Edward Burgess (abt. 1653 - 1722)

Born about 1653 in Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Chew) Burgess — married 24 Jan 1686 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Descendants

Died 4 Mar 1722 at about age 69 in Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Jane Shipley [send private message] and Steven Fortune [send private message]

Biography

Edward Burgess was a Maryland colonist.

Origin

No birth record for Edward Burgess has been found. He was possibly born before 1653 as he was named the executor of the will of George Puddington on 15 AUG 1674 when the legal age was 21. Edward is also named in the will of Col. William Burgess as his eldest son.^[1] His mother is named in some genealogies as Elizabeth Robins, but it is also likely that his mother was the daughter of George Puddington. Puddington's Will is hard to draw conclusions from because he leaves very small legacies to other relatives and leaves the bulk of his estate to Edward Burgess without making any mention of a relationship.

Events

1676 - He went with his father in the expedition against the Nanticoke Indians in 1676 and was active in Indian warfare. (unsourced)

1679 JUN 6 - He was commissioned a Gentleman Justice of Peace for Anne Arundel County. (unsouced)

1683 NOV: listed as the constable among the groups of commissioners appointed to survey and manage the building of the courthouse at Annapolis.^[2]

1685 Justice of the Provincial Court (unsourced)

1689: Edward Burges & several others sign a letter to Col. Diggs complaining of eminent danger of an attack from Indians.^[3]

1689 - he was addressed as "Captain of the Foote." (unsourced)

1692: Capt. Edward Burges ordered to deliver public arms & ammunition to Col. Nicholas Greenberry.^[4]

When the Church of England became the State Church of Maryland, he was appointed vestryman of South River & All Hallow's Parish. (unsourced)

Marriage & Family

Edward was possibly married at a very young age to the daughter of George Puddington who left Edward Burgess a very large legacy in his will and named him the executor. Puddington's will leaves 50 shillings to George, William and Susanna Burgess and other small legacies to various people. He also leaves his widow an annual income of 8,000 lbs. of tobacco. After these smaller legacies are paid, Edward Burgess is to receive everything else including large tracts of land.^[5]

Edward was married sometime before 20 FEB 1694 to Sarah Chew, the daughter of Anne (Ayres) Chew when she is called Sarah Burges in her will. ^[6] Edward and Sarah were the parents of nine children, born in Anne Arundel county. The births or baptisms of the following children of Edward and Sary Burgis are recorded in the register of All Hallow's Parish:^[7]

Elizabeth Burgiss dau b. 5 AUG __

William Bugriss son b. 19 NOV 168? buried 1 DEC 1704

Ann Burgiss dau b. 5 DEC 1685

Edward Burgiss son b. ? 1685

Sary Burgiss b. ?

John Burgis son b. 17 AUG 1696

Susanna Burgis dau. b. 14 MAR 1699, bapt. 8 JUL 1700

Elizabeth Burgis dau. b. 20 ___ 1714

The baptism of eight of the children on 13 NOV 1698 is also present as one entry: Ed. Burgis and Sary parents of William Burgis son, Edward Burgis, son, Samuell Burgis son, John Burgis son, Ann Burgis dau, Sary Burgis dau, Margritt Burgis dau, and Mary Lea Burgis. ^[8]

Property

Edward Burgess used the Maryland patent process to claim one tract of land he named Burgess his Right for just 153 acres. ^[9] There is no mention of Edward inheriting land from his father, but that does not indicate he didn't transfer property to him via a deed during his lifetime. The courthouse in Annapolis burned down in 1704 destroyed any records of deeds before this unless the property owners registered them when the new courthouse was built.

Part of the inheritance from George Puddington is revealed in a deed dated 9 FEB 1685 when Edward sold 245 acres of land inherited from the will of George Puddington to John Gaither for 13,000 lbs. of tobacco. Sarah Burges signed away her dower rights. ^[10] Another deed dated 14 AUG 1704 for the transfer of land inherited from Puddington is for 400 acres which was part of several larger tracts totaling 860 acres given as a gift to William Nicholson in consideration of a marriage between him and his daughter Elizabeth Burges. ^[11]

Death

The burial of William Burgess is recorded in All Hallow's Church records of 4 MAR 1722/3.^[8] His Will was dated Aug. 29, 1721 and was probated March 14, 1722/3. His inventory was filed April 6, 1723.^[12]

Abstract of will

24 AUG 1721 I Edward Burges of Annarundell County in Maryland Gentleman being weak . . .

• to my loving wife Sarah Burges the plantation on which I now dwell called Burges his Rite during her natural life and of that parcel of land called Burgess his Rite I give to Margaret Ware, the daughter of Edward Burgess and Sarah his wife, 15 acs. lying near the home cove during her natural life and for no longer time.
• I leave part of my land on the other side of Scotch Creek to be sold and as much of my land that lieth on this side as will make up 100 acs. to discharge my lawful debts.
• to my son Samuel Burges and John Burges all my lands I now possess after my decease equally to be divided except the aforementioned land to be sold and the 15 acs. to to my daughter Margaret Ware.
• after the decease of Samuel Burgess and Elizabeth his wife, I leave to Edward, Benjamin and Elizabeth Burgess, sons & daughter of Samuel the share of my lands left to Samuel.
• to my son John Burges the above mentioned half part and Jane Burgess his wife. In case John Burgess die without issue, his share to be equally divided among all the rest of my children.
• to my wife Sarah Burges 1/3 of moveable estate and the rest to be equally divided amongst my children.
• I appoint my wife Sarah Burgess and my two sons, Samuel and John Burges to be my executors.

Witnessed by Thomas Fallows, John Vines, Bejamin Gaither, Stephen West, John Piburn. Probated 14 MAR 1722 ^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ Prerogative Court Wills Liber 2 folio 284 [Ancestry.com]
2. ↑ Archives of Maryland Vol. 7 pg. 505 [aomol.msa.maryland.gov]
3. ↑ Archives of Maryland Vol. 7 pg. 505 [1]
4. ↑ Archives of Maryland Vol. 8 pg. 394 [aomol.msa.maryland.gov]
5. ↑ Prerogative Court Wills Liber 2 folio 284 [ancestry.com]
6. ↑ Prerogative Court Wills Liber 7 folio 59 [msa.maryland.gov]
7. ↑ All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, church records 1685–1899, original at the Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore; citing microfilm of transcription from 1888, digitized and available on Family Search (access at FHC or affiliate library only), film 13279
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Wright, F. Edward. Inhabitants of Baltimore County 1692-1763. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books 1999.
9. ↑ Maryland Archives Patent Index [msa.maryland.gov]
10. ↑ Anne Arundel Deeds Liber IH 2 folio 85
11. ↑ Anne Arundel Deeds Liber WT 2 part 1 folio 198
12. ↑ Calendar of Wills, Vol 5, 1720-1726, Calendar of Wills 1720-1726, Page 143.Maryland wills 4:242-245, FHL microfilm 0,012,843
13. ↑ Prerogative Court Wills Liber 18 folio 1774 [msa.maryland.gov https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/stagser/s500/s538/000000/000026/pdf/msa_s538_000026.pdf]

Notes: 1722/2/6, Burgess, Edward & Sarah, his wife to Stephen West, part of “Puddington” AA Land records 1719-1724, 87, pg 12.

• AA Maryland Land records 1719-1724, 87, pg 12.