Contributed by Joe Brian O’Connor,
Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson of John Gilkey
State of Kentucky
County of Caldwell
On This 8th day of September A.D. One Thousand, eight hundred and fifty one, Personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace, within and for the County and State aforesaid John Gilkey aged 56 years, a resident of Caldwell County, in the State of Kentucky, who being duly sworn according to law, declares, that he is the identical John Gilkey, who was a private in the company commanded by Captain John C. Dodds, in the 14th Regiment of Kentucky militia, commanded by Col. Parker, in the war with Great Britain, declared by the United States on the 18th day of June 1812; that he substituted for one John F. Allgee, on or about the day of __ 1814 and continued in actual service in the said war for the term of six months and was honorably discharged at Princeton, in the State of Kentucky on or about April or May 1815. As will appear by the Muster Rolls of said Company. He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he may be entitled under the act granting bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States
John Gilkey
Sworn to and subscribed before me, the day and year above written, and I hereby certify, that I believe the said John Gilkey to be the identical man, who served as aforesaid, and that he is of the age above stated.
M, A, Rucker JPcc
State of Kentucky
Caldwell County
I, James C. Weller, clerk of the Caldwell County Court, hereby certify, that M.A. Rucker, whose name appears to the within and foregoing certificate, is now, and was at the time of signing the same, a Justice of the peace within and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and the signature purporting to be his, is genuine.
In Testimony where of I hereto set my name, and office my official Seal, at office, this 8th day of September 1851, and in the 60th year of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
James C. Weller clk:
State of Kentucky
County of Caldwell
On this 25th day of July A.D. 1855, personally appeared before me John A. Turner, sole and presiding Judge of the Caldwell County Court in said state John Gilkey, aged 59 years past, a resident of Caldwell County in the state aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law, declares, that he is the identical John Gilkey, who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain John C. Dodds, in the 14th Regiment of Kentucky militia, commanded by Col. Samuel Parker, in the war with Great Britain, declared by the United States on the 18th day of June 1812, for the term of six months, and that he continued in actual service in said war for more than 14 days; that he has made application for bounty land under the act of September 28th 1850 and received a land warrant No.- for Eighty acres, which he has since legally disposed of, and which he cannot now return. He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the additional bounty land, to which he may be entitled under the Act, approved March 3rd, 1855. He also declares, that he has never applied for nor received, under this or any other Act of Congress, any bounty land Warrant, except the one above mentioned.
John Gilkey
We, Milton Dudley and Morton A. Rucker, residents of Caldwell County in the State of Kentucky, upon our oaths, declare that the foregoing declaration, was signed and acknowledged by John Gilkey in our presence, and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that he is identical person he represents himself to be.
M Dudley
M, A, Rucker
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to, and subscribed before me, on the day and year above written: and I certify, that I know the affiants to be credible persons, that the claimant is the person, he represents himself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim
J. Newt Turner P.J.c.c.c.
State of Kentucky
Caldwell County
I James C. Weller, clk of the Caldwell County Court, hereby certify, that J Newt. Turner whose name appears to the above and foregoing certificate, is now, and was at the time of signing the same, sole and presiding Judge of the Caldwell County Court, duly elected, commissioned and qualified to administer oaths as such, and the signature purporting to be his, is genuine; and I further certify that I know John Gilkey the applicant to be the identical person he represents himself to be, as I drew his former declaration upon which he drew a land warrant for 80 acres, and I have no interest in this claim
In Testimony whereof, I hereto set my hand,
And the seal of said Court, at office
In Princeton, this 25th day of July 1855
James C. Weller clk=
WAR OF 1812
DECLARATION OF SOLDIER FOR PENSION
State of Texas
County of Hood
On this Sixth day of May A.D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy one, personally appeared before me, A G Mccamants clerk of the District Court of Hood County a Court of Record within and for the county and State aforesaid, John Gilka, aged Seventy Six years, a resident of Roburxy, County of Hood State of Texas, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is married; that his wife’s name was Harriet A Woodall, to whom he was married at House of Henry Lane, Caldwell County, Kentucky on the 14th day of December, 1837; that he served the whole period of sixty days in the (1) military service of the United States in the war of 1812; that he is the identical John Gilka who(2) was drafted in Captain Dood or Doods company, fourteenth regiment, he was mustered into service one or about the 30th day of November, 1814, and was honorably discharged at ?ville Logan County Ky on or about 20th day of May, 1815; that (3) he was under General Adair Lanena near New Orleans on the 4th day of January 1815 and participated in the Great Battle of the 8th of Jany, 1815 that his discharge is lost. He served under Major Hanson, Col. Parker. Thinks his Capt. Given name was John, that he, at no time during the late rebellion against authority of the United States, adhered to the cause of the enemies of the Government, giving them aid or comfort, or exercised the functions of any office whatever under any authority, or pretended authority, in hostility to the United States; and that he will support the Constitution of the United States; that he is not in receipt of a pension under any previous act; that he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States, under the provision of the act approved February 14, 1871, and he hereby constitutes and appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, Samuel V. Niles of Washington DC his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his claim and obtain the pension certificate that may be issued; that his post office is at Granbury County of Hood State of Texas; that his domicile or place of abode is on Paluxy Creek.
| Attest: | His Mark: | |
| Gideon Mills | John X Gilka | |
| J.S. Southerland |
Also, personally appeared Gideon Mills Resident Citizen of Hood County and J S Southerland Resident Citizen of Hood County, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say: they were present and saw John Gilka, the claimant, sign his name (or make his mark) to the forgoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with him, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; that at no time during the late rebellion against the authority of the United States did he adhere to the cause of the enemies of the Government, giving them aid or comfort; and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.
Gideon Mills
J. S. Southerland
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this fifth day of May A.D. 1871 and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, &c., were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing, including the words (none), erased, and the words (none) added; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.
AG McCamant clerk
Dist Ct H Co Texas
By R E McCamant Deputy
WAR OF 1812
ACT FEBRUARY 14, 1871
BRIEF OF CLAIM FOR A SURVIVOR’S PENSION
In the case of John Gilka, a Private of Captain Jno C Dood’s company Ky. Militia, Residence Hood Co Texas, Post Office Address: Granbury, Hood Co Texas, Enlisted Nov 20, 1814, discharged May 20, 1815. Declaration and identification in due form, filed June 20, 1871. Service for sixty days, shown as follows: Report of Third Auditor show that John Gilkey served Capt John C Dodd’s Ky. Militia, from Nov 20, 1814 to May 20, 1815. Length of service 182 days. Claimant declares he is not a pensioner under any previous act (check). Name not on list of pensioners (check). Loyalty, claimant’s avertment and testimony of, Gideon Mills and JS Southerland, Credibility of witnesses certified to by J.F. Null PM Granbury. Oath to support the Constitution of the United States subscribed (check). Admitted Feby 6, 1872, to a pension of eight dollars per month, from February 14, 1871. Sam’l V Niles, Washington Dc H.B. King., Ex’r. App’d A.W. Furcher?, Reviewer.
The State of Texas
County of Hood
I C.?C.? Farmwall? Post Master at Granbury in the county and state aforesaid, after careful investigation, do certify that Gideon Mills and J.S. Southerland who testify to the loyalty of Jno Gilka a soldier in the war of 1812 are men of good and respectable standing and that their testimony is intitled to full faith and credit given under my hand at Granbury this the 25th January 1872 C C Formwalt P. Master
The State of Texas
County of Hood
I A S McCamant clerk of the district court of Hood County state aforesaid do certify that C C Formwalt is the post master at Granbury and that the affiants Mills and Southerland are men of respectability and good standing given under my hand and Seal of Office 25th January 1872
The State of Texas
County of Hood
Before me J. R.? Morris clerk of the county court in and for the county and state aforesaid personally appeared on this the fifth day of March 1877 John Gilka a citizen of the county and state aforesaid who being? By me duly sworn according to law declares that he is the identical John Gilka who is at this time enrolled as a United States pensioner by virtue of Pension certificate no 12859, war of 1812. He further avers on oath as aforesaid that on his way from his home to New Orleans in the latter part of the year 1814. He had a severe attack of sore eyes that after the battle of the 8th of January 1815 he was before leaving for home severely attacked with what was then called Head Pluresy which again affected his eyes so that he was not able to attend roll call or to do any other military duty whatever. He further says on oath that he was then about twenty years old that his eyes was so seriously affected that at the age of thirty years he was compelled to use spectacles to transact any business of importance and that his eyes was slowly going out till some fourteen years back he became entirely blind. He further declares that he has not heretofore made application for ine??? Of pension or did not apply at the time he applied for pension as a blind man from the fact that he did not know that a difference was made in pensioners. He makes this application to obtain such ine???? Or additional bounty as he may be legally intitled to under the law of the United States.
Sworn and Subscribed before me this the 5th day of March ad 1877
| Witness | His Mark: | |
| Gideon Mills | John X Gilka | |
| Saml Adams |
Also personally appeared before me on this the 5th day of March 1877 Willaim Adams and James O Grits citizens of the county and state aforesaid who I certify to be respectable and intitled to credit who after being duly sworn say that they have been personally aquatinted with the above named applicant Jno Gilka Twenty four years that so far as they have known him he has been most of the time blind and that they fully believe from long acquaintance that he has stated his case truthfully
Jno. H. Traylor
William Adams
Henry Roberts
James O Crites (his X mark)
John Gilkey died 5 February 1878 as stated in his pension papers.
Joe Brian O’Connor
68 Whalepond Road
Oakhurst, New Jersey 07755-1268
Phone 732-222-1418