Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20,890, Gershom Clark, Conn.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Conn. Clark, Gershom W. 20890
Lavina
CONTENTS
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Vermont 4473.
Lavina Clark widow of Gersham Clark decd
Con
who  and who died on the 3d Febry 1815 of Windsor Co in the State of Connt who was a private in the conn commanded by Captain Clark of the regt commanded by Col Putnam in the Connt line for 7 mos 6 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont of 24 Dollars - Cents per annum, on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Oct 1839 & sent to G. F. Yates Schenectady, N. Y.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1839 $ 84.00
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Mar 40 12.00
$96.00
Act July 7, 1838.
Recorded by D.M. Curdy Clerk,
Book A Vol. 2 Page 36
Paid at the treasury under the act
of April 6th 1838 from 4th March to
to 14th May 1840. Agt notifd April 16th 1842
Dead
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61501 Vermont
Gershom Clark
In the matter of the application of Lavina Clark widow of Gershom Clark decd under the act of 7th July 1838
No 76.215
Agent Giles F. Yates Admd Schenectada N. Y.
7 mo. 6 days
24.11
no deduction
G. F. Yates
Schenectada
N. Y.
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State of Vermont, }
District & County of Windsor, ss. } On this first day of June, eightteen hundred and thirty nine, personally appeared before the Hon. the Probate Court for the District of Windsor in said County of Windsor, Lavina Clark, a resident of Weathersfield in said District aged eighty five years on the tenth day of June eighteen hundred and thirty eight, who being duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 7th entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" That she is the widow of Gersham Clark who was a private in the War of the Revolution, and served at the Battle of Bunker Hill, in seventeen hundred and seventy five, on which occasion he was wounded by a musket shot; That she cannot now tell the exact time of his enlistment, though she was well acquainted with him before and at that time, but she is confident that it was in the spring of seventeen hundred and seventeen and seventy five; and from her great age and consequent loss of memory she cannot say with certainty for what length of time he enlisted, but she thinks it was not less than six months or over nine months; That her said husband, as she always understood, belonged to the company commanded by Capt. James Clark, and in Colonel Israel Putnam's Regiment; that her said husband was confined by the wound aforesaid for a long time after the said Battle, and was brought home to Lebanon in the State of Connecticut, some time in the fall of the same year, (1775) where he remained for
some time, until he was so far recovered from his wound as to be able to walk, when he returned to the army and remained there to the end of his term for which he enlisted; that her said husband, in consequence of the wound received as aforesaid, was subsequently placed upon the invalid Pension List, and continued in the receipt of a pension to the day of his death; that for the length of time which her said husband served she must depend for proof on the Records and files of the War Department, and on the evidence herewith furnished she further declares that she was married to the said Gersham Clark on the second day of May, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six, at Lebanon in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut by the Rev. Mr. Brockway; her former name being Lavina Wright, that her husband, the aforesaid Gersham Clark, died at Weathersfield in said County of Windsor, on the third day of February in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen; That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place
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previous to the first day of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz. at the time above stated
Lavina Clark
Witness Thomas Richards
Thomas F. Hammond
Sworn to and subscribed this first day of June A.D. eighteen hundred and thirty nine before me, the words "and seventeen hundred "erased, and the word "what" interlined, before signing
Thomas F. Hammond, Judge of said Probate Court
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State of Vermont } Weathersfield Town Clerk's office
County of Windsor, ss. } July 26th AD 1839
I certify that the following is a true copy of the record of the births of the children of the late Gershom Clark and his wife Levinia as the same
is contained in the town Records of the town of Weathersfield in said County and that the dates are expressed on the record in fair legible figures, as follows
The birth of Gershom Clark's Children
Levina Clark daughter of Gershom Clark born February the 13th 1777
Patty Clark daughter of Gershom Clark was born 29th January 1779
Harvey Clark Son of Gershom Clark was born November the 23rd 1780
Jesse Clark Son of Gershom Clark was born the 19th of September 1782
Azubah Clark daughter of Gershom Clark was born July 1st 1784
Gershom Clark Jun. Son of Gershom Clark was born February the 9th 1786 Attest Gershom Clark Recd for record 14th of June 1787 and recorded
Per Gershom Clark Town Clerk
Horace Clark Son of Gershom and Levine Clark born 12th of November 1790 Attest Gershom Clark
Levine Clark
Recorded March the 4th 1791 by me
Gershom Clark T. Clerk
Lucretia Clark daughter of Gershom and Levine Clark born the 20 of January 1788 Attest Gershom and Levine Clark
Recorded 4th of March 1791 by me
Gershom Clerk T. Clerk
●
the above record is all contained on one page of the town records of
said town and in regular succession with spaces similar to the above
Copy; from which it appears that Levina Clark by me not
doubted to be the daughter of Gershom and Levina Clark was
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born on the thirteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven - And Patty Clark daughter of the said Gershom and Levina was born on the twenty ninth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine
Joshua Upham
I Joshua Upham above named, depose and say: that I hold the office of Town Clerk of said town and that the above is a true extract from records of said town as certified by me.
