Welcome! I really enjoy exchanging information with people and love that this blog helps with that. I consider much of my research as a work in progress, so please let me know if you have conflicting information. Some of the surnames I'm researching:

Many old Cape families including Kelley, Eldredge/idge, Howes, Baker, Mayo, Bangs, Snow, Chase, Ryder/Rider, Freeman, Cole, Sears, Wixon, Nickerson.
Many old Plymouth County families including Washburn, Bumpus, Lucas, Cobb, Benson.
Johnson (England to MA)
Corey (Correia?) (Azores to MA)
Booth, Jones, Taylor, Heatherington (N. Ireland to Quebec)
O'Connor (Ireland to MA)
My male Mayflower ancestors (only first two have been submitted/approved by the Mayflower Society):
Francis Cooke, William Brewster, George Soule, Isaac Allerton, John Billington, Richard Warren, Peter Browne, Francis Eaton, Samuel Fuller, James Chilton, John Tilley, Stephen Hopkins, and John Howland.
Female Mayflower ancestors: Mary Norris Allerton, Eleanor Billington, Mary Brewster, Mrs. James Chilton, Sarah Eaton, and Joan Hurst Tilley.
Child Mayflower ancestors: Giles Hopkins, (possibly) Constance Hopkins, Mary Allerton, Francis Billington, Love Brewster, Mary Chilton, Samuel Eaton, and Elizabeth Tilley.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Thomas Burgess and Dorothy (?Waynes) of England and Sandwich, Mass.

Thomas Burgess was born in England about 1603, based on his age at death. This last name is spelled in a variety of ways including Burgis and Burge.

Thomas married Dorothy (Waynes?) in England about 1627, as they started having children ca 1628. This could be their marriage record: "Thomas Burgess and Dorothy Waynes (married at) Tanfield (co. York, England) in 1628" but more research is needed. (NEGHR 118 (1964):323)

Date of their migration is not certain, but land was assigned to Thomas in Duxbury on 3 July 1637. He left for Sandwich later the same year, forfeiting land to Nicholas Robbins on 5 November 1638. Some early works, including Torrey’s New England Marriages, state they arrived at Salem/Lynn in the early 1630s, but I don’t know if that’s accurate. Thomas settled in the part of town later to become part of Bourne, now called Sagamore. He also had a farm at Manomet.

I haven’t found a lot of primary records on Thomas and Dorothy’s children. I believe they had five children:

Thomas, married Elizabeth Bassett and Lydia Gaunt, moved to Rhode Island
John, m. Mary Worden and settled at Yarmouth, Mass.
Elizabeth, m. Ezra Perry, lived in Sandwich and is buried near her parents
Jacob m. Mary Nye, lived in Sandwich
Joseph, m. Patience Freeman, settled at Rochester, Mass.

I descend from their son John as well as their daughter Elizabeth.

Thomas Jr. was featured in one of the rare divorces of the Colony. After 13 years of marriage to Elizabeth Bassett, they were divorced and he married Lydia, daughter of Quaker Peter Gaunt and got a fresh start in Rhode Island.

In Sandwich Thomas was associated with some of my other ancestors including Henry Feake, Edward Dillingham and Edmund Freeman. "He was a chief man among them," says Dr. Savage. Thomas was an original member of the church instituted there in 1638. He became a large landholder in Sandwich.  The land was still in the family in 1863 when owned by by Benjamin Burgess.

Thomas served in a variety of public offices including road surveyor, Selectman and was Deputy to the Court at Plymouth for 11 years.  At the 22 May 1652 Town Meeting, a committee of four men named to have power to call a town meeting, including Goodman Burgess Sr.,

In 1657 there were many complaints from the court against Sandwich people who were punished for their Quaker leanings. William Newland, a prominent citizen, was called to court for encouraging Thomas Burges to "let Christopher Holder, a Quaker, occupy his house." He expressed sorrow for what he had done and was released. This may have been Thomas Junior since he was in other records, showing some Quaker sympathies and he later married a Quaker.

Mr. Percival Hall Lombard of Bourne stated that the Plymouth Court had given Thomas Burgess Senior the original Aptucxet Trading Post site in 1652. Grant record not found. However PCR May 1655 gives Burgess the right to take 10,000 herring a year at his land on the river in addition to his regular share as a citizen. Another reference in July 1655 says James Skiffe had land at Mannomett, a small neck of land directly against Thomas Burgis' land where the company formerly had a trading house.
Aptuxcet Trading Post, Bourne


The first reference to Mashpee lands occurs in Plymouth Colony Records in 1654. "The freemen of Sandwich viz Mr. John Vincent, Thomas Burgess, Thomas Tupper, Richard Bourne and James Skiffe desired some several parcels of land at the places following: viz some land by Marshpee Pond and 10 acres of meadow; some land by Santuit Pond to the value of one hundred acres; a neck of land by Cotuit River to keep cattle; certain meadow lying upon and about a place called Mannamuch Bay."

