Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1449, Peleg Burdick, Continental Mass.

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SERVICE: Continental Mass.
Burdick, Peleg
NUMBER: R. 1449

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Peleg Burdick
23266

At bottom:
[Fees 71- ?]

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[Ribboned seal]
State of New York} 
Otsego County}  
On this 23th day of February in the year 1833 personally appeared before the Undersigned one of the Judges of the County Courts in and for the County of Otsego being Courts of Record, Peleg Burdick a resident of the Town of Otego in the County of Otsego and State of New York aged seventy four 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 the 7th of June 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated-- to wit that he first Enlisted at Wilbroham in the State of Massachusetts in the spring of the year May or June 1776 in the Company Commanded by Capt Munn Lieut Wilcox and Ensign Spring Brewer of the Massachusetts Militia for the Term of six months that he went with said Company to Roxbury near Boston & workt [sic] on the fortifications there and on Dorchester Hill the forepart of said Term and the remainding [sic] part he was Stationed in Boston and was discharged at Boston in the fall of the year 1776 with said Company - that he received his pay from said Capt Munn and came home with him - that the Capt brought his pack in his Waggon as far as his House which was about 8 or 10 miles of where he then lived at Wilbroham aforesaid 

that in the spring of the year 1777 he enlisted at Wilbroham for the Term of six months in the Company commanded by Capt Brewer being the same Man that he served under as Ensign the year before in Capt Munn's Company - that this Company were Ordered to Springfield to Guard the Stores and Amunition then kept there - that he went with said Company and served in Capacity of Waiter to Capt Brewer during the said Term of six months (except one day) to wit the day before his time was out the Captain told him that if he would do two days work in getting wood that day he would discharge him - which he did do and received his discharge one day before the Company was discharged 

That in the spring of the year 1778 in the month of May he Enlisted at Wilbroham in Massachusets [sic] for the Term (as near as he can recollect) of one year & six months in a Company of Artificers commanded by Captn Wood- Lieut Bolton-- Ensign Spring and was ordered & went to New Winsor near West Point - that they had the small pox at New Winsor & then went to work under the Direction of Major Painter of Col Cassisco or Francisco making Chevaux de frese Boom &c. and in the fall they went to west Point and was imployed in making of Barraks [sic] working of platform, forts &c - that he was employed at and about West Point untill some time in the Summer or fall of 1779 when when the work being mostly compleated [sic] and not much want of Workmen he obtained leave & Consent of his Lieut Bolton to go on Board a Privateer at

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New London and who gave him a pass for that purpose and that he went immediately to New London and slept on Board the Sloop Revenge of 16 [?] guns and sixty men Commanded by Captain Parker and while they were Cruising along the Coast they were Taken prisoners by the British frigate the Roe Buck of 36 guns and carry'd into New York and put on Board an old prison ship and lay there about six months and untill the old Ship was burnt that they suffered much from sickness & Starvasion [sic] - that 40 of their Crew died in prison & the remaining 20 was Taken from New York to Rhoad [sic] Island to be Exchanged - that they were received by our Officers & a receipt given for them at Courses Harbour in New Port - that he lay there a few days untill he could send to his Friends when Phinehas Maxson came to help him home - and that he Carryed [sic] him on his back to the ferry & thence home on horse back in the month of May 1780 after being from home in the Service and in prison about two years in this last Service [?]
Sworn to & Subscribed the day}
& year aforesaid before me}   [Signed] Peleg Burdick
[Signed] Sher Page Judge of the County Court of Otsego Co 

Then the Interrogatories as presented by the Department of War being put by the said Judge to the said applicant under Oath as aforesaid to which he gave the several following answers - That he was Born at Hopkin Town in Rhoad Island in the year 1759 That he has a record in his Bible Taken from his Fathers Bible - That he lived at Wilbroham in Massachusets [sic] when call into the Service that while he was in the Service the last time his Father removed his Family into the State of New York that he lived there several years that he has lived in the Town of Otego in the County of Otsego State of New York about sixteen years where he now resides - 
that he entered the service by Enlistment at 3 several times & shipt once 
That he has no Documentary evidence & knows of none to prove his services but what is hereto annexed that he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension except the present and declairs [sic] that his name is not on the Agency or pension Roll of any State- 
that he refers to Thads. R Austin - Ransom Hunter - Ashael Packard and Daniel Willer Esquires who reside in the same Neighborhood with him to prove his Character for Veracity & proof of his Services - 
[Signed] Peleg Burdick
Sworn & Subscribed as above 
[Signed] Sher Page Judge of the County Courts of Otsego Co.

