The Burr Family of Fairfield, CT

Resource Charles Burr Todd

Jehue arrived in the New World via the Winthrop Fleet in early 1630. He has

many prominent descendants including Govenor and Vice President Aaron

Burr. He first settled in Roxbury, Mass and was admitted a freeman in 1632.

He appears as a member of the Church in Roxbury in 1635 about the time he

was made overseer of bridges in the Boston area. He appeared in March, 1635

in general court involved in a dispute with a Mr. Drummer over Drummer's

swine damaging Juhue's corn crop.


Hearing from the Indians of good quality land to the west, he, along with

William Pynchon and six other men made the several day journey to Agawam

(now Springfield) in the year 1636. ; the men on foot; women and children on

horseback.
 

According to the Early History of Springfield - New England Historical and

Genealogical Register by Stearns - an agreement was made for the purchase of

the muck land known as Agawam or Agaam. The agreement was between William

Pynchon, Henry Smith and Jehue Burr and the Indians, Cuttomus, his Mother

Kewenesek, wife of Wenarois, and Wianum wife of Coa.
 

The deed was signed and an agreement consisting of 14 articles was made

between the early settlers. The following abstract is preserved in the Genealogical

Register. The abstract dated May 14, 1636 follows :
 

"We, whose names are underwritten, being by God's providence engaged together

to make a Plantation at and over against Agawam, upon Connecticut, doe mutually

agree to certayne articles and orders to be observed and kept by us, and by our

successors, except well and every of us, for ourselves, and in our own persons,

shall think meet upon better reasons to alter our resolutions.
 

1ly. Wee intend, by God's grace, as soone as we can with all convenient speede,

to procure some Godly and faithful minister, with whom we purpose to joyne in

Church Covenant to walke in all the ways of Christ.
 

2]y. Wee intend that our town shall be composed of fourty families, or if we think

meet after to alter our purpose, yet not to exceede fifty families, riche and poore.

31y. That every inhabitant shall have a common portion for a house-lot, as we

shall see meet for every one's quality and estate.
 

4ly. That every one that hath a house-lot, shall have a portion of the cow-pasture

to ye North of Endbrooke, lyinge northward from the towne, and also that every

one shall have a share of the hassokey marsh over against his lot, if it be to be

had, and every one to have his portionable share of all the woodland.
 

5ly. That every one shall have a share of the meddowe, or plantinge ground,

over against them as nigh as may be, on the Agaam side
.

6ly. That the long meddowe called Massacksick, lyinge in the way to Dorchester,

shall be distributed to every man as we shall think meet, except we shall find other

conveniency for some, for their much cattayle, and other cattayle also.
 

7ly. That the meddow and pasture called Nagas, toward Pawtucket, on ye side of

Agaam, lyinge about four miles above in the river, shall be distributed to every

man as above said in ye former order, and this was altered with consent before

ye hands were set to it.
 

[Article 8th relates to the raising of taxes.]
 

9ly. That, Whereas Mr. William Pynchon, Jehue Burr, and Henry Smith have

continued to prosecute this plantation, when others fell off for fear of the difficulties,

and continued to prosecute the same at great charges, and at great personal

adventure-therefore it is mutually agreed that forty acres of meddow, lyinge on

the south of Endbrooke, under a hill-side, shall belong to the sd. Parties, free

from all charges forever; that is to say, twenty acres to Mr. William Pynchon,

and his heirs and assigns forever, and ten acres to Jehue Burr, and ten acres

to Henry Smith, and to their heirs and assigns forever, which said forty acres

is not disposed to them as any allotment of town lands, but they are to have their

accommodation in all other places notwithstanding.
 

[Article 10th fixes the tax to be laid upon those who should join the settlers at a

later day.]
 

11ly. It is agreed that no man except Mr. Pynchon shall have above ten acres

for his house-lot.
 

[Articles 12, 13, and i4 refer to the distribution of the land among actual settlers.]"

The above was signed by the seven first settlers of Agawam, which they considered

to be in CT rather than Mass. Wm. Pynchon appears as Deputy and Jehue as

Collector of Rates (Taxes) for the plantation. There were four such settlements in CT

at the time; Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield and Agawam. The collectors were

respectfully; Wm. Wadsworth, Henry Wolcott, Andrew Ward and Jehue Burr.

