Thomas Burnham

Thomas Burnham (1617 - June 24, 1688) was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. A lawyer and landowner, he arrived in the American Colonies in 1637, and lived most of his adult live in Connecticut. He was among the earliest puritan settlers in Connecticut, living in Podunk and finally settling in Hartford, Connecticut. He purchased most of the land covered by the current towns of South Windsor, Connecticut and East Hartford, Connecticut. He was the first American ancestor of a large number of Burnhams. He died in Hartford at age 71.

Immigration to America

Burnham sailed from Gravesend, England on November 20, 1635. According to records, he "imbarqued for the Barbadoes, in the Expedition, Peter Blacklee, Master, took the oath of Allegiance and Supremacy, Examined by the Minister of the town of Gravesend." He arrived near Hartford, Connecticut in 1637 and started practice as a lawyer.

In 1659 he purchased from Tan-tonimo, Chief sachem of the Potunke Native Americans, a tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford, on which he afterward lived, and a part of which is still in possession of his descendants. He held this land under a deed from Tanto-nimo, and later in 1661, by a deed from six of the latter's successors and allies, by which they renounce "all our right and title in those lands aforesayd unto Thomas Burnam and his heirs."

The possession of this land led to endless lawsuits, supported by the government, and it was ordered to be divided. Burnham refused to give it up, however, and the contest continued for many years. It resulted finally in the appointment in 1688, at a town meeting of the inhabitants of Hartford, "of a Committee in behalf of this town, to" treat with Thomas Burnham, Senior, upon his claim to the lands on the East side of the Great River." He erected a house on these lands at Potunke, which was one of five, on the east side of the Connecticut, to be fortified and garrisoned during the Indian war of 1675. In 1649-56-59-60, he appears as plaintiff in court, and usually argued his own cases.

Before his death he had divided the greater part of his estate among his children by deed, with the condition that it should remain in the family.

Family

He married Anna Wright Burnham (1620 - August 4, 1703) in Hartford in 1639. The daughter of Captain Richard Wright, she was born in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut and died in Hartford at the age of 83. Their children were all born in Hartford:

* Elizabeth Burnham (1640 - December 2, 1720)
* Mary Burnham (1642 - January 25, 1720)
* Anna (Hannah) Burnham (1644 - March 1716/17)
* Thomas Burnham (April 16, 1646 - March 19, 1726)
* John Burnham (1648 - April 20, 1721)
* Samuel Burnham (1650 - April 12, 1728)
* William Burnham (1652 - December 12, 1730)
* Richard Burnham (1654 - April 28, 1731) - A blacksmith, he got into trouble mending guns for the native Americans.cite book |last=Hinman |first=Royal Ralph | title =Catalogue of the first Puritan settlers of the colony of Connecticut | publisher =Case, Tiffany and Co|location=Hartford| date =1852 |oclc=] Frederick Russell Burnham is one of his descendents.
* Rebecca Burnham (1656 - ???)

The descendents of Thomas Burnham have been noted in every American war, including the French and Indian war.cite book | title =Press Reference Library: Notables of the West | publisher =International News Service |location=New York| date =1915 |oclc=5532411]

References

* "The Burnham family; or Genealogical records of the descendants of the four emigrants of the name, who were among the early settlers in America", by Roderick Henry Burnham (1816)

Persondata
NAME=Burnham, Thomas
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=A lawyer and landowner, he arrived in the American Colonies in 1637, and lived most of his adult live in Connecticut
DATE OF BIRTH=1617
PLACE OF BIRTH=Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England
DATE OF DEATH=June 24, 1688
PLACE OF DEATH=Hartford, Connecticut, USA