John Bourn, Sr.

John Bourn. Sergeant, Capt. William White's co., Col. Enoch Putnam's regt.; appointed Sept. 4 , 1781; discharged Dec. 8, 1781; service, 3 mos.14 days, at West Point; enlistment, 3 months ; company detached to reinforce Continental Army.

In 1779 John Bourn settled in Bollocks Grant.

Source: Page 458 Military Certificate #1 1806-3228 67 0231 # 2163 Council chamber 29th Dec 1783

I do certify that John bourn is entitled to the proportion of land allowed a Sergent of the Continental line who has served three years. Thomas Meriweather, Benjamin Harrison. A warrant for 200 acres I saved to John Bourn Dec 1783.

John Bourn Land Holdings Savoy, Massachusetts 20 Jan 1790 Lot 156,131,6

Savoy tax records recording the number of acres, barns, houses, polls animals on the farms, begin in 1808. In 1808, John Bourn had one house, no barn, and owned 86 acres. The property remained pretty much the same until 1813, when a barn was added to the taxable real estate. John Bourn died in 1820, owning 116 acres. John Jr. was administrator of his father’s estate in 1821. Town maps of 1854, 1876, and 1904, show much of the property owned by the bourn family was in the vicinity of lot 156 and the Brier. .. Jane Phinney

Re: Richard Bourne

Lot 156 is located south of Hosford Rd, East of Bannis Road, West of Chapel Road and North of the Loop Road. Located at the intersection of Hosford Road and Bannis Road is the Bourn #3 School that Caleb Bourn was a teacher and John Bourn Sr. was on the school committee. South of the Bourn #3 is the Babbit Cemetery established 1815. Many of the Bourns are buried there to include John Sr. Some believe the school Bourn #3 was the original John Bourn Home Stead. It was the practice in the early days that people would use their homes for school. ..

John Bourn Sr. died 30 Oct 1820. It seems evident that John Bourn Sr. knew he was dying and wanted to distribute his property before his death.

Lot 156 property was give to Caleb and Cyrus Bourn. This is evident from a record of deed recorded in Adams book 24 page 126 where Caleb and Cyrus Bourn recorded the land on November 16 1818.

John Bourn Jr. acquired Lot 64 March 5 1811 recorded Adams book 11 page 483.

Benjamin Bourn land March 20 1817 Lot ?? Adams book 22 page 178

It also shows that 10 January 1825 that Ruben and John Bourn Jr. released their interest in Lot 156 to Caleb and Cyrus Adams book 30 pages 87 and 88.

In 24 Feb 1835 Cryus, John and Joseph recorded in Adams lot 61 book 40 page 359 released by Stephen Gaff.

Re; Jane Phinney

On the east side of the Bullocks Grant, Savoy, were located the lands of William Ingraham, and a number of very large and prosperous farms. John Bourne settled in this area and raised a large family of six boys and one girl. His son, John Jr., was the first white male child born in the settlement, (1783)

On 20 Feb 1797 Bullocks Grant was given permission by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to become a town. The name Savoy was picked after a a place called the same in the Sadinian States near the Alps of Europe. This area was in the news at the time because of actions of Napoleon Bonapart.

John Bourn was appointed Surveyor of Lumber and Boards and also helped with Highways at the first Town meeting at the Williams Tavern on Monday, April 3rd 1797 at ten o'clock in the morning.

Source: Taking the High Road By Jane Benedict Phinney

Established with some his friends the first settlement in Savoy immediately after being mustered out the Revolutionary Army in 1781. John settled on the east side of town. A number of years ago, his stone was removed. There is no stone where his grave is, only an S.A.R.

Source: William Alger Bourne

John's son, John, was the first white child born in Savoy. His gun and knapsack may be seen in the Historical Library in Holyoke. (I could not establisch this to be true)

Source: Emails from People in Savoy, Ma

Richard

I really do believe the cellar hole across from my brothers house at 60 Haskins Road is the very first house that John Bourne senior built when he came to town and also had the very first male child at that location. This would be the southern part of town. Not the southeastern part! I have spoken to Jane Phinney and she says she believes it is true. Neither one of has researched the deed completely at that location. But on an old Berkshire Co. Map hanging on a wall in Pittsfield dated 1857. It says J. Bourne at the location across from 60 Haskins Road. There is no other cellar holes around. Yr. 2002 ..... John Haskins

