My Revolutionary War Patriots - Abner Poland of Essex, Massachusetts

 

Essex, Massachusetts - The former Chebacco Parish of Ipswich, Massachusetts

This is blog post #8 on my series of stories about my Revolutionary War ancestors.

Abner Poland, baptized 17 October 1736 in the Chebacco Parish of Ipswich (now the town of Essex), on Cape Ann, Massachusetts, was the son of John Poland (1693 - 1777), a weaver from Chebacco Parish,  and Abigail Davis of Gloucester.  She was the daughter of James Davis (1685 - 1742) and Abigail Mettcalfe.  

Abner married Dorothy Burnham on 3 April 1761 and had seven children, three boys and four girls.  I descend from the oldest son, Abner Poland, Jr. (1761 - 1835) who was also a Revolutionary War veteran. Dorothy was the daughter of John Burnham and Rachel Smith, baptized on 26 June 1737 in the Chebacco Parish, and died on 7 April 1789.  Abner remarried for a second time to Deborah Burnham, the widow of Nathaniel Emerson, on 5 December 1792.  She was the daughter of Westley Burnham and Deborah Story.  Deborah Burnham Emerson Poland was denied a widow's pension under Abner's name because she had already filed under Nathaniel's name! I have not found a gravestone for Abner, Sr. or his wives. 

Abner Poland, Sr. served as a private from 1 January 1777 to 1 February 1777, in the Chebacco Parish company of Captain Abraham Dodge, in the 12 regiment of the Massachusetts line under Colonel Moses Little.  Later he served in the militia at Newport, Rhode Island and was at the taking of Burgoyne and his Army, in the Battles of Long Island, White Plains and Harlem Heights.  he was honorable discharged in New Jersey. 

Abner Poland received a pension for his service, number 10,055 at $8.00 per month beginning on 6 April 1818.  His pension application lists that he owned 18 acres of pasture land and tillage, a small house, a small barn and 2 cows in Essex.  He signed his will on 17 May 1804, which was probated on 20 July 1824.  At age 84 years (in 1822) he was blind.  He died on 9 February 1824 at age 86. 

Since both Abner Poland's were in the same war, and both lived in the same town.  The records are sometimes hard to untangle.  An Abner Poland was an American prisoner of war at Forton Prison, England, imprisoned on 2 April 1778.  He was kidnapped off the ship "Hawk".  I'm not sure if this was Abner, Sr. or Abner, Jr.  The older Abner Poland was not in the military records in 1778.  The younger Abner Poland was in the Continental Army from 1 March 1777 to 31 December 1779. There was an Abner Poland, III, but he was not born until 1781. 

 I'll be writing up Abner, Jr.'s sketch for next week's blog post. He will be Patriot #9 in this series. 

For the truly curious:

Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolution, Vol. XII, p. 490 for the line about Abner Poland.

New England Historic Genealogical Society Register Vol. 33, p. 37 ["American Prisoners at Forton Prison, England, Abner Poland, prize of ye Hawk.  Comitted to prison 2 Apr. 1778"]

A blog post with Abner Poland's will:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/10/last-will-and-testament-of-abner-poland.html 

My Poland lineage: https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/04/surname-saturday-poland-of-essex-county.html  

This series about Revolutionary War Patriots

#1 Colonel Joshua Burnham of Milford, NH:  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/02/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-colonel.html  

#2  Major Andrew Munroe of Lexington, MA:  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/03/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-major.html  

#3 Jonathan Flint of Reading, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/03/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-jonathan.html   

#4 Daniel Glover of Marblehead, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-daniel.html  

#5 Levi Younger of Gloucester, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-levi.html  

#6 Nathaniel Treadwell of Ipswich, Massachusetts   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-nathaniel.html  

#7 Captain Westley Burnham of Essex, Massachusetts   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-captain.html  

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "My Revolutionary War Patriots - Abner Poland of Essex, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted May 21, 2026, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/05/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-abner.html: accessed [access date]). 

My Revolutionary War Patriots - Captain Westley Burnham of Essex, Massachusetts

 

The David Burnham house in Essex, Massachusetts

built by Capt. Westley Burnham's grandfather 

This is the 7th patriot ancestor I have written in this series of blog posts. My 6th great grandfather, Westley Burnham, was born on 17 August 1747 in the Chebacco Parish of Ipsiwch, Massachusetts (now the town of Essex), the son of Westley Burnham (1719 - 1797) and Deborah Story.  He was a descendant of Thomas Burnham (about 1623 - 1694) of Norwich, Norfolk England, and his wife Mary Lawrence. On 5 December 1771 he married Molly Woodbury, who was born 29 July 1749 in Beverly, the daughter of Robert Woodbury and Hannah Preston. They had ten children, who all grew to adulthood and were married. 

Westley, Jr., was a mariner, like most of the men in Chebacco Parish.  He worked as a fisherman and as a sailor before his marriage.  When the Lexington Alarm came on 19 April 1775 he served in Capt. David Low's 3rd Company, in Colonel Cogswell's regiment (which was a trainband or local militia).  In 1776 he was a private in Capt. Daniel Giddings' Company, in Colonel Foster's Regiment, which was stationed at Gloucester for seacoast defence. Also in 1776 he served in Captain Ray's Company, Colonel Pickering's Regiment. Then he served again in Capt. Dodge's Company, Colonel Johnson's Regiment in 1777, where he was in the Battle of Bemis Heights, which was part of the Battles of Saratoga in New York.  

Westley Burnham received a pension for his service in the war - Pension number s18750  [Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 9 Feb 2018), "Record of BURNHAM, WESLEY JR", Ancestor # A018081.]  There is a Revolutionary War marker and flag on his grave in the Ancient Burial Ground in Essex. 

epitaph:

In Memory Of

Mr.Wesley Burnham 

who died 

Sept 1, 1835

Aged 83 years

According to the book The Burnham Family, on pages 344 and 345,  Westley Burnham, Jr. became a privateer after the Revolutionary War.  He was eventually captured by the British. "Captain Westley Burnham was in early life a sailor. At the age of seventeen he made a voyage to Lisbon, and rowed in a boat over the site of Old Lisbon, which had been destroyed and sunk by an earthquake in 1755. For a short time he served as a soldier in the war of the revolution. Afterwards he entered the privateering service. In an engagement with the enemy, the vessel in which he sailed was captured, and with the rest of the crew he was carried to England. An order of the admiralty gave permission to any American prisoners to go on board His Majesty's ships and do sailor's duty, except fighting, if they should choose to do so. After remaining some time in the 'Mill Prison,' he took advantage of this order, and entered the seventy-four gunship Preston. While on a cruise on the West India station he was taken sick with the small pox, and was left in hospital in Jamaica. He was so near to dying there, that one man who returned to this country from that island, reported to his family that he was dead. On his recovery he immediately took ship for Boston, and on arriving there walked to Chebacco. His arrival was noised abroad, and, as he expressed it, 'that night all Chebacco was at the house to see one who had risen from the dead.' He became a successful navigator. No vessel commanded by him was ever wreaked or dismasted, and his judgment in maritime matters was very highly esteemed. He afterwards followed the hereditary occupation of vessel-building. For a considerable length of time he was totally blind. He was a man of extraordinary strength."  

This story is also told on the Historic Massachusetts website. 

