Account of John Burbeen

Account of John Burbeen

Author: Joseph Burbeen Walker

Call Number: R929.2 B946

This book contains an account of John Burbeen from Scotland to Woburn, Massachusetts, and his descendants.

Bibliographic Information: Walker, Joseph Burbeen. An Account of John Burbeen. Republican Press Association. Concord, N. H. 1892.

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1660-1799.

AN ACCOUNT OF

JOHN BURBEEN,

WHO CAME FROM SCOTLAND AND SETTLED

AT WOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS, ABOUT 1660,

AND OF SUCH OF HIS DESCENDANTS AS HAVE BORNE

THE SURNAME OF

BURBEEN,

COMPILED FROM THE TOWN RECORDS OF WOBURN, EPITAPHS OF ITS FIRST AND

SECOND BURYING-GROUNDS, MANUSCRIPT RECORDS OF CHARLES WALKER,

ESQ., OF CONCORD, N. H., AND SUNDRY OTHER SOURCES,

BY JOSEPH BURBEEN WALKER.

CONCORD, N. H.:

PRINTED BY THE REPUBLICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.

1892.

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150 COPIES.                No. ..... 

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TO

THE DESCENDANTS OF

John Burbeen,

A SCOTCHMAN, AND AN EARLY SETTLER OF

WOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS,

THIS RECORD OF THOSE WHO HAVE BORNE HIS SURNAME

IN AMERICA IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED

BY THEIR FELLOW-KINSMAN,

JOSEPH BURBEEN WALKER.

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PREFACE.

The surname Burbeen has been spelled variously. In an old deed, bearing date 1696, of John Burbeen to his son James, it appears as "Berbeene;" it is found elsewhere as "Berbeane;" in the probate records of Middlesex county of 1730 as "Burbeen;"--and by most members of the family this last spelling has been adopted.

The whole number of persons in this country who have borne the surname of Burbeen has been, so far as I have been able to discover, only nineteen. In about one hundred and forty years from the time of its introduction it had become extinct. Two reasons for this will be likely to occur to persons perusing the following pages, viz.:

1st. The phrase "never married," so often appearing upon them, suggests one. Of the whole nineteen members of the family who have borne the name, but five of its male members are known to have married.

2d. All of John Burbeen's descendants, born since 1746, have come from female scions of the original stock. The blood is still in the country, but is found only under names other than that of Burbeen.

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The following Genealogy has been largely compiled from,--

1. The Woburn Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, edited and arranged by Hon. Edward F. Johnson; and the Epitaphs of the First and Second Burying Grounds, transcribed by William F. Cutter and Nathan Wyman, Esquires.

2. Manuscript notes of Charles Walker, Esq., of Concord, N. H., made about 1830. Mr. Walker was the son of Susannah Burbeen Walker and grandson of Rev. Joseph Burbeen, and had been familiar with the history of the Burbeen family all his life.

3. Sewell's History of Woburn, old Burbeen papers in the possession of the compiler, and sundry other sources of information to which he has had access.

4. For a sketch of the old Burbeen house, or "castle" as it was sometimes called, the compiler is indebted to Leonard Thompson, Esq., of Woburn. His letter describing the same may be found in the Appendix, page 28.

                                        J. B. W. 
Concord, N. H., March 15, 1892.

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THE BURBEEN FAMILY.

FIRST GENERATION.

(1) I. JOHN BURBEEN,1 the first Anglo-American ancestor of the family, was born in Scotland about 1627, and came to Woburn, Mass., as early as 1660^(*) certainly, and perhaps earlier. He was a proprietor of the township, possessed some property, was a tailor by occupation, and seems to have been a devout man.⁽⁺⁾ He married Sarah Gould, April 16, 1660. She died May 14, 1670. He died January 8, 1713-'14, aged about 86 years, and was buried in the

^(*) He "first settled in Woburn, on the easterly side of the hill, a little to the north of Mr. Lawrence's. The remains of his cellar, and also some old apple-trees near by, planted by him, are now to be seen."--C. Walker MS., p. 3.

⁽⁺⁾ This remark has been suggested by items in his will as follows:

"To each and every of my daughter, Mary Houghton's children, a good new bible" etc.

"And further my will is that, my son James shall give his two sons James and John, each of them, a bible out of what I have given him."

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Old Woburn burying-ground, where his gravestones may now be seen. Their children were,--

2-1. MARY,2 born July 2, 1661. She was married February 15, 1681, to Jonah Houghton, of Lancaster, Mass., and died July 20, 1733.

