Patrick MCELYEA S2789 West Tenn. #31327 $20/year issued 18 Jan. 1838.
7 Oct. 1834 Jackson County Ala. Patrick MCELYEA aged 83 states he was born in York County, Pa., in 1751. He had a Bible record bit it was lost when his house burned. He enlisted on 10 of Jan. 1776 as a volunteer private under Capt. John MOORE (nad?) Col. William MOORE. At that time he was a resident of Caswell County, N.C. While serving he marched around the Hillsborough area in search of Tories. He served for two months and 10 days. He enlisted again in 1776 under Col. RAMSEY, Col. MOORE, and Capt. HUBBART. After serving two months and ten days he he was discharged. Before his next enlistment he relocated in Washington County Va., where he lived for a short time before moving o Montgomery County, Va. He entered the service as a private for the third time in the spring of 1779 under Col. auther CAMPBELL and Capt. Willliam EDMONSON and after serving 21 days was discharged. He enlisted a forth time on 5 Feb. 1781 under Col. PRESTON and Capt. James NORWELL and was in the battle of the Alamance near Guilford Court House. During the battle he lost his horse saddle and bridle. After leaving Montgomery County, Va., he lived in Surry County, N.C., Grayson County, Va, Carter County, Tenn., Montgomery, Tenn., Davidson County, Tenn., Dickson County, Tenn., and for the past nine years in Jackson County, Ala. Neighbors in the area who can vouch for him are Armstrong DONALDSON, Jacob VANSANT, A.M. SELF, Lewis CLARK and Brnatley WRIGHT. Clergyman John WILLIAMS and W.P. ROBERTSON vouch for MCELYEA.
11 Aug. 1835 Larkin’s Ford, Jackson County, Ala. Patrick MCELYEA To Pension Office (apparently in his own hand). Explains that he did not return his original application because the new one was drawn from it and was more explicit regarding length of (his) service. The same thing was done by Lewis CLARK of his neighborhood who was then granted a pension. Note: The original application mentioned here does not appear in the file.
21 May 1836 Jackson County, Ala. Patrick MCELYEA to Pension Office. He explains that the office has erred in rejecting his application on grounds that he served in the battle at Almance. There were two Battles by the same name. At the time of Gov. TRYON’s battle with the regulators, MCELYEA’s father and family, including Patrick, were moving from Pennsylvania to Carolina. They met with several regulators getting away as they moved. The battle in which MCELYEA fought was about 3 miles from the How River and was fought with part of CORNWALLIS’ forces, commanded by TARLTON lay near O’NEAL’s plantation and the Americans aimed to surround him early in the morning but were betrayed by a Tory named James CARR, and TARLTON changed his position. Fighting insued for about three miles along the road but the Americans had eventually to retreat. Four prisoners were taken; HOLT, the British Commissary and his brother, and and two Britons. The TRYON battle was fought 8 or 10 miles from the later one. MCELYEA mustered for two years at Hillsborough under Col. FANNING who commanded under TRYON before the war. MCELYEA states he has recently moved some distance from the post office.
20 Sept. 1837 Franklin County MCELYEA states he entered the service in Jan. 1781 under Capt. James MAXWELL and Col. PRESTON, and fought at the battle of Alamance Creek near the line of Orange County, N.C., in March 1781. He previously lived in Jackson County, Ala., but has removed to this place.
28 Sept. 1837 Salem, Tenn. John R. PATRICK J.P. of Franklin County, to Pension Office. Pleads the case of MCELYEA, whose explanation of the battle of Alamance is enclosed. “The old man is very poor and almost unable to get about. He lives six miles from here and it was as much as he could do to get here and make is further declaration…”
9 Dec. 1837 Franklin County John R. PATRICK to Pension Office. Enclosed an additional declaration of Patrick MCELYEA. Hopes office will decide in the affiant’s favor as he is not long for this world and is dependant upon a son who is poor and has a large family and small children. 4 Sept. 4 1841 A notation in the file indicates that the pension was paid at least through this date.