Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5511, Jacob Helsley, Penn.
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(3--1776)
SERVICE | | NUMBER
Penn. | Helsley, Jacob | S. 5511

carded
CONTENTS
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Helsely, Jacob
Penn. S. 5511
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[left and right edges torn and missing some text]

71.88.
Virginia
Jacob Helsley (Hels
of Shenandoah in the State of Virginia
who was a Private in the Company comma
by Captain - - of the [illegible] comm
by Col. Miles in the Penna. [illegible]
for 3 years frmo '76

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of Marc
1833 and sent to
L. Williams Shenandoah

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $160.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 1833 $40.00
$200.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 6. Page 11
Page 4

12721
Jacob Helsley
Shenandoah co
Virginia
[illegible] 1776 [illegible]
3 yrs
$80
look on Pa Roll
not on Roll
Page 5

BRIEF in the case of Jacob Helsley
of Shenandoah co in the Staet of Virginia
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or Judge? court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he? 76

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period. | Duration of Service. Years, Months, Days. | Rank. | Name of General and Field Officers under whom he served.

Enlisted In 1776 | 1 [year] 9 [months] 3 years a prisoner at Halifax | | Maj Williams L. Col Broadhead Col. Miles

5. In what battles was he engaged: Flat Bush

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service: Little York, Penn.

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by 
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Perfect

I Certify that the foregoing statemnet and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned.
F E Broadhead
Examining Clerk
Page 6

[illegible]  : 12/52
Jacob Helsley [illegible] claim
for [illegible] of Pension &c
J. G. Walker Agt
Woodstock
Page 7

The following is a list of the names of the children of Jacob and Rosanna
Helsley decd late of Shenandoah County Virginia. To wit:
Jacob Helsley Elizabeth Helzel Catherine Coffman Dorothy Rinker
Rebecca Helsley Daniel Helsley Nicholas Helsley Philip Helsley
Sevilla Baker

Shenandoah County
State of Virginia
On this 7th day of August AD 1852 personally appeared Christian
Dellinger  before the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for
the county and state aforesaid and made oath that the above
named Jacob Helsley Elizabeth Helzel Catherine Coffman 
Dorothy Rinker Rebecca Helsley Daniel Helsley Nicholas Helsley 
Philip Helsley & Sevilla Baker
are the legal heirs of Jacob and Rosanna Helsley decd
and said Jacob Helsley having been a pensioner before his death
leaving the aforesaid children as his heirs at law
attest
Christian [his X mark] Dellinger {seal}

Sworn to & subscribed before me the day & year above written
Philip Helsley JP {seal}

State of Virginia
County of Shenandoah
On this 7th day of August 1852 personally appeared Christion
Dellinger aged 88 years a resident of Shenandoah
County who being duly sworn according declare that he was
personally well acquainted with Jacob Helsley during in his life
time and that he died on the 15th day of April 1833.
attest
Christian [his X mark] Dellinger {seal}

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day & year above written
Philip Helsley JP {seal}
Page 8

State of Virginia
County of Shenandoah

On this   day day of August 1852 personally appeared
                              before the subscriber a Justice of the peace
within & for the county and state aforesaid who being duly
sworn according to law saith that    was personally
acquainted with Rosanna Helsley dcd wife of 
Jacob Helsely decd and that she Died on the 23rd day
of September 1835
Attest
{seal}


Sworn to & subscribed before me the day & year abov written
JP {seal}


State of Virginia
County of Shenandoah
On this 7th day of August 1852 personally appeared Christian
Dellinger aged 88 years & Peter Helsley aged 86 years
residents of the state & County aforesaid and made
oath that Rosanna Helsley was legally Married to Jacob
Helsley in the year 1788 by one
a clergyman
Christian [his X mark] Dellinger {seal}
Peter [his X mark] Helsley {seal}

Sworn to & subscribed before me the day and year above written
Philip Helsley --- JP {seal}
Page 9

Virginia to wit.

