Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12,514, James Clark, Conn. Continental

SERVICE
bonn continental.
Clark, James
NUMBER
S. 12.514
CONTENTS
carded.

SERVICE
NUMBER
bonn. continental.
Clark, James
S. 12.514
CONTENTS
carded.

see letter to J. A. Hamill Sept. 16. 1833 to same Sept. 17. 1833, also same day to Pa. Capt. - Do. to J. A. Hamill v. Pa. Capt. 25 Sept. 1833.
20172 New York
James Clark of NY City in the State of New York who was a Captain in the commanded by Captain of the Regt. commanded by Col. Worthington in the Connecticut line for 2 Years
Col. Worthington Esq. 8 Continental and Conn. Nov 1765 Records corrected.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 480 Dollars Cents per ann. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of Aug t 1833. and sent to Washington Prsnt.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 33 - $ 960.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. 33  240.00
$ 1200.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Ino Cromwell Clerk
Book E Vol. 4 Page 5

United States
State of New York
City and County of New York fs. On this seven- teenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas in and for the City and County of New York now sitting James Clark a resident of the said City and County of New York of the age of seventy seven 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 June 17th 1832. The said James Clark being duly sworn as aforesaid doth upon his oath de- clare, that he was born in the Town of Lebanon in the County of Windham in the Colony now State of Connecticut in the month of October 1755, as he has understood and believes. That he resided in the said Town of Lebanon when he entered the service of the Revolution. That after the peace in 1784. he removed to Boston where he resided several years, he then removed to Concord in New Hampshire and finally came to the City of New York - where he still continues to reside. The said Applicant upon his oath further de- clares that in April 1775 immediately on the Battle of Lexington and the breaking out of the war, this Applicant volunteered in the Army of the Revolution and received his Appointment

Appointment as a Captain in a Company in a Regiment of Volunteers Commanded by Colonel Storr of which Robert Durkee was Major, called Putnam's Regiment for the term of eight months, and from thence marched to Roxbury and Cambridge near Boston, in the State of Massachusetts and was at the battle of Bunkers Hill in the line of his duty, and as a Captain aforesaid in June 1775. Applicant with his Regiment (having his command as aforesaid), remained near Boston until January 1776. at which time the period of eight months service for which he first volunteered terminated. Applicant immediately volunteered again for the period of one year in the same Regiment Commanded by the said Colonel Storr and was stationed near Boston and remained there until the British in March 1776 left that place when his Regiment was removed with the Army to New York under General Washington. In August 1776 he was engaged in the line of his duty as a Captain aforesaid at the Battle of Flatbush on Long Island under General Sullivan and after the Americans were defeated in this Battle he was withdrawn to the City of New York, where the Army remained until New York was taken possession of by the British in September following soon after this retreating up to the North River, he was at Fort Washington and Fort Lee, and in October following (1776) he was at the Battle of White Plains in Westchester County

County where he fought as a Captain in the line of his duty. He then returned to Fort Lee and in November 1776. the Americans were compelled to evacuate Fort Lee and lost all their Stores, Artillery &c. And under the Command of Genl. Washington and Lee he retreated with his regiment and the American Army (as a Captain aforesaid and in the line of his duty) through New Jersey, his regiment forming the rear guard, through the whole of that retreat, until they crossed the Delaware River at Trenton in New Jersey. He was with his regiment at Trenton in December 1776. at the time the Hessians were surprized and taken by Washington and for several weeks after the termination of his one year's service He then returned home and shortly after was taken down with sickness, which he had contracted before he had started from the Army at Trenton to return home as aforesaid. He again (after his recovery) volunteered in April 1777, for the term of one year in a Regiment of State troops Commanded by Colonel Worthington Ely, and immediately received his appointment as a Captain and he continued to serve in that Capacity until the termination of his one year's service. During the last time of service he was with his Regiment stationed at New London and was there in October 1777. when Burgoyne and his Army surrendered to the Americans at Saratoga. Previous thereto, and in the begining of the fall of that year he was with his regiment at Rhode Island when an attempt was made under

under General Parsons to take New Port. He was also during this last period of service Stationed at Norwalk in Connecticut and was engaged in an expedition under the Command of General Parsons which sailed from Norwalk and its vicinity at evening to cross Long Island sound and destroy the British Stores at or near Huntington. In the night squalls of wind, rain and boisterous weather came on from the West and North west, separated the vessels with troops, and in the morning the wind having become light and shifted to the Eastward, some of the vessels with officers and troops were close under the guns of two or three British Frigates and some of them were taken, one of which was a Schooner called the Spy. And among those taken were Applicants Colonel Ely and Colonel Webb who were on board of said Schooner. Applicant being on board of another vessel with about one hundred men at three or four miles distant from said Frigates escaped being taken. A number of his companions in arms who were there taken, perished on board of the old Jersey Prison Ship at the Wallabout near Brooklyn on Long Island. Thus terminated this unfortunate expedition. In the beginning of the year 1778. And until the termination of his service, he was Stationed at Norwalk and occasionally upon the lines, sometimes at New London and at the expiration of his term of service having met with an accident by which his right arm became

