Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1,971, Eleazer Clark, N.H.

SERVICE
N.H.
Clark, Eleazer
NUMBER
R. 1971
CONTENTS

DECLARATION in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
STATE OF VERMONT, } COUNTY OF Washington ss. } On this 13 th day of August A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Honorable County Court, within and for the County of Washington now sitting, Ebenezer Clark a resident of Northfield in the County of Washington and State of Vermont, aged 80 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, 1832:—
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
That he he was ordered out by the Sub. C. of the company of which he belonged, the Captain being absent, and in April 1776 he went to Charlestown New Hampshire and assisted in transporting munitions, bread & shells to Cambridge, Vermont to be conveyed by water to Canada. He served at this time under Lieut. Sam l Ashley. That as he believes between three & four weeks— That about the middle of December 1776 he again entered the service by enlistment in Capt. Howards Company, which assembled at Northfield Massachusetts, & marched to Danbury Connecticut where he first drew rations, then marched to Peekskill & joined the regiments commanded by Col. Domeroy of Northampton under command of Gen. McDougal. He enlisted at this time for four months served his time out, and as soon as he can recollect was discharged about the middle of April 1777— In June 1777 he enlisted again or volunteered again under Capt. Oliver Ashley 1 st Lt. Samuel Ashley, 2 nd Lt. Asa Jones, and about the 20 th of the same month marched to Rutland Vermont where they joined Col. Bayliss Bellows Regiment, and led. Bellows Reg t joined Col. Seth Warner & marched to Second Eureka, where he arrived about the first of July and remained until the Army left the fort on the 5 th or 6 th of July, then returned home— That he served at this town some more than half a month— That in October 1780 he again volunteered under Capt. Oliver Ashley Col. Bellows Regiment went off for the  the

Royallton Vermont where the Indians burned that place, & proceeded as far as Hartford where they heard the Indians had left Royallton & were expatriate at Newbury. The march immediately to Newbury and was absent in this service as soon as he can recollect about three weeks. He was born in Lebanon Connecticut 29 th April 1752, has no record of his age, but it is or was in the town where he was born, which is or was in Glanmont New Hampshire. He took fire and Chatham Vermont & Northfield Vermont when he now resides. He lived at Glanmont New Hampshire at each time he returned the service, and volunteered. Recollects seeing Gen St. Clair & Gen Poor, he never received any written discharge, nor has he any written evidence of his services. Nor does he know of any person living who can testify to his services. He states the names of Joel Winel & Clugman & Henry Knapp who can testify as to his character & the belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
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.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
We Joel Winel a Clugman of Northfield County of Washington and Henry Knapp of Northfield hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Eliza Clark who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 80 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
And the said Committee hereby declare his opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
And the said Committee further certifies that it appears to them that Joel Winel who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clugman resident in the said town of Northfield and that Henry Knapp who has also signed the same, is a resident in the said town of Northfield and an credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Attest, Warren Ellis Clerk. Judge Warren Ellis, Judge  Clerk of the County
Court for the said County of Washington
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Committee  Judge in the matter of the application of Eliza Clark for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office , this 13 th day of August A. D. 183 2 -
Attest, Warren Ellis Clerk. Judge
I hereby certify that Eliza Clark who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration is in my opinion unable to attend court by reason of age & bodily infirmity -
August 13. 1832
Warren Ellis Judge

State of Vermont Washington County ss.
I Joshua W. Vail Clerk of the county Court within and for the county of Washington aforesaid do hereby certify that the Hon. Warren Ellis before whom the within proceedings were had is a Judge of the county Court within and for the county of Wash- ington aforesaid duly appointed & commissioned & qualified as such under the Authority of this State and that his name thereto as such is his own proper hand writing. — In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office this 1 st day of September A. D. 1832
Att. J. W. Vail Clerk. —
1471
Elmer Clark

R.F. 1971
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 Blazeus Clark or Clarke 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.     Apr. May 1776 2 1/3 mos. Pvt. Genl Samuel Ashley N.H.   Dec. 1776 4 mos. Howard Pomeroy   June 1777 about 12 mos. Oliver Ashley Benjamin Bellows N.H.   Oct. 1780 2 1/2 mos. Oliver Bellows Bellows  
Battles engaged in, Concord
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Concord N.H.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 13 1832
Residence at date of application, Northfield Washington Co. Vt.
Age at date of application, born Apr. 29 1752 at Lebanon Conn.
Remarks: A wife is referred to but no name is stated and there is no other family data.
The claim was rejected on the ground that he did not render six months service as required by the act of June 7, 1832 under which he applied.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

State of Vermont } Personally appeared before me, the Washington County ss. } undersigned, a Justice of the Peace within and for said Washington County, Ebenezer Clark of Northfield in said County, who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his services as a soldier in the revolutionary War, as set forth in his declaration to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th of June, 1832, but that according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grade —
  In April & May 1776 as a private soldier two thirds of  2/3 month    one month — — — — —     From middle of Decr. 1776 to middle of April 1777 as a private soldier  4 months    four months — — — — —     In June & July 1777 as a private soldier one half a month  1/2 month    In Oct. 1780 as a private soldier two thirds of one month  2/3 month    making in the whole six months —  6 months    and for which services I claim a pension.
That since making his said declaration, he has procured the deposition of Rachel Goff of Claremont N.H. and that he has not been able to procure the testimony of any other person.
Ebenezer Clark
Sworn & subscribed before me at said Northfield in said Washington County on this 14 th day of Nov r A.D. 1836
John West
Justice of the Peace

State of Vermont Washington County ss
I, Joshua Wail Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of Washington aforesaid do hereby certify that John West is a justice of the Peace within & for said County duly appointed & acting under the authority of this State and that his residence to the within as such, I believe to be his own proper hand wri- ting - In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court This 19 th day of November A. D. 1836 Joshua Wail Clerk.

