Benjamin Burt

      Benjamin son of Seaborn and Susannah Burt was born in Ridgefield Connecticut 29 Dec 1741. He grew up in Ridgefield and with his 3 brothers helped his father run the grist mill. Benjamin married Rebecca (           ) probably in Ridgefield around 1761. Benjamin and Rebecca had the following children all born in Ridgefield	 Benjamin born c 1762

           Sarah       born c 1763

         Rebecca    born c 1765

        *Joseph       born c 1767

          Hulday      born c 1769

         Darius       born c 1771

         Gould        born c 1773 Benjamin and his brothers joined the British army in 1777 and served under Major General Tryon in the Queens Rangers. He was in the Danbury expedition and fought against Benedict Arnold at Ridgefield. Benjamin served 12 months and was disabled by reason of health and discharged in 1778. He and his family remained behind British line until the end of the war. He petitioned the British government through Sir Guy Carleton General and Commander in Chief of the British forces in America for a land grant in Nova Scotia as follows; That soon after your petitioner came within the British lines he entered in his majesty’s service in the Corps of the Queen’s Rangers as a private soldier where he remained several years, til he was from thence discharged. That he has a wife and eight children and is determined to proceed to the province of Nova Scotia to settle in that country. That he is reduced to such extreme poverty, that he is unable to purchase necessaries, that his family are really wanting, to prevent them from suffering. He therefore humbly prays your Excellency would please to take his distressed situation into your wise and tender consideration and grant him such relief as to your Excellency shall seem meet, and is duty bound will ever pray                            Benjamin Burt

                                                                                                             New York

                                                                                                       9th day of June 1783

Benjamin sailed on the ship Three Sisters in the July fleet the 3rd fleet to leave New York in 1783 and arrived at St John in the summer of 1783 with his wife and 8 children. Three more major fleets sailed in August, September, and October as well as many scattered arrivals. Several thousand people arrived in St John in 1783 with very little plans made to receive them. Most of them had lost all their major property and had to leave most of their personal belongings behind do to lack of baggage room.

The government supplied basic provisions through the winter of 1783/1784 but was over whelmed by the number of refuges and many families were close to starvation. Land grants for the refuges were very slow to process. In the spring of 1784 Benjamin left Parrtown in St Johns and moved his family about a 100 miles up the St John River to Burton, which is about 18 miles south west of Fredericton, with several other Loyalist families. They built a row of log houses along the river bank from Mill creek to the present University Ave. They were squatters at this time but at least they could cut wood for heating, raise a garden and hunting and fishing was much better than in St John. In St John housing was so cramped they couldn’t even plant a small garden to add to the meager rations they received from the government at Fort Howe. Adding to the family’s difficulties Benjamin died in Burton 10 Aug 1785 before he was able to obtain a land grant. In 1786 Benjamin’s widow Rebecca made a claim on her husbands right to a land grant. She stated he joined the Queens Rangers in 1777 was in the Danbury expedition. He served 12 more months and was disabled by reason of his health and was discharged. He remained within the British lines until the peace. He rented a farm until he embarked with other loyalist to settle in New Bruinswick. In consequence of his joining the British Army the Rebels seized his property and sold it at public auction. The following is a list of property sold, a dwelling house, barn with 52 acres land and 3 orchards

one 1/4 share of a grist mill ---------------------------------------------       75

           a set of blacksmith tools --------------------------------------------------      15

           Two good horses -----------------------------------------------------------      30

            one cow --------------------------------------------------------------------        3.15

            one ox cart -----------------------------------------------------------------        6

two muskets and one pistol ----------------------------------------------        2.10

           sundry household furniture ---------------------------------------------         1.18 	

                                                                                                                         409.3

28 February 1787 Benjamin Jr made a sworn statement for his mother Rebecca Burt. He stated his father Benjamin Burt Sr died without a will, left a wife and 7 children all under age, except the witness Benjamin Jr who was 21. They are all in this province. His father possessed 59 or 60 acres of land in Ridgefield Conn. He also owned 1/4 share of a grist mill. Rebecca received land grant 103 dated 30 Jan 1787 for lot no. 25 on the River St John, parish of Burton, Sunbury county. Her son Benjamin Jr received grant 49 dated 3 Jun 1786 for one half of lot 24 Maquapit Lake, Sunbury county, 100 acres.

The following spring freshet caused unusual flooding and several families went 30 miles up river and settled in the Keswick area.

GEDCOM Note

He was a Loyalist from Connecticut.

GEDCOM Note

GEDCOM Source

Personal Brewer, Paul Brewer, Paul Paul Brewer Y

GEDCOM Source

5 Aug 1999 email 2

GEDCOM Source

Personal Brewer, Paul Brewer, Paul Paul Brewer Y

GEDCOM Source

5 Aug 1999 email 2