Henry Burt, of Springfield

Henry Burt, Jr.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34541795/henry-burt

We first hear of Henry Burt in Roxbury, Massachusetts, where his house burned. He removed to Springfield, Mass, about 1638. There is a tradition that Mrs. Burt was laid out for dead in England, put in a coffin, but signs of life appearing, she recovered, came to New England and was the mother of nineteen children. All four of her children were born in England.

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Henry the immigrant to New England, he was taxed on land in Devon, England. He came to New England in the winter of 1638 or spring of 1639, with his wife and seven children, two children died in England. He was first in Rowley. Massachusetts, where his home burned. The General Court gave him a grant of 8 pd., because of his loss. ln 1640 he appears in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was first Board of Selectman in 1644, and served that office ten years. He was on the comm. to grant land to the settlers, lay out the bounds of the plantation, conduct religious services on Sunday in the absence of the minister, clerk of the trading band, clerk of the Writs. His hand writing appears on 20 pages of town records. The last four daughters were born in Springfield, all eleven children lived to rear large families, and some had more than one spouse. Family tradition is that Eulalia Burt was laid out in her coffin, but at her funeral signs of life appeared and she recovered and had 13 children.

Source: Life and Times of Henry Burt, by Henry Burt 1893. NEHGS Vol 1932, First Century of Springfield, by Henry Burt 1899.

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From SAVAGE:

HENRY, Roxbury, had his ho. burn. for wh. loss the General Court made a gr. to the town of L8. in November 1639; removed to Springfield next year was their clerk of the writs (tho. rec. of the b. of his own ch. is not found), and d. 30 April 1662. His widow Ulalia d. 29 August 1690, and of his ch. we kn. names for Jonathan; David; Nathaniel; Sarah, wh. n. first, 1643, Judah Gregory, and, next, Henry Wakley; Abigail, wh. m. first, 1644, Francis Ball; next, 1649, Benjamin Mun,and bore him five ch. and next m. lieut. Thomas Stebbins, whose s. m. her d. Abigail; Mary, wh. m. 1654, William Brooks, and bore him eight s. and eight ds.; Eliz. wh. m. 24 Nov. 1653, Samuel Wright, jr.; Patience, wh. m. 7 October 1667, John Bliss; Mercy, wh. m. 17 January 1667, Judah Wright; Hannah, wh. m. 1659, John Bagg, and had ten ch,; and Dorcas, wh. m. 28 Oct. 1658, John Stiles. The four last nam. of these eight ds. of course, were b. after his rem. to S. and in neither rec. of town nor ch. a t R. is his name to be seen. A tradit. is preserv. that the mo. of these ch. "was laid our for d. in Eng. put into the coffin, but signs of life appear. at her funer. she recov. came to N. E. sett. at S. and here had nineteen ch." What degr. of cred it may be yeild. to this acco. quot. from Dr. Stiles, wh. was avery benign. in hear. such chronicles, may well be ask. but the answer will prob. depend on the spirit. educat. and habits of the respond.

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Henry Burt Jr. immigrated from England to Massachusetts in 1638; two years after the May 14th (1646) Settlement Declaration was signed by the 8 founders of Springfield, MA. The man most accredited as the founding father of the settlement was William Pynchon. However, though he founded the settlement, he was not very active in governing. Therefore, 10 years after the Settlement Declaration was signed, a general vote chose the first board of Selectmen, consisting of Henry Smith, Thomas Cooper, Samuel Chapin, Richard Sikes, and Henry Burt in charge of governing and protecting the town. Henry Burt authored a few books specifically describing the early years of Springfield, Massachusetts. His books original writings can be found in the Harvard Library and copies can be ordered or seen online. Some of these include the following:

"The First Century of the History of Springfield; The Official Records from 1636 to 1736; with an Historical Review and Biographical Mention of the Founders"

"Early Days in New England; Life and Times of Henry Burt of Springfield and Some of his Descendents; Genealogical and Biographical Mention of James and Richard Burt of Taunton, Mass. And Thomas Burt, M.P., of England" (co-authored with Silas W. Burt)

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Henry and Eulalia (Marche) Burt and the minimal Great Grandparent link from the descendants of John and Patience (Burt) Bliss to the descendants of Abigail (Burt) and Francis Ball, including Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the UK in the 1940s. See the New England Ball Project for Links to Winston Churchill with this link to Henry Burt:

<http://www.newenglandballproject.com/g0/p436.htm#i10888>

Henry and Eulalia Burt (Marche) are the 7th great-grandparents of Winston Churchill and the 8th great-grandparents of Floyd Bliss Hanson.

