In This Article
His Story
Henry Burbeck began his military career as a young artillery lieutenant during the opening months of the American Revolution. By the time he retired from the United States Army in 1815, he had served through the struggle for independence, the creation of the new nation’s military establishment, campaigns on the northwestern frontier, and the War of 1812.
Born in Boston on June 8, 1754, Burbeck grew up in a family already closely associated with military service. His father, William Burbeck, served in the colonial artillery establishment before supporting the American cause. Henry followed the same profession and became one of the experienced artillery officers whose careers connected the Continental Army with the early United States Army.
His Revolutionary War service took him from the siege of Boston to the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. He served under Richard Gridley, Henry Knox, and John Crane and remained with the Continental forces through the conclusion of the war.
Independence did not end his military career. Burbeck later commanded artillery on the frontier, helped establish and maintain important military posts, served at West Point, and received the brevet rank of brigadier general in 1812.
In old age, the general’s pension applications and personal correspondence preserved his recollections of the Revolution. His widow’s later application added marriage records, family information, and evidence of his death. Together with military histories and the records of the Society of the Cincinnati, these documents preserve the life of a soldier whose service extended across the nation’s formative decades.
Born Into an Artillery Family
Henry Burbeck was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 8, 1754. His parents were William Burbeck and Jerusha Glover Burbeck, members of a family associated with the military establishment of colonial Massachusetts.
Henry spent part of his childhood at Castle William in Boston Harbor, where his father held a position in the British colonial ordnance establishment. The fort was an important defensive installation protecting the approaches to Boston.
Growing up in that environment exposed Henry to military organization, fortifications, artillery equipment, and the professional responsibilities of soldiers serving the British colonies.
When the American Revolution began, William Burbeck abandoned his former allegiance and supported the provincial forces. Henry likewise entered the American artillery service.
According to the historical account published by the William L. Clements Library, Henry initially joined provincial artillery organizations before receiving a lieutenant’s commission in May 1775. He subsequently served in Captain Edward Burbeck’s company under Colonel Richard Gridley.
The family’s military connections were unusually extensive. Henry’s reported brothers Edward, Joseph, and Thomas also appear in Revolutionary War artillery records. The exact relationships among individual Burbeck soldiers should nevertheless be distinguished from the separate evidence establishing their military service.
Entering the American Revolution
The battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, marked the beginning of open warfare between Massachusetts forces and the British Army. American militia gathered around Boston, where the developing provincial army required artillery officers capable of supporting a prolonged siege.
Henry Burbeck entered the artillery in May 1775. His pension declaration identifies his initial appointment as lieutenant in Captain Edward Burbeck’s company under Colonel Richard Gridley.
Historical military records give May 8, 1775, as an early enlistment date, while the Clements Library’s biographical account identifies May 19, 1775, as the date of his lieutenant’s commission. These dates may describe different administrative events rather than a contradiction.
Burbeck served during the siege of Boston and continued with the artillery establishment as it passed from Gridley’s organization to the command of Henry Knox.
On January 1, 1776, he advanced to first lieutenant. When the British evacuated Boston in March 1776, Burbeck remained in military service and followed the Continental Army’s developing campaigns.
During 1776, he served in the New York theater and was associated with the defense of the Hudson Highlands. These positions were strategically important because control of the Hudson River affected communications between New England and the other American states.
The Battles of the Revolution
Henry Burbeck’s sworn pension declaration specifically identifies Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth among the battles in which he participated. The Clements Library’s historical account also places him at Whitemarsh and with the Continental Army during the winter at Valley Forge.
Brandywine — September 11, 1777
At Brandywine, General George Washington’s army attempted to resist British forces advancing toward Philadelphia. The British defeated the Americans and subsequently occupied the colonial capital.
Burbeck’s participation is supported by his own pension declaration. Although his statement establishes that he was present, it does not identify his precise gun position or the individual actions of his artillery crew.