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We Ethan Burdick and John C Hopkin Residents of the Town of Otego in the County of Otsego do hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Peleg Burdick who has Subscribed to and sworn to the above declaration in our presence - that we believe him to be about seventy four years of Age - that he is reputed and believed in the Neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier in the revolution and that we Concur in that Opinion 
[Signed] Ethan Burdick
[Signed] John C Hopkins
Sworn to & Subscribed the}
day & year aforesaid before me}
Sher. Page Judge of the County Courts of Otsego Co 

And the said Judge does hereby declare his Opinion after putting the Interrogatories as prescribed by the War department and after the investigation of the matter that the above applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he states and I the said Judge do further Certify that it appears to me that Ethan Burdick and John C Hopkin who has subscribed and sworn to the preceeding [sic] Certificate are residents of Otego in Otsego County and are Credible persons - and that their Statement is Entitled to Credit - And also that the said Peleg Burdick from his Bodily Infirmities and from his representation [?] appears to be unable to attend the Courts of this County - 
[Signed] Sherman Page Judge of the County Courts of Otsego County

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State of New York}
Otsego County}
On this 14th day of February in the year 1833 personally appeared before me the Undersigned one of the Judges of the County Courts in and for the County of Otsego - Phineas Maxson of Lawfull Age and a Credible Witness and on being duly sworn according to Law doth on his Oath declare & say that he is now 78 years of Age and that he is personally well acquainted with Peleg Burdick now applying for a pension and that he was so acquainted with said Burdick in the time of the Revolutionary War - that he and the said Burdick both enlisted at the same time in the same Company (to wit) at the Town of Wilbroham in the State of Massachusetts about the first of May in the year 1777 or 1778 & he thinks it was in 1778 in the Company Commanded by Captn. Wood - Lieut. Bolton - Ensign Spring as Artificers for the Army raised by Order of General Mifflin and that they joined the army at New Winsor [sic] near West Point under Major Painter & Col Corcasco or Francisco that they had the small pox at New Winsor in the month of June and then went to West Point and were employed in Building Barraks [sic] Magazines Chevoxdefries [sic] &c and that he the said Burdick served faithfully in the said Corps about one year when the said Corps was in some measure disorganized by reason of the Officers not then having received their Commissions - and then (as the said Maxson was inform'd & believes to be true) he the said Burdick Enlisted on Board of a Privateer & was taken prisoner & put on Board a Prison ship in New York and thence went to Rhoad [sic] Island - for the said Maxson says that he saw the said Burdick with other prisoners at Rhoad Island he thinks in the spring of the year 1780 - that his feet had been frosen [sic] & was then very lame & he unwell & unable to walk that he said Maxson took said Burdick & carryed [sic] him on his back to the Boat - thence to Newport and to Cannamicut [sic] & thence brought him home on horseback - he thinks this was in the spring or summer of the year 1780 
And the said Maxson further saith that he was inform'd at the time of the said War that the said Burdick did serve six months in the Neighborhood of Boston in the year 1776 and also six months at Springfield in the State of Massachusets [sic] ^and from his best recollection he believes the above information to be true.  And further that he sd Maxson has a Pension Certificate and that a part of his services was with said Burdick at West Point as aforesaid. And further saith not.
[Signed] Phinehas Maxson
Sworn & Subscribed this 14th Feby 1833 
before me [Signed] Sherm Page Judge of the County Court for Otsego Co.