Thomas acquired land in Scusset (Sagamore) and also in the Aptucxet area of the old trading post. His four sons typified the very early spread from Sandwich to occupy land in new towns.

Land Transactions

The 10th of July 1663
Memorand: That Thomas Burge senr of the Towne of Sandwich in in the Jurisdiction of Plymouth in New England plantor Doth acknowlidg that for and in Consideration of a valluable sume; to him already payed by his son in law Named Esra Perrey of the Towne aforsaid in the Jurisdiction aforsaid plantor; hee hath bargained and sold enfeofed and Confeilmed and by these prsents Doth bargaine allianate sell enfeof and Confeirme unto the said Esra Perrey the one halfe of a Certaine tract of land lying and being att a place Called Mannomett in the Jurisdiction aforsaid; which said Tract of land was purchased by Captaine Standish by the appointment of the Court of Josias of Nausett an Indian Sachem; in the behalfe of the said Thomas Burge as appeers by a Deed bearing Date the third Day of march Anno Dom 1652 and is bounded to the southwards by the marked tree by the marsh and from that tree to a fresh brooke and from the said tree to another marked tree to the Nortwards; which said tree stands to the Eastward of the sad Esra Perreys house; to have and to hold the one halfe of the whole said Tract of land both upland and meddow with all and singulare the appurtenances belonging therunto; unto the said Esra Perrey to him and his heires and assignes for ever; The said halfe of the said Tract of land; both upland and meddow soe bounded as aforsaid with all the said Thomas Burge his right and Interest therin or belonging therunto or to any pte or pcell of the said halfe share; with all and singulare the appurtenances belonging therunto; to appertaine to the onely proper use and behoofe of the said Esra Perrey hee his heires and assignes for ever;


The 10th of July 1663
Memorand: That Thomas Burge senir: of Sandwich in the Jurisdiction of Plymouth in New England in America plantor Doth acknowlidge that for and in Consideration of a Considerable sume to him already payed by Leiftenant Josias Standish of Sandwich aforsaid in the Jurisdiction aforsaid hee hath freely and absolutely bargained and sold enfeofed and Confeirmed; and by these prsents Doth bargaine allianate sell enfeofe and Confeirme unto the said Leiftenant Standish one quarter pte or one pte of foure of a Certaine Tract of land lying and being att a place Called Mannomett in the Jurisdiction aforsaid which said Tract of land was purchased by Captaine Standish by the appointment of the Court of Josias of Nausett an Indian Sachem; in the behalfe of the said Thomas Burge, as appeers by a Deed bearing Date the third Day of March anno Dom: 1652 which said Tract is bounded to the Southward by the marked tree by the marsh; and from that tree to a ffresh brooke; and from the said tree to another marked tree Northward which said tree stands to the eastward of Esra Perreys house; To have and to hold the one quarter pte or one pte of four of the said whole tract of land both upland and meddow with all and singulare the appurtenances belonging therunto unto the said Leift: Josias Standish to him and his heires and assignes for ever; The said quarter pte or one pte of foure of the said tract of land bounded as aforsaid both of the upland & meddow with all the said Thomas Burge his Right title and Interst of and into the said quarter pte of the said tract of land; with all and singulare the appurtenances belonging therunto; To appertaine to the onely proper use and behoofe of the said Leift: Josias Standish to him and his heires and assignes for ever unto the onely proper use and behoof of him the said Leift: Josiah Standish to him and his heires and assignes for ever;

The 10th of July 1663
Memorand: That Thomas Burge senir of the Towne of Sandwich in the Jurisdiction of Plymouth in New England plantor Doth acknowlidge that hee hath & Doth by these prsents fully freely and absolutely give graunt allianate make over enfeofe and Confeirme unto his son Josepth Burge one quarter pte or one pte of foure of all that whole tract of land which Captaine Standish bought for him, by the appointment of the Court; of Josias the Indian Sachem of Nausett which said tract is lying and being att Mannomett in the Jurisdiction aforsaid; and is bounded as in the Deed of the sale therof bearing Date the third Day of March 1652 is expressed; To have and to hold all the said Thomas Burge his Right and title of and into one quarter pte or one pte of four of the said land; unto the said Josepth Burge to him and his heires and assignes for ever; the said one quarter pte or one pte of four of the aforsaid whole tract of land both upland and meddow with all and singular the appurtenances belonging therunto; and to appertane unto the onely proper use and behoofe of him the said Josepth Burge to him and his heires and assignes for ever;


