Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23,743, Benjamin Burch, Md.
Page 1

(3-1776)
Service 
Md.
Burch, Bejamin
Rebecca
Number 
W. 23,743
Contents
Page 2

Repd.
J.N. Caffin  7 Nov. 1854

1718
District of Columbia
Rebecca Burch Md.
widow of Benjamin Burch
who was a Sergeant
in the Revolution

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 120 Dolars--
[crossed out] Cents [crossed out end]  per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1843.

Certificate of Pension issued the 1st day of September and sent to S. Burch Esq.
Present
"[Act of March 3, 1843.]"
Recoded in Book A.
vol. 1.  page 242.
Page 3

I, Rebecca Burch, aged upward of Seventy years, for the purpose of availing myself of the benefits of the Second section of the act of congress of the 4th of July 1836 entitled "An act granting half pay to widows or orphans where their husband and fathers have died of wounds received in the military service of the United States in certain Cases and for other purposes" 
do declare -
That Captain Benjamin Burch, deceased, to the best of my knowledge and belief, entered into the regular service of the United States in the Revolutionary war, [word(s) crossed out] in or about the year 1779, in the Maryland line _ and that he continued in service until the war was over & was regularly discharged and returned home - that he entered as a private & as I have been informed & do believe, he held the rank of Sergeant at his discharge, which was in the year 1783 - That Benjamin Burch and myself were lawfully married by the Reverend Mr.  [blotched] John Carroll [blacked out] 
(who was afterwards arch Bishop of the Cathelic Church in America)
in the County of Prince George in the State of Maryland, soon after the return of Benjamin Burch from the war- the month I cannot positively state ^ but believe
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it was [June crossed out] September - the year was 1784. - That my husband often informed me that he was in several battles during his service, the names or places of which I cannot state with certainty, accept that at Camden in South Carolina, which he always denominated as Gates Depot, - from which he made good his retreat, after the regiment to which he belonged was nearly destroyed; and in his retreat found & joined Genl Sumpters forces, and was with them when they were surprised & defeated by Col Tarlton of the British army, where my husband was overpowered by a horseman & made a prisoner of war - was taken to Charleston, in South Carolina, and kept a prisoner about Eleven months when he was exchanged & landed at Jamestown (as well as I can now remember) in Virginia, without hat, Coat, Jacket, Stockings or Shoes - with only an old & broken shirt & a pair of tattered  & worn out Short-breeches- in this State of nakedness & destitution he litterally begged his way home to Prince George County in Maryland, 
[crossed out to end of page]
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[crossed out first line]
Captain Burch during his life, pertinaciously and constantly refused to apply for a pension or gratuity, on the grounds of patriotic feeling, saying that he never would become chargeable to his country, except for service rendered or the salary of the office he held for upwards of twenty years as principal and assistant doorkeeper to the House of Representatives of the United States.
The names of the officers and the members of the Regiments under and in which my husband served, I am unable to state - I have often heard him mention them, but they have entirely Escaped my memory -
The marriage of myself and husband, with the birth of our children was only entered in a family bible, as is usual in most families, which bible was stolen from the House in which we resided several years ago, and has never been recovered - I mention this fact as accounting for not stating the precise day of the marriage -
Capt. Burch died in the early part of May, I believe the 5th . day, in the year 1832. - 
Rebecca her x mark Burch
Witness
Will: Hebb
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[at right angle to page] 725.2.Sec.

District of Columbia }
Washington County }
On this 3rd. day of. December 1836 appearred Rebecca Burch. before me a Justice of the peace for the County of aforesaid & made oath on the holy Evangels of Almighty God, that the matter & things set forth in the foregoing Declaration are true as there stated - 
Will: Hebb

In addition to the within, I will take the liberty to state that my father Captain Benjamin Burch, repeatedly, in conversing upon Revolutionary scenes, services & sufferings, stated, that immediately upon clothing himself after his return from Captivity in South Carolina, he rejoined the army, and was for awhile attached to Gunboats or flotilla or something of the kind on the Chesapeake. - & was on several severe brushes with the Enemy - that he was afterwards marched to the northward & was regularly discharged at the Newburg in New York when the war was over. - whilst a prisoner he stated that he suffered much from cruelty  & oppression because he would not abandon his countrys service & enter into that of Britain - the fortitude of many of his fellow prisoners he stated gave way, [illegible] to [crossed out word] prevent starvation & to obtain comfort & preserve life, they entered the service of the Enemy.  He preferred death & was nigh unto it from his adherence to his county - whilst a prisoner he suffered to the last degree of human misery from a perstilent disease then not named, but which has become familiarly known as Yellow fever - These facts, I of course, derived from the conversations of my father - It would make amans hair stand on end & his blood boil to listen to his recitals - 
S. Burch
Office H. Reps U.S.}
Dec 3 - 1836 }
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I Mildred Rhodes, wido, of the city of Washinton do certify that I am the oldest child of my father, the late Captain Benjamin Burch, by his late wife and present widow, who now resides on Capitol Hill win the City of Washington -- that the old family Bible which contained the original Record of my fathers family, I know to have been lost or stolen many years ago -- That soon after the marriage of George W. Wilson with my sister Elizabeth, a new Bible was procured, and George W Wilson, by my fathers direction, and under his immediate direction and dictation, wrote down therein, anew, the Record of the Marriages, Births & Deaths of his family - that in this new record, which I know to have been made in the manner and under the circumstances, I have mentioned, it is written that my father and mother were married on the 17th of September 1784; and that I was born on the 14th of August 1785, of the correctness of the dates of both of which events I presume there cannot be a doubt. - My mother is the present widow of my father, - He was never married but the once. -
My sister Martha married George J. Cain, who resided in Tennessee, and upon her removal she took with her this last mentioned Bible to Tennessee - My sister died about two years ago
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ago, and during the last summer, Sundry of her personal effects were returned from Tennessee to her family in this City; among them was this Bible --
I make this Explanation to account for the reason that this Bible has not been mentioned before, in any of the papers accompanying my mothers application for a pension. -- 
City of Washington [scratched out]. Febr 20 1839
Mildred M. Rhodes

District of Columbia }
County of Washington } [illegible}
On this 20th day of February 1839.--- 
Mildred Rhodes, came before the subscriber a Justice of the peace for the County of Washinton in the District of Columbia, and made oath in due form of law in the truth to the foregoing statement by her made and Signed. --
C. H. Wiltberger
J. Peace
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District of Columbia}
County of Washington} Ss.

