Joseph Burke (1762 - 1856)

Born 1762 in Virginia

Husband of Mary (Mantooth) Burke — married about 1811 in Cocke County, TN

Descendants

Died 19 Feb 1856 at about age 94 in Cocke County, TN

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ed Burke [send private message]

Biography

Joseph Burke served with Washington District Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

Joseph Burke is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-125220
Rank: Patriot

Joseph Burke lived in Appalachia, in Tennessee.

Little is known of Joseph Burke because in 1876 the courthouse in Cocke County burned with all records. The only existing documentation besides the federal census records are the pension files as shown below.

A really interesting story has recently surfaced that may cast some light on the ancestors of Joseph. Read this excerpt about early Tennessee History

• 1760-1762 Birth : Somewhere in Virginia exact date unknown

• 1811 Marriage: Cocke County by John McNabb, a Justice of the Peace records destroyed by fire. ^[1])

• 1813 Petition:Joseph Burke one of the signers of a Petition from Residents of French Broad and Holston Country Regarding War and Money^[2]

• 1830 Census: Sevier County TN Total family of 8

Free Males - Under 5: 1

Free Males - 10 thru 14: 1 (son-William Burke)

Free Males - 15 thru 19: 1 (son-John Burke)

Free Males - 60 thru 69: 1 (Joseph Burke)

Free Females - Under 5: 1

Free Females - 5 thru 9: 2

Free Females - 40 thru 49: 1 (Spouse Mary)

Free Under 20: 6

Free 20 thru 49: 1

Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 8

• 1834 Pension: Filed pension documents in Knoxville TN stating home In Newport, Cocke County Approved $20.00 per year

• 1840 Census: Cocke County TN Joseph Burke birth abt 1765 Age: 75 Military Service: Veteran

Free Males - 15 & under 20: 1 (son-William Burke)

Free Males - 70 & under 80: 1 (head-Joseph Burke)

Free Females - 5 & under 10: 1 ( )

Free Females - 15 & under 20: 1 ( )

Free Females - 60 & under 70: 1 (spouse-Mary)

Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 8

• 1841 Census: Pensioners For Revolutionary or Military Services in Cocke County, Tennessee

Joseph Burke Aged 75

Others Listed in Cocke County

William Bragg 75

Peter Wise 89

Darius O'Neal 70

Bartlett Sisk 79 (living with Lawson Sisk)

Samuel Yeates 83

Henry Click 59

Allen Seratt 77

• 1850 Census: Cocke County TN District 11, Cocke, Tennessee Family Number: 387

Household Members:

Joseph Burke 84 birth abt 1766 Birthplace: Virginia

Mary Burke 62 (Spouse)

Rebecca Burke 32 (daughter of Joseph & Mary)

June Burke 23 (daughter of Joseph & Mary)

Martha Burke 8 (daughter of Rebecca)

Tilman H Burke 4 (son of June)

Mitchell Burke 3 (son of Rebecca)

Charity Burke 3 (daughter of June)

Silas Burke 0 (son of June)

• 1856 Death: Cocke County TN

• Sons of the American Revolution Patriot #185297

Most Distant Known Ancestor

Joseph Burke is the most distant known paternal ancestor to

Ed Burke

The Revolutionary War

In Joseph Burkes first pension request he stated that he Volunteered for three months in North Carolina (now Tennessee) under Colonel John Sevier, rendezvoused at Captain Isaac Shelby's and marched through where Knoxville was later built to Kingston and back by a circuitous route^[3].

He was then Drafted, rendezvoused at Charlie's Ash^[4] on the Watauga River and served under Captain James Roddy. They marched into South Carolina passing General Greene's army and joining General Marion's army. This tour was also for three months.

In Salisbury, N.C., Joseph was then hired as a Substitute for Moses Wattase(or Wallace) for a term of 12 months. He served under Major Joel Lewis, Captain Charles Gordona and Lt. Askins. He remained there to guard prisoners. He was furloughed after 9 months. Total time served fifteen months.

Pension Application

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters Pension application of Joseph Burk S3095 Mary fn34NC Transcribed by Will Graves 10/16/10 ^[5]

State of Tennessee Cocke County: On the 27th day of November 1832 Personally appeared before the Justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid Joseph Burk a resident of Cocke County & State of Tennessee aged seventy years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer under Captain John Sevier in the State of North Carolina and rendezvoused at Captain Shelbey's marched under the command of said Sevier passing by where Knoxville now stands in now the State of Tennessee, thence marching to where Kingston now stands on Tennessee River, crossing the said River in a secured his route home in the North Carolina again making a campaign of three months for which time he volunteered for. Said applicant further states that he again entered the service of the United States and was drafted in North Carolina & marched under the command of Captain James Roddy that he rendezvoused at Charles Ash's on Watauga River in said State of North Carolina marched thence on to the State of South Carolina & stationed a week or 10 days at the High Hills of Santee and below the High Hills of Santee passed General Greene's Army and joined General Marion & served under said Marion until discharged making a campaign of three months for which time he was drafted said Applicant further states that he entered the service of the United States again as a hired a substitute in place of Moses Wallace for the Term of twelve months under the command of Major Joel Lewis & Captain Charles Gordon & Lieutenant __ Aksins & joined the service at Salisbury North Carolina under the aforesaid officers & stationed at Salisbury in order to guard prisoners & thence marched to C. Doudes on Haw River in said state thence to Raft Swamp in said State from thence Haw River to the Seven Islands there received a Furlough to go home and then discharged & the said Applicant has so misplaced his discharges that they now cannot be obtained & has no documentary Evidence and that he knows of no person whose Testimony he can procure who can Testify to his service.

