Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 4,414, Silvanus Burk, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Burk, Silvanius or Burke
W.4414
Achsah
CONTENTS
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13. 160 Ohio. R
Sylvanus Burke of Munro in the state of Ohio who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Vose of the Massachusetts line, for the term of three Years War
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 11 of June 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 of July 1819 and sent to Hon. Peter Hitchcock Burlington Ohio
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 $ 2.23 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 11 Sept 1819  48. 9 Mo. 1 dy annu. $120.23
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued
Application sent July 24th 1820 to Horace Paine, Secretary Ohio

Letter to P.W. Agt 21. April 1840
WIO 5223
Achsah Burke widow of Sylvanus Burke died who was a pensioner under the Act of 1818 who died on the 4 July 1835 Guyahoga in the State of Ohio who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Miller of the regt commanded by Col Vose in the Chap line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Pittsburgh at the rate of 80 Dollars ————— Eighty per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of March 1840, to Sergeant Hon. John W. Allen H. R.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1840 $ 320.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep '40 40.00
$360.00 { Act July 7, } 1838.
Recorded by D. M. Gundy Clerk. Book A. Vol. 2. Page 21

State of Ohio Guadalupe County } On this 4 th day of June A.D. 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the competent judges of the Court of Com- mon Pleas for the County and State aforesaid personally appeared Sylvanus Buske aged fifty five years resident at Newburgh in the County aforesaid who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath, make the following declaration in or- der to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons en- gaged in the land and naval service of the United States" in the revolutionary war. That he the said Sylvanus Buske enlisted at Chesterfield in the County of Hampshire and State of Mass.

chatts and joined the company com- manded by Capt. Miller of the first Massachu- setts Regiment on the Continental estate Lisburne, having in his list for three years off the 16 th day of January A D 1881 That he continued to serve in said Corps, or in the service of the United States until the fall of the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty three when he was discharged from the service at Westpoint in the State of New York, but the discharge can not now be pro- duced but has been lost. That during the time aforesaid the said Sylvanus was serving as a musician - and that he is in pecuniary circumstances and stands in need of the aid of the country for support, and that he has no other evidence now in his power of having performed said services, and that he

now relinquishes all claim to any pension heretofore granted him by any law of the United States.
Sworn to and declared before me this day and year aforesaid.
I John H. Strong - appointed judge as aforesaid, do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Sylvanus Burke did serve in the Revolutionary war as stated in the her- ewithing declaration against the common enemy; and I now transmit the her- ewithings and testimony taken before me to the Secretary for the Army as the act of war has provided to the discretion of the aforementioned act of Congress.
John H. Strong

State of Ohio Cuyahoga County ss
I Horace Perry Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County do hereby that Certify that the within named John H Strong is a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
within and for said County and that said Court is a Court of Record & that the within signature is in his own proper hand writing - In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court at Cleveland This 2 nd Day of November A D 1818
Horace Perry Clerk
J. Barker Application
I do hereby certify that I am lawfully authorized to write the within named John Strong is a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County and that said Court is a Court of Record & that the within signature is in his own proper hand writing - In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court at Cleveland This 2 nd Day of November A D 1819

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I hereby certify that I find on the Records in the Town of Goshen the following -
Intentions of Marriage between Mr. Sylvanus Burk and Achsah Webster both of Goshen have been published in this Town as the law directs July, 18 th 1785 -
Irne Burk Daughter of Sylvanus Burk and Achsah his Wife born at Goshen Sept. 18 th 1785 -
Orvil Burk Daughter of Sylvanus Burk and Achsah his Wife born at Goshen Feb. 16 th 1787 -
Gaius Burk Son of Sylvanus Burk and Achsah his Wife born at Goshen June 22 d 1791 -
I also certify that the said records do not contain any record of the Marriage of Sylvanus Burk and Achsah Webster.
Goshen Feb. 24 th . 1840 - Benjamin White Town Clerk of Goshen
Hampshire ss. Goshen Feb 24 th . 1840 Then personally appeared the above named Benjamin White who is Clerk of the Town of Goshen and made solemn oath that the above certificate by him subscribed is true
Before me Luther Stone Justice of the Peace
S. Wells - C lerk
North

Sylvanus Burk's Application for Pension —
Military
13.160
Sep 1819
Sent to Horace Perry Esq. Cleveland July 24, 1820

