Have you ever thought about how your ancestor's possessions would be valued in today's world? I often think about this because it helps me to better compare their situation against my own.
On the 1850 United States Population census individuals were asked about only the value of their real estate. The 1860 US census was the first to ask people to provide information about both their personal assets and the value of their real estate. The process continued with the 1870 census but was removed on the 1880 census. This makes the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census helpful in shining some light on the financial situation of our ancestors.
There is one downfall and that is that Individuals may have hesitated to answer correctly because the values they provided were used to determine the tax they owed.
Because I haven't come across any ancestors that had a large fortune, I decided to focus on those that didn't. I looked into all of my 3rd great grandfathers and what they claimed as the real estate and personal estate value on the 1860 and 1870 census.
I have been able to identify fourteen of my sixteen 3rd Great Grandfathers. six of them were living in the United States and recorded on the 1860 and/or 1870 census. The remaining eight were living in Canada.
One way to better understand the financial situation of our ancestors is to convert income and assets to current day value. This makes the comparison a little easier to understand.
I decided to compare 1860 values to 2010 values and 1870 values to 2020 values. You can see the results in the chart below.[zref]9C974GWN[/zref]
Instructions for Census Taker
1860
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1870
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In July of 1860 Francis Ward, age 27, was living in Harrison Township, Elkhart, Indiana with his wife of two years Mary Elizabeth and their baby daughter Lucinda Ellen Ward. Francis was working as a farm laborer and had no real estate and $50 in personal assets. In 2010 this would equate to $1,313.59.[zref]United States. Indiana. Elkhart County. 1860 Federal Population Census, population. Digital image. Ancestry.com. http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7667 : 2017.[/zref]
By July of 1870, Francis, age 37, was living in Concord, Elkhart, Indiana. He and Mary now had 4 children (Lucinda, John, Mary, & William). Francis lists his occupation as a farmer but does not claim any real estate or personal assets. I'm not sure if that was truly the case or if he was trying to sneak out of some taxes.[zref]United States. Indiana. Elkhart. Concord. 1870 Census, population. Digital image. www.ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/19217591:7163?tid=171372097&pid=372223153536&hid=1049480921589&_phsrc=sMi468&_phstart=default : 2021.[/zref]
In June of 1860 George Faught, age 22, was living with his brother William Faught in Lexington, Sanilac, Michigan. Also living with William were his elderly mother Bridget and older sister Ann. George is a farmer and does not report any real estate or personal assets.[zref]1860 Population Census, Sanilac County, Michigan, population, Lexington, 899, Dwelling Number: 452, Family Number: 443, William Faught; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/44736122:7667 : Viewed 26 March 2021); Family History Library Film: 803558.[/zref] However, this doesn't mean he didn't have any. Per the directions given to census takers for the 1860 census, only the head of each household was asked for information about real estate and personal assets.
By July of 1870, George, age 32, is living in Bridgehampton, Sanilac, Michigan with his wife Elizabeth and their daughter Mary Anna. He is still working as a farmer and claims real estate with a value of $800 and $200 in personal assets.[zref]1860 Population Census, Sanilac County, Michigan, population, Bridgehampton, 10A, Household: 14, Family: 14, George Faught; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/44736122:7667 : viewed 26 March 2021); Family History Library Film: 803558.[/zref] Comparatively speaking these assets would be valued at $15,809.29 and $3,951.32 in 2020.
