The Burnap Family of Reading, Massachusetts: Ancestors and Descendants |
Note: This is not a complete record all the descendants of the Burnap families of early Reading, Massachusetts; it is mostly my direct line of 10 generations, over 250 names, including names of spouses, which I have linked with hyperlinks. You may use the search or find feature on your browser to look for a specific name. In the book, Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Massachusetts..., a question was raised about the familial relationship between Robert Burnap, Sr. and “Master” Thomas Burnap of Reading as to whether they were father and son, brothers, or perhaps uncle and nephew, and judging from the little information I have on the earliest known generations of the family from an ahnentafel chart supplied by David L. Hintz and an email from Marilyn Labbe, they were uncle and nephew. My most recent ancestor on the Burnap line is in the 10th generation, Polly (Burnap) Cole, wife of Webster Cole, my third great grandparents on my mother’s side of the family. See the Sources below for books and records that I used to compile this record. You can also see the COLE LINE in the online edition of Bunce Genealogy and History along with the online supplements to follow the Cole line further. Except for the email messages referenced, all the other sources are books or census records that I have personally seen and for which I have photocopies of the pertinent pages. See also the Sutton, Mass. Cemeteries section.
Clarification. In the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 155, October, 2001, on pp. 353-56 is an article entitled “Thomas Burnap, Husband of Mary Pearson” by George H. Perbix, which clarifies the relationship of the two men named Thomas Burnap, who both lived in Reading. According to Mr. Perbix’s findings, Henry Wyckoff Belknap in his book, Burnap-Burnett Genealogy confused two men named Thomas Burnap, who both died in 1691 a few months apart. Mr. Perbix demonstrates in the article that Robert Burnap, supposed brother of Rev. John Burnap of Aston, England, also had a son named Thomas, who was born about 1625, and it was this son, not “Master” Thomas Burnap, who was the spouse of Mary Pearson. This evidence changed the information provided in the following paragraphs. According to Mr. Perbix the man known in the Reading, Massachusetts records as “Master” Thomas Burnap probably never married, and therefore my ancestor would have been the son of Robert Burnap.
Last revision: April 24, 2016.
Thomas Burnap born England, married Johanna Nobbys, who died before Apr., 1532. Thomas died England. Their known child:
2. Thomas Burnap born before 1533.
Thomas Burnap born before 1533, England, married before 1564, in England, Alice Cramphorne, died after 1600, England. Thomas died ca. Mar 1596/15, England. Their child:
3. Thomas Burnap.
Thomas Burnap married Unknown. Thomas died after 1630, England. Their children:
Rev. John Burnap, born between Easter and Oct., 1590, England, became a minister, and married 27 Oct 1617, in Walton, Hertshire, England, Ellen Young/Yonge, of Bennington, Herts, England, who was buried 8 Nov 1652, Aston, Hertshire, England. Rev. John Burnap was buried on 13 Apr 1653, at Aston, Herts, England. Some of their children:
John Burnap born England.
Thomas (“Master”) Burnap, born 30 Jun 1630; d. 26 Mar 1691 at Reading, Massachachusetts, unmarried.
Isaac Burnap, married Hannah Antrim of Salem, and owned half a farm in Salem. Isaac died 1667, Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
Robert Burnap, Jr., married (1) Ann _____, died 1661, Reading, Massachusetts, married (2) 1662, in Reading, Sarah Broune, died 1695, at Reading. Robert died 1695, Reading. Robert Burnap, Jr. was a selectman of Reading for 19 years.
Children by Ann _____:
Children by Sarah Broune:
Bethiah Burnap born 9 Jan 1677, Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, married 24 May 1696, in Reading, Thomas Grover, born Mar 1668/1669. Bethiah died Feb 1784, Natick, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Their children were:
Capt. Joseph Burnap. born in Reading, married 1690, Tabitha _____. Joseph died 1744. Their children:
Ebenezer Burnap, born 1 Mar 1698, Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, married 24 Dec 1719, in Reading, Hannah Lillie, born 5 May 1700, Reading, died 24 Aug 1726, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts?. Ebenezer died 30 Jul 1723, Reading, Massachusetts. Their children were:
Ebenezer Burnap, born 10 Jun 1723, Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, married 28 Sep 1749, in Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, Mary Wyman, who was born 13 Jul 1724, Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, (daughter of William Wyman and Prudence Putnam, website on this line can be found at Francis Wyman House) and died 25 Oct 1793, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Ebenezer died 12 Apr 1804, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Ebenezer and Mary (Wyman) Burnap came to Sutton, Massachusetts about the year 1750, as a record of the birth of their eldest child, Mary, had a statement she was born in “Hollis, New Hampshire,” which is probably where they were living shortly before settling in Sutton. Their children were:
14. Mary Burnap, born 6 Aug 1750.
15. Sarah Burnap, born 3 Oct 1751.
Anna Burnap, born, 19 Sep 1752, Sutton, Massachusetts, married 15 Mar 1773, Benjamin Batchelor. Anna died 11 Jun 1813.
