General Notes

DAR Registry Book #48-64. Thomas was a Private in the Continental Army from VA and also fought in the French and Indian Wars.
1. Will dated 2 Dec 1788 and probated 23 Mar 1789 in Orange county, Virginia.
2. Served as a private (before the battle of the Meadows) in George Mercer's
company (Company M) during the Fort Necessity campaign of the French and
Indian War (Col. Geo. Washington's regiment). He was wounded by an Indian
tomahawk (in the head) as reported in the Maryland Gazette (Annapolis) 2
Oct 1755. T. Burris fought at Braddock's defeat in 1755. He later was
to exasperate George Washington by "some sharp practices" in horse-
dealing. Evidently T. Burris rode a mare which had originally belonged
to an officer who was killed, Washington wanted to sell the horse and
give the money to the officers family; the horse was eventually taken
to Washington's Bullskin Plantation. Burris had ridden the horse from
"Alexandry" to Fort Loudoun. In 1757 T. Burris was paid ten pounds by
the Colony of Virginia as a "recompence for the loss of his arm in the
service of his country (J.H.B. 1752-1758, page 478). In 1757-1758 Burris
was a messenger or courier who delivered letters to and from George
Washington and members of his command.
3. Thomas Burris served in the Revolutionary War as a private in Capt. William
Washington's company, 3rd Virginia Regiment of Foot. He enlisted 23 Feb
1776 and his name appears on the muster rolls of that organization to July,
1777. His name appears with the rank of corporal with the following:
Captain John Francis Mercer's Company of this regiment to and including
May, 1776; Capt. Robert Powell's Company, 3rd and 7th Virginia
(consolidated) regiment from May, 1778 to September, 1778. Capt. Robert
Powell's company, 3rd Virginia Regiment for October, 1778; Capt. John F.
Mercer's company, 3rd Virginia Regiment, to April, 1779, and Capt.
Valentine Peyton's company, 3rd Virginia Regiment, to November, 1779.
4. Thomas Burris received two grants of land in Kentucky: #549 and #552.
Each was for 1,000 acres in Fayette county, KY on 2-mile Creek and both
were dated 1 Mar 1784.
5. If Frances Tandy's birth date is correct--1735--then it is quite likely
that Thomas Burris was probably married twice for Frances Tandy would have
only been 13 years old at the birth of the first child, Fanny, in 1748.
But, perhaps the birth date of Frances Tandy is in error because the first
childs name, Fanny, or Frances? may have been for her mother, Frances
Tandy. However, on page 42 of the Baker Family material it is suggested
that Frances Tandy was the second wife of Thomas Burris---"When "Our
Frances Tandy Burrus" was still a very young woman she married as his second
wife Thomas Burrus, born about 1720 who was with George Washington in 1756
at Braddock's Defeat and there lost an arm.""