Family Note Update: James Burgess (1790-1852)

Recent developments late in 2004 have led to the rather unexpected discoveries regarding the ancestry of The Breathless Moon's Webmaster, Daniel Burgess, and the parentage of his fourth Great Grandfather, James Burgess (1790 - 1852).

Genetic DNA testing conducted during the autumn of 2004 has conclusively proven that James Burgess is not the son of Thomas Burgess and Wynna Caudle Key. The DNA test result "numbers" of Daniel did not produce the anticipated family relationship connection as was originally hoped and long supported through family tradition.

The rather unusual sequence of the 12 carefully tested Y-chromosome genetic markers of Daniel has been evaluated and essentially confirms that his ancestor, James Burgess, has no direct or distant family relation to Thomas Burgess as was originally believed. Continuing on with the results of genetic DNA testing of Daniel, it has also been determined that James has no direct or distant relationship to any of the other main branches of the Burgess family, originating from Maryland and Virginia, currently defined and documented in the Burgess Surname DNA Project.

At the time of this writing, James Burgess and his descendants has been identified as new branch of the Burgess family with yet to be determined parentage and origins.

While nothing is known of the parentage or origins of James Burgess, the following information is known:

1790	James is born (14 Mar) in Bedford County, Virginia. Family tradition incorrectly assumes that James is the son of Thomas Burgess and Wynna Caudle Key. This assumption was never proven through documents, but was generally accepted as fact. In truth, the parents of James are unknown.
1810	U. S. Federal Census for Bedford County, Virginia. James is listed as sole occupant of household. Census was taken during the summer of 1810. James is not married, but perhaps engaged to Rachel Huddleston.
1810	James marries Rachel late in October.
1811-18	Listings in consecutive yearly personal property tax rolls for Bedford County. Son, Austin F. (abt 1811) and daughter, Jemima (abt 1814) are born.
1819-20	James is believed to have resettled in Kanawha County, Virginia. Son, Allen (abt. 1819) and daughter, Mary (abt 1820) is born.
1820	U. S. Federal Census listing for Kanawha County, Virginia.
1820-24	Listings in consecutive yearly personal property tax rolls for Kanawha County. Daughter (?) Uretha (abt. 1822) and son, Nathaniel (abt. 1824) is born.
1824	Logan County, Virginia, formed. The part of Kanawha County James in which resides in becomes part of Logan County.
1824-30	Listings in consecutive yearly personal property tax rolls for Logan County. Thomas & Wynna Burgess appear in this county during this period, but appear listed separately. Austin F., the eldest son of James is an adult and listed closely to James - living close by. Son, Andrew (abt. 1826) is born.
1830	U. S. Federal Census listing for Logan County, Virginia. Son, Austin F. is listed living nearby and appears associated with James.
1831	Fayette County, Virginia, formed. James and his family becomes residents of this new county. Son, Jackson (abt. 1831) is born.
1831-39	Listings in consecutive yearly personal property tax rolls for Fayette County. Sons Henry (abt. 1833) and Gibson (abt. 1837) are born.
1840	U. S. Federal Census listing for Fayette County, Virginia. A daughter (under the age of 5) is listed, but is assumed to have died before 1850. Sons, Austin F. and Allen, are listed living nearby and appears associated with James.
1840-49	Listings in consecutive yearly personal property tax rolls for Fayette County.
1850	U. S. Federal Census listing for Fayette County, Virginia. Sons, Jackson, Henry and Gibson, listed by name and are living with James. Sons, Austin F., Allen and Andrew are living close by (next door).
1852	James passes away at the age of 62.

Through the personal property tax records of Virginia, it is evident that James may have been a poor tenant farmer throughout his life. The records do not indicate that James owned land - perhaps he rented or leased land to support his family. To further support this, the historical reference The History of Fayette County, West Virginia, by authors J. T Peters & H. B. Carden, details numerous land grants and patents of what is now Fayette County, West Virginia, from the latter 1700s through to statehood. In their exhaustive research, no record of James Burgess or his sons are listed as having applied for a land grant or receiving a patent (deed) for land from the State of Virginia.

From 1850 to the present day the direct lineage of James can be well traced through U. S. Federal Census records of Fayette County, Virginia/West Virginia. There is little questionable doubt that the descendancy of James Burgess can be directly proven. What remains to be determined is his ancestry and origins.