GEDCOM Note

Category: Springfield, MassachusettsCategory:Founders and Early Settlers of Springfield

Biography

Henry Burt, son of Henry Burt was baptized 16 July 1599 (?16) at Harberton, Devon, England.<ref>"England, Devon Bishop's Transcripts, 1558-1887," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99QP-15LM?cc=2515875&w... : 16 February 2016), 005882803 > image 2 of 288; citing Devon Record Office, Exeter.
</ref> Henry Burt was born about 1595 at Harberton, Devon, England, probably the son of Henry Burtt, clothier of Harberton.<ref>Genealogical Research in England: Burt-March," by George Skelton Terry, New England Historic Genealogical Register, NEHGR (April 1932) 86:216, at 218</ref> Henry and Ulalia/Eulalia Marche were married December 28, 1619 at DeanPrior, Co. Devon, England <ref> Genealogical Research in England,by George Skelton Terry, NEHGR, Vol. 86, April 1932, pp. 216-220 </ref><ref>Genealogical Research in England: Burt-March," by George Skelton Terry, New England Historic Genealogical Register, NEHGR (April 1932) 86:216, at 218</ref> "Henry Burt, of Springfield, is supposed to have been the ancestor of all his name who originated in that town; his wife's name was Ulalia. The greater part of his children were born before his coming hither. Jonathan and Nathaniel were the names of his sons. The names of his daughters, recorded as born in Springfield, were: Hannah, born April 28, 1641; one daughter, name defaced on record, born 1643; Patience, born August 18, 1645; Mercy, born Sept. 27, 1647. Hannah was married Dec. 24, 1657 to John Bag; Patience was married Oct. 7, 1667, to John Bliss.There were other women by the name of Burt, who probably were the daughters of Henry Burt: ---: "Sarah Burt, married to Juda Gregory, June 20, 1643; Eizabeth Burt, married to Samuel Wright, Nov. 24, 1653; Mary Burt, married to WilliamBrooks, Oct. 8, 1654; Dorcas Burt, married to John Stiles, Oct. 28, 1657." <ref> Longmeadow (Mass.) Families, by William S. Allen: Boston, NEHGR, Internet Archive Volume 32, July 1878, Page 302. </ref> "Henry probably emigrated to New England in the winter of 1638/9 or the spring or summer of 1639, and probably also with his wife and his seven surviving children, two children having died in England. In New England he is found first at Roxbury, Mass., where his house was burned and the General Court made a grant of £8 to the town in November 1639because of his loss."<ref>Genealogical Research in England: Burt-March,"George Skelton Terry, New England Historic Genealogical Register, NEHGR (April 1932) 86:216, at 219</ref> Being interested in the efforts of his fellow-townsman, Mr. William Pynchon, to establish a settlement at Agawam (now Springfield), Henry moved there in 1640 with his family, shortly after he lost his home in Roxbury, and is one of the original proprietors of that settlement. We first hear of Henry Burt at Roxbury, Mass., where his house was burned, for which loss the General Court made a grant to the town of £8 in November, 1639. He removed to Springfield, Mass. about 1638, and was there clerk of the band and clerk of the writs. Was yearly chosen one of the five men "by ye general vote and consent of ye plantation forye ordering ye prudential affairs of ye towne." Was one of the "six men undernamed shall have full power to lay out the lands both of upland and meddowe, etc.," and his name is constantly appearing, in variouspositions of trust, on the records. <ref> Genealogical Records of Henry and Ulalia Burt, the Emigrants, by Roderick H. Burnham, Hartford, Conn.: 1892 </ref> "He immediately took an active part in all the affairs, religious and secular. He was chosen one of the first selectmen, an office he held for several years; he was a member of the divers committees to lay out and allot the lands and 'for the ordering of the prudential affairs ofthe Plantation;' he was elected 'the Clarke of the Writs,' an office analogous in its duties to those of our town and county clerks. In 1650, and at other times during a vacancy in the position of minister, heconducted the religious services of the town, receiving therefore a monthly stipend of thirty shillings. It is said that his residence was on what is now Main street (1893), between Union and Wilcox. The several offices he held in town and church indicate his ability as well as the respect and esteem his fellow-townsmen entertained for him in entrusting to his management such important public affairs."<ref>Burt, Henry M., Page 25</ref> Previous to his death a portion of Henry's estate had been transferredto his son Nathaniel. At his death in 1662, a nuncupative will was presented for probate showing an inventory of £181 and debts of £50. Most of his debt was to John Pynchon in the amount of £45. This was paid off in labor, land, and supplies over the next few years by Henry'swidow. Dr. Ezra Stiles presented an interesting legend regarding Ulalia Burt,Henry's wife. : "The Rev. Dr. Ezra Stiles, a noted clergyman, and from 1778 to 1795 the President of Yale College, was directly descended from Henry and Ulalia Burt, through their daughter, Dorcas, who married John Stiles ofWindsor. Dr. Stiles prepared in 1764 a genealogy of his family, in which he says: "There is a tradition in the family that the mother of this Dorcas Burt, before she came over from England, was laid out for dead and put in her coffin, but at her funeral signs of life appeared, and she recovered and came to New England."<ref>Burt, Henry M., Page 25</ref> Henry died on 30 SEP 1662 at Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.<ref>"Longmeadow (Mass.) Families," NEHGR, Vol. 32, July 1876, pp. 302-303 </ref> As recorded in Early Days in New England:<ref>Burt,Henry M., Page 91</ref>: "Henry Burt of Springfield. Who departed this life April 30, 1662, not having any will made by his own hand for ye disposing of his estate, yet for that he did by words express his mind thereon before Ensign Thomas Cooper and Jonathan Burt who by a writing made by their hands presented the same into this court, a copy whereof hereafter follows, the widow Burt consenting thereunto. The court allowed the same to stand as the last will and testament of said Henry Burt.::: We, Thomas Cooper and Jonathan Burt do testify that after Henry Burt now deceased had disposed of part of his estate to his son Nathaniel, said Henry had such possessions as these, viz: That what estate he had then left should be at his wife's disposal, as witness our hands this 29th day of Septemeber, 1662. Thomas Cooper, Jonathan Burt. Henry married Eulalia March on 28 Dec 1619 Dean Prior, Devon, England<ref>Genealogical Research in England: Burt-March," by George Skelton Terry, New England Historic Genealogical Register, NEHGR (July 1932) 86:247, at 250</ref> They had at least 13 children although it has beenproposed that they had 19.<ref>Genealogical Research in England: Burt-March," by George Skelton Terry, New England Historic Genealogical Register, NEHGR (April 1932) 86:216, at 220</ref>

