Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12,502, Benjamin Clark, Conn. N.H. Privateer

SERVICE
Clark, Benjamin
NUMBER
bonn. N.Y. Privateer
S. 12,502
CONTENTS
carded.
[Ruled lines for entry]
[Ruled lines for entry]

8588
New York
Benjamin Clark of Tioga Co in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Cook of the Reg t commanded by Col Ely in the Connecticut for 2 Years
Enscribed on the Roll of New York the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of April 1833 — and sent to Th Maynard Elmira NY
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 33 $160.00 Pensional allowance ending 4/4/33 40.00
$200.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo. Cromwell Clerk, Book E Vol. 4 Page 16
D. F. 6.23.1844

State of New York Saratoga County ss
On this 1 day February 1830 - appeared before me Thomas Harris to me unknown, being sworn, says that he was acquainted with Benjamin Clark who resided in the town of Plainfield in the County of Windham State of Connecticut and was well acquainted with said Clark at the time he enlisted in Edward - Coit's company in Col Eustis Wool's Ridge-mont said Clark enlisted for nine months Deponent further saith that said Benjamin Clark was at the taking of Burgoyne at Saratoga - said Clark enlisted March 1776 -
Thomas Harris
Sworn and subscribed the day & year above written J Beardsley J. Pence
State of New York Saratoga County ss I, John H. Myers, Deputy Clerk of said County, hereby certify that Sherman Brundley Esq before whom the above affidavit was taken, was at the date of the same, a Justice of the Peace qualified for said County and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and easily believe his name subscribed to said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature Witness my hand and seal of office this Twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. J. H. Myers
I certify that I consider the above named Thomas Harris to be a credible witness whose statement is entitled to credit -
J Beardsley J. Pence

At a Court of Common Pleas held at the Village of Elmin in and for the County of Tioga in the State of New York on the first Tuesday in September 1832 the same being a Court of Record constituted such by the Constitution and laws of the said State and having a Seal and Clerk.
Present Hon. G. B. Baldwin first Judge
Joseph L. Darling Esquires John R. Drake Darius Bentley Elijah Shoemaker
State of New York Tioga County ss
Personally appeared in open Court, before the above named Judges now sitting, on the 4 th day of September 1832, Benjamin Clark a resident of the Town of Veteran in the said County, who 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 (aged 76 upwards)
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
That in the winter of 1775 at Plainfield in the State of Connecticut he entered as a volunteer in a company of militia then commanded by Capt. Clift and marched to Roxbury where he remained about four months; a larger force having arrived he was discharged.
In the month of March 1776 he enlisted for nine months at Plainfield aforesaid for the term of nine months in a company commanded as he thinks by Capt. Oliver Coit in a regiment then under Col. Ely, but afterwards transferred to Col. Erastus Wolcott, that he marched with said company to New London and then to Groton where they were employed in building the fort at that place & in the erection of barracks until about the middle of September when in consequence of the illness of a sister he was sent for to go home, having procured a person by the name of Burrows to take his place during his absence he returned home with directions to join the regiment at New York to which place it was about to march. He remained at home a few days when his sister having died he set out for New York but at Kingsbridge met the troops which had been there, the British having taken

possession of the city. Having rejoined the regiment he was marched to Westchester, from whence they were ordered to Westchester. On the way the troops for want of horses themselves drew two cannon up and while in that service he was much injured by the carriage of one of the pieces, which broke his collar bone. Having arrived at White Plains he was en- gaged in the Battle which took place there; after which they were marched to the Highlands where he remained until his term of service expired when he was discharged. From thence he proceeded to Bennington in Vermont where in January 1777 to the best of his recollection, he enlisted for the term of one year in a Corps of Rangers to be commanded by John Stark, and was actively employed in various parts of the new State of Vermont. Was in the engagement at Hubbardston where Stark was defeated, in July or Aug. of that year. That he was with the said Corps when they met the British troops under Col. Baum & was engaged in the action between Baum & Stark at Bennington on the 16 th August 1777: in this action he received two bayonet wounds - he was also in the engagement between the said troops & the reinforcement which had been sent to the aid of Col. Baum by Gen. Burgoyne, which came up about the time of Baum's defeat. That the latter engagement continued until dark when the enemy were beaten with the loss of many prisoners. After re- maining several days to bury the dead & secure the property & taken in the battle, he marched with the said troops under Stark towards Saratoga to join Gen. Gates. That he was in the engagement, which took place on the 19 th September & the 7 th of October & was present when Gen. Burgoyne surrendered on the 17 th of October. He soon after returned with the said corps of Rangers to Vermont where he continued in service until the expiration of his said term which was some time in Jany. 1778. His health being now very feeble in consequence of being overheated in the Battle of Bennington he returned to Connecticut to enjoy the benefit of sea bathing which had been recommended

