Clay County, Kentucky: Elizabeth Roark "widow pension" w/o John Roark Submitted to the KyGenWeb by: Nell Dwyer 10-22-1999 NDwyer@aol.com ***************************************************************************** WAR OF 1812 CLAIM OF WIDOW FOR SERVICE PENSION Under the provisions of Sections 4736 to 4740, inclusive, Revised Statues, and the Act of March 9,1878. State of Kentucky County of Harlan, s.s. On this 14th day of August, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty, personally appeared before me E.M. Howard, same being a court of record within and for the county aforesaid, (1) Elizabeth Roark, aged 69 years, a resident of Leslie County, in the state of Kentucky, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of (2) John Roark deceased, who was the identical (3) John Roark, who served under the name of (4) John Roark as a (5) Private in the Company commanded by Captain Ambrose Arthur in the__________ regiment of Kentucky, commanded by ____ In the war of (6) 1812 ; that her husband (7) was drafted at in Harlan County, KY on or about the _____ day of _____ A.D. 1812 for the term of six months, and continued in actual service in said war for the term of (8) six months and whose services terminated by reason of (9) expiration of term at _____ on the _______day of _______A.D.________. She further states that the following is a full description of her said husband at the time of his enlistment, viz: (10) About twenty years of age a farmer born in the State of Tennessee about five feet & nine inches high dark hair dark colored eyes fair complexion. She further states that she was married to said John Roark, at the city of Mt. Pleasant in the county of Harlan, and in the State of Kentucky on the ______day of ____ A.D. 1831 by one (11) Luke Noe, who was a (12) Magistrate; and that her name before her said marriage was Elizabeth Brock, and that she has not remarried since the death of said John Roark; and she further states that (13) The said John Roark had been previously married to Nancy Slone who deceased from the said John Roark about one year before the marriage of this claimant and that her said husband (14) John Roark died at in Clay County in the State of Kentucky, on the 27th of May A.D. 1844; 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, viz: (15) The said Elizabeth and John Roark have resided in Harlan Clay and Leslie Counties since discharged. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Pension to which she may be entitled under Sections 4736 to 4740, inclusive, Revised Statutes, and the Act of March 9, 1878, and hereby appoints, with full powers of substitution and revocation, C.D. PENNEBAKER & SON of ________ her true and lawful attorney to prosecute her claim. And she further declares that she has heretofore made _______ application for (16)__ And that her residence is No.________ street, city (or town) of_______ county of _____ State of _______ and that her post office address is __________ Her [Two attesting witnesses who can write their names] Elizabeth X Roark Mark Jacob Caldwell Wm L? Helton Also personally appeared Edward Brock, aged 66 years, residing at No. Harlan County street, in _________, and Robert Helton, aged 73 years, residing at No. Leslie County (Page 2) street, in _____. ________, persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, say that they have known the said Elizabeth Roark for _____ years and for _____ 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 acquaintances 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 (17) John Roark, who rendered the service alleged in the above application (in the company of Ambrose Arthur, in the regiment of Kentucky in the war of 1812) by the following named facts and circumstances, viz: (18) The said Edward Brock and Robert Helton state that they have both been neighbors and known Elizabeth Roark and John Roark all their lives and they know that she has not remarried since the death of John Roark her husband, and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. If affiants make mark, two witnesses who write sign here: Al------ Dezarn Edward Brock (His Mark) John Saylor Robert Helton Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14 day of August, A.D. 1880; and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, & c., were fully made 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. E.M. Howard Official Character: C.H.C.C (Cover reads) WAR OF 1812 APPLICATION FOR SERVICE PENSION ELIZABETH ROARK WIDOW OF JOHN ROARK OF CAPT. AMBROSE ARTHUR CO.____ REGIMENT OF KY MIL Died 27th May 1844 (Stamped by PENSION OFFICE Nov 1 1882) (Page 3) (OLD WAR AND NAVY DIVISION) Department of the Interior, PENSION OFFICE Washington,D.C., March 24, 1884 Sir: You are respectfully requested to inform this office, if you can do so without inconvenience, whether Mrs. Elizabeth Roark who resided in your neighborhood in the year of 1882 is still alive, and, if so, whether she is the reputed widow of John Roark, and was he generally believed by neighbors to have served in the War of 1812. If Mrs. Roark has deceased, can you furnish the date of her death. Please return this letter with your reply in the enclosed envelope, for use in the widow's claim No. 42490, under Act of March 9,1878. Very respectfully, Wm. W. Dudley, Commissioner Postmaster: Barbourville, Harlan Co., Ky (Stamped PENSION OFFICE Jul 22 1884) (Page 4) Barbourville, Ky July 17, 1884 Hon. Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C. Sir, I cannot find out any information in regard to Mrs. Elizabeth Roark. Respectfully, Thomas L. Pitzer?????? (Page 5) State of Kentucky County of Harlan On this day the tenth day of March 1887 personally appeared before me John W. Forester, Deputy County Clerk of Harlan County duly authorized to administer oaths John S. Blanton aged seventy five years a resident of Wallins Creek in the County of Harlan and the State of Kentucky well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit. Affidavit says that he was acquainted with John Roark who was a Soldier of the War of 1812 that Elizabeth Roark applicant for pension No. 42490 is the widow of said Soldier affiant states from the best of his recollection that the said John Roark have been dead about forty years. That his first wife's name was Nancy Sloane that she has been dead about fifty years it may be more he further states that the said Elizabeth Roark have and still remains the widow of said John Roark up to this present and that he is not concerned in the prosecution of this claim. John Blanton (Stamped PENSION OFFICE Apr 5 1887) (Page 6) State of Kentucky County of Harlan, so sworn and subscribed before me this by the above named affiant and I certify that I read the said affidavit to said affiant and acquainted him with it's contents before he executed the same I further certify that I am in nowise interested in said case nor am I concerned in it's prosecution and the said affiant is personally known to me and that he is a credible person. John W. Forester D.C. W.C.L. Huff clerk H.C.C. I certify that John W. Forester who hath signed his name to the foregoing declaration and affadavit was at the time of so doing my duly authorized deputy clerk that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit and that his signature thereunto is genuine. Wtness my hand and seal this 15th March 1887 W.C.L. Huff Clk (Page 7) State of Kentucky County of Harlan On this tenth day of March 1887 personally appeared before me, John W. Forester Deputy County Court Clerk of Harlan County duly authorized to administer oaths John C. Howard Aged eighty years old a resident of Wallins Creek in the County of Harlan and State of Kentucky well known to me to be a respectable person and entitled to credit and after being duly sworn declares in relation to said claim as follows The affiant John C. Howard sayd that he was well acquainted with John Roark who was a Soldier of the war 1812 That Elizabeth Roark applicant for pension No. 42490 is the widow of said John Roark, affiant says that the said John Roark have been dead about forty years. That he was acquainted with his first wife Nancy Slone that she has been dead fifty years or upwords. Affiant states that he lived a near neighbor to the said John Roark and Elizabeth Roark from their marriage until his death they lived in credit and commanded the respects of good people she still remains his widow and that he is not concerned in the prosecution (Page 8) of said claim. John C. Howard (His Mark) Elijah Brock, signed Mary Howard, signed State of Kentucky County of Harlan Sworn and subscribe before me this day by the above named affiant and I certify that I read the said affidavit to said affiant and acquainted him with it's contents before he executed the same I further certify that I am in nowise interested in said case nor am I concerned in it's prosecution and the said affiant is personally known to me and that he is a credible person. John W. Forester D.C. W.C.L. Huff Clerk I certify that John W. Forester who hath his name to the foregoing declaration and affidavit was at the time of so doing my duly authorized deputy clerk that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit and that his signature thereunto is genuine. Witness my hand and seal this 19th day March 1887 W.C.L. Huff Clk (Page 9) Claim No. 42490 Act of March 9, 1878 Cert. No. ________ Original Case SERVICE PENSION WAR OF 1812 WIDOW'S BRIEF Elizabeth Roark, widow of John Roark Rank: Private Captain: Ambrose Arthur Regiment: Militia State: Kentucky Post Office: Salt Trace, County of Harlan, State of Kentucky Attorney: C.D. Pennebaker & Son P.O.: Pres???? Fee: $25 Application filed November 1st, 1880 Alleged service. Service alleged in Capt. Ambrose Arthur's Co. Ky Militia War of 1812 Record evidence of service. Discharge in Bounty land case and on which warrant was granted shows John Roark served in Capt. Ambrose Arthur's Co. six months and twenty five days Parol evidence of service._____________ Length of service. Six months and twenty five days Proof of identity. Identifying witnesses. Age residence and signature by & identifies claimant as the widow of John Roark for whose service in the war of 1812 she got --- land. Proof of loyalty. ______________________ Admitted April 14th, 1887, to a pension of EIGHT DOLLARS per month from March 9, 1878 to the date of the Act and from March 19, 1886 at the rate of $12 per month. No pension previously applied for ________________________________ Wm L. Cooke, Pension Searcher ________________ Bounty Land claim W 44050 80 55 Wm L. Cooke, Bounty Land Searcher H.M. Clinton, Examiner April 18, 1887 (Page 10) SUMMARY OF PROOF Marriage. Date March 15,1831, of John Roark to Elizabeth Brock shown by claimant's warrant and certified copy of marriage filed in bounty land claim. Proof as to capacity to marry. Presumed claimant not previously married but 20 years of age at the time of the marriage to soldier. John C. Howard & John S. Blanton testify they were well and personally acquainted with the soldier and his first wife who died over 50 years ago and that John Roark died over 40 years ago. Evidence in bounty land claim shows soldier died May 25, 1844. Widowhood. John C. Howard & John S. Blanton testify to claimant remaining the widow of the soldier. INCIDENTAL MATTER Auditor reports Nov. 10,1856 that the signature to soldier's discharge appears genuine ****************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons.Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent.