Descendants of Isaac Burlingame

Generations in McKean County, PA Beginning with Isaac Burlingame

This page provides brief biographical information about the male lineage of the Burlingames in McKean County who descended from Isaac Burlingame. More information about each generation of this family line can be found on individual pages found on this Website. This additional information includes documents, photographs, digital ephemera and other forms of historical documentation.

Seventh Generation: Isaac Burlingame (Josiah, Silas, Moses, Moses, Thomas, Roger):

Birth: 3 MAY 1794 in New Berlin, Chenango Co., NY

Death: 8 MAY 1868 in Utica, Oneida Co., NY, burial at Forest Hill Cemetery

Occupation: Stone Mason, Tailor

Children

1. Hiram Wolcott Burlingame b: 3 MAR 1818 in Sergeant Twp., McKean Co., PA

2. Emily Preston Burlingame b: FEB 1820 in Norwich Twp., McKean Co., PA

3. Amanda Elvira Burlingame b: 27 OCT 1815

4. Laura Ann Burlingame b: 1821 in Pennsylvania

5. Delos Burlingame b: 22 SEP 1829 in Keating Twp., McKean Co., PA

Isaac and Sophronia (Wolcott) Burlingame, natives of New York State, came to McKean county in 1815 with Timothy Wolcott and others, and settled in Norwich township (then Sergeant township) in the year 1816; it was what is known among the old settlers as "the cold season;" the crops were all destroyed, and Isaac Burlingame, in company with Timothy Wolcott, went in a canoe to Pittsburgh for provisions, taking six weeks to make the trip. Isaac Burlingame was one of the party who were pushing a canoe load of potatoes up what is now known as "Potato creek," and tipped the load over in the creek, from which incident the stream derived its name.

Isaac was the son of Josiah and Martha (Brewster) Burlingame born New Berlin, NY May 3, 1794 died Utica, NY May 18, 1868 married, Burlington Greens, NY May 8, 1814 Sophronia Wolcott born Burlington Greens, Otsego Co., NY August 20, 1794 daughter of Timothy Wolcott. [Though the Nelson Burlingame history version indicated that Timothy Wolcott was a "near relative of Oliver Wolcott, it was determined that this was untrue. In fact, Sophronia's father was descended from Jonathon Walcott, head of the town militia in Salem, Mass. in the 1690's. His daughter, Mary Walcott, was a primary accuser of several Salem area residents who were executed for witchcraft. In 1815 Isaac and his family removed to Sergeant Township, McKean Co., PA and in 1818 settled on a farm near Smethport, PA. [Actually Isaac's homestead was in what was then called Sergeant Twp, now called Norwich Twp near the present day village of Betula.] In the year 1815, a volcanic eruption of Mt. Tambura resulted in a temporary climate change in the northern hemisphere. The following year 1816 was known as the "year without winter" or by old timers in northern PA as the "cold season". In 1816 he traveled by canoe to Pittsburgh with his father-in-law Timothy Walcott taking six weeks to make the trip to bring back critical food supplies. Burlingame was one of a party pushing a canoe loaded with potatoes along what is now known as "Potato Creek," and tipped the canoe over in the creek from which incident the stream derived its name. According to oral history, Seneca Indians watching from the shore uttered their word for potato "Nunundah" which is the name today for the Smethport High School Yearbook. In a December, 1981 audio tape interview, Gertrude Burlingame noted that the canoe tipped at 'Burbank Hollow' near Smethport. In 1840 he removed to Utica, NY where he died. [In 1997, Philip Burlingame located his grave site in Forest Hills Cemetery in Utica. At the base of his gravestone was the name of his previously unknown second wife -- Eliza. He was a farmer and stone mason. [Isaac built the foundations for the first school in Smethport, the first jail and the first Courthouse. In 1829 he plastered the inside walls of a home in Smethport belonging to prominent attorney Orlo J. Hamlin. An existing receipt signed by Isaac from the job indicates Isaac was paid $9 on May 29, 1829 for the work.] Their children were: Amanda Elvira, Hiram Wolcott, Emily Preston, Laura Ann, Esther E. and Deloss Isaac. [Sophronia (Wolcott) Burlingame is buried in Colegrove Cemetery near Smethport. She died December 18, 1871 as noted on her tombstone ("aged 77 years, 7 months and 8 days" "Gone to thy peaceful rest For thee we need not weep Since thou art not by sorrows pressed But hushed in quiet sleep").

Eighth Generation: Hiram Wolcott Burlingame (Isaac, Josiah, Silas, Moses, Moses, Thomas, Roger):

HIRAM (H. W.) BURLINGAME, farmer, Kasson, PA

"Hiram Wolcott Burlingame was born in Sergeant township, McKean Co., Penn., March 3, 1818, on the old farm now owned by George Burdick (c. 1890). His father was a mason by trade, and H.W. worked with him until February 26, 1841, when he married Miss Sally Rifle, a daughter of Amos Rifle, of Norwich township, and then began life for himself. They reared a family of four children, viz.: H.L. (Herman Leroy), living in Smethport; Wilbur, (died from pneumonia in a Confederate prison camp during the Civil War, Hampton, VA), Amanda, wife of James Barnes, of Michigan, and Arabella C., wife of Lucas Wilson, of Ludington, Mich. Mr. Burlingame, after his marriage, resided in Norwich township until 1848, when he sold out and came to Hamlin township.

