Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34698, John Clark, Conti Mass.

SERVICE
Conti Mass.
Clark, John
NUMBER
S 34 698
CONTENTS
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.

11. 186
R
Massachusetts
John Clark
of Sherburn in the state of Mass ts who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Whitcomb of the Mass ts line, for the term of one year
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 10 th of November 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st of May 1819 and sent to Inage John Davis Boston Massachusetts
  Arrears to 4th of Mar. 1819  30. 63    Semi-ann. all'ce ending Sep. 1819.  48. 00    3 Mo. \frac{21}{30} \frac{4}{31}  $78. 63  
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
See letter to John Clark
July 17. 1823

626
John Clark Trin. Whitcomb's Mass. Regiment Yr - 1 Year Nov 10 th 1818 dis.
[Signature] + Admitted
Loge Hts
y reas
Dis sed
res iont in p ttm te ionary

United States, Massachusetts District.
I, John Clark, of Sherburne, in the County of Middlesex, and District of Massachusetts, a resident citizen of the United States, and applicant for a pension from the United States, under an Act of Congress, entitled an Act, to provide for certain persons, engaged in the land and naval Service of the United States, in the revolutionary war, make the oaths, that he served as a private soldier, during the war of the revolution one year, in manner following, viz - Enlisted in January 1776, in the company commanded by Captain Ballard, in the Massachusetts regiment, commanded by Colonel Asa Whitcomb, and served in Boston and at Ticonderoga, in the State of New York, until January 1777 - when he was honorably discharged in writing - but has unfortunately lost it, and is in such reduced circumstances, as to require the aid of his country.
John Clark
Mass. Dist. Nov. 10. 1812
Sworn to before me J. Dyer
Dist. Judge Mass. Dist.

MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.
Boston 25 January A. D. 1819
IT appearing to my satisfaction, that John Clark subscriber to the annexed declaration, sworn to before me, did serve in the revolutionary war against the common enemy, as stated in said declaration, I now transmit the testimony in the case, with the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the department of war, pursuant to the directions of the act entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war;" the testimony and proceedings in the premises being the declaration aforesaid with the accompanying documents marked A B together with this certificate.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the District Court of the United States for this District to be hereunto affixed.
M c Carvill
} Judge of the District Court U.S. Massachusetts District.

Seal of the District Court of the United States for
MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.
25 January 1819.
I AM satisfied that the above named, John Clark by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, is in need of assistance from his Country for support.
M c Alister
{ District Judge Massachusetts }
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR.

ms. 1. 1. 61 John Clark 161.
Schedule
Recd. 15 July 1823.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.)
county of Middlesex, ss.
On this twelfth day of June A.D. 1823.
Personally appeared in open court being a court of Record in and for said county, keeping a Record of its proceedings and having the power of fine and imprisonment - John Clark aged sixty six years, resident in Sherburne in the county of Middlesex in said Commonwealth who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows viz. - Enlisted in December 1775 or January 1776 in the Company commanded by Captain Ballard in the Regiment commanded by Col. Whitcomb & served in said Corps in Massachusetts and New York one year on the Continental Establishment at the end of which time he was honorably discharged but not in writing. And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818 - and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of any property with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled 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 18 th day of March 1818 - and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due

to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
I further swear that I am sixty six years old, too infirm to labour - Am a farmer by profession - My family consists of my wife aged fifty eight years who is rather infirm - I have no means of support and am altogether dependent on the bounty of my country. John Clark.
Schedule. 1 Cow $ 16.00 1 Bed 1.00 3 Tables 3.00 Chest of Drawers 2.00 Crockery ware &c. 2.00 $ 24.00
John Clark.
I swear to and declare this 12 th day of June A.D. 1823. - Before the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Middlesex. Attest A. Biglow clk.
I Abraham Biglow clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Middlesex do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the Court that the said John Clark did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy for the term of nine months under one engagement on the Continental establishment. I also certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are

truly copied from the records of the said Court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is twenty four dollars.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this first day of July 1823.
Wm Brown 3

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section AWP/eel
February 4, 1929
Mrs. H.I.Benedict 143 Fourth Street Medford, Massachusetts
Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 34698, it appears that John Clark enlisted in April, 1775 and served eight months in Colonel Jonathan Brewer's Massachusetts Regiment.
He enlisted in December, 1775, and served one year as a private in Captain Ballard's Company, Colonel Asa Whitcomb's Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed November 10, 1818, at which time he was living at Sherborn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
In 1823, he stated that he was sixty-six years old and referred to his wife as aged fifty-eight years, her name is not given.
John Clark, Junior, is referred to, relationship not shown. There are no further data as to his family.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT, Commissioner.
1823 66 58 7