became disabled, he retired entirely from the service. He does not recollect ever to have received any written discharge, there being no necessity for one after the period of service terminated. The periods of the war in which he was engaged, comprised the most arduous service of the Revolutionary War. He hopes, that the above statement will satisfy the Honorable officers of the Government concerned, that he is entitled to the benefit of the Act of Congress as aforesaid and applicant further states, that during the time in which all the above mentioned services were performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit. That he has not at present any further evidence of his services except the statement and proofs annexed.
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State. As to the interrogatories to be propounded to said applicant for a pension under said Act, by order of the War Department. Applicant states First. That he was born at Lebanon, County of Windham in the Colony now State of Connecticut in October 1755. as he has understood and believes. Second. Applicant has no record of his age. Third. When called into service he lived at Lebanon aforesaid, that since the Revolution he has lived at Boston then at Concord New Hampshire and now resides in New York. Fourth. Applicant entered the service as a volunteer. Fifth. The

The names of some of the officers that Applicant recollects at various periods of his service were General Washington, General Warren, General Ward, General Parsons, General Green, General Sullivan, Col Webb, Col Ely, General Putnam, General Waterbury, Col Maggot, Col Hall, Major Burr, Genl James Clinton, Captain Tilden, Lieut Smith and many others. Sixth. Applicant received his commission signed by Governor Jonathan Trumbull which has been lost or mislaid. Seventh. The names of persons who will testify to Applicant's character for veracity and truth and their belief of his services as an Officer of the Revolution, are John Saunders, John Loyd, Peter Polhemus, Isaac Chandler, Robert Seely.
signed James his X Clark mark
Sworn and subscribed to the day & year aforesaid
In open Court signed, Abm. Aslen, Clk
We Thomas Wyatt a Clergyman residing in the City of New York, and Robert Seely residing in the said City of New York do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Captain James Clark who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy seven years of

of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been an Officer of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion
Signed Thos Wyatt " Robert Seely
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid In open Court.
Signed, Hon. Asa Clark
State of New York City and County of New York ss. Elisha Webb late of the Army of the Revolution being duly sworn says that he has heard the preceding declaration of Captain James Clark read over. That he was acquainted with him at that period and knows, that he held a Commission as a Captain and did serve as aforesaid, and is the same identical person who served as above set forth.
Signed Elisha Webb
Sworn and subscribed this 17 th day of June 1833. In open Court
Hon. Asa Clark
State of New York City and County of New York ss. Roger Strong being

being duly sworn doth depose and say that he is well acquainted with Captain James Clark the above Applicant. That Deponent served some part of the time with the said Clark in the Revolutionary war. That the above applicant is the same Captain James Clark who did serve as he has set forth in his declaration which has been carefully read to Deponent. The said Clark did serve as a Captain in the Revolutionary War as he therein states.
Signed, Roger Strong
Sworn and subscribed this 2 17 th day of June 1833 In open Court
Signed, Abm. Asken. Clk
And the said Court do hereby declare it to be their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the war Department / the answers to which are incorporated in the preceding declaration, that the above applicant was an officer of the Revolution and served as he states. And it further appears to the said Court, that Thomas Weyatt who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the City of New York and is a credible person, and Robert Lutz who has also signed the same is a resident

resident in the City of New York and is a credible person. And that Elisha Webb and Roger Strong who have sworn and subscribed the preceding Affidavits are residents in the City of New York and are credible persons and that the statements of said Thomas Wyatt, Robert Seely, Elisha Webb and Roger Strong are entitled to credit.
By the Court Signed, Abm. Astor Clk
I Abraham Astor Clerk of the City & County of New York do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Captain James Clark for a Pension.
(seal)
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said Court this seventeenth day of June 1833.
Signed, Abm. Astor Clk
I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original
Francis T. Franciosi Clerk

Supplemental Documents in Support of Captain James Clark's claim, late of the Revolution, for a Pension under the Act of Congress of the 7 th June 1832
State of New York
City and County of New York G: James Clark late a Captain in the Army of the Revolution and an applicant for a pension for his service, rendered therein, under the Act of June 7. 1832 being further duly sworn doth depose and say in relation to the first and last term of his service, in the Army, that he did receive his appointment as Captain from the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut and his second Commission in the Regiment of Connecticut State Troops commanded by Col. Washington Ely in April 1777 signed by His Excellency Jonathan Trumbull, Governor of that State. That in the year 1820 or thereabouts he had some idea of applying for a pension under the Act of Congress 1818, and entrusted all his documents to a person by the name of James Buckmaster together with his two Commissions. Before my application was made, deponent was informed by Col. Marinus Willett, now deceased, that the said act did not embrace only regular or Continental troops. Deponent therefore abandoned the proposed application. Said Buckmaster never returned deponent's papers altho' frequent applications were made for them, and some time after he removed out of the County of New York and died. Deponent made application to his Representative for the purpose of obtaining his papers but they never could be found and that the Commissions of deponent with much documentary evidence were lost or mis-