State of Ohio Third Judicial Circuit Wayne County ss
On this 13 th day of June in the year of eighteen hundred and twenty personally appeared in open Court in said County of Wayne and Circuit aforesaid being a Court of Record Sylvanus Burk aged fifty seven years Resident in Newburgh in said County who being first sworn according to Law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows — In January in the year 1777. he enlisted in a Regt Commanded by Col. Alden and Company Commanded by Captain Luke Day in the Massachusetts line of Infantry and was at the taking of Gen. Burgvine and was discharged in 1778. and again enlisted for three years in January 1781. and was attached to the Regt Commanded by Col Joseph Vose and Captain Millers Company being the 1 st Regt & 1 st Company of the Massachusetts line and served the time of my Enlistment and was honorably discharged in - 83 by Gen. Knox — That the date of his Original discharge Declaration as he believes bears date the fourth of June in the year 1818. and that the Number of the Certificate granted him by the war Department is (13.160) and I Sylvanus Burk do solemnly swear that I was

I swear that I was a Resident Citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner whatever disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it so 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 18 th 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.
Sylvanus Burk
A Schedule of property owned by Sylvanus Burk together with his income - One Cow purchased by my pension money worth twenty four Dollars a number of Notes to the amount of about $200. - which are outlawed and wholly lost as I Believe
That I am a Farmer by occupation and am infirm in consequence of the fall of a tree which injured my Back and Hips and Broke one of my knees which enables me to perform but very little -

I have a wife who is old and infirm and lives with my sons - I have two other sons who live with the sons who support me - one of the age of 20 the other 12 years - also one Daughter of the age of 25 who lives in the same family and contributes something for my support
Sworn to and declared on the thirteenth day of June in the year 1820
Schwars Burk
before the Court of Common
Pleas - Attest Horace Perry Clerk
I. Horace Perry Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Cuyahoga in the State of Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the Record of said Court - that it is the true copy of said Court and that the total amount of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is twenty four Dollars - that said Court is a Court of Record & proceeds according to the course of the Common Law with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount keeping a Record of their proceedings & has the power of fine and imprisonment - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court at Cleveland this seventh 2 nd day of July A.D. 1820 Horace Perry Clerk

6527 Asaah Burks of Sylvanus Ohio

The State of Ohio Cuyahoga County ss
On this thirtieth day of March A D 1839 personally appeared before me Frederick Whittlesey a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County, Ohio at her residence in Newburgh Township Achsah Burk a resident of said Newburgh Township in the County of Cuyahoga and State aforesaid and aged seventy four years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7 th 1838 entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows; That she is the widow of Sylvanus Burk who was a private Soldier in the Army of the Revolutionary war in the American Service That she has no means of ascertaining the time when he entered the service, or at what time he left the same nor does she recollect nor has she any means of knowing in what Regiment or Company he served or under what officers he went - But thinks she has heard him say that he served some or the whole of his time in the Troops called the Massachusetts Line - But she would refer the determination to the application of her husband the said Sylvanus Burk made as she thinks in one of the years eighteen hundred and eighteen to eighteen hundred and nineteen, under which appl- ication the said Sylvanus Burk received his Certificate as a pensioner at the rate (as she thinks of eight Dollars per month and on the fourth day that afterwards under the application of the said Achsah Burk widow of the said Sylvanus Burk deceased to draw the back pay from the fourth day of March A D 1835 to the fourth day of July A D 1835 of the same year on which application the Original Certificate of the said Sylvanus Burk was returned

to the war department. —
She further declares that she was married to the said Sylvanus Burk either in the month of July or August Seventeen hundred and eighty five in which of said months of July or August she was married to the said Sylvanus Burk, she is not positive, but thinks that it was in the month of July of said year, nor does she recollect the day of the marriage nor has she any records to which she can refer to ascertain the time of the marriage) that her husband the aforesaid Sylvanus Burk died on the fourth day of July in the year eighteen hundred and thirty five; that she was not married to him previous to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January in the year Seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz at the time above stated and that she still remains his widow —
Subscribed & sworn to before me this 8 th day of April A D 1839
Achsah her X Burk mark
And I do further certify that I am well acquainted with Achsah Burk and know that from bodily infirmity she is unable to attend Court to make her declaration
Fredk Whittlesey Associate Judge
The State of Ohio, Cuyahoga County ss. }
I Harvey Rice Clerk of the court of common Pleas in & for said county hereby certify that the Hon. Frederick Whittlesey before whom the foregoing affidavit was made, was at the date thereof one of the judges of the court of common Pleas within & for said county - duly commissioned & qualified - according to the laws of the State of Ohio & also that his signature above subscribed is genuine
Witness My signature & the seal of said court at the City of Cleveland this 10 th day of December A D. 1839 —
H. Rice Clerk By A. Clark Deputy