There is one item though, it is believed that John Bourne, Jr. was born (1783) in a little house that still stands on Main Road here in town. For years this information was accepted as true . I know the people who once lived in that house have all sorts of information pertaining to that event. When I was doing the research for the book, I must admit I felt that this information was wrong. I put the Bournes farther west and north of that property and still maintain that John Bourne was probably born in the second mentioned area. My reasons are quite simple. Records show that he was born in Bullock's Grant. That particular house and property was (in 1783 ) located in another Grant. Also the Bournes owned the property, according to records, that locates them on the more westerly - northerly property which is still on the east side of Bullock's Grant. Also, John Bourne (Sr.) was buried in the Babbitt cemetery which would be in the location I am referencing. ....... However, there are written accounts by the Remingtons / Demmings that mention John Jr.'s birth. (They are the people who once owned the Main Road property). I do not know the title of this book, but I am sure you can get a hold of this information somewhere. The Remington's were a prominent New England family with lots of history. I am sure the Pittsfield Atheneaum would have something on them or the Cummington, Massachusetts Historical Society. The second item I want to mention is the property across from the Brier Chapel. John Bourne, Jr. did live and own this house, but historically, he only lived there a short while he was building his own residence across the road. The house he built is no longer there. His son, John Welcome Bourne, built the house that is still standing. I was confused about this house when doing my research, as it did not seem old enough to be the original house. The current occupants, the Clarks, told me there had been a much older house behind the one now standing that they remember as children. It is no longer there. The little brown house opposite the Brier Chapel is in very bad condition and I fear it will fall soon. The owners have both died in the past few years and the property is now owned by their son who lives in New York state and only comes up to Savoy now and then. I do not know what will happen to the house. I do know that Winn Fischer (original owner, now dead) told me that she tried to get a grant to save the structure, but it was considered too altered and in poor condition to be considered for a grant. If you would like the addresses of the family who have information on the Remington / Deming family and James Fischer, the current owner of the 'brown house', let me know and I will get them for you. Hope I have been of some help. Jane Phinney, Historical Society, Savoy, Ma Yr. 2002 ... Jane phinney

In Conclusion:

Lot 156 has to be the John Bourn Sr. farm / homestead

John Bourn left it to Caleb Bourn, His son and Caleb Bourn left to Caleb Franklin Bourn his son. If you look at the Savoy map 1876 you see an F.C. Bourn on the map at this location. Franklin Caleb and Caleb Franklin Bourn are one in the same person. It is also the correct location for Lot 156. There are now two farms at this location. The Brier, School #3, and Babbit Cemetery are all within 1 mile radius. Tilton Road use to go to Bannis Road

Jane Phinney wrote and I agree … July 2008:

The belief that the cellar hole that both Allan Haskins and I believed to be that of John, Sr's original house which was located opposite No. 60 Haskins Road, was later changed. I do believe, as you now do, that Bourne's original homestead was located on or near Bannis Road, near or at the end of Tilton Road, which used to connect to Bannis. This is indeed Lot 156, or certainly seems to be and C.F.Bourn is recorded many times on maps as owning that property. There may be a cellar hole there to this day, I cannot say, and it is much too difficult a walk for me now to go up there. My neighbors ride their horses in that area and I was told there is a cellar hole in the vicinity of the bridle path.

Return mail Richard Bourne to Jane Phinney … July 2008:

I, as you, do believe the Bourn Family were building a future and loving the town of Savoy. I feel strongly that the records reflect the lot 156 was the center of activity for many years while John Bourn's children were growing up. I think there was a strong competition and brotherhood between Seth's family and John's family. It seemed reasonable to me that both farms would be places to admire. I have gone online and looked at the area with virtual earth and you can see Seth's and John's property very clearly. I do not know

if you are aware of this but the property north of Tilton road is very big. There is a large pond in the middle and north east above the pond is a structure that could be a barn, stables, and old farm. You can also see the impressions of the old and new roads that go through the area. This building location has dirt roads leading in all direction. It is within one half mile of Hosford, Bannis, and Chapel Roads. This location is less than three quarter miles from the Brier. Lemuel Bourn, Seth's son was married in Savoy and it has not been determined where. It may be it was on one of these farms or at the Church. If I had all these family and friends at 21 years of age I would have one great party. I can see them all dancing and having a great time.

More About John Bourn:

Baptism: 08 Jul 1750, Second Parish (Congregational) Church of Attleborough.

Burial: Unknown, Babbit Cemetary, Savoy, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts.

Military service 1: Bet. 04 Sep - 08 Dec 1781, West Point.

Military service 2: 1781, Son of American Revolution.