At a court held for the county of Shenandoah on Monday the 9th
day of August 1852
"It is ordered to be certified, that it appears
by evidence satisfactory to the court that Jacob Helsley, Elizabeth
Heltzell, Catherine Coffman, Dorothy Rinker Rebecca Helsley
Daniel Helsley Nicholas HelsleyPhilip Helsley & Sevilla Baker
are the legal heirs of Jacob & Rosanna Helsley said Jacob Helsley
having been a pensioner before his death leaving the aforesaid children
his heirs at law - and that the said Rosanna Helsley died on the
23 day of September 1835."
I Samuel Williams Clerk of the County Court
of said county certify that the foregoing is a true copy from the
minutes of said Court and I further certify that Philip Helsley Esq
before whom the within affidavits were made was at the time of
taking the same was a Justice of the Peace in and for said County in 
the State of Virginia duly authorised to administer oaths - and
that his signatures thereto are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 10th 
day of August 1852
Saml Williams [illegible]
Page 10

Woodstock Va
Sept 15 1832


Free

Hon Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Washington City 
D.C

Revolutionary Claims
Pension papers
Page 11

State of Virginia
Couty of Shenandoah
On this 10th day of September in the
year 1832 personally appeared in open courts before the County Court
of Shenandoah now sitting, Jacob Helsley aged 76 years the 10th day of
August last, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his
make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act
of Congress passed June 4th 1832. That he entered the service of
the United States under the following named officers and served as herein
stated. That attached to the company in which I served were the follow
ing officers. Captain Albright, Lieutenant Thompson D McPherson and ensign
Blake. Major Williams Lieut Cd. Broadhead and Cd. Miles were
our field officers. That he enlisted in the town of Little York Pennsylvainia
in the month of April 1776 for the time of one year and nine months
resided in the county of Shenandoah Va but was on a visit to Pennsylvania at that time. The company
to which he belonged was a rifle corps commanded by Capt Allbright and
was attached to the Second Battalion of the    regiment of the
Pennsylvania line, said battalion commanded by Col. Miles. That the
said Rifle Company marched from York Pa. down to [illegible] below
Philadelphia, and there joined the battalion, marched from there to
the [illegible] of Delaware, and encamped at or near Lewiston, and marched
from there back to Philadelphia, and there the Second Battalion Volunteer
ed to march in the Jerseys, as they could not be taken out of the state of
Pennsylvania without their consent. They then marched to Brunswick
and from there to Amboy, and from there to Newark and from there
they went over to New York, and from New York they crossed over to
Long Island and were stationed at a place called Flat-bush, and that
about the latter end of August 1776 there was a severe battle fought and
I among many others taken prisoner for at least (as I believe) three years. That, then
he affected his escape (through a strategem, and by the friendly aid and
interposition of a Whig, to Boston, where he remained one length of
time working, to raise money enough to take him home to his friends.
He further states that he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows
of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service.
Page 12

The following questions were proposed to the said applicant Jacob
Helsley and answered in the following manner by him.

Question 1. Where, and in what year, were you born?
Answer. I was born in Shenandoah County Va in the year 1756
Ques. 2. Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it?
Ans. I have none. I have ascertained my age by that of a cousin whose age is set down.
Ques. 3. Where were you living when called into service, were have you 
lived since the revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
Ans. I was living on Liberty Creek in Shenandoah County but was on a visit to see
and uncle in York County Pa. when I enlisted, and have been living since my escape
from the British hold at Halifax & my return home, in Shenandoah County Va ever since.
Ques 4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volun
teer or were you a substitute? and if so for whom?
Ans. I enlisted in the State Corps of Pennsylvania (to the best of my reco
llection) but afterwards in the year of 1776 volunteered at Philadephia
and marched as stated above in my declaration.
Ques. 5 State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the
corps where you served; such continental and militia regiments as
you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service?
Ans. I do not recollect any of the regular officers, nor the name
of any regiment the general circumstances of my service are given above.
Ques 6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so, by
whom was it given and what has become of it
Ans. I never received a discharge having been taken prisoner.
Ques 7. State the names of person to whom you are known in your
present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to your charac
ter for veracity, and their belief of your service as a soldier of the revolution.
Ans. Absalom Rinker and Joshus Foltz secd.

I do hereby reliquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity
except the present and declare that his name is not on the pension
roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day
and year aforesaid
Jacob [his X mark] Helsley
John Newman
Page 13

We Absalom Rinker and Joshua Foltz secd. residing in
the county of Shenandoah hereby certify that we are well acquainted
with Jacob Helsley who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration,
that we believe him to be 76 years of age; that he is reputed & believed
in the neighrbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the
revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year
aforesaid.
A Rinker
Joshua [his X mark] Foltz secd.
John Newman

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investiga
tion of the matter, and after putting the interrogations prescribed by
the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolu
tionary and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that
it appears to them that Absalom Rinker & Joshua Foltz secd
are residents of the County of Shenandoah, and who have signed the pre
ceding certificate, are credible persons and that their statements are
[illegible] to credit.
I Philip Williams Clerk of the County court of 
Shenandoah, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court i the matter of the application of Jacob
Helsley for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal of office this 10th day of September
in the year 1832 and 59 of the Commonwealth.
Teste P. Williams
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Mrs. Myrtle Hume
302 E. 7th St
Trenton, Mo

