Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4850, Simon Helm, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Helm, Simon
RR. 4850
CONTENTS

Helm, Simon NY R 4850
[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page. The text is mostly illegible due to the orientation and quality of the scan.]

Simon Helms was born in the year of our Lord 1768 January 21
Mary Schoonmaker was born February 20 1771
Married July 1788
John Brins Helm was born April 8 th 1789
Sarah Helms was born February 24 1792
Cornelius Helms was born August 20 th 1794
Abraham Helms was born November 21 1797
Catharine Helms was born April 12 th 1800
Selah J Helms was born November 16 1804
Zachariah J Helms was born February 29 1808

8677
Simon Adair
18 Sep. 32
27 Nov.
5
detailed specification required.
Not completed with.
Amos Gould Auburn
N.Y.
P. 100.

BRIEF in the case of  Simon Holm  of  Springport  in the State of  New York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court.  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Enlisted In 1778 Spring in the Militia, which being divided into companies of 50 men each, he served in each from the time of enrolment till the close of the war, & holding that in each company, he served 5 or 6 months. As a Gen. Capt. Fred. Schuyler, Col. Clinton  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Marbletown N.Y.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? A. D. Deyman & John Carr, Certify to traditional evidence. & Peter Deyman a living witness, proving the service stated in the declaration.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
E. G. Lath Examining Clerk.

Simon Helm
8677

State of New York Cayuga County ss
Peter Helm of Locke in the said county of Cayuga being duly sworn says that he is aged sixty seven years that he is well acquainted with Simon Helm of Springport in said County and was well acquainted with him during the Revolution war that he is a younger brother of the said Simon Helm that they both resided in the town of Mabletown in the County of Ulster in the State of New York during said term. That he well remembers that the said Simon during the spring summer and fall of each year from 1778 until the close of the war was compelled to keep himself in constant readiness to enter the service of the United States as a soldier when required. That he belonged to the company of Militia commanded by Capt. Fredrick Schoonmaker in Colonel John Cantines Regiment. That for a term of eight or nine months in each year the said Simon was almost constantly in the said service and in cases of alarm and as a guard upon the frontiers. As he was then informed and verily believes. That he was absent from home nearly the whole time and went away armed and equipped. That said Simon when at home was generally engaged in no regular business, but was preparing for service when called to go. And that from his knowledge of said services he thinks he must have served in each year from 1778 until the close of the war a term of five or six months.
Sworn & subscribed the 21 st day of August 1832 before me
John Grover Justice of the peace
I certify that the above mentioned Peter Helm is a person of truth and veracity & that his statement is entitled to credit
John Grover Justice

Cayuga County ss I Michael S Myers Clerk of the said County do certify that John Grover before whom the within affidavit was made was on the day of the date thereof & still is a justice of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn and that full faith and credit are to be given to his acts in that capacity - that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said justice and believe his signature to the within affidavit and certificate to be genuine. In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said County and subscribed my name the 17 th day of September A D 1832
M. S. Myers Clerk

State of New-York, {
Wayne COUNTY, } ss.
On this 17 th day of September A. D. 1882
personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Wayne and state of New-York, now setting, Simon Helm a resident of Springport in the County of Wayne and State of New-York, aged 70 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 7th, 1832: — That in the Spring of the year 1778 when of the age of sixteen years, being a resident of the town of Marbletown in the County of Ulster & State of New-York he was enrolled in the company of militia commanded by Captain Fredrick Schoonmaker , Lieutenant John B. Dewitt . Second Lieutenant John A. Dewitt in the Regiment commanded by Col John Cantine . That soon after he was so enrolled the companies in said Regiment were divided into classes, each class containing eight soldiers. that the said classes were so organized for the purpose of guarding the lines against the incursions of the Indians and torys. that said classes were so organized early in every Spring until the close of the war and continued so organized until late in the fall a term of about eight months. That during the whole of said term of eight months in each year from the year 1778 until the close of the war he served as a soldier in one of said classes, that each soldier was compelled to keep himself in constant readiness to march at a moments warning. in cases of alarm. and was also compelled to stand upon guard on the frontiers as a general rule every sixth or seventh night. and that during the whole of said term he performed his duty as such guard. and was frequently in service in cases of alarm, in scouting parties against the Indians. that he lived upon the frontiers and was prevented by frequent incursions of the Indians from attending regularly to any kind of business. that he was some times out for a term of one month and some times a term of two. and some times one week & that during each of said terms, in each year, of eight months he served five or six months as he believes. that the frontier lines upon which he served as guard were from Esopus landing to Minasink . that he never served with any continental regiment & that he never received a regular written discharge from said service.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State or territory
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Simon Helm

For, Isaac Smith a Clugyman residing in Ledyard in Cayuga County and Jonathan Carr residing in Springport in said County do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Simon Helm who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding declaration; that we believe him to be 70 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood 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. by Isaac Smith the 4 th day of September A.D. 1832 before me John E Williams
day } Isaac Smith Jonathan Carr
Justice of the peace } The said Jonathan Carr sworn the 17 th day of Sep. 1832 before me John Grover
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them, that Isaac Smith who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clugyman resident in Ledyard and Jonathan Carr who has also signed the same, is a resident in Springport and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Michael L. Myer Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Cayuga and State of New-York, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Simon Helm for a pension.
I further certify that John E Williams & John Grover before whom the foregoing certificate was made were, the said Williams on the 4 th & the said Grover on the 17 th days of Septem- ber instant, two of the justices of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn and that full faith and credit are to be given to their acts in that capacity, that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Williams and the said John Grover and believe their signatures respectively to the said certificate to be genuine In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Court and subscribed my name the 17 th day of September 1832

mmms
August 14, 1925
G. S. Van Gorder 985 Ellicott Square Buffalo, New York.
Sir:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 4850 it appears that Simon el Hem was born February 21, 1762, the place not stated.
While a resident of Springport, Cayuga County, New York he applied for pension September 17, 1832 and stated that while residing in Marbletown, Ulster County, New York he enlisted in the spring of 1778 and served as Indian Spy in Captain Frederick Schoonmaker's Company, Colonel John Cantine's New York Regiment, was on various scouting parties on the frontiers in each succeeding year until the close of the Revolution.
His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish specific proof of the alleged service as required by the pension laws. He died May 3, 1835.
Soldier married July 9, 1788, Mary Schoonmaker born

February 20, 1771, both of Shawangunk, Ulster County, New York at date of marriage and continued to live there for twenty years. In 1852 she was living in Livonia, Livingston County, New York. Their children were:
John Perrine born April 8, 1789. Sarah " February 24, 1792. Cornelius " August 20, 1794. Abraham " November 21, 1797. Catharine " April 12, 1800. Selah T. " November 16, 1804. Zachariah S. " February 29, 1808.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.
Bro. Peter

F
4850
P. O.
Simon Helm
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed"> Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: Printed list of 1882 fine as cause of suspension: "No specific narrative - no details of service so need a survey to enable." Re-enlisted: an adjustment of a prorata pension"
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Simon Helm
New York
Act 7. June 1832
Suspended Letter
To Amos Gould
January 18 th 1833
4850

John Eastline Conner Gorens Ary Major Captain Schoemaker

LAW OFFICE GREENLEAF S. VAN GORDER 985 ELLICOTT SQUARE BUFFALO, N. Y.
June 26, 1925.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Simon Helm, born about February 21, 1762, was a soldier in the War of the Revolution from Ulster County, New York. He served under Colonel Levi Pawling, Ulster County Militia. Was he ever granted a pension? An early reply will oblige,
Yours truly,
A handwritten signature in cursive script, reading "G. Van Gorder", positioned to the right of the closing "Yours truly,".
V/J.

Sir
Auburn NY Dec 24 1832
Enclosed I return the papers in the case of Simon Helm with the objection answered so far as he is able to answer it as you will see by reference to the papers. Enclosed is also the paper of yours containing the objection.
If they shall not now be deemed sufficient will you please suggest the proper course for Mr Helm to take in order to satisfy you that he has served as he states. If you wish traditional proof he can furnish it. He is a simple, honest, & illiterate Dutchman and cannot remember as well some people but without doubt served as he states.
Hon J S Edwards
Yours Respectfully
J Gould

