Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 5950, Samuel Burk, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
New Jersey
Burk, Daniel Elizabeth
W. 5950
CONTENTS

New Jersey 405
Elizabeth Burk
of Freehold in the State of N.J.
who was a _____ in the _____ commanded by Captain _____ of the _____ commanded by _____ in the _____
the widow of Samuel Burk de late a private in the Revolution
New Jersey Mil
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Jan'y 1837 and sent to Hon. J. H. Wall Senate U.S.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1836 $40.00
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4th Mar 37 40.00
$80.00
July 4, 1836
28, 1836
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W.H. Addison Clerk, Book A Vol. _____ Page 144
2
7
Rate of deposit not on 90

Declaration of Elizabeth Bank in order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the act of Congress of the 4th of July 1836
State of New Jersey } Monmouth County } ss: On this second day of August A.D. Eighteen hundred and thirty six, personally appeared before the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of said County Elizabeth Bank a resident of the Township of Freehold in the County and State aforesaid aged eighty three years, who being first duly sworn according to law on her oath, doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836. That she is the widow of Samuel Bank who was a private soldier in the Militia of Monmouth County during the Revolutionary war. That the said Samuel Bank her husband entered the service in the beginning of the war, when the British Fleet landed at Sandy Hook about the month of July 1776. in a company commanded by Capt. Michael Sneedman, belonging to the Monmouth Militia, and that he continued in service at least during the whole war until the close of the year 1782. that her husband Samuel Bank after the first year of the war, was out in the service all the time, when he was not in service upon his own time, he served as a substitute for others - that he served his own regular tours of duty every other month making six months during the first year of the war from the month of July 1776. to July 1777. and after this time and until the close of the war in 1782 - he served all the time upon his own time, and as substitute for others for this applicant knows that he was absent from home all the time upon the service aforesaid: that the Field officers of the Monmouth County Militia were Genl. David Forman, Col: Asher Holmes & Major Forman - that she does

not know the names of all the Captains under whom her husband served during the war, but she believes that Capt. Slossman was the principal one under whom he done the most service - That the said Samuel Bunk her husband was in the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778. and after the battle he was sent by Col: Morgan to Nights Town with four wounded men, who were to be conveyed to the Hospital, as she has been informed by her said husband, and as she verily believes - That she recollects perfectly that her house was robbed by the British and Hessian who were in the Country or passing through about the time of the battle of Monmouth when her husband was absent from home upon service that neither she nor her husband received any compensation for the goods and clothes which were taken by the enemy - That the said Samuel Bunk was engaged in the battles of Trenton and also of Princeton - that she thinks his marches were principally confined to the County of Monmouth in guarding and protecting the inhabitants on the Frontiers of said County - that she recollects that he was sick at the time of the Battle of Germantown and did not go - that he resided in the Township of Freehold, County State first aforesaid, where he entered the service, that he served as a volunteer and also as substitute - That she has no documentary evidence of in support of her claim - She farther declares that she was married to the said Samuel Bunk in the Month of February 1776. (the day she cannot remember) for she recollects that they had been married better than two years at the time of the Battle of Monmouth - that she was married by Peter Forman Esquire - that there is no person now living who was present at the ceremony - that she never had any certificate of Marriage - that her husband the aforesaid Samuel Bunk died on the twenty ninth day of November A.D. 1829: and that she has remained

a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed. That she had ten children in lawful wedlock by the said Samuel Bunk, six of whom are now dead. I now to subscribe before the Court this day & year first above written -
Elizabeth her Bunk mark
Thos C Shuckmorton William Slayde N. J. Brown
State of New Jersey Monmouth County } ss:
Personally appeared before the said Court John J. Ely Esquire, who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he has been acquainted with Samuel Bunk the husband of the annexed applicant for upwards of thirty years, that he lived in the same neighborhood with him - that the said Samuel Bunk was always reputed, believed and spoken of in the neighborhood in which he lived, as being one of the best soldiers of the Revolutionary War, and that I fully concur in that opinion - that the said Samuel Bunk & Elizabeth Bunk have lived together as man and wife ever since he knew them, until the death of the said Bunk some six or seven years ago, that they have always been taken and reputed as such, and that she has remained his widow ever since that period -
I now subscribe before the Court aforesaid Augt. 2. 1836.
John J. Ely
Thos C Shuckmorton William Slayde N. J. Brown

