Georgia: Wilkes County: Revolutionary War Pension Application of Isham Burks, 23 September 1833 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Jean McCullough and Paul Humphrey Ljm39@aol.com PHump29374@aol.com ==================================================================== Declaration of Isam Burks In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress 7th June 1832 Pension Application of Isham Burks State of Tennessee for McNairy County. On this the twenty three day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared before the County Court of Pleas and quarter in and for the said county in the State of Tenneysee. Isham Burks, a resident of McNairy County in the State of Tenneysee, age seventy two years next October, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832. That he was born in Amherst County, State of Virginia on the twenty fourth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and sixty one. When he was veryy young his father moved to the State of Georgia and settled in that part which was afterward called Wilks County, District fifty one, sixty miles above Augusta. Hear I entered the service of the United States as a volunteer soldier in the year 1776 the day and month when I entered not now recollected, under Captain John Burks (my father) who had received orders from Col. John Steward to raise a company of volunteers for the purpose of marching to the frontier of Georgia to guard that section from the Cherokees and Creek Indians who had ________(illegible). Through the influence of my father, Captain John Burks, Col. Clark then of the State of Georgia recommended me to the Governor as a proper person to be appointed Captain, upon said recommendation Govenor Howley, then Governor of the State of Georgia commissioned me a Captain in the militia of this State of Georgia, he does not now recollect the precise date when his commission __ date but believes it was the first of the year 1779. So ___ I received my commission. I raised a company of mounted volunteers for the term of six months in Wilks County, in a verry few days after I made up my company I was ordered to march to the frontiers of Georgia, which place was then entirely unguarded and had remained so ever since. Col Steward regiment was sent on this Florady (sic) campaign. So my company alone marched to a place called Fort Kno_. This place I made my headquarters. From here I extended my company in small parties first one place and then another watching and guarding this frontier from the Indians which was doing all this mischief they could to the whites, after remaining hear for some considerable length of time, an ___(?) arrived from Col Clark for me to march my company directly on to the Savannah River, there to join Col Pickens. So soon as my junction with Col Pickens we marched in pursuit of several hundred Tories who had embodied themselves this while. We overtook them at a place called Kettle Creek when we had a fierce battle, which I was in, this battle was of short duration, the Whigs proving unsuccessful. This battle as well as the prior conflicts we fought some time in the year 1779 but do not know the precise date. From here I was ordered back to Fort Knox when I resumed guarding and defending the place from the Indians until my soldiers terms was out. Then I marched back to Wilkes County and there discharged my men. This was some time in the same year above stated but do not recollect the precise date. At this time the State of Georgia was about to be overrun with the British and Indians and there was a great call for men to turn out to serve this state. So I on the same day that I discharged my soldiers raised an other company of mounted horsemen for the term of six months. A great many of my old soldiers consented to serve and others joining which made up my company. The next day after I organized my company which was in Wilkes County, I marched to Augusta, there joined Co. Lees Regiment of Horse. Hear I continued until after the British had besieged that place and proved successful in taking it form the Americans, which was some time as he believes in the year 1779 (but the precise date I do not now recolect) after the Brittish got possession of Augusta, I was ordered with my company to march over the mountains to a place then called Holston or Watauga this in Washington County, State of North Carolina for the purpose of defending the whites. So soon as my Captain succeeds in raising his company he joined Col. Stewards Regiment in Wilks County State of Georgia then the whole Regiment marched to the frontier of Georgia. When my Captain and a Company under the command of Captain Baldwin was stationed at a place they called afterward called Tit_ _ ? Station. The balance of the Regiment was again divided and placed a round the frontier. While we was hear we built a Fort, and a scouting party was ordered out every day to watch the movements of the Indians and keep them from marching on the interior of the country and killing the whites. Hear we remained for some time then the Regiment was ordered to march and join General Hows army who was about to start on an expedition to Florady. So our Regiment marched to Wilks County. There joined General Howe we then struck our march for the Floradies – going by this way of St Morris river. I went about one hundred miles on this route and was there discharged. I received a written discharge signed by my Capitn John Burks, the same bore date as well as he now recollects in the year 1778 (the day and month he does not recollect ). How long he served he cannot now positively say owing to old age and the consequent lapse of memory but he is positive he served not less than six months for which time and services he claims a pension. I had my discharge for a number of years after the Revolution but not believing it would ever be of any use or benefit to me I ___ it so ___ that it is now lost or destroyed. Through the influence of my father Captain John Burks, Col. Clark then of the State of Georgia recommended me to the Govonor as a proper person to be appointed Captain. Upon said recommendation Govener Howley then Govenor of the State of Georgia commission me a Captain in the militia of this State of Georgia. He does not now recolect