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF PENSIONS WASHINGTON
January 23, 1929
Mrs. H.I. Benedict
1331 Massachusetts Avenue 143 Fourth street
Cambridge, Massachusetts Medford, Mass.
Madam:
I have to advise you that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to James Benedict as described by you.
In order to identify a particular soldier of the Revolution named John Clark, as much as possible of the following data is essential: approximate dates of birth and death, places of residence at enlistment and after service and given name of widow.
* Above John Clark, was born 1754, possibly Sherborn, Mass. son of Samuel & Mary (Moore) Clark, place & date of death not known to me. Enlisted at Williamstown, Mass. 1775 , served at Battle Bunker Hill. Married APR. 4, 1776, at Williamstown, Lucina Smedley. Would like record and family.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.
Can you tell me anything of the John Clark, Sherborn, Mass. who marched on alarm of Apr. 19, 1775, and later was of Capt. Benj. Bullard's Co., Col. Jonathan Brewer's Regt. Who was his wife, and what was record.
Are these John Clark's one and the same person.
Thank you for the Amos Benedict Record.
Respectfully
Mrs. H.I. Benedict. 143 Fourth street, Medford,

Sheburne 34 698 INVALID.
Revg
File No. 34,698
John Clark Rev Rev War
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 75
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Oct. 22-1901 Nelson T. Wild muffin man
1929. Feb. 4-Hist to Mrs. H. L. Benedict aeg.

Sherburne Dec. 7 th 1818
We the subscribers Selectmen of the town of Sherburne - do hereby certify that Mr John Clark is an Inhabitant of our town and that he has by reason of age and infirmities is become unable to perform little or no labor - and that he has lately met with a heavy loss of property - and that what little he has left will not support him without the aid of his personal labor - and that if he is entitled by his other claims to receive the pension allowed by government we think he merits it on account of the smallness of his Property
John Bullard } Select Daniel Leland } men Isaac Whitney } of John Wight } Sherburne John Goulding }

John Clarke I well know to have been a Soldier in the Regiment commanded by Col Jon a Brewer, raised in the Massachusetts for the first eight months service from April 1775 to the close of the year - After which He enlisted and was transferred to the Regiment in the continental service commanded by Col Asa Whitcomb in which He served (like a good Soldier) till the close of the year Decem r 1776 -
During the above periods I was the Surgeon of each Regiment
David Townsend -

The undersigned Selectmen of the town of Sherburne - hereby certify that Mr John Clark an Inhabitants of this town served as a Soldier in the Army of the United States in the revolutionary war between Great Britain and America and has had his name entered upon the pension list and that he is in indigent circumstances, that he is unable to labor and that in our opinion he stands in need of the assistance of his Country
Sherburne April 21 st 1823
Isaac Whitney Darius Leland Daniel Leland Benjamin Dowe
Middlesex ss April 21 st 1823. Then personally appeared Isaac Whitney, Darius Leland, Daniel Leland & Benjamin Dowe. Selectmen of the Town of Sherburne and made oath that the foregoing certificate by them subscribed is just & true before me Calvin Sanger Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middsex ss. I Abraham Brigham Clerk of the Judicial Courts in the County of Middlesex do certify that Calvin Sanger is a Justice of the peace within said County, duly qualified & acting under the authority of this Com- monwealth - and his name set to the within certificate is his own proper signature.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas for said County this 12 th day of June 1823.
Abraham Brigham Clerk

J
Hon. Jeremiah Nelson Member of Congress Washington

Boston Jan'y 18 th 1826 -
Dear Sir -
John Clark of Lexington did not send on a schedule of his property after the last law passed because he was then in possession of some real estate which however was attached, & has since all been taken from him. - The Sunday's order that he should swear to the state of his property before a court of record, & also the reason of his not sending on before.
He accordingly did so before Judge Davis, by my instructions & I sent the papers on. Not having heard, & the season advancing I am induced to ask the favour of you at some moment of leisure to do the Sunday's Office, & make a little enquiry - Very respectfully Yours J. Hooper -
Hon Jeremiah Adams -

