Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File Bateson, John Clarke, Del.

Page 1

Ans 6. This was left to Capt Robt. Kirkwood, who promised to
have all my accounts settled for recruiting me with the
war department.  On account of affliction in his family, he neglected
to settle my accounts, and part of his own which have been settled
by his heirs since his death.  I bore my own expense, I did not receive
any pay while in service.  I never received a discharge

Ans 7.  I received a written statement from Capt Robt Kirkwood on con-
dition of which I went into service, and understood him that 
a commission would be sent to him for me.  If this was done I never
received it.  I performed all the duties of my appointment the same
as if I had received my commission.  When I came into this Western
Country I left all my papers concerning my connection with the
Delaware regiment and the Army of the Revolution in my Fathers
hands.  He informed me that he never received any thing.  He removed 
to Washington Co. in 1987 or '88. All of his papers together with
my own and a good deal of continental Money he destroyed,
thinking them to be of no use.

Ans 8. References as to Character for Jos McConahey, Moses Rhodes,
Rev D. S. Welling, Reuben Miller, C. Wesson, Rev Saml B Brockhiemer
Jos Caldwell Ex President of Merchants & Mechanics Bank
& Chas Knox Merchant, Wheeling Va

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[in pencil, 60 degrees rotated]
77 b-78 - 79
Secretary State of Delware
at Dover

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38.724
John Clark
Ohio

Letter to 
Hon. J. L. Dawson
April 4, 1854

Hon. J. L. Dawson
April [illegible] 1854

[in pencil]
1991

Act June 7. 1832

Page 4

[crossed-out Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1878.]

[Stamp, rotated - 60 degrees]
REJECTED

1991
P. O. _____
John Clark [in pencil, rotated 45 degrees [illegible]
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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Certificate of the 
military services
of John Clarke

The claimant was 10 
yrs of age in 77 or 78.

Page 6

I Alfred P. Robinson, Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, do hereby certify that, it appears from the pay roll of Capt Robert Kirkwood of the Delaware Regiment, commanded by Col. David Hall, for the month of July 1777, that John Clark, had been recruited into the service of the United States, in said Company on the 4th day of said month, as a private: that the name of the said John Clark appears on the several monthly pay rolls of said Company, in the same capacity of a private, up to the month of December A.D. 1778 inclusive --- after which time I find no further evidence of his military services.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Great Seal of the State of Delaware, at Dover, this fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty four.

Alf. P. Robinson
Sec of State.

[Seal]

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[all text in light pencil]
John Clarke
of
Ohio

Hon.
J. L.  Dawson
April 4. 54

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Pension Office
April 4th 1854.

Sir:

The application of John Clarke, of Ohio, for a pension under the Act of June 7th 1832, has been carefully examined.

The service certified to have been performed by John Clark, under Capt. Kirkwood and Col. Hall, of the Delaware regiment, were performed from July, 1777, to December, 1778. This claimant declares that he was born in 1767 or '68, and he, of course, did not perform this service. His own description of his services does not show that he served in a military capacity --- but only, that in 1781, and after he was engaged by a recruiting officer to aid him in obtaining recruits. Even then he was only fourteen or fifteen years of age; and, as his name is not shown among those recognized as in service at the latter date, it is apparent that what he did was only a voluntary service rendered by an ardent youth, who was too young to perform service as a soldier. This view is well sustained by his frank statements in his letter of the 16th alt. which bears all the marks of truth and candor. ---

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If evidence should be found, showing him to have been enrolled in service as late as 1782, it might put a different complexion upon the case; but it would hardly agree with his own account given in his letter.

I am, respectfully,
Your Obt. Svt,

S P. Balno
Commissioner.

Hon. J. L. Dawson
House of Reps.

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[Postmark]
[illegible]
MAR
17
[illegible]

To
The Honourable 
John L. Dawson Esq.
member of Congress
Washington City
D. C.

Cole.

Hon.
John L. Dawson
H. R.