16. Timothy Burnap, born 25 Dec 1753.
Ebenezer Burnap, Jr., born 13 Oct 1756, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. In the book, Centennial History of Millbury, Massachusetts, Including Vital Statistics, 1850-99, published in 1815, the name of Ebenezer Burnap appears on a list dated 1813 of the first taxpayers in Millbury. The town was incorporated in 1815, set off from Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
Thomas Burnap, born 19 Jan 1758, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
17. Abijah Burnap, born 11 Apr 1760.
John Burnap, born 23 Apr 1762, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, probably died in Vermont. According to p. 614 of book, History of the Town of Sutton, Mass. from 1704 to 1876
., by Rev. Wm. A. Benedict and H.A. Tracy, pub. 1878, John Burnap went to Vermont.
Additionally, from the Vermont Historical Gazetteer, published 1891, which has a section on the Burnap Family of Windham, Vermont:
Uzziah Burnap, born 20 Jun 1764, Sutton, Massachusetts.
Asa Wyman Burnap, born 2 Jun 1768, Sutton, Massachusetts.
Hannah Burnap, born 9 Dec 1771, Sutton, Massachusetts. According to p. 614 of the book, History of the Town of Sutton, Mass. from 1704 to 1876 . by Rev. Wm. A. Benedict and H. A. Tracy, pub. 1878, “Hannah m. an Eddy and went to Maine.” Children, if any, unknown. In an entry on the website Find-A-Grave, part of the biographical data on Hannah says: “married 18 Dec. 1797 at Oxford, William Eddy, born 30 July 1778, son of Jonas and Lucy (Oakes) Eddy of Charlton. She is called ‘of the North Core adjoining Oxford’ in the records. They removed to Dixfield, Oxford Co., Maine. Hannah died after 1809 and evidently he and his son, at least, ultimately settled in Orange, Ohio, as he died there 9 June 1817.”
Sarah, Burnap born 3 Oct 1751, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, married (1) Jotham Merriam, of Oxford, Massachusetts, died 22 Aug 1798, married (2) Feb., 1809, Col. Samuel Denny, of Leicester, Massachusetts.
Children by Jotham Merriam:
Timothy Burnap born 25 Dec 1753, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, married 19 Dec 1780, Bethiah Wait(e), in Sutton, Massachusetts, who was born 10 Feb 1759, also at Sutton, a daughter of William and Ruth (Lovell) Waite, died 13 Feb 1849, Sutton, and her remains were interred in the Providence Street Cemetery, Millbury, Mass. Timothy died 4 Oct 1828, in Sutton, and his remains were also buried in the Providence Street Cemetery, Millbury, Mass. According to an entry on pg. 63 of the book Centennial History of the Town of Millbury, Mass., Timothy Burnap was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving varying lengths of time totaling about one year, from April 21, 1775, when he marched in response to the alarm on April 19, 1775 (Minuteman), to his last enlistment on July 30, 1780, after which he was discharged after 13-1/2 days service on August 8, 1780. Their children were:
Abijah Burnap, born 11 Apr 1760, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, married 31 Mar 1783, in Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, Hannah Towne. Abijah was buried in the West Millbury Cemetery, Millbury, Mass. Their children:
Rufus Waite, born 19 Apr 1788, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, married 11 Oct 1819, in Millbury, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, Rebecca White, born Grafton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 2 Oct 1823, Millbury, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Their children were:
Mehitteble Burnap, born 8 Oct 1781, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, married 12 Nov 1808, in Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, Mark Batchelor, who died 4 Dec 1847. Mehitteble died 5 Jun 1865. Their children were:
Polly Burnap, born 6 Nov 1783, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, married 7 Dec 1805, in Sutton, to Webster Cole, who was born about 1786, Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, eldest son of Barnet and Susannah (Walkup) Cole, who died about 1820, probably at Millbury, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Polly died 1 Jun 1874, Millbury, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. According to the book, History of Sutton, Massachusetts from 1704 to 1876, including Grafton until 1735; Millbury until 1813; and parts of Northbridge, Upton and Auburn, pp. 614, in the section on Burnap family contributed by William E. Cole, the six children of Webster and Polly (Burnap) Cole were:
John Burnap, born 30 Jun 1788, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, married Abigail Smith, died 17 Mar 1859. John died 2 Feb 1864. Their children were:
Cyrus Burnap, born 27 Jan 1792, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, married (1) Elizabeth Benner, who died 1 Sep 1872, married (2) Eunice Harris. Cyrus died 4 Mar 1876. On p. 83 of the book, Centennial History of Millbury, Massachusetts, Including Vital Statistics 1850-1899, there is a record that the name of Cyrus Burnap appeared on a list of the first taxpayers in Millbury in 1813.