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. Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid S/ Joseph Burk, X his markSworn to in open court S/ G. M. Foster, Clerk ^[6]

Amended Declaration of Joseph Burk of Cocke County and State of Tennessee State of Tennessee Cocke County: SS July 9th 1833 Said Applicant states that he was born in the year 1763 in the State of Virginia & states that he has no record of his age. That he was living in the State of North Carolina when he was called into the service, and since the Revolutionary war has resided in the State of Tennessee & where he now lives. That he volunteered in the year of 1779 for three months first under Captain John Sevier and second for three months again under Captain Roddy & General Marion and served at the age of 17 as stated in his original Declaration. Said applicant states that his third tour of service was as a Substitute for Moses Wallace for the time of 12 months under the command of Major Lewis & Captain Gordon etc. in the State of North Carolina in the year of 1780 as a private. That he received a discharge from the service first from Captain Sevier, second from Captain Roddy third discharge from Major Joel Lewis but have lost said discharges. Said applicant states he served as a private & his aggregate services were 18 months & that his services were performed in North Carolina & South Carolina & part of his first tour of service under Captain John Sevier was in the State of Tennessee passing the places where Knoxville & Kingston now stands though this may have been at the time North Carolina & and that he served with an embodied Corps called into service by competent authority & that he was not employed at the time in any civil pursuit. Declarant states that William Benson and Enoch Netherton have certified as to their belief of said applicant's veracity & concur with many other gentlemen said applicant's neighborhood that he was a soldier of the Revolution. Said Applicant states that no clergyman resides in his neighborhood who certificate could be obtained. Said Applicant has procured the clerks seal having no public seal of office he has obtained the certificate of John Blair a member of Congress proving the official character & signature of Clerk. Sworn to and subscribed 9th July 1833. S/ Joseph Burk, X his mark fn p. 30

Amended Declaration of Joseph Burk Cocke County Tennessee State of Tennessee Cocke County: 12th November 1833 Said Applicant states that his third Tour of service when he was a substitute for Moses Wallace was under the command of Major Lewis & Captain Gordon & that he entered said Tour of service in September 1780 and served nine months as substitute for said Wallace & then received a Furlough, went home & in two or three weeks after said furlough was granted said applicant received a Discharge. Said Applicant states that his services in the Army of the Revolution was for 15 months First Term a volunteer under Captain Sevier for three months. Second Term drafted under Captain Roddy for three months. Third Term a substitute under Captain Gordon for twelve months or served only nine months & got a furlough. Aggregate 15 months Said applicant knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services. Said applicant states he was a private in the Army Said Applicant states that he has no documentary Evidence of his Claim that he received three several discharges but has lost them. Sworn & subscribed the 12th of November 1833 before me William Odel Acting Justice of the peace for Cocke County Tennessee In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day & year last above written. S/ Wm Odel. JP fn p. 4: on June 30, 1855 in Cocke County Tennessee, Joseph Burk, 90, filed for his bounty land entitlement identifying himself as the identical applicant who was pensioned under the above application.

On June 28, 1856 in Cocke County Tennessee, Mary Burk, 70, gave testimony that she is the widow of Joseph Burk; that he filed for his bounty land entitlement; that he died February 19, 1856 at his residence in Cocke County Tennessee; that a warrant was issued to him in his name for 160 acres of land in June 1856; that she married her husband about the year 1811 in Cocke County Tennessee, that they were married by John McNabb a justice of the peace; that her name prior to her marriage was Mary Mantooth; that she makes this testimony in order to obtain the bounty land to which he may be entitled as well as any pension to which he may be entitled under the 1853 act. Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $20 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for six months service as a private in the North Carolina militia.

Sources

• McClung Library Knox Smoky Mt. History Society Newsletter v.10 (4) 1984

• Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pensions and Rosters http//:revwarapps.org Joseph Burke

• Ed Burke, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Ed and others.

• Joseph Burke on Find A Grave Memorial# 88660091 exact location unknown

• 1813 Petition from Residents of French Broad and Holston Country Regarding War and Money [1]

• Revolutionary Patriots of Cocke County, Tennessee on WikiTree

References

1. ↑ On Dec 30, 1876, a fire destroyed the Cocke County courthouse. All county records were lost except one deed book.
2. ↑ in our present situation we find it will be utterly impossible for us to contribute our proportion to the general tax and to rain money enough to pay even the interest upon our investments
3. ↑ Isaac Shelby and John Sevier led expeditions over the Appalachian Mountains against the British forces in North Carolina
4. ↑ find this location
5. ↑ Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original. Folks are free to make non-commercial use this transcript in any manner they may see fit, but please extend the courtesy of acknowledging the transcriber—besides, if it turns out the transcript contains mistakes, the resulting embarrassment will fall on the transcriber. I use speech recognition software to make all my transcriptions. Such software misinterprets my southern accent with unfortunate regularity and my poor proofreading fails to catch all misinterpretations. I welcome and encourage folks to call those and any other errors to my attention.
6. ↑ William Vinson & Enoch Netherton gave the standard supporting affidavit.