Petition of Robert Connelly

Item

Type

Copy of Signed Document

Title

Petition of Robert Connelly

Description

Responding to the claim of Robert Connelly that he deserves a pension because he was blinded during his period of service to the United States, Knox refuses the claim observing that there is no evidence that his blindness occurred while he was serving his country.

year created

1791

month created

02

day created

25

author

in image

note

Enclosed in Knox, 03/14/1794.

notable person/group

Henry Knox
John Stagg
Robert Connelly
prisoner
British troops
Secretary of War
unfortunate blind man

notable location

Canada
New York

notable item/thing

commencement of the late war
hardships he suffered in Canada
prison
pension list of the United States
investigation of this claim
his blindness

notable phrase

It is by no means proved or is it probable that his blindness in 1787 arose from the hardships of 1775 but that it might have arisen from a variety of causes after he left the service.

document number

1791022500101

page start

4

transcription

Copy of the Report of the Secretary of
War of the 25th of February 1791, on the pe-
tition of Robert Connelly.
That Robert Connelly states,
64.
That he entered the service at the commencencement of the late War__That he served in Canada, and afterwards of New York__that he was taken prisoner on the 16th day of September 1776, the day the British troops entered the said City__that from the hardships he suffered in Canada, and more particularly in prison, he is totally blind__he therefore prays a pension.
It appears on investigation of this claim, and by the acknowledgement of the Petitioner, that he was discharged the service about the month of May 1776; that he remained in New York, when the British Troops took that city_that after some time, they put him into prison_that finally he fell blind in 1787.
The Secretary of War, deploring the situation of this unfortunate blind man, was desirous of finding some just principle, whereon to ground a favorable report.
But it is by no means proved, or is it probable that his blindness in 1787 arose from the hardships of 1775, or until May, 1776, the time of his discharge; but
65.
that it might have arisen from a variety of causes after he left the service_and that therefore, he has no well founded claim, to be placed on the pension list of the United States.
True copy from the records of the War Office.
Jn. Stagg Junr. Chf. Clk.
March 14th 1794.

Item sets

Document instances

In image In source Location in source
[view document] (6 pages) NMO15 (6 pages) Collection: Transcribed Reports and Communications Transmitted by the Executive Branch to the Senate, 1789-1819. (RG46) (M1257, rolls 1-3) M1257, rolls 1-3

Document names

Type Name Location Notes
Author Henry Knox [unknown] [n/a]