Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19227, John Burbank, Mass. Navy N. H. And Privateer
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Mass.
Navy
N. H. and Privateer
Burbank, John
NUMBER
S. 19227
carded
CONTENT
Page 2

Maine No. 3,201.
John Burbank
Lyman in the State of Maine
was a [illegible] in the Compy commanded
Captain Daniel of the Regt commanded
by Col. Long in the N. Hampshire line for
one year
& Mass
& Privateer
Special & Navy
scribed on the Roll of Maine
the rate of 120 Dollars - Cents per annum,
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of Mar 1834 - Hon. R. McIntire, H. L. Rets.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1834... 360.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept ..  60.00
$420.00
Revolutionary Claim,}
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by R. Burdine Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 1 Page 5.
H08
Page 3

John Burbank
John Burbank conferal of N H Littlefields Co 1775
No. - 9
admit
1 year segt [sergeant]
1 year [illegible]
arms
$120 p year
B Palmer
Page 4

United States of America
Maine District SS.

At a Special District Court of the United States
began and holden at Kennebunk, within and for said District on the 7th day of August A.D. eighteen hundred and thirty two, before the Honorable Ashur Ware. Judge of said Court
On this 7th day of August aforesaid, personally appeared in open Court before said District Judge, John Burbank a resident of Lyman in the County of York in said Maine District, aged eighty [eight- crossed out] 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 provision made by the act of Congress passed  June 7th 1832. That He in May or June 1776 entered into Capt. Noah Littlefields company for six  months, was stationed at Cape Porpus [Porpoise] in the State of Maine most of the time, but marched to Kittery point opposite Portsmouth N.H. I served to within a few days of the expiration of my time of service, when the British ships that bound Portland appeared of Portsmouth, I reenlisted into the Fort in the company commanded by Capt. Elipalet Daniels at Portsmouth N.H. where I served as Sergeant over one full year. I believe Col. Long of New Hamshire [Hampshire] commanded General John Sullivan was some time present. I was discharged from this service and entered on board the privateer Patton of eighteen guns I sailed from Portsmouth I think in November 1777 was taken by the Reasonable Frigate of 6 guns, and was very soon committed to Mill prison in England, where I remained two years and four months. when I was discharged went to France, and enlisted and served as Master of arms on board the U.S. Ship Goodman Richard [USS Bonhomme Richard] under John Paul James, where I served over two years, was in the action of that ship with Suropis [Serapis] which resulted in her capture and the capture of the countess of Scraborough [HMS Scarborough] of 20 guns. The Goodman Richard [USS Bonhomme Richard] having sunk, we sailed in the Suropis [Serapis] for Holland, and after cruising on the coast of Ireland, England Spain and France we were discharged at Philadelphia. I was placed on the pension list for Naval Services under the law of 1818. My services probably were not all stated. I conceive myself entitled to more pay than a private under the law of June 1832. I was strickened from the pension list on account of property and applied to be restored in 1829. but was not successful.
I was born in Arundel in 1752, where I resided when I entered the service, and have resided in Lyman in Maine over forty years. In all this service I served voluntarily and freely, except which I served at Mill prison in England
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on any pension roll of any agency in any State, or if any, only on that of the agency in the State of
John Burbank
Page 5

Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Before [illegible] War
{illegible] Judge for the District of Maine 

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states  
I John Mussey Clerk of the District Court of the
United States for Maine District do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of John Burbank for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand
seal office this seventh day of August 1832.
John Mussey Clerk
Page 6

4
John Burbank's
application for Pension
not
entitled
$800 -
Sep 19
Page 7

State of Maine.
County of York, ss.
 
