Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 40,788, Benjamin Burd, Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn.
Burd, Benjamin
S. 40,788
CONTENTS

10.072 Pennsylvania.
Benjamin Burd, of Bedford in the state of Penns a who was a Captain in the regiment commanded by Colonel Butler, of the Pennsylv a line, for the term of four years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on the 28. of May, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30. of April 19. and sent to Jonathan Walker, judge, Bedford, Pennsylv a
Arrears to 4th of March, 1819. --- 185.16.
Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4. Sept.  120.
9 mo s 8. 2 } 1819. } $: 305.16. 31. }
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }

United States of America Western District of Pennsylvania
It a special session of the District Court of the United States in and for the Western District of Pennsylvania held at Bedford in the County of Bedford within the said Western District by special Assignment on Wednesday the six th day of November Anno Domini One Thousand eight hundred and twenty two before the Honorable Jonathan H. Walker Judge of the United States in and for the said Western District personally appeared in open Court being a Court of record in and for said District Benjamin Durd of the said County of Bedford in the said District aged sixty eight years on or about the 10 th day of May last resident in the said County of Bedford within the said District who being first duly swor. according to law took an his solemn oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows to wit that he entered the service in the month of August in the year One Thousand seven hundred and sixty five as a Lieutenant in Captain Hagggs Company in the first Pennsylvania Rifles Corps Commanded by Colonel John Thompson and marched to Boston with said Corps and served on said Corps until the 3 d day of January one thousand seven hundred and sixty seven when he was promoted to a Captain in the 14 th Pennsylvania Regiment Commanded by Colonel James Cadwalader and in General of  the Army until some time in the Summer of the year One thousand seven hundred and eighty on the Continental establishment in the Revolutionary war against the Common enemy that the whole of said Continental service was about five years during which time he was in the following engagements or battles at Ditchborne point near Prospect Hill at the battle of Long Island the battle of Brandywine German Town, Paoli, Trenton, Princeton, Monmouth, White Plains, and various other engagements as set forth in his original application found in the Office of the Secretary of War and on which a pension certificate issued to the Department dated the 20 th day of April 1819 Signed J. Elkston Secretary of War and numbered 10.672. And the said Declarant do further swear that he was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818 and that he hath not since that time by gift sale or any manner disposed of his property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring himself within the provision 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 he hath not nor has any person in trust for him any property or securities contracted or debts due to him nor hath he any income other than that which is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by him subscribed
The declarant further states that his occupation was that of a former Merchant that he is now a Coppe in both knew and rendered incapable of performing any business or employment whatever. That his family residing with him consist of himself his wife aged about sixty years and that they both reside with their son George Durd at Bedford in the County of Bedford aforesaid

Schedule of declarant's property and income for the real or personal property. Income as follows, the proceeds of the office of Register and Recorder of Bedford County and Clerk of the Orphans Court of Bedford County amounting to about two hundred and forty dollars per annum in fee payable by the persons who have business in said Offices much of which are monthly credited; the duties of which said Offices respectively are monthly performed by a deputy or the declarant is unable from bodily infirmity to do more than subscribe his name to any official paper or legal proceeding or to judge in any judicial, depending before him as Register; that said declarant was appointed to said Offices in the month of March 1821, and that said Offices are held at the pleasure of the Executive of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - known to and subscribed on the 6th day of November 1822 in Open Court.
Before Jonathan H. Walker
Benj. Burd
J. R. Walker Clerk of the Court of the United States in and for the Western District of Pennsylvania - Do certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of said Court and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the Court that the total amount in value of all the property and income exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is not worth one Cent, in as much as the duties of Register and Recorder and Clerk of the Orphans Court of Bedford County must necessarily be discharged by Deputy whose compensation will amount to as much as the fee of all those Offices and that the income arising from said Offices under present circumstances and in the hands of the present incumbent is merely nominal That the declarant Benj. Burd has but two Children both sons neither of whom is able in any way to support him. That all the real estate of the declarant has been sold at Sheriff's or Commissioner's sale and naked and different persons at the said sale; That the declarant is in such indigent circumstances as to be unable to support himself without the assistance of his Country.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto at my hand affixed the seal of said Court at Pittsburgh this second day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three and in the thirty seventh year of the Independence of the said United States.
PL. Walker Clerk

Benjamin Burd Capt.
Puffin's Penn a . Reg t .
1775 to 1779. 28 May 1818
Jonathan Walker, judge, Bedford, Penn a .
It is absolutely necessary for the applicant to be admitted to the bar of the Court of the Sessions at the 10 th of March, 1818, that the Adm ty cannot certify positively that the party in this case is in reduced circum- stances & that in need of the assistance of his country for support his claim cannot be
all Bedford, Pa.

