Thomas J. Burton
When I first started this, I found Thomas in a bound census transcription that was done by the WPA project. They had made a mistake in transcription; they gave Thomas' place of birth as Maryland. Several years later, while looking at a copy of the 1850 census, I found that his place of birth in the census was Tennessee. As a result I had to change several documents in my files, and I believe I have just about got them all.
I have seen some records of Brushy Creek Church, and these records shows Thomas joined the church by profession of faith in 1842. At about this same time, he surrendered to preach and became what Baptists used to call a "Preacher Boy". Like I say, I have seen these, but at the time I was unable to copy them, and I have not found the book since.
Thomas J. Burton was born 1827 in Tennessee. He married about 1845 to Sarah (maiden name unknown). We have looked in every source we can think of and have not been able to locate a record of this marriage, but there were five children born to the union, then between 1860 and 1861, Sarah leaves the picture and Thomas marries Frances Parridine Simmons, daughter of Joel Simmons and Clarissa Meador. Thomas and Fanny had five more children, the last born in 1872. Fanny died in 1874 and Thomas married Surrelda Jackson in August 1875. Then in September 1876 he married Sarah A. Williams, widow of Levi M. Williams. She died in 1898 and I have copies of the probate of her estate that I will attempt to post here. Thomas died in May of 1903 in Jefferson County Illinois and is buried in the Old Panther Fork Cemetery.
In 1861 the neighbors, mostly family, of Joel Simmons met at his home for the purpose of constituting a new church. The new church was named Panther Fork Baptist Church and Thomas J. Burton, Joel's son-in-law was elected as minister. He was again elected in 1864, and continued at least until his wife died.
The Families of Thomas J. Burton
I will only list the first two wives on this chart because they were the only ones to bear children.
| Thomas J. Burton | |||
| b. June 1827 DeKalb County Tennessee |
d. May 1903 Jefferson County Illinois |
m. 1st abt.1845 m. 2nd August 1861 m. 3rd August 1875 m. 4th September 1876 |
Sarah ? Francis Paralee Simmons Surrelda Jackson Sarah A. Williams |
| Sarah ? | |||
| b. 1825 in Tennessee |
d. actually unknown, but suspect 1860. | We can find nothing about this lady, but suspect she was American Indian, because such marriages were not recorded or recognized by Tennessee at that time. | |
|
Children of Sarah |
|||
| 1. Samuel M. Burton | b. 1846 | d. Jan. 1864 | m. Amanda Louisa Hill |
| 2. Elijah Madison Burton | b. June 22, 1849 | d. March 15, 1924 | m. Cynthia Jane Meador |
| 3 Frances O. Burton | b. 1851 | d. | |
| 4. James M. Burton | b. 1853 | d. | |
| 5. Alonzo Lemuel Burton | b. 1858 | d. | m. Sarah Ann Williams |
|
Children of Francis Simmons |
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| 1. Joel S. Burton | b. 1862 | d. | m. |
| 2. Sharlotte P. Burton | b. 1864 | d. | m. |
| 3.Louisa C. Burton | b. 1866 | d. | m. |
| 4. William A. Burton | b. 1870 | d. | m. |
| 5. James David Burton | b. 1872 | d.1953 | m. |
I actually have quite a bit on most of these people, and will be putting a page for each up as I get the information in my files.
02/24/2003