Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 1983, John Clark, R.I.

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(8-1776)
Service
R.I.
Clark, John
Number
R 1983

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State of New York -
Allegany County 
On this first day of January One thousand Eight-hundred and fifty six personally appeared before me ([illegible] asking a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Allegany) Peleg Clark a resident of the town of Willing in said County, and state of New York aged fifty [illegible] years; who being first duly sworn according law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act, of [several words illegible] 1832; And the said Peleg Clark further states upon his oath aforesaid, that he is the son and one of the surviving heirs of John Clark and Jemima Clark (who are now both dead) and that the said John Clark and the said Jemima Clark were married in the year 178[illegible] in the town of Westerly Washington County in the state of Rhode Island, and that the said John Clark entered the service of the United States as a [illegible] in the Spring of 178[illegible] in a Company of Militia and did duty in a brick fort [illegible] the City of the fort in the said State of Rhode Island - and that the said Jemima Clark entered the service of the United States at the same time and place with the said John Clark and that the said Jemima Clark did duty as cook in the [illegible] Company of Militia with the said John Clark and that they both Continued in the service of the United States in the war of the Revolution for the term of one year And this declarant, the said Peleg Clark further [two words illegible] his oath aforesaid that he has often heard the said John

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Clark and the said Jemima Clark his parents aforesaid that the said John Clark had at other times done duty in the United States service in the State of Rhode Island as a minute man in preventing the British forces from landing upon the shores of said State and this declarant the said Peleg Clark further states upon his oath aforesaid that in the year 1785 his father the said Johnathan Clark and his mother the said Jemima Clark moved their family [illegible] from the said state of Rhode Island into Rensslaer [Rensselaer] County into the State of New York - and this declarant (the said Peleg Clark) on his oath aforesaid says that the said John Clark resided in the said County of Rensslaer [Rensselaer] until the month of February 1848, when he died and that the said Jemima Clark resided in the said County of Rensslaer [Rensselaer] until the month of May 1854 when she also died And this declarant the said Peleg Clark  upon his oath aforesaid further states that neither the said John Clark nor the said Jemima Clark his parents aforesaid ever made any application for a pension for the reason that they had lost their discharges and all of their documentary evidence
And this declarant the said Peleg Clark [illegible] his oath aforesaid, says that he has in his possession now the same identical gun that was used by the said John Clark in the said War of the Revolution at the time he the said John Clark was in the United States service and which the said John Clark [illegible] in his possession up till the time of his death and which [two words illegible] then came into the possession of the declarant and which

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said gun this declarant has [several illegible words] now of ever since, And this declarant the said Peleg Clark upon his oath aforesaid further states that he has after heard his Parents aforesaid the said John Clark and the said Jemima Clark state that they both [illegible: ?secured their _____?] near discharge, and that both of the said discharges had been lost; And that they had forgotten who were their Commanding Officers either of their Company or of their Regiment, that at the time time they were in the service there were about three hundred militia stationed at that place and [illegible] there during the time they were in the service and that their [two illegible words] lay but a short distance from there during a few days while they were in the service afterward
And this declarant the said Peleg Clark upon his oath aforesaid further states that he truly believes that his parents the said John Clark and the said Jemima Clark was in the service of the United States and died and performed duty as aforesaid and that both Received their Regular discharges as aforesaid and that both have been lost
Sworn and Subscribed
before me this Peleg Clark
First day of January 1856
Wm. B. Alley
Clerk of Allegany Co

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[page illegible]

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State of New York
Rensselaer County

On this 15 day of September, personally appeared before me Giles S Odell a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid James C Clark, a resident of the County of Rensselaer and State of New York, aged fifty four years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath say that he is the son of John Clark, and Jemima Clark, now deceased that his father John Clark died in the month of February 1848, and he further saith, that he has often heard his Father say that he [illegible word crossed out] joined the Army of the United States in the year 1781 in the War of the Revolution, and that he did serve as a Soldier in the said army, during the term of one year, in a brick fort, near the City of Newport in the State of Rhode Island

And the said James C. Clark upon his oath aforesaid, says his mother, Jemima Clark, has often said in his hearing that she joined the army at the same time and place that his Father did, and served for the space of one year as a cook in said army and his Father John Clark, and his mother Jemima Clark said they were both discharged according to law, and off paid in full for their services thus rendered

And the said James C. Clark upon his oath aforesaid, says, that he has heard William Scriven, now deceased say that he was knowing to the services being rendered in the

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war of the Revolution by the said John Clark, and Jemima Clark both

And the said James C. Clark upon his oath aforesaid, further saith he has heard Eathen Allen [Allen crossed out] Crandall from the State of Rhodeisland [Rhode Island] , in conversation with his Father and Mother Say that he was knowing to their being in the army, and of their services rendered at the brick fort near Newport

And the said James C. Clark upon his oath aforesaid, also further saith he has heard his Father John Clark say that [he?] has rendered services to the United States at other times than the above mentioned, to wit, in afoisting at divers times to prevent the enemy from landing from vesels [vessels] of war blockading the shores of United States, on the coasts thereof

