Robert Burdick of Rhode Island *
Preface
What follows on this Web page was
taken freely from The Descendants of Robert Burdick of Rhode Island,
Nellie (Willard) Johnson, Pd. B., 1937. This monumental work traces an enormous
number of descendants of Robert Burdick of Rhode Island, down to the tenth
generation in some cases. Thanks to additional genealogical work by Chuckie
Blaney, the lineage of Burdick Clan members, identified herein, is traceable to
individuals in this book, and hence, to Robert Burdick of Rhode Island through
his oldest son Thomas. I know I speak for all Clan members in thanking Chuckie
for her great efforts.
It was attempted, in this section,
to maintain the original spelling as much as possible, especially for material
quoted in Nellie's tome. Some slight changes were made elsewhere in Nellie's
text to conform to modern convention, where such would not harm the meaning or
flavor of the original. Footnotes were not included herein. Those interested
are referred to Nellie's work.
Nellie Johnson began The
Descendants of Robert Burdick of Rhode Island with a section on the
origin of the Burdick name. That material is interesting enough to be included
here and to give an idea of what may have been family history preceding the
redoubtable Robert of Rhode Island.
Origin of the Burdick Name
"There is good reason to
believe that the surname Burdick is identical with Burditt (also spelled
Burdett, Burdette, etc.). The spelling Burdick is not given in English words on
surnames, and like many American names it is probably a variation in spelling
from the English Burdette, etc."
Savage, in his Genealogical
Dictionary, says of the name: "Burdick or Burdict---This name is often
confounded with Burditt."
Add to this the fact that the name
of Robert , the emigrant ancestor, appears on the official records of Rhode
Island and Massachusetts variously as Birdict, Berdick, Burdett, Burditt,
Burdict, and Burdick (as will be shown later), and it seems reasonably certain
that his ancestors are to be found among the ancient family of Burdetts in
England.
Before the Normans came to
England, the Bordets, or Burdetts, were Barons of Cuilly, near Falaise in,
Normandy. Cuilly, or Quilly, formed only part of the possessions of the
Burdetts. Their name seems to have been adopted from the place name Bourdet.
Two brothers of this name, Robert Bordet, Lord of Cuilly, and his brother Hugh,
came to England with William the Conqueror. On the Roll of Battle Abbey the
name is spelled Burdet. Robert and Hugh both appear in the Domesday as
subtenants in Leicestershire, where Hugh held considerable estates under the
Countess Judith. The wife and son of Robert are also on the list of landowners.
Robert was dead before 1086, when his widow held land from Hugh de Grantmesnil,
in Lincolshire (Dom. I, 232b). He had a son Hugh, and this Hugh had sons Robert
die Cuily, and Walter de Cuily, from whom descended the Cuilly, Quilly, De
Cuillys, de Culeys, Culey, Cull, Colley, Culai, Cuilys, Cayles, and Cuiley families.
Dugdale tells of a William Burdet
"who flourished in Henry II's time," and who was undoubtedly an
ancestor of the later families of Burdett. The said William Burdet, being both
a valient and devout man, made a journey to the Holy Land for subduing the Infidells
in those parts..." He left two sons: Hugh, whose line expired in the next
generation, and Richard, who died in 1223." The accompanying pedigree will
show the descent of some male members of the family.
It is probable that Robert
Burdick, or Burdett, was a descendant of some of these early ancestors.
Robert Burdick, the Immigrant
Names of those who may have been
his relatives appear very early in Colonial records. A WILLIAM BURDITT, aged 25
years, came to Virginia in the "Susan" in 1615. GEORGE BURDITT or
BURDETT came from Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, where he by popular election had
preached two years, and resided for a time at Salem, Mass. WILLIAM BURDICK was
master of the ship "Hopewell" which brought many colonists to this
country in 1635. A ROBERT BURDITT, who may have been related to the Robert
above, was born in England in 1633, came to New England when a young man, and
settled in Malden, Mass. There he married, November 1653, Hannah Winter. The
names of his children are similar to those of the Rhode Island family, being
Hannah, Mary, Joseph, Thomas, Ruth. He died June 16, 1667. His descendants
retained the spelling of Burditt.
The first BURDICK of record
in America was ROBERT BURDICK, who was living at Newport, RI in 1655. He came
from England to Newport in 1651. He was married Nov. 2, 1655 to Ruth Hubbard,
the first white child born at Agawam (now Springfield), Mass., Jan. 11, 1640.
Her father, Samuel Hubbard, came from England to Salem, Mass, in 1633.
Robert BERDICK and Tobia Sanders
were admitted as Freemen of Newport, May 22, 1655. Robert Birdict (1656), Tobia
Sanders, and Joseph Clarke were all living at Newport in 1655. Robert Burdick
was admitted a Freeman of the Colony of Rhode Island , May 20, 1657.
In the westward expansion of the
early New England Colonies, the three of them laid claim to a tract of land
called the Pequot country. In October 1658, Massachusetts declared a small
settlement which had been made there, to be a plantation with the name of
Southertown (now Stonington), and annexed it to Suffolk County, Mass. Special
commissioners and a constable were app0ointed to administer it (Mass. Recs.,
IV, 353). The Rhode Island Assembly, the next month, retaliated by warning all
settlers in the disputed area that if they put their lands under another
colonial government their holdings would be confiscated (R. I. Col. Recs., I,
401).
"Meantime, the Narrangansett
settlements (of Rhode Island) bought from the Indians, under the name of the
Westerly Purchase, land a part of which lay in Southertown, and began to settle
it." Among the settlers were Robert Burdick, Tobias Saunders, and Joseph
Clarke, farmers of Newport, and they soon found themselves in the thick of the
fight between Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
William Chesbrough testified
before the General Court of Massachusetts, Sept. 30, 1661, that about the
middle of September 1661, he was "occasioned to goe abroad upon his
affaires, and understanding that divers persons, about thirty-six inhabitants
of Road Island, were come into the bounds of Southertowne, to lay claime unto
the lands...and to divide and lay out lotts in the same," whereupon he
demanded "the reason of their intrusion into other men's rights; telling
them those lands were within the bounds of Southertowne and appropriated to
several persons." The reply came from the leader, Benedict Arnold. He
"said, in way of answer many things impertinently, the sum whereof was,
that they owned themselves to be the men that claimed the lands, and said they
would keep possession, and that they would not try their title any where but in
Road Island, or in England; and Arnold said that if any should attach him at
Boston, her would lie in prison seven years before he would try the title
there."
The General Court then issued a
Warrant, as follows:
WARRANT. To the Constable of
Southertowne: "Whereas, We are informed of sundry rude fellows, that
contrary to the peace of our soveraigne Lord the King, etc., of this Collony,
have, in a riotous manner entered upon, and taken possession of the lands of
sundry of our inhabitants in the bounds of your towne. These are to require
you, in his Majesties name to apprehend all such persons, and safely convey
them before some of the magistrates of this jurisdiction, to give acount of
such their proceedings; and hereof you are to make a true returne under your
hand and not faile. Dated 25, 8 month, 1661. "Signed by: Jo. Endicott,
Gov'r., Ri. Bellingham, Dep. Gov'r., Daniel Gookin."
This Warrant was endorsed by the
Constable: "According to the trust committed to me, I have arrested three
men, viz: Tobias Saunders, ROBERT BURDETT, and Joseph Clarke, which last upon
extraordinary occasion was, by the Commissioners and constable, set at liberty.
Dated 1st November, 1661. "William Palmer, Constable."
It developed later, that at the
time of their arrest, the Rhode Island men "did lye in wait to intercept
and seize ye Constable and Deputy, with such as came with them to prison as
they returned, which they had donne, but they being gone to dinner missed them."
On Nov. 14, 1661, they were
brought to trial before governor Endicott and his associates in Boston.
"Tobias Saunders and ROBERT
BURDETT being brought prisoners by virtue of a warrant from the Governor and
magistrates for a forcible entry and intrusion into the bounds of Southertowne,
in the Pequot country, upon severall men's properties granted to them by the
General Court of this jurisdiction, who upon being examined by what authority
or order they were there, Tobias Saunders answered, that the Court of Road Island
gave liberty for certayne of their inhabitants to purchase lands of the
Indians, and that these lands were purchased by them....Being asked whether
they had understood that warning was given...to depart out of those lands, and
out of the bounds of said towne, Tobias answered, that they had heard of such
warning. Being asked why he did not desist, Tobias answered, that they looked
upon the lands to be their right, and therefore they abode upon them."
