Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 1561, Abel Clarke, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Comm
Clarke, Abel
W. 1561
" Clark,
Lois
CONTENTS

9041- Connecticut
Abel Clarke of Farmington in the State of Connecticut who was a Priv. in the Conn. commanded by Captain Simeon Doldwin of the P. commanded by _____ in the Connecticut Infantry Guard 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 50 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th day of March 1833. and sent G. C. - Woodruff. Silasfield Ct Arrears to the 4th of March '33: $160.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending Sep. 4. 33. 40.00 $200.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by C. D. Dilleno Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 3 - Page 7

88.
Connecticut.
Lois Clark widow of Abel Clark Conn n who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a Private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of March 1849 and sent to
Mrs. T. Smith N.Y. State
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2. 1848, Page 79. Vol. 1.
29 July. Book D.

(Declaration of Abie Clark, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
State of Connecticut } ss Court of Probate within & for County of Litchfield } the District of Litchfield
On this 8 th day of Aug. 1832 personally appeared Abie Clark in open Court, before the Hon Frederick Wolcott Judge of the Court of Probate in & for s d District, now sitting Abie Clark of Torrington a resident of s d Torrington in s d County aged 67 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 7 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States & served under the following named officers, & as herein stated. viz
I was born in Dec r 1764 at Milford Conn, There was a record of my age in my Father's family Bible which was lost many years since when my Father moved his family to Woodbridge, Conn, I know of no existing record of my age but there may be one in the Records of the s d town of Milford. On the first of March 1780 or about that time I enlisted as a soldier in the service of the United States, at s d Milford & under Joseph Davidson Lieut. Commandant of the Fort at s d Milford, a Garrison was established in that Fort to protect the town of Milford & the property therein & the shipping in the harbour & also to prevent any illicit trade with the British in the Sound or on Long Island. I enlisted for one year & served as one of said Garrison for one year , for the whole or most of the time under said Davidson; & in March 1781 I again enlisted as a soldier in s d Garrison, & served for the purpose aforesaid for another year under the command of Lieut Commandant Nathan Baldwin. I served throughout this second year in the same Fort, said Davidson & said Baldwin enlisted soldiers by the authority of the Governor of Connecticut for s d purpose. There was no other company stationed in s d Fort with ours, & no continental officers were there. We were engaged in no battles, & the most important event which occurred in which I was engaged was the retaking of a small prize

from the British which lay off Milford harbour. After my last above mentioned year of service expired I again enlisted viz in March 1782 & was soon after taken by surprise by a party of the British in S t Fort & was carried a prisoner to Loyds Neck & thence to New York where I was confined in the Sugar House so called for some time, then I was recon- veyed to Loyds Neck, where after some time I was re- leased on parole, but of this I have no proof, I never received a written discharge, nor have I any documentary evidence to prove my first two years of service; but to prove said two years service rely on the testimony of H t Ezra Camp hereto annexed, who served with me the whole of S t two years & till March 1782 as a soldier in S t Fort, I continued to reside in S t Milford till about 10 years since, when I removed to Litchfield Conn. & then resided 11 years, & then removed to Torrington where I now reside, I am known to Simon Harrison, James Pier- pont & Morris Woodruff of said Litchfield & to Gen. Rus- sell C. Abernethy, Lyman Wetmore Esq. George P. New- ham & John Hungerford in my present neighborhood; who can testify as to my character for veracity & their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution. And I annex the certif- icate of Lyman Wetmore Esq. & Gen Russell C. Abernethy to my Declaration instead of the Certificate of a Clergyman, because no Clergyman resides in "my immediate vicinity" at this time.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Abel Clark
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me Fredrick Wolcott , Justice of Probate, Litchfield District Conn. t.