Madam:
I have to advise you from the papers in
the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 5511,
it appears that Jacob Helsley was born August
10, 1756 in Shenandoah County, Virginai.
His home was on Liberty Creek, Shenandoah
County, Viginia, but while on a  visit to an
uncle (his name is not given) in Yok County, Penn-
sylvania, he enlisted in April 1776 and served in
Captain Albright's Company, Colonels Miles' and
Broadhead's Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, he was at
the battle of Flat Bush, where taken prisoner car-
ried to Halifax and held three years, when he made
his escape.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 10, 1832, while a resident of
Shenandoah County, Virginia. He died April 15,
Page 15

1833.
Soldier married in 1788, Rosanna, her maiden
name is not stated, she died September 23, 1835.
Their children in 1852- Jacob Helsley; Eliza-
beth Heltzel or Heltzell; Catharine Coffman; Dorothy
Rinker; Rebecca HElsley; Daniel Helsley; Ncholas
Helsley; Philip Helsley; and Sevilla Baker.
Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Page 16

1927-Apr. 13 - Hist to Mrs. Myrtle
Hume [illegible]

5511
INVALID
File No. 5511
Jacob Helsley
Prov. Rev. War
Act: June 7th /32
Index:--Vol. M, Page 169
Arrangement of 1870.
Page 17

Payments to be made
at Richmond
by Pr.. U.S. Br Bank
Agent for paying Pensioners,
in the Agency of Virginia

Recorded b yW. L. Williams
Clerk, in Booo\k E. Vol 1.
Page 11

Refer to the [illegible] left at your department on
12th Inst
Page 18

Payments to be made
at Richmond
by Pr.. U.S. Br Bank
Agent for paying Pensioners,
in the Agency of Virginia

Recorded b yW. L. Williams
Clerk, in Booo\k E. Vol 1.
Page 11

Refer to the [illegible] left at your department on
12th Inst
Page 19

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United
States, of the 7th June, 1832, Jacob Helsley
of the State of Virginia
who was a Private in the war
of the Revolution
is entitled to receive Eighty dollars and
00 cents per annum, durin ghis natural life, commencing
on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually, on the 
4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United
States, this 13 day of
March one thousand
eight hundred and thirty-three
Lew Cass
Secretary of War
Examained and
Countersigned.
J L Edwards
Page 20

DORCAS RICHARDSON CHAPTER
DAUGHTERS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

Trenton, Mo.Feb.17,1927

Pension Department,
Washington, D C.

Gentlemen:

I am desirous of ascertaining dates of birth, death,
and marriage of Revolutionary soldier, Jacob Helsley and wife
Rosanna Faltz. Believe you will find this information in
Vol. 2, page 197, Report from Secretary of War, in Obedience
to Resolution of the Senate of the 5th and 30th of June 1834,
and the 3rd of March 1835 in Relation to Pension establishment
of the United States, Washington, 1835.

I understand that Mr. Helsley obtained a pension,
or his record on file, will give this information.

Yours truly

(Miss) Myrtle Hume Registrar
Dorcas Richardson, Chapter,
Daughters, American Revolution

303 E. 7th St.
Trenton Mo.
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Jacob Helsley, Shenandoah co Virg. which require
further proof od explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes

V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he
served, in language so definitie as t\o enable the department to determine to what amount of pension
he is entitled? yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one due under the Act of
June 7, 1832? yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinoin? yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by whicih it can be distinguished 
from any other seal? yes
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2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to 
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolu-
tionary service? Two respectable citizens, no clergyman named.

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain-
ing it? No

XIIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living withness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? yes

XIV. +If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military srevice, has he produced a witness
or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the offical character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

XVI. ++Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satifactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? yes

EXPLANATORY NOTES

*QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A.B. who, being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positivley as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recol-
lection her served not less that the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For ---
year --- months, and ---- days, I served as a --- For ---- months
and --- days, I served as a ---; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 23

3

It is important that in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the
pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too in-
definite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions
merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the
officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objection-
able. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration
of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the
applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either
in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not em-
ployed in any civil pursuit.
+QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must
prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of
the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the
regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths
must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magis-
trate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
++QUERE XVI. Mode of auhtenticating pepers.
In every instance wher the certificate of certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the cer-
tificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass
under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being imporperly
attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of
office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the
certifying officer, should accompany the papers.