Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L. Wt. 15181-160-55, George Hilts, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Hilts George George Jr or
B.L.W. 15/81-160-557
CONTENTS

121. 556/ act Mar. 3/35
1917 Feb. 14 Hist. Soc. Miss Abbie M. Hilts.
Downy 7/35
St George Hilts Ohio
Capt Thaxter Col Bellinger Gen Herriman M. Y. Mail
Ent 1778 Loss 1783
Private Joseph Warren Rev. War
No 15
As 1600s June 28th 56 at ...
new
C. C. Tucker Present
Vol. No. 5. 100

George Hiltz Application for 160 acres of Bounty Land under the Act of March 3 d 1855. for Revolutionary Services.
121,536
Bounty Land Claim
Act of Mar 3. 1855
George Hiltz
Revoy Services.
Chas. C. Tucker Atty Present.

State of New York Herkimer County 38
On this Twelfth day of May A.D. 1883 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid George Hill, on the 17th day of April last aged ninety three years, a resident of the town of Herkimer in the said County of Herkimer and State of New York who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical George Hill who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Henry Koster in the Regiment of Infantry of the Militia of the State of New York commanded by Col. Peter Bellinger in Genl. Herkimer's Brigade in the War of the Revolution; that at the age of Sixteen years, which was the age at which able bodied men were at that period subject to military duty, and which was in the year A.D. 1778 at Herkimer aforesaid where he was born and where he then and has ever since resided. He was enrolled in the said Company commanded by Capt. Henry Koster and with the said Company en masse under General Orders entered into service at Fort Dayton at Herkimer where the said Company except an occasional temporary absence on military duty away from said Fort, was permanently stationed both Summer and Winter from the time of his enrollment to the close of the said War in the year 1783, that the service required of and performed by him and the said Company at said Fort Dayton during the whole of the said period he was stationed there from the said year 1778 the date of his said enrollment and entering into said service to the close of the said War in the year 1783, except temporary suspensions in the several Winter seasons of those years, was the ordinary garrison duty such as guard duty by day and by night and a regular daily attendance in the morning of each day except Sundays for the purpose of Roll call, and for occasional parades, that these services were attended and enforced by the usual penalties and punishments observed in Garrisons, such as corporal punishment fines and imprisonment in the Guard House, that these services were rendered necessary and performed under general orders at the always understood and believed and as he now

understands and believes on account of the exposed condition of the place and settlement. Herkimer being at that time the most remote and extreme Western Settlement in the State of New York, that on account of its exposed situation and the continual depredations and murders of its inhabitants by a Savage and Tory Enemy, a Fort by the Orders of the Government, called Fort Dayton was built where the Village of Herkimer has since been built and is now standing; that during the said period aforesaid, all their houses and dwellings having been burnt or rendered unsafe as residences by the enemy, the entire population men women and children, such as remained and did not fly to other more settled and secure places, were congregated and lived in said Fort Dayton and it was for their defense and protection and the protection and defense of the said Fort and to save from entire abandonment of the said settlement and place, that the said Fort was built and the said military service was ordered and organized and kept up and enforced as aforesaid during the said period aforesaid, that from the time of the commencement of the building of said Fort, which he thinks although he is not certain was as early as the year 1777, small parties of Regular Soldiers were stationed at and Garrisoned in said Fort Dayton and with whom the said Militia Company acted in concert. That he remembers well that on the occasion of the murder of Isaac
Skinners at Little Falls seven miles below Herkimer by the Indians and Tories early in the Spring when the snow was yet so deep as to require Snow Shoes to travel in the woods the year he does not now remember and cannot state he and the members of the said company of Militia of Capt. Hart and a Party of said Regular troops under Lt. Duty or Dootty went in pursuit of the enemy and after abandoning the pursuit went to Little Falls and from thence on the second day after leaving Fort Dayton returned by way of Fort Herkimer at Germanflats where a party of Regular troops was also occasionally stationed as well as at Fort Dayton, that what pertained to the said military service of him and the said company of Capt. Hart whilst they were so stationed and garrisoned at Fort Dayton as

