Caroline Burnham Chamberlin

I am researching the BURNHAM family that descends from the three BURNHAM brothers who came to America in 1635 on the "Angel Gabriel". They settled at Ipswich, Mass., removed to Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, from there they spread throughout the United States and Canada. I am also researching my mother's PAGE line from "John of Haverhill", my grandparents lines, DURGIN, on my paternal side from " William DURGIN" who settled at Oyster River, New Hampshire in 1661, and STAPLES on my maternal side from "Peter STAPLES" who settled at Kittery, Maine in 1671. The four main branches of my family tree have been in America over 300 years and have been active in the settling of The New England, I am proud of them and honored to be able to remember them here with these words. Angel Gabriel The ship "Angel Gabriel" pulled into Pemaquid Bay (Pemaquid, Maine) on August 13, 1635 and laid at anchor. The next day there was a terrible rain storm which ravaged the whole coast from Nova Scotia to New York starting at morning. The Angel was torn to pieces by the savage storm and cast away. Most of the cattle, 1 seaman and 3 or 4 passengers died. The others escaped to shore. Among the few personal belongings saved was a chest belonging to the Burnham boys. The tides had been as high as 20 feet. Some passengers set up tents along the shore and John Cogswell went to Boston and sought the help of a Capt. Gallop who commanded a small bark, or barque as it was called then. He took some passengers to Ipswich and made another trip the end of October. The 3 Burnham brothers went to Ipswich, Mass., probably with Uncle Andrews and John Cogswell and his family in Capt. Gallop's bark. Thomas and John spent most of their lives in Ipswich, Mass., but Robert went to Boston in 1644 and 10 years later in 1654 to Oyster River, New Hampshire which is now the area of Dover. The youngest Burnham brother, Benjamin b.1621, who did not make the trip to America, eventually went to Madras, India and lived there from 1660-1684. He amassed a great fortune and when he died, his will of June 8, 1685 stated that everything would go to his 3 brothers in America. Well, the oldest brother, Edward, who had stayed in England, was quite upset and fought the will in courts. After a long battle in courts of England, the British Crown confiscated the entire estate, as they were noted for such practice in those days, and the Burnham's never regained the estate. Over the next 100 to 200 years, several Burnham's in America would make the long journey to England to contest the taking over of the estate, but were not successful. The estate was considered a fortune in those days, and you can imagine what it would be worth today. It also included land in London. Ben died in 1691, 6 years after making out his will. Last Updated on A 4, 1997 by Caroline Burnham Chamberlin

GEDCOM Trees (viewing trees requires 4.0 or later)

• Thomas Burnham of Ipswich (35 KB)
  My Burnham lineage

Family Tree Maker Reports and Trees

• User Home Page Genealogy Report: Descendants of Thomas Burnham


• User Home Page Genealogy Report: Descendants of Peter Staples

Related Links

• Scarborough, Maine Genealogy Project