Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16,283, Adam Harter, New York
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Service - New York                          
Number - W.16.283.
Harter, Adam                                      
Elizabeth
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(top left)
New York 3889.                                        
Elizabeth Harter                                                     
widow of Adam Harter                                           

who was the pensioner under the Act of 15, May '28 and who died on the 7th of December 1837 at Herkimer in the State of New York. Who was a per N.Y. in the company commanded by Captain   ______ of the Regt. commanded  by
___ in the (illegible) for 2 years.


Inscribed on the Roll of Albany
the rate of 80 dollars - cents per annum
to commence on the 8th of December 1837

Certificate of Pension issued the 15th day of Aug't.
'39 and said to J. A. Rasback
Herkimer, N.Y.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar.        $100.00
Semiannual allowance ending   $40.00
                                                 $140.00
 {Act July 7, 1838}
Recorded by R. Burdine) Clerk
Book A.  Vol . 2 Page 82    

(top right)
Set to J. A. Rasback
Sep. 27, 1844
same, June 9, '45
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V. 237.5

Elizabeth Harter
Act July 7. 1838
Married 5 July 1785
Husband died  7, Dec.  1837



aomo
2 yrs priv
$80

Died 7 Dec. '37

Pen. Com. 8 Dec. 37

J A  Rasback Esq.
Herkimer, 
N.Y
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State of New York} (Seal)
Herkimer County} ss

On the 4th day of October  1838 before Charles Gray, a judge of the County Court of the said county and state aforesaid personally appeared Elizabeth Harter of Town of Herkimer in the said county + state aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to law doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7th 1838, entitled " An Act Granting Half Pay and Pensions to Certain Widows -
That on account of old age and bodily infirmity and the loss of memory she cannot state her age, that she was born before the Revolutionary War at the Herkimer, and that she was about fourteen years old when this War commenced, that Adam Harter was her husband - that the said Adam Harter was an enlisted soldier during the Revolutionary War and served six-years and a half in the War - that she does not remember the year that she and the said Adam Harter were married but knows it was about two years after he came home from the army when they were married - that the Rev'd. Mr. Rosecrantz performed the marriage ceremony - That they were married at Herkimer where the Village of Herkimer is now built - that her husband the said Adam Harter died the first winter month and it will be 
(continued on page 5)
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(continued from page 4)
a year the next first winter month, that the said Adam also said he was a pensioner and drew Pension when he died, that after his death drew some of his pension - that she has not been married since the death of the said Adam Harter, that she is now a widow - 

Elizabeth (her X mark) Harter

Subscribed and sworn to this 4th day of October 1828 before me
Chas. Gray, a Judge of the County Courts of the said County of Herkimer and I the said Charles Gray do further certify that the said Elizabeth Harter signed the foregoing declaration by her mark for that she cannot write, and that she is laboring under bodily infirmity, and from bodily infirmity has been and is unable to attend to Court, and I the said Judge further certify that the word "army" on the first page and the words "died that he" on the second page were interlined and that the said "army" which was written over the word "service" which on the first page and for which the under lineation of the word  "army" are the first page was made, was obliterated before execution and swearing the said declaration by the said Elizabeth.
(signed) Chas. Gray, Judge
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(continued from page 5)
(Illegible)
I, George Rosecrantz, of the Lower Little Falls in said County being duly sworn do depose and say that I am seventy-four years of age. That I am a son of Abraham Rosecrantz, deceased, who was in his lifetime a minister of the Gospel. And as such minister solemnized marriages and baptized children and kept a record of marriages and baptisms. That since the death of my father the said Abraham the said records have been in my possession and custody and are now in my possession. The records of marriages commenced in the year Seventeen hundred and eighty-one and end in the year Seventeen hundred and ninety-six. The said records are all in the handwriting of said Abraham Rosencrantz deceased. And I have this day examined the said record and find in said record that on the fifth day of July in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five Job Adam F Harter was married to Elizabeth Helmer. The record is as follows:
"1785 d. 5 July Job Adam F. Harter in Eliabeth Helmer" and I further state that from my knowledge and understanding of the said record it is that the said Adam and the said Elizabeth were married on the fifth day of July in the year Seventeen hundred and Eighty-five.
The word "fifth" in the 16th line written on the figure "5,, and the words understanding and were in the 21st and 22nd lines were little scratched before the execution of the above deposition.
(signed) George Rosencrantz

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 4th day of October 1838
(signed) John A. Rasbach, Justice
And I the said Justice do hereby certify that I have for a number years past been acquainted with the said George Rosencrantz only by reputation. And have always understood that he the said George was a man of good character
(continued on page 7)
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(continued from page 6) 
and that his statements are entitled to full credit.
(signed) John A Rasbach, Justice
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Herkimer County}

