Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20812, Josiah Burton, N.H.
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(3-1776)
[column headings: SERVICE|[blank]|NUMBER|]
N.H.|Burton, Josiah|W.20812|
[blank]|Abigail|[blank]|
[end of columns]
CONTENTS
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[verso]
Rep
Payable to Polly Goodrich and Betsey Barnum only surviving children.
Rep.

[recto]
9.338.
Vermont Montpelier
Abigail Burton, dec'd widow of Josiah Burton ['who was a pensioner under the Act of' crossed[' out] Vt and who died on the 19th March 1814 of Hartford in the State of Vermont who was a private in the [blank] commanded by Captain [blank] of the Reg commanded by ['Col Warner' crossed out] Cilley in the ['Mass' crossed out]* line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Montpelier at the rate of 80 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836. and terminating on the 29 Oct 1840
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of May 1845 and sent to Stephen Thomas. W. Fairlee Ver't
Total amount, $[blank]
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by F. S. Evans Clerk,
Book D. Vol. 1. Page 123
*Continental Line W.D.G. Jan. 5, 1909
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5096
Abigail Burton widow of Josiah Vt
1514
Act 7. July 38
Scammel's (Scammell) Reg't
10 Dec'r 76-war-des'd-26.'82
Ira Davis Esqr
Norwich Vt
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State of Vermont
Windsor County ss} On this 4th day of October A.D. 1838. Personally appeared before the Probate Court of the District of Hartford Abagail Burton a resident of Norwich in the county of Windsor & State of Vermont aged 87 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 7th 1838 entitled "an act granting half pay & pensions to certain widows," That she is the widow of Josiah Burton, who was a Sergeant in the Army of the Revolution. That her said husband enlisted as she  recollects in Capt Wait's company in Col. Cilley's Regiment of the New-hampshire line in the year 1777 but in what month she cannot tell, that he served in said company for the term of three years, that he was in Gen'l Sullivan's excursion against the Indians, up to the Susquehanna in 1779. that when he entered the service he lived in Norwich aforesaid, and that she has no documentary proof of said service. 
She further declares that she was married to the said Josiah Burton on the 23d day of June 1785 that her husband the aforesaid Josiah Burton died on the 19th day of March 1814, 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  & ninety four viz., at the time above stated.
/s/Abigail Burton  
Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written, 
Before, /s/John S. Marcy Judge
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I Oel Billings Register of the Court of Probate of the District of Hartford do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abigail Burton for a pension. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 4" day of October AD 1838
/s/Oel Billings Register
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Betsey Barnum's Declaration
11537
Abigail Burton Dec'd 
Vt
Act July 7th '38
Please to Communicate with Stephen Thomas Agent.
West Fairlee, Vt.
m85 d14.
widow died 1840
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State of Vermont
Hartford District ss} On this 21st day of December A.D. 1843 personally appeared before the Probate Court of the District of Hartford, Betsey Barnum of Norwich in said District of Hartford aged 56 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 7th 1838, entitled, "an Act granting half pay & Pensions to certain widows." The she is the daughter of the widow Abiga(i)l Burton who died on the 29th day of October 1840. That the said Abiga(i)l was the widow of Josiah Burton who was a private in Army of the Revolution. and served as believes & had frequently heard him say in Col. Warner's Regiment for the term of three years, and that she thinks that he enlisted in the year 1777 or 1778. That the said Abiga(i)l was married to the said Josiah, in June 1785 and that the said Josiah died on the 19th day of March 1814, and that the only surviving children of the said Abiga(i)l Burton are herself the said Betsey Barnum, widow of Charles Barnum, & Polly Goodrich wife of Levi Goodrich of Norwich aforesaid. 
And she further says that the said Abiga(i)l was not married to the said Josiah prior to his leaving the service but that the marriage took place prior to the first day of January seventeen hundred ninety four, viz at the time above stated. 
/s/Betsy Barnum
Subscribed and sworn - Before /s/George E. Wales, Judge.
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State of Vermont
Hartford District ss} I Oel Billings Register of the Court of Probate of the District of Hartford aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Betsey Barnum for a pension. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Woodstock in said District this 21" day of December AD 1843. 
/s/Oel Billings Register.
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[typewritten letter]
Rev. War Section [initials: MMHF]