Joshua Upham
Sworn to before me this 27th day of July AD 1839
Calvin Ward Justice of the Peace
State of Vermont } I Lyndon A. Marsh, Deputy Clerk
Windsor County, Ss } of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Calvin Ward is an acting Justice of  the Peace, in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, that his commission was dated on the seventh day of November 1838 and will expire on the last day of November 1839 and that his signature above written is genuine-
Given under my hand and the seal of said County Court this first day of August 1839-
L A Marsh, Deputy Clerk
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Gershom Clark
210
Giles F Yates Esq
Schenectada N.Y.
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State of New York
Otsego County

Jerome Clark of Cherry Valley Otsego Cunty N.Y. being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is a Pensioner of the United States Army has for many years received a pension -- He further saith that Gershom Clark now deceased was a brother of this deponent. That
this deponent his brother Gershom resided in Lebanon Windsor County Conn. In the year 1775 [mark] both joined a volunteer company of which James Clark was Captain 
and Andrew Fitch Leiutenant & Thomas Bill Ensign. The company was a volunteer company & went to Roxbury there enlisted in the State service of the State of Conn.
The Regament to which said Company belonged after the enlistment was under the command of Col. Israel Putnam. This deponent & his brother Gershom Clark now deceased were both in the battle at Bunker Hill in the year 1775 & in that memorable battle
the said Gershom was wounded, a ball having passed through his body. He was immediately taken to the to the Hospital & was the care of by this deponent
for more than three months as this deponent [thinks?] untill he was able to be moved home to Lebanon & for more than a year after that he was unable to labor & none entirely recovered during his life
The whole company were volunteers. He did not service under more than one [illegible] or
gagement. The Company enlisted either at Roxbury or Cambridge. They first went to Roxbury & then to Cambridge & this deponent cannot say whether they enlisted
while at Roxbury or not untill they encamped at Cambridge. The company enlisted some few months or a short time before the Battle of Bunker Hill. The said Gershom belonged to the Company at the
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time they enlisted & remaining in the same untill he was wounded as above stated. He resided at the time of his enlistment or his home was in Lebanon Union County Conn. The Battle at Bunker Hill was the only battle in which said Gershom was engaged. This deponent cannot say whether Gershom
Clark was received a regular discharge or not
He went home on furlow as an invalid & was
unable to return untill after the company were
discharged. He received his pay for the whole
time the company were enlisted for as long a time as this deponent receiving his who belonged to the company during the whole enlistment [inserted with carat: which was for six months] & served his 
time & obtained a regular discharge and
further this deponent saith not
was subscribed
this twenty third day
of May 1839 
Jerome Clark
before
Jabez D. Hammond
First Judge of the County of
Otsego in the State of 
New York
-

I the above named Jabez D.
Hammond First Judge of said Court of the
before whom the
foregoing Deponent has been
taken do certify that I am well acquainted with
the above named Deponent Jerome Clark
and know him to be a man of credibility
Jabez D. Hammond [illegible]
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State of New York }
County of Otsego }
Clerks Office  } Ss I. Jesse Rose Clerk of said County do herby certify that Jabez D Hammond Esqr before whom the annexed affidavit purports to have been Sworn was on the day of the date of the same first Judge in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified, and further that I am well acquainted with his handwriting and believe his name subscribed to said affidavit and the annexed certificate to be his genuine signatures
Witness my hand & seal of office
this 27th May AD 1839
Jesse Rose clerk
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Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
AWF /eel
October 22, 1929
Mrs. Gershom W. Clark
244 Main Street
Owego, New York
Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 20890, it appears that Gershom Clark, while residing at Lebanon, Connecticut, enlisted in the spring of 1775, and served seven months and six days as a private in Captain James Clark's Company, Colonel Israel Putnam's Connecticut Regiment, he was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill by a musket ball passing through his body.
He was pensioned for disability resulting from the above mentioned wound.
He died February 3, 1815, at Weathersfield, Vermont.
