Could someone look at {Clark-4174} need a liitle help with sticker

Question

I have been working on my 5th g-grandfathers, Captain Thomas Clark's page. I'm not exactly sure how to fill out the sticker. I have a muster roll posted there and I'm aware of the sticker format on the 1776 page. I do not want to enter it incorrectly.  If anyone has a minute to look and help I would really appreciate it. The muster roll reads on top " the Clark Company of Artillery.....March the 16, 1777 Capt. Tho Clark ...at Elizabeth town (which is in New Jersey). Mainly it's an issue about branch and unit.

Also, I'm not sure of the date to enter for end of service. I know he was captured by the British but I have not found an exact date to determine end of service.

Comments

I looked, but haven't been able to find the correct military unit yet. I put the sticker, but the unit forms a red link. I am going to try to find the unit or perhaps the category still needs to be created.

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Thank you for the assistance.  Did you check the muster roll?

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Yes. He was part of the Eastern Company of Artillery, but there is no category for that. I known they were attached to General Knox in the Continental Army and also the Military and War Project doesn't want units smaller than regiments except in special cases. I'm looking for another name for the unit or else we will just ask for the category. I think Thomas may be important enough to create the category.

I found a book which I will be adding to his profile. Everything is so interesting, I wind up reading stuff.

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Okay. The Eastern Company of Artillery was attached to Colonel Thomas Proctor's regiment of artillery. This regiment was renamed in 1779 so I put that for the category and it looks beautiful in his sticker. The sticker creates the category link. There was also a place to put the Eastern Company, whoo hoo!

The painting titled the death of Mercer of something like that, is of the Battle of Princeton. It depicts Mercer getting bayonneted also to the left, against the wall is Captain Neil being killed. You could use that picture on your profile if you like. Just check the copyright.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Princeton

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Thank you.  His muster roll does have General Knox on the top.  Thomas was transferred to Whale boat service while he was Captain and then captured.  I have read that there are very few records of naval service from the war......but among claims for pensions his name and capture show up.  I posted a link on his page that describes these. - "Thomas Clark, Whale-Boat Captain"-by Ann Clark Hart.

His story is remarkable.  His horrible treatment by the British and his father's, Abraham, mentioning it before congress is what led to the change of how imprisoned Officers were treated.  Thomas died in his 37th year, after being released, due to his poor health caused by the horrific conditions of his imprisonment.

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Thomas was released "on furlough" July 9, 1779.  He was then transferred to Whale boat service.  Would that mean he also served for the Navy?

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Awesome.  I just checked the copyright and its in the public domain. Greatly Appreciated.

Answer 1

The only thing hard about the sticker is getting the military unit correct. The Military and War Project is really awesome at categorization and has almost everything already created. What I usually do (besides try this, try that) is search for the appropriate category for my soldier first. Then I copy it, leaving out the American Revolution part. Then I past that into the unit, save, and hope I don't get a red link. Inevitably, I have to switch the units around until it shows as a green link. Then I pat myself on the back and admire my handiwork.

Comments

where did the end service date of 1788 come from?

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I think I saw that somewhere, but I could be wrong. I'll look tonight when I get home from work. Also about the Navy thing.

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I just posted a bunch of links, but I think I forgot to "Add Comment." Anyway, the Whaleboat  men were apparently still Continental Troops, they were just assigned to Whaleboats. They acted like the Privateers by harassing the British on water. You see, early on the British took New York and headquartered there. This made New Jersey very close to the British at all times. They also went on missions to Long Island (where I now live) to capture some loyalists to use in prisoner trades since the Americans did not have as many tempting prisoners as the British. According to this account

https://allthingsliberty.com/2017/10/whale-boats-hudson/

two whale boats manned with 1 commissioned officer, 2 sergeants, 2 Corporals, and 70 privates

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaleboat

http://www.doublegv.com/ggv/battles/whaleboat.html

https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/11/whale-boat-men-long-island-sound/

http://www.westfieldnjhistory.com/asclark/nti00076.htm

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Applications for Headstones, compiled 01/01/1925 - 06/30/1970, documenting the period ca. 1776 - 1970 ARC: 596118. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985, Record Group 92. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; database and digital images, "U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963," Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012 {{Ancestry Record|2375|1286653}}: accessed 18 January 2019

enlistment 1 Mar 1776

promotion to Captain 8 Jan 1778

Eastern Company of Artillery

Headstone sent to Rahway Cemetery, Rahway, NJ

born 1752

died 13 May 1789

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Pyne, Frederick Wallace. ''Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence,'' Camden, Maine : Picton Press, 1997-2000, pg. 636.

Thomas Clark, b. 1753

This book references another source: The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey. The New Jersey Archives, 1st series, Vol VII No. 4 (April 1932), pg. 88-89. Title: THe Family of Abraham Clark, signer of the Declaration of Independence.

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Seven captured whale boat captains wrote a letter to the Continental Congress asking for help. They were; George Lyman, James Hallett, Peter Foster, Thomas Seley Selus, Thomas Clark, Daniel Lawrence and Simon Tyler. Letter obtained from The Library of Congress, microfilm of The George Washington Papers, reel #73, series 4.

Transcription

Provost Condemned Room Dec 28, 1780

The honorable the Congress,

This is the fourth day of our being at this place. Have drew no kind of subsistance except water, we have not yet been informed the cause of such treatment. If it is for retaliation we will endavour to bear it, yet think ourselves improper subjects to bear such hardships, no one but those who experience can form an idea of the dispicableness of the place. We are exposed to the north west blast without the least obstruction to the cold except the grates. Humbly sollicit something may be immediately done for us. Consider the long imprisonment we have bore, and most of that time destitude of any thing to make us comfortable. We have disposed of cloathing to prisoners such anger with the prospect of having necessaries sent to us from Jerseys, but have never received any thing from them being informed that the commandant at Elizabeth Town would not  suffer any such necessaries to be sent us. The severity of weather in this place will not admit of many worse by the honble/honorable Congress.

Congress will consider our hard fate and relieve us from such scenes of distress and they will lay many obligations in their very humble servants.

George Lyman, James Hallett, Peter Foster, Thomas Seley/Selus, Thomas Clark, Daniel Lawrence, Simon Tylor, Masters of the whale boats

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Wow! I was looking for the nearest library with a copy of  Pyne's "The Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence" just the  other day. Awesome find!

I'm not sure why there is a date 8 January 1778 for his promotion to Captain when his muster roll is dated March 16,1777?

 The transcription from the Provost Condemned room is another great find. I really appreciate your assistance and the fact you took the time to transcribe this letter to Congress.  Thank you :)