Notes for 21 James Riley Burrow

Sources: James R. Blanks author of Burrow Family History

James Riley's widow filed a Declaration for Pension on January 14, 1873  

James Riley Burrow moved his family and his father to Independence County Arkansas about 1859. When the Civil War began, James Riley Burrow joined the Union forces. He enlisted as a private in Company A, 1st Regiment of Arkansas Volunteers. He lost his life in Helena, Arkansas on September 23,1862. The following  documents contained in the pension file are of interest:

DECLARATION FOR ORIGINAL PENSION OF A WIDOW - CHILD OR CHILDREN UNDER SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE SURVIVING

State of Tennessee, County of Crockett: On this 14th day of January, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy three personally appeared before me Frances J. Wood Clerk of the County Court of said County, the same being a court of record within and for the county and State aforesaid, Mrs. Mary A. Burrow aged forty four (44) years, who, being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain the pension provided by Acts of Congress granting pensions to widows; That she is the widow of James R. Burrow who volunteered under the name of James R. Burrow at Walnut Grove, Independence Co. on the 10th day of June A. D. 1862 in Company A. (Capt. Grays) 1st Regiment Arkansas Volunteers in the war of 1861, who died of camp diarrhea at Helena Phillips County Arkansas while in the line of his duty on the 15th day of September, A.D. 1862 who bore at the time of his death the rank of Drum Major, in the service aforesaid; that she was married under the name of Mary A. King to said James R. Burrow on the 23rd day of December, A.D. 1847 by (Elder) G. W. D. Harris at my mothers Isabela Kings, there being no legal barrier to such marriage; that her husband had been previously married, my husband had been previously married to Manda T. Wilson who died on the 10th day of January 1846 that she has to the present date remained his widow; that the following are the names and dates of birth of all his legitimate children yet surviving who were under sixteen years of age at the father's death, to wit: His BY Herself His By a Former Marriage Isham L. , born Oct. 28, 1852 None listed Viola C. , born April 23, 1856 Martin H. L. , born Dec. 22, 1857 Lydia A. , born Dec. 12, 1859 That she has not abandoned the support of any one of his children, but that they are still under her care or maintenance, that she has not in any manner been engaged in, or aided or abetted, the rebellion in the United States; that no prior application has been filed, that she hereby appoints Samuel L. Watkins her attorney to prosecute her claim; that her post office address is Gadsden Crockett County Tennessee. (Attest.) Isaac M. Johnson Mary A. Burrow John W. McFarland Also personally appeared Edmond D. Screws residing in Crockett Co. and William Balentine residing in Crockett Co., person whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, say that they were present and saw Mary A. Burrow, the claimant, sign her name to the foregoing declaration; that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of said claimant and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be; and that they have no interest in the prosecution of this claim. Edmond D. Screws,  William Ballentine Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14 day of January A.D. 1873.

Adjutant General Office,
Washington, D.C., Feby 20th, 1873

          Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office of application for Pension No. 207547, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office. It appears from the Rolls on file in this Office that J. R. Burrows was enrolled on the 10 day of June, 1862, at Independence in Co. A, 1 Regiment of Arkansas Volunteers, to serve 6 months and mustered into service as a private on the 1 day of July 1862, at Jackson port, in Co. A, 1 Regiment of Ark Volunteers, to serve 6 months. On the Muster Out Roll of Co. A, of that Regiment, dated Dec. 31, 1862, he is reported: Private Died Sept 23, 1862 at Helena Ark; not borne as Drum Major; also known as James R. Burrows; There are no Final Statements, or Inventory of Effects on file in this office.

I am, sir, very respectfully,Your obedient servant,

J. P. Martin Assistant Adjutant General The Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.