Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20823, James Burnham, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Burnham James Mehetabel
W 20823
CONTENTS

Mr. James Burnham and Miss Mehitable Pennick was legally joined in marriage on the 23 rd day of November A.D. 1780 Rev. George Beckwith Pastor -
The foregoing is a true copy from the records of the Town of Syme of the marriage of James Burnham to Mehitable Mehitable Pennick. Certified by.
Syme December 26 th 1837.
Joshua N. Warren Town Clerk

Connecticut 1811
Mehitable Burnham
widow of James Burnham dec.
who died on the 24th October 1807 of New London in the State of Ct. who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Leland of the Regt commanded by in the Ct line for James Sergeant J. Private
W. C. J. McQuidy Oct 12. 1846.
New Certificate issued 28th Oct 1846, and sent to C. J. McQuidy. Charlestown Coam.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 68 Dollars 33 Cents, per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of Feb 1838 and sent Mar. 1. Ingham Ho of Rep.
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1837 $44.14 Semi-annual allowance ending Mar 38 34.16
$78.30
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3rd }
Recorded by H. H. Addison Clerk, Book 4 Vol. 2 Page 65

State of Connecticut New London County
January 1. 1838 January 1. 1837
On this 1 st day of December 1837 January A D 1838 personally appeared before the Court of Probate for the District of Lynn Mehitable Burnham a resident of said District of Lynn in the County of New London & State of Connecticut Aged 77 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 4 th 1836 That she is the widow of James Burnham Who was a private and sergeant in the War of the Revolution That he enlisted in the year 1779 and went to the West she thinks to White Plains & was absent during the summer that he enlisted for six months or more and returned in the fall of that year that he returned home sick with the camp distemper Which attacked him while a prisoner and confined on board a prison ship in New York this service she does not know to except from him but she often heard him relate his being taken prisoner and confined in the loathsome prison ship until nearly dead & that he was exchanged by the entreaties of some personal friends in New York to save his life In what company or regiment he belonged or what officers he served under she cannot now say but fully believes he served six months or more in the Army at that period - That about the first of April 1780 he enlisted into the Black Hole Guard as a sergeant in a company commanded by Capt Lee Say the Lieut was John Griswold & the Ensign Benjamin Niggins that he enlisted for nine months and served the full term of his enlistment & was discharged on the first of January 1781 This period of service she fully remembers for she was then intimately acquainted with him & living in the immediate vicinity of their Station Which was at Black Point in the Lower of Lynn -

She further declares that she was Married to the said James Burnham on 23 rd day of November 1780 by the Rev d George Bushnell, that he died on the 24 th day of October 1807 that she has remained a Widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof herewith annexed that she has no documentary evidence of his said several services but that she had in her possession until within a few years the sergeant's warrant signed by Gov Griswold which her husband held while in said Guard but that having away from her the house a parchment packet which her the husband left has been missed supposed to be stolen containing said warrant & she believes one discharge — She therefore claims by virtue of the Act of July 4 th 1836 the amount of Pension which her husband would be entitled to by the Act of June 7 th 1832 were he alive which would be for sixteen months services or more — One month in New London in the summer of 1775 — as is proved by George Chadwick's Deposition. six months or more in the summer of 1779 as will fully appear by the Deposition of John Lacy & Benjamin Goret & nine months in the Black Hole Guard as a Sergeant as is fully proved by the Deposition of John Lacy, Joseph Latham &c —
Mehetabel Burnham
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year aforesaid in Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my name and caused the seal of this Court to be hereunto affixed this 1 st day of January A 1838
Lodowick Pile Judge
John D. Warren Clerk