June 8, 1923

Mr. Dutee Allen Whelan
Mondovi, Wisconsin

Sir:
In response to your letter received 1" inst., I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 20812 it appears that while a resident of Norwich, Windsor County, Vermont Josiah Burton enlisted in 1777 and served as a Ser geant three years in Captain Wait's Company, Colonel Cilley's Regiment, New Hampshire troops. During the service he was wounded by a musket ball passing through his leg. He was in General Sullivan's Indian Expedition. He died March 19, 1814 in Norwich, Vermont.
Soldier married in said Norwich June 23, 1785 Abigail Colburn (or Colborn). Pension was allowed on her application executed October 4, 1838 while she was a resident of said Norwich, aged eighty-seven years. She died October 29, 1840 in said Norwich leaving two surviving children: Betsy, who in 1843 was aged fifty-six years,
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[typewritten letter continued]
the widow of Charles Barnum, and Polly, wife of Levi Goodrich, both daughters residents of Norwich, Vermont in 1845. 
The Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to Daniel or Dan Allen a Sergeant from Vermont. 
Very respectfully, 
[blank] Commissioner. 
[margin notes: (Soldier had a Bro. John.) {The man of Warner's Regt. was of Manchester, Vt. (see Vt. Archives p. 109) so that report is not used and N.H. Archives Vol. 2, p. 435 shows a Joseph of Cilley's Regt., so widow's statement is used.} AW. June 8, 1923}]
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[verso]
Decr. 6-1900 - Histy to Mrs. S. B. Shepardson Manchester Vt. 
1923-June 8-Hist. to Mr. Dutee Allen Whelan - MMHF.
1924-June 7-Hist. to Mrs. Wm. T. Hewitt, MMHF. 

[recto]
Revy WIDOW, &c. 
File No. 20812
Abigail Burton Widow of Josiah Burton
Priv. Rev. War
Act July 7" 1838
Index: - Vol. A, Page 105
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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1514 REJECTED
P.O. Abigail Burton
Service: [blank]
Enlisted: [blank], 18[blank]
Discharged: [blank], 18[blank]
Application filed: [blank], 18[blank]
Alleges: [blank]
Re-enlisted: [blank]
See O.W. Wid. File 20,812.
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5096
Rejected
Let Ira Davis July 23 '39
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11.537
Abigail Burton Dec'd Vt
Suspended 
Let to Stephen Thomas Feb 21. '45
Act July 7th '38
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I John Slafter of Norwich County of Windsor and State of Vermont of lawfull age depose & say that I have always resided in the town & that I an now Sixty Eight (68) years old 
That from the time I was 18 or 20 yrs old to the time of his death Josiah Burton a revolutionary lived a townsman of mine, and most of the time a near neighbor - That his widow Abigail Burton died in 1840 - That the s'd Josiah died in 1814 - That they lived together as ['man' crossed out] Husband & wife till his death 
That I never heard any person express a doubt of their being Lawfully married - That they had two children who are living at this time Viz Polly Goodrich & Betsy Barnum They both live within 100 rods of my house
That during the said Burton's life he shewed me a scar made by a musket ball passing thru his leg which he said was done in the revolutionary war - and further deponent saith not
/s/John Slafter
'Husband' interlined before signing
Sworn to before me at Norwich aforesaid this 6th day of March 1845 And I hereby certify that John Slafter who subscribed the above deposition is personally known to me and that he is a credible witness
/s/Joel Morris Justice of the Peace
I, Norman Williams, Clerk of the County Court of the County of Windsor in the state of Vermont do hereby certify that Joel Morris, who has signed the foregoing is a Justice of the Peace for the county of Windsor in the state of Vermont and that the above is his signature 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court, this seventh day of March AD 1845 at Woodstock in the state of Vermont
/s/N. Williams, Clerk
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I Jerome Hutchinson of Norwich in the County of Windsor & State of Vermont aged 76 years depose & say that I was present at the wedding of Josiah Burton & Abigail Colburn. Said Marriage took place in this Town, in the year 1785. and I think in the month of June. for I well recollect that it was previous to the commencement of haying & I think I was hoeing corn on the day of said marriage, for the said Burton's Father.
And I also further say that I have been acquainted with the said Josiah & Abigail ever since. The said Burton died as I think in the Spring of 1814. and the said Abigail has remained his widow ever since. and further say not. 
/s/Jerome Hutchinson
State of Vermont
Windsor County ss} Personally appeared the above named Jerome Hutchinson & subscribed & made oath to the foregoing this 28th day of March AD. 1839. before me & I hereby certify that he is a substantial & credible witness. 
/s/Wm. Loveland Just. Peace
State of Vermont
Windsor County ss} County Clerk's Office Woodstock March 29th 1839. 
I hereby certify that Wm. Loveland the above certifying magistrate is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County duly qualified to administer oaths & the above signature is genuine. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and affix the Seal of said County Court the day & year last above written. 
/s/Benj'n Swan Clerk
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Abigail Burton deceased
act. 1838
Please to Communicate with Stephen Thomas West Fairlee V.t.
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I Paul W. Brigham of Norwich in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, aged Sixty nine  years depose and say, that I was well acquainted with the widow Abiga(i)l Burton who died in this town some four or five years since. that she was the widow of Josiah Burton, who died many years since. I was well acquainted with the said Josiah & Abigail as early as, the year seventeen hundred and ninety, and that they lived together as man and wife from that time, to the time of his decease which was some thirty years since. I have resided in this town sixty three years, & have no doubt that the said Josiah and Abigail were legally married. 
/s/Paul W. Brigham
[margin note: The words "from that time" interlined before signing IRA DAVIS Justice of Peace]
State of Vermont
Windsor County ss} Norwich March 29 1845 Then Paul W. Brigham who is a witness of strict integrity, personally appeared and subscribed & made oath to the foregoing affadavit. 
Before me IRA DAVIS Justice of the Peace
STATE OF VERMONT, 
Windsor County,....ss.} I, Norman Williams, Clerk of the County Court of the County of Windsor in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that Ira Davis is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the 31" day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four and will expire the thirtieth day of November next, and that his signature above written is genuine. 
[court seal affixed] Given under my hand and the seal of said County Court, this 31 day of March. A.D. 1845
/s/N. Williams Clerk.
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State of Vermont
Hartford District ss} I Oel Billings Register of the Court of Probate holden at Woodstock in and for said District, do hereby certify, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to said Court, that Josiah Burton of Norwich in said District, died at said Norwich on the 19" day of March 1814, and left a widow by the name of Abigail Burton. and that said Abigail died at said Norwich on the 29" day of October 1840. and that at the widow's death, the only Children of the said Josiah & Abigail Burton then living , were Polly Goodrich and Betsey Barnum, and the said Polly & Betsey are now living in said Norwich. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Woodstock in said District, this seventh day of March 1845. 
/s/Oel Billings Register.
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Pension office
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[handwritten letter]
Norwich April 1st 1839

