Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1,971, Eleazer Clark, N.H.
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SERVICE  N.H.

Clark, Eleazer 

NUMBER  R. 1971
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DECLARATION in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
STATE OF VERMONT, 
County of Washington ss }  On this 13th day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared before the honorable County Court, within and for the County of Washington Eleazer Clark a resident of Northfield in the County of Washington  and State of Vermont, aged 80 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 he he was ordered out by the Lieut of the company of which he belonged, the Captain being absent and in April 1776 he went to Charlestown New Hampshire and assisted in transporting mortars, [beds?] & shells to Clarendon Vermont to be conveyed by water to Canada.   He served at this time under Lieut. Saml Ashley as he believes between three & four weeks--That about the middle of December 1776 he again entered the service by enlistment in Capt Howards company, which assembled at Northfield Massachusetts & marched to Danbury Connecticut where he first drew rations, then marched to Peekskill & joined the regiment commanded by Col. Pomeroy of Northampton under command of Gen. McDougal.  He enlisted at this time for four months served his time out, and as near as he can recollect was discharged about the middle of April 1777 - In June 1777 he enlisted or volunteered again under Capt Oliver Ashley, 1st Lt. Samuel Ashley, 2nd Lt. Asa Jones, and about the 20th of the same month marched to Rutland Vermont where they joined  Col. Benj Bellows Regiment, and Col. Bellows Regt Joined Col Seth Warners & marched to Ticonderoga, where he arrived about the first of July and remained until the Army left the fort on the 5th or 6th of July, then returned home. - That he served at this time some more than half a month. That in October 1780 he again volunteered under Capt Oliver Ashley Col. Bellows Regiment & set off for
[end of page]
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Royalton, Vermont where the Indians burned that place, & proceeded as for as Hartford [when] they heard the Indians had left Royalton [&] were expected at Newbury - He marched immediately to Newbury, and was absent in this service as near as he can recollect about three weeks. 
He was born in Lebanon, Connecticut 29th April 1752, has no record of his age, but is on record in the town where he was born, lived in Claremont New Hampshire, & Brookfield and Chelsea Vermont & Northfield Vermont where he now resides -- He lived at Claremont New Hamhpshire at each time he entered the service and volunteered.  
Recollects seeing Gen St Clair & Gen Poor, he never received any written discharge nor has he any written evidence of his services-- Nor does he know of any person living who can testify to his services. He states the names of Joel Winch a Clergyman & Henry Knapp who can testify as to his character & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension, or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. [signed] Eleazer Clark

We, Joel Winch a Clergyman residing in the town of Northfield County of Washington and Henry Knapp of Northfield hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Eleazer Clark who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 80 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.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
[signed Joel Winch [and] Henry Knapp

And the said Judge does hereby declare his 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 said Judge  further certifies that it appears to him that Joel Winch who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the said town of Northfield and that Henry Knapp who has also signed the same, is a resident in the said town of Northfield and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Attest, [signed] [Warren] Ellis Judge

I Warren Ellis Judge of the County Court for the said County of Washington do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Judge in the matter of the application of Eleazer Clark for a pension.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of August  A. D. 1832--
Attest, [signed] Warren Ellis  Judge

I hereby certify that Eleazer Clark who has subscribed and Sworn to the foregoing declaration is in my opinion unable to attend court by reason of age & bodily infirmity-
August 13, 1832 [signed] Warren Ellis  Judge
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State of Vermont
Washington County ss} I Joshua Y Vail Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of Washington aforesaid do hereby certify that the Hon. Warren Ellis before whom the within proceedings were had is a Judge of the County Court within and for the County of Washington aforesaid duly appointed & commissioned & acting, as such under the authority of this State and that his name thereto as such is his own proper hand writing.-
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office this 1st day of September AD. 1832
Att. [signed] J.Y. Vail Clerk.

[upside down at bottom]
Eleazer Clark
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3 -- 525 
R. F. 1,971
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS. 
Washington, D. C., _____, 19___ 
In reply to your request of [blank] received [blank] for a statement of the military history of Eleazer Clark a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 

Apr or May 1776 - 2/3 mo. - Pvt - Lieut. Samuel Ashley - N.H.
Dec 1776 - 4 mos - [pvt] - Captain Howard -Colonel Pomeroy
June 1777 - short 1/2 mo. - [pvt] -  Captain Oliver Ashley - Colonel Benjamin Bellows - N.H.
Oct. 1780 - 2/3 of mo. - [pvt] - Captain Oliver Ashley - Colonel Bellows

Battles engaged in, Ticonderoga
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Claremont, N. H. 
Date of application for pension, Aug. 13, 1832
Residence at date of application, Northfield Washington Co. Vt 
Age at date of application, born Apl 29 1752 at Lebanon Conn
Remarks: A wife is referred to but no name is stated and there is no other family data
The claim was rejected on the ground that he did not render  six months service as required by the act of June 7, 1832 under which he applied

Respectfully, Commissioner.
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State of Vermont ⎬ 
Washington County SS. ⎬ Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace within and for said Washington County, Eleazer Clark of Northfield in said County, 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 services as a soldier in the revolutionary War, as set forth in his declaration to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832, but that according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grade -
In April & May 1776 as a private soldier two thirds of one month-} 2/3 month
From middle of Dec. 1776 to middle of April 1777 as a private soldier four months-} 4 months
In June & July 1777 as a private soldier one half a month-} 1/2 month
In Oct. 1780 as a private soldier two thirds of one month- } 2/3 month
making in the whole six months- 6 months
and for which services I claim a pension