laid.
(Signed)
James his  X Clark Mark
Sworn to before me and Subscribed this 30 th day of July 1833.
Signed, R. Riker
State of New York
City and County of New York ss. Roger Strong of the City of New York being duly sworn doth depose and say, that he is a witness to the services of Capt. James Clark, late of the Army of the Revolution for a pension, and has already made an affidavit contained in his original application. And he being further duly sworn doth depose and say as to his particular knowledge of the services of said Clark as a Captain aforesaid. That the said Clark did in April 1775 receive from Jonathan Trumbull then Governor of the State of Connecticut a commission signed by him and appointment from the assembly of Connecticut as Captain in a Company of Volunteers in the Regiment commanded by Major Durkee Commandant Storrs Colonel, that he so continued to serve for the term of eight months, and the said Regiment shortly after having been ordered to Boston, he did take command of his Company and marched with his Regiment to Roxbury and Cambridge. That he remained there until the battle of Bunker or Breed's Hill took place which was in June 1775. In that battle Captain Clark was engaged in the line of his duty. The said Regiment remained there until January following when the new engagement was entered into for one year, the previous eight months having expired. Deponent further says that the said Clark in his capacity aforesaid remained in the same situation until March 1776 at which time the British left Boston. The said Clark and his Regiment were then ordered to New York under the direct command of General Washington with the American Army. The said

Captain Clark with his Regiment remained in and about New York until September following when the British under Howe took possession of the said City with the exception of the time he was engaged in the battle of Flatbush under General Sullivan and after that battle and his retreat with his Regiment to the city of New York which was the latter part of August of that year. After the British had so possessed themselves of said City said Clark with his Regiment and the American Army retreated to Harlem Heights from thence into West Chester County and so up the North River to Fort Washington. In October following the battle of White Plains took place in which Capt. Clark was engaged in the line of his duty, and after that battle in the beginning of November the said Clark and his Regiment retreated with the American Army under General Washington and Greene across the North River through New Jersey to Newark, from thence to New Brunswick from thence to Princeton and so on to Trenton and across the River to the State of Pennsylvania. The Regiment to which Clark belonged formed the rear guard during the whole retreat. In December of that year the said Clark with his Regiment were at the last place when General Washington took and surprized the Hessians at Trenton and made them prisoners. The term of one year service having expired said Clark with numbers of the men and officers returned home to Connecticut sick. The above statement of the services of Captain Clark deponent knows from the fact, that the first eight months he served under the immediate command of Captain Clark and the last year he served in the same Regiment from the time of the commencement of the year until its termination. In April 1777 James Clark the same identical person before mentioned was appointed and Commissioned a Captain for one year in the State Troops to a company in the Regiment commanded by Col. Worthington Ely. During the first eight months the following

Service, were performed by said Clark in the line of his duty, to wit: His regiment was stationed for several months, during this time at New London and lay there in October 1777 when Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga. In the early part of the fall of this year Captain Clark and his regiment were ordered to Rhode Island under General Parsons in the attempt to take Newport and after the return of said Clark and his Regiment back to Connecticut an expedition was fitted out for the purpose of destroying the Store, at a near Huntington on Long Island. The said Captain Clark together with his Company accompanied that expedition. The preceding service, of the said Captain James Clark for eight months, deponent knows to be a fact from his having served that length of time in the company commanded by the said Captain Clark. Deponent had then to leave the service in consequence of lameness and disease. Deponent served about two years and two months in the same Regiment with said Captain Clark but he always understood and believing that he served out the whole time for which he received his last appointment. Deponent further says that said Clark is a man of unexceptionable veracity.
(Signed) Roger Strong
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 30 th day of July 1833.
(Signed) R. Riker
State of New York
City and County of New York ss. Elisha Webb late a Revolutionary officer being duly sworn doth depose and say, that he has already made an affidavit which accompanies the application of Captain James Clark late of the Revolution for a pension, and which is thereto attached in support of such application. Deponent further states that the reason why he knows of the service of the said Clark are these: Deponent was born at Stamford in fair-

