Josiah BURNHAM

                        Ebenezer Burnham son of Josiah Burnham and Abigail Varney is the grandson of John Burnham (known as Deacon John).  John Burnham born about 1616 in England to Robert and Mary (Andrews) Burnham was one of three brothers who came to American on the ship Angel Gabiel that wrecked off the cost of Pemaquid, Maine in 1635, his brothers being Thomas and Robert.

       Josiah Burnham was the third child of John Sen., he married Abigail Varney in 1687 in Ipswich.  Josiah's elder brother John signed the Proctor petition in an attempt to save John Proctor and his wife from being hanged during the Salem witch trials.  This petition was unable to save John Proctor who was condemned, found guilty and hanged August 19, 1692.  Josiah and Abigail might have also signed this petition or played some part in the episode.  Abigail Varney, Josiah's wife was a niece to John Proctor as her mother was Abigail Proctor a sister to John.

       Two months after John Proctor was executed as a witch at Salem, tragedy again struck the Josiah Burnham household.  Josiah died Oct 25, 1692 and his wife Abigail died one week later Oct 31, 1692 leaving three small sons, Josiah born 1688, Jacob born 1690 and Ebenezer.  The baby, Ebenezer, was ten months old and sickly.  John Burnham accepted the care of his three nephews and was appointed guardian of them on April 11, 1696.

       Ebenezer Burnham and his wife, Dorothy Andrews were both born in the Chebacco parish, a part of Ipswich that was later incorporated and became Essex.   Ebenezer Burnham removed from Ipswich, Massachusetts, to Windham (a part of Windham that later became Hampton), Windham Co., Connecticut, and became the ancestor of a numerous progeny.  He purchased, 6 February 1733/4, a farm of l00 acres for 350 pounds, bounded on Merrick's Brook.  He with his wife joined the church at Windham Village, "in full communion," October 20, 1734. The Burnham homestead is situated one-quarter of a mile from the old Burnham Meeting House.

       Ebenezer Burnam died March 10, 1746 age 54 yrs. He is buried in Hampton, Windham, Connecticut.  The Hale Collection of Headstones lists the South Cemetery in Hampton as the location of his grave which is located 1 and 1/2 miles south of Center.  Other sources call the location the Howard Valley Baptist Church Cemetery.
       Ebenezer Burnam died March 10, 1746 age 54
       Dorothy Burnam, widow of Ebenezer Burnam, died June 26, 1760 age 63

   Film #1008901  The Congregational Church at Windham Village has the following history: This society was established in May 1717 as Windham Northeast and organized in 1723.  Called at different times Windham Village, Canada Parish, Windham Second Society and Hampton.

   RootsWeb.com: Ebenezer Burnham, the settler, was married and all his children were born before he came to Windham. The name of his wife was Dorothy.  He was born about 1692, and died in Windham, March 10, 1746, aged 54, according to his grave-stone in the south burying-ground in Hampton.  Dorothy, his widow, died June 26, 1760, aged 63, which would make the date of her birth about 1697.  He and his wife united with the Hampton church in 1734.  His will is dated Feb. 28, 1745/6.  The following extract from it will show how carefully and liberally he made provisions for his wife:
       "I give to my dearly beloved wife Dorothy one half of my new dwelling house and the improvement of half of my orchard, the time of her life, and also order that my executor find her two good cows and a horse and keeping them for her, winter and summer, during ye time of her life; also yearly during her life eight bushels of Indian corn and four bushes of Ry and two bushels of wheat and one bushel and a half of good malt, and a 140 lbs of good poark and 50 weight of good beef and two bushels of Turnips and half a bushel of beans, and also in the season Green Beans that is necessary for her, and also in time of sickness to provide for a doctor and also a nurse to look after her, and also find her with Rumin and melasses needful  for her during the time that she remains my widow, and also that she shall have the benefit of a garden spot of land convenient for her and also ye privilege to keep a hog at ye door - also sufficient fire wood fit for ye fire, and my executor shall make up ye apples into Cydar that belongs to my wife.  I also give to my wife my movable estate in the house.  Also my executor to provide 10 lbs. wood and 20 lbs. flax for my wife during the time of her widowhood."