The Peter Burr Society
Charles Burr Todd’s 1902
edition of “A General History of the Burr Family With Genealogical Record”
states on page 143 regarding the children of the elder Peter Burr: “the
children soon remov. to Virginia and were lost sight of.” Well, this child of
Peter and Abigail Burr is herewith FOUND. And the Peter Burr Society is
dedicated to making sure this link to the family heritage STAYS FOUND. As clogs
are removed from otherwise restricted flows of information, may the history of all the descendants
of our Puritan ancestor flow freely.
Below is a brief overview of Peter Burr (1727-1795), his 2 wives, and 13 children. The Peter Burr Society continues to seek documentation on the ancestors and descendants of these people. To protect the integrity of the information that continues to be revised, the society will not post to any on-line databases. It is far too difficult to correct errors as changing information spreads rapidly via the internet. Our records will be freely available to family and friendly researchers who are interested not only in the family but also in protecting the accuracy of information.
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The following is skeletal information regarding Peter Burr and his immediate family. Much more information is available in the files posted on the Peter Burr Society Yahoo Group.
Peter Burr son of Peter and Abigail Burr
Born: 21 Oct 1727 Fairfield,
CT
Died: 20 Jan 1795 Berkeley Co, VA (now Jefferson Co, WV)
Spouse: 1st – Mary Stewart
Spouse: 2nd – Jane Calhoun
Burial: Location unknown but numerous sources indicate the lost graves are located near Halltown, Jefferson Co, WV. Speculation is that the graves are somewhere on the 480 land grant purchased in 1751 and sold Dec 1754. Theory exists that some family members may have died between 1748 and Dec 1754 and may have been buried on that land. Then tradition may have caused the family for the next 50 years to bury loved ones in an old family plot near earlier family members. Efforts are in process to locate the grave sites that have since become unknown. Some of the descendants below with unknown burial locations may also be buried with their parents.
Mary
Stewart
Born: Aug. 17, 1730
Died: about 1773
Spouse: Peter Burr
Married: Controversy exists as to
when and where Peter Burr and Mary Stewart married. Some believe they married
in Fairfield, CT and migrated about 1750 joining the elder
Peter Burr who had migrated a couple of years earlier. Others believe the son
came with the father about 1748 and later met and married Mary Stewart in VA. This
conclusion is based on the time of the birth of their first known child. Educated yet undocumented speculation suggest the date and place of marriage to be prior to 17 Feb 1755, Frederick
Co, VA.
Burial: In unknown location near Halltown, Jefferson Co, WV
Note: Some believe there may have
been an earlier child named Stewart born to Peter and Mary Stewart Burr and who
died young. This mystery remains, and inquiring family members want to know.
Note: Mary Stewart Burr is believed
to have died of “milk fever” a short time after the birth of her seventh child,
Hannah.
Jane
Calhoun: of Lancaster, PA
Born:
Died: 1785 per family records
Spouse: Peter Burr
Married: 17 Feb 1775
Burial: In unknown location near Halltown, WV
Note: Many early settlers to the eastern
panhandle of what is today WV came from York and Lancaster, PA. While Jane
Calhoun’s ancestry is yet to be discovered, her heritage may be connected to
that of others who were living in the area during the time Peter Burr met her. If Jane Calhoun was about 27 years of age when they married, think how she
may have felt suddenly becoming the step-mother of 7 children (ages 3-18).
-----
Children: 13 children (6 daughters and 1 son with first
wife, Mary; and 3 sons and 3 daughters with second wife, Jane)
Children of Peter and Mary Stewart Burr
01 (F) Mary
Burr
Born: 28 Oct 1756 Frederick
Co, VA
Died:
Spouse: Daniel Smith
Married: 29 June 1784;
Berkeley Co, VA; Minister: Hugh Vance
Migrated:
Burial: Possibly in unknown location near Halltown, WV
Note: No descendants yet found. Farmer's Repository, the
local weekly newspaper of Charles Town, VA, dated 14 Dec 1815 has a Daniel
Smith warning others not to extend credit to his wife Mary but due to the
common name, we can't be sure this is the correct Smith or our Mary.
