David Burnham

Brief Life History of David

When David Burnham was born on 19 May 1799, in Hollis, York, Maine, United States, his father, Moses Collins Burnham, was 24 and his mother, Hannah Foss, was 19. He married Ruth Lassell on 18 February 1822, in Waterboro, York, Maine, United States. They were the parents of at least 8 sons. He lived in Biddeford, York, Maine, United States for about 10 years. He died on 29 April 1870, in York, Maine, United States, at the age of 70, and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Biddeford, York, Maine, United States.

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Family Time Line

David Burnham
1799–1870
Ruth Lassell
1794–1879
Marriage: 18 February 1822
Charles L Burnham
1821–1897
Horace P. Burnham
about 1823–
Alexander G Burnham
1826–1854
George O. Burnham
1828–
Aaron Burnham
1830–1908
Leonard C Burnham
1831–1904
Thomas S Burnham
1834–1900
Royal T Burnham
1836–1859

Sources (19)

  • David Burnham, "United States Census, 1860"
  • David Burnham, "Maine, Births and Christenings, 1739-1900"
  • Mr. David Burnham, "Maine Marriages, 1771-1907"

World Events (8)

1800 · Movement to Washington D.C.

While the growth of the new nation was exponential, the United States didn’t have permanent location to house the Government. The First capital was temporary in New York City but by the second term of George Washington the Capital moved to Philadelphia for the following 10 years. Ultimately during the Presidency of John Adams, the Capital found a permanent home in the District of Columbia.

1804 · Whitehead Light

In 1804, President Thomas Jefferson authorized the creation of a light station on Whitehead Island. The light house went into service by 1807. It is the third-oldest light house in Maine. Whitehead Light still exists as the private property of Pine Island Camp, a non-profit organization.

1819 · Panic! of 1819

With the Aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars the global market for trade was down. During this time, America had its first financial crisis and it lasted for only two years. 

Name Meaning

English: habitational name from any of several places called Burnham. Those in Buckinghamshire (Burnham Beeches), Norfolk (various villages), and Essex (Burnham-on-Crouch) are named with Old English burna ‘stream’ + hām ‘homestead’. In the case of Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, however, the second element is Old English hamm ‘water meadow’, while Burnham in Lincolnshire is named from brunnum, dative plural of Old Norse brunnr ‘spring’, originally used after a preposition, i.e. ‘(at) the springs’.

History: In 1635 Robert Burnham and his two brothers came from England to Ipswich, MA, after their ship was wrecked on the coast of Maine. In the mid 18th century John Burnham and his son, also called John, were among the early settlers in what became the state of VT. In 1785, the younger John Burnham established himself at Middletown, CT.

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

Possible Related Names

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