Germantown — October 4, 1777
Washington launched another attack against British forces at Germantown, Pennsylvania. The operation began with American advances but ended in defeat after difficult battlefield conditions and confusion disrupted the assault.
Henry identified Germantown in his sworn recollection of his Revolutionary War service. The battle formed part of the Philadelphia campaign in which he served as an artillery officer.
Whitemarsh and Valley Forge — 1777–1778
The Clements Library’s biographical account places Burbeck at Whitemarsh and with the Continental Army during the winter encampment at Valley Forge.
Valley Forge became one of the defining experiences of the Continental Army. Soldiers endured shortages, difficult living conditions, and the demands of military reorganization.
For artillery officers, maintaining guns, equipment, ammunition, and trained crews was essential to preserving the army’s fighting capability.
Monmouth — June 28, 1778
In June 1778, Washington pursued the British Army as it withdrew from Philadelphia toward New York. The armies met at Monmouth, New Jersey, in a major engagement fought during intense summer heat.
Burbeck’s presence at Monmouth is supported by both his own declaration and later military histories. The battle was among the most significant engagements of the Revolutionary War’s middle years.
West Point and the End of the War
By the autumn of 1777, Henry Burbeck had advanced to captain in the Continental artillery. Military records identify September 12, 1777, as the effective date of his captain’s commission.
He continued in Colonel John Crane’s artillery regiment and participated in the campaigns and defensive operations of the following years.
From 1781 to 1783, Burbeck was associated with the defense of the Hudson Highlands. He remained in the military establishment as the Revolutionary War approached its conclusion.
On September 30, 1783, he received the brevet rank of major. This recognition did not make him a general; his eventual general’s title came decades later.
Henry was present during the final period of American operations around New York and subsequently served at West Point. His 1819 pension declaration describes his Revolutionary service as continuing to the end of the war in 1783.
The Clements Library’s historical account dates his honorable discharge to January 1, 1784, while another military summary gives November 3, 1783, as the end of his Continental service. These dates require careful distinction between active service, administrative separation, and subsequent discharge documentation.
Building the New American Army
Henry Burbeck’s military career continued after American independence. In October 1786, he returned to federal military service as a captain of artillery in a battalion organized for frontier defense.
Following Shays’ Rebellion in Massachusetts, Burbeck commanded artillery assigned to protect the federal arsenal at Springfield.
He later served as commandant at West Point from August 1787 to August 1789. The military post occupied an important position overlooking the Hudson River and eventually became the home of the United States Military Academy.
Burbeck has been associated in historical accounts with early advocacy for formal military education at West Point. His role belongs to the institution’s formative history, before the Military Academy was formally established in 1802.
During the early federal period, the United States struggled to maintain a professional military establishment capable of protecting its frontiers, defending its ports, and supporting national authority.
Burbeck’s experience in the Continental artillery made him one of the officers available to serve in this developing national force.
The Northwestern Frontier
Burbeck’s post-Revolutionary service carried him far beyond New England. He served in Georgia and on the expanding northwestern frontier of the United States.
In 1790, he was involved in the construction of Fort St. Tammany in Georgia. He subsequently received appointment as major commandant of a United States artillery battalion.
During the 1790s, Burbeck commanded artillery associated with Anthony Wayne’s Legion of the United States in the Northwest Territory.
He was involved in the establishment of Fort Recovery, Ohio, at the site of the disastrous 1791 defeat of American forces under Arthur St. Clair.
In August 1794, Burbeck participated in the Battle of Fallen Timbers, when Wayne’s forces defeated a confederation of Native American warriors in the Northwest Territory. The battle was a major event in the federal government’s campaign to assert control over the region.
In September 1796, Burbeck traveled to Fort Mackinac to receive the post from British forces under the provisions of Jay’s Treaty. He remained associated with the fort until 1800.
His frontier career illustrates how veterans of the American Revolution became leading officers in the military operations of the early republic. These campaigns also formed part of the federal expansion that profoundly affected Native American nations and their territories.
