James Burnham (1710 - 1787)

Born 24 Sep 1710 in Wells, York, Maine, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Grace (Dalzell) Burnham — married 25 Dec 1736 in Wells, York, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 25 Nov 1787 at age 77 in Kennebunkport, York, Massachusetts, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Walter Murphy [send private message] and Gail Burnham [send private message]

Biography

James Burnham is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A017882.

James Burnham is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 125536
Rank: Patriotic Service & Civil Service

James Burnham performed Patriotic Service in Massachusetts in the American Revolution.

James Burnham served with Civil Service, Massachusetts during the American Revolution.

James was born 24 Sep 1710 in Wells, York, Maine District, MA and passed away 25 Nov 1787 in Kennebunkport, York, Maine District, MA. ^[1]

He married Grace Dalzell. ^[1] They filed their intention to marry in Wells on 4 November 1736 ^[2] They were married in Wells in December 1736 ^[3]

James is listed as a Patriot by both the SAR (P-125536) and DAR (A017882). He qualifies as a Patriot for both civil service and patriotic service. He was either the moderator or selectman at a number of Arundel town meetings beginning in April, 1775. On December 27, 1774 he was appointed to the Committee on Inspection: "Town and vital records, 1678-1891." ^[4]

All of the Burnham families in the 1790 US Federal census in Arundel Maine are directly related to James.

Family

• James and Grace had 12 children from 1737 to 1762:

1. James, b. 17 Oct 1737, d 8 Aug 1782^[1]m. Hannah Merrill
2. Samuel, b. 7 May 1739, d. 4 Aug 1809^[1]
3. Forrest, b. 26 Dec 1741, d. 26 Dec 1749^[1]
4. Isaac, b. 25 Feb 1743,^[1] m. Anna Merrill
5. Moses, b. 9 Apr 1745, d. 4 Feb 1820^[1]
6. Jacob, b. 12 May 1747^[1]
7. Elizabeth, b. 10 Feb 1750, d. 9 Oct 1780^[1]
8. Lydia, b. 25 Apr 1752^[1]
9. Forrest, b. 2 Jun 1754^[1]
10. Anne, b. 26 Aug 1756^[1]
11. Seth, b. 9 Mar 1760,^[1] m. Lydia Lassell
12. Sarah, b. 30 Jun 1762, d. 4 Mar 1790^[1]

Research Notes

• James was the "out-of-wedlock" son of James Burnham and Elizabeth Denmark.^[5][6]

• Elizabeth later married Peter Rich ^[7] so it is of more than passing interest to see that James is referred to as “my trusty & well belovd Son in Law James Burnam” in the will of Peter Rich of Wells and is named as an executor, along with Elizabeth. The will was signed on 20 February 1751 and probated on 7 July 1760. ^[8]

• Most of James's sons (and sons-in-law) are documented Patriots. His eldest son, James Jr., (DAR patriot A017884 & SAR Patriot 125537) was killed in a skirmish with the King's Men (Red Coats) at Goat Island 8-8-1782; his wife Hannah Merrill who was born abt 1736/7 d 17 March 1776, a daughter of John Merrill and Mary Hutching or Hutchins. page 260 Book Title: A Merrill Memorial: An Account of the Descendants of Nathaniel Merrill, An Early Settler of Newbury... Refer to interconnected family Merrill-5680 (and another son, Isaac, who married Hannah's sister Anna).

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13} "Town of Kennebunkport, York County Maine Town and Vital Records & Vital Records 1628-1822." FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9NW-HK43?cat=135559).
2. ↑ Intentions to Marry: FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9N8-9SQY?cc=1803978&cat=141939
3. ↑ Marriage Record: FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9N8-9SZ9?i=28&cc=1803978&cat=141939
4. ↑ Committee on Inspection: FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9NW-H2WP?i=142&cat=135559)
5. ↑ James,'late soldier at Wells,' acc. Oct. Term 1710 by Elizabeth Denmark as father of James Burnham of Arundel, who m. Grace Dalzell, and was stepson of Peter Rich "Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire, Vol. 2" FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/271714/?offset=0#page=52&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q= image 52)
6. ↑ "Province and Court Records of Maine Vol IV" https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/193196#page=468&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q= (image 468)
7. ↑ Denmark-Rich Marriage: https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/271714/?offset=0#page=125&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=
8. ↑ Peter Rich's will: "Maine: Early Wills and Deeds, 1640-1760" AmericanAncestors.com Online Database https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/maine-early-wills-and-deeds-1640-1760/image?volumeId=12362&pageName=536&rId=24163553

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed October 2, 2017), "Record of James Burnham, Sr", Ancestor # A017882.