COLONEL WILLIAM BURGESS.
husband of 9th great-grandmother
William married Ursula Painter who was also the wife of my ninth great grandfather Dr. Mordecai Moore.... the following is a quote from the source....
husband of 9th great-grandmother
William married Ursula Painter who was also the wife of my ninth great grandfather Dr. Mordecai Moore.... the following is a quote from the source....
Two of the South River settlers from Virginia, were brothers in-law and neighbors.
They were Colonel William Burgess and Richard Beard. Their wives were thus recorded in the Virginia Magazine of History: "Edward Robins, born in England 1602, came to Virginia in the bark Thomas, in 1615. He was of Northampton, now Accomac County, and built "Newport House," now Eyreville. His daughter Elizabeth married William Burgess, of Maryland. His daughter Rachel married Richard Beard." (Standard, Vol. 3.)
After William Stone, of Northampton, became the first Protestant governor, Beard and Burgess removed to Maryland. The next record from the same source mistakes the son for the father, when it states: "Beard made the first map of Annapolis." It was Richard Beard, Jr., surveyor of Anne Arundel, who made the map. His father died in 1675, before Annapolis had been named. William Burgess began, at once, his commanding career. In 1655, he was one of the Council of War to condemn Governor Stone,--the very man he had followed to Maryland.
In 1657, he was named, first by Governor Josias Fendall, a commissioner and associate justice of the new County of Anne Arundel. Declining to take the necessary oath, on the ground it was not lawful to swear, his plea was rejected and another name was substituted. In 1660, when Governor Fendall had been banished, and Philip Calvert had succeeded him, William Burgess sent in a petition reviewing his former refusal to take the oath, and ascribing it to the influence of ill-advised friends. He announced his determination, henceforth, to devote his remaining days to the service of the proprietary. His petition was favorably received and he was set free without fine or trial.
In 1661, he was placed in command of the South River Rangers, and was ordered to send all Indian prisoners to St. Mary's for trial. In 1663, he was placed at the head of the Anne Arundel Commissioners.
In 1664, he was high sheriff of Anne Arundel. Upon receiving orders to go against the Indians, he named his successor, Major Richard Ewen, from whose family he had taken his second wife.
In 1665, Charles Calvert, son of Lord Baltimore, having succeeded his uncle Philip, honored William Burgess in the following commission:
Captain William Burgess,
Greeting,--Whereas, Diverse Forraing Indians have of late committed divers murthers upon our people, I have thought fitt to raise a sufficient number of men. Now know ye that I reposing especial confidence in your fidelity, courage and experience in martial affaires, have constituted, ordained and appointed you Commander-in-Chief of all forces raised in St. Maries, Kent, Charles, Calvert and Anne Arundel Counties.
Given under my hand, 34th year of his Lordship's Dom., 1665.
Charles Calvert.
Charles Calvert.
Then follow instructions for the campaign.
Major Thomas Brooke was ordered "to raise forty men and march to Captain William Burgess, in Anne Arundel, there to receive orders from him as Commander-in-Chief. Ordered that Captain William Burgess raise by presse, or otherwise, thirty men with arms and ammunition to proceed according to former orders."
Charles Calvert.
Charles Calvert.
Some Seneca Indians had killed several English settlers in Anne Arundel. The following reward was offered: "One hundred arms length of Roan Oake, for bringing in a cenego prisoner, or both of his ears, if he be slain. "In 1675, Colonel William Burgess and Colonel Samuel Chew were ordered to go against the Indians on the Severn.
In 1679, it was ordered, "That Colonel Burgess supply Baltimore County with twenty men from Anne Arundel, for the defense of that county."
In 1681, Robert Proctor, from his town on the Severn, Thomas Francis, from South River and Colonel Samuel Lane, from the same section, all wrote urgent letters stating that the Indians had killed and wounded both negroes and English men "at a plantation of Major Welsh's," and "had attempted to enter the houses of Mr. Mareen Duvall and Richard Snowden."
Major Francis wrote, and Colonel Nicholas Gassaway added: "I have but nineteen men of all the Coll Troope, and cann gett noe more-men are sick, and of them half have noe ammunition, nor know where to gett it. There is such a parcell of Coll. Burges foote Company in the like condition for ammunition. The head of the River will be deserted, if we leave them, and they have no other reliefe. Wee marched in the night to the releife, Major Lane sent to our releife about thirty foote more, but we have noe orders but to Range and Defend the Plantations, which we shall doe to the best of our skill, and I suppose, if Baltimore County wants assistance that at this time it cannot be well supplyed from Anne Arundel; we have stood to our Arms all night and need enough. Just now more news of three families robbed at Seavern.
Your humble servts.,
Tho. Francis, Nich. Gassaway."
Tho. Francis, Nich. Gassaway."
Major Samuel Lane wrote: "The county of Anne Arrundll at this time is in Greate danger. Our men marched all Monday night, the greatest part of South River had been most cutt off. Wee want Ammunition exceedingly, and have not where-with-all to furnish half our men. I hope your Ldpp. will dispatch away Coll. Burges with what Ammunition may be thought convenient. I shall take all the care that·lyeth in me, but there comes daily and hourely Complaints to me that I am wholly Imployed in the Country's Service.
In haste with my humble service,
Sept. 13th, 1681. Samuel Lane."
Sept. 13th, 1681. Samuel Lane."
Robert Proctor wrote that Mr. Edward Dorsey had come to him very late in the night, with the news of robberies by the Indians upon the Severn.
Upon such information, followed the decisive order to Colonel William Burgess and Colonel Thomas Tailler, "to fight, kill, take, vanquish, overcome, follow and destroy them."
Colonel Taylor commanded the horse, Colonel Burgess the foot, and both were Protestants.
From that date on to 1682, Colonel Burgess was a delegate to the Lower House; from 1682 to his death in 1686, he was in the Upper House. He was upon many committees.
His epitaph is a most remarkable condensation of his eventful life. It reads:
"Here lyeth the body of Wm. Burgess,
Esq., who departed this life on ye
24th of January, 1686, Aged 64 years: leaving his
Dear beloved wife, Ursula and eleven
children, viz.: seven sons and four daughters,
And eight grand-children.
In his life-time, a member of
His Lordship's Deputy Governors;
A Justice of ye High Provincial Court;
Colon of a regiment of Trained Bands:
And sometimes General of all ye
Military Forces of this Province.
His loving wife, Ursula, his executrix
In testimony of her true respect,
And due regard to the worthy
Deserts of her dear deceased
Husband, hath erected this monument."
Esq., who departed this life on ye
24th of January, 1686, Aged 64 years: leaving his
Dear beloved wife, Ursula and eleven
children, viz.: seven sons and four daughters,
And eight grand-children.
In his life-time, a member of
His Lordship's Deputy Governors;
A Justice of ye High Provincial Court;
Colon of a regiment of Trained Bands:
And sometimes General of all ye
Military Forces of this Province.
His loving wife, Ursula, his executrix
In testimony of her true respect,
And due regard to the worthy
Deserts of her dear deceased
Husband, hath erected this monument."
The historian, Geo. L. Davis, says of Colonel Burgess:
"He was himself, through his son Charles, the ancestor of the Burgesses of Westphalia; through his daughter, Susannah, of the Sewalls of Mattapany-Sewalls, closely allied to Lord Charles Baltimore; through his granddaughter, Ursula, of the Davises of Mt. Hope, who did not arrive from Wales before 1720; and through a still later line, of the Bowies of Prince George."
