Pension
of Michael McClary
W17115 Cont. &
N.H. Service
November 15, 1836 Sarah McClary of Epsom, Merrimack County,
New Hampshire, eighty-one years of age, deposed:
that she is the widow of Michael McClary, late of Epsom, N.H.,
who was a Captain in the Revolutionary War;
that soon after the battle of Lexington, in 1775, her husband
"raised a number of men and marched to Boston; was in the
battle of Bunker Hill where his uncle, Major ANDREW MC CLARY,
was killed;"
that January 1, 1776, he was appointed First Lieutenant in the
Fifth regiment of foot commanded by Col. John Stark, and was
afterwards made a Captain,
that her husband continued to serve as Captain until the spring
or summer of 1779 when he resigned on account of ill health
"but with fixed determination of returning to the service
should his health be restored;" that his health had been
declining for some time previous to their marriage;
that during his service, her husband was at the capture of Burgoyne,
and she believes at most of the battles fought in the Northern
and Middle states;
that she was married at North Hampton, N.H., by Rev. David Macclure,
then Pastor of the church there, October 1, 1778, her maiden
name being Sally Dearborn; and lived with her father in North
Hampton while her husband continued in service; but when he
resigned, she immediately moved to Epsom, the place of her husband's
residence, which was July 14, 1779;
and that her husband died March 27, 1824.
Sarah
McClary.
November 15, 1836
Josiah Sanborn of Epsom, N.H., seventy-three years of age, testified
that he lived in Epsom during the Revolutionary war and at that
time was "well acquainted with the late Gen. Michael McClary
of Epsom;" knew that he went to Boston in 1775 as a Ensign;
served seven or eight months; then enlisted for a year; and
then was employed to enlist men for three years for the war;
that he was in the expedition to Canada; was at the Surrender
of Burgoyne; then joined Washington's army and was at the Battle
of Monmouth, etc.
Josiah
Sanborn.
October 20, 1834
Rev. Jonathan French of North Hampton, N.H., testified the records
of marriages, solemnized by his "precessors in the ministry
in this place, commencing in the year 1767" are in his
possession; and that he finds among them in the handwriting
of Rev. David Macclure, the following:
1778, October 1,
Michael McClary of Epsom and Sally Dearborn of North Hampton.
Jona.
French, Pastor of the Church in North Hampton, N.H.
November 5, 1836 DAN WOODMAN of Rockingham County, N.H., eight-eight
years of age, testified that he joined the army under Gen. Gates
at Bemis Heights in 1777 and McClary was there then; remained
with the army except for a furlough, until the summer of 1779.
His
Mark
(The commission
of Michael McClary as First Lieutenant in Col. John Stark's
Fifth regiment of foot, signed John Hancock, President, dated
January 1, 1776, is on file in the Department. BMD.)
Claim allowed and
Certificate 582, Concord, N.H. Agency, was issued March 11,
1837, Act of July 4, 1836, Section 3.
(Only Revolutionary Pensioner, named Michael McClary under any
spelling of the name from any state.
From memorandum on file it appears that Sarah McClary, eighty-four,
was living in 1840 at Epsom, N.H., with Jonathan Steele. BMD.)