Nathan
Burwell
Born before in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut Colony
Ancestors 
Son of John Burwell
and Alice (Heath) Peck
Brother of
Mary (Burwell) Brown [half], Zachariah Burwell, Samuel Burwell, Ephraim Burwell, Elizabeth Peck [half], Joseph Peck [half] and John Peck [half]
Husband of
Temperance (Baldwin) Burwell
— married
14 Jun 1673 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut Colony
Descendants 
Father of
Sarah (Burwell) Platt and Mary (Burwell) Merwin
Died after
after age 68
in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut Colony [uncertain]
[uncertain]Profile last modified
| Created 5 Jul 2013
This page has been accessed 888 times.
Biography
Nathan[1] Burwell [2][3], son of John Burwell and Alice Heath Peck, was baptized August 2, 1646 in Milford, New Haven, CT.,[4] and presumably was born shortly before that date. He was evidently alive in Milford on 23 Sep 1714, when he appeared before the Justice of the Peace there,[5] and probably died at Milford probably not long after.
He married Temperance Baldwin, dau. of Richard Baldwin and Elizabeth Alsop, on January 14, 1674, in Milford, New Haven, CT.[6]
Nathan was the brother of Zachariah Burwell, who married Elizabeth, sister of Temperance Baldwin.[7][8]
In January 1686/87, Nathan Burwell and wife Temperance were given land in Milford by her mother as part of her "portion" [inheritence]. [9]
In 1688, in Milford, Nathan Burwell had rights in the Oyster Neck and Bay Lands [presumably from the allotment of 1657], part of which were inherited by, and later sold by, grandson Samuel Merwin then of New Milford in 1767.[10]
In 1690, Nathan Burwell and brother Samuel started the settlement that became known as Burwell's Farms.[11]
In April 1701, Nathan Burwell of Milford sold some land in Milford to Serjeant Miles Merwin.[12]
On 3 December 1712, at Milford, Nathan Burwell transferred all of his lands in Milford to two sons-in-law, a small parcel to "son" and daughter Samuel and Mary "Marwin" [Merwin][13] and the balance, in a single deed, to Josiah Platt.[14]
On 23 September 1714, at Milford, Nathan Burwell of Milford gave his rights in the (as yet undivided) "two bit purchase" to his "loving cousin Barnabas Baldwin". Nathan Burwell personally appeared before Justice of the Peace Joseph Treat at Milford on that date, 23 Sep 1714.[5]
Children of Nathan Burwell and Temperance Baldwin:
- Alice, bapt. in 1676
- Temperance, bapt. in 1676
- John, born 1678
- Abigail d at Milford Sept. 3, 1763
- Mary, married Samuel Marvin and on December [not September] 3, 1712 she received a deed from her father.[13]
Note: (all were born in Milford) from "Baldwin Genealogy" by the Geneology Society of Pennsylvania.[8]
He was propounded a freeman in Milford on May 11, 1671.
Research Notes
It is often said (on Find-A-Grave; on Ancestry public trees; etc.) that Nathan Burwell removed to New Jersey and died in Newark 1696.[7] But, the cited memorial provides no evidence that Nathan went to New Jersey, nor has any been presented elsewhere, nor found in researching for this profile, so far.
The cited memorial does include images of a monument that names two of Nathan's brothers, Ephraim and Zechariah. Those two names can be found in early records of Essex County,[15] but the name Nathan Burwell does not appear in those early town records, as can be seen by reviewing the text of the published transcription of the first book of records and and by reference to the index.
See also, the book Narratives of Newark (1917; available on Internet Archive) which covers the early years of Newark in detail. It relates that Ephraim Burwell and Zachariah Burwell were original settlers and had adjacent lots; they signed the Fundamental Agreement with the Milford contingent. The two of them are mentioned at various points from 1667 to 1692. There's a single mention of a John Burwell in 1683 (a deed names John Burwell as a son of Zachariah), and of Samuel and Joseph Burwell in 1700. That's all. The name Nathan Burwell does not appear.
In contrast, multiple records from the early 1700s in Milford in the name of Nathan Burwell, and in some cases citing property rights acquired decades earlier, indicate that he was still living and still in Connecticut much later than 1696. On this basis the statement from this profile should be considered to be almost certainly mistaken:
- Nathaniel Burwell is buried in Fairmount Cemetery,in Newark Essex, New Jersey. His plot is in the old Newark Burying ground--remains (if any were left) were re-interred in this cemetery in the early 1800's.[7]
Also, it is suggested that this applies to Nathan's siblings but probably not to himself:
- The family removed to Newark, NJ.[7]
It might seem possible that the Nathan in those later records was a son, but no evidence for that construction is known. And the 1712 transfer of land states the relationship of the Nathan Burwell then living, to Samuel and Mary (Burwell) Merwin; this seems to effectively rule out the alternative.
It does seem somewhat more possible that Nathan did go to New Jersey for a time with his brothers, but later returned to Milford. Records in his name in New Jersey would certainly be of interest, should any be found and cited.
Sources
- ↑ Multiple early records show his name as "Nathan" and there is no evidence in hand that this was a diminutive for 'Nathaniel', as sometimes stated recently.
- ↑ Colonial Connecticut Records, 1636 - 1776 (http://www.colonialct.uconn.edu/). "Propownded for freemen:... From Milford, Josia Plott, Nath: Baldwin, Jeremy Beard, Silvanus Baldwin, Nathan Burwell, Mathew Woodruff, Thomas Wheeler, Thomas Tibballs, Samuel Nortrup, Daniel Gunn, Samuel Gunn, James Briscoe, Samuel Riggs, John Tibballs." 11 May 1671.