1 field County State of Connecticut in October 1775 1 and entered the Service of his Country Some time after Captain James Clark. That this deponent was per- sonally acquainted with said Clark long before the break- ing out of the War. The Regiment in which Clark received the appointment and Commission of a Captain being the first raised in that State under Gen. Putnam and deponent having business continually backwards and forwards, to and from his place of residence, was then at the time he received his Commission and ap- pointment in that Regiment. The said Regiment being organized was shortly after ordered to Boston and depo- nent did not meet again with Captain Clark until after the British had evacuated Boston and said Clark and his Regiment had arrived with the Army under Washington at the City of New York in March 1776 at which place deponent and his Company were Stationed expecting that the British would attempt to possess that place on their evacuating Boston said Clark remained with his Company and Regiment in and about New York until the battle of Flatbush on Long Island in August following when after the retreat, and the British Army about the middle of September following possessing the City the whole American Army was com- pelled to retreat towards Harlem Heights (in which skirmish deponent was) from thence across Kings Bridge to Valentines Hill and shortly after, further up the River. Said Clark and his Company having retreated towards Fort Washington deponent had frequent oppor- tunities of seeing and conversing with him. In October said Clark was in the line of his duty at the Battle of White Plains where deponent also was engaged in the same battle. Clark and his Company after the battle retreated about Six Miles from White Plains and remained there two or three weeks, during which

times deponent frequently saw and conversed with Capt. Clark until he crossed the Hudson in November 1776. Deponent further says that after the said Clark received his Commission and appointment in the State Troops under Col. Marlinton Ely he had frequent opportunities of seeing and conversing with him in consequence of his being invested in his native State with the command of one hundred and fifty Teamsters for the transportation of baggage, Ammunition &c. Deponent was pretty well acquainted with his service as a Captain in the army of the Revolution for at least one year and eight months with the exception of his service from April 1775 until March 1776 at Boston. Captain James Clark is a man of veracity and truth.
Subscribed and sworn to before (Signed) Elisha Webb me this 30 th day of July 1833 (Signed) R. Riker
State of New York
City and County of New York ss. Aaron Sherman late a private in the Army of Revolution being duly sworn doth depose and say that he was a private in Capt. Tilden's Company of Volunteers in the Regiment commanded by Joseph Durkee Major Commandant Morris Colonel. That he is acquainted with Capt. James Clark who belonged to that regiment. That the said regiment was raised in the State of Connecticut in April 1775. That said Clark was commissioned and appointed a Captain in the same by the General Assembly of Connecticut his Commission signed by his Excellency Jonathan Trumbull then Governor of the State of Connecticut. That shortly after said Regiment was organized it was ordered to Roxbury and Cambridge. The said Clark in the following June was engaged in the battle of Bunker's Hill. The

Regiment to which Clark belonged (he acting in the line of his duty) remained there until the British evacuated Boston, when the Regiment was ordered to proceed to New York under Genl Washington. The Regiment remained in and about New York until ordered to Long Island and there the battle of Flatbush was fought under Genl Sullivan in the latter part of August following. In September the American army retreated and were pursued to Harlem-Heights, said Clark with his regiment retreated over Kingsbridge and finally to Fort Washington on the North River, there he remained until the battle of White Plains in which he was engaged in October (the latter part.) after that Battle went back to the North River and in November crossed the North River and retreated through New Jersey to Newark under the command of Generals Washington and Greene and finally reached Trenton. The one year Service shortly after expiring capt Clark and a number of Officers and Soldiers of the Connecticut Troops shortly after returned home. Deponent knows the above to be a correct statement of said Captain Clark's service as a Captain in the Army of the Revolution from the fact of his having served in the same Regiment as a private for the space of one year and eight months. Deponent further says that in the Spring following, after their return home said Clark received a new appointment and Commission in the State Troops of Connecticut of a company in a regiment commanded by Col. Washington Ely with whom Deponent was acquainted. The appointment and Commission was for one year commencing in April 1777 and expiring in April 1778. Deponent served in this Regiment under Captain Clark about six months and during that time was stationed at New London and was with the Regiment at Rhode Island at the time General Parsons attempted

to take Newport. In October Clark and his regiment were stationed at New London at the time Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga said Clark in the line of his duty was engaged in the expedition in the fall of 1777 under General Parsons to cross the Sound to Long Island and destroy the British stores near Huntington. Deponent further says that the said Clark continued to serve out his time of one year as a captain in the line of his duty in Colonel Ely's Regiment. The way that the deponent knew of this last mentioned service was, in consequence of serving in the same company commanded by Captain Clark and living in the vicinity where the last six months service were performed.
Subscribed and sworn to (Signed) A Sherman before me this 30 th day of July 1833.
(Signed) R. Riker
State of New York
City and County of New York ss. Samuel Lloyd late a Soldier of the Revolution being duly sworn doth depose and say that at the time the Putnam Regiment was raised in Connecticut in April 1775 he was a resident of Norwalk and he recollects of its being publickly known and circulated that James Clark received an appointment and commission of a captain in that Regiment. It being the first regiment raised in that State (after the breaking out of the war) excited much attention. In March 1775 the Army under Washington having come to the City of New York from Boston deponent became acquainted with numbers from his State and among the rest Captain James Clark (being stationed there apprehending an invasion from the British) whose regiment came on with Genl. Washington. Captain Clark and his regiment were

