Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 37871, Caesar Clark, Conn.

Page 1

[This is the coversheet which is in tabular form.]
(3-1776)

[Column 1 Header] SERVICE   
Conn
[Column 2 Header blank]
Clark, Cesar (Colored)
or Negro
[Column 3] NUMBER
S.37871

CONTENTS
[The remainder of the form is two columns which are blank.]

Page 2

[This is a two sheet image. The left sheet is a summary of the pension certificate. The right sheet has written notes that appear vertically down the side.]

[Left sheet]
17,193

Connecticut. R
_________
Ceasar Clark, alias
Caesar Negro

of Montville, in the state of Conn.
who was a private, in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Durkee, of the Con.
line, for the term of 3 yrs.  War for [illegible]
___________
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 10th of April, 1818.
____________
Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd of May 1820
and sent to  Jere. G. Brainard
New London
Cont.
___________
Arrears to 4th Mar 1820   $182.63
Semi-anl. all'ce 4 Sep 1820 48
22 mo. 21/30 4/31               $230.63

{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.}

Connecticut

[Right sheet]
Certificate sent July 19, 1820 to
William F. Brainard, New London, Connt.

Page 3

State of Connecticut ss: New London
On this 10th day of April A.D. 1818 before me Jeremiah G. Brainard a Judge of the Superior Court of the said State, personally appeared Caesar Clark aged about seventy years a native of Africa, resident in Montville in the State of Connecticut who being by me first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States during the Revolutionary War." That he the said Caesar Clark in the spring of the year 1777 in Ashford in the State of Connecticut enlisted in the company commanded by Captain Brown of Colonel John Durkin's Regiment in the Connecticut Line on the continental  establishment. That he continued to serve in the said Corps until the conclusion of the war, when he was discharged from service in Westfield in the State of New Jersey. That he was in the battles of Mud Fort, Germantown and Monmouth and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his aid services.
[signed with the note "his mark" and an "X"] Caesar Clark

Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid.
In witness whereof I have caused the Seal of the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut to be affixed the Day Month and Year aforesaid.
[signed] Jeremiah G. Brainard Judge of the Superior Court
State of Connecticut

Page 4

10th April 1818
Connecticut
Caesar Clark of Montville Conn.
Privat alias Negro.
From Spring of 1777 to [illegible] of the War.
Col. Durken
Conn. Regt.

Judge Brainard.
Not on rolls
Rejected.

On rolls.
Durken's reg. Brown [illegible]
May 14, '77 = 3 years dischg. May 14 '80
found
Caesar, Negro.
[signed] G. Wood
May 1820

Page 5

[This image includes a second sheet of paper at the bottom.]

I Jeremiah G. Brainard a Judge of the Superior Court as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Caesar Clark did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the Common Enemy, and I now transmit the proceedings & Testimony taken & had before me to the Secretary for the department of War pursuant to the directions of the above mentioned act pf Congress, Witness the same aforesaid.
[signed] Jeremiah G. Brainard Judge
Superior Court
New London  State of Connecticut
April 10th, 1818
[A seal is to the left of the above]

[The following is of the second sheet placed over the bottom. It is very faint and difficult to transcribe.]
New London
July 1, 1818}   Caesar Clark
I Jeremiah G. Brainard Judge as 
aforesaid as certify said Caesar
Clark the afore mentioned claimant is very
poor [illegible] and very [illegible]
circumstances.
[signed] Jeremiah G. Brainard Judge as aforesaid

Page 6

The said Caesar Clark in [illegible] of his said Declaration on Oath doth further states and declare that at the time [There is a tear in the document] of his Enlistment he was a servant in [illegible] to [illegible]. Clark of [rest of sentence illegible]. That he enlisted to obtain his Freedom. That he could not read or write, that he always for [illegible] kept the name of Clark after his old Master and believes he enlisted under that name, but does not know, and believes according to his best recollection that at [illegible] calling he answered to the name of Caesar Clark, but that soon afterwards he was called [illegible] by the name of Caesar Negro and under that name answered.

[signed with the note "His mark" and an "X"] Caesar Clark otherwise called Caesar Negro

[The following is to the left of Clark's signature]
Sworn and subscribed before me at the City of New London in the State of Connecticut this 16th Day of December 1819.}
[signed] Jeremiah G. Brainard a Judge of Superior Court State of Connecticut

Page 7


[This is on the back of the document in image 8]
Cesar Clark alias Cesar Negro

Page 8

[This is a standard printed form with space for written entries.]