State of New Jersey Monmouth County ss. }
Personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas of said County Joseph T. Parker residing in the Township of Freehold in said County being duly sworn saith that he was well acquainted with Samuel Bunk the husband of the annexed ap- plicant - that he has resided in the same neighborhood with him for fifty years - that he was always reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the revolution - that his charac- ter as such was remarkable and universal - all admitted it and spoke of it in the highest terms, and that he fully concurs in that opinion - that he fully believes that he formerly believed that the said Samuel Bunk was married to the said applicant Elizabeth Bunk at the time she has declared in her declaration for this depo- nent has often heard his father Thomas Parker who is now deceased, say that he witnessed the marriage between the said Samuel and Elizabeth Bunk about the time of the beginning of the Revolutionary War - that he understood from his father that they were married by Peter Forman Esquire who was then a Justice of the Peace, that he has often heard from his father and others that the house of the said Samuel Bunk was robbed & plundered, of all their beds, furniture, clothes by the British & Hessian when they passed through this County in June 1778, and that the said Samuel & Elizabeth Bunk were living together as man and wife at that time - that they have lived together as such ever since he knew them for forty years, and until the death of the said Samuel Bunk in November 1829, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period -
Sworn & subscribed before the said C. Joseph T. Parker

August 13, 1931
Mrs. Hannah J. Jeffrey Box 313 Elberon, New Jersey
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section REL OU
Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W.5950, that Samuel Burk , while residing in Freehold Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, enlisted about July, 1776, and served every alternate month until June, 1778, after which he served every fourth month until the close of the year 1782, as a private under Captains Michael Sweetman, Hendrick Smock, Benjamin Dennis, Richard McKnight, Joshua Bennett, Thomas Wainright and John Dennis, Colonels Asher Holmes and Hendrickson, in the New Jersey Troops, and was in the battles of Trenton, Princeton and Monmouth.
He died November 29, 1829. The date and place of his birth are not shown.
The soldier married in February, 1776, Elizabeth, her maiden name not given.
She was allowed pension on her application executed August 2, 1836, at which time she was aged eighty-three years and resided in Freehold Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey.
They had a family of ten children, six of whom were dead in 1836, no names given.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator.
Date of death not HB widow

1907 Aug. 3. Hist. to Mrs. Sarah E. Jones - c - June 9, 1930 - Hist. to Mrs. Leannah J. Jeffrey Ed. 1931 July 10. Mrs. Hannah Jeffrey adv. no further data as to service or family. 1931-Aug 13 - Hist. to Mrs. Leannah J. Jeffrey - Ed.
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 5958  Elizabeth Burk  Wid. of  Samuel Burk ( Pitt. Rest. Wm.
Act: July 4/36
Index: - Vol. a , Page 101
[Arrangement of 1870.]
✓

O. W. AND N. DIVISION.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Aug. 1, 1907
Searched by Gill
Original No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant, _____
Soldier, Samuel Burk
Service, N. J. Service
Rev. War
Remarks: _____
No D. W. Wid. as above except 5950.
Chief of Division.

Mrs Sarah E Irins July 28 th 1907 Bed Frank crg
Can you give me any information about a Samuel Burk from New Jersey and Wife pensioners of the Revolutionary war and what would a Record lost please answer soon and oblige
Mrs Sarah E Irins

Ebenezer D. F.
Box 313
June 17, 1931
Dept. of Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Kindly send me info Military History of Samuel Bark who died Nov. 29, 1829.
S. V. C.
Widows file 5-950
Rev. War.
Very truly yours
Samuel J. Jeffrey

New Jersey Elizabeth Burk Widow of Samuel Burk See her letter to J. M. Hartshorn - Oct. 20. 1836 to same 29. Nov. 1836