Becoming a General and the War of 1812
Henry Burbeck continued advancing through the United States Army’s officer ranks. He became lieutenant colonel in 1798 and colonel of artillery in 1802.
On July 10, 1812, he received the rank of brevet brigadier general. This was nearly thirty years after the end of the American Revolution.
The distinction is important. Burbeck was a lieutenant and captain during the Revolutionary War, later a brevet major, and eventually a brevet brigadier general in the United States Army.
During the War of 1812, Burbeck held commands connected with the defense of important American military positions, including New York, Newport, New London, and Greenbush.
His wartime responsibilities reflected the continuing importance of coastal defense and artillery during the conflict with Great Britain.
By the time the War of 1812 ended, Burbeck had spent much of his adult life in military service. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army on June 15, 1815.
He subsequently settled in New London, Connecticut, where he would spend his remaining years.
Later Life, Death and Burial
After leaving active military service, Henry Burbeck established his permanent residence in New London, Connecticut. His second wife, Lucy, lived with him there.
Despite his long career, Burbeck later sought financial recognition for his Revolutionary War service. His 1819 pension declaration described reduced circumstances and the need for assistance.
He continued corresponding with federal pension authorities into his later years. In 1843, he wrote that his pension certificate had been misplaced or lost and requested assistance obtaining a replacement.
Burbeck remained associated with the Society of the Cincinnati, the hereditary organization founded by officers of the Continental Army. He served as president of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati from 1846 until his death.
Henry Burbeck died in New London on October 2, 1848, at the age of ninety-four.
He was buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London. The Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati erected a granite monument over his grave in recognition of his military service and leadership.
The monument records his birth in Boston on June 8, 1754, and his death in New London on October 2, 1848. Its inscription commemorates his long service as an American officer and his reputation among fellow veterans.
View Henry Burbeck’s Find a Grave memorial.
Military Service
Henry Burbeck served as an artillery officer during the American Revolution and continued in the military establishment of the early United States. The following summary distinguishes his Revolutionary War rank from his later promotions.
| Conflict | American Revolutionary War; War of 1812 |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | Artillery |
| Initial service | May 1775 |
| Initial rank | Lieutenant |
| Initial company | Captain Edward Burbeck’s company |
| Initial regiment | Colonel Richard Gridley’s Massachusetts Artillery |
| Subsequent commanders | Henry Knox and John Crane |
| First lieutenant | January 1, 1776 |
| Captain | September 12, 1777 |
| Revolutionary engagements | Brandywine, Germantown, Whitemarsh, Monmouth |
| Winter encampment | Valley Forge, 1777–1778 |
| Brevet major | September 30, 1783 |
| End of Revolutionary service | 1783–1784, depending on administrative record |
| Return to service | October 1786, captain of artillery |
| West Point command | 1787–1789 |
| Major, U.S. Army | November 4, 1791 |
| Northwestern campaign | Anthony Wayne’s Legion; Battle of Fallen Timbers, 1794 |
| Fort Mackinac | 1796–1800 |
| Lieutenant colonel | May 7, 1798 |
| Colonel | April 1, 1802 |
| Brevet brigadier general | July 10, 1812 |
| War of 1812 service | Commands associated with New York, Newport, New London, and Greenbush |
| Final discharge | June 15, 1815 |
| Revolutionary pension | $20 monthly beginning in 1819; later benefit arrangements documented |
| Widow’s pension | Lucy Burbeck, $600 annually beginning in 1853 |
| National Archives ID | 54105664 |
Military rank clarification: Henry Burbeck did not become a general during the American Revolution. He received his brevet brigadier general rank on July 10, 1812, during his subsequent United States Army career.
Pension Records and Firsthand Accounts
Henry Burbeck’s Declaration of September 2, 1819
On September 2, 1819, Henry Burbeck appeared before Judge Jeremiah G. Brainard in New London, Connecticut, seeking a Revolutionary War pension.
He identified his service as beginning in May 1775, when he entered the Massachusetts artillery as a lieutenant under Captain Edward Burbeck and Colonel Richard Gridley.