Rev  WIDOW, &c.
File No. 4414
Achsah Burke
Wid.
Sylvanus Burke
Post. Mass. line
Act: July 1 st 38
Index:—Vol. 4 , Page 101
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Joshua Burke Ohio
Suspended
let: 5 Feb: 1840
Re: D. W. Allen
do. 17 March 1840
Acty July 1838

Sylvanus Burks Pitt: Act 18 March 1878 At what time pl pl Pen: Officer died 1835 Feb 5, 1840 Died 4 th July 1835 paid to that period dH

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Hampshire ss.
I, Samuel Wells, Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth, for the County of Hampshire, do certify, that Benjamin White Esquire, whose signature is affixed to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned, and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth; and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity; and that I am acquainted with the hand-writing of the said Benjamin White and believe his signature to said certificate is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas for said Commonwealth, this Seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine
Samuel Wells
Clerk.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Hampshire ss.
I, Samuel Wells, Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth, for the County of Hampshire, do certify, that Luther Stone Esquire, whose signature is affixed to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned, and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth; and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity; and that I am acquainted with the hand-writing of the said Luther Stone and believe his signature to said certificate is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas for said Commonwealth, this twenty third day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty Samuel Wells Clerk.

Feb 5. 1840
Ohio
Post Master Columbus
Hon. J.W. Allen H.R.

H. Rapt
Feb. 4 1840
Sir —
M m G w Lynde, of Ohio, sent to your office some time since, the papers on an Application of Mrs A. Park for a Pension, but has heard nothing in reply. Will you have the goodness to let me hear from you when an examination shall be made —————
6527
Resp y
Wm Allen
Col. Edwards Com d

Mar 28 1840
Off the
J. H. Buck
Wm. H. Lee
J. W. Allen H. R.

House Rep Mch 26 th 1/40
Sir -
I enclose you the aff te returned to me, in the case of Miss Burk with the certificate of the Clerk of Hampshire Co. Mass
Yrs Resp ly
JN Allen
Col. Edwards

House Rep Feb 29/40
Sir —
I enclose to you an Aff t of Brij. White, Town Clerk &c as Evi- dence in the case of Mrs Burk as suggested in your favor of the 5 th inst —
Yours Resp ly
John N Allen
Col. Edwards

The State of Ohio } I Justus Hamilton of the Township of Cuyahoga County } Newburgh in said County aged forty seven years being first duly sworn upon my said oath do depose and say that I have been acquainted with Sylvanus Burk and Achsah Burk since the year eighteen hundred one and that the said Sylvanus Burk died on the 14 th of July 1835 in the Township of Newburgh aforesaid and that the said Sylvanus and Achsah Burk have lived together as man and wife during the time I have known them up to the death of the said Sylvanus and that the said Achsah Burk now remains the widow of the said Sylvanus Burk deponent further says that the said Achsah Burk is very feeble in body and mind in consequence of which her recollection is very imperfect deponent further says that the said Sylvanus Burk was a Revolutionary pensioner under the Law of the United States at the time of his death
Sworn and subscribed before me this eighth day of April A D 1839
Justus Hamilton
Ebenezer Miles Justice of the Peace And I do further certify that I am well acquainted with Justus Hamilton the deponent and know him to be a man of truth and veracity to whose statements implicit confidence may be placed
Ebenezer Miles Justice of the Peace

The State of Ohio, Cuyahoga County ss.
I Harvey Rice Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County, hereby certify that the within named Eben Miles Esq. before whom the said affidavit was made (Whose signature thereto signed is genuine) was on the date of said affidavit & certificate, a justice of the peace duly commissioned & qualified according to the laws of this State. Witness my signature & the Seal of said Court at the City of Cleveland this 4 th day of December A.D. 1839.
H. Rice Clerk By A. Clark Deputy

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire p Goshen March 6th. 1839.
I Robert Webster of Goshen in said County do testify and say that I was present at the Marriage of my Sister Achsah Webster and Sylvanus Bush which took place at Goshen aforesaid in the County of Hampshire sometime in the Summer of A.D. 1785. They were married by Rev. Timothy Allen of Chesterfield in said County. They afterwards lived as Man and Wife as long as they resided in this Town which was a number of Years.
Robert Webster.
Hampshire p March 7th. 1839.
Then Robert Webster personally appeared and made oath that the above Affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me Benjamin White Justice of the Peace
Hampshire p Goshen March 6th. 1839.
I Malachi James of Goshen in said County do testify and say that I well recollect the time when Sylvanus Bush and Achsah Webster were married. It was in the Summer or Autumn of the Year 1785 - I was not present at the time of the Marriage but I lived near them - and they lived together as Man and Wife as long as they resided in this Town which was several Years - I have no doubt they were lawfully lawfully married to each other. Malachi James.
Hampshire p. Goshen March 7th. 1839.
Then Malachi James personally appeared and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me Benjamin White Justice of the Peace
I also certify that the above named Robert Webster and Malachi James are Men of undoubted truth and veracity. Benjamin White