[wax seal]

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[the text contains many misspellings, left as is]
Bridgeport Post Office March 18th 1854

The Honable John L. Dawson Esq^r

Dr Sir} I Rec^d your letter of the 11th this day after Examinng its contents I finde in my Claim for pention the pention [illegible] has thought propper to defer a desision in the matter for some reasons which at this late date and all who need any thing Connected with my services in the War of the revolution is dead long time you say something about my service in 1777 in this service I was along with a Benjamin McGorden who was in the Wagon Master service in this service I was under the Controle of my father after this in 1788' Captain William McGammon came to our neighbourhood to recruit and in list men for his Company I was employed to assist Sargent Maxwell in this service ocationally with Lutenant James Gammel and some time with Ensign John Bates on they ware officer in Capt McGammons Company after this I Inlisted with Captain Robert Kirkwood as I Have stated in my application for a pention as by agreement & after Gates was defeated in the Battle of Camden in Carolina, Captain Wm. McKammon and Colo Benet after governor of Delaware came from the American army to Christeen bridge in and Castle County for to get more men their was not money to recruit with. I Had a few men inlisted which they took Charge of I think for want of money they did not join the amrey this was in 1780 in 1781 Cornwalace and His armey was taken and there was no more recruiting or inlisting men (the peice took place in 1783 & if the [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] & hand be any way doubtful in my case I do not no that I Have any further Evidence in the matter. I Have fulfild all the Enquirey and answerd all the enterogatorys put by

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[the text contains many misspellings, left as is]
the war department (the declaration was not filed [illegible] by the Clerk of the Court as I wished It was done in a Hurrey and [illegible] to my mind. I commenced this application for a pention in 1835 suposing it I would have to go before Congress I Had concluded that I would not be able to get a decision in my lifetime I laid the mater up until I was informed the pention agent would attend to such loses I therefore got my Cranmer a young lawyer to take my Depocation and was it and draft the one [illegible] in your posession as this was done intireley from memorey those may be so errors in it you say my [illegible] [illegible] D Clark is thare and will attend to the matter He Has found my name on the Rolls of 1779 in Delaware State this does not [illegible] with my aplication I do not no that I Can put this in any other shape, the winter of 1780 was the most [illegible] has every been experienced in the in the united states and of [illegible] nothing was as [illegible] be done until the spring in that year general gates does sent of the Carolinas to contend with [illegible] older and [illegible] I was left of recruit but money was [illegible] I have my own Expence done what I Could until the Defeat of Cornwallace [illegible] in 1781 October, you will pleas give my findship to your Robert D. I should like to here [illegible] him (I served at a volunteer 1790 one month A Claim was defeated in 1791 I then was in Washington when the needs came and Express Came from Pittsburg caling for volunters to [illegible] pack Horses and beef Cattle to the [illegible] for its [illegible] and evry suposing the Indians would imediately attempt to take [illegible] forts they ware out of provisions and amenition I with other turned out we served one month time the month of January 1792 I have my own Expence found my own gun amunition & I never rec^d anthing. I have nothing to prove this service I served as a Captain of [illegible] in

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in 1795 after the Whiskey insurrection under General [crossed-out Hay] Morgan from the 25 December until 20th April in same year (Morgan broke up his camp at Bentleys from my account was not settled and I did not get a discharge not being there when the army was discharged. I mention those cases to shew I Have of the Claim, beside those presented [illegible] as I supose[sic] you are ingaged[sic] most of your time in Congress you cannot attend to any private case there for [illegible] Robert D Clarke can do anything for me I will make him [illegible] and if he wants any information I can give his [illegible] have it by application) my Jim [illegible] Wilson Shamnon, Esquire. [illegible] to attend to  my claim for damage he will do all this [illegible] for my claim any evidence or [illegible] to [illegible] [illegible] willing to give him will be thankfully acknowledged by [illegible] Read my [illegible] or undertstand I therefor[sic] ask your indulgence and will be pleased to here[sic] from you when you can make it convenient or will pleas[sic] except[sic] my best wishes for your Health and Hapiness[sic] your humbl St.
John Clarke