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Same as prior page, but top cut off and Certification at bottom added

[State of New York}
Otsego County}
On this 14th day of February in the year 1833 personally appeared before me the Undersigned one of the Judges of the] County Courts in and for the County of Otsego - Phineas Maxson of Lawfull Age and a Credible Witness and on being duly sworn according to Law doth on his Oath declare & say that he is now 78 years of Age and that he is personally well acquainted with Peleg Burdick now applying for a pension and that he was so acquainted with said Burdick in the time of the Revolutionary War - that he and the said Burdick both enlisted at the same time in the same Company (to wit) at the Town of Wilbroham in the State of Massachusetts about the first of May in the year 1777 or 1778 & he thinks it was in 1778 in the Company Commanded by Captn. Wood - Lieut. Bolton - Ensign Spring as Artificers for the Army raised by Order of General Mifflin and that they joined the army at New Winsor [sic] near West Point under Major Painter & Col Corcasco or Francisco that they had the small pox at New Winsor in the month of June and then went to West Point and were employed in Building Barraks [sic] Magazines Chevoxdefries [sic] &c and that he the said Burdick served faithfully in the said Corps about one year when the said Corps was in some measure disorganized by reason of the Officers not then having received their Commissions - and then (as the said Maxson was inform'd & believes to be true) he the said Burdick Enlisted on Board of a Privateer & was taken prisoner & put on Board a Prison ship in New York and thence went to Rhoad [sic] Island - for the said Maxson says that he saw the said Burdick with other prisoners at Rhoad Island he thinks in the spring of the year 1780 - that his feet had been frosen [sic] & was then very lame & he unwell & unable to walk that he said Maxson took said Burdick & carryed [sic] him on his back to the Boat - thence to Newport and to Cannamicut [sic] & thence brought him home on horseback - he thinks this was in the spring or summer of the year 1780 
And the said Maxson further saith that he was inform'd at the time of the said War that the said Burdick did serve six months in the Neighborhood of Boston in the year 1776 and also six months at Springfield in the State of Massachusets [sic] ^and from his best recollection he believes the above information to be true.  And further that he sd Maxson has a Pension Certificate and that a part of his services was with said Burdick at West Point as aforesaid. And further saith not.
[Signed] Phinehas Maxson
Sworn & Subscribed this 14th Feby 1833 
before me [Signed] Sherm Page Judge of the County Court for Otsego Co.

I certify that the above named Phineas Maxon who subscribed & made Oath to the above Affidavit before me on the 14th of Feby 1833 was then known to me as a Man of Truth & Veracity and a Creditable witness 
14th Sept 1833 
[Signed] Sherm Page Judge of the 
County Courts for Otsego County.

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State of New York} 
Otsego County } ss. I Horace Lathrop Clerk of the said County of Otsego, do hereby certify, That Sherman Page, before whom the declaration, & interrogatories of Peleg Burdick, the Certificate of Ethan Burdick & John C Hopkins and the Affidavit of Phinehas Maxson also hereunto annexed purports to have been severally sworn, and whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Certificate, was at the date of the same one of the Judges of Otsego County Courts duly appointed sworn as such: And that I am acquainted with his hand writing, and verily believe his name subscribed to the said Declaration Interrogatories Certificate and Affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office the 27th day of February 1833 
[Signed] Horace Lathrop, Clerk

Crosswise, Left margin:
Peleg Burdick
23266

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Peleg Burdick
New York
No. 23266.

[Faintly] ej [?]
susp'd


Abijah H Beach
Unadilla NY

[Stricken:  Horace Lathrop esq Clk
Cooperstown Otsego Co N.Y.]

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WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Pension Office, 
June 3 1833 

Sir: 
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 

A Statement, shewing the service of Peleg Burdick 
Period when the service was rendered | Duration of the claimant's service [Y-M-D] | Rank of the claimant | Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served | Names and Rank of the General and Field officers | Battles in which the applicant was engaged | Country through which he marched | Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period | Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
1776 enlisted | 0-6-0 | Pri | Capt Munn | blank | blank | blank | 74 years, Welbroham Mass. | Traditionary, Witness
1777 " | 0-6-0 | "  | Capt. Brewer | blank | blank | blank | " " | " "
May 1778 to the summer of 1779, say about | 1-0-0 | artificer | Capt. Wood | Maj Painter, Col. Francisco | blank | blank | " " | " " 

I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

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3
[REGULATIONS, cont'd]

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OW
[?]sion on file in this Bureau, Peleg Burdick Rej 1449. 
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT | LENGTH OF SERVICE | RANK | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED [CAPTAIN/COLONEL] | STATE. 
May or June 1776 | 6 mos. | Pvt. | Capt. Munn/Col. blank | Mass.
Spring of 1777 | 6 mos. | " | Capt. Brewer/ Col. blank | blank
1778 | fall of 1779 | artificer |Capt. Wood & Sizer/Col. * | blank
Immediately after shipped on on sloop Revenge under Capt Parker served 3 mos as gunner. Later prisoner by British frigate Roebuck,, carried to N.Y. and put on board the old prison ship and kept six months then taken to Rhode Island and exchanged. Returned home May 1780[?]. 

