From Nathan Burpee's Revolutionary War Pension File: Number W 27391. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed and transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Elaine Johnson on 04/06/1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I, Joseph Pearson, of Sterling in the County of Worcester and commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of seventy three years testify and say that the latter part of July 1780, I volunteered as a private soldier for the term of three months in the company of militia commanded by Capt. David Moore then of Bolton in said county. Lieut. Houghton of ????? in said county and Lieut Bailey of said Bolton were the Lieutenants. I in company with Nathan Burpee then of the West Precinct in Lancaster in said county, now of the town of Avon in the County of Livingston and State of New York, marched from said West Precinct to Northborough in said county where we were mustered, then marched through Mendon to Bristol in the State of Rhode Island then crossed at Bristol Ferry on to the Island and were stationed at Butts Hill where we were employed on building a fort. Said Nathan Burpee continued and performed serviced in said company through the term aforesaid and at the close of said term, which was on the evening of the last day of October 1780, said company was dismissed. Signed: Joseph Pearson Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcester September 10th 1832 Then Joseph Pearson abovenamed in my presence subscribed his name and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit. I certify that said Joseph Pearson's character for truth is good. Signed Alex Dustin, Justice of the Peace I, Elijah Burpee, of Sterling in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of seventy one years testify and say that about the first of December 1776, I volunteered as a private soldier for the term of the three months in the company of Militia commanded by Capt. Manasseh Sawyer then of the West Precinct of Lancaster in said county, one of the Lieuts name was Samuel Sawin then of Westminster in said county and marched with Nathan Burpee who then as well as myself lived in said West Precinct, now Sterling (said Nathan Burpee now lives in Avon in the county of Livingston and State of New York) to the town of Dorchester near Boston where we were mustered in Col Nicholas Dike's Regiment where we remained until the close of said term which was about the first of March 1777; said Nathan Burpee continued in said Company and performed services through said term, when we were dismissed. He and myself returned home together. Signed: Elijah Burpee Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester Sept. 10th 1832. Then Elijah Burpee in my presence subscribed his name and made oath to the foregoing affidavit. I certify that said Elijah Burpee's character for truth is good. Signed: Alex Dustin, Justice of the Peace Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester I, Abijah Bigelow, Clerk of the Judicial Courts herein, within and for the county of Worcester, do hereby testify that Alexander Dustin, Esquire, before whom the foregoing affidavits of Joseph Pearson and Elijah Burpee were made and sworn to is a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Worcester and that his signatures thereto appear to me to be in his own proper handwriting. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the county seal this eleventh day of September A. d. 1832. Signed Abijah Bigelow, Clerk State of Vermont Rutland County On the 15th day of November A.D. 1832 personally appeared before me, Robert Pierpoint, Justice of the Peace for said county, Josiah Pearson of Pittford in said county to be personally known and a credible witness and made oath that in the year 1777 he knew Nathan Burpee now of Avon in the State of New York and said Burpee was attached to Capt. Greenleaf's company of Massachusetts Troops. And said Burpee joined the army soon after Bennington Battle (16 Aug, 1777) and continued in the army until after the surrender of Burgoyne and then marched down the North River and was discharged I think near Tivertown. There said Burpee served three months that time. Burpee lived in the same town with the deponent and this deponent was in the army soon after said Burpee joined the army was discharged before said Burpee but he knew when said Burpee went from home with the troops and when he returned home. R. Pierpoint, Jus Peace. State of Vermont Rutland County I Robert Pierpoint, Clerk of the County Court for the County of Rutland certify that Robert Pierpoint who signed the foregoing certificate is a Justice of the Peace for said County duly commissioned. In Testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and affixed the seal of said county at Rutland this 15th day of November A. D. 1832. R. Pierpoint. Nathaniel Taylor of Sterling in the County of Worcester of Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of seventy seven years of age, testify and say that in the year 1776 sometime in the latter part of the summer, the month I cannot recollect I volunteered my services in the Revoluntionary War of the United States as a private soldier in a company of militia commanded by Capt. Goss then of Lancaster in said County in Col. Ephraim Sawyer's Regiment for the term of three months I