Children by Eunice Harris:
Mary Burnap born 7 Oct 1821, died 25 May 1842.
Child by Aurelia Childs:
Children by Caroline Goddard:
Children by Rachel Howe:
Elijah Burnap, born 26 Jul 1801, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, married 21 May 1834, in Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, Dency Waite, born 21 Dec 1798, Millbury, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, died 17 May 1871. The children of this marriage were:
Abijah Leonard Burnap, born 10 Nov 1795, Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, married 21 Mar 1829, in Millbury, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, Sally Hobart. Their children were:
Albert B. Cole, born 27 May 1808, Fitchburg, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, employed as a stone mason, married 19 Mar 1835, in Millbury, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, Sophia Barnes, born ca. 1806, Hardwick, Massachusetts?, died 23 Dec 1886, Millbury, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Albert died of consumption (now known as tuberculosis) on 6 Aug 1884, Millbury, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Their children were:
Children by Mary Harris:
Mary Ann Cole was born 13 Aug 1844, Leominster, died 2 Sep 1845, at Leominster, was buried in the Leominster Cemetery, Leominster, Massachusetts.
Charles Leonard Cole was born 26 Jul 1846, married Ida Richardson Kennedy on 18 Apr 1869, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; parents of eight children.
Elvira Lawrence Cole was born 5 May 1849. Elvira Lawrence Bell was residing in Leominster, Worcester Co., Mass. at the time of her father’s death in 1885. She was listed as an heir and daughter of Leonard B. Cole in the probate record. She apparently had married by 1885 as her name appears as “Elvira Bell” in the probate record, Case No. 4675 of the Worcester County Probate Court. She was said to have been the mother of three children.
Mary Ellen (“Nellie”) Cole was born 23 Oct 1853, married Isaac Charron, in Leominster, on 31 Dec 1877, and they had three sons, two of whom survived to adulthood: Perley Albert Charron, born and died in 1879; Arthur Isaac Charron, b. 31 Oct 1882, in Leominster and Roy Chester Charron, b. 11 May 1892 also in Leominster.
Henry Albert Cole was born 7 May 1855, Leominster, Massachusetts, and died 2 May 1856 According to conversations with Charles C. Cole, in July 1949, Charles Cole told Leslie R. Bunce about his family. Among other things, he stated his grandfather, Leonard Cole, had had a son named Albert, who died young, so Henry was likely this son.
Carrie L. Cole was born about 1860 in Leominster, Mass., married (1) 23 Apr 1889 in Leominster, James E. Bowen of Lansingburg, Rensselaer Co., New York, married (2) Charles L. Cloughtman. Carrie L. Cole is shown to have been a resident of Leominster, Massachusetts in the probate record for her father dated August, 1885; she was unmarried at that time, since her surname appeared as “Cole” in the record. Per Charles Charron Cole, her nephew, Carrie L. Cole married a man named “Elvin Brown” and married a second husband, “Mr. Cloughtman,” date unknown. A record of the burials in a Leominster cemetery shows that Charles L. Cloughtman is buried in the Cole family plot. The date of Carrie Bowen’s second marriage to Charles Cloughtman was May 29, 1901 at Leominster, and the record for their marriage says it was the second marriage for them both, and both had been widowed. Mr. Cloughtman was aged 51 years old and she was 38. Carrie L. (Cole) Bown-Cloughtman apparently had no children by either spouse, based on census records.
