Maureen and anyone else interested in this Bird family - I found on microfilm in Berks Co. Hist. Soc, but I failed to write the name of this local Berks Co. , PA newspaper, though it was an article from the county paper of the time-- June 12, 1941. UNION TOWNSHIP HAD A SETTLER BY NAME OF BIRD William Bird, ironmaster, is well known to all historians of Berks Co., but the name of Burgoon Bird, a contemporary resident of Union Township, is practically unknown. Burgoon Bird was born April 30, 1707, in New Jersey, a son of Andrew and Mary Bird. (Records of Reformed Church, Raritan, Somerville, NJ.) On November 29, 1737, Burgoon Bird had a warrant for 50 acres in Philadelphia Co.; January 9, 1752, a warrant for 300 acres in Phila. Co. And February 4, 1755, a warrant for 50 acres in Lancaster Co. A deed recorded in Book A1, pg.330, under date Sept. 14, 1754, recites, "Burgoon Bird of the New Indian Purchase in Berks Co, to Peter Conrath of Heidelberg Township, Lancaster Co. - improvement on the mouth of Mahanin Creek, south by River Schuykill; west by land surveyed for George Boone; north by James Boone's land; northeast by Francis Parvin's land; east by hill of vacant land 300 acres - surveyed, by warrant to Burgoon Bird." Rec'd March 16, 1759. Burgoon Bird married a daughter of Israel Robeson of Robeson Township Berks Co., as is proven by the will of Israel Robeson made March 1, 1769. "I Give and Bequeath unto the Children of my Eldest Daughter, Mary Bird, Deceased, Wife to Burgoon Bird, the Sum of One Hundred & Fifty Pounds lawful money to be equally divided amongst them by my Executors one year after my Decease or as soon as may be." Two children of Burgoon Bird and his wife Mary were baptized in St. Gabriel's Church, Douglassville, one in 1735 and the other in 1737. Burgoon Bird disappears from Berks Co and nothing more known of him, until we find in Deed Book 14, pg 430, the following: "Israel Bird, County of Scriven, Georgia, Executor of the will of Sylvanus Bird, deceased.- Diana Bullock, late Diana Bird, widow. Abraham Bird, Co. Of Effingham, Georgia. Shared McCall, Bryan Co., Georgia, and wife Margaret, only daughter and heir at law of Andrew Bird, deceased. Reuben Saffold County of Wilkes, Georgia, and Sarah Saffold (Formerly Sarah Bird) wife of Reuben Saffold. William Harn, Bryan Co., Georgia, late husband of Margaret Bird, deceased. The said Israel Bird, Sylvanus Bird, Andrew Bird, Abraham Bird, Sarah Bird and Margaret Bird, granddaughter (some missing here) The is no documentary evidence, but it seems that WilliamBird and Burgoon Bird may have been brothers, which may account for William, Bird, son of William Bird emigrating to Georgia. William Bird, son of Wm. Bird, called his home in Georgia,"The Aviary", and our Berks Co. "Aviary" contains many Birds. - Mary Own Steinmetz 6-12-1941 >I'm researching the BIRD family in Georgia, originally from NJ and PA. > >I'm especially interested in information on Israel Robeson BIRD 1738-1802. > >Maureen in CA > >