Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 20205, Peter Burns, S.C.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
S.C.
Burns, Peter
NUMBER
R. 20205
CONTENTS
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1632
For the purpose of obtaining the benefits of an Act entitled an Act for the relief of Certain Surviving officers and Soldiers of the army of the Revolution approved on the 15th of May 1828. I Peter Burns of St. Michael Township in the County of Madison and State of Missouri, do hereby declare that I was an officer in the Continental line of the army of the Revolution and served as such to the end of the war at which period I was a Captain in the Second Regiment of the line. My Commission has been lost, owing to my wandering and unsettled state. And I also declare that I afterwards received a certificate (Commonly called a Commutation Certificate) for a sum equal to the amount of five years full pay which sum was offered by the resolve of Congress of the 22d of March 1783 instead of the half pay for life to which I was entitled under the resolve of the 21st of October 1780.
And I do further declare that I have received of the United States as a pensioner since the 3d day of March 1826. No money.
Peter Burns
Subscribed and sworn to Before me this 23d day of Decr. 1828
E. B. Herrick J.P.
Before me a Justice of the peace in the County of Madison and State of Missouri personally appeared this day Thompson Crawford and Elisha Bennett of County aforesaid who did severally make oath that Peter Burns by whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed is generally reputed and believed to have been an officer in the army of the revolution in manner as therein stated.
Witness my hand this 23d day of December 1828.
E. B. Herrick J.P.
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State of Missouri
County of Madison set.
I Thomas Moseley Junr. Clerk of the County Court for the County of Madison in the State of Missouri do certify that Ezekiel B. Herrick, before whom the foregoing affidavits were sworn to was at that time and now is an acting Justice of the Peace, duly commissioned and qualified as such for said County and duly empowered to administer oaths, and to all his official acts as such full faith and credit are due and ought to be given.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my private seal, there being, as yet, no seal of said County Court provided. Done at office in Frederick Town this 1st day of April A.D. 1829
Tom Moseley Junr. Clerk
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April 4, 1932
BA-J King CW

Mrs. Joseph Strickland
Robert E. Lee, Apt. 615
Nashville, Tennessee

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter requesting information in regard to Peter Burns, who you state was a captain in Colonel Wade Hampton's South Carolina regiment.
The data contained herein are obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, R. 20205, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Peter Burns.
It is alleged that he served as captain in Colonel Alexander Martin's North Carolina regiment, as captain in Colonel Wade Hampton's South Carolina regiment, that he was in the battles of Camden, Eutaw Springs and Stony Camp, and that he served until the close of the war.
He stated that he moved after the Revolution from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to the frontiers of Georgia and in 1802 moved to Missouri.
He applied for pension December 28, 1828, then a resident of Michael Township, Madison County, Missouri
The claim was not allowed as proof of service as required by the pension law was not furnished.
There are no data relative to his family.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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Rejected
Ex'r. OLD WAR.
No. 20205
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
Peter Burns
Captain
Col Hampton S.C. Line
Revy War
REJECTED
Died at
other claim.
Not allowed Act 1828
Clerk.
Application filed:
Attorney:
P. O.

[sideways writing]
1932 Apr 4 - Hist to Mrs. Joseph Strickland
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Thomas Moseley
for Peter Burns
Red 11 May 1829.

[upside down writing]
Free
Frederick Town Mo.
20th April
Honr. Samuel D. Ingham
Secretary of the Treasury of U.S.
City of Washington D.C.
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Free
Frederick Town Mo.
20th April
Honr. Samuel D. Ingham
Secretary of the Treasury of U.S.
City of Washington D.C.

