Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12,503, Mathew Clark, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Clark Mathew or Matthew
S. 12.503
carded.
CONTENTS

4152.
Massachusetts
★ Matthew Clark
of Westhampton the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain _____ of the Reg t commanded by Col d Parent in the Mass line for 7 Mos
★ Mathew Clark.
Records corrected Sept. 19/05. f.
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of Jan y 1833 and sent to P O Huntington Northampton Mass
Arrears to 4th of Sept r 1832 - $34.99 Penzant. allowance entitling 2) Mar 33. 11.66
$46.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, { Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J. F. [unclear] Clerk Book D. Vol. 2 nd Page 43.
72 Hampshire

No 2680
Matthew proves his 2 months service by 2 credible witnesses. has had personal difficulties with his clergyman — E.O.R.
20
Matthew Clarke
Million
1 st June consecrated by Revd. Francis Appleton

DECLARATION,
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS OF THE 7TH OF JUNE, 1832.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss. COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE. }
ON this eighth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the court of Probate now sitting, Matthew Clark a resident of Northampton in the County of Hampshire, and State of Massachusetts, aged 71 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 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
He enlisted in the fore part of April 1777 as a private in the company of Capt Simon Clapp in Col. May's regiment (he thinks) Lt Blair's brigade, to go to Ticonderoga & served 2 months. He was stationed on Mount Independence. Thomas Lyman, Noah Clapp & Elisha Bridgman & Jonathan Wales of Northampton were in the same company in the same service the same length of time & served the time through. In 1779 about the middle of July he enlisted into the service of the United States, in the continental line, in Capt Williams Company in Col. Spence's Regiment, for 5 months. He went into this service as a substitute for Jacob Miller of Northampton who had enlisted for 9 months & served 4 months. He said said Matthew went to West Point to join his company & was there stationed a few days. Thence to Peekskill one or 2 nights, then stationed at Fishkill the remainder of the time. He served said 5 months. He was also out a few days at the time of the Bennington alarm. Elisha King of Northampton a pensioner was in the same service in the same company both periods. He said Matthew was born in the year 1761 in January. He has no record of his age that he has been able to find. from the town records. He received a discharge for the 5 months service, but has lost it, which probably covered the time of 9 months including said Jacob Miller's service. When said Miller enlisted, it was agreed between him & said Matthew as to their respective periods of service - 7 months in the whole - He was born in Northampton & lived there till the last 40 years, which last 40 years  time he has lived in the neighboring town of Northampton -
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Matthew Clark Before me Samuel H. Wiskeby Judge of Probate
We, residing in the town of and residing in hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that  who has signed the preceding certificate, is  resident in  and that  who has also signed the same, is a resident in  and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Samuel H. Wiskeby Judge of Probate I, Saml H. Lyman Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Matthew Clark for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two -
Saml H. Lyman Register

Matthew Clark Bunte

January 10. 1759. Solomon Clark Son of David Clark and Eunice his wife was born
January 9. 1761. Matthew Clark, son of said David and Eunice, born.
A true copy of record
Northampton July 16. 1832
Chas. Hooker Town Clerk,

2680
Matthew Clark
Mass.
Private of Months
of the Regiment Contained
in 11. 12 & 14 interrogations
not complied with in regard
to his service of 2 months
in Roll Col. Mowat's Regt
enlisted 13 Nov 1779 discharged
14 April 1780
$23.33.
C. P. Huntington Esq
Northampton Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Mathew Clark  of  Northampton  in the State of  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy One Years  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.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     In 17 77 2 " Private Col Mays   79 3 " " Col Sproat  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Northampton Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living Witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Not stated as credible 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Adolf Addison Examining Clerk.

April 14, 1931
Mrs. Hattie Adams Wolcottville Indiana
Rev.& 1812 Wars Section MCS:MLB
Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 12503, that Mathew or Matthew Clark was born January 9, 1761 in Northampton, Massachusetts, and was the son of David and Eunice Clark.
He enlisted in April, 1777 and served two months as private in Captain Simeon Clapp's company in Colonel May's Massachusetts regiment. He also served a few days at the time of the Bennington alarm. He enlisted in 1779, about the middle of July, and served five months in Captain Abraham Williams' company, Colonel Sprout's Massachusetts regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 8, 1832, at which time he was living in Westhampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, and he had moved there from Northampton about 1792.
With the papers of this pension claim is found a copy of the birth records of Northampton, Massachusetts, which was furnished by the town clerk of that place in 1832, and it shows the following:
January 10, 1759, Solomon Clark son of David Clark and Eunice his wife born
January 9, 1761, Matthew Clark son of David and Eunice born.
There are no further data relative to soldier's family

and the Revolutionary War records of this bureau fail to show claims for pension or bounty land on file, on account of the services of David and Solomon Clark, as described.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner

1931 Apr. 14 hist. documents Hattie Adams. mss.
Reuben
12503 INVALID.
File No. 12, 503
★ Matthew Clark
Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 9 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 70
[Arrangement of 1870.]
★ Matthew Clark
Records corrected. Sept 19/05. R.

