Burt Family Genealogy
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The "Burt" surname is English and Scottish: from the Old English personal name Byrht, a byform of Be(o)rht (‘bright’)—someone who was chipper or clever. (Quite often the Burts have been too clever for their own good.) The coat of arms is silver on a red chevron, between three black buglehorns, and three silver crosses. The bugle or 'Hunting Horns' signify a person of high or noble pursuits. The three crosses signify Christian ideals, and possibly a role in the Crusades.
A family with this surname was first found in Norfolk, where they had been granted lands by William the Conqueror for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D., during the Norman Conquest. The actual surname was first used in AD 1199, according to Bloomfield's of Norfolk County (Vol. IX, p.520): "The Lordship of Homingtoft was granted by the Conqueror to Alan, Earl of Richmond, who had married Constance, daughter of the Conqueror. In the 10th Richard I (AD 1199), a manor in this lordship was granted to Sir Hamo de Burt." Sir Hamo was still lord of the manor in AD 1259, with two sons: Ralph the Eldar and Thomas. Other variations began to appear, as well. In 1272 a John Bert was listed in Wilts county, and a Roger Bert in Suffolk and Oxford counties. In 1346, Ralph Burt (son of Peter Burt) was a benefactor of the convent of St. Mary de Pratis in Leicester. Sir William Burt was knighted by King Edward IV in the 1400's, and his sepulcher is in the church of Grey Friars, in London. By the 1500's, however, there were Burts all over England, making the gathering of a precise lineage almost impossible.
Our connection to this family can be traced to (probably) HENRY BURT, born in 1516. Henry married JOAN PUTTENHAM (1502 - 1565) of Eddlesborough, Buckinghamshire, England. It's said that they were married around 1540 in Haberton, Devonshire, England. Henry died soon after the marriage and the birth of JOHN BURT, born in 1541, in the village of Pulloxhill, Bedfordshire, England (keep in mind this is unproved).
John grew up in Pulloxhill, then married in 1566. One tradition has the bride's name being "Katherine," but nobody knows for sure. She was born @ 1542 in Harberton, Devonshire, England. They were married in Harberton, where John and his family would make their home base for the next 50 years. They had a least five kids: John, Thomas, William, (b. 1564), Henry (b. 1567) and Agnes (b.1569). "Katherine" died on the 17th of July in 1571.
Though Mrs. Burt's name is forgotten, and the facts about her are unproved, we do know the name of her son: HENRY BURT, born in 1567 in Harberton, Devonshire, England.
Henry was a very successful clothier. In 1590, he married a woman named ISETT (or ISOLT), born in 1571 in Harberton. They had the following children:
CHILDREN OF HENRY AND ISETT BURT |
Henry died in Harberton, Devonshire, England, and was buried on the 10th of September in 1617. His Will was Proved in Haberton, Devon, England.¹
| Will;
10 Jul 1617; Harberton, Devon, ENG. "The will of Henry Burtt of Harberton (co. Devon), clothier, dated 10 July 1617. To the poor of the parish of Harberton 30sh. To my son Henry and his heirs and assigns, my close of land situate in Harberton Ford, called by the name of Racheparke, together with the house that John Tummells now dwelleth in and the house that George Causie and John Pearse now dwell in and the house that Andrew Pearse and Edward Adams now dwell in, as also the orchard, nursery, herb gardens, backsides, and other appurtenances belonging. To the said Henry, my son, the mansion house of that land commonly called Crobers Land which Thomas Wood now dwelleth in, together with the sheep pen, orchard, herb garden and bakehouse, during the term of his life. To my said son Henry L 100 to be paid within a year after my death. Isett, my wife, for life, one chamber over the shop, called the forechanmer, with the bedstead and bed that I use to lie in. My wife shall have yearly, during her life, £6 13s. 4d issuing out of that land or tenement called Crobers Land: and my executor shall find one to attend her, during her life, sufficient meat, drink and firewood for her own use; and, if my said wife do dislike her diet and do leave it, then my will is that she shall have £ 3.6s.8d in lieu of her diet, out of the lands aforesaid, for her life. To my said wife and son Henry the half of my household stuff, equally to be divided between them: and the other half to remain to my executor. To Raddegan, my daughter, £60, to be paid within three months after she shall be of the age of twenty-one. To Allies, my daughter, £40, to be paid at the age of twenty. To Agnes, my daughter, £40 at the age of twenty. To Elizabeth, my daughter, £40, at the age of twenty. Whereas I promised my son-in-law, Chrispine Saunder, L 40 at his marriage, and because he is not yet paid, my executor shall pay it. Also I promised him other £20 when my daughter Johan, his wife, for the term of her life or for fifty years determinable upon her life, should be assured of that tenement that Thomasine Saunders now dwelleth in or of some other as good, then my executor shall pay him £20 towards the same. To Joseph Saunders and Samuel Saunders, my grandchildren, £5 each. To my brothers' and sisters' children 2 s each. To every one of my godchildren 12d. To Nycholas Hyans, my apprentice, 30 s., to be paid at the end of his apprenticeship. Residue to my son John Burte. Witnesses: Will Huxham and Thos. Colton. Proved 19 Sept 1617."