Elizabeth Luella (“Lizzie”) Cole was born on 23 Sep 1857, Leominster, Worcester Co., Mass., married Francis Augustus Clay, a native of Canada, on 24 Jun 1889, at Newmarket, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. Elizabeth L. Cole was shown as residing in Leominster, Worcester Co., Mass. in the 1885 probate record for her father, Leonard Cole; she was unmarried at that time, as her surname was recorded as “Cole.” Charles Charron Cole stated his aunt Elizabeth L. Cole had 4 or 5 children, but apparently didn’t know or recall their names, but the 1900 U.S. census record for Newfields Town, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire revealed these names: Cora A. Clay, b. 1880, Richard Augustus Clay, b. 1890; Arthur F. Clay, b. 1893; Ruth Clay, b. 1895; and Bertha Clay, b. 1899.
Lucius Barnes, age 37, M, farmer, value of real estate $900, born in Massachusetts
Nancy Barnes, age 35, female, born in Massachusetts
Lucius E. Barnes, age 8, M, born in Massachusetts
Luther E. Barnes age 6, M, born in Massachusetts
Elizabeth Newton, age 62, F, born in Massachusetts [it’s unknown what her relationship was to this family]
Additionally, the following text is from History of Hardwick, Massachusetts With Genealogical Register by Lucius R. Paige, published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co. 1883, p. 332, which did not provide the names of the parents of Lucius, since the records were unclear:
“11. Lucius [Barnes, also Barns] married Nancy Cole of Millbury, published May 6, 1838 [date of intent], and had Elmer L., born about 1841 married Huldah H. Sturtevant 8 Jan 1864; Luther Emerson, born 19 Nov 1843, a lawyer, married Maria L. Sheldon of Leominster 8 Ap. 1874; and perhaps others.”
William Eddy Cole, born 27 May 1817, Sutton, Massachusetts, married 24 Nov 1842, in Sutton, Susan Henry, who was born 16 Feb 1821, and died 4 Feb 1876. William E. Cole died 13 Jun 1899 and was buried in Leominster, Massachusetts. William Eddy Cole contributed a section on the Burnap family to a book entitled, History of the Town of Sutton, Massachusetts from 1704 to 1876.... The book, Vital Records of Sutton, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, states on p. 234 that Susan Henry, wife of William Eddy Cole, was “of Fitchburg,” so it is possible she was also was born there; however, a record was found showing that Susan Henry was born in Lunenburg, Mass., a daughter of John Henry, Jr. by his wife Mary Harris, who was a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Longford) Harris, so Susanna Henry was a cousin of Leonard Cole’s first wife. The dates of her birth, marriage, death and names of their children are from History of the Town of Sutton, Mass. from 1704-1876 , pp. 614-615, as well as the Centennial History of Millbury, Massachusetts, Including Vital Statistics, 1850-1899. Their children were:
Email from Marilyn Labbe on Burnap Lineage
Hi Bonnie, Finally have a good amount of time to write down the Burnap line for you. I am not going to include all the children of each generation as it is just too much to do on this.
From The Burnap-Burnett Genealogy by Henry Wyckoff Belknap in the Essex Institute Historical Collections Vols. 56 & 57; & History of Reading, Massachusetts and Vital Records of Reading, Massachusetts and Sutton, Massachusetts.
Thomas Burnap of Stanstead Abbots, Hertfordshire, Eng. was living in 1532-8. His wife Johanna Nobbys of the same parish died shortly before Apr., 1532, Johanna, dau. of Johanna Nobbys. Children:
Thomas Burnap2 of Stanstead Abbots was living between 1533 & 1597; married before 1564, Alice Cramphorne, dau. of ______ Cramphorne & Alice. He was executor of the will of Alice Cramphorne, Senior, of Stanstead Abbots 16 May 1574, “wedowe,” probated at Ware 23 Oct 1564 in which mention is made of son, Thomas Burnap, & dau. Ann Rawlings, executors, & also of John, William, Thomas, Alice, Johane & Thomasin Burnap, as well as Andrew Keys & wife Alice, John, Robert & Williams Keys, the children of John Keys. Thomas d. Feb or Mar 1596/7; widow Alice was living in 1600. Thomas will Jan., 1593: leaves to wife Alice, eldest son Thomas, son John, cancelled a clause in part of the will 28 Feb 1596/7. Adm granted 21 Mar 1596/7. Children:
Thomas Burnap3 lived at Stanstead Abbots and is styled “yeoman.” No wife’s name found. He was living in 1607, as his son John was admitted to Caius College, Cambridge. In 1610, his dau. Dorothy applied for a license to marry & he is referred to as living. Children:
John Burnap4 b. bet. Easter & Oct. 1590, was 16 years old in Easter 1607 and 43 in Oct 1633. He became a minister. He m. by license 27 Oct 1617 at Walton, Herts, Ellen, dau. of Thomas Young (Yonge) of Bennington, & 20 Oct 1630 his father-in-law made his will as follows: “To dau Burnaps children, etc...........”