3-2. JOHN,2 born August 9, 1663. Little is known of him. In his will, dated November 15, 1701, his father says of him,--

"That my son, John Berbeene, yt is gone to sea and I am satisfied is lost, if he returne again alive, or any that legally represent him, my executor shall pay him or them fifty pounds" etc.

4-3. JAMES,2 born May 15, 1668. (2) II.

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SECOND GENERATION.

(2) II. JAMES BURBEEN2 (4-3) (JOHN1), born May 15, 1668. He married Mary (???), who died October 14, 1724. He married a second time, but whom it does not appear.^(*) He lived in Woburn, and was a business man of much enterprise. He was engaged more or less in shipping, as appears by charter parties still in existence. His estate was appraised at œ2,038-16-5.⁽⁺⁾

"His shop was in that part of the old Burbeen house which adjoined south, on the old castle, and stood on the ground where Leonard Fowle has lately built a new house."--C. Walker MS., p. 6.

He died September 4, 1729, aged 61 years. His children were,--

5-1. MARY,3 born March 6, 1694, and died July 20, 1733.^??

^(*) 1748, Oct. 27. Mr. Walker attended the funeral of his aged mother-in-law.--Diary of Rev. T. Walker.

⁽⁺⁾ The real estate of James Burbeen, at his decease, consisted of sixteen different parcels of land, situated in six different towns, and appraised at œ1,970. See Appendix, pp. 32-37.

^?? Mary Burbeen left a respectable estate, as appears by her will dated April 12, 1733, and proved Sept. 3, 1733.

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6-2. SARAH,3 born March 6, 1694, died March 17, 1794.

7-3. JAMES,3 born August 21, 1696. (3) III.

8-4. JOHN,3 born March 12, 1699, and died September 5, 1724.

"John Burbeen . . . lived with his father in the old Burbeen house. All that seems to be known of him is that he belonged to a troop of horse, under Colonel Tyng, of Dunstable (who at that time lived in Woburn), and that on the way to Dunstable the party fell into an ambuscade of Indians between Chelmsford and Dunstable, and in the affray he was slain."--C. W. MS., p. 11.

9-5. SARAH,3 born June 17, 1701. (4) III.

10-6. RUTH,3 born March 28, 1708. She married Dr. Jonathan Haywood, of Woburn, February 4, 1735, a man of large property, who died in 1749, leaving one son, Jonathan, who pursued his preparatory studies with Rev. Timothy Walker, of Concord, N. H., and graduated at Harvard college in 1756. He inherited one of the largest estates in Woburn. He left his native town and lived for some time in the state of New York, but subsequently returned to Woburn, where he died in straitened circumstances May 13, 1812, aged 73 years.

11-7. JOSEPH,3 born March 3, 1712. (5) III.

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THIRD GENERATION.

(3) III. JAMES BURBEEN3 (7-3) (JAMES,2 JOHN1) was born August 21, 1696. He was a saddler, and built the shop which adjoined the old Burbeen house on the north. He married Mary Richardson, September 5, 1721, who was a sister to Noah Richardson, the hatter. After living in Woburn many years, he moved to Boston, where he died. He had three sons and two daughters, viz.,--

12-1. JAMES,4 born July 11, 1722.

13-2. PAUL,4 born April 6, 1724. He graduated at Harvard college in 1743, and his name stands the thirtieth on the roll of his class of thirty-one members. He became a man of much learning and an able mathematician. He claimed that he had discovered the great desideratum in mathematics, viz., the squaring of the circle. He entered the army, and was at the taking of Louisburg in 1745. He served under Captain Ebenezer Eastman, of Pennycook, from November 18, 1747, to April 30, 1748. He was

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afterwards with Major Robert Rogers, in the French and Indian War. He never married, and spent his last years in Concord, Mass., where he died June 8, 1795, aged 71 years.

14-3. JOHN,4 born February 9, 1725-'26. He lived for many years in Boston, and was employed in the postal service. Charles Walker says that "after Dr. Franklin took charge of the Post Office Department, he was concerned in transporting the mail." He never married, and died in Boston, October 5, 1759.

15-4. MOLLY,4 born July 6, 1759. For a time she kept a shop in Boston. She never married, and lived by herself. She subsequently removed to Concord, Mass., about the same time as did her brother Paul and sister Sarah. She was a follower of the fanatic, Shadrach Ireland, who was at the head of a company of French prophets. She died October 10, 1799, when the surname of Burbeen became extinct in America.

16-5. SARAH,4 born March 7, 1733. She lived in Boston for many years with her father, and after his death with her brothers. She never married, and was for a time insane. She recovered her reason, and moved to Concord, Mass.,

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where she lived with her brother Paul, and died July 4, 1792.