In July of 1860 Thomas Jefferson Burt, age 54, was living in Sciota Township, Shiawassee, Michigan with his second wife Amelia and their five children (Ann, Ruth, George, Pruie, and Nile). Thomas is a farmer and reports that he owns $1,200 of real estate and $400 in personal assets. In 2010, these assets would be worth $39,407.71 and $10,508.72 respectively.[zref]1860 Population Census, Shiawassee County, population, Sciota Township, Dwelling No. 1500 Family No. 1354, Thomas J. Burt; digital image, Ancestry.com (: viewed 26 March 2021); https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4232713_00187?treeid=171372097&personid=372223153407&usePUB=true&_phsrc=sMi444&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=45279055.[/zref]
Thomas passed away on June 26th, 1864 at the age of 58, and was not recorded on the 1870 census.[zref]Henry Martyn Burt and Silas Wright Burt. Early Days in New England: Life and Times of Henry Burt of Springfield and Some of His Descendants. Genealogical and Biographical Mention of James and Richard Burt of Taunton, Mass., and Thomas Burt, M.P., of England. Madison, Wisconsin: C. W. Bryan Company, printers, 1893.[/zref]
In July of 1860, John Paul Jones was 34 years old and living in Howell, Livingston, Michigan with his wife Mary Jane and their three children (Delphine, Lucinda, and John Paul Jr.). John is working as a farmer and owns real estate with a value of $550.00 and personal assets of $67.00. Comparatively speaking, this would equate to a value of $14,449.49 and $1,760.21 in 2010.[zref]United States. Livingston County. 1860 Federal, population schedule. Digital image. Ancestry.com. http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7667 : 2017.[/zref]
By August of 1870, John, age 44, and his family have moved to Sciota Township, Shiawassee, Michigan. Five children are living in the household (John Paul Jr., Lucinda, Merritt, Royal, and Harriet). John now lists his occupation as a mason. The value of his real estate has increased to $3,000 and his personal assets to $326.00. In 2020 this would have been worth $59,269.85 and $6,440.66 respectively. It appears that he significantly improved the financial situation of his family in ten years.[zref]United States. Shiawassee County. 1870, population schedule. Digital Image. Ancestry.com. http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7163 : 2017.[/zref]
in July of 1860 Sylvester Mason, age 45, is living in Bridgehampton, Sanilac, Michigan with his wife Nancy and their four children (Robert, Silas, Amelia, and Perry). Sylvester is working as a lumberman. On the census, he claims $800 in real estate and $300 in personal property. Respectively, in 2010, this would be worth $21,017.45 and $7,881.54.[zref]United States. Michigan. Sanilac County. 1860 Population Census, population. Digital image. Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/44736122:7667 : 2021.[/zref]
By July of 1870 at the age of 54, Sylvester had moved his family to Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa, Michigan. In the household are Sylvester, Nancy, Robert, Amelia, Mark, and Mary). Sylvester is working as a fisherman and does not report either real estate or personal property on the census. This could have been a mistake on the part of the census taker or maybe Sylvester was trying to avoid taxes. We can't know for sure but I assume that he had at least some assets.[zref]United States. Michigan. Chippewa County. 1870, population census. Digital image. www.ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/27281969:7163?tid=171372097&pid=372223153643&hid=1049777162193&_phsrc=sMi491&_phstart=default : .[/zref]
In June of 1860, at the age of 19, William Thomas King was living in Bloom Township, Seneca County, Ohio. William was living in the household of James and Sarah Stinchcomb. William was attending school and working as a laborer. He did not report any personal or real estate assets. This was probably because he was not the head of household and therefor not required to provide this information.
By July of 1870 at the age of 29, William had moved to Portland, Ionia, Michigan. He is living with his wife Catherine and their son Truman. The family is living next door to Catherine's mother Clarissa Coon and her mother's mother Catherine (Macqueen) Goodwin. William does not report any personal assets or real estate.
Summary
Although I have chosen to compare these six men across ten years they aren't all the same. Their ages range from 19 - 45 years of age. This is a range of 26 years. They lived in different states, counties, and cities. They were at different stages of their lives, and had different occupations. Some men were at the beginning of their lives and some nearing the end.
Throughout these ten years, their lives, families, occupations, and fortunes have changed. Being able to create comparisons like this for a single generation of our ancestors helps to put their lives into perspective. Census records contain so much information that allows us to do just that.
Asking the non-typical questions about typical record types will help us better understand and relate to our ancestors which helps us better understand their stories and the circumstances that lead to our lives today. Their successes, and struggles built the foundation for our life today. For that, we should feel fortunate.
Children are often named after their parents, grandparents, close family, or friends. I've even seen children given a name based on the location of their birth. One trend that I noticed in my family tree was naming children after United States presidents. Have you noticed this in your family tree?
The choice of a "Presidential Name" could have been made to honor a current or former president. Other research suggests a name may have been chosen in the hope that the child would display the same honorable characteristics of that President or even to represent a family's tie to a specific political party.
With the upcoming inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris this week, I figured it would be a good time to write about this trend.
With the historical significance of Kamala Harris being the United States' first female vice president, the highest-ranking female elected official in U.S. history, and the first African American and first Asian American vice president, I do wonder if the name Kamala will move up the ranks in popular baby name lists this year.
