Pension Packet of Richard L. Clark & Widow, Maria Shehorn Clark

Service:  Drummer, Captain Vashon’s, William Davenport’s, Lieut. Hyde’s and Capt’s McKeown’s and Loring Austin’s Co’s 10 & 8th U.S. Inf.
Pension Claim: #SO 21,987; S.C. 11,424
Widow’s Claim: #WO 42,798; WC 34,783
Bounty Land:   14,891,  & 14,160

Packet includes pension applications for Richard L. Clark & his widow, Maria Clark, Marriage certificate of Richard & Maria Shehorn,  sworn statements as to status of 3 of Richard’s previous wives, divorce papers of Richard & wife Rebecca Moore. Maria spent about 3 years trying to prove she was the wife entitled to the pension.  I believe this packet is as close to being the “complete file” as I can get without having gone to the National Archives and copied it myself.   I   requested a copy of the” complete file” from the archives years ago.  Several years later I asked a researcher to copy the “complete file” which included several more pages. I have tried to transcribe these papers as close to the original spelling and punctuation as possible.
 

12 July 1871

Pension Application of Richard L. Clark

State of Illinois
County of Clay.   On this 12th day of July A.D. one thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy one; personally appeared before me Jno. L. Moon Clerk of the County Court of Clay County aforesaid, a count of record within and for the county and state aforesaid;
Richard Clark aged seventy three years, a resident of the County of Wayne and State of Illinois - Johnsonville Post office- who being duly sworn, according to Law declares that he is married, that his wifes name was Rebecca Moore to whome he was married at Putnam County Illinois:  on or about the fifteenth day of Aprile A.D. 1869:  that he served the fall period of sixty days in the military service of the United States in the War of 1812. That he is the identical Richard Clark, who enlisted in Captain Mitchells Company: of the tenth (10) Regiment of U.S. Regular forces; Colonel Wilburn commanding:  (Briggade and Divission Unknown): at Saulsburry Rowan County, North Carolina; on the 12th day of January A.D. 1813: and was honorably discharged at Lexington, State of Kentuckey, on the 12th day of January A.D. 1818:  That he so entered the service, as a Drummer, and continued in the Service as such Drummer for the full term of five years – that immediately after enlisting as above he accompanied his company and regiment to Norfolk and Richmond in Virginia; thence to Washington; & thence to Plattsburg and into Canada; and thence to Buffalo, and to Chippeway in Upper Canada; and thence to St. Louis Missouri and thence to Fort Des Moines & to Rock Island – where he assisted in the erection of a Fort:  Thence he went with his Company and Regiment to New Orleans in Louisanna; and thence to Lexington Kentuckey; where he was honorably discharged –
 That he at no time during the late Rebelion against the authority of the United States adhered to the cause of the Enemies of the Government; giving them aid or comfort; or exercised the functions of any office whatever under any authority or pretended authority in hostility to the United States; and that he will support the Constitution of the United States;  that he is not in receipt of a pension under any previous act; that he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the Pension Roll of the United States, under the provisions of the act approved February 14, 1871; and he hereby constitutes and appoints with full power of substitution and revocation William W. Stewart of Flora . Clay County . Illinois his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his claim and obtain the Pension Certificate that may be issued, that his Post office is at Johnsonville, County of Wayne, State of Illinois; that his domicil or place of abode is the same
           His
Attest   Ben Hagle     Richard    X     Clark
    D J Irwin          Mark
                 Applicant

Also personally appeared Peter P. Sloan of Clay County, State of Illinois and Silas M. Candless of Clay County, State of Illinois; persons whome I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit; and who being by me duly sworn say they were present and saw Richard Clark the Claimant; make his mark to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of said claimant that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; that at no time during the rebellion against the authority of the United States did he adhere to the Cause of the Enemies of the Government giving them aid or comfort; and that they have no intrest in the prosecution of this claim.   Signed     Peter P. Sloan
    Signed  Silas McCandless

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 12th day of July A.D. 1871; and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration __?__ were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing including the words              erased;  and the words “He” added; And that I have no intrest, direct or indirect in prosecution of this claim.     Jno. L. Moore
      County Clerk
 
 

20 December 1871
Adjutant General’s Office
   Washington, D.C.     December 20th , 1871

Sir:
 I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your office of application for Pension No. 21,987, War of 1812   and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this office.
 It appears from the Records of this Office that Richard Clark was enlisted on the twelfth day of January,1813  , at  Rowan Co., N.C. to serve five years, and was assigned to   the Tenth  Regiment of    U.S. Infantry.   He is reported
Enlisted by Lieut. Bird, served in Capts. Vashon’s-William Davenports, Lieut. Hyde’s and Capt. McKeown’s Cos. And p ?   __?__ 3 Oct 1814 in the 8th U.S. Infty.  The 10th was the 8th U.S. Inf after May 17th 1815.  No further information

   I am, sir, very respectfully,
    Your obedient servant,
      JR Martin
     Assistant Adjutant General.

The Commissioner of Pensions,
  Washington, D. C.
 
 
 

10 April 1883
War of 1812
Claim of Widow for Pension,

Under the provisions of Sections 4736 to 4740, inclusive, Revised Statutes, and the
ACT OF MARCH 9, 1878

State of   Illinois, County of   Wayne
 On this _________day of April  A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty  three   personally appeared before me    Joseph E. Wilson, County Clerk, the same being a Court of Record within and for the County and State aforesaid,  (1) Maria Clark  aged   50 years, a resident of  Johnsonville   in the State of  Illinois who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of  (2) Richard Clark deceased,  who was the identical  (3)  Richard Clark   who served under the name of  (4) Richard Clark  as a (5) ___________ in the Company commanded by Captain  Devenport
  10th   Regiment of   U.S. Infty  commanded by ______________ in the war of 1812;   that her said husband (6) volunteered at  ___________________________________
On or about the   ____________ day of   ____________________ A.D. ______________ for the term of _______________ and continued in actual service in said war for the term of  (7) 5 years, and whose services terminated by reason  (8)  of an honorable discharge which is on file in his case for pension No. 11424, applicant cannot tell when he was discharged.   She further states that the following is a full description of her said husband at the time of his enlistment, viz:  (9) applicant did not know him then but it is the family understanding that Richard Clark was about 17 years old when he enlisted and that he served as a drummer.  She further states that she was married to the said
Richard Clark   at the city (or town) of Johnsonville   in the county of Wayne    and in the State of   Illinois    on the   14th   day of  Jany. A.D.  1877 by one  (10)  Tyra P. Alvis  who was a  (11)  Justice of the Peace and that her name before her said marriage was  Maria Shehorne           and that she has not remarried since the death of said soldier;
And she further states that  (12)  her husband had previously married to one Nancy Powles, now deceased  and that her said husband  (13)  Richard Clark   died at   near Johnsonville   in the State of   Illinois  on the 9th   day of   March  A.D.   1883  and she further declares that the following have been the places of residence of herself and her said husband since the date of his discharge from the army, vis: (14)________________
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Pension to which she may be entitled under the provisions of Sections 4736 to 4740, inclusive, Revised Statutes, and the Act of March 9, 1878, and hereby constitutes and appoints, with full powers of subititution and revocation   Milo  B. Stevens & Co.   her true and lawful attorney to prosecute her claim.  And she further declares that she has heretofore made no application for (15)   pension.   Soldier was a pensioner, rate $8, per mo.
No. of Cert.  11424.
And that her residence is No.  ____Street, City  (or Town) of Johnsonville
County of Wayne         State of   Illinois    and that her post office address is
Johnsonville    Wayne Co.    Illinois.

