Minnie Permelia Hanson

Minnie Permelia Hanson was born around 1859 in Morgan County, Georgia, to Robert “Bob” Hanson and Lucretia Chambers. She was the youngest of 12 siblings, growing up in a large family. Her brothers and sisters included Thomas J. Hanson, Mary Hanson, Virginia Hanson, Joel Branham Hanson, Robert Hanson, Isaac Newton Hanson, John Hanson, James O. Hanson, Amanda Hanson, George W. Hanson, and Francis “Fannie” Hanson.

Minnie was the wife of my 1st cousin, 4x removed, William A. Lankford. Although we share no common ancestors, our family lines connect through her marriage to William. He was the son of Curtis Caldwell Lankford, who was the brother of my 3rd great-grandfather, James Meriweather Lankford. 

On August 1, 1860, Minnie, listed as “Permelia” in the census, resided in the Adsboro District of Morgan County, Georgia, with her family. Her father worked as an overseer and held a personal estate valued at $200, while her mother, originally from South Carolina, managed the household. Five of the Hanson children—Robert, Isaac, James, Amanda, and George—had attended school within the past year. However, Francis, at age five, and Minnie, just one year old at the time, had not yet begun their formal education. 

Minnie was just two years old when the Civil War began in April 1861, a conflict that would shape her family’s history. In July of that year, her brother Joel enlisted as a private in Company G of the Infantry Battalion of Cobb’s Legion, Georgia Volunteers. He sustained serious wounds to his abdomen and left hip during the Battle of South Mountain at Crampton’s Gap on September 14, 1862, during the Maryland Campaign. Sent home on furlough to recover, Joel later returned to service, where he was assigned to the President’s Guard and remained in duty until the war’s end.

When Minnie was three, her brother Isaac answered the call to arms. In March 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company I, 44th Infantry of the Georgia Volunteers. Sadly, Isaac did not survive the war. He succumbed to pneumonia on January 4, 1863, while hospitalized at Chimborazo Hospital Number 1 in Richmond, Virginia. His final resting place is at Oakwood Cemetery in Richmond.

On July 1, 1870, the Hanson family was recorded as living in Madison, Morgan County, Georgia. By this time, Minnie’s father, Robert Hanson, had transitioned from working as an overseer to farming, while her mother managed the household. Her brothers, James and George, contributed as farm laborers. Census records indicate that Robert was unable to read or write, and the family’s surname was documented as “Hinson.” A notation that appears to be the word “leased” was marked in the real estate column next to Robert’s name, suggesting he did not own the land he farmed but was instead leasing it.

The 1870s proved to be a turbulent decade for the Hanson family. On October 7, 1874, tragedy struck when Robert was shot during a family dispute in Ebenezer, Morgan County, Georgia, by his son, J. O. Hanson. He sustained two gunshot wounds—one to the neck and another to the bladder—injuries deemed fatal by his physician, Dr. Pleasant Wilson. Despite efforts to save him, Robert survived for three days before passing away on October 10. That same day, Minnie’s brother, Joel, arranged for their father’s burial, purchasing a coffin for $25. The incident made headlines, not only in Georgia newspapers but also in publications as far as Memphis, Tennessee. The dispute occurred on election day, and reports suggest that alcohol—specifically whiskey—played a role. In the aftermath, James fled the area on horseback, leaving behind a family shaken by grief and scandal.

During the September 1874 term of the Morgan County Superior Court, an indictment for murder was issued against James, though he had not yet been arrested. The case remained active in the courts for several years, and while evidence suggests the charges may have been reduced to malicious mischief, I have not located official court records or newspaper accounts confirming the final outcome.

In September 1878, Shadrach Dawson was indicted for assaulting Minnie’s brother, Joel, with a club axe—a brutal attack that initially led to charges of attempted murder. However, Dawson later pleaded guilty to assault, resulting in a sentence of either a $50 fine or one year in the chain gang if the fine remained unpaid. Despite the severity of the assault, Joel survived and took legal action, ensuring the case was brought before the courts.

On June 2, 1880, 18-year-old Minnie lived in the Buckhead District of Morgan County, Georgia, alongside her widowed mother, Lucretia (65), and her sister Amanda (22). With her husband gone, Lucretia assumed the role of head of the household, managing daily affairs with the support of her two adult daughters. 

The following year, Minnie married William A. Langford, son of Curtis Caldwell Lankford and Nancy A. Elizabeth McCarty. Their wedding took place on August 15, 1881, in Morgan County, in a ceremony officiated by G.F. McCowan.