  "The “skipper” was also a fisherman and made many trips to the Grand Banks. He followed the hereditary occupation of vessel building, and some of these were built in a yard near the house and hauled to the water as was the custom. Westley Burnham served in the War of the Revolution and afterward entered the privateering service. He was captured along with his vessel and crew and carried to England. After remaining in Mill Prison, he took advantage of an order of the Admiralty which gave permission to American prisoners to go board his majesty’s ship and do any sailor’s duty except fighting. While on a cruise to the West Indies, he was taken sick with smallpox, and when the ship sailed, he was left in a hospital in Jamaica. He was close to dying and was reported to be dead by one man who returned to this country from the island. Westley recovered, took a ship to Boston, and walked to Chebacco where he was welcomed by his family as one who had risen from the dead." 

I descend from two of Westley Burnham's sons.  First I descend from Asa Burnham (1778 - 1850) who married Polly Bray in 1801 in Ipswich.  Secondly I descend from Henry Burnham (1783 - 1867) who married Sally Poland on 2 May 1805 in Essex.  Sally was the daughter of Abner Poland, who was also a Revolutionary War Veteran.  The Colonel Joshua Burnham (1754 - 1834),  who was the first ancestor in this series about Revolutionary War ancestors, is also a descendant of the immigrant settlers Thomas Burnham and Mary Lawrence, and a distant cousin to Captain Westley Burnham. 

The photo of the David Burnham House, Essex, Massachusetts,  above, is from Wikipedia and is attributed to  Magicpiano - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20998307

The David Burnham house in the photos above is located on Pond Street in Essex, and was built in 1685.  The land was granted to the brothers John and Thomas Burnham instead of pension money for serving in the Pequot War. Thomas Burnham's son John owned the land where the house was built by his youngest son David.  It then passed to Westley Burnham, Sr., who passed it on to Captain Westley Burnham, Jr.  After Capt. Burnham's death the house went to his daughter Anna Burnham (1785 - 1862) who married her cousin Abner Burnham.  Anna and Abner had fourteen children and 81 grandchildren!  From there the house passed into the hands of the Story family and was restored under the suppervision of George Francis Dowe, curator of the Essex Institute in Salem in 1924, 100 years ago.  It is still standing on Pond Street in Essex.  

For the truly curious:

The Burnham Family: Or the Genealogical Records of the Descendants of the Four Emigrants of the Name, who were among the early settlers in America , by Roderick Henry Burnham, Hartford, Connecticut, Press of Case, Lockwood & Brainard, 1869. (available to read online at Google books)  See pages 344 and 345 for Westley Burham, Jr. 

See also The Historic Massachusetts website  https://historicmassachusetts.org/essex/ accessed 16 March 2026 for the aerial view photo and the story of Westley Burnham's homecoming after being captured by the British. 

This blog post shows my many Burnham lineages:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/05/surname-saturday-burnham-of-chebacco.html 

Patriot #1 in this series, Colonel Joshua Burnham of Milford, New Hampshire:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/02/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-colonel.html  

Patriot #2 in this series: Major Andrew Munroe of Lexington, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/03/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-major.html   

#3 Jonathan Flint of Reading, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/03/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-jonathan.html   

#4 Daniel Glover of Marblehead, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-daniel.html  

#5 Levi Younger of Gloucester, Massachusetts:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-levi.html  

#6 Nathaniel Treadwell of Ipswich, Massachusetts:  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/04/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-nathaniel.html  

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "My Revolutionary War Patriots - Captain Westley Burnham of Essex, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted April 28, 2026, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/05/my-revolutionary-war-patriots-captain.html: accessed [access date]). 

Hazen Saltmarsh and Sally Batchelder of Hooksett, New Hampshire - Tombstone Tuesday

This tombstone was photographed at the Davis-Cate Cemetery in Hooksett, New Hampshire

both stones read "Rest in Peace" on the front

with "Father" and "Mother" on the top

SARAH S. BATCHELDER

Wife of

Hazen Saltmarsh

DIED

Jan. 17, 1855

AE. 46 yrs. 6 mo.

HAZEN SALTMARSH

DIED

Nov. 10, 1890

AE. 84 yrs. 4 mos.

Hazen Saltmarsh, son of Edward Abbott Saltmarsh and Sally Story, was born about 1806 in Goffstown, New Hampshire and died 10 November 1890 in Bow, New Hampshire.  He was first married to Sarah (Sally) Sargent Batchelder about 1829 in Goffstown, New Hampshire. He married second to Mary Matthews on 29 October 1856.

Hazen and Sally had nine children:  John Linden Saltmarsh, Hazen Wilbur Saltmarsh, Elizabeth Blaisdell Saltmarsh, Rebecca Wentworth Saltmarsh, Abigail Burnham Saltmarsh, Gilman Saltmarsh, Sarah Saltmarsh, Sarah Ann Saltmarsh, Alonzo Putnam Saltmarsh, Mary Jane Saltmarsh, and Luella Idora Saltmarsh.

Hazen's father, Edward Abbott Saltmarsh was born about 1768 in Goffstown, and died 11 March 1854.  He married Sally Story, daughter of Nehemiah Story and Sarah Gould, born 19 May 1768 in Essex, Massachusetts.  Nehemiah Story is my 7th great uncle, brother of Deborah Story (1723 - 1821), my 6th great grandmother.  I descend from two of her children, Westley Burnham (1747 - 1835) and from Sarah Burnham (about 1759 - 1846).  Our common ancestor is Nehemiah and Deborah's father, Zachariah Story (1684 - 1774) who married Rachel Andrews.

Hazen Saltmarsh buried above is my 2nd cousin, six generations removed.


For more information:

The Saltmarsh genealogy:  http://www.saltygen.com/files/thomasdesc.pdf    (see #128 for Hazen Saltmarsh)

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Hazen Saltmarsh and Sally Batchelder of Hooksett, New Hampshire - Tombstone Tuesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted December 31, 2019, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2019/12/hazen-saltmarsh-and-sally-batchelder-of.html: accessed [access date]).

Tombstone Tuesday ~ My 5th Great Grandfather, Abner Poland (1761 - 1835), Enfield, New Hampshire

This tombstone was photographed at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Enfield, New Hampshire.

GOVE

ABNER POLAND

DIED

Jan. 14, 1835

AE. 74

SARAH,

His Wife died

Nov. 10, 1846

AE. 86

ELIJAH GOVE

DIED

May 29, 1845

AE. 58

EDNOR,

His Wife died

Sept. 26, 1865

AE. 72

Abner Poland, Jr., son of Abner Poland (1736 - 1824) and Dorothy Burnham, was born 17 May 1761 in Essex, Massachusetts, and died 14 January 1835 in Enfield, New Hampshire; married on 20 March 1783 in Essex to Sarah Burnham, daughter of Westley Burnham and Deborah Story.  Abner received bounty land in Enfield as part of his reward for Revolutionary War Service.

Abner and Sarah had eight children:  Sally, Abner, Ruth, Mary, David, Ednor, Thomas Emerson, and Beniah.  Their daughter Ednor Poland (1793 - 1865) married on 11 April 1810 in Ipswich, Massachusetts to Elijah Gove, son of Nathan Gove and Rhoda Prescott.  They lived in the nearby town of Canaan, New Hampshire.  After Abner's death, Sarah went to live with her daughter, Ednor Poland Gove in Canaan.  They are all listed on the GOVE family obelisk in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

The Oak Grove Cemetery is located on the hill behind the Community Lutheran Church on Main Street in Enfield, New Hampshire.

Click here for my POLAND genealogy:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/04/surname-saturday-poland-of-essex-county.html 

Click here for Sarah Poland's will:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/10/sarah-burnham-polands-1845-last-will.html

Click here for a fun blog post about finding Abner Poland's military discharge papers at NARA - signed by George Washington!
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/10/sarah-burnham-polands-1845-last-will.html


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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Tombstone Tuesday ~ My 5th Great Grandfather, Abner Poland (1761 - 1835), Enfield, New Hampshire", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 18, 2017, (https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/10/tombstone-tuesday.html: accessed [access date]).

Sarah (Burnham) Poland's 1845 Last Will and Testament

Ancestry.com. New Hampshire, Wills and Probate Records, 1643-1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

“Be it known that I Sarah Poland of Canaan in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following.

First. I give and bequeath to my granddaughters Matilda Smith and Lucinda Poland children of my son Abner Poland deceased one hundred dollars and to be paid to them at my decease by my Executor.  Also I do give and bequeath to my grand sons Beniah Poland and David Poland children of my son David Poland deceased one hundred and fifty dollars each to be paid to them at my decease by my Executor.

Also I do give and bequeath to my son Thomas E. Poland two hundred dollars to be paid to him at my decease by my Executor. Also I do give and bequeath to my grand son William W. Poland my desk and fall leaf table and six of my best chairs.  All the rest and residue of my real and personal Estate whatsoever after payment of my just debts and Legacies before mentioned I do bequeath and devise to my daughters Sally Burnham wife of Henry Burnham, Ruth Kehew widow of Paul Kehew , Mary Fitts, wife of Josiah Fitts and Ednor Gove, widow of Elijah Gove, to be equally divided between them hereby revoking all former wills by me made.

And I do hereby constitute and appoint Converse Goodhue of Enfield Frafton County N. Hampshire Sole Executor of this my last will and testament.  In witness whereof I have her unto set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of July A.D. 1845.

Signed, sealed and declared by the above named Sarah Poland to be the last will and testament in presence of us who at her request in her presence here subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.  

William Harris,  Wm. L. Harris, Isaac B. Harris

State of New Hampshire

Grafton SS. At a court of probate holden at Plymouth in this County on the 17^th day of November Anno Domini 1846.

The foregoing instrument purporting the last will of Sarah Poland late of Canaan in said County deceased having been ???ed for Probate in ??? by Converse Goodhue the Executor therein named.”

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Sarah Burnham was born about 1759 in Essex, Massachusetts, the daughter of Westley Burnham and Deborah Story.  She married Abner Poland, also of Essex, on 20 March 1783 in Essex. He was the son of Abner Poland and Dorothy Burnham.  Abner served in the Revolutionary War and won a Badge of Merit for seven years and six months faithful service (signed by George Washington!). He received a bounty land grand in Enfield, New Hampshire as a reward for his service, so the family removed to New Hampshire.   

Abner Poland died in 1835, and Sarah outlived him by eleven years.  She signed this will in July of 1845, and died in November of the following year. Most of the children removed back to Essex County, Massachusetts, but at least one son, Thomas Emerson Poland, stayed in Enfield.  I descend from Sally who married Henry Burnham.  If you look back, that made three generations of Polands marrying Burnhams.  

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Sarah (Burnham) Poland's 1845 Last Will and Testament", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 8, 2015 (http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/10/sarah-burnham-polands-1845-last-will.html : accessed [access date]). 

Surname Saturday ~ FOSTER of Ipswich, Massachusetts

The Preston-Foster House, Ipswich, Massachusetts

FOSTER/FORSTER

Reginald Foster brought his wife, Judith and his children from England, and was one of the first inhabitants of Ipswich.  The Foster homestead was near where you can find today’s Stone Bridge.  He had other land in Ipswich, and by 11 March 1657/8 he bought a lot on “the High Street” from Roger Preston.  Judith died in 1664, and Reginald remarried in 1665 to Sarah, the widow of John Martin.  She outlived Reginald and became the second wife of William White of Haverhill.   The date of Reginald’s death is unknown, and his will was proved on 9 June 1681.

My line daughters out right away with Reginald’s daughter, Sarah, marrying William Story about 1638. 

The Preston Foster House still stands in Ipswich at 6 Water Street.  Although the house has been dated to about 1690, the deed dates from 1657/8.  You can see photos and more information at this link:

http://www.historicipswich.org/covenanted-houses/preston-foster-house/

“Be it known to all men whom it may concern that I Roger Preston of Ipswich in New England in the county of Essex planter, and Martha my wife for divers considerations me thereunto moving but especially in consideration of the full and just sum of one and fifty pounds of current country pay to be paid to me or my assigns at two several payments, viz: thirty pounds at Christide next following the date of these presents and the remainder by that time twelve months in current English corn sweet dry and merchantable by Reginald Foster of Ipswich aforsaid. husbandman all that my dwelling house and house lot with the barns, cow-houses and other buildings thereunto belonging and also my other house lot, both which house lots contain two acres, more or less with the gardens orchards and fences and other privileges thereunto belonging which I purchased of Robert Wallis of Ipswich aforesaid as they be situated and inclosed on the north side of the river of Ipswich having the highway next the river toward the South and Thomas Knowlton’s land and Robert Pierce’s toward the North. The lane next Thomas Clark’s East and another lane West and also one other planting lot of three acres be it more or less on the North side of the town hill abutting on ye land of Rose Whipple, widow, toward the West, Andrew Hodges land East, upon ye marsh of John Morse toward the North, and land of Thomas Treadwell toward the South and in the town of Ipswich aforesaid, to have and to hold and to quietly possess and enjoy the aforesaid with the commonage and all other privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto the said Reginald Foster his heirs and assigns forever and the said Roger and Martha his wife do covenant and promise to warrant this sale of the premises and every part thereof to be free from time to time and at all times henceforth use, occupy possess and enjoy the same and every part thereof to the proper use and behoof of the said Reginald Foster his heirs and assigns forever from all molestation or interruption of the said Roger and Martha, my wife, our heirs executors and assigns or any other person having any just claim thereto in by from or under us or any or either of us our heirs executors or assigns in witness whereof I the said Roger and Martha my wife have hereunto set our hand and seal dated the 11 day of March A.D. 1657/8. Subscribed sealed etc.”

For more information:

A Genealogy of the Fo(r)ster Family: Descendants of Reginald Foster who settled in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts A.D. 1638, by Edward Jacob Forster, M.D, Boston: David Clapp & Son, 1876.

Foster Genealogy: being the record of the posterity of Reginald Foster, an early inhabitant of Ipswich, in New England, whose genealogy is traced back to Anacher, great forrester of Flanders, who died in 837 A.D.,  by Frederick Clifton Pierce, 1899.

Davis, Walter Goodwin, "Renold Foster," The American Genealogist 18, 1941, 13-15.

Forster, Edward Jacob, "Genealogy of the Fo(r)ster Family: Descendants of Reginald Fo(r)ster of Ipswich, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 30, 1876, 83-102.

