Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12,493, John S Clark, Mass.

(9-1778)
SERVICE
Mass.
Clark, John S.
NUMBER
S. 12,493
CONTENTS
carded

8882
15298
New York
John J. Clark
of Denmark in the State of New York who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Morgan of the Regt. commanded by Col. Chevy in the Mass. m c time for 7 1/2 mo.
John J. Clark Pension
scribed on the Roll of New York the rate of 25 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 day of May 1833 and sent to J. Knox Esq. will
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $50.00 Semest. allowance ending 4 Sept. 12.50
$62.50
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book Vol. 4 Page 49
on Aug. 10. 1838 " " " " " " " " 2 Henry - Sept. 29. 1835 " " " " Nov 5 - 1836 " " " " Feb. 1. 1836 " " " " Pension Agent. " "

12298 John S. Clark
✓ Declaration
admitted.
7 mo. 15 days, since
Bangs. certif. a couple .

State of New York Lewis County } ss: On this twentieth day of September in the year 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Common Pleas of said County now sitting John L. Clark a resident of Drummonds in the County and State aforesaid aged twenty — 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 Act of Congress passed Jan. 7. 1832
That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He entered the Service on the first of January 1778. and continued in the Service six months under Colonel Chey in the Company commanded by Captain Jonathan Morgan first Lieutenant Solomon Brewer, Ensign Morgan, in the Massachusetts Militia marched to Springfield Massachusetts to keep garrison & guard the military stores & was discharged on the first of July thereafter —
That on the first of August in the same year he entered the Service under Capt Solomon Brown Lieutenant Barlow 2 d Lieutenant Samuel Cannon and continued in the Service one month and a half in the Massachusetts Militia marched to New London Connecticut
At the time he was stationed at Springfield there were two Continental Regiments at that place one of which was under the command of Colonel Jackson — That he has no documentary evidence and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his Service
That he claims for seven months & a half Service being the amount of both terms of Service above mentioned and further that he served as a Volunteer at both times above mentioned — That he resided in Chester Hampshire County, Massachusetts when he entered the Service; He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present

and declares that his name is not on the Pension Role of the Agency of any State John S. Clark
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Carlos P. Scovil Clerk
We John Bloodgett a clergyman & Reuben Chase residing in the Town of Lowville in the county of Lewis, of the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John S. Clark who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be twenty years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
John Bloodgett Reuben Chase
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Carlos P. Scovil Clerk
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 John Bloodgett who signed the preceding Certificate is a clergyman residing in the Town of Lowville in the county of Lewis and that Reuben Chase who has also signed the same is a resident of said Town of Denmark and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to Credit
I Carlos P. Scovil Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Lewis do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of John S. Clark for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
Set my hand & Seal of my office this tenth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Carlos P. Scovil Clerk

John A. Clark
Free
1849
NY
J. L. Edwards Esquire
Commr of Pensions
Washington City
negroes

15070-00823 State of New York Lewis County 3/ps:
John S. Clark of the Town of Denmark in the County of Lewis being duly sworn before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said County doth on his oath depose and say that he this deponent served in the Revolutionary War under Captain Jonathan Morgan and also under Captain Solomon Brown as stated in his declaration on file at the Pension office and further that he is the identical "John Clark" mentioned the Certificate of E. D. Bangs Secretary of State of Massachusetts which is also on file in said Pension office. And this deponent further deposes and says that there was no other person in either of the companies mentioned in his said declaration of the name of "John Clark" except this deponent. That he was usually called and known by the name "John Clark" in the time of the Revolutionary War but since he was of the age of twenty-one years he has usually wrote his name John S. Clark. That no other person resided in the Town of Chesten when this deponent resided in the time of the Revolutionary War of the name of John Clark except this deponent and further that he was as he has always understood christened by the name of "John S. Clark"
John S. Clark
I certify that on the 22 d day of October 1835 personally appeared before me the above named John S. Clark and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed.
J. Mox Justice of the Peace

State of New York Clerks office Lewis County
I Carlos P. Scovil Clerk of said County do hereby certify that Liba Stone Esquire before whom the within affidavit purports to have been taken was on the date of the same was a Justice of the Peace in & for said County duly sworn & authorized to take the same and further that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of said Justice and truly believe the signature to said handwriting affidavit to be his own proper handwriting In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said County this 28 th day of August 1835 Carlos P. Scovil Clerk

13.298 John S. Clark
admitted 7 mo. 15d. Private
23.33 1.66
L. Knox Lowville N.Y.

BRIEF in the case of  John S. Clarke of  Denmark  in the State of N. York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 70 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.     Jany 1 st In 1778 6 Private Cap t Jon s Morgan } Mass s Col o Chery } 3 Militia   Aug t 1 st " 1 15 " Cap t Sol o Brown } "  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Chester — Mass s  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence alone  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? they are not properly attached 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. Gordon Examining Clerk.

