Dr. William Jefferson BURT1

M, b. 4 June 1804, d. 19 August 1873
Relationship
1st cousin 4 times removed of John Kennedy BROWN Jr.
Charts
John Burtt Descendants Chart
     Dr. William Jefferson BURT, son of John BURT and Sarah MARSHALL, was born on 4 June 1804 in Georgia.2 He was a physician.

Dr. William Jefferson BURT witnessed the probate of the estate of his father, John BURT, on 4 October 1827 in Autauga County, Alabama. With an estimated value of $3675.00. 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.

The estate sale the following March resulted in $4264.54 worth of goods sold. Among those buying at the sale were S. M. Burt, James Aldridge, T. W. Mathews, Zacheus Burt, Farmer Adair, and William Burt.

On 9 January 1829 additional items were added, including one small looking glass, two razors sold to Z. Burt, yearling steer and claim on public land sold to S. M. 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 for $1,25. Negro girl Tabitha was sold to Wm. J. Hightower for $351, Negro girl Nancy to D. M. Lloyd for $450 and Negro woman Mary to Rebecca Carroll for $102.3

William married Caroline Walton MATHEWS on 30 September 1828 in Washington, Autauga County, Alabama. They were married by Wade Hampton Cox, at his tavern on the Alabama River.4

William bought land from John Truman and wife on 17 November 1828 in Autauga County.

On 26 January 1829 Autauga County, Alabama, Dr. William Jefferson BURT applied for letters of admiinstration of the estate of Joseph J. BURT, deceased. The securities were Waid H. Cox and T. W. Mathews. The appraisers were Jacob W. Durden, John W. Withers, William R. White, John W. Lynch and Chareles Nevin.5

Dr. William Jefferson BURT witnessed the probate of the estate of his father, Joseph J. BURT, on 27 April 1829 in Autauga County, Alabama. His estate included a rifle, beaver traps, silver watch, gold ring, three books, one pocket book, and a shot bag. The books were History of Greece, History of Rome, and Criminal Records.6

According to the Burt family history by Dr. Samuel P. Smith, in 1829 Henry James MATHEWS, son-in-law of John and Henry Burt Coleman, was overseer for Dr. William Jefferson BURT on land adjoining the Alcy Pollard place below Washington.7

Dr. William Jefferson BURT bought land from Samuel Caruthers on 31 October 1829 in Autauga County. For $1200 William purchased the southeast quarter of section 5, township 16, range 16 and the west half of the northeast quarter of section 5, township 16, range 16. This would be near Washington.8

Dr. William Jefferson BURT and Caroline Walton BURT sold a tract of land to David Gorre on 31 October 1829 in Autauga County. For $1000 they sold Gorre the northeast quarter of section 10, township 16, range 15 containing 160 acres. This would be down near the Alabama River and Graves Landing.9

Dr. William Jefferson BURT was listed as Henry Harrison HUNT's neighbor in a census in 1830 in in Autauga County, Alabama. They were listed on the same page of the census.10

Dr. William Jefferson BURT appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1830 in Autauga County, Alabama. The household was listed as 1 male 20-30 [William], 1 male 10-15, 1 female 20-30 [Caroline], 1 female 15-20, 1 female under 5 [Cornelia or Francina]. The male age 10-15 and female 15-20 were probably the younger siblings of William and minor heirs of John Burt who had died in 1829. The female under 5 might have been Francina Burt, his baby sister, since his daughter Cornelia wasn't born until August.11

Dr. William Jefferson BURT following the death of their father was made the guardian of his younger brother John BURT Jr. on 28 July 1830 in Autauga County, Alabama.12

Dr. William Jefferson BURT witnessed the probate of the estate of Joseph J. BURT on 25 August 1830 in Autauga County, Alabama. With William W. Burt as administrator. Among those to whom cash was paid were H. Hunt, S. M. Burt, Jas. B. Mathews trustees, Mary Mathews, and Richard Burt & Co.13

Dr. William Jefferson BURT bought land from Lunceford Long and Absalom Jackson, executors of the estate of James Jackson, deceased, on 27 March 1833 in Autauga County. In consideration of an obligation owed by James Jackosn to Burt plus $100 William purchased the following lots of land: the northeast quarter of section 23, the west half of the northwest quarter of the same section, the west half of the northwest quarter of the same section, the west half of the southeast of section 14, and the west half of the southwest quarter of section 14, all lying in township 18, range 13.14 William served as Autauga County's representive in the Alabama House of Representatives in 1834 and in 1837.15

During the 2nd Creek War, 1835-1836, Dr. William Jefferson BURT enlisted in the First Regiment of Mounted Alabama Militia under Col. Edmund Shackleford on 1 June 1836 in Independence, Autauga County, Alabama. He was captain of his company and joined with two companies from Montgomery, the "Blues" and the "Rifles." He served one month and was discharged at Tuskegee 1 Jul 1836. The Second Creek War (also known as the Creek War of 1836 or the Creek Alabama Uprising) took place in 1836 and 1837 along the Alabama-Georgia border between the United States and the Creek Indians.16

Dr. William Jefferson BURT bought land from Reed Harris on 17 August 1837 in Autauga County. For $375 William purchased the south half of the southeast quarter of section 24, township 19, range 14 containing 80 acres.17

On 11 January 1840, Dr. William Jefferson BURT was listed as a member of the Board of Trustees in the Central Seminary, Statesville, Autauga County, Alabama. The following annoucement appeard in The Selma Free Press: "The third session of this Seminary will commence on the 2nd Monday in January next. This institution is situated in a very healthy region, six miles south of Statesville in Autauga County. The Board of Trustees have elected J. Harris to the Presidency of the instituion. They have re-elected Mr. Virgil M. Dubose, principal of the Male Department. The talented and amiable Miss Stoughton, late directress of the Hayneville Female Academy, has charge of the Music Class, and discharges the duties of a principal in the Female Department. All the branches, taught in the high schools of learning, are taught at this institution. Boarding for males and females can be had at reasonable rates, in the immediate vacinity." The Board was listed as S.S. Simmons, Rev. J. Mellard, Rev. J. D. Lee, Rev. M. Howard, D. Lamar, J. Caves, J. Steele, L. Howser, Dr. William Burt, and Dr. J. Wood.18

Dr. William Jefferson BURT appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1840 in Autauga County, Alabama. The household was listed as 1 male 30-40 [William], 1 male 20-30, 1 female 20-30 [Caroline], 1 female 10-15 [Cornelia], 1 female 5-10 [Sarah], two females under 5 [Susan, Elizabeth].19

Dr. William Jefferson BURT bought land from William Dunn on 4 June 1840 in Autauga County. For $500 he sold the southeast quarter of section 26, township 16, range 13.20

Dr. William Jefferson BURT was named an executor in the will of Joseph BURT Jr. dated on 30 November 1840 in Autauga County, Alabama.21

Dr. William Jefferson BURT and wife, Caroline Walton MATHEWS, sold a tract of land to John E. Mitchell on 21 September 1841 in Autauga County, Alabama.22

William and Caroline moved from Autauga County to Lowndes County, Mississippi, circa 1842 which is suggested by the fact that their daughter, Mary Francis, was born there in 1843.

According to a history of the Waverly Plantation, near West Point, "during the 1840s and 1850s Waverly was more than [Col. George Hampton] Young's base of operations. It was also a loose cluster of homes of plantation owners, most of whom were related to Young. They included his nephew George Henderson Lee, his son-in-law Alexander Hamilton, and his own sons, James and Thomas, who all owned homes at Waverly and farmed various outlying plantations. Additionally Dr William Burt, who was of no known relationship to Young, resided there and farmed a plantation that stretched southward to Tibbee Creek.

In 1848 Dr. William Jefferson BURT of Lowndes County, Mississippi, was involved in a court case in Madison County, Mississippi. The plaintiffs were Elizabeth Hall (wife of Dixon H. Hall) by Jesse Hickman as next friend; Dixon H. Hall; William T. Hall; Frances A. B. Hall; Bowling C. Hall and Wilmot H. Hall, infant chrildren of Elizabeth Hall and Dixon H. Hall. Dixon Hall and William T. Hall were the sons of Dixon Hall, Sr. of Autauga County, Alabama who died about 1839.23

Dr. William Jefferson BURT and Caroline Walton MATHEWS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 31 October 1850 in Lowndes County, Mississippi. The household was listed as William Burt, a 46-year-old physician, born in Georgia, and his 40-year-old wife, Caroline W. Burt also of Georgia. Dr. Burt had real estate valued at $16,000. Their children born in Alabama were: Cornelia A., 20; Sarah W., 17; Susan A., 14; Eliza C., 12; and William J., 10. The two remaining children were born in Mississippi: Francis(sp) M., 7; and Allice, 4. Living nearby was William's brother, Zacheus Burt.24

William married second Mrs. Margaret A. Lyon on 13 October 1853 in Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi. The marriage was performed by A. D. Corbyn, priest and rector of St. Paul's Church, where the wedding is presumed to have taken place. The bride was the widow of F. H. Lyon and the daughter of Abram Maer.25,22,26

From Lowndes county, Mississippi on 20 Oct 1855 William applied for military bounty land based on his service back in 1836. He received 160 acres and a pension. His widow, Mrs. M. A. Burt, received his pension money after his death.16

Dr. William Jefferson BURT was mentioned in a letter written 12 June 1863 in camp at Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi, from John Joseph BURT to his sister, Maggie BURT: "...O Mag I like to forgot I found a cosin of ours in town the other day Dr. Wm [William Jefferson] Burt he seemed to be very glad that he met with us he says he will send out for us in a few days to go out & stay a day or two with him he asked me all about Pa wanted to know if he worked as hard as he ever did. I told him he did as far as he was able, he says that he can't see how he ever made anything ___ as poor land as that he said he would have starved on such a place. So you see if I get sick that is the place I will go one of our sick men went out to his house and has got well & come back that is how I come to find him out. he come in to bring his name was Mallard his Brother married Dr. Burt's daughter..."27

Dr. William Jefferson BURT and Margaret A. Maer appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 11 June 1870 in Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi. The household was listed as W. Burt, a 66-year-old retired physician and his 41-year-old wife, Margaret from North Carolina. William, from Georgia, had $16,000 worth of real estate and personal property valued at $5,000. Living with them were their daughters Alice, 38, born in Alabama, and Alice, 23, born in Mississippi.28

From a history of the Waverly Plantation: "The writer easily recalls the names of many of the early settlers on the West Point road, and as many of their farms became of Columbus citizens they deserve mention at this place: Fortson settlement, now owned by Dr. William Burt, of Columbus; G. H. Lee; Gov. Brown and Thos. Martin, of Tennessee, afterwards bought by Col. [W. L.] Young... This section of the county in 1871 was set off by legislative enactment to Colfax, now Clay county, notwithstanding the vigorous protest of the citizens of Lowndes. The matter occupied the attention of two sessions of the legislature, and was at last concluded by providing that Colfax county should pay her share of the Lowndes county debt which had become very large under carpet bag rule. Lowndes lost by this transaction between 40,000 and 50,000 acres of their most fertile and valuable lands."

Dr. William Jefferson BURT died on 19 August 1873 in Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi, at age 69.2,29 He was buried in Young Cemetery, located across from the Waverly Plantation eight miles east of West Point, Mississippi.

William left a will dated on 5 August 1873 in Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi. In it he bequeathed the following: "...with the exception of that portion I give to my wife I give to Cornelia A. Millard one sixth, to Sarah W. Burt one sixth, to William J. Burt one sixth, to Alice V. Burt one sixth, to John P. Hampton, Jr., William B. Hampton, and Plassie Hampton one sixth, to my beloved wife Margarett A. Burt a life estate in the following property; my residence in Columbus, Miss. lots 6, 7 and 8 on square ten north of main street," furniture , etc. with miscellaneous items to Sarah W. Burt and Alice V. Burt. In additon he left his wife his farm near Columbus known as the SW 1/4 of Sec. 19, Twp. 18, Range 18 and fractional 19--- 182 acres, at her death to be equally divided among her heirs. He appointed William J. Burt and S. T. Maer executors and J. W. Spellman, J. B. Bell, and W. R. McCrary were witnesses. The will was filled 10 Sep 1873.22,30
Last Edited=15 Feb 2024

