William Burgess (abt. 1775 - aft. 1861)

Born about 1775 in Blue Stone River, Montgomery, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Ann (Roberts) Burgess — married about 1798 in Montgomery, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died after Mar 1861 after about age 86 in Leavenworth, Kansas, United States

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Biography

William Burgess was born in 1775/76, in Blue Stone River, Montgomery, Virginia, a son of Edward Burgess and Nancy Francis. ^[1] About 1798, in Montgomery county, Virginia, William married Sarah Ann Roberts was born circa 1780, in Virginia, a daughter of Reuben Roberts, an "Overseer of Roads" in Montgomery county. ^[2]

William's father was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. Edward moved with his family to Floyd county, Kentucky, where on February 15, 1818, he filed for a pension, based on his enlistment. Before 1818, a Revolutionary War pension could be awarded solely on the basis of disability or death (with the exception of officers who served for the duration). The new act provided that ALL officers and enlisted men who served in the army or navy, disabled or not, would be eligible for a lifetime pension. Some important provisos appeared in the bill. First, an applicant had to prove he had served a total of at least nine months (which did not have to be consecutive). More importantly, he also had to show that he “by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, shall be, in need of assistance from his country for his support.” Lastly, applicants had to relinquish any other pension claims they may have. Officers received twenty dollars per month and enlisted men eight. The act also set out the administrative process. The applicant had to make a declaration under oath before a judge describing his service, and provide other evidence of his service and need. If the judge felt the claim to be proper, he forwarded it to the Secretary of War who reviewed the application and, if satisfactory, added the applicant to the pension list. ^[3] Details of Edward's pension are found on his profile page. Descendants of William Burgess and Sarah Roberts are eligible to join the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution under DAR Ancestor #A017226.

William and Sarah are found on the United States Census of 1850, living in Scott county, Iowa. William is 75 and and Sarah is 70, both born in Virginia. ^[4] In 1860, William and Sarah are living in Stranger, Leavenworth county, Kansas Territory. The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the free state of Kansas. William is 84 years old and "Sarah Ann Burges" is 77. ^[5]

William Burgess died in March, 1861, in Fort Leavenworth county, in the year that Kansas became a state.

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.geni.com/people/William-Burgess/6000000006785316329
2. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L48V-PNM
3. ↑ https://allthingsliberty.com/2021/08/good-and-sufficient-testimony-the-development-of-the-revolutionary-war-pension-plan/
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ4V-8GM : 19 December 2020), William Burgess, Scott, Iowa, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.)
5. ↑ https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=7667&h=44044205&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=8054

• 1810 US Census, Kentucky: Floyd, Floyd, KY; Roll: 6; Page: 99; Image: 00113; FHL Film: 0181351Bur of the Census, NARA. Ancestry.com database.
• 1820 US Census, Kentucky: Floyd, Kentucky; Page: 46; NARA Roll: M33_22; Image: 55, Ancestry.com database.