Elizabeth Roark's widow pension. She was the wife of John Roark 

Submitted by: Nell Dwyer
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

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
 

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