The Burleigh family of Linneus

(including Edwin C. Burleigh, Governor of the State of Maine from 1889 to 1893)

"Captain Moses Burleigh of Palermo [Waldo Co., Maine], who settled here [in Linneus] in 1830, was a captain in the militia of Maine in the War of 1812. He was stationed at Belfast with his company when the British ascended the Penobscot River to capture the U.S. Corvette 'Adams' then underoing repairs at Hampden. Here at Linneus, he was appointed assistant land agent and took an active part in expelling trespassers from this vicinity. Many members of this family have held very important positions in the state and county." Chadbourne, p.137

"Col. Moses Burleigh ... emigrated early in life to Palmyra, Me. [sic. Should read Palermo], where his neighbors inspired with confidence in his ability and integrity, repeatedly elected him to fill important offices in the town. He was chosen captain of the militia, and called into service in the war of 1812, marched with his company into Belfast at the time the British entered the Penobscot river to destroy the U.S. frigate Adams. He represented the town and the district in the legislatures of Massachusetts and Maine, and by appointment and election filled other offices of trust. Was a delegate to attend the convention held on the last Monday of September 1816, at the meeting house near the college in Brunswick in the District of Maine, to form a state constitution in anticipation of a separation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; was commissioned captain of the 4th regt., 2d Brigade, 11th Div., in 1814, and promoted lieutenant colonel in 1816. He carried the first mail by carriage from Augusta to Bangor, it having previously been carried on horseback.

"He removed to Linneus in the year 1830, and was appointed by the Marshal to take the census in the northern section of the county of Washington; while in that service the provincial warden, alleging that he was in disputed territory in violation of provincial law, pursued with authority to arrest him; he eluded all pursuit and accomplished his work. In 1831 he was appointed assistant land agent to guard that section of the public lands, and in that capacity succeeded in breaking up various parties of trespassers, compelling them to return to the British Provinces. For several years he held the office of postmaster at Linneus, and was a man of activity, energy, and probity of character; his hospitality was particularly marked, the hungry were fed and the weary found rest beneath his roof..." Source: Burleigh Genealogies, 1880; p64-65.


Moses Burleigh, Jr. was living in Hodgdon in 1850. His wife was Caroline Elizabeth (Frost) "of Lubec, Maine." Their children were Charles Elbridge, b. 29 March 1844 at Linneus; Aaron Alpheus, b. 25 Nov 1846 at Hodgdon; Ambrose Burnham b. 23 July 1851, d. 6 Aug. 1862. Source: Burleigh Genealogies, p.119


Parker P. Burleigh, son of Moses Burleigh, Sr., seems to have been named for Moses' step-father, Col. Parker Prescott. The Burleigh Genealogies has a big write up on Parker P. Burleigh; he is referred to as "Hon." and notes that he
"was one of the pioneers of Aroostook... town clerk, treasurer, collector of taxes...[much more]... by profession he is a land surveyor." Source: Burleigh Genealogies, p.118

Albert A. Burleigh, the grandson of Moses Burleigh (son of his son Parker), served in the Maine State Senate (Biographical Sketches of the Members of the Senate and House... of Maine 1901-1927); during the US Civil War he was wounded by a minie ball through the thigh, another injury to his shoulder, was later taken POW and held at Petersburg and Libby Prison Annex, Richmond, VA, while serving with the 1st Maine Cavalry, [injury date] 25 June 1864 at Stranton River Bridge, VA; his death info (8 April 1918? at Houlton, ME) can be found at Cary Lirary, Houlton, ME, on-line genealogy material. This death info is noted as from "Buzzell's Funeral Home Records"

Edwin Chick Burleigh, Moses Burleigh's grandson and Albert's brother, became governor of the state of Maine in 1888. Burleigh, Edwin Chick (1843-1916) Born in Linneus, Aroostook County, Maine, November 27, 1843. Republican.
Maine state treasurer, 1884; Governor of Maine, 1889-93; U.S. Representative from Maine 3rd District, 1897-1911;
U.S. Senator from Maine, 1913-16; died in office 1916. Source: http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/burket-burnet.html

"Edwin Chick BURLEIGH, a Representative and a Senator from Maine; [...] attended the common schools and was graduated from the Houlton (Maine) Academy; taught school; clerk in the adjutant general’s office; surveyor and farmer; clerk in the State land office at Bangor 1870-1876; moved to Augusta in 1876; State land agent 1876-1878; assistant clerk in the State house of representatives in 1878; clerk in the office of the State treasurer 1880-1884; State treasurer 1884-1888; became principal owner of the Kennebec Journal in 1887; Governor of Maine 1889-1892; elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fifth Congress in 1897 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Seth L. Milliken; reelected to the Fifty-sixth and to the five succeeding Congresses and served from June 21, 1897, to March 3, 1911; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1910; resumed newspaper publishing in Augusta, Maine, and the management of timberlands; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1913, until his death in Augusta, Maine, June 16, 1916; interment in Forest Grove Cemetery." Source: http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B001105

Here's a link to more information and a photograph of Edwin Chick Burleigh: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/special/maine/roster/page4.htm

More information about Edwin Burleigh can be found at the Maine State Law & Legislative reference library internet page at
http://www.state.me.us/legis/lawlib/homepage.htm

It is likely that Edwin C. Burleigh's wife, Mary Jane Bither, is listed as "Vice President Mrs. Edwin Burleigh" under "Board of Lady Managers Officers" for the "World's Columbian Commission, (WCC)" (1st meeting 26 June 1890... ") Source: http://users.vnet.net/schulman/Columbian/boards.html


Much of the information here on the Burleighs is from . Thanks April!



Last revised 22 Jan 2002