We Lyman Wetmore & Russell C. Abernethy residents in S d Torrington hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Abel Clarke who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 67 years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, & that we concur in that opinion, and we further certify that said Clarke's character for veracity is good & his statement entitled to credit.
us. Lyman Wetmore Russell C. Abernethy
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year afore said before me, Frederick Wolcott, Judge of Probate Litchfield District, Conn.
And the said Court does hereby declare its 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 & served as he states, And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Lyman Wetmore who has signed the preceding certificate, & Russell C. Abernethy who has signed the same are residents in S d Torrington & are credible persons, & that their statement is entitled to credit and that there is no Clergyman residing at this time in the "immediate vicinity" of said applicant.
Frederick Wolcott, Judge of Probate District of Litchfield, Conn.
I Phinehas Miner Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Litchfield, Conn., do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the S d Court in the matter of the application of Abel Clarke for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 8 th day of Aug.
1832
Phinehas Miner Clerk -

Supplementary Declaration of Abel Clark
State of Connecticut County of Litchfield
In Court of Probate within & for the District of Litchfield On this 24 th day of Nov r 1832 Personally appeared Abel Clark the signer of the foregoing original Declaration, in open Court before the said Court of Probate now sitting, who being first duly sworn doth on his oath make the following additional Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7 th 1832 viz,
I was in the continued actual service of the United States as a private soldier under the circumstances mentioned in my original declaration the whole time from my enlistment about the 1 st of March 1780 till after the March 1782, & until the time of my being taken a prisoner & served faithfully as such soldier throughout the whole of the time above mentioned. Besides the officers named in my original declaration Eben Hine Stephen How, Samuel Hine & Samuel Spauld were sergeants in the garrison while I was there but at what precise time each particular one was sergeant I cannot say there were no other superior or inferior officers than those I have named while I was in the garrison as I believe. The garrison was merely a Lieut's Guard, Baldwin did not receive his commission I think till some time after he acted as Lieut. Com d
I did not procure a clergyman's affidavit to my original Declaration; the the reason was , that no Clergyman resided in my vicinity; the Clergyman who had resided in the parish to which I belonged had been a short time before dismis- sed from his pastoral charge & had left the place & none other had been procured in his place. The nearest Clergyman to me lived at a considerable distance in another parish & in a remote part of the town, I did not know him, & he did not & does not know me nor has he had an opportunity to learn the facts which would enable him to give the necessary affidavit. Therefore I annexed the affidavit of two other respectable gentlemen
Abel Clarke
Sworn & subscribed the day & year last aforesaid
before me Frederick Wolcott Judge of Probate
And the said Court doth hereby declare its opinion that after the investigation of the matter & after put- ting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant served as he states in this his supplementary Declaration
Frederick Wolcott, Judge of Probate District of Litchfield, Conn t
I certify
Whine has Minner Clerk of said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing con- tains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abel Clark for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of said Office this 24 th day of November 1832.
Whine has Minner Clerk

No. 141.
Lois Clark, widow of Abel Cl
Act 29 July 1848
Married 17 July 1794 Husband died 1842
Adm d 2 years per, $80. per annum fr 4 March 1848
Hon T. Smith U.S. Senate

(Declaration)
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 29 th July 1848 State of Connecticut }
County of Litchfield } On this 18 th day of Nov r 1848 personally appear- ed before the Court of Probate in & for the Dis- trict of Litchfield Conn Lois Clark a resident of Litchfield in said County aged 77 years who being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed 29 th July 1848 That she is the widow of Abel Clark who was a private soldier in the Military Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, & served as such at Milford in Conn under Lieut s Davidson & Baldwin from March 1780 to June 1782 when he was taken Prisoner by the British & continued such prisoner till the sum- mer of 1783 & for further particulars refer to the Documents in the War Department He was a pensioner of the United States under the act of June 7 th 1832 at the rate of Eighty Dollars per annum She further declares that she was married to the s d Abel Clark on the 17 th day of July 1794; that her husband the afore- said Abel Clark died on the 25 th day of March A.D. 1842; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the second of January eighteen hundred & 42 at the time above stated She further swears that she is now a widow, & that she has never before made any ap- plication for a pension
Lois Clark
Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written
Before
Charles Adams.
Judge of Probate.