(4) III. SARAH BURBEEN3 (9-5) (JAMES,2 JOHN1) was born June 17, 1701.

"On the evening of the 12th of Novr 1730 (being the day of the General Thanksgiving) she was married to the Revd Timothy Walker, who had recently been engaged by the Proprietors to settle in the ministry at Penny Cook. Mr. Walker sat out the next day (the 13th) for Penny Cook. Preached there on the 15th. The Council of Ministers arrived on the 17th, and on the 18th of Novr 1730, Mr. Walker was ordained by the Proprietors and Council, Minister of Penny Cook.^(*)

^(*) The large and fertile tract of Merrimack intervale at Pennycook, or "the crooked place," where, as shown by the early maps, the river made three distinct ox-bows in less than a mile. was early known to the Bay settlers upon the coast. It was granted to several companies, all of whom, one after another, forfeited their grants, except the last. This, composed of one hundred carefully selected members, went there in 1726 and began a permanent settlement, which has since developed into the city of Concord, and become the capital of New Hampshire.

This locality had formerly been the head-quarters of Passaconaway, the renowned chief of the Pennycook Indians--a man skilled in magic and of much influence over his people. The Rev. John Barnard, of Andover, Mass., in his sermon at the ordination and settlement of Mr. Walker, spoke of Pennycook as "a Place where Satan, some Years ago, had his seat, and the Devil was wont to be Invocated by forsaken Salvages."

It was far back in the Indian country. Its nearest white neighbors, on the south, were the Scotch-Irish at Londonderry; on the south-west, the settlers at Hinsdale, on the Connecticut; and on the north, the inhabitants of the French settlements on the St. Lawrence.

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"On Monday, the 23d of Novr, Mr. Walker sat out for Woburn, and arrived there on the 24th. After spending a few days in visiting his friends, Mr. Walker and his wife mounted their horses on the 1st of December, 1730, and sat out on their journey for their new settlement at Penny Cook. They lodged the first night at their brother Samuel Walker's, in Wilmington: the second night at Nutfield [now Londonderry], and on the 3d day of December, 1730, Mrs. Walker, with five other women (wives of the settlers), arrived at Penny Cook. These were the first white women who had ever been seen in the town, excepting the wives of Rolfe and Uran, who had lived in the Block House the winter previous.

"Mrs. Walker, in common with her neighbors, endured her full share of privations and hardships, incident to a new settlement in the Wilderness, thirty miles beyond any white inhabitants. During two Indian wars, the settlers were obliged to take refuge within their garrisons, to secure themselves and families from the tomahawks and scalping-knives of the Indians. This confinement was particularly irksome and disagreeable to the female part of the community, inasmuch as it destroyed that friendly intercourse among the inhabitants which is so pleasant and desirable.

"Mrs. Walker, it appears, during the whole of her life, enjoyed the esteem and respect of all her parishioners. She died at Penny Cook, now Concord, on the 19th day of February, 1778. Her monument by the side of that of her husband, is to be seen in Concord Burying Ground."--C. W. MS., pp. 22-24.

Her children were,--

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17-1. SARAH,4 born June 18, 1732, died December 21, 1736.

18-2. TIMOTHY,4 born June 26, 1737. A justice of the court of common pleas from 1777 to 1809. He died May 5, 1822.

19-3. SARAH,4 born August 6, 1739: married, 1st, Colonel Benjamin Rolfe, of Concord; 2d, in November, 1772, Benjamin Thompson, afterwards Count Rumford.

20-4. MARY,4 born December 7, 1742: married Dr. Ebenezer Harnden Goss, May or June, 1768.

21-5. JUDITH,4 born December 24, 1744: married, 1st, Captain Abiel Chandler; 2d, Nathaniel Rolfe.

(5) III. JOSEPH BURBEEN3 (11-7) (JAMES,2 JOHN1) was born March 3, 1712, and graduated at Harvard college in 1731. He studied theology, and is said to have been a popular preacher, but was never settled as a minister. Evidence is found of his preaching in different places, but not, probably, with any view to a settlement.^(*) Judging from the character of a few of his theological books, which are now in the possession

^(*) "During the summer of 1760 Rev. Mr. Burbeen preached several Sabbaths" at New Boston, N. H.--Hist. New Boston, p. 105.

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of his descendants, he must have been a scholarly man, and possessed of a good library for his time.

