Burgess, Jacob

Jacob BURGESS (bef. 1720 - aft. 1800) and Ruth WOOD (1719 - 1793)

The parents of Dennis BURGESS were Jacob 81 BURGESS and Ruth WOOD, of Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony. They were married on 5 Nov 1738 in Yarmouth, moved to Middleborough, Plymouth Colony in 1741, appeared in Carmel, NY in 1757, and settled in Lanesborough, MA. They had at least 5 children.

I'll use the numbering system of [BG]. Dennis is Dennis 242, his father is Jacob 81, and his father is Jacob 11. There are some doubts about Jacob 81 and his parents, explored below.

There is some doubt as to whether Jacob 81 was a son of Jacob 11 or his brother Samuel 10 BURGESS, who with his wife Elizabeth, had several children in Yarmouth, including Jacob 76 BURGESS, born 10 Oct 1712. It is possible that Jacob 81 is really Jacob 76. Also, one Jacob was referred to as Jacob Jr.

Whether Jacob 81 was a son of Jacob 11 and Sarah, or Samuel 10 and Elizabeth, his grandparents were John 2 BURGESS and Mary WORDEN, and his great-grandfather was Thomas BURGESS the Pilgrim.

Jacob and Ruth

Ruth WOOD's gravestone in Center Cemetery, Lanesborough is inscribed: "Mrs Ruth, wife of Deacon Jacob Burges, died May 25, 1793, in her 74 year". So she was 73, born between 25 May 1718 and 24 May 1719.

[There was another Ruth WOOD, daughter of John and Ruth WOOD, baptized on 29 Sep 1717 in Boxford, Essex, MA, but I believe she married James ANDREWS on 18 Feb 1747/48 in Boxford.]

Jacob BURGES married on 5 Nov 1738 (or 28 Nov), in Yarmouth, to Mrs. Ruth WOOD. This implies that Ruth had been married before. She was 19 or 20, when they married. They had at least 5 children. Jacob became known as Deacon Jacob BURGESS in Lanesborough.

Jacob's birth and death dates are much less certain. We might guess that he was about the same age as Ruth. There are 2 records for Jacob BURGE/BURGES/BURGESS at about the right time and place. Jacob BURGES was born 10 Oct 1712 in Yarmouth, son of Samuel and Elisabeth. This matches Jacob 76, mentioned above. One Jacob BURGE was born 9 Nov 1715 in Sandwich, near Yarmouth, to Jacob and Mary. Recall that Jacob 81 had parents Jacob and Sarah. So neither of these matches exactly.

To be clear: the records above don't match Jacob 81 exactly, but either may refer to our Jacob BURGESS, father of Dennis.

It may be suspected that [BG] above is incorrect about Jacob 11 and Sarah. However, Jacob BURGESS and Sarah BURGES have gravestones in Worden Cemetery, East Dennis, Barnstable, MA. The dates on the stones are not legible, and the poster on FindaGrave relies on [BG]. It's not clear whether the stones were side-by-side, but Sarah's stone does say "Mrs Sarah Burges wife of Mr Jacob Burges".

The First US Census, taken in 1790, has household of 10 in Lanesborough, MA, with head Jacob BURGIS or BURGES. This is probably Jacob 81. The 4 males under 16 are probably grandsons.

The 1800 US Census has Jacob BURGES in Williamstown, not far from Lanesborough. He is head of a household of 2, a male and a female, both 45 or over. They are listed next to Josiah BURGESS and family. (See below.) Since Ruth had died in 1793, perhaps Jacob had remarried. At any rate, this suggests that Jacob 81 was still living in 1800.

BURGESS places in New England

I sometimes use the abbreviation MA for places that became part of the US State of Massachusetts, after the Revolution. Of course, they were in Massachusetts Bay Colony or Plymouth Colony before the Revolution.

Jacob 81 BURGESS and his wife, Ruth WOOD, were "of Yarmouth", which was in Plymouth Colony. Today the town of Yarmouth is in Barnstable County, on the Cape Cod peninsula. Yarmouth was incorporated into the Plymouth Colony in 1639, so it was well-established by the time Jacob and Ruth were born.

The family moved about 40 miles NW, to Middleborough, in 1741, as shown by church records. Middleborough (Middleboro) was incorporated in Plymouth Colony in 1669.

They were in Carmel, Putnam, NY on 31 Jul 1757 when their son Dennis BURGESS was baptized.

After 1757, the family moved to Lanesborough, which is now in the NW corner of MA, part of Berkshire County. Lanesborough (Lanesboro) was first settled by Europeans in 1753, and incorporated into Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1765.