His wife died in 1849, and in June of the same year he married Miss Casandana King, a daughter of Joseph P. and Harriet (Berry) King, natives of New York State, who came to McKean county among the early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Burlingame have a family of five children, viz.: Carlton K.; Millie J., wife of E.L. Olmsted, Norwich; George D., deceased; Effie and Royal H., who reside with their parents. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Burlingame has built by contract many of the roads in Hamlin township, and has been an enterprising and successful business man. He has held various township offices, including those of State road commissioner, supervisor, school director, town clerk, auditor and postmaster." - Source: History of the Counties of McKean, Cameron, Elk and Potter Pennsylvania, 1890.

"Hiram was the son of Isaac and Sophronia (Wolcott) Burlingame born in Norwich Twp, McKean Co., PA (the Isaac Burlingame family farm was later sold to George Burdick, and then to Andersons) married Feb 26, 1841 Sarah "Sally" Rifle born Hamlin Township, McKean Co., PA May 4, 1818 died Kasson, PA April 24, 1849; married secondly Cassandana King born May 20, 1831 died Sept. 17, 1892. Sally Rifle was the daughter of Amos Rifle of Norwich Twp. He worked first with his father as a farmer and stone mason. In 1848 he sold out and moved to Hamlin Twp and his first wife died the following year. Their children were Herman Leroy, Wilbur Deloss (died from pneumonia serving in Co H, 58th Infantry at GH Fort Monroe, Virginia in the Civil War), Amanda Matilda, and Arabella Christina, by second marriage: Carlton King, George Dayton, Milly June, Effie May and Royal Hiram Ernest. Casandana King was the daughter of Joseph P. and Harriet (Berry) King, natives of New York State, who came to McKean County among the early settlers. Hiram was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He built by contract many of the roads in Hamlin Twp and was noted to be an enterprising and successful businessman. he held various township offices including those of State road commissioner, supervisor, school director, town clerk, auditor and postmaster." - Source: Nelson Burlingame

Ninth Generation: Herman Leroy Burlingame (Hiram, Isaac, Josiah, Silas, Moses, Moses, Thomas, Roger):

Herman Leroy Burlingame was the son of Hiram Wolcott and Sarah "Sally" (Rifle) Burlingame born Kasson, PA June 10, 1842 died Smethport, PA August 14, 1931 married August 18, 1862 Alice Stark born March 29, 1843 died Smethport, PA June 16, 1928 daughter of Warren and Fanny (Bunce) Stark. Herman Leroy enlisted in the Union Army on his wedding day. He earned the rank of Corporal and was assigned to Company G of the 150th Pennsylvania Regiment (known as one of the three Bucktail Regiments). On July 1, 1863 he was wounded in the heel at Gettysburg. An account recorded by a young Gettysburg resident named Henry Jacobs ("Eyewitness" at GNMP archives) notes that H.L. was helped into the town of Gettysburg after being wounded. He was hidden in the Jacobs basement at Middle and Washington streets in Gettysburg with two other unwounded Union solders. Confederates conducted search and first took the two unwounded men into custody, and then returned for H.L. He was taken to Libby Prison in Virginia where his wound was cauterized. After the war, he was a farmer, resided in Kasson, PA. The children were: Florence I., Wilbur W., Clifford Herman, Lydia Frances and Marion. It was alleged (by the late Gertrude Burlingame) that he died in 1931 after his war wound (which never properly healed) resulted in a septic infection causing his death -- likely making him the last Union veteran to die from a battle wound.

Tenth Generation: Clifford Herman Burlingame (Herman Leroy, Hiram, Isaac, Josiah, Silas, Moses, Moses, Thomas, Roger):

Clifford Herman was the son of Herman Leroy and Alice (Stark) Burlingame born Smethport, PA December 5, 1868 died Medina, NY April 4, 1930 when visiting his son, Philip Creighton Burlingame. Clifford died while he was overcome by smoke in a house fire at the home of his son Philip Creighton Burlingame. The fire occurred at 1:00 am from faulty wiring in a rear shed on the house. Clifford rescued his grandson but was overcome by smoke.ly members. Fred Burlingame, Jr. reported that his body was found collapsed on a bed with his hand print outlined in smoke damage on the bedpost. Fred Jr. also passed on the family story of Clifford's funeral -- which was held at the home of his son Fred Burlingame, Sr. on Bank Street in Smethport. when HL Burlingame looked upon his son Clifford at the funeral, the old Civil War veteran wept saying "My poor little Cliffy, my poor little Cliffy." Clifford was laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery, Smethport, PA,. Clifford married September 28, 188? Clarissa Landenberger, who came from Lancaster County. Clifford Herman was a contractor and builder, and for a time, resided in Smethport, PA. Their children were: Frederick Clifford, Philip Creighton and Herman Elvin (nicknamed Finny due to an incident in youth when he was thrown into a creek and thrashed about trying to swim).

Eleventh Generation: Frederick Clifford Burlingame, Sr: (Clifford Herman, Herman Leroy, Hiram, Isaac, Josiah, Silas, Moses, Moses, Thomas, Roger):

Frederick Clifford Burlingame, Sr. was the son of Clifford Herman and Clarissa Minerva (Landenberger) Burlingame born Smethport, PA January 31, 1890 married December 27, 1919 Gertrude Cooper born Portville, Cattaraugus, Co. NY February 5, 1896, daughter of Horace Paige and Flora (Trumball) Cooper. Resided Smethport, PA where their children were born. They were: Eugenia (Infant born April 10, 1920 – died May 6, 1920) Frederick Clifford Jr. (deceased), Glenna Jean and Mary Louise (deceased). Frederick worked as a tool dresser for the oil industry and was an independent oil well driller. (Their first child was Eugenia, died as an infant and buried in the family section in Rose Hill Cemetery, Smethport, PA.)

Source for some of this material : Nelson Burlingame Manuscript (Original copy is in the Providence, RI library).