The soldier married May 2, 1776, in Lebanon, Connecticut, Lavina Wright. She was born June 10, 1753.
She was allowed pension on her application executed June 1, 1839, at which time she was living in Weathersfield, Vermont.
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It is stated that they had eleven children, the following are the names mentioned
Lavina born February 13, 1777.
Patty " January 29, 1779.
Harvey " November 23, 1780.
Jesse " September 19, 1782.
Azubah " July 1, 1784.
Gershom, Junior " February 9, 1786
Lucretia " January 20, 1788.
Horace " November 12, 1790.
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.
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I Thomas Richards of Weathersfield, in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, aged seventy four years, being duly sworn, do depose and say that I have been an inhabitant of said town of Weathersfield fifty two years; that I became acquainted with Gersham Clark of said Weathersfield immediately after my removal to said Weathersfield, and continued to be well acquainted with him to the time of his death which took place, as near as I can judge, about twenty four years ago; that I have also been acquainted with Lavina Clark, more than  fifty years, during which time, up to the time of the decease of the sd Gersham they constantly lived together in the relation of husband & wife in my immediate neighbourhood; that I never heard their marriage questioned by any one, nor did I ever doubt but that they were legally married; that they reared up a large family of children, some of whom are, as I should judge, sixty years of age; that since the decease of the said Gersham Clark, the said Lavina Clark who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing Declaration, has ever remained the widow of the said Gersham, and now is sole and unmarried: The said Lavina Clark, ever since the death of her husband, the said Gersham, has continued to live in my neighbourhood, and for several years past has resided, and is now residing at my house And I further say that the said Gersham Clark has been Town Clerk of said town of Weathersfield several years since my first acquaintance with him.
Weathersfield, June 1st 1839 Thomas Richards
Sworn and subscribed this 1st day of June, 1839, before me Thomas F. Hammond Judge of said Probate Court
I Joshua Upham of Weathersfield in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, aged nearly sixty eight years, being duly sworn, do depose and say, that I have resided in said Weathersfield more than
sixty seven years; that I am now Town Clerk of said town Weathersfield, and have the charge of the Town Records, that I well remember the time when Gersham Clark and Lavina his wife, first came into said town, which was when I was a small boy; that I was well acquainted with the said Gersham and Lavina up to the time of his death, and since the death of the said Gersham, I have continued to be acquainted with the said Lavina, who has ever remained the widow of the said Gersham, and now is sole and unmarried; that the said Gersham Clark was chosen and served in the capacity of Town Clerk of said town of Weathersfield, from
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March seventeen hundred and eighty four, to March, seventeen hundred and ninety nine, with the exception of one year only, as now appears of record; that I have this day examined the Records of Births in this Office, and find a record of the births of eleven children of the said Gersham and Lavina, embracing a period from February thirteenth, seventeen hundred and seventy seven, to November seventh, seventeen hundred and ninety six, which record is in the hand writing of the said Gersham Clark and by him officially certified; that during my whole acquaintance with them the said Gersham & Lavina, they constantly lived together in the relation of husband and wife, and I never heard their marriage questioned, nor did I ever doubt but that they were legally married. Weathersfield, June 17th 1839
Joshua Upham
Sworn and subscribed this 17th day of June, 1839, before me Thomas F. Hammond, Judge of said Probate Court
State of Vermont } June 18th 1839. I, Thomas F. Hammond
District of Windsor, ss. } Judge of the Probate Court for the district of Windsor aforesaid, hereby certify that Lavina Clark who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing Declaration, and Thomas Richards and Joshua Upham who have severally sworn to and subscribed the foregoing affidavits, are each of them persons of truth and veracity, and that their statements are entitled to full credit and belief.
Thomas F. Hammond, Judge of said Probate Court
State of Vermont } I Salmon F. Dutton, Register of the Probate Court for
District of Windsor, ss. }  the District of Windsor aforesaid hereby certify that Thomas F. Hammond, before whom the foregoing Declaration of Lavina Clark, and the foregoing Affidavit of Thomas Richards and Joshua Upham were severally
Sworn to and subscribed, is Judge of the Probate Court for the District of Windsor
aforesaid which Probate Court is a Court of Record, and that the signature  annexed to the respective certificate of the oaths and of the credibility of the said Declarant and affiants as aforesaid purporting to be the signature of him  the said Thomas F. Hammond, is his own proper & genuine signature
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the said Probate Court and subscribed my name at Reading in said District this Eighteenth day of June in the year of our  Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty nine.
