Person:Edward Burch (6)

Edward Burch, was born about 1764, probably in Georgia or South Carolina. He married Martha Whitaker, a daughter of Captain John Whitaker. In 1795, Edward resided in Captain Lyon’s District, in Richmond County, Georgia. At the time, Edward owned 87 acres of pine land, valued at 4 pounds and 7 pence. The tax paid on this land was 3 pence.

Edward Allen Burch was born on April 6, 1796, in Georgia. At the time, his parents, Joseph Burch and Eda (or Edith) Burch, lived in Richmond County, Georgia. After his mother died in 1796, Edward Allen was adopted at the age of 5 months old, by Edward Burch, and his wife, Martha. They had no children. Edward Burch was a brother of Joseph Burch, Edward Allen Burch’s father. Joseph later married ? Gilley or ? Wilcox. Joseph and the rest of his family moved from Richmond County to Montgomery County, Georgia, about 1801.

Edward moved from Richmond County about 1808. By 1820, Edward Burch, and his wife, Martha, resided in Wilkinson County, Georgia. By this time, Edward Allen Burch had joined a group led by Isom Cowart, which settled in Mississippi. In 1820, Isom Cowart and his family lived in Perry County, Mississippi. In Mississippi, Edward Allen married Elizabeth Cowart, a daughter of Isom and Susanna (Miller) Cowart. Elizabeth was born about 1805, in South Carolina. Edward Allen and Elizabeth’s first child, Edward Allen, Jr., was born on July 19, 1821, in Mississippi. Later in the 1820’s, Edward Allen and Elizabeth moved back to Georgia, and settled near Hawkinsville, in Pulaski County. Edward Allen worked as a carpenter, and repaired cotton gins.

Edward Burch, the adoptive father of Edward Allen, also settled in Pulaski County in the 1820’s. In the 1820’s, Martha (Whitaker) Burch died. On August 11, 1828, Edward married Mary Luton, in Pulaski County, Georgia. In 1830, Edward Burch and Edward Allen Burch resided in Pulaski County. At that time, Edward Burch, owned 12 slaves.

During the American Revolutionary War, Edward Burch reportedly served with Colonel (later a General) Francis Marion’s Brigade, in South Carolina. Later, Edward served in the Burke County (Georgia) Militia, in Captain Abner Bickham’s Company. He served as a private from August 15, 1781 through February 5, 1782. Edward’s brother, Charles Burch, also served as a private in Captain Bickham’s Company. Captain Abner Bickham was under the command of Colonel Asa Emanuel. Later in 1782, Edward served as a private in Captain Patrick Carr’s Company of the Burke County (Georgia) Rangers. Edward’s brother, Charles Burch, also served as a private in Captain Carr’s Company. The Burke County Rangers were commanded by Colonel James MacKay. A descendant of Charles Burch described the following incident during Edward’s military service, “At the close of a skirmish between the Whigs and Tories or British, Edward, who was a very muscular and fearless man, went out unarmed over the ground that had been the scene of the conflict, probably to ascertain what loss the enemy had sustained. A mounted British or Tory officer, who had been concealed by the heavy undergrowth, saw the Whig soldier’s defenseless condition and determined to capture or kill him. Drawing his sword and putting spurs to his horse he ran down unarmed Edward and attempted to brain him with his gleaning steel, but the doughty Whig parried the blow, and, grasping the blade, he wrenched it from the officer’s hand, and would have paid him in his own coin, but for the fleetness of his steed.” General Francis Marion gave Edward Burch an inkstand and a pen case, with a brass pen, which was used to sign the document disbanding Marion’s Brigade, in 1782. At the time, Edward was described as a “beardless eighteen-year-old boy”.

During the Revolutionary War, Edward Burch was a Georgia refugee soldier. For his aid in defending the State of Georgia, he was entitled to a certificate [No. 90 or No. 960 (on back)], for a bounty land grant of 500 acres of land, which was signed on February 6, 1784, by Brigadier General John Twiggs. Edward apparently did not obtain a warrant using this certificate. Instead, on May 4, 1784, he obtained a warrant for 575 acres of land in the name of John Whitichar (Whitaker), deceased, his father-in-law, who served as a Captain with his own company, in the Georgia Militia, during the Revolutionary War. This land was located in Washington County, Georgia. Captain John Whitaker died in late April or early May 1784. On April 6, 1784, John Whitaker had been issued a certificate [No. 912] for a bounty land grant in Georgia, as Captain of a company of refugees, signed by Brigadier General John Twiggs. John Whitaker had applied for 575 acres of land in Franklin County, Georgia.

After the death of her father, Captain John Whitaker, in 1784, Martha inherited 300 acres of land on Spirit Creeks, in Richmond County, Georgia. On October 3, 1785, Edward Burch and his wife, obtained a headwright grant for 250 acres of land, on the fork of Spirit Creeks, in Richmond County. The warrant for this land was executed on October 6, 1785. On September 3, 1792, Edward obtained a headwright grant for 100 acres of land, on the waters of Little Spirit Creek, in Richmond County. On September 5, 1795, Edward obtained a headwright grant for 300 acres of land, in Richmond County. In Richmond County, Edward’s home, which he reportedly shared with his brother, Charles, was located near the waters of Little Spirit Creek, near the town of Hephzibah. Charles Burch owned land next to Edward Burch.

