Pension application of James Dannelly (Dannelley) R2657 fn11SC

State of Alabama Covington County February 16th 1856

Dear Sir

I now address you on a subject of which I solicit your attention with a hope that you will patiently examine the contents and excuse the lengthy address which you will have to peruse in order to obtain an idea of my present request. It is in regard to a pension to which I believe my Father James Dannelley is justly entitled for his services in the revolution war. After a thorough examination of this I hope Dear Sir that you will have the kindness to answer my inquiry with a full satisfaction to the same. I will just say to you that my Father James Dannelley agreeable to his statements in his lifetime served as we believe a volunteer for seven years in the revolution. I will state to you that we as heirs wishes to know whether we are entitled to a pension for his services in the war as he never got any in his life. I cannot make any positive proof of his Services, but we can establish proof by several substantial men who knew him that they believe him to be the very man who performed the services of a soldier in the revolution. He often stated in his conversation to us as children that General Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] was one of the officers that he served under and that McCoy was his Captain. He lived near Savannah in Georgia or South Carolina at the time he entered the service. He married directly after the expiration of the war you know that we cannot positively prove his marriage to my mother but as in cases of a similar nature we can prove that they were said and believed to be man and wife. There is no proof on record that I know of. My mother died in 1817 July the 5th. My father then removed from South Carolina Beaufort District to Alabama. He remained a widower until his death which occurred the 26th of February 1833. He was born I believe in August 1750. I could give this correctly as to the day of the month by referring to a family Record that my Brother has in possession. There is three brothers and myself now living two of them in this Country and one in Texas and was living the last accounts we had of him. I know not whether all this is necessary or not but deem it [indecipherable word or words] to state [?] as you may wish to know as much of the history of his life as I am able to give. I am not able to prove any battles he was then but he has often told us of being in battles among which was Brandywine and the Cowpens and others that we do not recollect and he has also told us that sometimes his officers would be changed and he would be placed under the care of others but we do not recollect all these things and have no positive proof. It is for you to consider and give me the desired information. My father never made an application for a pension and he says he never received any pay for his services in the war.

Very respectfully your obt. Sert.
S/ Elisa Stokes

P. S. I Hopes to hear from you soon.

State of Alabama Covington County March 24th 1856

Dear Sir

I must the knowledge that I cannot satisfactorily understand the contents of the printed sheet contained in your enclosure of the 29th of February to me in relation to the evidence that I will have to establish in the declaration to obtain a pension for my Father James Dannelley's services in the revolution. I do not know where to apply for aid and instruction better than yourself. And it is with you Dear Sir, to remove my doubts upon the subject by letting me know whether I will have to satisfy the claim by proof of an eyewitness to his services. Sir this I cannot do nor do I know of a man living that was acquainted with him in the service. All I can do is to produce traditional evidence by persons who knew him after the revolution. I can state the names of officers and men that he served under and was acquainted with in the war as handed down from himself to us. I can easily establish the proof as to the general opinion of his being a soldier in the revolution war by all who knew him, but if this will not do it is useless to make any further attempt in the investigation of the matter. Dear Sir satisfactory instruction will be thankfully received, and if I succeed in obtaining that which I believe to be my just rite, I am more than willing to reward you for all your assistance. Hoping to hear from you soon. I remained very respectfully yours.
S/ Eliza Stokes

[There is no application in this file]