Person:Henry Burt (6)

I. ORIGINS

Research conducted about 1931 found Henry Burt's origins in England, as well as the maiden name of his wife.

He was born about 1595 in or near Harberton, in the county of Devon, son of Henry Burt and Isett Unknown, one of seven children (2 sons, 5 daughters). He appears to have been the oldest son, inheriting a significant portion of his father's estate (see his father's notes). Shortly after his father died, he married Ulaliah March (see her notes). They had a number of children between 1621 and 1638, most of whom are recorded in the parish baptism records.

His mother died in 1630. See her notes for an abstract of her estate.

Administration on the goods of Henry Burt of Abbots-Kerswell, co. Devon was granted in 1634. (Principals Registry, Exeter)

Shortly after the December 1638 baptism of his last Britain-born child, the family emigrated to New England. But the exact date and ship name are unknown.

II. LIFE IN NEW ENGLAND

1638: He was at Roxbury near Boston as early as 1638, for in the town records of that year is a partially defaced entry as follows: "We whose names are underwritten have appointed John Burnwell... 12d apeace for goats and kids out of which we did appoint him to pay… Burt for his boy for the full time that he did keep the goats." Presumptively, one of the younger sons of Henry, the only man named Burt in the town, was this goat-herd.

1639: In the records of a session of the "Generall Corte" held at Boston on "The 5th day of the 9th month 1639" is this entry: "The Treasurer was orderd to alow 8 pounds to Roxberry for Henry Burt's losse by fyer." ... These are the only traces found of Mr. Burt's brief residence in Roxbury. (Goes on to describe the group that moved up the Connecticut River to form what is now Springfield, MA.)

1640: Henry Burt moved from Roxbury to Springfield and his name first appears in the town records as follows: "December 24, 1640. There is leave granted to Mr. Holyoke, William Warriner and Henry Burt to seek out for ye use of each of them a cannoe tree..." ... 1641: Henry Burt was frequently called upon by William Pynchon to serve as juryman. [See Feb 15, 1641]

He was called Clerk of the writs. During all the time that Henry Burt resided in Springfield, a period of twenty-two years, he does not appear to have been given to litigation. Mr. Burt was the only one who got twelve rods [of land] as having a bigger family.

1648-1655: Selectman for Springfield for most of these years.

III. LEGACY

He died 30 Apr 1662, intestate, but a nuncupative will was admitted to probate, and this interesting instrument is of record, illustrating the high character of the jurisprudence of the time and place..."Henry Burt of Springfield: Who departed this life April 30, 1662, not having any will made by his own hand for ye disposing of his estate, yet for that he did by words express his mind thereon before Ensign Thomas Cooper and Jonathan Burt who by a writing made by their hands presented the same into this court, a copy whereof hereafter follows, the widow Burt consenting thereunto. The court allowed the same to stand as the last will and testament of said Henry Burt.

We, Thomas Cooper and Jonathan Burt do testify that after Henry Burt now deceased had disposed a part of his estate to his son Nathaniel, said Henry had such possessions as these, viz: That what estate he had then left should be at his wife's disposal, as witness our hands this 29th day of September 1662. Thomas Cooper, Jonathan Burt...

An inventory of ye estate of Henry Burt of Springfield, deceased, taken Sept. 11, 1662. Also the widow Burt before the Court made oath that this is a true inventory of her said deceased husband's estate...

The above synopsis of Henry`s life is taken largely from Early Days in New England: Life and Times of Henry Burt of Springfield and Some of His Descendants, by Henry Martyn Burt and Silas Wright Burt; Longmeadow (Mass) Families, by Willard S. Allen; and "Burt-March" in Genealogical Research in England (NEHGR), by George Skelton Terry.

1.   Burnham, Roderick Henry. Genealogical Records of Henry and Ulalia Burt: the Emigrants Who Early Settled at Springfield, Mass., and Their Descendants through Nine Generations, from 1640 to 1891. (Warwick, New York: Elizabeth Burt, 1892)
   p.31.
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1860-1862)
   1:313.

   "HENRY, Roxbury, had his ho. burn. for wh. loss the Gen. Ct. made a gr. to the town of £8. 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 out 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 avery benign. in hear. such chronicles, may well be ask. but the answer will prob. depend on the spirit. educat. and habits of the respond."

3.   Virkus, Frederick Adams. Immigrant ancestors : a list of 2500 immigrants to America before 1750. (Baltimore [Maryland]: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1976, c1970).
4.   Burt, Henry Martyn, and Silas Wright Burt. 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. (Springfield, Mass.: Henry M. Burt; printed by Clark W. Bryan Company, 1893)
   pages 74-92, 1893.
5. ↑ Stott, Clifford L. Vital Records of Springfield, Massachusetts to 1850. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002)
   1:62.

   'Henry Burt (the Clarke of the Writts) Dyed the 30th of Aprill, 1662 in the Evening & was buryed May. 1st (62)'

6. ↑ Gregory, Grant, compiler. Ancestors and Descendants of Henry Gregory. (Provincetown, Mass.: The Compiler, 1938)
   page 51.

   'Henry Burt was clerk of the writs in Springfield, Mass.'

7.   Gregory, Grant, compiler. Ancestors and Descendants of Henry Gregory. (Provincetown, Mass.: The Compiler, 1938)
   page 51.

   'Judah Gregory ([son of] Henry), b. in England perhaps abt. 1618; d. before 4 Sept. 1649, when his widow remarried; m. 20 June 1643, Sarah, bapt. 14 Jan. 1620/21 in Harberton, Co. Devon, Eng., dau. of Henry Burt and Ulalia or Eulalia Marche, who were m. 28 Dec. 1619 in Dean Prior, Devon.'

8.   Allen, Willard S. Longmeadow (Mass) Families. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1877-1884)
   32:302.
9.   Burt-March, by George Skelton Terry, in Bartlett, Joseph Gardner; Elizabeth French; G. Andrews Moriarty; and others. Genealogical Research in England. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1907-1953)
   86:77-84; 216-220; 247-252.
10. ↑ Birth year estimated based on his marriage date.