596327

[3162.ftw]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #3162, Date of Import: Dec 5, 1998]

REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION
W8480 BLW 2683 - 160 - 55

( a paraphrased account of Fauntley Muse's deposition for his Pension Application)

On the 23rd of October, 1832, personally appeared before the Court, Fauntley Muse, a resident of Allegheny County, aged 75, who makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed 7 June 1832.
Fauntleroy Muse attests that he was born 17 Jan.1757 in the vicinity of Winchester in the state of Virginia. The family record of his birth was lost in a flight from the Indians, but he himself made a memorandum of the event which he yet holds.
At the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, Fauntleywas residing about 16 miles from Pittsburg and took an early and decided part in the American cause. He and others much feared the depredations of the Indians under the control of such folks as the Girty boys ( Simon is the most famous ), and they answered a call of the Committee of Safety in 1776 , becoming part of the company of George Beard, which marched into Pittsburg in 1776 to answer the need for men. This troop consisted of about 40 men. They weren't defeated, more like a stand-off. The number of Indians they killed wasn't sufficient onough to reduce the numbers that were to attack them later.
In the fall of 1777, another call for volunteers came out at Pittsburgh. Again Fauntleroy answered. This force consisted of volunteers from various parts of the county and numbered about 490 men. With this corps, Fauntley served about 2 months and did not feel his outfit had great success. Unexpected high water kept them from achieving their goal of destroying the Indians just west of Pittsburgh and, although the unit destroyed an Indian town on the Mahoning River, no real victory was won.
In 1779, once again volunteers were called. This time they were needed at Fort Laurens on the Tuscarora River which was under siege by combined forces of Indian tribes. About 80 volunteers proceeded to relieve the fort, but before they could get there the fort had fallen--the defenders captured or killed -- and had been abandoned.
As a result of the Fort Laurens campaign, the next militia call was eagerly met. Under the command of James Smith, a force of 500 was eagerly gathered, and this force destroyed the Indian town abov eFort Venango on French Creek. Fauntley served 2 months in this campaign.
Then in the spring of 1780, the Indians became troublesome and spread alarm throughout the area. Again Fauntley went to war. This time his outfit chased the Indians across the Allegheny and inflicted severe defeat upon them. In this campaign, Fauntley was away from home for 3 months.

1776 1 month Private Capt. Geo.Beard Col.-- PA
1777 fall 2 months Private Capt.John Reed Col. Crawford
1779 March 1 month Private Capt. Wm. Ino Col. John Gibson
1779 Fall 5 months Private Capt. Thomas Moore Col. Davis
1780 2 months Private Capt.Morton Col. James Smith
1780 3 months Private Capt Morton Col. --
1781 Spring 6 months Private Capt. John Shaver Col. --

application for pension dated 23 Oct 1832 approved widow 8480