Inventory Taken; 10 Sep 1617; Harberton, Devon, ENG 2. £602-07-09: "Inventory,
taken 10 Sept 1617 by Thomas Colton and Paule Symons and exhibited 19 September
1617, includes apparel, £8: cloth and yarn, £102; money £70;
93 sheep, £31, 32 lambs, £6; other farm stock; an estate in certain
grounds, £61: an estate in house, meadow and garden, £20; two pairs
of lumbes, warping pins, raggles, quilt torns, and one spinning turn with sleyes,
£2. 10s. brass pans, cauldrons, and pots, £10. 13s. 4d; for household
cloth already made, £3; 13 silver spoons, L 3; desperate debts, £140;
total £602. 7s. 9d. (Archdeaconry of Totnes}." |
Isett died on the 8th of July, 1630, and was buried in Wp, Harberton, Devonshire, England. Her Will was Proved in Haberton, Devon, England:
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The Nuncupative Will of Isott Burte of Harberton [co. Devon], being of perfect
mind and memory, declared 14 March, or thereabout, 1629 [1629/30], in the presence
of John Burte and Joane Saunders, with others, in manner and form following: she
gave all her goods unto Agnes Burte and Elizabeth Burte, her daughters, who she
made her executors. Proved 9 July 1630 by Elizabeth Burte, one of the executors
named in said will, with power reserved to grant administration to Agnes Burte,
the other executor. Nuncupative Will. Inventory Taken; 8 Jul 1630; Harberton, Devon, ENG 2. Inventory, taken 8 July 1630 by Henry Burt and Symon Trumelles and exhibited 9 July 1630 by Elizabeth Burte: her wearing apparel £5; household goods only; total, £9. 13s. 4d. [signed] Henry Burtt. The mark of Symon Trummells. (Archdeaconry of Totnes.) |
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Then in 1639, they sailed to America and settled in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. Apparently, Eulalia had just recovered from a deadly illness:
"A tradition is preserved that the mother of these children 'was laid our for dead in England, put into the coffin, but signs of life appeared at her funeral, she recovered, came to New England, settled at Springfield, and here had nineteen children'. What degree of credit may be yielded to this account, quoted from Dr. Stiles, which was a very benign in hearing such chronicles, may well be asked, but the answer will probably depend on the spirit, education and habits of the respondent."²
Here's a listing of their children, both before and after Eulalia rose from the coffin:
CHILDREN OF HENRY BURT, JR., AND AND EULALIA MARCH |
Henry
came to Roxbury, Massachusetts prior to 1638, when his name appears in the records
of the General Court in reference to paying 8 pounds to Roxbury on account of
the burning of his house. In fact, Henry showed up in court A LOT:
In
1640, he appears in Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. On January 13, 1641/42
in Springfield, Massachusetts, Henry Burt "Complaines against Judith Gregory
in an action of the Case for breach of Covenant in Molestinge him in his daughter
Sara[h] Burt. Judith Gretory was 3 tymes caled by the Constable to answer the
action abovesaid and she appeared not."
On September
26, 1644, in Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts, by general vote of the town,
Henry Smith, Thomas Cooper, Samuel Chapin, Richard Sikes, & Henry Burt were
elected Selectmen with power "to order in all the prudential affaires of
the Towne, to prevent anythnge they shall judge to be to the dammage of the Towne
or to ordr anything they shall judge to be for the good of the Towne: and in these
affaires they shall have power for a yeere space and that they, 5, or any three
of them shall also be given full power and virtue, alsoe to here complaints, to
Arbitrate controversies, to lay out High ways, to make Bridges, to repayr High
wais ... to see to the Scouring of Ditches, and to the killing of wolves, and
to training up of children in some good caling, or any other thing they shall
judge to be to the profitt of the Towne."
