History of Lt. Daniel Burbank
(From the Ancestors & Descendants of Lt. Daniel & Mary (Marks) Burbank)
Lieutenant Daniel Burbank, born 4 April, 1736 Sudbury, Middlesex, Mass; died 27 September 1802, Williamstown, Mass.; marriage int., 19 Mar 1764, Warren, Mass., Mary, daughter of Hezekiah and Judith (Hayward) Marks. (She was born 18 July 1740, Warren, Mass.; died 25 February, 1808, age 68 years, Williamstown, Mass.)
Many of the inhabitants of Sudbury took up land in Western (now Warren) Mass., and it is known that Daniel's Reed relatives, thru his mother Mary (Reed) Burbank, were of Warren. He went there as a young man and fell in love with the beautiful Mary Marks. Her grandfather is listed in the History of N. Brookfield, page 680: Joseph Marks, of Springfield, where he had a grant of land located on the west side of the river, dated 2 February, 1685; was a soldier in Captain Bull's company, which was sent to Albany and Schenectady in November 1689, to protect the settlers there against the French and Indians. In a skirmish Joseph Marks was taken prisoner to Canada. He escaped and returned about March 1692, and soon after came to Brookfield, where he received a grant of 60 acres and later 180 acres. His was one of the fortified homes necessary in the Indian Wars of that time. Mark's Garrison stood near the south west end of Wickaboag pond on a knoll below the junction of the waters of the pond with the Quaboag River. It is related that one day Mary, wife of Joseph Marks, being left alone, discovered hostile Indians in the neighborhood of the garrison waiting for a favorable opportunity to attack the settlement.
She immediately put on her husband's wig, hat, great coat; and taking his gun, went to the top of the fortification, and marched backwards and forwards vociferating, like a vigilant sentinel, all's well! all's well! This led the Indians to believe that they could not take the place by surprise, and fearing an open and protracted assault, they retreated. This was the Grandmother of Mary (Marks) Burbank.
History of Berkshire Co. Mass., Thomas Dunton was from Western, now Warren, Massachusetts. So far as can be known, his was the first family to settle directly on the bank of the Hoosac River. For a number of years, Dunton owned house lot 13 and sold to prominent parties the outlots drawn in succession by this house lot. For example, he sold Daniel Burbank, also of Western, the second division fifty-acre lot 56, October 1763. (After he bought this land he went back to Warren and married his wife Mary Marks, and brought her back to West Hoosac, (now Williamstown, Mass.,) and built a framed house of one room.) He soon doubled this farm, buying the adjoining fifty-acre lot 57 half a mile from South Williamstown on the road to New Ashford.
Daniel Burbank was a Lieutenant in the military company of South Williamstown and fought in the Battle of Bennington, Vermont, and his oldest son, Samuel, at the instance ot his mother while the Bennington battle was going forward, put his ear to the ground, and heard successive discharges of cannon. His neighbors crowded around him on his return, wanted to know if he felt afraid during the battle; and he answered, "After they had fired once, and we had fired once, I was no more afraid on the battlefield than I am on the potato field!" He fought in several other engagements during the Revolutionary War.
Burbank's lots were level and fertile and heavily wooded. The Ashford brook crossed these lots not far from their eastern end but a little before its junction with the Hancock brook, and the road to the South crossed them diagonally just about their middle. He had at first but one neighbor, and that was Isaac Stratton, living then in a log house on lot 53, just north of the Hancock brook. Burbank's own axe was the first to make clearings on his lots 56 and 57, and his own plow was the first that ever stirred the rich soil there. He added several parcels of 25 acre plots during his life.
Both Burbank and his wife were original members of the one church and their place of meeting was more than five miles from their home. The roads were rough, and over Stone Hill it was very steep both ways, but it is altogether likely that they were in their pew in the new meetinghouse, after 1768, most of the Sundays of the year; and he was certainly often at the church meetings on week days. History of Berkshire County, page 250, also gives: Soon after the incorporation of New Ashford, just south of Williamstown, into a district, 17 December 1782, it was voted that we will build a house of public worship -- and they chose Samuel Hand, Daniel Burbank, and Gideon Wheeler, Esq., a committee to pitch a stake where said house will stand. The significance of this past proceeding is that the men chosen to pitch this stake were from adjoining towns. Burbank was very active in community affairs and was a very religious and respected citizen.
