Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20815, Jonathan Burnham, Continental Mass.
Page 1

(8-1776)

SERVICE

Continental  
Mass.                  

Burnham, Jonathan
Ruth                                                


Number
W20815
Page 2

7616
Massachusetts

Jonathan Burnham
of Gloucester in the state of Massachusetts
who was a private in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Little of th Massachusetts
line, for the term of one year

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 8 dollars per month, to commence on
the 3 of April 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 13 of March 1819
and sent to Wm. Welman Esq.
Salem, Mass.
Arrears to 4th of March 1819           $88.49
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 9 Sept 1819   48.
                                                         $136.49
[Revolutionary claim]
[Act 18th March, 1818]

Continued

Notification sent October18. 1820 to Ichabod Tucker  Salem Massachusetts
Page 3

1193
Massachusetts
__________________________
Ruth Burnham
widow of Jonathan Burnham
who was a Private           
in the Mass.  line                     Res July 29th
for 1 year
_______________________________
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 
40 Dollars          Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
_______________________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the
29th day of July, 1843
and sent to 
Wm Ferson  Gloucester Mass.
________________________________________
[Act of March 3, 1843.
Recorded in Book  A.
Vol. 1     Page 36
Page 4

                                                   HC--
Jona Burnham
Massachusetts Lin
1776 - 1 year
Page 5

State of Massachusets

I Jonathan Burnham a Citizen of the United States, now resident at
Gloucester in the County of Essex, is the State aforesaid, do on oath testify and
declare, that in the War of the Revolution, in the month of January in the
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & twenty seven.
I entered and was engaged ij the land -- service of the United State on the
continental establishment, and served accordingly from that time to the Month of February
in the year Seventeen Hundred & seventy seven---
as a private -- against the common enemy, without any interruption
or absense: that I belonged to the Company of Captain Parker in the
Regiment of Colonel Little in the Massachusetts line --
and that I left the service on the expiration of the time aforesaid being then
honorably discharged --
and that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life and poverty,
I stan in need of assistance from my country for support, being now of the age of [?] eight
years, my disarrange this [?] of time is now lost as I have
no other evidence to offer than what is herewith exhibited.
And I hereby relinquish all claim to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United
States, if any may be or hath been so allowed.
Jonathan Burnham

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this third day of April in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen Pursuant to a law of the United State,  entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the
United States in the revolutionary wr," made and passed on the 18th of March, A.D. 1818
personally appeared before me
The subscriber [?] of the Associte Judge
of the Circuit court of Commerce [?] for the Middle Circuit
written the  State after & presiding. Mrs. [?,ac} vice
the above named Jonathan Burnham
and after due examination and caution to testify and declare the whole truth, he taketh oath to
the declaration aforesaid, and subscribes the same in my presence; and on examination duly made
by me the said Judge, it appeared to my satisfaction thatt the said declaration is true testimony
Whereof I hereunto affix my name & the seal of [s/} Court.
I further certify that thy within named Diponents, and 
credible witness & [?] have been duly sworn. June 15
1818 --
Wm Watmore
Page 6

We the subscribers inhabitants of the Town of Gloucester do testify & say that we are acquainted with the declarant within name & believe him to be in his circumstances in life reduced & indigent & in need of assistance from his country for support.

Isaac Elwell}                  Selectmen of
Charles L. Roberts}       Gloucester

Sworn to 30 April 1818
before me Wm Wetmore 
Judge within named
Page 7

183

Ruth Burnham
wid. oJonathan 
Mass
Act of July 1838
married 1784
died May 2nd 1836
Allow. 12 m a pri (allowed 12 months a private)
$40 per ann from
May 2d 1836


Wm Ferson Esq
Gloucester
Page 8

State of Massachusetts
County of Essex. Ss.
On this third day of August. 1838 personally appeared before the Hon. Daniel A. White, Judge of the Probate Court for the Co. of Essex Ruth Burnham, a resident of Essex in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, aged 72 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 Jonathan Burnham , who was a pensioner under the act of Congress of March 18, 1818, pension certificate dated March 13, 1819. 
She further declares that she was married to the said Jonathan Burnham in the twenty first day of November, in the year seventeen hundred and eighty four; that her husband, the aforesaid Jonathan Burnham died on the 2nd day of May, 1836; 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        her       
                                            Ruth   X  Burnham
                                                    mark

Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written
before me
D A White    Judge of Probate
Page 9

Jonathan Burnham of Ipswich and Mrs. Ruth
Haskell were 
married by Eevered Fuller, Minister of Gloucester November
twenty five, one thousand seven hundred and eighty four."

