Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

them. The custom of using surnames
was introduced into England at the time
of the Norman Conquest, and, as in
France, the first names used were place
names. The name Burnham was first
assumed in England shortly after the
Conquest, and is Anglo-Saxon in deriva-
tion. Walter de Veutre, first bearer of
the name, came to England in the army
of William the Conqueror, in the train of
his cousin, Earl Warren, who was the son-
in-law of the Conqueror. At the institu-
tion of the feudal system of land tenure
under the Norman regime, Walter de
Veutre was made Lord of several Saxon
villages, among which was the village of
Burnham, where he took up his residence
and became known as de Burnham. Burnham
is derived from Beorn or Burn, old
Anglo-Saxon meaning a bear. According
to Ferguson the patronymic signifies
"chief, hero, man." In Anglo-Saxon the
name is Beornham, Byrbham, etc., and is
at present variously spelled Burnham,
Bernham, Berham, and Barnham. The
family is one of the most ancient and hon-
orable in England, and is entitled to bear
arms by royal patent.
Arms—Gules a chevron between three lions'
heads erased or.
Crest—A leopard's head erased proper.
Burke records a different coat-of-arms
for Burnham of Suffolk and several vari-
ations of the above arms for various
branches of the family.
9
(I) Thomas Burnham, immigrant ancestor
and founder of the family in Amer-
ica, was born in Hatfield, Herefordshire,
England, in 1617. There is authentic rec-
ord of Thomas Burnham in an old document,
dated November 20, 1635, when he
"imbarqued for the Barbadoes, in the Ex-
pedition, Peter Blacklee, Master, took the
oath of allegiance and Supremacy, Ex-
Conn. 11—
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
129
amined by the Minister of the town of
Gravesend." The first record of him in
America appears in the year 1649, when
he was in Hartford, and served as bondsman
for his servant, Rushmore, "that he
should carry good behavior." From the
fact that he brought servants to America,
it is established that Thomas Burnham
was a man of means, and he is also known
to have been a man of excellent education
and mentality ; he practiced as a lawyer
for several years after coming to America.
In 1659 he purchased an extensive tract
of land now lying principally in the towns
of East Hartford and South Windsor.
This he purchased from Tantonimo, the
chief sachem of the Potunke tribe, and
held it under a deed from the aforemen-
tioned chief, and later in 1661, under a
deed from six of his successors and allies,
by which they renounce "all our right and
title in those lands aforesayd unto Thomas
Burnham and his heirs." During the time
that the land was in his possession Thom-
as Burnham was forced to prosecute several
lawsuits, supported by the govern-
ment. It was finally ordered divided, but
he refused to give it up, thereby prolong-
ing the contest for a longer period. At a
town meeting in Hartford in 1688, the in-
habitants sanctioned the appointment "of
a Committee in behalf of this town, to
treat with Thomas Burnham, Senior, upon
his claim to the lands on the East side
of the Great River." On this vast tract
he erected a house which, during the Indian
War of 1675, was one of five which
were fortified and garrisoned. He was a
man of considerable prominence in the
official life of the town, and in 1649, 1656,
1659 and 1660, was the plaintifif in several
court actions, in which he usually de-
fended himself. In 1659 he was attorney
for Jeremy Adams, of Northampton, and
in 1662 defended Abigail Betts, in a