He married Esther Pool, of Woburn, only daughter of Jonathan Pool, and granddaughter of Colonel Eleazer Flagg. Charles Walker says that

"It is stated upon pretty good authority that Joseph Burbeen, about the time he became of age, became attached to Miss Esther Pool, only daughter of Jona Pool, Esq., of Woburn, whose wife (Mrs. Pool) was sole heiress of Col. Eleazer Flagg. The attachment appears to have been mutual. The Pools, however, disapproved of the match, wishing to have their daughter Esther married to Rev. Edward Jackson, who had been settled about eight years as colleague to the Rev. John Fox, the then minister of the town.

"The young couple, finding their wishes likely to be thwarted, and apprehending severe measures would be resorted to to prevent their union, mounted their horses and galloped off to Hampton Falls, in New Hampshire, where they were married, on the 8th day of October, 1736, by the Revd Joseph Whipple, minister of that town, by license of the Governor.^(*)

^(*) The following is Mr. Whipple's certificate of their marriage, now in the possession of the compiler:

"Hampton Falls Oct: 15, 1736.

"These may certify whom it may concern that Mr. Joseph Burbeen & Mrs. Esther Pool were married on the 8 day of this instant October by virtue of a license from the Govr by Joseph Whipple." 

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"The Pools, upon hearing what had taken place, were much incensed, and would not suffer Mr. Burbeen to come to the house. However, finding the marriage to be legal, they began to relax in their resentment, and soon after cordially recd Mr. Burbeen as their son-in-law, and treated him accordingly.

"Joseph Burbeen had some portion of his father's estate. He was sole owner of the old Burbeen house and land adjoining, which he obtained (probably) partly by heirship and partly by purchase from the rest of the heirs of the estate.

"Soon after his marriage with Miss Esther Pool he removed her home to the old Burbeen house, where they lived together till her death, which happened on the 28th March, 1776, aged 59 years.--C. W. MS., pp. 13, 14.

They had three daughters:

22-1. ESTHER,4 born May 29, 1738.^(*) (6) IV.

23-2. BRIDGET,4 born July 17, 1742. (7) IV.

^(*) "It seems the whole Grannhood of Esthers (being four in number) was assembled at Mr. Burbeen's on this joyous occasion.  The ladies, who met at Mr. Burbeen's at this time, are stated to have been Granny Esther Wiley, of Malden or Stoneham, Granny Esther Green, of Malden, Granny Esther Flagg, of Woburn, and Granny Esther Pool, of Woburn. Mrs. Burbeen's name was Esther, and her infant child, on whose account the Grannyhood met, was named Esther.

"It has been stated in the annals of those times that the following passage of scripture was completely verified on that occasion.  'Arise, daughter, and go to thy daughter, for thy daughter's daughter has got a daughter.'

"It is remarkable that there were six generations (all of them Esthers) on the ground at one and the same time, at Mr. Burbeen's."--C. W. MS., p. 16.

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24-3. SUSANNAH,4 born April 11, 1746. (8) IV.

After the death of his wife, March 30, 1776, Mr. Burbeen lived for a while with his daughters, but afterwards returned to the old Burbeen house, where he lived by himself. He died at Woburn, June 7, 1794, aged 82 years, and, at his own request, was buried in the grave of his grandfather, John Burbeen.^(*)

^(*) "Statement of Col. Leonard Thompson, of Woburn, who was present at J. Burbeen's obsequies."--W. R. Cutter.

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FOURTH GENERATION.

(6) IV. ESTHER BURBEEN4 (22-1) (JOSEPH,3 JAMES,2 JOHN1), born May 29, 1738, married, 1st, Capt. Jesse Wyman, of Woburn, May 1, 1760; married, 2d, Samuel Thompson, Esq., Oct. 22, 1789. Capt. W. left three children:

25-1. JESSE,5 who died Jan. 21, 1807, aged 42 years.

26-2. ESTHER,5 who married Leonard Thompson, of W., Oct. 30, 1786, and died Oct. 2, 1846, aged 80 years.

27-3. RANDOLPH,5 who died April 14, 1854, aged 75 years. After the death of Capt. Wyman, Mrs. Wyman lived with her children until her marriage with Samuel Thompson, Esq., of Woburn. She died Aug. 5, 1818. Esquire Thompson died Aug. 17, 1820.

(7) IV. BRIDGET BURBEEN4 (23-2) (JOSEPH,3 JAMES,2 JOHN1) was born July 17, 1742. She married, Dec. 28, 1759, John Fowle, of Woburn. Mr. Fowle, the son of Capt. John

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Fowle, Jr., of W., was born Feb. 1, 1796, and graduated at Harvard college in 1747. He was for a time a clerk for Col. Jacob Fowle, one of the most respectable merchants of Marblehead, Mass.