Searching my family tree I found several familiar "Presidential Names" representing the following United States Presidents; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Rutherford B. Hayes, and William Howard Taft.
George Washington Burt, my second great grandfather, was born on May 23, 1852, in Sciota Township, Shiawassee, Michigan
George Washington Hawley, my second great uncle, was born on September 11, 1881, in Rust Township, Montmorency, Michigan
George Washington
PresidentPresidential term: April 30, 1789 to March 4, 1797
Thomas Jefferson
PresidentPresidential term: March 4, 1801 to March 4, 1809
Thomas Jefferson Burt, my third great grandfather, was born on March 20, 1806, in Chemung, Chemung, New York.
Thomas was born during the time that Thomas Jefferson was president. It is also interesting to note that he named his own son George Washington Burt.
Wesley Madison Hawley, my second cousin three times removed was born on April 8, 1878, in Billings Township, Gladwin, Michigan
James Madison
PresidentPresidential term: March 4, 1809 to March 4, 1817
Rutherford B. Hayes
PresidentPresidential term: March 4, 1877 to March 4, 1881
Rutherford Birch Steele, my first cousin three times removed, was born on May 19, 1877, in Day Township, Montcalm, Michigan. Rutherford was born just over a month after President Rutherford B. Hayes took office.
Howard Taft Jones, my first cousin three times removed, was born on October 30, 1908, in Brant Township, Saginaw, Michigan
William Howard Taft
PresidentPresidential term: March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1913
When considering this post I knew of a few instances of children in my family tree named after a president. When I started looking, I found many more than I expected and more than those included in this post.
I would love to hear from you, do you have any ancestors with a Presidential Name?
My eighth great grandmother, Eulalia Marche, can be considered a legend in many ways. In 1635, Eulalia, her husband Henry Burt, and their six children left their home in England to start a new life in the New England colonies.
However, the legend that I am going to write about happened before the family left England.
The Family Legend
The story I am going to share can't be verified with documentation. This is a story that has been passed down through generations. The story has been written down in several books but without any significant evidence.
A family legend, regardless of evidence, can provide important clues about the lives of our ancestors because legends like this one tend to leave a mark on the page of the family's story.
The story starts in Devon, England in about the year 1615, Eulalia Marche was 15 years old. It is told that she became very sick and was not expected to live. At some point, Eulalia became catatonic and slipped into a coma. A funeral was planned. There was most likely a wake held for up to two days before the funeral. At the time a wake was typically held in the family home of the deceased.
History of the "Wake"
Eulalia lay in her casket, as her friends and families grieved the life of someone so young, As the service progressed, psalms were sung and tears were shed.
However, Eulalia surprised her audience when during the service she sat upright in her casket.
I can only imagine the mix of surprise, joy, and fear that her friends and family felt.
I have found this story shared in several books and websites. Most of the books were written by a descendant of Henry Burt and Eulalia.
The maiden name of Mr. Burt's wife is unknown, but her Christian name was Eulalia. Of her there is an interesting legend. The Rev. Dr. Ezra Stiles, a noted clergyman, and from 1778 to 1795 the President of Yale College, was directly descended from Henry and Eulalia Burt, through their daughter, Dorcas, who married John Stiles of Windsor. Dr. Stiles prepared in 1764 a genealogy of his family, in which he says : "There is a tradition in the family that the mother of this Dorcas Burt, before she came over from England, was laid out for dead and put in her coffin, but at her funeral signs of life appeared, and she recovered and came to New England, settled at Springfield, and here in America had nineteen children, ten of whom lived to have children, one of whom was this Dorcas." Like most oral traditions, there are in this some apparent discrepancies; there can be no doubt but that our ancestress, Eulalia, was on the point of being buried alive, for such startling events leave deep and lasting impressions that are transmitted from generation to generation with little variation.2
To put this into the context of Eulalia's life:
- Eulalia was born on December 28th, 1600
- Eulalia's father Richard Marche passed away on April 29, 1612, Eulalia was 11 years old
- Eulalia falls ill to a sickness that almost takes her life in about 1615
- Eulalia's mother Joan (Martyn) Marche passed away on May 21st, 1616
- Eulalia's brother William Marche passed away in May of 1617
- Eulalia's sister Elizabeth Marche passed away in May of 1619
- Eulalia's sister Anias Marche passed away in November of 1619
During the seven years surrounding Eulalia's close call with death, she lost both of her parents, as well as, three out of five of her siblings.
