Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3091, Laird Burns, S.C.
Page 1

SECTION SC
Burns, Laird
NUMBER S.3091
carded
Page 2

East Tennessee  13951
Laird Burns
of Roan Co in the State of E Tennessee who was a private in the company commanded
by Capt [Col. Richard] Richardson of the regiment commanded
by Col [John] Winn in the S. Carolina
line for 1 year and 8 months
Inscribed on the Roll of East Tennessee at the rate of 66 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of Feby 1833 and Sent to Henry
Breageal Kingston
Arrears to the 4th of March 133.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept
33.33 = $166.63
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Danl Boyd  Clerk,
Book E Vol.7 Page 37
Page 3

State of Tennessee
Roane County
October Sessions of the County Court
On this 24th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court it being the Court of pleas & quarter and quarter sessions for Roane County it also being a Court of Record, Laird Burns a resident of the County & State aforesaid aged 76
years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832 that he volunteered into the service of his country in S. C.
County _ in the year 1775 under Captain [Joseph] Brown and was attached to the brigade commanded by Gen. [Richard] Richardson in Col [John] Winn's Regiment of militia
overtook the field against the famous Tory Genl [Captain Patrick] Cunningham & defeated him at Reedy river [Battle of Great Cane Break] and remained thereabouts until January
1776, when he returned home and remained until the  2nd March 1776 when he again set out in the service of his country in various
engagements, but none of importance, nor did he served long at any one time until the year 1779 when he again volunteered under
Capt [Philip] Walker in the Regiment commanded by Col [Edward Lacey] Lacy marched on to a place in South Carolina called Coosahatchy [Coosawhatchie] where we had an engagement with the Tories in this engagement Col [John Laurens] Lawrence  was wounded from
we marched to Charleston S.C. where applicant was mustered out of service this was in the year 1780 in June applicant again entered the service of his country as a volunteer under Gen [Thomas Sumter] Sumpter in Capt Gabbeys company in SC we marched on to Catawba River where was defeated a body of Tories under
Capt [Christian Huck] Hooke, from thence we marched on to a Fort at
the Rocky Mount when we had an engagement & Col [Andrew Neel] Neal fell. Col [Lt. Col. James Hawthorn] Hathorn took command & we retreated to Lands Ford on the Catawba river, from thence we marched to the Hanging Rock where we had an engagement with the enemy. we retreated back to the Indians Land and from thence we
marched to a ferry Just below Camden where we defeated
a body of Tories under Capt [Robert Thomson] from thence we marched
to Graves Ford on Catawba river & from thence to Fishing Creek where Col [Banastre Tarleton] & his Troop defeated as they was in August
1780 after the battle we collected together & marched on in Col
Laceys Regiment to the Cowpens where we joined Col. [James] Williams from there we marched to Kings Mountain [Captain John Cunningham] Cuningham then
Page 4

Capt. [Captain John Cunningham] at which place [Battle of Kings Mountain] we defeated Col [Patrick] Ferguson this was in October 1780' applicant was then sent to the hospital where he remained three or four weeks paying attention to those who were wounded, from thence we marched to Granby Fort with Col [William] Bratton & took said Fort
from the enemy. from thence we marched on to Sumpters [Sumter's] Pond  when we again joined Gen Sumter's Brigade where the applicant
was again mustered with a great many others. that he has never received a written discharge but faithfully served his county six or seven years but makes application for no more than two years & six months about which he was engaged & had but little respite. after his discharge from the service
of the United States he resided in the South province now State of South Carolina & in the County of Chester, he remained there until the year
of 1794 he then went to McLinn Burg [Mecklenburg] County North Carolina & remained there until the
year of 1814 he then went to Blount County Tennessee & remained there until 1826, he then went to Monroe County Tennessee remained there
untill 1828 then moved to Roane County Tennessee where he now resides, he states the following persons who is able acquainted with
him who can certify as to his character for veracity & truth to wit Elijah Mitchell, Daniel Wester, Stephen Mitchell, William Wester, & Elward
McDuffy. he has no written Testimony or Documentary evidence whereof he
can prove his service nor is there any person living whose Testimony he can procure whereby he can prove his service he has no written record of his age. he hereby
Page 5

relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency
of any State. s/ Laird Burns
Sworn to & subscribed in open court the day & year aforesaid
H S Purvis DC
we Eliah Mitchell & John Perry & John Goodman of the County of Roane & State of Tennessee do hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with said Burns who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 76 years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a a soldier of the  revolution & that we concur in
that opinion and we also certify that the resident Clergyman cannot be conveniently got here [illegible]
this Court
Sworn to in Court Oct 24. 1832
HS Purvis DC
Elijah Mitchell
John Percy his X Mark
John Goodman
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the
interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier
& served as he states & the court further certifies that it appears
to them that Elijah Mitchell & John Perry & John Goodman are credible persons & residents of the County of Roane & State of Tennessee & that their statement is entitled to credit
& also appears from their certificate that the residing Clergyman cannot be got here at this Court
W Galbraith
Wm B. Clark
John Carter
Page 6

I Henry Breazeale clerk of  the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for
[illegible] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of
Page 7

I Henry Breazeale Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for [illegible] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Laird Burns for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & private seal not having a seal of office the 27th October 1832
Henry Breazeale
his deput
Henry S Purvis
I certify that to my knowledge
Henry Breazeale is Clerk
of Roan County Court and Henry Purvis is his deputy
and that there is no seal of office for said County and the
attestation is genuine
January the 14th 1833
James Standefer M C
Page 8

May 5, 1932
BA-J/MOS
Laird Burns
S. 3091
Mrs. James G. Johnson
1810 Dandridge Pike
Knoxville Tennessee
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter requesting information in regard to Laird Burns, a soldier of the Revolution.
The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file
in the pension claim, S. 3091, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Laird Burns.
He enlisted in South Carolina and served with the South Carolina
troops as follows: from October, 1775, four months in
Captain [Joseph] Brown's Company in Colonel [John] Winn's Regiment; from March 2, 1776, at various times, no details given; from March, 1779, five
months in Captain [Philip] Walker's Company in Colonel [Edward Lacey] Lacy's Company; from June, 1780, eleven months in Captain Gabby's Company. He was in the
battles of Reedy River [Battle of Great Cane Brake] Coosawhatchie, Catawba River, Rocky Mount,
Hanging Rock, Camden, Fishing Creek and King's Mountain.
After his service he lived in Chester County, South Carolina.
In 1794 he moved to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1814 he
moved to Blount County, Tennessee, in 1826 he moved to Monroe County,
Tennessee, and in 1828 he moved to Roane County, Tennessee.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 24,
1832, at which time he was seventy-six years of age and was living in
Roane County, Tennessee.
The papers in this pension claim contain no data relative to
the family of the soldier.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
Page 9

1910 July 14 Hist to Mrs Sarah L. Watts
1910 Aug. 15 Mrs Sarah L. Watts
infd no bounty land allowed & no law which would entitle grand children
1924, Jan 29, Hist to Mrs. Tom Tarwater
1932 May 5 hist to Mrs James G. Johnson  mcs

Rev War
3091.
INVALID.
File No. 3091
Laird Burns
Pvt.  S.C. line

Act: June 7 /32
Index: -- Vol.A, Page 49 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 10

Laird Burns

from 1775 private
1 yr & 8 months
$66.66
pa
Henry Breazeale
Kingston
Tenn
Page 11

State of Tennessee
Roane County
Amended Declaration of Laird Burns
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in & for Roane County, & Laird Burns
who being duly Sworn deposeth & sayeth that in October 1775, he volunteered in Capt [Joseph] Browns Company as stated in his original declaration and served as there stated until sometime in January 1776, making to his best
recollection four months he was in engaged in various occasions but none of importance, until March 1779
when he again volunteered under Capt Walker, in the regiment commanded by Col. [Edward Lacey] Lacy, and marched and served as stated in his Original Declaration until
the first of August when he was disbanded at Charleston SC he believes according to the best of his recollection he served five months at this time. he was mustered out of service this time as well as at the first time. he was not engaged in actual warfare again until the year 1780, in June he again entered into service, under Capt Gably, and was attached to Gen [Thomas Sumter] Sumpter's Regiment as stated in his original and served as there stated until May 1781
as well as he recollects which was eleven months to the best of his recollection, that he was regularly engaged one year and eight months in the three hours mentioned
which is all he claims a pension for although he was almost constantly engaged during the most of the
War, but in such short tours, at any one time that he cannot by reason of his age recollect them distinctly
enough to make application for them or state more minutely then they are stated in his original which accompanys this amendment
Page 12

one year and eight months is all that he claims a pension for
s/ Laird Burns
Sworn to & subscribed before
me this 19th of April 1833
William Galbraith Justice of the peace for Roane County