[upside down writing]
Thomas Moseley Jr.
for Peter Burns
Red 11 May 1829.
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Frederick Town Madison County Missouri
Hon S. D. Ingham
Secretary of the Treasury United States

Sir,
At the special instance and request of Capt. Peter Burnes Senr. I herewith enclose to you the documents of said Burnes preparatory of obtaining his pension as an officer of the Revolutionary Army.
Whether Capt. Peter Burnes Senr. has made out his case, to be a good one, is a matter to be, I presume, determined by yourself, and the Laws of Congress on the subject of Pensioners. But it is confidently hoped that Mr. Burnes's case is embraced by the Law of Congress approved 15th May 1828. At the advanced age of Mr. Burnes and the long laps of time he may not have complied in every minutia, prescribed by your late predecessor, but presume enough has been done, to enable him, in the decline of life, to receive some remuneration, for his past services in the struggle "that tried mens patriotism"
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I have had a personal acquaintance with Capt. Burnes for nearly Ten years - and from his character generally, and to some this ten years had men of this nation to whom he stands nearly stated to wit the Honl. John Rowan of NY &c. I do most heartily lend my feeble aid, in giving him some assistance, to obtain his pension. Capt. Burnes requests me to state the following of himself He (Capt. Burnes) is Eighty three years age, he is in extreme indigence. He recd, his com. of Capt. from the Governor of N.C. he served under the Continental officers first under Col. Alexander Martin and afterwards under Col. Wade Hampton who were commanded by Genls. Gates & Green. He was in the Battle of the Eutaw Springs, the Battle faught at Camdon & Stony Camp besides several skirmishes. He says that immediately after the end of the Revolution, he removed from his residence in Mecklenburgh County N.C. to the frontier of Georgia where he resided until the year 1802 at which time he moved, to this Country where he has resided ever since. It is a fact within my own knowledge, that Capt. Burnes is as poor as it is well possible for a man to be and that he does live entirely upon the charity of his friends & neighbours, and if not shortly received by Congressional provision, that he must become a County charge. Ignorant myself of the routine of business of the Departments over which you have the honor of
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presiding-- this communication may come to you in an uncooth or awkard manner-- But I presume that substance is much more important, in this case, than etiquette or official formality.
I am requested by Capt. Burnes that should he be so fortunate as to be placed upon and received as a pensioner under the act of Congress to which we have already adverted to, that you will do him the kindness, so to inform him, and that in this event he will authorise some friend, here, or at Washington to draw his pension, and begs that in the above event you will give him such information, early, as to enable him to get his money with as little delay as possible.
You will have the goodness to address Capt Burnes to the place, named at the head of this letter, to my care.
With great regard, I am [illegible]
your Obt. Svt.
Thomas Moseley Junr.
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REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
11 May 1829

Peter Burns of - in the County of Madison in the State of Missouri has applied to the Secretary of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled "An Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the army of the Revolution,” approved on the 15th of May, 1828. He states that he was as an officer on the Continental line, and served as such to the end of the war, at which period he was a Captain in Col. Hampton's regiment of the S Carolina line; and that he received commutation certificates for the five years full pay granted by the resolve of 22 March, 1783; and, further, that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of March, 1826, Nothing dollars, paid to him by the agent in the State of
The Third Auditor is requested to report how far these several statements are corroborated by the records in his office.
By order of the Secretary
F A Dickins.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
THIRD AUDITOR'S OFFICE,
13th. May 1829
It does not appear by the records in this office, that final settlement certificates have been issued for the commutation of five years full pay to Capt. Peter Burns in the South Carolina line. It further appears that Peter Burns to is not now on the pension list of any agency, and has not been since the 3d. March 1826. The Revolutionary records in this office furnish no information whatever in relation to the services of Capt. Peter Burns of the South Carolina line.
Robert Hagman And.