Stationed in and near New York. Officers and Soldiers of the same State being anxious to see each other, soon became intimate and deponent thus became personally acquainted with said Clark with whose service, from that time (March) until November 1776 when the Americans retreated under Washington across the North River through New Jersey Capt Clark in the line of his duty was at the battle of Flatbush in August of that same year and after that Battle having retreated to the City of New York were shortly after pursued by the British to Harlem, retreated over Harlem River at Kingsbridge and encamped near Valenines Hill Said Clark was at the battle of White Plains and when the American Army crossed the Hudson in November following, said Clark and his Regiment went with it. During most of this time deponent was acquainted with said Clark's service, and knew that he held a Commission as a Captain. He was acquainted with said Clark during the last year of his service, whilst he held a Commission in Col. Ely's Regiment of that State Troops in which he served for one year for he was occasionally stationed at Norwalk deponent's place of residence which was in the year 1777 and beginning of 1778. He recollects the expedition under Parsons starting from Norwalk in which Captain Clark and his Company were engaged in the line of their duty in the fall of 1777. Deponent never heard a doubt as to Captain Clark, being an officer of the Revolution and believing his claim is just Deponent was acquainted with him personally, to wit: from March 1776 which includes one year and eight months of his service, the first part of his service having been rendered in the State of Massachusetts. He is a man of veracity and truth and entitled to credit. (Signed) Samuel his Loyd Mark Subscribed and sworn to before me this 30 th day of July 1833. (Signed) R Riker

State of New York
City and County of New York ss. Henry Van Wart late of the Army of the Revolution being duly sworn doth depose and say, that his information of the service of Captain James Clark late a Captain in the Army of the Revolution has been acquired partly by having been in the same service and partly by report. That he recollects when Captain Clark and Company arrived in the City of New York under Washington in March 1776. That he was acquainted with him from that time in consequence of some private acquaintance with some of his company. That after the battle of Flatbush the American Army were compelled to retreat from the City of New York in consequence of the British taking possession of the same. That at that time the said Clark with his regiment retreated to Harlem Heights, thence over Kings bridge and eventually further up the North river. That said Clark was at White Plains latter part of October 1776 and after that at Fort Washington. That at the battle of White Plains he fought in the line of his duty. He then retreated with Washington across the North River through New Jersey. Deponent knew him in the line of his duty from March 1776 until November following. Deponent always un- derstood from the privates in his company and from officers in his Regiment that he had been appointed Commissioned and served as a Captain in that same Regiment from the time it was raised in April 1775 until deponent deponent was afterwards acquainted with him became acquainted with him, in Col Ely's Regiment of Connecticut State Troops in 1777. Deponent has no doubt he served as he states in his Original application which has been carefully read over to deponent. Said Clark is a man of veracity and truth.
Subscribed & sworn to before me this 30 th of July 1833. (Signed) Henry Van Wart Mark. (Signed) R. Riker

[Here follow the Certificate of the Judge, and the Certificate of the Clerk authenticating the papers]
I certify the following is a true copy [ additional declaration ] from the Original Sept r 16 th 1833.
John D. Williams Clerk in Pleader's Office

Rehran
12514 INVALID.
am
File No. 12, 514
James Clark Capt. Rev. W.
Act: June 7 th 1932
Index:—Vol. a , Page 70
[Arrangement of 1870.]

10/
[Handwritten signature]
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
o

Sept 23 1880
Pension Office
John A. Johnson a.m. Barnes for a residence for a widow of a soldier in the War of the Rebellion and her minor children

New York 19 Sept r 1833
Sir
I have just seen sundry depositions framed with a view to obtain a pension from the U. States & purporting to have been sworn to before me as Recorder of the City of New York and the jurat signed by me accompanied with a certificate stating in substance that Walter F. Osgood is a person of fair character & of credit, also purporting to be signed by me - all of which are forgeries. No such persons were ever before me in relation to such application.
The forgeries were as I believe committed by Walter F. Osgood, in whose hand writing I think the depositions & certificate are. Osgood is now, & has been for some time past of bad character & in the present instance he unquestionably made use of one Garrit Luyster to aid

him in effectuating his frauds.
Mr. Hamilton the District Attorney who shewed me the forged papers, will doubtless give you immediate information of these matters; but I have deemed it my duty to put you in possession of the fact with a view to protect the Government as far as possible against any other frauds which may have been attempted. Osgood & Luyster are both in custody.
I have the honor to be your very Oblt Servt.
Hon. Lewis Cass Secy of War Washington
R. Piken.

