Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8207, James Clark, N.C.
Page 1

Service
 N.C. 
Clark, James 
Number S. 8207
Carded 
CONTENTS
Page 2

[Left Side of Document]
16.847
North Carolina
James Clark
Chatham in the state of N. C
who was a pr [illegible] in the         commanded
by Captain       of the Regn commanded 
by Col: Taylor in the No, Ca.
line for

Inscribed on the Roll of N. Carolina
the rate of 45 Dollars 83 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March,1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 7 -  day of Oct 33.
and [illegible] In: L. Guthrie
St Lawrence P.O. NC

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 114.57
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar:34 22.91
$137. 48
{Revolutionary Claim,
{Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Nath: Rice - Clerk,
Book 6 Vol. 6½ Page 49.

[Right Side of Document]
Order to Pension Agent 19. April 1838.
Order to pay 30 April 1838
Order to pay 30 March 1839
Order to pay 20 March 1840.
Order to pay 27.t April 1841.
Order to pay 29. March 1843.
Page 3

11. 273

James Clark
Declaration for a
Pension

Act
7th June 1932

Jno L Guthrie
St Lawrence PO
NC
Page 4

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress 
passed June 7th1832

State of North Carolina 
 Chatham County} 
Superior Court of Law Fall Term
AD 1832

On this 18th day of September AD 1832 personally
appeared in open Court before the Honourble the Judge of
Said Court now sitting James Clark a resident of said
County and State aforesaid aged Seventy two years who being
just duly sworn according to Law, doth, on his Oath
make the following [cross-out: the] declaration in order to obtain the
benefit of congress passed June 7th 1832
that he entered the service of the United States under the
following named Officers - that he substituted in the County
of Orange and State of N Carolina in the place of Barney Grimes
and joined the company of N Carolina Militia under the 
command of Captain Leage he Joined the company at Sec' Dickersons 
on Haw River and was marched by Capt Leage and
Sec' Dickerson to the Pee Dee and crossed the same at
Haleys Ferry he does not recollect that they were joined
by any Troops until they had crossed when they joined
a Squadron of Horse under the command of Colonel [Cross-out Dugel]
Dugald he has no very distinct recollection of the particular
incidents of this service except that an action took place
at the hanging Rock in which the Americans well
defeated the Troops with which he Acted were near enough
to hear the firing and upon learning the issue retreated
across Pee Dee he was then marched to Fayetteville in
North Carolina and halted a few days he was then
Marched in a Southwardly direction about 50 miles
Page 5

when orders were given to return home he was marched back
to Haw River in Orange County and was discharged after
having served five months his discharge was signed by 
Seth Butler but is now lost-
 
He further states that shortly after his discharge as aforesaid
he was Drafted in the County of Orange for the Term of
five months that he mustered under Captain Ray when
it was reported he does not upon what authority that if
a militia man would equip himself with a Horse [illegible]
and serve three months in the dragoons it should be equivalent 
to 3 months service in the Militia that he did so
equip himself and presented himself to Col Philip
Taylor of Granville County and was received by him
and placed in the company commanded by Captain Walker 
he does not recollect the names of any of the other
Officers except Major Bullock and Capt Coffee, he was
marched by the above named Officers through Hillsborough
Salisbury and on to Charlotte near which place they
Joined a very large Body of Troops which he thinks
were under the command of Genl Greene at this time
the British Troops lay in Charlotte he acted with the
Troops in the vicinity until his Term of Service expired
nothing remarkable occurred in this service to which he was
a witness except a skirmish in which he was engaged
with some of the enemy horse he was in the Advanced
Guard 23 Strong when they were attacked and 13 of 
their number were killed or taken when his service expired
he was marched back to Granville and discharged
[illegible] he received a written discharge which is
now lost
Page 6

