Thomas Burdick

Thomas married Dorothy Maxon on 24 Jul 1724. Dorothy was born on 20 Oct 1703 in Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Carey married Dorcus Cottrell on 27 Dec 1754. Dorcus was born on 04 May 1737 in Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From the Burdick Family newsletter March/April 2004

Stephen Burdick of Rockville, Town of Hopkington, RI ---by David Kendall Martin, M.A. (martind@westelcom.com)
For many years I accepted without question the lineage for Stephen Burdick of Hopkington, Washington Co., RI, who married Mary Church, given in The Descendants of Robert Burdick of Rhode Island by Nellie Johnson (1937), p. 91, #185. As I grew more sensitive genealogically, I noticed that if Stephen Burdick were born 16 March 1748 as Mrs. Johnson wrote, he would have been but 15 years old, perhaps barely 16, when his first child, Joel, was born in 1762/3, and seven years younger than his wife who is buried in the Burdick Cemetery, Clifford Township, Susquehanna Co. PA, where her gravestone is inscribed: died January 4, 1832, aged 90 years, (so born c.1741). While possible, the spectacle of a 15 year old boy marrying a 22 year old woman disturbed my sense of proportion.

I spent a long time investigating the births of the children of Stephen and Mary (Church) Burdick: Joel 1762/3, Billings 1765, Caleb c.1767, Joshua c.1769, Thomas c.1771, Zebediah c.1774, Stephen c.1776, Kendal 4 April 1778, Elias 20 August 1780 and Mary 1783/4, but could not shake the birth of Joel whose gravestone in the Rockville Cemetery reads died May 23, 1828 aged 65 years and who married in Hopkington 27 March 1784 Sarah Crandall (VR). In addition, even if Joel's age at death was a bit off, the 1774 census includes six males under 16 in the family of Stephen, too many births to change his marriage date significantly. Equally certain was the birth date of Stephen, son of Simeon and Isabel (Saunders) Burdick, clearly noted in the Westerly Vital Records as 16 March 1748.

As I dug into the Hopkington records, I found that several young men of that period matured at an early age, leaving home and buying land in their middle teens. That seemed to be the answer, Stephen had followed a local pattern of early male independence. Also, those with more knowledge of the time and place whom I consulted, including David W> Dumas, were comforting in their assurance that such a situation was not at all unlikely. Several also pointed out that Stephen was not the first young man to find himself obligated to marry an older woman.

Still disturbing, though, was the wording of the will of Simeon Burdick of Westerly, which adjoins Hopkington, who on 3 March 1801 wrote "I give and bequeath to my beloved son Stephen Burdick if he should Ever Return to Live here Fifty Dollars to be paid out of my Estate when he shall Return - But in Case he should not Return to be Equally Divided Between my other two sons Simeon & Jonathan". This seems odd phrasing when referring to a son living just a few miles away in the next town. Perhaps Mrs. Johnson had confused "my" Stephen with another. Stephen is not a common name in the Burdick family. The bulk of my search has been combing the records of New England and New York for references to it. None are found born in the 17th century, and I have found only these born in the 18th century:

Stephen 1748-1801+ (Simeon(4), Thomas(3), Thomas(2), Robert(1)) of Westerly

Stephen Rose c.1754-1820+ (Joseph(3), Robert(2), Robert(1)) m. Westerly 1777 Sarah West; Rensselaer and Madison Cos. NY (see Mayflower Families Through Five Generations 3:98 300).

Stephen 1758-c.1812 (Samuel Hubbard(4), Samuel Hubbard(3), Thomas(2), Robert(1)) m. ? Lodema (----); Stonington, CT and Brookfield Co. NY.

Stephen 1789-1823 (Jonathan(5), Simeon(4), Thomas(3), Thomas(2), Robert(1)) m. Merabeth (Elizabeth) Hull, Newport.

Stephen Rose 1795-? (Joseph(4), Joseph(3), Robert(2), Robert(1)) m. Elizabeth E. Wells.

What is significant about this list is that if Stephen who married Mary Church had been confused with another Stephen, it would have been a younger Stephen, making the situation even worse. Mrs. Johnson's placement seemed the most reasonable one after all.