I Geo. C. Woodruff Clerk of the Court of Probate in & for the District of Litchfield Conn do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Lois Clark for a Pension. And that said Court is a Court of Record; that Charles Adams Esq is Judge of said Court & that the foregoing signature which purports to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this 18 th day of Nov r A.D. 1848
Geo. C. Woodruff Clerk of said Court

"Married Abel Clark & Lois Smith both this town July seventeenth, seven- teen hundred ninety four."
I Asa M c Train do certify that the above is a true copy of the record of the marriage of Abel Clark and Lois Smith with the exception of the date which is expressed on the re- cord in fair legible figures as follows July seventeen seventeenth seventeen hundred ninety four July 17 th 1794
I Asa M c Train above named upon & say that I hold the office of Pastor of the 2 d Congregational Church, at Milford in Milford, State of Connecticut, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of the 2 d Church in Milford with the exception above named as certified by me
Signed Asa M c Train Pastor of said Church Subscribed swome this 9 th day of November 1848
Before me William Strong
Justice of the Peace
I, Jonas G. French Clerk of the Court of Probate in
& for the District of Milford Conn do certify that
William Strong Esq. of said Milford is, at the date of the above certificate by him subscribed was, a justice of the Peace in & for the County of New Haven in Conn. duly commissioned & qualified, & by Law authorized to administer oaths, & that the signature to the above certificate which purports to be his is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court at Milford in the County of New Haven, Conn this 9 th day of November 1848
Jonas G. French } Clerk

August 9, 1929
Mrs. Herbert H. Smith 278 Exchange Street New Haven, Connecticut
Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W.1561, it appears that Abel Clark was born in December, 1764, at Milford, Connecticut. His father's family later lived in Woodbridge, Connecticut, no names are given.
While residing in Milford, Connecticut, Abel Clark enlisted about March 1, 1780, served one year as a private, and  and was stationed at the fort in Milford under Lieutenant Commandant Joseph Davidson. At the expiration of his service, he re-enlisted for one year, served at the same place under Lieutenant Commandant Nathan Baldwin and assisted in re-taking a small prize from the British in Milford Harbor. At the expiration of that service, he again enlisted, in March, 1782, soon afterward was taken prisoner and confined in the Sugar House in New York until released on parole in the summer of 1783.

Rev. and l. Wars Secti MEB/eel
He left Milford, Connecticut, about 1816, and lived in Litchfield, Connecticut, about eleven years, then moved to Torrington, Litchfield County, in the same same state, where he resided when he was allowed pension on his application executed August 8, 1832.
He died March 25, 1842, at Litchfield, Connecticut.
The soldier married July 17, 1794, in Milford, Connecticut, Lois Smith, both were then of said Milford.
She was allowed pension on her application executed November 18, 1848, while a resident of Litchfield, Connecticut, then aged seventy-seven years,
There are no further family data.
Due to the very large number of requests similar to yours and the lack of a clerical force available for the purpose, the bureau is unable to make immediate reply to each request pertaining to soldiers of the Revolution.
Letters are being answered as rapidly as possible in order of receipt.
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH Commissioner.

Dec. 9, 1929 Aug
F. E. STERLING B. SMITH 278 EXCHANGE STREET NEW HAVEN, CONN.
Will you kindly send me the Revolutionary Record of Abel Clark mentioned on Page 653 in Conn. Men in the Revolution as a Pen- sioner. Please send all facts you have regarding his service and his family as I think he is my an- cestor and his service will grant me another D. A. P. bar.
Most respectfully, Mrs. Herbert S. Smith.
May 28, 1929.

Stamp Enclosed
278 EXCHANGE STREET
NEW HAVEN, CONN.
Pension Bureau, Dear Sirs:-
Two or three months ago I wrote you asking for any data you may have regarding Abel Clark , a Connecticut soldier who served in the Revolution. On Page 653 of the "Conn. Men in the Revolution", he is listed as a Pensioner.
As my first letter to you was not answered, will you please send at your earliest convenience any facts available to
Mrs. Herbert H. Smith.
Aug. 5, 1929.
Due to

1929-Aug 9, Hist to Mrs. Herbert H. Smith, M.E.E.
Rev  WIDOW, &c.
File No. 1561
Lois Clark
Widow
Abel Clark
Pr. Rev. War
Act: July 29, 1848
Index: Vol. 2 , Page 134
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Abel Clark, Recd $80 per annum
Died 25 th Mar. 1842 (2) Paid to his death 10/13.

