some distance, and being about to depart, was required, before leaving, to take an oath of fidelity to his then Majesty George III. This he peremptorily refused to do, and was therefor instantly put into prison and confined 14 or 15 days, when he was taken out and sent under guard and in Irons to Fort Niagara, where he remained in Irons and guarded about two weeks, and was thence placed on board a ship and transported to Buck Island [possibly Duck Island in Lake Ontario], thence placed on board a boat and sent to Montreal, where he remained about two weeks, and was then placed on board a sloop (tied hand and foot) and sent to Quebec, where he was put in Jail and kept there something like two years, when he was taken out and sent to St. Pauls Bay [Baie-St.-Paul], which he reached in October or November, in the year 1780. He remained here (a prisoner as aforesaid) about twelve months, when he was placed on board a ship and sent around to New York. He was not landed however, but transfered to a “Catel” and transported up the North [Hudson] River, to Dobbs Ferry, between thirty & forty miles above New York where he was either exchanged or parolled – he cannot say which – the only paper he received being a permit from an American officer (whose name he has forgotten) to go home or wherever he pleased. He returned home, to Bedford County in Virginia (the place where he was born in the year 1756, or about that time, as he has no record of his age). It was in this County, also, that he resided, when he entered the Service as aforesaid – and having enlisted in the month of May (as he believes) 1777, and returned on the 24th day of December 1781, he computes the whole period of his service at four years and upwards of Seven months.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any state in the Union.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [signed] James Callaway
State of Missouri}
Carrol [sic: Carroll] County} Sct
On this 12th day of August 1852 personally appeared before me John B. Winfree an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, Flanders Callaway and Ambrose Callaway, ages about 44 and 57 years, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on their oaths make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Acts of Congress passed 7th July 1836, 3rd March 1843, 17th June 1844, 2 Feb 1848. To Wit: that they are the children of Susan Callaway deceased who was the widow of James Callaway, deceased, who was a soldier in the army of the Revolution for a considerable time. That they have often heard their Father say that he was sent in a company of about thirty men from Virginia to guard the frontiers of Kentucky that they think the company was commanded by one Capt. Buford. That the company was subsequently engaged in making salt for the use of the army, at the Blue licks in Kentucky, and that they were there taken prisoners by the Indians, and sent to Quebec and sold to the British, who retained them as prisoners of War for a considerable time, but that they were permited to go about the City and work for themselves, that they were also under guard and made to answer to their names every night. That when they had been there about two years, nine of their number including himself (their aforesaid Father) made their escape and approached a small lake near Quebec, where they found no means of crossing, that they had, therefore, to live[?] in bushes that day, and that a little while before night they saw a man passing, and being afraid that he would see them and make it known they laid hold on him, that they, however, released him he having promised to bring them some provisions and also to tell them where they could get a canoe. That the man brought them some provisions and told them where to get the Canoe. That they went at night and found the Canoe and crossed the lake. That when they got across they were out of provisions, and that on account of their being so near starved Six of the number went back and gave themselves up to the British and told where the remaining three were. That he (their aforesaid Father) and the other two that remained at the lake were thence engaged in catching fish and frogs, and drying them, for some time, they think about thirty days, that they were drying the fish and frogs for a subsistence on their journey. That before they left the lake five Indians and one Frenchman, who were in pursuit of them, came upon them and arrested them and took them back to Quebec, and that the British put them in prison, where they remained until peace was made between the United States and Britain, that they were then exchanged as prisoners of War.
Further saith, that their aforesaid Father and Mother was married about the year 1784, for proof of which they herewith present records of their ages which was a true copy of their Father’s old family record which copy was made out several years ago. That they have one brother more living who is about 67 years old. That they have two sisters living, Viz. Anna who is about 59 years old and Ceney, who is about 41 years old.
That their aforesaid Father died in July 1835 and left their aforesaid Mother his widow who remained a widow until her death, which took place August 1844 and left themselves and their brothers, Charles, Stephen, John and their sisters, Betsey, Aggy, Anna and Ceney, her only living children. That they think their aforesaid Father and Mother were married in Virginia.
They most respectfully ask the Hon Commissioner of Pensions, that their aforesaid claim or claims may be allowed under the aforesaid Acts, and that the Certificate evidencing the same may be enclosed to their Attorney
[signed] Ambrose Callaway [signed] Flanders Callaway
NOTE: On 20 June 1840 Susan Callaway, age 73 years on the previous April 3, applied for a pension stating that she married James Callaway in Bedford County on 13 July 1784, and he died 13 July 1835. In the file is a family record stating that James Callaway married Susan White on 13 July 1784 and listing the names and dates of birth of 11 children.