The Burtons

The Burtons are my line, and so I usually start with them. The first hard evidence I find is the 1850 census for Cannon County Tennessee where is listed

1. Thomas J. Burton   22   M   W    farmer      b. Tenn.
2. Sarah                     24   F   keeping house    b. Tenn.
3. Samuel M.              3    M                          b. Tenn.
4. Elijah M.                 1   M                           b. Tenn.

According to family Bible records, Great-grandpa was born in DeKalb County Tennessee and in the 1850 census for DeKalb County there is listed a Samuel M. Burton 52 b. in Delaware. Since there was at one time a custom of naming the first born son after his grandfather, I have an idea this is Thomas' father. I have learned that Samuel M.'s family moved to Texas by way of Missouri and settled in and around Eastland and Callahan Counties close to where these counties and Coleman County join. More about this in future.

I have learned that Thomas was a Baptist preacher, that he was married four times, and that he died in Jefferson County Illinois. I have also learned that he was in Coleman County in 1900 staying with Elijah's oldest daughter. I have also learned that several of the girls married brothers. I will have to make pages for the ones I have information on.

02/23/2003