Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 18750, Wesley Burnam, Mass.
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(B-1776)

SERVICE                                NUMBER
Mass.        Burnam, Wesley   S 18750
                  Wesly

                                      carded

CONTENTS
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Died Sept 1, 1835 (A.B) 

Massachusetts
Wesley Burnam 
of Essex in the State of Mass who was a private in the Comp commanded by Captain Didding of the Reg commanded by Col. Foster in the Mass line for 14 mos --- 

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 46 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of Aug 1822 and sent J. Store Essex 

Arrears to the 4th of Ma. '33 $98.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 93 23.33
========
$116.66 
========
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 8, 1832


Recorded by Geo. C Stiles Clerk
Book 6, Vol 3, Page 9
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Wesley Burnham 
Mass 
Private 14 Months 
16 16 of May 1833 

2923 
Jonathan Story 3d 
Essex Mass
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BRIEF in the case of Wesley Burnham 
County of Essex in the State of Mass 
(Act 7th June, 1832.) 
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court 
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 
3. How old is he? 74 
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 

[table headings]Period. | Duration of Service. Years, Months, Days, | Rank. As a | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 
[row 1]March in 1776 | [blank] 8 [blank] | Private | Capt Didding Col Foster
[row 2]Dec " | [blank] 3 [blank] | " | Capt Bass Col Pickering
[row 3]1777 | [blank] 3 [blank] | [blank] | Capt Dodge, Johnson

5. In what battles was he engaged? in the Battle of Saratoga 
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Ipswich Mass 
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary one witness 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? the papers are in attached agreeably to the regulations-- nor is the credibility certified 

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above - George Taylor
Examining Clerk.
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Wesly Burnham
8983
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. 

STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS: COUNTY OF ESSEX, ss. 

On this fourth day of September A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the HONORABLE DANIEL APPLETON WHITE, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, now sitting, Wesly Burnam a resident of Essex in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, aged 84 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 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: 

That in the month of March in the year 1776 he at Ipswich in said County entered as a volunteer in Capt, Daniel Giddings Company of Militia in Col. Joseph Fosters Regiment, from thence marched to the town of Gloucester in the County aforesaid and there did military duty in said Company and Regiment under the command of the aforenamed officers for the term of eight months next ensuing, that he had no written discharge that he recollects that Francis Roberts of the Town of Hamilton in said County belonged to said Company and Regiment and did military duty with him during during the said term of eight months as he testifies in the affidavit hereunto annexed, 

Then again same time in the month of December in the year 1776 at Ipswich aforesaid he entered the service of the United States as a substitute for Freeborn Trask of Beverly in said County in Capt. Rays Company of Militia in Col. Pickerings Regiment and marched to the town of Danbury in the State of Connecticut; and from thence to the State of New Jersey, that he did military duty in the last mentioned Company and Regimentunder the command of the officers last mentioned for the term of three months, and that he had no written discharge discharge that he remember, 

That he same time in the summer in the year 1777
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at Ipswich aforesaid again entered the service of the United States as a substitute for William Cogswell Junior of said Ipswich in Capt Robert Dodge Company of Militia in Col Johnson Regiment and marched to the State of New York that he did military duty in the last mentioned company and Regiment under the command of the officers last named for the term of three months, that he had no written discharge, that he was in the last battle that was fought with General Burgoyne and his army at a place (as he thinks) that was called Bemis heighth some time previous to his surrender and was also present when said army did surrender, that he know of no person that is now living by which he can prove positively the two last mentioned terms of service that he was born in that part of said Ipswich which is now incorporated into the town of Essex in the year 1747. that he has no record of his age that he resided at said Ipswich when he entered the service aforesaid, that he has resided in said Town of Ipswich and Essex ever since the Revolutionary war, that he now resides at said Essex And that he is known to the following named persons who reside in his present neighborhood who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution (viz) Nathaniel Burnham Benjamin Burnham and Aaron Law, also Revd Robert Crowell and Mr. Nehemiah Dodge. 

He hereby 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. 
Wesley Burnam

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid , D A White JUDGE OF PROBATE.

We, Robert Crowell a clergyman, residing in Essex aforesaid
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and Nehemiah Dodge residing in Essex aforesaid, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Wesley Burnam and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 84 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. 
Robert Crowell 
Nehemiah Dodge

Subscribed and sworn to before Jonathan Story third Justice of the Peace

State of Massachusetts Essex County SS
I Frances Robert of Hamilton in said County of Esses 92 years of age do upon my oath testify and say that Wesley Burnam of Essex in said County of Essex did Military duty in the Revolutionary war at Gloucester in the said County of Essex in Capt Daniel Giddings Company of Militia in Col Joseph Foster's Regiment from the month of March in the year 1776 for the term of eight months thence next ensuing, and that I belonged to said Company and Regiment during during the said term of eight months and did military duty with him in the Company aforesaid, 
Frances Roberts 

Essex County SS September 3, 1832 Subscribed and sworn to and said Francis Roberts is a credible witness before Jonathan Story third Justice of the Peace
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And the said Court hereby declares its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that Robert Crowell who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in Essex, and that the said Nehemiah Dodge who has also signed the same is a resident at Essex and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
D A White Judge of Probate 

I, NATHANIEL LORD Junior, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Wesly Burnam for a pension. Also, that Jonathan Story the third is a justice of the peace for said county, and his signatures to the annexed affidavits is genuine 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF of I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this fourth day September, A. D. 1832. 
Nath Lord jr. 

Signed and sealed anew this twenty fourth day of May, A.D. 1833. Nath Lord Jr
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                              xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Miss Edith S. SYlie
31 Pierce Avenue
Beverly, Massachusetts

WESLEY BURNAM
S. 10780
BA-J/MLB [?dun]

Dear Madam:
 
     Reference is made to your letter in which you request the 
Revolutionary War records of Thomas Burnham, born 1738 and died in
1835, both of Essex or Ipswich, Massachusetts, also, Nathaniel
Burnham, born in 1747 and died in 18{?] and Douglas Robinson who
died in 1881, both of New Hampshire.

     Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained
from claims for pension and bounty land made to the United States
based upon military service of soldiers in that war.

     A careful search of the records fails to show much claims on
file on account of the Revolutionary War service of a Nathaniel
burnham or Douglas Robinson, under any spelling of the names.

     In order to identify the record of the particular soldier 
named Thomas Burnham in who you are interested, should it be on
file, as much as possible of the following data in regard to him
should b given: places of residence at enlistment and after
service and given name of widow.

     The record of Wesley Burnham was found and is given herein as
shown in the papers on file in pension claim, S. 18750, based upon
his service in the Revolutionary War.

     Wesley Burnam (as soldier signed) was born in 1747, in that
part of Ipswich which was later known as Essex, Essex County,
Massachusetts; the names of his parents are not given.

     While residing in Ipswich, Massachusetts, he volunteered in
March, 1776, and served eight months as private in Captain Daniel
Giddings' company, Colonel Joseph Foster's Massachusetts regiment.
He enlisted in December, 1776, and served three months as private
in Captain Ray's company, Colonel Pickering's Massachusetts
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regiment. He enlisted sometime in the summer of 1777, served
three months as private in Captain Robert Dodge's company, 
colonel Johnson's Massachusetts regiment, was in the battle of
Bemus Heights and at the surrender of Burgoyne.

After the Revolutionary War, the soldier resided in Ipswich,
Massachusetts, and in Essex, same state.

Wesley Burnam was allowed pension on his application executed
September 4, 1852, while a resident of Essex, Essex County, Massachusetts.
He then signed Wesley Burnam. He was pensioned as
Burnam.
He died September 1, 1835.
No reference was made to wife or children of the soldier.
In 1832, Wesley Burnham referred to Nathaniel and Benjamin
Burnham, but id not state their relationship to him.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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18750

INVALID

File No. 18,7500

Wesley Burnam
Pri. Rev. War

Act: June 7" 32

Index: -- vol. 1, Page 54
(Arrangement of 1870.)

May 22 ' 96 [?soe]
period to
Henry Cade
Bethany MO
LWB

Jany 21, 1904 - His

K. A Burnham, Boton

Mar 10, 1900. Hist. to A. W. Burnham.
1734, October. 9 - Hist. to Miss Edith
P. Tylie - MLB
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September 20, 1934

Dear Sirs:-
I would be very glad if you could send me any information of Revolutionary war service of the following:-
5 more
Thomas Burnham of Essex or Ipswich, Mass. He was born in 1732 and died Oct 11, 1820
------
Nathaniel Burnham of Essex Mass, and Lyndeboro, now Greenfield NH. He was born Mar 4 1747 and died Mar 1838
-----
Westley or Wesley Burnham, or Essex, Chebacco, or Ipswich Mass. He was born August 19, 1747 and died Sept. 1 1835 
(over)
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I am quite sure Westley Burnham saw Revolutionary service but wish the record for the D.A.R. use. 

Enclosed is postage for reply and I hope you can help me.  Also, have you ay records of Douglas Robinson of Nottingham West, Hudson, or Greenfield NH, who died in Greenfield Mar 8 1821. 

Thanking you, I remain, 
Yours very truly
(Miss) Edith S, Wylie

[postmark RECEIVED SEP 24 1934]
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OFFICE OF SECRETARY. 
[letterhead seal: SONS OF THE REVOLUTION 1776 1883]
Missouri Society, 
Bethany, Mo., May 14 1896 
Hon. Wm Lochren 
Commissioner of Pensions 

Dear Sir 
Please give me the military history of Wesley Burnham a pensioner of the Revolutionary War who was placed on the pension roll Aug 22d 1833 while a resident Essex Co Mass 

I desire the information Rev Michael Burnham D D of St Louis Mo 
Respectfully Henry Cadle
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[stamp: OLD WAR & NAVY FILES JAN 14 1904]
[postmark]U.S. PENSION OFFICE F JAN 12 1904]

Hotel Tuilleries, 270 Commonwealth Anenne Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C. 

Can you find in the Rolls of Revolution by Soldier the names of the following, and if so will forward you and certificates of service of the in Revolutionary army or navy?
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1 Westley Burnham Essex, Mass 
2 Aaron Choate Cheberco, Ipswich, Mass 
3 Samuel Davenport  Dorchester Mass 
[postmark U.S. PENSION OFFICE F JAN 12 1904]

Respectfully yours, K.A. Burnham 
270 Commonwealth Ave Boston Mass Jan 11 1904
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Hobart Road Newton Centre Mass Feb 9 1906 

Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C. 

Dear Sir --- Will you kindly furnish me certificate of service in the Revolutionary war of the following named men all of Ipswich, Mass. viz: 
David Burnham Sr. B. 1755 Md. 5/24 177 7 D. 4/14 1797
David Burnham Jr. (Son of the above) B. 
Benjamin Burnham " " "  "B. 1755 Md. 5/24 1777 D.4/14 1847
Westley Burnham Sr. B. 10/1719 Md 11/10 1743 D. 6/28 1797
Westley Burnham Jr. B. 8/28 1747 Md 8/16 1771 D. 9/1 1835
The name is sometimes spelled Burnam and Burnum

Isaac Woodbury Sr. B. 1713-4 Md. 12/11 1755 D. 
Isaac Woodbury Jr. B. 3/ 1739 Md 6/14 1761 D. 11/6
Benjamin Stone B. 12/7 1729 Md 1/25 1766 D. 11/6 1781
Abner Day B. 1712 Md 17

The above mentioned were ancestors of mine and I find all participated to some extent in the war of Independence. . 
Very truly yours, 
Arthur Wendell Burnham 
[postmark U.S. PENSION OFFICE A FEB 12 1906]
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O. W. and N. Division. 3 -- 525. 
F.B. F 
Ind File 18750 
Rev War
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C., Mar 10, 1906

Sir In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Wesley Burnam --- a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 

[table headings]DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. | STATE. 
[row 1]Mar 1776 | 8 mos | Pvt | Daniel Giddings | Joseph Foster | Mass
[row 2]Dec. 1776 | 3 mos | Pvt | Ray | Pickering | Mass
[row 3]Summer 1777 | 3mos | Pvt | Robert Dodge | Johnson | Mass

Battles engaged in, Bemis Heights, at Surrender of Burgoyne 
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Ipswich, Mass 
Date of application for pension, Sept 4, 1832 His claim was allowed 
Residence at date of application Essex, Essex Co. Mass 
Age at date of application, Born 1747 in that part of Ipswich now Essex, Essex SS Mass 
Remarks: Died Sept 1, 1835 No data as to family 

Very respectfully,Commissioner, 

Mr. Arthur Wendell Burnham Hobart Road Newton Centry  Mass