Battles engaged in, 
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Wilbraham, Mass. 
Date of application for pension, Feby 1833. His cl was al
Residence at date of application, Otego, Otsego Co. N.Y.
Age at date of application 74 born at Hopkintown R.I. in 1759.
Remarks: The claim was rejected on the ground he deserted from the Service in the fall of 1779.

*No Col. Francisco probably Gen. Kosciusko, therefore not used.

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1909 Feb 19 Hist to W. M. B. Harcourt F.L.M. 
(Letter in Sur. File 3107) 

1449 
REJECTED
Peleg Burdick 
List of rejected claims printed in 1852 shows cause of rejection as follows: 
"He was a deserter."

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New York
Revo'y
Peleg Burdick
Rejected
Let. to Hon. S. Page
June 24 1834.

1449
Act 7 June '32

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June 24 1834
to Hon. S. Page

Rec'd. Vol. 33 pa. 16

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War Department
Pension Office
June 24 1834

Sir
The papers of Peleg Burdick have again been examined. It appears from the certificate of the Secretary of the State of Massachusetts that the claimant deserted the Corps of Artificers the 30th of September 1779 by which act he forfeits all claim to a pension.
The papers are placed on file in this office

Hon. S. Page
House Reps
N.Y.

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[Postmark]BOSTON MASS JUN 1
Double [illegible - 3 Jn?]
Abijah H Beach, Esqr.
Unadilla, Otsego County,
New York.

Upside down: Bang's [?] Cert'fe.

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, May 29th 1834. 

I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Peleg Burdick is borne on, "An Abstract of the traveling Ration, or Mileage Money for the Company under the command of Capt Reuben Munn, in the Regiment whereof Nicholas Dike, Esqr is Colonel 
Roxbury September 17th 1776." where he is allowed for 90 Miles travel £ 0"7"6. [?]

Peleg Burdick's name is borne on "An Abstract of the Mileage money & traveling wages, due to the Company, under the command of Capt. Reuben Munn, in the regiment whereof Nicholas Dike, Esqr. is Colonel. 
Boston Novr 26, 1776, where he is allowed for 90 miles travel 7/6 & for wages & travel 13/6 .

The name of Peleg Burdick is borne on "An Account, in a Ledger of the Mix'd Regiments of Massachusetts, where he has Credit, as a private, (of Wilbraham) under Capt Sizer, in Col. Baldwins Regiment, from March 13 of 1778, to Sept 30th 1779, 18 months & 17 days, at 60/10r mo is 55 & 14/2

Peleg Burdick is charged in same Account to sundrys £ 5"1"1 
1779 Decr. 31st. (having Deserted 30th Sept. 1779, is charged, To Ballance 0.00 [?]

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Peleg Burdick claims for service under Capt. Munn, in 1776, 
and for service at Springfield, under Capt Brewer in 1777; 
He Also claims service on Board the Sloop Revenge, in 1778, 
but the rolls he describes are not found in this Office. 
Edward S. Bangs. Secy.

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Boston May 31st 1837 

Sir,
By the Certificate for Peleg Burdick's services, you will perceive that he is returned as a Deserter Sept. 1779. If he can prove he had leave of absence the Commissioner of Pensions will no doubt allow the time he has credit for the returned at this Office as above stated. If your P.B. is not the person here mentioned, if you will return this Certificate we will send you another, leaving out the services under Capt Sizer in Col. Baldwin's Regt. and only mention the other services, as stated on the one now sent. 
Yours Respectfully 
[Signed] Eleazer Hosher 
[Signed] Henry White