Marriage license

Before his marriage to Minnie, William was employed as a servant in the household of Asbury Almond, a farmer in the Martins District of Morgan County, Georgia.

Together, Minnie and William built a family, raising five children: Wade Hampton Langford, Benjamin Hill Lankford, Essie Lou Lankford, Lovie Lee Lankford, and Gertrude Elizabeth Lankford. As was common with the Lankford surname, variations in spelling appeared in records, sometimes written as “Langford” with a ‘g’ rather than a ‘k.’

In May 1890, Minnie’s husband William signed a sharecropping agreement with his landlord, W. A. Almand. A tenant farmer, William promised to pay Almand $90 for provisions that were provided to help grow crops that year, with payment due by November 1, 1890. As security for this loan, William gave Almand a legal claim on half of all cotton he grew on the land (20 acres) known as the Weaver place. The first cotton produced and ready for market would be used to settle the debt at market prices. W. A. Almand may very well have been Asbury Almond, the farmer William worked for prior to his marriage to Minnie.

While no definitive records confirm the circumstances of her passing, it is believed that Minnie died in childbirth with her daughter Gertrude. Gertrude was born in Morgan County on either September 7, 1895 or 1896. Her obituary lists her birth year as 1895 and states she was 81 at the time of her passing. However, her tombstone records the year as 1896. Given that she died in July, the 1896 birth year seems more accurate. Minnie was laid to rest at Sugar Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Madison, though no marker stands at her grave.

Following Minnie’s death, William remarried and had four more children. Curiously, Gertrude was not living with William and his family in 1900, and no census record for her during that year has been found. By 1910, at age 14, she was residing with her sister Lovie and Lovie’s husband, Henry Taylor.

References

• Bob Hanson Sr., The Northeast Georgian, Athens, Georgia, October 21, 1874.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/233140902/j_newton-hanson: accessed April 19, 2025), memorial page for Pvt J. Newton Hanson (unknown–4 Jan 1863), Find a Grave Memorial ID 233140902, citing Oakwood Cemetery, Richmond, Richmond City, Virginia, USA; maintained by Dig Up (contributor 47525629).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48172597/gertrude-whitley: accessed June 4, 2025), memorial page for Gertrude Lankford Whitley (7 Sep 1896–24 Jul 1977), Find a Grave Memorial ID 48172597, citing Harrell Grove Cemetery, Douglas, Coffee County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Douggie (contributor 51050912).
• Georgia Items: Tragic Affray, The Northeast Georgian, Athens, Georgia, October 14, 1874
• Georgia News, Rome Tri-weekly Courier, Rome, Georgia, October 17, 1874.
• J. (Isaac) Newton Hanson, U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861–1865.
• Joel B. Hanson, U.S., Civil War Soldiers, 1861–1865.
• Joel B. Henson, U.S., Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Confederate - Georgia, 1861–1865.
• Latest Georgia News, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, October 30, 1874.
• Morgan County, Georgia, Court Minutes 1871–1877, image 199, FamilySearch.
• Morgan County, Georgia, Court Minutes 1871–1877, image 200, FamilySearch.
• Morgan County, Georgia, Court Minutes 1877–1881, image 48, FamilySearch.
• Morgan County, Georgia, Court Records 1858–1882, image 332, FamilySearch.
• Morgan County, Georgia, Mortgages 1890, images 289–290, FamilySearch.
• Robert Hanson, Morgan County, Georgia, Bonds 1845–1878, 1878–1912, image 223, FamliySearch.
• Robert Hanson, Morgan County, Georgia, Probate Records 1869–1878, image 459, FamilySearch.
• The Georgia Press, Georgia Weekly Telegraph and Georgia Journal and Messenger, Macon, Georgia, October 20, 1874.
• U.S. Federal Census, Adsboro District, Morgan County, Georgia, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, Buckhead District, Morgan County, Georgia, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 62, Morgan County, Georgia, 1850.
• U.S. Federal Census, Madison, Morgan County, Georgia, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census, Martins District, Morgan County, Georgia, 1880. 

Martha Ursula Hanson

Martha “Mattie” Ursula Hanson was born in Cleburne County, Alabama on July 29, 1880, to Stephen P. Hanson and Martha “Caroline” Durrett. She was the eldest of seven children, with siblings James Petty “Pet” Hanson, George Henry Hanson, Margaret Hanson, Lucious Franklin Hanson, Thomas Jefferson Hanson, and Robert Jackson Hanson. Mattie was married to my 2nd great-uncle, John William “Will” Burnett. We have no common relatives. Will’s brother, Thomas Terrell Burnette, was my great grandfather.