On this second day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight before me, John A Rasbach, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county personally appeared Peter P Helmer after being first duly sworn according to law deposeth and says that he is sixty-five years of age _
That from his infancy he was acquainted with Elizabeth Harter the widow of Adam Harter deceased and who was a pensioner of the United States under the Act of Congress of the 15th May 1828
That from his infancy to this time he has always resided in the immediate neighborhood of the said Adam and the said Elizabeth _ That the said Adam and the said Elizabeth were married in the month of June or July as near as he can now recollect the month in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five. The year he is positive That the said Adam and the said Elizabeth lived together until the death of said Adam which was as this deponent thinks, on the seventeenth day of December one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven That the said Elizabeth now resides at the same place in the Town of Herkimer County aforesaid 
_ That the said Elizabeth has not been married since and now remains the widow of the said Adam Harter deceased.
(signed) Peter P Harter
Subscribed and sworn before me this 2nd day of October (signed) John A Rasbach
I hereby Certify that I am well acquainted with Peter P Helmer the deponent in the foregoing affidavit and have been acquainted with him for more than twenty years and know him to be a person of good character and that his statements are entitled to full credit
(signed) John A Rasbach Justice
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State of New York Herkimer County ss

I John Dygert Clerk of the County aforesaid do certify that Charles Gray Esq'r before whom one of the annexed affidavits was taken was at its date one of the Judges of the Herkimer County Court duly authorized to take same And I further Certify that John A Rasbach Esq'r before whom also one of the annexed affidavits was taken was at its date a Justice of the Peace duly elected and qualified And that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Judge + Justice + verily believe that their  thereon signatures are genuine
In testimony thereof I have hereunto set of my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County this 11th day of October 1835
(signed) J. Dygert Clerk
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Rev. War Section.
February 17, 1920.


Hon. B. H. Snell,
House of Representatives.
My dear Mr. Snell:

In response to your letter of the 16” instant,
I have the honor to advise you that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to any soldier named Jacob Harder under any spelling of that name, and you are herewith furnished the histories of the only Revolutionary War soldiers named Adam Harter and Charles Bishop found on said records.

In the Revolutionary War pension claim W. File
No. 16283 it appears that Adam Harter, son of Frederick Harter, was commonly called John Adam Harter though he signed his name Adam Harter and was so pensioned under the Act of May 15, 1828 for his service as private in the New York troops, Revolutionary
War. No details of service are on file as the claims under that Act were adjudicated in the Treasury Department. He married July 5, 1785 at Herkimer N. Y. Elizabeth Helmer who
was born at Herkimer about 1761. He died December 7, 1837 and the applied for pension October 4, 1838, while residing at Herkimer N. Y. She died December 25 1838 and the pension was allowed the following named surviving children: Henry A., Elizabeth
Hanchet, Abigail Piper, Catharine Folts, Nancy Petril, and Eve Countryman.
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Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
My dear Commissioner:
I am enclosing you copy of letter I have just received from The Adjutant General in answer to my letter to him requesting any possible information concerning Charles Bishop, Jacob Harder and Adam Harder who served during the Revolutionary War.  You will note he has suggested that you may be able to furnish further information.  Your attention to this will oblige
Very truly yours,
[handwritten] B. H. Snell
[stamped] US Pension Office Feb 17 1920
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[begin left side]
[handwritten] Rev [typed] Widow, &c.
File No. [handwritten} 16283
Elizabeth Harter
widow of
Adam Harter
Pri Rev War
[typed] Act [handwritten] July 7th 38
[typed] Index: Vol. [handwritten] a [typed] Page [handwritten] 312
[typed] Arrangement of 1870
[end left side]
[begin right side, written vertically]
No paper on file for pension of Adam Harter it was under the Act of May 15, 1828 (see widow's admitted jacket) and those claims were adjudicated in the Treasury Dept Act
[different handwriting] 1920 Feby 17 Hist. to Hon B. H. Snell
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Albany NY
Adam Harter At of May 15, 1828 to what date paid?
V. L.
Died 7 December 1837
paid to that time
L.H.H.
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June 11 1844
NY
App for arrears
7 July 1838

J. A. Rasbach
Herkimer
NY
Benton(lined through)
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State of New York Herkimer County} ss

I Erwin A Munson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County the same being a Court of Record do hereby certify that a Court of Common Pleas held in and for said County before the Judges thereof at Herkimer on the fifth day of June 1844 it was proved by the adduction of testimony satisfactory to the said Court that Adam Harter late of the said Town of Herkimer in said County died on the seventh day of December 1837 That at the time of his death he was a Pensioner of the United States under the Act of May 15th, 1828 at the rate of Eighty dollars per annum. That he left a widow him surviving named Elizabeth Harter. And also six children of him + the said Elizabeth whose names are Henry A. Harter, Elizabeth Hanchet, Abigail Piper, Catharine Folts, Nancy Petrie + Eva Countryman and who are the only surviving children + heirs and are all over twenty-one years of age. And that the said Elizabeth Harter the said widow died on the 25th day of December in the year 1838. That the said children are her only surviving children + heirs.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand + affixed the seal of said County June 7th 1844.
(signed) E.A. Munson Clerk
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State of New York Herkimer County} ss 