After 8 yrs. in Agawam he removed to Fairfield -to stay- and he represented Fairfield

at the General Court from 1645.
 

As erarly as I643 commissioners had been appointed by the New England colonies

for the founding and maintenance of good schools and other places of learning in their

midst, and in 1666 a plan was presented for a generall contribution for the mayntenance

of poore scollers at Cambridge College." The commissioners referred it to the several

general courts as " a matter worthy of due consideration and entertainment,'' and it

was so considered at the October session of the General Court of Connecticut, which

ordered " that the proposition concerning the scollers at Cambridge, made by the sd.

Commissioners, is confirmed, and it is ordered that two men shall be appoynted in

every Town within this jurisdiction, who shall demand what every family will give,

and the same to be gathered and brought into some room in March, and this to

continue yearely as yt shall be considered by ye Commissioners."
 

The men appointed to this praiseworthy work for Uncowau" (Fairfield) were

Jehu Burr and Ephraim Wheeler. In 1660 he was appointed grand juror with twelve

other important men of the colony, and as such, ordered by the General Court " to

inquire into, and consider of ye misdemeanors and breaches of ye orders of this

Colony, and present all offences to ye next Particular Court."'
 

The succeeding May he was appointed, commissioner for Fairfield, and ordered

to repair to a magistrate and take the oath. He was reappointed May 12, 1664, and

again in 1668, with Wm. Hill as associate. This was his last public service, as later

mention of the name in the records refers undoubtedly to his son Jehu. But little is

found of him in the town records of Fairfield now extant. These records, for the first

fifteen or twenty years after its settlement, are very fragmentary, niany having been burned

by the British in the war of the Revolution. There is, however, in vol. i., p.147, a record of

a land grant to Henry Jackson, signed by Jehu Burr, Commissioner, and dated March 18,

1671. Also p. 202, same vol., this entry, "Jehu Burr having held quiet possession of his

house lot for fifteen years, it is granted him." Also, same date, John Burr received a

deed from his father, Jehu Burr.
 

As the founder of an important and honored family, it would be interesting to know the

circumstances of his death, and his place of burial. Careful search, however, fails to

discover either. We know that he died some time in 1672, from an entry on p.238, vol. i.,

Fair. Records, Jan. 12, 1673, which mentions John Burr as receiving twenty-seven

acres of land by will of his father.*
 

No vestiges of his grave remain. The head-stones of the earlier settlers were of

exceedingly rude construction, apparently quarried by the relatives of the deceased

before there was any regular stone-cutter in the place, and bore only the initials of the

dead and the date of decease. But few of these remain, and they are so defaced

by the lapse of time and the action of the weather as to be almost illegible.

He was probably buried in the old Fairfield burial-ground, or in that at Stratfield,

where many of his more immediate descendants repose. We have no record of

his marriage, nor of the maiden name of his wife. He left four sons: Jehu, probably

born in England, John, Daniel, and Nathaniel, all of whom became the fathers of

families, and lived and died in Fairfidd. No will or distribution of property is found.

* In an article in the N. E. Hist. and Gen. Reg., vol. v., p.472, the late Sylvester

Judd. Esq., of Northampton, Mass., a careful and painstaking genealogist, places his

death in 1650, but a careful search of the Fairfield records (as well as the opinions of

other genealogists) places his death at a much later period.

Major John Burr (c1633-1694)

John lived most of his life in Fairfield CT. His will was dated 19 Mar 1694 and

admitted to probate 6 Nov 1694. Invy. same date. He was prominent in the colony.

He was made a freeman in 1664. Received public office of Deputy (Fairfield) in

1666 and several times thereafter. Appointed Commissioner (Fairfield) in 1679.

In 1690 he took his seat as Senator and magistrate for the colony. Major Burr was

one of the Magistrates presiding, along with Governor Robert Treat and several

others, over a Witchcraft trial. The accused was Mercy Desborough. She was

found guilty and sentenced to death. Evidently the sentence was never carried out

as she was living in 1707 when she was appointed administrator of her deceased

husbands will. He was a Major in the French and Indian war of 1812 and he is

referred to as Colonel in the Fairfield records.

