Continuing with the 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, I am going to share what I know about my paternal 2nd great grandmother Lucinda Jones. Lucinda has always been a little bit of a mystery to me.
How I'm Related
Lucinda Jones - My 2nd Great Grandmother
Ernest Nile Burt - My Great Grandfather
Edna Jean Burt - My Grandmother
Tom Orlando McKenzie - My Father
Family
Lucinda E. Jones was born on November 24th, 1854 in Howell Township, Livingston County, Michigan to John Paul Jones and Mary Jane Chappell. She was the third child of nine.
Siblings
Childhood
I was able to find Lucinda living with her parents in the 1860 and 1870 census
July 26th, 1860 - Lucinda, 5 years old, is shown on 1860 Federal Census with her father, mother, and two siblings; Mary O. D. (Delphine) (10) and John P. (10 Months). Lucinda and her family are living in Howell, Livingston County, Michigan. Her father, John lists his occupation as a farmer. The family has real estate worth $550 and personal property worth $67.
August 4, 1870 - Lucinda, now 15 years old, is shown on 1870 Federal Census with her father, mother, and four siblings; John P. (10), Merritt (6), Royal (4) and Leounch (2). I believe that Leounch is actually a misspelling of Harriet, who was born in 1868. Lucinda and her family are living in Sciota Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan. John's occupation is now listed as a Mason. The family owns real estate worth $1,500 and personal property worth $250.
We can see from the 1870 census that Lucinda is living near her future husband, George Washington Burt.
In 1870, both George and Lucinda are still attending school, most likely together. However, George, age 17, was two years older. Based on my research, they probably attended the Octagon school which was located on Doyle Road in between Austin Rd. and Shaftsburg Rd. in what is now Laingsburg. This school house still exists, although it has since been turned into a personal residence.
The image above shows the location of the Octagon School. Shaded in blue is also the property where George W. Burt was living with his mother Amelia and four siblings, on August 4th, 1870.
Marriage and Children
Just over a year after their marriage, George and Lucinda had their first child, a son whom they named Thomas John Burt. Thomas was born on July 15th, 1875 in Webber Township, Lake County, Michigan. My guess would be his name was chosen for each of their fathers; Thomas Burt and John Jones.
On June 14th, 1880, George and Lucinda were recorded on the 1880 census with their son Thomas. George was listed as a farmer.
A month later, on July 20th, 1880, my great grandfather, Ernest Nile Burt, was born. The family was still living in Webber Township.
By 1882, the family had moved to Sciota Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan. This is where their third child and first daughter Leah was born on September 24th, 1882.
George and Lucinda's youngest child Miles Raymond Burt was born on July 11th, 1886 in Laingsburg, Shiawassee County, Michigan. So the family has once again moved.
I found a clip in the Owosso Times Newspaper from Friday, November 9th, 1883 that suggests that the family moved around 1883. By the sounds of it, a bit of bad luck followed them.
Based on the information I found in the March 4th, 1887 edition of the Owosso Times Newspaper, the family is renting a farm, two miles north of Laingsburg, from a Mrs. Ann Smith. I believe that they were living on one of the plots outlined in yellow on the map below.
As you can see from the map below, they were living close to George's mother Amelia. Her land is outlined in orange on the map.
My assumption is that George and Lucinda moved back to the Laingsburg area to care for George's mother Amelia because she passed away not long after, on May 26th, 1888.
The area outlined in red, was later rented, about April 12th, 1889, by Lucinda's husband George from a gentleman named G. W. Swarthout.
Taken too soon
Unfortunately, one of the reasons that I know so little about Lucinda Jones is that she died very young. My grandmother, Edna Jean (Burt) McKenzie told me the story of her grandmother's death several times.
She told me that her father, Ernest, was at home with his siblings when his mother passed away. His father George was away from home working. Ernest had to walk several miles in the snow to find his father and tell him that his mother had died.
I later found a blurb in the Owosso Times Newspaper from Friday, December 14th, 1888 that confirmed the story. Lucinda Passed away in her sleep on Saturday, December 8th, 1888.
Although, I can't find the exact weather forecast for the day of Lucinda's death, based on historical averages, Shiawassee County temperatures for December range from 20.4 F to 34.5 F, with an average of 10.4 inches of snowfall in December.
I can only images how Ernest felt making that long walk to deliver such horrible news to his father while worrying about his siblings left at home with his deceased mother.
Summary
Lucinda passed away at the young age of 34, younger than I am now. She left a husband and four young children. She was the daughter of an immigrant and the wife of a farmer. Most important, she was the mother of four children, who went on to live full lives. We may not know a whole lot about Lucinda herself, but her children were her legacy. I am happy that I can share her story today, so that others will also remember her.
Outstanding Questions
- I am still looking for a photo of Lucinda. I have several photos of her siblings and their families, however, none of her or her parents.
- Where did George and Lucinda get married?
