Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,621, Orsamus Holmes, Green Mt. Boys Vt.
Page 1

3-1776

SERVICE
Green Mt. Boys
Vt.

Holmes, Orsamus

NUMBER
S.2.621

carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

to pay 1a letter
[illegible]. Apl. 19.
Owin, Phelps

in. Tra.

Ohio Pittsburgh
March 1834

[illegible] Lee letter
May 5. 1840

to Jno Fleming
1834 Io. to Co. Sept. 16. 1834-

June 2. 1835

[illegible] from 
[illegible] 8th 18[35]

to O. H. Marshall

Alb. to 
6893
x Ohio Pittsburgh
x New York [crossed out]

Orsamus Holmes. of Chautauqua in the State of New York who was a pri: in the Compy commanded by Captain Luck of the Regt commanded by Col: Easton in the Mass line for 2 years -
Green Mountain Boys Vt.
Mch 24/06
Records corrected to

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

Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of March 1833 and sent Chauncy Tucker. Fredonia. N.Y.

Arrears to the 4th March 1833   160-
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept '' 40-
===
$200-
===

Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Nathan Rice - C[lerk]
Book D  Vol. 5  Page 14
Page 3

Buffalo N.Y. Ar 30 [stamped]

May 5. 1840

[illegible]

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 4

Buffalo N.Y. Ar 30 [stamped]

May 5. 1840

[illegible]

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 5

Buffalo April 29. 1840

J. L. Edwards Esqr

Sir. I addressed a letter a few weeks since, the Hon Millard Fillmore, Member of Congress from the State of New York, requesting information as to the manner in which I should proceed to obtain the arrears of pension due a deceased pensioner under the act of June 7th 1832, [undrln] whose widow survived him [/undrln], but who also died without receiving the amount. I was in doubt whether, under such circumstances, the arrears fell to the children of the Pensioner, or to the administration of the widow. Your answer to the inquiries contained in my letter, was received a few days since from Mr. Fillmore, but does not reach the case in question. You state that under such circumstances "the Pension would be payable to the widow, [undrln] if there be one, [/undrln] & if not to the children of the deceased". Now in this case there [undrln] was [/undrln] a [undrln] widow [/undrln], but she died [undrln] before receiving the arrears. [/undrln] 
If the arrears go to the children, much trouble & expense will be incurred in procuring powers of attorney from them all; as they are nine in number, and are scattered over several states of the Union, in the other case the expense & trouble would be comparatively trifling. The deceased Pensioner's name is "Orsamus Holmes", he died in October 1835, his
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certificate from the War Department is dated March 8. 1833. and is recorded in Book D. Vol 5. Page 145. I have no memorandum showing the date of his last receipt of Pension moneys, and should be obliged if you can inform me from returns received from the Pittsburgh agency, where the pension was payable.
Any information in reference to any of the above particulars, would be thankfully received. I have nothing showing the necessary [process?] required from an an administration in making application for a "pension in arrears".
An opinion given by Attorney General Butler can be found at pages 50. & 51. of Document No 118, 25th Congress, 2d Session, touching the matters above set forth.
An early reply will greatly oblige
Yours Respectfully
Orsamus Holmes Marshall
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Orsamus Holmes
C. Tucker, agent
33, mo. Service

Returns to this application to be directed to Chauncey Tucker, at Fredonia, Chautauqua County N. York

$80 per annum
Page 8

State of New York
Chautauqua County}
SS:
On this twentieth day of October AD 1832 personally appeared before Mr. Benjamin Walworth one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county Orsamus Holmes, a resident of the town of Sheridan in the said County of Chautauqua aged seventy five years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated -

That on or about the first of May A.D. 1775, in the eighteenth year of his age at Pittsfield, Massachusetts his then place of residence he enlisted as a private soldier in a company commanded by Capt. William Lusk in a Regt. commanded by Col. Easton, [he thinks [crossed out]] the Major's name was Brown. There was no Lieut. Col. in the Regt. He thinks the name of the Lieut. in Capt. Lusk's Company was -- Blair - don't recollect his first name - He thinks the ensign left the army soon after joining it by reason of sickness - don't recollect his name - He understood at the time he enlisted that Capt. Lusk's Company belonged to the Regular Army but cannot say positively that it did. Col Easton soon after joined General Montgomery's army at Crown Point from [whence?] they moved down Lake Champlain to St. John's at which place there was a Fort & British Garrison. That their encampment was 1 1/2 miles from the British fortress on low [clayey?] ground, which was in a measure inundated by a rain in the month of Sept. which continued with very little interruption for [illegible] weeks. The soldiers were obliged to set crotches in the ground & put poles on them & cover them with small brush on which they slept in their tents to keep out of the muddy water. A short time before the surrender of the British garrison at St. John's (which was on the 3rd [noon? Novr] Col. Easton's Regt. consisting only of 200 effective men (having been reduced to that by sickness) were sent to Sorell to intercept the British who about evacuating Montreal. That they arrived at Sorell about the time the British evacuated Montreal & while the British were descending the St. Lawrence with 11 sail of vessels deeply laden with clothing & military stores, Col. Easton's small party with the assistance of a
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few Canadian volunteers who had joined his Regt. a short time previous captured and took to the whole eleven sail of vessels a little above the mouth of the Sorell River. That he remained in Col. Easton's Regt. & in Capt. Lusk's company until the 30th day of November when the terms of his enlistment expired, having actually served [undln] seven months [/undln]. That on the first day of December following at Sorell he enlisted again in a company commanded by Capt. Elijah Babcock in what was called Major Brown's Detachment commanded by Maj Brown. That he does not recollect the other field & company officers but remembers well that Major Brown's Detachment was not fully official and organized in Regimental form. That he marched with Maj Brown's Detachment to Quebeck and continued with Capt. Babcock's Company through the winter at Quebeck. That he was one the party who marched across the plains of Abraham to Cape Diamond to give the signal for the attack on the city of Quebeck on the night of the 31st December 1775. That he continued in Capt. Babcock's Company in Maj. Brown's Detachment at Quebeck until the 30th day of April 1776 when his enlistment expired having actually served [undln] five months [/undln]. That he thinks Major Brown's Detachment was considered a part of the Regular Army but cannot say positively. That on the first day of May A.D. 1776 at Quebeck he enlisted in Capt, Wheeler's Company in the Regt. commanded by Col. Porter. He does not distinctly recollect the Lieut.'s name but thinks it was Parmele Allen. Don't recollect the ensign's name. That on 6th day of May the Siege of Quebeck was raised when they marched out of Canada and continued their march to Ticonderoga and Mount Independence when the Regt. to which he belonged joined the Brigade commanded by General Patterson. That General Patterson's Brigade was soon after called to the assistance of the Southern Army & that he marched with them to Morristown New Jersey where they made a stand. Whilst they were at Morristown, a plundering party from the British Army made an excursion into the country and proceeded as far as Springfield plundering the inhabitants as they passed along. Early in the evening (the day of the month he does not distinctly recollect, but believes
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was about the 10th of December 1776.) an express arrived bringing information of the depredations of the British, when their whole Brigade immediately marched to the relief of the inhabitants but before they arrived the British were on their retreat & had got so near the main British Army that they were out of reach of Col. Patterson's forces & other Brigades returned to their place of rendezvous. That he continued with Capt. Wheeler's Company until the 31st day of December 1776 when his enlistment expired having actually served [undln] eight months [/undnl] in this enlistment. That the other enlistments above mentioned make in the whole, one continuous term of service of [undln] one year and eight months [/undln], during which time he did not lose a single tour of duty except at time or times of slight bodily indisposition of short continuance. That he understood Capt. Wheeler's Company as belonging to the Regular Army but whether it was wholly so, or not he cannot say. That on the 1st day of January 1777 he received a written discharge from Capt. Wheeler's Company, which was afterwards taken from him by the Indians. That immediately after leaving Capt. Wheeler's Company he went to the town of Springfield in the State of Vermont, where he resided until about the 1st of September 1777, at which time he enlisted in Capt. Ebenezer Allen's Company of Rangers in the Regt. commanded by Col. Herrick [in the [crossed out]] called the Green Mountain Corps. That before this, in June 1777 when Burgoyne's Army made its appearance before Ticonderoga, the militia was called out & that he was called out with the militia about ten days & as before stated enlisted in Col. Herrick's Regt. in Capt. Allen's Company until the 12th November following, during which time he was engaged in the taking of [undln] Mount Defiance [/undln] & in the attack on Diamond Island. *

[sideways in the left margin
* That he is the identical Orsamus Holmes named in the annexed affidavits of Darius Chipman and Allen Mattison.