State of Connecticut New London County
ss Lynn January 3 d 1838
On this 3 d day of January 1838 personally appeared before me the subscriber a justice of the Peace for New London County, Phebe Lord aged 52 years Who being duly sworn according to law doth on oath depose & say that she was the only daughter of James Burnham late of Lynn deceased that he died on the 27 th day of October A.D. 1807 - that at the time of his death she was 22 years of age that from her earliest recollection he was severely afflicted with the Asthma which entirely prevented him from manual labor & was a great part of the time almost insupportable which wore him out and brought him to a premature grave - that she often heard her father say the cause of his disease was produced by being taken prisoner when in the service of the United States & confined in New York on board of a prison ship until he was reduced almost to a living skeleton & then taking the Camp fever which nearly terminated his existence & after entering the Black Hole Guard while still sick & being exposed by working on the coast for the enemy for long periods of time in the night season the disease which ever afterwards sorely afflicted him until death relieved his sufferings. This she says she often heard him say. But the times when food services were performed or when or the nights of them she knows nothing about except that they were during the war of the Revolution and she also knows  believes that within a few years her mother had in her possession a warrant given by Gov. Grewold to James Burnham which she

She always understood was the warrant & office her Hon. father held in the Black Hole Guard in the War of the Revolution and further the Deponent saith not Phoebe Lord
Sworn & subscribed on the day & year above mentioned
Before me Lodowick Bill Justice of Peace
& I further certify that the said Phoebe Lord is personally known to me & that she is a credible witness Lodowick Bill Justice of Peace
Phoebe Lord
3076
Hon. J. Ingraham H.R.
Michael D. ... of the ...
Lodowick Bill Esq. whose name in his own proper hand printed is subscribed to the within Certificate has at all times during the two years last past been Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Lynn & Justin of Peace in & for the County of
New England and I do hereby certify that who hereto signed with his own hand, the within copy of a Record of Marriage, has at all times during the five years last past, been the Town Clerk of the Town of Lynn - an sworn Officer, & keeper of the Records thereof -
Simuel Ingraham Washington Jan 8. 1838

Reg WIDOW, &c.
File No. 20823
Melvitable Brownham
Widow of
James Brownham
Sergt Rev. Na.
Act: July 4 th 86
Index:—Vol. 11 , Page 106
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Job Purnham Married Nov 1780 Mabel Purnham Died Oct 1807
1775
1779. Am. _____ /
P.M. #1780. Cape Lay 9mo

V3076 Mehitable Burnham wid of James and cont
Lt. Hon. S. Ingham Jan. 11 1838
(Adm) Jan 7m 23.33 Jan 9 — 45 Jan 10 — $68.33
Jan. 4 Mar. 1838
Cont. Nat. troops, Cape Sable.
Hon. S. Ingham H.R.

John Spilfatham V o 116 32 N o Virginia
Mr. Arthur Ayre Ad o Branda Sturminster St. Loy
1835 57 780
1779.80 1780=

1838  780
1779.80
1780=
John Robbins Type Robt Bramble .. Stearns Greenleaf .. M c Lay ..
John Spoffordham Roll Roll in No Virginia

Oct 12 1868
Lynne or bet & Dupont. 18
Rev J. S. Edwards.
Washington D.C.

Hon. J. A. Edwards.
Sir.
I have been in the habit of keeping the pension certificate of Mrs. Melitah Burnham of Lyons, a pensioner for life & had it last March. Upon forwarding the papers for September, I was not able to find Mrs. Burnhams certificate. I have since made thorough search & have made to believe that it is lost beyond hope of finding. I must therefore request you to send me a duplicate. as she is in much need of the money and I am for an immediate reply.
Respectfully yours
Chas. Jewell
Lyons Con. Oct 8 th 1846
The pension has been paid up to March 2 nd 1846.