At this point I was able to visit the Rhode Island Archives in Providence, where the very helpful Mrs. Phyllis Silva showed me the volume of early petitions. At once my entire Burdick discomfort relaxed and righted itself as I read through a petition (9-2:185):

"To the Honble General Assembly to sit at South Kingstown in and for the Colony of Rhode Island &c the Last Wednesday in October A.D. 1759 from in habitants of the North part of the Town of Hopkington and others of sd Town requesting that the northern part of the Second Company or Trained Band of Hopkington be set off as a separate company to save the hardship of travel seven or eight miles to trainings."

Among the signers was Stephen Burdick!

At the very least, as an interested party in militia training, he would be 16 years old or born by 1741; at the same time, Stephen of Westerly would only be 11 years old. Here was proof that there was an even older Stephen Burdick so far unrecognized by anyone. What was more, this Stephen apparently lived in the north part of Hopkington where the indefatigable and kind researcher, the late Miss Gladys E. Palmer of Hopeville, had placed the land of "my" Stephen Burdick and probably his grave at Rockville.

Singing with him were other Burdicks: Thomas, Edward, Thomas Jr. and Zebedia (both immediately next to Stephen on either side), Elias, Zacheus, Cary, Jesse, and William.

Another check of the Burdick genealogy showed (pp. 21-2, #29) that Thomas Burdick had married c.1724 Dorothy Maxson born 30 October 1703, a daughter of Rev. John and Judith (Clarke) Maxson, and had: Thomas 24 March 1725, Susannah, Zebediah, Elias, Cary, and Zaccheus 28 February 1738. Mrs. Johnson's account of the family of Thomas and Dorothy (Maxson) Burdick indicates the identities of their children were imperfectly known. As Thomas, Elias, and particularly Zebediah are found among the children of Stephen and Mary (Church) Burdick, Stephen is likely another son of Thomas born c.1736.

The names are right, the place is right, and the chronology is right. It is unfortunate that the ancestries of Mary Church and Hannah Gray (wife of Stephen's son Kendal) are not known, so it may or may not be significant that Kendal Burdick names his first child Dorothy and a son Kendal Mason; the latter went by the name of Mason Burdick, and I have often wondered if the name should be Maxson. To our list above we can add:

Stephen c.1736-c.1808 (Thomas(3), Samuel(2), Robert(1)) m. Mary Church, Hopkington, RI.

Stephen married Mary Church in 1762. Mary was born in 1741/1742; died on 04 Jan 1842 in Clifford, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Sarah Whitford. Sarah (daughter of Joshua Whitford and Prudence Burdick) was born on 14 Feb 1767 in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Seventh-day Baptist

Ethan married Esther Stillman on 26 Dec 1792 in Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island. Esther was born on 09 Feb 1763 in Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island; died on 30 Sep 1839 in Alfred, Allegany County, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Billings married Hannah Babcock in 1787. Hannah was born on 28 Apr 1762 in Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island; died on 14 Apr 1840 in Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Moved to Berlin in 1811, then Alfred in 1815 and Wisconsin in 1841.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Seventh-Day Baptist

Notes:

He came with his parents to Alfred in 1815, and went toWisconsin in 1842.

Ammitted 13 Jul 1826 - Alfred, New York.
Dismissed to Wisconsin 1842.

Burdick Genealogy gives his birth place as Petersburg, NY,
the 1880 census says he was born in Rhode Island,
his obituaries say he was born Stonongton, CT.

"Milton Junction Journal-Telephone", Milton, Wisconsin, 3 Apr1890, p 5.
Died at Milton, Wis., March 30, 1890, George Stillman Burdickaged 88 years 1 month and 19 days. The deceased was born inStonington, R. I. and married Miss Diana Macomber, July 13th,1826. Nearly 14 years ago they celebrated their golden weddingin the home where they have since resided, and where wereassembled a large circle of relatives and friends. The deceasedand his surviving companion came to Wisconsin in 1842 andsettled on a farm in the township of Lima. They united byletter with the S. D. B. church of Milton Dec. 5th, 1850. Theyhave four children, all of whom are still living in Milton. Thedeceased was an esteemed member of the church and community,leading a life beyond reproach, an example to all, of honesty,sincerety and Christian integrity. Uncle George, as he wasfamiliarly called, was a great favorite with all, a thoughtfulstudent of the Word of God, and died in the triumph of theChristian faith. The funeral services were held on Tuesday,April 1st., in the church of which he was a member, conducted bythe pastor. Sermon, Phil. 1:21, "For me to live in Christ, andto die is gain."