That on the night of the 12th of November AD. 1777 he was taken prisoner by the British at Belton's Bay, Lake Champlain, from there he was conveyed to Montreal and from there to the Isle of Orleans, nine miles below the City of of Quebeck. From thence he was taken with the rest of the American prisoners (about sixty in number) to Quebeck and put on board a prison ship where he remained a prisoner until the night of 27th July, 1778, he with three other's by taking the ship's
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Boat, made their escape & crossed the St. Lawrence and entered the woods without guides or compass & travelled 17 days in that dreary wilderness, subsisting the first 7 days on four hard biscuit and about 8 ounces of salt pork a day for the whole four. That their principal subsistence for the remaining ten days was the inner bark of the white Pine tree. That on the 17th day after their escape, he, with the three others that escaped with him, whose names were Lemuel Roberts, Jedediah Blackman & Jacob Pugh were taken prisoners by the Indians & by them conveyed to Montreal and confined in the Provost Prison where he remained a prisoner about one month when he again escaped together with Roberts and Pugh by leaping from the 2nd story window of the prison. This escape was made on the night of the 18th Sept. 1778. That after encountering many difficulties and dangers in crossing Rivers which were 1st St. Lawrence 2nd Chamblee 3rd [illegible] 4th [illegible], 5th Onion, & being pursued by Indians whose grasp was twice eluded by [strategies?], on the 14th day after his escape he reached the frontier settlement at Monkton in Vermont, making his whole term of service in Capt. Allen's Company of Rangers under Col. Herrick including the time of his imprisonment full [undln] thirteen months [/undln]. That he was born on the Eleventh day of October AD. 1757 at the town of Pembroke Plymouth County & State of Massachusetts. That he has a record of his age which has been kept in his family Bible. That he was living on the town of Pittsfield, Berkshire County Mass. at the time he entered the service & and that when he left the service he went to reside at Springfield Windsor County Vermont & that from Springfield he moved the [now] town of Sherburne, Chenango Co. in February A.D. 1793 & that in the month of March A.D.1805 he moved from Sherburne to the now town of Sheridan, Chautauqua Co. N. York where he has resided ever since & where he now resides. That he never received but one discharge and that was the one above mentioned which was taken from him by the Indians when they took him prisoner as above mentioned. That he is acquainted with Rev. Blackleach B. Gray and John Gray, John Walker, Esqr., Haven Brigham Esqr. & others of Sheridan, who can testify to their belief as to his character & service as a soldier of the Revolution. That he knows of no other proof than the [affts.] herewith presented.
He humbly relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or
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annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
[signature] Orsamus Holmes
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me
[signature] B Walworth
Judge [illegible Chen for Chenango? or Chau for Chautuaqua or Chou] Com Pleas

[Illegible] Blackleach B. Gray, a clergyman residing in the town of Sheridan aforesaid and John Gray residing in the same town, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Orsamus Holmes who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy Five years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
[Signature] B. B. Gray
[Signature] John Gray
Sworn & subscribed on the day & year aforesaid 
[Signature] B Walworth
Judge [illeg.] Com Pleas

And I the said Benjamin Walworth, judge of aforesaid do hereby declare my opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogation prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And I further certify that it appears to me that Blackleach B. Gray who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the town of of Sheridan aforesaid, and that John Gray who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same town and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit: And I further certify that the said Orsamus Holmes is in my opinion, unable to appear before the Court of Said County in consequence of bodily infirmity. Given under my hand the day and year aforesaid.
[Signature] B Walworth
Judge [illeg.] Com Pleas
Page 13

State of New York
Chautauqua County
SS:

I James B. Lowry Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Said County do hereby certify that Benjamin Walworth, Esquire, whose signature appears to the foregoing proceedings in the matter of the application of Orsamus Holmes for a pension was at the time the said proceedings bear date, one of the judges of the said Court of Common Pleas, legally authorized to act as such & that I am well acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe that the three signatures, "B Walworth" to the said proceedings are his genuin] handwriting.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this thirty first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
[signature] James B. Lowry Clerk
Page 14

Rev. War Section.