New York 28th Sept 1833
Dear Sir
In reply to your note of this morning I have to state that on Friday morning the 16th of August last - on coming to my office having been for some days previously absent from the City, Mr Warner the deputy Clerk handed me the affidavit & power of Attorney authorising Walter F Osgood to receive the amount due on a pension certificate of one James Clark alluded to in your note, and stated that it had been presented to him by Garrit Gayster Mr Osgood's Clerk for a certificate and that he had refused to give it being satisfied that the signatures of R Riker subscribed thereto were not genuine. These forged signatures of Mr Riker appearing to me to bear a strong resemblance to Mr Riker's hand writing & fearing that I might have been imposed upon I went immediately to the Bank for the purpose of making an investigation of other papers, taking with me the paper handed me by Mr Warner which I handed to Mr Quigton one of the Clerks in the Pension Office Mr Lawrence the President shortly after came in and to whom as well as Mr Quigton I exhibited the paper informing them both of the circumstances related to me by Mr Warner. A day or two after this interview I was informed by Mr Quigton that Osgood had received the amount on the said Pension Certificate.

and on my enquiring of him why they had paid it to him after the caution he had received his reply was that Osgood had presented other papers which they had no doubt were genuine.
I am Respectfully
Your Obedient Servant
Samuel H. Warren Clerk of the City County of New York
James A. Hamilton Esq.

Clerks Office City and County of New York 28 Sept 1833.
Sir
In reply to your communication addressed to Mr Asten, requesting a detailed statement in writing of the facts and circumstances of the notice given to the U S Agent for paying pensions, in relation to Osgoods attempt to utter a fabricated power of Attorney to draw the amount of the pension Certificate, issued in favor of James Clark I have to observe, that on the morning of the 16 th of August last in the forenoon of that day I called at the office of the U State Agent for paying pensions, to examine some papers that I had understood were authenticated at the office - I at that time exhibited to Mr Overington, one of the gentlemen employed in the pension office, the fabricated paper above referred to, purporting to be an affidavit and power of Attorney authorizing Walter F Osgood to receive a James Clark pension - at the same time observing that I had no doubt that the signatures, purporting to be the Records, affixed to the Jurat of the affidavit and the Certificate of the Acknowledgment were forged, and that I had declined giving the usual Clerk's Certificate to said paper in consequence of my entertaining that belief. -
Having subsequently learned that Osgood had received from the U State Agent, the amount of the said Clark pension, upon another power of Attorney, I called at the office to examine it - and was then informed by Mr Overington and another gentleman employed in that office, that they had paid

the amount of the said pension to Walter F. Asgood after Mr Astin and myself had given them the above information
I have the honor to be
Your Obed Servt
Andrew Warner Dep. Clerk
James A. Hamilton Esq U States District Attorney

Office Bank U States New York Sept. 28 1865.
Yr
I have received your Letter of the 25 Inst t enclosing the Copy of a Letter from Mr Hamilton to the Secretary of War, on the authority of which, you state that the pension of James Clark was paid on the 16 th of August after the Bank had been notified by the Deputy Clerk that the papers in the case were fabricated. I beg leave to state in reply, that, much as it is to be regretted now, that the payment was made, I have the satisfaction of saying that it was made on a voucher with which no fault could be found — a voucher attested by, and bearing the Official Seal of, a well known and highly respectable Notary of this City — a voucher against which no possible objection could be made on the part of the Bank, unless indeed it had possessed the knowledge of Ozgood's character, which subsequent developments have furnished. In Mr Hamiltons Letter the words without the County Clerks Certificate are underscored, as if an important deficiency in the Document had been discovered, but I need only to remind you that the decisions of the War Dept t as far back as Sept. 1831 & which have been acted upon to the Day, require that Powers of Attorney bearing the Official

Seal of a Notary shall be passed without the Certificate of a County Clerk.
With regard to being notified by the Deputy Clerk that the Papers were fabricated, the facts are simply these — The Clerk himself & not the Deputy, called at the Bank with a Power of Attorney purporting to have been executed before Richd Riker the Recorder, which he stated had been left at his Office, during his absence by one Garrit Luyker, And I understood and still believe that Mr Astens object in calling was merely to compare the Document he brought with him, with another which he recollected had recently passed through his Office & received the authentication of his Certificate — The comparison was made in my presence & the suspected Document exhibited to the Teller, in the Bank, And after all, so uncertain did the matter appear that Mr Asten remarked in leaving, that he wished nothing said about it.
The next Day Osgood produced the Power of Attorney already described, and the evidence of his authority from the Pensioner, being on the face of this new paper, complete and irresistible and the Document beyond all doubt genuine, the natural conclusion was, that the Power exhibited by Mr Asten was also genuine & that Osgood in preference to waiting longer on the Clerk for

his Certificate had taken the Pensioner before another Officer.
Unfortunately Osgood's Character, which now appears to have been proved bad on a former occasion, was not known in the Pension Dept, consequently no extra caution was observed in dealings with him, except so far as we had been impressed with the necessity of it, by Mr Astens call & that impression was removed in the manner already stated, and also by my own knowledge of Mr Rikens signature and my belief that it was genuine.
I am very respectfully Sir Your O bed Serv t .
Isaac Lawrence Lieut n Acting as Agt d for Pensioner
Thomas S. Edwards Esq r Commissioner of Pensions.