"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 46, No 15, p 240, April 10, 1890.
Obituary on file

George married Diana Macomber on 13 Jul 1826. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Billings married Mary Cottrell on 26 Jan 1812. Mary was born on 25 Dec 1791 in Rhode Island; died on 13 Oct 1865. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

G. S. BURDICK, JR., farmer, Secs. 7 and 17; P.O. Milton; born in Allegany Co., N.Y., in 1827; is a son of George S. and Diana BURDICK, who came to Wisconsin July 1, 1842, and located on the farm now owned by G. S., Jr., of 77-1/2 acres. He married Miss Harriet BABCOCK, daughter of Abel BABCOCK April 19, 1849; they have two living children - Justin H., born Dec. 29, 1852, and Jessie R., June 16, 1860. Mr. BURCICK is Republican, and he has served as Constable several years. Himself and family are members of the
Seventh-Day Baptist Church of Milton.


Taken from "The History of Rock County, Wis." (c)1879, pp. 789-790

George married Harriet Babcock on 19 Apr 1849 in Lima, Rock County, Wisconsin. Harriet was born on 21 Jul 1829 in Greenfield, Erie County, Pennsylvania; died on 22 Mar 1912. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Sarah Abbot Utley. Sarah was born est 1830. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Justin Herbert Burdick, was born in Milton Dec. 29, 1851.He was reared on the farm in Lima township, five miles northeast of Milton, attending the district schools, and later, from 1868 to 1874, Milton College, selecting the classical course. Choosing medicine as his profession, he began his studies in 1874 under Dr. O. Allen, and in 1875-76 attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated from the Medical Department of the Northwestern University, Chicago, in 1877. Until September, 1878, hewas connected professionally with Mercy Hospital, Chicago, and then began private practice at Utica, Dane Co., Wis., continuing thus from 1878 to 1887. There had been inherited a taste for manufacture which now for a few years asserted itself. Relinquishing his practice, Dr.Burdick began at Milwaukee the manufacture of steel elastic nuts forbolts, a device that has been widely introduced among the leading railroads of the country, East and West, and especially in the Northwest, their advantages in the great saving of construction and maintenance of track commending general use. For six years he continued actively engaged in this manufacture, but professional life called him back. He retains his stock in the National Elastic Nut Co., of Milwaukee, but in 1893, here-entered the profession of medicine, locating at Milton, where he has ever since enjoyed a lucrative and growing practice.
Dr. Burdick married, Aug. 30, 1882, Miss Fannie E. Coon, daughter of Samuel H. and Lucy (Coon). Five children were born to them, Percy Willard, Paul Howard, Lucy Adene, Justin Hugh, and Clifford Leslie. Mrs. Burdick died Nov. 12, 1896, aged thirty-four years, and for his second wife Dr. Burdick married, Sept. 1, 1898, Miss Clara L.Stillman, a native of Rhode Island, daughter of Jairus M. and Clara (Langworthy) Stillman. By this marriage Dr. Burdick has two children, William Stillman and Ruth Evelyn. Dr. and Mrs. Burdick are members ofthe Seventh-day Baptist Church at Milton. Politically he has always been a Republican. For the past four years he has been executive officer of the Milton Board of Health. He is also a trustee of Milton College. His pleasant home in Milton he erected in 1893. He is public-spirited, and both as a physician and a citizen ranks high in the estimation of the people of Milton and the surrounding region,where he is widely known.

Justin married Clara Lenora Stillman on 02 Sep 1898. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Clara Jane Moon. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Roger married Sylvia Kutzke on 01 Aug 1931 in Brooklyn, Green County, Wisconsin. Sylvia was born in 1906; died on 29 Sep 1966 in Milton, Rock County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Ella M. Purdy. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Shirley Mae Barlett. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]