Salmon F. Dutton Register
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AW
May 17, 1906
W. J. F.
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AW 
May 17, 1906
W. J. F.
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Clark, Gershom
His name appears on a list of applicants for invalid pension returned by the District Court for the District of Vermont, submitted to the House of Representatives by the Secretary of War on April 25, 1794, and printed in the American State Papers, class 9, page 92.
Rank: Private.
Regt: Col. Putnam's
Disability: Wounded in the body at the battle of
Bunker's Hill
When and where disabled: June, 1775, Bunker's Hill.
To what pension entitled: Half
Remarks: No rolls for 1775.
Evidence transmitted by the District Court complete
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6150 Vt
V
See let to Henry Kilbourn
October 18, 1839
Act 7 July 38-
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J.L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
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Schenectada Sept 23d 1833.
J.L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions
Sir.
I send accompanying this for your decision thereon the application of Lavinia Clark widow of Gershom Clark for a pension under the act of 7th July 1838, Aplain case & moderate claim for six months only Record proof relative to the marriage is furnished Service rendered in the State of Connecticut
very respectfully Your Obt Servt
G. F. Yates
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Clark
Oct 25
J. L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.
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Comptrollers Office
Hartford Oct 21 1839
Sir
In compliance with your request under date of Oct 18 1839 I have examined the Pay Roll of Col. James Clark 6th Company 3rd Regiment Col. Isreal Putnam to [illegible] in 1775 - and find the name of Gershom Clark from May 11th to Dec 17 having served 7 months 11 days
I have the honor to be Your Obt Servant
Henry Kilbourn Comptroller
Hon J.L. Edwards
Commr Pensions
Washington
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WILLIAM J. WILGUS
165 BROADWAY
NEW YORK
Rev - War See LFH
November 30, 1914.
Mr. Gaylord M Saltzgaber,
Commissioner of Patents,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir: -
On July 29th, 1912 your office very kindly sent to me a copy of the record of Gershom Clark in the Revolution. In the "List of Vermont Pensioners" there is a record to the effect that " Gershom Clark, invalid pensioner, received from the Agency at Burlington, Vermont, $30. March 4th, 1795, pension increased to $60 a year January 1st, 1808. Pensioner died 1816, residence Vermont, town unknown. " Will you kindly let me know if this entry has reference to the same Gershom Clark of whose record your office has sent to me a copy. I assume that it is the same for the reason that the principal facts agree.
May I also ask if you will send to me a copy of the record, if such exists, of Gershom Clark, said to have "enlisted in 1775 as a drummer in Capt. James Clark's company, wounded at Bunker Hill, served in the siege of Boston, pensioner when he died in 1840, aged 85." This Gershom Clark is said to have died at Guilford, New York.
Yours very truly,
W J Wilgus
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WILLIAM J. WILGUS
165 BROADWAY
NEW YORK
July 22, 1912.
Mr. James L. Davenport,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Department of the Interior,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir: -
On June 28th, 1910 you were kind enough to send to me an extract from the records of your Department bearing on the service of Gershom Clark in the War of the Revolution, stating that he was a resident of Vermont and died in 1816. Inasmuch as the latter date does not agree with the date of his death in 1813, may I further encroach upon your kindness by asking to have the records again examined to see if the year 1816 has been correctly transcribed; and at the same time will you kindly let me know if the place of his residence in Vermont appears in the record.
Will you also kindly let me have a transcript of any record you may have of the service of William Wilgus in the War of the Revolution. The New Jersey records show that he was wounded at the Battle of Monmouth Court House on June 28th, 1778, but I have no knowledge as to whether or not he appeared on the pension list.
If there is any expense in connection with the procuring of this information, I will of course be very glad to send a check upon advice as to the amount.
Yours very truly, W. J. Wilgus
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office,
March 3d 1842
Sir:
Under the date of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," The admr of Lavina Clark decd. a Pensioner on the Roll of the Montpelier, Vt  Agency, at the rate of Twenty four Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7th July 1838, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 
to the 16th May 1840
Respectfully, yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
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1912 July 26 Hist to W. J. Wilgus.  V.L.M.
1914 Dec. 3 William J. Wilgus. that Ins. Pensioner on Vt Roll is the same as this pensioner
1929 - Oct. 22. Hist to Mrs. Gershom W. Clark. See letter in Benjamin Thacher W2521
Revy
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 20890
Lavina Clark Widow of Gershom Clark
Priv. Rev. War
Act July 7 1838
Index: Vol. A Page 139
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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RECORD DIVISION. 3 - 525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
W.F. 20890
Rev War
In reply to your request of received
for a statement of the military history of Gershom 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.