State of Tennessee
Roan County
I Henry Breazeale Clerk of the
Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions
for said County & my deputy Henry S. Purvis do certify that William Galbraith before whom the foregoing affidavit was sworn to & Subscribed
is now & then was an acting Justice of the peace in & for said County duly commissioned and qualifed
& due faith & credit should be given to his act and  his signature is his own proper handwriting
Given under my hand & private seal
not having a Seal of office at Office
in Kingston the 22 day of April 1833
Henry Breazeale Clk
R his deputy
Henry S. Purvis

Tesstify that Henry Breazeale is Clerk of Roan County Court
and that Henry Purvis is his deputy and that his signature is genuine and that there is no seal of office for said
Court
22 April 1833
James Standefer MC
Page 13

[illegible]
Page 14

[illegible]
Page 15

[illegible]
Page 16

[stamp]
US PENSION OFFICE E JUL 9 1910

[ILLEGIBLE]
Page 17

[stamp]
JUL 11 1910

[illegible]
Page 18

MRS TOM TARWATER
608 CUMBERLAND ST
HARRIMAN TENN
Oct 25 1923
Comm of Pensions
Washington
Revolutionary War Section
Dear Sir:
Kindly send me the data
your office contains regarding
the following Revolutionary war
Pensions, including all family
data of
Roane Co. Tenn
Laird Burns age 85 in 1840
John Cox age 82 in 1840
and oblige - Mrs. Tom Tarwater
[stamp]
US PENSION OFFICE OCT 27 1923
Page 19

1810 Dandridge Pike
Knoxville Tenn
Veterans Administration
Washington D.C

Will you please send me
the Rev. War record in your office
of Laird Burns of the S.C. Line
who received pension from
Tennessee July 18, 1833
Respectfully
Mrs. James G. Johnson
Page 20

[Preprinted form. Most responses illegible]
file in this Bureau.
Re
ENLISTMENT APPOINTMENT
LENGTH OF SERVICE 
RANK  Private
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED
CAPTAIN [Joseph] Brown
[Philip] Walker
Gabby [unknown]
COLONEL [Edward Lacey] Lacy
STATE. S.C.
Battles engaged in, Reedy River, Coosawhatchie, Catawba River, Rocky Mount, Hanging Rock, Camden, Fishing Creek, Kings Mountain, Granby Fort
Residence of soldier at enlistment,
South Carolina
Date of application for pension,
Residence at date of application,
Age at date of application, 
Remarks:
Blount Co Tenn
Page 21

Record Division.
August 18, 1910
Mrs. Sarah L. Watts,
R. D. B. Box 21.A
Knoxville, Tennessee.
Madam;
In reply to your letter dated the 6"" and received the 10"" instant,
you are advised that a careful search of the records fails to show that
bounty land was ever allowed on account of the services of Laird Burns in the South Carolina troops, Revolutionary War.
There is no law which would entitle the grand children of said
soldier to bounty land.
Very respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.
Page 22

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
January 29, 1924
Mrs. Tom Tarwater
605 Cumberland St.
Harriman, Tenn.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War
pension claim, S. 3091, it appears that Laird Burns enlisted and
served in the South Carolina Troops as follows:
From October 1775, four months as private in Captain [Joseph] Brown's Company, Colonel [John] Winn's Regiment.
From March 2, 1776, at various times, no details given.
From March 1779, five months in Captain [Philip] Walker's Company, Colonel [Edward Lacey] Lacy's Regiment.
From June 1780, eleven months in Captain Gabby's Company.
He was in the battles of Reedy River [Battle of Great Cane Break], Coosawhatchie, Catawba River,
Rocky Mount, Hanging Rock, Camden, Fishing Creek and King's Mountain.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 24,
1832, while a resident of Roane County, Tennessee, aged seventy-six
years.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner
Page 23

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD
NAME Burns, Lawrence
GRADE Private
LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 8950
ISSUED February 5, 1800
to - not shown
Page 24

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD
NAME Burns, Michael
GRADE Private
LINE Pennsylvania
NUMBER 8931
ISSUED June 17, 179_ torn
to Francis Kirkpatrick, assignee