State of New Jersey Monmouth County ss: Personally appeared before me one of the justices of the peace in or for the said County of Monmouth Zachariah Hankins, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that he is a surviving soldier of the Revolution aged Eighty two years: that he was well acquainted Sam- uel Burk, the husband of Elizabeth Burk during the Revolutionary War: that he knows that the said Samuel Burk served as a private militia man in a Company Commanded by Captain Michael Sreefman belonging to the Militia of Monmouth County, from the year 1778 about the time of the battle of Monmouth, until the close of the war in the year 1782 latter part thereof whenever as often as the Militia of said County were required to perform service which he knows was every other month in the year 1778 and at least every fourth month in the years 1779, 1780, 1781, and 1782 - that this Deponent belonged to and served in the same Company with the said Samuel Burk, and he knows from his own knowledge, that the said Samuel Burk served in said Company at least three months actual service, after the Battle of Monmouth, in the year 1778, in tours of one month each, every other month, and he knows farther that the said Samuel Burk served in the said Company at least three months actual service in the year 1779, and at least three months actual service in the year 1780, and at least three months actual service in the year 1781, and at least three months actual service in the year 1782, in tours of one month each, every fourth month - that in the latter part of the war there were Companies raised by enlistment, who relieved the Militia, and they were not called out in service as often yet he believes and knows in fact that the said Samuel Burk was in service nearly all the time during the war as a substitute when not on his own regular tours, for he was always reputed to be one of the best and most faith- ful soldiers in the Company, and he well deserved that char- acter, yet of his service as substitute, he this Deponent cannot

pretend to speak with certainty for he was not always with him, but of the regular service of the said Samuel Burk before mentioned he speaks with certainty - That the service of the said Samuel Burk was performed in tours of one month each as before mentioned, but this deponent cannot recollect at this distance of time, when each particular tour of service commenced and ended, (that would be impossible) yet he repeats that he knows the fact that the said service was performed by the said Samuel Burk, that Robert Mc Knight was lieutenant of the said company, the ensign he cannot recollect - and William Parent was orderly sergeant - that their field officers were General David Forman, Colonel Hether Holmes & Major Elisha Walton; that their head quarters during the time of the said service were at Freehold, and at Long Branch on the shore - that is the head quarters of the General or of the Brigade were at Freehold, where our company would assemble when about to go out upon our monthly tours of duty, being warned by the sergeant, from thence we marched to the shore under our officers, and there Long Branch was always our head quarters: that our duties were to guard the shores and frontiers of Monmouth County, and to protect and defend the inhabitants thereof from the ravages of the British and Tories who would land upon our shores in parties, and steal and plunder whatever they could find, and sometimes murder the inhabitants: that during this service their marches were altogether confined to the county of Monmouth, in marching and counter-marching along the shores, to and from Long Branch, Deal, Shark River, and sometimes to Squan then sometimes down to the point of the beach, and across to Black Point, the Highlands, and Sandy Hook, but at what particular times they were at each place, it is impossible to tell for we were continually patrolling and marching from one place to another as above mentioned, and at night stationed on guard at some one of the above mentioned places. this was the nature and the kind of service performed

by the Militia of Monmouth County, for we were obliged to defend ourselves, and it was a service of the most arduous character. It was in this service that the said Samuel Burk was engaged, and performed the tours above mentioned. This Deponent thinks that the Militia were divided into classes, and part called out at a time, so that the service should be borne and performed by all equally, and so that one man should not be detained from home longer than one month at a time, unless the service absolutely required it, or he chose it, by serving as a substitute: that the said Samuel Burk served in a corps called out by the authority of the laws of this state, that he served in field and not in garrison, and that during the time he performed the above service he was not engaged in any civil pursuit. That the said Samuel Burk and Elizabeth Burk were married in the beginning of the Revolutionary war; for he knew them as man and wife during the whole of the said war and ever since that time until the death of the said Samuel Burk.
Sworn and subscribed Sept. 17th - A.D. 1836 before me
William Lloyd
His Zackariah Hawkins Mark
And I the said justice do hereby certify that it appears to me that Zackariah Hawkins who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing affidavit is a surviving soldier of the Revolution, resident in the said County of Monmouth, that he is a credible and respectable person and that his affidavit is entitled to credit.
William Lloyd