Scott, Henry Edwards, "Fanny Foster," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 90, 1936, 307-311.

My Foster genealogy:

Generation 1: Reginald Foster: born about 1595, died before 30 May 1681 in Ipswich, Massachusetts; married on 28 September 1619 in Theydon Gamon, Essex, England to Judith Wignall, daughter of Alexander Wignall. She died in October 1664 in Ipswich, Massachusetts.  He married second to Sarah Martin.

Generation 2: Sarah Foster, born 15 October 1620 in Exeter, Devonshire, England, died 1681 in Ipswich; married about 1638 in Ipswich to William Story.  He was born about 1614 in Old Norwich, Norfolk, England and died 20 January 1702/3 in Ipswich. Eight children.

Generation 3. Seth story m. Elizabeth Cross

Lineage A:

Generation 4: Zachariah Story m. Rachel Andrews

Generation 5: Deborah Story m. Westley Burnham

Lineage A1:

Generation 6: Westley Burnham m. Molly Woodbury

Lineage A1a:

Generation 7: Asa Burnham m. Polly Bray

Generation 8: Lydia W. Burnham m. Samuel Mears

Generation 9: Sarah Burnham Mears m. Joseph Gilman Allen

Generation 10: Joseph Elmer Allen m. Carrie Maude Batchelder

Generation 11: Stanley Elmer Allen m. Gertrude Matilda Hitchings (my grandparents)

Lineage A1b:

Generation 7: Henry Burnham m. Sally Poland

Generation 8: Sarah Ann Burnham m. Samuel Mears

Generation 9: Sarah Burnham Mears m. Joseph Gilman Allen (see above)

Lineage A2:

Generation 6: Sarah Burnham m. Abner Poland

Generation 7: Sally Poland m. Henry Burnham (see above)

Lineage B:

Generation 4: Elizabeth Story m. John Andrews

Generation 5: Abigail Andrews m. Jeremiah Burnham

Generation 6: Abigail Burnham m. Isaac Allen

Generation 7: Joseph Allen m. Judith Burnham

Generation 8: Joseph Allen m. Orpha Andrews

Generation 9: Joseph Gilman Allen m. Sarah Burnham Mears (see above)

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Surname Saturday ~ FOSTER of Ipswich, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted July 5, 2014, ( http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/07/surname-saturday-foster-of-ipswich.html: accessed [access date]). 

Surname Saturday ~ STORY of Chebacco Parish, Ipswich, Massachusetts (now Essex, Massachusetts)

The Essex (Chebacco) River

STORY

William Story was the son of Robert Story in England.  His indenture record reads “Norwich England: An index of Indentures of Norwich Apprentices Enrolled with the Norwich Assembly: Henry VII – George II, page 157: Story, William, son of Robert, dec.; apprenticed to John Coats of Norwich, carpenter, 1634 for 7 years."   Somehow he broke this contract and arrived in Boston on 8 June 1637 from Yarmouth.  In the passenger list there was a Samuel Dix listed with two servants, and one was William Story, b. 1614, from Norwich.  Dix was a joiner (woodworker).  In the New England Historic Genealogical Register, Volume 14 (1860), page 325 there is a transcription of an old record from England “Aprill the 8^th 1637.  The examinaction of Samuell Dix of Norwich in Norff. Joynar aged 43 yeares and Ioane his wife aged 38 yeares with 2 children, Presella and Abegell, and 2 Sauantes William Storey and Daniell Linsey, the one aged 23 and the other 18 years;  ar desirous to goe to Bostone in New England there to Inhabitt.”

William Story settled in the part of Ipswich known as the Chebacco Parish, and married Sarah Foster, the daughter of Judge Reginald Foster.  He built a sawmill on the Chebacco River in 1671.  One 31 March 1693 he deeded to his son, Seth “all my housing, lands, fences, orchards, &c belonging to my lands in Chebacco, in Ipswich, adjoining to Chebacco Falls River, having the latter on the E. and S.E. and land of Thos. Low on E. & N.E., and land of Renold [Reginald, his father-in-law] on S. &S.W., and Ipswich common on W. &N.W.”   It also states in the book  History of Essex, by Crowell, page 27, “William’s son, Seth, was married and lived with him, and on condition of his maintaining him the rest of his days, he conveyed to him by deed of gift the farm, which he ‘occupied’ ”.  Administration of his estate was granted to the son, Seth, my 8^th great grandfather, on 20 January 1702/3, meaning he was about 89 years old when he died.

During King Philip’s War Seth Story served under Major Samuel Appleton as a sergeant.  He was also a deacon of the second church in Chebacco (now the town of Essex, Massachusetts).  He died at the age of 86.  This was a long lived family of Storys!  Seth had five children, and I descend from two of them: Zachariah and Elizabeth.

Notable descendants:  US President Millard Fillmore

For more information:

Descendants of William Story and Sarah Foster of Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, by Betty Andrews Storey,2004 (also available to read online at https://archive.org )

Descendants of William Story Who Came to Ipswich in 1637: the first eight generations, by Robert Lee Pratt,  Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 2000

Story Family Papers, 1893 – 1905, by Emma Story White (1846 – 1909) a manuscript collection at the New England Historic Genealogical Society library in Boston, call number SG STO 3 107 includes a page handwritten genealogy of the descendants of William Story, with material on the Burnham and Foster families. She cites the sources in the margins.

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My STORY genealogy:

Generation 1:  William Story, son of Robert Story, born about 1614 in Norwich, Norfolk, England, died before 20 January 1702/3 in Ipswich, Massachusetts; married about 1638 to Sarah Foster, daughter of Reginald Foster and Judith Wignall, born 15 October 1620 in Exeter, Devonshire, England, died 1681 in Ipswich. Eight children.

Generation 2: Seth Story, born 1646 in the Chebacco Parish of Ipswich, died 9 October 1732 in Chebacco Parish; married about 1682 to Elizabeth Cross, born about 1649, died 13 February 1736.  Five children, I descend from two of them.

Lineage A:

Generation 3: Zachariah Story, born 14 March 1684 in Chebacco Parish, died 16 February 1774 in Windsor, Vermont; married Rachel Andrews, daughter of William Andrews and Margaret Woodward, born about 1695, died 6 August 1777 in Windsor. Ten children.

Generation 4: Deborah Story, born 1723, died 24 November 1821 in Essex, Massachusetts; married 10 November 1743 to Westley Burnham, son of David Burnham and Elizabeth Perkins, born October 1719, died 28 June 1797. Nine children, and I descend from two of them.

Lineage A1: 

Generation 5: Westley Burnham m. Molly Woodbury

Lineage A1a:

Generation 6: Asa Burnham m. Polly Bray

Generation 7: Lydia W. Burnham m. Samuel Mears

Generation 8: Samuel Mears m. Sarah Ann Burnham

Generation 9: Sarah Burnham Mears m. Joseph Gilman Allen

Generation 10: Joseph Elmer Allen m. Carrie Maude Batchelder

Generation 11: Stanley Elmer Allen m. Gertrude Matilda Hitchings (my grandparents)

Lineage A1b:

Generation 6: Henry Burnham m. Sally Poland

Generation 7: Sarah Ann Burnham m. Samuel Mears (first cousins, see above)

Lineage B:

Generation 3: Sarah Burnham m. Abner Poland

Generation 4:  Sally Poland m. Henry Burnham

Generation 5: Sarah Ann Burnham m. Samuel Mears (second cousins, see above)

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The URL for this post is

http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/06/surname-saturday-story-of-chebacco.html

Copyright 2014 ©, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Surname Saturday ~ ANDREWS of Essex, Massachusetts (Ipswich’s Chebacco Parish)

Ipswich, Massachusetts town seal

(see the story below for an explanation)

ANDREWS

Here is another ancestor from whom I descend from three sons.  It is a tangled lineage (scroll to the bottom for genealogy information.

