Isaac Burr, a son of Thomas and Sarah Burr, and grandson of Benjamin Burr, of Hartford, was born in Hartford, July 4, 1697.
At the opening of his Senior year in College, the removal to New Haven took place, and young Burr was, apparently, the only Senior who joined the party of students who migrated to Wethersfield to finish their course. He received his degree there at the hands of Mr. Woodbridge, of Hartford, the Trustee who inspired the Wethersfield movement.
He studied theology, and in the latter part of the year 1724 began to supply the vacant pulpit in Worcester, Massachusetts. On the 10th of February, 1725, he was called to settle, on a salary of L80, and on October 13, was ordained pastor of the church. His ministry was until near its close peaceful. The town records testify to frequent voluntary contributions for his benefit, made necessary by the depreciation of the currency. For instance, in October, 1732, in answer to his petition, "the town cheerfully grant" him L20, " and earnestly desire that he lay the same out in purchasing an addition to his library."
In October, 1740, Whitefield preached in Worcester, and the impulse thus given to revival measures seems to have made a division between the people and their pastor. Mr. Burr opposed the new movement, and partly it is said on account of a failure of his health, but more on account of the difficulties referred to, desired a dismission. A mutual council was called, in November, 1744, which advised a separation, and the contract with Mr. Burr was accordingly terminated, in March, 1 745.
He returned to Connecticut, taking up his residence in Windsor, where he had married, about the time of his ordination, Mary, daughter of Judge John Eliot (Harv. 1685, a prominent lawyer of the Colony, and grandson of the Apostle Eliot), by his second wife, Mary Wolcott.
He subsequently preached to the Northwest Society in Simsbury (now Granby), from August, 1747, to December, 1748, and died in Windsor, late in the year 1751, aged 54 years.
The inventory of his estate is dated December 9, 1751 ; it amounts to about L2000.
His wife survived him. Their children were five sons and three daughters ; two of the sons and one daughter were feeble-minded. The second son, Isaac, was graduated in 1753.
AUTHORITIES.
Burr Genealogy, 235.
Eliot Genealogy, 64.
Hinman, Catalogue of Puritans, 430.
Lincoln, Hist, of Worcester, 144.
N. E. Geneal. and Hist. Register, v, 472.
Savage Geneal. Diet., i, 308.
Stiles, Hist, of Windsor, 564.
Worcester Soc. of Antiquity. Collections, ii.