State of New Jersey
Monmouth County } ss: Personally before me the subscriber a justice of the peace of the said County Elizabeth Burk widow of Samuel Burk, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the fol- lowing supplemental declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed July 4 th 1836 - That she hath no record whatever of her marriage with the said Samuel Burk either public or private - that the said Samuel Burk her husband was a man of no learning - he could not write, neither could this appli- cant, and they kept no family record of their marriage or any thing else - That there is no person living who was present at their marriage, but she is positive that she was married to the said Samuel Burk in the beginning of the Revolutionary War as stated in her declaration, for she knows that she had been married better than two years, when their house was robbed and plundered by the British, and Hessians at the time they passed through this County and fought a battle with the Americans, at Monmouth, in June 1778. the impression which it made upon her mind can never be forgotten, for she recollects that she had a child at her breast at the time - their house was stripped of every thing, and they had no bedding or clothes left except what they had upon their backs.
Sworn and subscribed before me { Justice of the Peace aforesaid this } 17 th day of Sept r A.D. 1836 } Thos. C. Throckmorton }
her Elizabeth Burk Mark
I Daniel H. Ellis clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of the County of Monmouth and State of New Jersey do hereby certify that William Lloyd and Thomas C. Throckmorton before whom the foregoing proceedings were taken and

sworn to, are several Justices of the Peace in and for the said County duly Commissioned and sworn into office as such, and that their signatures to the foregoing are genuine. And further that there is no record of marriages in the clerk's office of the said County of Monmouth prior the year 1795, at which time the first marriage record commenced
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 17 th day of September A.D. 1836.
L. M. Williams

State of New Jersey } Monmouth County } ss: Personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas of said County Captain James Newell who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is a surviving Soldier of the Revolution aged seventy nine years. That he was acquainted with Samuel Burk the husband of the annexed applicant, in the Revolution- ary War. That this Deponent served with the said Samuel Burk in a Company of Militia commanded by Captain Benjamin Dennis for a tour of one month, commencing in the month of November 1777 - and this Deponent together with the said Samuel Burk continued to serve in the same Company for a period of five months immediately after the above mentioned tour, but he thinks they had different Captains every month - Some of which he can recollect to wit: Capt. Rich d McKnight, Joshua Bennet, Thomas Wainright, & John Dennis, but in what order they had command he cannot now recollect - That they belonged to Colonel Hendrickson's regiment of the Monmouth Brigade - They were stationed during this time at Tinton Falls in Shrewsbury as their head quarters - that their duties were to guard the shore along Long Branch, Black Point, Highlands & Granatsquan, and patrolling and marching along the same to and from the above and other places almost every day. He recollects this service very well from the fact that there was a law then existing at that time giving a bounty to hire Substitutes in the place of those who refused to serve, and to raise it from the defaulters by distress of their goods, and that the said Samuel Burk served there as such Substitute. Supposes he received the said bounty. That this Deponent was orderly sergeant of the said Com- pany, during the whole of the above period of six months, and knows that the said Samuel Burk served therein six months as above mentioned - That he was a good Whig and Soldier, and always attended to his duty - That he this Deponent served there as a

Substitute and received the bounty above mentioned and that the Substitutes served all the time during said term, but those who served upon their own call, or in their turn, only served for a month at a time and were then discharged - While this Deponent & the said Samuel Bunk served as Substitutes and were in service all the time as above mentioned -
Known to me subscribed in open Court August 2 nd 1836 W. J. Brown
James C. Smith
State of New Jersey } Monmouth County } ss: Personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas of said County. William Paint , who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is a surviving soldier of the Revolution, aged Eighty years, that he was well acquainted with Samuel Bunk the husband of the annexed applicant during his life: And knows that the said Samuel Bunk served as a militia man in the Revolutionary War, in a Company commanded by Michael Sweepman Capt. Capt. Hendrick belonging to the Monmouth Militia, commencing about the first of July 1776 when the British Fleet landed at Sandy Hook and continuing every other month during the said year 1776 and until November in the year 1777 - that he knows very well that the said Samuel Bunk served as aforesaid from about the first of July 1776 - to about the 1 st of November 1777, every other or alternate month, in tours of one month each for he this Deponent was orderly sergeant in said company, making and served therein himself, but he is unable to say at what particular time each tour commenced or ended - that he re-