Ark   Tenney      Maria    Clark
I. C. Lowe      Claimant’s Signature
(Two attesting witnesses who can write their names)
 

Also personally appeared  Ark  Tenney aged ______________ years, residing at
No.  Johnsonville Ills  street,  in ___________________ and  J. C. Lowe
______________________aged ___ years, residing at No. Johnsonville
Street, in  Illinois_______ persons who I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say that they have known the said  Maria Clark
for  five       years and for five      years respectively;  that they were present and saw her sign her name (or make her mark) to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason  to believe, from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be; and they further say that they are able to identify her as the person who was the wife of the identical
(16) Richard Clark____ who rendered the service alleged to the above application (in the Company of Captain  Davenports_____ in the regiment of 10th U.S. Infty.  In the war of 1812) by the following named facts and circumstances, viz:  (17)___________________
_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

And that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim.

      Ark Tenney

      J.C. Lowe
      (Signatures of Witnesses)

Sworn to and subscribed before me this  10th _____day of April_____ 1883; and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, &c., were fully ame known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing, including the words _________
______________ erased, and the words ________________ added; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim.

      Joseph E. Wilson
        (Signature)
       Co. Clerk
       (Official character.)

19th June 1883
Claimant’s Affidavit

State of   Illinois
     County of  Wayne
     In the matter of claim for Widows Pension of Maria Clark Widow of Richard late of Cap Davenport’s Co. 10 U.S. __?___ War 1812
     Personally came before me, a  Notary Public_____ , in and for  aforesaid County and State,    Maria Clark of____________________________________________________
_______________Flora   Ill________________________________________________
aged  about 50 years, who being duly sworn, states as follows:  That   she is the claimant in the above described claim:  _______________________________________________
____________That she was previously married to George D. Shehorn on the 24th day of December 1872.__________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_____________________further states nothing.

      Maria Clark
       Signature of Claimant
 

     Sworn to and subscribed before me………this  19th   day of June 1883
    Sign here,    Ark Tenney    Notary Public
 

Marriage Certificate of Richard Clark & Maria Shehorn

(Top part cut off or folded)
                                          WAYNE COUNTY, ILL.,  January   14_______18__ 77
I, a Justice of the peace______________________________________hereby certify that
Mr.     Richard  Clark_______and Mrs  Maria  Shehorn__________________________
were united in marriage by me at   her residence                             in the county of
Wayne and State of Illinois, on the   14  day  of   January_________A.D. 18 77.
                                                                   T. P.  Alvis      J.P.
    Press Print
______________________________________________________________________________________
  Detach this certificate and give to the Parties Married

(This was stamped Dec __?__ 1883 by the Pension Office)
 
 
 

STATE OF ILLINOIS,
  Wayne County.

 I   J E Wilson                      Clerk of the County Court in and for said County and
State, do hereby certify that Mr. Richard Clark_____________       and Mrs__________
Maria Shehorn                            were joined together in the Holy Bonds of matrimony by
 T. P. Alvis     J.P.                      on the 14 day of                           January
A.D. 1877 as appears of record in my office.

   In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal
   This  10  day of April         1883.
     J. E. Wilson__________________County Clerk

(This was stamped 11 Apr 1883 by  ?  --does not appear to be the pension office.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

7 Oct 1885
Neighbors Affidavit
Western Division
Affidavit of Mary Kane     Elizabeth Kane
Xenia Clay Co Ills.

Case of Maria Clark Widow of Peter Kane

State of Illinois
County of Clay     In the matter of Widow’s Pension claim of Maria Clark no 42,798 on this 7 day of Oct AD 1885 personally came before me a Notary Public in and for said County & State duly authorized to administer oaths Mary Kane age 38 years whose post office is Xenia Clay Co. Ill and Elizabeth Kane age 36 years, whose post office is Xenia Clay Co Ill who after being duly sworn according to law desposes and say that they are well and personally acquainted with Maria Clark the claimant for 16 years and they further knew said claimant when she was the wife of Peter Kane now dec. and they further say that said Peter Kane died on or about the 17th day of Feb. AD 1870 and that they were present and his death and burial and that they hae no interest in this claim