Lieutenant John Andrews was born about 1620 in England.  His parentage is unknown.  Also, there are many Andrews families in Ipswich in the 1600s, and it is unknown if Lt. John was related to Captain Robert Andrews.   He was granted 8 acres of land for his service during the Pequot War in 1637.  He lived “in the part of Ipswich which in 1679 was organized as Chebacco Parish and in 1819 incorporated as the town of Essex, Mass.” [NEHGS Register, Volume 70 (1916) page 103]

Lt. John Andrews was a house carpenter and farmer by trade, and also served in several town offices.  He also participated in the unusual Ipswich tax rebellion of 1687.  “…the inhabitants of Ipswich in 1687 resisted the order of Sir Edmund Andros [no relation] and his council for levying a tax on the King’s subjects… John Andrews was at that time chairman of the selectmen of Ipswich, and John Appleton was town clerk.  They, with John Wise, the minister, and others, called a meeting, at which the command of the Governor to choose a commissioner to assist in assessing the tax was discussed; and at the town meeting the next day (23 Aug.) the town considered that by the laws of England it was enacted “that no Taxes should be Levied upon the Subjects without consent of an Assembly chosen by the Freeholders.”  For this act of the town Mr. Wise, John Andrews, John Appleton, William Goodhue, Robert Kinsman, and Thomas French were arrested, brought before the court at Boston, and tried.. [and found guilty]  This act of resistance has been called “the foundation of American Democracy” and was the beginning of those events which eighty-eight years later culminated in the Revolutionary War.  It is commemorated in the seal of the town of Ipswich, which bears the motto “The Birthplace of American Independence 1687” [NEGHS Register, Volume 70 (1916), page 103]

Of all the men mentioned above, I descend from Lt. John Andrews, William Goodhue and Robert Kinsman.  I also descend from John Proctor of Ipswich, who was hung as a witch in 1692.  Lt. John Andrews and his four sons, along with many Ipswich men, signed a petition in support of John Proctor and his wife during their trials in Salem.  The petition was unsuccessful, and John Proctor was hung, although his wife escaped execution because she was pregnant.

Of John Andrews’ four sons, I descend from William, Thomas and Joseph.

Generation 1:  John Andrews, born about 1620 in England, died 20 April 1708 in the Chebacco Parish; married about 1645 to Jane Jordan, daughter of Stephen Jordan and Susannah Unknown.  She was born about 1622 in England and died after 1705 in the Chebacco Parish.  Five children.

Lineage A:

Generation 2: William Andrews, born 1649 in the Chebacco Parish, died 7 February 1716/7 in the Chebacco Parish; married on 20 October 1672 in Ipswich to Margaret Woodward, daughter of Ezekiel Woodward and Anne Beamsley.  She was born 24 February 1655 in Boston and died 22 May 1716 in Scarborough, Maine.  Twelve children.

Generation 3: John Andrews, born 2 February 1676 in Ipswich, died 25 March 1753 in the Chebacco Parish; married on 11 January 1706 in Ipswich to Elizabeth Story, daughter of Seth Story and Elizabeth Cross.

Generation 4: Abigail Andrews married 2 December 1736 in Ipswich to Jeremiah Burnham, son of John Burnham and Ann Choate.

Generation 5: Abigail Burnham m. Isaac Allen

Generation 6: Joseph Allen m. Judith Burnham

Generation 7: Joseph Allen m. Orpha Andrews (see below)

Generation 8: Joseph Gilman Allen m. Sarah Burnham Mears

Generation 9: Joseph Elmer Allen m. Carrie Maud Batchelder

Generation 10: Stanley Elmer Allen m. Gertrude Matilda Hitchings (my grandparents)

Lineage B:

Generation 2: Thomas Andrews, born about 1654 in the Chebacco Parish, died 22 March 1718/9 in the Chebacco Parish; married on 9 February 1681 to Mary Belcher, daughter of Jeremiah Belcher and Mary Lockwood.  She was born 21 July 1660 and died on 31 March 1731 in Ipswich.

Generation 3: Thomas Andrews, born 1682 in Ipswich, died 13 February 1746 in Ipswich; married on 8 April 1711 in Ipswich to Mary Smith, daughter of John Smith and Elizabeth Unknown.  She was born 27 September 1685 in Ipswich, and died 31 March 1731 in Ipswich.  Thomas Andrews married second to Rebecca Cole.

Generation 4: Mary Andrews, born about 1712 in Ipswich; married on 16 August 1735 in Ipswich to Stephen Burnham, son of Thomas Burnham and Susannah Boardman.  He was born about 1715 and died 1790 in Milford, New Hampshire. Thirteen children.

Generation 5: Colonel Joshua Burnham m. Jemima Wyman

Generation 6: Jemima Burnham m. Romanus Emerson

Generation 7: George Emerson m. Mary Esther Younger

Generation 8: Mary Katharine Emerson m. George E. Batchelder

Generation 9: Carrie Maude Batchelder m. Joseph Elmer Allen

Generation 10: Stanley Elmer Allen m. Gertrude Matilda Hitchings (my grandparents)

Lineage C:

Generation 2: Joseph Andrews, born 1657 in the Chebacco Parish, died between 13 February and 5 March 1724/5 in the Chebacco Parish; married on 16 February 1680/1 in the Chebacco Parish to Sarah Ring, daughter of Daniel Ring/Rindge and Mary Kinsman.  She was born 17 August 1659 in Ipswich and died after 1714.

Generation 3: John Andrews, born 1 June 1691 in the Chebacco Parish, died October 1762 in the Chebacco Parish; married on 6 December 1716 in Gloucester to Elizabeth Wallis, daughter of James Wallis and Martha Stanford.  She was born about 25 February 1694 in Beverly, died before 7 November 1757 in Ipswich.  John married second to Margaret Crafts on 7 November 1757.

Generation 4: John Andrews, born 1717, died 3 May 1779 in Ipswich; married on 1 March 1747/8 in Ipswich to Martha Cogswell, daughter of John Cogswell and Sarah Brown.  She was born 1 January 1719 in the Chebacco Parish, and died 23 December 1809 in Ipswich.  John had been previously married to Mary Burnham on 5 January 1741/2.

Generation 5: James Andrews, born 13 November 1763 in the Chebacco Parish, died 19 October 1857; married on 15 July 1788 in Ipswich to Lucy Presson, daughter of William Presson and Abigail Sargent.  She was born in May 1763 in Gloucester and died 5 September 1852 in Essex, Massachusetts. Ten chlldren.

