Alfred Burnett's Descendants and Autosomal DNA

In an attempt to learn more about our Burnett heritage, I and other known Alfred Burnett descendants have taken an autosomal DNA test. 

Autosomal DNA test results, along with family tree records can be helpful in tracing your roots to about 5 generations or to your GGG-Grandparents.   Every human has 23 pairs of chromosomes and Autosomal DNA is found in 22 pairs of these chromosomes.  Autosomal DNA is inherited from both your father and mother.  You can read more about autosomal DNA by clicking here.

The popularity of the autosomal DNA test has brought the cost down to $100 per test.  As well, there have been recent breakthroughs in analysis techniques which have resulted in more accurate results.  Autosomal DNA is one of three types of DNA test used by Genetic Genealogist to aid in confirming relationships.  For more information about genetic genealogy, click here.

Through autosomal DNA analysis is how I found and confirmed the Isabella Burnett line.

Below is a descendant chart of Alfred Burnett and Julia Seaman. The green boxes represent the known descendants who have taken the autosomal DNA test.  All of the green boxes match with a high degree of confidence.  This genetic base-line will be useful in our search for Alfred Burnett’s parents.  The test results also will be used to help confirm who Julia Seaman’s mother was.

William C. Seaman - Birth and Marriage

I am beginning in-depth research regarding my GGG grandfather William C. Seaman.  My connection to William Seaman is depicted in the chart below. 

 

I have located many documents concerning W.C. Seaman and now I am attempting to verify information concerning his birth and marriage.  

1)      There are online sources such as Ancestry and Find A Grave that mention his birth date as 16-Jun-1796.  The tombstone reads “About 1801” for his birth.  Some state the place of birth as Nova Scotia, Canada and other sources cite New York.   Does anyone have proof of his birth date and location?

2)      Online sources show he was married to Catherine Sheffield on 02-Nov-1828 in Rankin County, Mississippi.   Is there a marriage license or other evidence of this date and location?

 

Below is William C. Seaman's signature from a letter dated 05-Apr-1832 authorizing his brother in law, Sherrod Sheffield to act as his attorney and sell land in Wayne County, Georgia which belonged to his wife Catherine.

W. C. Seaman signature, 05-Apr-1832.

 

 

 

James Jefferson Burnett - Land Holdings

James Jefferson “Jeff” Burnett, my G grandfather, is the youngest child of Alfred and Julia Burnett.

In 1889 Jeff Burnett purchased 162 acres from the US Government for $16.54.[1]  This land is located south of LA Highway 12 in Kernan, Louisiana.  Kernan is located in Beauregard Parish, just west of Ragley.  Jeff and Leona built a home and raised a family on this land. The US Land Patent can be found clicking here.

After Jeff’s death, the heirs held the land until 1965 when they sold it for $16,000.  The party who purchased the land was as follows:  “Robert E. L. House, married and living with Adrienne House, born Parker and Gussie Vincent, born Reeves, wife of Lester Vincent, both residents of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.” [2]

Red boundaries showing Jeff Burnett land, Google Maps 15-Feb-15.

 Jeff Burnett purchase of land, US Tract Book Volume 20 Page Number 086

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[1] 538.00546: US Tract Book Volume 20 Page Number 086 (Opelousas District) https://wwwslodms.doa.la.gov/WebForms/DocumentViewer.aspx?docId=538.00546&category=H#1

 

[2] Beauregard Parish Courthouse Land Records, Book 220, page 18-19.

The Succession of James Jefferson Burnett

James Jefferson “Jeff” Burnett died intestate on 25-Feb-1936.  On 03-Mar-1936 a succession was filed at the Beauregard Parish, Louisiana Courthouse. 

The following excerpt from the succession describes some of the cash and property owned by Jeff Burnett at the time of his death.

“Cash on deposit in the City Savings Bank of DeRidder, Louisiana. $2217.25

Cash on deposit in the Lake Charles Bank and Trust Company in Lake Charles, Louisiana. $1025.00

About 400 head of range sheep more or less, marked  – crop and underhalf in one ear and hole and underbit in other ear, branded with a diamond mark on the jaw, said sheep ranging around Kernan, Beauregard Parish, Louisiana.

About 10 head of hogs.

1 black horse

1 gray horse

1 cow and 1 calf.

1 Ford V8 1934 model Tudor.

1 lot of household goods, furniture, cooking utensils, etc.

1 lot of farm implements, plows, etc. “[1]

Since there were 9 children and one step child the division of property was complex.  The nine heirs of Jeff and Leona each received 19/180 of property and step son John “Ed” Williams received 1/20 of the property.  One of Jeff and Leona’s heirs, daughter Lilly, preceded her parents in death; consequently her three children each received 19/540 of the property.

