Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 540, William Burnett, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Burnett, William
R 540
CONTENTS

In order to obtain Declaration the benefits of the acts of Congress passed June the 7 th Day 1832
State of Tennessee } ss County of Dyer } ss on the 6 th Day of September 1841 personally appeared before the justices of the county court for the county and state aforesaid William Burnett Aged 77 years old whose being first Duly sworn according to Law Dotts on his oath Mack the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the acts of Congress Passed June the 7 th 1832
That he entered the service of the united States under the following named officers and served as here in after stated
That he Run away from his Master as he was a hired boy and voluntered under Captain Henry Walker Lieutenant Thomas Arnold other other commissioned officers names not recatied orally Sergeant John Black the next Day - Rendezvousd at Prince Edward Court house State of virginia and stayd there several Days and from there Marched in to the state of North Carolina to head quarters on the same Day after his arrival there he saw his Master's Wagon and team which in had been prest he told Captain Walker that he was aquainted with that team as it was his old Master's team which he used to Drive he was immediately taken from the ranks and put under James Cahoon a Wagon Master and as the team of his old Master to whom he was bound

was there he was ordered by the sea-cohoon to to Drena said team which he did during the Balance of his services or nearly so his leading was promotion for the army or principle so he does not now recollect whether he ever was out of the State of Virginia and North Carolina or not but thinks his services was confined to these two states or nearly so he recollects of making a load of provision to the Mouth of Queens Creek where there was a number of soldiers stationed recollects passing by with the wagon a Mountain called Kings Mountain as they take him thinks it was before the battle had been fought there. also recollects of seeing General Washington twice on the Road with his life guard with him and will never forget while he retains his memory the polite bow that the general made to the poor waggoners as he past them all so recollects having of provision when he came to camp with a load Mighty that was as they informed him his also captain Whittet was Walker and several other officers was walking to gather down the Ditch that surrounded their encampment and captain Walker happened to raise his head above the Ditch and the party fired on him and killed him and remembers that one day while resting he heard a noise like the clashing of arms in a field and he left his wagon and ran to see and saw the British and Americans fight they were all horse men and that he was so scared that he caught hold of a piece and trembled so that he shook the bush MIGHTY he instantly remembered his wagon and the wagon Master and ran to the wagon for fear the wagon Master would come and whip him - and that one being that he went to steal some sweet potatoes and while engaged in grumbling then he looked on the fence and saw three men with a piece of white

and my home was there till after peace was made Then removed in to Henry county and state aforesaid then removed in to Wythe county and state of Virginia and left there in 1808 and removed to Garrett county state of Kentucky left Kentucky in 1815 and came to Tennessee and have lived in several counties in East Tennessee and now live in Rhea county Tennessee
How were you called in to service were you drafted Did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom answer I ran a wag from my Master and volunteered
State the names of some of the Regiments where you were with the troops where you served such continental and militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your services Answer I saw General Wayne at different times and saw General Washington twice and I saw Major Scott as to Regiments and continental I do not know anything about them nor whether the officers I saw were of them or not I was a wagoner and not much a manager the troops near Dade he now recited the number of any Regiment if he saw Dade and for general circumstances he refers you to the precept of his Declaration
Did you ever receive a Discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it
Answer I did receive one Discharge in Writing from Captain the Wagon Master with some other names to it but where I am not certain now and I gave it to Pett Hollan in Prince Edward county to draw my pay on and have never seen Money nor Discharge since it was returned that he lost it
Did you ever receive a commission
Answer no I was a private a wagoner
State the names of persons to whom you are known in your neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity

and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution answer Joseph Chastain and Micajah Black and further saith that he has no documentary evidence nor does he know of any person living as to his testimony he can produce who can testify reason he has not applied for a pension here to fore he has been told that a wagonner could not obtain a pension he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and Declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state whatsoever Sworn to and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid William H Burnett Darius Walchman D. Clerk Master
We Joseph Chastain & Micajah Black residing in the county of Rhea and state of Tennessee hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Burnett who has sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we hereby in that opinion Sworn to and subscribed Joseph Chastain the day and year aforesaid Micajah Black Darius Walchman D. Clerk