State of Connecticut New London County
ss. given December 30 th 1837
On this 30 day of December 1837 personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the County of New London Benjamin Coult a resident of said Town of Lyme aged 76 years Who being first duly sworn according to law, cloth on his oath declare & say that he was born in said Town of Lyme and has always ever since resided resided there that he was well acquainted with James Burnham late of said Lyme Deceased that he well remembers that said Burnham was actively engaged in the War of the Revolution. That he left his Master and Enlisted the service of the United States as was then said to avoid his Master that his first service was performed the year before he belonged to the Block Hole Guard that he returned home from said service sick with the Camp Distemper which attacked him while a prisoner on board a prison ship in New York how long he was absent at that time he does not remember but believes it must have been the whole summer & that he was taken a prisoner while performing that enlistment & that he returned in the fall of 1779 - how long he served in the Block Hole Guard he does not now recollect but believes it was nine months & was in the latter part of the year 1780 and he thinks he was a Sergeant in said Guard that he married Mehitable Bennet Who is still a Widow having never since said Burnham's death been married that he died some thirty years ago being Coult
State of Connecticut New London County
ss. given December 30 th 1837
On the day & year above said personally appeared before me Benjamin Coult known to me to be the person described in and who subscribed to the foregoing deposition and made solemn oath to the truth of the same & further certify that I am well acquainted with him & that he is a credible witness.
Solomon Hale Justice of Peace

State of Connecticut } June 12th 1837 New London County }
On this 12 th day of November 1837 personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the County of New London Joseph Latham a resident of said Town of Lyme and County of New London a man of veracity and a credible person aged 78 years, who being first duly sworn according to said oath, on oath declare & say that he was well acquainted with James Burnham late of said Lyme deceased that he said Latham enlisted into a company of Quakers commanded by Capt Lee Say that he entered he thinks in the month of March 1780 for twelve months that a part of said Company were stationed at Black Hall, in said Town of Lyme on Long Island Sound and a part of said Company were stationed at Black Point in said Town of Lyme. That said James Burnham was one of the Serjeants of said Company & served in that capacity nine months from about the first of April in said year until the winter following that he served the term of his enlistment which was nine months that said Burnham was most of the time at Black Point in said Lyme & that he himself was most of the time at Black Hall but that they were almost always together the two stations being but five miles apart. That after said Burnham was discharged he left and the Deponent did not see him for a long time afterward, as he continued in

in said Guard for some time afterwards the Deponent says that sergeant Burnham was a good officer & a clever fellow but no boatman for he recollects that on a certain occasion sergeant Burnham sergeant went with the Deponent who had the charge of a whole Boat belonging to the Company of Guards round to New London where their commission lived to draw provisions & on that occasion was found to be a better soldier than sailor. The Deponent says that said Burnham was known to the Company at that time as a Married man but for fact he did not know only by information as they lived some six miles apart when at home. When said Burnham died the Deponent does not know but he that he left a Widow who is still living & further the Deponent saith not
Joseph Sathan
Sworn & subscribed on the day & year aforesaid.
Before me Solomon Dill Justice of Peace
I hereby further certify that the said Joseph Sathan is personally known to me & that he is a credible person
Solomon Dill Justice of Peace

State of Connecticut New London County } To You December 14 1887
On this 14 th day of December A.D. 1887 personally appeared before me the subscriber a justice of the peace for the County of New London George Chadwick, a resident of the Town of Groton and County of New London a credible trust person aged 76 years who being first sworn according to law, doth on oath depose & say that he was well acquainted with James Burnham late of New London & that he well recollects of said Burnham being in the Town in New London in the year 1775 - that he went to New London in the month of May 1775 as a substitute for George Mellem & served one month in a Company commanded by Capt. Thos. Thompson & that during the said month, service he was acquainted with the said James Burnham being in New London during that time as a soldier that in said Company now he does not recollect but that he was there during that month he well knows. - He also recollects of his afterwards being in the Black Hole guard one summer or more but in what year he cannot now say owing to the great length of time since - he believes that he was a sergeant & that he served nine months but is not confident - that he married Mehitable Bennett with whom he lived until his death which was many years since that his widow is still living within a few miles of the Department & has never been married since to Burnham's death and further the Department seeks not George Chadwick