On this twenty first of October 1854
personally appeared before the Orphan's Court of the County of Washington
in the District of Columbia Elizabeth Wilson a resident of the City of
Washington in the County and District aforesaid aged 43 years who being
first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following
Declaration in order to assert the claim of Benjamin Burch to the benefit
of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed May 15. 1828. That
he sais Benjamin Burch enlisted in the Army of the United States
in the year [blank] as a Sergeant in Colonel Rawlings Regiment of the
Maryland Continental line and served as such until the end of the war
to wit until the 15th of November 1783. That this service has been three times
Officially Recognized and decided by the Commissioner of Pensions and
Heads of Departments by pensioning his widow Rebecca Burch under
the several Acts of July 4th. 1836 (second section), July 7, 1838 and
March 3, 1843. That the said Benjamin Burch died on the 5th day
of May 1832, and that his only children now living are Verlinda
Wiltberger wife of Charles H Wiltberger Esq late Register of the City of
Washington - Mildred Rhodes widow of William Rhodes, Susan
Hewit widow of William Hewit deceased also late Register
of the City of Washington and Elizabeth Wilson this Declarant, all of 
whom reside in the County of Washington in the District of Columbia.
That she refers to the papers in the three Admitted cases of her mother said
Rebecca Burch under the several Acts of 1836, 1838 and 1843 above mentioned
for proof of the service of said Benjamin Burch, and proof of heirship in
addition to that which is hereto annexed.
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And she the said Elizabeth Wilson hereby constitutes and
appoints Isaac N Coffin of Washington in the District of
Columbia to be her true and lawful Attorney to attend to the
business of obtaining the foregoing pension and in consideration
of one dollar to said Elizabeth Wilson paid by said
Isaac N Coffin, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, this
Power of Attorney is made irrevocable. In witness whereof she the
said Elizabeth Wilson has on this 21st day of October
1854 hereunto set her hand and affixed her seal.
Elizabeth Wilson [hand drawn cloud with the word Seal inscribed inside]
Witness. Elizabeth Wilson [hand drawn cloud with the word Seal inscribed inside]

Signed, Sealed, Acknowledge by said Elizabeth Wilson to be her free act & deed and Sworn to before
me this 21st of October 1854 in Open Court 
Wm F Purcell Judge
of the Orphans Court

Signed, Sealed, Acknowledge by said Elizabeth Wilson to be her 
free act and deed, and Sworn to before me this 21st
day of October 1854, and I am not interested or concerned in the foregoing
pension claim, & the words "in Open Court" in the 13th line of this page were
erased prior to execution of this paper.
JW Beck JP

I Thomas J Barrett depose that I am Sexton
of the Burying Ground of St. Peters Church in Washington
in the District of Columbia and that the following is the inscryption [inscription] on the
Tomb-stone of Benjamin Burch late of Washington in the District of
Columbia who was buried in said Ground, viz: "Captain Benjamin Burch.
"He served his Country with fidelity and honour, throughout the war of the Revolution,
and the war of 1812 with England. For 22 years he filled the responsible
"and honorable office of Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives of the United
"States. He was an upright, honorable, humane and brave man, and a professor of
"the Religion of Christ. Through life he possessed the confidence of his fellow citizens
"in an eminent degree and died it is believed without ever having had a personal enemy
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"on the 5th day of May 1832 aged 71 years. This monument is erected as a small
"memorial of the undying love of an only son. West Stockbridge [illegible] H. Pomeroy."
Thos. J Barrett
Sworn to and Subscribed before me on
this 21st day of October 1854 and I certify
that I am not interested or concerned in the foregoing
pension claim of Elizabeth Wilson and that said
Thomas J Barrett is a respectable
and credible person.
JW Beck JP

District of Columbia}
Washington County" Ss.

Personally came Edmund Reilly
and Patrick O'Brien residents of the City of Washington in
the County and District aforesaid, persons whom I certify to be
respectable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, say that they
were present and saw Elizabeth Wilson sign her name before me
J. W. Beck a Justice of the Peace in and for the County
aforesaid, to the foregoing Declaration; ant they further swear that they have
every reason to believe, from the appearance of the applicant that she is the identical person
that she represents herself to be and that they deponents do reside in the City of Washington
in the County & District aforesaid. That they were well acquainted with Benjamin Burch the
father of said Elizabeth Wilson: that he resided in the City of Washington up to the time of
his death, and that they are well acquainted with Verlinda Wiltberger wife of
Charles H Wiltberger Esq formerly Register of the City of Washington, Mildred Rhodes
widow of William Rhodes Susan Hewitt widow of William
Hewitt deceased also formerly Register of the City of Washington, and with said Elizabeth
Wilson and know from having lived a near neighbor to said Benjamin Burch for many
years and from having been well acquainted with his family for many years that they
are the only surviving children of said Benjamin Burch. That said Benjamin
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Burch was the identical person who was the father of Colonel Samuel Burch
formerly Clerk of the House of Representatives of the United States.
Edmund Reilly
Patrick O'Brien
Sworn & Subscribed before me
on this 23rd day of October 1854.
JW Beck JP

District of Columbia}
County of Washington} Ss.

On this 24th day of October 1854, personally
appeared before the Orphan's Court of said County Isaac N Coffin
a resident of Washington in the County and District aforesaid, who
being duly sworn deposes that as Attorney of Elizabeth Wilson daughter
of Benjamin Burch he copied the following 2 papers from papers in the
Pension Office in the admitted cases of Rebecca Burch widow of said
Benjamin under the several Acts of July 4 1836, July 7. 1838 & March 3. 1843 ganting
pensions to widows, to wit.

Paper No 1. "Annapolis Oct 19. 1829

I Certify that it appears from pay rolls of the Revolutionary Troops of this State on Continental
establishment that one Benjamin Burch a Sergeant in Colo. Rawlings Regiment received on the 17th day of
September 1781 for depreciation of his pay, the sum of £79,,8,,3 and that one Benjamin Burch a* prisoner
of the Sixth Regiment received on the 15th day of November 1781 for depreciation of his pay the sum of £15,,6,,8,. That
Benjamin Burch a Sergeant received for arrears of pay from the first of August 1780 to the 15th of November
183 $301; that Benjamin Burch* a 2d Corporal received for arrears of pay on the 1st of August
1780 to the 1st January 1783 $176 and that he was discharged from service on the 19th day of January 1783.
Thomas Culbreth Clk of the Council.
*I have no doubt but these are the same individual and that he was promoted to a 2d Corporal after the depreciation
pay as above. T.C."

Paper No 2 "War Department, Revolutionary Claim.

I certify that in conformity with the 2d: section of the law of the United States of the 4th July 1836 Rebecca
Burch late of the District of Columbia widow of Benjamin Burch deceased who was a Sergeant in the War of the
Revolution is entitled to receive pay at the rate of One hundred and Twenty dollars per annum commencing on
the 4th of March 1831, and terminating on the fifth day of May 1832, the day of the death of said Benjamin Burch.
Given at the War office of the United States this fourteenth day of December One thousand Eight hundred & thirty six.
Examined and Countersigned J.L Edwards Commissioner of Pensions. B.F. Butter Secretary of War ad interim."
_____ and I declare that they are exact copies of the said papers.
Isaac N Coffin
Sworn to in open court.
List Ed N Roach Regr wills
Oct 24, 1854
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I George W. Wilson, of the City of Washington, a Clerk
in the United States General Land Office, do certify and Set
forth, that I am the son in law of the late Capt. Benjm.
Burch, formerly Principal Doorkeeper of the House of
Representatives of the United States, and who died on
Capitol Hill, in said City in May 1832, having
married Elisabeth, the youngest daughter of said
Captain Benjamin Burch by his wife Rebecca Burch,
and now his widow living in his house on Capitol Hill -
That soon after my marriage, I believe in the year 1828,
and while in the family and house of Captain Burch, he
informed me that the old Bible which contained the family
Record of Marriages, Births and Deaths, had, several years
before, been purloined - at the same time he produced a large
new Bible and requested me to write down for him therein
a new family Record of the Marriages, Births and Deaths
of his family - I did so, and wrote in the said Bible,
under his eye and immediate inspection, and from his
dictation, the Marriages, births and deaths which
had taken place in his family, commencing with his
won marriage, which portion of said Record
is in the words following - "Benjamin Burch
and Rebecca Barron was married September
17. 1784."
After I had written this Record under
the
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the Eye and by the dication of said Captain
Benjamin Burch, he examined and
inspected the same, and pronounced it to be
correct. -
Geo. W Wilson

District of Columbia,
County of Washington
On this seventh day of March Eighteen hundred & thirty nine
George W Wilson, came before me the subscriber and
a Justice of the Peace in and for the county
of Washington in the District of Columbia, and
made oath in due form of law to the truth
of the foregoing statement by him made and 
signed. -
C. H. Wiltberger
Justice
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I Rebecca Burch aged upwards of seventy years for
the purpose of availing myself of the benefits of the
second Section of the Act of Congress of the 4th of July,
1836 entitled "An Act granting half pay to widows or orphans
where their husbands and fathers have died
of wounds received in the military service of the United
States in certain cases and for other purposed" do declare
That Captain Benjamin Burch deceased
to the best of my knowledge and belief entered into the 
regular service of the United States in the Revolutionary
WAr in or about the year 1779, in the Maryland line
and that he continued in service until the War was
over & was regularly discharged and returned home
that he entered as a private & as I have been informed
& do believe, he held the rank of a Sergeant at
his discharge, which was in the year 1783. That
Benjamin Burch and myself were lawfully married
by the Reverend Mr John Carroll, who was
afterwards Arch Bishop of the Catholic Church
in America in the County of Prince George in the
State of Maryland, soon after the return of Benjamin
Burch from the War the month I cannot
positively state, but believe it was September the
year 1784. That my husband often informed me
that he was in several battles during his service the
names or places of which I cannot state with certainty
except that at Camden in South Carolina which
he was denominates as Gates defeat, from
which he made good his retreat after the regiment to
which he belonged was nearly destroyed; and in his
retreat found & joined Genl Sumpters forces and was
with them when they were surprised & defeated by
Col: Tarlton of the British Army, where my hus-
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2

band was overpowered by a horseman & made a prisoner
of war, was taken to Charleston in South Carolina
and kept a prisoner about eleven months
when he was exchanged and landed at Jamestown
as well as I can now remember in Virginia without
hat coat Sachel [satchel] Stockings or shoes - with only
one old & broken shirt & a pair of tattered & worn out
short breeches in this state of nakedness & destitution
he litterally [literally] begged his way home to Prince
George County in Maryland. Captain Burch
during his life pertinaciously  and constantly refused
to apply for a pension or gratuity on the grounds
of patriotic feeling, saying that he never would
become chargeable to his Country, except for service
rendered or the salary of the office he held for upwards 
of twenty years as principal and Assistant
Doorkeeper to the House of Representatives of the
United States. The names of the officers and the
numbers of the Regiments under and in which my
husband served, I am unable to state I have
often heard him mention them but they have
entirely escaped my memory. The marriage of myself
and husband, with the birth of our children
was duly entered in a family bible as is usual
in most families, which bible was stolen from the 
House in which we resided several years ago, and
has never been recovered. I mention this fact
as accounting for not stating the precise day of the
marriage. Capt Burch died in the early part
of May, I believe the 5th day, in the year 1832.
Rebecca X ^her mark^ Burch

Witness
Will: Hebb
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3.
District of Columbia
Washington County

On this 3rd day of December 1836. appeared Rebecca Burch before me a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid & made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God. that the matter & things set forth in the foregoing declaration are true as there stated.

Will: Webb.

In addition to the within. I will take the liberty to state that my father Captain Benjamin Burch repeatedly, in conversing upon revolutionary scenes, services, & sufferings, stated that immediately upon clothing himself after his return from captivity in South Carolina, he rejoined the Army, and was for a while attached to Gunboats or flotilla or something of the kind in the Chesapeake & was in general, sever brushes with the Enemy -- that he was afterwards marched to the Northward, and was regularly discharged at Newburg in New York when the War was over. Whilst a prisoner he stated that he suffered much from cruelty & oppression because he would not abandon his Countrys Service & enter into that of Britian. The fortitude of many of his fellow prisoners he stated gave way & to prevent starvation & to obtain comfort & preserve life, they entered the service of the Enemy. He prefered death and was nigh unto it from his adherence to his Country. Whilst a prisoner he suffered to the last degree of human misery from a pestilent disease then not named, but which has become familiarly known as yellow fever -- these facts of course derived from the conversations of my father. It would make a mans hair stand on end & his blood boil to listen to his recital.
S. Burch
Office Ho. Reps U.S.
Dec 3 -- 1836
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4

Rebecca Burch widow of Captain Benjamin Burch further declares that not being the wife of Benjamin Burch during his Service in the Army of the Revolution She is unable to state explicitly how long he served as a private, a Corporal and a Sergeant. She is positive of the fact of his service in the Army and is almost equally as positive that that Service was a Continuous service of at least three years.

Upon this point she refers to the statement or official Certificate of Thomas Culbreth Esqre. Clerk of the Council of the State of Maryland, which accompanies this memorial or declaration. She has no knowledge of the Officers under whom he served. She has often heard him name them, but not expecting ever to be called upon to state them she never impressed their names upon her memory.

Witness
B.M. Berry
Rebecca Burch her mark

Circuit Court
District of Columbia
County of Washington

On this fourteenth day of December in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty six Rebecca Burch a resident of the County and District aforesaid aged about seventy three years appeared in open Court & being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July the 4th 1836. That she is the widow of Captain Benjamin Burch who was as she was informed by her said husband, and according to her belief, a Sergeant in a Company of Regular
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5.

Troops raised in the State of Maryland, and served in the Army as stated in the Deposition on the first page of these sheets. She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Burch she thinks some time in the month of September 1784. That her husband the aforesaid Benjamin Burch died on the 5th day of May or thereabouts in the year 1832 & that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference & the proof hereto annexed

Rebecca Burch her mark
Test. Wm. Brent Clk.
Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written

Mrs. Burch further states that it is out of her power to say how long exactly her said husband was in service as she married him after the end of the War. she knows however that it was not less than three years

W.B. Clk.

As my mother has no recollection of the Officers or Regiment in which my father served, I deem it proper to state, that to the best of my recollection from conversations of my father the name of his Col. at one time or probably the whole was Rawlings or Rollings -- the Regiment the Sixth. I think I have heard him mention that at one period he served under a Captain Adams, at another a Captain Beall, of these however I am not positive

S. Burch

Annapolis October 19. 1829.

I Certify that it appears from payrolls of the Revolutionary Troops of this State, on Continental Establishment that one Benjamin Burch a
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6

Sergeant in Colo. Rawlings Regiment received on the 17th day of September 1781 for depreciation of his pay, the sum of [pound symbol] 79:8:93. and that one Benjamin Burch* a private of the Sixth Regiment received on the 15th day of November 1781. for depreciation of his pay the sum of [pound symbol] 15:6:8. That Benjamin Burch a Sergeant received for arrears of pay from the first of August 1780. to the 15th. of November 1783. $3.01; that Benjamin Burch* a 2nd Corporal received for arrears of pay from the 5th of August 1780 to the 5th. January 1783 $176, and that he was discharged from service on the 19th day of January 1783

Tho. Culbreth Clerk of the Council

*I have no doubt but these are the same individual, and that he was promoted to a 2nd Corporal after the receipt of depreciation pay as above.