Henry described subsequent service under Henry Knox and John Crane, his promotion to captain, and his continued military duty until the end of the Revolution.
Primary Source: Henry Burbeck’s Declaration, September 2, 1819
“that he was in the battles of Brandewine – Germantown – Monmouth and other actions”
The spelling is preserved from the supplied archival transcription.
Source: National Archives, Henry Burbeck pension collection, ID 54105664.
The declaration is important because it directly establishes the battles Henry himself remembered participating in, rather than relying exclusively on later military biographies.
Judge Brainard subsequently certified that Henry was in reduced financial circumstances and needed assistance for himself and his family.
Henry received a pension of twenty dollars per month, beginning September 2, 1819. His certificate was issued October 15, 1819.
The Compensation Claim of 1828
In June 1828, Henry applied for additional benefits under the Act of May 15, 1828. His declaration again described his Continental Army service and confirmed that he had remained an officer through the end of the Revolutionary War.
He stated that he had received a commutation certificate representing five years of full pay in place of a previously authorized half-pay-for-life benefit.
Primary Source: Henry Burbeck’s 1828 Declaration
“I was an officer in the Continental line of the Army of the Revolution, and served as such to the end of the War”
Excerpt from the supplied transcription.
On July 5, 1828, the Treasury Department confirmed that settlement certificates totaling $3,000 had been issued to Henry as a captain in Crane’s artillery of the Massachusetts Line.
This provides federal administrative corroboration of his Revolutionary War officer status and compensation history.
View the Treasury Department verification.
The Lost Pension Certificate of 1843
In January 1843, Henry wrote to federal officials explaining that his pension certificate had been lost or misplaced.
He requested a replacement and offered supporting documentation to establish his identity and continued entitlement.
Primary Source: Henry Burbeck’s Letter, January 25, 1843
“The Certificate that I received from the Treasury Department to identify that I am the same person applying for the pension stated in the Certificate is mislaid or lost as I cannot find it.”
Excerpt from the supplied transcription.
His correspondence illustrates how pensioners continued to manage their benefits decades after military service and how the loss of an official certificate could create additional administrative difficulties.
Lucy Burbeck’s Widow’s Pension
After Henry’s death in 1848, his widow Lucy sought a pension based upon his Revolutionary War service.
On August 1, 1853, Lucy appeared before the Probate Court in New London. She stated that she was sixty-nine years old, that she had married Henry in December 1813, and that he had died October 2, 1848.
Her application was supported by certified town and church marriage records. The New London town clerk and the rector of St. James’ Church supplied evidence of the marriage.
Lucy was awarded an annual widow’s pension of $600 beginning February 3, 1853. Her certificate was issued October 8, 1853.
View Lucy Burbeck’s original widow’s declaration.
Lucy’s Personal Correspondence
Lucy did not simply wait for the pension authorities to complete her application. She wrote to federal officials seeking information when her certificate had not arrived.
Her correspondence emphasized the evidence she possessed concerning Henry’s Revolutionary War service and their marriage.
Primary Source: Lucy Burbeck’s Pension Correspondence
“I have ample proof of Genl Burbeck’s services from May 19th 1775 to the peace of 1783.”
Excerpt from the supplied transcription.
Her efforts demonstrate the importance of Revolutionary War pensions to surviving military families and preserve her own voice in the historical record.
Family
Henry Burbeck’s family can be reconstructed through his pension file, the marriage records submitted by his widow, and genealogical research preserved by the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati.
The Society’s genealogical record identifies two marriages and six children from his later marriage. It also provides additional information about his parents and military career.
The family-tree infographic will be placed immediately below this heading when a verified image has been prepared and published. No unverified image address has been inserted.
Parents
William Burbeck (1716–1785) — Father
William Burbeck was born in Boston in 1716 and became associated with the artillery establishment of colonial Massachusetts.
He held a position in the British colonial ordnance organization at Castle William in Boston Harbor, where Henry spent part of his childhood.