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76 Lt Saml. Ashley - Charlestown N.H. 3 or 4 weeks Recd 76 Capt Howard Col Pomeroy. Plumbery Peckville 4 mo 28 June 77 " Oliver Ashley. Ticonderoga. — 15. Oct 80 " " " Royalton abt 21. Suppl. Statement 4: 64 
No. 25 m 4

West Randolph, Vt. April 29.
Free
May 6 Printed
J. L. Edwards Esquire, Commissioner of Pensions, Pension Office. Washington City. D. C.
George Peabody

West Randolph, Vermont, April 29-1837
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions
Sir; yours of the 22 d instant is received, saying that the specifications of the time of the service in the statements of Eleazer Clark , make in the aggregate 5 months and 25 days only, and that his claim is disallowed.
Will you permit me to call your attention again to the computation of the time as specified in his supplemental statement! I drew his supplemental statement, and it is possible that I made some mistake in computing the time. From a memorandum which I retained, it appears that I made his time of service a small fraction over 6 months.
Will you have the goodness to review the computation of the time of the service of Mr. Clark; and if you still find it to be less than six months, will you have the goodness to return the papers to me, that I may have the opportunity of correcting any mistake I may have made in computing the time of service of Mr. Clark.
I am, very respectfully your ob t Serv t
Edmund Weston

West Randolph Vt.
April 8
Free
To J. L. Edwards
Commision of Pensions
Pension Office
City of Washington
D. C.
42
vt aphw Eliza Clark Eliza Clark Eliza Clark

West Randolph, Vermont. April 8. 1837 -
J. L. Edwards. Commission of Pensions. Sir, I forwarded you by mail on the 3rd Dec r . last. the papers appertaining to the pension of Ebenezer Clark - and since then I have not heard from the papers - If the evidence is not satisfactory to enable the Dep t to grant the certificate, will you have the goodness to return the papers to me - If the papers are satisfactory, please to forward me the certificate of his pension soon as you have time to examine into the business. Respectfully Yours &c
Edmund Weston

To the War Department Pension Office

West Randolph, Vermont, December 3, 1836 -
To the War Department. I send herewith the declaration of Eleazer Clark of Northfield for the purpose of obtaining a pension under the act of June 7 th 1832, and also the additional declaration setting forth the time he served &c. The declaration was sent to the Department some time ago & returned to Mr. Clark as being insufficient. The friends of Mr. Clark, after so long a time, have been able to procure the deposition of Rachel Goss, which is also herewith sent to the Department. It is hoped that the evidence will be satisfactory so that he may obtain his pension without any further delay, as Mr. Clark is very poor and infirm. Mr. Clark has not been able to obtain any further evidence of his services than what is sent herewith, & probably will not ever find any more - I hope the claim of Mr. Clark will receive the immediate attention of the Department, as his health is such that to do him any personal benefit, he should have the pension soon -
If the papers of Mr. Clark are satisfactory please to forward his pension certificate to Edmund Weston West Randolph, Vt. - If the papers are not satisfactory please return them all, with directions, to the undersigned
Respectfully Yours, Edmund Weston

I Rachel Goss of Claremont in the County of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire aged 83 years depose and say, that I have resided in Claremont sixty years, that in the year 1776 or 1777 Mr. Ebenezer Clarke who then lived a neighbor to us, was drafted and went into the service of the United States, how long he was absent I do not recollect -
I know he was absent for his wife was taken sick and I went and took care of her. I think I did not remain with her until Mr. Clarke returned
Witness Uriel Dean
Rachel her X Goss mark
State of New Hampshire } Claremont September 29 th 1836 Sullivan } Personally appeared before me Uriel Dean one of the justices of the Peace in and for said County. Rachel Goss, who I hereby certify is a credible witness, and made oath that the above affidavit by her signed is in her belief true.
Uriel Dean Jus t . of the Peace

Eleazer Clark Ph

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of George Clarke which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yy V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yy VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yy

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? yes XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? M XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes  except 2 o
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
† QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡ QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
This name cannot be found on the rolls of the New Hampshire militia, see Quere 14 above

V Eleazer Clark Rejected
See let to Edmund Western 22 d Apl.
1837
do - do - do - May 8 th 37

1914 Nov. 5 Hist. to Miss Gertrude S. Johnson V.L.M. Letter in S.F. 19. 2/4 7 Thomas Clark
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
1971
P. O. _____
Eleazer Clark
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
Recognized. _____
Contract
Cert. of Dis. _____
Searched for _____
, 18