He became a teacher, and taught school in his native town from 1758 to 1770, some twelve consecutive years, on a salary of œ40 a year. Some of his pupils became very distinguished men. Among them were Loammi Baldwin, and Benjamin Thompson, afterwards known as Count Rumford. Rev. Mr. Sewell, in his History of Woburn, says of him that for many years he was

"distinguished by way of eminence, in Woburn, by the title of Master Fowle; one whose stern manners, strict discipline, and aptnesss to teach rendered him the terror of all idlers and rogues in his school; but recommended him to the esteem of the diligent and ingenuous, and whom such eminently scientific men as Col. Loammi Baldwin and Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford, were not ashamed, in their younger days, to attend upon instructions and to call their master."--Hist. Woburn, p. 225.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Fowle lived most of the time alone in the Old Burbeen house, a part of which she owned. The last

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three years of her life were passed at Concord, N. H., with her sister, Mrs. Timothy Walker, where she died Dec. 26, 1824, and was buried in the old North Cemetery of that town.

(8) IV. SUSANNAH BURBEEN4 (24-3) (JOSEPH,3 JAMES,2 JOHN1) was born April 11, 1746. She married Hon. Timothy Walker, of Concord, N. H., where she afterwards lived, and died Sept. 28, 1828, in the 83d year of her age. Her children were,--

   28-1. SARAH,5 born Jan. 21, 1764. 
   29-2. CHARLES,5 born Sept. 25, 1765. 
   30-3. PAUL,5 born April 14, 1767. 
   31-4. TIMOTHY,5 born Feb. 2, 1769. 
   32-5. JOSEPH,5 born June 21, 1771. 
   33-6. SUSAN,5 born March 17, 1773. 
   34-7. ESTHER,5 born April 17, 1775. 
   35-8. SUSANNAH,5 born Jan. 4, 1777. 
   36-9. ESTHER,5 born Oct. 13, 1778. 
   37-10. BETSEY,5 born April 15, 1780. 
   38-11. JOSEPH,5 born Jan. 12, 1782. 
   39-12. BRIDGET,5 born Jan. 1, 1784. 
   40-13. POLLY,5 born March 22, 1786. 
   41-14. CLARISSA,5 born July 27, 1788. 

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The foregoing genealogy embraces all the persons who have borne the surname of Burbeen in America --twenty-four in all. For an account of others of the family, who, while they had Burbeen blood in their veins, had not the surname, reference may be had to Sewell's History of Woburn, to Bouton's History of Concord,
N. H., to the Memorial of James Thompson and his descendants, and to the Genealogies of the Hayward and Wyman Families. It has been almost entirely restricted to persons who have borne the surname of Burbeen, which, as has been before remarked, became extinct by the death of Miss Molly Burbeen, October 10, 1799.

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APPENDIX.

I. John Burbeen's Will -

I.

JOHN BERBEENE'S WILL.

In the name of god Amen =

I John Berbeen senr. of Woobourne in the County of Middx. in his Majts. province of the Masstusets Bay in New England, Tayler--being aged, and attended with many Insermetyes of body, and not knowing how soon or sudin my great change may come, I also knowing it to be a Christian duty for a man to sett his hous in ordr. do thersore make and publish this Wrighting my last Will and Testament in maner and forme folowing,(???)That is to say,(???)

I do give my soule to god that gave it me, and my body to the earth to be desently buryed, in hopes of a Glorious Resurection to life againe through the death and Merrit of Christ Jesus my Lord and only Saviour,

And as to that portion of temperall estate, that god of his bounty hath bestowed on me, I give and bequeath as is herein after mentioned,--and after my funerall charges is defrayed, and all my just debts fully payd,--

Impris. my Will is, and I do give unto my son James Berbeene all the housing and lands that I have in 
Woobourne aforsd., that is to say all and singuler what I have given him before in a deed of gift and
deed of exchange, and all thelands yt. I had of   him, by Jabez brookses, by way of Exchange, and the hous 
and ground where I now live, and all my Woodland, on or near Hornpond mount, and all my lots layd. 
out to me in the bounds of Woobourne 