02
(F) Abigail Burr
Born: 16 Sep 1758 Frederick
Co, VA
Died: possibly about 1798
Spouse: John
Cowan (b. about 1747-1752 probably West NJ;
d. 8 Oct 1804 Warren Co, OH)
Married: about 1779 possibly
Berkeley Co, VA
Migrated: John Cowan and their
children migrated to Warren Co, OH
Burial: Possibly in unknown location near Halltown or possibly on or near Cowan family property in Jefferson Co, WV
Note: It remains unknown if Abigail
migrated also or if she died prior to her family leaving for Ohio. Anyone with
further information would be vastly appreciated if you would share your resources.
03
(F) Sarah Burr
Born: 15 May 1761 Frederick
Co, VA
Died: ca 1803 probably
Jefferson Co, VA
Spouse: William Biggs (b. ca 1759 VA, d. 1828 OH)
Married: 2 April 1788 Berkeley
Co, VA; Minister: Moses Hoge
Migrated: possibly to Ohio in 1808 with her family
Burial: Possibly in unknown location near Halltown
Note: It is not known
for sure if Sarah Burr Biggs made it to OH with her family. It is believed that she died about 1803. William Biggs migrated to the Clinton Co, Ohio area in 1808. He was a Rev
War Vet, DAR Nat'l No 26747, and they had 1 known son, William Burr Biggs, born
ca 1800 (probably in Jefferson Co, VA). William next married Nancy Russell Rhodes, a
widow, who accompanied the Biggs' party to Ohio. William built a large log house near Cuba, OH and
opened a house of entertainment near there where he entertained the officers
and soldiers during the War of 1812. Their son, William Burr Biggs, married
1818 Clinton Co, OH to Rhoda Whitaker, dau of Olver Whitaker and they had 7
known children, viz - William, George, Harriet, Ruth, Lucinda, Aaron and Phoebe
Jane.
Note: Some data is currently known about Sarah and her descendants, and some good leads have surfaced recently.
04
(F) Miriam Burr
Born: 25 May 1763
Frederick Co, VA
Died:
Spouse: John Conklyn (Conklin)
Married: 24 June 1793 Berkeley
Co, VA; Minister: Moses Hoge
Migrated: It's believed they emigrated to Delaware Co, OH.
Burial:
Note: Little is currently known about Miriam and her descendants.
05
(F) Jane Burr (sometimes known as Jean)
Born: 29 March 1765 Frederick
Co, VA
Died:
Spouse: John Melvin
Married: 2 Aug 1791 Berkeley Co, VA;
Minister: Moses Hoge
Migrated:
Burial: Possibly in unknown location near Halltown or possibly in an old Melvin Cemetery near Duffields, WV
Note: A Melvin family genealogy has that John married a Jane
Barnes. Perhaps there were more than one? Or perhaps the "Barns" record came from error-ridden or difficult-to-read handwritten documents. We do have documentation of Jane Burr's marriage to John Melvin. Little else is currently known about her or any descendants.
06
(M) Peter Burr
Born: 4 Aug 1767 Frederick
Co, VA
Died: 8 Aug 1816 Clinton
Co, OH
Spouse: Iscerna (Hannah)
Sewell (b. 1769; d. 1838) Hannah was the only daughter of David Sewell
Married: Feb 1790 Berkeley Co, VA; Minister:
Moses Hoge (conflicting records put the date in Feb as the 4th, 9th, or 19th)
Migrated: 1798/99
Burial:
Note: Hannah Sewell was the only daughter of David & Mary E
(Tullis) Sewell. They emigrated to what is now Clinton Co, OH in 1798/99 in a
group which included his Sewell in-laws and their married sons. He was a
surveyor, member of the House of Representatives, Justice of the Peace, Clerk
of Courts and Associate Judge. Peter & Hannah had 9 children, viz -
Mary, Peter, Hannah, Ezra, Sarah, Elizabeth, David, Abigail and John. Some of
his descendants spread on to Michigan, Indiana, and Missouri.
Peter was elected judge in
Clinton Co, OH on Feb 1810.
Note: Much is currently known about Peter and some of his descendants.