He owned land in Marcellus, Onadaga County, New York. He probably got it thru his Revolutionary services, but he never settled on it as we will find thru his will -- he gave it to his sons Daniel and John.
His long life of service ended 27 September 1802, aged 66 years, at Williamstown, Mass., where he is buried. His wife survived him a little over five years; however, in that time she never applied for a Government pension on the services of her husband. During her widowhood, she lived on the old farm at Williamstown with her oldest son, Samuel and two youngest daughters, Rachel and Lydia, all three never marrying. She died 25 February, 1808 aged 67 years, at Williamstown, and is buried there.
The will of Lieutenant Daniel Burbank is as follows, which was allowed 4 January 1803, and recorded in Book 11, page 242.
In the name of God. Amen.
I Daniel Burbank of Williamstown, in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Gentlemen, being weak in body but sound in mind and memory blessed by almighty God therefor, taking into consideration the mortality of man, do make and ordain this my last will and testament.
First I give and bequeath my soul to God who gave, and my body to the earth in hope of a joyful resurrection through Jesus Christ my Savior, and the estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me, I give and bequeath in the manner following, viz:
1st. I will that all my lawful debts together with my funeral charges be punctually paid to my executor to be hereafter named.
2nd. To my beloved wife Mary Burbank I give and bequeath one-third part of all my estate both real and personal not herein disposed of during her natural life.
3rd. I give and bequeath to my eldest son Samuel Burbank the residue of all my sd. estate not otherwise disposed of by this will and testament.
4th. I give to my son Daniel Burbank, one-hundred acres of land lying in the Township of Marcellus in the County of Onadaga in the State of New York to be taken from off the east part of my land lying in that Township and --
5th. I give to my son John Burbank all the r6sidue of my land lying in the sd. Township of Marcellus.
6th. To my son Asa Burbank in consideration of his having received an education I give only the sum of ($80.00) eighty dollars for the purpose of purchasing a horse, saddle and bridle.
7th. I give to my daughter Mary Baker the sum of ($300.00) three hundred dollars, including the sum of ($110.00) one hundred and ten dollars which she has already received to be paid within one year after my decease by my executor.
8th. I give to my daughter Sarah the like sum of ($300.00) three hundred dollars, to be paid by my said executor within two years after my decease.
9th. I give to my daughter Rachel the like sum of ($300.00) three hundred dollars to be paid as aforesaid within three years after my decease.
10th. To my daughter Lydia I give the like sum of ($300.00) three hundred dollars to be paid as and when she shall arrive at the age of twenty-one and she is to be supported by my son Samuel until of lawful age.
Lastly I nominate and appoint my son Samuel Burbank, sole executor to this my last will and testament.
Signed Sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Daniel Burbank as his last will and testament this 23rd. day of September in the year of our Lord, 1802.
In the presence of us:
Wm Young
Wm. Towner Daniel Burbank
Ara Roberts (SEAL)
Children:
Samuel born 1 February, 1766; died 2 September, 1844 Williamstown Massachusetts. He grew to manhood on the farm at Williamstown, and probably received as good an education as was available at that time. He never married and upon the death of his father, at the age of 36, he was willed the farm at Williamstown. His sisters Rachel and Lydia, also never married and lived on the farm with their mother. Samuel was to care for his mother until her death according to the will. He died of old age 2 September, 1844, Williamstown, Massachusetts aged 78 1/2 years. He did not leave a will but administration was taken out on his estate and Ebenezer Foster was appointed administrator, 5 November 1844. The petition gives the heirs at law and next of kin as follows:
Sarah Root of Castleton, Vermont, sister of deceased.
Mark Baker of Gaines, Orleans County, New York (ditto)
(Laure) Maria Williams of Deerfield, Massachusetts, niece.) children Mary Weed of LeRoy, Ohio.) of Emily Southwith, Williamstown, Massachusetts.) John Burbank, Cornelia Stearns, Peoria, Illinois ) deceased John E. Burbank, New Ashford, Massachusetts The widow and Children of Daniel Burbank, deceased, supposed to reside in the State of Illinois. (I don't think they ever shared in this estate, by the Author)
Mary, born 30 January, 1768.
Daniel, born 7 May 1770.
Dr. Asa, born 28 September 1772.