Revolutionary soldiers from Lanesborough: Benjamin, Dennis, Jacob, Seth BURGESS. [HTL, Appendix IX, p. 122]

Descendants of Jacob 81 and Ruth

81. Deacon Jacob BURGESS, b. bef. 1720, d. aft. 1800
+ Ruth WOOD, b. abt. 1719, m. 5 or 28 Nov 1738 in Yarmouth, d. 25 May 1793 in Lanesborough, age 73
238. Abigail BURGESS
+ AUSTIN
239. Hannah BURGESS, bapt. 2 Aug 1741 in Middleborough, d. aft. 1781
+ Bethuel BAKER, b. 28 Nov 1735, in Yarmouth, MA, m. abt. 1759, d. aft. 1790
240. no name (I think this is the same person as 242.)
241. Josiah BURGESS b. bef. 1755, d. Mar 1804 in Lanesborough
+ Rachel KEELER b. bef. 1755, m. 3 May 1771 in Pittsfield, Berkshire, MA, d. aft. 1804
242. Dennis BURGESS, bapt. 1757 in Carmel, Putnam, NY, d. May 1810 in Bastard (now Rideau Lakes), Leeds, Ontario, Canada
+ Betsey LYON, b. abt. 1758, m. abt. 1788, d. abt. 1808 in Bastard
243. Mary BURGESS, b. 1752, d. 10 Jun 1839 in Skaneateles, Onondaga, NY
+ Amariah BABBIT, b. 16 May 1743 in Berkley, Bristol, MA, d. 6 Mar 1798 in New Ashford, Berkshire, MA

238. Abigail BURGESS married AUSTIN.

239. Hannah BURGESS was born about 1740, and baptized on 2 Aug 1741 in Middleborough, MA. She married Bethuel BAKER, born 28 Nov 1735, in Yarmouth, MA, and they had at least 8 children, in Lanesborough. They were probably married about 1759, since their first child was born 11 Jul 1760.

Since [HTL] gives the birth dates, I will number the children in birth order. All were born in Lanesborough.

1. Hannah 627 BAKER was born 11 Jul 1760, and married Joshua YOUNG on 23 Feb 1794 in Lanesborough. She was 33.

2. Jacob 623 BAKER was born 23 Jun 1762, and died 19 Sep 1788 in Berkshire County, age 26. He has a gravestone in Center Cemetery, Lanesborough.

3. Samuel 624 BAKER was born 23 Sep 1764, and died 27 Jan 1827 in Lanesborough, age 62. He married on 4 April 1782 in Lanesborough, to Huldah GREENE, born 21 Dec 1757 in RI, to parents Timothy GREENE and Silence BURLINGAME.

4. Bethuel BAKER Jr was born 22 Sep 1766, and died 10 Nov 1846 in Lanesborough, age 80. [The Pittsfield Sun (Pittsfield, MA) Thursday, 14 Jan 1847, page 2] He married (1) on 30 Oct 1803 in Williamstown, Berkshire, MA, to Elizabeth YOUNG, born 12 Jun 1775 in Williamstown, died 2 May 1808 in Lanesborough, age 32.

Bethuel was 37 and Elizabeth was 28 when they married. They had 3 children, from 1804 to 1808. The year 1808 was a difficult one. The youngest child, William Young BAKER, was born 28 Apr 1808. Elizabeth died 4 days after giving birth. The first child, Evolin H. BAKER, died 3 months later, on 10 Jul 1808, at age 4.

Bethuel remarried (2) about 1811, in Simsbury, CT, to Deborah GRISWOLD, born 27 Aug 1776, died 13 Sep 1850 in Lanesborough. They were about 44 and 34. They lived in Lanesborough, and don't seem to have had any children.

4. Bethuel BAKER Jr b. 22 Sep 1766 in Lanesborough, d. 10 Nov 1846 in Lanesborough, age 80
+ Elizabeth YOUNG b. 12 Jun 1775 in Williamstown, m. 30 Oct 1803 in Williamstown, d. 2 May 1808 in Lanesborough, age 28
i. Evolin H. BAKER b. 3 Mar 1804 in Lanesborough, d. 10 Jul 1808 in Lanesborough, age 4
ii. Susan BAKER b. 31 Aug 1806 in Lanesborough, d. 17 Nov 1883 in Williamstown, age 77
iii. William Young BAKER b. 28 Apr 1808 in Lanesborough, d. 24 Apr 1878 in Rochester, Monroe, NY, age 69
+ Mary H. b. 25 Oct 1819 in VT, d. 15 Jun 1900 in Scottsville, NY, age 80
+ Deborah GRISWOLD b. 27 Aug 1776, m. abt. 1811 in Simsbury, Hartford, CT, d. 13 Sep 1850 in Lanesborough, age 74

Bethuel BAKER Jr was owner and proprietor of Baker's Tavern/Inn, in Lanesborough (not to be confused with Baker's Tavern in Beverly, MA). Several newspaper notices announced meetings and auctions in or near this well-known landmark, which was torn down in 1896. He also engaged in the business of wool carding.