- ↑ Orcutt, Samuel. The History of the Old Town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880 (Springfield Printing Co., Springfield, Mass., 1880) Page 693.
- ↑ Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, First Church of Christ, Church Records, 1639 - 1964, Volume 1, Page 4, 1646. [1646] Aug 2, Nathan sonn of John Burwell B[aptized]. Image on Family Search.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Connecticut, New Haven, Milford, Land Records: 05:107, 1714, 03 Sep, Nathan Burwell of Milford to loving cousin Barnabas Baldwin, consideration of good will, undivided rights in the "Two Bitts Purchase".
- ↑ New England Marriages
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Find A Grave: Memorial #33085764
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Baldwin, John Denison. A Record of the Descendants of John Baldwin of Stonington, Conn. (Baldwin, Worcester, Massachusetts, 1880) Page 10.
- ↑ Connecticut, New Haven, Milford, Land Records: 03:016, 11 Jan 1686/7 Elizabeth Fowler of Milford to "son in lawe Nathan Burwell & my Daughter Temperance his wife", half an acre of land in the "new lott" in Milford; given as part of her (Temperance) portion; naming among the bounds her (Elizabeth) son Silvanis Baldwin and her son Barnabas Baldwin. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSLG-N3RP
- ↑ Connecticut, New Haven, Milford, Land Records: 14:028, 1767, 18 Mar; Samuel Merwin of New Milford sold to Samuel & Michael Peck of Milford, for 17# 17s, rights in Oyster Bay and Ferry Lands in Milford inherited from Nathan Burwell, Samuel Merwin, and Mr. Miles Merwin Senr all three late of Milford, signed and sealed at Milford [Note: said lands were allocated in 1688 based on the list of 1686]. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSKW-G2H2
- ↑ Federal Writer's Project for the State of Connecticut, History of Milford, Connecticut, 1639-1939: Page 44, Samuel and Nathan Burwell, in 1690, started the setlement known as Burwell's Farms. [Online (may require membership) at: link.]
- ↑ Connecticut, New Haven, Milford, Land Records: 03:245, 10 Apr 1701, Nathan Burwell of Milford to Sergt Miles Merwin of Milford, consideration "a valuable sume", 22 rods square of land in Milford on S side of highway to Oyster River. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSLG-N36H
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Connecticut, New Haven, Milford, Land Records: 04:238, 1712, 3 Dec, Nathan Burwell of Milford to "son" and daughter Samuel and Mary Marwin of same, in consideration of love and affection, gives land in Milford as part of their portion, one and half acres of upland and swamp, bounded commons, said Nathan, said Samuel. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSLG-NQFP
- ↑ Connecticut, New Haven, Milford, Land Records: 04:281, 1712, 9 Dec, Nathan Burwell of Milford, sold to son in law Josiah Platt of Milford, for 120 pounds all of his land holdings in Milford, also described in detail. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSLG-NQNH
- ↑ Records of the Town of Newark, New Jersey: From Its Settlement in 1666, to Its Incorporation. (Newark, N.J., New Jersey Historical Society, 1864), Internet Archive, Page 3, Subscribers to Fundamental Agreement, 24 June 1667. Signers include Ephram Burwell, Zachariah Burwell. Published transcript at Internet Archive.
- The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records (NEHGS, Boston, 2011) Vol. Milford, Page 17. Marriage record.
- US New England Marriages prior to 1700. (need full citation)
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Categories: Fairmount Cemetery, Newark, New Jersey
I'd like to suggest/request and/or make some edits to Nathan Burwell's profile.
First, his name, I believe this should be shown as Nathan, not Nathaniel with Nathan as an alternative. There are numerous records for him in the name of Nathan, from his baptism in 1646 as "Nathan sonne of John Burwell", to numerous Milford land records
I've never seen any record calling him 'Nathaniel'; and it's not plausible to suppose it was an abbreviation, for instance on the original baptism register at Family Search, upper left of page the name Nathaniel occurs in another entry in the same hand a few lines later. The name of John Burwell's son was Nathan.
Second, as for him being dead in 1696, and buried in New Jersey. Nathan Burwell personally appeared, as recorded in those deeds, in Milford in 1701 and 1712 and 1714. Yes, two of his brothers were among the settlers of Newark, and they are named on the monument there. But Nathan is not. Nor does he appear in any early record of Essex County, NJ that I can find. If such a record is known, I ask that whoever knows it should please cite it here?
I suppose Nathan could have gone to New Jersey sometime after he disposed of all his remaining divided property in Milford in 1712. But he had not done so by 1714. I think it more likely he would have moved in with one of the sons-in-law on whom he bestowed those lands, and in the absence of a record of him in NJ, I for one do not accept that Nathan ever went there. And yes, I see the unsourced, throw-away line in Families of Early Milford; I just can't find anything to support it.
In any event he certainly seems to have been alive on 23 October 1714. I have not found any record to suggest that there was a second Nathan Burwell to whom these later records could be attributed; and the rights disposed of in that 1714 deed were acquired decades earlier, and if the Nathan of 1714 did not hold them in his own right he should have said how he came to hold them, rather than referring to the record of the purchase.
So, I ask please change Nathan's date of death from 'about 1696' to 'After 23 Oct 1714'.
Finally, I can find no basis for the cited Find-a-Grave memorial in New Jersey. If someone can provide a record supporting it I would be very interested to see it, otherwise I'd like to suggest removing it or moving it to a section for =Disputed= information.
edited by Thomas Shanley