I William Saville Town Clerk of Gloucester in the County of
Essex and State of Massachusetts, certify that the above is a true
copy of the Record with the exception of the date which is [?]
[?] Record in fair legible figures as follows "November 21 1786."
William Laville Town Clerk of Gloucester

[?] Saville above named depose and say that I hold the
[?] Clerk in the County, Town and State aforesaid, and that
[?]' is a true extract from the Records of said Town, with the
[?] above named, as certified by me.
William Saville, Clerk of Gloucester

We Daniel Poland and Issachar Burnham both of Essex i the
County of Essex and State of Massachusetts of lawful age on oath
testify and say, That Jonathan Burnham within named died on
the 2nd of May, 1836, leaving a widow named Ruth, who has
remained a widew ever since the death of her said husband
Jonathan Burnham and has not intermarried since that period
Daniel Polund
Isachue Burnham

Commonwealthof Massachusetts
Essex, ss. On this 7th day of August, 1838, before me William
Ferson, Notary Public by legal authority admitted and sworn and
dwelling in Gloucester in said County personally came. Daniel
Poand and Issachar Burnham, well known to me as credible
witnesss and William Saville, who severally made oath to
the trufth of the deposition and certificate by them subscribed
in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my National sal the day and year
above written.
William Ferson, Noty Public
Page 10

7616

Jon'a  Burnham    

March 
1819

Con'd 25  (illegible)
182 a

Cn (or m)
Page 11

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Salem, within and for the County of Essex, on the third Monday of June, A. D. 1820.
Prefent, Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Chief Justice.
Hon. WILLIAM WETMORE, and Hon. STEPHEN MINOT, Associate Justices.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Jonathan Burnham resident in [blank] in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 7616 now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
“WAR DEPARTMENT……….REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
“I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, Jonathan Burnham late a private “ in the Army of the Revolution,is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate “ of eight dollars per month, to commence on the third “ day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
{L.S.} “Given at the War of Office of the United States, this thirteenth day “ of March one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War,”
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE, containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
Real Estate none_
Personal exclusive of beds and & wearing apparel.
One desk $6, one pot one teakettle … $7.00
Six chairs 2 Dolls, one pair of andirons }
& shovel & tongs 2 dollars . . . . . . . } . . 4.00
One small swine . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.00
[totaled] $13.00
Enlisted in Capt. Gideon Parker’s Company & Col. Moses Little’s Regiment in the Massachusetts line on the continental establishment in March 1776 for one year and served the whole year and volunteered six weeks after his time was out_
Served at Newport five months in the Militia, served six months in the Militia
Page 12

at West Point at the time of general Arnold's
escape to the enemy.
Was in the service in the Militia six months
at the capture of Burgoyne and his Army
Was in the battles at LongIsland at Harlem
Heights New York, and at Elisabeth town
He is aged sixty years is infirm and unable to
labour. his wife aged fifty four years has the
dropsy.
His family consists of himself wife and four
children. the oldest is 24 years old is an idiot
the others are under age.
             Jonathan Burnham

Essex SS. July 12, 1820. Then the above named
Jonathan Burnham made oath that the said
schedule and statement by him subscribed are
true, before me.
              Stephen Minot, Judge of said Court
Page 13