When the American Revolution began, William supported the Patriot cause and served with the provincial artillery establishment.
His military background helped establish a family tradition that continued through several of his sons. The Clements Library identifies William and Jerusha Glover Burbeck as Henry’s parents.
Jerusha Glover Burbeck (1722–1777) — Mother
Jerusha Glover was William Burbeck’s second wife and Henry’s mother. Their marriage is reported in genealogical records as taking place in October 1748.
She belonged to the family during the period when William served in the colonial artillery establishment and their children grew up in Massachusetts.
Jerusha is reported to have died in 1777, while Henry was serving in the Continental Army.
Spouses
Abigail Webb Burbeck (Died July 9, 1790) — First Wife
Genealogical records of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati identify Abigail Webb as Henry Burbeck’s first wife.
Their marriage is recorded as August 12, 1775, during the opening months of the American Revolution.
Abigail reportedly died on July 9, 1790, at Bath, Maine.
The source establishes the reported marriage and death but does not provide a sufficiently documented list of children from this marriage for inclusion here.
Lucy Elizabeth Rudd Burbeck (Circa 1783–1880) — Second Wife
Lucy was Henry Burbeck’s second wife. Their marriage took place in New London, Connecticut, in December 1813.
Her identity appears under different surnames in surviving records. The Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati genealogy identifies her as Lucy (Rudd) Kibby, while the certified town and church records submitted with her pension application identify her at marriage as Lucy Caldwell.
The genealogical source dates the marriage December 15, 1813, while the certified pension-file marriage extracts give December 16, 1813. This one-day discrepancy remains unresolved and should be retained in the research record.
Lucy’s 1853 declaration states that she was sixty-nine years old, consistent with a birth around 1783 or 1784.
She remained Henry’s wife until his death in 1848 and subsequently pursued a federal widow’s pension. Her correspondence provides evidence of her persistence in obtaining the financial recognition associated with his service.
The Society of the Cincinnati genealogical record reports that Lucy died February 23, 1880, in New London, Connecticut.
Children
The Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati genealogical record identifies six children born in New London to Henry Burbeck and his second wife Lucy. Their birth dates are presented as recorded in that source.
Susan Henrietta Burbeck (Born September 23, 1815) — Daughter
Susan Henrietta Burbeck was born in New London, Connecticut, on September 23, 1815, according to the Society of the Cincinnati genealogical record.
She was born during the year Henry retired from the United States Army and established his permanent residence in New London.
Her later marriage, death date, and burial have not been independently established from the records used here.
Charlotte Augusta Burbeck (Born March 8, 1818) — Daughter
Charlotte Augusta Burbeck was born March 8, 1818, in New London, Connecticut, according to the family genealogy.
Her birth occurred shortly before Henry submitted his 1819 Revolutionary War pension declaration.
Later genealogical accounts report that Charlotte died in New London on July 13, 1897. This death date requires confirmation through an original death or cemetery record.
Henry William Burbeck (1819–1840) — Son
Henry William Burbeck was born May 31, 1819, in New London, Connecticut.
Later biographical accounts report that he died at sea on February 19, 1840, while serving aboard a revenue vessel.
A family story describes an accident involving a heavy container of coins that injured his foot and led to his death. This account should be treated as later family tradition unless corroborated by a contemporary naval, medical, or death record.
Henry William’s early death reportedly caused his father considerable grief.
Mary Elizabeth Burbeck (Born March 7, 1821) — Daughter
Mary Elizabeth Burbeck was born March 7, 1821, in New London, Connecticut, according to the Society of the Cincinnati genealogy.
Later genealogical accounts report her death in 1897, but an original death record has not been examined for this biography.
Her reported family connection is supported by the published genealogical record; further research would be necessary to reconstruct her adult life and descendants.
William Henry Burbeck (Born October 2, 1823) — Son
William Henry Burbeck was born October 2, 1823, in New London, Connecticut, according to the Society of the Cincinnati genealogy.
Other later accounts give October 8, 1823, as his birth date. The discrepancy should be resolved through a contemporary birth or baptismal record.
