Captain Charles Burnett, born on February 22, 1869 (or possibly 1867), in Georgia (likely Newton County), was the son of Edward George Burnett and Frances “Fannie” Rice. His first name was actually ‘Captain.’ It was not a military title. The birth year discrepancy—1869 versus 1867—exists in historical records. The 1870 census, taken in July, lists Captain as one year old, consistent with a birth year of 1869. Other census records also align with this earlier date. However, his death certificate and headstone indicate 1867. Considering that parents typically know their child’s age; the census records seem more reliable to me.
Captain was the oldest of 10 children. His siblings included Richard Clifford “Cliff” Burnett, Maggie Burnett, William Clarence Burnett, Claud Young Burnett, Ida Burnett, George Cleveland Burnett, and Cornelia “Nealy” Ann Burnett. The ninth and tenth children are documented but remained unnamed in the 1900 Gum Creek, District 85, Newton County census. According to that census, Frances had 10 children, 8 of whom were living at the time. Captain is my 1st cousin 3x removed and our nearest common relatives are William Caton and Drucilla Henson. His father, Edward, is the brother of my 2nd great grandfather, Samuel Pride Burnett. He may have gone by Charlie.
On July 27, 1870, the Burnett family resided in Covington, Newton County, Georgia. At that time, Captain, aged 1, was the only child in the household. His father worked as a farmer, while his mother managed the home.
On June 18, 1880, the Burnett family resided in Enumeration District 110 of Rockdale County, Georgia. Captain’s father continued his work on the family farm, while his mother managed the household. At 11 years old, Captain was enumerated as “at home” and was unable to read or write. During the past decade, the family had welcomed four more children: Richard, Maggie, William, and Claud. The youngest, Claud, was just two months old.
Captain married Beulah Woolley in Newton County, Georgia, on December 17, 1893, in a ceremony performed by Justice of the Peace F. H. Skelton.
Determining Beulah’s parents has proven challenging. At age 7, she lived with her grandmother, E. Wooley, and E. Wooley’s three daughters (S. Wooley, age 24; J. A. Wooley, age 21; and R. A. E. Wooley, age 19) in Newton County. My research suggests that E. Wooley may be Elizabeth B. Overton Woolley, who happens to be the sister of my 2nd great grandmother, Millicent Virginia Overton, and the wife of Samuel Pride Burnett. However, I need to dig deeper to confirm this connection and identify which daughter was Beulah’s mother. Tragically, Elizabeth’s husband, Vardamond Woolley, died of typhoid fever on December 16, 1862, during the Civil War.
Captain and Beulah were blessed with three children—Bessie Mae “Freck” Burnett, Grace Burnett, and Minniette “Minnie” Burnett.
Captain’s father Edward passed away in Conyers, Rockdale County on April 18, 1894. He was buried at Almand Cemetery in Conyers.
On July 10, 1900, Captain and his family resided in District 94 of Rockdale County. The census enumerator recorded his name as Charles C. Burnett. Captain and Beulah had been married for six years. Beulah was listed as the mother of two children—Bessie and Grace—both of whom were living. Captain continued his work as a farmer, owning his own farm. Both Captain and Beulah were able to read and write. At age 6, Bessie could read but not yet write. The Burnett family lived next door to the Fletcher Overton family. Fletcher, who was the nephew of my 2nd great grandmother, Millicent Virginia Overton, had no common relatives with Captain.
On May 10, 1910, the Burnett family resided on Gee’s Mill Road in Conyers. Captain’s 76-year-old aunt, Mary (who was the sister of Millicent Virginia Overton), lived in the Burnett home. Captain worked as a farmer on the family farm. Beulah was enumerated as having had three children, all of whom were living. Captain and Beulah had been married for 16 years.
Tragically, Captain’s brother Richard passed away on March 16, 1911, likely in Newton County. He was laid to rest at Dover Church Cemetery in Dialtown in Newton County.