Daniel Burr Abt 1639

May 15, 1668, he bought of Andrew Ward one corner lot with all the appurtenances

thereto belonging: at the same time he received a grant of 13 acres from the town,

and also bought several parcels of land; in 1681 he exchanged with the town 2

parcels of land and bought a large tract; in 1683 he again appears as a large

purchaser of land.

His long lot was separated from Nathaniel's by Burr's highway, and was 24 rods,

23 links in width.

Nathaniel Burr (1640-1712)

removed to Fairfield. Made freeman in 1664 in Fairfield. Constable in 1669.

Rep. Oct., 1692, March, 1693, Oct., 1693, Feb., 1694, Oct., 1695. Petitioned

Gen. Court Oct.14, 1697, as adm. on estate of Eliphalet Hill, for permission to

sell lands of the estate sufficient to pay lawful debts.

He bad several grants of land from the town as follows: "Feb.12, 1669, a

parcel of land in Fairfield, being in quantity 12 acres, 32 rods, be it more or less,

bounded on the west and north with highways, and on the south, with land of ------,

and on the east, with common land." Jan. 6, 1673, " Nathaniel Burr purchased 4

parcels of land, and was granted 14 acres by the town." May, 1682, he received a

grant of land in the old Indian field and bought 5 parcels. Nov.23, 1694, he deeded

to Daniel Silliman I parcel of meaddw land, in quantity 2 acres, more or less,

bounded on the southeast by land of Daniel Burr, etc. These are the on]y

mentions of his name in the Fairfield town records. His long lot was the 38th

from the Stratford line, and fronted on what is known as Burr's highway; it was

26 rods, I link in width.

His will dated 22 feb 1712 was proved 5 Mar 1712. Adm. app. on his widow

Ann's est., 7 Nov 1721.

Daniel and Abigail contested the will, and the estate was not distributed until 1751.

Daniel, Ellen, and Deborah were then deceased, leaving heirs. No will is found. Jnvy.

presented Nov. 5, 1695 His w. Abigail's estate dis. Jan. 25, 1722. The following is a

part of the inventory of his estate:

Imprimis. The wearing apparel

Arms and ammunition £4, hooks £1

Plate prized as money

Lookinglass £1, bed, bedstead and curtains

Flock bed trundle bedstead and curtains

Bed : bedstead beding and coverlids

Cupboard and cushions

Great table and carpet £1 55, chairs, stools, cushions £4

Earthen ware, glass bowl and a little white sugar

Feather bed, bedstead, curtains and valence, bedding, pillows

Gold rainmarker 12s, sheets £2 9s 6d

A set of roller curtains £2 5s, pillow covers £3 6s 6d

Table linen £11. A cushion and cushion stuff 10s

An old table and parcel of swingled flax

Chests £2 15s, a basket and woolen wheel

A parcel of sheeps wool 15s, woolen yarn and tow yarn

Butter and cheese £1 18s, a Parcel of tallow 5s 6d

A pair of andirons; trammels, pots, and fire tongs

Chaff bed, bedstead and bedding £3, curtains and sheets

Old flock bed 15s, feather bed, bolster and two pillows

A parcel of tanned leather and flaxseed

Old casks, 2 sieves, a dusk wheat meal trough

Old bedstead, old chairs, 2 spinning wheels ·

Box iron, weights, scales, pewter platters

Candlesticks, saltcellar, quart pots and flagon

Old pewter basons and porringers

Elves stool, gridiron, clothing, iron frying pan

Iron pots and collections of skillets

Cradle

Waterpails, trenchers, spoons, 2 platters, wooden ware

Warming pan, pestle and mortar and old iron.

COL. JOHN BURR, [CBT FB #25] OF FAIRFIELD, CT.