Litchfield, Conn. Nov 25 th 1832
I herewith return to your Department Abel Cook's application for a Pension. The objections made to the admission of his claim are, I believe, now remov- ed by his supplemental Declaration all the proceedings of the Court are on the same sheet of Paper, all the evidence with the authenticating certificate is on the  one sheet. I perceive the first sheet is in part divided & this might have led the examining officer to suppose it entirely so, & that therefore, the Papers were not properly authenticated
Yours with Respect
Geo. C. Woodruff
To the Hon Secretary of War

I Rufus Ames of Litchfield Conn of lawful age being duly sworn de upon & say that I was a neighbor & well acquainted with Abel Clark late of Litchfield deceased & late a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States; that he died at said Litchfield on the 25 th day of March A.D. 1842 & that he left a widow whose name is Lois Clark who is still living, is still unmarried & his widow (Dated at Litchfield this 18 th day of November 1848) Rufus Ames
State of Connecticut Litchfield County } ss Litchfield this 18 th day of Nov r 1848 Personally appeared Rufus Ames to me well known & who is entitled to credit & made oath to the truth of the foregoing Description by him in my presence subscribed Reference Oligen S. Seymour Justice of the Peace
State of Connecticut Litchfield County } ss Litchfield I Geo. R. Woodruff Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Litchfield do certify that Oligen S. Seymour Esq. is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County duly commissioned and qualified & by Law authorized to administer oaths, and that the signature to the foregoing certificate which purports to be his is genuine In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this 18 th day of No- vember A.D. 1848 Geo. R. Woodruff Clerk of said Court

202106
Abel Clark
admiral
Lyons minute
f 80
G & Woodruff
Lidfield
34

I Ezra Camp of the town & County of Litchfield, Conn. being duly sworn do depose & say that before & during the Revolution- ary war I was an Inhabitant of Milford, Conn, & that I was well acquainted with Abel Clark an Inhabitant of said Milford during said war & long before. I was a soldier in the service of the United States during said war & was stationed in the fort at Milford, as one of the Garrison, which was kept there for the purpose of preventing any attack by the British on said Milford, to protect the shipping in Milford harbour, & prevent any illicit trade between the people on shore & the British in the Sound or on Long Island. I was stationed in the fort in March 1780 & said Abel Clark then enlisted & served as a soldier in the Garrison with me for the purpose afore- said for one year, & at the expiration of that time he enlisted again & served for one year in the same Garrison & for the same purpose to wit till the March of 1782 & I then left the Garrison my own time of enlistment having expired. The first year said Clark enlisted & served under Lieut. Commandant Joseph Davidson, & the next year under Lieut. Commandant, Nathan Baldwin, I served with said Clark the whole of these two years in the Garrison & personally know that he performed the services above stated, said Clark now resides in Torrington, Litch- field, County, Conn. said Clark's character for veracity is good, & his statement is entitled to credit, and further saith not
Dated at Litchfield July 25 th 1832
Ezra Camp
Litchfield County ss Litchfield July 25 th 1832 Personally appeared Ezra Camp, a witness known to me, & entitled to credit, & made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition, by him in my presence subscribed
Before me
Geo. C. Woodruff Justice of the Peace

I Frederick Wolcott, Clerk of the County Court within & for the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut, certify that George C. Woodruff Esq. was on the 25 th day of July 1832 & that he now is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County legally commissioned & qualified, that he hath as such a right by law to administer Oaths &c and that the preceding signature which purports to be his is genuine. —
Witness my hand & the Seal of said Court at Litchfield in said County this 9 th day of August A.D. 1832.
Frederick Wolcott, Clerk.