Burdick Newsletters

March/April, 2005


Rebecca Burdick Winters and the Mormons

by Frank Mueller

(The following is an excerpt from Frank Mueller's book, "The Burdick Family Chronology." It describes the background and setting for Rebecca Burdick Winters' destiny with history. - HB)

The story of Rebecca must begin with her father, Gideon Burdick who was a great-great-grandson of Robert Burdick the Emigrant who arrived in America ca. 1651. His life seems to have been an epitome of the life of his race. Patriotism, pioneering, and religious devotion were his watchwords. The heritage his ancestors had fought for through the centuries, he was called upon to maintain all over again if it was to be passed unmutilated to his descendants. Looking at his life, no one can say he was in any sense unworthy of his sacred trust. Great and honorable as was the legacy he had received, that which he and his house handed on to his children's children was still greater and more inspiring.

Gideon Burdick was born at Hopkinton, RI, in 1762. He enlisted in the Revolutionary Army at age 18 in Catskill, NY, serving in the Second Regiment of the New York Line. At one time he was under the orders of General Benedict Arnold, a descendant of the friend of his own ancestor, the first Robert Burdick in America; and was with the army at the time of General Arnold's treason. Gideon Burdick was a guard over Major Andre when the latter was executed. Gideon was discharged from the service in January 1782. He applied for and was granted a pension while living in Busti, NY, and the pension continued until 1845. His life then was one of pioneering in New York. In 1833, he was living in Chautauqua County near Buffalo in New York.

Gideon married twice. His first wife in 1792 was Catherine (Robertson); and his second wife in 1814 was the widow, Mrs. Jane (Ripley) Brown.

The Mormon faith was founded by Joseph Smith and five others in 1830 near Palmyra, NY (SSE of Rochester). Smith claimed to have had a vision of God and Jesus Christ and later was directed by an angel to some golden plates that he translated into the Book of Mormon.

At Lake Chautauqua, near Buffalo, Gideon's daughter, Rebecca (3rd child from first wife, born in 1801 in Cayuga, NY), and her husband, Hiram Winters (born 1805 in Westfield, NY), operated a sawmill. It was here that the gospel message was brought to them and they were all baptized in June 1833 near Jamestown, NY. The following November they moved to and joined the body of the Mormon Church in Kirtland, Ohio (NE of Cleveland) where their first temple was built in 1836.

Membership in that church brought severe persecution and many threats. Enmity towards the Mormons then stemmed from their anti-slavery position and their claims of a latter-day revelation for restoring the true church.

When the new Zion camp was organized in 1838 in western Missouri, in Caldwell County northeast of Kansas City, led by Joseph Smith, Alden Burdick and Hiram Winters went there as volunteers. Later, Alden Burdick was ordained by the Prophet as the first seventy in this dispensation, Hiram Winters being the second. Thomas Burdick, another son of Gideon, had remained behind in Ohio to work on the Temple there. In 1835, a meeting was called for the purpose of blessing those who had distinguished themselves in their work for the Temple, and this included Thomas Burdick who was later appointed as a clerk or scribe, and still later became a missionary in New York state.

This family had shared in the persecutions in Ohio and in Missouri but soon moved with the body of the church to Nauvoo in Illinois which is tucked away in an obscure nook of the Mississippi River, south of Burlington. Brigham Young led the way for this move to the new site which had been purchased by Joseph Smith, two farms along the river's marshlands, an area that formerly was named Commerce, Illinois, now renamed Nauvoo (adopted from a Hebrew word meaning "beautiful place".) The Mormons built 300 brick and frame houses and a community of shops and businesses as well as many farms. Smith proved himself to be not only a charismatic church leader, but also as an administrator, land speculator, architect, business man and politician.

Between 1839 and 1846, Nauvoo became the largest and most powerful city in Illinois. It was a thriving community of 12,000 to 20,000 people, while Chicago had only 4,170 residents in 1837. The rise and fall of Nauvoo is a remarkable chapter in Illinois and United States history. The city's roots were planted by the Mormon religion and then killed by fear and hatred.