On April
14, 1648, in Springfield, Henry Burt was "sworne to be Freeman." As
for military service, on November 7, 1648, in Springfield, "Henry Burt was
this day sworne Clarke of the Band". On May 29, 1649, in Springfield, "Henry
Burt was chosen Clark of the writts for this Towne. This day all the printed lawes
were read: the whole Towne being present:" On March 29, 1659, in Springfield,
"Henry Burt Plantiff contra James Bridgman defendant in an action of debt
to the vallue of 27 19s 4d."
On April 7, 1660, in Springfield,
Henry Burt served on the jury investigating the death by drowning of Ebenezer
Herman, youngest child of John Herman who was found dead in the brook in Nathaneell
Pritchard's yard. The death was ruled accidental. On September 25, 1660 he served
on another jury in Springfield.
On May 14, 1661, in Springfield,
"Henry Burt Complaines against John Henryson for not paying of Three bushells
of wheate according to promise for spinning and knitting of Stockens. To which
John Henryson says that the debt which he owes Henry Burt is but 10s and this
he ingaged 2 bushells of wheate towards it and noe more: and he hat paid Henry
Burt in worke so that Henry Burt owes him 8x for worke: Henry Burt ownes owing
him 8s which says he John Henryson was to have a shurt cloth for and John owning
it is adjudged to take the shurt cloth: and for the other 10s John Henryson is
adjudged to pay Henry Burt Two bushells ow wheate (7s) and Three shillings in
a day and halfe worke."
On September 24, 1661, Henry
Burt again served on a jury in Springfield.
Henry Burt, "the
Clark of ye Writtts", died on April 30th 1662 "in ye evening" and
was buried on May 1, 1662. He wasn't quite as well-off as his father, and the
creditors descended on his property:
| WILL
OF HENRY BURT - April 30, 1662 - Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts: Henry Burt of Springfeild who departed this life Aprill 30th 1662, not leavinge any will under his owne hand for the disposing of his leigh, estate yet for that he did by words express his mind therein before Ensigne Thomas Cooper and Jonathan Burt who by a writing under their hands presented the Same unto this Corte: a coppy whereof hereafter follows, the Widdow Burt before the Corte consenting thereunto The Corte allowed the same to stand as the Last will and testament of the said Henry Burt. We
Thomas Cooper and Jonathan Burt doe testify, That after Henry Burt now deceastl
had disposed of part of his estate to his Son Nathaneell, the said Henry had Such
expressions as these. vizt. that what estate he had then left should be at his
wifes dispose as witness our hand This 29th of September 1662. To the truth hereof in the mind of the said Henry Burt the said Ensigne Cooper & Jonathan Burt tooke thier oath in the presence of the Corte: An
Inventory of ye estate of Henry Burt of Springfield, deceased, taken Sept. 11,
1662. Also the Widow Burt before the Corte made oath that this is a true Inventory
of her said deceased husband's estate. |
The first generations of settlers in Colonial America had to learn to survive the rigors of a harsh environment. Death rates in the 17th century were high for men and women alike. Eighteen women were among the passengers who sailed to Plymouth Colony in 1620 aboard the Mayflower. The following spring only four remained alive, the rest dying of starvation or disease. But Eulalia escaped death in England, then lived to be almost 90, finally passing away on the 19th of August, 1690, in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.
| Will;
27 May 1684; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA 2. "I Ulaliah Burt, of Springfield,
being weake in body, but sound in mind, memory and understanding, do make this,
my Last Wil and Testament, this 27th of May Anno Dom 1684. I comend my soul to
God who made it, and to Jesus Christ, who redeemed I with his most precious blood.
And my body I commit to the earth hoping for that blessed ressurection when it
shall be reunited to be forever with the Lord. And for my worldly estate thus
I dispose it: To my daughter Sarah I give two milch cows, or kinde. To my daughter
Abiaile I give my cloake, a green Apron and coate and a shift. To my Daughter
Mary I give an hefer. To my Daughter Elisabeth I give two milch cows or kine.