collects that Capt. Sheppman's Company was divided for some reason unknown to this deponent, and one half thereof, attached to the Company of Capt. Kendrick Smock of the neighboring district, and that it fell to the lot of this deponent and the said Samuel Bunk to be two of those who were thus attached, but at what particular time it was done this deponent is unable to say at this distant period yet he thinks it was in the year 1777 - that he knows also that the said Samuel Bunk served as a substitute when not on his own tour of duty, for he was in the service nearly all the time, but in what particular Companies this was performed he cannot say, for substitutes served where they happened to be hired - That the Companies of Capt. Smock and Sheppman held their headquarters at Long Branch principally, and occasionally they quartered at Freehold in said County - that their duties were to guard the shores and frontiers, marching and patrolling along the same from one place to another as the necessity of the case required and their officers commanded, for the Tories and British were continually landing on the shores and ravaging the County unless the same were watched and guarded - That the said Samuel Bunk lived in the same district with this deponent in Freehold Township when he entered the service & during the war - that he was always reputed to be one of the best soldiers in the Company, first on duty and the last off - and this deponent has no doubt, that he was in service all the time above mentioned as substitute and on his own tour but he speaks more positively to his regular monthly tours of service as first above mentioned, when this deponent was out with him - That the Field Officers were Col: Asa Holmes & Lieut. David Forman, & Elisha Walton Major afterwards col; - that Robert McKnight was Lieut. in Sheppman's Company - & Benjamin Vanclief Lieut. in Smock's company - That he does not recollect particularly the services of the said Samuel Bunk after the above period named, until

When he recollects that the house of the said Burk was plundered by the British and all his goods carried off while he the said Burk was out in the service - and that he knows that the said Samuel Burk served from this time to wit: June 1778, whenever and as often as the said Militia of the County of Monmouth were called out & served, until the close of the war 1782 which was at least half the time or every other month during the year 1778, and at least quarter of the time or every third  fourth month during the years 1779, 1780, 1781, & 1782 - that this deponent continued to be orderly Sergeant as aforesaid during the whole war, and he knows that the said Samuel Burk served at least three months in year 1778 - and at least three months in each of the years 1779, 1780, 1781, & 1782 as above mentioned, that this last mentioned service was performed in Capt. Dreefman's Company, (as their continuance in Dreefman's Company was not long) that their Head quarters and duties were the same as above mentioned & described during the last mentioned service, and their officers were also the same - That the said Samuel Burk was celebrated as a good soldier and delighted in being out in the service, and believes that his services were equal to any man's in in the said County during the war - that the Samuel Burk was lawfully married to the present applicant Elizabeth Burk previous to the month of June 1778, as he believes for he knows that they were living together as man and wife when their house was plundered as above mentioned, and that they lived together as such during his life until the death of the said Samuel Burk, some six years ago, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period. That the said Samuel Burk served in an embodied Corps called into service by the Laws of this State - that he was in field - and that he was not employed in any civil pursuit during the time his service was performed -
Sworn to & subscribed this 2 nd August 1836 - in open Court - the word "fourth" interlined & also as he believes interlined before Sworn to - John Read Jones
William Burrows

13. Elizabeth Buck
Susp. let to Jrs M Hartshorne Aug 27. 1836
adm? 2 years pri 80 no deduction James M. Hartshorne agent Freehold Monmouth County New Jersey -
Ann D. Hale Senate

State of New Jersey
Monmouth County } ss. Personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas of said County Aaron F. Walker, who being duly sworn saith he is a surviving soldier of the Revolution aged seventy seven years - that he was well acquainted with Samuel Bunk the husband of the annexed applicant in his lifetime & knows that he served in the Revolutionary war as a private soldier in the militia of said County - that he met the said Samuel Bunk in the militia of said County very frequently, and served with him a number of monthly tours in the early part of the war, but at what particular times he cannot recollect - that he did not belong to same Company with the said Bunk and therefore cannot speak as to his regular service from his own knowledge, but he always heard the said Samuel Bunk spoken of during said Revolution as being a good soldier and soldier, and from this Deponent's knowledge of the services of the said Samuel Bunk he has no hesitation in saying that he served at least two years during the said Revolutionary war. That this Deponent belonged to a troop of horse in the latter part of the war and he then did not see the said Bunk as often as he did while in the infantry - that he knows that the said Samuel Bunk and this applicant Elizabeth Bunk lived together as man and wife during the Revolutionary war, and had a number of children - that they have lived together as such ever since that period until the death of the said Samuel Bunk, some six or seven years ago, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period - Wherever the word war is made use of above it is meant the Revolutionary war.
Sworn to & subscribed before the Court aforesaid Augt. 2 d . 1836
William Llayas
Aaron F. Walker