The Nauvoo Mormons received a tremendous boost in 1840 when the Illinois legislature enacted the Nauvoo charter bill, which, in essence, gave the city complete home rule. The charter enabled Brigham Smith to create a kingdom within the state. It had its own system of government and its own militia of 4,000, second only to the U. S. Army as a military force. The charter made it impossible for state and county law enforcement officials to make an arrest in Nauvoo. Nauvoo's exalted status quickly became irritants to those outside the city. An anti-Mormon party was formed nearby to counter Mormon dominance in Hancock County. Joseph Smith's woes came to a head after he announced that he would run for President of the U. S. Smith was arrested soon after but was freed by his own court. Finally, feelings in the community ran so high that the governor of the state ordered the state militia to take Smith into protective custody. Joseph and his brother, Hyrum, and two others were in the jail in Carthage when several days later, on June 27, 1844, a mob stormed the jail, killing Joseph and his brother.

Brigham Young became Smith's successor as president of the church's ruling body but Nauvoo was already in disarray. More mob violence was occurring. The Mormons saw their future in Nauvoo as nil and so they turned their efforts to building wagons once again in which to flee.

Thus, the once beautiful Fox Indian village that had grown into a prosperous small city under the Mormons' 8 year stay, until 1846, which had also become a rendezvous for criminals, and with even the governor of Missouri ordering Mormons expelled or exterminated, resulted in a great need to leave once again. Gideon's life never did enjoy peace and comfort. His life ended at Quincy, Illinois, in April 1846, darkened by the storm of persecution which had slain Joseph & Hyrum Smith, the leaders of his faith, and had driven his people as outcasts upon the bleak plains of the west, and deprived him of a cherished object of his life. He died firm in the faith, requesting of his children to be sure and do the work for him in the Temple that he could not live to do himself. His work was carried on worthily by his children.

Gideon Burdick's widow and the remaining eleven children (Alden had passed away earlier in Nauvoo) crossed the plains to Utah. Brigham Young had taken over the leadership and directed the long hard trek. Numerous branches of our Gideon's descendants keep alive the Burdick name. Thomas Burdick settled in California and members of his family have pioneered various parts of that state. Still other children lived and died in Ohio and Missouri; and children of these are in Oregon and Washington.

In his daughter, Rebecca Burdick Winters, Gideon left a worthy successor and guardian of the legacy. She played her part so nobly that her name has become known all over this broad land of ours. It has become a symbol for that type of sacrificing, patient and unafraid, pioneer mother, without which the west could never have been built up.

The main body of the church left Nauvoo early in 1846. After Gideon's death in Quincy, his family were amongst those unable to leave with the earlier companies. The mob element in Nauvoo became more and more impatient at the slowness of the remainder in vacating their city and thus renewed the persecution. In a letter, Rebecca wrote "the anguish and suspense of those dreadful hours can never be told in words. I will never forget the unflinching faith and courage of our devoted people. They never thought of fleeing or turning away." Surprised at the vigor of the defense, the mob called for a truce and then the remaining Mormons agreed to leave the city. Rebecca Winters and her husband moved first to Burlington, Iowa, and then to Kanesville where they toiled for another year in preparation for the long trek to Utah.

In the early days of the pioneers, the "Great American Desert" seemed a formidable place to settle, or even to travel through. It took patience, perseverance and an indomitable will to survive the rigors of primitive living in this virgin country with its extreme cycles of weather.

Several trails were followed by the westward bound pioneers. The best known one was probably the Mormon Trail, along the north bank of the Platte River. Brigham Young, the inspired Mormon leader, receives the credit for the establishment of that 1200 mile trail. He and his followers left their winter encampment at Florence in Nebraska, just north of Omaha, on April 16, 1847. Young chose his route in order to avoid social contact with others on different trails, people who might harass his people because of religious prejudice that had been experienced in earlier days. This first Mormon party crossed the Loup River and came to the Platte Valley to continue their journey westward. There were 148 people in 70 covered wagons, 1 boat, 93 horses, 52 mules, 66 oxen, 19 cows. Many following Mormons used the same trail over the next five years.