/correct/
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War Depart. Bounty land Office
15 May 1829
The records of this Office do not shew that Peter Burns of the S. Carolina line ever received or is entitled to bounty land of the United States.
Robert Tayler
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State of Illinois
Sangamon County
This day personally came before me Asa S Shaw a Justice of the Peace in and for said County John Purvis and made oath that he was well acquainted with Peter Burns that said Burns was a Captain in the Regular service during the whole Revolutionary War in the Regiment under the command of Col. Wade Hampton under the general command of Genl. Sumpter in the State of South Carolina and that this affiant served in the Company commanded by said Burns, and moreover this affiant States that it was generally reputed and believed that said Burns was a Captain in the Army of the Revolution in manner as above stated.
Witness my hand & seal this 3rd day of August 1829
John Purvis
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 3d day of August 1829
Asa S Shaw Justice Peace

State of Illinois
Sangamon County
I Charles R Matheny Clerk of the Sangamon County Court do hereby certify that Asa S. Shaw whose name appears to the above is an acting Justice of the peace duly Sworn & authorised in and for Sangamon County and that full faith and credit is due to all his official acts as such.
I testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and affixed my seal of Office August 4th 1829
C. R. Matheny Clerk

State of Illinois
Sangamon County
I Asa S Shaw presiding Justice of the Sangamon County Court do hereby certify that Charles R Matheny is Clerk of said Court & that his certificate is in due form. Witness my hand & seal at Springfield this 4th day of August 1829.
Asa S Shaw Jus Peace
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State of Missouri
County of S. Genevieve Set
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace in the County aforesaid John Campbell and who being sworn on his oath says that he is well acquainted with Peter Burns of Marion County of said state, and that he knows the said Peter Brave whilst he was a Captain in Colonel Wade Hampton's Regiment of South Carolina during the Revolutionary War and that said Captain Burns was discharged to good service at the time of the Revolutionary War in the State of South Carolina and that the said Captain Burns is now at least seventy-nine years of age.
John Campbell
Sworn to and subscribed before me the Sixth day of April One thousand Eight hundred and twenty five.
Tho. Oliver JP

State of Missouri
County of S. Genevieve Set
I Joseph D Grafton Clerk of the County Court of the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Thomas Oliver, who certified the foregoing affidavit was alive on the day of the date of his said certificate, and was at that time an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County, and was, as such, duly empowered to administer oaths.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said County, at my office in St. Genevieve in said County, this 3d day of January Anno Domini 1829.
Jos. D Grafton Clerk
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Thomas Moseley
for Peter Burns
Recd. 19 Sept. 1829

[upside down writing not transcribed as it is on next image]
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Frederick Town Mo.
Augt. 22nd 1829

Free

Honl. Saml. D. Ingham
Secretary of the Treasury
Washington City DC

[upside down writing not transcribed as it is on prior image]
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Frederick Town, Missouri
August 22nd 1829

Honl. S D Ingham
Secty. of Treasury

Sir,
Capt Peter Burnes, who lately from this place, remitted to you his papers as a Revolutionary soldier, to obtain a pension under the act of Congress of May 1828, has received your reply to his letter with the enclosures. 
The old man, has, agreeable to the best advise he is able to get upon the subject, thought proper to enclose you the affidavit of John Purviance taken in the State of Illinois (duly certified). Capt Burnes desires me, to ask the kindness of the Secretary, to examine the enclosed affidavit and communicate the result to him at this place to my care. It is needless to repeat the old mans necessities & wants suffice it to say he is very aged and indigent and is supported by the charity of Strangers.
With great respect
Your Obt Svt
Thomas Moseley Jr.
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Apt 615 Robt E Lee
Nashville, Tenn
Feb. 25, 1932

Dear Mr. Hiller,
Hardly know how to thank you for the much desired information you sent me File Reference BA-J/MCS. Will you please help me again? I am very anxious to have Rev. war record and all the Family information possible, especially names of children of Captain Peter Burns in Wade Hampton's South Carolina regiment - Sumpters Brigade.
Family tradition says he was killed in the war. Can you tell me in what battle?
I am so interested in this work & you have been so kind to help me. please believe I deeply appreciate it.
yours sincerely
Mrs. Joseph Strickland

[stamp] RECEIVED FEB 29 1932 [illegible other words]
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Peter Burns - Capt.
S. Car. line
Rev.
Missouri

No Record in Old Books
Ref. claim, Act [illegible], Act [illegible]
No Record
DDS
Nov 20/80