Dr Sir, 
I herewith transmit the application of Abiga(i)l Burton for a Pension, under the act of July 7th 1838. 
In September Last I transmitted the application of Mindwell Strong & was informed under date of Dec. 15th that of Mrs. Hatch was forwarded some months since. - have not their turns come yet?
Respectfully yours
/s/Ira Davis
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I Hezekiah Goodrich Aged 87 yrs depose and say that I was a soldier in the revolutionary war & am now a pensioner, That I was well acquainted with Josiah Burton of Norwich Vermont and with his family connexions. That the said Burton did served in the greater part of the war he served previous to the year 1780 in the south part of the State - He was in Col Warner's Regiment for several years I  think more than two years - that for many years after the close of the war lived a neighbor & townsman of said Burton and frequently heard him speak of Col. Warner and relate many circumstances in regard to the regiment while under his command - I have heard him name the Captain he served under but cannot remember it, nor am I able to state whether he was all the time under one & the same Captain or not - that he was a man of much courage & enjoyed the reputation of having been one of the best soldiers of his regt 
And further that the said Josiah Burton was married to Abigail Colborn (Colburn) and lived with her until death & further I saith not
/s/Hez'h Goodrich
Page 23

State of Vermont
Orange County ss} Hezekiah Goodrich appeared At Thetford this 3d day of August A.D. 1844 and made oath that the within deposition subscribed by him is true
Before me /s/William Sweatt Jus. Peace
I hereby certify that Hezekiah Goodrich who subscribed the within deposition is personally known to me and that he is a person of truth and that he is a credible witness 
/s/William Sweatt Jus. Peace
Page 24

STATE OF VERMONT,
Orange County,....ss.} I, Calvin Blodgett, Clerk of the County Court of the County of Orange in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that William Sweatt Esqr is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three and will expire the thirtieth day of November next, and that his signature hereto affixed is genuine. 
[court seal affixed] Given under my hand and the seal of said County Court, this 21st day of October A.D. 1844
/s/Calvin Blodgett Clerk.
Page 25

