NATHANIEL BURNHAM was the third son and fourth child of William and Elizabeth Burnham of Wethersfield, Connecticut. An elder brother, William, graduated at Harvard College in 1702, and settled in the ministry in Kensington, Connecticut.
In 1710 he appears to have been teaching the New London Grammar School. He also appears to have studied theology, as at a subsequent date (1720) the inhabitants of Newington parish, in Wethersfield, appointed a committee to treat with him to come and preach for them.
He settled in his native town, where he inherited a large landed property. He was a surveyor, and the Colony authorities often called on him for professional services or advice (as appears by the Colony Records, at various dates from 1714 to 1733). In particular, he was in 1714 the surveyor appointed by the Governor and Council to attend the Commissioners from Connecticut in running the line between this Colony and the Province of Massachusetts, and three years later was added to the number of the Commissioners. He was also employed in the public affairs of Wethersfield, and represented the town in the General Assembly at six sessions between 1722 and 1733.
He died in Wethersfield, December 16, 1754, aged about 65 years.
He married, May 5, 1714, Mehitabel, second daughter of Major John and Hannah (Talcott) Chester, of Wethersfield. She was born January 29, 1688–9, and died March 18, 1773. They had four sons and one daughter, of whom two sons survived him. The daughter married Elisha Williams, Jr. (Y. C. 1735).
AUTHORITIES.
Burnham Genealogy, 62, 72.
Caulkins, Hist. of New London, 398.
Goodwin, Geneal. Notes, 13.
Hinman, Catalogue of Puritan Settlers of Conn., 415.
Loomis Genealogy, Female Branches, i, 224.
N. E. Hist, and Geneal. Register, xvi, 22.
R. D. Smyth, College Courant, Aug. 15, 1868, 99.
Welles, Annals of Newington, 20.