To my daughter Patience I give my Flocke bed at the Medow, a Pillow-beer, one
pair of sheets and a Coverlet, my red stockins, one shift, one white neck cloth,
on dressing, my hat, one Coif and one coate, and the one halfe of my Clothe that is sent to the Weavers, after two yeards are taken of for Abilene Bage. To my daughter Mercy I give the halfe of that Cloth that is sent to the weavers, and the Serdge her husband sent me for a wastecoate, one pair of sheetes, one pillow-beer, ond shift, one coate. And to my son Jonathan I do give the whole lot my husband bought of George Sancton and my best brasse kettle to bestow upon his son Henry. If he se good that he enjoy the same, after his decease.Also I give my son Jonathan the Pillow and Pillow-beer at his house. To my son David I doe give my oldest yoke of cattle and my old brasse pan. To my son Nathaneel I give my great brasse kettle and the four acres in the forral Lotte to bestow if he se good upon his eldest son after his decease. And my Scarfe and my Cambricke Necke clothe I give to my son Nathaneel, his daughter Rebeca; Also the Yarn and Wool and Tow to make a coverlet I give to sd Rebeca and the Pillow at the Medow. And the rest of my fmal estate not heer named I doe order to be given as there is most need, or my Executors hereafter named see cause. And I do constitute and appoint my son Jonathan and my son Nathaneel to be my True and Lawful Executors to this my Last Wil and Testament as Witnes my hand and seale the day and yeer above written. Ulaliah Burt X (her mark) With her seale affixt. Signed and sealed in the presence of Benjamin Parsons, Sr. and John Holyoke. At
the courte Sept.30 1690. Sworn in Courte by Mr. Jno. Holyoke that he saw the Testator
signe and seale the Instument as the Wil and Last Testament of said Ulaliah Burt
deceased and that she was of sound mind and perfect remembrance, to the best of
his remembrance, the estate to be disposed according to said will. |
Their
daughter, MARY BURT, was christened on the 13th of April, 1635, in Haberton, Devonshire,
England. She sailed to America with her parents in 1639, then married WILLIAM
BROOKS (born between 1610 and 1629 in England) on the 18th of October in 1654,
in Springfield, Massachusetts.
But he's not the ONLY husband
she was with:
| March
24, 1653/54 - HAMPSHIRE CO., MASSACHUSETTS COURT RECORDS, page 4: 1654 - 24 day of ye first month Samuel Wright jr charged by Mary Burt to be the Father of her illegitimate child he advised to be tryed by a Jury of 12 men whereupon the said Samuel Wright was ordered & adjudge to be the reputed Father of the said child, and for his evil behaviour therein to be whipped with 12 strikes on the naked body well layd on - to pay costs of court 2 1s 45 a week for seven yeares for support of the child and to pay fforty shillings to apprentice the child & give surety for faithful performance of the same And Mary Burt for her great wickedness was ordered & adjudged to be whipped on ye naked body with 12 lashes well layed on also to keep her said child - also she being found guilty of committing wickedness with Joseph Bonde she was adjudged to be well whipped a second tyme with 10 lashes about a month after the first whipping - for the second whipping she paid a fine of 30s and was relieved from it Samuel Wright Sen & Thomas Stebbns was his bondsmen. |
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William died on the 30th of December in 1688. He was buried in Deerfield, Franklin Co., Massachusetts.
Mary died a few months later, on the 30th of August in 1689 in Northampton, Franklin County, Massachusetts, after what turned out to be a long, prosperous marriage, after an incredibly shaky start. Fortunately for us and thousands of other descendants, she and William had a LOT of kids --all his, outside of Remembrance—including our ancestor, MARY BROOKS:
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM BROOKS AND MARY BURT |
GENEALOGY
HENRY BURT (1516 - 1545) married JOAN PUTTENHAM (1502 - 1565) and begat...
JOHN BURT (1541 - 1566), who married "KATHERINE" (1542 - 1571) and begat...
HENRY BURT (1567 - 1617), who married ISETT (1571 - 1630) and begat...
HENRY BURT, JR. (1595 - 1662), who married EULALIA MARCH (1600 - 1690) and begat...
MARY BURT (1635 - 1689) who married WILLIAM BROOKS (1629 - 1689) and begat...
MARY BROOKS (1677 - 1713), who married BARRETT STEELE (1675 - 1713) and begat...
JOHN STEELE (1707- 1793), who married ABIGAIL BROOKS (d. 1774) and begat...
RHODA STEELE (b. 1735), who married ROBERT SANDERSON (b. 13 Jul 1734) and begat...
ELNATHAN SANDERSON (1776 - 1854) married BETSY WALTERS and begat...
DAVID SANDERSON (1804 - 1884) who married POLLY BRIGGS (1811 - 1867) and begat...
MELISSA SANDERSON (1839 - 1921) who married LABAN HAUSE (1831 - 1906) and begat...
FRANK HAUSE (1867 - 1951) who married FLADELLA RAYMOND (1869 - 1961) and begat...
CARLISLE HAUSE (1891 - 1972) who married MARJORIE MARCHANT (1892 - 1939) who begat...
CARLETON MARCHANT HAUSE, SR. (1917 - 1983) who married JEANNE BRUNNER (1918 - 2000) and begat...
CARLETON MARCHANT HAUSE, JR. (b. 1939) who married MARTHA WENK (b. 1940) and begat...