Thomas died 23 February 1684/85 in Sandwich.  (Sandwich VR) He was 82 years old. His gravestone was imported from England. Amos Otis Esq wrote "this was the only monument set up for any pilgrim of first generation." His original, broken stone was replaced with a slate stone in 1917 by his descendants. It reads: "Thomas Burgess, Born in England, settled in 1637 in that part of Sandwich now called Sagamore. Dyed Feb. ye 13, 1685, aged 82 years." 
Thomas Burgess' gravestone at Sandwich
Thomas’s will was written 4 April 1684. After wife's death, son Thomas of Rhode Island was to receive 5 pounds, son Jacob the house lot, dwelling house, barn, outhouses, upland, "all that belongs to my homestead dwelling," and a meadow. After Jacob's disease, all to go to his son Thomas. Jacob to pay grandson Thomas, son of John, 10 pounds when 23 years old. To son Joseph: two lots that adjoin his land and give 5 pounds to his son John. If land refused, give to son Ezra Perry (Son- in- law). Also to Ezra, all other lands that lie above said two lots. To dear wife, all moveable estate. Sons Ezra and Jacob executors. Dated 4 April 1684, witnesses Thomas and Martha Tupper.

Dorothy died 27 February 1687 at Sandwich. (Sandwich VR) Thomas and Dorothy are buried together at the Old Burial Ground in Sandwich. Her stone reads: "Dorothy, widow of Thomas Burgess, dyed Feb. ye 27, 1687." I visited there in 2000 and it’s a very pretty cemetery, with a picturesque mill pond complete with a pair of swans.
Close up of Dorothy's gravestone

E. Burgess wrote that the first five generations of Thomas’s descendants were Congregationalists of the "Puritan stamp." His descendants settled from Maine to California, as well as Nova Scotia, and were mostly devoted to agriculture but some were seaman.


Sources Not Listed Above:

E. Burgess, Burgess Genealogy, Memorial of the Family of Thomas and Dorothy Burgess and were settled at Sandwich in the Plymouth Colony in 1637, 1865

Katharine Hiam, Burgess Genealogy, Descendants of the Four Sons of Thomas and Dorothy (Waynes) Burgess...Whose Parents Were Settled in Sandwich in 1637, 1997. This work updates the earlier volume above and I believe it does have some errors.

RA Lovell, Sandwich, A Cape Cod Town, 1984

33 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. Thanks for the great information on my ancestors.

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  3. Burgess is my middle name. According to a memoir I have, Thomas the first in New England was in Sandwich in the 1630s. According to a copy of a Plymouth Colony law I've seen, one of the Thomas Burgesses was authorized to catch fish alongshore in the 1600s. In those days the fishery was tightly regulated, more so than today.

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  4. I believe there are thousands of Burgess families descended from Thomas and Dorothy.
    Thank you,
    George Burgess

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  5. Hello distant relative! My name is Emily Akins (maiden name Perry). I grew up hearing about my family's genealogy from my grandfather, Francis Perry. We are related to Ezra Perry, along with William Brewster, and so on. My grandfather recently passed away. He would have loved to see this blog and interact with his distant relatives. Thank you for doing your research.

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  6. Yes, I come from the Elizabeth Burgess- Ezra Perry line. My great grandmother was a Perry then the line goes through three 'females'. Interesting history on the Cape, for sure!

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  7. Yes, I come from the Elizabeth Burgess- Ezra Perry line. My great grandmother was a Perry then the line goes through three 'females'. Interesting history on the Cape, for sure!

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  8. I, too, am a descendant of Thomas Burgess and Dorothy Waynes-Phippen and their son John and am so happy to find your blog. I started researching my Barlow ancestors a couple of years ago which has led to the Nyes, Tuppers, Burgesses, Wordens, etc. I am trying to find out if I have a Mayflower ancestor.

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  9. So nice to hear from all you Burgess descendants! Chris

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  10. I too am a Burgess descendant from both Jacob and Elizabeth. Lived in Sandwich for 20 years and did not know this then. As Sandra Murphy Roufogalis lived on Foster Rd.

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    1. That's amazing! Maybe that's what drew you to the place without your knowing. Chris

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    2. I'm putting on ebay a rare book made for Mr. Burgess in 1865 of the entire genealogy from Thomas at Plymouth Colony until 1865. Hope this helps.

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    3. 16th generation here from Thomaas and Dorothy.

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  11. My name is Catherine Burgess Howarth. I am a direct descendent to Thomas and Dorothy Burgess. Ironically, my twin brother is Thomas Burgess. We were born in 1953, and our grandfather Raymond Burgess used to say 'his people' had been here for seven generations. How exciting to find out he was right. I live in MA and cannot wait to visit the cemetery.