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
Spring 1775
LENGTH OF SERVICE.
7 mos 6 days
RANK. pri
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN. James Clark COLONEL. Israel Putnam
STATE. Conn
a musket ball passing thru his body
Soldier was pensioned for a wound received at the battle of Bunker Hill
widow says 20 but not received
Battles engaged in, Bunker Hill
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Lebanon Conn
Date of application for pension, June 1 1839 [illegible]
Residence at date of application, Wethersfield, Windsor Co. Vt.
Age at date of application, She was born June 10, 1752
Soldier Mar at Lebanon, Windham Co. Conn May 2, 1776
Wright, had died at Weathersfield, Vt. Feby 3. 1815
children were Levina b. Feby 13, 1777, Patty b. Jany 19, 1779, Harvey b. Nov. 23, 1780, Jesse b, Sept 19 1782, Azubah b. July 1, 1784, Gershom b. Feby 9 1786, Lucretia b. Jany 20 1788, Horace b. Nov. 12, 1790
brother Jerome 11 chil
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
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December 3, 1914.
Mr. William J. Wilgus,
165 Broadway,
New York City.
Sir:
In reply to your letter dated the 30" ultimo, and received the first instant, you are advised that Gershom Clark, Wid. File No. 20,890, Rev. War, a history of whose service was furnished you July 26, 1912, is the same Gershom Clark whose name appears on the Vermont list of Invalid Pensioners, who was pensioned for a wound received at the battle of Bunker Hill.
A history of Gershom Clark, Sur. File No. 23, 575, Rev. War, who served as a Drummer and was a resident of Guilford, New York, is furnished you herewith.
Very respectfully,
G M Saltzgaber
Commissioner.
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July 26, 1912.
Mr. William J. Wilgus,
165 Broadway,
New York City.
Sir:
In reply to your letter dated the 22" and received the 23" instant, you are advised that the recent re-arrangement of the Revolutionary War files of this Bureau discloses a pension claim for Lavina Clark, widow of Gershom Clark, an abstract of which is furnished you from the papers on file in her claim, W. File No. 20,890.
said files fail to afford any information in regard to William Wilgus, described by you.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner,
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July 28, 1910
Mr. W. J. Wilgus,
Sir:
165 Broadway,
New York, N. Y.
Sir:
In reply to your letter dated the 23" and received the 23" instant, you are advised that on page 92 of the publication entitled "American State Papers, Claims Class 9", it appears that Gershom Clark was a Private in Colonel Putnam's regiment and was wounded in the body at the battle of Bunker Hill; and the report of the Secretary of War in relation to the
pension establishment of the United States in 1835 shows, that he was pensioned at $30 per annum from March 4, 1795, and $60. per annum from January 1, 1898, for disability incurred while a private in the Connecticut State troops that he was a resident of Vermont, and died in 1816,
There is no further data given, nor are there any papers on file, the same
having been destroyed in the burning of the War Office in 1801 or 1814.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
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WILLIAM J. WILOUS
165 BROADWAY
NEW YORK
July 22, 1910.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:-
Will you kindly oblige me with a transcript from the
records of the Department that refer to Gershom Clark, who enlisted from Lebanon, Conn, during the Revolution, was wounded at Bunker Hill, later removed to Weathersfield, Vt. ( in 1781 ), and died there in 1813,
Yours very truly,
W J Wilgus
JUL 25 1910
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August 3, 1910.
Mr. W. J. Wilgus,
185 Broadway,
New York, N. Y.
Sir:
In reply to your letter dated the 30" ultimo and received the 1" instant, you are advised that in the report of the Secretary of War in
1835, in relation to the pension establishment of the United States, it is shown that Gershon Clark died in 1816, and it is not the practice of this burden to change the date of death in such reports
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 34

WILLIAM J. WILGUS
185 SROADWAY
NEW YORK
July 30, 1910.
Mr. J. L. Davenport,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Department of the Interior,
Washington, D. C
Sir: -
Acknowledging receipt of your courteous reply of July 28th to my inquiry of the 22nd inst. regarding the Revolutionary pension record of Gershom Clark; I notice that the report of the Secretary of War in 1835 refers to his having died in 1816, whereas the correct date was 1813. His place of residence at the time of his death was Weathersfield, Vt. May I further encroach upon your kindness by asking if you will have this date
checked.
Very respectfully
W J Wilgus