Record of births from Stephen P. Hanson’s Bible
Mattie is on the fourth line. 
(used with permission of Carrie Romoser.)

Due to the 1880 census day being June 1, Mattie, born in July, was not recorded. Around 1896, the Hanson family moved from Cleburne County to near Bear Creek in Marion County, Alabama. Research compiled by Austin Landis Burnette (Mattie’s grandson) shows they purchased land in Marion County in 1896 and sold it in 1906, indicating their residence there for at least 10 years. I have not yet located any online land records or deeds.

On March 21, 1899, John William “Will” Burnett applied for a marriage bond in Marion County. Mattie’s parents signed the bond, giving their consent to the Marion County Probate Judge for the marriage. John, son of Samuel Pride Burnett and Millicent “Virginia” Overton, was born in Georgia in 1868 and had moved to Alabama at an unknown date. Samuel and Virginia are my 2nd great grandparents. 

According to Austin, Will lived with his uncle Jim and aunt Fanny Scott in Marion County before the marriage. While writing this sketch, I realized that uncle Jim was James Harris Scott and aunt Fanny (Fannie) was Frances A. Overton, sister of Millicent Virginia (Overton) Burnett. The 1900 Marion County census shows James H. and Adline Scott as a married couple of 14 years. This new piece of information revealed that Frances’ (Fannie), previously known only Frances A. Overton, had the middle name Adline (or Adeline).

Mattie and Will were married at Bear Creek in Marion County on March 26, 1899. There was a 13-year age difference between them. I have not found Mattie and Will in the 1900 census. It is likely they lived near Mattie’s close-knit family in Goddard, but census records do not show them there. I also checked Walton County, Georgia, where Will’s parents lived, without success. Other online researchers seem to have faced the same difficulty, as no one has attached the 1900 census to their family tree. 

Will and Mattie Burnett (photo provided by Austin Burnette)

Mattie and Will’s marriage bond and license

Mattie and Will had eight children: Samuel Stephen Burnett (1900), Julia Virginia “Virgie” Burnett (1902), Herbert Newton Burnett (1903), Amy Leona Burnett (1905), Jasper Pettye Burnett (1906), William “Ellis” Burnett (1908), Charles “Charlie” Noel Burnett (1911), and Leonard Dixon Burnett (1914). 

Hanson family, minus Leonard (photo provided by Austin Burnette)

In 1908, the Hanson family, except for Mattie and Will, moved to Lawrence County, Tennessee, to the community of Liberty Grove, located south of Loretto. The women and children traveled by train to Loretto, while the men and boys drove the cattle and wagons along narrow dirt roads, carrying their belongings. Mattie, Will, and their children stayed behind for one more year before moving to Lawrence County in 1909.

In January 1909, Mattie’s parents purchased over 500 acres of land for $1,256.46, about five miles south of Loretto, in the southern part of Lawrence County. In October 1909, they divided the land among their children as follows: James received 71 acres, George received 79 acres, Lucious received 75 acres, Thomas received 77 acres, Robert received 56 acres, and Martha received 92 acres. The Hansons kept the remaining acres for their home place. Martha did not receive her land until a year after her brothers did.

Later that year, Will and Mattie moved their family to Liberty Grove, a year after the Stephen Hanson family settled there. Everyone built homes on their land and engaged in farming, except for Mattie’s brother Petty, who became a school teacher. Mattie and her family attended Liberty Grove Baptist Church, where Will was one of the founding members.

By April 21, 1910, Mattie and her family were living on Livington Road in Civil District 2 of Lawrence County. At that time, she and Will had been married for 12 years, and Mattie was recorded as having six children, all of whom were living. Will worked as a farmer on a general farm he owned, with Mattie and their son Samuel both working as farm laborers on the home farm. Mattie would have had her hands full with six children, the youngest being just under two years old. Although at least three of the children were school-age, none of them were attending school at the time. Mattie and John were the only family members able to read and write.

On November 28, 1916, Will suddenly passed away at the age of 48 after returning from the fields in Liberty Grove. While it was said he had a stomach illness, it may have actually been a heart attack. He was buried at St. Truitt Cemetery on November 29, 1916, in Liberty Grove. His untimely death left Mattie a widow with the daunting task of raising their eight children alone.

Just a few months later, on January 13, 1917, Mattie’s mother, Caroline, aged 65, passed away in Lawrence County, after suffering from heart dropsy. She was laid to rest at Liberty Grove Cemetery.