5. Abigail 630 BAKER was born 24 Nov 1768. She married Benjamin WILLAR/WILLER/WELLER on 23 Nov 1788 in New Ashford.

6. Jerusha 626 BAKER was born 20 May 1770, and died in Aug 1860 in Cattaraugus, NY, age 90. She married Elexander NASH, born 3 Aug 1769 in Rehoboth, Bristol, MA.

7. Susanna 628 BAKER was born 17 Jun 1772 and Hannah BAKER was born 9 Dec 1773, and another Susanna H BAKER was born 31 Mar 1775, according to [HTL], but vital records say these were all named Susanna. It is possible that the first 2 died in infancy, and they kept trying with the same name. One of them grew up and married a HUBBELL, in VT.

8. Esek or Eseck 625 BAKER was born 24 Apr 1779. His wife was Lodenia [HTL] or Diadamia YOUNG [BG].

Esek BAKER b. 24 Apr 1779 in Lanesborough
+ Lodima YOUNG m. 25 Sep 1809 in Lanesborough
i. James Harvey BAKER b. 11 Sep 1810 in Lanesborough
ii. Jerome BAKER b. 9 Apr 1812 in Lanesborough, d. 8 Aug 1813 in Lanesborough, age 16 mos
iii. Louisa Jane BAKER b. 23 Jun 1814 in Lanesborough
iv. Milton S. BAKER b. 26 Apr 1816 in Lanesborough

9. Abi 629 BAKER was born 19 May 1781, and died 12 May 1856 in Charlotte, Chittenden, VT, age 74. (It seems odd to name a daughter Abi, with another daughter Abigail still living.) She married Elijah PEASE, born 12 Feb 1770 in Somers, CT, died in Apr 1851 in Mill Creek, Ontario, Canada, age 81. They lived in Charlotte, VT and later Potsdam, NY. Elijah was a blacksmith. They had 8 children.

Abi BAKER b. 19 May 1781 in Lanesborough, d. 12 May 1856 in Charlotte, Chittenden, VT
+ Elijah PEASE b. 12 Feb 1770 in Somers, Tolland, CT, d. Apr 1851 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada
i. Capt. Norman PEASE b. abt. 1800 in Charlotte, d. 28 Apr 1835 in Hartford, CT
+ Maria L. b. 1809, d. 17 Mar 1829 in Charlotte
ii. George Lucius PEASE b. Apr 1803 in Charlotte, d. 21 Jan 1886 in Charlotte
+ Nancy Octavia GILETTE b. abt. 1810 in VT, m. 14 Oct 1829 in Charlotte, d. aft. 1880
+ Harriet PALMER b. abt. 1803, m. 13 Sep 1883 in Charlotte
iii. Lester PEASE b. 3 Jul 1806 in Charlotte, d. 8 Jun 1886 in Essex, NY
+ Jerusha EGGLESTON b. 1815, d. 1837 in Essex, NY
+ Elizabeth “Betsey” THOMAS b. 1819 in VT, d. 28 May 1897 in Boston, MA
iv. Elizabeth PEASE b. 1810 in Charlotte
v. Thirza PEASE b. 19 May 1812 in Charlotte, d. 22 Dec 1839 in Blissfield, Lenawee, MI
+ David CARPENTER
vi. William PEASE b. 1814 in Charlotte
vii. Philo PEASE b. 1816 in Charlotte
viii. Mary PEASE b. 9 Dec 1821 in Charlotte, d. 22 Jan 1901 in Adrian, MI
+ Royal BARNUM b. 2 Jan 1817 in Potsdam, NY, m. 31 Aug 1843, d. 5 Feb 1866 in Adrian, MI

Late in life, Elijah PEASE wished to move to Canada and buy a farm. His wife Abi was against this idea, but he was determined. At age 75 or 80 (his birth date in uncertain), he ran off with a much younger woman, Azenath SMITH, and they went to Canada looking for real estate. They checked into a hotel near Kingston, Ontario, calling themselves Mr and Mrs FREEMAN. At the hotel, Elijah died of poisoning. His young companion was suspected, especially since she had purchased strychnine, supposedly to kill rats, and she sold Elijah's horse and carriage. She was put on trial for murder, during which she appeared very sick and weak, even unable to walk. Somehow she was acquitted, after which her heath seem greatly improved. Elijah's youngest daughter, Mary (PEASE) BARNUM, was a witness at the trial.

