Joseph Burson I (1690 - aft. 1770)

Born 25 Feb 1690 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Rachel (Potts) Burson — married 15 Aug 1719 in Gilberts Manor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died after 31 Mar 1770 after age 80 in Loudoun County, Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Christine Preston [send private message] and Lamar Ross [send private message]

Biography

Joseph was a Friend (Quaker)

Joseph was born in Philadelphia County, now Montgomery, Pennsylvania 25th of the 12th mo 1689 Old Style, which converts to February 25, 1690.^[1]

Marriage

On 25 August 1719, (25th day, 6th month OS), Joseph Burson and Rachel Potts declared their 1st intention to marry to the Gwynedd Monthly Meeting in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Andres Cramer, Edward Morgan, Edith Daws and Hannah Gramer were to investigate on behalf of the Quakers. It was customary and mandated that there be an inquiry to determine if the marriage should be permitted. On 29 September 1719, (29th day, 7th month OS), Joseph and Rachel made their second declaration to their Meeting. the marriage was approved and the above named Friends were to witness the wedding.^[2]

Joseph married Rachel Potts, daughter of Jonas Potts and Mary on 15 October 1719 at Gilbert's Manor, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Colony at the home of Jonas Potts. Pottsville is named after this family.

The Gwynedd Monthly Meeting Notes report: "Joseph Burson of Gilbert's Manor, Phila Co., batchelor, and Rachel Potts, daughter of Jonas of the same place at the house of Jonas Potts. Witnesses: James, Mary and David Potts, Joshua Harlan, Hannahy, James, William and Ann Brown, Hannah Potts, and 44 others. The marriage took place under the auspices of Gwynedd Monthly Meeting.

On 27 October 1719, (27th, 8th month OS), the marriage of Joseph and Rachel was reported to the Meeting as having been orderly and the certificates brought to the meeting.^[3][4][5][6]

Children

The names of the 7 children of Joseph and Rachel (Potts) Burson are taken from Friends records:

1. Ann
2. James
3. Joseph
4. Benjamin
5. Absolom
6. Rachel
7. Deborah

Property

Joseph and his family sold 69 acres of the land inherited from his father, the indenture inserted below.

To The privellege of ye Land yt was George Burson

The people that Lives upon ye s'd Eight hundred acres of Land that was George Burson deceas'd, Shall have the privelege of a way to the mouth of Mingo crick by Harman inthehaven as witness my hand Harman InDenHofen John Richardson

Lease Joseph Burson &tc To Harman Indehaven 1727

"THIS INDENTURE made the Twentininth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred Twenty and Seven Between Hannah Burson of Limerick township in the county of philadelphia in the province of pensilvania widow and Relict of George Burson Late of the sd. county yeoman deceased Joseph Burson of Limerick afors'd yeoman the Eldest Surviving son of the sd George Burson deceas'd and Rachel his wife william Burson of Limerick afores'd yeoman another son of the sd George Burson deceas'd, George Burson of Limerick afores'd yeoman another son of the s'd George Burson deceased Cunrod Cunrods late of Germantown in the s'd County yeoman and Ann his wife and Jonas Potts of Limerick afores'd yeoman and Mary his wife (they the s'd Ann & Mary being the daughters of the s'd George Burson dec'd) of the one part and Harman Indehaven of Limerick afores'd yeoman of the other part. WITNESSETH that the s'd Hannah Burson Joseph Burson and Rachel his wife William Burson George Burson the son Cunrod Cunrods and Ann his wife & Jonas Potts & Mary his wife for the Consideration of the Sum of Five Shillings Sel unto the s'd Herman Indehaven a Certain piece of Land Situate Lying and Being in Limerick township afores'd BEGINNING at the mouth of Mingo Creek thence up the s'd Creek by the several Courses thereof Sixty five perches to a Forked Spanish Oak thence North East on Hundred & Twenty perches to a Stake in the Line of Jonas Potts Land thence by the Same South East Sixty Eight perches to another Stake put for a corner thence by the Land of William & George Burson South West on Hundred and Fifteen perches to a third stake thence South Sixty four degrees west to the Land of the s'd William & George Burson Eighty perches to a Stone thence by the Same South thirty degrees west thirty five perches to a Stake by Schulkil River [? ] thence up the Schulkill by the Several Courses thereof to the Place of Beginning Containing Sixty nine Acres of Land together with the improvements and the Rents from and profits thereof TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the s’d sixty nine acres of land therein mentioned and intended to be Bargain'd and Sold with their and every of their Appurtenances unto the s'd Harman Indehaven his Executors and Assigns from the Day next before the day of the date hereof for and during and unto the full End and Term of one whole year from thence next ensuing and fully to be Compleat and Ended to the Intent that by virtue of these presents and of the Statute for Transfering of uses into possession the s'd Harman Indehaven may be in actual possession of all & Singular the premises and be Enabled to accept of a Grant Release Confirmation and Conveyance thereof and the Reversion and Inheritance thereof and of every part and parcil thereof to him and his Heirs. IN WITNESS whereof the s'd parties to these presents have hereunto Interchaingably set their hands and seals dated the day & year first above written.

Sealed and delivered } Johan [? ] Wm. Sps. In the presence of us } Richard Scott John Richardson

George Burson Hannah Burson Cunrad Cunrad Joseph Burson Ann {mark} Cunnards Rachal {RB} Burson Jonas {P} Potts William Burson Mary Potts^{[7] [8]}

A Survey dated 6 June 1731, Deed dated 23 August 1731 for 150 acres states Joseph is of Sockony (Saucon Twp.), Bucks County, Pennsylvania Colony. Joseph sold the land he'd acquired by Deed of Gift in Gilbert's Manor, and removed to Plumstead Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania Colony, within the jurisdiction of Buckingham Monthly Meeting, where he resided for twelve years.^[9] The Deed Reads:

"Joseph Burson of Sachony (sic) in the County of Bucks, yeoman, & wife Rachel; Jonas Pots of the same place, yeoman, & wife Mary; John Town of the sd Saucony, blacksmith, & wife Sarah; William Burson of the reputed Town of New Bristol near Skippack in the County of Philadelphia, yeoman, & wife Elizabeth; Conrad Conrads of the same place, yeoman, & wife Ann . . . do fully freely clearly & absolutely remise release & forever Quit Claim unto George Burson . . . and his heirs forever . . . a Certain piece or parcel of land situate in Providence aforesd . . . containing One hundred & Seventy acres of Land . . . for and in consideration of the sum of Twelve shillings lawful money . . . Received by Joseph Burson on the day of the date of the within written release the sum of Twelve shillings as full Consideration money mentioned."^[10]

14 Sep 1733 Joseph acquired a 200 acre parcel of land at the "West Branch of the Delaware", (Lehigh River), Saucon, Bucks (now Northampton) County, PA. Joseph's parcel contained a small allowance for Roads. It came from a 500 acre tract of William Allen - James (sic) Potts, Joseph Allen, Jno Hatfield. Saucon comes from "sakunk", meaning “at the mouth of the creek".^[11]

5 May 1740 Buckingham Men's Meeting, Bucks County, PA: A Certificate was produced from Gwynedd Meeting for Joseph Burson and his wife which was read and accepted. "Friends of Buckingham Monthly Meeting hitherto belonging to Falls Monthly Meeting".^[12]

Migration to Virginia

On 2 September 1751, (7 mo. 2, 1751 OS) Joseph requested a certificate for himself, his wife, and three youngest children, Benjamin, Rachel and Deborah to Fairfax Monthly Meeting, which was granted at the next monthly meeting.^[13] It was located on the eastern side of Waterford, Loudoun Co. Va. on Old Waterford Road.^[5] He is listed in the Hopewell Minutes as Joseph Borsun wherein it states that he "requests certificate for himself and 3 children, Absalom, Rachel, Deborah to Fairfax. Wm. Michener and James Shaw to inquire." Confirmation of the acceptance of this certificate is recorded on December 2, 1751 in the Men's Minutes of the Fairfax Monthly Meeting.^[14][15] Fairfax County was formed in 1743 and Loudoun County was formed in 1759. A further division between Fairfax and Loudoun Counties occurred in the late 1790's.

