Elisha Clark (September 22, 1752—December 12, 1838) was a

Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...

veteran of the

American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...

who was active in government, including serving as the state's first Auditor of Accounts.

Biography

Clark was born in

Norwich, Connecticut Norwich ( ) is a city in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The Yantic River, Yantic, Shetucket River, Shetucket, and Quinebaug Rivers flow into the city and form its harbor, from which the Thames River (Connecticut), Thames River f ...

on September 22, 1752. He served in the Revolution, receiving a pension for service as a

Sergeant Sergeant (Sgt) is a Military rank, rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and in other units that draw their heritage f ...

under

Seth Warner Seth Warner (May 17, 1743 – December 26, 1784) was an American soldier. He was a Revolutionary War officer from Vermont who rose to the rank of Continental colonel and was often given the duties of a brigade commander. He is best known for ...

with the

Green Mountain Boys The Green Mountain Boys were a militia organization established in 1770 in the territory between the British provinces of New York and New Hampshire, known as the New Hampshire Grants and later in 1777 as the Vermont Republic (which later be ...

and as

Adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an Officer (armed forces), officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of “human resources” in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed ...

under

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

Samuel Herrick in the Vermont Militia. He also served as a

commissary A commissary is a government official charged with oversight or an ecclesiastical official who exercises in special circumstances the jurisdiction of a bishop. In many countries, the term is used as an administrative or police title. It often c ...

and deputy commissary of issues. He settled in Tinmouth, Vermont and served in several local offices, including Justice of the Peace. Clark served as Rutland County

Probate Judge A probate court (sometimes called a surrogate court) is a court that has competence in a jurisdiction to deal with matters of probate and the administration of estates. In some jurisdictions, such courts may be referred to as orphans' courts o ...

from 1784 to 1803. He was Vermont's first Auditor of Accounts, serving from 1790 to 1797.

Death and burial

Clark died in Tinmouth on December 12, 1838. He was buried in Tinmouth's Noble Family Cemetery.Tinmouth Cemetery Records, 1769-1875, maintained by Tinmouth Town Clerk

Family

Clark was married three times. With first wife Mary Stewart he had a daughter named Polly. With second wife Betsey Jewell, the widow of David Spofford, he had two sons—Elisha, Jr. and Harry. His third wife was Edna Mattocks (1767-1847). Their children included: Harry Clark (1786-1846); Edny M. Clark (1794-1816); Albert S. Clark (1802-1864); and Burr R. Clark (1803-1882).

References

1752 births 1838 deaths People of Vermont in the American Revolution Vermont militiamen in the American Revolution Military history of Vermont State auditors of Vermont Politicians from Norwich, Connecticut People from Tinmouth, Vermont People from pre-statehood Vermont American justices of the peace Military personnel from Norwich, Connecticut {{Vermont-politician-stub