to reside until his death and that during his absence the Command of the said Company devolved upon and as he thinks the said Company was actually Commanded by Lt. John Demuth who was the Lieutenant of said Company and by whom and in whose name as the Commandant of the same the Rolls of the said Company may during the absence of said Capt. Carter have been made and kept. And he further states that from the said time of his enrolment and entering into the service as aforesaid he was a true and faithful subject of the Government of the United States. That he was a true and firm supporter of the cause of Freedom and a true and faithful Soldier in the service of the United States and that he at all times obeyed the orders and performed the military services imposed upon or required of him in the said War of the Rebellion by the authorities and Government of the United States with alacrity and promptness, and that although he cannot state how long he has actually served in said War taking his said service altogether yet he believes and has no hesitation to say and he therefore does say and declare that he served in the said War fourteen days and more.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land to which he may be entitled under the Act approved March 3 rd 1855. He also declares that he has not received a Warrant for Bounty Land under this or any other Act of Congress nor made any other application therefor and he hereby constitutes and appoints Charles C. Tucker of Washington City D.C. his Attorney to prosecute his claim and receive his Warrant; Hereby authorizing and empowering his said Attorney to obtain from the proper authorities at Washington City or elsewhere, certified copies of any Army or other records or documents in which his said service may be recorded and to procure any and all other evidence that may be necessary to establish his claim as fully as he might or could do if personally present; and revoking hereby all other authority that may have been given for the above

6 Specific Purpose -
George his Hill mark
We John Harker and John D. Vincent residents of the town of Hunkins, in the State of New York, upon our oaths, declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by George Hill in our presence, and that we be- lieve, from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be, and that he signed the same by making his mark
John Harker J. D. Vincent
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person he represents himself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim; and I further certify that the said claimant signed the foregoing declaration by making his mark for the reason that he cannot write, and that the interlineation of the words "on the 17 th day of April last" in the 3 rd line of page 1 and the words "Fort was built and the said" in the 16 th line of page 2 and the words "within" and "later" on page 3, and the words "and to dig the trenches, set them up and fasten them in the ground" in the 3 rd line of page 4, also the word "services" in the 6 th line of the same page and the allusion to the killing of an Indian written on the margin of and to be read as an interlineation in the 30 th line of the word "precision" of the same page were all written and made, before the signing, swearing and acknowledging of the said declaration by the said George Hill the claimant.
David Rasbach Justice of the Peace
I am of full age and in my own right

State of New York, HERKIMER COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, } ss.
E. T. CLELAND, Clerk of the County of Herkimer, do certify that David Rosbach Esquire, whose name is subscribed to the certificate and jurat of affidavit of the annexed instrument, was at the date thereof, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county, dwelling in said county, duly elected and sworn; and that I am well acquainted with his hand-writing, and verily believe the name subscribed to the said certificate and jurat of affidavit, to be his genuine signature.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said county, at Herkimer, this
2 nd day of May A. D. 185 6 E. T. Cleland Clerk.

Northamer May 2 d 1855
Charles C. Tucker Esq Dear Sir
I forward herewith the application for Bounty Land under the act of March 3. 1833 of Mr. Geo. Hilt a Revolutionary Soldier aged Ninety Three Years. Our only hope of success is that you may find the Rolls of Capt. Hester of the Revolution. These Rolls I have understood years ago, were either at Washington or Albany in this State. Giles B. Yates who is somewhat famous for obtaining Pensions has knowledge of these Rolls and the description of service and if you have any acquaintance with him will no doubt be able to give you information in relation to them. About the year 1832 I made out papers for Pensions under that act for quite a