On 16 July 1753, Joseph and his son, James, along with his nephew, George, Jr., witnessed an Indenture between Peter Lewis of Fairfax County, Yeoman, and Mary, his wife, and David Potts, Yeoman, of the same county. Jonas Potts also witnessed this Indenture which was recorded July 16, 1754 at Fairfax County, Virginia Colony.^[16]

On 25 August 1753, (8th mo. 25 1753) Joseph Burson Senr. produced the certificate from Buckingham Monthly Meeting to Fairfax Monthly Meeting for himself and his three minor children: Benjamin, Rachel and Deborah.^[17][18]

The Burson land was not far from that of Jonas Potts. In 1756, Joseph was in some kind of conflict with Jonas Potts in 1756 according to the Fairfax Monthly Meeting. Also on 8 May 1769, the Court, upon hearing and considering a "complain of Joseph Burson against Jonas Potts charging him with Stealing a Hog the property of the Complainant, it is Ordered that the Def. same be dismissed and that the Complainant pay costs at Loudoun County, Virginia Colony".^[19]

He had a conflict with the executors of Benjamin's (his son) will in 1770. Perhaps it had to do with how they carried out their duty. On 19 September 1769, Benjamin's will included the provision that "my Father Joseph Burson is to be maintained with Food and Rainment fiting for a Man of his Age and Circumstance out of the whole Estate (Excepting that has bean Bequeathed to my Wife above)."^[20] 26 October 1769, "Fairfax Preparative Meeting informed, that Joseph Burson and antient Friend belonging thereto is now so circumstances by the Death of his Son under whose Care he was, that he requires the Care of Notice of this Meeting in Regard to an outward Subsistance, This Meeting apoints Mahlon Janney, Jonathan Mires, Israel Thompson Wm Hogue & Joseph Janney to take the necessary Care concerning him & make report to next M Meeting."^[21] The 25th of November, they recorded, "There seems to have been some necessary Care taken Respecting Joseph Burson by the Friends appointed; but no Conclusion is yet come to how he is to be provided for, the Same Friends are desired to continue their Care & report to next Meeting.^[22]For months the Friends were concerned, watching over him and reporting on his troubles. 24 Feb 1770 they reported: "The Friends appointed in the Case of Joseph Burson report, they have not yet had a suitable Opportunity to discharge their Trust, they are still continued & to report of their Service to next Mo Meeting."^[23] On March 31, 1770, the Fairfax Meeting recorded, "The friends appointed in the Case of Joseph Burson report they have not done any thing, but they hear that he has had some Relief from the Executors of his Son, the Place where it ought to have come; the former friends are continued to have the necessary Care."^[24] One source states he didn't receive the full proceeds until 1776.^[25]

From 1758 to 1762 Joseph was an Overseer of the Pott's Particular Meeting held at the home of David Potts. He held the same position for Fairfax Monthly Meeting until June 26, 1762.^[26] Some have called Joseph Reverend but there are no ordained ministers among friends. Overseer is the general equivalent. During 1761 he entered a partnership with his nephew John (George, George) in Loudoun County.^[25]

Death

Joseph must have passed after March 31, 1770 when the Friends reported he'd received some relief from the executors of his son's will (Benjamin Burson's 1769 Will).

