Edward Burcham

  General Notes:

The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620 - 1633:
Residence: 1636 Lynn, Massachusetts
Emigration: 1623 On the Ann
From: The Mayflower Descendent, Volume 39, Errata and Addenda, Page 185
"Edward Burcham had two daughters: Anne who married between 1650 and 1655 William Hawkins, and Frances who married in Boston, 8 June 1660, Isaac Willey and later married Clement Minor of New London, Connecticut. These marriages suggest births for Anne and Frances after 1625."

From: Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Massachusetts:
1684 This year, on petition of Wm. Hawkins, and Anna his wife (daughter of Edward Burcham, deceased), the Court ordered, "that the 121 acres of land lying between the Southerly side or bounds of the Newhall lotts and the Southerly side or bounds of old Mr. Robert Burnap's land, as per the plot appears, be, by a sworne surveyor divided and laid out into three equal parts or proportions, according to the original grants of the town of Lynn, as other lotts lye in length from Easte to West, and that bigger part thereof, lying next to the land of said Burnap Lent, towards the North, is undoubtedly, and shall be accounted the land, and be in plenary possession of the said Wm. Hawkins, in right of his wife Anna, daughter and heire of Edward Burcham, deceased."

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ⁶⁴⁶
Edward Burcham was one of the early emigrants to New England. He was among the pilgrims who were on the Ann which arrived in Plymouth in 1623. He recieved two acres beyond the Town Brook. It isn't certain how long he stayed at Plymouth before he moved to Lynn, Connecticut, but according to Savage, he was in Lynn by 1636, and shared in the distribution of the land in 1638. He was granted "30 aces and ten."

Edward Burcham was made a freeman of Massachusetts on 14 Mar 1638/39. On 24 Jul 1639, he was sued by Edmund Audley for slander. On 31 Jan 1640 he was sworn in as constable, and in the same year he served on a jury. On 23 Feb 1641, "George Burcham of Lincoln, England, mercer provided that a debt due him from Blackwell could paid either to him or to Edward Burcham at Lynne in New England. (4) This may provide a clue to his place of origin in England.

On 14 May 1645, Thomas Layton, Edward Burcham and Thomas Putnam were made Commissioner to end small cases in Lynn, and again on 22 May 1646. Prior to 1645, he was made sexton of the Salem church and held this position until 1651. On 14 May 1645, he was made clerk of the Writs in Lynn and recorder of vital statistics. He was on many jury trials and grand juries between 10 Marc 1646 to 1654. His named appears frequently singed to writs in various cases since he became Clerk of Writs. His last signature as Clerk was in a case for Mr. John Giffard vs. Capt. Robert Keayne, and Mr. Josias Winslow for false imprisonment on 18 Sep 1655. On 27 Aug 1655, William Longley was confirmed Clerk of the Writs in Lynn in place of Edward Burcham.

There is no further record of Edward Burcham, and Savage says that he returned to England in 1656. It would seem that he never came back, although his family remained in New England. The name of his wife is unknown, as is the date of death. It was prior to 11 Oct 1682 since on that date, William Hawkins, the Boston butcher, and Anne, petitioned the General Court regarding a tract of thirty acres granted by the town of Lynn to "Edward Birch um, late of Lynn," which had never been laid out, and Captain Richard Walker, Captain Elisha Hutchinson and Mr. Andrew were ordered to enquire into the matter, lay out the land and report to the next Court. On 15 Oct 1684, this land, which was then in the town of Reading was given to Hawkins "in right of his wife, Anne, the daughter of and heir of Edward Burcham deceased."

As of 1954, only two of Edward Burcham's daughters, Anne and Frances, are known of. Anne married about 1650/55, William Hawkins of Boston. She was living with her husband at the time he made his will on 23 Sep 1693, proved 5 Oct 1693. They had three daughters, Elizabeth, Sarah and Martha. Elizabeth married, abt. 1672, William Porter of Boston, victualer, and had a numerous family. Here sisters, Sarah and Elizabeth, apparently died without issue.

On 8 Jun 1660, Isaac Willey married in Boston "Francis, daughter of Edward Burcham of Lynn." [Boston Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699]. Isaac Willey was the son of Isaac Willey of Boston and Charlestown, who moved in 1645 to New London, Connecticut along with John Winthrop, Jr., and was one of the first settlers there. Isaac, Jr., died in 1662 and Frances married for a second time to Clement Minor of New London and they had five children there. Francis Burcham Willey Minor died in New London on 6 Jan 1672/73.

~New England Historical & Genealogical Record, vol. 108, pp. 94-95

Edward married.