Colonel Burgess left an exceedingly intelligent will of entail; naming his sons and daughters, Edward, George, William, John, Joseph, Benjamin, Charles, Elizabeth, Susannah, Anne. I give to my sonne William my message land where I now dwell, near South River, together with eighteen hundred acres adjoining, which I purchased of George Westall, and one part whereof is a Town appointed called London, provided my wife, Ursula, shall live there until my son is of age. I give unto William, all of "Betty's Choice," in Balto. Co., near Col. Geo. Wells, containing 480 acres. I give to my sonne, John Burgess, four tracts, "Morley's Lott," "Bednall's Green," "Benjamin's Choice," and "Benjamin's Addition," lying near Herring Creek, some 800 acres. I give to my sonne, Joseph, lands purchased of Richard Beard, near South River, called "West Puddington," and "Beard's Habitation," 1300 acres. I give to my sonne Benjamin, a tract, "Bessington," near the Ridge, also "Burgess Choice," near South River. I give to my sonne, Charles, a tract, purchased of Vincent Lowe, at the head of Sasafras River, of 1600 acres, and another of Vincent Lowe, on the Susquehannah, of 500 acres; provided, if any should die before attaining age, then every such tract shall descend to the eldest then living. I give all the rest of my estate, here or in England, to my dear wife, Ursula, at pleasure, and she shall have the care of the education of my children and the use of their portions. I desire that she shall be my executrix, with my friends Major Nicholas Sewall, Major Nicholas Gassaway and Captain Henry Hanslap, as supervisors, and to each of them I grant £5. WILLIAM BURGESS. (SEAL.)
His sons, Edward and George, had been provided for before his will. His daughters received £300 in money, plate and other personals.
His seal-ring of gold was willed to his daughter, Susannah, wife of Major Nicholas Sewall. She was the daughter of Colonel Burgess, by Mrs. Richard Ewen. Colonel Burgess bore arms, as the existing impression of his seal reveals, of a family of Truro, in Cornwall, but was akin to the Burgesses of Marlborough, Wilts County. (Or a fesse chequy, or, and gules, in chief, three crosses, crosslet fitchie of the last.)
Except Charles Burgess, of Westphalla, who married a daughter of Captain Henry Hanslap, the succeeding Burgess name was alone handed down by Captain Edward Burgess, the son who came up from Virginia with him. John and Joseph died early; Benjamin, under the will, claimed their estates, but finally compromised with Captain Edward. Benjamin sold his whole estate and went to England. George, after holding the office of High Sheriff, joined his wife Catherine, the widow Stockett, in deeding all their estate, and removed to Devon County, England.
Ann-Thomas Sparrow, and died the same year. Jane Sewall of Major Nicholas and Susannah Burgess-Clement Brooke, son of Major Thomas. Their daughter, Elizabeth Brooke, became the mother of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton. William Burgess, Jr., inherited the homestead; he married Ann (Watkins) Lord, daughter of John Watkins, the stepson of Commander Edward Lloyd. Burgess' will left 1,000 acres in Baltimore County to his wife's children by her former husband, Mr. Lord.
His mother became the wife of Dr. Mordecai Moore, and remained upon the homestead, near Londontown, until her death, in 1700. She was the heir of Nicholas Painter, long clerk of the Council, whose will left a large estate to her children. She was buried by the side of Colonel Burgess.
Captain Edward Burgess, was in the life-time of his father, commissioner for opening the port of Londontown; justice of the Provincial Court and "Captain of the Foote." He was the executor and heir of Captain George Puddington.
The Chew genealogy records: "Sarah, daughter of Samuel Chew, of John of Chewtown; married a Burges." She was the wife of Captain Edward Burgess, whose oldest son, Samuel, was named for Samuel Chew. Captain Burgess' will left his estate to his sons Samuel and John, having already deeded lands to his daughter, Mrs. Margaret Ware and Mrs. Elizabeth Nicholson. Mrs. Sarah Burgess, his widow, left hers to "my daughters Ann White, Sarah Gaither and Susannah Richardson." Benjamin Gaither, her son-in law, was made executor. Samuel Burgess (of Captain Edward), married Mrs. Elizabeth Durbin. Issue, Edward, Benjamin and Elizabeth.
John Burgess (of Captain Edward) married, first Jane Macklefresh (of David). Issue, William, Benjamin, Samuel, Sarah, Ann and Susannah.
He married second, in 1733, Matilda Sparrow. Issue, John, Joseph, Edward, West and Caleb Burgess, all revolutionary patriots, whose history belongs to Howard County.