Thomas Lyman for Matthew Clark.
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

I Thomas Lyman of Northampton Hampshire County Mass aged 75 do hereby testify before & say that I have known Matthew Black of Northampton this twenty years - In the fore part of April 1777 said Matthew enlisted as a private with me in the company of Capt Simeon Clapp in Col. Mays regiment to go to Secondaroge & there he served two months, stationed on Mount Independence till the place was abandoned - We were in the same company - Dec 5 th 1832. Thos Lyman
Hampton J. Dec 5 th 1832.
Then personally appeared the above named Thomas a credible person & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed before me Chas. P. Huntington Justice of the Peace.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampshire ss I Solomon Stoddard Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth for the County of Hampshire, do certify that Charles P. Huntington Esq. whose signature is affixed to the above certificate was at the date thereof one of the Justices of the Peace within & for said County duly commissioned & acting under the authority of this Commonwealth - and that full faith & credit is sought to be given to his acts & attestations done in that capacity. And that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Huntington & believe his signature to be genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas for said Commonwealth this sixth day of December A.D. 1832.
S. Stoddard Clerk

Elihu Kings affidavit for Matt. Clark. for Matthew Colark

I Elisha King of Northampton County, of Hampshire Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged 72 years, testify & say that the Matthew Black of Northampton entered the service of the U. States the latter part of May as I think in the Massachusetts line in the company of Capt Simon Clapp in Col. May's Regiment, to go to Ticonderoga & continued in said service 2 months as a private, stationed on Mount- Independence. I was in the same company & in the same service the same length of time. Said Matthew entered the continental service in July 1779 for 5 months & served said term in the company of Capt Abraham Williams, Col Sprout's Regiment the same company in which I served for which service I now receive a pension. I have well known said Matthew ever since & know that he served his country 7 months in the whole as aforesaid.
July 16 th 1832.
Witness C. P. Huntington.
Elisha King
Hampshire County of Massachusetts, July 16 th 1832.
Then personally appeared the above named Elisha King & made oath to the truth of the foregoing instrument by him subscribed before me
Chas. P. Huntington
Justice of the Peace.
Hampshire ss Dec 6 th 1832. Then I hereby further certify that the above named Elisha who deposed as above before me is a credible person
Chas P Huntington
Justice of the Peace

then personally appeared me above named Elisha King & made oath to the truth of the foregoing instrument by him subscribed before me Chas. P. Huntington Justice of the Peace.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
HAMPSHIRE ss. I, SAMUEL F. LYMAN, Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County, do hereby certify that Charles P. Huntington Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition was taken, is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly and regularly appointed, and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and have no doubt that the Signature annexed to said deposition is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this ten day of August A. D. 1832.
Sam l F. Lyman Register of Probate.
Hampshire ss Dec 6 th 1832. Then I hereby further certify that the above named Elisha who deposed as above before me is a credible person
Chas P Huntington Justice of the Peace

Matthew Clark West Hampton Mass.
No 2680.
clergy certif.
On the Roll of Col Brooks Reg as having served 5 Months -
If he cannot prove his Service of 2 Months he should produce the Clergy Man's Certificate, and if this cannot be obtained he should comply strictly with the regulations in such case.
he has now 2 credible witnesses - King & Lyman
C. P. Sturtevant
W. M. Sturtevant

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Mathew 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? He did III. If 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? He has 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 to what amount of pension he is entitled? He has VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? He has VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? He has VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes, in his favor IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? He has 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? The seal is affixed & on it has an inscription whereby it can be distinguished

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 - XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No 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? XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? No 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? Yes, XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? They are all answered in his declaration
 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, 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 service I claim a pension.”

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.
† 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
‡ 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 from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Wolcottville Indiana March 10, 1931
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.
Dear Sir: I have been directed to you for information which I desire very much to obtain if possible.
I wish to establish the fact that I am eligible to become a member of "The Daughters of the Revolution". I have a History in my possession of my ancestry dating back to 630 but have no proof that any of them fought in the Rev. War.
These are the ancestors living at that time
✓ David Clark , born Sept 24 th 1729, Northampton Mass, died Nov 13 th 1810 Northampton Mass; Wife Eunice Bartlett.
✓ Solomon Clark born 1759 Northampton, died 1826 Bennington Vt. Wife Sarah Turner.
✓ Matthew Clark born 1761, died 1826 Northampton Mass, wife Irene Strong.
It would seem that any of them or all would have fought sometime during the War. I shall be grateful for any help you can give me.
yours very truly
Mrs. Hattie Adams