Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23,825, Elijah Clark, Mass. N.H.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass. N.H.
Clark, Elijah Martha
N. 23,825
CONTENTS

Reported.
Massac.
Martha Clark, non Compos, widow of Mass  Elizah Clark, who died on the 7 Novem. 1806 of Suffolk in the State of Mass who was a priv in the Co commanded by Captain  of the  commanded by  in the Massal line for 16 mos 26 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 56 Dollars 20 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Payable to Washington Merrill, Committee, Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of June 4 th and sent to Sam l Merrill,
Andover Arrears to the 14th of Semi-annual allowance ending Mch 1
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 rd }
Recorded by J. H. Swann Clerk, Book C. Vol. 4. Page 57

below will 998
To be annexed to 998 and subparts of parts
Part 1. Refers
And so on

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the third Section of the Act of Congress of the 4th July 1836.
State of Massachusetts } fs.
County of Suffolk } fs.
On this nineteenth day of February 1845 personally appeared in open court before me James C. Merrill, one of the Justices of the Police Court of the City of Boston within and for the County of Suffolk, the same being a Court of Record
Hannah Currier, aged 65 years, the wife of Jonathan Currier, Esquire, a Resident of Methuen in the County of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, in behalf of Martha Clark, aged 96 years, the said Hannah being the Daughter of said Martha, who being first sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain for said Martha Clark the benefit of the pro- vision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836;
That said Martha is the widow of Elijah Clark who was a private Soldier in the Army of the Revo- lution, and enlisted for eight months in the Spring of 1775 in Capt. William Berley's Company and Col. James Shy's Regiment, and served in said Company at Cambridge and Charlestown during the summer and fall & part of the winter of said year a period of eight months, and that said Elijah during said period was a citizen of Boxford in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts - that said Elijah afterwards removed from said Boxford to Hollis in the State of New Hampshire, & there or in that vicinity en- listed in the eighth Company of New Hampshire Troops, and served in said Company a period of eight months and twenty six days.
That said Elijah Clark performed other services than those above specified, in the Revolutionary war, either in Massachusetts, or elsewhere, amounting in the whole to more than two years, and to more than one half of the whole period of the War, as she verily believes; for she has often and repeatedly heard said Elijah Clark her Father talk about his being out in the War, and she recollects particularly that she has heard him talk about his being a Commissary during a part of the time he was out in the Service; and altho' the war was a subject he seemed fond of, and often talked about yet I am unable from recollection to state his

services particularly - Said Hannah further states that she has often heard her said mother Martha Clark before she lost her faculties talk about her said husband, Elijah Clark's being out in the war and about a hard time she had of it while he was absent in the service that years ago her faculties were impaired, and for the last five or six years seemed to have been wholly destroyed - that said Martha has lived with her ever since the death of said Elijah & she has had the constant care of her. For proof of said Elijah's services she refers to the papers annexed to the Army Rolls.
She further declares that said Martha was married to the said Elijah on the ninth day of April the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight. That said Martha's husband the aforesaid Elijah Clark died on the seventeenth day of November eighteen hundred and six, and that said Martha has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Hannah Currier
Sworn & subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid before me, James C. Merrill, Justice of said court -
And I further certify that satisfactory evidence has been produced that the said Martha Clark, being ninety six years of age, is incapable, by reason of insanity or mental infirmity, of understanding the nature of an oath, and from my knowledge of the case, I have no doubt that such is the fact.
James C. Merrill Justice of said court -
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I, Thomas Power, Clerk of the Police Court of the City of Boston, do hereby certify that James C. Merrill Esquire, whose name is subscribed to the foregoing affidavit, is a Justice of the said court; and that the said signature is in his proper handwriting, and that the said court is a court of Record within said Commonwealth. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the said court to be hereunto affixed, at Boston, this nineteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty five.
Thomas Power, Clerk.

We the Subscribers, John Gage aged eighty seven years, and Jeremiah Frye aged about 66 years, both Citizens of Methuen in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, severally on oath, testify and say that we know and are well acquainted with Mrs Martha Clark, named in the foregoing Declaration, we know that she is the widow of Elijah Clark named in said Declaration, deceased, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, that said Elijah Clark died at said Methuen about thirty eight years ago, and we know that she has not since been married, but is now his widow.
Witnesses Washington Merrill }
John Gage
Jeremiah Frye
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex County ss: Feb. 18. 1845.
Personally appeared John Gage and Jeremiah Frye above named, whom I certify to be credible witnesses, and severally made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by them subscribed before me.
Samuel Merrill, Justice of Peace.

