Magnolia Cemetery - "Graveyard Working"

On Saturday, 18-Apr-2015, Magnolia Cemetery in Ragley, Louisiana held a “Graveyard Working”, or Cemetery Cleanup Day.  This day is when family members and friends meet at the cemetery to clean and perform maintenance to their family’s graves.  It rained the night before, so the turnout was light. Nevertheless, a few brave souls showed up to help clean and preserve this graveyard.

Magnolia Cemetery is in the Ragley community, which is located in the SE part Beauregard Parish.  Magnolia is an old cemetery with graves dating back to the 1880’s or earlier.  The cemetery is divided into two sections by a chain link fence.  The section on the east side is where the oldest graves are located.  Two sides of the cemetery are bordered by tall pine trees and another side by Magnolia Church Road and the Masonic Lodge.

There are many Burnett’s and associated families buried in this cemetery.  Two of Alfred and Julia Burnett’s children are buried there; Sidnah and James Jefferson.

George Gilley and Pheriba Davis Gilley are buried at Magnolia Cemetery too.  Three of George and Pheriba’s children married children of Alfred and Julia Burnett and a fourth child married a grandchild of Alfred and Julia.

 Augustus Hodges and Alizenith Insall Hodges are also interned at Magnolia Cemetery.   Many of the Burnett’s in the Ragley area are related to this Hodges line.

During the cemetery cleanup day, we were able to clean the graves and headstones of James Jefferson Burnett, wife Leona, and Sidnah Burnett Gilley.  Below is a map of where James Jefferson and Sidnah’s graves are located and some before and after photos of the cleanup.


Aerial view showing grave location of James Jefferson Burnett and Sidnah Burnett Gilley.

James Jefferson and Leona Burnett graves before and after clean up. Photos by Michael Burnett.

Sidnah Burnett Gilley headstone before and after clean up.  Photos by Michael Burnett 18-Apr-15.



William C. Seaman, Part II

William Christopher Seaman spent much of his adult life serving in local and state government.  During this time he lived in Hancock, Jackson and Harrison County, Mississippi.  These three counties are located in the most southern part of Mississippi and are adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico.  There is evidence that William was a lawyer, which is consistent with the government positions he held.

Below are some of the documented positions he held.

1822, 1824 -Justice of the Peace, Jackson County

1827 - Representative, Jackson County to the Mississippi Legislature

1832 - Delegate, Jackson County to the Constitutional Convention of Mississippi

1841 - President Board of Police, Jackson County

1842 - Clerk of Court, Harrison County

Below are some good sources for further researching William Christopher Seaman’s public life.

Jackson County Courthouse archives, Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Harrison County Courthouse archives, Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi.

Cain, Cyril Edward. Four Centuries on the Pascagoula. Spartanburg, SC: Reprint, 1983. Print.

Cassibry, Nap L. Early Settlers and Land Grants at Biloxi. 5th ed. Vol. I, II. Biloxi, Miss.: Mississippi Coast Historical & Genealogical Society, 1986. Print.

Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi: Embracing an Authentic and Comprehensive Account of the Chief Events in the History of the State, and a Record of the Lives of Many of the Most Worthy and Illustrious Families and Individuals. Place of publication not identified: publisher not identified, 1962. Print.

 

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William C. Seaman, Part I

William Christopher Seaman is my GGG grandfather and is the father-in-law of Alfred Burnett. William was born about 1797 and is believed to be the son of William Seaman and Elizabeth Brewerton Benson.

William was married to Catherine Sheffield, who is the daughter of West Sheffield and Susannah Sherrod. Catherine was born in Wayne County, Georgia on 11-Apr-1793 and is thought to be the mother of at least 6 of his children.  Catherine had been previously married to Ignatius Grantham and they had one son, West Grantham 04-Jun-1815 to 21-Sep-1894.

William C. Seaman’s children are:

1.       Julia Jane Seaman, 17-Aug-1820 to 07-Dec-1880, wife of Alfred Burnett.

2.       William Christopher Seaman, 1823 to Apr-1850, unmarried.

3.       Nancy Ann Seaman, 24-May-1826 to 4-Jun-1853, wife of Lazarus Seymour.

4.       Melinda Tison Seaman, 09-Jan-1827 to 28-Dec-1890, wife of Peter Leinhard.

5.       Henry Elbert Seaman, 1827 to 1901, husband of Patience Maranda Powell.

6.       Pliney E. Seaman, 1830 to 14-Oct-1889, husband of Ann Hutson.

7.       Sherrod Seaman, 29-Dec-1831 to 14-Nov-1904, husband of Susan A. Baxter.

8.       Benjamin Benson Seaman, 05-May-1833 to 24-Nov-1910, husband of Delphine Moran.  Second marriage Corean Bosarge, third marriage Idell Grelot.

9.       George Washington Seaman, 29-Apr-1837 to 23-Mar-1907, husband of Nancy Lyons.  Second marriage to Mary Isabella Porter, third marriage to Sarah Elizabeth Turner.

There is a lot of published information concerning W.C. Seaman’s public life, though less is known of his family life.   Here are a few bits of information about his private life.

A disposition of William C. Seaman Clerk of Courts Harrison County, Mississippi, taken at Biloxi, April 12, 1844. “That he has been an inhabitant of the vicinity of Biloxi since the year 1818.”

There is an affidavit in Wayne County, Georgia courthouse showing William C. Seaman married Catherine Sheffield Grantham on 02-Nov-1828.

There are documents on file at the Harrison County, Mississippi courthouse which show William C. Seaman to have the title of Esquire.  The title of Esquire is used by those in the legal profession, especially lawyers.

William operated a ferry across Back Bay in Biloxi, Mississippi.

 

There is a Seaman road near Biloxi which was likely named after William or one of the Seaman family members.

In October 1844, William deeded land to each of his children and died a month later leaving no will.

William died 23-Nov-1844 and Catherine died 9 years later on 09-Sep-1853.  They are buried next to each other in the Biloxi City Cemetery in Biloxi, Mississippi.

William and Catherine Seaman grave marker, Biloxi City Cemetery, Biloxi, Mississippi, photo by Michael Burnett, 31-May-2014.

William and Catherine Seaman grave plot, Biloxi City Cemetery, Biloxi, Mississippi, photo by Michael Burnett, 31-May-2014.

Seaman Road, D'Iberville, Mississippi, photo by Michael Burnett, 01-Jun-2014.

 

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.