Upon the homestead tract of the late General George Stewart, of South River, is the original site of Colonel William Burgess' home; from which, upon a commanding hill, may be seen his tombstone, quoted above. Surrounding General Stewart's home are massive oaks, which bear the imprint of ages. Upon this site, too, stood the home of Anthony Stewart, of the "Peggy Stewart," who came into possession of Colonel Burgess' home tract, which later passed into General Stewart's possession. The two families, with similar names claim no relation to each other. The road leading past the historic place and on to All Hallows Church, about three-fourths of a mile west, is the same over which General Washington passed from Annapolis to Mt. Vernon, in 1783. Along this road are yet to be seen wayside oaks, that reveal the remarkable richness of this South River section, when occupied by our early settlers.
Along this road, beautiful views of the broad South River may be enjoyed.
Between Colonel Burgess' homestead and his Londontown tract; there still stands a well-preserved old brick homestead, with massive chimneys and steep roof. It is within sight of the Alms House upon the southern bank of South River. I have not found its builder.
All of the property passed through Colonel Burgess and his son, William Burgess, Jr., to Mrs. Ursula Moore, wife of Dr. Mordecai Moore. From that family, through recorded transfers, it may be traced to the present owners. The most of it is now in the estate of General George Stewart, whose linage has been clearly traced to Kenneth, 2nd, the first Scottish king.
Colonel Burgess' son-in-law, Major Nicholas Sewall, son of Hon. Henry Sewall, of "Mattepany," was a member of the Council from 1684 to 1689. His sons were Charles and Henry. Elizabeth Sewall, widow of the latter, married Hon. William Lee, of the Council, and became mother of Thomas Lee, father of Governor Thomas Sim Lee.
Nicholas, son of Henry and Elizabeth Sewall, married Miss Darnall, of "Poplar Hill," Prince George County.
Their descendants were: Hon. Nicholas Lewis Sewall, of "Cedar Point," member of the convention for ratification of the Constitution of United States; and Robert Darnall Sewall, of "Poplar Hill.''
This was a part of the famous "Woodyard," the house of Colonel Henry Darnall of 1665, whose brother, John Darnall, held "Portland Manor," in Anne Arundel. Colonel Henry Darnall's daughter, Eleanor, became the wife of Clement Hill. Eleanor Brooke Darnall, of the "Woodyard," was the mother of Archbishop John Carroll and Mary Darnall, of "The Woodyard," became the wife of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton. Robert Darnall, grandson of Colonel Henry, lost all the magnificent estate except "Poplar Hill," about eight hundred arces, which came into possession of the Sewalls, through the marriage above mentioned.-(Thomas.)
Lady Baltimore, wife of Charles Lord Baltimore, and widow of Hon. Henry Sewall, was the daughter of Vincent Lowe and Anne Cavendish, of London, and a sister of Colonel Vincent Lowe, of Maryland.
Her daughter, Jane Sewall, became the wife of Hon. Philip Calvert, and her daughter Elizabeth, married second Colonel Wm. Digges, member of the Maryland Council, son of Governor Edward Digges, of Virginia. Colonel Digges was in command at St. Mary's; when compelled to surrender to Captain John Coode's revolutionary forces in 1689. He later removed to "Warburton Manor," nearly opposite to Mt. Vernon.
It was in the garrison of Mattapany, a large brick mansion, the property of Lady Baltimore, descending to her son, Colonel Nicholas Sewall, where Governor Calvert had erected a fort, that his forces retired when attacked by Coode; and it was there that the formal articles of surrender were prepared.
The house and property of the proprietary were confiscated, but came back to the possession of the Sewalls in 1722, by a grant from the second Charles Lord Baltimore, to Nicholas Sewall, son of the original proprietor, and so remained until the present century.
There are on record, at Annapolis, the wills of two residents of Wilts County, England, viz: Anthony Goddard, of Suringden, of Wilts, England, in 1663, left "to William Burgess, of Anne Arundel, his entire estate, in trust for Hester Burgess, of Bristol, England. Joseph Burgess, of Wilts, in 1672, named his brother, William and others. Our records show that Colonel Burgess, of Anne Arundel County, settled the estate. (The Founders of Ann Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland: A Genealogical and Biographical Review from Wills, Deeds and Church Records, Baltimore, MD. by J. D. Warfield, Published by Kohn & Pollock, 1905; Transcribed by Jan Grant; Proofread by Shannon Thomas)
http://genealogytrails.com/mary/annearundel/bios.html