He further states that sometime after his discharge as aforesaid 
he substituted in the County of Orange in the place
of Lake Carry and joined a company of Mounted
Militia and marched to Ramseys Mills [cross-out] on 
Deep River when they Joined General Butlers army
and was placed under the immediate command of Col
Robert Mebane of the Regulars he recollects the names of
none of the other Officers in the army except Major Nolls, and
Captain Goldston from Ramseys Mills he was marched
to Haw River towards Hillsborough and crossed at Crows
Ford and camped one night, during which, Intelligence
was brought by John Taylor that the Tories had taken 
Hillsboro and made the Inhabitants prisoners and among
them the Governor of the State whereupon the army
recrossed the river and marched up the same to leave
Creek where we met the Tories under the Command
of Col's Fanning and McNeill and engaged them near
Lindley Mills the action commenced about Breakfast
time in thick woods the American fact retreated in
disorder early in the engagement but the horse 77 strong
under the command of Col Mebane maintained their
ground until they had given the enemy eleven fives
when their ammunition failed and they were forced to
retreat he was then marched back to Hillsborough
and discharged after he had served five months
he cannot remember how or in what way he was
discharged but is Certain that it was in an honorable 
way
Page 7

He further States that in consequence of the Great lapse of time
he is unable to state the day, month or Years in which he
entered or left the Services in any of the above mentioned
Tours and is certain that he served at least one other Tour
besides the one already set forth which from the decreasing of
his memory he is unable to delineate
He has no documentary
evidence and knows of no person whose Testimony
he can procure who can Testify to his service
He hereby relinquishes every Claim whatever to a pension
or annuity except the present and declared that his
name is not on pensions Roll of the Agency of any
State of Territory in the union - 

Sworn to and Subscribed the day and Year aforesaid
James X Clark
his mark

We Thomas Dowdy and Eli Emerson both residing
in the county of Chatham and State of North Carolina, hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with [cross-out] James
Clark who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration
that we believe him to be seventy two 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

Thomas X Dowdy
his mark

Oli X Emerson
his mark
Page 8

And the said Court do hereby declare this Opinion after
the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories
prescribed by the War Department the above
named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as 
he states. And the court further Certifies that it appears
to them that Thomas Dowdy and Eli Emerson 
who have signed the preceeding [preceding]certificate are credible persons
and that their statement is entitled to credit 
James Martin SGCS &C

I Chader J Williams Clerk of the Superior Court of Law
for the County of Chatham in the State of N Carolina do
hereby Certify that the foregoing contain the Original
proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application
of James Clark for a pension

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
Seal of office this 18th day of September A.D.  1832

C.J. Williams CSC
Page 9

James Clark
N Carolina

Ret
Admit.
10 Mo in Inf  33.33
3 Cas'  $12.52
---
$45.83

11,273


 P357
4. 16  
Int. 1.2.
Apl 27.33


Chas J Williams-
Pittsboro
Clk. Chatham Co
N.C.
Page 10

BRIEF in the case of James Clark
Co. of Chatham in the State of N.C.
9Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court ora Judge?  open Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3.  How old is he?  72

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.
In 17     Years, Months, Days.   As a   Gen.
Substitute......5 [Months].....[Rank}Private.....Cap Cage Col Dikerson
Shortly after [illegible] drafted ,,,,,3[months] [Rank}Horseman.....Cap Walker Col Taylor
some time after. Substitute....5 [months] Cap Goldston Col Melbane
his memory is much impaired
but he thinks he served one
other tour
5. In what battles was he engaged?  Battle of the Hanging Rock-[Rockingham] Skirmish
battle Lindleys Mill
6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Orange Co. N.C.
7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  traditionary
8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication?  and if so, in what respect?  the periods are
not given -. The papers are not attached agreeably to the regulations

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above 
mentioned
[Cross symbol] he furnished his own Horse
an or it was agreed that this 
3on. months should be counted as 5-

George Taylor
Examining Clerk.
Page 11

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these 
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James 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.  ID 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?  N.C.

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 in what amount of pension
he is entitled?  Yes

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

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
Page 12

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?  No clergyman  yes as to others

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? yes

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 - crossed out] 1.2
&1.2

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, by 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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3

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 shown 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 form 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.

[Left side notation: # {]
Page 14

Apr 26. 1841
No Warn
[Stamp Illegible]
James L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington

[seal under address]
Page 15

Pension Office
Fayetteville April 19 [18] 41

James L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir.
Please surrender the pay 't
made to James Clark a pensioner under the
Act of June 1832 for [illegible] [illegible] [illegible]
$45.83

I am Svt [your obedient servant]
very respectfully
James Edwards
Jm Clarke
[illegible]
Page 16

[Side Notation] Rev War
8207
INVALID.
File No.  8207
James Clark
Riv Rev. War 
Act: June 7th1832
Index: _ Vol. Rev, Page 68
[Arrangement of 1870.}