REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION AFFIDAVIT - PETER HELPHINSTONE

Copyright (c) 2002 by Janet Putt Neville.  [jandneville@yahoo.com]

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Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection



Helphinstone, Peter  (Helphinstin, Helvinstine, Helvinstone)
 Pen.184                                     1786-1804    
Major-8th Virginia Regiment
Frederick County

Widow: Catharine  4 children


In the House of Delegates, Friday 28th of November, 1788
  Mr. Richard Lee reported from the Committee of Claims, that the Committee had, 
according to orders, had under their consideration the petition of Catharine 
Helphinstone to them referred and had agreed upon a report and came to a 
resolution thereupon and which he read in his places and afterwards delivered in 
at the Clerk's table where the same again was twice read and agreed to by the 
House as followeth:
  It appears to your Committee that the petitioner's late husband Peter 
Helphinstone, at the commencement of the late war, settled in the town of 
Winchester as a reputable Townsman and by his case and industry supported his 
family in a decent competency; that in the year 1776 he enlisted into the Army 
with the rank of Major, and marched with the 8th Virginia Regiment out to South 
Carolina, where he contracted an Indisposition, which compelled him to resign in 
a few months, and soon after put a period to his life.
  It further appears to your Committee that soon after the death of 
the petitioner's said husband, she was reduced to very indigent circumstances, 
having four children to support: in consideration of which the General Assembly 
at their session held in the month of May 1784 rated the petitioner 40 pounds 
for her then present relief. And also an annuity of 20 pounds per annum to 
continue for the term of five years.  (rest of the document is cut off on the 
bottom)

  I do with the advice of the Council hereby certify that Catharine 
Helphinstone, widow of the late Major Peter Helphinstone of the 8th Virg. 
Regiment is allowed the sum of twenty pounds yearly from the first day of June 
1789 pursuant to a resolution of the General Assembly of the 28th or 29th day of 
November 1788.  Given under my hand as Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, 
at Richmond, this 30th of November 1789.
Samuel Coleman                          Signed: Beverly Randolph


Catharine Helphinstone died on February 13, 1803.  Last payment of $7.96 paid to 
administrator of her estate, Conrad Kremer in January 13, 1804.