As it is believed by the descendants of Col. John, that he was the son of

Major John Burr, the following proofs of his identity as the son of Nathaniel

are adduced. There were, in 1705, but two John Burrs in F., the son of Major

John and the son of Nathaniel. By referring to the former's will it will be seen

that he entailed his houses, house-lot, etc., to his eldest son John, and to his

natural male heirs forever. Apr. 29, 1708, the administrators on the estate

of John Burr (dec. in 1705) returned an account of their administration to a

Prerogative Court of that date, which found an estate of L1,146 11s. 3d.,

clear and dividable, and which the Court ordered divided as follows: "There

being one son namely, Andrew, and three daus., Mary, Ann and Elizabeth,

the said son to have a double portion, and the daus. to have equal and single

portions of the said estate." Against this decision Moses Dimon, guardian of

Andrew Burr, minor son of John Burr, of Fairfield, dec., appealed to a Court of

Assistants, held at Hartford, May 8, 1708, and Mr. Peter Burr appeared before

this Court, and was admitted attorney for the said Moses Dimon, and

declared the reason of his said appeal to be because the said order and

decree (I. e., of the Prerogative Court) doth direct to a distribution of certain

housing and lands in Fairfield, as part of the estate of the sd. dec., which do

of right belong to the said Andrew Burr, minor by force of the last will and

testament of his grand-father, Major John Burr, dec., and are therefore no

part of the dis. estate of the said John Burr, &c.," and the Court decided that

the said houses and lands did belong of right to the said Andrew, and should

not be distributed. This proves the f. of Andrew to have been the s. of Major

John Burr. Again, dis. of the estate of Jonathan, s. of Major John Burr, in 1727,

is made to the heirs, and legal reps. of his brother, John Burr, dec., although

Col. John lived until 1750; and, further, Major (afterward Col.) John Burr was

appointed executor of the will of his brother, Daniel, son of Nathaniel, in 1722,

and appeared before the court June 25, 1722, and declared his acceptance

of the trust.
 

These proofs it is believed are conclusive.' He m. about 1696, Delborah,* dau.

of John and Abigail Lockwood Barlow, b. 1674.

HE was a son of Nathaniel Burr (?)and grandson of Jehu Burr the first. of the

earlier members of the family none seem so intimately connected with the present

generation as does Col. Burr. Old men still point out the limits of his farm, the site

of his house, and of the old oak under which he bought his lands of the Indian

Sagamores; and until 1874, a great-granddaughter was living, who retained many

pleasing and vivid recollections of her grandsire. He was born in May, 1673, and

held his first public office in the Colony in 1704, during Queen Anne's war, as

Commissary of the County. The Commissary, it is proper to note, was an officer to

whom varied and arduous duties were entrusted. He was to take and keep fair

accounts of all public charges which should arise in his county by reason of the

war, and to provide for the soldiers engaged in the public service. He was also to

send orders to the several towns, to provide two pounds of "biskett" for every listed

soldier of such town, which was to be made of the county's wheat received for

rates; but if there was none of this in the country, then wheat was to be impressed

on a warrant from an Assistant or Justice. He was further expected to have such

a stock of supplies on hand that in case of a sudden call to arms the public safety

should not be endangered thereby.
 

At the next Court, in May, 1704, he appears as Deputy from Fairfield, and was

continued in this office Oct., 1705, May, 1708, (perhaps in the interim, the Journal

of the House for this time being lost,) May, 1710, Aug., 1710, May, 1711, June, 1711,

May, 1712, Oct., 1713, May, 1713, Oct., 1714, May, 1717, Oct., 1718, May, 1719,

Oct.,1719, May, 1720, May, 1721, May, 1723, Oct., 1723, May, 1724. Oct. 10, 1723,

he was elected Speaker of the House, and again May 14, 1724. He was voted 30s.

each session for his "good services" as Speaker. He was appointed Auditor

May 9, 1717, May 12, 1720, and May 15, 1725. Justice of the Peace and Quorum,

May 10, 1711, May 13, 1714, May 12, 1715, May 10, 1716, May 9, 1717, May 8,

1718, May 14, 1719, May 12, 1720, May 11, 1721,May 10, 1722, May 9, 1723, May

14, 1724, and May 13, 1725. Assistant, May 8, 1729, May '4, 1730, May '5, '73', May

11, 1732, May 10, 1733, May 9, 1734, May 8, 1735, May 13, 1736, May 12,

1737, May 11, 1738, May 10, 1739, May 8, 1740, May 14, 1741, and May 13,

1742. Present in Court as Assistant, Oct. 9, 1729, May 4, 1730, Oct. 8, 1730,

May 3, 173 I, Oct.14, 1731, May 11, 1732, Oct. 12, 1732, May 10, 1733, Oct. 11,

1733, May 9, 1734, Oct.10, 1734, May 8, 1735, Oct. 8, 1735, May 3, T736, Oct.

14, 1736, May I2, 1737, Oct. 3, 1737, May II, 1738, Oct. ii, 1738, May 10,1739,

Oct.11, 1739, and May 8, 1740. Judge of County Court, May 12, 1726, May ii,

1727, May 9, 1728, May 8, 1729, May 14, 1730, May 13, 1731, May ii, 1732,

May 10, 1733, May 9, 1734, May 8, 1735, May 13, 1736, May 12, 1737, May Ii,

1738, May 10, 1739, May 8, 1740, May II, 1741, May 13, 1742, and May 12,

1743. Judge of Probate Court, Dec. 29, 1726, (in place of Joseph Wakeman,

deceased), May II, 1727, May 9, 1728, May 8, 1729, May 14, 1730, May 13, 1731,

May Ii, 1732, May 10, 1733, May 9, 1734, May 8, 1735, May 13, 1736, May 12,

1737, May ii, 1738, May I0, 1739, May 8, 1740, May 14, 1741, May 13, 1742,

May I2, 1743.
 

He was several times commissioned in the military service of the Cofony.

Aug. 4, 1710, he was appointed Major of the forces engaged ill the brilliant

expidition to Port Royal, Nova Scotia. Col. N icholson was appointed

Commander-in-Chief, and Matthew Allyn, Lieut. Colonel. Connecticut's

quota was 300 men. The expedition proved highly successful with the aid of

the British fleet, Port Royal was taken, and named Annapolis, in honor of Queen

Anne, and by the third of November Major Burr and his men reached New

London on their return, as is shown by an entry in the records of a meeting of

the Governor and Council, held at New London, Nov.39 1710 ("Col. Rec.," vol. v.,

p.189) :

"Whereas Major John Burr bath laid before this board an account of money

expended by him for the support of himself and 28 of his company, in their

travel from Plymouth to Stonington, amounting to four pound, ten shillings, and

two pence : Ordered, that Rich. Christophers, Esq. pay unto the said Major Burr

the aforesaid sum out of the bills of credit in his hands belonging to the Colony,

and that he also deliver the said Major Burr out of said bills, the sum of four

pounds more, for the defraying the further charge of himself and his men, to

their several dwellings."

It seems that Major Burr and company were entertained by Capt. John Prentts

during their stay in New London, as at a meeting of the Council, Nov. 7th, it was

ordered "that Rich. Christophers, Esq. pay unto Capt. John Prentts, the sum of one

pound, eighteen shillings, and ten pence, for the entertainment of Major Burr and

his company."
 

In his character as a military man, as well as in his civil capacity, he was several

times entrusted with difficult and dangerous commissions for the State, as will

appear by the following extracts from the Colonial kecords:

NEW HAVEN, Sept.15, 1720.

"It having been represented to this board, that an Indian living near Danbury

called Chickens, has lately received two belts of wampumpeag from certain

remote Indians, as is said, to the west of Hudson River, with a message expressing

their desire to come and live in this Colony, which said messenger is to be

conducted by aforesaid Chickens to the Indians at Potatuck, and Wiantenuck, and

Poquannuck, in order to obtain their consent for their coming and inhabiting among

them, and that hereupon several of our frontier towns are under considerable

apprehensions of danger from Indians, fearing that the belts have been sent on

some bad design : It is resolved, that Capt. John Sherman of Woodbury, and

Major John Burr of Fairfield, taking with them Thomas Minor of Woodbury, or

such other interpreter as they shall judge meet, do repair immediately to said

Indians at Potatuck and Wiantenuck, and cause the said Chickens, to whom

the belts and messenger were sent, to attend them, and to make the best inquiry

they can into the truth of said story, and what may be the danger of said message,

and as they shall see cause take proper order that the said Indian with the belts,

and the principal or chief of the Potatuck and Wiantenuck Indians, attend the

General Court at its next session, to receive such orders as may be useful to

direct them in their behavior in relation thereunto ; and that Major Burr return

home by way of Danbury, that the inhabitants there, and in those western parts,

may be quieted as to their apprehensions of danger from the Indians, if upon

inquiry they find there is no just ground for them."