Generation 6:  Orpha Andrews, born 3 February 1804 in the Chebacco Parish, died 20 April 1869 in Peabody, Massachusetts; married on 28 October 1824 in Essex to Joseph Allen, son of Joseph Allen and Judith Burnham.  He was born 31 July 1801 in the Chebacco Parish, and died 2 August 1894 in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Generation 7: Joseph Gilman Allen m. Sarah Burnham Mears (see above)

For more information on Lt. John Andrews:

The Descendants of Lieut. John Andrews of Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts by Betty Andrews Storey, 2009 on CD ROM

New England Historic Genealogical Society Register, Volume 70 (1916), page 102-103

also

The Will of Lieut. John Andrews

" In the name of God, Amen, in the thirteenth Day of March one Thousand Seven Hundred adn five, I John Androse, Senior of Sebacco in Ipswich of ye Countie of Essex within ye province of Massachusetts being in New england yeoman being at this time of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto god; But calling unto mind ye mortallity of my body and knowing yt it is appointe for men once to Dye. Do make and ordine This my Last will and Testament-that is to say principally and first of all. I give and Recommend My Soul is not yet in the handes of god yet give it and my body I Recommend to ye Earth, to be Buried in decent Christian Burial at ye Descression of my Executors; nothing Doubting but At ye Genneral Resserection I shall receive ye same againe by ye mighty power of god, and As touching Such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased god to bless me in this Life. I give Demise and Dispose of ye same in the following manner and forme.

Imprimis. I give and bequeath unto my Eldest Son Jn Androse ye sum of five shillings to be levied out of my Estate adn paid by my executor unto him after my Desease allso Confirming to him what I have alred given him by Deed of Gifte. -

Item. I give adn bequeath to my second son William Androuse one fourthe part of my whole esstate both land or march which I have not allred given away by Deed of gift and allso al my moveable Estate according to a true Inventory threof taken. What shall Remaine to be clear Estate after my funeral Expenses and just Debts are paid, I freely give my Son William androse one fourth part there of only I do herebyu oblige him to pay one fourth part of ye charges of maintaning my Wife So long as Shje shall live after my Decease and when it shall please god to take her Away by Death I do hereby oblige him to pay one fourth part of ye charges of a decent funerall unto her.

Item I give adn bequeathe to my Son Thomas androse one fourth part of my whole Estate both lands or marsh and al other Estate which shall be cleare according to inventory after my funerqall expenses and just Debts are paid onely I do Here by oblige him to Pay one fourth part of ye charges in maintaining my wife so long as she shall live after my Decease and to pay one fourth part of ye charges of Her funerall when God shall please to take her away by Death.

Item. I given and bequeth unto Elizabeth my Daughter wife of James Giddinge one fourth part of my whole Estate both Real and personal as landes marsh or any other Estate according to inventory as shal appear to be clear after my funerall expenses and just Debts Are paid onely I oblige her to pay one fourth part of ye charges for maintaining my funerall expenses and just Debts Are paid onely I oblige her to pay one fourth part of ye charges fo maintaining my Wife So long as she shall live after my Decese and to pay one fourth part of ye charges of her funerall when god shall please to Deprive her of her Naturall lifed allso, I do hereby order and Desire yt my Wife shall Dwell with my Daughter Elizabeth giddinge after my Decease so long as she lives; (further more I do hereby order ordaine and appoint my Trusty friend William Gidding of Sebacco Cordwinder to be my soule executor of this my Last Will and Tesstamernt. ) and I Do hereby utterly Disallow Revok and Disanull all and Everry other former testaments Willes legacyes and bequestes adn executors by me in any wayes before named Willed and bequeathed Ratifying and confirming this and no other be my last Will and testaments in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seale by Day and year above written."

John Andrews "Signed Sealed published pronounced and declared by ye same Jn Androsuse Seniour as his Last Will and testament in ye presentes of us subscribers.

Witnesses: Nathaniel Goodhue, Job Giddings, Solomon Giddings

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The URL for this post is

http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/05/surname-saturday-andrews-of-essex.html

Copyright 2014, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Surname Saturday ~ BURNHAM of Chebacco Parish, Ipswich (now Essex), Massachusetts

BURNHAM

I have a plethora of BURNHAM ancestors.  In order to write this Surname Saturday post I had to review my BURNHAM lineages and count them up.  I had estimated that I had half dozen lines from the BURNHAM brothers who immigrated to America in the 1630s.  I was wrong.  After combing through the family tree I counted up eight Burnham lineages from just two of the three brothers (supposedly brothers - see the note below)!

If you are interested in tangled colonial lines then this post is for you.  The tiny town of Essex, Massachusetts (formerly known as the Chebacco Parish of Ipswich) has very few surnames in its lists of vital records.  In the 1820 census, there were 43 different surnames in Essex, but the six most common were BURNHAM, ANDREWS, LOW, STORY, CHOATE and COGSWELL, which account for half of the 1820 census.  You will see all six of these surnames often in my family tree.   This lineage starts in the 1630s and stays in Ipswich and Essex right down to my mother, who was born in Ipswich.

Last Christmas I met David H. Burnham, a trustee of the New England Historic Genealogical society, and also a descendant of the Chebacco Parish (Essex) BURNHAMs.  He told me that he was one of a half dozen BURNHAMs in his Essex kindergarten class, and that there was a saying in Essex “If you aren’t a BURNHAM or an ANDREWS, there must be a STORY!”     

         

My Burnham genealogy:

Hold onto your hat!  There are eight lineages of BURNHAMS here, all ancestors of my maternal grandfather, Stanley Elmer Allen (1904 - 1982):

According to the book The Burnham Family: Or Genealogical Records of the Descendants of the Four Emigrants of the Name, Three Burnham brothers arrived on the ship Angel Gabriel with the other passengers, and made their way to Ipswich (Chebacco Parish) in Massachusetts.  Their kinship is not clear.

Generation 1:   Speculation:  Robert Burnham, born about 1581 in Norwich, England; married Mary Andrews.  She was born about 1585 and died about 1635 in Norwich.   The three sons who came on the ship Angel Gabriel are John, Thomas and Robert.  The captain of the ship was supposed to be their maternal uncle, Captain Robert Andrews.  The kinship of the three Burnham men has not been proven to be brothers, but it is clear they were close kin.

Lineage A:

Generation 2:  Deacon John Burnham, born about 1616 in England, died 5 November 1694 in the Chebacco Parish, Ipswich, Massachusetts; married Mary Unknown.

Generation 3: John Burnham, born about 1650 in Ipswich, died 11 January 1708 in Ipswich; married about 1677 to Sarah (Graves?). 

Generation 4: John Burnham, born about 1685, died 24 November 1749 in Ipswich; married as his third wife to Anne Choate on 21 October 1710 in Ipswich.  She was the daughter of Thomas Choate and Mary Varney, born 22 May 1691 in Ipswich, died 15 August 1739 in Ipswich.

Generation 5: Jeremiah Burnham, born about 1716 in Ipswich, died 1760; married on 2 December 1736 to Abigail Andrews, daughter of John Andrews and Elizabeth Story.

Generation 6:  Abigail Burnham, born 12 April 1741 in Ipswich; married 24 November 1763 in Ipswich to Isaac Allen, son of William Allen and Mary Ingalls. He was baptized 3 August 1740 in Ipswich.