In 2015 dollars, the buying power of the 1936 cash holdings is $55,000.00.  With that said, Jeff Burnett did not die a poor man.  

I have a scanned copy of the succession and will email to anyone that is interested.

In the next blog I will discuss the division and sale of the 162 acres of real estate.

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[1] Beauregard Parish, Louisiana Courthouse, Succession # 581, page 2-3.

James Jefferson Burnett and Lucy Rich

After the death of wife Leona, James Jefferson “Jeff” Burnett married the widow Lucy Rebecca Moore Rich.  They were married on 28-Mar-1932.[1]

Lucy was born 31-Dec-1884 and is the daughter of James Riley Moore and Emily Rebecca Johnson.  Lucy was previously married to Daniel Clarence Rich who died in 1931.  Lucy and Daniel had seven children.   Two of their children would have been minors at the time of Jeff and Lucy’s marriage, so it is likely they lived in the Jeff Burnett home along with their mother.

Undoubtedly things did not work out too well between Jeff and Lucy because in April 1934 they were separated and on 30-May-1935 their divorce became final.[2]

Every effort is made to cite my sources and give credit to others that have supplied information or photos for this blog.  If you use photos or information from this blog, including use in your Ancestry.com family tree, please consider giving credit to those which have furnished the information or citing the source for the material. Most of the credits or citations can be found in the photo captions or in the footnotes section



Jeff Burnett and Lucy Rich Marriage License,
Calcasieu Parish La, Courthouse,
 Marriage Records, Book 28, Page 445 

Jeff Burnett Lucy Rich Burnett Divorce, Beauregard Parish, LA Courthouse, Land Records,
Book 57, Page 177.

Lucy Rich, date unknown, photo provided by Vicki Lamendola.

 



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[1] Calcasieu Parish La, Courthouse, Marriage Records, Book 28, Page 445.

[2] Beauregard Parish, LA Courthouse, Land Records, Book 57, Page 177-178.

Alfred Burnett the Mason

Alfred Burnett was a Mason.  At some time before 1855-1856 he received his Master Mason degree in Biloxi, Mississippi.[1]

In 1860 the Free & Accepted Mason Lodge Number 165 of Lake Charles, Louisiana was formed and Alfred was one of the 10 charter members.  He held the office of “Tyler”, which is a person that guards the door to the lodge.[2]

In 1867 Alfred was a founding member of the Sam Todd Lodge Number 182 in Sugartown, Louisiana.[3]

I have been in contact with the Lake Charles Mason’s and have requested that they look for more information concerning Alfred, however at this time little else is know about Alfred’s ties to the Masons.

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[1] Larry Baily Sr., Secretary of the Sam Todd Lodge No. 182, personal communication, 02-Nov-2013.

[2]  Southwest Louisiana Genealogical & Historical Library, Lake Charles, LA, Maude Reid Scrapbook,  Volume 3, p.223, from microfilm.

[3] “History of Sam Todd Lodge No. 182. http://library.beau.org/~samtoddlodge/history.html, accessed 18-Jan-15.

Isabelle Burnett - Part 3

Isabelle Burnett Tullis is the 9^th child of Alfred and Julia Burnett. This is part 3 of information concerning Isabelle.  Part 1 can be found clicking here.  Part 2 here.

Isabelle “Belle” Burnett Tullis is buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Houston, Texas.  Her grave is located in the Strangers Rest area, Section 41, Space 1.[1] The odd thing is – her grave marker reads Elizabeth Tullis.[2]

I have spoken with the cemetery office and have also researched the online cemetery records. All of the cemetery records that can be located record her name as Belle Tullis.

There is another instance where the name Elizabeth Tullis was used and that was on her son Ocie L. Tullis’s death certificate.  Ocie died 32 years after his mother and his death certificate records her name as Elizabeth Burnett.

Could it be over the years after Isabelle’s death that descendants lost track of her name?  Maybe the headstone was placed years after she died and the descendants had forgotten her name?

Belle Tullis, Hollywood Cemetery Interment Record, Footnote 1.

Belle Tullis Grave Marker. Footnote 2.

Ocie Tullis Death Certificate. Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

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[1] "Texas, Houston, Historic Hollywood Cemetery Records, 1895-2008," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-29708-2281-39?cc=2040173&wc=9FV8-BZW:347677501 : accessed 11 January 2015), Record of single interments 1904-1941 vol BX > image 64 of 107; Historic Hollywood Cemetery, Houston.

 

[2] Isabelle Burnett Tullis headstone, Find A Grave Memorial # 29150222, photo by Erika Velez.