Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16,353, William Clarke, Va.

SERVICE
Clarke, William
NUMBER
Va.
8,16,353
carded
CONTENTS

17 July 1825-
Hon M c Learford Mch 14/1826
Feb. 17. 1835
Georgia 16.819
William Clarke of Effingham in the State of Ga who was a Pr in the Reg t commanded by Captain of the Reg t commanded by Col. Mercer in the Va line for 15 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia at the rate of 57. Dollars Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5. day of Oct 33 and Supt Roger L. Gamble Louisville - Ga
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 125- Semi-ant. allowance ending Nov 34 25-
150-
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Nath. Price Clerk Book E Vol. 6 Page 87

Declaration of William Clarke in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
State of Georgia
In the Inferior Court of Jefferson County In Chambers
On this fifth day of November in the year Eighteen Hundred and thirty two Personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the Inferior Court of the said County William Clarke a resident in the County of Jefferson and State aforesaid aged seventy four years on the 19 th day of February last past who first being 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 June 7 th 1832.
That he was born in Virginia, Louisa County on the 19 th day of February 1758 according to the record of his age which he has seen but now has it not in his possession that in the year 1778 he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated that in the year 1778 the precise time he does not recollect in the month of February he was drafted into the service of the United States from Fluvannah County in Virginia where he then resided for one year to fill the broken Regiments then in the service of the United States he was attached to the first Regiment Commanded by Colonel Richard Parker in General Muhlenberg's Brigade he served the first part of his term under Captain Randall and the balance of his time under Captain Charles Pelham he obtained a lawful discharge in the month of February 1779 signed by Col

that during his time he was in New Jersey & New York a little in Pennsylvania & served during the time there & in New Jersey near Middle Brook that his discharge was given him in Virginia to Colonel Thomas Mendenhall at the time he was paid in depreciated Continental Currency that he was this time in the service for one year. That in the month of January 1781 he was ordered out  ordered out in the militia to serve the State of Virginia and was under the command of Captain Samuel Richardson in Col. Evans Regiment until some time in April following about three months; in September of the same year he was again ordered out  ordered out to serve his country and was attached to Colonel Mendenhall Regiment of Infantry and served his country during the siege and capture of Lord Cornwallis at York Town and some time after in the month of October 1781. was discharged verbally from the service. He served in all during the revolutionary war near eighteen months that in the year 1789. He removed to the state of Georgia and soon thereafter to the county of Jefferson where he has resided ever since and where he now resides that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person by whose testimony he can prove who can testify to his service. But that William H. Harmon and wife Thomas Mendenhall  Glenn  Glenn  at  at  Yorke  Yorke  than  than Robinson to whom the applicant is known in his neighbourhood and who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief as a soldier of the revolution that there is no clergyman living convenient to him in his neighbourhood. 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
Wm Clarke
D r B. Bostwick CLK
We William D Harman, wife Eliza Thomas McWatty and Jonathan Robinson do certify that we are well acquainted with William Clarke who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy four years of age as he states, 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
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
D r B. Bostwick CLK
W m D Harman
Thomas McWatty
Jonathan Robinson
Eliza his X Eliza Mark
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 applicant was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and served as he states, and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that William D Harman, Thomas McWatty, Jonathan Robinson & Eliza Eliza who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the said county and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Benny Bostwick CLK

Asa Hott J.P. Jonathan Roberson J.P.
I David E Bithwell Clerk of the Inferior Court of the County of Jefferson do hereby certify that the foregoing Contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Clarke for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 5 th day of November 1832.
David E Bithwell CLK
Wm Clarke 23462