think, and marched in company with Nathan Burpee who then lived in the part of said Lancaster which is now said Sterling and who now lives in the town of East Avon, County of Ontario, I believe and State of New York and was a private soldier in our company; on our march we passed through the town of Hartford in the State of Connecticut, thence to a place called Horse-Neck and thence to Dobb's Ferry in the State of New York, where we were stationed where we remained about three weeks. Thence we crossed the River in to the State of New Jersey where we remained about two days and then recrossed the river. Thence we marched to Tivertown where we remained until we had completed the term aforesaid and I was then discharged. Said Burpee did service in said company during the whole aforesaid term and at it's completion we returned home together. Signed: Nathaniel Taylor State of Massachusetts Worcester Nov. 23, 1832, the above named Nathaniel Taylor in my presence subscribed the above affidavit and made oath to the truth thereof; and further certify that said Taylor's character for truth is good. Signed: Alex Dustin, Justice of the Peace. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester I, Abijah Bigelow, clerk of the judicial courts within and for the County of Worcester, do certify that Alexander Dustin, Esquire, before whom the within Deposition of Nathaniel Taylor was signed, and sworn to, is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Worcester and that the signature of said Justice to the certificate of the oath of said Deponent, appears to be in his own proper hand writing. In testimony whereof, I herewith set my hand and affix the County Seal, this twenty eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. Abijah Bigelow, Clerk State of New York Livingston County On the first day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open court before the Judge of the County Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Livingston in the State of New York Nathan Burpee a resident of the town of Avon in said county, and state, aged seventy four years and upwards 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 passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated towit: That sometime in the year of our Lord 1776 and he believes in September of that year he entered the public service in the War of the Revolution under a draught in the town of Lancaster in the County of Worcester in the State of Massachusetts under one Captain Goss, whose Christian name he does not recollect, in a regiment commanded by Colonel Ephraim Sawyer to serve for the term of two months according to his best recollection [and not for three months as is supposed by the deposition of Nathaniel Taylor by the declaration annexed] that he well recollects that Nathaniel Taylor served with him in the same Company, that they marched through Hartford in the State of Connecticut by Horse-Neck and thence by Dobb ferry on the North River in the State of New York, that after remaining there a few weeks they crossed into New Jersey and after remaining a day or two they recrossed and marched to Tivertown where they remained until the term of his engagement expired, when he was discharged and returned home in company with said Taylor. That afterwards and on or about the first day of December of the said year 1776 he volunteered to serve in the militia for the term of three months at the town of Sterling in the said state of Massachusetts, in a company commanded by one Manasseh Sawyer. He recollected that the Lieutenants name was Sawin, that within about a fortnight they marched to the town of Dorchester in said State of Massachusetts near to Boston, when they were mustered in Col. Nicholas Dykes Regiment, and remained until the term of his engagement had expired. He well recollected that Elijah Burpee now of Sterling aforesaid, the brother of the declarant, volunteered at the same time for the same term and served with him in the same company during the said term of three months, and returned home with him after their discharge. That afterwards, in the year 1777, and as he believes in the month of August of that year and shortly after the battle at Bennington, he volunteered at the town of Sterling aforesaid to serve for three months, he entered service under Captain Greenleaf in a regiment commanded according to the best of his recollection by Colonel Cushing, his First Lieutenants name was Edward Newton, the Second Lieutenants name was Moses Newell. They were marched through New Salem directly to Bennington in Vermont.. He recollects that the horses which had been killed at Bennington were in a state of offensive putridity when they marched over the battle field -- that they were marched to different points in the advance of the British Army under Burgoyne, the particular place, his memory does not serve him to date. He well recollects to have been at Bhemus Heights, that the regiment to which he belonged was equipped and paraded for action and posted as a reserve according to his understanding, expecting momentarily to be brought in action, he recollects to have witnessed the burying of the dead after the action at Bhemus Heights -- that after the surrender of Burgoyne at Stillwater, the regiment to which he belonged was marched down the North River, he recollects that they