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    1. Not anonymous, lol.

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    2. I will be coming to the cemetary in october 16th generation here maiden name Burgess

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  12. I love the Town of Sandwich. My great grand parents Horace Bourne and Hulda Bassett were married in the white church in the center of town. I, as many of you, am a descendant of Thomas Burgess, Benjamin Nye, Ezra Perry William Bassett, Thomas Tupper, Richard Bourne and more. It is so interesting walking through the old town cemetery and seeing all the graves of your family.

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  13. I am a direct descendant of Thomas and Dorothy Burgess and my great grandmother was a Perry, though I'm not sure if it was the Ezra Perry line. Thanks for all the info. I can't wait to visit the Old Town cemetery (if I can find it).

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    1. Hi Kay, The Old Town Cemetery is on Grove Street and is pretty easy to find. Enjoy your visit. Chris

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  14. This is fantastic. We are very distantly related. I have loads of information on the family history. As a historian i have managed to compile over 600 people within my family tree, including the Burgess section. This is all quite new for me as both of my parents were adopted so it's amazing finding out about my blood relatives. If you have an ancestry account you can take a look at the family history and the documents that i have found on http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/81598388/family?cfpid=46455431560&selnode=1
    I hope you enjoy. I'd love to hear from any of you very distant relatives. My email is t.ankin@gold.ac.uk Have a great day everyone
    Thomas Ankin

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  15. i just found thomas when searching my great grandfather who is also a thomas burge as i am also named thomas burge my dna and thomas is a perfect match. why are there added ss to his name

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    1. I'm not certain when the name was changed from Burge to Burgess. At times his son's were Burge in records and other times Burgess. Burgess is what the family is referred to as now, so that's what I use for consistency sake. Maybe someone in your family decided to go back to the original spelling. Chris

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    2. Now this was the story told to me by my grandather Sewell Waldo Burgess.
      Thinas was a round head comrade and who were they? The ones qho beheaded king charles 《crazy i know》

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  16. Hello to all my distant relatives, I am the 16th generation granddaughter of Thomas and Dorothy. My family tree traced the lineage to when Thomas a round head comrade came to US soil as an indentured servant his work netted him payment in shoes or shus as spelled by the english at that time, and potatoes. Ancestory.com has a full listing my maiden name is Burgess, from the lineage of John Caribou Maine was his settling place. I have looked for more information so if anyone has anymore please share.

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  17. My name is Donna Pignone Gilligan and I am a direct descendent of Thomas and Dorothy Burgess through the line of their son John. Many years ago my great grandmother Matilda Burgess Rinker had the family researched and my grandmother made copies for her children and grandchildren. I am so happy to find this blog and would love to share information with any other descendants.

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    1. Donna, What a fantastic gift your great-grandmother and grandmother left for your family! Chris

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  18. I would like to know more as I am a Burge from PA but told my family initially immigrated to Mass in early 1600s. Thanks for all your hard work!

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  19. Greetings, I am also descended from Thomas Burgess through my great-grandfather, Nathan Lewis Burgess (1889-1983). I have a letter written by William T. Burgess (1859-1943) to his brother, Nathan E. Burgess (1863-1942), my 2nd great-grandfather, written on 22 Sept 1924, which outlines my family line from the 10th generation back to Thomas Burgess and Dorothy Phippens Wayne. I'm interested in the genealogies your reference and how I may obtain copies.

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    1. My apologies for never responding to this; Blogger hasn't been consistently notifying me of comments left here. What a gift to receive the outline of your family line! The 1865 genealogy would be in the public domain so you may be able to find a transcription online. The other two books I purchased years ago, so I don't recall where I got them but you could google them and see if they are available through online booksellers.

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  20. A family friend handed me a copy of two books: the Burgess Genealogy (I believe the same book you reference in this post) and the Briggs Family Records (which I believe is tied to the Burgess family as well). In both books are some pressed notes, and newspaper clippings. We wanted to see if we could track down any descendants who may want these books. Please let me know if you're interested as we would like to make sure these return to the family. Feel free to email me directly at LMcCue@QLaw.com so we can coordinate a way to get these books to you if you're interested.

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  21. I recently found that I am the 13th. G. Grandson of Thomas and Dorothy Burgess. I have found a lot of conflicting information concerning Dorothy's parentage, some listing John Goodman of the Mayflower, as her father, which I doubt, but am looing into regardless. Love reading the information above and all the comments about Thomas and Dorothy. Hi cousins!

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    1. Welcome! I haven't found any strong evidence of Dorothy's parents. Hopefully someday!

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I'm now moderating comments on this blog. My apologies for any ensuing delays, but the large number of "spam" comments have made this necessary. ~Chris