The fact that Eulalia Marche survived her brush with death and the tragic death of several family members in itself makes her legendary in my opinion. However, this was not the end of the legendary events in her life.
Eulalia married her husband Henry Burt on December 28th, 1619 in Dean Prior, Devon, England at the age of 19. Between January 14th, 1621, and December 4th, 1638 ten children were born to Henry and Eulalia Burt.
After the birth of their tenth child, Elizabeth Burt, Henry and Eulalia made the tough decision to immigrate to the new world. They sailed to the new world and settled in Massachusetts. Eulalia went on to give birth to five more children and live until the age of 89. Eulalia Burt is a legend in our family.
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?
A strong woman
is one who can build
a firm foundation
with the bricks used to block her path
Every once in a while, I have one of those days that remind me that no matter what I am going through, I come from a long line of very strong women. I have shared the stories of some of these woman throughout my blog. These women would probably never have been given international awards or medals of honor. However, they were each strong and incredible woman in their own right. We often celebrate the heroes in our genealogy research, most of which are men. Today I want to celebrate the woman in my genealogy that struggled, loved, and survived in order to allow me to live the life I do today.
Sarah (Belden) Burt (1682 - 1749): Taken captive by Indians on February 29, 1704. She was 8 months pregnant at the time with her first child. She and her husband Benjamin, not only survived captivity but lived long enough to be rescued. Sarah gave birth to her first child Christopher. On the voyage home to Massachusetts, Sarah gave birth to her second son Seaborn. You can read more about Sarah (Belden) Burt, in the blog post: Benjamin Burt and His Family: Captives of the Deerfield Massacre
Mary Catherine (Clunas) McKenzie (1785 - 1857): Mary Catherine Clunas married Donald McKenzie in 1812 in Scotland, that same year they traveled almost 3,000 miles to Nova Scotia, Canada and then on to Malahide Township, Elgin County, Ontario, Canada to homestead in a new and untamed land. You can read more about Mary Catherine (Clunas) McKenzie in the blog post: Donald McKenzie, Talbot Settler of Elgin County, Ontario, Canada
Elizabeth (Miller) Faught (1845 - 1871): A young mother, suffering from a life-threatening disease. She fought with everything she had to find a cure that would allow her to stay with her husband and newborn daughter. You can read more about Elizabeth (Miller) Faught in the blog post: Elizabeth Miller and the hope of a cure
Sarah Ann (Healy) Hawley (1851 1924): Sarah Ann Healy, my 2nd great grandmother, left her home country of Ireland about the age of 16 to set off on her own to a new home in America. Once she arrived in America, she found her way to a small lumbering town called Alpena. She raised seven children and outlived all but two of them. She then made the long trip from Northern Michigan to Bellflower, California, and then back again after her husband's death. You can learn more about her life on her page or from one of the many blog posts I have written about her and her family.
Mary Anna (Faught) McKenzie (1870 - 1929): Mary Anna Faught, my 2nd great grandmother, overcame many struggles in her life, from losing her mother before the age of five, separated from her father and raised by her grandparents. Mary Anna grew up and married Alexander McKenzie. Alexander passed away at the age of 56, leaving Mary Anna with seven children to raise. Learn more about the tough woman by reading the blogs I have written about
Vera (Mason) Royer (1903 - 1982): Vera Ellen Mason, my great grandmother, was born around the turn of the century and married at 21. She raised five children through some of the most horrible and wonderful events in history. In her lifetime, she witnessed four wars (WWI, WWII, The Korean War, and The Vietnam War), lived through the great depression, saw woman gain the right to vote and the end of racial segregation. Most of her life she survived with a 7th-grade education. Until, at the age of 76, she went back to school to earn her high school diploma. I am proud to call this strong woman my great grandmother. Read more about this in the blog post: It is Never too Late to Learn...
