John (Burnham) Burnam Jr. (1742 - 1829)

Born 1742 in Ipswich, Essex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Abigail (Clark) Burnham — married 1764 in Tinmouth, Rutland, Republic of Vermont

Descendants

Died 1 Aug 1829 at about age 87 in Middletown, Rutland County, Vermont, United States

Biography

John Burnham was born in 1742 in "Old Ipswich," Massachusetts.^[1]

He is reported to have had only a few weeks of schooling in his youth. At age 19, he became one of the earliest settlers of Vermont, arriving in Bennington in 1761. In 1765 he removed to Shaftsbury, Vermont.^[1]

In Shaftsbury, he had a legal dispute with Squire Monroe, who had been appointed Justice of the Peace by New York authorities and had become "very obnoxious to the New Hampshire grantees." After Squire Monroe prevailed in their dispute, John Burnham decided he needed to learn about the law, so he acquired and studied Blackstone's Commentaries and "one or two volumes of the N.Y. Colony Laws." His knowledge of the law led to him being recognized as a lawyer in what was then a newly settled area lacking in attorneys. He became a businessman in the mercantile trade, in Bennington from 1771 to 1779, and in Shaftsbury from 1779 to 1785.^[2]

He was a member of the conventions of 1776 and 1777 that declared Vermont's independence from New York. He represented Bennington in the first Vermont General Assembly. During the Revolutionary War he was "commissary of the northern army and a commissioner for the sale of confiscated estates." He was involved in the famous trial of Redding and represented Middletown for six years. ^[2]

In 1785, John Burnam removed to Middletown, Vermont, where he initially put up a log house, which he replaced with a frame house the following year. In 1791 he made a large purchase of real estate in Middletown and began extensive construction of mills and dwelling houses in an area that came to be known as "Burnam Hollow." He built a forge, foundry, grist mills, saw mills, an oil mill, carding machine and clothier's works, and a distillery. These operated successfully until 1811 when they were destroyed in a major flood. He subsequently rebuilt the forge and saw mill, but did less business than before.^[3] In 1801, "John Burnam, Esq." was listed as one of fhe freemen of Middletown.^[4]

John Burnam died in Middletown, Vermont, at age 87 on 1 August 1829. He was survived by four sons and two daughters: Nathan, Jacob, John and Sylvester, Mrs Jeremiah Leffingwell and Mrs. Samuel Willard [Jr].^[5]

Religion

John Burnam attended church services and gave financial support to Middletown churches, but he "did not believe in the immortality of the soul."^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} The History of Middletown, Vermont, Frisbie, Barnes. Tuttle & Company, Rutland, Vermont, 1867, p. 40. page 40
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} The History of Middletown, Vermont, Frisbie, Barnes. Tuttle & Company, Rutland, Vermont, 1867. p. 41. page 41
3. ↑ The History of Middletown, Vermont, Frisbie, Barnes. Tuttle & Company, Rutland, Vermont, 1867, p. 39-40. pages 39-40
4. ↑ The History of Middletown, Vermont, Frisbie, Barnes. Tuttle & Company, Rutland, Vermont, 1867, p. 64.page 64.
5. ↑ The History of Middletown, Vermont, Frisbie, Barnes. Tuttle & Company, Rutland, Vermont, 1867, p. 42. page 42

• Frisbie, Barnes, The history of Middletown, Vermont, in three discourses: delivered before the citizens of that town, February 7 and 21, and March 30, 1867 (Google eBook), Tuttle & Co, 1867

64: in Middletown in 1801.

• Burnham Lineage PapersB