January 24, 1918.

Mrs. R. H. Jennings,
14 Whitman Street,
Orangeburg. S. C.

Madam:

In response to your letter received the 19th instant, you are advised that it appears in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. [File No. [Crossed out]] 3,621 that Orsamus Holmes was born October 11, 1757, at Pembroke, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

While residing at Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, he enlisted as a private in Captain William Lusk's Company, Colonel Easton's Regiment and went on General Montgomery's Expedition to Canada. He aided in capturing eleven British vessels just above the mouth of the Sorel River and served until November 30, 1775.

On December 1, 1775 at Sorel he enlisted in Captain Elijah Babcock's Company, Major Brown's Detachment, and was at the Siege of Quebec. He was one of the party who marched across the Plains of Abraham to Cape Diamond to give the signal for the attack on that city. Served until April 30, 1776.

On May 1, 1776, he enlisted at Quebec in Captain Wheeler's Company, Colonel Porter's Regiment and was in the retreat from Canada and served until December 31, 1776.

Immediately after he went to Springfield Vermont and resided
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there until June 1777, when he was called out with the militia and served ten days.

On September 1, 1777, he enlisted in Captain Ebenezer Allen's Company, Colonel Herrick's Regiment of Rangers was at the taking of Mount Defiance, in the attack on Diamond Island and on the night of November 17, 1777, he was taken prisoner by the British at Beltons Bay, Lake Champlain and was carried to Quebec and put on board a prison ship where he remained until July 37, 1778. He with four other prisoners escaped and crossed the Saint Lawrence River, entering the woods and subsisting the first seven days on four hard biscuits and about eight ounces of salt pork a day for the four, and then on the inner bark of the white pine tree. On the seventeenth day after their escape they were captured by Indians, taken to Montreal and confined in the Provost Prison from which they escaped on the night of September 18, 1778, by leaping from the second story window of the prison, and fourteen days later after being pursued by Indians they reached Monkton Vermont.

He was allowed a pension on an application executed October 20, 1832, at which time he resided at Sheridan, Chautauqua County, New York.

In 1835 he lived at Killbuck, Holmes County, Ohio, and in October 1835 he died leaving
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a widow who died prior to April 29, 1840, and nine children. No names are stated and there are no other data [on file [crossed out]] as to his family.

Very respectfully,

[Signature (stamped?)]  [G M Saltzgaber] 

Commissioner.

Orsamus Holmes (3)
Page 17

r. 15,1906

Rev War

2621
INVALID.

File No. 2621.
Orsamus Holmes
Pri. Mass. line

Act: June 7, '32
Index:--- Vol. A. Page 175.

[Arrangement of 1870.]

Hist. to W. H. Wilcox Ma

1909 Sept. 3. History to H. L. Chamberlain Fw.

1918 Jan'y 24, Hist. to Mrs. R. H. Jennings.

1929 Sept 16 Hist to Dr. Helen J. Wilcox - See letter in Joseph Green W. 17148 Aug
Page 18

To what time was Orsamus Holmes, Pittsburgh Agency, act June 7, 1832, last paid?
J.L. Edwards
May 5, 1840
[illegible paid ] Albany to 4 March 1834 - he has not been paid at Pitts'b'g 
JH
Page 19

Mr Burdine
Orsamus Holmes
30 May 1835
Pension Office
N.Y. [crossed out] Albany to Ohio P.
Page 20


