Richard Edward Burgess of Marshall Co., Alabama

[Haplotype R - M269]

Note: This family is affiliated with that of:

William McGee of Los Angeles Co., California

Richard Edward “Ed” Burgess was born in April 1872 in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, or Alabama (as he variously reportedly in the censuses), or in Walker Co., Georgia, according to his son Hugh’s death record. He married Jeanette “Jennie” Patterson, daughter of Thomas Spencer Patterson and Eliza Jane Rainy, about 1894. He is listed in the 1895 tax assessor record for Meltonsville, Marshall Co., and also for Union Grove; and in the 1900-30 censuses for Marshall Co., Alabama; he has not been found in 1880. Ed Burgess died in Marshall Co., Alabama in April 1937, having had five sons:

1. Homer Eddie Burgess (1896-1972) of Marshall Co., AL
2. Joseph Stanley Burgess (1898- )
3. Thomas Brant Burgess (1899-1946) of Marshall Co., AL
4. Ernest E. Burgess (1901-1976) of Marshall Co., AL
5. Hugh Carlton Burgess Sr. (1903-1989) of Kentucky

Ed Burgess is said to have had a brother who lived in Tyler, Texas. If this story is correct, the only possible candidate appears to be Rev. Milton Wesley Burgess, who was born 16 December 1870 in Talladega Co., Alabama (with both parents born in Alabama), who says he is the son of John Burgess of England and Neely Cameron of Alabama (according to his death certificate). Milton married firstly Mary Ellis __, and secondly Nettie __. He is listed in the 1900 census in Hunt Co., Texas, in 1910-20 in Tyler, Smith Co., Texas, and in 1930 in Navarro Co., Texas. In 1880 he is listed in Callahan Co., Texas, with his mother, Cornelia V., stepfather, William H. Crawford, and sisters Emma E. (born 1869) and Ida Idella (born 1873). His parents appear to be J. W. Burgess and C. V. Burgess, who are listed with their daughter, Emma, in the 1870 census for Clay Co., Alabama (next door to Talladega Co.); this family may be descended from Joseph Burgess son of Mordecai Burgess of the Edward Burgess line of Pittsylvania Co., Virginia (see above). Milton died childless on 19 October 1952 in Grayson Co., Texas. No proof has been found of a connection between the families of Ed Burgess and Milton Burgess.

Hugh Carlton Burgess is the ancestor of H. C. Burgess.

Test results received from one representative of this family match the numbers of a descendant of William McGee of Los Angeles Co., California; they have a common male ancestor, name unknown. The numbers also match those of the descendants of a major Hancock family branch (see the Hancock DNA Surname Project at Family Tree DNA).