On December 18, 1919, Mattie’s son Samuel married Cora Mae Mashburne in Lawrence County.

On January 9, 1920, Mattie, aged 40, and her children, ranging from 5 to 19 years old, lived in the Second District of Lawrence County. Mattie was surrounded by her extended family, with her brother Frank in dwelling 33, brother Henry in dwelling 31, brother Thomas in dwelling 32, brother Robert in dwelling 35, and her father and his second wife Alice in dwelling 36. Mattie herself lived in dwelling 34. In total, 31 family members, including spouses and children, resided side-by-side in the neighborhood.

Mattie managed her farm, which she owned, with the assistance of her son Samuel, who was listed as a laborer on his mother’s farm. Except for Leonard, all of her children attended school, and everyone except Charles and Leonard could read and write.

On February 5, 1922, Mattie’s daughter Virgie married Hobert E. Plunkett in Lawrence County. Sadly, on June 5, 1925, Mattie’s father, Stephen, passed away at the age of 68 in Liberty Grove. He was laid to rest at Liberty Grove Cemetery on June 6.

Hanson family
Front row: Robert Hanson holding Alice, Annie Hanson holding Nellie,
Stephen P. Hanson, his wife Caroline, Mattie Burnett holding Charles, Will Burnett
holding Ellis. Second row: James Petty Hanson, George Henry Hanson, his wife
Romer holding Loela, Samuel Stephen Burnett, Lucious Franklin Hanson,
Thomas Jefferson Hanson. Third row: Amy Lenora Burnett, Julia Virginia
Burnett, James Ezra Hanson, Pierce Hanson, Eva Hanson, Jasper Burnett,
Herbert Burnett (photo provided by Austin Burnette).

On November 15, 1925, Mattie’s daughter Amy married Fred B. Vanderford in Lawrence County. Fred lived five farms away from the Burnett farm. Tragically, Mattie’s son Herbert passed away on September 9, 1929, at the age of 26, at his home near Liberty Grove Church. According to his death certificate, Herbert suffered from malarial hematuria for 22 days, a serious complication of malaria. He was laid to rest at St. Truitt Cemetery the following day, after a funeral service at Liberty Grove Church, where he had been a member since his 16th birthday.

By April 10, 1930, census records show that Mattie and four of her children—Jasper (23), Ellis (21), Charles (19), and Leonard (16)—continued to live on their family farm in Lawrence County. In addition to attending school, all the children worked on the farm. Everyone in the household was able to read and write. Although the family dynamics and dwelling numbers had changed slightly since 1920, the Hanson family remained closely clustered together in the neighborhood. Mattie’s brother Henry lived in dwelling 113, Robert in dwelling 114, Thomas in dwelling 115, and Mattie in dwelling 116. Mattie’s daughter, Virgie, and her husband Hobert Plunkett, now lived next door to Mattie, where her father previously resided. With wives and children combined, there were a total of 35 Hanson family members living side-by-side in the neighborhood. All her brothers were farmers.

On October 7, 1933, Mattie’s son Charles married Esther Mae Fleming in Lawrence County.

Sadly, on July 14, 1936, Mattie’s son Ellis died suddenly from appendicitis at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama. It is believed his appendix ruptured. At the time of his death, Ellis lived in Loretto, where he was a farmer. He was 27, nearly 28, years old. Ellis was buried at Saint Truitt Cemetery in Lawrence County. He never married.

On April 11, 1940, Mattie, aged 61, and her son Leonard, aged 24, lived in Loretta. Mattie was unemployed, while Leonard worked as a garage mechanic. In 1939, Leonard worked for 26 weeks, and during the week of March 24–30, 1940, he worked a grueling 70-hour week. Despite having no recorded earned income, both Leonard and Mattie appeared to have other sources of income, likely from their farm.

When Leonard filled out his World War II draft registration card on October 16, 1940, he listed Mattie as the person who would always know his address. At that time, Mattie resided at R.F.D. 1 in Appleton, Lawrence County, Tennessee.

Despite thorough searches, I was unable to locate Mattie in the 1950 census, even after checking near her children and siblings.

The photo below is believed to have been taken at a Hanson family reunion in Tennessee, likely in the 1950s.

Believed to be a Hanson family photo.
Front: James P. Hanson and Mattie Burnett.
Back: Frank and Emma, Henry and wife, Tom and wife.
(Used with permission of Carrie Romoser.)

In January 1954, Mattie visited her son Jasper in Knoxville, Tennessee. The following year, in June 1955, she visited her son Sam in the Bluewater community of Lawrenceburg before continuing on to visit another son, Charles, in Loretto.

After being a widow for 41 years, Mattie passed away at the age of 77 in Lawrenceburg on November 11, 1957. She had been suffering from heart disease for six months. Mattie was laid to rest beside her husband Will at St. Truitt Cemetery on November 13.

Photo provided by Austin Burnette

When I wrote the sketch for Mattie’s husband, Will, in 2015, I included the text below. I thought it fitting to share a slightly revised version for Mattie’s sketch.

Anyone who has researched their family history knows you make new friends and discover “cousins” along the way. In late 2000, through the wonders of the internet, my sister and I connected with several researchers working on the Samuel P. Burnette and Virginia Overton lines. We were scattered across five states—Virginia, Georgia, Maine, Alabama, and Tennessee. Each of us could document our direct lines and knew of Samuel and Virginia, but we did not know much more. We shared what we knew, compared notes, and embarked on further research together. It was a wonderful experience, sharing stories, photos, and simply enjoying each other’s company, even though it was all online.

Although our research eventually slowed down, we kept in occasional contact through Facebook. The only man in our group was Austin Landis Burnette, a direct descendant of John William Burnette. Austin was always joking around with us, and I enjoyed his wit and humor. Then he went silent for a while, and I later learned he was suffering from depression and hadn’t been doing much research.

In mid-February 2011, I received an email from Austin telling me he was in hospice care. He did not want to leave this world without “us girls” knowing what had happened to him. Less than two weeks later, I saw his obituary posted on his Facebook page. Austin was a kind, southern gentleman, and it was a pleasure working with him and being his virtual friend and cousin.

The personal details in this sketch were shared with the group by Austin himself. I hope he would approve.

References

• Amy Burnett, Lawrence County Lawrenceburg Tn. County Clerk marriages: Lawrence. Marriage Records December 1924–December 1926, image 173, FamilySearch.
• Blue Water, Democrat-Union, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, June 17, 1955.
• Burnett, Baptist and Reflector, Nashville, Tennessee, October 17, 1929.
• Chas. Burnett, Lawrence County Lawrenceburg Tn. County Clerk marriages: Lawrence. Marriage Records December 1932–May 1935, image 105, FamilySearch.
• DuBose, MD, F. G., Malarial Hematuria, JAMA, 1899;XXXII(10):539–540. doi:10.1001/jama.1899.92450370025001j; https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/474607.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16458374/martha_caroline-hanson: accessed February 16, 2025), memorial page for Martha Caroline Durrett Hanson (1 Mar 1851–13 Jan 1917), Find a Grave Memorial ID 16458374, citing Liberty Grove Cemetery, Lawrence County, Tennessee, USA; maintained by J C (contributor 47219112).
• Funeral Held in Pomona for James Hanson, Hi-Desert Star, Yucca Valley, California, October 23, 1969.
• George Henry Hanson, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• Herbert Newton Burnett, Certificate of Death no. 22613, State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Tennessee, 1929.
• James Petty Hanson and Robert Jackson Hanson, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• Jasper Pettie Burnett, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Leonard Dixon Burnett, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Lone Star, Democrat-Union, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, January 29, 1954.
• Lucious Franklin Hanson, Certificate of Death 66-036347, Tennessee Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Statistics, 1966.
• Lucious Franklin Hanson, Certificate of Death no. 66-026347, Tennessee Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Statistics, State of Tennessee, 1966.
• Mattie Burnett, Certificate of Death no. 57-27685, Department of Public Health, State of Tennessee, 1955.
• Mattie W. Hanson, Alabama, County Marriages, 1805–1967.
• Personal memories, photos, and research of Austin Landis Burnette.
• S. P. Hanson, Certificate of Death no. 417, State of Tennessee, State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1925.
• Samuel Burnett, Lawrence County Lawrenceburg Tn. County Clerk marriages: Lawrence. Marriage Records September 1919–April 1921, image 88, FamilySearch. 
• U.S. Federal Census, Civil District 2, Lawrence County, Tennessee, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
• U.S. Federal Census, Goddard, Marion County, Alabama, 1900.
• Virgie Burnett, Lawrence County Lawrenceburg Tn. County Clerk marriages: Lawrence. Marriage Records April 1921–February 1923, image 143, FamilySearch. 

Charles Noel Burnett

Charles Noel Burnett

The 52 Ancestors theme this week is “harvest.”