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, that the husband of the within named applicant Samuel Burk was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as is stated - And the Court do further declare their opinion that the said Elizabeth Burk was married to the said Samuel Burk was  during during the Revolutionary war and before his last term of service expired, and that she has remained his widow ever since his death in November 1829.
And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that John J. Ely and Joseph T. Packer who have signed the annexed affidavits are residents in the Township of Freehold in said County of Monmouth, are highly respectable and credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit - And further that James Mervell, William Parent and Aaron F. Walker who have respectively signed to the foregoing affidavits, are surviving soldiers of the Revolution, that they are credible and respectable persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.
Thos. C. Shrockmorton William Lloyd } Judges M. J. Bonner }
State of New Jersey Monmouth County ss: } I Daniel H. Ellis clerk of the Inferior Court of the County of Monmouth in the state aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Elizabeth Burk for a pension, and that Thomas C. Shrockmorton
William Lloyd, William J. Bonner and John Readden whose names are signed to the foregoing proceedings, are judges of the said Court, and that their signatures above are
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this third day of August A.D. Eighteen hundred and thirty six -
D H Ellis C.K

Freehold Sept. 17th 1856
Sir
I herewith send you additional evidence in the case of Elizabeth Bank, which I think must be satisfactory - In the first place she proves 6 months service at Tinton Falls by James Kennell who served with him - Every month they served under a different Captain, for they served as substitutes. One Captain would be there with his Com: one month they served under him as substitutes, the Co: was then discharged and another Capt. w d come there with his Co: and they hired as substitutes with him, and so on during the six months. Now it is impossible for him to state or for any other man to state which particular month he served under each of these captains - It is impossible from the nature of the service - You also object the mode of the witnesses testifying to 3 mo. service in a year, but it appears to me to be impossible for them to testify to service in any other way - They served in the Militia and the Militia were obliged to defend their own shores and frontiers in the County of Monmouth, which were perhaps more exposed to the depredations of the enemy than any other County in the State owing to its being a rich agricultural County, and having a greater extent of shore - In the beginning of the war the service upon the Militia of this County was no doubt more arduous than afterwards for the enemy had possession of New York, Long Island and Staten Island and were continually crossing the Bay to our shores under the guidance of the Tories, for provisions and every thing they could lay their hands upon - In order to equalize the service they divided the Militia into 8 Claps, and called out any number of Claps at a time not exceeding 4. Now if they called out 4 at a time the service w d be every other month - but if they called out 2. at a time, it would be every fourth month. So you will perceive from the very nature of the service that it is impossible for a man, who may have served 3 mo: in a particular year, to state what particular months they were after the lapse of 50 or 60 years - This is the

best evidence that the nature of the case admits of, and surely you can require no more. If a man who has performed this kind service, should swear that he could tell every particular month he served when it begun and ended, it would be evident to any man and every man that he was swearing to what it is impossible he could recollect, unless he had kept some memorandum of it, which has not been done by any that I can hear of. Many of them could not write.
The traditional evidence in this case is of the best kind, and upon the whole it is impossible for the widow of any man, who served in the militia to make out a better case.
The old lady is extremely poor, and very old and infirm and unless she can get some pension she must become a charge upon the Town as a pauper, when it is notorious, and the witnesses fully prove it, that her husband was one of the best soldiers in the militia during the Revolution.
I also transmit a map of the frontier of the County showing its exposed situation to New York & the Islands, which the enemy had in possession.
data The second affidavit of Mr. Bank shows that there can be no family record of the marriage, and the certificate of the clerk shows that there is no public record thereof. The best evidence having failed, you must therefore receive secondary evidence; and I refer you to the affidavits of William Parent, Aaron F. Walker, Zachariah Hawkins - John J. Ely and Joseph S. Parker, and also the declarations of the applicant herself.
Upon the whole evidence there cannot be a doubt, but that her husband was a good soldier and entitled to a pension if he had lived; and therefore his widow must be entitled.
Yours Respectfully J. M. Hartsome
James L. Edwards Esq.