"ROBERT BURDET being
examined, acknowledged that he was upon the same land, and built a small house
there, upon the lott layed out to him; and that he went upon this designe, upon
the same grounds as are declared by Tobias Saunders."
"Tobias Saunders and ROBERT
BURDETT being told that they must give security to the value of one hundred
pounds a peece, to answer what shall be objected against them at the next
General Court, otherwise to bee committed to prison, they refused to find
security and were committed."
"WARRANT FOR COMMITTMENT: The
Keeper of the prison of Boston. You are hereby required to take into your
custody the bodyes of Tobias Saunders and ROBERT BURDETT of Rhode Island, and
them safely to keepe, untill they find sufficient security, to the value of one
hundred pounds apiece, to answer at the next Generall Court, to be holden at
Boston in May next, for forcible entry and deteyning of possession of lands
belonging to the Colony of Massachusetts within the bounds of Southertowne in
the Pequot country, to the endangering of men's lives contrary to the peace of
our Sovereign Lord, the King. Signed by: John Endicott, Gov'r., Rich'd
Bellingham, Daniel Gookin.
In a letter from the General Court
of Massachusetts to Rhode Island is told the result of the trial in May.
Dated Boston 10, 3rd month, 1662:
"You may hereby take notice, that two of your people namely Tobias
Saunders and ROBERT BURDITT, being long since taken on the place, and secured
by us to answer their trespasse, we have now called them before this Court and
find nothing from them to justify their proceedings. This Court hath therefore
fined them 40 pounds for your offence...and they stand committed to prison till
your fine be satisfied,...etc."
They were committed to Boston jail
and kept there two years. Each colony sought to arrest citizens of the other.
The two were at last released on being exchanged for two Massachusetts
officials taken in retaliation by the Rhode Island authorities.
From this sturdy,
conscience-minded ancestor, Robert, sprang all the Burdicks who claim an early
Rhode Island ancestry.
When Connecticut was granted a new
charter, the disputed area of Southertowne (Stonington) was given to her, and
Massachusetts retired from the race. Later a compromise was arrived at in
England between Connecticut and Rhode Island, whereby the latter was awarded
the area of Westerly, where Robert Burdick had built his house, and where he
settled on being released by Massachusetts.
He was in a list of free
inhabitants of Westerly in May 1669. On May 17, 1671, he and others too the
oath of allegiance to the king and to the Colony of Rhode Island. Among those
who subscribed that day are many of the ancestors of later families of
Burdicks: John Crandall, Tobiah Sanders, Joseph Clarke, ROBERT BURDICK, John
Maxson, Jefferey Champlin, Sr., John Lewis, George Lanphaere, Nicholas
Cotterill, Jr., etc.---"all of which persons did promise to stand to their
engagements to his Majestie, and this Colony"
On the outbreak of King Philip's
Indian War, Westerly was on the exposed frontier. He and his family, in July,
1675, went to Newport, but subsequently returned to Westerly.
For the years 1680, 1683, 1685, he
was a deputy to the General Court of Rhode Island from Westerly. On May 17,
1691, he and his wife Ruth sold one hundred acres of land for ten pounds. March8,
1692, he made an agreement with his son-in-law, Joseph Crandall, by which the
latter was to take care of his father-in-law and find him suitable meat, drink,
washing, lodging, and apparel, etc., for life, in consideration of which Joseph
Crandall was to have the dwelling house and land adjoining forever, and until
Robert Burdick's death, to have also use of oxen, cart, two cows and eight
swine, and then to be returned to be disposed of by will, except the cart and
wheels.
1692, Oct. 25. He having died without
perfecting his will, an agreement was made by his sons and sons-in-law. What
their father had disposed of by legacy to children was to stand, and what
remained, to be divided into nine parts. To son-in-law John Phillips, one part.