On this 12th day of February 1829 in open Court, being the Court of Common Pleas held at Alfred within and for the County of York on the Second Tuesday of February A.D. 1829
Present the Hon. Ezekiel Whitman Chief Justice of said Court; said Court keeping a record of their proceedings, having jurisdiction unlimited in amount, proceeding according to the course of the common law, having the power to fine and imprison, and being a Court of Record in said county, personally appeared John Burbank of Lyman resident in said county 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 provision made by the Acts of Congress of the 18th March 1818, and the 1st May 1820, that he the said John Burbank
entered the service of the US board the ship Goodman Richard in the Spring of the year 1779 in France the commanded by Captain  Paul Jones; that he continued to serve aboard   said ship until some time in the year 1782 the ship arrived at Philadelphia when he was discharged from the said service, in Philadelphia in the State of Penylvania [Pennsylvania] that his name has been place on the pension list and dropped therefrom on account of his property. And in pursuance of the Act of the 1st May, 1820, I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the
United States on the 18th day of March 1818; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale or in any manner 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 to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War,” passed on the 18th day of March 1818; 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.
John Burbank
Page 8

SCHEDULE of the real and personal estate, (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) belonging to me the subscriber, viz:
I own one undivided half of 140 acres of poor Land in Lyman much of which is swamp and plain the plains part of which produces me between two and three tons of hay per year in wet Seasons in dry seasons nothing, I own half of the old house and barn Standing thereon they are old and out of repair very much of the land is unfit for any improvement, being swamp, and the highland and which is not plains being [illegible] & Rocky.-- I have no stock except one three year old heifer
SCHEDULE of the family residing with John Burbank who, by occupation am a farmer
which I am unable to pursue by reason of old age and infirmities
John Burbank
Headings: NAMES.| AGES. | Capacity of each to contribute to their support. |
-Myself | 77 | infirmed by age|
-Anna my wife | 74 | much infirmed & decriped [decrepit]|
 That since the exhibition of my first schedule the following changes have been made in my property. No other alterations in my property since my first Schedule except that my stock is less and my old buildings and land may be worth less being more out of repair and real estate in the town where I live lower in value than ten years ago

SWORN to and declared on the twelfth
day of February 1829 before 
Ezekiel Whitman

I, Jereh Bradbury -Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify, that it appears, to the satisfaction of the Court, that the said John Burbank did serve in the Revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months under one engagement, on the continental establishment. I also certify that the foregoing
oath and the schedules thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of 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 eight hundred dollars & and the income [illegible] forty eight dollars yearly & no more  
[seal]
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court on this second - day of March 1829 -
Jere. Bradbury Clerk of the C.C.P. -
Page 9

information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. John Burbank S.F. 19227
Headings: | DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. | STATE. |
- | May or June 1775 | nearly 6 mos | Blank | Noah Littlefield | Blank | Mass. |
- | Nov. 1775 | 1 year | Sgt. | Eliphant Daniels | Long | N.H. |
- | Immediately after Dec. 24, 1776 | Privateer | Dutton | Blank | Privateer |
-| Was taken by the British Frigate Reasonable committed to  Mill Prison England, Kept 2 years & 4 mos then exchanged and went to France | blank | blank | blank | blank | blank |
- | *Spring 1779 | 2 years | Master at Arms | John Paul Jones on Bon Homme Richard Navy | blank | blank |

 
was taken by the Butish Forge
to Reasonable comm
kept us & was then such
itted to
aged & went to France,
in 1779.
years John Paul Jones on Bon Home Richard Mary
Battles engaged in, with British Ship Serapis & Counties of Scarborough
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Arundel York Co Maine Dist
Date of application for pension, June 24, 1818 This cl. was at
Residence at date of application, Lyman York Co Maine Dist
Age at date of application, b at hand in 1752.
Remarks: In 1828 his wife Anne a 74 years old
Long
Mass
N. H.
Privateer
he was pension at the rate of 20. per annum
personal description of the soldier in this claim
Very respectfully,
150563m10-08
Page 10

Notification sent 5 May 1829 to Barnabas Carter Esq. Kennebunk, Me.


7464

Maine
John Burbank
Of Lyman in Maine
who was a Seaman in the ship "Goodman Richard" in the command by Cap Paul Jones of the U.S. Navy for the term of two years.
Mass and N.H. and Privateer Navy.

Inscribed on the Roll of Maine
at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the 24th of June 1818.

Certificate of Pension issued the 9th of March 1819 and sent to G. Thacher, Esq.
Saco, Me.