      Mary Kane
      Elizabeth Kane

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 7th day of Oct 1885  Affiants are personally known to me and were made fully acquainted with contents before signing the same and all erasures were made before signing   I have no interest in this claim certificate and file

      Jack Filson
      Notary Public
 

9 Oct 1885
State of Ill
Wayne Co

     In the matter of widows pension claim No. 42798 personally appeared before me a
Notary Public in and for the county and state above written Maria Clark widow of Richard Clark who is personally known to me and who after being duly sworn declares that Richard Clark was married more than twice and that Catrine Clark one of his former wifes died July 28th 1868, and that Malinda Clark another of his former wives died September 30th 1878. and further, that she does not know whether Rebecca Moore to whom he was married in 1866 is living or not but that she (Rebecca) and her said husband were divorced.  Written evidence of which is enclosed and affiant further states that she has not remarried since the death of her husband Richard Clark.

      Maria Clark

Subscribed and sworn to before me the 9th day of Oct 1885and the contents of the above were fully made know to affiant before subscribing thereto and I further certify that I have no interest in the above claim for pension.

      Ark Tenney
       Notary Public

State of Illinois
Clay County    In Circuit Court
Octo Term 1871

Richard Clark
 Vs.
Rebecca Clark
In Chancery
 Divorce

 This day came the complainant Richard Clark by his solicitors Shaw & Stewart none appearing for the defendant Rebecca Clark:   and the said Rebecca Clark having been duly served with summons and the Process of this Court, more than ten days prior to the commencement of this term and having been solemnly called in open court to plead, answer , or demur to the said complainants bill, came not but made default—It is ordered adjudged, and decreed by the Court that, said bill be taken pro Confesso, and the court having ordered a refference of said cause to William W. Stewart a special master to take proof of the matters set forth in said bill, and the special master having made a report thereof to the court and the same having been approved by the court and this cause comeing on to be heard upon the bill sotaken as confessed, and the testimony taken and exported by said special master: and on consideration the court dothe find that the Plaintiff was married to the Defendant Rebecca Clark in April A.D. 1869 in Putnam County, Illinois:  That she left the Plaintiff, and abandoned the said Richard Clark soon after said marriage as above, and has continued such abandonment and desertion for over two years, prior to the fileing of the complainants bill in this cause, and during all this time refused to live and cohabit with said Plaintiff:  and still does refuse to do so.  Wholely disregarding her marriage vows as his wife in the premises, and without any fault of said plaintiff her husband:--  And the Court being fully advised in the premises, doth order adjudge and decree that the Complainant Richard Clark be divorced and separated from the Bonds of Matrimony heretofore exhisting between him and the defendant; and that all and every the duty, rights and claims ariseing to either of the said parties by reason of the said marriage shall henceforth cease and determine: and the said parties be severally at liberty to marry again in like manner as if they had never been married—And it is further ordered that the Plaintiff pay the costs and charges of this proceeding: and that executive issue in due form therefore

State of Illinois
Clay County            I Henry Hortinstius (?) clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said County do certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct copy of the decree where in Richard Clark is complainant Rebecca Clark is defendant as appears of Records in my Office.

  Given under my hand and Official
  Seal at Louisville in said County
  This 25th day of October A.D. 1871
    Henry Hortinstius Clerk

Fees of $9.26 paid by the Complainant Clark
 
 
 
 

9 Nov 1885
Neighbor’s Affidavit
Old War Claim War 1812
No 42.798
Maria Clark Widow of Richard Clark
Co      10th U.S. Infantry
Affidavits of Michael Kane   Elizabeth Kane