Reuben, born 29 March, 1775; died 14 September, 1777, Williamstown, aged 2 years, 5 months, 11 days. He was no doubt named after his Uncle Reuben Underwood.
Sarah, born 18 January, 1777.
John, born 6 July, 1779.
Rachael, born 11 July, 1782; died of consumption 17 September, 1843, Williamstown, Mass., (Unmarried)
Lydia, born 24 October, 1786; died 28 August, 1829, aged 42, unmarried.
Major Daniel Burbank, born 7 May 1770, Williamstown, Mass.; died 27 October, 1832, Meredosia, Illinois, and buried Exeter, Illinois; married 21 March, 1793, Margaret Pynchon at Williamstown, Mass. (She was born 4 January, 1775, Granville Mass.; daughter of George and Lois (Hickox) Pynchon. She was a 4th Great-Granddaughter of Major William Pynchon immigrant in 1530 with Governor Winthrop and who settled Springfield, Mass., and gave it the name of his residence in England. She died 14 July 1826, Exeter, Scott County, Illinois, and is buried there.)
Probably right after their marriage, they settled on the 100 acres given to them by Daniel's father; the birth of their first child in 1794 proves that they were here at least by this year. On 6 September, 1802, one year before his father's will was proved, he sold to his wife's brother Nathaniel Pynchon of Marcellus, New York, for the sum of $96.00, part of lot 21 in the Township of Marcellus, Onadaga, New York, containing 24 acres and 20 rods with all improvements. This was witnessed by his brother, John who had married Mary Kent of Lanesboro, Mass., and was probably living on his 100 acres at this time.
I have not found who he sold the remaining land he owned in Marcellus. His first son, Asa died November 1801, and his third son, Samuel, died 27July, 1800 and both are buried at Marcellus, New York. He had Lester, Sophia and Asa No. 2, when he left Marcellus, New York, traveling on the old Buffalo road to the Holland Purchase Lands which occupied the Western part of New York. In the History of the Holland Purchase, it lists him coming here in 1804 with eight other settlers, among them Zadock Whipple who was his neighbor according to the census of 1800; maybe he married one of the Pynchon girls and was a relative. He purchased land here as follows:
THIS INDENTURE: Made this 28 June 1804 between WIhem Willink, Pieter Van Eeghen, Hendrick Vallenhoven and Rutger Jan Schimmelpennimck, all of the City of Amsterdam, in the republic of Batavia, by Joseph Ellicott, their Attorney to Daniel Burbank of the County of Genessee, State of New York, in consideration of the sum of $256.00 -- sell all that certain tract of land, lying and being in the County of Genessee, State of New York, being part or parcel of a certain Township, which on a map of Survey of divers Tracts or Townships; of Land made for the proprietors of Joseph Ellicott,, surveyor, is distinguished by Township No. 10, Range 2, and on a certain other map, is distinguished by Lot No. 2 in the 8th Section of Township No. 10 -- containing 128 acres.
Somewhere in his early life he learned the Milling trade and may have had a mill on this land.
His son Asa, No. 2, died here 27 December 1804 and is buried here at Sheldon, Ne", York. This left him with his elder son Lester and a daughter, Sophia. While residing here he had four daughters, Loisa, Ave line, Margaret, and Mary Ann. He sold this land in Sheldon as follows:
THIS INDENTURE: Made 26 January, 1811, between Daniel Burbank of the County of Genessee, State of New York and Seymour Brainard of the County of Oneida, State of Ne", York. Witnesseth: That Daniel Burbank for the sum of $600.00 conveys all that certain tract of land lying and being in the Town of Sheldon, in the County of Genessee, State of New York, being Lot No. 2 in the 8th Section of Township No. 10 containing 128 acres, subject to a certain Deed of Mortgage executed by said Daniel Burbank to Joseph Ellicoti as agent of the proprietors of said land, for the sum 6f $256.00, bearing date of 2E June, 1804. (Note: Form this it would seem that Daniel Burbank came to the Hollanc Purchase with but little means or money as from the above record he executed a Deed of Mortgage for the entire down payment on the land which afterward became the town of Sheldon.) This deed was signed by Daniel Burbank and note that his wife signs her name, Margaret B. Burbank. (It should have been Margaret P. Burbank - P for Pynchon.) His signature was witnessed by I. Babcock and Richard Smith. Daniel Burbank and his wife did not acknowledge they executed the deed until 15 February, 1812, which was a little over one year from the date on the deed.