Sources

1. ↑ "U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935", database, Ancestry.com, 2014 citing Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Quaker Meeting Records, Pennsylvania > Montgomery > Abington Monthly Meeting >Births and Deaths, 1682-1809 Vol. 1, image 24 of 124.
   • View (Image : accessed 6 Oct 2021) on ancestry.com (requires subscription).
   • View free Sharing Image.
     George and Hannah Burson children James and Joseph
2. ↑ Society of Friends. Gwynedd Monthly Meeting Records, 1700-1870, FHL Film 0,383,439, microfilm of original ms. and typescript at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Page 16.
3. ↑ Gwynedd Monthly Meeting Minutes, 1714-1870, FHL Film 0,383,440, microfilm of original ms. and typescript at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Marriage Certificate No. 23.
4. ↑ Meldrum, Charlotte. Marriages and Deaths of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania 1685-1800 (Westminster: Willow Bend Books, 1999), page 38
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Roberts, Clarence V.. Early Friends Families of Upper Bucks, with some account of their descendants; historical and genealogical information about the early settlers (Philadelphia: C. V. Roberts, 1925), page 74.
6. ↑ Society of Friends, Gwynedd Monthly Meeting Births, 1690-1924; Marriages 1715-1781, FHL Film 0,020,462 #5 microfilm of original records in the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and Department of Friends Records in Philadelphia, Marriages unpaginated but in chronological order.
7. ↑ "Pennypacker, Samuel", box labeled "SWP, Deeds of Henry Pawling at Valley Forge". Record archives at Norristown, Montgomery Co, PA.Accession # P2005.11.187 and #P2005.11.189.
8. ↑ Marsteller, Charles M., compiler. Burson Index: Tracing the Sons, Grandsons & Great-Grandsons of Pennsylvania Quakers, FHL Film 1,750,832 #13, microfilm of original book, now accessible online at https://familysearch.org. Library of Congress Card No. 95-120704; FHL book 929.273 A1.
9. ↑ Records of the Land Office PHILADELPHIA OLD RIGHTS (INDEX), 1682-1745. RG-17 {series #17.79}, Pennsylvania State Archives, Pg. 5.
10. ↑ Philadelphia County Deed Bk I, pg 523, 524.
11. ↑ PA Land Records- Bk D-86 pg 292
12. ↑ US Quaker Meeting Records, Buckingham Monthly Meeting Minutes, 1720-1763. Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Minutes, 1720-1763; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: MR-Ph 39
13. ↑ US Quaker Meeting Records, Buckingham Meeting Minutes 1720-1763, Bucks Co. Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Minutes, 1720-1763; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: MR-Ph 39. Image 145 of 228 ancestry.com
14. ↑ Hiatt, Marty. Early Church Records of Loudoun County: 1745-1800 (Westminster: Family Line Publications, 1995), page 63.
15. ↑ Joint Committee of Hopewell Friends. Hopewell Friends History 1734 - 1934 (Strasburg: Shenandoah Publishing House, Inc., 1936), page 535.
16. ↑ Sparacio, Ruth & Sam, abstractors. Virginia Court Records, Deed Abstracts of Fairfax County, Virginia (1742-1750), 1 (McLean: R. & S. Sparacio, 1986), citing Fairfax County Deed Book B, pages 775-780.
17. ↑ Fairfax Monthly Meeting Minutes 1746-1776, Loudoun County, VA. Pg 42.
18. ↑ Hiatt, Marty. Early Church Records of Loudoun County: 1745-1800 (Westminster: Family Line Publications, 1995), page 63.
19. ↑ Loudoun County, Virginia Order Books, vol. C-D 1765-1773, FHL Film 0,032,348, microfilm of original records at the Loudoun County Courthouse in Leesburg, Virginia, #2 Order Book D, 1767-1770, page 207.
20. ↑ Loudoun Co., VA Will Bk. A, 1757-1771, FHL Film 1,993,707 #2, Benj. Burson will, Will Book A, pages 222-224.
21. ↑ Fairfax Monthly Meeting Minutes 1746-1776, Loudoun County, VA. Pg 333.
22. ↑ Fairfax MM Minutes 1746-1776. Pgs 167-168
23. ↑ Fairfax MM Minutes 1746-1776. Pg 169
24. ↑ Fairfax Monthly Meeting Minutes 1746-1776, Loudoun County, VA. Pg 170.
25. ↑ ^{25.0 25.1} Marsteller, Charles M., compiler. Burson Index: Tracing the Sons, Grandsons & Great-Grandsons of Pennsylvania Quakers, FHL Film 1,750,832 #13, Library of Congress Card No. 95-120704; FHL book 929.273 A1. Pg 32.
26. ↑ Fairfax Monthly Meeting Minutes 1746-1776, Loudoun County, VA. Pg 47.

• Find A Grave: Memorial #33454197
• Howard Leckey, The Tenmile Country and Its Pioneer Families (1993 (reprint) Closson Press, 1935 Sampson Drive, Apollo, PA. Pages 91-93
• WikiTree profile Burson-29 created through the import of Hummel_Goerl_Cecil_Miller Fami(3).ged on Jun 12, 2011 by Angela Hummel. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Angela and others.
• WikiTree profile Burson-31 created through the import of ronaldeugenerossdesc.ged on Jun 28, 2011 by Lamar Ross. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Lamar and others.
• Jordan, John W. Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania, Vol. 1 (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York, 1915, p. 102-105)

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Claudia Davenport and Toby Turner for some of the information and sources contained here.