(A.)
State of New Hampshire Hillsborough County ss Hollis February 3 d 1845 I Reuben Baldwin Town Clerk of the town of Hollis in the county and state aforesaid do hereby certify that among the records of said town I find the following. Elijah Clark and Martha Runnels both of Hollis were married April ninth one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight By Rev d Daniel Emerson
And I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures and words as follows. Elijah Clark and Martha Runnels both of Hollis were married April 9. 1778. By Rev d Daniel Emerson
Reuben Baldwin Town Clerk of Hollis I Reuben Baldwin above named depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the county town & state aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town with the exception above named as certified by me Reuben Baldwin Town Clerk of Hollis
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County ss Hollis February 4 th 1845 Then personally appeared Reuben Baldwin above named and made solemn oath that the above certificate by him subscribed is true I further certify that the said Reuben Baldwin is Clerk of said town of Hollis and is a respectable person and a credible witness
Benjamin M. Farley Justice of the Peace

(State of New Hampshire) } Let
Hillsborough County
I, Percival Dacey Clerk of the Superior Court of Justice of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Benjamin H. Farley is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the 13 th day of June 1840 and will expire on the 12 th day of June 1845 and that his signature as so written, upon this sheet is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said County this 11 th day of February 1845
Percival Dacey Clerk.

No 6412 R o March 15, 1845. Martha Clark M rs of Elijah Map act 4 July 1836
M 780.06.
Cert. of Map
1775 8 mo
cut off
1781. 8-260
16-260
$56:20, Act July 4. 1836. Comm ee 4 March 1831, Payable to Washington Merrill, Committee
Send Cert to Samuel Merrill Andrew Maps

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston March 7 th 1815
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Samuel Merrill and John Fenney were justices of the Peace for the County of Essex,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Palfrey; Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston;
March 7 1840.
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 Elijah Clark is borne as a private from Bedford, upon a muster Roll of Capt n William Purley, Col. James Frye, in the 8 months service of 1775, enlisted April 30. Also upon the Coat Roll of the same, dated Cambridge, Nov. 14. 1775. being all the service found in the case upon any of the records in this office.

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Morris.
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF REVOLUTIONARY SERVICES, MADE BY THE Widow OF THE PARTY WHO RENDERED THE SERVICE.
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his office, of the service of my late Husband Elijah Clark in the war of the Revolution.
He was a native of the Town of Methuen in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts . He enlisted from the Town of Boxford in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts in the year 1775 as a Private in the Company commanded by Captain William Perley in Col. James Frye's Regiment and he served as follows, viz:— eight months at Cambridge and Charlestown, during that year, as she believes,
I also believe that said Elijah afterwards enlisted for three years service in the war of the Revolution and was in the Saratoga expedition, & served at said period of three years
I am now seventy six years old, and my memory does not enable me to state my Husband's services more fully than above stated.
WITNESS my hand, at Methuen this thirty, first day of January A. D. 1845.
Signed by said Washington Merrill for Martha Clark in my presence,
Sam. Merrill
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
Martha Clark by Washington Merrill

I Enos Reynolds of Bofford in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged eighty right years depose and say that I knew Elijah Clark formerly of Bofford and know that he served as private soldier in the army of the revolution in the year 1775 for the term of eight months in the regiment commanded by Col James Frye and Capt William Peasey's company, I know that he enlisted for eight months in the spring of 1775, and I know that he served as aforesaid, for I served as a soldier at the same time in Col. Stark's regiment and frequently saw said Clark during the summer of 1775 at Cambridge and Charlestown serving as a soldier as aforesaid. I resided in the same town with him, Bofford, and in the same neighborhood both before and after said period of service, and know that he enlisted and served as aforesaid, and always understood and never doubted or heard it doubted that he was honorably discharged after serving out the full term of his enlistment, viz. eight months.
I know that he married Martha Reynolds of Bradford in this county Enos Reynolds
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex County ss. November 6 th A.D. 1844 Then personally appeared the above named Enos Reynolds and subscribed and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition. Before me, John Tenney, Justice of the Peace J

I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the within named Enos Reynolds, the deponent, and that he is entitled to full credit for truth and veracity John Tenney, Justice of the Peace
I Enos Reynolds, the aforesaid Deponent being first sworn, do on oath further depose and say that Martha Reynolds, named in my foregoing Deposition, and Martha Runnels, named in the named in the Certificate of Reuben Baldwin of her marriage with Elijah Clark marked (A.) which is hereto annexed, are one and the same person, the mode of spelling having been changed from "Runnels", which was formerly the mode of spelling, to "Reynolds", which is the present mode of spelling it & I think the true way, but I stick to the old way. Enos Reynolds
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex County ss: } — Then personally appeared March 11th A.D. 1845. the above named Enos Reynolds, whom I certify to be a credible person, and made solemn oath oath to the above Affidavit before me, Samuel Merrill, Justice of Peace.