were on board of a sloop for one day and one night on their descent down the river, but at what points they embarked or disembarked he cannot recollect. He recollects that they marched several days by land and encamped on frozen ground without tents, and finally arrived at a placed called Horse-Neck where he had been in the year 1776. They remained there a few days and drew provisions as well, then marched to Trenton, where he had been discharged in 1776, at which place he was again discharged, his term having expired after having been there about a fortnight. That afterwards in the year 1780 and in the month of July of that year he volunteered under Captain David Moore at Sterling in the county of Worcester in said state of Massachusetts as a private soldier to serve for three months. His Lieutenants names were Houghton and Bailey -- they were marched to Northborough in said county of Worcester and were there mustered and marched from thence through Newlton to Bristol in the State of Rhode Island when they crossed at Bristol Ferry into Rhode Island and were stationed at a place called Butts Hill and there employed by the rebuilding the fort which had been previously destroyed by the British. And continued thus employed until his term expired when he was discharged at that place. He well recollects that Joseph Pearson whose deposition is annexed served with him and returned in company with him to Sterling, Massachusetts. And this declarant in answer to the interrogatory posed to him by the said court declared that he was born in the town of Sterling aforesaid on the thirteenth day of December in the year of our Lord 1758, that there is a record of his age in the town of Lancaster in said State of Massachusetts, but whether the same is kept by the Town Clerk or what office he cannot say. That he lived in that part of Lancaster in said State of Massachusetts which afterward formed the said town of Sterling, at the time of his first entering the noble service. That since the Revolutionary War he has resided for about fourteen year at the town of Chittenden in the State of Vermont, from whence he removed about thirty seven years since to the town of Hartford now Avon in the now County of Livingston where he resided for about five years. From thence he removed he removed to the town of Wooster in the State of Ohio where he resided until about seven years since, when he removed from Ohio and returned to the said town of Avon where he now resides. He always entered the service as a volunteer, except his first tour of duty of two months, when he was draughted into service. That he cannot give any more particular descriptions of the names of the regular officer who were with the troops when he served, of the regiments continental and militia or the general circumstances of his services then as he has before related them. He never received any written discharge. That Joseph Pearson, Luke Whitmore, Edy Cumby, Charles Coffin and many others of the said town of Avon can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his having served in the war of the Revolution. The said declarant 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. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. His Nathan X Burpee Mark I, William Scott, of the town of Avon, in the County of Livingston do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Nathan Burpee who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That I believe him to be seventy four years of age. That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that I concur in that opinion -- And further, that he is a quiet, peaceable man of fine moral character, and worthy of full credit -- Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid in open court. Signed: Wm. Scott S. G. Haven, Dep. Clerk. And the said courts do hereby declare their opinion, after their investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states -- and the court further certifies that it appears to them that William Scott who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident inhabitant of the town of Avon in said county and is credible person, and that his statement is entitled to credit. I, Chauncey R. Bond, clerk of the court of Commissioners in and for the county of Livingston, do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Nathan Burpee for a pension. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this first day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three. Signed Chauncy R. Bond, Clk. By S. G. Haven Dep. Clerk. WAR DEPARTMENT Revolutionary Claim I certify that in conformity with the law of the United Sates of the 7th June, 1832 Nathan Burpee of the State of New York who was a Private in the Revolutionary Army is entitled to receive thirty six dollars and sixty six cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1834, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September, in every year. Given at the War Office of the United States this 6th day of June one thousand eight hundred and thirty three Signed John Robb Acting Secretary of War Examined and Countersigned: J.D. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions. Payments to be made at New York by ????????? Agent for paying Pensioners in the Agency of New York. Recorded in the Pension Office in Book E, Volume 4, page 45 by ??????? Clerk County of Lapeer On this Second day of December 1835 before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Lapeer, personally appeared Nathan Burpee who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Goss in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Goss in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of New York from where he has lately removed; that he now resides in Michigan where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable in future. The following are his reasons for removing from New York to Michigan: I removed from New York to Michigan with the intent of spending the remainder of my life with my children who moved from New York to Michigan at the same time I did. Signed: Nathan Burpee Sworn and subscribed to before me The day and year aforesaid Signed: N. Davison, Justice of the Peace Territory of Michigan County of Lapeer On the second day of December 1835 before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for said County personally appeared Pearson Farrar who on his oath declares that Nathan Burpee is the identical person named in an original certificate of Pension in his possession from the War Department, and is also the same person who has sworn to and subscribed the above affidavit. Signed: Pearson Farrar Sworn to and subscribed before me the day & year aforesaid Signed: M. Davison, Justice of the Peace. County of Lapeer I do hereby certify that the witness aforesaid is a person of truth and voracity. Signed: N. Davison, Justice Peace I Noah H. Hart, Dep. Clerk of the Court for Lapeer County certify that Norman Davison is a magistrate as above and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name, this Thirteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five. Signed: Noah H. Hart Deputy Clerk. The following letters were in Nathan Burpee's Revolutionary War Pension File. 15364 Oakfield Avenue Detroit, Michigan April 2, 1937 Veteran's Administration Department of Revolutionary War Pensions Washington, D.C. Gentlemen: Please inform me if my ancestor, Nathan Burpee received a pension for his services in the Massachusetts Troops in the Revolutionary War, and if so what your record is. Did his widow, Lucinda Burpee also receive a pension? This information is for the Genesee County, D.A.R. who are placing an official marker. "Nathan Burpee born in Westminster, Mass. Dec 12, 1758 died in Atlas Michigan Jan. 5, 1836" "Lucinda Burpee born in Westminster, Mass Jan 22, 17-- died in Atlas Michigan Oct. 27, 1842." McFarlan Cemetery Genesee County, Michigan. Sincerely yours, Louise R. Locker (Mrs. H.W.) May 6, 1937 Mrs. H. W. Locker 15364 Oakfield Avenue Detroit, Michigan RE: Nathan Burpee W. 27391 BA-J/MLB Dear Madam: Reference is made to your letter in which you request the record of Nathan Burpee who, you state, was born in Westminster, Massachusetts, in December 1758, served in the Massachusetts troops in the Revolutionary War, died in Atlas, Michigan, January 5, 1836, and that his wife, Lucinda Burpee, was born in the same place as he, January 22, 17--, and died in Atlas, Michigan, October 27, 1842. The record of Nathan Burpee follows as found in pension claim, W. 27391, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War. Nathan Burpee was born December 13, 1758, in Sterling, Worcester County, Massachusetts; the names of his parents are not given. While residing in that part of Lancaster which later became Sterling, Massachusetts, Nathan Burpee enlisted in September, 1776, and served two months as private in Captain Goss' company, Colonel Ephraim Sawyer's Massachusetts regiment. He volunteered about December 1, 1776, and served three months as private in Captain Manasseh Sawyer's company, Colonel Nicholas Dike's Massachusetts regiment. He volunteered in August, 1777, and served three months as private in Captain Greenleaf's company, Colonels Cushing's Massachusetts regiment. He volunteered in July, 1780 and served three months as private in Captain David Moore's Massachusetts company at Rhode Island, where he was engaged in rebuilding a fort at Butts Hill which had been destroyed. After the war the soldier resided about fourteen years in Chittenden, Vermont, and about 1796 moved to that part of Hartford which later became Avon, Livingston County, New York, where he remained about five years, thence to Worcester*, Ohio, where he resided until about 1826 when he moved back to Avon, New York. Nathan Burpee was allowed pension on his application executed February 1, 1833, at which time he was residing in Avon, New York. In 1835, he was a resident of the State of Michigan where he had moved with his children from New York. He died January 5, 1836. The soldier married April 8, 1787, in Sterling, Massachusetts, Lucinda ____. The date and place of her birth or age, maiden name and names of her parents are not shown. Nathan Burpee's widow, Lucinda, was allowed pension on her application executed July 14, 1840, while a resident of Atlas, Genesee County, Michigan. The following names of children of Nathan Burpee and his wife, Lucinda are shown on the claim: Otis Burpee born January 28, 1788 Pearson Burpee, born January 14, 1790 Elizabeth Burpee, born September 24, 1793 Samuel Burpee, born April 4, 1796 Melita Burpee, born August 29, 1799; died Sept. 2, 1803. Nathan Burpee, Jr., born September 