Battle of Pennington he enjoy the benefit of sea bathing which had been recommended
by his physician. Early in the spring of 1779 he enlisted at Preston in New London County Conn. in a company commanded by Capt. Joshua Bottom, to serve for nine months, for the purpose of guarding the seacoast in the neighborhood of Groton, New London, Pennington & and continued in service at those places until his term expired when he was discharged at Brown's Point in Groton in the winter of 1779. A few weeks after he entered the privateer service under Capt. Lamb in a privateer called the Nancy at New London: About the month of June as near as he can now determine the said privateer was captured off New London by a British vessel when the deponent & the crew with the said privateer were carried into New York, and the crew placed on board a Prisonship where he remained about two months when he was exchanged - in the month of August as near as he can now recollect when he returned to Plainfield -
In the spring following 1780 he enlisted at Plainfield aforesaid to guard the coast above mentioned for the term of six months in a company commanded by Capt. Joshua Bottom & performed the said term of service. In the following spring 1781 he again enlisted at the same place for the term of one year to guard the coast before mentioned in a company whose Captain he does not now distinctly recollect but believes it was Harris: and having performed the said service was discharged in the spring of 1782 at New London: having served his country faithfully four years & eight months, (exclusive of his privateer service and imprisonment) having been engaged in several very important battles and been four times wounded -
In answer to the interrogatories propounded by the War Department he says that he was born at Plainfield in the County of Windham State of Connecticut on the 20 th of August 1756. That the record of his birth was placed on

The records of that Town, as he has been informed and also in his father's family bible - That he continued to reside in Plainfield until about 1800 when he removed to Unadilla NY, where he lived about 16 years: from thence to Fort Stanwix NY. where he remained about one year: thence to Oneida creek where he resided about three years: thence to Geneseo, where he lived about three years: thence to Scipio where he continued one year, & from thence he removed to the Town of Catharine (now Veteran) in the said County of Tioga where he has resided upwards of eighteen years.
That he has no documentary evidence of his services now in his possession, and does not recollect any one living by whom he can prove any part of them except Thomas Harris of Scipio in the County of Cayuga NY. if living. That he would refer to Darius Bentley & Nath Smith Esqrs & Langstaff Compton & William Bentley the first of Elmira, the latter of Veteran in the said County for evidence of the general belief as to his revolutionary services - He hereby relinquishes every claim to any pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any State.
Benjamin Clark
Sworn & Subscribed this day & year aforesaid.
affirmed Unen M Tuttle Clk
We Langstaff Compton a resident of the Town of Veteran in the said County and Thomas Maxwell of Elmira in the said County do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Clark who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration. That we believe him to be of the age he represents therein; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of

therein; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of
the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid } Green M. Fathill Clerk
Langstaff Compton Th. Maxwell
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & 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 certify that it appears to them that Langstaff Compton & Thomas Maxwell who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the Town of Veteran & Elma in said County of Troja (no Clergyman residing in the said neighborhood of the residence of the said applicant) are respectable persons and that their statement is entitled to credit and that there is no minister of the Gospel in the immediate neighborhood of the said Benjamin Clark.
W. B. Paldowm First Judge I Green M Fathill 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 Benjamin Clark for a pension.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my Seal of Office the 5 th day of September 1832
Green M Fathill

State of New York,
Tioga County ss. 3 Benjamin Clark the applicant mentioned in the annexed declaration being duly sworn saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot state precisely the length of all his various periods of service in the War of the Revolution, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below:
In the year 1775 as a private volunteer in a company commanded by Capt. Clift in service at Roxbury in Mass. 4 months } m o 87 4.00
In 1776, as a private under Capt. Coit in Col. Ely's and afterwards in Col. Wolcott's Regt. in service at New London & Groton, and at various places as detailed in his declaration 9 months } 9.00
In 1777 in a corps of "Rangers" under John Stark for the term of one year, in service at the various places mentioned in his declaration — 1 year — } 12.00
In 1779 as a private by enlistment in a company under the command of Capt. Joshua Bottom in guarding the sea coast about New London, Groton Stonington &c. — 9 months } 9.00
In 1780 as a private by enlistment for 6 months in the same company last above mentioned & in similar service } 6.00
In 1781 as a private under Capt. Harris by enlistment for the term of one year which expired in the spring of 1782, in service at New London, Groton & Stonington in guarding the sea coast. } 12.00
Year 14 yrs. 8 mo.
Making all his service as above detailed four years eight months for which he claims a pension. In answer to the 5 th Interrogatory propounded by the War Department that he states that the Continental