241. Josiah BURGESS married on 3 May 1771 in Pittsfield, MA, to Rachel KEELER/KEELOR/KEILER, and they had 7 children. They must have been born before 1755. Josiah died in 1804 and Rachel survived him.

The 1800 US Census has Josiah and family in Williamstown, in the NW corner of MA. He is listed next to his father, Jacob BURGESS. Josiah and his wife (presumably) were both 45 or older, so they were born no later than 1755. They appear to have 6 children at home.

The marriage on 3 May 1771 also suggests that they were born before 1755.

Josiah BURGESS died in early 1804, in Williamstown, as his son and widow, Samuel and Rachel, were named as executors of his will, on 28 Mar 1804.

Note: Several researchers have 241 Josiah born in 1739, died in 1828. These are the dates for a distant cousin, 264 Josiah, who went to Fairfield, ME. [BG, p. 43]

631. Ruth D. BURGESS was born 1773 in Lanesborough, died 30 Sep 1850 in Morrow, OH, age 77. Her grave. She married on 6 Sep 1792 in Lanesborough, to Elijah BALDWIN, born 3 Jun 1867 in Berkshire, MA, died 31 Jul 1852 in Morrow, OH, age 85. His grave.

632. Jacob BURGESS, son of Josiah 241 BURGESS and Rachel KEELER, was born 30 Mar 1775 in Lanesborough, and died 15 Apr 1855, age 80. His grave. He married on 6 Mar 1809 in New Ashford, to Mary "Polly" TYLER, born 23 Jan 1783, in New Ashford, died 13 Feb 1859, age 76. Her grave. They lived in Silver Creek, OH and had 3 children. Jacob was a physician.

Correction: Jacob 632 was born 30 Mar 1775, as stated on [BG, p. 39], not 1795, as stated on [BG, p. 77].

636. Josiah BURGESS, son of Josiah 241 BURGESS and Rachel KEELER, served in the War of 1812. If this is the right Josiah, we learn from the records that his middle initial was D, and his wife's name was Hannah.

From [BG, p. 39[, Josiah 636 removed to Caledonia, Livingston, NY, between Rochester and Buffalo, along with his sister Abigail, and his brother, Keeler. He appeared in the 1820 and 1830 US Censuses about 25 miles SW of Caledonia, in Bennington, Genesee, NY.

Josiah 636 and his wife were both in the 26 thru 44 age group in 1820, and 40 thru 49 in 1830, and if this is correct, they were born about 1781-90. They had 1 boy, born 1811-5, 1 girl 1816-20, then 1 boy and 1 girl, born 1821-5, and 1 girl, 1826-30. Josiah 636 was a farmer.

242. Dennis BURGESS was baptized in 1757 in Carmel, Putnam, NY, and died May 1810 in Bastard (now Rideau Lakes), Leeds, Ontario, Canada. He married about 1788, to Betsey LYON, born 1754, died about 1808. They were my 4g-grandparents.

See the Dennis BURGESS page.

243. Mary BURGESS was born about 1752, died 1839 in Auburn, NY, age 87. She married Amariah BABBIT, born 16 May 1743, died 6 Mar 1798 in New Ashford, MA, age 54. They had 11 children, from 1766 to 1791. See [BFH, p. 82]. (There must be some mistake, if she was born about 1752, and her first child was born about 1766.)

Amariah BABBITT was a son of Elkanah BABBITT and his 2nd wife, Mehitable CRANE, of Berkley, Plymouth Colony, now part of Bristol County, in the SE part of MA. See [BFH, p. 47].

Amariah moved to Lanesborough in 1761, and by 1762 he had settled in what is now New Ashford, which borders Lanesborough. New Ashford was first settled by Europeans in 1762, so the Amariah BABBITT was among the earliest. The town was not officially incorporated until 1835.

The BABBITT farm in New Ashford was on the boundary with Lanesborough. Amariah was on the first board of Selectmen in New Ashford, and was a town clerk for many years. He was on Committee of Correspondence and Safety in 1775. On 27 Apr 1791, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts deeded him Lot No. 1 in New Ashford.

References

[BFH] The Babbitt family history, 1643-1900 (1912) by William Bradford Browne

[BG] Burgess genealogy (1865) by Ebenezer Burgess

[HPC] History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men (1886) by William S Pelletreau

[HTL] History of town of Lanesborough, Massachusetts, 1741-1905 (1905) by Charles James Palmer

[LM] Lyon Memorial (1905) by Albert Brown Lyons, G. W. A Lyons, Sidney Elizabeth Lyon, Robert B Miller

Last updated 11 Jan 2023 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.