NEW HAVEN, Oct.11, 1722.

"For conveniency of several members of this court, who live remote, and that

they may within the present week have sufficient to return home, it is ordered that

Major Burr, Major Eells (here follow eleven other names), be a committe' who shall

stay after the court is up, and inspect and take care that the several acts of this

court be truly and exactly entered on the records."

"Governor and Col6ncil at Hartford, Apr.26, 1725.

"This board having intelligence by a copie of a letter from Philip Scheyler of

Albany, that the enemies are all come over the lake, and that it would be prudence

to strengthen the frontiers on Connecticut River : It is considered and resolved, that

notice thereof be forthwith sent to Litchfield, Waterbury, Woodbury, Farmington,

Simsbury, and New Milford : and the commission offlcers of the aforesaid towns

are ordered forthwith to make a view of the arms and ammunition of the soldiery in said

towns, to see that all the soldiers in their respective companies be forthwith well equipt

with their arms and ammunition, according to law, and that they are in perpetual readiness

to defend themselves and offend the enemy, wheresoever they shall be called or directed

by their officers, or by the Governor and Council, or Committee of War. And it is ordered,

that New Milford, Litchfield, Simsbury, Waterbury, and Woodbury, do forthwith set up a

constable's watch in their respective towns ; and the constables of the respective towns

aforesaid, are ordered by the advice of the commission officers and selectmen of the said

towns, to see such watch or watches faithfully kept by such numbers of men, and in such

places as the said townsmen and officers, or the major part of them, shall from time to time

agree to and appoint.
 

"Resolved, that a scout of ten effective, able-bodied men be forthwith sent out from

Simsbury, to take their departure from Salmon Brook at Simsbury and march across the

Wilderness to Housatunnack and Weataug, and inform the sachems of said Indians, that as

we look upon them to be our friends, we send them the news that many of the westward Indians

are come out against these frontier parts of the country, and also that Scatecock Indians are all

drawn off, it is supposed to the enemie and we send them this news, that they may secure

themselves in the best manner they can, from the said enemie: and farther to inform them, that

it being difficult to distinguish them from the enemie, they are forbid to let their men hunt, or travel

in the land belonging to their government, on either side of the Housatunnack River, where we

must send our scouts to discover the enemie that come down this way. And whereas, we have

intelligence from Albany, that the enemie are come all out from Canada, before the Boston

gentlemen got to Canada, and the Skatacuck Indians are drawn off, and there is discovery of

Indians in the wilderness above or north of Litchfield and New Milford : for the quieting and

securing these towns at least for the present, while they get their seed into the ground. It is

resolved, that orders be sent to Major John Burr of Fairfield, from this board, that he forthwith

send out his warrants by order of the Governor and Council that sat this day at Hartford, Apnl 26,

1725, to the chief commission officers of the towns of Fairfield, Stratford, and Milford, and cause

five effective, good, able-bodied men to be detached or imprest in each of the respective towns,

and forthwith to cause the said fifteen men under command of a serjeant by him, said Major

appointed, to march to New Milford, and to attend' the service of guarding, scouting, watching,

and warding, by the direction of the commission officers of the said town of New Milford."

May 10, 1773 he was appointed one of the judges in a Court of Chancery, which had full power

"to hear and determine accounts in equity, and award execution thereon, in all causes and

controversies between the possessors of the bills of the New London Society and the mortgagers,

as also between the rnortgagers themselves, their officers, committees, debtors, or receivers,

respecting said bills, or the doings of said society upon any suit between the parties."

