An American Family History

from The Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland by Joshua Dorsey Warfield

Colonel William Burgess
After William Stone, of Northampton, became the first Protestant governor, Beard and Burgess removed to Maryland. . . . William Burgess began, at once, his commanding career. In 1655, he was one of the Council of War to condemn Governor Stone,—the very man he had followed to Maryland.

In 1657, he was named, first by Governor Josias Fendall, a commissioner and associate justice of the new County of Anne Arundel. Declining to take the necessary oath, on the ground it was not lawful to swear, his plea was rejected and another name was substituted.

In 1660, when Governor Fendall had been banished, and Philip Calvert had succeeded him, William Burgess sent in a petition reviewing his former refusal to take the oath, and ascribing it to the influence of ill-advised friends. He announced his determination, henceforth, to devote his remaining days to the service of the proprietary. His petition was favorably received and he was set free without fine or trial.

In 1661, he was placed in command of the South River Rangers, and was ordered to send all Indian prisoners to St. Mary's for trial.

In 1663, he was placed at the head of the Anne Arundel Commissioners.

In 1664, he was high sheriff of Anne Arundel. Upon receiving orders to go against the Indians, he named his successor, Major Richard Ewen, from whose family he had taken his second wife.

In 1665, Charles Calvert, son of Lord Baltimore, having succeeded his uncle Philip, honored William Burgess in the following commission:

Captain William Burgess,
Greeting,—Whereas, Diverse Forraing Indians have of late committed divers murthers upon our people, I have thought fitt to raise a sufficient number of men. Now know ye that I reposing especial confidence in your fidelity, courage and experience in martial affaires, have constituted, ordained and appointed you Commander-in-Chief of all forces raised in St. Maries, Kent, Charles, Calvert and Anne Arundel Counties.

Given under my hand, 34th year of his Lordship's Dom., 1665.
Charles Calvert.

Then follow instructions for the campaign.

Major Thomas Brooke was ordered

to raise forty men and march to Captain William Burgess, in Anne Arundel, there to receive orders from him as Commander-in-Chief. Ordered that Captain William Burgess raise by presse, or otherwise, thirty men with arms and ammunition to proceed according to former orders.

Some Seneca Indians had killed several English settlers in Anne Arundel. The following reward was offered:

One hundred arms length of Roan Oake, for bringing in a cenego prisoner, or both of his ears, if he be slain.

In 1675, Colonel William Burgess and Colonel Samuel Chew were ordered to go against the Indians on the Severn.

In 1679, it was ordered,

That Colonel Burgess supply Baltimore County with twenty men from Anne Arundel, for the defense of that county.

In 1681, Robert Proctor, from his town on the Severn, Thomas Francis, from South River and Colonel Samuel Lane, from the same section, all wrote urgent letters stating that the Indians had killed and wounded both negroes and English men "at a plantation of Major [John] Welsh's," and "had attempted to enter the houses of Mr. Mareen Duvall and Richard Snowden."

. . .Upon such information, followed the decisive order to Colonel William Burgess and Colonel Thomas Tailler,

to fight, kill, take, vanquish, overcome, follow and destroy them.

Colonel Taylor commanded the horse, Colonel Burgess the foot, and both were Protestants.

From that date on to 1682, Colonel Burgess was a delegate to the Lower House; from 1682 to his death in 1686, he was in the Upper House. He was upon many committees.

His epitaph is a most remarkable condensation of his eventful life. It reads:

Here lyeth the body of Wm. Burgess,
Esq., who departed this life on ye
24th of January, 1686,
Aged 64 years: leaving his
Dear beloved wife, Ursula and eleven
children, viz.: seven sons and four daughters,
And eight grand-children.
In his life-time, a member of
His Lordship's Deputy Governors;
A Justice of ye High Provincial Court;
Colonel of a regiment of Trained Bands:
And sometimes General of all ye
Military Forces of this Province.
His loving wife, Ursula, his executrix
In testimony of her true respect,
And due regard to the worthy
Deserts of her dear deceased
Husband, hath erected this monument.

. . .Colonel Burgess left an exceedingly intelligent will of entail; naming his sons and daughters, Edward, George, William, John, Joseph, Benjamin, Charles, Elizabeth, Susannah, Anne.

I give to my sonne William my message [sic] land where I now dwell, near South River, together with eighteen hundred acres adjoining, which I purchased of George Westall, and one part whereof is a Town appointed called London, provided my wife, Ursula, shall live there until my son is of age.

I give unto William, all of Betty's Choice, in Balto. Co., near Col. Geo. Wells, containing 480 acres.

I give to my sonne, John Burgess, four tracts, Morley's Lott, Bednall's Green, Benjamin's Choice, and Benjamin's Addition, lying near Herring Creek, some 800 acres.

I give to my sonne, Joseph, lands purchased of Richard Beard, near South River, called West Puddington, and Beard's Habitation, 1300 acres.

I give to my sonne Benjamin, a tract, Bessington, near the Ridge, also Burgess Choice, near South River.

I give to my sonne, Charles, a tract, purchased of Vincent Lowe, at the head of Sasafras River, of 1600 acres, and another of Vincent Lowe, on the Susquehannah, of 500 acres;

provided, if any should die before attaining age, then every such tract shall descend to the eldest then living.

I give all the rest of my estate, here or in England, to my dear wife, Ursula, at pleasure, and she shall have the care of the education of my children and the use of their portions.

I desire that she shall be my executrix, with my friends Major Nicholas Sewall, Major Nicholas Gassaway and Captain Henry Hanslap, as supervisors, and to each of them I grant £5.
William Burgess, (seal.)

His sons, Edward and George, had been provided for before his will. His daughters received £300 in money, plate and other personals.

His seal-ring of gold was willed to his daughter, Susannah, wife of Major Nicholas Sewall. She was the daughter of Colonel Burgess, by Mrs. Richard Ewen. . .

Lord Baltimore, Cecil Calvert (1605 -1675), 2nd Baron Baltimore was the first governor of Maryland. Phillip Calvert (1626–1682), was the 5th governor from 1660 to1665. Charles Calvert (1637 – 1715), 3rd Baron Baltimore inherited the colony in 1675.