I Jerome Hutchinson of Norwich, in the County of Windsor & State of Vermont aged 80 years depose & say that I was well acquainted with the widow Abiga(i)l Burton late of this town deceased - that she was the widow of Josiah Burton who was a Soldier in the Revolutionary war, and enlisted in the fore part of the war, I think in 1777.
I was present at the time the said Abiga(i)l was married to the said Josiah Burton. I was at that  time at work for said Burton's father, & it was the  year that the Legislature met in this Town, which I think was 1785 & I believe in the month of June, for I very well recollect that I was having corn in the field, when John Burton came & invited me to go to the wedding of his brother Josiah, & I left my work & went, they were married by Elisha Burton Esqr at his own house, in the month of June Seventeen hundred & eighty five, as I believe
/s/Jerome Hutchinson X His mark
Witness /s/Ira Davis
  "  Nathan Davis Jr
Page 26

State of Verm't 
Windsor County ss} August 1844 Jerome Hutchinson who is a credible witness personally appeared & subscribed & made oath to the foregoing affidavit 
Before me IRA DAVIS Just Peace
[court seal affixed]
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Town Clerks office
Norwich Windsor County Vermont. 
November 4, 1844
I hereby certify that I have examined the records of Marriages now in this office and unable to find any Record of the marriage of Josiah Burton & Abigal Colburn.
Attest /s/Wm. E. Lewis Town Clerk
State of Vermont
Windsor County ss} At Norwich this 4th day of November A.D. 1844 Personally appeared William E. Lewis & subscribed & made oath to the foregoing certificate
Before me IRA DAVIS Justice of Peace
Page 28

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Com'r of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 29

[handwritten letter]
West Fairlee Vt April 5th 1845

My Dear Sir
I herewith forward additional testimony of of the marriage of Mrs Abigail Burton together with the certificate of the Probate Court certifying to the time of the decease of her late husband Josiah Burton & to the time of her decease, which I respectfully Submit to your consideration, trusting that the evidence will now be Satisfactory - you will please communicate with me - 
I am Very Respectfully Your Ob. Serv't
/s/Stephen Thomas 
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Com'r of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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Town Clerks office Norwich Vt
April 1st 1839. 
I hereby certify that I have carefully examined the records of marriages in this office, & after a diligent search am unable to find any record of the marriage of Josiah Burton & Abigal Colburn. 
Attest /s/IRA DAVIS Town Clerk
[margin notes: Decr. 10.76-war-deserted 26 apl 82]
Page 31

No 11537
Abigail Burton dec'd widow of Josiah
Vt
act 7 July 1838
adm'd 2 years private
$80 per ann
commencing on 4 March 1836 and terminating on 29 Oct 1840. the day of her death
payable to Polly Goodrich and Betsey Barnum only surviving children of Abigail Burton dec'd
Stephen Thomas 
West Fairlee Vermont
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Stephen Thomas
Feb 21. 45
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[handwritten letter]
[margin note: 462]
Pension Office
Feby 21. 45.

Sir
The papers in the case of Abiga(i)l Burton widow of Josiah Burton dec'd claiming a pension under the Act of July 7th 38 have been examined and filed. The Courts should certify under seal the day on which the claimant died and the names of the children who survived her. The service is sufficiently proved. 
When recourse is had to parole testimony to establish the date of a marriage it should be of the most clear and undoubted kind and there can be no difficulty in a thickly settled neighbourhood in ['adducing' crossed out] procuring respectable and intelligent persons who can write their names to swear to the fact of the parties living together as man and wife at a specific time within the limitation of the law. 
Stephen Thomas Esq
West Fairlee Vt
11.537. Act July 7th 38
Page 34

State of Vermont
Secretary of State's Office
Montpelier July 5, 1844
[state seal affixed] I certify that there is on file in this Office a paper purporting to be a "Return of the Commissioned, non-commissioned officers, and privates in Col. Seth Warner's Reg't who belong to the State of Vermont, and who are entitled to be made good the depreciation of their wages, agreeable to a resolve of y. Gen'l Assembly of said State"; On which Roll is the name of "Josiah Burton," with an allowance for three years service as a private, commencing January 1st 1777 and ending January 1st 1780. - 
which paper appears to have been duly authenticated. 
Given under my hand and the seal of this office this 5" day of July AD 1844. 
/s/Ferrand F. Merrill
Deputy Sec'y of State
[margin notes: Vt. Archives page 109 gives the above Soldier as a resident of Manchester, Bennington Co. Vt, at enlistment, so could not be this woman's husband who then lived Norwich Vt]
Page 35

