Monday, September 11, 2017

Mammoth Cave Kentucky Burnett Famlies

According to the U.S. Federal census records, Alfred Burnett was born in the state of Kentucky in the year 1812.  Since the federal census is conducted every 10 years, the first census that was held after Alfred’s birth would have been in 1820.

We descendants of Alfred Burnett are strong DNA matches to descendants of a John Burnett born in 1750. You can read more about that by clicking here.   Looking for clues in the 1820 census we find there were several children of John Burnett residing in Grayson County, Kentucky in 1820. The children of John Burnett who resided in Grayson County in 1820 are listed below.
 
Matthew Burnett
Thomas Burnett
Isaac Burnett
Absalom Burnett
John Jr. (likely resided in Grayson County, but not enumerated)

Below is a 1820 county map of Kentucky.[1]  The blue shaded area is Grayson County, KY.  Oral family history tells Alfred was born near Mammoth Cave, Kentucky.  The red oval is the outline of Mammoth Cave. As you can see, in 1820 Mammoth Cave was located partly in Grayson County.  Please note that the county boundaries have changed and today Mammoth Cave is mostly located in Edmonson County. 

1820 Kentucky County Map


So, what does this tell us?  It confirms the Burnett families who match our DNA resided near Mammoth Cave, Kentucky at the time of Alfred Burnett’s birth. 

More research is needed in how these Grayson County Burnett families are related to each other and what line of Burnett’s they are descendants of.  Unfortunately the Grayson County courthouse had a fire  in 1896 which destroyed all records.