Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5011, Matthew Clark, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Clark, Matthew
S. 5011
CONTENTS
carded

Paid at the Treas as per under the Act of the 6 April 1838 from 4 March to 4 th Sep 1840. Agt notified 2 nd Oct 1841
76 Franklin
15. 5 5 1/2 Massachusetts Matthew Clark of Franklin in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Green of the Regt commanded by Col Hickson in the Mass line for 6 months
Incribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 20 Dollars 50 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 nd day of June 1833 and sent Elizabeth  Clark  Spencerfield Mass 
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $40 00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 21 st Sep th 10 00 $50 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. G. & H. S. M. Clerk Book E Vol. 3 Page 12 

24464
Matthew Clarke Seyden

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
FRANKLIN COUNTY ss.
ON THIS twelfth day of February A. D. 183 3 personally appeared in open Court, before the said Commonwealth , now sitting at Greenfield within and for the said County of Franklin,
Matthew Clark a resident of Seyden in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy four years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an 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.
I entered the service of the United States as a soldier of the revolution in July A.D. 1780 the 17 th day according to my best recollection and served five months as a private. I left the service in January A.D. 1781. The officers of our Regt. were Col. Michael Jackson Lt. Col. Hall. The officers of our Company were Capt. Pierce. and Ensign Pierce. I lived in Greenfield in the then County of Hampshire since the County of Franklin a state of Massachusetts when I enlisted. From said Greenfield with our company went to South Hadley Ms. when we passed muster thence to Springfield Ms. thence to Litchfield Ct. thence to West Point where we staid a while thence we went into New Jersey and to Morristown Penn. Then back to West Point when I was discharged by a written discharge which I now lost. I was present when Maj. Andre was executed at Tappan N.Y. I have with me the certificate of the Secy. of the Comt. of Massachusetts & the Depositions of Elisha Beman & Elisha Green as being the best & the only evidence of my service - I further state that there is no Clergyman living in said Seyden. I have no record of my age. I have lived in P. Seyden principally since the revolutionary war. I know of no record of my birth. I was born in Blanford Ms.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
R. E. Newcomb
Judge of Probate
Matthew Clark
WE,
residing in
believe him to be
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.
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood
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 above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that
R. E. Newcomb
Judge of Probate
I, ELIJAH ALVORD, Register Clerk of the said Court, 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 affixed the Seal of the said Court, this twelfth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
E. Alvord Register

244 64
Mathew Clark
Mass
Printed 6 M rs .
E Alwood Greenfield Mass

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Matthew Clarke  Seymour County of Franklin Mass
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Entered 1780 6 pro Col Jackson Capt Buried 74 yrs Germantown M.A. Documentary Living Witness  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers :
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) 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.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) 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 days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule set down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or place where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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 official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Rev War
✓
5011 INVALID.
File No. 5011
Matthew Clark
Print Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832.
Index:—Vol. m , Page 68
[Arrangement of 1870.]

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
Aug. 6 1841.
Sir :
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Matthew Clark a Pensioner on the Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of — TWENTY Dollars and Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 1 st of March to the 1 st of Sept. 1840.
Respectfully yours,
Edward E. Tappan
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

Matthew Clark 2 Affidavits

I Elisha Barnard of Shelburn in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby certify and say that I was serving to Matthew Clark, being in the Continental Service in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty in the six months Service in Col Patkoms Regiment that I was in same Regiment in Gen Larnads Brigade Elisha Barnard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Franklin ss. on the fifteenth day of August A.D. 1832 Personally appeared before me one of the Justices of the Peace for the County aforesaid the above named Elisha Barnard and made Oath to the truth of the above Deposition, and I further certify that I have been acquainted with the said Elisha Barnard upwards twenty years and that I consider him a Man of Veracity Jerome Ripley Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss. I Elijah Alvord Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the county of Franklin do hereby certify that Jerome Ripley Esq before whom the preceding and annexed affidavits purport to have been made and sworn to is a Justice of the Peace for the said county and that is name to the said several affidavits subscribed appear to me to be his true and genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Greenfield on the twelfth day of February A.D. 1833
E. Alvord Clerk

I Elisha Graves of Greenfield in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do certify and say that I was acquainted with Matthew Clark in the time of the Revolutionary War I believe it was in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty that he the said Matthew was hired by my Father Ebenezer Graves who was one of the Committee of the Town of Greenfield to hire men for Six months to join the Continental Army that I well remember hearing my Father say that he had agreed with said Matthew to serve as one of the men for the Town of Greenfield for Six months and that I was brewing to his returning the Winter following
Elisha Graves
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Franklin ss. The twelfth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two Personally appeared me Jerome Ripley one of the Justices of the Peace for the County aforesaid the above named Elisha Graves and made Oath to the truth of the above Deposition and I further certify that I am well acquainted with said Elisha and that I consider him a Man of Veracity Jerome Ripley Justice of the Peace

Matthew Clarke
Certificate of the Secretary of the Com te of Mass ts

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Jan ry 21 st 1833.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that Matthew Clark's name is borne on a Pay Roll for the Six months men from the Town of Greenfield Raised according to a Resolve of June 5 1780 having entered July 17 th 1780 and Discharged Jan ry 17. 1781 making the whole Time of service Six months. Ex.
Edward D. Bangs. Secy