the precise date when his commission ____ date but believes it was the first of the year 1779. So soon as I received my commission I raised a company of mounted volunteers for the term of six months in Wilks County, in a verry few days after I made up my company I was ordered to march to the frontiers of Georgia, which place was then entirely unguarded and had remained so ever since Col Stewards Regiment was sent on the Florady campaign. So my company alone marched to a place called Fort Knox. This place I made my head quarters from hear I extended my company in small parties first one place and then another watching and guarding this frontier from the Indians which was doing all the mischief they could to the whites. After remaining hear for some considerable length of time an ____ arrived from Col Clark for me to march my company directly on to the Savannah River, there to join Col. Pickens. So soon as my junction with Col Pickens we marched in pursuit of several hundred Tories who had embodied themselves. We overtook them at a place ____ given the Cherokee Indians which had at this time become verry troublesome in this quarter. ___ I remained ranging first from one place and then another for a long time and until the expriation of my soldiers term of six months had expired – then I marched back to Wilks County Georgia and there discharged them. This completed my term of service which made six months as a soldier and twelve months as a Captain. I am not now positive whether I ever received any discharge as captain if I did I presumed it was signed by Col Clark as I was under his command the most of the time. Notwithstanding he was not personally present but verry little during this time I served. That he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person now living by whom he can prove is service by. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension on annunity except this present and declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the Agency of any state. Question: Where and in what year were you born. Answer: I was born in Amherst County Virginia on the 24th day of October 1761. Question: Have you any record of your age and if so where is it Answer: I have my age now recorded in a Bible at my home which was taken from my fathers Large Family Bible Question: Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolution and where do you now live Answer: I was living in Wilks County State of Georgia when I was called into service and continue to live there for several years after the Revolutionary War. Then I moved to Spartanburgh District South Carolina from there I moved to Penalton District from there I moved to Lincoln County, Tennessee and from there I moved to McNairy County Tennessee where I now live. Question: How were you called into service – were you drafted. Did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom. Answer: I volunteered my services as a soldier and served in that capacity for six months. When I was appointed Captain and in that capacity raised two companies of volunteer mounted horsemen for six months each. Question: State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops where you served such Continental and Militia Regiments as your can recolect and the general circumstances of your services. Answer: I saw General Lincoln and General How but had no personal acquaintance with them. I became acquainted with Col Clark, Col Lee & Col Pickens. I think Col Pickens was promoted to Gen before the Revolutionary War was over. I will state that I raised my troops to defend the frontiers and guard the Indians consequently did not have a good opportunity of becoming acquainted with this officers and men generally. I have mentioned the general circumstances of my service in the body of my declaration. Question: Did you ever receive a commission and if so by whom was it signed and what has become of it – Answer: I received a commission I think in the first of the year 1779. It was signed by Gov. Howly then Govenor of the State of Georgia. I had the commission for a number of years after the Revolutionary War but it is now lost or destroyed. Question: State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. Answer: I have been acquainted with Parson Francis Beard of McNairy County and my present neighborhood for a great number of years and I have also been acquainted with John Chambers of my neighborhood for a number of years. They can testify as to my character for veracity and their belief and the neighborhood belief of my services as a captain and as a soldier in the Revolution. Given under my hand Sworn to & subscribed this day and year aforesaid Isham Burks Wm. Wisdom, Clk of McNairy County Court Tenn I, Francis Beard a clergyman residing in the County of McNairy and State of Tennessee and (not legible) residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Isam Burks who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy two years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a captain and a s soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion given under our hand. Sworn to _____ the day & year aforesaid Wm Wisdom, Clk Francis Beard of McNairy County Court Tenn John Chambers And the said court do hereby declare there opinion after the investigation of the matter and after finishing the interrogation proscribed by the applicant that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Captain and soldier and served as he states and this court further certifies that it appears to them that Francis Beard who has signed the proceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in McNairy County and that John Chambers who has also singed the same is a resident in the same county and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit given under our hand. Joseph Smith Illegible name Illegible name I Williams Wisdom Clerk of the Court of pleas and quarter ____for McNairy County do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Isam Burks for a pension. In Testamony whereof I have hereunto let my hand and affixed my seal of office in ___ this 23rd day of September 1833 and 38th year of the American Independence. SEAL Wm Wisdom, Clk of McNairy County Court ____ From the files of Jean McCullough