Rev. John Burnap of Aston, Herts, to be buried in Aston Chauncell as near unto my deceased wife as conveniently may be. £250 to my son Thomas to be laid out in merchantable commodities & wares & so sent into New England to my said son at three several times within 4 years, etc.......
Codicil made at the same time as the will— £50 more to my son Thomas, making £300 of which £300 my son John has by appointment already laid out £20 on goods which are now ‘shippinge&sdquo; to New England.” On 10 Mar 1653/4, the will was proved at Westminster by son John. Rev. John was buried at Aston 13 Apr 1653; wife Ellen was buried Aston 8 Nov 1652. Children:
Thomas Burnap,5 bap. at Aston 30 June 1630; m. Lynn, Mass. 3 Dec 1663, Mary Pearson b. 20 Jun 1643, dau. of John & Maudlin (Ballard or Bullard) Pearson of Lynn. She d. in Reading 15 Jan 1690/1. Thomas died there 26 Mar 1691. Children born at Reading:
Thomas Burnap,6 b. Reading, Mass. 17 Jan 1664/5; d. in Reading 21 Aug 1726; married at Concord, Mass. 28 May 1688, to Sarah Walton who d. in Reading 13 Aug 1731, dau. of Samuel & Sarah (Maverick) Walton.
[Note from other sources (including records recorded on other websites), Sarah Walton, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Maverick) Walton, was a great-great grand-daughter of Rev. John Maverick and his wife, Mary Gye, of Awliscombe, Devon, England; and Mary Gye was a descendant of William Longsword, third Earl of Salisbury. See, book entitled, Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists Who Came to New England Between 1623 and 1650: the Lineage of Alfred the Great, Charlemagne, Malcolm of Scotland, Robert the Strong, and some of their descendants by Frederick Lewis Weis, Genealogical Pub. Co., 1976, and others.] Children born at Reading:
Ebenezer Burnap,7 b. Reading, Mass. 1 Mar 1697/8; d. Reading 30 July 1723; married Reading 24 Dec 1719 Hannah Lillie b. Reading 8 Aug 1693, dau. of Samuel & Hannah (Boutelle) Lillie; Widow Hannah married (2) at Reading 25 Nov 1731, to Ebenezer Dagget of Sutton, Mass. Children born at Reading:
Ebenezer Burnap,8 b. Reading 10 Jun 1723; d. 12 Apr 1804; married 28 Sep 1749, Mary Wyman, who d. 25 Oct. 1793. Children born at Sutton, Mass.:
That’s it for the Burnap line. I have all the allied families and if you would like I can type them up also but not today... have other things to do. Marilyn Labbe |
Census of Hardwick, Worcester Co., Massachusetts for 1850 on pg. 346, 174/195 of family of Lucius Barnes.
Census record of Leominster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts for 1860 for the family of Leonard Cole, p. 262, 2157th dwelling.
Centennial History of the Town of Millbury, Massachusetts, Including Vital Statistics, 1850-1899, published under direction of a Committee Appointed by the Town, 1915.
Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Massachusetts, Including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading and North Reading with Chronological and Historical Sketches from 1639 to 1874. by Hon. Lilley Eaton, published by Alfred Mudge & Son, Printers, Boston, 1874, pp. 56-58.
History of Hardwick, Massachusetts With Genealogical Register by Lucius R. Paige, published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co. 1883, p. 332.
History of the Town of Sutton, Massachusetts From 1704 to 1876, Including Grafton Until 1735; Millbury Until 1813; and Parts of Northbridge, Upton and Auburn, compiled by Rev. William A. Benedict and Rev. Hiram A. Tracy, published by Sanford & Co., Worcester, 1878, 2d printing 1870, pp. 613-615.
New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 155, October, 2001, pp. 353-56, article entitled “Thomas Burnap, Husband of Mary Pearson” by George H. Perbix.
Probate record Case No. 4675 of the Worcester County Probate Court for the estate of Leonard Cole, who died 11 Aug 1885 at Leominster, Massachusetts.
Vital Records of Millbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849,, published by Franklin P. Rice, Systematic History Fund, 1903.
Vital Records of Sutton, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, published 1907, in Worcester, Massachusetts by Franklin P. Rice.