Pension Application

Morrison's Pensions

Pension Application for Philip Helmer

S.43671
State of New York
Montgomery County
            Be it remembered that on the 24th day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Montgomery and State of New York personally appears Philip Helmer aged 60 years 11th day of (big blot) in the Town of Palatine in said county who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the late act of Congress entitled an Act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War.
            That the said Philip Helmer enlisted in Stone Arabia in the State of New York in the company commanded by Captain Andreas Finck of the first New York Regiments commanded by Colonel Goose Van Schaick on or about the 15th day of January 1777 that he continued to serve in the said corps until or about the first day of November 1799 when he was discharged from service at Fort Stanwix in the State of New York as a private soldier.
            That he again enlisted on the 1st day of April 1780 in Albany in the State of New York into the company commanded by Captain Hamtramick in the Regiment commanded by Colonel DuBois and in the New York Line that he continued to serve in said corps until the 31st day of December in 1780 when he was again discharged from service at Mountower in New Jersey that his discharges are casually lost or destroyed. That he was in the battle of Monmouth in the State of New Jersey at the retreat from Lake George on Sandy Hill and in intelligence expeditions and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his county for support and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said service. (Signed) Philip Helmer

State of New York
County of Montgomery
On this 16th day of June 1820 personally appeared in open court being a court of record for the said County of Montgomery, called the Court of Common Pleas, proceeding according to the principles of common court having the power of fine and imprisonment.
Philip Helmer aged sixty three years, resident in Palatine in said state aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: in Captain Andrew Finck’s and Hamtramick companies in Colonel’s Goose Van Schaick’s and Dubois’ Regiments in the New York Line and the Continental establishment as will more fully appear in my original declaration and that the date of his original declaration was the 24the day of April 1818 and the number of his pension certificate is 13.749.
And I solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring my self within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled and act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contract or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. (Signed with his mark) Philip Helmer

Real property I have none either in possession, reversion, remainder or expectancy. Personal property 1 Cow old, 1 tea kettle copper 5 quarts, 2 cups and saucers, 6 knives and forks old, 5 spoons pewter, 1 milk cup, 1 tea pot tine old, 2 bowls, 6 plates, 1 small looking glass, 1 water pail, 1 old shovel & tongs.
I owe debts to the amount of fifty dollars. I was brought up a farmer but having not been able to do any work for thirteen years part being come by the means of rheumatism. I have a wife living with me who is seventy years of age for whom I must provide. That I have no other means of support than what I receive from the pension of the United States and further saith not. (Signed with his mark) Philip Helmer

The following letter is part of the pension application folder.
November 3, 1928
Marvin C. Helmer
Box 252
Spirit Lake, Idaho.
Sir:
            I advise you that it appears from the paper in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 43671, that Philip Helmer was born June 11, 1757, place not stated.
            He enlisted at Stone Arabia, New York, January 15, 1777, served as private in Captain Andrew Finck’s Company in Colonel Goose Van Schaick’s New York Regiment; the was in the Battles of Lake George and Monmouth and discharged November 1, 1779.
            He enlisted April 1, 1760, served as private in Captain Hamtramck’s Company in Colonel DuBois’ New York Regiment, and was discharged December 31, 1780.
            He was allowed pension on his application executed April 24, 1818 at which time he was living in Palatine, Montgomery County, New York, with one of his children whose name was not stated.
            In 1820 he stated that his wife was seventy years of age but he did not state her name.
            The above noted is the only Philip Helmer that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
            It is suggested that you apply to the Director, New York State Library, Albany, New York for information relative to Roberts New York in the Revolution, and Beutries Herkimer County Genealogies of the First Settler of Albany.
            Respectfully, E. W. Morgan, Acting Commissioner.