Arrears to 4th of March 1819, S 7/30  4/31 66.89
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept. 1819             48.00
$800                                                          $114.89

{Revolutionary claim,}
{Act 18th March, 1818.}

Discontinued

York Co. Me.
Page 11

Maine 3201
John Burbank
of Lyman in the State of Maine
who was a Sergt in the Comp commanded
by Daptain Daniel of the Regt commanded
by Col Long in the N.H.
line for 1 year    +Mass
                          + Privateer
                          +Navy
Seaman [illegible] year

Inscribed on the Roll of Maine
at the rate of $108 Dollars      Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of Dec
1832 and [illegible] B Palmer
Kennebunk Maine
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1834                         $ 162
Semi=anl. allowance starting 4 March, 1833    54
                                                                       $216

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}


Recorded by Eras D. Bullock Clerk,
Book D  Vol. 11,  Page 76.
Page 12

War Department,
PENSION OFFICE,
May 5, 1829.

Sir, 

You are hereby informed that the
Secretary of War does not, on account of the amount of your property, consider you entitled to a Pension under the Acts of the 18th March, 1818, and 1st May, 1820; and has, therefore, directed your name to be stricken from the Pension List.

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

J.L. Edwards

To Mr. John Burbank
Care of B. Palmer Esq
Kennebunk, 
Me.
Page 13

I Israel Whitten of Arundel in the county of
York, testify and depose, that I was in the continental service in the late revolutionary war in the year 1776, and I know that John Burbank
now of Lyman in said county, but then of Arundel aforesaid, was engaged in the continental service in said revolutionary War, in January 1776, he was at fort Sullivan on Piscataqua river, in Capt. Eliphalet Daniel's company in Col. Long's regiment, I left him there in said service, and went out in a privateer, and return'd in April 1776, and found the said John Burbank in
said service as said fort, and he continued in
said said service till some time in the month of
November, 1776. The said Burbank acted as a Serjeant [Sergeant] in said company, and had the character of being a good soldier.

Israel Whitten

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
York ss. On the seventeenth day of February A.D.
1819, before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace for said county and Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for said county, the above named Israel Whitten, and in my presence subscribed and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed. Taken at the request of the aforenamed John Burbank, to substantiate his claim for a pension from the United States. And I hereby certify that the said Israel Whitten is a credible and disinterested witness.In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand, and the seal of the said Court, the
day and year aforesaid.

Daniel Sewall
Page 14

I Daniel Emrey of Limrick [Limerick] in the County of York testify and desposet that I was in the Contanel [Continental]service in the late Revolutionary war in the year 1776 and I know that John Burbank now of Lyman in said County but then of arundel aforesaid was engaged in the Continel [Continental] service in said Revolutionary war in January 1776 he was at fort Sullivan on Piscalaqion river in Capt Elishat [Eliphalet] Daniels company in Col. Longs redgment [regiment]. I left him left him theer [there] in said service and I was in the army from January then October 
[illegible] made ten months and was in the same company and left him thear [there] in said service. I testify the said Burbank was a Sergant [Sergeant] in said Company and he had the character of being a good soldier
Daniel Emrey
These may certify that the within named
Daniel Emrey on the eighteen day of February
in one thousand eight hundred and nineteen
personally appeared and mad [made] oath to the
within deposition before me

Paul Chadbourn Justice of the Peace
Page 15

John Burbank
Payments to be made
at Portland
by Pre[illegible] ro: S. Br Bank
Agent for paying 
Pensioners, in the Agency of
Maine

Edi


Recorded by E.D Bullock
Clerk, in Book D Vol. 11
page 76
Page 16

WAR DEPARTMENT
Revolutionary Claim.

I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 7th June, 1832 John Burbank, of the State of Maine
who was a Sergeant in the Army and a
Seaman in the Navy of the Revolution
is entitled to receive one hundred and eight dollars and    cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi=annually, on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States,
this fifteenth day of December
one thousand eight hundred and thirty two