[illegible Rec'd] 30 May

Application for a Transfer

The State of Ohio}
Holmes County  | SS}
On this sixteenth day of May 1835 before me the subscriber One of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Please of Holmes County, Personally appeared Orsamus Holmes who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company Commanded by Captain - Lusk of the Regt. Commanded by Col. Easton afterward belonged to the Company Commanded by Capt. - Babcock of the detachment Commanded by Maj.  - Brown and afterward was enlisted under Captain Wheler in the Regt. Commanded by Col. Porter and afterward under Capt. Allen of the Regt. Commanded by Col. Herrick denominated "Green Mountain Boys" in the Army of the Revolution, that his name was placed on the pensin roll of the State of New York, from whence he has lately removed that he now resides in the State of Ohio where he intends to remain and wishes his pension to be payable in future at the Pittsburgh Pa Agency. The following are his reasons for removing from New York to the State of Ohio, to wit [underlined], in order that he might be with his children, some of whom had purchased land and removed to said County of Holmes Ohio. Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid
 [signed] Oramus Holmes
[signed] Seth Hunt
associate Judge

The State of Ohio Holmes County
Before the undersigned one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Please in and for said County Personally came [signed] Joseph Anekny who upon his sollem Oath by me administered deposeth and saith that Orsamus Holmes who has taken the above affidavit is the person therein described. And I further certify that the said [signed] Joseph Anekny is a person of veracity.
May 16, 1835
[signed] Seth Hunt
associate Judge
Page 21

[same page as page 20 in record]

[illegible Rec'dd] 30 May

Application for a Transfer

The State of Ohio}
Holmes County}| SS

On this sixteenth day of May 1835 before me the subscriber One of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Please of Holmes County, Personally appeared Orsamus Holmes who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company Commanded by Captain _ Lusk of the Regt. Commanded by Col. Easton afterward belonged to the Company Commanded by Capt. _ Babcock of the detachment Commanded by Maj. _ Brown and afterward was enlisted under Captain Wheler in the Regt. Commanded by Col. Porter and afterward under Capt. Allen of the Regt. Commanded by Col. Herrick denominated "Green Mountain Boys" in the Army of the Revolution, that his name was placed on the pensin roll of the State of New York, from whence he has lately removed that he now resides in the State of Ohio where he intends to remain and wishes his pension to be payable in future at the Pittsburgh Pa. Agency. The following are his reasons for removing from New York to the State of Ohio, to wit [underlined], in order that he might be with his children, some of whom had purchased land and removed to said County of Holmes Ohio. Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid
[signed] Oramus Holmes
[signed] Seth Hunt
associate Judge

The State of Ohio Holmes County
Before the undersigned one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Please in and for said County Personally came [signed] Joseph Anekny who upon his sollem Oath by me administered deposeth and saith that Orsamus Holmes who has taken the above affidavit is the person therein described. And I further certify that the said [signed] Joseph Anekny is a person of veracity.
May 16, 1835
[signed] Seth Hunt
associate Judge
Page 22

The State of Ohio Holmes County

I Robert K. Enos Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County hereby certify that the Hon. Seth Hunt within named is an acting associate Judge of said court duly commissioned and qualified that his commission as such bear date the eighth day of Februay AD 1832 and will expire the same day of the same month in the year AD 1839 and that the within signatures of him the said Seth Hunt are genuine.

In testimony of the above I hereto sign my name and affirm the seal of said Court at Millersburgh the 16th day of May A.D. 1835.
[signed] R.K. Enos Clerk
Page 23

P Mattesons 
affidavit
Page 24

P Mattesons 
affidavit in the 
case of Mr Holmes
Page 25

State of New York
Genese County Jo

I Philip Matteson testify and say that in the year AD 1777 I inlisted and served as Orderly sergent in the Capt Ebenezer Allens company in the Regiment of Rangers commanded by Col Herrick. And that I was constantly with their company during the campaign of 1777. And I further say that I well recollect that Orsamus Holmes for whose benefit I write this served as a private soldier in said company and that some time in the forepart of the month of November of the year aforesaid, in a scouting party said Holmes was taken prisoner, by the British and carried on to Canada and that some time in the month of October AD 1778 being then at [illegible] in the now State of Vermont I saw said Holmes who had made his escape from the British prison at Montreal, and was then on his way home near Connecticut River in Vermont aforesaid, and further say not
[signed] Philip Matteson