The other eight parts to go to daughters Naomi Rogers and Tacy Maxson, only his
wearing apparel to be divided between his sons, Thomas, Benjamin, and Samuel.
The lands of deceased that are undivided, to go to sons Samuel, Robert and
Hubbard Burdick. To son Thomas, two oxen and a hog. To daughter Deborah
Crandall, bed, warming pan, etc. To daughter Ruth Phillips, iron pot, a swine,
etc. To son Benjamin, heifer, swine, and iron pot. To son Samuel, a heifer and
swine. To son Robert , a cow. To son Hubbard, a cow. To daughter Naomi Rogers,
a swine, etc. To daughter Tacy Maxson, a swine. Inventory, 2 oxen, 2 cows, 2
heifers, 6 swine, mare, wearing apparel, warming pan, pewter, etc.
He was a seceder from the Baptist
Church, joining the Seventh Day Baptists; and "many descendants held
membership in the ancient and interesting old Sabbatarian Church."
His death occurred in 1692, 25
October; and his wife died the year before.
They were the progenitors of
"the old Rhode Island Burdick family, which has been identified with the
history of the Colony and the Commonwealth, respectively, for 250 and more
years." "A glance over the records of the Colony and State shows that
persons of the Burdick name have from the start to the present been intrusted
with public offices of trust and honor in their communities and towns, and that
the name has been continually worthily borne."---Copied from
"Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society," Vol. III, p.
117.
The following letter was written
from Westerly, August 4, 1666, by Mrs. Ruth Burdick to her father, Samuel
Hubbard, at Newport:
"Most loving and dear father
and mother, my duty with my husband and children presenter unto you with all my
dear friends. My longing and desire is to hear from you, how your hearts are
borne up above these troubles which are come upon us and are coming as we fear;
for we have the rumors of war, and that almost every day. Even now we have
heard from your Island by some Indians, who declared unto us that the French
have done some mischief upon the coast, and we have heard that 1200 Frenchmen
have joined with the Mohawks to clear the land both of English and of Indians.
But I trust in the Lord, if such a thing be intended, that he will not suffer
such a thing to be. My desire and prayer to God is, that he will be pleased to
fulfil his promise to us, that is, that as in the world we shall have troubles,
so in him we shall have peace. The Lord of comfort, comfort your and our
hearts, and give us peace in believing and joy in the Holy Ghost. Oh that the
Lord would be pleased to fill our hearts with his good spirit, that we may be
carried above all these things! And that we may remember his saying, 'When ye
see these things come to pass, lift up your heads, knowing that our redemption
draws nigh.' Then if these be the certain sign of our Lord's return, let us
mind his command, that is, pray always that ye may be counted worthy to escape
all these things, and to stand before the son of man. Let us have boldness to
come unto him in the new and living way which he has prepared for us. Through
grace I find the Lord doth bear up the spirits of his in this place, in some
comfortable measure to be looking above these things, the Lord increase it more
and more unto the day of his appearing, which I hope is at hand. Dear father
and mother, the Lord hath been pleased to give us here many sweet and
comfortable days of refreshing, which is great cause of thankfulness, and my
desire is that we may highly prize it, and you with us give the Lord praise for
his benefit. I pray remember my love to all my dear friends with you in
fellowship. Sister Sanders desires to be remember to you all, so doth sister
Clarke. Your loving daughter, to my power. "RUTH BURDICK"
Robert Burdick was married
November 2, 1655, at Newport, R. I., to Ruth Hubbard, then 15 years old. She
was the first white child born in Springfield, MA. Her father, Samuel Hubbard,
was one of the founders, at Newport, December 23, 1671, of the Seventh Day
Baptist Church. He was born in 1610, at Mendelsham, Suffolk County, England, and
was the son of James and Naomi (Cocke) Hubbard, daughter of Thomas Cocke of
Ipswitch. His grandfather, Thomas Hubbard, was burned at the stake, May 26,
1555, in Essex County, England, for refusing to recant his Protestantism. His
fate is related in Fox's "Book of Martyrs" (Book III, Chap. 14),
under the name of Thomas Higbed. Samuel Hubbard came in 1633 to Salem, MA. At
Windsor, CN, January 4, 1636, by Mr. Ludlow, he married Tasy Cooper. They were
both in the party that marched through the wilderness in the hard winter of
1635 from Watertown, MA, to become the founders of Connecticut. On account of
persecution for expressing Baptist views, Mr. Hubbard finally, in 1648, sought
refuge in Rhode Island. In 1664 he was appointed General Solicitor of the
Colony. December 23, 1668, with his wife, one daughter, and four other persons
he formed the first Seventh Day Baptist Church in America. He died between 1688
and 1692 and his wife after 1697, but no trace of their burial places have been
found.