November 5, 1936.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mrs. Mary N. Shepard 6802 Santa Fe Avenue Huntington Park, California
BA-J/ady aw John S. Clark S.12493
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter relative to John S. Clark, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The data contained herein are obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.12493, based upon his military service in that war.
The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of John S. Clark are not shown.
While a resident of Chester, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, he enlisted January 1, 1778 and served six months as private in Captain Jonathan Morgan's Company, Colonel Chevy's Massachusetts Regiment. He enlisted August 1, 1778 and served one and one half months as private in Captain Solomon Brown's Massachusetts Company. He enlisted July 31, 1779 and served one month and six days as corporal in Captain Solomon Brown's Company, Colonel Elisha Porter's Massachusetts Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 20, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy years and a resident of Denmark, Lewis County, New York. He signed, John S. Clark. His name is also shown as John Scott Clark.
In 1835, a sister of soldier, Betsey Parks, wife of Roger Parks, was a resident of Blandford, Hampden County, Massachusetts, her age not given. There are no further family data.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and possibly the date of soldier's death, you should apply to the Records Division, General Accounting Office, Washington, D. C., and cite the

following data:
"John S. Clark, Certificate No. 8882, issued May 2, 1833, rate $25.00 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, New York Agency".
Very truly yours
A. D. MILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
John S 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? yes 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? yes 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? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes 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? yes

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? yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 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? yes XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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? 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?
 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state 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 shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places 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.
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 official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

6802 Santa Fe Ave. Huntington Park, Cal., Oct. 22, 1936.
U. S. Bureau of Pensions, Dept. of Veterans' Administration, Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Will you please send me data regarding John S. Clark, a Revolutionary War veteran and pensioner. In 1840 he was living in Denmark, Lewis Co. N.Y. and was aged 70 years.
I would like place and date of birth, name of wife --- also names of children and war record and place and date of death.
Thanking you for your trouble, I am,
Yours sincerely,
(Mrs.) Mary N. Shepard.

Clerk
12493 INVALID.
1936 Nov. 5. Hist. to Mass. Mary N. Shepard. q. 20. y.
File No. 12,493 John S. Clarke Rev. Boer War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. A , Page 70
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Jan 16 NEW YORK
New York John L. Clarke
Lot 3. Knapp 5 Nov. '35
J. S. Edwards Esquire
Comm. ee of Pensions Washington
Yrs

Jany. 4. 1836
Sir,
I enclose to you the affidavits of three witnesses in proof of the services of John S. Clark in Capt. Morgan's Comp y also his disch ce off l as to the grades in which he served as required in your letter to me of the 5 Nov. 1835.
Yours &c
J. Mox
J. L. Edwards Esq o

Shreveport Sept 4-20
Dear
John J. Elkins
Dr. J. Edward Bay
Comr of Pensions
City of Washington
Mr. [unclear] [unclear] [unclear]

Lourville Lewis County N.Y. Sept. 19, 1833
Sir
I enclose a certificate of E D Bangs Secy of State of Massachusetts confirming the statement of John S. Clark as to his revolutionary services.
It was so that a period that Mr Clark served as a corporal he informs me that it had escaped his recollection until he saw the certificate.
The variation in the length of time between his dislocation which is but trifling is in consequence of Mr Clark dating the commencement of each term from the time he left home & the Rolls date from the time he mustered.
Mr Clark informs me that he sometimes wrote his name John Clark & sometimes added initial S. But that he was generally known and called John Clark.
Should the pension be continued you will please inform me as soon as a decision shall be made.
I am Respectfully Yours &c
J. S. Edward Esq
B. Morse