I should like to be important to my country find old men and in museum what and testify to the nature of the service required at Fort Dayton and the loyalty and patriotism of those who served there and that the service of Elias Diggins Patriot, but the nature of the service required rendered him
number of the old men who lived and served at Northumberland the Revolution and in the same Company of Capt. Hart and among them I remember Mr. Dockstader and Christopher Bellinger in whose papers an and to which is entitled all of my and life at Washington is detailed that same Garrison Service mentioned by Mr. Hiltz with great particularity, but was not recognized as military service coming within the act and entitled to a pension. I have inserted a power as a make weight to the specific service of Mr. Hiltz of fifteen days. Mr. Hiltz swears he served in getting out and putting up the pickets or palisades for the blockade around Fort Dayton. 4 days - In getting out the timber for and putting up the Block House 4 days - In pursuit of the Enemy when Skinner was murdered at Little Falls 2 days. out as a scout with others to Germantown 1 day. and on duty as a sentinal & guard the workmen on the Block House by the same day when the enemy did approach the Block House for the purpose of an attack and when one of the enemy was killed by a regular soldier named Philips 1 day making in all 15 days actual and specific service. This service you will perceive is exclusive of his ordinary and daily garrison duty at Fort Dayton from the year 1778 to the close of the War in 1783. all the men Dockstader Bellinger and others who spoke of this service, set it forth as a daily uninterrupted service and claimed it as a regular service entitled to a pension but it was disallowed and has been disallowed. Mr. Hiltz never made application, being unable to prove specific service enough for a pension.

V.L.M. Rev. War Section.
November 14, 1917.
Miss Abbie M. Hilts, Cape Vincent, New York.
Madam:
In response to your letter dated the 9 th instant, you are advised that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau show that George or George N. Hilts, son of Nicholas Hilts, was born April 17, 1763, at Herkimer, New York, and in 1778 was enrolled in Captain Henry Harter's Company, Colonel Peter Bellinger's New York Regiment, and was stationed at Fort Dayton, where said Company was permanently located, and did military duty at least seven months of each year until 1783.
In 1855 he was a resident of Herkimer, New York. There is no other data on file as to his family.
He was allowed 160 acres of bounty land on Warrant No. 15,181 on account of the above service.
The above noted is the only soldier of that name found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Very respectfully,
J. M. [Signature] Commissioner.

State of New York Herkimer County
On this 23 rd day of August A.D. 1855 before me David Hubbach a Justice of the peace in and for said County and State personally appeared George Hiltz aged Ninety three Years who being by me duly sworn according to law did depose and say that he was a Soldier and served in the War of the revolution in a Company of Militia Commanded by Capt. Henry Hartter in the Regiment Commanded by Col. Peter Bellingr in Genl. Nicholas Herkimer's Brigade, that he was enrolled in said Company when he arrived at the age of sixteen Years which he thinks was in the year 1778 and that he continued a member of said Company and served therein to the close of said War and that he never was enrolled or served in any other that he is aware, that his fathers name who also served in said War was Nicholas Hiltz. That at the time of his enrolment there were living at and within about four miles of Herkimer where he then and has ever since resided, two other men by the name of George Hiltz who were kinsmen of his and both were older than himself, one of whom was living in Shellsbush about four miles from Herkimer and the other within a mile or two of Herkimer, that is where the Village of Herkimer now is, and where Fort Dayton then stood, and he thinks that the George Hiltz living nearest the Village performed military duty also in the said Company of Capt. Henry Hartter.

that to distinguish him from the said elder George Hiltz his name on the Rolls of the Company and at all times elsewhere was written and he was called George A. Hiltz and that his name was continued on all occasions to be so written and he was so called until the Year of the Epidemic which he thinks was in the Year 1809 when the last of the said two elder George Hiltz died with the Epidemic, and when he dropped the middle letter in his name, and has ever since the said Year 1809 wrote his name and been called and known as George Hiltz, and that in his application by him recently made and forwarded to the Department for Bounty Land for his Revolutionary Service under the act of March 3. 1855, he calls himself George Hiltz, but that the said Services were so rendered by him in the name of George A. Hiltz by which name he was then known and entered on the Rolls of the Company and to which he was then in habit after answering daily at Roll Call and on all other occasions until the death of the said Elder George Hiltz in the Year 1809 as aforesaid.
George his Hiltz mark
The foregoing Affidavit was subscribed by the said George Hiltz by making his mark and sworn to by him before me on the day & Year above written; and I certify that I am well acquainted with the said George Hiltz and that he signed and swore to the said declaration by him in the foregoing