Genesee County Jo

February 20th 1826 Personally appeared before me Philip Matteson formerly of Vermont now residing in the town of Pembroke in the County aforesaid and made solemn Oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me 
[signed] Adna Tenny J P

State of New York
Genesee County
I. Timothy Fitch, Clerk of said county, certify, that Adna Tenny before whom the above affidavit purports to have been taken and made was on the day of the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for said County. And that I am well acquainted with the signature of said Justice subscribed to said affidavit and verily believe the same to be genuine -
"   In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas of said county this nineteenth day of September A.D. 1832
[signed] Timothy Fitch Clerk
By B. Pringle Ca[illegible due to fold in paper]
Page 26

ansd 13 Jan. by
see my  copy of let. to 
Mr. Holmes of 20 Dec.

see let. to W. Holmes
Mar 16, 35
Page 27

House of Reps.
Jan. 12. 1835

James L. Edwards, Esqr.

Dear Sir,
Not long since, I received a letter from Orsamus Holmes, a pensioner of the U.S. under the act of 1832 which states, that in some time ago made application to be transferred from the New York Agency to that of Pittsburgh - that he has received no information in relation to the fate of his application - and that he has not been paid his semiannual payment due on the 4th of last September. Mr. Holmes is an intelligent and reputable old gentleman who formerly resided in the district I now represent, but now resides at Killbuck, Holmes County, Ohio. You will oblige by informing me the state of his application that I may advise him of its situation.
Respectfully, &c.
Abner Hazeltine-
Page 28

f
J L Edwards Esqr
Commission of Pensions
Washington

[sideways in pencil]
Orsamus Holmes 
NY No 6890

[seal in black ink]
[illegible around the edge]
Sep 12
Page 29

J L Edwards Esqr
Sir
We have been informed it was urgent to enclose the within Pension Certificate. and transfer it to you for examination; after which it would be returned to United States Bank for payment: with these instructions we hereby enclose you[line through] it; 
Your very Respectfull
Baldwin, Philips Ho
P.S. The certificate is made payable to D.T. Baldwin of our firm -
New York September 12 1834
Page 30

D Chipmans
affidavit in the case of O Holmes
Page 31


State of New York
Genesee County

I Darius Chipman testify + say that in the year 1777 I lived in the now [illegible] of the State of Vermont + that I inlisted as soldier in the company commanded by Col. Herrick + that I constantly was with the Company during the campaign of 1777 + I further say that I  well recollect that there was a man who inlisted + served in [illegible] Company + served with me in the same + that I have no doubt but that Orsamus Holmes for whose benefit I write this is the same man who served with me in Company as aforesaid + I further say that some time in the fall of the year 1777 that the said Capt. Allen went with part of his Company and undertook to march down Lake Champlain to prevent the enemy from driving off cattle horse & + this took place not long before our term of inlistment expired and I soon after returned home but have a number times since heard Capt. Allen state that the particular circumstances of this expedition + have always understood from [illegible] Allen and them that the [illegible] Orsamus Holmes was one of the party that went with Capt. Allen as aforesaid + that the [illegible] Holmes was taken prisoner by the British and carried in to Canada with some others where he was detained some time + further say not
[signed] Darius Chipman

Genise County
Febry 18th 1826 personally appeared before me Darius Chipman formerly of Vermont now residing in the town of Middleburg in the County aforesaid + made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true before me.
Russel Abel Justice
Page 32

State of New York 
Genesee County jz

I. Timothy Fitch, clerk of said county, certify, that Russel Abel before whom the written affidavit purports to have been taken and made was on the day of the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for said county. and that I am well acquainted with the signature of said Justice subscribed to said affidavit and verily believe the same to be genuine-
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of the court of Common Pleas of said county this nineteenth day of September A.D. 1832-
Timothy Fitch Clerk
By B. Pringle Dep. Clerk

[written in a different hand, upside down]
D Chipman affidavit
Page 33

[black ink stamp of a ships wheel with stars and a bunched flag behind with the words Daughters of the American Revolution on the wheel]

Bureau of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C.
Will you please let me know if you have any record of Feilden Margruder who was a Revolutionary soldier enlisting from Maryland address-
Mrs R.H. Jennings
14 Whitman St. Orangeburg S.C.
(over)
Page 34

Also want record of Heskiah Holmes son of Wm Holmes or Orsamus Holmes (refer to paper enclosed). will appreciate and data you can give on [illegible] him. Please return all papers
Mrs R. H. Jennings
14 WhitmanOrangeburg, S.C.
Page 35

United States Customs Service,
District of Puget Sound,
Office of the Collector,
Port Townsend, Wash., -, 190-.
-
Collector.
Subject:
Page 36

[In pencil, sideways, left side]
O.H. + h.
+6893

[black ink circle stamp, right side]
O.W. [illegible] Mar 2 1906 Files

[typewriter]
Port Townsend, Washington,
February 24, 1906.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.

Sir:
Acting on the suggestion of our State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution,  printed in their preliminary application for membership, I beg to request an abstract of the Revolutionary War record of an ancestor, (Orsmus Holmes, or Orasmus Holmes) as shown by Government records. The following brief summary of his service is condensed from a biographical sketch in the "History of Chautauqua County, N.Y." and may be of assistance in the search:
May, 1775, at 18 years of age, he enlisted in Capt. Wm. Lusk's company, attached to Col. Eaton's regiment, which soon after joined Gen. Montgomery's army at Crown Point. His enlistment expiring in November, 1775, in December of the same year he again enlisted at Sorel. His enlistment having again expired, Dec. 31, 1776, he enlisted in a company of rangers attached to a Green Mountain corps, and in November following participated in the capture of Mt. Defiance, where he was taken prisoner and taken to the Island of Orleans, 9 miles below Quebec, whence he escaped July 27, 1778. Was retaken 17 days afterward and taken to Montreal, and after about a month's imprisonment there made a successful escape.
I shall be pleased to have such verification of Mr. Holmes' war service as your records may afford, with any additional facts which your search may develop.
With thanks for your kind attention, I am, 
Very respectfully,
[signed] W.H. Wilcox
Box 13.

[faded black ink circle date stamp]
U.S. Pension Office A Mar 1 1906
Page 37

SOLDIERS' HOME
H. L. Chamberlain, Commandant
Boise, Idaho

Trustees
Governor James H. Brady
Chairman
Robert Lansdon, Secretary of State
Secretary
D. C. McDougall, Att'y General

Aug 23 - 1909

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C. 

Dear Sir

Orsamus Holmes is on the Revolutionary Roll of the State of Vermont. Can you tell me if he ever drew a pension from the government. Also if so, would you kindly tell me where the pension was paid and when it ceased.

Very Respectfully

H. L. Chamberlain
Page 38

for a statement of the military of the military history of Orsamus Holmes a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ([or his widow's [crossed out]]) application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. F. 2621

[column headings: Dates of enlistment or appointment. Length of service. Rank. Officers under whom service was rendered; Captain. Colonel. State.]

May 1, 1775. 7 mos. Pri. William Lusk. Easton. Green Mountain Boys Vt.
Dec 1, 1775. 5 ". ". Elijah Babcock. Major Brown. Green Mountain Boys Vt.
May 1, 1776. 8 ". ". Wheeler. Porter. Green Mountain Boys Vt.
Sept 1, 1777. 13 ". ". Ebenezer Allen. Kerrick. Green Mountain Boys Vt.

Battles engaged in, Mt. Defiance, Diamond Island
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Pittsfield, Mass., moved thence to to Springfield Vt.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 20, 1832. His cl was al, payable at Albany N.Y.
Residence at date of application, Sheridan, Chautauqua Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, Born Oct. 11, 1757 at Pembroke, Plymouth Co. Mass.
Remarks: Soldier died in Oct. 1835, in Ohio

For date of last payment of soldier's pension and person to whom said paymt. was made, you should apply to the Auditor for the Int Dept., U. S. Treasury Dept., citing the following data: Orsamus Holmes, cef 6893., issued Mch. 8, 1833, under act of June 7, 1832, Ohio, Pittsburg. agency.