T.C.

The within Certificate was obtained by me, as may be seen by the letter which accompanies it, at the time it bears date, for the purpose of sustaining an application which I then contemplated to have made on behalf of my father Captain Benjamin Burch for the benefits of the Act of May 15, 1828, but my father positively refused to have the application made on the ground: that as he was then holding a highly respectable office, under the Government and received the salary attached to it -- he did not deem it honourable at the same time to receive a pension -- Indeed he always manifested an utter repugnance to becoming a pensioner in his Country, saying that his revolutionary services had been rendered from love of liberty and
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7

Country and not from any hope or expectation of reward other than that stipulated at the time he enrolled his name among its defenders.

Although my father served so long so honourably & so faithfully in the Revolution he never either applied for or received any thing in the shape of a pension, bounty, or gratuity after the War ended.

S. Burch
Office Ho. of Reps. U-- States, Decemr 3d. 1836.

Annapolis Oct 19. 1829.

Dear Sir

Your letter of the 3rd of August addressed to the Auditor of Public Accounts* was received here during a severe illness from which I have not sufficiently recovered even yet, to get to my Office, but have had the old Revolutionary documents brought to my Chamber to answer yours and other applications for information from them. They are few and very defective. The Certificate I enclosed you will afford all the information in relation to your father's services to be derived from them. I presume he will recollect sufficient to determine which of the persons named in the certificate is himself.

It always afford me great pleasure to render any Service in my power to any old soldier, and it will afford me more than ordinary gratification to contribute any thing to aid Captain Burch in his application for the benefit of the late Act of Congress

Present my best respect to the Captain
And also except them for yourself
I remain respectfully yours
Tho. Culbreth

*Whose office has been abolished, and its Records transfered to mine
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I John Thomas Frost a clerk in the Office of the House of Representative of the United States, Do certify & declare that I was personally well acquainted with Captain Benjn. Burch, late Principal Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives of the United States, now deceased, from the year 1797 or thereabouts to the period of his death, which was about four years ago, and that Captain Burch often informed me that he had been a soldier in the regular Service in the Revolutionary and was universally received & believed to have been such by all his associates and acquaintances. I further certify that Mrs. Rebecca Burch, who now resides opposite the Market House on East Capitol Street on Capitol Hill in the City of Washington, is the widow of said Captain Benjamin Burch, and that I have for the last thirty years been personally acquainted with her.

Given at the City of Washington this 1st day of December 1836.

JT. Frost.

On this second day of December 1836, John Thomas Frost who is personally well known to me, appeared before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace of the County of Washington in the District of Columbia, and made oath in due form of law, to the truth of the within declaration, subscribed by him.

James Young, Justice of the Peace for the County of Washington Dist. Columbia

I Brook Magruder Berry a Clerk in the Office of the House of Representatives of the United States do certify and declare that I have for upwards of
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9.

twenty years been personally acquainted with the family of Captain Benjamin Burch deceased late Principal Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives of the United States and that I am now well acquainted with Mrs. Rebecca Burch his widow, that during this whole period of my intercourse with Captain Burch & his family, Mrs Rebecca Burch & himself lived together as man & wife, that he always acknowledged her to be his lawful wife -- that she was universally received and acknowledged, and is now universally received and acknowledged as his widow. Mrs Burch resides at this time in the house which belonged to Captain Burch and in which he died, and East Capitol Street, near the Capitol Square, on Capitol Hill in the City of Washington. Given at the City of Washington Dec. 1. 1836.

B.M. Berry

On this second day of December 1836 before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace for the County of Washington in the District of Columbia, personally appeared Brooke Magruder Berry who is personally well known to me, and made oath in due form of law, to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him subscribed.

James Young Justice of the Peace for the County of Washington Dist. Columbia
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Rev WIDOW, &c.

No. 23743
Rebecca Burch
Widow of Benjamin Burch
Sergt Rev War
Act Mar 3rd 1843
Index: Vol A[?], Page 107

[bracket] Arrangement of 1870. [/bracket]
Page 25

Rebecca Burch
D.C, D[?]-1843

[sideways] Loren P. Waldo Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 26

Rebecca Burch, widow Sergt. Benjamin Burch of the 6th. Maryland regt. continental line --
Act 7 July 1838

Dis. Columbia Roll
#120 per ann
Sent out to Col. S. Burch
Clerk's Office, H. Reps.
Page 27

[crossed-out] 1851 1838 [/crossed out]
1912 1843

Eleanor C Courts DC
Rich[?] H

3.21.71
Privt
Page 28

Put Mrs Burch's certificate in a letter addressed to her under cover to Saml. Burch. Eqr Clk. H. Reps. Office[?], + write a note to Mr. Burch, requesting him to give the certificate to George Templeman Brown
Page 29

2022
District of Columbia

Rebecca Burch widow of Benjamin Burch [crossed-out] who was a pensioner under the Act of [/crossed-out] and who died on the 5th May 1832 of Washington  in the [crossed-out] State of [/crossed-out] Dist. Col. who was a Sergeant in the [blank] commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by [blank] in the Maryland line for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of the Dist. of Columbia at the rate of 120 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 9th day of March 1839 and sent to Col. S. Burch Clerk: Office. House of Reps.

Arrears to the 4th of March '39 360.00
Semi=annual allowance ending 6 Sept. 60.00
___
$420.00
Act July 7, 1838.
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, Book A. Vol. 2 Page 229
Page 30

Dist Columbia 321

Rebecca Burch, widow of Benjamin Burch of the District of Columbia who was a Sergeant in the [blank] commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by [blank] in the Maryland line for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of Dist. Columbia at the rate of 120 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831, to 5th May 1832 the day of Mr. B's death

Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of Dec. 1836 and sent to Mrs. Burch Present

Arrears to the 4th of [blank]
Semi-anl. allowance ending [blank]

Act. 4. July 1836
2d. Ser.
Revolutionary Claim, [crossed-out] Act June 7, 1832. [/crossed-out]

Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, Book [blank] Vol. 14 Page 194

Copies of papers sent to Col. Saml Burch, Mar 8 1838.
See letter to Mr. R. Burch, Aug. 29. 1838
Page 31

War Department
Pension Office
August 29, 1838

Madam,

The papers which you left with me this morning are herewith returned, the evidence not being sufficient to establish your claim under the act of July 7. 1838.

The declaration must be made by you under oath before Judge Cranch, and under the regulations adopted for carrying into effect the above mentioned act, it is necessary that some proof other than your own declaration as to the time of the marriage, should be produced. If you cannot obtain such record proof as the enclosed printed instructions point out, you should obtain the affidavit of your son Col. S. Burch, as to his own age, which will be, in the absence of other evidence, sufficient proof that you were married at a period sufficiently early to bring your case within the provisions of the law. The proof on file in this office, on this point, is not sufficient under the late rules.

As no appropriation has yet been made by law for paying Pensioners under the above mentioned law, no payment can be made to any of them before the next Session of Congress. I would
Page 32

therefore advise you to wait till the return of Col. Burch to the City before proceeding any further in the prosecution of your claim.

