Bennington

BURR, Joseph

Vermont Historical Magazine, No XI, October 1867, pp 206-207

Joseph BURR was born 11 August 1779 in Hempstead, Long Island [Queens County, 
New York], came to Manchester [Bennington County, Vermont] at an early age, 
and began trade while in his minority. His capital at first was scanty, but 
he was exceedingly prosperous in business, amassing the most ample fortune 
ever accumulated in the town. In addition to his mercantile business he kept 
a broker's office which yielded large profits. He was noted for his accurate 
business habits; his fortune was the result of prudent management and 
economy, rather than lucky speculation. He twice represented the town 
[Manchester] in the Legislature, and was chosen a member of the 
Constitutional Convention in 1822; but differing from the instructions of the 
town in regard to the proposed alterations of the Constitution, he declined to 
serve.

He gave, by will, as follows: American Board for Foreign Missions, $47,000; 
American Home Missionary Society, $10,000; American Tract Society, $10,000; 
American Colonization Society, $7,000; American Bible Society, $15,000; 
Vermont Domestic Missionary Society, $5,000; Manchester Congregational 
Society, $5,000; Manchester Literary (Burr) Seminary, $10,000; Middlebury 
College, $12,000; Williams College, $1,000; Dartmouth College, $1,000; N. W. 
Branch American Educational Society, $3,000; [a total of] $96,000. The 
validity of about half ($47,000) of these bequests was contested by the 
residuary legatees; the Supreme Court sustained the will in full, and the 
bequests were appropriated as above. Mr. BURR was never married. He [Joseph 
BURR] died 14 April 1828, in his fifty-sixth year; and his remains were 
interred in the Cemetery at Manchester [Bennington County, Vermont], where 
his relatives have recently erected a monument to his memory.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly