The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: PA
Qualifying Service: Private / Patriotic Service
Author: Robert Patrick Moore
My great, great, great, great Grandfather, John McElnay (also spelled McNay) was born on July 11, 1752, in York, Pennsylvania, his father, John, was 39 and his mother, Mary, was 22. He served in the American Revolution in Captain Philip Albright's Company (Lt William McPherson’s unit) of the First Regiment of Riflemen, commanded by Colonel Samuel Miles. While under Lt McPherson’s command in August 1776, Private John McElnay marched to New York and took ferries to Long Island for battle in which they were defeated. Troops scattered to the swamp and he climbed a bushy tree Tuesday through Thursday and then tried to escape and got caught. While prisoner, they took his money and rifle and put him on a man-of-war in leg irons. Treated badly for 14 weeks and he was then transferred to a French Church and saw Lt McPherson, also a prisoner. John McElnay was released in Feb 1777 and returned home in Liberty, York County (now Adams County), in Pennsylvania. He married Hannah Brown on May 20, 1778, in his hometown. They had ten children in 17 years. He died on November 21, 1841, in Adams, Pennsylvania, having lived a long life of 89 years, and was buried in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
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