Later genealogical accounts report that William Henry died February 28, 1905, in New London. That date remains attributed to secondary research.
John Cathcart Burbeck (1825–1904) — Son
John Cathcart Burbeck was born February 9, 1825, in New London, Connecticut.
He was the youngest of the six children identified in the Society of the Cincinnati genealogical record.
Later genealogical accounts report that he died April 28, 1904, in New London. Further original records are needed to establish his complete adult biography.
Siblings
The Burbeck family included several individuals associated with Revolutionary War artillery service. The following relationships are drawn from genealogical research and, where available, supported by separate military pension records.
Edward Burbeck (1740–1783) — Reported Half-Brother
Edward Burbeck was an artillery captain during the American Revolution and is identified in family genealogies as a son of William Burbeck.
Henry’s own pension declaration establishes that he entered service in Captain Edward Burbeck’s company in 1775.
Edward is therefore both an important figure in Henry’s military career and a reported older half-brother through the Burbeck family genealogy.
Joseph Burbeck (Reported 1756–1820) — Reported Brother
Joseph Burbeck is identified in genealogical accounts as another son of William Burbeck.
Joseph’s Revolutionary War pension file, S.34,117, establishes his service as a private in Captain Edward Burbeck’s Massachusetts artillery company.
His military association with the same artillery organization is documented, while the precise family relationship should be confirmed through contemporary genealogical records.
Thomas Burbeck (1758–1846) — Reported Brother
Thomas Burbeck is identified in genealogical research as a member of the same family and another participant in Revolutionary War artillery service.
His pension materials refer to service associated with Captain Burbeck’s company and the artillery establishment under Henry Knox.
One supporting statement also refers to Lieutenant Henry Burbeck, providing a military connection between the men independent of the later family genealogy.
John Burbeck (Reported 1755–1819) — Reported Brother
John Burbeck is listed among the reported children of William Burbeck in genealogical records.
A Revolutionary War pension file exists for a soldier of the same name who served in an artillery artificers regiment. Further research is needed to confirm that the pensioner and Henry’s reported brother were the same individual.
Family Research Note
Henry’s parentage and six children are supported by institutional historical and genealogical research. His marriage to Lucy and his death date are also documented in pension records. The exact relationships of all reported siblings, the children of his first marriage, and conflicting details in Lucy’s surname history require additional original-record research.
Sources and Historical Research Notes
Historical and Archival Sources
- National Archives — Henry Burbeck Revolutionary War Pension Collection. National Archives Identifier 54105664. Principal archival collection for Henry’s military declarations, pension correspondence, compensation claims, and Lucy’s widow’s pension. View archival collection.
- Henry Burbeck, Sworn Declaration, September 2, 1819. Documents his initial artillery service, commanding officers, named battles, and discharge. View original declaration.
- Jeremiah G. Brainard, Judicial Certification, October 8, 1819. Documents Henry’s financial circumstances and need for assistance. View original certificate.
- Henry Burbeck, Pension Roll, 1819. Records the monthly pension allowance. View pension roll.
- Henry Burbeck, Revolutionary War Compensation Declaration, June 1828. Describes service as a Continental officer and commutation compensation. View declaration.
- Henry Burbeck, Captain’s Commission Reference. Records the effective captain’s rank date and commission documentation. View commission reference.
- United States Treasury Department, Third Auditor’s Office, July 5, 1828. Confirms settlement certificates issued for Henry’s service in Crane’s artillery. View Treasury verification.
- Henry Burbeck, Letter, January 25, 1843. Personal correspondence regarding his missing pension certificate. View original letter.
- Certified Family Record, August 23, 1851. Documents Henry’s marriage and death information. View certified record.
- Lucy E. Burbeck, Widow’s Declaration, August 1, 1853. Sworn testimony concerning her marriage, Henry’s death, and widowhood. View declaration.
- New London Town Clerk, Marriage Record Certification. Certified record identifying Lucy Caldwell and Henry Burbeck. View marriage certification.