24, 1804 Nehemiah Sleeper Burpee, born June 29, 1807. In 1841, Lucinda Burpee, soldier's widow, stated that the names of her children were found in a family record kept by her in a "Bible printed in Worcester, Massachusetts, by Isaiah Thomas in the year 1785, and presented to her by her father by John Pearson who has been dead for many years." In 1832, Nathan Burpee's brother, Elijah, then aged seventy-one years was residing in Sterling, Massachusetts, and stated that he volunteered December 1, 1776, and served with Nathan in the same company three months. In 1841, Dorinda Farrar, twin sister of Lucinda Burpee, stated that she was living in Sterling, Massachusetts, at the time of her sister's marriage to Nathan Burpee and attended their marriage, she, Dorinda, being married at the time, but she did not state the name of her husband or of her parents. In 1835, one Pearson Farrar made affidavit in Lapeer County, Michigan, in behalf of the soldier, Nathan Burpee and in 1840, one Asa Farrar made affidavit in Genesee County, the same state, in behalf of soldier's widow, Lucinda Burpee. Their relationship to Dorinda, or to each other not shown. In 1832, one Joseph Pearson, aged seventy-three years, was living in Sterling, Massachusetts, and stated that he served with the soldier, Nathan Burpee, on his tour in 1780, no relationship stated between him and John Pearson to whom reference was previously made, or to the soldier or his wife. Very truly yours, A.D. Hiller Executive Assistant To the Administrator. * After researching the 1820 Census and a book called "Washington County, Ohio Marriages 1789-1840", compiled by Bernice Graham & Elizabeth s. Cottle, I found that this is really Wooster (Now Waterford) Township in Washington Co., Ohio. (Elaine Johnson 9/24/1998) State of Michigan County of Genesee Lucinda Burpee of the Town of Atlas in the County of Lapeer and State of Michigan having been duly sworn deposes and says, and on her oath makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed July 7th A.D., 1838 "Entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows:. That she is the widow of Nathan Burpee who was a private in the Revolutionary Army and that the Revolutionary claim hereto annexed marked "A" signed by I.I. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions and John Robb Acting Secretary of War is the identical one upon which the said Nathan Burpee the husband of said Lucinda Burpee until his decease received his pension upon until the month of his death, and for a particular account of the services rendered by the said Nathan Burpee she prays leave for greater certainty to refer to the application of her husband now on file in the office of the Commissioner of Pensions at Washington. She further declares that she was married to the said Nathan Burpee on the eighth day of April in the year Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven (1787) and that her husband the aforesaid Nathan Burpee died on the fifth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six. That she was not married to him prior to his leaving this service, but that the marriage took place previous to the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety four and at the time above stated and further saith not. And that she was never married after. Signed: Lucinda Burpee Sworn and Subscribed In Open Court this fourteenth Day of July, A.D. 1840 at Flint in the County of Genesee, State of Michigan Signed: W. A. Morrison clerk State of Michigan County of Genesee Asa Farrar being duly sworn deposes and says that he has heard the foregoing affidavit of Lucinda Burpee read, that he knows the contents thereof and that the same are true of his own knowledge and further saith not. Signed Asa Farrar Sworn and subscribed this Fifteenth day of July A. D. 1840 In Open Court Signed: W. A. Morrison, Clerk State of Michigan County of Genesee Nehemiah S. Burpee being duly sworn deposes and says that he has heard the foregoing affidavit of Lucinda Burpee read, that he knows the contents thereof and that the same are true of his own knowledge and further saith not. Signed: Nehemiah S. Burpee Sworn and subscribed this Fifteenth day of July A. D. 1840 In Open Court Signed: W. A. Morrison, Clerk State of Michigan County of Genesee Lucinda Burpee being duly sworn deposes and says that she was married on the eighth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and eighty seven in the town of Sterling, County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts to Nathan Burpee, a private of the Revolutionary War by the Rev. Mr. Holcomb the established congregationalist clergy man of the town., who died some time in the year of aforesaid mentioned eight hundred and thirty five. And this deponent further says that in the family record kept by her in a Bible printed in Worcester, Massachusetts by Isaiah Thomas in the year seventeen hundred and eighty three and presented to her by her father John Pearson who has been dec'd for many years, there is no record of her marriage, but of the births and deaths of her children which said record follows in the words and figures following: Otis Burpee, born January 28, 1788 Pearson Burpee born January 14th 1790 Elizabeth Burpee born January 24th 1793 Melita Burpee born August 29th 1799 -- Melita Burpee was taken sick August 7th on Sunday