Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16,332, John Burk, N.C.
Page 1

3-1776
Service NC; Burk, John; Number S.16332
Carded
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[left side of page]
1391
Indiana
John Burk
[left margin not copied completely]
Wayne Co in the State of Indiana
who was a private in the company commanded 
by Captain Walton of the regiment commanded
by ColLocke in the N Carolina
line for 3 months pr of Cavalry
3 months pr of Infantry
Died 15 February 1836

Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana
at the rate of 33 Dollars 83 Cents per annum
to commence no the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of July
1833 and sent to Danl
Hannah Centerville

Arrears to the 4th of March              67.66
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sept   16.91
____________________________________
                                                              $84.57
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk
Book E Vol 7  Page 105

[right side of page]
Letter 22 April 1827 to Elijah
Co [ilegible] Cashier        [line to date] not found
Page 3

8515
John Burk
Indiana
Wayne
from 1776 
[illegible]
Page 4

Brief in the case of John Burk,
of Wayne County in the State of Indiana,
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  In open court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 72 years
4 State his service as directed in the form annexed.

[table format]
Period: In 1776 March
             3 [illegible]
             2 [illegible]
            in  21    1781
                21
            3
__________
       9.12

Duration of Service.  Years,  Months,   Days

Tour 3 months
served as a spy in detached tour throughout
the summer of 1779
Served a short tour of 2 or 3 weeks against Tories-
Tour of 2 or 3 weeks
Tour of 3 months

Rank. As a [blank]

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Lt Horse
Gen .  Capt Jesse Walton
Capt Amos Bird
Lieut. Thos Mayfield
Capt Wm Ritchie
Capts. Saml Johnston
Lieut Elisha Runnels
Capt. Alex Gordon
Lieut David Witherspoon
Col. Frances Locke

5. In what battles was he engaged?
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Wilkes County No Carolina
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Traditionary evidence 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Examining Clerk
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Branch State Bank of Indiana
Richmond, 3 mo. 16 1837

J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
(illegible)

  I enclose the vouchers of John Burk Dec. Pensioner of this district, and respectfully ask liberty to pay Lewis Burke, on of his heirs.

Respectfully
Elijah Coffin
Cashier
Page 6

State of Indiana
Wayne County
On this 20th day of August
1832, personally appeared in open court, before
the judges of the Wayne Circuit Court the court of the
county of Wayne aforesaid, now sitting; John
Burk, a resident of the county and state afore
said, aged seventy two 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 in the year 1776, James Burk
the father of this applicant, enlisted himself and
his son, the said John Burk, who was then under
sixteen years of age, in the mounted service, (then
termed Light horse) in the month of March, for
a three month's tour; this applicant was then
a resident of Wilkes County and state of North
Carolina. Their field of service was principally
in the counties of Wilkes, Surry and Rowan, un-
der the command of Capt. Jesse Walton, (Lieut's
name not recollected) and James Burk, Ensign.
If there was any written discharge given him
for this service.
This applicant knows nothing of it, but supposes
his father kept it, who died in the regular service
in the August following. This applicant after
the death of his father remained with the family
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until the year 1779, when they removed to the West
on the waters of the Nole Chucke, where the frontiers
were continually harassed by the Indians, and
said applicant was again called on as a spy,
serving in that capacity in detached tours through
out the summer, under the command of Capt.
Amos Bird, Lieut. Thomas Mayfield & Ensign
John England; but these were short tours, from
ten to thirty days at a time, nor can he recollect
what number of these tours he served, but is certain
they were not less than three or four. Afterwards
this applicant went into South Carolina, where
he served a short tour of two or three weeks against
the Tories, under Capt. William Ritchie. Hence
he returned into North Carolina and entered the
service as a volunteer on a three month's tour
under Capt. SamuelJohnson, Lieut. Elisha Run-
nels, and Edward Turner, Ensign, but was not
attached to any other troops, but dismissed in about
two or three weeks. Then, in 1781, the applicant
was drafted for a three month's tour, and marched
under the command of Capt. Alex Gordon, Lieut
David Witherspoon and Silas Tompkins, Ensign,
who were commanded by Col. Francis Locke &
joined Gen. Green in the South Carolina, passing
through Camden, thence to Columbia on the
Congaree, and thence to the battle of Eutaw
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Springs, thence was marched back, having in
charge the prisoners, to near Salisbury, where
this applicant received a written discharge, for
a three month's tour, signed by Francis Locke, Col.
Then in the spring of 1782, under an order
for every sixteen men to furnish one, this applicant
furnished his quota in hiring a substitute for
eighteen months.
This applicant 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.
John Burk [signature]
Seal
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid,
We, James Martin a Clergyman, residing in
the County of Wayne and State of Indiana, and
George Hunt residing in the same, hereby cer
tify, that we are well acquainted with John Burk
who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration,
that we believe him to be seventy two years age; that
he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he
resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that
we concur in that opinion.   James Martin [signature] seal
Sworn to and subscribed.
[torn corner] and year aforesaid.    George Hunt [signature]  seal
Page 9

We, George Hunt and John Finley, residents of the County of Wayne and State of Indiana hereby certify , that we have seen a written discharge in the possession of John Burk, who now applies for a pension, purporting to be a discharge for three months service in the war of the Revolution, and signed by Francis Locke, Col., and that we have no reason to doubt the said discharge being genuine. And I, the said John Finley, further certify, that said discharge was committed to my care by said John Burk, together with a petition in his behalf, to present to the Legislature of Indiana, for the purpose of obtaining a Memorial to Congress for compensation as a revolutionary soldier. Said memorial was passed, but the said discharge and other papers were not withdrawn by me, but remained in the possession of the Legislature.  George Hunt  John Finley

Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid.
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the Court now propounds the following quesitons, to which the applicant answers in the words annexed. To wit-
Quest 1st. Where and in what year were you born? 
Ans. According to my fathers record I was born July 23rd 1760, in what is now called Rockbridge County Virginia. 
Quest 2nd. Have you any record of your age: and if so, where is it. 
Ans. J [illegible] the record of my father until the year 1811 then the Bible in which it was fell in to a bucket of sizing and stuck together in such a manner as to become useless.
Quest 3rd. Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live, 
Ans. When I was called into service I was living on the Yadkin river in Wilkes County North Carolina I continued to live after the Revolutionary  War in North Carolina until the yar 1795 when I removed to Kentucky and continued to live there until 1811. I then removed to the County of Wayne Indiana where I have resided ever since and where I now reside.
Quest 4th. How were you called into service. Were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute.
Ans. When I first when into the service my father enlisted himself and me in a three month light horse tour. I was under the control of my father.I asked my father got a discharge for each of us. I was then only sixteen years of age. I went out afterward frequently as a spy for 15 or 20 days at a time never to exceed 30, in the year 1779. in the year 1780 I went out twice for two or three weeks at at time against the tories to watch their movements. In August 1781 I was drafted and went out a three months tour with Capt Alexander Gordon. Lieut David Witherspoon Ensign Silas Tompkins. I received a discharge for the same.
quest 5th. 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. 
Ans. When I first went out I was with no regular army, nor any higher officers than the Capt. under whom I served in the last services as a spy I was with a Capt by the name of Amos Bird, in my last service I was under General Green Col. lock when I and they first started was our colonel and afterward a frency Colonel by the name of Malmadean (or some
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such name not recollected, was  put over the North Carolina Militia as our Colonel. thought I think he was only a Captain in the Regular Army, and was put over us because it was supposed he was better calculated to command in action than a militia officer. I was at the Battle of Eutaw Springs 
quest. 6th. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it. 
Ans. I did receive a discharge but Mr. John Finley took it out to the legislature  of Indiana and left it there as he states in his certificate above. 
Quest 7th. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who an testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
Ans. Judge Beale Butler on of the members of this court. Sheriff John Whitehead General George Hunt, James Martin and many others who are not present at this time to testify.
And the court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the foregoing interrogatories that the above named John Burk was a Revolutionary Solider and served as he states and the Court further Certifies that it appears to the that James Marting who has signed the foregoing certificate  is a Clergyman resident in the said County of Wayne Indiana and that George Hunt who has also signed the said Certificate is a resident of the same county and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.