- St. James’ Church Marriage Register Certification. Church record supporting the marriage. View church record.
- Lucy Burbeck, Widow’s Pension Roll, 1853. Documents the widow’s pension allowance. View pension roll.
- Lucy E. Burbeck, Personal Pension Correspondence, 1853. Letter concerning her delayed pension certificate. View original letter.
- William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, The Papers of Henry Burbeck, Occasional Bulletin No. 3 (2014). Historical study of Henry’s Revolutionary War and postwar military career, including his service at West Point, the frontier, and during the War of 1812. Read the historical publication.
- Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati, Genealogical Record of Henry Burbeck. Provides birth, death, marriages, six children, military promotions, and Society membership. View genealogical record.
- Memorials of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. Historical account including Henry’s own retrospective description of his military career and his burial monument. View historical volume.
- Connecticut General Assembly, Connecticut Military Hall of Fame Historical Brochure. Confirms Henry’s Revolutionary War and War of 1812 service and his monument at Cedar Grove Cemetery. View brochure.
- Find a Grave, Henry Burbeck, Memorial ID 30420611. Cemetery memorial for Henry Burbeck at Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London, Connecticut. View memorial.
- National Archives, Joseph Burbeck Pension File. Related Revolutionary War artillery service in Captain Edward Burbeck’s company. View Joseph Burbeck’s pension file.
- National Archives, Thomas Burbeck Pension File. Related artillery testimony mentioning Lieutenant Henry Burbeck. View Thomas Burbeck’s pension file.
Historical Research Note
Military evidence: Henry Burbeck’s Revolutionary War service is supported by his sworn declarations of 1819 and 1828, pension administration records, and Treasury Department documentation. His subsequent military career is described in institutional historical research, military registers, and publications of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati.
Rank distinction: Henry served as lieutenant and captain during the Revolution and received a brevet major’s rank in 1783. His brevet brigadier general rank was conferred July 10, 1812, during his later United States Army career.
Military chronology: His Revolutionary service ended during the 1783–1784 transition, with different records giving different administrative dates. His later federal military career continued from 1786 until his discharge in 1815.
Battle evidence: Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth are named in Henry’s own pension declaration. Whitemarsh, Valley Forge, and additional campaigns are described in later historical research. These sources do not establish his individual actions at every engagement.
Death and burial: Henry died October 2, 1848, in New London. His birth and death dates and burial at Cedar Grove Cemetery are independently supported by the Society of the Cincinnati’s historical monument record.
Portrait disclosure: The portrait accompanying this biography is a modern historical artistic interpretation, not an authenticated contemporary likeness of Henry Burbeck. A historical engraved portrait is also discussed in the Clements Library publication.
Genealogical Research Note
The identification of William Burbeck and Jerusha Glover as Henry’s parents is supported by institutional historical research and Society of the Cincinnati genealogy. The Society’s records also identify his first wife Abigail Webb and six children of his second marriage.
The identity of Henry’s second wife requires careful treatment because the genealogical and pension records use different surnames. The Society of the Cincinnati identifies her as Lucy (Rudd) Kibby, while the certified marriage records submitted for her widow’s pension identify her as Lucy Caldwell. The precise sequence and legal basis of these surnames have not been independently established in this article.
The reported marriage dates also differ by one day, December 15 or December 16, 1813. The certified pension-file extracts support December 16, while the Society’s genealogy reports December 15.
Six children of Henry and Lucy are identified in the Society’s genealogy. Additional dates and life events attributed to those children by later compilations should be confirmed through original records. The absence of a verified child list from Henry’s first marriage does not establish that the marriage was childless.
This family history has been compiled from archival records, genealogical research, historical publications, cemetery records, and family histories. It may contain conflicting dates, incomplete information, or relationships requiring additional verification.
The Yost Post presents this material as a historical and genealogical resource rather than a definitive account of every family relationship. Readers are encouraged to consult original records and conduct additional research when tracing their own ancestry.