Charles Noel Burnett, son of John William “Will” Burnett and Martha “Mattie” Ursula Hanson, was born on March 30, 1911 in Lawrence County, Tennessee. He was the seventh child of eight—Samuel Stephen Burnett, Julia Virginia Burnett, Herbert Newton Burnett, Amy Leona Burnett, Jasper Pettye Burnett, William Ellis Burnett, Charles Noel Burnett, and Leonard Dixon Burnett. Charles would be my 1st cousin 2x removed with our nearest common relatives being Samuel Pride Burnett and Millicent Virginia Overton. His father Will and my great-grandfather Thomas Terrell Burnette were brothers.

Charles’ family lived on land purchased by his maternal grandparents, Stephen and Martha Hanson, in 1909. After purchasing the land, his grandparents split the land among their children with Charles’ mother receiving 92 acres.

The John William Burnett family circa 1912.
Charles is sitting on his mother's lap.

Stephen P. Hanson family (circa 1912).
Again, Charles is sitting on his mother's lap.

Front Row (L to R): Robert Hanson holding Alice, Annie Hanson holding Nellie, Stephen P. Hanson, wife Martha Caroline Durrett Hanson, Mattie Hanson Burnett holding Charles Noel, John William Burnett holding William Ellis. Second Row: James Petty Hanson, George Henry Hanson, wife Romer Eliza Owens Hanson holding Loela Hanson, Samuel Stephen Burnett, Lucious Franklin Hanson, Thomas Jefferson Hanson. Third Row: Amy Lenora Burnett, Julia Virginia Burnett, James Ezra Hanson, Pierce Hanson, Eva Hanson, Jasper Burnett, Herbert Burnett.

Life for the Burnett family was most likely centered around the farm and church. His father was one of the founders of the Liberty Grove Baptist Church in Lawrence County so religion was important to the family. Sadly, Charles was just five years old when his father died suddenly in 1916 after returning from the fields. He told his family he had stomach sickness but the cause of death may have actually been a heart attack. His father was buried at St. Truitt Cemetery in Liberty Grove on November 29, 1916. I decided to do this timeline for Charles based on this photo of him and his brother Leonard harvesting a pumpkin, probably on the family farm. Charles looks like he was five or six years old at the time, about the time his father passed away.

Charles and Leonard Burnett

On January 9, 1920, Charles, his mother, and siblings lived in Civil District 2 of Lawrence County, Tennessee surrounded by several Hanson families. His mother was a manager on a farm with his oldest brother Samuel helping out as a laborer. Before the end of the decade, Charles’ brother Herbert died of malaria on September 9, 1929 in Lauderdale County, Tennessee. He had been sick for about three weeks. At the age of 26, Herbert was buried at St. Truitt Cemetery.

On April 10, 1930, the family still lived in Civil District 2 of Lawrence County. They were still surrounded by Hanson families, although different ones than in 1920. There were only four children still living at home—Jasper (23), Ellis (21), Charles (enumerated as Charlie at age 19), and Leonard (16). His sister Virginia (Virgie) lived next door with her husband, Hobert Plunkett and their two children, Avis and Travis.

Charles married Esther Mae Fleming, daughter of D. A. and Emma Fleming, in Rev. Milwee’s home in Peppertown, Lawrence County, Tennessee on October 7, 1933.

Charles’ brother Ellis died suddenly of a ruptured appendix on July 14, 1936 at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama. At the time of his death, Ellis lived in Loretta, Lawrence County, Tennessee where he was a farmer. He was just under 28 years old. Ellis was buried at Saint Truitt Cemetery.

On April 15, 1940, Charles and Esther lived on the farm at Lexington Loretto Road in Lawrence, Tennessee. This was the same farm they lived in five years earlier according to the census record. Charles was 29 years old and Esther 26. The census record shows that Charles had a seventh-grade education and Esther an eighth-grade education. He was a farmer, working a 50-hour week. The following year, their first child was born on April 3 in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. They named their son Charles Daniel Burnett. A second son, Austin Landis Burnette was born in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee on March 30, 1943. Austin was named after a man Charles worked with on a construction job during the war. I worked with Austin and several other Burnett/Overton researchers many years ago to research our lines. Austin once told me he added an “e” to Burnett, changing it to Burnette, when he was young to stop people from calling him “Burnit.” Unfortunately, they started calling him “Burnettie” instead. Austin remembered a time when they didn’t have electricity and washing clothes in an old wash pot with a fire underneath. They used a rub-board and made lye soap.

Charles worked as a machine repairer for the Ford Motor Company.

Charles’ mother died of heart disease in Lawrenceburg on November 11, 1957. She was buried beside his father at St. Truitt Cemetery. His brother Leonard died in 1967, brother Samuel in 1987, and sister Amy in 1995. Charles died at the age of 85 on June 28, 1996 at the Scott National Health Care Nursing Home in Lawrenceburg, Lawrence County, Tennessee. He was buried at Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens in Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama.

At the time of his death, Charles lived next door to Austin. It was Austin who shared the photos and some of the details in this post. I worked with Austin and several other Burnett/Overton researchers many years ago to research these families. We had a lot of fun. Austin lost his battle with leukemia in 2011.

References

• Death certificate 22613 for Herbert Newton Burnett, State of Tennessee.
• Find A Grave Memorial 57446287, Charles Noel Burnett.
• Marriage Record, Lawrence County, Tennessee, Charles Burnett and Esther Mae Flemming, page 151.
• Person memories of Austin Burnette.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 2, Lawrence, Tennessee, 1920, 1930, 1940.

52 Ancestors – William Ellis Burnett (100-2016)

William Ellis Burnett

William Ellis Burnett, son of John W. Burnett and Martha Ursula Hanson, was born on August 2, 1908 in Marion County, Alabama. He was the sixth child of eight—Samuel Stephen Burnett, Julia Virginia Burnett, Herbert Newton Burnett, Amy Leona Burnett, Jasper Pettye Burnett, William Ellis Burnett, Charles Noel Burnett, and Leonard Dixon Burnett. He went by Ellis.

On April 21, 1910, little Ellis lived with his family in Civil District 2 of Lawrence County, Tennessee. He was 1 and 7/12ths years old according to the census enumerator. His parents had been married for 12 years. Ellis’ mother was recorded as the mother of six children, all of which were living. There were two Hanson families living in the neighborhood and I’m sure it’s possible they were related through his mother, Martha Hanson. The census enumerator’s handwriting is hard to read but it looks like they lived on Lexington Road.

Before Ellis’ 8th birthday, his life changed forever on November 28, 1916 when his father William died suddenly at the age of 48. He had just returned from the fields in Liberty Grove, Lawrence County, Tennessee and complained of stomach sickness. It may have been a heart attack however. William was buried at St. Truitt Cemetery in Liberty Grove the next day. William’s death left Ellis’ 36-year-old mother a widow who now had to raise eight children alone.

John William Burnett family -- Ellis is sitting on his
father's lap

On January 9, 1920, 11-year-old Ellis lived with his widowed mother and siblings in Civil District 2 of Lawrence County, Tennessee. It appears to be a different neighborhood than in 1910, however, they are still surrounded by other Hanson families. His mother was a manager on a farm with his oldest brother Samuel helping out as a laborer on his “mother’s farm.”

Ellis’ brother Herbert died of malaria on September 9, 1929 at the age of 26 in Lawrence County. He was buried at St. Truitt Cemetery in Liberty Grove.

On April 10, 1930, the family still lived in Civil District 2 of Lawrence County. Again, they were surrounded by Hanson families, although different ones than in 1920. At age 21, Ellis was a laborer on a farm. The census enumerator actually classified him as an “unpaid worker, member of the family.” Virginia, his oldest sister, lived next door with her husband, Hobert Plunkett, and their two children.

Ellis died suddenly on July 14, 1936 from appendicitis at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama. It’s believed his appendix ruptured. At the time of his death, Ellis lived in Loretta, Lawrence County, Tennessee where he was a farmer. He was just under 28 years old. Ellis was buried at Saint Truitt Cemetery in Lawrence County. He never married.

When I look at the picture of Ellis above, I see my Daddy—Sam Lankford. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the two of them. What do you think—does anyone else out there think they look alike? I always find it interesting to see the family resemblances in collateral lines. Daddy’s grandfather, Thomas Terrell Burnette, and Ellis’ father, John William Burnett, were brothers so Daddy and Ellis would be first cousins, once removed.

Ellis on the left, Daddy (Sam Lankford) on the right

This blog entry completes 100 ancestors! I never thought I’d make it that far. Unfortunately, I now need to take a break from the series as I’ve been neglecting other projects. The most important project on my list is to organize all of the family photos—a monumental but important project. I’ll still fit in time to blog though—maybe it’s time to get back to documenting our family treasures. Wish me luck!