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together with all my Right of Swamp botom hearbidg and Cowcomons all to him his heirs and affignes for ever, 
he the said Jams. Berbeen yealding and paying such leagasyes, as I shall herein after bequeath to my children 
and grandchildren,
2 Jtm. my Will is and I do give unto my loveing daughter Mary Houghton, all my personall estate, yt. I shall 
dye seized of both within doors and without (except one small bed herein after mentioned) and Jams. 
Berbeene my said son shall pay unto my sd. Daughter Mary, the sum of seventeene pounds more, 
within two months after my decease, my meaning is I do give my said daughter all mymoneys and other 
movables after my debts and suneral charge is payd. as aforsd. 
3 Jtm. my Will is and I do hereby order and give to each and every of my daughter Mary Houghtons 
children a good new bible ye. which my son James shall pay for out of what I have given him, and 
4 Jtm. my will is and I do given unto Mary ye. daughter of my son Jams. that small fether bed which 
I Redeemed from Mrs. Dandy, her father paying unto my daughter Houghton twenty and five shillings for it, 
but If they Refuse to pay that twenty five shils. then Mary Houghton shall have that bed, and further my will is 
that my son Jams. shall give his two sons Jams. and John each of them a bible, out of what I have given him. 
5 Jtm. my will is that my son John Berbeene yt. is gon to sea and I am afraid is lost, If he returne againe alive, 
or any that leagaly Represent him, my Execrs. herein named shall pay him or them fifty pounds, that is James 
Berbeene shall pay him thirty three pounds, and Jonas Houghton, shall pay him seventeen pounds, lastly I do 
hereby nominate and appoint my loveing son Jams. Berbeene, and my soninlaw Jonas Houghton, to be 
joynt Execrs. of this my Will, 

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In Witness whereof I the said John Berbeene senr. have hereunto sett my hand and seale, this 15th. day 
of November, and in the 13th. yeare of his Majts. Reigne Wm. ye. d3 over England &. King deffender of 
ye. faith, Annog, Domini 1701: 

Signed sealed and published by John Berbeene 
Senr. to be his last will and testament before us: 

James Peirce              The mark of 
William Bruce                  ?? B                [Seal] 
Jams Converse                  ?? 
John ?? Berbeene 

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II.  LETTER OF LEONARD THOMPSON TO JOSEPH B. WALKER.

WOBURN, MASS., February 15, 1892. 
MY DEAR SIR: The daughter of Mr. F. K. Cragin, who bought and levelled the house, has no dates of any service except that on a note attached to an oak chair, which says, made in 1858. The chair was made from the trimmer, so called, or oaken beam used to support the mantel. It is described as having been eight feet long by eight inches square, very good oak wood. That shows the fireplace to have been spacious. High up in the throat of the chimney was a crosspole of ample thickness to support the long trammels and pot-hooks for sustaining old style cooking-pots. The living-room had a beaufet, beside ample shelves for the pewter ware. The house must have been built about the time of John Burbeen's marriage, say 1660. It must have been forty feet long by twenty feet wide below, and twenty-two feet above. It was never painted. The chimney had two ovens below, showing ample convenience for the large and social family.

Two slaves^(*) are known to have lived with the family, and one, Prince, went to Concord with his mistress,⁽⁺⁾ and died in Woburn in 1825; Cato, the other, was famous as a musician.

^(*) There was still a third, Dick, as appears by the bill of sale, Paper III, on p. 31.

⁽⁺⁾ Mrs. Sarah Burbeen Walker, wife of Rev. Timothy Walker. For an account of Prince, see Bouton's History of Concord, pp. 252, 253.

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The lot is now on Main street, opposite Church street, so called because of the first Baptist church, which stood opposite the Burbeen house, on the south corner.^(*) Referring to the question of tenements, I never knew of only one, yet Aunt Fowle occupied the upper rooms, while N. Hutchinson and wife lived below. He was a shoemaker, and used the cake and ale lean-to, or low L, as his shop. He was an intelligent man, and enjoyed the society of Aunt Fowle very much. The fireplace up stairs was ample, but not so large as that below. I well remember visiting there when about six years old, and admiring the black cat perched on a wooden block in the cosey corner.

I talked with Dr. Cutter, the librarian, but he could not add to my information. Judge Johnson, in his "Researches at Cambridge Court Records," often speaks of lands of the family. They must have been a business people to have carried on the lumber and potash making so successfully. Doubtless the college studies of the sons at Harvard gave the family the best known methods in chemicals of that day. The abundant well near the kettle-house was always known as the potash well. The cellar and foundations were near it, and to be seen plainly in my school days.

The luxuriant elm in front should be prominent, and the wide stone walk from door to street line. It was of natural stones, of large size. The lower ceiling was filled with huge bricks in clay mortar, in the garrison-house style of that period.

^(*) This house stood at the corner of Main and Plympton streets, facing the north-east. There was at one time an addition at the south end as well as at the north. It was built at two different times, the southerly section, containing the chimney, being the oldest. While it may now be impossible to ascertain the precise dates of their erection, it was evidently an old colonial, seventeenth century structure. Ancient deeds indicate that it was built between 1660 and 1694. It was taken down in 1858.