Generation 7: Joseph Allen m. Judith Burnham

Generation 8: Joseph Allen m. Orpha Andrews

Generation 9: Joseph Gilman Allen m. Sarah Burnham Mears

Generation 10: Joseph Elmer Allen m. Carrie Maude Batchelder

Generation 11: Stanley Elmer Allen m. Gertrude Matilda Hitchings (my grandparents)

Lineage B:

Generation 2:  Lieutenant Thomas Burnham, born 1623 in Norwich, England, died 19 June 1694 in the Chebacco Parish of Ipswich; married about 1643 to Mary Lawrence, daughter of Thomas Lawrence and Joan Antrobus.  She was baptized on 10 April 1625 at St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, and died 27 March 1715 in Ipswich.

Generation 3: John Burnham, born 1648 and died 12 January 1704 in the Chebacco Parish; married on 6 June 1668 to  Elizabeth Wells, daughter of Thomas Wells and Abigail Warner.  She was born 31 July 1646 in Ipswich and died 9 June 1731. I descend from three of John’s children: John, Thomas and David.

Lineage B1:

Generation 4: John Burnham, born 8 April 1671 in Ipswich, died October 1706 in Ipswich; married on 13 April 1693 in Ipswich to Sarah Choate, daughter of John Choate and Ann Unknown.

Generation 5: John Burnham, born 8 April 1693, his father’s birthday, in Ipswich; married on 20 October 1722 in Ipswich to Rachel Smith.

Generation 6: Dorothy Burnham, born about 1737 in the Chebacco Parish, died 7 April 1789 in Ipswich; married on 3 April 1761 to Abner Poland.

Generation 7:  Abner Poland, jr. m. Sarah Burnham

Generation 8: Sally Poland m. Henry Burnham

Generation 9: Sarah Ann Burnham m. Samuel Mears

Generation 10: Sarah Burnham Mears m. Joseph Gilman Allen (see above)

Lineage B2:

Generation 4: Thomas Burnham born 30 September 1673 in Ipswich, died 16 December 1748; married on 30 September 1700 in Ipswich to Susannah Boardman.  She was born 5 April 1681 and died 1748.

Generation 5: Stephen Burnham, born about 1715 in the Chebacco Parish, and died 1790 probably in Milford, New Hampshire; married on 16 August 1735 in Ipswich to Mary Andrews, daughter of Thomas Andrews and Mary Smith.

Generation 6: Colonel Joshua Burnham, born 26 January 1754 in Gloucester, Massachusetts, died 7 June 1835 in Milford, New Hampshire; married on 21 January 1779 to Jemima Wyman, daughter of Increase Wyman and Catherine Unknown.

Generation 7: Jemima Burnham, born 9 May 1793 (twin to Thomas Burnham) in Milford, New Hampshire, died 5 August 1868 in South Boston, Massachusetts; married on 22 November 1810 in Boston to Romanus Emerson, son of John Emerson and Katherine Eaton.  He was born 1 September 1782 in Townsend, Massachusetts, died 10 October 1852 in South Boston.

Generation 8: George Emerson m. Mary Esther Younger

Generation 9: Mary Katharine Emerson m. George E. Batchelder

Generation 10: Carrie Maude Batchelder m. Joseph Elmer Allen (see above)

Lineage B3:

Generation 4: David Burnham, born 20 October 1688, died 2 February 1770; married on 2 July 1711 to Elizabeth Perkins, daughter of Jacob Perkins and Elizabeth Sparks. She was born 18 March 1691 in Ipswich.  I descend from two of their sons, David and Westley.

Lineage B3a:

Generation 5: David Burnham, born 17 June 1714 in Ipswich, died 27 December 1802 in Ipswich; married on 25 September 1734 in Ipswich to Elizabeth Marshall, daughter of Benjamin Marshall and Bethiah Goodhue.  She was born in 1715 and died 15 November 1801 in Ipswich.

Generation 6: Amos Burnham, born 13 July 1735 in Ipswich, died 28 November 1788 when he drowned in Chebacco Pond; married on 27 January 1757 in Ipswich to Sarah Giddings, daughter of Thomas Giddings and Martha Smith.

Generation 7: Judith Burnham, born 14 January 1782 in Essex, died 26 October 1848 in Essex; married on 5 April 1799 in Ipswich to Joseph Allen, son of Isaac Allen and Abigail Burnham (see above)

Lineage B3b:

Generation 5: Westley Burnham, born October 1719, died 28 June 1797; married on 10 November 1743 to Deborah Story, daughter of Zachariah Story and Rachel Andrews.  She was born in 1723 and died 24 November 1821.  I descend from two of their children: Westley and Sarah Burnham.

Generation 6: Westley Burnham, born 27 August 1747 in Chebacco Parish, died 1 September 1835; married Molly Woodbury, daughter of Robert Woodbury and Hannah Preston/Presson.  She was born 29 July 1749 in Beverly, Massachusetts, died 27 April 1830 in Essex.  I descend from two of their sons, Asa and Henry.

Lineage B3bi:

Generation 7:  Asa Burnham, born 9 September 1778, died 23 May 1850; married on 24 December 1801 in Ipswich to Polly Bray, daughter of Humphrey Bray and Molly Herrick.  She was born about October 1779 in Gloucester, Massachusetts. 

Generation 8: Lydia W. Burnham, born 19 September 1802 in Essex, died 5 September 1864 in Essex; married on 29 March 1823 in Essex to Samuel Mears, son of Alexander Mears and Martha Poland.  He was born about 1798 in Essex and died 28 August 1879 in Essex.

Generation 9: Samuel Mears m. Sarah Ann Burnham, daughter of Henry Burnham and Sally Poland (see below)

Generation 10: Sarah Burnham Mears m. Joseph Gilman Allen (see above)

Lineage B3bii:

Generation 8:  Henry Burnham born 23 June 1783 in Essex, died 1 July 1867 in Essex; married on 2 May 1805 in Essex to Sally Poland, daughter of Abner Poland and Sarah Burnham (1^st cousins) (see above)

Generation 9: Sarah Ann Burnham, born 23 October 1821, died 23 January 1848 in Hamilton, Massachusetts; married on 20 April 1844 in Essex to Samuel Mears (see above)

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For more information on the BURNHAM family:

The Burnham Family: Or the Genealogical Records of the Descendants of the Four Emigrants of the Name, who were among the early settlers in America , by Roderick Henry Burnham, Hartford, Connecticut, Press of Case, Lockwood & Brainard, 1869. (available to read online at Google books)

There are many articles on the Connecticut BURNHAM family (no known relation) in The American Genealogist and The Connecticut Nutmegger, but no one has written about the Essex County BURNHAMs.  There are many articles and books on some of the allied families (CHOATE, WALLIS, MARSHALL, COGSWELL, etc.which mention BURNHAM marriages and list the BURNHAM children of these marriages, which is very helpful.  The vital records of Ipswich, Essex, Gloucester and Hamilton are very good, but the tendency of the BURNHAMS to recycle first names such as John, Thomas and David make it very confusing. 

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, Nutfield Genealogy, posted 17 May 2014, ( http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/04/surname-saturday-burnham-of-chebacco.html, accessed: [access date]).  