Henry A. Harter of the Town of Herkimer in said County and State aged fifty-three years being duly sworn says that he is the son of Adam Harter and Elizabeth Harter referred to in the annexed Certificate of the Clerk of Herkimer County that after the death of his father the said Ellizabeth Harter widow of said Adam Harter and mother of this deponent made application for a pension under of the Act of July 7, 1838 That pending her application she died. And the amount allowed to her husband was rec'd by her children named in the annexed certificate. That the amount to them was only from December 7, 1837, the time of his father's death to December 25, 1838, the time of his mother's death That the children are informed and believe true that the amount allowed should have been for the year of time from March 4, 1836, to December 25, 1838. And he in behalf of himself and the other children, his sisters, named in the annexed Certificate claims the amount due them for the time from Marh 4, 1836 to the 7th day of December 1837 being that portion of the time they were entitled to Pension and whereto was not allowed to them.
(signed) Henry A. Harter

Subscribed and sworn June 5, 1844 before me 
(signed) Jo A Rasbach Justice
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V N. York
Elizabeth Harter
let. to Hon. A. Loomis 15 Jan. '39

Act 7 July 1838
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March 21, 1846
Rec'd act 35 - 3889
Elizabeth Harter de'd


(upside down text)

Herkimer NY
March 14  

J. L. Edwards
Coms'r of Pensions
Washington
DC

(rightside up text)
Look at letter Dec 27 1844 - I cannot find papers
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Herkimer N.Y. March 13, 1836

Dr. Sir,
Sometime in the summer of 1844 the claim of the children of Elizabeth Harter, widow of Adam Harter, both deceased, of Herkimer, N. Y. for the arrears of Pension from March 4, 1836, to the time of the death of her husband the said Adam Harter was presented for allowance which was answered by your letter of Sept. 27, 1844, disallowing the claim as barred by the Act of the 30th April 1844. Since which time, however, it appears that other claims of a similar nature have been allowed. And on looking at the opinions of the Attorney General as published in the letter of the Secretary of War on Page 80, it appears the Act of Feb'y 20, 1845 so modifies the Act of April 30, 1844. That this is a valid claim. And being so, the children desire the Certificate therefore. And if papers are such as authorize the payment be made to Henry A. Harter who made the claim in behalf of himself + the other children They desire the Certificate made to him pursuance of the last Clause of the Act of June 19, 1840, published on the 29 + 30 page of the letter of the Secretary of War to Congress
Permit me also to call your early attention to the claim of Caroline Philips forwarded some 3 or 4 months ago. She is getting very impatient.
Respectfully your ob't serv.
(signed) J. A. Rasbach

S. L Edwards, Esq.
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State of New York Herkimer County} ss
Peter P. Helmer of Herkimer in said County being duly sworn says that he is in his sixty sixth year of his age _ That he was well acquainted with Adam Harter deceased who was a pensioner of the United States. And who was Enlisted in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war and that the said Adam Harter was a son of Frederick Harter. And commonly called in the German "Hon Adam Harter," which is the same as "John Adam Harter" in English.  That the said pensioner "Hon Adam Harter" always wrote his name as Adam Harter That he this deponent lived in the Town of Herkimer from his infancy up to this time That the said Adam Harter also resided the whole of this time after the Revolutionary War in the immediate neighborhood of this deponent That Elizabeth Harter who has made application for a pension was his widow. That he the said Adam Harter was the only person in region of Country by that name who was a Revolutionary pensioner and that at his death he left Elizabeth Harter his widow. That the said Adam Harter and the said Elizabeth his wife immediately after their marriage and shortly after the Revolutionary War lived in the house of the father of this deponent That they all lived as one family
Dated Feb'y 2, 1839
(signed) Peter P Helmer
Subscribed and sworn before me this 2nd day of February 1839 
(signed) John A Rasbach Justice
And I the Justice further certify that I am well acquainted with Peter P. Helmer the above deponent. That he is a man of good character and that his statements are entitled to full credit
(signed) John A. Rasbach Justice
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State of New York Herkimer County ss

I, John Dygert, Clerk of said County do hereby Certify that John A. Rasbach Esq'r. before whom the Within affidavit purports to have been taken was at its date a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly sworn and qualified And further that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of Justice and verily believe that the signature to said affidavit is genuine

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this 23rd February 1839
(signed) J. Dygert Clerk