State of New York Lewis County ss.
John S. Clark of Denmark in the county of Lewis being duly sworn doth depose and say that he served in the Revolutionary War as mentioned in his declaration on file at the War Department. That he served as private under Captain Morgan the first four of service in said declaration specified.
That the second four of service he served under Captain Brown as mentioned in his declaration except that he served as a corporal which circumstance did not occur to the recollection of this deponent at the time of making said declaration, and further as to the last four of service at the time the Regiment to which he belonged was discharged this deponent was left sick at the Hospital at New London for a number of days which this deponent included in said declaration to make up the term of one month and a half -
Dated January 4 th 1836
John S. Clark
Lewis County ss.
I certify that the above named John Clark appeared before me and made oath to the above affidavit in due form of law. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal at Lowville this 24 th day of January in the year 1836.
Andrew H. Day Surrogate of the County of Lewis

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Sept r 8 th 1835.
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 the name of John Clark, as a corporals is borne on a pay roll of Capt. Solomon Brown's Company, in Col. Elisha Porter's Regt., for services at New London. where he is allowed from July 31 st to Sept r 1 st 1779, for services and travel, one Month and six days. m. d. 1- 6
John Scott Clark claims for services under Capt Solomon Brown, at New London from August 5 th to Sept. 15 th also for services under Capt. Morgan. Lt. Solomon Brewer, at Springsfield, from Jan y 1 st to July 5 th 1778. The roll is found in this Office mutilated, and J. Clark is borne on it. against this name, under the head of "date of engagement" is Jan y 5 th 78. also under the head of "date of discharge" is July 5 th and under the head of "whole time in service" is 5 mo 26 d.

15-0078_00041 no other roll of Capt. John Morgan's Company for services at Springfield in 1778 is found in this Office. ————— Edward D. Bump by

I Betsey Parks Wife of Roger Parks of Blandford County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being of lawful age do depose and say That John Scott Clark whom I suppose now lives in the town of Denmark in Lewis County and State of New York - is my Brother That he enlisted under one Capt Morgan in the time of the revolution- ary war That he was gone from home in the service from the fore part of winter till having time in the summer after That I visited him once while he was in the service I believe in the month of February when I saw him and dined with him and Capt Morgan at Springfield which was then County of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts I cannot tell precisely the year but believe it was about the year Seventeen hundred and seventy eight - and further the Deponent saith not
Betsey Parks
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden ss Then personally appeared Betsey Parks Wife of Roger Parks signer of the above Instrument and made solemn oath to the truth of the same
Before me John Gould Justice of Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden ss. I John Ingersoll Clerk of the Common Pleas Court being a Court of Record in the County of Hampden do hereby certify that John Gould Esq before whom the three foregoing depositions were verified is a justice of the Peace for the County of Hampden duly Commissioned and qualified agreeable to the laws of this Commonwealth that full faith & credit are & ought to be given to all acts done by him in said capacity & that I believe his name there to severally subscribed to be his true & proper signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Common Pleas Court at Springfield on this twenty first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty five
John Ingersoll Clerk

I Roger Parks of Blandford in the County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts - being of lawful age do depose and say That John Scott Clark was in the United States service in the time of the Revolutionary war That I personally saw him several times in Spring- field in the County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Mass- achusetts at which place he was stationed in company with one Caleb Seward (or Kelly discerned as he was generally called) That they told me they served under one Captain Morgan The length of time that John S Clark served I do not certainly know but will remember that he was in the service through the winter and spring of the same year which according to my best recollection was in the year seventeen hundred and seventyeight or not very far from that time and further the deponent saith not Roger Parks
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss December 19th 1885 Then Roger Parks signer of the above deposition personally appearing made solemn oath to the truth of the facts therein before me John Gould Justice of the Peace
I Silas Noble of Russell County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Being of lawful age do depose and say That John Scott Clark was in the United States service in the time of the Revolutionary war That he served in the Army in the same Company with myself from the first of January till the first of July in the year Seventeen hundred and seventyeight We served under Capt John Morgan & Lieut Solomon Pomeroy Our orderly sergeant was Jonathan Smith We were stationed at Springfield in the state of Massachusetts one of our mess was discerned in June by the name of Caleb Seward Silas Noble and further the deponent saith not
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss December 19th 1885 Then personally appeared Silas Noble signer of the above deposition and made solemn oath to the truth of the facts therein contained before me John Gould Justice of the Peace