State of Connecticut New London County
ss. Lynn December 14 th 1832
on the day and year aforesaid personally appeared before me the George Cheever the foregoing depositions and made solemn oath to the truth of the same & I further certify that he is personally known to me & is a credible person.
Deborah Bill Fisher of Lynn

State of Connecticut New London County
ss. December 14 th A.D. 1837
On this 14 th day of December A.D. 1837 personally appeared before me the Subscribers a Justice of the Peace for the County of New London John Day a resident of said Town of Agawam & County of New London a man of veracity and a credible person aged 73 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on oath depose & say that he was born in the Town of Agawam near Black Hole that during the war of the Revolution there was a guard raised for the defence of the frontier called the Black Hole guard which was commanded by Capt. Lee Day — the Lieut. was John Gurnee & the Ensign was Benjamin Higgins he says he enlisted into said guard in the Month of August in the year 1780 as a substitute for Tobias Ely. Said guard was a part of it stationed at Black Hole & a part of it at Black Point in said Agawam — that James Burnham was a Sergeant in said Company at the time he joined said guard that he thinks said Burnham enlisted about the first of April 1780 for nine months. the deponent says that his time of enlistment expired on the 1 st day of January 1781 at which time the whole guard was discharged. the deponent says he was well acquainted with said Burnham who lived & died within four miles of his & his father's residence which place he still occupies. that he is confident said Burnham must have enlisted into said guard as early as the first of April in the year 1780 for Ensign Higgins lived in a part of his father's house & that said Burnham was often there with his Ensign in the early part of the spring & that he then understood from them that he was a Sergeant in said guard & that said guard was raised on the first of April for nine months at which time Tobias Ely enlisted whom place the deponent filled from the time he enlisted until

Said guard was discharged on the 1 st day of January 1781 the Deponent says that at the time said Burnham belonged to said guard it was reported and well understood by said guard that said Burnham was married to Mehitable Bennet that he also lived with said Mehitable till his death which was some thirty years since that his widow has always lived within four miles of the deponent & is still living and has never since been married
The Deponent further says that the knowledge of the said James Burnham going into the service in the year 1776, or 1777 or thereabouts at the westward that he was absent sometimes but whether he went in the militia or as an enlisted soldier he cannot now say but he thinks as an enlisted soldier for he saw him dressed in his uniform in the street in Lynn he thinks going to White Plains some time before the militia was called out which was soon afterwards when all were called out his impression is that he enlisted for six months but thinks he did serve that length of time owing to sickness & further the deponent saith not —
John Eay
Sworn & subscribed on the day and year aforesaid & I further certify that Richard Schindler is personally known to me to be a credible person Before me Leoloweth Bille Hastings

m. 000
43-7783 0
Hen. J. L. Edwards Commission Merchant
New England Wholesale Produce Washington D.C.
194-1846
Leaves 36 1.811 Close to No. 16 at 46.
[Faint, mirrored handwriting from the reverse side of the paper, likely bleed-through from the original letter.]

State of Connecticut, Windham County ss Oct 17 th 1846.
On this 17 th day of October 1846 before me the subscriber a justice of the Peace for said county of Windham; personally appeared Mehitable Burnham of said town who on her oath declares that she is the same person who drew a pension on account of the Revolutionary services of her husband James Burnham deceased, at the rate of 68.33 per annum that she received a certifi- cate of her facts under the signature & seal of the Secretary of War, which certificate on or about the 4 th day of March 1846, was in the hands of E. Jewett for the purpose of making out her papers necessary to draw her said pension from the Agents at Hartford Connecticut, & that between that time & the 1 st day of September 1846, as she is informed & very believes said certificate was lost or mislaid so that it cannot be found either by the said Mehitable or some one in her hands the same was placed for the purpose aforesaid, as said Burnham.
Sworn to before me this day 17 years aforesaid.
Mehitable Burnham Reuben Lord Justice of the Peace