Mary Helm
widow
Simon Helm
Mar 1832
Ex G. H. E. Hassler
Aug 1852

POWER OF ATTORNEY
Resolutions
For ascertaining whether any increase or arrears of Pension are due the Widow or heirs of Revolutionary Pensioners, &c.*
State of New York County of Livingston }
Be it known that before me
Mary Helm a personally appeared aged 82 years, who being duly cautioned and then sworn in due form of law, states that She is the widow of Simon Helm who was a Revolutionary Soldier, or Pensioner of the State of New York and that he died on the 3rd day of May 1835 and that mother named  died on the  day of  18 and that they were married on the 9 day of July in the year 1788 and that they were residents of Shawangunk in the State of New York ( Ulster Co ) and that they resided there 20 years, and that She resides in Sylvania Livingston Co. and that furthermore She BY THESE PRESENTS, constitutes, appoints and fully empowers and authorises irrevocably and with powers of substitution—F. E. Hassler of Washington City, D. C., as her true and lawful Attorney for her and in her name and stead, to examine into, to prosecute, to demand, and to receive from the U. S. Government Officers her rights in all and in any manner of claim for increase or arrears of Pension or Land, that may be due her as wife of Simon Helm who died leaving the same undrawn, as in right of law, custom, or equity She is or may be entitled.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF She has on this day of 1852. hereunto signed her name and affixed her seal.
Witness: Leman Gibbs  Mary Helm Witness: Walter Martin
Signed, Sealed, acknowledged and Sworn to before me, on this 15 day of May 1852
Leman Gibbs J. P.
At the same time personally appeared before me  Walter Martin two credible and disinterested witnesses named and Adam L. Rimbach residents of the aforesaid County and State, who having been by me cautioned and then duly sworn according to law, do depose and say each for himself, that Simon Helm was a Revolutionary soldier and that Mary Helm was by him always treated as and is by the witnesses believed to be the wife of the said Revolutionary Soldier.
Walter Martin 
AD Rimbach 
Sworn to before me the day and year first above written.
Leman Gibbs J. P.
of } to wit:
County of Leman Gibbs Esq., before whom the foregoing affidavits and acknowledgment were made, and who has thereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned  electa and sworn, and that his signature above written is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of Livingston County Court , this 19th day of July one thousand eight hundred and fifty/one
Israel D. Root Clerk.
* If a Widow applies state "the date of marriage, and date of death of her husband."

State of New York Cayuga County } ss Personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace in and for said County Simon Helm of Spring- port in said County who being duly sworn deposes and says that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the period mentioned below and in the following grade. For two years and three months I served as a private soldier and for such service I claim a pension.
He further says that he cannot specify his terms of service more particularly than he has done in his accompanying declaration. That he continued a soldier in the Company of Militia commanded by Captain Frederick Schoonmaker in the Regiment commanded by Col John Cantine as mentioned in said declaration and was under the control & manage- ment of the officers of said company during said term, and that most of his services were performed in said company and under the direction of said officers of said company, some times under the captain some times under the Lieutenant, and other subordinate officers, that his service under said subordinate officers was performed in scouting parties, and as an Indian spy. That the reason why he does not specify his particular terms of service is that they were almost constant and continued, that when absent from service it was but a very few days at a time and then for the purpose of recruiting & preparing for preparing his arms and equipage for future service, but that the whole term of his absence in each year during eight months could not have been more than two months or two months & a half or three months . That it was not cus-

stationary for the said company to serve all together but it was stationed frequently in detachments along the frontiers as a guard and frequently was sent detachments were frequently sent out to scout and act as spies in discovering and giving notice of the approach of the Indians Sworn & Subscribed the 24 th day of December AD 1832 before me John Grover Justice of the Peace
Simon He Symonds
I certify that the said Simon Helm is a man of truth & veracity Dec 24 1832
John Grover Justice
State of New York
Cayuga County & ss
I Michael S Myers Clerk of said County do certify that John Grover before whom the foregoing affidavit was made was on the day of the date thereof a justice of the peace in & for said County - that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said justice and believe his signature to the said affidavit and the above certificate to be genuine
Witness my hand and Seal of office the 24 th day of December 1832
M. S. Myers

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Simon Adkin which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? gg II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? gg 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? gg V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? No The declaration should specify his term of service - the act contemplates an actual service in some embodied corps organized & commanded agreeably to Martial Law. VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? gg VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? gg VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? gg IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? gg X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? gg

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 revolutionary service? yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? _____ XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? _____ XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? yes And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? yes 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? yes XVI. † Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? 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 positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than 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."

A. Gould
By 18.33
06.
(P 221)
Recorded Vol. 8 Page 238.

Dear Mr. Pratt
Pension Off.
Jany 1833
Sir
The claim of Simon Nelson has been again examined - The objection for which it was returned to you has not been removed by a compliance with the instruction inserted after the 5 th Question in the truf. The act of 7 th June 1832 provides a pro rata pension for the precise period of  actual service in a military capacity in some corps embodied & commanded by Competent authority. All patrol & guard duty (which was often rendered under the orders of the civil authority) is excluded from its benefits - As the claimant declines a specification of the terms and an account of the objects & character of each tour of service , it is inferred that he has not a sufficient recollection & knowledge of his service  claim to make it the foundation of a claim - His case is suspended this paper placed on file
Recd 1 Jany 1833 act 7 th June
C. L. Gould Esq. (Auburn)