Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1992, Jonathan Clark, Conn.
Page 1

(8-1776)

Service
Conn
Clark, Jonathan

Number
R1992

Contents
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Jon Clark
28692

Hon.G. N. Briggs
House of Reps
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Commonwealth of Massachusettes,
County of Hampden, Ss.
On this fifth day of November AD 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Hon. Oliver G. Moriss Esquire Judge of Probate with & for the County of Hampden now sitting Jonathan Clark of Tolland in the County of Hampden & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, residing in said Tolland, aged seventy four 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 & served as herein stated, that he enlisted at Middletown in the state of Connecticut in the first day of August in the year 1776 under Commissary Elijah Hubbard in the Continental establishment as a teamster for the term of one year, was constantly employed during said year that is to say from the first day of August 1776 to the first day of August 1777, in driving a team under the direction of said Commissary. He drove a team from Middletown to West Point with the exception of two trips from Middletown to Boston. He carried clothes & shoes [illegible] & sometimes some fur. The [illegible] of the things served his time out faithfully & was discharged by said Commissary at Middletown CT.

On the first day of September 1777 he was drafted as a militia man & private at Middletown Connecticut by authority of the state of Connecticut in the Connecticut State militia to serve two months, in the same day he started for Stillwater in the State of New York joined the company commanded by Captain Blacke & marched to Stillwater. Was at the taking of Burgoyne. While at Stillwater he aided in building the bridgework, was on guard most of the time. Served the whole term of two months & was discharged at Stillwater. He cannot tell the name of his Col. or Major. He then returned to Middletown CT. While in the two months service & at the taking of Burgoyne he was witness on [illegible] Genl. Arnold when he was shot through thereby saw his horse fall. Frequently saw Genl. Gates when at Stillwater. After his return to Middletown he enlisted into a company of a Cavalry & some time in the
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month of November 1777 he thinks about the 12th of
the month the Company of Coloing to which he then
belonged was detailed & ordered to Horse Neck in the
State of New York, the company [??] commanded by
Capt.  Simmons of Middleton, the Company [???]
centered for the time of one month he went in
to Horse Neck with said Company & served as a
private in said Company for the time of one month
& at the end of said time - of time in December following
his long time with Capt' Simmions Company was
discharged at Horse Neck this according to his best
recollection was about the [??]th or 15th of December
1777 - in this last tour of -  [??] the company did not
or, he thinks, join any Regiment while at Horse 
Neck he was on guard, every other night. The name
of his Lieutenant was J Lenynard.
He served in in the whole one year & 
[????] months.
never had a written discharge
Does not name any person now living by
where he can prove his service as above
he was born in Middletown Connecticut when he
l?????] his age was recorded he lived in Middletown
Connecticut until he was 23 years of age then moved
to London Massachusetts lived in London 4 years
then moved to [??????] (now Tolland) Mass. where
he has lived 47 & now lives - he is
[????] with Rev. Roger Harrison & William
Moore. [???] both of [??] Tolland -  also can testify
as to [????] to his reputation for truth & [????]
[????] of his having served in the Revolutionary War &
also the [??????????] - in the Neighborhood Guard
his [????].
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension
or annuity except the present and declares that his name
is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
Sworn to & Subscribed
the day & year aforesaid
Jonathan Clark
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Jonathan Clark
28692
of Mafs

(J)

G. N. Briggs
N.R.
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office
Decr 5th, 1833

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necefsary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, ( thus: } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A STATEMENT, shewing the Service of Jonathan Clark
County of Hampen MAFS.

Period when the service was rendered.
Aug "76 Enlist?
Sept "77
Nov 77

Duration of the claimant's service.
Years. Months. Days.
/ ,, ,,
~ 2 ~ 
~ / ~

Rank of the claimant.
Teamstir
Priv
Engs & Calvary

Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Company Elijah Hubbard
Capt Blake
Capt Simmons

Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service.
74 years 
Connecticut

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary Evidence alone-

In cases like this, direct proof is always deemed necessary.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
James L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832

The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all Persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832

State, Territory, or District of County Of } ss.
On this ___ day of ___ personally appeared (a) before ______ A. B. a resident (b) of ___ in the county of ___ and State, Territory or District of ___ aged (c) ___ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) ____, with ___ and served in the ____ (e) regiment of the ____ line, under the following named officers: 
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [image of a hand pointing] This forms to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of ____
Sword and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I ___ of the Court of ___ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of ____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of ____ &c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. 
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the ____ and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with ____, who has subscribe and sworn to the above a declaration; that we believe him to be ___ years of age; that he is reputed and believe, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their 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 Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the ___ and that C. D., who has signed the same is a resident in the ___ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, ____ Clerk of the Court of ___ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of ____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this ___ day of ___ &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail of his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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alleged service, as they are known at the Department. a very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts state will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting imposition, if one be attempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above the provided, according to the nature of his case.
The court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service ; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. state the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served ; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. { To a Soldier{ Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
{To an Officer { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers t these questions are embodied in the declaration and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense, and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons- one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that hey concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court herein requested to perform, and will also certify that he applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the properClerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be male on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereunto, and before the declaration herein required to be made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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 entitles. 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 and affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who being duly sworn, deposit, 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 a service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to the determine with precision the period of 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 that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying he tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.

Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance when 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 papers 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.

Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claiment's 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.
[an image of a hand pointing] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] if a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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Revolutionary
Power of Attorney
from
heir of
Jonathan Clark
Massachusetts
1832
suspended
Filed 30 Apl 1853
F E Hassler
Washington
Page 10

State of Massachusetts
County of Berkshire  ss   Be it known that I before me
a Justice of the peace in & for the County aforesaid
duly authorized to administer oaths personally appeared Eli Clark a
resident of Tolland in the County of Hampshire & State of Massachusetts
who being first duly sworn according to law states that he is the son
of Jonathon Clark late of said Tolland Clement who was a
Revolutionary Soldier & that he believes the United States and State 
indebted under existing laws for the Pension that was [???] said Jonathan
Clark under the application heretofore made & that he the said Eli
is [???] intended as a claimant in the Pension for which
application was him to for - made - as aforesaid & constitute & appoint
F. E. Hassler Esquire of Washington D.C. my true & lawful
attorney with irrivocable [illegible] to examine into investigate &
establish the claim for said Pension & do all [illegible] necessary [illegible]

In Witness whereof I the said Eli Clark have on this 20th day of April 1853. [illegible] signed my name & affixed my seal 
Eli Clark  [seal  by name]

Signed sealed acknowledged & sworn to this 20th day of April A.D. 1853
Norman Strickland

Witness
Lester Filley
Norman Strickland
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To J L Edwards Esq
Comiss of Pension
Sir
Permit me to call your attention
to the case of Jonth Clark of Mass an applicant for a
pension whose papers have been returned because he has
proof of Services except the delinary goodness
He says he served one year as a Teamster
from 1 Aug 76 to 1 Aug 77. In the fall of the same year
he was drafted as a milition marine & served two months & in
Nov of same year he enlisted into a co of Coventry serrved
one month. He says he knows of no contract joining
by whom he can prove his missions. I can [???] concerns
why. The [???} just of one who served in the capacity of
[????} should be taken with more caution than those
of one who served in the army - But I think to the
accu[??]tary stated by the applicant in this case so
for to sustain his story - his heirs [??] not [????]
accompanied for a few weeks, such as they probably
 would have been if he was normally let himself as
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a hand her or him man. But his term of Soldier [???????]
one year, a length of time for which the History probably
is that he would have enlisted. H Kirby the time when
in place when the time for which & the name of the officer
under where he enlisted & he further states the man was
in which he performed his service-J G Whirty [??] that calls
the circumstance of his case taken together go sharply to 
sustain his claim [word crossed out] - He has lived the last 47 years in the place
when he now resides and the Clergyman & other
Gentlemen who are certifying for his pension said his [????] are
reputation for truth & the traditionary proof of his
Revolutionary during - Should then be no [??????]
such by which he is absolutely excluded without the
production of certifying to his service. I trust his case may
vision a forwardable evidencable - whatout I cannot
just ask that an applicant who wherewith and being
himself within the [??????][?????] of [??] have & [???] [???]
testine of this Depantments  I think extremely regrets to have
a memtorious soldier excluded - 
Respectfully Yours
G. N. Briggs
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SERVICE
Conn.

Clark, Jonathan

NUMBER
R 1992
Page 14

Jon a. Clark; doc. handed to H__ Mr. Briggs Feb. 20, 1834.
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[crossed through] Acts of July, 1862, and March 8, 1879]
1992
REJECTED
P.O.
Jonathan Clark
Service:
Enlisted:_____, 18
Discharged: ________, 18
Application filed:_______, 18
Alleges:
re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized   Contract.
Cert. of Dis. Searched for________________, 18  .
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Jonathan Clark
Mass s Act 7 June 1832
Rejected 
1992
Page 17

We Roger Harrison a Clergyman residing in the town of Tolland in the County of Hampden & Commonwealth of Massachusettes & William Moore residing in said Tolland hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jonathan Clark
who has subscribed to the annexed citation that we believe him to be seventy four years of age that he is [illegible] & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion
[signed] Roger Harrison
[signed] William Moore

Hampden
October 1, 1833
Then the above named Roger Harrisson & William Moore appeared & made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by them
subscribed & I further certify that I am well aquainted with the said Harrisson & Moore & that they are credible persons
[signed]Samuel Hamilton

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigating the matter & after putting to the said Applicant the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named Jonathan Clarke was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he
states -- & the said Court further declare
certifies that Roger Harrison who
has subscribed the preceeding certificate is a
Clergyman residing in said Tolland & that it
appears to him that said William Moore who has
also subscribed the same preceeding certificate is a resident in said Tolland & a credible witness & that their statement is entitled to credit

Justice Willard 
Clerk of the said Probate Court the same being a
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Court of Record within & for said County
of Hampden do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original
proceedings of said Court in the matter
of the application of Jonathan Clarke
for a Pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court
at this place this fifth day of November AD. 1833 
Justice Willard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Hampden 

I Justice Willard Clerk of the Court
of Probate the same being a Court of Record
within & for said County do hereby certify that
Samuel Hamilton before whom the preceding
certificate of Roger Harrison & William Moore
was sworn to is a Justice of the Peace in
for said County & that his name subscribed
to the certificate of said oath is his proper hand
writing

The testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this fifth
day of November in the the four Lord eighteen hundred & thirty three
Justice Willard