A Study of the Early Burleson History
By John Hoyle Burleson
The search for your Family Tree is a never-ending task. The Burleson Family Tree is no exception. Hundreds of confident researchers have preceded us, and hopefully, there will be hundreds more in the future. Each researcher’s goal should be to record as much of our history as we can document. Together we could present a more accurate picture of who we are.
In my search, I have found that the family of Edward Burlison and his wife Sarah was the first documented Burleson Family with documented descendants that can be found in America. This family was first recorded in Suffield, Massachusetts Bay Colony as Puritans, and as landowners in 1678. Edward and wife Sarah were in Suffield before 1678 because their first child John was documented to have been born in Suffield in 1677.
The name Burlison/Burleson had appeared in America before Edward’s name in 1678. In 1635 two Burleson men arrived in New England, John aboard the ship “Blessing” and Jo aboard the “Defense.” No further record for John and Jo has been found, but they did arrive in New England from England. Since neither John or Jo was listed as having their own families, I assume they were young men. Forty-three years later, Edward is recorded as an adult married man in Suffield. I would expect Edward to be about 21 years old in 1678. John or Jo Burleson could have been the correct age to have been the father of Edward, but we have no record to indicate that it is so, I cannot document a father for Edward.