Lew Cass
Secretary of War

Examined and}
Countersigned.}
J L Edwards
Page 17

FREE

Hon Rufus McIntire
Member of Congress
Washington City
D.C.
Page 18

Kennebunk March 7, 1834,

Hon Rufus McIntire,

Dear Sir,
At the request of old Mr.
John Burbank of Lyman, I send you his certificate under the law of 1832. Mr. Burbank is described in his certificate as "a sergeant in the Army and a seaman in the Navy", and his pay consisted of
$108. per year. Whereas it should have been a
sergeant in the Army and a sergeant at Arms in
the Navy, and his pay certainly no less than $120 per year. My own impression is that the pay of
sergeant at Arms should be higher than sergeant in the Army and of course the pension should
be higher than $120 per year.
Mr. Burbank was three years or more in the
Navy under Comodore [Commodore] Paul Jones.
He was sergeant at Arms of the Bon Homme Richard in the Action with the Serapis on the 28th of September 1779, and continued with Paul Jones in his cruises on the
coasts of France and [illegible] subsequent to this action.
[illegible]
The declaration of Mr. Burbank under the law of
1832 will show this fact, and in looking over the
life of Paul Jones within a few days by J A Sherburne tote an officer in the Nave Department, I find a roll on the crew of
Page 19

crew of that ship at the time of the action (see
pages 141 and 142.) Of course the evidence of his station in the Navy can be found in the Navy
Department, if the roll or published should not be deemed sufficient. 
Mr. Burbank was not at the time of his declaration aware that any such roll had been published, nor is he aware of it up to this moment. The fact that he was sergant [sergeant] at Arms onboard the Bon Homme Richard, has always been universally understood and
believed here.
The evidence I think must be clear and  you
are requested to state his case to Wildwood and procure an increase of his pension to that extent the laws will authorize; with such directions to the pension agency at Portland or will enable Mr. Burbank to get whatever [oncorage] may be due him.
Your obedi serv
Barnubas Palmer

N.B.
Jun 1825 the pay of sergeant at Arms in the Navy
was $78. per month month, and one ration.
A sergeant two years in the revolutionary war
is entitled to a pension of $120 per year. Should not a sergeant at Arms in the Navy be more?

P.S  I send in another [postage] today. The
evidence required in the case of Ephraim Littlefield.
Page 20

To the Honourable [Honorable]
John, C. Calhoun Esq.
To be filed with}  Secretary of War
John Burbank's claim}  Washington
Page 21

Biddeford 25th February 1819
To the Honourable [Honorable] J.C. Calhoun Esq.
Secretary of the War Department.

Sir,
I have the honour [honor] of 
returning to your office the declarations of forty four persons, who served in the Revolutionary war, which were sent back to me, noted by your Honour [Honor], or deficient in point of evidence or to their actual service in the war according to the requirement of the late law of the Congress of the United States. Each declarent has
produced two good and credible witnesses to his actual service and who were either with the declarents in the army, or well knowing to their being in the army during the times mentioned in the declarations.
These witnesses have been duly sworn to their respective affidavits by Justices of the peace authorized by the laws of this Commonwealth to administer oaths to witnesses and Deponents under the penalties of perjury.
As to the case of John Burbank who has
declared that he served in the army and navy of the United States during the Revolutionary war, is unable to find now alive a single person who was with him in the Goodman Richard under the command of John Paul Jones. But, Sir, I beg leave to state to you, that while I was a member of the Congress of the United States, he committed to me his evidence of his being a private seaman on board the ship [illegible] authorized me to receive the arrearage of wages then due him, all which I deported
Page 22

in the war office, and received a sum of   dollars
or wages due him. The precise sum I do not
now recollect I well remember seeing his name
on some book, or record then in the office, by
which it appeared that he had been a 
seaman on board said ship, and the I cannot 
now recollect the precise time, I feel very sure
it was between one and two years.

I have the honor to subscribe
myself, with every consideration of
Respect, sir, your most obedient 
Servant
George Thacher
Page 23

Rev War  19.227
INVALID.

File No.   19,227
John Burbank
Sergt Rev War

Act:  June 7th, 32
Index:  Vol. 2, Page 56
[Arrangement of 1870]

1912 Feb 26 Hist. to
Fannie M. Hackett
V.L. M.
1914 Aug 25 Hist to Lewelen
Waterhuss.
Page 24

5
John Burbank

Nov '75 1 year
line and reg mentioned
April '78- 2 years
ship Goodman Richard
Capt: Paul Jones.

24 June 1818.

The applicant should
have started the line [and]
Col. comm and regt. on which
he served. Or, the deposition
of 2 respectable witnesses
as to the time he served
in the Goodman Richard
will be sufficient.



