Nathan Burlingame, Revolutionary Soldier

Mrs. Jennings Writes of Nathan Burlingame

Afton Enterprise, June 6, 1957

 

One of the early settlers of these parts, which was then known as Jericho, was Nathan Burlingame and wife of Bartlett, coming here from Glouster, Providence Co., Rhode Island in 1799 or 1800, locating on what is known as the former George Johnson farm on Algerine Street.  Here he ran a large sawmill on the creek, which in later years was only a small creek supplying a water trough on the road.  After his second son Richard married Sally Landers, Nathan sold his place to Richard and bought on the East side of the river. This he bought of Richard Church in 1810, being a portion of the farm now occupied by Gordon Wood.  Here he and his step-son had a water wheel. The water was brought down in deep troughs erected on stilts, and was supplied by springs in the valley which is now covered with timber, back of the Raymond Cornell place at the foot of Melondy Hill.  It was only a few years ago that the old water wheel, which was put together with old wooden pegs, was destroyed by a boy who wanted something to do.  Here Nathan built a house which was just below where the Wood home now stands, and in later years a portion of that old house was moved onto a new house which was built by his grandson and namesake Nathan Burlingame and wife, Hattie Hunt.

 

Selling this out he next moved to North Sanford where he had another sawmill.  A portion of the old mill dam can be seen just above the creek bridge as one enters North Sanford.  Leaving his place and mill to a grandson Lewis Burlingame, he bought a farm in Colesville Township, purchased of Alvin Briggs. This was located on what was known as Randolph mountain, back of Windsor.  Here he ran a grist mill.  A few years ago one of the old mill stones was lying along the creek near the Lester church.

 

While living in Rhode Island, he served in the Revolutionary War.  After moving to Randolph Mountain he secured a pension which always came to South Bainbridge (now Afton).  He would walk the 18 miles, get his pension cashed and walk two miles farther to a grandson's Rufus Burlingame, who lived on a portion of his first settlement on Algerine street, where he would spend the night.  I have often heard Rufus Burlingame's widow tell of his coming through the gateway onto the lawn, where he would stop, jump into the air and click his heels together twice before his feet touched the ground.

 

He spent his last years on Randolph Mountain.  His last trip he made for his check he had just passed his 95th year.  Wearing a new pair of boots which made a blister on his heel, causing his death at 95 years and four months.  On his tombstone which stands in Mountain View Cemetery, near Lester, N.Y., are the words:  "A Valiant Soldier of the Revolution."

 

Three of his grandsons, Charles, Rufus and Nathan [Burlingame] lived and died in the vicinity of Afton.  There are a few keepsakes of his which are greatly prized:  a wooden salt dish which he had whittled out with his jackknife, a snuff box which he carried in the Revolutionary War.  These are greatly cherished by a great-great grandson, Melvin Burlingame of Minneapolis, Minn.  The old Army Musket which he carried in his Revolutionary War, is in the possession of a great-great granddaughter Nellie Burlingame of Algona, Iowa.

 

Down through the years living in and around Afton his descendants have been strong, sturdy hardworking people.  One great-great granddaughter Mrs. Celia Liggett still lives in the town.