Rec d Feb. 18 th 1824.
J. A. Clarks Esq s Department of War Washington City.
See

Morton July 12 o - 1874
Sir - I have rec d from the Hon ble Nelson a letter of yours in relation to Mr. Clark an old inferior & utterly destitute soldier of the revolution. The requisitions now made upon him are so much greater & different than those of a former letter that I cannot but regret that he was not apprised of them before he was asked by daily to travel thirty miles to make his affidavit That affidavit stated the property he was possessed of in 18100. The reason of his not applying for a conveyance the debts to Rich & others & the conveyance to J. Clark Jr. I have not a copy I cannot now remember whether the claim of Rich & others was for nature of the  particulars stated in it. They were contracted in consequence of suretyship as I believe is stated, & all accounts therefore of what he did with monies rec d from them cannot be furnished because he received nothing. The reason of the conveyance to J. Clark Jr. is stated, & I can aver that it was bona fide, & that he cannot now receive a cup & a cold water on account of it. The reason of his

not applying in 1810 - is stated or implied in the affidavit. It was because if I remember right he hoped then that he might get along with- out it. If he is living off his own pecuniary aff- airs &c relating to the foregoing requisitions he could not be distressed at this imminent season. & not perhaps ever without an expense - more than equal to his chance of living to receive enough from his pension to defray. Perhaps bills respect to all debts con- tracted & discharged by him since 1810 - the annuities with the exception of the Ohio claims &c - I apprehend it would be quite impossible to state them. They consist of small bills for the necessaries of life - small & affairs where entrusts could not be found. & the sums are too small to be remembered. If you have a copy of the little last sent given to him - you will perceive that his affidavit is a literal compliance therewith. He is wretchedly poor. & cannot subsist without this aid. I pray the intervention of your good office. I have sometimes thought that if instead of cold written communications a sight & a hearing of the sufferers themselves could be had at the war office much trouble might be saved There is no deception in his unhappy case

He lives in the interior & if he can be allowed to receive a payment in church. I pledge my- self between that & September to furnish all the evidence that can be obtained. & which shall be satisfactory - or else to consent that his pension be stopped
Yours respectfully
Stephen Hopper
Job Edwards Esq.
16/12

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss
On the sixth day of October A.D. 1818 Personally appeared before me Calvin Sanger one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Middlesex. Thomas Greenwood late of Shelburne in said County now of Winchendon in the County of Worcester. Who being duly sworn according to Law did depose and say that he is personally acquainted with John Clark of Shelburne in said County of Middlesex. That he is personally knowing to the said John Clark John having served as a soldier in the Army of the United States in the revolutionary war between Great Britain and America. The full term of one year commencing in the month of January in the year 1776. and ending in the month of January in the year 1777. in Capt. Ballard's Company and Col. Asa Whitcomb's Regiment. And the said deponent further saith that he served as a soldier in said Army at the same time, and in the same Regiment with said Clark.
3 Thomas Greenwood
On the sixth day of October A.D. 1818 The aforesaid deponent was examined, cautioned and sworn, before me Calvin Sanger one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Middlesex agreeable to Law, to the deposition aforesaid by him subscribed, taken at the request of said Clark for the purpose of substantiating his claim to a pension under the late act of Congress.
Calvin Sanger

I John Clark of Sherburne, in the county of Middlesex, in conformity to the request of the department of war, state and on oaths declare that since the 10 th Decr 1810, and about three years since I made sale of a small amount of personal estate at public auction, the whole of the proceeds of which I appropriated to the payment of my debts - also some real estate of the value of one thousand dollars which I sold to John Clark Jr and applied the whole of the proceeds of the same to the payment of my debts. In April 1822 all the property remaining of which I was poss- essed, was attached at the suit of Phineas Rice and others. Judgment was obtained by them, and the property sold in due course of law, to satisfy the execution, or taken and transferred to them the attacking creditors, the whole being insufficient to satisfy their claims. The reason of my not forward- ing a schedule before was, that altho' this property belonged to my creditors and had for a long time, yet while the actions were depending, and unsettled I was at a loss how to describe it in

my schedule. and thought it most proper to wait until the business was finally settled. In church 10th - altho' this property was in my poss. in, yet none of it belonged to me, but to my cred- itor. and I am now in a very infirm state of health, with an aged wife entirely unable to obtain a subsistence. John Clark
United States of America } Massachusetts District } ss.
On the eleventh day of October A.D. 1823 personally appeared in the District Court of the United States for the Massachusetts District then in session, the said John Clark, and made solemn oath before the Judge of said Court, to the truth of the foregoing Affidavit. Said Dist- rict Court being a Court of Record.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affix- ed the seal of said Court at Boston this eleventh day of Oct- ober A.D. 1823, in the forty eighth year of the Independence of the United States of America.
William Davis Clerk of the Massachusetts District Court