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I shall be pleased to search for you in any direction for other facts or legends, but of these last you are no doubt better posted far than I. Any facts relating to our coming Centennial we shall appreciate very much, hoping we may all meet to enjoy it.

With kind regards to your family,

Yours very truly, 

 L. THOMPSON. 
 HON. J. B. WALKER, 
 Concord, N. H. 

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III.  BILL OF SALE OF NEGRO BOY DICK, BY JOHN DESILVEIR, TO JOSEPH BURBEEN.

Know all men by these Presents that I John Desilveir of Boston in the County of Suffolk in his Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Marriner for and in Consideration of the Sum of Forty-four pound Lawful money to me in hand paid & Secured by Joseph Burbeen of Woburn in the County of Middlesex and Province above Said Gentleman I have therefore Sold Delivered & made Over unto him the Said Joseph his Heirs and assigns forever freely and Clearly a Certain Negro Boy named Dick Judged to be about Fourteen years of Age which I lately brought into this Conterey and I hereby declare for my Self that I am the Sole & Lawful owner of the above Said Boy and will warrant Secure and Defend him against the Claims of me the Said Desilveir my Heirs Executors or administrators or aney other person or persons whatsoever as in Witness hereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seal this Twenty Seventh day of July 1759

Signed Sealed & Delivered |  John Desilveir 
in presence of us         |                 [SEAL] 
John Burbeen 
Ebenezer Stevens 

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IV.  INVENTORY OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES BURBEEN, NOVEMBER 3, 1729.

AN INVENTORY of the Estate of James Burbeen late of Woburn in the County of Middlesex Deced Taken by us the Subscribers Novembr 3d 1729. as follows Vizt.

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  Benja Wyman   | Appng Sworn 
  Jacob Fowle   | before Jus: Poole. 
  John Russell  | 

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Middsexpt Camb: Decr 1st 1729. 
James Burbeen Adminr on the Estate of the aforenamed Deced presented the foregoing and made Oath that 
the Same contains a true and perfect Inventory of Sd Deced Estate as yet come to his Hands or knowledge 
and if more appears  he will Cause the Same to be added. 

JONA REMINGTON JD PROBTE 
Entred ?? Fra: Foxcroft Regr 
A true Copy from the Registry of Wills ete 
For the County of Middx Libr 18 pae 621,2,3. 
Attessd ?? FRA: FOXCROFT REGR 

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V.  REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO MAKE AN INVENTORY OF THE REAL ESTATE OF JAMES BURBEEN, IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, MASS., JUNE 19, 1730.

Pursuant to the Commission to us the Subscribers directed for the Inventorying & Dividing the Real Estate of Mr James Burbeen late of Wobourn Dece'd, which lyes in the County of Middlesex; We have Inventoried the Same as Shown to us by the Administr and is as followeth--Vizt.

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Then notice was given to the Heirs of Age & Guardians of minors to meet in order for an Agreement, And we then Signified to them our Proceedings as above--but they not Agreeing, We therefore proceeded to & have set off to Each Heir the Said Estate as is herewith set forth (???)

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TO JAMES BURBEEN, the eldest son, Sundry pieces & parcels of Land all Situate in the Township of Wobourn, one piece thereof being part of the Homested which part contains about Sixteen Rods with part of the House, Said part is commonly called the new House which Stands on Said part of Land--the Bounds to extend so far as the Southeast Cell. of the part called the new House and so through the House between the old House & the new, a paralel Line thro' the back Leento & then the line turns Southeasterly as the Leento turneth untill it cometh unto the Southeasterly Corner of Said Leento, & then turneth Southwesterly as the Fence now Stands untill it cometh unto a Stake in the Wall, & Southwesterly & Northwesterly by Town Land, and Northeasterly by the Country Road.--Also the Barn & about fifty two Rods of Land bounded westerly by the Country Road, Northwardly by Land of Caleb Blogget, Easterly & Southerly by Land of Joseph Baldwin, also free Liberty of drawing Water at the Well upon the said Homested--all which we Inventoried at one hundred & fifty Pounds--

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We have further proceeded to ask all Parties if any thing has been received as Portion--and are not informed there's any thing--And as a Testimony of our joint Consent in the Proceeding, we have hereto Subscrib'd this 19th Day of June 1730. John Brooks his mark O = Joshua Sawyer, Caleb Blogget, Jacob Wright, Joseph Blanchard

Memdm Ruth acknowledged before the Judge to have been advanced by her Father--One hundred Pounds. œ100

Entred & Examin'd by Fra: Foxcrost Regr 

A true Copy from the Records in the Registry of Probate for ye County of Middlesex Lib. 18. Pag. 594,5,6.