Very respectfully,
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of Orsamus Holmes a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ([or his widow's [crossed out]]) application for pension on file in this Bureau. [illegible] 2621. Mar-15, 1906/

[column headings: Dates of enlistment or appointment. Length of service. Rank. Officers under whom service was rendered; Captain. Colonel. State.]

May 1, 1775. 7 mos. Private. William Lusk. Easton. Green Mountain Boys N.H.(Vt.)
Dec 1, 1775. 5 mos. Private. Elijah Babcock. Major Brown. Green Mountain Boys N.H.(Vt.)
May 1, 1776. 8 mos. Private. Wheeler. Porter. Green Mountain Boys N.H.(Vt.)
Sept 1, 1777. 13 mos. Private. Ebenezer Allen. Herrick. Green Mountain Boys N.H.(Vt.)
Soldier was taken prisoner by the British Nov. 12, 1777, conveyed to the Island of Orleans 9 miles form Quebec, put aboard a prison ship at Quebec, made his escape July 27, 1778, 17 days later was captured by the Indians, taken to Montreal where imprisoned and Sept 18, 1778 made a successful escape.

Battles engaged in, Capture of Mt. Defiance, and attack on Diamond Island, NY
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Pittsfield, Mass.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 20, 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Sheridan, Chautauqua Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application, Born Oct. 11, 1757 at Pembroke, Plymouth Co. Mass.
Remarks: He died Oct. 1835, leaving a widow and 9 children, names not mentioned.

Very respectfully,

W. H. Wilcox
Box 13, Port Townsend, Wash.
Commissioner

29581b3m11-05
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Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
AWF/eel

September 16, 1929

Dr. Helen J. Wilcox
209 East State Street
Olean, New York

Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 2621, it appears that Orsamus Holmes was born October 11, 1757, at Pembroke, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

While residing at Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, he enlisted as a private in Captain William Lusk's Company, Colonel Easton's Regiment and went on General Montgomery's Expedition to Canada. He aided in capturing eleven British vessels just above the mouth of the Sorel River and served until November 30, 1775.

On December 1, 1775, at Sorel he enlisted in Captain Elijah Babcock's Company, Major Brown's Detachment, and was at the Siege of Quebec. He was one of the party who marched across the Plains of Abraham to Cape Diamond to give the signal for the attack on that city. He served until April 30, 1776.
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On May 1, 1776, he enlisted at Quebec in Captain Wheeler's Company, Colonel Porter's Regiment and was in the retreat from Canada and served until December 31,1776.

Immediately after he went to Springfield, Vermont, and resided until June, 1777, when he was called out with the militia and served ten days.

On September 1, 1777, he enlisted in Captain Ebenezer Allen's Company, Colonel Herrick's Regiment of Rangers, was at the taking of Mount Defiance, in the attack on Diamond Island and on the the night of November 17, 1777, he was taken prisoner by the British at Belton's Bay, Lake Champlain, and was carried to Quebec and put aboard a prison ship where he remained until July 27, 1778. He with four other prisoners escaped and crossed the Saint Lawrence River, entering the woods and subsisting the first seven days on four hard biscuits and about eight ounces of salt pork a day for the four, and then on the inner bark of the white pine tree. On the seventeenth day after their escape, they were captured by Indians, taken to Montreal and confined in the Provost Prison from which they escaped on the night of September 18, 1778, by leaping from the second story window of the prison, and fourteen days later,

-2-
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after being pursued by Indians, they reached Monkton, Vermont.

He was allowed pension on an application executed October 20, 1832, at which time he resided in Sheridan, Chautauqua County, New York.

In 1835, he lived at Killbuck, Holmes County, Ohio, and in October, 1835, he died leaving a widow, who died prior to April 29, 1840, and nine children. No names are stated and there are no other data as to his family.

Very truly yours,

EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD *
Name Holmes, Philip
Grade Private
Line Massachusetts

WARRANT NUMBER 4337
ACREAGE 100
ISSUED Mar. 26, 1796
To Peter Dwier [Swier?]

* The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD *

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

Name Holmes, Robert
Grade Private
Line Massachusetts

WARRANT NUMBER 4302
ACREAGE 100
ISSUED Sept. 26, 1791
To -- not shown --

* The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.