Edna Jean (Burt) McKenzie (1927 - 2013): Edna Jean Burt was my grandmother. It is hard to summarize her strength because she is one of those people that made such a huge difference in the lives of so many. Born the youngest daughter of a minister, she grew up to raise five wonderful children. Throughout her life, she was the glue that held our family together. It was her quiet but constant strength and faith that my McKenzie family is built upon. She not only cared for her family but all those around her. Her love and courage were contagious and I for one am proud to say that she is my grandmother.
Benjamin Burt is my 7th great grandfather. He and his wife Sarah (Belden) Burt were forced to endure a terrifying and unthinkable ordeal during the winter of 1704. In this blog post, I will share their story. I will admit ahead of time, that a large part of the information in this blog comes either directly or indirectly from the book "Early Days in New England: Life and Times of Henry Burt of Springfield and Some of His Descendants" written by Henry Martyn Burt and Silas Wright Burt. I attempted to re-write this harrowing story in my own words and was just not able to do it justice as my ancestors before I had done before.
The story begins with Benjamin Burt who was born on November 17, 1680, in Northampton, Massachusetts, the twelfth child of David Burt and Mary Holton.
When Benjamin was a baby, King Philip's War (1675 - 1678) was fought in southern New England. This was a major effort by the region's Native American tribes to drive out English colonists. Led by King Philip, the rebellion destroyed twelve New England towns within a year and damaged many more. Colonists quickly banded together to mount a defense, but this came at a price, as one-tenth of all men available for military service were killed. Benjamin's older brother David Burt, a soldier on duty at Schenectady, New York, was taken prisoner on February 29, 1690, when that town was destroyed by the French and Indians and was never seen or heard from again. Benjamin was only 10 years old.
Deerfield is beautifully situated near the confluence of the valleys of the Deerfield and Connecticut rivers and contains a large area of fertile soil which made the area attractive to early settlers. It is surrounded by a picturesque region of hills and valleys, but its location at the union of river valleys from the north, west, and east made it easily accessible to hostile approach. These conditions and the extreme frontier position had made it attractive as a strategic point to the savage enemy in the "King Philip" and the French wars. In 1703, its exposed site led to its fortification by an enclosure of tree trunks entirely surrounding it, and to its protection by a garrison.
In January of 1704, an expedition was formed at Montreal, Canada under the command of Major Hertel de Roubille, for an attack upon Deerfield. The party consisted of 200 Frenchmen and 142 Indians. The invaders made a forced march through the wilderness and suffered terribly from the intense cold. When they reached the vicinity of their destination there was four feet of snow on the ground and the crust on it was sufficiently strong to bear the weight of men, while the drifts made easy inclined paths to the top of the enclosure that encircled the town of Deerfield. The sole sentinel on duty, depending upon the mid-winter conditions as a sufficient defense, had left his post and sought shelter from the icy conditions. Just before daybreak on February 29, 1704, the assault was ordered upon the defenseless town. A general attack was simultaneously made by the invaders scattered throughout the settlement, The unfortunate inhabitants of Deerfield, wakened from their sleep by the frightful war whoops of the savages, were massacred or wounded as they ran frightened from their homes, to which torches were set.
Very few people escaped and made it to the nearby forest, and others that were not slaughtered on sight were gathered in the open space near the little church; among these were Benjamin Burt and his wife Sarah, who had escaped death only to have witnessed the death of their family and friends, and the destruction of their home.
Less than eight years earlier, in a sudden raid upon her father's house, Mrs. Sarah (Belden) Burt had seen her mother, two brothers and infant sister killed by the Indians, and another brother dangerously wounded, Sarah only escaped by hiding in the attic. Her father, a brother and a sister were taken captive to Canada, and would not return for two years.
Benjamin and Sarah, along with the other survivors clung together wearing only their night clothes. they mournfully took count of the slain by their absence. As they mourned over the loss of their loved ones, and saw all their treasures turning to ashes, a dreadful uncertainty obscured their own fate. In their midst their revered pastor, the Rev. John Williams, addressed prayers for divine assistance and support, which were interrupted by the orders to march, as the captives were driven from the village.