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State of New York} 
Otsego County ss.} 
Personally appeared before me the Undersigned a Judge of the County Courts in & for Otsego County Peleg Burdick of Otego in said County who being 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 services but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades -- 
for six months I served in Captain Munn's Company as a private soldier 
for six months except one day I served in Capt Brewers Company as soldier & waiter 
for about or nearly one year and five months I served in Capt Woods Company under Col Francisco & Majr Painter in the Capacity of an Artificer or Carpinter [sic] -- and for nine months I served on Board the Sloop Revenge Captain Parker as a common hand or gunner including six month a prisoner on board the Old prison Ship in New York - all the above as nearly correct as I can now recollect - and the said imprisonment cannot forget- 
[Signed] Peleg Burdick
Sworn & Subscribed this 14 day of 
September 1833 before me 
[Signed] Sher Page Judge of the County Courts for Otsego County 

State of New York}
Otsego County} ss: I Horace Lathrop, Clerk of said County do certify, that Sherman Page before whom the above Affidavit purports to have been sworn, was at the date of the same, one of the Judges of Otsego County Courts: And that I am acquainted with his hand writing, and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing and signature. Witness my hand and Seal of Office this 30th day of September 1833. 
[Signed] Horace Lathrop, Clerk.

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To J. L. Edwards Esquire Commissioner of Pensions 
in the matter of Peleg Burdick 
I Peleg Burdick of the Town of Otego in Otsego County do hereby declare & say that the statements made in my original application for pension are correct according to the best of my knowledge and belief with the following explanation as to leaving Captain Sizers Company - viz --
that I served 6 months in Capt Munns Company in 1776 as there stated 
that I served 6 months in Capt Brewers Compy in 1777 as stated 
that I enlisted at Wilbraham as an Artificer under Capt Wood & Major Painter in 1778 as therein stated and that some time after we were at West Point  for some [illegible] said Major Painter & Capt Wood left the Army as also Lieut Spring - and that Capt Sizer took command of said Company - that I continued at work under the Officers of said Compy untill the fall of the year 1779 when the work being mostly compleated and not much want of hands and being inform that Men was much wanted at New London for the Armed Vessels there -- I by and with the Advice and Consent of my Officers (& by the solicitation of a Man then at West Point who belong on board the sloop Revenge & wanted hands) - Obtained a pass from Lieut Bolton for the express purpose and went with the said Man immediately to New London & shipt on board the Revenge Capt Parker did serve & was taken prisoner was exchang'd &c as stated in said application for a pension as aforesaid -- that I did not at any time desert or leave the service of my Country, but by permission did immediately ship & continue as aforesaid as will appear by my said application & the Affidavit of Phineas Maxon on file in the pension office at Washington --
that in the year 1779 Myself & about 40 others did leave the service a few day for want of pay & clothing and being sent for & promised pay & as we did return & was paid except a small sum being deducted for the time absent and did Continue in service untill 1780 
[Signed] Peleg Burdick 
Dated 17th June 1834}
signed in presence of}
[Signed] A. H. Beach

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Peleg Burdick

Unadilla NY
June 19th
[Postage] Free
Honbl. Sherm. Page - Congress
Washington City

Hon. S. Page

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Unadilla 18th June 1834
Sir
Mr Peleg Burdick of Otego wishes me to request you to hand the enclos'd papers to Mr Edwards the Comsr of pensions - Mr Burdick has sent to Boston as required and obtained the enclos'd letter & certificate by which it appears that the Rolls of a part of his services are not in that Office - it also appears that he deserted - now Mr Burdick does say that in point of fact he did not Desert - And certainly he has the reputation of an honest Man of strict truth but he does say that in the fall of 1779 he with 30 or 40 others did leave the service a short time because they could not get pay or clothing and were suffering with the cold  that they went off openly in the day time & some were [illegible] home to Wilbroham - but a Sergeant came after them with a promise of pay & clothing &c if they would return - that most of them did return - were received & paid except a deduction for the time [illegible] - this he supposes was the deserting alluded to in ^the enclosed Certificate but that he continued in service & in imprisonment untill the spring of 1780 
that he wishes you to refer the Comsr to his enclos'd statement and his original papers on file in pension Office 
Sir yours most respectfully 
Abijah H Beach 

Honl. S. Page} 
Washington}