29 20
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commencement of Pleas Washington

US Dist Atty's Office New York September 19 th 1853
Sir
Your letters of the 16 th and 17 th Insts have been duly received, the former enclosed the Declaration and supplemental evidence forwarded to the War Department to establish the claim of James Black to a pension,
These papers will be returned as you request when the Judicial investigation which is now pending against Osgood shall be concluded; On examination of these papers by the persons who have been represented to have executed them they are unhesitatingly  unhesitatingly pronounced a forgery.
In the course of the investigation of this subject I have discovered that the frauds which have been committed on the Government in this manner by Osgood and his accomplice Luyter have been very extensive - It appears a Pension has been granted to asa Lively and Peter Shoudeke which have been fraudulently obtained - Do me the favour to furnish me with the papers in these cases as well as such other papers as have been transmitted to You on the behalf of persons claiming Pensions either by Osgood or Luyter as it is proposed to identify other Individuals with their iniquitous pursuits.
Re:

To J. S. Edwards Esq. Com. of Pensions Washington
Very Respectfully Your obedt Servt James A Hamilton Asst Dist Atty,

J
James L'Edrard Esqr Commissioner of Pensions Washington.

Offici Bank United States New York Sept. 19. 1835.
Sir
In answer to your Letter of the 17 th not respecting the case of James Clark I have to inform you that his pension has been paid to his Attorney Walter F. Osgood up to the 4 th of March last amounting to $960.
I am very Respectfully Your ob. Servt.
Isaac Lawrence Secy. Acting as Agent for Finance
James L. Edwards Esq re Commissioner of Pensions.

[Handwritten flourish]
20
Edwards Esq. Commr of Pensions Washington

U.S. Dist. Atty's Office New York October 3 d 1833
Sir
In my letter of the 30 th ultimo I omitted to ask for the letters of Walter J. Osgood which accompanied the several false original and supplemental Pension declarations when they were transmitted to the War Department - If any such letters were written will you have the goodness to forward them to me - I will preserve and return them.
With great Respect
Your obedt Servt
James A. Hamilton Dist. Atty. U.S.
To J. L. Edwards Esq. Comm'r of Pensions Washington

U.S. Dist. Atty's Office New York Sept r 28. 1833
Sir
In reply to your letter of the 28 th Instant I have the honor to transmit the enclosed letters from Abraham Astor and Andrew Warner the clerk and deputy clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in answer to a letter addressed to them by me of which the enclosed is a copy.
To J. L. Edmonds Esq. Commr of Pensions Washington
With great Respect Your obedt Servt James Hamilton U.S.D. Atty.

Washington
Mr. Davis
Dear Sir
Mr. Noble
ans. Oct. 9. 1833
19

Dist. Atty's Office New York Octbr 4. 1833
Sir
I must beg permission to employ additional Counsel to assist me in the trials of Osgood and others charged with forging and other frauds in fabricating Pension papers.
Four persons who have been associated in these crimes are already arrested and others will probably be ferreted out. From the highly respectable connections of Osgood in this city, every exertion will be made to get him off - already three of the most eminent Gentlemen of the Profession are engaged in his behalf.
The several trials will probably continue for three or four weeks as they will be contested inch by inch. the labor will consequently be distressing to an individual.
The Honorable
Lewis Cass
Secy of War
Washington
With great Respect
Your obed Servt
James A. Hamilton Dist. Atty. U.S.

J. S. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington

US Dist. Atty's Office New York Sept. 30. 1833
Sir
On the 27 th Inst I gave notice to the Agent for Paying pensions not to make any payments on Pension certificates issued in favor of Cornelius Duboise and Hugh Stevenson. The Pension to Duboise has been fraudulently obtained - Stevenson who was entitled to a pension died in 1832. Osgood has got possession of his certificate and as I am informed has continued to draw the Pension since his death. Also Holden who is also an applicant for a pension has been arrested and is recognized to appear at the next Circuit Court.
Do me the favor to forward to me the papers in the cases of Duboise, Asa Holden, and Robert Henry, also the letters of Robert Clench (if there are any in your Office) to whom the Pension certificates issued in favor Lovejoy and Shoudyke were transmitted, and such other correspondences as will identify him with these frauds; He made a certificate on papers of Ellen Jones and Ann Harris referred to me. In your letter of the 20 th you name B. Clench as the person to whom those certificates were forwarded, Robert Clench is the man who received them and is employed in the Custom House in the Naval Officers Department.
The Grand Jury will perhaps feel it their duty to present him as well as others who have given Official Certificates entirely at variance with the truth.
On examination of the papers in the several applications

before me. I find the names of many persons supposed to be fictitious as of real persons in obscure stations; it is important to establish that the former are fictitious, or that they have been perjured by others and that the latter have not executed the papers or appeared before the magistrates who have given certificates to that effect in order to falsify those certificates; for this purpose I must request to be authorized to employ a suitable person at the expense of the Government who can devote his time to ferret out these people, and who is familiar with the mode of proceeding in such occasions, I have already employed at my own expense such a person to arrest the man who perjured Black and Lovejoy before Public Notaries, and executed Powers of Attorney to Osgood to draw the pensions — he is now committed for trial.
To
J. L. Edmonds Esq. Comm r of Pensions Washington
With great Respect Your obed Serv t James A. Hamilton U.S.D. Atty

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Pension Office Washington City

sm
New York Oct 1 st 1853 -
I have seen two papers purporting to be two affidavits sworn to by me before the recorder Richards , one that I served in Capt o Webb's Company three years, & they are both forgeries, my name was put to them without my consent or knowledge, and the Recorder says his was a forgery - I think likely there may be more similar ones in your office, if so I wish you to write me what they are - I never see nor heard of Capt o Webb until within about two years - Mr o Skinner wrote me some time past that you wanted some proof of my services in the Connecticut line - and why you should make such a request I could not tell, until this explains it - for I was never in that state until after the commencement of the war, nor then as long at a time as I was in the army without anything to eat - lawyer Osgood had a clerk in his office by the name of Lester who was very active with his pen, he could imitate any handwriting very accurately, who I presume forged my name and the recorder's to the affidavits, and I think Osgood must have known it, Osgood and his clerk are both in prison on account of that and those of a Capt o Clark who has been dead many years - Osgood's clerk has confessed that he has been guilty of perjury three times in this transaction. I hope justice may be done to them - You must thought me a fool as well as a liar, or deranged, to have made two such affidavits and let them both at one time be before you, one to say that I served in Capt o Webb's Company three years, and the other that I served in the Massachusetts line at the same time - I hope and trust I shall be able to satisfy you of the correctness of my statement as to my claim for a pension for I have certainly done the service then stated.
Asa Holden
J. L. Edwards Esq r
16786

(Copy)
US Dist Atty's Office New York Sept 27 1833
Sir
I have this day received a letter from the Commissioner of Pensions calling on me for a formal statement of the facts relating to the notice given to the United States Agent for paying pensions that Osgood had attempted to utter a fabricated power of attorney to draw the amount of Pension certificate issued in favor of James Blake.
As I am informed that such notice was given by you to Mr Isaac Lawrence and by Mr Warner your deputy, I must beg the favor of you to give me a detailed statement in writing of the facts and circumstances of such notice and that you will also submit this letter to Mr Warner and request him to furnish a statement of the notice given by him. Your early answer will oblige.
To Abraham Allen Esq Clerk of the City & County of New York
With great Respect Your obed Servt James A Hamilton US Dist. Atty

Sept 9 1800
Pension Office
2
The Honorable
Lewis Cass
Acty of War
Washington
See the originals he sent.
L.S.
Before me for commission a true copy of the original J. H. ...

Private Official
Dist. Atty. Office New York Augst 6 1833
Sir
I have discovered that Walter F. Gogford Attorney, at Law and H. Leyster both of this city have attempted to commit a fraud upon the Government by procuring forged and fabricated certificates in order to obtain the pension of James Clark, who is represented as having served as a captain in the Revolutionary war just in Colonel Storm's Regiment of Volunteers of the State of Connecticut and afterwards in the Connecticut State Troops Commanded by Col: Ely - As this will be the subject of Judicial In- vestigation, under an Indictment, I wish that all the papers in the War Department connected with the Claim for the Pension may be sent to me. Your certifi- cate that James Clark is entitled to a Pension under the act of Congress of 7 th June 1832 is dated on the 9 th August 1833. And I beg leave to suggest that all other transactions of like kind with which Walter F. Gogford and H. Leyster are connected should be examined with the greatest care as they are persons of very bad Character.
To The Honorable Lewis Cass Secy of War Washington
I have the honor to be with great Respect, Your obedt Servt James A. Hamilton
Dist. Atty. Ad.

Sept 23 1893 Pension Office
To
The Honorable Lewis Cass Secy of War Washington
Mr. Garrison will probably refer the full to you LC

Dist: Atty's Office New York Septm 20 th 1833
Sir
In connection with the subject of my letter of the 6 th Inst: I regret to say that James Clark's pension amounting to Nine hundred and sixty dollars was paid to Osgood on fabricated papers (owing I fear to inadvertence) at this loan Office - On the 13 th 14 th and 15 th of August Osgood was preparing the first set of papers, which were arrested by the clerk who refused a certificate and whose deputy, as he informed me, communicated on the 15 th his suspicions of the intended fraud to the Loan Officer - On the 16 th a new set of papers were prepared, attested by a Notary Public and produced without the clerk's certificate to the Loan Office, on these notwithstanding the previous intimation of the intended fraud the money was paid to him
I communicate these facts to you in obedience to my sense of duty to the Government. I have the honor to be
To
The Honorable Lewis Cass Secy of War Washington
With great Respect Your obedt Servt
James A Hamilton Dist: Atty. U.S.