Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5024, Elias Hillsinger, New York
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New York
Hillsinger, Elias
R. 5024
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No 37190
Elias Hillsinger
NY
acl 7 June 1832
J024
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[handwritten]

Jacob Slingerland Agent
Cobleskill Schoharie Co, NY.

State of New York}
Otsego County}
Hillsinger}

Declaration to obtain a pension from the United States for Pleas under the Act of June 7th 1832 -
Elias Hillsinger of Cherry Valley - Otsego County & state of New York - Aged 87 years as near as he can ascertain his age, Deponent has no record of his age being duly sworn Deposeth and saith that he was in the services in the War of the Revolution when living in Turlock in Schoharie County aforesaid and served for the United States in the Militia for the Term of 4 years or upwards from the Spring of 1777 until the close of said war in different periods Declarent says his first term of service commenced early in the Spring of 1777 he went as a substitute for Henry Markle and served until late in the fall of same year at least for the term of six months or over then in the same fall when being discharged of services for said Markel - took the place of one by the name of Eckerson went as a substitute and served until Spring those two terms as stated above making one year this service was done in Schoharie in the Lower Fort this was the year that Burgoyne was taken said Markle & Eckerson were Drafted men in the Militia Declarant says that there were so many different officers and Captains at the Fort that Commanded he cannot recollect only a part of them one by the name of Snyder was called Captain and many others - Captain Stubrack was there occasionally the officers were changed Major Becker Col Vroman and other officers were there at this Fort - during the services of said Declarant - and Declarant further says that in the spring of 1778 he took the place of one other man named Eckerson who was drafted and served as a substitute through the summer of 1778 at least six months or over until the fall of said year - and from this time of the fall of 1778 Declarant served in  short periods on various occasions and different times as he this Declarant hired out and laboured near the above named Fort and was called out so often
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[handwritten]

as the Tories and Indians corronetted [sic] their depredations continually upon the sourrounding [sic] country & the inhabitants and living near the Fort - Sometimes was called out two days only sometimes a week sometimes two or three weeks in the year of 1780 when Schoharie was burnt - said Declarant says he was in the Fort and on scouts the most part of that summer & was most generally then under Capt Stubrack & Col Vroman - and from the time that he was and served as a substitute for said Eckerson afore named Declarant served of and on until the close of the war so often that he can tender no definite account of his regular scouts & services he has done since he served for said Eckerson last named & Delcarant further says - that the reasons of his not applying before for his pension is he is Old and has no education and lives in the south east part of the Town of Cherry Valley rather in a back and remote place and as many strangers who pretended were pension agents have called on him said Declarant - and charged him him [sic] so much as to cut of all his arrearages nearly and in not being acquainted with those agents declarant says he thought it was in a better and safer place to stay where it was under the Government of the United States - until he could find someone who he could safely entrust to obtain it for him - Declarant says that he does not know whether Col. Vroman acted as Col. during his first services but he commanded then or part of the time but does not know as a Col or some other office - but says Col Vroman was the first Col. he became acquainted with at this Fort and Declarants services were all done at this station

Elias his X mark Hillsinger [x mark placed between first and last name]

Subparted and sworn this 
17th day of December 1845 
before me Jabez D. Hammond
Judge of Otsego County Court
in the State of New York

witness present
Jabez D. Hammond
C. N. Flint
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[handwritten]

Schoharie County}
& State of New York} ss

Catharine Bassett being duly sworn Deposeth and Saith she is 94 years old she feels thankful to God her Creator for the Continuance of life and health & the blessings of a good & sound memory still - Deponant says that she was well acquainted with Elias Hillsinger who resided in Turlock in said County before the war of the Revolution and in the year of 1777 she believes they assembled at the Fort the Lower Fort in Schoharie her Father resided in said Fort and at that time there was much Confusion and the Indians and Tories commenced their depredations and they were Drafted and Embodied she says she well recollects and Henry Markle was Drafted and  Elias Hillsinger took his place she thinks as was stated then for six months and was in the Fort and out scouting and after this time was expired said Elias was there still and continued and was substitute for somebody else but does not know for who he served she forgets but she says he served there for the space of more than one year and a half Deponant says she recollects that said Elias came to the Fort early in the spring and was there in & through the summer and winter and next summer until late next Fall or the commencement of next winter and from the year & seasons & was summers and one winter and the fall she well knows he served at least one year and a half or she has heard others more state he Served for some by the name of Eckersons the last part of his services but she cannot state there for facts of her own knowledge only from hear say from others but  Deponant says she recollects distinctly his first service was he took Markles place as a Substitute as Markle was drafted and got said Elias to take his place - and after those services said Elias hired out to Eckersons near the Fort and was in the service occasionally at many different  times and in the  summer when Schoharie was burnt said Elias was in the service this Deponant says that said Elias Hillsinger was a great and brave soldier for scouting after the Tories & Indians and was one of Timothy
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[handwritten]

Murphys men in going out in scouts he did not fear the Indians nor Tories but was always ready to stand or go when called on and was highly respected for his bravery - and further this deponent saith not

Subscribed and sworn before me this 19 day of December 1845 and I certify that the old lady Mrs Catherine Bassett is a remarkable good memory and her testimony bears credit or credable [sic] witness and this affadavit [sic] was read to her before execution}

Catharine her X mark Bassett   [x mark placed between first and last name]

John Osterhout Justice of the peace
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[printed and handwritten]

STATE OF NEW YORK, Schoharie County Clerk's Office, ss.

I Thomas McArthur, Clerk of the said county, do hereby certify that John Osterhout Esqr before whom the annexed affidavit purports to have been sworn, was on the day of the date of Jurat to the said affidavit a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county, that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of the said Justice and verily believe that his name signed to the said Jurat is his proper hand-writing. Given under my hand and the seal of the said county, this nineteenth say of December 1845. 

Tho's. McArthur Clerk
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[handwritten]

Schoharie County}
and State of New York} ss

Christiana Norman being duly sworn deposeth and saith she is old and cannot give a definite statement of her age Deponant says she was almost a young woman at the commencement of the war of the Revolution and that her father Henry Hitchman resided in the Lower Fort in said Schoharie in the war of the Revolution and resided there during said war - and this Deponant says she was acquainted with Elias Hillsinger who [?] in Turlock in said County and said Elias came to the above named Fort in Schoharie and took Henry Markles place and served as a substitute for Henry Markle six months at said Fort & in scouting after the Indians and Tories and said Elias continued the service and served a length of time for others by the name of Eckersons at said Fort & in scouting after the Indians Deponant says that said Elias served at least at this time one year and six months or a longer period and after this period was in the service off and on during said war Deponant was at home and in the vicinity during said war and know said Elias Hillsinger as well as she did their own  family - Deponant says said Elias Hollsinger was a bold brave soldier and was one of Timothy Murphys Company in scouting after the Tories and Indians & Deponant says she verily believes that the bravery of said Elias and Murphy and Murphys company saved the Fort or their officer would have given up the Fort - but those men declared they would take the commanding officers life before they would surrender and the officer then gave up the command to Col Vroman and they saved the Fort and their lives Deponant says that said Elias came into the Fort and took Henry Markels place before Burgoyne was taken as the Indians and Tories comitted [sic] depredations and they were obliged to have F[?] Markle and Eckersons Deponant says belonged to the [?] and was drafted man & said Elias took their places as a substitute as above stated said Elias served at least six months for Henry Markle and in that time for Eckerson making at least one year and six months and further this Deponant saith not

Subscribed and sworn before me this 19th day of December 1845 and I certify that I am acquainted with the above witness she is an Old Lady of a great memory & sound mind uncommonly so for her age & is a credable [sic] witness and the above affadavit [sic] was read to her before execution

Christiana her T mark Norman [T mark placed between first and last name]

John Osterhout Justice of the peace
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[handwritten]

New York-
Schoharie County Cobleskill 23rd December 1845
Hon
Commissioner of Pensions United States Washington 
I inform you that the Applicant is an Old acquaintance of mine I have known Mr Elias Hillsinger for years past - he is rather what we call illiterate & some what supertitious & much set in his own mind - Then is no doubt in my mind but he has been one of the bravist & the most daring soldiers during the war in Schoharie he was one of Timothy Murphy's Men I recollect well of hearing the stories of the Old Revolutions who are dead & gone name of Col. Dirk & Major Vroman as long as 20 years ago state of his great Valour [sic] & bravery - Stating that this Elias was the means with Murphy in saving the Lower Fort where they were stationed - when the Indians & Tories sent in their Flag to have them surrender The Fort - the Commanding officers Commanded the white flag to be hoisted & held out to surrender the Fort - & Murphy commanded him & declared he would put a Ball through the first man that raised the Flag - the Commanding officer pointed his pistol to Murphys breast and declared he would put his ball through Murphy if - he refused to obey this Elias Hillsinger raised his rifle & declared the Fort should not be surrendered & he would Drop the officer and in This affray Col - Vroman stepped up & called the commanding officer a coward & that he was sent there to defend the Fort & not have it delivered into the hands of the Indians to be massacred & the commanding officer gave full command to Col Vroman & Murphy & Elias fired at the Indian Flag & drove them back & saved the Fort - I understand there is no record of Murphy,s Reveries I am doubtful whether much of Elias,s services is on the Rolls as the part of his services was done before there was a record kept when he served as a substitute & the rest ^[insert] & he was with Murphy at least part of the time and lived or had hired out near the Fort and was at every Call when needed & no doubt in this way boarded where he resided & scouted with Murphy continually the witnesses the two Old Ladies Mrs Norman & Mrs Bassett are very aged - but it seems they are professed with very extraordinary memories - uncommon indeed as they were in the Fort and resided in the Fort - give a clear & conclusive history of facts in said Elias,s services I have great confidence in them they are strangers to me but I am informed highly credable [sic] - I have no Interest in the case and act without fee or reward the Agents Mr Hillsinger says that have called on him were all Federlist [sic] & Tories he calls the whigs all Tory,s & Federlists [sic] and he thinks they only wanted to cheat him out of his pension he is very poor but he says They first wanted all his arrearages to get it for him and then cheat him out of his pension he says as far as he is he would rather loose [sic] it all and let the United States have it than the Federal Tories - thus [illegible] his superstition - Yours in haste.
Respectfully
Jacob Slingerland Agt -

the Tories [illegible]
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[handwritten]

House Rep
Decr 14th 1832

S Cole Esqr

Dear Sir
You will confer a favor to communicate to me any information You may have on file in relation to the [?] of Elias Hillsinger a soldier in the Revolution for Pension
Yours Respt
W. W. Snow
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[handwritten]

5024
Elias Hillsinger

[stamped]
REJECTED
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[handwritten]

No 37190
Elias Hillsinger
N.Y
Jacob Slingerland 27 July 1846

act 7 June 1832