paper on their hats in front he constantly knew them to be torys and Run and Drope his potatoes at the fence that he might be able to get the faster the torys followed him and Run him in to the American lines and they were taken prisoners by the Americans and the next day was hung for being traitors to the American cause he cannot recollect the names of many of the places that he was at during his term of service as he was kept very close to his team and knew but little else only what related to them he hardly ever knew when when he started where he was going till he arrived at the place of loading and when he received his loading he knew not where he had to take it as the wagon Master did not allow the wagoners to question him and it seldom happens that the wagon guards knew more than the wagoners - so he started before the 21 of July to in to the service he was not quite fifteen years old as that is his birth day and when he found that the services of the united states not to be going out a freckle he often wished his term of service but the time as it seemed likely to pass on when his term of time was nearly out he and some other wagoners were ordered back to prison Edward Cart house and was there discharged he was no scholar and had a hard chance to know much about places even through which he traveled - after he arrived home and had stayed there he thinks three or four days there was a call for men to guard some prisoners he again volunteered and went in to the neighborhood of Princeton Cart house and while guarding the prisoners an officer rode up on a panting horse with a cocked hat on and ordered the guards to form a square with the

passers in the field and then the news of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis was heard and Remembers that the officer threw his cocked hat upon the air and all made merry Americans present Don the same and the war as America is and seemed to almost believe the air such was the joy at that time the prisoners was around to Prince Edward Cart house and there he was Discharge but Recount no in the series — A Statement showing the terms of service of William Burnett of Augusta County
   Record When the Service was Entered Years Months Days Rank name of the and Aptitude of the general field officers with whom served Battle in with the Rebel was fought Country through which he marched Place of which when he entered the service and age attime of the present person Evidence by which the Declaration is supported     Sumner thinks July 1780 fall or Winter 1 6 5 or 6 Captain a wagon master Washington Princeton Wayne Scott Wagon Master Virginia & North Carolina Prince Edward County and 77 years old at the 24 July 1841  
Where and in What year war you born Answer I was born in Prince Edward County and State of Virginia between the cut Banks of the Appomattox River and Walnut Church in the year 1764 according to the Best Information I can get on the subject is it you any Record of your age and if so where answer I have no Record of my age Where were you living when called in to service where have you lived since the Revolutionary War Answer I am now living in Prince Edward County and State of Virginia

Ex'r.
INVALID.
540
RECEIVED
P. O. William Durnell
Service: _____
The printed list of 1852 shows reasons for rejection.
Enlisted: " not military service 18 _____
Discharged: _____, 18 _____
Application filed: _____, 18 _____
Abeges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P.O. _____

William Burnett Tennessee
Rejected
See let: 20 th Sept. 1840 to W. Burnett,
JVO
did not serve in a military capacity.
Act 7 June 1832

W. Burnett
20 Sep. 1824
OC
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Pen. Offic.
Sep: 20. 1841
313
Sir,
The declaration of William Burnett has been examined. He alleges to have volunteered in Virginia and to have been employed as a wagoner. Those who were employed as alleged are not provided for by the pension laws. The claim has therefore been rejected and the declaration filed in this office.
William Burnett Esq Washington. Sir
35. 245 out 3 v. T.

Sept 18. 1841
Wm Barnett, Act 1832 Pension Office Tennessee.
John Hall Secretary of War Washington D.C.
John

Washington L. Sept. 7.
File
Hon. John Bell Secretary of War Washington D.C. Tennessee. Pension Office Act 1832 Wm Barnett,
Sept 18 1841

Washington D.C. Sept. 7. 1841
Hon. John B. Lee, you will please let me know your opinion with regard to the matter
Respectful —
William. Barnett