Rev
Elberon, N. J., Box 313 July 30, 1931.
Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
Kindly send me the Military History of Samuel Durk , a soldier in the Revolutionary War who died Nov. 29, 1829.
I. S. C. Widows file 5950, Rev. War.
This is not a request for additional information received in June 1930 but for the same information as I am not able to find the history you sent me at that time.
J:A
Very truly,
(Mrs.) Hannah J. Jeffrey

I. S. C. Widow's file 5950 Rev. War.
Long Branch, N. J. R. D. 1 Box 111 A April 21, 1930.
Ans June 9/30
Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
Kindly send me the military history of Samuel Burk , a soldier in the Revolutionary War from New Jersey. Also kindly give me his wife's name & any information you may have concerning her, his wife .
Is it possible for you to give me the names of persons who would be able to look up the genealogy of these two. I believe they both came from Ireland, one from the County Cork & the other from the County Down.
P.S. Advise me if there is any charge for the above information.
Very truly yours, Hannah J. Jeffrey

Box 313
Elberon, N. J., June 2, 1930
RE I. S. C. Widow's file 5950 Rev. War
Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
About a month ago I wrote to you asking for the Military History of Samuel Burk, an American soldier during the Revolutionary War who died Nov. 29, 1829, and have not received any answer. I did not mention anything about pay for this information as a relative has the above mentioned history and it was marked "No Charge".
Kindly advise me in the enclosed stamped envelop as to why I haven't received the information, whether because there is a charge or what the reason is.
I also asked if it were possible for you to give me the names of genealogists particularly those who might specialize in Irish Ancestry.
Very truly yours,
(Mrs.)
Hannah J. Jeffrey

In reply to your request of _____, received a statement of the military history of Samuel Burk a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
W. File 5950
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     July 76 Nov 1776 Pri. Michael Sweeney Hendrick Shock Benjamin Dennis Asher Holmes N.J.   alternate mths. till Nov 77 June 78 Richd. McKnight Hendrickson   after about 1778 3 mos. Joshua Bennett   1779 3 mos. Thos. Wainwright   1780 3 mos. John Dennis   1781 3 mos.   1782 3 mos.  
Battles engaged in, Trenton, Prince, Mon.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Freehold Twp., Mon. Co., N.J.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 7, 1836
Residence at date of application, Freehold Twp., Monmouth Co., N.J.
Age at date of application, 83
Remarks: Sol. mar. in Feby. 1776
Elizabeth
He died Nov. 29, 1829
1836 - 10 ch - 4 living

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July 10, 1931.
Rev.&1812 Wars Section.
ADY
Mrs. Hannah J. Jeffrey, Box 313, Elberon, New Jersey.
Dear Madam:
You are advised that the history of Samuel Burk (W.5950) which was furnished you on June 9, 1930, contains all the information available in this office in regard to his military service and his family.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Assistant to Administrator.

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section REL
June 9, 1930
Mrs. Hannah J. Jeffrey Box 313 Elberon, New Jersey
Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W.5950, it appears that Samuel Burk, while residing in Freehold Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, enlisted about July, 1776, and served every alternate month until June, 1778, after which he served every fourth month until the close of the year 1782, as a private under Captains Michael Sweeney, Hendrick Smock, Benjamin Dennis, Richard McKnight, Joshua Bennett, Thomas Wainright and John Dennis, Colonels Asher Holmes and Hendrickson, in the New Jersey Troops, and was in the battles of Trenton, Princeton and Monmouth.
He died November 29, 1829. The date and place of his birth are not shown.
The soldier married in February, 1776, Elizabeth, her maiden name not given.
She was allowed pension on her application executed August 2, 1836, at which time she was aged eighty-three years and resided in Freehold Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey.
They had a family of ten children, six of whom were dead in 1836, no names are given.
Due to the very large number of inquiries similar to yours and the lack of a clerical force available for the purpose, the bureau is unable to make immediate reply to each request pertaining to soldiers of the Revolution.
It is respectfully informed that information as in check

Letters are being answered as rapidly as possible in order of receipt.
It is suggested that the names of genealogists might be obtained from the pages of some issue of the B.A.R. Magazine.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.