Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1813, Burrel Cato, S.C.
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( 3-1776 ) SERVICE S.C. Cato , Burrel NUMBER R. 1813
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35,265 Burrell, Cato Mississippi
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proven by the County  This case of B. Cato is a very doubtful claim . No claim under the act of ' 32 can be admitted without positive proof as to service
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[ State of Mississippi Jefferson County ] SS. On this the twenty seventh day of September  A.D. 1841 personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable  the Probate  Court of said County now sitting at the Court House thereof at Fayette, Burrell Cato, aged seventy seven 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as here after stated, to wit : That he was drafted and entered the service of the United States as a private in the Militia of the State of South Carolina , on or about the 1st day of June A.D. 1781 , That  the Captain of the company in which he was first drafted and served was named James Clark. That the Major in command of the Regiment with which this declarant first served was named Gambly [John or William B. Gamble] (the name and number of said Regiment, this declarant cannot now remember), and that said Regiment was  under the command of General Francis Marion. That the corps with which this declarant was connected was principally  employed in scouting parties for the space of one month, when this de-
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clarant with the other members of the company  returned home with the permission of their officers, with instructions to hold himself in  readiness for service at a minutes warning. That this declarant  on or about the 25th day of July in the year  last aforesaid was again called into active service and was attached to Captain __ Thornton's  company ( also under the command of General Marion ) and served for upwards of one month, and until after the Battle of the Eutaw Springs. That this declarant with the corps  to which he was attached ( being a company of foot ) was within a few miles of said battle, but could not reach the field in time to participate in it. That after said Battle this declarant  and the corps to which he was attached assisted in guarding the prisoners taken by the American Troops at said Battle, until about the 15th day of September A.D. 1780  when he was again permitted to  return home upon the same terms as before. That on or about the  15th day of December  A.D. 1781  ( this declarant being then a minor ) he  removed with his  father from his said Father's then  residence on the  Waters of Black River, about twenty miles from Camden , to the waters of Lynch's Creek - a distance of about forty miles. That on or about the 1st day of February  A.D. 1782  this declarant was again drafted into the company of Capt. John Watts, and marched to Murray's ferry
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on the Santee River where he remained one month and was then permitted to return home upon the same conditions as before. That on or about the 15th day of October A.D.  1782  this declarant was again called into service and marched with a party under an ensign  ( whose name this declarant  has forgotten ) to a place called the Four Hole Bridge where he served one month, when he was finally discharged. This declarant  furthers saith that when in active service as aforesaid , and in the intervals of service above mentioned  ( during the regulations to which he was subjected requiring his constant  readiness to  enter the service at a minutes warning )  he was not engaged in any civil pursuit . This declarant  further saith that he knew General Sumter and General Marion as well as all the other officers above named. That he has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. This declarant on oath aforesaid further saith that owing to old age and infirmity, and consequent loss of memory he cannot make this his declaration any more specific as to dates, names of officer, the  Country through which he marched , etc.  He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present , and declares that his
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name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State. Subscribed and sworn to in open Court this day and year aforesaid. Burrel Cato ( signed ) Edwin Mc Key ( signed ) Clerk  [ State of Mississippi Jefferson County ]ss. We, John J Robertson a clergyman residing in said County and Neill Buie  also residing in the  County aforesaid, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Burrell Cato , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration . That we believe him to be seventy seven years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. John J Robertson ( signed )  Neill Buie junior ( signed ) Edwin Mc Key ( signed ) clk  Answers of Burrell Cato the declarant in the foregoing declaration  to the following interrogatories prescribed by the  War Department, and propounded by the Court aforesaid to the said Burrell Cato; which answers were taken in
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writing by order of said Court:
1st Interrogatory – "Where and in what year were you born?"
Answer. – "On the waters of the Drowning Creek in the state of North Carolina, in the year 1764."
2nd Interrogatory – "Have you any record of your age?"
Answer. – "I have not."
3rd Interrogatory – "Where were you living when called into service: where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?"
Answer. – "When first called into service I lived upon the waters of Black River, in the State of
South Carolina, about 20 miles from Camden: After the War, I lived upon the waters of Lynches Creek, about 40 miles from my former residence, in the State of South Carolina until the year 1816: – I then removed to near a place called Fort Saint Stevens, on the Tombigbee River where I remained one year: I then removed to Wayne County, in the State of Mississippi, where I remained about 7 years, and then removed to my present residence near Jno Leans Store in the Eastern part of the County of Jefferson, aforesaid,
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at which latter place I have resided
uninterruptedly from thence to until now."
4th Interrogatory – "How were you called into service?" Etc.
Answer – "I was drafted."
5th Interrogatory – "State the names of some of the regular Officers who were with the troops where you served: Such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general Circumstances of your service."
Answer. – "The only regular Officers whom I can recollect as being with the Troops during my service were Generals Marion and Sumter: I cannot designate by name or number, any of the Continental or Militia Regiments, or detail any of the general circumstances of my Service more
fully than I have already done in my foregoing Declaration."
6 Interrogatory – "Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service; and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?"
