Abraham Covalt (1742-1791)

Covalt Pension Timeline

March 27, 1793

Covalt File – Probate

Territory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio
Hamilton County
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Whereas Abraham Covalt late of (?) Township, Hamilton County died intestate … (In 1793, the probate judge granted to the widow, Lois Covalt, the authority to administer the estate. This proves she was his wife, but the pension law required her to prove that she was his wife during Abraham Covalt’s service in the Revolutionary War.)

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June 7, 1832

Pension Act of 1832

The last, and most liberal of the service-pension acts benefiting Revolutionary War veterans, this act (4 Stat. 529) extended to more persons the provisions of the law of May 15, 1828. The act provided that every officer or enlisted man who had served at least two years in the Continental Line or State troops, volunteers or militia, was eligible for a pension of full pay for life. Naval and marine officers and enlisted men were also included. Veterans who had served less than two years, but not less than six months, were eligible for pensions of less than full pay. Neither the act of 1832 nor the one of 1828 required applicants to demonstrate need. Under the act of 1832 money due from the last payment until the date of death of a pensioner could be collected by his widow or by his children.

July 4, 1836

Pension Act of 1836

By an act of Congress approved July 4, 1836 (5 Stat. 128), some widows of Revolutionary War veterans were again permitted, as a class under public law, to apply for pensions. The act provided that the widow of any veteran who had performed service as specified in the pension act of June 7, 1832, was eligible to receive the pension that might have been allowed the veteran under the terms of that act, if the widow had married the veteran before the expiration of his last period of service.

June 8, 1837

Covalt File – Daughter Mary Jones

Symmes Township, Hamilton County, Ohio
Sworn statement of Mary Jones
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She says that Loassa was the widow of Abraham Covalt, and that she (Mary) is his daughter. They lived in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, and Abraham Covalt entered into service in 1778 as captain under Col. Piper, remained five years. He then removed to the Little Miami, Covalt’s Station in Hamilton (county) Ohio in 1790 and was killed by Indians in ’91. He lived with Loassa Covalt, his wife.
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June 8, 1837

Covalt File – Friend David McKinney

Symmes Township, Hamilton County, Ohio
Sworn statement of David McKinney
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50 years ago he knew Abraham Covalt in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Both traveled to Ohio in 1790 and lived on the Little Miami at Covalt’s Station. In 1791 Abraham was killed by Indians. He says that Abraham Covalt was called Captain, and that Abraham and Lois Covalt were husband and wife.
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June 15, 1837

Covalt File – Son Timothy saw the murder

Miami County, Ohio
Timothy Covalt’s sworn statement
He is 71 years old.
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Summary:
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He is the son of Abraham Covalt, who served in the Army of the Revolution under Col. John Piper and Lt. Col. James Martin. Abraham served in and around Bedford County, PA, for five or six years.
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About 1790, Abraham Covalt and his family emigrated to the Northwestern Territory, and settled at a place on the Little Miami that later was called Covalt Station. On March 31, 1791 Abraham Covalt was shot by Indians, scalped and tomahawked. He (Timothy) was about 80 yards away at the time.
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He says Abraham Covalt and Lois Covalt lived as husband and wife 27 or 28 years.
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October 31, 1837

Covalt File – Widow Lois applies for pension

Fountain County, Indiana, Circuit Court
Lois Covalt Davis’ sworn statement
She is 92 years old.
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Summary:
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Married Abraham Covalt 28 Mar 1763, Sussex County, NJ. Abraham Covalt was killed by Indians 30 Mar 1791.  Married David Davis 12 May 1793, he died 14 Apr 1808.  She has been a widow since Davis’ death.  There is no marriage document for her first marriage.
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Abraham Covalt was captain of Minute men and Indian Spies under Col. John Piper, 1778 until the war was over, with intermittent, sometimes lengthy periods of service in and around Bedford County, PA.  She has seen his commission, but does not know what became of it.
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October 13, 1843

Death of Lois Covalt Davis

Fountain County, Indiana
October 13, 1843

Lois (Loassa) Covalt Davis died.

October 4, 1851

Covalt File – Son Ephraim Names Heirs

Fountain County, Indiana
Ephraim Covalt’s sworn statement
He is 69 years old.
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Summary:
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He is the son of Abraham Covalt and Lois Davis, who were married about 1773. His father died about 1790 or 1791 in Ohio, and his mother married David Davis, who died about 1802 or 1803. His mother remained a widow until her death in 1843. Her surviving children were Timothy Covalt, Polly Jones, Sophia Clawson, Lucy Dove, Lois Crosly, and Ephraim Covalt. Only Polly Jones and Ephraim Covalt are alive in 1851.
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Abraham Covalt was a captain in a company of spies in the Army of the Revolution for several years.
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September 4, 1854

Covalt File – William H Covalt reports deaths

William H Covalt, grandson of Abraham
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Says only one of the children of Abraham Covalt and Loassa Davis still lives, and that is Ephraim Covalt, their son. Also says Loassa, widow of Abraham Covalt died October 13, 1843.
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September 12, 1939

Covalt File – Family Tree for the DAR

Pension Board, Washington, DC
Summary of the pension record
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Summary:
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Ladies who wanted to join the DAR used to write letters requesting copies of the pension files. Mrs. Carrie C. Morton of Detroit wrote such a letter on August 8th, 1939. Here is the answer she received, dated September 12th, 1939, in which the entire pension file is summarized.
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Letter from Carrie Morton

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