M. (1) before 6 Nov1653 in (probably) Reading, Massachusetts2,3
Wife: Ann _____
M. (2) 28 May 1662 in Reading, Massachusetts4
Wife: Sarah Brown
D. 18 Oct 1695 in Reading, Massachusetts5
During his life, Robert Burnap served his town of Reading, Massachusetts in several roles. He was born on November 28, 1627 to Robert Burnap and Ann Miller, their third child.1 The family lived in Hoddesdon Chapel, England, a village that today is within the metropolitan area of London, just to the north. It’s also a very short distance to the west of the Prime Meridian.
Robert was still a boy when his family relocated to New England as a part of the Great Migration of Puritans. They settled at first in Roxbury before moving to Reading by 1654.6 Robert came of age and at some point he married a woman named Ann,2,3 with whom he had five children. The youngest was born June 17, 1661, and this must have taken a toll on Ann, because she died just eight days later. Robert remarried to Sarah Brown on May 18, 1662,4 and they had six children together.
Robert’s name appears numerous times in records of Reading’s town meetings. Starting in 1654, he became a selectman, and continued in this role through 1672, with just three years when he didn’t serve.6 Selectmen were a form of local government officers unique to New England which sprung up out of Puritanism. The men of the community would typically meet once a month, with four of five chosen to function as a council. Someone who held the job for 17 years is an indicator that they were a respected man, which must have been the case for Robert.
Two other positions Robert held were as a keeper of the pound in 1655 (handling animals in the town who had gotten loose), and Sealer of Weights and Measures in 1665.6 The sealer was someone who supervised the weighing and measuring of goods traded within the town. Both of these duties gave Robert a certain role of authority as he kept tabs on the members of his community.
Robert made out his will on October 4, 1695,8 and he passed away on October 18th.5 He signed the will with an X, which is usually means that a person was illiterate, but in his case he may have simply been too weak to hold a pen; his probate inventory does include some books. Also in in the inventory was 120 acres of land, and 12 barrels of cider, which seems like an unusual amount. Robert’s widow Sarah survived him for many years, and died in 1713.9
Transcript of part of Robert’s will.
Children by Ann ______:
1. Sarah Burnap — B. 6 Nov 1653, Reading, Massachusetts;2 D. 5 Apr 1696, Reading, Massachusetts;10 M. Abraham Roberts (1654-1731), 1680, Reading, Massachusetts11
2. John Burnap — B. 16 May 1655, Reading, Massachusetts;12 D. Sep 1725, Windham, Connecticut;13 M. Mary Royce (1661-1741), 7 Apr 1684, Connecticut14
3. Robert Burnap — B. 28 Feb 1657, Reading, Massachusetts;15 D. 1 Nov 1674, Reading, Massachusetts16
4. Hannah Burnap — B. (possibly) 2 Mar 1660, Reading, Massachusetts;17 D. 12 Jan 1722, Newbury, Massachusetts;18 M. Joshua Boynton (1646-1736), 9 Apr 1678, Newbury, Massachusetts19
5. Mary Burnap — B. 17 Jun 1661, Reading Massachusetts;7 D. 30 Jan 1680, Reading, Massachusetts20
Children by Sarah Brown:
1. Joseph Burnap — B. 24 Mar 1663, Reading, Massachusetts;21 D. 19 Aug 1744, Reading, Massachusetts;22 M. Tabitha Eaton (1674-1734), 31 Jan 1690, Reading, Massachusetts23
2. Elizabeth Burnap — B. 21 Feb 1664, Reading, Massachusetts;24 D. 7 Oct 1688, Reading, Massachusetts;25 M. Jonathan Eaton (1655-1743), 15 Aug 1683, Reading, Massachusetts26
3. Lydia Burnap — B. 8 Apr 1667, Reading, Massachusetts;27 D. 9 Jun 1699, Reading, Massachusetts;28 M. John Dix (1654-1731), 30 Jun 1692, Reading, Massachusetts29
4. Isaac Burnap — B. 29 Apr 1671, Reading, Massachusetts;30 D. 19 Jan 1675, Reading, Massachusetts31
5. Sarah Burnap — B. 4 Apr 1672, Reading, Massachusetts;32 D. 25 Dec 1736, Reading, Massachusetts33
6. Samuel Burnap — B. 15 Sep 1675, Reading, Massachusetts;34 D. 2 Mar 1676, Reading, Massachusetts35
7. Benjamin Burnap — B. 8 Jun 1677, Reading, Massachusetts;36 D. after 1740, Massachusetts;37 M. Elizabeth Newhall (1678-?), 18 Jun 1700, Reading, Massachusetts38
8. Dorcas Burnap — B. 22 Jun 1679, Reading Massachusetts;39 D. about 1760, Reading, Massachusetts;40 M. William Sawyer (~1674-~1770), 30 Apr 1700, Reading, Massachusetts41
Sources:
1 Baptismal record of Robert Burnap, Hertfordshire, England, Extracted Church of England Parish Records, Ancestry.com
2 Birth record of Sarah Burnap, 6 Nov 1653, Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
3 Death record of Ann Burnap, wife of Robert, Reading Birth Records, Marriage Records, Death Records, FamilySearch.org
4 Marriage record of Robert Burnap and Sarah Brown, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
5 Death record of Robert Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
6 Genealogical history of the town of Reading, Massachusetts, Lilley Eaton, 1874
7 Birth record of Mary Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
8 Probate record of Robert Burnap, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Index 1648-1870, FamilySearch.org
9 Find-a-Grave listing of Sarah (Brown) Burnap
10 Death record of Sarah Roberts, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
11 Birth record of Mary Roberts (firstborn of Sarah), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
12 Birth record of John Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
13 WikiTree listing of John Burnap
14 Marriage record of John Burnap and Mary Royce, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15 Birth record of Robert Burnap (son), M. B. & C.
16 Death record of Robert Burnap (son), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
17 Birth record of Hannah Burnap, M. B. & C.
18 Find-a-Grave listing of Hannah Boynton
19 Marriage record of Joshua Boynton and Hannah Barnet, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
20 Death record of Mary Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
21 Birth record of Joseph Burnap, M. B. & C.
22 Death record of Joseph Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
23 Marriage record of Joseph Burnap and Tabitha Young, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
24 Birth record of Elizabeth Burnap, M. B. & C.
25 Death record of Elizabeth Eaton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
26 Marriage record of Jonathan Eaton and Elizabeth Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
27 Birth record of Lydia Burnap, M. B. & C.
28 Death record of Lydia Dix, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
29 Marriage record of John Dix and Lydia Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
30 Birth record of Isaac Burnap, M. B. & C.
31 Death record of Isaac Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
32 Birth record of Sarah Burnap, M. B. & C.
33 Death record of Sarah Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
34 Birth record of Samuel Burnap, M. B. & C.
35 Death record of Samuel Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
36 Birth record of Benjamin Burnap, M. B. & C.
37 WikiTree listing of Benjamin Burnap
38 Marriage record of Benjamin Burnap and Elizabeth Newhall, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
39 Birth record of Dorcas Burnap, M. B. & C.
40 WikiTree listing of Dorcas (Burnap) Sawyer
41 Marriage record of William Sawyer and Dorcas Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
