Joseph BURT Jr.

     
     Joseph BURT Jr. was born circa 1770 in Halifax County, North Carolina, son of Joseph BURT and Elizabeth (?). He was a planter.
     Joseph married Ann READ in 1788 in Halifax County, North Carolina.¹
     Joseph BURT Jr. was named an heir in the will of Joseph BURT dated on 20 June 1788 in Halifax County, North Carolina. " I give and bequeath to my beloved Son Joseph Burt all that Tract or Parcel of Land which was granted to me by Deed from John Worley in... [1777]... containing two hundred acres, more or less, also one Negro Boy named Simon, also one Bay Mare, one cow and calf, one sow and pigs, and all the other things which I have given into his Possession...^2,3 "
     Joseph BURT Jr. and Ann READ appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 2 August 1790 in Halifax County, North Carolina,, the household was listed as one male age 16 or older [Joseph], three females [Ann, Nancy, Martha], and three household slaves. This was on the same page as his mother Elizabeth Burt, brother John Burt, and uncle Richard Burt.⁴
     Joseph and Ann appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1800 in Halifax County, North Carolina,, the household was listed as two males under 10 [Stephen, William], one male 26-45 [Joseph], three females under 10 [Martha, Elizabeth, ?], one female 10-16 [Nancy], one female 26-45 [Ann], and five slaves.⁵
     Joseph BURT Jr. and Ann READ appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1810 in Halifax County, North Carolina,, the household was listed as four males under 10 [James C., Martin, ?, ?], two males 10-16 [Stephen, William], one male 26-45 [Joseph], two females under 10 [Sarah, Sophia], one female 10-16 [?], two females 16-26 [Nancy, Elizabeth], one female 26-45 [Ann], and three slaves.⁶ He was living in 1813 in Putnam County, Georgia.
     Joseph BURT Jr. and Ann READ appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1820 in Halifax County, North Carolina,, the household was listed as two males under 10 [Joseph J., ?], two males 10-16 [James C., ?], one male 16-18 [Martin], one male 16-26 [Stephen, William], two males over 45 [Joseph, ?], two females under 10 [?, ?], one female 10-16 [Sarah], one female 16-26 [Ann], and three slaves.⁷ Joseph Burt of Putnam County, Georgia drew land in Irwin County in 1820 Georgia Land Lottery. His brothers, Zacheus and James, also drew land.⁸
     Joseph and Ann moved from Halifax County to Washington, Autauga County, Alabama January 1822 along with son-in-laws John Coleman and Henry Hunt. Although the family history as related by Martha Mathews states that the family arrived directly from North Carolina, they may have spent a short time in Putnam County, Georgia, where other Burt relatives lived. The name Joseph J. Burt appears in the Putnam County tax list for 1813. Others on this list were James Burt, Zacheus Burt, and Richard Burt.
     Once in Autauga County, Mrs. Mathews said that "Mr. Joseph Burt bought land of Phil Fitzpatrick on the Washington and Vernon Road about a half mile west of the old Thorington Rice place; he remained here as a farmer a year or two when he purchased a place one mile west of old Washington on the left hand side of the road. While living here his second son [William] died with consumption and was buried on the place. This was in 1825.
     He remained in this place several years and in 1828 he moved on a place owned by Charles Rush, a half mile north of old Washington; here he made a crop in 1828. In 1829 he moved up in the piney woods and bought a place now owned and occupied by Mr. William White.
     He carried on a farm here until 1831 when his wife died and was buried by the side of son William at the old place one mile west of old Washington. After the death of his wife, his son-in-law Henry Hunt came to live with him, but only remained during the year 1832. In the early part of 1833, he broke up and went to live with his son Stephen, who was then living on the east side of Swift Creek, seven or eight miles northwest of Kingston in a settlement called Big Hungry. Here he remained unitl his death in 1841 [based on probate records it was 1840]."⁹
     Joseph BURT Jr. and Ann READ appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1830 in Autauga County, Alabama,, the household was listed as one male 10-15 [Joseph J.], one male 20-30 [?], one male 60-70 [Joseph], one female 5-10 [?], one female 30-40 [?], one female 60-70 [Ann].¹⁰
     Joseph BURT Jr. died in November 1840 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. He was buried in Coleman Family Cemetery. According to the "History of the Burt and Coleman Families" narrated by Martha Mathews, "Mr. Burt was buried near the residence of his son-in-law Thomas Coleman, who was living on the west bank of Breakfast Creek, about a half mile of its confluence with Autauga Creek. Mr. Burt was a Baptist in faith, but had never connected himself with any church. Mrs. Burt his wife was of the same faith but like her husband never joined the church." The grave of Joseph Burt, Jr. is unmarked.¹¹
     Joseph BURT Jr. left a will on 30 November 1840 in Autauga County, Alabama. On that date the will was presented to the Autauga County Orphans Court. In it Joseph Burt requested that his estate be divided equally among all his "legal and bodily heirs" with exception of his daughter Sophia who was to receive one dollar as her fair share, and appointed his son John Burt and his "relation and friend" William Burt [nephew, Dr. William J. Burt] as executors. At that time William Burt testified that he had seen Joseph Burt sign this will. The court ordered that Martin R. Burt be appointed administrator of the estate, and received a bond of $5,000 from Martin R. Burt along with James C. Burt and Charles Booth.¹²
     His estate was appraised on 18 January 1841 for a total of $1,215.75. The estate included four lots of books, saddle bags, rifle, shotgun, bedstead, arm chair, watch, chest, a Negro man, and a Negro Woman. On 20 January 1841 Martin R. Burt approved the appraisel and administered the sale of the property. James C. Burt purchased three lots of books, the saddle, rifle, shotgun, chair, watch, bed, and Negro man. S. R. [Stephen R.] Burt bought one lot of books, some tools, and a bedstead. M. R. [Martin] Burt bought some books and bags[?]. J. Burt bought one trunk. The total sale amounted to $1,398.91.¹³
     His estate was settled on 17 October 1842 in Autauga County, Alabama. $172.37 1/2 each was distributed to the following heirs: Nancy Coleman, Thomas Coleman in right of his wife Martha, Barrett Vincent in right of his wife Elizabeth, Stephen R. Burt, Martin R. Burt (administrator), Henry Hunt in right of his wife Sarah, James C. Burt, and Joseph J. Burt.¹⁴