State of Indiana
Wayne County } SS  I Saml Hannah Clerk of the Wayne Circuit Court in the County of Wayne and state of Indiana do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Burk for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of our said Wayne Circuit Court at Centreville this 6th day of September AD 1832. Saml Hannah CCCC
Page 12

May 26, 1936

BA-J/ILL
John Burk S. 16332  Our

Mrs. May Hart Smith
1725 North Garfield Avenue
Pasadena, California 

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the  Revolutionary War record of John Burk who served from Wilkes County, North Carolina, and died February 1, 1836.

the data given herein were found in the papers on file in pension claim, S. 16332, based upon service of the above noted John Burk in the Revolutionary War.

John Burk, son of James Burk, was born July 23, 1760 in that part of Virginia which, in 1832, was Rockbridge County: the name of his mother was not given. In 1776, James Burk resided with his family on the Yadkin River, in Wilkes County, North Carolina; he enlisted there in March 1776, as ensign in Captain Jesse Walton's North Carolina company of Light Horse and served thee months. He died in August of that year while in service the date not given.

John Burk was enrolled by his father, James Burk, in March 1776 in Captain Jesse Walton's North Carolina company of Light Horse and served three months as orderly sergeant. After the death of said James Burk, John remained with the family until 1779, then moved to the west side of the Nolichucky River, where he enlisted and served on several short tours, in all about two months, as spy under Captain Amos Bird. In 1780, he went into South Carolina and served two or three weeks as private in Captain William Ritchie's South Carolina company; in the same year, he served two or three months as private in Captain Samuel Johnston's North Carolina company. He enlisted in 1781, served three months as private in Captain Alexander Gordon's company, Colonel Francis Locke's North Carolina regiment, was in the battle of Eutaw Springs, and was dis-
Page 13

charged September 26, 1781.

After the war, John Burk resided in North Carolina until 1795, then moved to Kentucky and remained until 1811, at which time he moved to Wayne County, Indiana.

He was allowed pension on h is application executed August 20, 1832, at which time he resided in Wayne County, Indiana. He made no reference to wife or children at the time he applied for pension.

John Burk died February 1, 1836.

Lewis Burk was referred to in 1837 as one of the heirs of the soldier, John Burk, but no relationship between them was stated.

Very truly yours,

A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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[left side of page]
16.332
INVALID.

File NO.  16, 332
John Burk
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7"32

Index:- Vol. A, Page 53
[Arrangement of 1870]

[right side of page]
May 9, 1908 Hist to John [illegible]
1919 October 17 Hist to Gary C. Burke
1925- Dec 29 Hist to Mrs R.E. Reynolds. Her letter in cl. S32119 of Benj. Bishop MMNE
1927 Nov 22- Hist to Mabel Ellis MMNE
1936- May 26- Hist to Mrs Mary Hart Smith JLL
Page 15

Camp at Bell Branch September 26th 1781

John Burk being sick and unfit for duty is here by discharged from said service given [illegible] under my hand. Francis Locke Col.
Page 16

John Burke dec'd Indiana Roll Act 7 June 1802

Be pleased to say to what heir the Pension has been paid.
Pension Office
21 April 1837

p. of Sept 1835
JH
Page 17

207 Avenue 2, Attica, Indiana
June 17, 1927

Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:

the U.S. Pension Record of 1835 shows that John Burk, a Revolutionary soldier, was a resident of Wayne County, Ind.  Will you please give me what information you have about him and his family.  

Yours truly 
Mabel Ellis

[stamped]
Pension Office US
 Jun 20 1927
Page 18

State of Indiana
Wayne County } SS  Be it remembered that on the 18th day of March A.D. 1833. personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Wayne John Burk aged seventy two years who being by me duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by reason of old age and the consequent  loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades To wit, In the year 1776 I served as an orderly sergeant for three months in a company of light horse commanded by Capt. Walter in the State of North Carolina. IN the year 1779 I served as a private soldier in a company of spies commanded by Capt Bird, for a number of detached tours for not less than three months, I served in South Carolina as a private soldier in Capt. Ritchies Company three weeks I served in North Carolina as a private soldier in a company commanded by Capt Johnson for three weeks. I served for three months as a private soldier in Capt Gordon's Company making three months service as orderly sergeant. Six and an half months as private volunteer and eighteen months by substitute [illegible] to to two years and two weeks as private, and three months as orderly sergeant. and for such service I claim a pension. This deponent further states that since making his declaration to which this is intended to be annexed as an amendment he has procured his discharge refered to in said declaration  and send the same herewith.  John Burk (his mark)
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year first above written. Given under my hand and seal. Wm M Dunham J Peace
Page 19

