Ulaliah March (52 Ancestors)

Descendant line: Ulaliah March>Mary Burt>Benjamin Brooks>William Brooks>Lemuel Brooks>Aurel Brooks>Almira Allen>Emma Elizabeth Sanderson>Elmira Lyons>Lillian Emma Ransom>Charles Lloyd Walters

Ulaliah March (also spelled Eulalia or Ulilah Marche) was in all likelihood born in England, probably shortly after 1600 as she was married on December 28, 1619 to Henry Burt. The couple was married in Dean Prior, Devon, England. Henry, and it is assumed the whole of his family, arrived in the colonies sometimes around 1639. Ulaliah gave birth to 9 children in England (7 living in 1639) and four more in Massachusetts. The family was living in Roxbury, Mass in 1639 and then in Springfield by 1640. Her husband was apparently a respected member of the community, serving on juries and selected as clerk.

Henry died on April 30, 1662. As he died without a will, it was ruled that his estate would fall to his wife to divide. Henry died with a good amount of debt to Mr. Pynchon and his store. He owed £45 at the time of his death and seven months later the debt was around £41. On April 20, 1663, Ulaliah settled £32 of her debt by deeding her homestead to Pynchon. She was then able to rent an acre of land from Pynchon and agreed to pay two bushels of wheat. Come November of 1663 she still owed Pynchon £13 0s 8d which she was able to pay with wheat and pork and in February 1664 she paid the wheat she owed for rent.

According to family tradition, while living in England, Ulaliah was thought to have died. It wasn't until after she was placed in her coffin that it was realized that she was still alive! Ulaliah’s actual death date was August 19, 1690.

I love when I am able to find the will of someone. Wills can give a glimpse into spiritual beliefs, family circumstances and an overall look into the way of life. The book, Life and Times of Henry Burt of Springfield, contained a copy of Ulaliah’s will.

“I Ulaliah Burt, of Springfeild, being weake in body, but sound in mind, memory and understanding, do make this, my Last wil and Testament, this 27th of May Anno Dom 1684. I comend my soul to God who made it, and to Jesus Christ, who redeemed it with his most precious blood. And my body I commit to the earth hoping for that blessed resurrection when it shall be reunited to be forever with the Lord.”

Ulaliah divided her “earthly estate” among her children. To daughter Sarah she gave two cattle. Abigail received a cloak, green apron, coat and a shift. Mary was given a heifer and Elizabeth two cattle. Patience received a flock bed, a pillowbeer (or pillow case), a pair of sheets and coverlet. She was also given red stockings, a shift, white neck cloth and apron, a hat, coif, and coat. Daughter Mercy was to receive a pair of sheets, pillowbeer, a shift and coat as well as some woolen fabric that Mercy’s husband had sent to Ulaliah for a waistcoat. There was also a piece of cloth at the weavers that Abigail was to have two yards of and the rest of the fabric was to be split between Patience and Mercy. The will gives us an idea of how much value was placed on each item.

To her son Jonathan, Ulaliah gave a portion of land that her husband had purchased from George Lancton and her best brass kettle was to be given to his son Henry. Jonathan was also to have a pillow and pillowbeer. Her son David was to be given the oldest yoke of cattle and a brass pan. Nathaniel was to inherit her great brass kettle and four acres of land which was to be passed on to his eldest son upon Nathaniel’s death if he saw fit. Nathaniel's daughter Rebecca was to receive Ulaliah’s scarf, Cambric neck cloth, pillow and "yarn and wool and tow to make a coverlet.”

Ulaliah concludes her will by saying "And the rest of my smal estate not heer named I doe order to be given as there is most need, or my Executors hereafter named see cause." Her sons Jonathan and Nathaniel were appointed executors.

Sources: “Genealogical Research in England, Burt-March” from NEGHS Register 1932, Life and Times of Henry Burt of Springfield, Genealogical Records of Henry and Ulalia Burt and Massachusetts Vital Records.