Robert Moseley’s Revolutionary War Service: 52 Ancestors 2025 Prompt “Military”

 

Lt. Moseley’s Military Service Qualified Him for a Pension

Robert Moseley: 1749-1820 (Maternal Fifth-Great-Grandfather)

 

Military service in the Revolutionary War qualified men for pensions in the 1800s. Those pension applications and records provide essential evidence of the soldier’s service in an era where records were handwritten and often hard to maintain and now nearly impossible to find. Fifth-great-grandfather Robert Moseley’s pension records help to verify that the man who lived in Kentucky in the 1800s was the man who fought in Pennsylvania’s 8^th Regiment from 1776 until 1777, rising to the rank of Lieutenant.

Robert Moseley’s parentage and birth location are a matter of some contention, but he appears to have been born in St. Mary’s County in the Maryland Colony as early as 1749 and possibly as late as 1752. The birth date I feel is most accurate is February 15, 1749. His father was also named Robert Moseley, and was married three times. Son Robert’s mother was probably Robert Senior’s second wife, whose name is unknown.

While Robert was still young, his father moved to Prince William County, Virginia, and married his third wife, the widow of one of his friends, Lucy Peake. Lucy was the mother of several children, including Sarah Peake. Robert married Sarah, his step-sister, in 1776, around the same time that he enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment to fight the British. Some family trees indicate that the marriage took place in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, but I have found no records to confirm this.

It is unclear why Robert enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment. A Virginia regiment would have seemed more likely. Was he living on his father’s land in Maryland at the time? Even if he was, the Pennsylvania state line is nearly 130 miles further north. Perhaps family members or friends had connections to the man forming the regiment, leading Robert to travel far from home to fight for independence.

Record showing Robert Moseley's pension records, including date approved, amount per annum, amount paid, and the dates the pension started and ended.

Another researcher transcribed Robert’s military pension application, which detailed his service. Robert wrote, signed and swore to the following account on May 11, 1818:

“Robert Moseley Sen states to the County Court of Ohio that in the year 1776 he joined the Army of United States in the revolutionary war, that he was a Lieutenant in the 8th pennsylvania regiment in Capt Van Swearingen’s company that he commenced the service in the month of March 1776 and that he continued in the service until May 1777 that when he first entered the service the company to which he belonged was stationed at an old indian town up the Alegheny river he thinks about 25 miles above Pitsburgh called the Cattainian Town(s) where they continued seven months and then marched and Joined the General Army commanded by Genl Washington  he states that the Whole time he was in the Service of the United States was about 14 months that in May 1777 he resigned his commission & left the army he states that he is in his 67th year of age that from his age and infirmity he is unable to labour for his livelihood & that from his reduced circumstances he is need of the pension allowed by Congress at their last session to officers & soldiers that served in the revolutionary war he states that when he resigned he gave up his commission to Genl Washington and that it is not in his power to produce it.”

Handwritten pension record showing approval date

Another researcher noted that Robert had fulfilled his one-year obligation to his unit by the time he left, and was not required to sign up for additional service. He also noted that at the time Robert mustered out in May 1777, his wife was heavily pregnant with their first child. John Peake Moseley was born June 2, 1777, just weeks after his father left the army. Hopefully Robert made it home in time for the birth.

Robert and Sarah Moseley went on to have seven children. Following the deaths of his father and stepmother, Robert moved his family to Kentucky, where he farmed and worked as a surveyor. His home served as the first county court building for Ohio County, Kentucky, indicating that he was an important person in the area.

Robert Moseley on list of Kentucky Revolutionary War Pension Recipients

Robert’s request for a pension was granted in November 1818. Since he served as a lieutenant, he was granted a pension of $240.00 per annum, considerably more than privates received. He was placed on the pension roll February 15, 1819. He only received $126.36 of his pension before it was suspended due to his death. Robert died November 11, 1820 at the age of seventy-one. There are no records of his burial; the location is unknown.

Without the evidence of the pension application and pension payment records, there would have been no way to confirm that Robert Moseley served as a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. His military record could have been lost.

 

Sources:

Pensioners of the Revolutionary War--Struck Off the Roll [database on-line]. Pensioners in Kentucky 1835. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/48145/images/RevPensionersStruck-006087-92?usePUB=true&_phsrc=Acy20015&pId=219482

U.S., The Pension Roll of 1835 for Robert Mosely. The Pension Roll of 1835, Vol ###, 10 Kentucky. Statement of Ohio County, Kentucky. https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60514/records/44471?tid=81812584&pid=262433504723&ssrc=pt

U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1801-1815, 1818-1872. 1718: 1818-1872. Oa: Revolutionary War 1818-1832. https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1116/records/58848?tid=81812584&pid=262433504723&hid=1038459796723&usePUBJs=true