State of Indiana
Wayne County } SS  I Saml Hannah Clerk of the Wayne Circuit Court do hereby certify that William M Dunham Esq before whom the foregoing affidavit has been acknowledged and who has certified the same is and acting Justice of the peace in and for said County of Wayne duly commissioned and sworn as the Court directs. And further that the aforegoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of our said Wayne Circuit Court at Centreville this 18t day of March A.D. 1833.  Saml Hannah CCCC


John Burk
No. 8515
Page 20

1725 No. Garfield Ave
Pasadena Calif
15 May 1935

[stamped]
Received May 19 1936 Mail Sub-Div. Vets.Adm. Reader #35

Veterans Adminstration
Washington D.C.

My dear Sirs:
 Will you kindly send me a copy of application made by * John Burk who served in the Revolutionary war. He was born July 23 - 1760; died February. 1- 1836 He served from Wilkes Co., North Carolina.
His wife was Alcy Robinson also married first- Sebastian.
Very truly yours,
Mrs. May Hart Smith

* application fo pension
Page 21

Rev Sec

Los Angeles, Calif., Sept. 27th, 1919

To
Commissioner,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:-

I would like to secure a certificate of service of John Burk, who was granted a pension for service in the Revolutionary War. For a detail of his pension I refer you to a Report of the Secretary of War, under date of 1835, as follows "Report xx from the Secretary of War in obedience to Resolutions of the Senate of the 5th and 30th of June, 1834, and the 3rd of March, 1835, in relation to the pension establishment of the United States". That part relating to John Burk is contained [handwritten in margin]- S.16,332 in a "statement showing the names , rank, etc., of persons residing in Wayne County, the State of Indianna who have been inscribed on the pension list under the Act of Congress, passed June 7th., 1832."
If you have any record of James xxxxx Burk: [handwritten above name] no claim- no data except that in above [illegible]; who was supposed to be the father of the above John Burk[e-crossed out], and was further supposed to have been a commissioned officer, entering the service at hte[the] same time and place as John Burke, whose certificate is requested above) I would also like a. certificate of his service.
this is my first inquiry.
Yours truly  Gary C.Burke

2402 Tenth Avenue (NOT street)
Los Angeles, Calif.

[stamped]
Pension Office US
D.
Oct 4
1919
Page 22

[entire document not copied]

In reply to your request [remainder of that line not copied]
for a statement of the military history of John Burk S F. 16332
a soldier of the Revolutionary War,  you will find below the desired
information as contained in his [crossed out- or his widow's] application for 
pension on file in this Bureau.

Dates of enlistment: Mch 1776
Length of service:3 mos
Rank: Orderly Sgt   Pt
Officers under whom service was rendered:  Captain  Jesse Walton's Light Horse                      Colonel
State: NC

Dates of enlistment:1779
Length of service: 3 or 4 tours  10 to 30 days each
Rank:Spy
Officers under whom service was rendered:  Captain   Amos Bird                  Colonel
State:

Dates of enlistment:1780
Length of service: 2 or 3 weeks
Rank:SPY
Officers under whom service was rendered:  Captain     William Ritchie                   Colonel
State: SC

Dates of enlistment:1780
Length of service: 2 or 3 weeks
Rank:Spy
Officers under whom service was rendered:  Captain   Samuel Johnson                     Colonel
State: NC

Dates of enlistment:1781  discharged Sept 26, 1781
Length of service:3 mos
Rank:
Officers under whom service was rendered:  Captain Alexander Gordon                   Colonel  Francis Lock..  Col. Malmady
State: NC