And the said James C. Clark, further saith that his Mother Jemima Clark, departed this like in April 1854 and that his Father John Clark, and his Mother  Jemima Clark never made an application for a pension

James C Clark [signature]

Sworn to and subscribed
before me this 15 day of Sep,r
1556
GS Odell Justice of Peace

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State of Newyork [New York]
Rensselaer County

On this 15 day of
September one thousand eight hundred fifty six, personally appeared before me Giles S. Odell a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Rensselaer, in the state of New York Annis Jones, who being duly sworn says that she is the daughter of John Clark, and Jemima Clark, now deceased, late of Petersburgh in the County and State aforesaid, that she is forty eight years of age, and that she has heard the affidavit  of James C. Clark, and that she has heard the same of similar statements from her Parents, and also from William Scriven and Eathen Allen [Allen crossed out] Crandall, and the she fully concurs with her Brother, in each, and every part of his affadavit

Annis Jones [signature]

Sworn to and subscribed 
before me this 15 day of Sep,r
1856
G.S. Odell Justice Peace
 Giles S Odell [signature]
STATE OF NEW YORK
AMBROSE H. SHELDON, Clerk of said County, do hereby certify that before whom the annexed affiadavit was made, and whose name is thereto subscribed, was, at the day of the date thereof, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature thereto subscribed is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said County,
this 22nd day of Sepr
A H Sheldon Clerk

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John Clark Son to John & Mary Clark was born February 20th AD 1763
Entered per Joseph Crandell Town Clerk.
Jemima Clark, daughter to Daniel & Mary Clark and born Sepr. 21st AD 1764
Entered per Joseph Crandell Town Clerk
I hereby Certify that John Clark Jnr. and Jemima Clark, daughter of Daniel Clark both of Westerly were lawfully joined together in marriage on the 26th day of May AD 1781 by me the subscriber.
John Benedick Elder
ENtered March 26th AD 1783
by Joseph Crandall Town Clerk
Town Clerk Office Westerly
January 30th AD 1856
I Certify that the foregoing is a true Copy of the Original on Record in this Office
Jirah I. Gray
Town Clerk

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The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Clerk's Office, Supreme Court
Washington DC, February 2 AD 1856 

I Powell Helme Clerk of the Supreme Court of said state in and for the said county of Washington do hereby certify that Jirah I Gray Esq is the Town Clerk of said Town of Westerly duly and legally qualified to [illegible] and that his name [illegible] written is his genuine signature.
In attestation whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Supreme Court at South [Hamptown? illegible] the day and year above written
Powell Helme Clerk

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Affidavit of
S.W. Waite

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State of New York
County of Rensselaer [illegible]
Sept [illegible] 1856 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within & for the county & State aforesaid Silas W. Waite aged sixty two years a resident of the town of Petersburgh in the county & State aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law, says that he was, during the life times of John & Jemima Clark [two words crossed out] well and intimately acquainted with them, that they were both reputable persons, & so alway considered by their neighbors, that their veracity was never questioned, that they are both dead the said John having died in Feb. 1848 & the said Jemima in the month of April 1854.
And he further says the [that] he was acquainted with Wm Scriven in his lifetime, that he was a man of truth & veracity, that he is dead & has been quite a no. of years.
That this deposed is now acquainted with James C. Clark & Annis Jones children of the late John

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& Jemima Clark, & has been so acquainted from their infancy until the present time, that they are both persons of credibility, & that their character [illegible] truth & veracity has never been called in question & further this deponent 
says not 
S.W. Waite
signed & sworn to before
me the day & year above
written
State of New York
Rensselaer County Clerk's Office
I Ambrose H Sheldon, Clerk of said County, do hereby certify that
Giles S. Odell [signature] before whom the annexed
affidavit was made and whose name is thereto subscribed, was, at the day of the date thereof, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature thereto subscribed is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said County, this
22nd day of Sept AD 1856
AH Sheldon, [signature] Clerk

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Hallsport Jan 3, 1856

Dear Sir,
Enclosed, I forward on to the department, an application for a pension, in behalf of my parents, who are both dead, my father died Feb 21st, 1848 and my mother died May 5th 1854
Should there be any lack in matter, on form, I hope the department will please return, or inform me of the same
Your obedient servant
Peleg Clark
Hon R McClelland
Secretary Interior
Washington D.C.