Edward Burch, the adoptive father of Edward Allen Burch, died about 1833, in Pulaski County. Edward Burch’s will was written on August 7, 1832, and probated in 1833. Edward’s will was recorded in Pulaski County Will Book A, on pages 140-142:

“State of Georgia} In the Name of God Amen

Pulaski County }

I Edward Burch Senior of said County and State being low in health but of sound and disposing mind and Memory and being mindful of the certainty of death and of my own Mortality do make and publish this my last will and testament.

I ?. I will my soul to god as he gave it and my body to the dust to be buried in a plain but decent manner as shall ?my Executor herein after named.

Item 1st” It is my will and desire that my Executor after payment of my just debts and funeral expenses which I Will shall be done out of the proceeds of my crop of cotton. These my estate be disposed of as herein after directed and bequeathed.

Item 2nd” I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary twenty four and three fourths acres of land it being the one half of fraction number one hundred and twenty in the twelfth district of formerly Houston now Pulaski County to be taken off of that part of said fraction which includes the dwelling house where I now live, to her during her natural life or Widowhood and on her marriage or at her death then the same to go into and become as the balance of my estate in the hand of my executors to be managed and disposed of as herein after directed for the management and disposal of the same and I further will and bequeath unto my said wife during her life as much of my household and kitchen furniture as my Executors shall think necessary for her comfort + convenience and I further will and direct that the land bequeathed to her? as much thereof as is cleared and fit for cultivation be annually planted and cultivated by my negroes in whatever my said wife may direct and that the crop be gathered and ? by them for ? ? and which is to be kept separate from the balance of the crop or crops to be made on the other part of the plantation and that my said wife have such other care and attention paid her as my Executors deem proper.

Item 3rd” I will and direct that my land, negroes, stock of every kind and all my property be kept together and worked and managed as they now are on the plantation under the Superintendance of my executors or whom they may appoint as long as my wife Mary My kinsman and adopted son Edward A. Burch Junior and John Burch shall live and after the death of my said wife and the said Edward A. and John then the whole of my estate etal and personal already acquired or which may be hereafter acquired shall be equally divided between the children of the said Edward A. then in life as the lawful children of any that shall be dead.

Item 4th” I will and bequeath to John Burch one hundred dollars per annum to be furnished him in such manner and timely as my Executors shall think most advantageous to him.

Item 5th” I will and bequeath to my Kinsman and Adopted son Edward A. Burch Junior All the proceeds of the crops annually which my Executor has to spare after paying to John Burch his annuity and receiving a sufficiency to support the plantation (not hereby intruding in any manner to interfere with the bequest to my Wife Mary) to be by my Executors deliverance to him to be at his disposal as ?of my debts are paid, to him and his heirs.

Item 6th” It is my meaning and intention in dividing the management in Item this that my Plantation be managed by my trusty servant Dennis under the superintendence of some white man but Dennis not to be under his control nor under the control of any person except my Executors and it is my wish that the ? part of item named be as understood as that my wife Mary shall have the ?tance of a servant whenever her ? requiring the same in the manner that she now has.

Lastly I nominate and appoint my true and trusty friends Moses Fort and John Rawls and Nelson Clayton Executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills and bequests by me in any manner made published and declaring this to be my last will and testament and this only. In testimony whereof I have hereunto at my hand and affirm my Seal the 7th day of August 1832

his

Edward X Burch Senr.

mark

Witnesses

Daniel Mathews, Alford C Bostick, Delamar Clayton

Georgia} In Chambers with the Honorable John Benjamin Pulaski County} and Burwell W. Braswell this 14th Sept. 1832

You Delamar Clayton and Daniel Mathews do solemnly swear that you saw Edward Burch Sr. the within testator sign seal publish and declare this writing to be and contain His last will and testament that-at-the time ? he was of sound and disposing mind and memory and that he did it freely without any compulsion and that you do further swear that you saw Alford C. Bostwick sign the same as Witness to the same with yourself all of which you do swear to the best of your knowledge so help you God.

Test

Joseph Carruthers, Delamar Clayton, Daniel Mathews

Entered this 19th day of August 1835

Danl. Cornwall”

The administrator of the estate was Daniel Matthews. Edward Burch was buried in Burch Family Cemetery, in Hawkinsville, Georgia. At the time of his death, Edward had acquired considerable wealth, including land and 10 slaves. The profits from the yearly crop were used to support his son, Edward Allen Burch and his children.

In May 1833, Edward Burch’s estate recorded the following slaves:

Dennis, age 45, valued at $425

Joe, age 22, valued at $550

Sam, age 22, valued at $550

?, age 8, valued at $300

Henry, age 6, valued at $250

Charles, age 2, valued at $175

Fanny, age 45, valued at $200

Mary, age 15, valued at $400

?, age 12, valued at $375

Sarah, age 5, valued at $200

In 1841, Edward Allen Burch, Jr., became the administrator of the estate. In March 1845, the slaves were distributed to the heirs. By that time, the other property of the estate had been sold. In May 1846, Edward Allen Burch, Jr., applied for letters of dismission from the estate.