Answer. – "I do not remember that I ever received a written discharge – I was discharged, with the other members of my Company, near
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the close of the war, and my recollection is that our discharge was mostly verbal. 7th Interrogatory . State the names of persons to whom you  are known in your present neighborhood , and who can testify as to your character for veracity , and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. Answer. The Hon. John M Whiting , Judge of Probate of Jefferson County , and Mssrs. Archibald Buie, Hugh Montgomery, Neill Buie, John Mitchell and Gilbert Buie. And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter , and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that Burrell Cato  the applicant was a  Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court  further certifies that it appears to them that John J. Robertson who has signed the foregoing certificate is a clergyman  in said County of Jefferson, and that Neill Buie who has also signed the same is resident of said County of Jefferson, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Jn. M. Whitney ( signed ) Judge of Probate of Jefferson County and State of Mississippi
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[ The State of Mississippi Jefferson County ] ss. I, Edwin Mc Key Clerk of the Probate Court of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing  seven pages contain the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Burrell Cato for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court  this 27th day of September  A.D. 1841. Edwin Mc Key ( signed / sealed ) Clk
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1813 Burrell Cato REJECTED
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Rejected, did not serve six months, see letter 8 Augt '36 to Chs Clark , Fayette let James R. Mead 11 Augt 1841
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25,265 Burrell Cato Mississippi Rejected See let 25 Oct. 41 G.N. Wilcox did not serve six months. Hon Geo. W. Jones Jan 22/58   1813 Act 7 June 1832 vertical note ) ( Reg 3 Mar 55 - 190643 )
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31,660 Declaration of Burrell Cato under the act of June 7th  1832. Mississippi  Chs Clark, Fayette
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A declaration of Burrell Cato  In order to obtain the benefit of Act of Congress of June 7th  1832. [ State of Mississippi Jefferson County ] ss. On this twenty fourth day of February in the year  1834 personally appeared before me Jno M. Whiney  Judge of the Probate of said County  Burrell Cato  a resident of  said County   of seventy years of age who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by  the act of Congress of June 7th 1832. That he was drafted into the service of the United States with Captain  James Clark in the year 1781  and during nine months of said year he was in active service four months in monthly tours, two months he served under Capt. Jas. Clark, one month under  Ensign Wm. Naill . At the time he entered the service  he was living in what is now Sumter District in South Carolina, he was in no battles. He accompanied Maj. [John or William B.] Gamble  under Col. Lee to [Illegible] in 1781. As he was young at the time of his being in service the names of other officers he cannot recollect. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity  except the present and declares that
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his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency of any State, Sworn to  & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. Burrell Cato ( signed )  And the said Court do hereby  declare their opinion  that the above named  applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. I, Philip Dixon Clerk of the Court of Probate of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the applicati9on of Burrell Cato for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 24th day of February in the year 1834. Philip Dixon ( signed ) clk  We William Montgomery  a clergyman residing in said County and Hiram Baldwin residing in said County do hereby certify that e are well acquainted with Burrell Cato  who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration . that we believe him to be seventy years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution  , and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid . William Montgomery ( signed ) Hiram Baldwin ( signed )
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories  prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that  William Montgomery  who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in said  County  and that Hiram Baldwin who also singed the same is a resident of said County , and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. I, Philip Dixon Clerk of the Court of Probate of said Count do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of Burrell Cato for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto  set my hand and seal of office the day and year first above written . Philip Dixon ( signed  ) clk
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Oct 20 1841 Miss Act 1832 Burrell Cato ( vertical on page ) Hon J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions City of Washington
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Fayette Miss. Sept. 27th 1841   
Hon. J.L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Sir, Enclosed I  hand you the application of Burrell Cato , a Revolutionary soldier for a Pension. If  consistent with your other engagements, I beg you early and favorable attention to this application. Mr. Cato's whole property, consisting of a little free hold of a few acres is now under levy, and will be sold on or before the first of our Circuit Court (in November next ) unless he gets the money to discharge the debt. Mr. Cato is a man of excellent character , but ignorant and imbecile and has but a few years to live. I hope they may be made comfortable by an act of Justice on the part of the Government. If Mr. Cato's name should be place upon the Penson Roll, pray inform him by letter to this place, Fayette Jefferson Co. Miss. Your obt servt G.H. Wilcox ( signed )
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31,660 Burnett Cato Mississippi Application for a Pension ( post mark )[  FAYETTE __ 19 ] ( vertical on page )  FREE War Department Washington D.C.
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Fayette Miss. July 19th 1834 Enclosed is the declaration of an old soldier  and worthy though indigent citizen in order to obtain a pension under the act of Congress of June 7th 1832. The statute of  1831 - 1832  has  never been sent to this  County  & I have  never seen a copy of the said act but from  what I can learn from others  , the within declaration is in conformity  with the act and the  printed instructions of the department. Any communication on the subject will be gladly  .. ( illegible) by the Hon. Secretary. . Most obt & humble srvt Chas Clark ( signed )
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( post mark  iIlegible ) Free Hon Francis Granger P.M. Washington City District of Columbia  U.S. ( upside down on page ) ( Respectfully referred to the Department of War .. illegible  ) ( Pension office Miss )
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Fayette Jefferson Co. Mississippi To Hon Francis Granger  Dear Sir, I hope you will pardon me for the liberty of  writing to you respecting an old revolutionary here in this County  who has never drawn his  pension for his services during the revolutionary  war. His name is Burrell Cato or Cater . He was a soldier under  Gen. Francis Marion of South Carolina. As I am not accustomed to this kind of business I have taken the liberty of asking your advice upon the subject, which we have to procure in order to obtain the pension. There may be some difficulty  to prove that he was  soldier but at the same time  there is not a single person in this section of the county but what believes Mr. Cato  or Cater was a soldier in the revolution. I think his name might be found on the old rolls at Washington Cit. Your answer will be expected soon. I have the honor to be your most respectfully in haste James R Mead ( signed )