from The Biographical History of La Crosse, Trempealeau, and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin, published 1892, page 770:

Delbert Clarence Burns, of Trempealeau county, is a son of William Thomas Burns, who was born in Ticonderoga, Essex County, New York, July 20, 1824. He was the son of John and Laura Burns.

December 13, 1847, W. T. Burns was united in marriage to Louisa Jane Bugbee, a daughter of William Bugbee, and in 1854, they came to Wisconsin, first to Portage, thence to Trempealeau Township, settling on section 1. This farm was entirely new, but he improved the place and made of it a pleasant home and there he resided until his death, August 20, 1884.

He was a well-known and esteemed citizen, and took an active interest in promoting the growth and prosperity of the community in which he lived. He was a member of the Town Board of Trempealeau, and took an active part in the religious and educational progress of the town. He was especially active in church matters, and was one of five who built the Methodist Church at Centreville, he having been a member of that denomination for twenty years. Politically he was identified with the Republican party. He met his death in a sudden and peculiar way, having died from the sting of a bee.

His only child, Delbert C., was born at the homestead in Trempealeau county, March 8, 1857, which he now owns and occupies.

He married Lunetta C. French, a daughter of Henry French, of Galesville, and a well-known pioneer of Trempealeau County. Mr. and Mrs. Burns have two children: Florence Mabel and Lulah Camele.

1. Delbert Clarence BURNS b. 8 Mar 1857, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin; d. 1908, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin; bur. 1908, Wisconsin.

1. 1. William Thomas BURNS b. 20 Jun 1824, Ticonderoga, Essex County, New York; d. 20 Aug 1884, Trempealeau, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin; bur. Aug 1884, Wisconsin.
2. Polly Eliza BURNS b. 28 Sep 1835, Ticonderoga, Essex County, New York; d. 5 Aug 1912, Ticonderoga, Essex County, New York; bur. 1912, New York.

Michael's enlistment in the Revolutionary War came this way; Every man in that part of the country volunteered and/or was bound to furnish a seasoned man for service. Nathan Spicer furnished his 16 year old son Michael; Nathan also served.

In a letter to Edward R. Wells dated March 1840, *Tobias Spicer said of his brother Michael, "As to our family connexions [sic]...Michael still lives in Ticonderoga--- is poor and careless still." This seems a rather harsh description of Michael who was known to be a hard working and respected family man.

*Note; Tobias had little good to say about any of his siblings as he felt all but sister Hannah were going to hell because they were not Methodists.

1. Talmon SPICER b. 28 Feb 1794, Granville, Washington County, New York.
2. 3. Laura SPICER b. 23 Apr 1796, Granville, Washington County, New York; d. Aft 1865, New York.
3. Daniel SPICER b. Abt 1797, Ticonderoga, Essex County, New York.
4. Lucinda SPICER b. 1799, Ticonderoga, Essex County, New York.
5. Amanda SPICER b. 12 Feb 1803, Shaftsbury, Bennigton, Vermount.
6. Michael SPICER b. Apr 1808, New york; d. Feb 1820.
7. Hial SPICER b. 1809; d. 1880; bur. 1880.
8. Sarah SPICER b. 1811, Ticonderoga, Essex County, New York.

Nathan and his second wife Abigail are buried at Fort Ann, Washington County, New York in a small cemetery at the crossroad between Hadlock and Buttermilk Falls Road. The graves were first apparently marked with two field stones, and later headstones.