State of Illinois
County of Clay          In the Widow’s pension claim No 42798 of Maria Clark widow of Richard Clark late pvt co     10th Reg. US Inft---Personally appeared before me a Notary Public in and for said County & State duly authorized to administer oath Michael Kane age 37 years and Elizabeth Kane age 36 years whoe post office address is Xenia Clay Co Ills. Well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit who after being duly sworn according to law deposes and says in relation to said claim as followed:  That they are well and personally acquainted with Maria Clark the Claimant and have been for 17 years and that they knew her as the wife of Peter Kane now deceased, and they further say that said Peter Kane died on the 17th day of Feb 1876 and they were present at his death and burial and that they have no interest in this claim.
      Michael Kane
      Elizabeth Kane

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 9th day of Nov. AD 1885 Affiants are personally known to me and were fully acquainted with contents before signing.  I have no interest in this claim for pension certificate on file

      Jack Filson
      Notary Public
 

13 Nov 1885

State  Of Illinois
Wayne Co.

In the matter of Widows claim for Pesnion of Maria Clark Widow of Richard Clark who was a private in 10th Reg U.S. Infty personally appeared before me a Notary Public in and for said county & state Wm. M. Johnson a practicing physician of 30 years standing who after being duly sworn declares as follows:  That he was the attending physican at the time of the last sickness & death of Nancy Clark who was the wife of said Richard Clark, but is unable to give any date of the same as he kept no account except on pass book which is now lost.   He knows however that she died several years ago, that he has no interest in the above claim for pension.
     Wm M. Johnson

Subscribed & sworn to before me this the 13th day of Nov 1885 and I have no interest whatever in the prosecution of above claim for pension
     Ark Tenney
     Notary Public
 
 

14 Dec 1886
Claimant Affidavit
OW Division   Invalid  No OW
In Proof of Previous Marriage of Soldier and Previous Marriage of Claimant
By Maria Clark
In Pension Claim of Maria Clark widow  of
Richard Clark
Late Private of Wm Davenports 10th Reg’t  US Infantry  Vols

Affidavit

County of Jasper  State of Illinois
 In the O  W    Pension   Claim No.  42278   of late   Private of William Devenports Co , 10th Reg’t U.S.  Infantry Vols.  In proof of number times married and the names of the consorts    Maria Clark     personally appeared before me a County Clerk  in and for said county and state entitled claim, and after carefully examining instructions Nos. 1 or as otherwise directed, on the back of this blank, says:  That I   was married three times  the first marriage was with Peter Kaine, second marriage with George Sheahorn the third marriage with Richard Clark
That Richard Clark was married six times  his first marriage was with Elizabeth L. Jones, second marriage with Catherine McLaine  third marriage with Rebecca Moor from who he was legally divorsed as shown by records of Clay County Ills, fourth marriage was with Melinda Cliff, fifth marriage was with Nancy Powells sixth marriage was with Maria Sheahorn this affiant

My Post office address is St. Marie County of Jasper   State of Illinois

     Maria Clark
     Full signature of witness

Subscribed and sworn to before me this day, by  Maria  Clark the above witness…
Witness my hand and official seal, this 14th day of December 1886.
     A.S. Powell
     County Clerk
 
 

22nd Feb 1887

This certifies that I was personally acquainted with Richard Clark & with Nancy Powles  & that I personally knew that the above named parties were married sometime in the year 1874—they lived near my residence until her death  I was the attending physician when Mrs Nancy Clark died  I saw her  1 hour before she died & also after she was dead but have no dates  I have no interest in the claim of Mrs Maria Clarks claim for pension
     Wm M Johnson  M.D.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 22nd day of Feb 1887.
     Ark Tenney   Notary Public
 

16 Feb 1894

Pensioner Dropped  Wid. #2504

U. S. Pension Agency
      Chicago, Ills.
       Feby 16, 1894

Hon.  William Lochren
  Commissioner of Pensions

Sir:
 I hereby report that the name of Maria Clark  Widow of Richard Clark   , who was a pensioner on the rolls of this Agency, under certificate No. 34783, and who was last paid at $12  , to  4 April 1893, has been dropped because of   death  16 April 1893—Effingham  Ill.

    Very respectfully,
     W. B Anderson
     Pension Agent