He may have lived on the land until this time in the Town of Sheldon as we find that less that two months later his ninth child was born on 16 March 1811; so he evidently lived on the land or near by until he acknowledged the Deed 15 February 1812.
The proclamation, commencing the War of 1812, was given by President Madison and was carried thru the country by express riders and reached Fort Niagara on 26 June, 1812 and was noised about as they went. Six says after this declaration reached Niagara, we find Daniel Burbank serving in this conflict as a Major in the Second Regiment, New York Militia, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Hugh W. Dobbin. He was in the service from 2 July 1812 to 9 November 1812 at Lewiston, Niagara, New York.
After he served in the War of 1812, it is not found where he resided but presumably in the western part of New York State; however after much research, no deeds can be uncovered to prove that he owned land in New York State after 1812. The remainder of his life story is taken from an old leather covered record book written by his son, Daniel Mark Burbank, and the records of his other son Augustus Ripley Burbank found in the "History of Oregon" by Rev. H. K. Hines, DD.
His last child born in New York was Daniel Mark Burbank, who says he was born 3 December, 1814 Delphi County, State of New York, but as there is nothing like that county in New York, I am wondering if he meant the city of Bethany. When he was a baby in (1815), the father Daniel started West with two other families. They built a flat boat (cutting logs and tying them together and building shelters on top). This was on the Allegany River at a place called Olean Point, it being one of the forks of the Ohio River. They came down the river to Cincinnati, Ohio and settled on a farm near Cincinnati. Here their last child was born, Augustus Ripley Burbank, 15 April 1817. They stayed here until the spring of 1818 or 1819 when they started again on down the Ohio River and landed at a pace called Shawneetown, Illinois, where the government had a land office on the West bank of the Ohio River. They traveled West into Hamilton County, Illinois, four miles West of McLeansboro, County Seat of Hamilton. Their oldest son, Lester, remained in Cincinnati, Ohio where he was a carpenter). Here we lived for some time, when the oldest daughter, Sophia, married Ennis Maulding, 29 February, 1820, McLeansboro, Illinois. Loisa married William Maulding 11 October, 1821 McLeansboro, Illinois.
From this place we moved to Swimming Point in Morgan County, Illinois and then West to the town of Exeter in the same county. Copy of a deed shows on 19 January 1826 Enoch C. March conveys to Daniel Burbank, Lots Nos. 39 and 40 in the Town of Exeter, Illinois, for the sum of $39.75. On 14th of July that year, my mother Margaret died leaving me (Daniel Mark Burbank) 12 years old and August Ripley Burbank, 9 years and 3 sisters older. My sisters Ave line and Margaret then kept house for my father, when my sister Margaret, the younger of the two, married Adam Conrad. They lived in the Town of Exeter and my father moved one mile South on a farm. At this place my sister Aveline married Orlando Kellogg, and shortly after my father married a widow woman by the name of Adams - she having 4 girls and 2 boys. He then brought them home, and my married sister Margaret Conrad moved to another house on the farm. Her husband, Adam Conrad, being a Captain of a Steamboat then running on the Illinois River. My youngest brother August went to live with her. We lived on this place until 1828 when we moved again to the Illinois River near the town of Meredosia. This land belonged to the government and it seems he obtained this land by homestead or thru his services in the war of 1812. He built on the land and improved it. In the year of 1830 with my youngest sister, Mary Ann, I started by water for Cincinnati, Ohio, where my oldest brother lived to learn the trade of carpenter. This left my father alone with his acquired family. He lost the use of his right hand through the brutal care of his wife and Doctor. They sought to destroy him and take away his means. They made all preparations one morning to cut off his hand and when I asked if he was going to have it done, he being very poor in health and confined to his bed, said; "My son, I don't know what is best." I replied, Father don't have it cut off. The doctor told me to shut my mouth and the Old Woman clinched me by the hair of my head and ordered me out of the door. I said, Father, they shall not cut off your hand. So grabbing my little fowling piece, I drove the Old Woman and the Doctor out of the house. My father was about 60 years old and covered his face with a sheet and wept. I sent for my brother-in law, Adam Conrad, and he came and took my father home to his house. There he was nursed back to health, and his hand got well, but weathered down until it was nothing but skin and bone. Here he stayed until after my and my sister had left, and then he also came on to Cincinnati to spent some time with his son Lester.