   Elijah Clark Hollis 8th. Co D e Contra Cr     1782 Dec 3 Due of Board 1781   Mar 10/ 2. 0. 0 Apr 15 By 8 Months B 3 26   1784 Jan 13. Gave him a Certif- Days in 1781 17. 14. 8   icate 15. 14. 8   17. 14. 8  
State of New Hampshire Secretary of State's Office
I, Thomas P. Drowdell, Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the original & the whole of said original the same having been examined & compared by me.
The original may be found in Reids Regimental Ledger page 215, which was returned from to this Office from the War Office Jan y 1841.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said State, this 12 th day of Feb y A.D. 1845
Thomas P. Drowdell Secretary of State

Pension Office, April 30 th 1845.
Sir,
In the case of Martha Clark, widow of Eliza Clark, under the act of 4 th July 1836, the date of the marriage, and of sixteen months, twenty six days, service is satisfactory. But if Mrs Clark be incapable, from mental disability, of transacting her own business, the court should certify to that fact, and appoint a committee to whom the certificate will be made payable.
I am very Respectfully, Your obed t sv t J L Edwards
Samuel Merrill, Esq. Andover, Massachusetts.

Boston May. 18. 1845. I, James C. Merrill Jus- tice of the Police Court, do certify, that satisfactory evidence has been produced to said Court, on oath, and otherwise, by credible witnesses, that the within named Martha Clarke is incapable, from mental disability, of transacting her own business; and further that Mr. Washington Merrill, of Methuen, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts is a suitable person to be appointed, and I hereby appoint him a committee to whom the certificate may be made payable —
James C. Merrill.

June 4. 1845
Martha Clark Sup d
Salvants Upper, Barnstable, Mass.
Washington City, D.C.

Andover May 30 1845.
J. L. Edwards, Esqf., Com'r: of Pensions
Sir,
I enclose the certificate of the Court, in the case of Martha Clark widow of Elijah Clark, that said Martha is incapable, from mental disability, of transacting her own business, and that Washington Merrill of Methuen in the County of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts is appointed a Committee to whom the certificate may be made payable.
The certificate of the Court is made on the backside of the first leaf of years of April 30, 1845, which I enclose - Please enclose the Pension certificate to me, at Andover, Massachusetts.
Very respectfully, yours &c Samuel Merrill

Hon J. L. Edwards Commr. of Pensions
Washington City D. C.

Andover Mass: March 17. 1845.
Hon. J. E. Edwards, Comm r . of Pensions.
Dr. Sir,
I send
herewith the Declaration for a Pension made by Hannah Carrier in behalf of Mrs. Martha Clarke, the widow of Elijah Clarke, the said Martha laboring under insanity or mental infirmity, by which her faculties are destroyed, to a degree which renders her incapable of understanding or taking an oath.
Please forward the Pension certificate if granted, to me, Andover. Mass.
I am very respectfully yours & Samuel Merrill.

Ezra Clark
Lawrence Kansas,
Sept. 2 nd '94.
Sir:-
Will you kindly give me any record which your office affords of the Revolutionary War service of my great grandfather, Elijah Clark .
Elijah Clark enlisted in the Continental Army in Hollis, New Hampshire, for three years, on April 5 th 1781.
He died in Methuen, Mass., in 1806.
He married previous to 1780, & his widow - Martha (Runnels) Clark, is said to have drawn a pension. She also, I believe, died in Methuen, Mass., in 1846.
Very respectfully -
Arthur W. Clark, M.D.
1701 Ohio St.,
Lawrence,
Kansas.

Hist to Lawrence, Kas.
Rev
WIDOW, &c.
1894 Oct - Mil. Dr. Arthur W. Clark,
File No. 23825
Martha Clark Wid of Elijah Clark Brn Rev War
Act July 24th 1836
Index: Vol A , Page 139
[Arrangement of 1870.]
13

Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C., _____, 189___
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Elijah Clark , a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will please find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr 3 1775 8 mos Private Richard Buel Jabez Frye Mass   1781 8 mos 23 da " Wolstan Reyn NH  
Battles engaged in, None mentioned Residence of soldier at enlistment, Roxford Mass & Holicus NH Date of application for pension, by wid Feb. 19, 1845 Residence at date of application, David Methuen Mass Age at date of application, David 96 years
Remarks: He married Martha Runnels at Holicus NH April 9 1778 and died Nov 17 1806
Very respectfully,
Dr Arthur H Clark  1701 Olive St  Lawrence Kansas
Commissioner.

No 6412 Martha Clark Map Samuel Merrill April 30 th
act 4 July 1836