State of Connecticut, New London County, ss. Sept. 17 th 1846
I John B B Lord of Lyme New London County Connecticut. Aged forty two years on oath depose & say that I am well acquainted with Mrs. Mehitable Burrough who has made the within application to Brown and to be the same person who drew a petition of claim or certificate as stated in her said application, & affidavit.
J B B Lord
sworn & submitted to before me this day & year above stated.
As I certify that the deponent is a person of veracity. Reuben Lord Justice of Peace
State of Connecticut, New London County, ss. Sept. 17 th 1846.
I Charles J. W. Lord of same Lyme. Aged 28 years on oath depose & say. That the person certificate of Mrs. Mehitable Burrough widow of the late James Burrough was in my hands after the 11 th of March 1846. & Tuesday to my memory is which I made the papers necessary for her to claim her said pension at the Office of the Adm. Exch. 4 th 1846 That said certificate was usually deposited and that I have no knowledge or recollection of giving it to any person & suppose that I kept it, but that I have made thorough search in my office & among my

proportion. I am unable to find the documents & that I merely believe said Certificate is wholly lost That the same was lost before the 21 st of September 1846 so that she has not been able to receive a pension since. Of the time plan & manner as same date I know nothing further.
Sworn to but not read to before me. Chas. J. McCloud me. The above is a true and correct copy of the original & I certify that the deponent is a person of veracity. Reuben Lord Justice of Peace
State of Connecticut } for I John D r Witt Clerk New London County } for said New London County of the County Court in and for said New London County do hereby certify that Reuben Lord Esq r before whom the foregoing depositions of Mehitable Burnham. John B u Lord & Chas. J. McCloud were sworn was on said 17 th day of October & still is a Justice of the peace for said New London County & that his signature above written I believe to be genuine — In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Affixed the seal of said County this 21 st day of October A D 1846
John D r Witt Clerk
(11)

State of Connecticut } To whom these presents shall appear New London County } Jan 24 th 1838
Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Trustee of the Power for the County of New London Gordon Ely of the Town of East Haddam in the County of Middlesex & State of Connecticut aged 77 years Who being duly sworn according to law doth on oath before me say that he was born in the town of Lynn in New London County a town there until within a few years when I removed to East Haddam where I now reside I was well acquainted with James Burnham late of Lynn and from his youth up as we lived in the same neighbourhood I enlisted into the Black Hole Guard in the Spring of 1780 for nine months - the Guard was stationed a part of it at Black Hole and a part of it at Black Point both in the Town of Lynn the Guard at Black Hole was under the command of Lieut John Griswold & that part at Black Point was under the Ensign Benjamin Higgins. during the time which I belonged to the Guard James Burnham served as one of the Serjeants at Black Point for the nine months while I served & as I always understood he enlisted for that length of time as the Guard was raised on the first of April & discharged about the 1 st of Jan y 1781 I know he belonged to the Guard from the time I enlisted & was discharged when the Guard was discharged - the two separate Guards were often together & were well acquainted as if at one Station especially those who were acquainted as Burnham & myself were whereby I was stationed at Black Hole under Lieut John Griswold I also well knew John Ledy at that time and have known him since during the time I belonged to the Guard as aforesaid he served as a Substitute for Tobias Ely a part of the time from some time in the Summer until the Guard was discharged I well remember the course of his Tobias Ely leaving the Guard & hiring a Substitute I was also acquainted with his Barnabas wife but the present time of their marriage

I cannot now say I know he died among your lines & that his widow has never since been married
Gordon Ely
Sworn & subscribed on the day and year aforesaid and I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said Gordon Ely and that he is a very respectable person and a credible witness
Jonathan Pills Justice of Peace
Jonathan Pills Esq. at one time is, and long has been a Justice of Peace in and for the County of New London, and State of Conn. — General Hughes
Wethersfield 15 Feb. 1838.
W. H. H. J. Hughes