Soldier's father James died in service Aug 1776

Battles engaged in , Eutaw Springs
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Wilkes Co. N.C. on the Yadkin river
Date of application for pension, Aug 20, 1832. His claim was allowed
Residence at date of application, Wayne Co. Ind.
Age at date of application. Born in what is now called Rockbridge Co Va. July 23, 1760. Died Feby 1, 1836.
Remarks:
He lived in NC until 1795 then moved to Ky, there until 1811 when he moved to Wayne Co. Ind
Page 23

MMHF

REv.& 1812 Wars Section

November 22, 1927

Mabel Ellis
207 Avenue #2
Attica, Indiana

Madam:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 16332 it appears that John Burk, son of James Burk, was born July 23, 1760 in that which in 1832 was Rockbridge County, Virginia.

While living on the Yadkin River in Wilkes County, North Carolina, he enlisted in March 1776 and served three months as orderly sergeant in Captain Jesse Walton's North Carolina Company of Light Horse.

In 1779 he moved to the westward on the Nolichucky River where he served three or four tours of ten to thirty days each, as Indian Spy under Capatin Amos Bird.

In 1780 he went into South Carolina where he served a tour of two or three weeks in Captain William Ritchie's South Carolina Company, after which he returned to North Carolina and in the same year served two or three weeks as a privae in Captain Samuel Johnston's North Carolina Company.
Page 24

He enlisted in 1781, served three months as private in Captain Alexander Gordon's Company, Colonel Francis Lock's North Carolina Regiment and was in the battle of Eutaw Springs, and was discharged September 26, 1781.

In 1795 he moved from North Carolina to Kentucky, and in 1811 to Wayne County, Indiana whee he was allowed pension on his application executed August 20, 1832. He died February 1, 1836.

Soldier stated that his father, James Burk, who was also a resident of Wilkes County, North Carolina, enlisted with him in March 1776, as Ensign, for three months in Captain Jesse Walton's North Carolina Company of Light Horse, ad in August of that year he died in service.

This Bureau is unable to furnish the full history of a soldier of the Revolution unless a claim for pension or bounty land has been made on account of his services, and a careful search of the records fails to show such a claim on file on account of the services of the said James Burk.

Respectfully,

Winfield Scott
Commissioner
Page 25

Mrs. R.E.Reynolds
1114 South G Street
Richmond, Indiana

Madam:

I have to advise you that from the papers int he Revolutionary War pension claim. S. 16332 it appears that John Burk, the son of James Burk, was born July 23, 1760, in that which in 1832, was Rockbridge County Virginia.

While living on the Yadkin River in Wilkes County, North Carolina he enlisted in March 1776 and served three months as Orderly sergeant in Captain Jesse Walton's North Carolina  company of Light Horse.

In 1779 he moved to the westward on the Nolichucky River where he served three or four tours of ten to thirty days each, as Indian Spy under Captain Amos Bird.

In 1780 he went into South Carolina where he served a tour of tow or three weeks in Captain William Ritchie's South Carolina Company, after which he returned to North Carolina  and in the same year served two or three weeks as a private i Captain Samuel Johnston's North Carolina  company. 

He enlisted in 1781, served three months as private in
Page 26

Captain Alexander Gordon's Company, Colonel Francis Lock's  North Carolina Regiment and was in the battle of Eutaw Springs, and was discharged September 26, 1781. 
[handwritten note in margin with line to "Lock's ] Miss Wilson [illegible] Col. Malmady in this case as the soldier was discharged by Col Lock. [illegible] the spelling on this clip referring to discharge. Miss Wilson said they were reviewed and re-reviewed.

In 1795 he moved from North Carolina to Kentucky, and in 1811 to Wayne County, Indiana where he was allowed pension on his application executed August 20, 1832. He died February 1, 1836.

Soldier stated that his father, James Burk, who was also a resident of Wilkes County, North Carolina , enlisted with him in March 1776, as Ensign for three months in Captain Jesse Walton's North Carolina Company of Light Horse, and in August of that year he died in the service.

This Bureau is unable to furnish the history of a soldier of the Revolution unless a claim for pension or bounty land has been  made on account of his services and a careful search of records fails to show such a claim on file on account of the services of the said James Burk.

Respectfully,

E.W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner