Aylette Hawes BUCKNER

     Aylette Hawes BUCKNER, son of John Strother BUCKNER and Lucy Ellen GIBSON, was born on 13 December 1849 in Sperryville, Rappahannock County, Virginia.¹ When Aylette Hawes Buckner took a shot at Union troops, his mother protested when they fired back at the boy. They told her that if he was old enough to shoot at them, then he was old enough for them to shoot back. Either these troops or others stole all their cattle and under cover of darkness young Aylette went over the mountain and recovered them.²

Aylette Hawes BUCKNER appeared on a census, enumerated 19 June 1870, in the household of his parents John Strother BUCKNER and Lucy Ellen BUCKNER in Sperryville, Rappahannock County, Virginia. He was recorded as Hawes Buckner, farm laborer, age 20.

Aylette married Anna BURT, daughter of James Creth BURT and Frances Anne GIBSON, on 1 January 1877 at J. C. Burt home in Mardisville, Talladega County, Alabama. The service was performed by Samuel Henderson, M. G.³

Aylette Hawes BUCKNER was living in 1878 at the Metropolitan Hotel, Washington, District of Columbia. He appeared in the city directory there as a member of Congress.

Aylette Hawes BUCKNER appeared in a newspaper article 25 December 1889 in the Our Mountain Home, published in Talladega, Alabama. A. H. Buckner, son-in-law of Capt. J. C. Burt, has moved to this community from Virginia.

Aylette Hawes BUCKNER and Anna BURT appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 26 June 1900 in Hawthorne, Rappahannock County, Virginia. The household was listed as Aylette H. Buckner, a 50-year-old farmer, born Mar 1850, and his wife, Anna Buckner, age 45, born Feb 1855. They had been married 23 years and Anna was the mother of 4 children, all living. Also in the household were their daughter, Burtie, age 21, born May 1879; son John S., 19, born Oct 1880; son Aylette H., 14, born Jul 1885; daugther Mattie, 11, born Nov 1888; laborer Lucy Fincham, 40, white, born Feb 1860; and servant Jacob Fincham, 8, black, born May 1892. All born in Virginia. John, Aylette and Mattie were all at school.

Mr. John Buckner of Sperryville had an automobile agency in Culpepper, and opened a branch agency in the little building in Sperryville at the intersection of Routes 600 and 1001. Mr. Aylette Buckner was one of the first Rappahannock citizens to own a Model "T" Ford, which he bought in Culpepper for $675 in 1913.⁴

Aylette Hawes BUCKNER appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 10 January 1920 in Hawthorne District, Rappahannock County, Virginia. The household was listed as Aylette H. Buckner, a 70-year-old farmer. Anna Buckner was living next door with their son Aylette, Jr.

Aylette Hawes BUCKNER died on 31 December 1933 in Sperryville, Rappahannock County, Virginia, at age 84. He was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Culpeper, Culpeper County, Virginia.