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath,
takem and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Stephen Minot
a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
I, Jonathan Burnham do solemnly sweat, that I was a resident citizen of the Uniited
States on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not,
since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with
intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an
act two provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the
revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and
that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me: nor have i any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me
subscribed. So help me GOD.
Jonathan Burnham
Essex, ss. C. C. C. P. June, term. A. D. 1820
Then the above named Jonathan Burnham
took and subscribed the aforewritten Oath before me
Stephen Minot Judge of said Court,
I, ICHABOD TUCKER, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify
that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied
from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is
the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property
exhibited  in the aforesaid Schedule is
Thirteen -- dollars -----
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed
the real of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex, 
on this 17th day of July -- A. D.
1820
Attr. Ichabod Turkerller
Page 14

Rev. and 1813 Wars Section.           Aug(illegible)

May 10, 1927

Mrs. E. H. Houghton
271 Bellevue St
Newton, Mass 

I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 20815, (W. 20815, is underlined) it appears that Jonathan Burnham (Jonathan Burnham is underlined) in January 1776 and served one year as a private in Captain Gideon Parker's Company, Col Moses Little's Massachusetts Regiment; six weeks later he served five months at Newport in the Militia, no officers stated; six months at the time of the capture of Burgoyne, in Captain Robert Dodge's Company, Colonel Johnson's Regiment; and six months in Captain Benjamin Gould's Company at the time of Arnold's escape to the enemy.  He was in the battles Long Island, Harlem Heights, Stillwater and Elizabethtown.
He was allowed pension on hi application executed April 3, 1818, while a resident of Gloucester,
Page 15

Essex County, Massachusetts, aged fifty-eight years.
he died May 2, 1836.
Soldier married November 21, 1754 at Glouchesster,
Massachusetts (he was then of Ipswich), Miss Ruth Haskell.
She was allowed pension on this application
executed August 3, 188, while a resident of Essex, Massachusetts, aged seventy-two years.
In 1830, four children were referred to, the
oldest, was twenty-fourteen years old, the others were
under age, their names are not stated, and there is no no further date on file as to family.

Respectfully

WINFrED SCOTT
Commissioner
Page 16

$40 per an


Wm. Ferson
Gloucester
Map
Page 17

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

Secretary's Office, Boston, May 10, 1843

I hereby Certify, That on the twenty
fifth day of April last past
William Ferson was a Justice of the Peace  for all the County.

in the said 'Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and
credit are and out to be given, in and out of Court.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the
Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above
written

Jno A Bolles
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 18

DECLARATION&lt;

In 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, and the amended
act of 23d August, 1842.

State of Massachusetts]
County of Essex ]       88

On this twenty fifth day of April, Eighteen hundred &amp; forth tree
personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the 
Peace for said County, Ruth Burnham, a resident of Gloucester
in the County of Essex age 77 years, who being
first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the
benefits of the provision 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 Jonathan
Burnham, who was a private in the Revolution in Parkers Co. Little's Regiment in the Massachusetts line; and the annual
amount of the pension which she received under the act of July 7, 1838 was forty dollars.

Ruth X her mark Burmham

She further declares that she is still a widow,
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me
William Terson, Justice of Peace
And I certify that the above declarant is personally
down to me.
         W. Terson, Jus. Peace
Page 19

453
Massachusetts
Ruth Burnham widow of Jonathan Burnham deceased who was a pensioner under the Act of 1818 and who died on the 2 May 1835 of Casey Co. in the State of MS who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain -- of the Regt. commanded by Little in the Maj. line for 1 year

Inscribed on the Roll of Ms. at the rate of 40 Dollars -- Cents per annum, to commence on the 2d May 1836

Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of Sept 1838 and  sent Wm Forson Gloucester Ms.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1838 $100.00
Semi annual allowance ending  [illegible] 20.00

$120.00

{Act July 7, 1838.}

Recorded by W.W. Addison Clerk,
Book A Vol. 1st Page 70
Page 20



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C., June 5, 1895.

Sir:

     In reply to your request for a statement of the military history
of JONATHAN BURNHAM, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his
widow's) application (or pension on file in this Bureau.

DATES OF 
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT

March, 1778

LENGTH
OF SERVICE>
1 year

RANK.
Pri.