The Unexpected Blog Story

William Wetmore Story- American Sculptor (1819 -1895)

Yesterday I posted a photo of the “Weeping Angel” or “Angel of Grief” on my blog for Tombstone Tuesday. All year I’ve been thinking about posting this photo, since it is beautiful, but I always had other genealogy stories to blog. Yesterday, I wanted to do another story, but we’ve been having a two day snowstorm here in Londonderry, and I couldn’t get outside to take the photo I wanted to blog about. I was snowbound again today, and then this story fell into my lap…

I received a few emails about the “Weeping Angel” photo. I’m not surprised because the sculpture of the Angel is very striking. Any photo of this tomb would look great! The Angel graces the tomb of Maria Hooper in Hingham, Massachusetts. One of the email messages I received was from John Hooper Dean, a descendant of Mrs. Hooper, asking permission to post my photo on his website and Facebook page.

We began an email conversation back and forth as this gentleman read my blog. He asked me about genealogy, and he was very interested in learning more about the family history of William Wetmore Story, the sculptor. By coincidence, I had done a little research last night on William Story, because I was wondering if he was related to the Chebacco Parish, Essex County, Massachusetts Story family. It turns out that the sculptor’s Story family was from Boston, and unrelated. But I was glad that I kept my research notes for John Hooper Dean.

John had been moved by a poem written about a Story daughter, Caroline, who had died at age six. The poem was lovely, and I’ll print it below. The sculptor’s father, Joseph Story, had written the poem, having lost five of his seven children in childhood. Two of those little children were named Caroline. I was able to find four generations of this family online, with help from the NEHGS vital records data base, several books from my library and other books available on the Google Book search, I could see that Joseph’s father, Elisha Story, had sixteen children including another Caroline who doesn’t appear to have survived childhood either!

A little bit of history, a little bit of fine art, and a little bit of literature… The sculptor had probably experienced his parent’s grief at the loss of his five siblings. He was born the same year that the second Caroline died. It is no small wonder that his sculpture is so realistic.

This was an interesting, unexpected bit of research for a snowy day!

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For Caroline
By Joseph Story

Sweet, patient sufferer, gone at last
To a far happier shore,
All thy sick hours of pain are past,
Thy earthly anguish o'er.

And yet, if aught or fair or bright
Might hope to linger here,
Long, long had shone thy modest light,
And never caused a tear.

In temper how serene and meek!
How touching every grace!
The smile that played upon thy cheek
Might warm an angel's face.

A heart, how full of filial love!
How delicate, how good!
Thy feelings served intent to prove
The bliss of gratitude.

So quiet and so sweet they death,
It seemed a holy sleep,--
Scarce heard, scarce felt, thy parting breath
Then silence fixed and deep

Who can the utter wretchedness
Of such a scene portray,
When the last look, the last caress
Is felt, and dies away?

I kissed thy faded lips and cheek,
And bent my knees in prayer;
Bent--but there was no voice to speak,
It choked in still despair.

Ah! never, never, from my heart
Thine image, child, shall flee--
'T’is soothing from the world to part,
'T’is bliss to think on thee.

---------
Gen. 1. William Wetmore Story, son of Joseph Story and Sarah Waldo Wetmore, sculptor
b. 12 Feb 1819 at Marblehead
d. 7 Oct 1895 Vallambroso, Italy (Wikipedia)
m. 31 Oct 1843 to Emelyn Eldridge b. abt 1820 , d. 1895 age 74, in Rome, Italy
Children:
1.) Thomas Waldo Story b. 1855 d. 1915
2.) Julian Russell Story b. 1857 d. 1919
3.) Edith Marion Story (the Marchesa Peruzzi de’ Medici) b. 1844 d. 1907

Gen. 2. Joseph Story, son of Dr. Elisha Story and Mehitable Pedrick
b. 18 Sep 1779 Marblehead, bap. 26 Sep 1779 Marblehead (Marblehead VR)
d. 10 Sep 1845, Cambridge, Massachusetts,
buried Mt. Auburn Cemetery (statue sculpted by his son)
m. 1. 9 Dec 1804 to Mary F. Lynde Oliver d. 22 June 1805,
d. of Rev. Thomas Fitch Oliver and Sarah Pynchon
m. 2. 28 Aug 1808 at Boston to Sarah Waldo Wetmore, daughter of Judge William Wetmore, born 24 May 1784 at Salem, d. 22 Aug 1855 at Boston
Seven children:
Children:
1. Caroline b. June 1810, died Feb. 28, 1811
2. Joseph, b. June 1811, d. 19 Oct 1815
3. Caroline Wetmore, b. 4 Apr 1813, d. 1 April 1819
4. Mary, b. 9 April 1814, d. 28 Mar 1815
5. Mary Oliver, b. 10 Mar 1817, d. 28 Apr 1848
6. William Wetmore Story
7. Louisa, b. May 1821, d. May 10 1831

(children listed in Genealogical and Personal Memoir Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, Vol. 1, by William Richard Cutter, pages 30-32 for the Story family.)

Gen. 3. Dr. Elisha Story , son of William Story, participated in the Boston Tea Party
b. 3 Dec 1743 at Boston
d. 27 aug 1805, Marblehead (Marblehead VR)
m. 1. Pub. At Boston 14 May 1767, Ruth Ruddock, b. at Boston 5 Mar 1745/6, d. 21 Mar 1778 Marblehead (Marblehead VR) (d. the late John Ruddock, Esq, a. 32 y GR) and Tabitha Drinker
m. 2 Mehitable Pedrick, 29 Nov. 1778, Marblehead (Marblehead VR), d. of John Pedrick and Mehitable Stacy of Marblehead.
Children by first wife:
1. John
2. Tabitha, married 4 Nov 1792 to Nathaniel King Devereaux of Marblehead
3. Abiel, d. 12 Dec 1829, m. 2 Feb 1799 to Huldah Clough
4. Elisha
5. William, m. 6 Aug. 1797 to Betsey Patten
Children by second wife:
6. Joseph, b. 18 Sep 1779
7. Isaac bap. 2 Mar 1783 Marblehead (Marblehead VR)
8. Betsey, bap. 5 Dec 1784 Marblehead (Marblehead VR), m. Capt. Joseph White
9. Charlotte, bap. 19 Oct 1788, Marblehead (Marblehead VR)m. John Forrester
10. Carolina, bap 31 Oct 1790, Marblehead (Marblehead VR)
11. Horace Culen, bap 4 Nov 1792, Marblehead (Marblehead VR), Horace C., died at New Orleans, rec. 1 Sep 1823, Marblehead (Marblehead VR)
12. Franklin Howard, bap 22 Mar 1795, Marblehead (Marblehead VR)
13. Frederick Washington, b. 5 Apr 1797, Marblehead (Marblehead VR)
14. Eloisa Adelina, bap. 20 Oct 1799, Marblehead, (Marblehead VR) m. John Tucker Mansfield
15. Hitty m. Capt. William Fettyplace
16. Harriet, m. Capt. Stephen White

Gen. 4. William Story, son of Elisha Story
b. 25 April 1720 at Boston, d. 24 Nov 1799 at Marblehead
m. 1. 13 Aug. 1741 Elizabeth Marion
m. 2. 11 April 1747, Joanna Appleton
m. 3. 29 Feb. 1776 Abigail Marshall

Click here to see the first blog post about the "Angel of Grief" statue in Hingham, Massachusetts:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/01/tombstone-tuesday-angel-of-grief.html 


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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "The Unexpected Blog Story", Nutfield Genealogy, posted January 20, 2010, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/01/unexpected-blog-story.html: accessed [access date]).