In the early fall of 1832, he went back to Meredosia and found his wife married to another man by the name of Brown, and his property all used up.
The author has a copy of a deed which says:
I Daniel Burbank of the County of Morgan and the State of Illinois, for the sum of $150.00 paid to me by lsiah Ltites of the same county and state, do sell unto him 70 and 98/100 acres located by the West half of the South West quarter of Section No. 15, in Township No. 16, North of Range No. 13, West of the principal meridian, and entered by me at the land office in Springfield on the 24 September 1832, under the provisions of the act of Congress granting preemption rights to settlers of the Public Lands. Approved on the 5 April 1832 and hereby request that a patent for the above tract of land may be issued in the name of Isaiah Ltites. Signed: Daniel Burbank and witnessed the same day.
This would prove that he intended to dissolve his marriage and sell the entire farm out from under her. One morning he went up to his house and found that Brown had left. (I don't know if he meant permanently). His wife urged him to take breakfast, but this he refused to do, but took a cup of coffee instead. Nothing is recorded what he said to her at this time, but after taking the coffee, he went back to the hotel at Meredosia and was taken vomiting and only lived about four days and died 17 October 1832. It was said by the neighbors and doctors that it was possible that his wife had poisoned him to death. His body was taken from the town of Exeter, and he was buried by the side of his first wife Margaret (Pynchon) Burbank, West of the Town on a high rolling ridge.
He died intestate and George Camp was chosen as Administrator of the estate. There must have been many complications and I am not sure we have all the records. We do not know what happened to lsaiah Ltites deed to all of his property. It was in litigation for abou five years. I have copies of the two deeds. During this time the widow of Daniel married Edward Lusk.
This indenture made 6 March 1837, between James Berdan, Master in Chancery in and for the County of Morgan in the State of Illinois of the first part and Erastus W. Palme of the same County and State of the second part. Witnesseth, that whereas at the severa terms of the Circuit Court of said County held respectively in the months of July and October in the year of Our Lord 1836. It was ordered and decreed by the said court ii Chancery sitting in a certain cause wherein George Camp, Administrator of the estate C Daniel Burbank, deceased, was complainant and Edward Lusk and Mary his wife and others were defendants among other things that the said Master in Chancery, should mak sale at public venue at the court house in Jacksonville of a certain tract of land situated in said county and described as the West half of the Southwest quarter of Section fiftee in Township No. Sixteen north, Range No. Thirteen West and that said sale be made in te acre lots and whereas said master having caused the said tract of land to be surveyed and sub divided into eight lots, each containing ten acres more or less. And having given th advertisement and notice of the time, place and terms of said sale in the manner require in by said orders and decrees did on the day hereof proceed to expose the said ten acre lot severally at public sale to the highest bidder at the court house in Jacksonville --- Lots No. 3 and 4 were sold to Edward Lusk, the highest bidder for $250.00 and $460.0 respectively or a total of $7.1 0.00.
The second sale made 6 March 1837, was sold to the highest bidder, Edward Lusk, bein No. 1, for $1170.00. Lots 5, 6, 7 and 8 must have been claimed by Daniel's widow a there is no record of a sale. I do not know what happened to lot No. 21
The above was all sold as ten acre lots more or less.
Jas. Berdan Master in Chancery.
Children:
Asa, born 12 August, 1794, Marcellus, Onadaga, New York, died November 1801, Marcellus, New York, age little past 7 years.
Lester, born 17 May, 1796 Marcellus, Onadaga, New York.
Samuel, born 21 April, 1798, Marcellus, Onadaga, New York.
Sophia, born 10 March, 1800, Marcellus, Onadaga, New York.
Asa, born 14 November, 1802, Marcellus, Onadaga, New York, died 27 December, 1804 at Sheldon, Genessee, New York, age 2 years.
Loisa, born 12 December, 1806, Sheldon, Genessee County, New York.
Aveline, born 12 December, 1806, Sheldon, Genessee County, New York.
Margaret, born 24 January, 1809, Sheldon, Genessee County, New York.
Mary Ann, born 16 March, Sheldon, Genessee County, New York.
Daniel Mark Burbank, born 3 December, 1814,_________, New York.
Augustus Ripley Burbank, born 15 April, 1817, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio.