Stephen M. BURT

     Stephen M. BURT was born circa 1802 in Halifax County, North Carolina, son of John BURT and Hannah _____.
     Stephen M. BURT witnessed the probate of the estate of John BURT on 11 October 1827 in Autauga County, Alabama. His estate included 39 head of cattle, one yoke of oxen, 41 hogs, lots of tobacco and corn, plantation tools, chest of tools, saddle, grindstone, mule, horse, three spinning wheels, kitchen furniture, five beds and furniture, two trunks, seven chairs, shotgun, walnut table, one lot of books, crockery ware, Negro man Jim, Negro woman Dickey, and three Negro boys (Sam, Tom, and Harris). The administrator was Stephen M. Burt. Buyers included Zacheus Burt, S. M. Burt, and Wm. Burt. In January 1829 additional items were added, including one small looking glass, two razors sold to Z. Burt and two Negroes hired for one year. On 10 January 1830 one Negro girl (Eady) was sold to Z. Burt for $450 and one cotton gin was sold to S. M. Burt.¹
     Stephen married Ann H. (?) circa 1830 in Alabama.²
     Stephen M. BURT appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Capt Davis' District, Autauga County, Alabama, Free White Males - 15 thru 19: 1 [brother?], Free White Males - 20 thru 29: 1 [Stephen], Free White Females - 15 thru 19: 1 [Ann H.], Free White Females - 50 thru 59: 1 [Hannah?], and 3 slaves.
     An 1885 narrative of Mrs. Martha Mathews, daughter of John and Nancy Burt Coleman, given to Dr. Samuel P. Smith in Autauga County suggests and early migration of Stephen to Mississippi. "In January 1822 Mr. Joseph Burt moved into [Autauga] county... together with two sons-in-law, John Coleman and Henry Hunt, and a young man by the name of Green Parker. The later remained in the county only a year or two when he moved to Mississipp with Stephen Burt, a son of John Burt."³
     Stephen M. BURT and Ann H. BURT sold a tract of land to Lewis Watson on 25 March 1831 in Autauga County. For $300 they sold him the west half of the northwest quarter of section 19, township 19, range 13. This would be in the Billingsley area. It was signed by Stephen M. and Ann H. Burt, and witnessed by William Kirk and John Hunt, justices of the peace.⁴
     Stephen M. BURT purchased a government land patent 20 March 1837 in Sumter County, Alabama. The east 1/2 of the southwest 1/4 and the west half of the southeast quarter of Township: 18-N, Range: 1-E, Section: 31. He was living in Perry county at the time.
     Stephen M. BURT purchased a government land patent 30 March 1837 in Sumter County, Alabama. The southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Township: 18-N, Range: 1-E, Section: 31. He was show as living in Sumter county.
     Stephen M. BURT appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Sumter County, Alabama, Free White Males - 30 thru 39: 1 [Stephen]; Free White Females - Under 5: 1 [Mary]; Free White Females - 5 thru 9: 2 [Martha, Ann]; Free White Females - 20 thru 29: 1 [Ann H.]; and 5 slaves.
     In 1847 Stephen M. BURT moved from Alabama to Oktibbeha County, Mississippi.
     Stephen M. BURT and Ann H. (?) appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 4 October 1850 in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. The household was listed as Stephen Burt, a 48-year-old farmer and Ann, his 38-year-old wife from Georgia. He owned real estate valued at $2,000. Stephen and Ann had four children born in Alabama: Martha 18, Ann 16, Mary 11, and Ugenia 7. Their youngest son, James, was 2-years-old and born in Mississippi.⁵
     Stephen M. BURT died on 1 March 1860 in Carroll County, Mississippi. The cause of death was pneumonia.^6,7
     Stephen's obituary was printed on 12 April 1860 in the Mississippi Baptist newspaper, published in Jackson, Mississippi. ""Stephen M. and Ann H. Burt departed this life in Carroll county, Miss; on the 14th of February, Mrs. Ann H. Burt; on the 1st day of March, Stephen M. Burt, her husband. They leave four children."⁶