In 1848, the same trail received its second name, The California Trail, because of the discovery of gold in California. In 1852, gold was discovered in Colorado and this added even more traffic. In fact, over the next two decades, there were another 80,000 Mormons who covered that trail to Salt Lake City which had become the geographic soul of the Mormon faith at Temple Square a 10 acre plot that resonates with a spiritual feeling reminiscent of the Vatican and the Wailing Wall.

During the winter before the long trip to Utah was to start, Rebecca had a strong premonition that she would not live to accomplish the journey. Late in June 1852 when they crossed the Missouri River and about half the journey was over cholera appeared in camp. Many were stricken and some died. On the morning of August 15th, Rebecca was struck down with the disease. Her company of ten found it necessary to stop traveling to help ease her suffering. Willing hands worked with their might, but by noon her spirit had taken flight, her journey was ended, and her premonition became true that she would never complete her journey !

There was no coffin to shelter her form, but into the deep grave a bed was lowered, and, after being suitably robed and tenderly wrapped, she was laid therein. Then the few boards that could be spared from a wagon were placed across the vault and the grave covered. Thus was made, one of the precious milestones that mark the way to Zion.

After the ceremony, the company decided to remain in camp that night. William John Hawley, captain of the James C. Snow Company taking the Mormons westward to the new Zion at Salt Lake City, had picked up an old iron wagon tire along the trail a few days earlier. A friend of the Winters family, William Reynolds, asked Captain Hawley for the tire, saying he would fashion a marker. The tire was cut in a half circle, and Mr. Reynolds worked all night to chisel an inscription. When Hiram Winters saw the inscription the next morning....

REBECCA WINTERS, AGED 50 YEARS

he immediately remarked: "That name will remain there forever." How prophetic in the light of what later happened. Her close friend, Zebedee Coltrin, said "If there was ever a good woman on earth, Rebecca Winter was one." Today, this is, indeed, a declared National Historic Site!

In one of the emigrant companies ahead traveled Rebec­ca's son, Oscar Winters, unaware of the heartbreaking tragedy that had occurred. Indeed, he was supremely happy for he had just been united in a wedding on the plains to Mary Ann Stearns of the same company, and with President Lorenzo Snow performing the ceremony. They arrived safely in the Utah Valley, selected a homesite at Pleasant Grove, and built a little home to receive his mother and the later comers. Then he journeyed back to Salt Lake City to meet the company, only to learn for the first time that the beloved face he longed to see was not there, that the dear form that he would have pressed to his heart lay far away, sleeping alone by the sluggish waters of the Platte River.

The grave remained unnoticed for more than 30 years. Coincidence played a part in its discovery. In 1886, Lorenzo DeMott and his family left Chautauqua County in New York, also the birthplace of Rebecca Winters, and emigrated to Nebraska where they homesteaded along the North Platte River near Scottsbluff. Not far from the river they found a grave with a half wagon tire embedded in the soil. It was Rebecca Winter's grave.

The grave became a historic site for homesteaders. The first irrigation ditch built there in 1888 to bring water from the river was called the Winters Creek Ditch. One of the larger canals was designated the Winters Canal, and Winters Precinct was organized in the 1880's.

In 1899, the party of F. T. Darrow was surveying for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and Mr. DeMott was asked about a right of way. He stipulated that the survey line should not disturb the Winters grave.

Another story has been written wherein it states that in 1902 as the railroad was pushing its way westward, the surveyors for the Burlington Route stumbled upon a clump of sagebrush directly in the path of their line. They observed the scrap of wagon-tire and read thereon the pathetic memorial about Rebecca Winters. "Turn back," said the leader. "We cannot desecrate the last resting place of a Pioneer mother." The information was sent to the railroad's headquarters office which resulted in an order to re-survey the right of way for the tracks. A detour around the grave was made to leave it in its peaceful solitude.

The story of that lonely grave caught the spirit of the country. It became a mecca of those who would pay tribute to mothers of pioneers, just as we remember the grave of the Unknown Soldier in token of our remembrance of the many unmarked graves on the battlefield.