Admitter.
Page 25

I John Burbank of Lyman in the County of York
and State of Massachusetts, sixty seven years of age testify and say, that in November 1775 I enlisted in Capt. Elipbales [Eliphalet] Daniels company, then of Portsmouth, NH. and served in the Forts at Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire as a Sergeant about one year. I then supplied my place with a substitute and obtained a discharge from the Commanding Officer of the fort and company to which I belonged. I then engaged on board a privateer which sailed from Newbury Port in the state of Massachusetts about the last 
[illegible] of November 1776 and was on the 21st day of December following taken by Reasonable [Raisonnable], a British sixty four gunship and carried to Mill Prison in England where I was kept a prisoner tow years and four months, was then exchanged and carried to France. Where I enlisted in the Continental Ship, Goodman Puckard commanded by Paul Jones and served about two years, about the first of the year 1781, we arrived at Philadelphia and I was discharged soon after, I further declare that I did not receive any written discharge from any officer of the ship to which I belonged and it was not usual at the time for seamen who served on board the ship at the same time to receive any when discharged.
I further testify and say that owing to my reduced circumstances in life I am now in need of assistance of my Country for support.
I am a native citizen of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and have not pensions whatever while I was on board the Goodman Richard, we took a prize called the Serapis a british armed ship of war, also a twenty gun ship called the Countess of Scarborough, another british ship. I further declare I am not knowing that any of the officers or crew who lived on board the Goodman Richard during the two years I served there, are alive or if alive where they live. And I have no doubt but my name will be found on the records and rools [rolls] of the said Goodman Richard.  
John Burbank
29 June 1818
Page 26

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Be it known that on the 24th day of June 1818 before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth aforesaid, personally appeared
the within named John Burbank and being duly sworn made oath to the truth of the declaration there by him in my presence subscribed, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the [illegible] of naval  service of the United States in the Revolutionary war which declaration being signed and sworn by as 'aforesaid', I George Thatcher one of the Justices [illegible] do certify that it appears to my 
satisfaction that the said John Burbank did serve in the Revolutionary war against the common enemy.  As stated in his said declaration, and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support. And I now transmit the proceedings and testimony had before me to the Secretary of the Department of War, pertinent to the directions in the Act of Congress aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I have [illegible]  at my hand, and have [illegible] the seal of said Court to be hereunto affixed this twenty sixth day of June 1818.
George Thacher
Page 27

DEP'T OF THE INTERIOR               PENSION                        
RECEIVED                                             E
AUG 22 1914                                     AUG
TO BUR. PENSIONS                      U.    22   S.
 SECY'S OFF. MAILS & FILES              1914
                                                         OFFICE

August 21, 1914
Wash D.C.
Dept of Interrior [Interior]
Sir
Will you please inform me if
John Burbank sailor on Bon
Homme Richard in Rev.
war name appear on pension
records if so please give and
information that can be
obtained. He was a [illegible]
of Cape [illegible; either Parker or Paradise] Me

Your Resp
Lewelen Watherhuss

Sen Delius

V
Page 28

Biddeford, Me., Feb. 22, 1912.
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.,
Gentlemen:
Will you please send me a 
copy of the record of John Burbank's
service in the Revolutionary war.
He enlisted from Kennebunkport, Me.,
and after the war settled in Lyman, 
Me., York county, where he lived when he applied for a pension. He was Master at
Arms in 1779 on board the Bonne
Page 29

Homme Richard, and was in the 
action with the Serapis and Countess
of Scarborough in Sept. of that
year under John Paul Jones.
What I care for particularly is
a description of his personal  
appearance and the amount of pension
he received. I am to write him
up for Sat., Mar. 2d. and will
appreciate any favor I may
receive.
Yours respectfully,
(Miss) Fannie M. Hackett
19 Clifford St.,
Biddeford, Me.
Page 30

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Divisions of Veterans' Administration Archives
Form VAM-51       
12-5-41  BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Name Burbank, Jonathan
Grade Private
Line New Hampshire


Warrant Number 2921
Acreage  100
Issued  Apr. 15, 1796
            to Samuel Atkinson


*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates.  Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.