Children of Dr. William Jefferson BURT and Caroline Walton MATHEWS

Child of Dr. William Jefferson BURT and Margaret A. Maer

Citations

  1. [S1069] Sandidge, Frances Burt, 004183614 > image 2144 of 2522, Middle name given.
  2. [S36] Billy J. Adams, "Burt Family Genealogy," e-mail to John K. Brown.
  3. [S406] John Burt Probate , Reports Book A, pg. 173, 187-189 and RB B Vol. 2, pg. 13-14, 23-24.
  4. [S21] Mary B. Warren and Susan F. White, Marriages and Deaths.
  5. [S837] Kathleen Paul Jones and Pauline Jones Grandrud, Alabama Records, Vol. 106 Autauga County, pg. 12.
  6. [S405] Jos. J. Burt Probate , Bk. 1, pg. 290.
  7. [S417] Interview, Mrs. Martha Mathews, 1885.
  8. [S307] Autauga County Deeds: Deed Book C, pg. 119.
  9. [S857] Autauga County Deeds and Mortgages, Book D, Volume 4-B: Deed Book C, pg. 118.
  10. [S13] 1830 U. S. Census, Autauga County, Alabama, Henry Hunt, pg. 150.
  11. [S13] 1830 U. S. Census, Autauga County, Alabama, W. Burt, pg. 150.
  12. [S406] John Burt Probate , RB 2, pg. 72.
  13. [S405] Jos. J. Burt Probate , Reports Book B Vol. 2 (1829-1833), pg. 87.
  14. [S857] Autauga County Deeds and Mortgages, Book D, Volume 4-B: Book DD 1840-1842, pg. 493.
  15. [S254] Alabama Historical Quarterly, Volume 3, Spring 1941, pg. 115.
  16. [S1028] "Capt. William Burt", War of 1812 Pensions and Bounty Land Warrant Applications, Warrant 55-80-6988.
  17. [S857] Autauga County Deeds and Mortgages, Book D, Volume 4-B: Book DA 1837-1838, pg. 223.
  18. [S766] Larry E. Caver, Dallas Co. Newspaper Abstracts, pg. 176.
  19. [S252] 1840 U. S. Census, Autauga County, Alabama, W. Burt.
  20. [S857] Autauga County Deeds and Mortgages, Book D, Volume 4-B: Book DD 1840-1842, pg. 32.
  21. [S404] Autauga County Probate Records RB 4.
  22. [S59] Barbara Goodson, Burt Southern Website, online https://sites.rootsweb.com/~burtsou/, William Jefferson Burt.
  23. [S903] Mary Louise Hendrix, Mississippi Court Records, pg. 178.
  24. [S114] 1850 U. S. Census, Lowndes County, Mississippi, William Burt household 559, pg. 85.
  25. [S113] Norman & Irene S. Gillis Mississippi Genealogy & Local History.
  26. [S1027] Mrs. M. A. Burt, "Claim of Widow for Bounty Land", Stated they married in Columbus on 14 Nov 1853 by Rev Corbyn.
  27. [S430] Joy Dupy, "Franklin County, Tennessee Burt," e-mail to John K. Brown, 9 August 1997. She got the letters from Martha (Mrs. James A. Burt) of Jackson, MS about 15 years earlier.
  28. [S739] 1870 U. S. Census, Lowndes County, Mississippi, W. Burt household 352, pg. 219.
  29. [S1027] Mrs. M. A. Burt, "Claim of Widow for Bounty Land", Stated her husband died 19 Aug 1873 at Columbus, MS.
  30. [S757] Betty Wood Thomas, Lowndes County, Mississippi Will Books I & II, 1858-1905, pg. 18, WB 1-350.

Information on this site has been gathered over many years from many sources. Although great care has been taken, inaccuracies may exist. Please contact [email protected] with corrections or questions..