• Sarah
• Samuel
• Abigail
• Jonathan
• David
• Mary
• Mary
• Nathaniel
• Elizabeth
• Patience
• Mercy
• Hannah
• Dorcas

Note

: Received Racheparke in Harbertonford and the mansion house on land called Crobers Land in his father's will.

Residence

:: 1636-1886 Franklin, MA

Burial

:: 1 May 1662 Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts

Henry was born in 1595. He passed away about 1662.

Sources

• "Family Tree," database, <i>FamilySearch</i> (http://familysearch.org : modified 08 February 2018, 18:59), entry for Henry Burt Jr(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LDP6-6Y8); contributed by varioususers.* Source S6 {{MLA citation|publisher = C. W. Bryan Co. |publication-place = Springfield, Mass|author = Henry M. Burt|url = http://openlibrary.org/books/OL17991850M/Early_days_in_New_England|repository = Open Library|title = Early days in New England |year = 1893}}

See also:

• Ancestral File Number: 3462-VC
• Ancestral File Number: 8VNN-VC* Yates Publishing, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 (Provo, UT, USA, The Generations Network, Inc., 2004)* The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut. Register of Pedigrees and Services of Ancestors. Hartford, CT, USA: n.p., 1941. * Massachusetts Applications of Freemen, 1630-91 - Paige, Lucius R.. List of Freemen of Massachusetts. Boston, MA, USA: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 1849. * Sheldon, George. A History of Deerfield, Massachusetts (Greenfield, Mass., Press ofE.A. Hall & co., 1895) * Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England, 1620-1650
• Three Hundred Colonial Ancestors and War Service* Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s (Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2012)* Burt, Henry Martyn & Burt, Silas Wright. Early Days in New England: Life and Times of Henry Burt of Springfield (C. W. Bryan Company, printers, 1893) Page 9* Spear, Burton W. Search for the Passengers of the Mary & John, 1630.Vol. 17: West Country Ancestries, 1620-1643, Part 1, published by theMary & John Clearinghouse, 1992.* https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/112019/person/-123... https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/2300270/person/866... Residence place: Franklin, MA; Arrival date: 1638 Arrival place: MA* https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/16692088/person/11... Allen Willard. Longmeadow (Mass.) Families, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass.) Vol. 32, Page 302-3