officers who were in service when he served were Genl. Huntington, Col. Bradley, Col. Butler, Col. Grosvenor, Star Col. Swift, Col. Webb, Lt. Col. Gray, Trumbull & Hobbs, Maj. Clift, Maj. Smith, Maj. Talmadge, Maj. Warner of the Connecticut line, also Generals Putnam & Parsons of the same line -
To the 6 th Interrogatory he states that he received discharges at the expiration of his various terms of service, but they were burnt in the destruction of his house by fire at Unadilla in Otsego county NY during his residence there -
Sworn & Subscribed The 14 March 1833 before me
S. H. Macawell Commissioner of Deeds. Tioga Co. N.Y.
Benjamin Clark
80m d 24 mo pri 80
State of New York
Tioga County ss 3 I Green M. Fithill Clerk of the County of Tioga do hereby certify that Samuel H. Maxwell before whom the foregoing affidavit of Benjamin Clark was made was on the day of the date of the same a Commissioner of Deeds duly authorized by law to administer oaths. That I am acquainted with his handwriting & verily believe his signature above subscribed is genuine.
Witness my hand & Seal of office The 14 th day of March 1833.
Green M. Fithill

No 11456
Benj n Clark
adm l
5.14.16
proof of service in 76.77.
solicited-
8 Sep 32
19 Dec
O 100
Th. Macwille Agt
Elmira Post Office
N. York

No 11456
BRIEF in the case of Benjamin Clark of Schenectady County of Tioga — in the State of New York —  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?
Before a Court —
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he?
76 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.     In 1775 Winter — 4 — private Gen. Capt. Clift —   1776 March — 9 — " Capt. Oliver Coit — Col. Ely   1777 Jan'y 1 — — " Col. Wolcott —   1779 Spring — 9 — " Capt. John Stark   — — — " Capt. Josiah Bolton  
privateer Nancy 1779
time of Service not given Seaman 1780 Spring { 6 — — " Capt. Lamb — 1781 — 1 year " under Capt. Bolton — Battle of White Plains — Battle at Hubbardston — at Burgoyne's surrender Battle of Bennington — at another Battle shortly after. Battles of 19 th Sep. & 7 th Oct r
5. In what battles was he engaged? { 1781 — 1 year " under Capt. Harris
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
at Plainfield — Connecticut —
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
1 living Witness — & traditional Evidence —
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
James Ord
Examining Clerk.

812502
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 Benjamin Clark a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  LENGTH OF SERVICE.  RANK.  OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  STATE.    CAPTAIN.  COLONEL.      Winter 1775  4 mos  Pvt.  Clift  ✓  Conn    Mar 1776  9 "   Oliver Coit  Ely & Erastus Wolcott  Conn    Jan 1777  12 "   ✓  John Stark  N.H.    Spring 1779  9 "   Joshua Bottom   Conn    Soon after    Sent on Private "Nancy"     Spng 1780  6 mos   Escaptured June 1780 exchanged after 2 mos  Conn    Spng 1781  1 yr   Joshua Bottom  Harris      Battles engaged in, White Plains, Hubbardton, Bennington where wounded three times, both battles of Stillwater.  Residence of soldier at enlistment, Plainfield Conn.  Date of application for pension, Sept 4 1832. His claim was allowed  Residence at date of application, Veteran's Lodge Co. N.Y.  Age at date of application, to Plainfield Conn. Aug. 20 1756.  Remarks: It is not stated whether he was married
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

517 West Tenth St., Erie, Penna. August 29th, 1922
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Revolutionary War Section, -
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen-
May I have a copy of the pension record of Patrick Glasgow , of Bedford County, Va., who is listed as a Rev. War Pensioner from that county? not on any county list nor in files nor on agency list
Also of Benjamin Clark , of Columbia County, N.Y. in 1832, - listed in Conn. pensioners under S-10455, and another Benjamin Clark of Tioga County, N.Y. in 1832, listed under S-12502, unless of course they happen to be the same. And of Reuben Clark , listed in Conn. pensioners as W-14483, who died in Mass. 1813, widow Zerviah.
Thanking you, I am, Yours very truly,
Mary Knight Crane
(Mrs. Burton A. Crane)
Send both Benj Clark clerus + addl only 2 records to each inquirer

1922 Sept. 29. Dist. D. 1922 B - a. Crane. A.W.
Rev. War
12502 INVALID.
File No. 12,502
Benjamin Clark Briv Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 70
[Arrangement of 1870.]