Attest. SAMUEL DANFORTH REGR. 

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VI.  DECREE OF JUDGE OF PROBATE RELATIVE TO THE DIVISION OF THE REAL ESTATE OF JAMES BURBEEN, IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, MASS., NOV. 13, 1730.

[SEAL]

TO ALL PEOPLE unto whom these Presents shall come Jonathan Remington Esqr Judge for the Probate of Wills etc in the County of Middlesex within the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Sendeth Greeting

KNOW YE that pursuant to the Act or Law of the Said Province intitled an Act for the Settlement and Distribution of the Estates of Intestates and the Direction Power and Authority to me therein and thereby given I do hereby order and assign unto James Burbeen, Joseph Burbeen, Mary Burbeen, Sarah Burbeen and Ruth Burbeen, the children of Mr James Burbeen late of Woburn in the said County deceased Intestate all those pieces and parcels of Land with the Buildings and appurtenances thereon and thereunto belonging being the whole of the Real Estate of the Said Intestate whereof he died Seiz'd and possessed in the County aforesaid and the Same are particularly Set forth and described in a Commissioners Return by me appointed and sworn for the apprizal thereof and by the Said Commissioners valued at one thousand nine hundred and Seventy Pounds fifteen Shilings, in good Bills of publick Credit on the Said Province as appears by the Return of the aforesaid Commissioners

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in the Registry of Probate for the County aforesaid Libr 19 Pas 594,5,6 To have and to hold the hereby ordered and assigned Land and Premises with the Members and Appurtenances thereof unto them the beforenamed James, Joseph, Mary, Sarah and Ruth Burbeen in Severalty according to the Proportions to them Severally and respectively Set off in the aforesaid Return and to their heirs and assigns forever On Condition that they the said James, Joseph, Mary, Sarah and Ruth Burbeen and each of them their and each of their Executors or Administrators Shall and do well and truly pay or cause to be paid the several sums of money hereafter in this my Decree by them ordered to be paid together with the Interest therefor after the Rate of Six Pounds per Cent per annum to commence on the thirteenth Day of November 1730 and both Principal and Interest to be paid is demanded on or before the thirteenth Day of November which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty one and in all matters the same concerning well and faithfully fulfil this my Decree.

Accordingly I order the beforenamed assignee James Burbeen his Executrs or Adminrs to clear all charges relating to this Settlement Amounting to Forty Six Pounds nineteen Shillings and eight Pence; Then to pay to his Sister Mary Sixty eight Pounds five Shillings and ten Pence half Penny, to his Sister Sarah two hundred and eleven Pounds Seventeen Shillings and eight Pence ha'penny in like money manner and with the Interest beforementioned.

I order the beforenamed Joseph his Executrs or Adminrs to pay unto the said Sarah forty five Pounds eight Shillings and twopence, to his Sister Ruth one hundred and Seventeen Pounds five Shillings and ten pence ha'penny, in like money manner and with the Interest beforementioned, which Said sums together with the said assignees James and Joseph's own shares, the Land Set off to the beforenamed Mary Sarah and

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Ruth, and what said Ruth has had in advance of the Intestate in his life time and the fraction of one Penny comprise the full apprized Value of the said Estate and make each childs Share therein to be agreeable to the Direction of the Law.

Provided nevertheless in Case all or any part of the hereby ordered or assigned Land and Premises shall be legally evicted from the beforenamed assignees or either of them their or either of their heirs or assigns the rest of the Children of the beforenamed deceased their heirs ete Shall refund their rateable parts together with Law Charges.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and the Seal of the Probate Office for the County aforesaid the thirteenth Day of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty.

By Order of the Judge | 
Fra: Foxcroft Regr    |

JONA REMINGTON 

Entred in the Registry of Wills ete for the County of Middlesex Libr 19 pas 223,4

BY FRA: FOXCROFT REGR 

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VII.  ADDITIONAL ACCOUNT OF JAMES BURBEEN, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES BURBEEN, NOVEMBER, 1731.

The Additional Account of James Burbeen Administr of the Estate of James Burbeen late of Wobourn in the County of Middlesex Dece'd Intestate.

The said Accountant waves Allowance in his Discharge as follows--Vizt. 

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Middlesex ss. Cambe Novembr 1731. 
James Burbeen the Administrator beforenamed presented the beforewritten And made Oath that the same 
contains a just & true Account of his Administration on the beforenamed Deceased's Estate--
since the Allowance of his former Account. 
  JONA REMINGTON J PROBE. 

  A Copy--Attestr SAMUEL DANFORTH REGR. 

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Index