The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Birth: 22 Jun 1760 Bradford / Essex / MA Death: 04 Jul 1816 Gilead / Oxford / ME
Qualifying Service Description:
Captains Peabody and Ayers; Colonels Francis and Wade Reg't, MA line
Served 3 mos, Aug-Oct 1776 as Pvt in Cambridge, Dorcester Heights MA; Served 3 mos, Jul-Oct 1780 as Pvt in MA Continental Army Regiment in, around West Point, NY; honorably discharged after both enlistments
Additional References:
SAR Patriot Index Edition III (CD: PP2210, Progeny Publ, 2002) plus data to 2004 SAR RC #181511;
Pension Number S*W21723;
NSDAR RC # 769681;
"MA Soldiers & Sailors in the War of the Revolution", Vol 2, pg 813
Author: Ed Lary
Eliphalet Burbank’s Revolutionary War Service was reported by his widow Susannah (Barker) Burbank in her testimony, dated 08 Jan 1847, for her pension application. Her Widow’s pension, W.21723, was subsequently approved, although she was only able to collect a few months of that pension before her death later in 1847. His service is also documented in the book “Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution”, vol. 2, p. 813.
Eliphalet Burbank was born in Bradford, Essex Co, MA on 22 Jun 1760, the son of Abraham and Abigail (Savory) Burbank. Like many of his farming neighbors in Bradford, Eliphalet’s Burbank and Savory ancestors emigrated from England. Most arrived in the Massachusetts Colony between 1635-1660.
Eliphalet Burbank first enlisted, shortly after his 16th birthday, in August 1776 as a Private in the Company of Capt. John Peabody, Col. Ebenezer Francis’ Regiment. The Company marched to Cambridge, serving at Dorchester Heights and other locations around Boston for the full 3 months of his enlistment term. Eliphalet was honorably discharged and returned home to Bradford.
He enlisted for a second 3-month period, from July to October 1780, also as a Private, in the Company of Capt. Jonathan Ayer, Col. Nathaniel Wade’s Regiment. The Company was raised in Massachusetts to reinforce the Continental Army. Eliphalet’s wife reported his Company marched to West Point, NY and served the entire term of Eliphalet’s enlistment in and around the fort at West Point. Eliphalet once again was honorably discharged at the end of his enlistment term and returned to Bradford.
Shortly after his return to Bradford, Eliphalet Burbank and Susannah Barker were married there in January 1781. During their 35-year marriage they raised 12 children. Sometime in 1800-1801, Eliphalet Burbank was “taken suddenly with ‘down east’ fever” as reported in the “History of Gilead [ME]”. He purchased the farm of Lt. Jonathan Lary in Gilead, moving his wife and family from Bradford, MA to Gilead, ME in 1802. The two youngest Burbank children were born in Gilead.
Eliphalet and Susanna Burbank remained in Gilead for the rest of their lives. Of them, the “History of Gilead [ME]” reports: “Capt. E. Burbank was a smart, enterprising man, and well understood the farming profession. [He] always led off in his own business and had his work done in season”; “Mrs. Burbank made a public profession of religion by uniting with the Church in Gilead in 1818, and her profession of faith in Christ was exemplified by her daily walk and conversation, till her death”.
Eliphalet died on 04 Jul 1816; Susannah lived another 31 years, passing away 21 Jul 1847. Both are buried in the Lary North Cemetery in Gilead, ME.
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