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Breathless Moon Site Contents
Part I: Family Tradition
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Part II: Transcriptions |
Part III: Parallel Dimensions |
Part IV: Odd Bits |
© 2001-2007
Vortex Creations, Inc.
Daniel K.
Burgess, Webmaster
Page last updated:
Thursday, 17 May 2007 11:03
Greetings from the Eternal Evergreen Forests of the Great Pacific Northwest!
The Burgess Legacy Begins
The Burgess surname is among the oldest surnames in recorded history and dates back, in various forms, to the medieval days of Europe and is deeply rooted in English lore. As early as 350 AD, when Saxon kings ruled over the lowlands of what is now England, this family name grew out of relative obscurity to represent a family identity that is steeped in the rich tradition of greater Britannia that has endured for more than a thousand years.
Derived from the early Saxon word "burg" or large village, the name or title of Burgess was bestowed upon free men having the latitude to ply their trades as craftsmen, artisans, merchants or land holders. With this title, he held certain civic privileges among those of a "burg" or "burgh". Though not obligated to serve the local feudal lord, a man having this title was neither a peasant nor of aristocracy. In time, this title was adopted as a surname.
My research, on my paternal side, originally began with my Great Grandfather, Clarence Hill Burgess of Fayette County, West Virginia. Knowing very little of his origins, I began my quest to discover what appeared to have been largely lost and forgotten over the generations. Yet, as my search continues, I now have a better understanding of whom my ancestors were and of times in which they lived.
My branch of the family, so far, dates back to my fourth Great Grandfather, James, the Great Grandfather of Clarence Hill. Born around 1790, James came from unknown parentage and nothing is known about his family at this time. James grew up in Bedford County, Virginia, where he married Rachel Huddleston in 1810 and began his lifelong profession as a farmer. Within a decade, the lure of abundant land and prospects for a better future prompted James to pack up his family and move west into the New River valley of what is now Fayette County, West Virginia.
During the run of the next several decades, James prospered as a farmer and raised ten children - seven sons and three daughters. James continued to pursue the profession of farming until his passing in 1852. His sons prospered in the profession of farming and raised large families as well.
However, even though I have rediscovered quite a bit of my lost history, many questions have yet to be answered. Perhaps, someday, these mysteries will be solved and families that have been long since divided by time and distance will be reunited again - to share a once lost family bond steeped in rich tradition and fond memories.
Yet, as my ancestors moved and their families grew, their lives became intertwined with many other families thus enriching my heritage. Since I began my research in the spring of 2001, I have discovered much about my greater collective family. Along the way, I have found distant relatives, with whom I can share "a little something" to enrich their understanding as they seek out their heritage.
The Legacy Continues
As you will read in other areas of this site, you may get the impression that I have always been fascinated with history. In this, I am not only interested in the people of my ancestral lineage, but also in the places and of the times in which they lived.
As a young boy, I cannot accurately describe the excitement I felt as I listened to my parents and grandparents relate their memories. My imagination ran wild as I tried to envision the times in which they lived. With each story, I realized that there was much more to learn and much was was being lost through fading memories and passing family members. In the fullness of time, I came to put forth an effort to collect and document my family's history.
Nevertheless, while genealogy is about dates and places that are specifically connected to individuals, much can be learned from historical information written about where and when they lived. With this, I have tried to capture some of the history of my hometown, Renton, Washington, as well as the history of Fayette County, West Virginia.
Here, you will find the collective works of my efforts to document and record the history of the my family heritage as well as the history of related families that became a part of who I am. I have tried to capture a little something of my family history, my interests and cherished family memories. Also, you will find a little about my hometown, family roots, and, of course, something that I find personally interesting. Everything you find here ties into the collective family memory.
Thank you for visiting The Breathless Moon and the Burgess Legacy Genealogy Project. I am always constantly updating this site. I try to provide the most accurate, up-to-date information, but I realize there may be some inaccuracies. I welcome any and all comments to chronicle my Burgess Legacy!