State and District of Connecticut, ss.
On the 26th day of June 1820 personally appeared in open Court, before the County Court holden [a word is crossed out] within and for the County of New London in said State, on the 26th day of June 1820, the same being a court of record, proceeding according to the course of common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having power of fine an imprisonment, Cesar Clark, alas Cesar Negro aged 70 years, resident in the town of Montville in the County in said State, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows: That he [the words "the said" are crossed out] enlisted [the words "for the term of" crossed out] for during the war in the spring [the word "day" crossed out] of [the word "is" crossed out] the year 1777 at Ashford in the State of Connecticut in the company commanded by Captain Brown in the regiment commanded by Colonel John Dukee in the line of the State of Connecticut on the continental establishment: That he continued to serve in the said corps until some time in June 1782 when he was discharged from the said service in Compton in the state of New Jersey. That he made a declaration to obtain a pension under the law of the 18th of March 1818,[ the following words are crossed out "as nearly as he can recollect, having no minutes,"] on the 10th day of April 1818; and had transmitted to him a certificate for a pension from the Secretary for the Department of War, No. 17093.
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, enitled, [sic] "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War;" passed on the 18th day of March 1818, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other that what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
That I am by occupation a day laborer that the member of my family residing with me is one is my wife Rainey aged sixty years. That I am infirm & poor and depend altogether on my pension for support.
Schedule.  One old [illegible] $1.00  old hoe .20 [cents] 1 old axe .20 and a [illegible] .20, 1 frying pan 12 1/2, 1 old chair .20, 3 cups & saucers .08 = $2.00 1/2
signed [with the noted"his mark" and an "X"] Cesar Clark alias Cesar Negro

Signed Sworn to and declared on the 26th day of June 1820 before said County Court 
[signed] Charles Lathrop Clerk

[The following has a seal of office affixed to the left]
I, Charles Lathrop Clerk of the County Court for New-London County, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount of value of property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is Two dollars and [blank] cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this 26th day of June 1820.
[signed] Charles Lathrop
Clerk of the County Court for the County of New-London.

Page 9

[Left side of the image]
37 871
INVALID.
Revy

File No. 37,871
Ceasar Clark alias Cesar Negro
Priv. Rev. War

Act: 18th March 18
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 75
[Arrangement of 1980.]

[Right side of the image]
1930 Oct 16 - Hist. to
Adj. General Letter (Carbon 
filed un C. H.
Bridges, in [illegible]
Mixed File

Page 10

State of Connecticut ss: City of New London
On the 16 Day of November 1819 before me Jeremiah G. Brainard one of the Judges of the Superior Court of said State of Connecticut personally appeared Eber Raymond of Milford in said State of Connecticut who being by me first duly sworn according to Law on his Oath doth depose declare to say that sometime in the Spring of the year 1777 he enlisted for the term of three years into the Continental Army into a company commanded by Capt. John McGregor in a regiment commanded by Colonel John Durkee. That sometime the latter part of June in leaving he joined his Regiment at Fishkill River and where he found Ceasar [sic] Clark a Negro man a Soldier in said Regiment another belonging to a company of said Regiment commanded by Capt Harman or Captain Brown which he cannot certainly say.
There the deposed remained in said Regiment from the time of his time to Enlistment to the time of three years and was at the [illegible] he was discharged at Morristown in the Spring of the year 1780, during at which time the said Ceasar [sic] Clark belonged to said Regiment. During at said time he well knew him [illegible] and known him. That he well recollects that Ceasar  [sic] was in  [illegible] Fort in the fall of the year 1777 at the time that Capt Brown was killed. He also well recollects that Ceasar [sic] was with the Regiment when we lay at Valley Forge in the [illegible] 1777 - 8. That he well recollects

Page 11

recollects his being with and belonging to the Regiment when this Deponent was discharged as he has before stated. He recollects he was discharged himself [illegible] in the regiment. His reason is the same reason he has made a Declaration to obtain a Pension before Judge Brainard which Declaration is [illegible]. He had lost the Fourth finger of his left Hand when the decision was made from the Regiment in Man Fort this reason another Deponent were [illegible] the Command of Captain Brown of the Regiment the Deponent well recollects that his same reason was with the Regiment at the Battles of Germantown and at the Battle of Monmouth [illegible] joined the Regiment in 1777. [illegible] when Name he was known on the Rolls was company Banks the Deponent cannot say, anyway the Soldiers, especially his black Commander was generally called "Ceasar [sic] Goodness. He believes he was on the Rolls he was called Ceasar [sic] Negro, but cannot say.
[signed with the note "his mark" and an "X"] Eber Raymond

Sworn before me on
the Day and year
aforementioned}
[signed] Jeremiah G. Brainard a Judge aforementioned

I certify that Eber Raymond the above Deponent is a Person credible and in this case uninterested.
[signed] Jeremiah G. Brainard a Judge as aforesaid