07
(F) Hannah Burr
Born: 8 Feb 1772
Frederick Co, VA
Died: after Feb 1793
Spouse: John Miller
Married:
Migrated:
Burial: Possibly in unknown location near Halltown
Note: Family story - Hannah’s mother, Mary (Stewart) Burr, died
shortly after taking 'milk sickness' after sitting on a rock in the yard on a
warm February day shortly after Hannah's birth.
Note: Little is currently known about Hannah and any possible descendants.
-----
Children of Peter and Jane Calhoun Burr
08 (M) James
Burr
Born: 2 April 1776 Berkeley
Co, VA
Died: 3 Nov 1848
Spouse: Nancy McGarry (1781-1847)
Married: 12 Jan 1799 Berkeley Co, VA; Suretor:
Mathew McGerry (McGarry)
Migrated: Stayed in Jefferson Co, (W)VA
Burial: James and Nancy Burr and numerous descendants are buried in the Burr-McGarry Cemetery off Route 9, near Bardane, in Jefferson County, WV.
Note: Nancy McGarry was dau of Matthew McGarry.
Note: James built his
home (abt 1800-1810) on land he inherited from his father. That house has been improved and currently stands as a 2-story structure near the Peter Burr House (the surviving home of his childhood). James and Nancy had 5 children. Milton Burr, descendant and former WV State Senator later lived in the house.
Note: Much is currently known about James Burr and some of his descendants.
09 (F)
Elizabeth Burr or Elizabeth M Burr
Born: 16 July 1777 Berkeley
Co, VA
Died:
Spouse: Samuel Reed
Married: Jan 23, 1797 Berkeley
Co, VA; Minister: Moses Hoge
Migrated:
Burial: Possibly in unknown location near Halltown
Note: Little is currently known about Elizabeth and any possible descendants.
10
(M) Moses Burr
Born: 6 Dec 1778 Berkeley
Co, VA
Died: Feb 1815 Jefferson Co,
VA at age 36
Spouse:
none
Married: never married
Migrated: Stayed in Jefferson Co,
(W)VA
Burial: Possibly in unknown location near Halltown
Note: Family sources say Moses died of cancer
Note: Records indicate
that he left his home to his sister, Anna Burr McGarry. "Farmer's Repository,"
the local newspaper at that time, mentions his death.
Note: Existing records show that Moses Burr served in the War of 1812.
11
(F) Ann Burr or Anna Burr
Born: 28 Dec 1780Berkeley
Co, VA
Died: 13 Sept 1843
Spouse: John McGarry
(1777-1850)
Married: 17 June 1801 Berkeley
Co, VA; Minister: Moses Hoge
Migrated: Stayed in Jefferson Co,
(W)VA
Burial: Ann Burr and husband, John, and numerous descendants are buried in the Burr-McGarry Cemetery off Route 9, near Bardane, in Jefferson County, WV.
Note: John McGarry (also spelled Mcgary and McGerry) was a son of Matthew McGarry and brother to Nancy
McGarry, who married James Burr. Ann Burr & husband (John) had 10 children
Note: Much is currently known about Ann and some of her descendants.
12
(F) William Burr
Born: 22 Jan 1783 Berkeley
Co, VA
Died: 26 Dec 1846 Logan Co, KY
Spouse: Margaret Young (1788-1852).
Married: 18 May 1809 Jefferson Co, VA
Migrated: late 1813
Burial: William and Margaret Burr are buried in the Burr
Cemetery in Logan Co, KY just north of
the Oak Grove community in Robertson Co,
TN.
Note: William built a home (ca. 1810) on his portion of the land
which he inherited from his father but sold it by late 1813 and moved to
Logan Co, KY.
Note: Much is currently known about William and some of his descendants. An interesting hand-written letter from Margaret to family back home has survived along with other documentation.
13
(F) Esther Burr
Born: 31 July 1785 Berkeley
Co, VA
Died:
Spouse: Thomas Embly probably
Jefferson Co, VA
Married:
Migrated: Esther is believed to have emigrated to Clinton Co, Ohio with her husband,
Thomas Embly.
Burial:
Note: Little is currently known about Esther and any descendants.
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