and died September 2nd on Friday 1803. Nathan Burpee, Jun. born September 24th 1804 Nehemiah Sleeper Burpee born June 29th 1807 And this deponent further says that there is no other record of the marriage in existence but that her sister (twin) Dorinda Farrar was present at the marriage, she being at that time a married woman and that there is no person, or persons living with knowledge of this deponent who was present at the said marriage or who knows that she was a married woman prior to the first day of January in the year seventeen hundred and ninety-four. And that the statement above made by her is the only one that exists save that of her sister Dorinda Farrar. Signed Lucinda Burpee Sworn and Subscribed before me this second day of March A.D. 1841 at Flint in the County of Genesee aforesaid. Signed: L. Stone, Associate Judge Of Genesee Circuit court. State of Michigan County of Genesee Dorinda Farrar being duly sworn deposes and says that she has heard the affidavit of her twin sister Mrs. Lucinda Burpee and that she knows the contents thereof, and that the same are true of her own personal knowledge, and she further says that she was living in the Town of Sterling, County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts on the eighth day of April seventeen hundred and eighty seven (at that time married herself) and was present when the Rev. Mr. Holcomb married her sister to Nathan Burpee. And further that the extract as given by the family Bible published aforesaid of the family record of the said Lucinda Burpee are true of her own knowldge apart from the said entries and further saith not. Signed: Dorinda Farrar Sworn and Subscribed before me the second day of March A.D. 1841 at Flint, Genesee Coutny Michigan aforesaid. L. Stone, Associate Judge of Genesee Circuit Court. Washington, Jan 22, 1841 Sir, I transmit applications for two ladies, Lucinda Burpee and Dorinda Farrar for pension, and beg your early attention to them. I also transmit a letter from Honory S. Higgins, of Mount Clemons, Michigan, to which I likewise call your early attention. Very respectfully, I am your most obedient servant John Norwell James L. Edwards, Esq. Commissioner of Pensions. State of Michigan County of Genesee and Town of Grand Blanc I, Lucinda Burpee, widow of Nathan Burpee deceased, do hereby state after having been duly sworn that the record of the births and death of my children (hereunto attached) is in the handwriting of Otis Burpee, one of my sons, and that the record hereunto attached is the original one in my possession and the same was recorded by my son Otis Burpee, in a family Bible. The same Bible my father gave me after my marriage to my late husband, Nathan Burpee, and the reason of there being no earlier record kept in the family was that my late husband Nathan Burpee did not write, and that no other family record exists and is also the reason the record appears in the handwriting of my son Otis Burpee. And I also state that the Town Clerk record of the Town of Sterling in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts was destroyed by fire after my said marriage with Nathan Burpee and all the records and papers were destroyed as I have been credibly informed and hereby believe. Signed Lucinda Burpee. Sworn and subscribed to before me one of the Associate Judges in and for the County of Genesee and State of Michigan, this twelfth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and forty one, at Grand Blanc, County and State aforesaid. Signed: Jeremiah R. Smith State of Michigan County of Genesee, and Town of Grand Blanc I, Jeremiah R. Smith, do hereby certify that Lucinda Burpee appeared before me and presented a Bible in which contained a family record in which she said upon oath as within, that the record was the identical one as set forth in the within affidavit, and I the undersigned did cut out from said Bible the record of the births and death and do attach the same here unto -- done at Grand Blanc, this 12th day of April 1841. Jeremiah R. Smith, Associate Judge State of Michigan County of Genesee I William Q. Morrison, Clerk of the County of Genesee, by Benjamin Rockwell deputy, do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of Jeremiah R. Smith Esq. one of the Associate Judges of the Circuit Court of Genesee County in said state, and I do hereby certify that the above signature of Jeremiah R. Smith is genuine and that he was by the laws of the State fully authorized to take the same in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said county hereto this twelfth day of April. one thousand eight hundred and forty one. William Q. Morrison, Clerk By Benjamin Rockwell, Dep. 6320 Michigan Lucinda Burpee, widow of Nathan Burpee, Dec'd, who was a pensioner under the Act 1832 and who died on the 5th January 1836 of Lopien in the State of Michigan, who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Goss of the Regt. commanded by Col. Sawyer, in the Massachusetts line for 11 months. Inscribed on the roll of Michigan at the rate of 36 dollars 66 cents per year to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836. Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of August 1841. No. representative. Arrears to the 4th of March 1841 $183.30. $183.30 Act July 7, 1838 Recorded by Thom. ?????, Clerk Book A, Vol. 2, page 227.