Tasy (Cooper) Hubbard, the mother
of Robert Burdick's wife, was, in 1664, the first convert in America to the
doctrine that no authority existed or could exist for altering God's decree
establishing the seventh day as the Sabbath by the substitution of another day.
She came to Dorchester, June 9, 1634, from England and was 28 years old when
married (Hist. of Windsor, Conn.).
From the Literary Diary of Ezra
Stiles, Vol. 3, p.82: "A singular gravestone:
"Ebenezer"
Samuel Hubbard aged 10 of May 78 yeres
Old Tase Hubbard aged the 27 Sep 79 yeres and 7 mons 4 Jen Maryed
51
Yeres 1688 14 Vpsal 4. God have given us 7 children 4 ded 3 living
Ruth Burdick 11, 1 ded, 10 living
Rachael Langworthy had 10 children 3 ded 7 living. Bethiah Clark 9
Living
Great Grandchildren
Naomi B Rogers 1 ded 4 alyfe
Ruth B Phillips 1 ded 4 alyfe
Judah C Maxson
Thomas Burdick
"I took this inscription off
a gravestone in a family burying place on Baptist Berkleys White Hall farm on
Rh. Isld, about A. D. 1763. Collector Robinson bought the Lease about 1765 and
demolished the gravestones and put them into a wall: so that all is lost. From
a loose paper which I, wrote in 1763 I now copy here. This Samuel Hubbard was a
Baptist Teacher, settled at Newport about 1648 and made this Eben. 1688.
Intricate as it seems, more is contained on this stone than can be given in
other words in so small a space. I think 1688 must be a year common to Four
dates. I should suppose the stone erected Sep 27, 1688, when the wife was aged
79 and 7 mo., and Mr. Hubbard was aged 78 on May 10 that year and on 4 Jany
they had been married 51 years. The 14 Vpsal 4 is the 145th Psalm and the 4th
verse---'One generation shall praise thy works to another.' The B and
C, I think a beautiful way of expressing lineal Descents. Thus Naomi
B Rogers, I take to be Naomi Burdick who married Rogers---so Judah C
Maxson was the Daughter of Bethiah Clark and it will be read Judah Clark
Maxson."
Children of Robert Burdick
Of the children of Robert Burdick,
the first three were probably born in Newport, and the others in Westerly, R.
I. The probable order:
1 Thomas, b. abt. 1656; m. Martha
........
2 Naomi, b. abt. 1658; m. Jonathan
Rogers.
3 Ruth, b. abt. 1660; m. John
Phillips.
4 Deborah, b. abt. 1662; m. Joseph
Campbell.
5 Son (Roger?), b. abt. 1664; d.
Monday before Sept. 25, 1683
6 Benjamin, b. abt. 1666; m, (1)
Mary Reynolds (?); (2) Mrs. Jane Shelley.
7 Samuel, b. abt. 1668; m. Mary
Foster.
8 Tacy, b. abt. 1670; m. Joseph
Maxson.
9 Robert, b. abt. 1674; m. Rebecca
Foster.
10 Hubbard, b. abt. 1676; m. Hanna
Maxson.
11 Infant, b. abt. 1678; d. prob.
in 1683.
1683, Sep. 25. Samuel Hubbard,
having returned to Newport, from a journey to Rye, etc., detailed some events
of the trip. He says: "at Westerly, the first day after the Sabbath,
brother Burdick buried a son," and among other there, were grandson John
Phillips, and Ruth his wife, and Benjamin Burdick' "a very great burial,
above twenty horses."
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