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
Captain                     Colonel
Gideon Parker           Moses Little    

STATE.

Be stated that he also served at newport five months in the militia;
six months in the militia at West Point (is Capt. Benjamin Coale's Co,) at
the time of Arnold's escape to the enemy; six months at the capture of
Burgoyne and his army (in Capt, Robert Dodge's Co., Col. Johnson's Regt.)

Battles engaged in, STILLWATER, LONG ISLAND, HARLEM HEIGHTS &  ELIZABETHTOWN.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Not stated.
Date of application for pension, April 5, 1818.
Residence at date of application, Gloucester, Mass.
Age at date of application, Fifty-eight years

Remarsk:     He married Ruth Haskell November 21, 1734, and died May 2, 1836.

Mr. Wm. F. Corliss,      Very respectfully,
     Cambridge, Mass.
#29 Stoughton Hall

1904blm
Page 21

271 Bellevue St.
Newton, Mass. 
April 30, 1927

Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir,

About a month ago
I wrote for a little information, but
to date have received no answer,
and think perhaps my letter
went astray. I would like to
know, if possible, if one
Simeon Burnham f Ipswich, Mass
born March 23, 1729
died May 4, 1816 or his son
Jonathan Burnham of Ipswich, Mass.
born June 28, 1760
died May 9, 1836 or one
Isaac Hopkins of Harwich, Cape Cod
Page 22

born March 10, 1713 or 1714
died ______ or his son
Isaac Hopkins of Harwich,
born in 1751
died _____
seven in the War of the
American Revolution and 
in what capacity and in 
what company. I hope I am 
not asking too much and
shall feel very grateful for
any information received in
regard to any one or all.
     Very truly yours,
     Mrs. R. H. Houghton
Page 23

271 Bellevue St.
Newton, Mass.
March 28, 1927

Pension Bureau
Washington, D. C.   Pension Office Mar 30 127
     Dear Sirs,
          Are you able to
give me an information
in regard to the following
people? I would like to
know if any served in
the American Revolutionary
War and in what capacity
they served.
Isaac Hopkins born in
Harwich, Mass, March 10,
1713 or 1714
Isaac Hopkins (his son) born
Page 24

in 1751 in ( in Harwich, I think) I haven't the dates of their deaths.
3.  Simeon Burnham of Ipswich, Mass. born March 23, 1729 and died May 4, 1816.

4. Jonathan Burnham, his son, born June 28, 1760 and died May 9, 1836 

Very truly yours,
Mrs. R. H. Houghton
Page 25

W. H. A. Read,
Attorney and Counselor at Law,
318V,349. The Valentine,
I.D. Phone 317
Toledo, O
                      Feby. 29th. 1900

Hon U.S. Pension Commissioner
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:  I am a lineal descendent of John or Jonathan Burnham of Windman County Mass. 
who appears upon the U.S. Pension roll for rev. Soldiers in 1832. The information I find in Conn. in Rev. page 757.
     Can you kindly furnish me with such statement of his services as
appears upon the records of your department.
      Respectfully Yours,
                  H. A. Read
Page 26

B.   
         not I
         not W
         not R
        Ctf. 7616
        May 25,1895
        Wid. Ctf. 453 
            1193

Harvard Law School
Cambridge

Dear Sir,

      Will you kindly send me a 
certificate that Jonathan Dunham of
Gloucester Mass. was a pensioner of
the United State government for service
during the war of the Revolution.
     If there is any charge for it, if you
will let me know, I will send whatever
it is. 
             Yours very respectfully 

              William f. Corlise

29 Stoughton Hall,
Cambridge, 
Mass.
Page 27

  Rey   WIDOW, &c
______________________        
  File No.   20,815
Ruth Burnham
Widow of 
Jonathan Burnham
Pri Rev War
____________________
Act:  March 3'd 43
Index:-  Vol.  A.,  Page 105
Arrangement of 1870

Corlis.
SS.
(illegible)

June 5/95 Hist: to Wm. F.
Cambridge, Mass.
29 Strughton Hall
__________________________
Mch - 15- 1900
W. H. A Read Ta
___________________
1927- - May 10- Hist to 
Mrs. R. H. Houghton (illegible)
Page 28

James L. Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D. C.
Page 29

Gloucester, Ma. May 10, 1843

James L. edwards, Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir,

I enclose the decorations 
of Polly Abbot, Martha Burnham, Ruth Burnham, Tommy Dade,
Lucy Davis, Thomas, former widow of Thomas Herring, Betsy
Rowe and Annis [?Farr], eight in number, widows of persons
who saved in the Revolutionary war, to obtain the benefits of 
the Act of the 3d March last, providing pensions for them.

I am with due respect
Your overt servt

William {Ferson]
Page 30



I Charles burnham of Ipswich in the County
of Essex of Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age
of fifty seven years testify and say: That
I served as a private soldier in Capt.
Parker's Company, in the Regiment of
Foot commanded by Moses Little, in
the Revolutionary War, in the service
of the United States against the [?command]
enemy, from the beginning to the 
close of the year D 1770; and Jonathan
Burnham of Gloucester in 
said County served a a common soldier 
during the whole of the year
AD 1776 in the service of the United
States, to my knowledge: And I
further testify that the said Jonathan
Burnham who served as
a common soldier curing the whole
of the year AD 1776.
Charles Burnham

[? [?] June 10. 1818
Then the above mentioned Chrles Burnham
made oath to the truth of the
foregoing deposition by him subscribed.
      Gov. Lauson Nash, Jus. [?Pies]
Page 31

[?Toma] Burnham
Massachusetts Line
1776 - 1 year
Page 32

I, Benjamin Gould of Newburyport in the County of Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts Gentleman, on oath do testify and say _ that I was an Ensign in the army of the United States, in the war of the revolution in the year 1776, in the Company commanded by Captain Gideon Parker, Colonel Moses Little on twelfth Massachusetts regiment. That I have now before me the books of said Regiment, and in examining the same I find the name of Jonathan Burnham entered as a private in said Company as having enlisted therein in said year for the years service by which it appears that he must have served in said Company more than nine months as the men were enlisted to serve for one year and were not discharged until about the middle of March in the year 1777 - but having been detached from 
said Regiment in the year 1776 to command a Company appointed to be General Lee's lifeguards, I have not now sufficient recollection of said Burnham to state any thing of his services of my own knowledge, but from the entry on said books and the statement made by said Burnham I have no doubt of the facts and that he served more than nine months from 1776 to 1777 as aforesaid _ said Burnham served afterwards in a Company under my command at West Point at the time Arnold proved a Traitor _ he was also with me in the Battle of Stillwater the Company then commanded by Captain Roberts Dodge, in Colonel Johnsons Regiment both these lists (?) mentioned services I am able to identify him.
Benjamin Gould

The roll of Capt Gould  (illegible) cannot be found
Name not on Capt Dodge Co 
H H L

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex Ss. Town of Newburyport.  June 13th 1818. Then Benjamin Gould above named personally came and made oath to the truth of the above written affidavit by him subscribed, and I do Certify that said Gould is a respectable Citizen of said Newburyport entitled to credit.
W Woods Justice of the Peace

I, Benjamin Pearson of Newburyport in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on oath do testify and say that Jonathan Burnham above named is well known to me.  I do know that served in the army of the United State in the War of the Revolution in the year 1776 for more than nine months he enlisted in the Company commanded by Capt. Gideon Parker.
Page 33

Jonathan Burnham Mass. Act 1818, when paid last      H H L
Died 2'd May 1836 _ arrears is paid.
S. H. H.
Page 34

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ESSEX, ss. 

I, JOHN PRINCE, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the County of Essex, do certify, that 
Hon. D. A. White is Judge of Probate within and for said County, and that his signature heron is genuine.
WITNESS MY HAND, and the Seal of said Court of Common Pleas,
August 4, A. D. 1838.
John Prince clerk.