services of the said applicant, as in his declaration set out, was not made through motives of ostentation, but at my particular request, respondent suggests; & upon a careful examination of the act of Congress, under which this application is made, I do, with great deference, yet with confidence, further submit, it as my opinion, that the case of the said applicant is within the true spirit and meaning of the act of Congress aforesaid. And I now, transcripts, as well the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, as well as the facts known to me personally, to the honorable the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforesaid act of Congress, as witness my hand and seal this 28 th day of May AD 1818
Jonathan Walker
Esq.

Pennsylvania
Bradford County ss. I David Mann Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do Certify that Jonathan Walker Esquire before whom the Depositions of Benjamin Burd and William Reynolds appear to have been taken and whose name is thereto subscribed was at the time of taking the same one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County duly Commissioned and Sworn to whose Of- ficial acts as such full faith and Credit is due as well in Courts of Justice as thereout.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set My Hand and affixed the Seal of Office at Bradford the twenty eighth day of May Anno Domini one thousand eight hun- dred and eighteen.
David Mann Protho

United States Western District of Penn a St.
I Jonathan H. Walker, late President & Judge of the 4 th District of Pennsylvania, now Judge of the United States for the Western District of Pennsylvania do certify that as well from the testimony taken before me whilst President of Judge of the 4 th District of Pennsylvania, which is here to annexed, as from my own personal knowledge, it appears to my entire satisfaction, that the within named applicant, Genl Benjamin Burd, did serve in the Revolutionary war, at one time for four years and upwards, against the Common Enemy & in the Continental establishments, & as stated on his oath in the foregoing application; and I do further certify as well from my own intimate & personal knowledge, as from the information of others well acquainted with the facts that the said Applicant Genl. Burd is in reduced circumstances in life & stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support, & I now transmit as well the testimony taken before me whilst a Judge in the Courts of the State of Pennsylvania as this my additional Certificate to the honorable the Secretary for the Department of War agreeably to the provisions of the "Act of Congress of the 18 th March 1818". As witness my hand & seal this 23 rd day of April A.D. 1819.
Jonathan H. Walker, Esq.

State of Pennsylvania Bedford County ss
On the twenty eighth day of May Anno Domine Eighteen hundred & eighteen before me the subscribed President of the 4 th Judicial District of Pennsylvania appeared Benjamin Burd a resident of Bedford in the County aforesaid aged sixty four years, who being by me duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the late Act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and Naval service of the United States". That he the said Benjamin Burd in the month of July 1775 joined Col. Thompson's Regiment of Rifle men as a volunteer, for 3 months & at the town with said Regiment at Boston about the first of August in said year That in the month of October in said year he was appointed a third Lieutenant in said Regiment was in several skirmishes previous to the British having been bombarded out of Boston & that during said Bombardment he was in the advance at Cobel Hill, then was sent into the advance to Roxbury where General Putnam raised the fortifications & remained there & at Prospect Hill until the British evacuated Boston. Thence marched with said Regiment to New York was in the advance at Gravelly at Long Island when the British fleet came to anchor with the men who fired at them before they detached

their troops & received a sharp fire from the Vessels, of Grape shot in return. Afterwards the Company to which he was attached being the first or eldest Company in said Regiment was ordered a short distance up the river to Hoanes near Brooklyn ferry, to observe the movements of the Redbacks & the Tenders which anchored opposite said place. That he was in the Battle of Long Island, was at Fort Lee the time Fort Washington was taken, was shortly afterwards promoted to a first Lieutenant & about the same time 3 d January 1777 was appointed a Captain in the 4 th Pennsylvania Regiment of Infantry commanded by Col Lambert Cadwallader & Cooper, part of Genl. Wayne's Brigade that he was in the Battles of Trenton, Princeton was during the winter of 1777 in Jersey during which time he was in several skirmishes with the Enemy, that he commanded the left Platoon of the Division commanded by Genl. Wayne at the Battle of Brandywine was in the Massacre at the Paoli, also commanded said left Platoon of General Wayne's Division, at the Battle of German Town & acted as Major. He being the eldest Captain, & the Maj. of said Regt. Lamm having been bayoneted on horseback a few yards from him at the Paoli, was in the action of Monmouth after which he was ordered up the North River under the command of Colonel William Butler the Lieut. Col of said Regiment to act against the Indians & served a campaign against them burning the towns of Unadilla, Aguanga, & Anadanga after which remained in service until the year 1779 in the month of June or July when declarant & Captain Edward Scull of said Regiment resigned

