Mattie Colvin Helton's application for War of 1812 Pension

Here is my research on Martha (Mattie) Helton's application for a War of 1812 pension. It was originally posted by Kelly Robbins at Genforum.com/helton in 2007. A MILLION THANKS, KELLY!!!!!!

The original and responses are at:

http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?mcdaniel::helton::2772.html

Here's the information with notes from my research:

* Widow's pension declaration form: Dated January 30, 1877. Martha Helton is age 90 and living in Bibb County (P.O. Randolph), AL, and is the widow of Joseph Helton, who was drafted into Capt. Hicklom or Hicklin's company, Georgia Volunteers, at Washington County, GA in 1812 and was discharged at Milledgeville, GA in 1812. States she has received a bounty land warrant but does not recollect the number. She was married as Martha Colvin on March 19, 1811, by William Buck [Brick?] [Definitely "Buck"; please see my comment below] at Washington County, GA, and her husband died at Tallapoosa County, AL, on May 10, 1854, and she has not remarried. Signed with her mark. Blake [?] Eddins, age 54, and J.B. Barnet, age 34, attest to her identity.

1. There is a Ruben Hicklin living near Mary McDaniel & John Colvin in Washington County, GA in 1820. Was this Capt. Hicklin? He did serve in the War of 1812. More on this below.

2. Blake Eddins is Blakely Edins/Eddins, Mattie's son-in-law, married to her daughter Elizabeth. 

3. J. B. Barnett is Jackson B. Barnett, son-in-law to Blakely, married to his daughter Eliza. 

* Letter from the pension office dated March 13, 1877, stating that no such Captain can be found in the rolls and asking for further information (did her husband serve under a different name or in a different unit or state?)

1. I couldn't find any evidence of a Captain Hicklin's unit, either. Reuben Hicklin bears further research. 

* Letter from Thomas C. Fullerton, Martha's DC attorney, dated June 25, 1878, stating that "Mrs. Martha Helton--who is very old and illiterate--is still living and after reflecting over her case for a year or more has recalled to mind the fact that her husband had a step-father named McDaniel and two half brothers named McDaniel and that her husband was called McDaniel for a long time although his correct name was Helton. He and the two brothers McDaniel served together and the old lady thinks that her husband might have served under the name of McDaniel." The attorney asks that the records be checked under this name as well.

1. The affadavit says that Mattie is 90 on January 30, 1877. This would put her birth year at 1787.  However, she was illiterate according to the aff, and may not have known her exact age. Is this is why her ages change so much from census to census?

2. You recall that Mattie and Joseph were married in Washington County, GA, in 1811. The earliest U.S. Census we can get for Washington County, GA, is the 1820 Census. In the 1820 Census there is a Ruben Hicklin living near a Mary McDaniel & a John Colvin. 

3. I believe that Mary McDaniel is the mother of Joseph Helton from an earlier marriage, but I haven't yet proved it. Anyway, the connection of Colvin, McDaniel, and Hicklin in one spot in Georgia bears lots more research. 

* A little note saying "see if [illegible] can be found under name of Joseph McDaniel" April 17, 1879. Under that is written "Nihil or no record" April 18, 1879.

* Widow's Brief form: overview form showing Martha Helton, widow of Joseph Helton, P.O. Randolph, Bibb County, AL, applied for a pension February 14, 1877, claiming her husband was drafted in Capt. Hicklom or Hicklin's Co, Georgia Volunteers. On March 1, 1877, the Auditor reported there are no rolls for Capt. Hicklom or Hicklin's company in the Georgia Militia. On April 21, 1879, the pension request was rejected on the ground that there is no record of the organization in which the individual allegedly served and no bounty land on record.

1. I've just gotten into the Georgia Tax records on Ancestry.com. These may reveal more information about the whereabouts of Joseph and thus Mattie Helton before 1830, when Joseph surfaces in Pike County, GA. Here's to more research notes to post soon!