Affidavit referred to, before me and that I know him to be the person he repre- sents himself to be and that his State- ment is entitled to full faith & credit. And further that he signed the foregoing Affidavit by making his mark for the reason as alleged by him, that he cannot write.
David Rachach Justice of the Peace
State of New York Herkimer County } ss:
John Harter aged Sixty Seven and Matthew Smith aged Sixty three years both of Herkimer in said County being duly sworn both say that they are well acquainted and from their infancy have been well acquainted with George Hiltz of Herkimer who as they are advised is an applicant for bounty land under the act of March 3. 1855 and who had subscribed the foregoing Affidavit, that when they became first acquainted with the said Hiltz which is over fifty years ago the said Hiltz was called and known as George A. Hiltz. That they were also acquainted with Nicholas Hiltz the father of the said George Hiltz, and that they were also acquainted many years ago with another George Hiltz who lived in Shellbush and died many years ago and that since the death of the said George Hiltz of Shellbush the said George Hiltz who was formerly

Known as George N. Hiltz had been the only survivor of the said two. George Hiltz mention ed and who is still surviving - and that although there have been other and younger George Hiltz with whom they have been and are now acquainted yet none of the said younger Georg's are old enough to have served in the revolutionary war and they further state that from what they have always understood from their infancy from the old people who are now dead they believe and have no doubt the said George Hiltz who was formerly known as George N. Hiltz was a soldier in the revolution- ary war.
John Harten
Matthew Smith
Subscribed & dated hereon this 24 th day of August A.D. 1855 and I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said Affiants and know them to be persons of full credit and their statements are entitled to full credit & faith.
David Rasher of the Peace

York, ERRK'S OFFICE, } ss.
X. E. CLELAND, Clerk of the County of Herkimer, DO CERTIFY that David Rasbach Esquire, whose name is subscribed to the certificate and jurat of affidavit of the annexed instrument, was at the date thereof, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county, dwelling in said county, duly elected and sworn; and that I am well acquainted with his handwriting, and verily believe the name subscribed to the said certificate and jurat of affidavit, to be his genuine signature.
hereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said county, at Herkimer, this
24 day of August A. D. 1856
E. Cleland Clerk.

Bounty Land Claim
Act of Mar 3. 1855.
No 121. 856
George Hilt
Add. evidence
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Chas. B. Tucker Present

State of New-York, COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.
Albany, August 22 1855.
I Hereby Certify , That on searching the Records in this office for the Registry of Certificates issued in pursuance of a law, passed April 27, 1784, entitled "An Act for the settlement of the pay of Levies and Militia for their services in the late war, and for other purposes therein mentioned," I find the following, viz:
   NAMES. No. of BOOK. NO. OF CERTIFICATE. DATE. £    s.    D. RANK AND NAME OF COMPANY OFFICER. RANK AND NAME OF FIELD OFFICER.   £ s. D.     George N. Hiltz Private 5 20.548 June 1. 1782 1 17 4 Lt. John Dermuth Col. Peter Bellinger Jr.   Geo. N. Hiltz " 5 20.678 Sep. 1. 1779 3 14 8 Capt Hendrick Herder " Peter Bellinger   Geo. N. Hiltz " 5 20.794 Aug 1. 1780 3 " 5 1/2 " Henry Herder " Peter Bellinger   £ 8 12 5 1/2  
I have examined the Rolls for the items above set forth, and find them to be correct.
W. S. Haswell Clerk.
Philip Schuyler Comptroller.

Rev Sec H Cape Vincent, N. Y.
Nov. 9, 1917.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir—
Will you please tell me if there are any records of a pension having been granted to a Revolutionary soldier by the name of George Keilt or Hiltz ? His wife's name was Maria E. Feller, and he was from the state of New York. Also if there are any records concerning a Joel Bacon, whose wife's name was Lydia? He was from New England.
I shall be greatly obliged for any information you can give me, or put me in the way of getting, concerning these two men.
Yours sincerely,
(Miss) Abbie W. Keilt.
Box 298 taken from envelope

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15.780
3
160 Aug