"The condition and sufferings of these unfortunate creatures cannot be adequately described; in the few brief, agonizing minutes of the attack they had neither forethought nor time to make the least preparation for such a fearful journey; poorly clad and shod, the rocks, bushes and brambles soon rent their scanty garments and when sodden with the penetrating melted snow their power to resist the icy blasts was almost exhausted. At night when the exertion of motion no longer stimulated their blood they could only save their vital warmth by lying close together in the snow, a feebly palpitating mass of misery." - Rev. John Williams
Making the journey even more difficult was the lack of sufficient food and provisions, the Indians always depending for subsistence on their attacks upon the wild game that they came upon along their journey. Of course the captives received the minimum share of such poor food. The women and children naturally suffered the most from fatigue and deficient food, and when they lagged or were unable to continue, they were immediately slain by the impatient and ruthless savages.
The wife of Pastor Williams was the first victim, having given out early in the march, and was tomahawked in the presence of her husband and children. The next victim, was, Mrs. Hepzibah Belden, the step-mother of Sarah Burt, then nearly sixty years old, and who met the same fate, that about ten years earlier, had overtaken her three daughters at Hatfield, where they were tomahawked by the Indians. Altogether there were 19 captives slain on this journey, most of them being pregnant women.
Some of these poor creatures, when they felt that their powers of endurance were nearly exhausted, calmly prepared for death by seeking the consolation of prayer with Pastor. Williams, who gives in his journal a pathetic account of the resignation and heroism of these brave souls about to part from their tortured, worn-out bodies.
" I saw in the naked forest Our scattered remnant cast,
A screen of shivering branches Between them and the blast;
The snow was falling 'round them,
The dying fell as fast."
- Rev. John Williams
On this dreadful march none endured more than Mrs. Burt; when she started upon it she was in the eighth month of her first pregnancy, and despite the aid of her husband she could hardly have endured the burdens, rigors, hardships, and horrors of the twenty-five day journey, if not for her youth and extraordinary powers of endurance.
"The writer has often in fancy depicted to himself this ancestress, subjected in her early wifehood to that direful ordeal ; the days of unmitigated misery in the deep snows of the bleak and trackless wilderness; the piercing cold ; the sore, aching, frost-bitten limbs ; the ever gnawing hunger; the slaughter of her step-mother and of the many women burdened like herself ; of the long nights haunted by the vague dread of the morrow with all its known and unknowable terrors. Was it with joy or dread that she felt within her the throbs of her unborn child ? " - Henry M. Burt of Springfield
When the party reached Coos in Vermont it was entirely destitute of provisions and two of the captives died here of sheer starvation. The hunters having succeeded in getting some game, the dreary march was resumed, until on March 25, the party reached Chamble, about eighteen miles northeast of Montreal. Here, on April 14, 1704, Sarah Burt delivered her first child, a son named Christopher.
Subsequently, the captives were distributed among the Indians and French and put to various services, the larger portion of them being employed in the convent and Jesuit academy near Montreal, Benjamin Burt and his wife Sarah being among these. Strong efforts were made to convert them to the Roman Catholic faith.
On Benjamin Burt's side were :
- (1), his brother David, captured at Schenectady, February 9, 1690, and never after heard from ;
- (2), his brother John, killed in a scout in May 1707 ;
- (3), his uncle, Joseph Baker, killed October 29, 1675 ;
- (4), his uncle, Thomas Holton, killed March 14, 1676;
- (5 and 6), his cousins, William and John Brooks, killed October 27, 1675 ;
- (7) his uncle, Sergeant Samuel Wright, killed September 2, 1676 ;
- (8, 9, 10), his cousin Nathaniel Brooks's wife, captured at the same time as himself, the wife slain on the march to Canada and the children never after heard from.
On Sarah Burt's side were
- (1, 2, 3 and 4), her mother, two brothers, and sister killed September 16, 1696;
- (5 and 6), her cousin, Mary Belden, and child killed September 19, 1677 ;
- (7), her cousin, John Smith, killed May 30, 1676;
- (8), her stepmother, captured at the same time as herself and slain on the march to Canada.
Together Benjamin and Sarah had eighteen relatives slain, besides many others severely wounded or carried into captivity, between 1690 and 1707.
In 1708, certain townsmen of Norwalk purchased from the Indians a tract fifteen miles north and settled it as Ridgefield. As every useful, or rather indispensable, craft had to be represented in such isolated settlements, Benjamin Burt became one of the co-equal proprietors as the blacksmith.