The Amended declaration of William Clarke in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7 th June 1832 State of Georgia
In the Inferior Court of Effingham County In Chambers
On this second day of September in the year Eighteen Hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open court before me Holt Little B. Bortick & Jonathan Robinson. The Justices of the Inferior Court of the said County William Clarke who being duly sworn deponeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of the terms of his service in the Militia. as to the length of the time he served in the United States in the first Regiment of United States Troops from Virginia commanded by Col Richard Parker he served twelve months as stated in his original declaration, for this term I was drafted by the authority of the State of Virginia to fill up the broken Regiments which had been originally raised for the service of the United States and which had been broken by death & expiration of service. so there were first State Troops which were enlisted for the service of the State alone of Virginia alone which enlisted for three years and there were also Frontier Regiments raised for the service of the United States by enlistment for two years these frontier Regiments having become broken by death & expiration of service &c. when I was drafted to fill up the first Regiment of that frontier, which was originally raised, and I served twelve months as before stated this twelve months I served as a private soldier. The second time I entered the service in the Militia of the State of Virginia from Fluvanna County in the month January 1781 and was discharged in Henrico County in Virginia during this time I served in the field in the lower part of Virginia and remained at least three three months in service during this term I did not go out of the State of Virginia and was discharged in April of the same year this three months I served as a private soldier. In the first of September of the same year 1781 I was ordered out in the Militia by Col William Henry under the State of Virginia from Fluvanna County

where I still resided into the service of the the United States and remained in service till the last of October of the same year and was in service just two months when I was discharged, I first entered in the Company of Capt Joseph Haden and was afterwards transferred to another Company commanded by a Captain whose name I do not at present recollect Col Mercer commanded the Regi- ment that I served in this Town in which I also served as a private soldier, during the whole of my services aforesaid I was closely engaged with troops that were regularly embodied and were not during the time engaged in any civil pursuit, that I was in the field all the time of my services aforesaid. In my Original declaration it is stated that in the three months term of service I was under the Command of Captain James Richardson in Col Evans Regiment there is a mistake in the Col's name; It should have been Col. Ennis's Regiment. As to my name is on the roll of the first Regiment of United States Troops from Virginia after the close of the revolutionary war I resided in Fluvanna County in the state of Virginia till the year 1789. when I removed the state of Georgia and have resided there ever since and where I now reside in the County of Jefferson.
sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
William Clarke
Jonathan Roberson J. J. G. R. Danny Boote N. J. S. B. C. Asa Holt J. S. B. C.

5723462 —
William Clarke Jefferson Co — Georgia
See De Rolly on the roll
Admt as a per diem 15 mo. $571.
e.m.
Benjamin L. Gamble Rogersville Jefferson Co Georgia —

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
May 21 1833
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 William Clarke Jefferson Co. Georgia
   Period when the service was conferred Duration of the claimant's service Rank of the claimant Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served Names and Rank of the General and Field officers Battles in which the applicant was engaged Country through which he marched Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period Evidence by which the declaration is supported   Years Months Days     Sept 1778 disch'd 79 1 Private Capt'n Kendall Col Par Genl New Jersey New York 74 years Johnson nah co Vine Traditionals   Jan 1781 until the end 3 Capt'n Pulham Genl   Sept ditto 2 Capt'n Brig   sometimes after Oct disch'd 1781 Rich'd son Col Mire captain Col Mire   he states his whole service = 18 months   1 3 =  
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 day 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 he 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 laid 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 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.
[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 [i] 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.
John N. Ashton

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Mr. Clarke a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. S 16353
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Feb. 1778 Feb 1779 Pvt. Yendall Charles Pelham Richard Parker Thomas Mornweather Va.   Jan. 1781 3 mos. Samuel Richardson Davis   Sept 1781 Oct 1781 Joseph Haden Mercer  
Battles engaged in, Yorktown Residence of soldier at enlistment, Fluvanna Co. Va. Date of application for pension, Nov. 5, 1832. His claim was allowed. Residence at date of application, Jefferson Co. Georgia Age at date of application, b. Feb 19, 1758 in Louisa Co. Va. Remarks: he died Feb. 17, 1835. There is no family data record on file.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Georgia Jefferson County) I David E. Bothwell Clerk of the Inferior Court of the County & state aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing con- tains the amended declaration made before the court in the matter of the application of William Blankenship for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 2nd day of September 1855
David E. Bothwell Atty

16.353 INVALID.
File No. 16,353
William Clarke
Pre Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 71
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1914 Aug. 21: history to Mrs Clarke Thompson. M.B.H.

178

Wm Clarke , an ancestor of mine, who was a prisoner in Jefferson Co Ga in 1827,
Very truly William Clarke Thompson, % Mrs Eugene Esfz 116-12 Ave, Cordele, Ga.

Com. of Pensions, Washington D. C.
Cordele Ga Aug 17, 1914,
My dear Sir:-
Will you please send me the Revolutionary War record and all other family data you may have of mine