That since making his said declaration, he has procured the Deposition of Rachel Goss of Claremont N. H. and that he has not been able to procure the testimony of any other person
[signed] Eleazer Clark

Sworn & subscribed before me at said Northfield in said Washington County on this 14th day of Novr AD. 1836
[signed] John West  Justice of the Peace
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State of Vermont
Washington County ss}
I Joshua Y Vail Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of Washington aforesaid do hereby certify that John West is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County duly appointed & acting under the authority of this State and that his name to the within as such, I believe to be his own proper hand writing -- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court this 19th day of November A.D. 1836 --
[signed] Joshua Y Vail Clerk.
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1.    20ss
     4---
       15
       20
     ------
[total] 4.55
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76 Lt. Saml Ashley - Charlestown N.H.  3 or 4 weeks

Dec.76 Capt Howard Col Pomeroy - Danbury Peekskill  4 mos.

June 77  Oliver Ashley  - Ticonderoga - 15

Oct 80  [Oliver Ashley]  Royalton  abt. 21

[total] 4:64

Suppl Statement     5 mo. 25 only
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West Randolph, VT.
April 29

Free

To J. L. Edwards, Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Pension Office
Washington City
D.C.

[written sideways on left]
May 6
Im. at Vt.

[upside down on bottom]
Elezer Clarke
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West Randolph, Vermont, April 29, 1837
J.L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions} 
D. Sir:  yours of the 22d instant is received saying that the specifications of the time of the service in the statements of Eleazer Clerk, make in the aggregate 5 months and 25 days only, and that his claim is disallowed.
Will you permit me to call your attention again to the computation of the time as specified in his supplemental statement; I drew his supplemental statement, and it is possible that I made some mistake in computing the time. From a memorandum which I retained, it appears that I made his time of service a small fraction over 6 months.
Will you have the goodness to review the computation of the time of the service of Mr. Clark; and if you still find it to be less than six months; will you have the goodness to return the papers to me, that I may have the opportunity of correcting any mistake I may have made in computing the time of service of Mr. Clark
I am, very respectfully
your Obt Sevt
[signed] Edmund Weston
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West Randolph V.T.
April 8

Free

To J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Pension Office
City of Washington
D.C.

[very faint on left side]
Vt
Appn.
Eleazer Clark   Apl 15

Eleazer Clark
Vt  Appn.
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West Randolph, Vermont, April 8, 1837--

J. L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions,

Dr. Sir:  I forwarded you by mail on the 3rd Decr last the papers appertaining to the pension of Eleazer Clark and since then I have not heard from the papers-- If the evidence is not satisfactory to enable the Dept to grant the certificate will you have the goodness to return the papers to me- If the papers are satisfactory please to forward me the certificate of his pension, soon as you have time to examine into the business.
Respectfully yours &c
[signed] Edmund Weston
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To the War Department
Pension Office
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West Randolph, Vermont, December 3, 1836
To the War Department
I send herewith the Declaration of Eleazer Clark of Northfield for the purpose of obtaining a pension under the act of June 7 1832 and also the additional declaration setting for the the time he served &c. The Declaration was sent to the Department some time ago & returned to Mr. Clark as being insufficient. The friends of Mr. Clark after so long a time, have been able to procure the Deposition of Rachel Goss: which is also herewith sent to the Department. It is hoped that the evidence will be satisfactory so that he may obtain his pension without any further delay,  as Mr. Clark is very poor and infirm.  Mr Clark has not been able to obtain any further evidence of his services than what is sent herewith, & probably will not ever find any more-- I hope the claim of Mr. Clark will receive the immediate attention of the Department as his health is such that to do him any personal benefit he should have the pension soon.
If the papers of Mr. Clark are satisfactory please to forward his pension certificate to Edmund Weston West Randolph Vt.  If the papers are not satisfactory please return them all with directions, to the undersigned
Respectfully yours
[signed] Edmund Weston
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I Rachel Gass of Claremont in the County of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire aged 83 years depose and say that I have resided in Claremont sixty years, that in the year 1776 or 1777 Mr Eleazer Clarke who then lived a neighbor to us, was drafted and went into the service of the United States, how long he was absent I do not recollect-
I know he was absent for his wife was taken sick and I went and took care of her. I think I did not remain with her untill M Clarke returned
Rachel Gass X her marke

State of New Hampshire   Sullivan ss⎬ 
Claremant September 29th 1836
Personally appeared before me Uriel Dean one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County Rachel Gass, who I hereby certify is a credible witness, and made oath that the above affidavit by her Signed is in her belief true.
[signed] Uriel Dean Jus. of the Peace
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Eleazer Clark
Vt
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Eleazer Clark, which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes 

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? [blank]

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes

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

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes

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? Yes
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2
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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?
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?
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
except 2d
________________________
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.
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the
applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate
must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of
office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

His name cannot be found on the rolls of
the Newhampshire militia, see Quere 14
above-----
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Eleazer Clark
Rejected
See let to Edmund
Western 22d. Apl.1837
do-do-do-- May 8 '37
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1914 Nov. 5 Hist. to Miss
Gertrude S. Tobey. V. L. M.
Letter in S.F. 19.247 Thomas
Clark.
Act of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
RECEIVED
1971
P. O._______________________
Eleazer Clark
Service:____________________
Enlisted:____________________, 18
Discharged:________________, 18
Application filed:___________, 18
Alleges:_____________________, 18
Re-enlisted:_________________, 18
Attorney:____________________
P. O._________________________
_________Recognized. _________Contract
_________Cert. of Dis. Searched for______, 18