Although, I have known of this part of my family's history for a while now, reading and researching it again brought back the significance of this historical event. The strength and perseverance of Benjamin and Sarah Burt is an amazing testament to the colonial spirit of these early New England settlers. To further strengthen the connection I feel to my 7th great grandparents is the realization that if they had not survived this horrific experience and went on to live full lives, I may not be here today. My 6th great grandfather, Benjamin Burt (1707 - 1796) was born only 6 months after his parents were rescued from their captures.
"Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present and future. We make discoveries about ourselves." -Gail Lumet Buckley, writer
George Washington Burt and Scot Raymond Mckenzie. Scot is the great-grandson on George Washington Burt
Lavina May (Hawley) Burt and Betty Jean (Mckenzie) Krezwinski. Betty is the Granddaughter of Lavina May (Hawley) Burt.
Russel Alger McKenzie and Tyler Alexander Mckenzie. Tyler is the half-first cousin 4 times removed of Russell Alger McKenzie.
Sarah Maud "Sadie" (Hawley) Bates and Heather McKenzie. Heather is the great-great niece of Sarah Maud (Hawley) Bates.
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If you find yourself in Lewiston, Michigan and near the intersection of County Road 612 and Junction 489/491 take County 612 going east for 3.3 miles, you will see Albert Township cemetery on the left, North side of the road. This is only where our journey begins. From here, we are going to take a dirt road that leads us behind the cemetery and opens onto a clearing. In this clearing we find a single lilac bush, that too many may seem to be out of place. There is no other lilac bush in this area, only one. I'm sure many have wondered about the way that this single lilac bush made it's way into the forest, today I will tell that story.
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Lilac bush at the former home of
Edna Jean (Burt) McKenzie,
sister of Lenora Burt.
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 Lilac bush at the home of
Terry McKenzie,
the great nephew of Lenora Burt.
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I referenced a photo I found of my grandmother Edna Jean (Burt) McKenzie standing next to a sign for "The Witness Tree", in a previous blog post called Road Trip Through Our Family History. In today's blog post, I will provide additional details about William Burt and explore a possible family connection.
First, let make a correction to a statement I made in my earlier post. The Witness tree does not stand testimony to the work of William Austin Burt, but instead his son William Burt.
William Burt was born in Mt. Vernon, Macomb County, Michigan, on October 31, 1825, and is the son of William Austin Burt and Phoebe (Cole) Burt. William Burt grew up as a young boy in the county where he was born and acquired his education in a log schoolhouse situated in the neighborhood. He spent his boyhood on a farm and continued to follow agricultural pursuits and land surveying as a means of work until he had reached the age of forty years. He learned the business with his father and older brothers, experts in that line, and at the age of twenty began the work for himself. He aided in surveying a greater part of the Upper Peninsula, coming to Marquette area with his father and brothers in 1846. On the 23rd of March, 1847, he was appointed United States Deputy Surveyor.
Often a surveyor would use, what is called a witness tree, to serve as a reference point to establish the corner line in a survey. A mark was sometimes cut into the trunk and the location of the witness tree was noted in the surveyor’s field report.
William Burt, the deputy surveyor for the state, marked a witness tree. The tree is a red pine and stands in what is now Pigeon River Forest. The tree is located on the quarter section corner between Section 15 and 16 of Township 32 North Range 1 West. This is one of two trees marked on the corner. When he first marked the tree, it's diameter was only eight inches around.
If you remember this question was raised after I found the photo of my grandmother, Edna Jean (Burt) Mckenzie, pointing to the "Original Witness Tree" Sign. The story had always been that we were related to William Burt. Obviously, this is the same story that my grandmother was told.
Well, after several hours of research, I have to admit, I have not found a connection between my Burt family line and the family line of William Burt. Although the two families seemed to have immigrated from England to Massachusetts around the same time and were often found living near each other, a connection has not been found.
As it turns out, I am not the first to come to this conclusion. In "Early days in New England : life and times of Henry Burt of Springfield and some of his descendants, genealogical and biographical mention of James and Richard Burt of Taunton, Mass., and Thomas Burt, M.P., of England" Written by Henry Martyn Burt and Silas Wright Burt in 1893, the same conclusion was reached.
I remember a trip took when I was young, 1988 based on the photos, with my parents and grandparents (Alexander and Edna McKenzie). We often took long drives, sometimes to find that "perfect garage sale", sometimes just to drive. On this trip, we visited several places in and near Montmorency County, Michigan.