The enclosed printed instructions must be strictly adhered to.

I am, with great respect,
Your Obt. Srvt.
J L Edwards

Mrs. Rebecca Burch
care of Mr. James D. Waller at the Capitol
Page 33

Payment to be made at Washington by J.P. Van Ness Esqr.
Agent for paying Pensioners in the Agency of Dist. Columbia

Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book [blank] Vol. 1 Page 194 by D. Brown
Clerk.
Page 34

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.

I certify that, in conformity with the 2d section of the law of the United States, of the 4th July, 1836, Rebecca Burch, late of the District of Columbia widow of Benjamin Burch, dec? who was a Sergeant in the War of the Revolution is entitled to receive pay at the rate of One hundred and Twenty dollars per annum, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and terminating on the fifth day of May 1832, the day of the death of said Benjamin Burch.

Given at the War Office of the United States, this fourteenth day of December one thousand eight hundred and thirty=six.

B.F. Ruth
Secretary of War.
ad interim

Examined and Countersigned.
JL. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 35

LOW[?] Feb 13

Rebecca Burch
M[?] 1836
321
[illegible] Feb 13. 1838

[sideways] James L Edwards, Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions.
War Department.
Page 36

Washington. Feb 10th[?]. 1837.

Dear Sir --

I am about to ask a great favor of you, in addition to the many you have already granted me -- it is, that you give me a copy of all the papers filed in the case of my honoured old mother Mrs. Rebecca Burch, to whom you were so kind as to accord a mite of a pension that would have been coming to my dear old father had he been living at the passage of the act of July 4. 1836. --

These papers may be of essential Service to my mother in an application which she has a view -- and the Earlier she gets them the more highly will the favor be appreciated by her as well as by myself --

Yr. friend [illegible].
S. Burch
Ho Reps. Feb. 10. 1838.

J.L. Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 37

District of Columbia
Washington County. Sct.

I. William R. Purcell Judge of the Orphan's Court of the County of Washington in the District of Columbia, holden at Washington City in and for said County, do hereby certify that Satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to said Court by the affidavits of Thomas J. Barrett. Edmund Reilly. Patrick O'Brien and Isaac N. Coffin which are on file in this court who it is hereby certified are credible persons and by copies of Documentary evidence that Benjamin Burch was a resident of Washington City in the County of Washington and District of Columbia, and was a Sergeant in Colonel Rowling's Regiment of the Maryland Continental line of the Revolutionary Army and that the said Benjamin Burch served to the end of the Revolutionary War. that the said Benjamin died in the City of Washington in the County & District aforesaid in the year Eighteen hundred and thirty two on the fifth day of May, that the names of his only surviving children are Verlinda Wiltbgerger Mildred Rhodes, Susan Hewitt and Elizabeth Wilson. who all reside in the County of Washington in the District of Columbia.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said Court to be affixed, on this 24 day of October 1854.

Wm. F. Purcell
Judge of the Orphan's court,
Page 38

District of Columbia, Washington County, to wit, I certify, that the aforegoing is a true copy from the Original file and records in the Office of the Register of [illegible], for Washington County, aforesaid.

Witness my hand and seal, of office, this 25 day of October in the year 1854, Ed. N. Roach [illegible]
Page 39

2684

I present to the Commissioner of Pensions, the application of my mother, Mrs. Rebecca Burche, for a pension for one year under the act of Congress of the last Session[?] Sept 1. 1843

S. Burche

$120 per ann
Page 40

Declaration of Rebecca Burche -- Widow

The order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of the 3d. March 1843 granting Pensions for One year to certain widows who have received pensions under the act of July 7. 1838. --

Districe of Columbia
County of Washington Sct.

On this thirty first day of August, 1843, personally appeared before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Washington in the District of Columbia, Mrs. Rebecca Burch, a resident of the City of Washington in the County and District aforesaid, aged Eighty one years [dagger], who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the pension made by the act of Congress, passed on the 3d March 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War: -- that she is the widow of Benjamin Burch, who was a sergeant in the Maryland Line of the Continental troops of the Revolutionary Army; and that she received a pension under the act of Congress of the 7th July 1838; at the rat of One hundred and twenty dollars per annum.

She further declares that she is still a widow. --

Rebecca Burch her mark

Witness.
Edward Mattingly

Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written Before.
Edward Mattingly
J. Peace

[dagger] Will be Eighty two next Christmas
Page 41

Mrs. Rebecca Burch
Application for pension under act of July 7. 1838.

recd Aug 29. '38.
Page 42

WAR DEPARTMENT,
PENSION OFFICE, July 17, 1838.

The following rules, prescribed by the President of the United States, and adopted by the Secretary of War, in order to carry into effect the act of Congress of the 7th July, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows," are published for the information of applicants under that law.

1. Applicants must produce the best proof the nature of the case will allow, as to the service of the deceased officer or soldier, and the time when he died. It must be clearly shown in what troop or company, and regiment or corps, he served, and the grade he held. Proof, as to service, must be had, either from the records of the War Department, the muster-rolls, the testimony of commissioned officers, or the affidavits of persons of known respectability. Every applicant will make a declaration according to the subjoined form, before a court of record, setting forth, according to the best of her knowledge or belief, the name and rank of the person on account of whose service the claim is presented; the day, month, and year, (of possible,) when he entered the service, and the time when he left the same; and, if under more than one engagement, the claimant must specify the particular periods, and the rank and names of the officers under whom the service was performed; the town or county, and State in which he resided when he entered the service; whether he was drafted, was a volunteer, or substitute; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged; the country through which he marched, with such further particulars as may be useful in the investigation of the claim. From the best sources of information, evidence must be derived as to the period of the death of the officer or soldier.

2. The legality of the marriage, and the time when it took place, must be clearly established; and it must also be shown that the widow was never afterwards married. Record-proof, as to the marriage, is always required, whenever it can be obtained. In a case where the town, county, parish, church, or family records afford no proof as to the period when the marriage took place, the fact must be established by the testimony of one or more respectable persons, whose credibility must be certified by the officer who may administer the oath. And, in order to prevent any mistake or improper use that may be made of the affidavit of an officer who may have the custody of records, from which he may make transcripts of the record, in relation to a marriage, the officer who may give his affidavit will, instead of copying the figures contained in the record, certify "that it is a true copy of the record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair, legible figures, as follows:" [bracket] Here copy the day, month, and year, in letters and figures, in exact conformity with the original. Then let him add the following words: [/bracket]

"I, A. B., above named, depose and say: that I hold the office [blank] in the county, town, and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said [blank] with the exception above named, as certified by me.

A. B., Clerk of the [blank] (or rector, or pastor, as the case may be.)

Sworn before me,
C. D., Justice of the Peace."

And then will follow the certificate of the proper officer, under his seal of office, as to the official character and signature of the magistrate who may administer the oath. Where no record proof exists, other than the family record, the original record must be produced and sworn to by the person in whose possession it has been kept.

3. In a case where the service of the deceased officer or soldier is clearly proved by record or documentary evidence, or the affidavit of a commissioned officer, showing the grade and length of service of the deceased, the particulars in relation to the service are not required to be set forth in the claimant's declaration; but she must swear in positive terms that she is the widow of the person
Page 43

2

whose service is thus proved. And no claim whatever can be sustained without positive proof of service.

4. In every case in which the deceased officer or soldier was a pensioner, the fact should be so stated, and the deceased pensioner so described, as to enable the Department to refer immediately to the evidence upon which he was pensioned, and thus facilitate the investigation of the claim of the widow.

5. Applicants unable to appear in court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, before a judge or justice of a court of record of the county in which the applicant resides, and the judge or justice will certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the court.

6. Whenever any official act is required to be done by a judge or justice of a court of record, or by a justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or of the Territory, or of the proper officer or clerk of the court or county, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such a person is a judge, or justice of a court of record, or a justice of the peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.

7. The widows of those who served in the navy or as Indian spies, will produce proof, as nearly as may be, conformably to the preceding regulations, and authenticated in a similar manner, with such variations as the different nature of the service may require.

J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th July, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."

STATE (TERRITORY OR DISTRICT) OF [blank] ss:
On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared before the [blank] of the [blank] A. B., a resident of [blank] in the county of [blank] aged [blank] years, who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows:" That she is the widow of [blank] who was a [bracket] Here insert the rank the husband held in the army, navy, or militia, as the case may be, and specify the service performed, as directed in rule numbered one of these regulations. [/bracket]

She further declares that she was married to the said [blank] on the [blank] day of [blank] in the year seventeen hundred and [blank]; that her husband, the aforesaid [blank] died on the [blank] day of [blank]; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz: at the time above stated.

Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before [blank]

AN ACT
Granting half pay and pensions to certain widows.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, if any person who served in the war of the revolution, in the manner specified in the act passed the seventh day of June, eighteen hundred and thirty-two, entitled "An act supplementary to the act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the revolution," have died, leaving a widow, whose marriage took place after the expiration of the last period
Page 44

3

of his service and before the first day of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, such widow shall be entitled to received, for and during the term of five years from the fourth day of March, eighteen hundred and thirty-six, the annuity or pension which might have been allowed to her husband, in virtue of said act, if living at the time it was passed: Provided, That, in the event of the marriage of such widow, said annuity or pension shall be discontinued.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That no pledge, mortgage, sale, assignment, or transfer of any right, claim, or interest, in any annuity, half pay, or pension granted by this act, shall be valid, nor shall the half pay, annuity, or pension granted by this act, or any former act of Congress, be liable to attachment, levy, or seizure, by any process in law or equity; but shall enure wholly to the personal benefit of the pensioner or annuitant entitled to the same; and that, before a warrant shall be delivered to any person acting for or in behalf of any one entitled to money under this act, such person shall take and subscribe an oath or affirmation, to be administered by the proper accounting officer, and put on file, that he has no interest in said money, by any pledge, mortgage, transfer, agreement, understanding, or arrangement, and that he does not know or believe that the same has been so disposed of to any other person.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of War shall adopt such regulations and forms of evidence, in relation to applications and payments under this act, as the President of the United States may prescribe.

APPROVED, July 7, 1838.
Page 45

Washington Novr. 4th. 1854.

Sir:

I herewith transmit in the Revolutionary pension case of the assertion of the claim of Benjamin Burch under the Act of May 15. 1828 by Elizabeth Wilson his daughter, the following papers, viz:

Declaration of Elizabeth Wilson (sworn to twice because Messrs. Reilly and O'Brien could not leave their business to go up to Court a long distance from their location and their Affidavits state according to form prescribed by the Office in County land claims under Act Sept. 28. 1850, "that they were present and saw Elizabeth Wilson sign her name.")

Affidavit of Thomas J Barrett Esq. Sexton of St Peter's Church Burying Ground proving Inscription on Grave stone that Benjamin Burch resided in the City of Washington up to the time of his death and that Verlinda Wiltberger, Mildred Rhodes, Susan Hewitt and Elizabeth Wilson are his only surviving children, and that he was the identical person who was father of Col. Samuel Burch formerly Clerk of the US. House of Representatives

Affidavit of Isaac N Coffin, being a duplicate of that filed in the Orphan's Court, that a Certificate of Thomas Culbreth Clerk of the Council of Maryland and Pension Certificate to Rebecca Burch under Section 2d of Act July 4. 1836, being Documentary Evidence that Benjamin Burch was a Sergeant in Colonel Rawlings Regiment
Page 46

of the Maryland Continental line of the Revolutionary Army and that the said Benjamin Burch served to the end of the Revolutionary War -- are true copies of the originals.

Certificate of the Orphan's Court of the County of Washington that Benjamin Burch was a resident of the City of Washington, that he was a Sergeant in Colonel Rawling's Regiment of the Maryland Continental line of the Revolutionary Army and that he said Benjamin Burch served to the end of the Revolutionary War, & died in said city 5th. May 1832 & that his only surviving children are Verlinda Wiltberger, Mildred Rhodes, Susan Hewitt and Elizabeth Wilson who all reside in the County of Washington D.C.

The following evidence shows that he served to the end of the War and therefore was entitled under the Act of May 15th. 1828, and which is respectfully submitted to your consideration.

1st: The Pension Office has three times Decided that Benjamin Burch was a Sergeant in the Revolutionary War by inscribing Mrs. Rebecca Burch on the Pension Rolls of the Acts of July 4. 1836, July 7. 1838 and March 3d. 1843.

2d: The Secretaries of War have three several times Decided that fact, by issuing the Certificate of Pension that he was such Sergeant and a question so repeatedly Decided is not now "an open" question or Decided by the [illegible] General in the [illegible] of 27th May 1840 [illegible] judge [illegible]

3d: It was so Decided on the Certificate of Thomas Culbreth Esq. Clerk of the Council of Maryland which is among the papers in her case which Certificate shows that he served to the 15th. November 1783 -- which Decisions marked 1st. & 2d. above, show that this was repeatedly Decided and admitted.

4th: The Evidence of Colonel Samuel Burch, who had been sworn to, and was famed for, preserving the public property, and dated on the sacred spot where he had staked his honor and his reputation, dearer to him than life, viz. "Office House of Representatives of the United States"
Page 47

who was many years Clerk of the House of Representatives of the United States (a person whose exalted reputation for honor and his having been well known to have had the strong confidence of the principal Statemen of the land of all parties) must command the confidence of the Commissioner of Pensions. It could not be supposed large owner of property as he was known to be, and having a large salary, that the small total sum of $130, which was the total sum (not annually) which was to go to his mother having then five grown children, then in good circumstance, could have influenced him from the truth. He states "that he was regularly discharged from Newburg in New York when the war was over."

5th: The facts stated by this Lady, the widow of a soldier of two wars (Captain in the War of 1812) and standing in the highest scale of respectability and intelligence and who would have scorned for the small total pittance $130 to have stated other than the truth, and she married him in Sept. 1784 only one year after the war was over, and when the close of the war was much spoken of -- she stated "he continued in service until the war was over" "he held the rank of Sergeant at his discharge which was in the year 1783" -- and She also again swears, in Open Court -- "who [illegible] She was informed by her said husband and according to her belief, a Sergeant in a Company of Regular Troops raised in the State of Maryland, and served in the Army as stated in her deposition on the first page of these sheets" "further states that it is out of her power to state how long exactly her said husband was in service." That is, that although she knows he served to the end of the war "as stated in the first page of these sheets" but how long the interval was from the first day of his service to the last day of his service "it is out of her power to state how long exactly" "she knows however it was not less
Page 48

"Than three years."