Page 12

Personally appeared a black man calling himself Ceasar [sic] Clark said he was a soldier in Col. Durkey's Regiment said he elisted under a Capt. Brown of said Regiment, That he served during the War [illegible], That being in the Regiment myself a Lieutenant and hiaring [sic] him [illegible] many circumstances such as being in Mudfort with his Capt. Brown and relating how said where he was shot that from that particulars as well as many other relations of his  I am confident he was there as he related them truly, That having the pay & Muster Rolls of the Regiment from 1779 to the close of the war do not find his name as he related it to be in them he says he was discharged in Westfield New Jersey if so he could have served not more then between two and three years on the Continental establishment, He is much superanuated [sic] It is possible he might be called by some other name in the Rolls. I think I have a recollection of him but this I mitnot [sic] be positive, but from what he relates he must have been in the Regiment. Whether he was called [sic] Ceasar Clark or Ceaser Augustus or by some other name I don't know as there is several other Ceasars [sic] on the Rolls, he appears to be in reduced circumstances.
Dated Grisvalo August 19th 1819
Charles Fanning Lieutenant in the 
Old 4th or Donkeys Regiment & Pay Master 
Award the class of the War

Page 13

State of Connecticut ss: City of New London
On this 16th Day of December 1819 before me Jeremiah G. Brainard one of the Judges of the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut, personally appeared David Gardner a resident of Bozrah (formerly Norwich) in said State a Person of truth and veracity who being by me first duly sworn according to Law on his oath doth depose declare and say, that in March 1777, he enlisted as a private soldier for the term of three years into a company then commanded by Captain James Hyde, but soon after commanded by Captain Robert Holland in the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Durkee a Regiment of the Continental Line of the  Colonial Army. That about the first of June following he joined his company at New Haven having in the mean time had the Small Pox. Had he marched twice to Danbury, there to fight on Fish Kills on North River, there into [illegible] New Jersey. That he well knows and personally recollects Ceasar [sic] a black man now present before me and whose Declaration was in the name of Ceasar [sic] Clark made before Judge Brainard dated the 10th of April 1818, marked A. I have seen and said there was sometime in the fall (he thinks in October) 1777, a detachment was made from said Regiment to go [illegible] Mud [Island] Fort. He this Deponent was detached and accompanied west to said Mud Fort in a company commanded by Captain Brenner of the same regiment who was killed in Mud Fort. That he well recollects that the same Ceasar [sic] was on Mud Fort  at the same time that be belong to the same detachment under Captain Brown, that the same Ceasar [sic] belonged to

Page 14

to same was for that service detached from Colonel Durkee's Regiment, but to what particular company he belonged or what name he bore on the Rolls the Deponent cannot say. There was a number of Blacks belonging to the Regiment, [illegible] if not all of were Southern Slaves and obtained their Emancipation by enlistment. Some retained the names of their former masters. Some assumed new names for themselves and some had names imposed on them by their officers. By what name this Ceasar [sic] was known and distinguished on the Rolls and company Books the Deponent cannot say. He well recollects that at the Battle of Germantown in the fall of 1777 this same Ceasar [sic] was then in the Regiment. That afterwards when the army were with [illegible] at Valley Forge he was also there in the Regiment. That at the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778, this same Ceasar [sic] was also there with the regiment. Another Deponent recollects his belonging to the Regiment a long time after, but how long he cannot now positively say.
This Ceasar [sic] has lived not far from the Deponent upwards of thirty years , he cannot be mistaken in the [illegible]. He believes he was on the Rolls by the name of Ceasar [sic] Negro, but cannot say.
[signed] David Gardner
Sworn before me the Day and Year aforesaid.
[signed] Jeremiah G. Brainard Judge as aforesaid

Page 15

[This is an image of the back of a letter with various notes on it.]
Roll
Caesar Negro
[illegible]
[enlisted] May 14, 77
Dsch. [Discharged] May 14, '90

[The following is written upside down in the lower right portion of the image.

Capt McGregar

Page 16

This may certify that I am acquainted with Caesar as mentioned in a certificate dated the 10th Day of April 1818 & certified by Judge Branard and that the said Caesar is identified by the loss of one of his four fingers and that the facts as stated in said certificate are all true excepting his previous during the war which I think is incorrect or wrong to the statement of his being discharged and he must have bin [sic] one of the 37 [illegible] men as they same Discharged at Morristown in the State of New Jersey at that time.
I am personally to knowledgable to his being in the United States [illegible] and that he must have served more than nine months.
[signed] John M. Greegor Capt.

Starting August 19, 1819 personally appeared John M. Greegor of Coventry State of Pennsylvania and made solemn oath to the above certified before me.
Asahel Otis Justice of the Peace

Page 17

New London County ss
I do hereby certify that Asahel Otis of the town of Montville in New London County is, and for more than five months last past hath been a Justice of the Peace in said County, duly qualified, & acting in said County, under the authority of the State of Connecticut.

[The following is to the right of an official seal.]
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County Court of said New London County in Norwich in said County this 17th day of December in the year of our Lord 1819.
[signed] Charles Lathrop Clerk