in consequence as they supposed of injustice suffered by Act of Congress which gave certain Officers who had been captured at Fort Washington rank of them when any vacancy occurred in said Regiment. But after the resignation of declarant & Captain Scull as aforesaid they accompanied Col. Butler a part of his way on Sullivan's expedition & returned alone from the circumstance of Col. Butler their particular friend informing them that he could dispense with their services. That he then returned to Bedford County & after his return was appointed (he in no way soliciting it) by Governor Reed a Captain of a Ranging Company for the defence of Bedford County against the Indians which he did not accept of considering it incompatible with his notions of military etiquette to having been a Captain in the line But that he after ward marched & commanded parties in excursions against the Indians the last of which was in the year 1782 & was the last party which was marched from said County on said service. That said declarant further states upon his oath that he served in the Revolutionary war aforesaid upon the Continental establishment between four & five years & afterwards as a volunteer in manner above mentioned & that he never received any commutation pay, lands or pension for his services as aforesaid & that declarant further states on oath that he believes his said commissions were in a trunk sent on with the baggage to Philadelphia by order of the Officer commanding previous to the battle of Brandy wine & were taken or lost, that he hath not now any other further evidence in his possession of said Commissions
Sworn to & subscribed this 28 th day 1818.
Before me
Bony - Burt
Isaac Taylor Walker
Bedford County Pa. William Reynolds Esq. of Bedford being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is well acquainted with Benjamin Burt whose name is signed to the above

deposition & that he is a man of character truth & that full faith & credit may be placed in any thing stated or sworn to by him as above stated
William Reynolds
Given to subscribers this 28th day 1818.
Jonathan Walker
State of Pennsylvania Bedford County ss. 4 th Judicial District ss.
I, Jonathan Walker President, in & for the 4 th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, consisting of the Counties of the Counties of Bedford, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Centre & Clearfield do certify, as well from personal knowledge for many years, as from conversants & general information, that the within named General Benjamin Purdie, & always has been, esteemed a gentleman of high standing & character in the Commonwealth; & that the said applicant was an active gallant, & distinguished Officer in the war of the Revolution. And I do further certify from my own personal knowledge that the said applicant is now & for many years last past, has been a cripple, & totally unable to make the least exertion for himself and family, the loss of both his hands being removed from their natural location so as to compel the constant use of artificial caps composed of leather; and I do further certify that it appears to my entire satisfaction that the said applicant General Benjamin Purdie did serve in the Revolutionary war against the common Enemy, on the Continental establishment for the space of between four and five years, as a volunteer in the manner as stated by the said applicant, in his declarations on oath. And I do further certify, as well from an intimate & personal knowledge of the private concerns of the said applicant, as from other unquestionable information, that the said applicant, is much reduced in his financial circumstances, & that he is, in comparatively, in reduced circumstances in life and needs the assistance of his Country for support, the poor exertion location and compensating delicacy of a spirit of independence ill supporting with his real situation he declines making the declaration and other & I do further certify that the detailed account of the

40 788
Rev INVALID.
File No. 40,788
Benjamin Bird Capt New York
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 8 , Page 69
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Pennsylvania.
Benjamin Burd, Captain, served 4 years to 1780.
Application to be continued un- der the act of May 1820, states that he has no property, real or personal; that his income is the proceeds of the office of Register and Recorder of Bedford County, and Clerk of the Orphan's Court of the said County, amounting to about $240, per annum, in fees, which are ne- cessarily credited; that the duties of those offices are necessarily per- formed by a deputy, as the claim- ant is unable, from bodily infirm- ity to do more than subscribe his name to any official paper; that he was appointed to said offices in March 1821, and that they are held at the pleasure of the Executive of the State.
The Court give it as their opin- ion, that the claimant is not worth one cent, in as much as the duties of his offices must be necessarily performed by a deputy, whose com-
pensation will amount to as much as the fees of all the office, and that the income arising from those offices, to the claimant, under present circumstances, is merely nominal; and that all the real estate of the claimant has been sold at Sheriff's or Marshal's sales, and vested in different pur- chasers at the said sales.
Claimant aged 68 years - has 2 sons, neither of whom is able in any way to support him.
Admitted by the Secretary of War, July 29. 1823. J.L.E.
Continued under Act 1 st May 1820 and notifica- tion sent to, on 29 th July 1823. to,
R. J. Walker, Bedford, Pa
4 Sept. '19.