6th - the additional statement of Colonel Samuel Burch isas follows viz "The within certificate" [of Thomas Culbreth Esq. Clerk of the Council of Maryland] "was obtained by me as may be seen by the letter which accompanies it at the time it bears date for the purpose of sustaining an application which I then contemplated to have made on behalf of my father Captain Benjamin Burch for the benefits of the Act of May 15th 1828 - but my father positively refused to have the application made on the ground that as he was then holding a highly respectable office under the government and received the salary attached to it he did not deem it honorable at the same time to receive a pension. Indeed he always manifested an utter repugnance to becoming a pensioner on his country saying that this revolutionary services had been rendered from love of liberty and county and not from any hope or expectation of reward other than that stipulated at the time he enrolled his name among its defenders" Thus it is proved that Captain Burch "positively refused to have the application made on the ground" above stated and as it was obtained for the very "purpose of sustaining an application" under the act of May 15th 1828, Captain Burch did not deny that it was correct as to his service, but on the contrary there is strong presumptive proof that he claimed that service as there was a claim made on Congress in 1838 for the allowance of it under the act of May 15th 1828 to his widow which could not have been made without the knowledge of Colonel Samuel Burch who was at that time Clerk of or Chief Clerk in the Office of the House of Representatives.

7th - John T Frost Esq a worthy venerable and particularly respected Clerk in the Clerk's Office of the House of Representatives swears that he was personally well acquainted with Captain Benjamin Burch from the year 1797 thus he knew him only the comparatively short distance after the war of only 14 years when everything was fresh and many who served were alive and states that (which Captain Burch always refusing to have a pension could have no interest in stating untruly) "Captain Burch often informed
Page 49

me that he had been a soldier in the regular service in the revolutionary army and was universally received and believe to have been such by all his associates and acquaintances.

8th - The Honorable Committee of the House of Representatives of the United States decide in Report No 939 made on May 31, 1838 - "That Benjamin Burch the husband of the petitioner was a sergeant in the Maryland Continental line of the revolutionary army and served several years and to the close of the war by which service he became entitled to the benefits of the act of May 15, 1828."

All these facts are respectfully submitted to your consideration and are also requested to be considered in their collective weight.

I am 
Very Respectfully
Your Obed't Serv't
Isaac N Coffin

Loren P Waldo Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 50

No 1123 - 50 Acres

[illegible] Rawling [illegible]
rec'd $301 - for arrears [illegible]
from 1 August 1780 to 15 November 1783
+ 79 pounds 8 shillings & 3 pence [illegible]
for depreciation of his pay

See Declaration on file in the pension office
15, May 1828
Page 51

25th Congress 2d Session

[Rep. No 939]

Ho. of Reps.

Rebecca Burch
{To accompany bill H.R. No 820}

May 31, 1838

Mr. Taliaferro, from the Committee on Revolutionary Claims submitted to the following

REPORT:
The Committee on Revolutionary Claims, to whom was referred the petition of Mrs. Rebecca Burch, widow of Benjamin Burch, respectfully report:

That Benjamin Burch, the husband of the petitioner, was a sergeant in the Maryland continental line of the revolutionary army, and served several years, and to the close of the war; by which service he became entitled to the benefits of the act of May 15, 1828, entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the revolutionary army."

That at the time of the passing of the act of May 15, 1828, Captain Benjamin Burch was the principal Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives of the United States. He was a man of scrupulous honor and delicacy and did not esteem it consistent with his ideas of honor and delicacy to become a pensioner of the United States while holding a civil office under the General Government. Captain Burch died in May 1832 without ever having made application for the benefits of the act of May 15, 1828.

The petitioner is his widow and states she is now in need of assistance and asks that the money which her husband declined to receive may be allowed to her.

The facts herein set forth are fully established by authentic and official copies of documents from the Pension Office.

As the money which the husband of the petitioner would have received had he applied therefor, the committee are of opinion that it is proper to pay it to his aged and now helpless widow, especially as she is not embraced under any of the acts granting pensions to widows of revolutionary soldiers having been married a few months after the termination of the enlistment of her husband.

The scruples of Captain Burch about receiving this money although highly honorable were it is believed confined to very few as it is a well known fact that many old officers and soldiers who were holding civil offices some of them much higher than that held by Captain Burch, received their pay under the act of 1828.

The committee report a bill allowing to the widow such sum as her husband would have received had he applied for the same in his lifetime.
Page 52

I John Thomas Frost, a clerk in the office of the House of Representatives of the United states, do certify & declare that I was personally well acquainted with Captain Benj. Burch late Principal Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives of the United States now deceases, from the year 1797 or thereabouts to the period of his death which was about four years ago - and that Captain Burch often informed me that he had been a soldier in the regular service in the revolutionary and was universally received & believed to have been such by all his associates and acquaintances - I further certify that Mrs. Rebecca Burch, who now resides opposite the market house on East Capitol Street on Capitol Hill in the city of Washington is the widow of said Captain Bemjamin Burch and that I have for the last thirty-nine years been personally acquainted with her - given at the city of Washington this 1st day of December 1836.

J T Frost
Page 53

On this second day of December 1836. John Thomas Frost, who is personally well known to me, appeared before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace of the County of Washington in the District of Columbia, and made oath in one form of law, to the truth of the written declaration, subscribed by him --

James Young Justice of the Peace for the County of Washington Dist Columbia

I, Brooke Magruder Berry, a clerk in the office of the House of Representatives of the United States, do certify and declare that I have for upwards of twenty years been personally well acquainted with family of Captain Benjamin Burch deceased, late Principal Doorkeeper to the House of Representatives of the United States, and that I am now well acquainted with Mrs. Rebecca Burch his widow -- that during the whole period of my intercourse with Captain Burch + his family, Mrs. Rebecca Burch himself lived together as man + wife, that he always acknowledged her to be his lawful wife -- that she was universally so received and acknowledged; and is
Page 54

now universally received and acknowledged as his widow. Mrs. Burch resides at this time in the house which belonged to Captain Burch and in which he died, on East Capitol Street, near the Capitol Square, on Capitol Hill in the City of Washington -- Given at the City of Washington Decr. 1. 1836.

B.M Berry

On this second day of December 1836, before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace for the County of Washington in the District of Columbia, personally appeared Brooke Magruder Berry, who is personally well known to me, and made oath in due form of law, to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him subscribed.

James Young Justice of the Peace for the County of Washington Dist Columbia
Page 55

[seal] ANNAPS. MD.
OCT 19 [/seal]

Samuel Burch Esquire
Washington

[inverted] Thomas Culbreth
Oct. 19. 1829 [/inverted]
Page 56

Annapolis October 19 1829

I Certify that it appears from payrolls of the Revolutionary Troops of the State, on Continental establishment, that one Benjamin Burch a Sergeant in Colo Rawlings' Regiment received on the 17th day of September 1781 for depreciation of his pay, the sum of [pound sign] 79:8.3[?], and that one Benjamin Burch* a private of the Sixth Regiment received on the 15th day of November 1781 for depreciation of his pay the sum of [pound sign] 15:6.8.

That Benjamin Burch a Sergeant received for array of pay from the first of August 1780 to the 15th of November 1783, $302; that Benjamin Burch* a 2nd Corporal received for array of pay from the 5th of August 1780 to the 5th January 1783, $176, and that he was discharged from Service on the 19th day of January 1783.

Tho: Culbreth Clerk of the Council.

*I have no doubt but these are the same individual, and that he was promoted to a 2nd Corporal after the receipt of depreciation pay as above

T.C.
Page 57

The written certificate was obtained by me, as may be seen by the letter which accompanies it, at the time of [illegible] date, for the purpose of sustaining an application which I then contemplated to have made on behalf of my father, Captain Benjamin Burch for the benefit of the act of May 15. 1828 -- but my father positively refused to have the application made on the ground that he was then holding a highly respectable office under the government, and received the salary attached to it -- he did not deem it honourable at the same time to receive a pension -- Indeed he always manifested an utter repugnance to becoming a a pensioner in his country, saying that his revolutionary services had been rendered from love of liberty and of country, and not from any hope or expectation of reward other than that stipulated at the time he enrolled his name among its defenders --

Altho my father served so long, so honourably + so faithfully in the revolution, he never either applied for or received any thing in the shape of pension, bounty or gratuity after the war Ended --

S. Burch

Office Ho. of Reps. U States
Decemr 3d. 1836 --
Page 58

Annapolis Octo 19 1829.

Dear Sir,

Your letter of the 31 of August, addressed to the Audition of public accounts* was received  here during a severe illness, from which I have not sufficiently recovered even yet, to get to any office but have had the Revolutionary documents brought to my Chamber to answer yours + other applications for information from them. They are few and very defective. The certificate I enclose you will afford all the information in relation to your fathers services to be derived from them. I presume he will recollect sufficient to determine which of the persons named in the certificate is himself.

It always affords me great pleasure to render any service in my power to any old soldier, and it will afford me more than ordinary gratification to contribute anything to said[?] Captain Burch in his application for the benefit of the late Act of Congress.

Present my best respects to the Captain and also accept them for yourself.

I remain respectfully yours,
Tho: Culbreth.

*Whose office has been abolished and its Records transfered to mine
Page 59

(Second Sheet of the Declaration of Rebecca Burch)

Rebecca Burch, widow of Captain Benjamin Burch, further declares that not being the wife of Benjamin Burch during his service in the Army of the Revolution, she is unable to state explicitly how long he served as a private, a corporal and a sergeant -- She is positive of the fact of his service in the army, and is almost equally as positive that that service was a continuous service of at least three years -- Upon this point she refers to the statement or official certificate of Thomas Culbreth Esqre. Clerk of the Council of the State of Maryland, which accompanies this memorial or declaration -- She has no knowledge of the officers under whom he served -- She has often heard him name them, but not expecting ever to be called upon to state them she never impressed their names upon her memory --

Rebecca Burch her mark

Witness --
B.M. Berry
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Circuit Court, District of Columbia -- County of Washington

On this fourteenth day of December in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty six, Rebecca Burch a resident of the County and District foresaid, aged about seventy three years appeared in open Court + being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress [illegible] July the 4th 1836. That she is the widow of Captain Benjamin Burch who was as she was informed by her said Husband, and according to her belief, a Sergeant in a Company of regular troops raised in the State of Maryland, and served in the the army as stated in her deposition of the first Page of these sheets. She further declares that she was named to the said Benjamin Burch she thinks sometime in the month of September 1784 -- that her husband the aforesaid Benjamin Burch died on the 5th day of Mary or thereabout, in the year 1832 -- that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.

Rebecca Burch her mark

Sworn to + subscribed on the day + year above before
Pest.[?] Wm Brett Clk

Mrs. Burch further states that it is not of her power to say how long exactly her said husband was in service, as she married him after the end of the war -- she knows however that it was not less than three years

W.B. Clk
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As my mother has no recollection of the officers or Regiment in which my father served, I deem it proper to state, that to the best of my recollection from conversations of my father the name of his Colonel at one time or possibly the whole time was Rawlings or Rollins - the Regiment the Sixth - I think I have heard him mention that at one period he served under a Captain Adams, at another a Captain Beale - of these however I am not positive-
S. Burch
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Declaration of Rebecca Burch, widow of Benjamin Burch, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress of the 7th of July 1838, entitled An act granting half pay and Pensions to certain widows.

District of Columbia }
County of Washington } [illegible]
On this third day of September 1838. personally appeared before [word scratched out] me William Cranch, chief Judge of the District of Columbia

Rebecca Burch, a resident of the City of Washinton, in the County of Washinton in the District of Columbia, aged about Seventy five years, and being infirm who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the pension made by the act of Congress passed July 7. 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows"-- That she is the widow of Benjamin Burch, who was a Sergeant in the Mayland line of the Continental troops of the Revolutionary army- That all she knows of the service of her said late husband is set forth in her declaration under oath, in due form of law, before [crossed out] the [end crossed out] W Justice Hebb on the 3d of Decemr. 1836, and which was further sworn to in open court before the circuit Court of the County of Washington in the District of Columbia on the 14th of Decmr. 1836, an attested copy of which, accompanies this declaration - 
She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Burch by the Revd. John Carroll, the arch Bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States of America, and in Prince George County in the state of Maryland in or about the month of September one thousand seven hundred & Eighty four (1784) the Exact day she does not now recollect & cannot ascertain
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ascertain by reason of the loss, by theft, of the family record in which the same was recorded, which loss is also referred to in her declaration before mentions. - That her husband the aforesaid Benjamin Burch, was, for many years the Principal Doorkeeper to the House of Representatives of the United States, and in his lifetime, she believes was personally well known unto the Hon: James L. Edwards, the Commissioner of Pensions, and to the Hon: George w. Crump, late member of congress from Virginia, and now Chief Clerk in the Pension office, as well to most of the officers of the Government of the U. States in the City of Washington __ That he died at his residence on Capitol Hill in said City on the 5th day of May 1832 {. and that she has remained a widow ever since his death.
That she was not married to the said Benjamin Burch prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the 1st of January 1794, viz in or about the month of September 1784. -
That other and further information respecting her said husband, and his Service, as well as of her being his lawful widow, may be seen on reference to the authenticated documents now on file in the Pension office, and upon which she recd. in December 1836 fourteen months pension towit from 3d March 1831 to the Death of her husband (5 May 1832), attested copies of which accompany this declaration, and which she prays may be taken as part thereof.-
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year [crossed out] about [end crossed out] above written before - me
W. Cranch.   

Rebecca her x mark Burch
Witness W. Cranch.
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District of Columbia
Washington County, to wit.
I William Brent Clerk of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia for the County of Washington hereby Certify that the Honorable William Cranch before whom the foregoing affidavit was made and who has thereto subscribed his name, was at the time thereof, Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia, duly commissioned and qualified--
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the said Court this 3rd day of September 1838.
W. Brent  Clerk[?]
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I HEREBY certify, that the accompanying pages numbered from One to Nine inclusive are truly copied from the originals in the Office of the Commissioner of Pensions, Department of War.
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That James L. Edwards, who has signed the foregoing certificate, is Commissioner of Pensions; and that to his attestations full faith and credit are and ought to be given.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and caused the seal of the Department to be affixed, on this Eleventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty Eight.
J. R. Poinsett
Secretary of War.