Ira Davis 
July 23d '39
O.C.
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[handwritten letter]
[margin note:  449]
War Dep Pen: off
23d July 29 

Sir
The claim of Mrs. Abigail Burton widow of Josiah Burton dec'd under the act of 7 July 38 has been examined and disallowed - 
It is established by the rolls that her late husband enlisted into Scammel's (Scammell) reg't [margin note: never alleges this] of the N.H. Line on 10 Decr 76 for the War and deserted on 26 apl 1782. 
By this act he forfeited all claim to the provisions of the act of 7. June 32 if living at the time of its passage and the act of July 7. '38 accords to her such pension as he might have been entitled to under that of 7 June '32 - 
Her papers are placed on our files
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[handwritten letter]
Detroit May 5 1924. 
Dept of Interior
To the Commissioner
Dear Sir
Will you kindly send me the war and pension record of Josiah Burton of Manchester Vermont. He enlisted in Warner's regiment Jan 1, 1777 for three years - he was in engagement of Hubbardton - He had a son Elijah and daughter Jerusha - the above I found in the [illegible] in Munson's History of Vt. 
Very Respectfully yours
/s/May M. Hewitt
(Mrs William T) 2003 Clairmount Av
Detroit, Mich
[receipt stamp: U.S. PENSION OFFICE W MAY 6 1924]
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[typewritten letter]
[margin note: 1.F.W.E.]
DUTEE A. WHELAN MONDOVI, WISCONSIN,
Buffalo and Pepin Counties
Member: 
Committee on Judiciary
Committee on Insurance and Banking
[picture of state house]
WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE,
ASSEMBLY CHAMBER.
MADISON

May 30, 1923

Hon. Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington D.C. 
[receipt stamp: U.S. PENSION OFFICE JUN 1 1923]
Dear Sir: 
Would you be able to give me information concerning the Revolutionary soldier, Sergt. Dan Allen, first-under the command of Capt. N.  Smith in Aug. 1777; later under Lt. Solomon Soper's command in Oct. and Nov. 1778; later under a Gideon Ormsby's company in Col. Ira Allen's Reg. in March 1780; later in Capt. Jacob Odel's Co., Oct. 1780; later saw service in  Oct. 1781 and April 1784? Any information you may have regarding him or his ancestry will be gratefully received.
Where did the family originally reside?
[margin note: not as described]
I would also like to obtain information concerning the Rev. Soldier Josiah Burton, with Co., Seth Warner's Continental Regulars (Vermont).
Sergt. Dan Allen was also from Vermont and both, I believe, were my ancestors in direct line, and I am therefore interested and anxious to learn all that I can concerning them and their antecedents.
When giving this information, would you also cite a list of the books where this information may be obtained? Thanking you very much for your kind consideration, I am,
Very truly yours,
/s/Dutee Allen Whelan
[receipt stamp: U.S. PENSION OFFICE JUN 1 1923]
Page 39

[typewritten letter]
[margin note: MMHF own]
Rev. and 1812 Wars Section

June 7, 1924

Mrs. William T. Hewitt
2003 Clairmount Ave.
Detroit, Mich.

Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 20812 it appears that Josiah Burton, while a resident of Norwich, Windsor County, Vermont, enlisted in 1777 and served as a Sergeant three years in Captain Wait's Company, Colonel Cilley's Regiment, New Hampshire troops. During the service he was wounded by a musket ball passing through his leg. He was in General Sullivan's Indian Expedition. He
died March 18, 1814 in Norwich, Vermont.
Soldier married in said Norwich June 23, 1785 Abigail Colburn (or Colborn). Pension was allowed on her application executed October 4, 1838 while she was a resident of Norwich, aged eighty-seven years. She died October 29, 1840 in said Norwich leaving two surviving children : Betsy who in 1843 was aged fifty-six years, the
Page 40

[typewritten letter continued]
widow of Charles Barnum, and Polly wife of Levi Goodrich, both daughters residents of Norwich, Vermont in 1845.
The above noted is the only soldier named Josiah Burton found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.