6527
Dear Sir,
Ohio
July 7. 1838
Honorable Henry J. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

Rockport Dec 18 th 1839
Honorable J L Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Dr. Sir Enclosed is the application of Achsah Burk for a Pension and the papers showing that she is the widow of Sylvanus Burk who drew a Pension in his life time. and also affidavits showing the time when Sylvanus Burk died, with the Widows declaration under the act of the 7 th July 1838 - She has to rely on the service proof that her husband made to the Department at the time his Certificate was granted to him - Please favor me with an answer to the application as soon as convenient
I have the honor to be very respectfully your O bt . Servt.
G W Lynde

Rockport Dec 18 th 1839
Honorable J L Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Dr. Sir Enclosed is the application of Achsah Burk for a Pension and the papers showing that she is the widow of Sylvanus Burk who drew a Pension in his life time. and also affidavits showing the time when Sylvanus Burk died, with the Widows declaration under the act of the 7 th July 1838 - She has to rely on the proof of service that her husband made to the department at the time his Certificate was granted to him - Please favor me with an answer to the application as soon as convenient
I have the honor to be very respectfully your O bt . Serv t
G W Lynde

State of Ohio Cuyahoga County ss. I Berzilla B. Burk of the township of Newburgh in said County aged forty nine years being first duly sworn upon my said Oath do depose and say. That I was well acquainted with Sylvanus Burk a Pensioner (and who was said to be a Revolutionary Soldier in the American Service) and that the said Sylvanus Burk (my Father) died at my residence in the said township of Newburgh in said County on the fourth day of July in the year eighteen hundred and thirty five, and that I was present at the time of his death: And that Achsah Burk widow of the said Sylvanus Burk is my mother, and that she still remains unmarried since the death of her husband Sylvanus Burk who died at the time of said. Deponent further says that the said Achsah Burk (my mother) has become feeble and her mind so impaired that her recollection is very indistinct and quite imperfect.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this eighth day of April A.D. 1839
B. B. Burk
Ebenezer Miles Justice of the Peace
And I do further certify that I am well acquainted with Berzilla B. Burk the deponent and know him to be a man of truth and veracity to whose statements implicit confidence may be placed.
The State of Ohio, Cuyahoga County ss.
Ebenezer Miles Justice of the Peace
I Harvey Rice Clerk of the court of common Pleas in said county hereby certify that Ebenezer Miles Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit was made, was at the date thereof & now is a justice of the peace in & for said county, duly commissioned & qualified. & whose signatures above are genuine - (Witness) My Signature & the Seal of said court at the city of Cleveland this 10th day of December A.D. 1839. H. Rice Clerk By A. Clark Deputy

State of Ohio Cuyahoga County, ss
Alvin Cochrane of lawful age deposes and says, that in the commencement of the revolutionary war he was acquainted with Sylvanus Burke, that the defendant in the years 1781, 82 & 83 was in the service of the United States as a regular soldier in the Massachusetts continental establishment in the Regiment commanded by Col Wm. Shephard in Genl. Patterson's Brigade. That during the time aforesaid the said Sylvanus Burke was acting as a drummer in the same Brigade in the the Regiment commanded by Col Joseph Vose. Subsequent to leaving the service the Defendant was acquainted with the said Sylvanus Burke, frequently conversed with him respecting the war and never doubted but that the said Burke had served for three years or about that time  at least during the war of the Revolution and further the Defendant saith not.
Alvin Cochrane
State of Ohio
Cuyahoga County, ss } Cleveland May 26 th 1819.
Personally appeared Alvin Cochrane whose name is subscribed to the foregoing affidavit and made oath that the facts therein stated are true before me John H. Strong an Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County aforesaid, and I do also certify that I am well acquainted with Sylvanus Burke to whose appli-

contem For a lesson this affidavit is arranged that the said Bush is in reduced circum- stances and in my opinion stands in need of the assistance of the country for support. In tes- timony whereof I have hereunto officially set my name officially on the day above written Yours W. Strong
Thomas Bush's Application
Admiral
Mr. E.

6527 Achsah Burk of Sylvanus Ohio
admitted
Pr: 2 yrs $80.- bap. Miller. Coolville map.
died 4 July 1835
Act 7 July 1838
Hon. John W. Allen H. R.