Inscription on the headstone of Nathan Spicer:
"In memory of Mr. Nathan Spicer,
who departed this life July 27, A.D. 1811,
aged 76 years

Com living men, as you pass by
As you ar now so once was I
As I am now so you must bee
Prepare for death
and follow me

Useful in life
Resigned in death
And at Gods call
Give up my breath"

Nathan as well as many of his descendants was a blacksmith. His craft was highly respected and versitile. Nathan was skilled at his craft. Blacksmithing fell into 3 specialtie groups as described in Jean Grubes book entailed preforming a wide variety of work, "[group 1]...all sorts of iron or boat work, chaise and chair work, cleaning and mending guns, pistols, locks and keys, cleans and mends jacks, shoes horses, and makes all kinds of kitchen furniture, ...hinges for houses, etc...cranes, tongs, trivets, spits, pans, drippers, skimmers, etc...repairs all kinds of things, and made Betty lamps and other lighting fixtures. Tools ususally included the hearth with bellows, water trough, shovels, tongs, rakes, pokers, and water containers for dampening down the fire and cooking objects...[group 2] anvil, sledges, tongs, swages, cutters, chisels, and hammers...[group 3]shoeing box which contains knives, rasps and files for preparing the horses hooves for shoes, an iron stand for supporting the horses foot while working on it and a special hammer and nails to fasten the shoe to the hoof."

Blacksmiths also made wagon wheels, axes, sleigh runners, bits for horses, iron fittings for houses and schooners, chains, ploughs, any item forged from metals.

One can assume that Nathan and his sons may have put their skills to work for the Revolution.


From: autoreply@dar.org | Block Address | Add to Address Book

Subject: DAR Patriot Lookup: Reference Code RYAFBAK

To: jmilan3@yahoo.com

Content-Length: 902
Dear Julie A. Milan,
A search of our Patriot Index provided the information found below.

SPICER Sr, Nathan
Birth: CT 10 Sep 1735
Service: NY
Rank: PS
Death: NY 27 Jul 1811
Patriot Pensioned: No Widow Pensioned: No
Children Pensioned: No Heirs Pensioned: No
Spouse: Abigail Mayhew
Spouse: Leah X

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please post a follow-up request with your address and phone number.


If you need to respond to this message, please click the 'Send a
Follow-up Message' link on the right-hand column of the DAR Patriot Lookup
Page and enter your reference code (RYAFBAK) or by clicking
http://www.dar.org/cgi-bin/natsociety/pi_lookup.cfm?RT=SC&ID=RYAFBAK.

Thank you for your interest in the DAR Patriot Lookup Service.

Sincerely,
Danna
Patriot Lookup Volunteer


New Stores (later called Nassau), Rensselaer County, New York; On June 3, 1798 New Stores became Union Village and contained 30 homes. In 1806 the township of Nassau was formed and by 1808 the name of Union Village became Nassau Village.

1. 6. Michael SPICER b. 1766, Great Nine Partners, Dutchess County, New York; d. 12 Apr 1842, Ticonderoga, Essex County, New York; bur. Apr 1845, Essex County, New York.
2. Leah SPICER b. 1769, Hudson Hill, Dutchess County, New York; d. Feb 1856, Cornith, Saratoga County, New York; bur. 1856, New York.
3. Benjamin SPICER b. 1770, Dutchess County, New York.
4. Isaac SPICER b. 1772, Dutchess County, New York; d. Apr 1839, Tonawanda [Tonewante], Niagra County, New York; bur. 1839, New York.
5. Rachel SPICER b. 19 Jul 1775, Dutchess County, New York; d. 10 Nov 1860, Hannibal [now Oswego], Oswego County, New York; bur. 1860, Hannibal [now Oswego], Oswego County, New York.
6. Daniel SPICER b. 1776, Dutchess County, New York; d. 1829, Brutus, Cayuga County, New York; bur. Cayuga County, New York.
7. Jacob SPICER b. 26 Sep 1782, Kinderhook, Columbia County, New York; d. 10 Mar 1864, West Fort Ann, Washington County, New York; bur. 1864, West Fort Ann, Washington County, New York.
8. Hannah SPICER b. 24 Mar 1785, Kinderhook, Columbia County, New York; d. 28 May 1862, Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio; bur. 1862, Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio.
9. Tobias SPICER b. 7 Nov 1788, Kinderhook, Columbia County, New York; d. 12 Nov 1862, Troy, New York; bur. 1862, Troy, New York.