52 Ancestors – no. 45: John William Burnett – (week 29)

John William and Martha Ursula
(Hanson) Burnett

John William Burnett, son of Samuel Pride Burnett and Millicent Virginia Overton, was born November 18, 1868 in Georgia. He was the oldest child of 13—John William, Thomas Terrell, C. B. Annbelle, Abijah Winkfield, Oscar Lee, Mathew E., Laura J., Frances Elizabeth, Mattie Lou, Benjamin Franklin, Virginia O., Joseph Benjamin, and Mollie M. Burnett. He went by Will and was the brother of my great-grandfather, Thomas Terrell Burnette.

On July 28, 1870, Will and his family lived in Covington, Newton County, Georgia. Two year old Will was big brother to 11 month old Thomas. Their father farmed the land while their mother, who was enumerated as Lily, kept house.

On June 18, 1880, Will and his family lived in the Harbins District of Gwinnett County, Georgia. At age 12, Will was a farm laborer along with his brother Thomas.

Will was 20 years old when his youngest sister, Mollie Mae Burnett, was born in Walton County, Georgia on April 26, 1889.

I have no clue how or when Will made his way to Alabama but he married Martha (Mattie) Ursula Hanson, daughter of Stephen P. Hanson and Martha Caroline Durrett, on March 26, 1899 near Bear Creek in Marion County, Alabama. Martha was born on July 29, 1880 in Cleburne County, Alabama. Together they had eight children—Samuel Stephen, Julia Virginia, Herbert Newton, Amy Leona, Jasper Petty, William Ellis, Charles Noel, and Leonard Dixon Burnett. There was a 13 year age difference between Will and Mattie.

I’ve spent several hours searching for Will and Mattie in the 1900 census records but they are nowhere to be found. I’ll keep looking.

John William Burnett family

In January 1909, Mattie’s parents purchased over 500 acres of land for $1256.46 about five miles south of Loretto in the southern part of Lawrence County, Tennessee. In October 1909, they divided the land among their children as follows:

• James Petty Hanson, 71 acres
• George Henry Hanson, 79 acres
• Loucious Franklin Hanson, 75 acres
• Thomas Jefferson Hanson, 77 acres
•  Robert Jackson Hanson, 56 acres
• Martha Ursula Hanson, 92 acres

The Hanson’s kept the remaining acres for their home place. Martha didn’t receive her land until a year after her brothers did. Later that year, Will and Mattie moved their family to the community of Liberty Grove in Lawrence County, a year after the Stephen Hanson family moved there. During the Hanson family move to Lawrence County, the women and children traveled by train to Loretto. The men and boys drove the cattle and wagons with their belongings along narrow dirt roads. All of them built homes on their land and engaged in farming except for James Petty (Pet) who became a school teacher. Will was one of the founding members of Liberty Grove Baptist Church.

On April 22, 1910, Will and his family lived on Livington Road in the Civil District 2 of Lawrence County, Tennessee. Will was a farmer on a general farm, which he owned. He was able to read and write. Mattie and their oldest son Samuel were farm laborers on the home farm. Mattie had given birth to six children, all of which were living.

On November 28, 1916, John died suddenly at the age of 48 after returning from the fields in Liberty Grove. It was said he had stomach sickness but it may have been a heart attack. Will was buried at St. Truitt Cemetery on November 29, 1916 in Liberty Grove. He was survived by his wife Martha, who lived 41 more years. She died on November 11, 1957 in Lawrenceburg, Lawrence County, Tennessee, and was buried beside her husband at St. Truitt Cemetery.

Anyone that does genealogy knows you make new friends and find new “cousins” along the way. In late 2000, through the wonder of the Internet, my sister and I connected with several other researchers working on the Samuel P. Burnette and Virginia Overton lines. We were scattered across five states—Virginia, Georgia, Maine, Alabama, and Tennessee. For the most part, each of us could document our direct lines and were aware of Samuel and Virginia, but didn’t know much more. We shared what we knew, compared notes, and then set out to do more research. We had a wonderful time sharing stories, photos, and just being friends. Our research eventually slowed down and we kept occasional contact through Facebook. The only man in the group was Austin Landis Burnette, a direct descendent of John William Burnette. Austin was always joking around with us. I enjoyed his wit and humor. But then he went silent for a while and I later learned that he was suffering from a bout of depression and wasn’t doing much research. Then in mid-February 2011, I received an email from Austin telling me that he was in hospice care. He told me he didn’t want to leave this world without “us girls” knowing what had happened to him. Less than two weeks later, I saw his obituary posted on his Facebook page. Austin was a kind, southern gentleman and it was a pleasure working with him and being a virtual friend and cousin. The pieces of personal information in this blog post where shared with the group by Austin. I hope he knows I’ve shared his family’s story. I'm sure he would have loved to be a part of it.