The student of early Connecticut history will recognize this New London Society as one of the

most barefaced frauds ever organized. Ostensibly a sort of banking and general merchandise

concern, it issued indented bills for different amounts, payable in silver, or bills of credit of the

Connecticut or neighboring governments, it being given out that the company had a paid-in capital

sufficient to meet them when due. The bills became a circulating medium and passed into the

hands of all classes; presently it was discovered that the only assets of the company were

mortgages on certain wild lands owned by the stockholders: a rush on the bank ensued, and

the bills became worthless. As was natural a great clamor against the company then arose, and

criminations and recriminations, suits, charges, and counter-charges startled the staid society of the

day with revelations of iniquity hitherto undreamed of. In this emergency the General Court

constituted the above Court of Chancery, with power to try not only suits between the victimized

public and the stockholders, but between the stockholders themselves, who had by this time fallen

into a fierce altercation over the distribution of the spoils. There were other public services pefformed

by Col. Burr, not so important as the above, but worthy of mention. At the General Assembly May 9,

1717, with Peter Burr, Samuel Bells, Jonathan Law, Esqrs., and Major John.Clark, he was appointed

"to return the thanks of this Assembly to the Rev. Mr. Timothy Cutlar for the great pains he took in the

sermon he preached yesterday, and to desire a copy that the same may be printed.

May 12, 1720, he was one of a committee "to deliver into the treasurer's hands the sum of L1320

2s. 6d., being a part of the dead bills brought in by the rate of 1718, taking his receipt for the same."

May ll, 1721 : "Ordered by this Court that a patent be granted to the Hon. Nathan Gold, Esqr., Peter

Burr, Esqr., Major John Burr, Capt. Joseph Wakeman, Capt. Moses Dimon and Lieut. Jonathan

Sturgess, all of Fairfield, and their heirs at common law, to hold a grant of 6oo acres of land, made

to the town of Fairfield, by the General Assembly at Hartford in 1672, for the maintenance and support

of a grammar school to be kept there, and for no other use whatsoever." May 14, 1731, appointed

with Mr. Joseph Whiting to return the thanks of the A5sembly to the Rev. Mr. Whittlessey, "for the

sermon he preached yesterday, and to desire a copy, etc." In 1732, he was on a committee to let

out £3,000 of the bills of credit, "to such persons, freeholders in the Colony, as shall mortgage in lands,

double in value to the sum said mortgager shall borrow." This was quite a delicate task, as the

committee were to be "very careful and inform tltemselves well, that the title to said land is clear,

and that it is at least double the value of the mortgage, and free from encumbrance." Oct. 11, 1733,

a difficulty in the town of Lebanon concerning highways was reported, and he was appointed on a

committee with Matthew Allen and James Wadsworth, to hear and report on the same. October 13,

1737, with Edward Lewis and Ebenezer Silliman, he was appointed to sell rights of western lands

at the court-house in Fairfield.
 

Col. Burr was probably one of the largest land-holders in the State. May 12, 1720: "the Assembly

gave, granted, bargained, sold, and confirmed to Roger Wolcott, Esq. of Windsor, Major John Burr

of Fairfield, John Riggs of Derby, Samuel Gunn, and George Clark the third of that name, both of

Milford, John Stone of Stanford, Ebenezer Fitch of Wind sor aforesaid, and Peter Pratt of Hartford,

being all of this Colony, one certain piece, or parcel of land bounded south on Mansfield bounds

as stated in the patent to that town dated October the 20th, 1703, west upon Willamantick River, north

upon Stafford, east upon Ashford, by a line drawn from Ashford nine mile and half tree, standing in

Mansfield line, southerly of a house set up by Obadiah Abbey, then to run from that tree north, nine

degrees easterly to Stafford bounds, the whole parcel being in estimation about i6,ooo acres, be it

more or less, it being in consideration of the sum of five hundred and ten pounds in current money,

by instruments well executed in the law, secured to be paid to the publick treasury of this Colony by

said grantees ; to have and to hold the same to them, in equal parts or proportions, saving all grants

by this assembly already made of said lands, and regularly laid out and returned and this assembly

further order and enact, that a patent at the request of said grantees under the seal of this Colony,

signed by the Governor and Secretary, be made of the aforesaid land to the said Roger Wolcott, John

Burr, John Riggs, Samuel Gunn, George Clark, John Stone, Ebenezer Fitch, and Peter Pratt for the

firm holding the premises to them, and their heirs forever." Besides this grant he had a large farm

surrounding his residence (which stood on what is now Fairfield Avenue in the city of Bridgeport),

which he bought of the Indian Sagamores, also a "long lot," * and several other large grants from the

town of Fairfield ; to this should be added a large inheritance from his father.