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State of New York
Allegany County
Ransom Lloyd of said County being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he knows Peleg Clark that he resides in the town of Willing in said County and has been intimately acquainted with the said Clark for Sixteen years, that he is a man of good moral character and that he believes him to be the person he represents himself to be -- and further this deponent saith not
Subscribed & sworn to before Ransom Lloyd
me this first day of January
AD, 1856, Wm B Alley
Clerk of Allegany Co
State of New York
Allegany County
John G Collins of said County being duly sworn according to law deposeth & saith that he knows Peleg Clark of the town of Willing in said County and that he has known the said Clark for fifteen years, that he is a man of good moral character and that he verily believes him to be the person he expressed himself to be and further the deponent saith not
Subscribed & sworn to before me
this first day of January 1856 John G Collins
Wm B Alley
Clerk of Allegany County

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Hallsport Feb 11th, 1856
Dear Sir, 
Mr Rae's leter [sic] of the 16th of Jan was received on the 23rd inst [of the current month] I forthwith sent a line to Westerly R.I. and on the 9th inst received an answer with the enclosed certificates.
In the leter [sic] from the Department I am asked the folowing [sic] question vis
Is it not remarkable that no claim was set up by either of your parents in their life time, if they were concious [sic] of having valid claims? To this I answer yes, most truly, so and other cases there be, just as remarkable vis 
There was a Cap Philip Trafton, in Col Jophams Reg't amount due him at his discharge was [pound sign] 278:10, which had not been caled [sic] for one year ago, as I learn from R.I.
Again, there was a certain John Clark, a sargeant [sic] in Col Elliots Reg't, which has due to him, some [pound sign] 54, or 55:17, that had not been caled [sic] for 6 months ago; as I learn
But enough on that point, that war was a remarkable war, it caled [sic] forth remarkable agents, and these remarkable men underwent remarkable sufferings and privations, together with some remarkable victories and finaly [sic], formed one of the most remarkable governments known to history, and I do home that the records of this Government will never shew [sic] the fact of one refusal to reward an old Soldier, or his legal heirs

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in this ninteenth [sic] Century for those remarkable Sufferings! Toils; Victories: Blessings &C, &C, &C
As I do not know of any lack in relation to the claim made by me on the first Jan, you will should there be any inform me of the same and 
Oblige Your Humble Servant Peleg Clark
R McClelland Esq
Washington D.C.

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Westerly Rhode Island
John Clark Son of John and Mary Clark was born February 20th 1763
Westerly Rhode Island
Jemima Clark Daughter of Daniel and Mary Clark was born September the 21st AD 1764
I hereby that John Clark Jnr and Jemima Clark, daughter of Daniel Clark Daughter of Daniel Clark both of Westerly were lawfully joined together in marriage on the 26th day of May AD 1781 by me the subscriber John Benedick Elder
I hereby certify that the above births and Marriage is a true copy of the original certificates as they now stand in the Books of this town.
Attest. William E. Parkerson
Town Clerk

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April 5, 1856 No 15372
Peleg Clark Jemima Clark wid of John July 7 1832

[Hallsport?] New York

New York, 1856
[illegible]

[illegible]
12 Mch. 1836

1983

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Hallsport March 3rd 1856
Sir
Yours of the 23rd inst is before me, in that you say "there is no evidence on file in this office of the service of either of them" in a leter [sic] from the Secretary of State of Rhode Island, he, the Secretary, says in reply "I have to state there are no rolls among the archives of this state of the soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War, that previous to the war of 1812 all the muster rolls of the army and militia of the revolutionary war then preserved here, were sent to the Dept of State, Washington, where they were destroyed by fire"
Now, what proof do I want to satisfy the Dep't, more thn the confession of my Parents, in what they have told their Chirldren, from their earliest infancy up to the decease of their said Parents?
Will the Dep't please give the information asked for?
And oblige your humble Servant Peleg Clark
J Minot Esq
Com of Pensions
Dept of Interior Washington D.C.

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P.S. My son has been to Rhode Island in this business has seen, and had a conversation with the Sec of State, and a certain Mr Cadwell who has been engaged to some extent in the pension business, and they both said there was not any of the soldiers of the Revolutionary war living to their knowledge, that could be refered [sic] to, in the case, neither do I know of one that could be
Respectfully yours
P.C.

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Peleg Clark
Hallsport N York
March 24, 1856
Calls attention to his letter of about the 3 inst
enquiring what testimony would be required in the further persecution of the claim for a pension, on [acct?] of the services of his Father John Clark in the Revolutionary war,
Filed March 29 '58
Cole
[illegible] April 5, 1856
[illegible]
26 Mch 18

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Hallsport March 25th 1856
Dear Sir
On or about the 3rd instant I sent a leter [sic] to the department overwhich you preside, enquiring what kind of testimony the department would demand of me, in the further prosecution of the claim of a pension on behalf of my parents John & Jemima Clark, for servises [sic] in the war of the revolution after I had shown that the records were destroyd [sic].
From that letter I have not heard a word, you will please inform me whether it has been received at the department or not
And oblige your humble servant
Peleg Clark
Hon Robert McClelland
Secretary of the Interior
Washington

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1983
Jemima Clark
John

[stamp:] REJECTED

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Anderson
From Geo C Whitney
Com of Pensions
Washington
D.C.

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V N 12914
Hannah Cloes
NY
[illegible] July 9, '40
[illegible]
[illegible] 2 '41
Rejected

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No 15,372
Jemima Clark
dec Widow of John 
NY
Peleg Clark Jan 16 1856
Same Feb'y 23, 1856
Same April 5 / 56
Same Octo 16 1856
Hon W.H. Seward Feb 3rd 57
[illegible] April 2 / 57