JEFF (who married LORI ANN DOTSON), KATHY (who married HAL LARSEN), ERIC (who married MARY MOONSAMMY), and MICHELE HAUSE (who married JOHN SCOTT HOUSTON).
Sources:
¹—Terry, George Skelton, Genealogical Research in England, Burt - March, (New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol 86, January 1932, p 77 - 84; April 1932, p 216-220; July 1932, p 247-252.)
²—A GENEALOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF NEW ENGLAND, BEFORE 1692 - Vol. 1 - Savage, James - 1860-62: BURT, HENRY, Roxbury, had his ho. burn. for wh. loss the Gen. Ct. made a gr. to the town of 8 pounds in Nov. 1639; rem. to Springfield next yr. was there clk. of the writs (tho. rec. of the b. of his own ch. is not found), and d. 30 Apr. 1662. His wid. Ulalia d. 29 Aug. 1690, and of his ch. we kn. names for Jonathan; David; Nathaniel; Sarah, wh. m. first, 1643, Judah Gregory, and, next, Henry Wakley; Abigail, wh. m. first, 1644, Francis Ball; next, 1649, Benjamin Mun, and bore him five ch. and next m. lieut. Thomas Stebbins, whose s. m. her d. Abigail; Mary, wh. m. 1654, William Brooks, and bore him eight s. and eight ds.; Elizabeth wh. m. 24 Nov. 1653, Samuel Wright, jr.; Patience, wh. m. 7 Oct. 1667, John Bliss; Mercy, wh. m. 17 Jan. 1667, Judah Wright; Hannah, wh. m. 1659, John Bagg, and had ten ch,; and Dorcas, wh. m. 28 Oct. 1658, John Stiles. The four last nam. of these eight Ds Of course, were b. after his rem. To S. and in neither rec. of town nor ch. at R. is his name to be seen. A tradit. Is preserv. That the mo. of these ch. "was laid our for d. in Eng. put into the coffin, but signs of life appear. At her funer. she recov. came to N. E. sett. At S. and here had nineteen ch." What degr. Of credit may be yeild. To this acco. quot. from Dr. Stiles, wh. Was a very benign. in hear. such chronicles, may well be ask. but the answer will prob. depend on the spirit. educat. And habits of the respond.
Literature on the Burt Family
- "Early
days in New England : life and times of Henry Burt of Springfield and some of
his descendants, genealogical and biographical mention of James and Richard Burt
of Taunton, Mass., and Thomas Burt, M.P., of England", by Henry Martyn Burt,
1893, 662 pgs.
- "The Matthew Burt Family of Virginia and Deep South" by Robert B. Mathis.
- "The
First Century of the Historyof Springfield, the Official
Records from 1636 to 1736," by Henry M. Burt. Publication: Springfield, MA - General: Information taken from a family group record in possession of Ernel L. Anderson. Source of information listed on the record reads, "First Century of Springfield, Massachusetts, Vol. 2 p. 640". Record submitted by Lucy Burns, 776 East 33rd South, Salt Lake City, UT.
- Leicestershire & Rutland: - Index to the Wills and Administrations proved and granted in the Archdeaconry Court of Leicester 1660-1750, and in the peculiars of St. Margaret, Leicester, and Rotblen and the Rutland Peculiars of Caldecott, Retton and Tirover
- Calendar of Wills Proved and of Administrations Granted in the Commissary Court of the Peculiar and Exempt Jurisdiction of Groby, 1580-1800.
- Index
to Wills and Eldministrations Proved and Granted in The Elrchdeaconry Court of
Leicester 1660-1750
The following wills belong to Book X, 1602, 3, 9, 10, First Series, and follow immediately after the will of Thomas Traslour on page 96. County: Rutland Country: England 1694 Brookes, Richard, Glen Parva Adm. 53 - "Genealogical
Research in England, NEHGS "Register," Vol 86, pg. 219.
"Hale, House and Related Families," by Donald Lines Jacobus & Edgar Francis Waterman. Publication: Hartford, CT: 1952; repr. Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1978. Repository: NEHGS Library. Page: pg. 489 - "Gen. Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England," James Savage, 1860-1862 & "Genealogical Research in England," NEHGS "Register," Vol 86, pg. 219 & "William Brooks of Springfield...," NEHGS "Register," Vol 72, pg. 142.
- "One Branch of the Booth Family," by Charles Edwin Booth. Publication: NY: Press of L. Middleditch & Co., 1910. Repository: Note: www.Genealogy Library.com. Call Number: R929.2 B725. Media: Book. Page 24
- "Gen. Records of Henry & Ulalia Burt," Roderick H. Burnham, 1892, pg. 31