On February 11, 1920, Captain and his family resided in District 175 of Rockdale County. Two adult children, Bessie (aged 24) and Minniette (aged 18), lived in the home. Captain, Beulah, and their daughters all worked on the family farm.
Tragically, Captain’s brother George (aged 35 and single) suffered from tubercular meningitis and passed away in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 8, 1921. George, a former member of the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps and a current member of the Organized Reserve, was living at Jefferson Barracks in Missouri at the time of his death. He was laid to rest on November 11 in the Burnett family plot at Almand Cemetery in Conyers.
Four years later, Captain passed away at his home in Conyers on January 8, 1925, due to tuberculosis of the stomach—a condition he had suffered from for one year. Following a service held on January 10 at his residence, officiated by Revs. J. W. Callaway and W. W. Carroll, Captain was laid to rest at East View Cemetery in Conyers. He was 57 years old at the time of his passing. His death certificate recorded his name as Capt. Charley Burnett. He had been under a doctor’s care from November 1, 1924 until his death. Although no autopsy was performed, the cause of death was confirmed through laboratory analysis under a microscope. Beulah, the informant on the death certificate, provided the names of his parents as George Burnett and Fannie Rice. His tombstone is engraved with the following inscription:
Since his last name was engraved as ‘Burnette’ rather than ‘Burnett’ on his headstone, I revisited the paper trail to determine the usual spelling. This surname reminds me of my maiden name, Lankford, which is often spelled as Langford. In Captain’s case, most records spelled it without the ‘e.’ Ultimately, there seems to be no definitive right or wrong way to spell the name.
In 1927, Bessie moved to Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, where she resided with her sister Minnie and Minnie’s husband, Guy Jones. By 1928, Beulah had also joined the Jones household. In 1940, both Beulah and Bessie were still living with Guy Jones. Given that Minnie had passed away in February 1938, it is probable that they were there to support Minnie and Guy’s sons, Carl (aged 14) and Herbert (aged 12).
References
- Atlanta, Georgia, City Directory, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1938.
- Burnett funeral notice, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, January 10, 1925.
- Capt. Charley Burnett, Georgia Deaths, 1919–98.
- Capt. Charley Burnett, Standard Certificate of Death no. 2489, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1925.
- Charles Burnett/Beulah Wooley, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
- Charlie Burnett, Fulton and Campbell Counties, Georgia, Cemetery Records, 1857–1933.
- Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/175462753/bessie_mae-burnette: accessed June 3, 2024), memorial page for Bessie Mae “Freck” Burnette (26 Oct 1893–27 Dec 1986), Find a Grave Memorial ID 175462753, citing East View Cemetery, Conyers, Rockdale County, Georgia, USA; maintained by DonnaLFF (contributor 48254144).
- Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55342973/richard_c-burnette: accessed June 4, 2024), memorial page for Richard C. “Cliff” Burnette (10 Apr 1871–16 Mar 1911), Find a Grave Memorial ID 55342973, citing Dover Church Cemetery, Dialtown, Newton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Birdgirl (contributor 47240809).
- George C. Burnett, Certificate of Death no. 30392, Missouri State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1921.
- Mr. C. Y. Burnett (Claude Young Burnett) Certificate of Death no. 33 28211, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1933.
- U.S. Federal Census, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, 1940.
- U.S. Federal Census, Conyers, Rockdale County, Georgia, 1910.
- U.S. Federal Census, Covington, Subdivision 96, Newton County, Georgia, 1870.
- U.S. Federal Census, District 175, Rockdale County, Georgia, 1920.
- U.S. Federal Census, District 94, Rockdale County, Georgia, 1900.
- U.S. Federal Census, Enumeration District 110, Rockdale County, Georgia, 1880.
- U.S. Federal Census, Gum Creek, Newton County, Georgia, 1900.
- U.S. Federal Census, Rockdale County, Georgia, 1880.
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