A notice of the discovered grave appeared in 1902 in The Deseret News in Utah where it was read by Mary Ann (Stearns) Winters, the young bride who married Oscar Winters on the trail to Utah in 1852. She immediat­ely recognized that the story was about her mother-in-law, Rebecca Winters. Arrangements then were made to erect a proper monument at the site of the grave. The gravestone was made of Salt Lake Temple granite and the railroad erected a fence around the grave area, and to this day railroad workers in Scottsbluff maintain the grave, headstone and fence, water the grass daily in the summertime.

The Katahdin Chapter of The Daughters of the Revolu­tion unveiled a tablet at the grave in 1929 when they learned that Rebecca's father, Gideon, had served under George Washington in his Army.

The sentiments expressed by Dr. Grace R. Hebbard, Wyoming State Historian at that time, at the unveiling of the monument, are as applicable today as they were then....

"As our grateful nation has placed mausoleums over the graves of unknown soldiers, not to add glory to the departed but to be a mecca to which members of a thankful and thoughtful nation may make a pilgrimage 'Lest we forget', so we today unveil this noble monument over the grave of a pioneer mother who made the supreme sacrifice while assisting in pushing the line of civilization ever toward the setting sun.

I thank you, Rebecca Burdick Winters, for the courage and faith possessed by you to journey into this wilderness. For the sacrifice you have uncomplainingly made for oncoming generations, may we, of another generation, endeavor to emulate you in your mission. May we transmit to posterity the rare spirit of courage and faith, as did you on the Pioneer Trail."

The tragedies of the plains were many. In most cases not a trace was left for identification, but the grave of Rebecca Burdick Winters was almost miraculously preserved. President and Mrs. Grant made a gift to the Katahdin Chapter of the D.A.R. with the idea of sharing the financial burden of maintaining the grave not only to honor Rebecca Burdick Winters but also to honor and hold in remembrance those hundreds of others who suffered the same trials and of whom all traces have been lost. And so her story, her legacy, became a sacred heritage to her many, many descendants.


On The Road

by Charles Kuralt

(During the 1970's Charles Kuralt visited many places throughout the United States for CBS News. Following is the transcript of the story he produced on Rebecca Burdick Winters. - HB)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1974

Roger Mudd: The trans-Mississippi migration in the 19th century may be no more than a bit of colorful history to most people. But the memory of one woman who did not complete the trip west, is still being kept alive, as Charles Kuralt found, On The Road, in Nebraska.

CHARLES KURALT: There's not much to see here. It's just a grave beside the railroad track. Twice a week, section foreman Steve Wilson, of the Burlington Northern Railroad, comes out here to this lonely place and trims the grass. Somebody from the railroad has been trimming the grass here since 1899 when this stretch of main line was first surveyed. The surveyor, a man by the name of Vern Hodge, came upon a broken iron wheel standing upright in the sagebrush. On it was chiseled "Rebecca Winters - age 50 year". The railroad retraced its survey line several miles, so the tracks would not pass over the grave of Rebecca Winters. In 1902, her descendants put up a proper stone marker which told more of her life. She came from Ohio and she was Hiram Winter's wife. She was a Mormon on her way to Salt Lake City.

You see, this was the Mormon Trail. One more day and Rebecca Winters would have made it past the worst of the cholera country around Scottsbluff. But on the morning of August 15th, 1852, she was stricken and she died before noon. Later, when Hiram Winters passed the bluff, he was alone with his 10-year old daughter. And so they continued westward, 1 of 50,000 wagons that went through this pass that summer one behind the other. Gold seekers, fur traders, Mormons and missionaries, each looking for his own resting place. Rebecca Winters had found hers !

There is a grade crossing to the east, and so it happens that the trains that pass whistle their own mournful salute to a pioneer woman.

(Train whistle)

KURALT: We spent part of an afternoon watching the trains and thinking about Rebecca Winters. There’s not much to see here but there's a lot to feel !

We have been to the Great Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. We have been to Sutter's Fort and the Golden Gate. And we have a piece of advice. If you want to feel the westward movement in your American bones, pass up those places. Stand here on the Trail beside Rebecca Winters and watch the trains go by.

Charles Kuralt, CBS News, On The Road, at Scottsbluff, Nebraska.


Burdick News... Up-To-The-Minute!

Brian Pendley (bpendley@rcn.com) is seeking his Pendley roots, which have a Burdick tie-in. Edward Burdick, born 1859, married "Pendley", with no indication of a first name or of any offspring. Edward's brother, Levi, born 1860, married Caroline (or "Carrie") Pendley. Caroline was his first wife, his second wife was a Seneca Indian woman, whose union produced a daughter Leila. But conflicting information has it reversed -- that the Indian woman was Levi's first wife, he fathered Leila, the wife died, and that he married Caroline Pendley in 1881. Does anyone know more?

Shannon (Burdick) Sharp (ssharp14@cox.net) has some sad news to report. Her father, Merlyn "Scotty" Kaye Burdick, of Denver, CO died Nov 10, 2004. She would also like everyone to know that her brother, Merlyn "Ron" Kaye Burdick, of Denver, CO died Oct 2, 2002.

Melinda (mboydbrave@juno.com) also has word of a death to pass along. She has been researching her step-daughter's grandmother's line, Catherine Estelle Burdick Miles, for several years. Catherine passed away last summer. She was born 15 Dec 1915 in Stranraer, Saskatchewan, Canada to Linn Wilson Burdick (1880-1938) and Emma Leona Matoon Burdick (1886-1979). Catherine grew up in Maddock, North Dakota and had three marriages. Linn was the son of Willard Burdick (ca.1847-1920) who was from Missouri but homesteaded with his wife Sidney Catherine Richardson in Maddock, North Dakota. Willard Burdick was probbly the son of Henry E. Burdick (ca. 1823-?, born in PA) and wife Sophia. Catherine was a woman well ahead of her time. She retired after a long career in civil service and traveled the world extensively. She had a keen mind and a good sense of humor. She was much loved and will be missed by her daughter, two granddaughters, and all those who loved her.

Robin (Burdick) Bills (precambrian51@yahoo.com) is a self-proclaimed Burdick research addict. She periodically takes a random Burdick name from the California Death Index at Rootsweb and tries to connect him or her to Burdicks already in her database. Wow! What a great hobby! You may remember that in the last Newsletter, Zel Murray, who lives in Macon, GA in a house built by George Burdick, was trying to find out more about him. Robin has the full story...

She "found" George by tracing back the ancestry of George Ferguson Burdick, who was born 30 Aug 1896 in Georgia and died 2 Feb 1942 in San Francisco, California. While she was not able to difinitively trace George back to Robert and Ruth Burdick, she did locate a few generations of his ancestors. In 1850, George Burdick was a 50 year old mariner living in Newport, RI with his wife Mary and 4 children. There were also two elderly women in the household with surnames Walden & West; one of them may have been Mary's mother. One of George and Mary's children was George, born about 1834 in RI who next seems to appear in the 1860 census in Macon, Georgia. He married Alice (possible surname Sherwood), born about 1838 in RI. George was a sailor in 1850 and an engineer in 1860. In 1880 he was still in Macon, married to Martha Powell. The LDS site has their marriage date as 10 Oct 1867 in Bibb Co., Georgia. There are 5 children listed in their household, the eldest being George P. Burdick, possibly the George Powell Burdick who built Zel Murray's house. George P. was born about 1868 and died 23 Dec 1921 in Hancock Co., Georgia. According to the LDS site, his wife was Mary Margaret Bell. Robin has be unable to locate George P. and Mary in any censuses but they appear to have had at least one child, the George Ferguson Burdick that Robin found in the 1942 California Death Index, whose mother's maiden name is listed as Bell. Great job, Robin, and thanks for sharing!

As if that's not enough, Robin also has the line of Isabell (Jones) Burdick, who was featured in a story in last month's newsletter:

Jared Burdick(6) & Isabell Jones
Joseph Burdick(5) & Sarah Champlin
Abel Burdick(4) & Comfort Palmer
Hubbard Burdick(3) & Tacy Wells
Robert Burdick(2) & Rebecca Foster
Robert Burdick(1) & Ruth Hubbard

Jared was born in New York; his parents were born in Rhode Island. In 1880 he was a carpenter & joiner.

Haven't heard anything about Burdickville, MI lately? Scott (Scottsfamilytree@aol.com) wants to let everyone know that on the west side of Glen Lake, the town of Burdickvills has a settlers picnic every year, around Labor Day. If anyone knows the exact date, let me know and I'll pass it along.

Larry Chesebro (Larry@Chesebro.net) operates the genealogy site dedicated to the immigrant William Chesebrough, whose family has many connections to the Burdicks. His site is http://www.chesebro.net.

Sasha Nielson (snielson@infowest.com) has a question about her huband's Burdick line. He descends from Robert through his son Samuel and then his son Thomas who was born in 1700. I have listed that Thomas died 24 July, 1724 in Rhode Island. Then I have his son, Thomas as born 25 Oct, 1725. This can't be right as Thomas Sr. would have been deceased 15 months before Thomas was born. Does anyone know more?

Earl Burdick (earlburdick@sbcglobal.net) is hoping you can help in the search for his Burdick roots. His father, Murl Clark Burdick, was from upper New York and had two sisters and two brothers, none of whom are alive. Earl has two sisters, Dorothy Evans and Betty Loflin. Dorothy lives in Stockton, CA and Betty in Maryland. He had a twin that died at 16 months. Earl has two grown children, Paul and Christine. He knows little about my father's family to pass onto his children and would very much like to hear anything you may know about this Burdick branch. Thanks.

Sally Chirlin (chirlin@adelphia.net), our family researcher in New York, is working hard! She has had several success stories helping people connect to their Burdick roots that I'll be featuring in an upcoming Newsletter. Thanks, Sally! And keep up the great work!

Kateri Finger (k_finger@hotmail.com) is searching for the family of George Knowles Burdick, born 1828 in Rhode Island and died 15 Mar 1913 in North Syracuse, NY. He married Apollonia (Hartmann) Smith and had 7 kids: Addie, Edward, Lucy, George, John, Ella, and Minnie. George K. Burdick was a farmer/carpenter and he was buried in the North Syracuse Cemetery along with his wife (aka Abigal).

Every once in a while I receive an email that assures me our future is in good hands. Joseph Douglas Burdick (progect@gmail.com) is only 20 years old but has already accomplished a lot. He is a Junior at Virginia Commonwealth University majoring in Mass Communications with a focus on creative advertising. He plays guitar, bass, and drum machines and maintains several web sites. He also works for the National Crime Prevention Council in Washington, DC (they are responsible for McGruff the Crime Dog ["Take a Bite Out of Crime"]). He is also a member of the Ad Club at VCU, the student Linux Users Group, and is ranked #1 on the university's SETI site. I have a feeling we'll be hearing a lot more from this young Burdick in the future! Keep it up, Joseph! If you have a chance, drop him an email to say hi.

Virginia Burdick Haws (Virginiahaws@wmconnect.com) lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, which was named for a railroad man named Edmond Burdick. This same man supposedly has another town named after him which is Burdick, Kansas. Virginia is trying to find out if there is a connection between Edmond Burdick and my family line. The Edmond Historical Society is very interested in finding our more, too. Virginia doesn't know much about her ancestry. Her father's name was Ernest Emery Burdick, born in 1904, in Highland, Osceola County, Michigan. His father was Emery Eugene Burdick, born 1875, in Allegan County, Michigan, and his parents were Hiram Burdick (born in Pennsylvania) and Henrietta (Sprague) Burdick, born in New York State, and his parents were Peter and Sally Burdick.Does anyone know more?

Karen Klos (klos@westpa.net ) has run into a conflict of information and is wondering if you could help. She shows Isaac (Joseph, Robert, Robert) Burdick’s father and mother as Joseph Burdick and Elizabeth Gorton. But other documentation shows that this Joseph Burdick was married to Tase Clark. Does anyone know where this Tase Clark came from? Karen has lots of information that is beyond my feeble comprehension, perpahs one of the real researchers out there can help. Thanks.

About a month ago I (howard@burdickfamily.org) sent out an email regarding a a VERY old Burdick cookie that was for sale on eBay. Did anyone end up with this family "treasure"? Let me know, I'm anxiously waiting to report on the new owner!

Lorene Pollard (idclare@grm.net) is researching the Burdick-Early families. She located a lonely graveyard near Chillocothe, Missouri, listing many Burdicks from the early-to-mid 1800s. I'll be posting these on the "Cemetaries" section of the Burdick Family Assocition web site. Thanks, Lorene.

Ashley at Surname Heirlooms (staff@surnameheirlooms.com) has an original photograph of a small child identified as Mary Burdick taken mid/late 1800s (possibly the Civil War era). The location is unknown. Contact Ashley for more information.

Carole Henry (Merculady521@aol.com) is trying to track down leads to Sarah Elizabet Burdick and Frank Fellows. She is looking for help in locating records of the early 1800s in Madison County. Can anyone help?

Scott Bill Hirst (scottbillhirst@yahoo.com), one of our researchers in RI, wants everyone to know about Richard Weber who maintains a phenomenal Sprague family database.If you are interested in this surname check out his web site at http://www.sprague-database.org. Bill also suggests you contact the Rhode Island Archives at reference@archives.state.ri.us. Using them will prove LESS COSTLY and BE MORE CONVENIENT than local city and town halls in Rhode Island. Ask them for information if you like. They do have publications on records.

Jeff Burdick (jburdick@direcway.com) is seeking information about the ancestors of Winfred Burdick, born 6-27-1880 in Peoria County, Illinois. He married Effie Barthel born 8-5-03 in Americus, Kansas. Sons are George Kenward Burdick born 3-28-29 in Atchicson Kansas, and Dwayne Burdick birth info unknown.

Chris Johnson (chrisjoh@earthlink.net) is trying to discover who Daniel Burdick's parents were. Chris is descended from a Daniel Burdick, born in what was then Vermont in 1778. He married Charlotte Stewart ( Stuart). One of his sons, Steven Vinson Burdick was Chris' great, great grandfather and Lillie Belle Burdick, one of Steven's daughters was his great grandmother. Chris can find no connection with Robert Burdick of Rhode Island. He believes Daniel Burdick's family originated in Wales and there is a Mayflower connection. Does anyone know more?

Connie Lear Wright (DBBFAN111@aol.com) wants everyone to know that her son-in-law, Adam, will be headed for Iraq. Please contact her for details. We all wish Adam a safe return.

Ruth Ingram (Justruthie45@cs.com) is seeking information about her grandfather, James Samuel Burdick. He was born in Missouri in 1890 or 1891 but he also told Ruth he was born in 1898. He married Leona Morgan in Kansas and had a son, Howard Mason Burdick, in 1923 in Anderson Co. Kansas. James' first wife died during childbirth. He served in WWI, and was injured at the battle of the Muse Argon. He died as a suicide May 1978 in Pico Rivera, Ca. Any information or directions in search will be appreciated.

James Thorstad (james.thorstad@agedwards.com) lives in Burdick, Indiana and supplied the following bit of trivia... In the kids book, "Road Race Around the World", the characters make a stop in Burdick, Indiana, circa 1891. Does anyone know this book?

Frances Abildnes (steamer@warwick.net) is completing her genealogy of her grandfather, Zina E. Burdick. She needs a few more items, does anyone know this Burdick line?

Let's all wish the latest Burdick author the best of luck! Alan Burdick has just completed a book entitled "Out of Eden: An Odyssey of Ecological Invasion". The book is scheduled for publication by Farrar, Strauss & Giroux in May, 2005. I've been reading an advance copy, it's very interesting. Congratulations, Alan! Let us know when the book is available.


Copyright Howard E. Burdick 2024. All Rights Reserved.

howard@burdickfamily.org