Col. Burr was one of the principal founders of the old North Church of Stratfield (now the First

Congregational of Bridgeport). He was also a principal subscriber at the organization of the St. John's

Episcopal Church, Bridgeport, in 1748. He died in Dec., 1750, and was buried, probably, in the old

Stratfield burying-ground. His estate was valued at 15,288 pounds, an immense sum in those days.

A copy of his will is appended:
 

"April 26th, 1750. Item. My will is that as I have agreed to give my loving wife Elizabeth, by a

marriage covenant dated 29th March, 1727, it shall be performed, I having already paid two hundred

pounds mentioned in said covenant (according to my said wife's directions) to her daughter Mary, the

remaining part of the sum in bills of credit mentioned therein. My will is, that my executor shall pay

to my said wife, the sum of thirteen hundred pounds in bills of credit of the old tenor or equivalent in

new tenor, to make up the principal and full of the money, and my will farther is, that my said wife

shall have the use of my dwelling-house where I now live, and the whole of the orchard adjoining,

during the time she remains my widow, and also liberty to get firewood for her own use in my chestnut

hill lot, during said term, and also provisions for half a year.

"Item. I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Abagail Hubbell the sum of ten pounds in

bills of credit of the old tenor, which with what I have already given her, is to be her full share of my estate.

"Item. I give and bequeath to my loving daughter Mary Smedly, the sum of ten pounds old tenor, which

with what I have already given her is her portion.
 

"Item. I give and bequeath to my grandson Ebenezer Dimon, the son of my said daughter Mary,

the sum of one hundred pounds in bills of credit old tenor, or equivalent thereto, to be paid him when

he shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years.

"Item. I will and bequeath to my grandson, William Dimon, the sum of fifty pounds, in bills of

credit, old tenor, or equivalent thereto, to he paid him when he shall arrive at the age of twenty-one

years.
 

"Item. I will and bequeath to my grandson David Dim on the sum of fifty pounds, in like currency,

or equivalent thereto, to be paid him when he arnve at the age of twenty-one years.

"Item. I will and bequeath to my beloved son John Burr, and to his heirs and assigns forever,

the value of twelve hundred and fifty-eight pounds in bills of credit old tenor, to make him equal to

what I have already given to my son William, and also the sum of four hundred pounds more in

like currency, or the value thereof, on account of his being my eJdest son.

"Item. All the remainder of my estate both real and personal, of what kind so ever, not before

mentioned in this will, I will, devise, and bequeath to my beloved sons John Burr and William Burr,

and their heirs and assigns forever in equal portion, on condition that they keep and maintain my

son Joseph Burr, during his natural life, with good and sufficient clothing, meat, drink, washing, and

lodging and other necessaries.
 

"Finally. I do hereby constitute and appoint my well beloved sons, John Burr and William Burr,

executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness

whereof I set my hand and seal.

JOHN BURR.

"In presence of LYMAN HALL,

RICHARD HUBBELL,

BENJ'N HUBBELL, Junr."

SAMUEL BURR, OF CHARLESTOWN, MASS., (1679-1719)

graduated at Harvard College

in 1697, and became one of the most famous teachers of his time. He was for

twelve years master of the Grammar School at Charlestown, Mass., a preparatory

school for Harvard College, and which had a reputation in the colonies similar to

those of Eton and Rugby, in England. He d. while master of the Grammar

School, Aug. 7, 1719, and was buried in the Fairfield burial ground, where a

monument was erected to his memory, bearing the following inscription:

"Here lyes ye body of Mr. Samuel Burr, Master of Arts, was born in Fairfield,

April 2d, 1679 was educated at Harvard College in Cambridge under ye famous

Mr. Wm. Brattle, and there he was graduated ye first time, ye year 1699, ye second

time ye year 1700, ut moris est, who after he had served his generation by the will

of God in ye useful station of a grammar school master, at Charlestown, twelve

years, upon a visit to this, his native place, departed this life Aug. 7, 1719, aged

49 years, 4 months and 5 days."
 

He was m. to Elizabeth Jennor, June 19, 1707, by the Rev. Simon Bradstreet.

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Burr Family Genealogy

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