The old way of spelling Burson was Burston. Ancestors were German or French
According to the Compendium of American Genealogy, "Joseph Burson came with William Penn in 1681, founder of Quakertown, Pennsylvania." Brother George Burson followed Joseph a couple of years later, approx. 1684.
The history of the Bursons in this country must focus on the religious impetus which compelled them to come to America. I quote from the Genealogical and Personal History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania written by W. H. Doren in 1905: "Bucks County cherishes with faithful affection the names of her founders and pioneers, and when, as sometimes occurs, their descendants have migrated from their ancestral home and amid other scenes and different surroundings have maintained and increased the traditional reputation of the race the old county still follows their fortunes and rejoices in their success. Such has been the case with the Burson family, which traces its history through the following generations. "Joseph Burson (brother of George, the progenitor of this branch of southern Bursons) was born in London, England, and was a member of the Society of Friends. In order to escape persecution to which the followers of George Fox were then subjected, he emigrated with his wife to Pennsylvania in 1681, and made his home in Bucks county, where he became a landowner. He was one of the founders of the Quakertown and assisted in organizing the Richland Meeting."
The family remained Quaker until Joseph moved to South Carolina, when he became a Reverend in the Baptist religion
SURNAME Index to "Colonial Families of Philadelphia," Philadelphia, PA
This file contains a part of the every name index to "Colonial Families
in Philadelphia", edited by John W. Jordan, published by Lewis Publishers
of New York in 1911 in 2 volumes.
NAME MAIDEN NAME DATE PAGES, COMMENTS
BURSON, GEORGE 1564 TO PENNSYLVANIA 1682
Source - Early Friends Families of Upper Bucks, Clarence V Roberts, 1925, p 74:
He came from Scarborough, England, about 1684, and first settled in Springfield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
He became a member of Abington Monthly Meeting of Friends in the neighborhood of Abington in Montgomery County. He became affiliated with George Keith in his schism of 1692 and was disowned by Abington Meeting, but was later reinstated. He located in life on a tract of land on the Schuylkill River in Gilbert's Manor a few miles from Valley Forge. This land was acquired from William Penn who received the land from a debt that was owed him by the King of England, through his father.
In Early Pennsylvania Land Records by Egle, vol. XIX, "George Burston (Burson) desires to purchase 2, 3, or 400 acres of land in the Proprietors Manor of Gilbert's which is granted @@ 25 pounds per c. to be paid within three months after location with the usual g't rent 1 sp c. Warrant dated 19th March and signed November 20th 1713" min BKH p. 541
Here he died in 1715. his Will, dated November 26, 1715, was probated February 11, 1716. It provided for his wife, Hannah, and his six children, his land being devised to his sons, James, Joseph, William and George, who were named his executors.
November 26, 1715
This is a second hand copy of George's will, number 13, on file in the City Hall of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: BookPage: D:61
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN;
THIS THE twenty-six day of Nov in the year of our Lord 1715, I, George Burson, in Gilbert's Manor in the County of Philadelphia and Province of Pennsylvania, yeoman, being very weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God. Therefore, calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die do make and ordain this, my last Will and Testament. That is to say principally and first of all I give and return my soul unto the hands of God that gave it and for my body, I return it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executors. Nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God. And as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give, devise, and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
IMPRIMIS, I give and bequeath to Hannah, my dearly beloved wife all the moveables to be used upon the plantation as long as they keep together with all privileges within doors and without doors, as if I was there, myself, having authority over my children as long as she remains my widow. Likewise, one hundred acres of land upon the upper part of the Estate for her lifetime uncultivated land for her proper use.
ITEM 2, I bequeath for my wife the privilege of killing or selling of the moveables if need requires. Provided it be for the good and proper use of the family.
ITEM 3, I bequeath unto my daughters, Ann Burson and Mary Burson, twenty pounds to each of them within seven years after my decease. And case of mortality the longer liver to have forty pounds.
ITEM 4, I give and bequeath unto my sons, William Burson and George Burson, three hundred and forty acres of land as is computed beginning at the upper line extending by Skool Hill side of the lower line to be equally divided as followeth as my two sons, James Burson and Joseph Burson, whom I have appointed my two Executors shall find fit and in case of mortality to fall to the longest liver.
ITEM 5, I give unto my well beloved son, James Burson, a tract of land, as my deed and gift doth mention, and my little chest as legacy and, likewise my carpenter tools, I give unto my two eldest sons, James Burson and Joseph Burson, equally divided betwixt them.
ITEM 6, I give unto my son, Joseph Burson, one grant of land in Gilbert's Manor as my deed and gift doth mention bearing date with my will and likewise one shilling to fulfill the law.
ITEM 7, I constitute my best beloved sons, James Burson and Joseph Burson, and ordain them my only and sole Executors jointly and severally of this my last Will and Testament, all and singular my lands by him freely to be possessed and enjoined and I do hereby utterly disavow revoke disannul all and every other former testament and will bequeathed and testifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have here unto set my hand and seal this day and year above written.
George Burson (SEAL)
Signed, sealed, published and declared by said George Burson as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us subscribers viz. Joseph Richardson, Joseph Wells, Elizabeth (?).
13th day of November 1716
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: to summarize George's will:
100 acres of land went to Hannah
all plantation items went to Hannah
20 pounds went to Ann
20 pounds went to Mary
340 acres of land went to William and George (to be equally divided)
a 'tract of land' specified in a deed and gift went to James
George's 'little chest' and carpentry tools were to be divided between James and Joseph
a 'grant of land' in Gilbert's Manor specified in a deed and gift went to Joseph
one shilling went to Joseph according to law
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE2: I have communicated with several people that were familiar with Quaker wills, and the consensus seems to be that this is an average will from an average man who had an average estate. Typical during this era is that one-third went to the wife (the 'plantation items' made up for the shortage in acreage) and two-thirds went to the eldest son. The shilling left to Joseph is merely an indication that George did not forget Joseph in his final will which denies the possibility of contesting the will based on a forgotten son. However, if I read this correctly, then the 'tract of land' given to James (the eldest son) must have been quite large (assuming that is was two-thirds of the estate). If I attempt to compute this, 100+340=440*2=880 acres and quite probably more to make up for the 340 acres given to William and George AND the 'grant of land' given to Joseph.
NOTE3: Of course, Burson men are famous for not following the rules of thumb when it comes to their wills. So... final calculations would put the estate somewhere between 440 acres + tract of land + grant of land (minimum) and 1320 acres + tract of land + grant of land (maximum). The word yeoman is a noun that meant a man owning and cultivating a small estate; a freeholder under the rank of gentleman.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.A. Will Testators index 1
NOTE4: compare land prices:
70 acres in Abbington, Phil. Co. was sold for 45 pounds in 1707.
200 acres in Bucks Co. was sold for 10 pounds 15 shillings in 1685.
500 acres in Bucks Co. was sold for 70 pounds in 1692.
250 acres in Bucks Co. was sold for 42 pounds ten shillings in 1696.
112 acres in Bucks Co. was sold for 100 pounds in 1706.
