The BushFamily-MyAncestors

Bush Family Research

Clifton W. Bush

Taken From

“Genealogies Kentucky Families VI”

 

 

 

THOMAS BURRIS, ANCESTOR OF KENTUCKY

PIONEERS.

By Bess L. HAWTHORNE.

 

Although Thomas Burris was not himself a Kentucky pioneer, it seems fitting to give a sketch of his life here, for he was the father or grandfather of a goodly number of her early settlers, whose names include those of "Burris, " "Tribble," "Quisenberry," "Embry," "Brockman" and "Bush,” all of whom settled near Clark County.

     It is thought Thomas Burris was horn born at or near Jamestown, Virginia, about the year 1700. He died about March 1, 1798, in Orange County, Virginia, where his will was probated, March 23, 1798.

     The names of his parents are not known, though " Early Immigrants to Virginia, gives as the first of the name coming to America, one, Mathew Burris, who came in 1642, but makes no mention of the County in which he  settled. It is possible that he may have been the grandfather of Thomas. From another source comes the unsubstantiated statement that the first Burris came from Scotland to Virginia in 1630, but as this family of Burrises are of English descent, it is not likely that he was the founder of it.

     In his "Genealogical Memoranda of the Quisenberry Family, and Other Families, “ Anderson Chenault Quisenberry gives an interesting article about Thomas Burris, and his war records. As this book has long been out of print, only 150 coming from the presses, and copies of it very hard to find, our readers with no doubt, appreciate having the following extract, taken from pages 53 and 54.

     “Burris is another form of the names. Burrows, Burroughs, Burrace and Burys. Thomas Burris ...was a very wealthy man for his time as his will shows, and he was descended from a family who had been in Virginia from the earliest times. In the record his name is variously spelled "Burrace,"

     "Burrus," and "Burris, " and it is the latter form that has been adopted for use in this work. Thomas Burris served in the French and Indian War, in Captain George Mercer's Company of Virginia Regiment, commanded by Colonel George Washington, and fought at the battle of the Meadows in 1754, and was one of the number "who received the present of a Pistol from the Country as an acknowledgment of their gallant behavior upon that occasion” , (see "Washington Papers, " State Department, Washington City)-he was one of the detachment that marched to Augusta some time after the defeat; and he also fought at the disastrous Braddock's Defeat, in 1755. For his services in this war he received a share of the 200,000 acres of land granted under Governor Dinwiddie 's proclamation. He appears to have been a born warrior for he fought in the Revolution also, and

 

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was granted lands for that service. The following brief certificate of his services in the Revolution was furnished by the Chief of Records and Pension Office, Washington, viz.;“It appears from the records of this office that Thomas Burris enlisted February 23, 1776, as a private in Captain William Washington's Company, 3^rd Virginia Regiment of Foot, Revolutionary War, and his name appears on the muster rolls of that organization to July, 1777.      He Is reported with the rank of Corporal on muster rolls, as follows; Captain Francis Mercers company of this regiment to and including May, 1778; Captain Robert Powell’s company, 3^rd and 7th Virginia. (Consolidated) regiment from May 1778, to September 1778; Captain Robert Powell's company, 3d Virginia regiment for October, 1778; Captain John F. Mercers Company, 3rd Virginian regiment to April, 1779; and Captain Valentine Peyton's Company. 3d Virginia regiment to November, 1779."

     On page 54 of this same, Genealogical Memoranda of the Quisenberry Family, and Other Families," we learn that Thomas Burris. Wife, Frances

     Tandy, "was the daughter of Roger Tandy, whose wife, a Miss Colby, is said to have been a descendant of Edward Colby, of London, who subscribed £12 10s to the stock of the London Company for colonization of Virginia and who himself came to this country, and died at Jamestown in 1620. The Burrises and Colbys are of English and the Tandys of Irish decent, and they were all among the earliest settlers of Virginia.”

     His will, which is given here, with a few minor omissions, will be of interest to any of his descendants who have not had the pleasure of reading it heretofore.

     "In the name of God, Amen. I, Thomas Burrus of the County of Orange, and Parish of St. Thomas, (Va.) being at the present time sound in mind and memory, I thank God for the same---do hereby certify this be my last will and Testament, in manner and form as follows:

     First: After I quit this mortal life I desire my body to be decently buried with every solemnity, at the discretion of my Executors, and after paying my just debts, what then remains my will and desire is may be disposed of in the following manner; viz.;

     I lend to my beloved wife, Frances Burrus, my whole estate, real and personal, during her natural life or widowhood, and after her death to be divided amongst my children, hereafter named.

      I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Burrus (first choice), 500 acres of land at Kentucky, to him and his heirs, etc.

     Also, I give and bequeath to my son William Tandy Burrus 500 acres of land at Kentucky (second choice), to him and his heirs, etc.

     Also, I give and bequeath to my son Roger Tandy Burrus, 500 acres or land at Kentucky (third choice), to him and his heirs, etc., and one feather bed, etc.

     Also, I give and bequeath to my grandson Thomas Burrus, son of Thomas Burrus, one negro boy Absalom, to him and his heirs, etc.

     I give and bequeath to my daughter Mourning Burrus, one negro woman named Nan and all her increase; but if the said negro should die before my daughter shall be of age or marry then

 

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there shall be another likely girl under the age of ten years old be replaced to her and her heirs, etc. ; and a1so one beast by the name of Jack, and saddle and feather bed and furniture.

     I give and bequeath to my daughter Fanny Embry one negro girl named Sukey, and all her increase, to her and her heirs, etc.---it being her part of the slaves I intend for her; also one feather bed and furniture---which said negro and bed is already delivered to her.

     Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Mildred Embry one negro boy named Ben, to her and her heirs, etc.; already delivered, also £10 cash already delivered.

     I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Brockman one negro boy named Duke, also one feather bed and furniture, which said negro and bed is already delivered; also £10 cash, to be raised out of my estate---to her and her heirs, etc.

     I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Tribble one negro ---girl named Agness, and all her increase, to her and her heirs, already delivered; also £l0 cash, already delivered.

     I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Quisenberry one negro girl named Dimah, and her increase, to her and her heirs, etc.; also one feather bed and furniture. . Also £20 cash, which portion above mentioned is already delivered.

     I give and bequeath to my grand- daughter Frances Quisenbcrry, the daughter of Jane Quisenberry, one negro girl named Violet, to her and her heirs forever.

     I give to my daughter Frances Tandy Bush one negro girl named Alice and all her increase, also one feather bed and furniture to her and her heirs which is already delivered to her.

     Also, I desire after my wife Frances Burrus' death or widowhood that the negro boy Gilbert, now in the possession of my son Thomas Burrus May be returned to the balance of my estate, and that there may be nine (9) of the choice of my slaves then remaining to be equally divided between my three sons, Thomas Burrus, William Tandy Burrus, and Roger Tandy Burrus, to them and their heirs, etc., and if either of my sons should die under age or before they possess their part of my estate, that their portion shall be equally divided between my sons then remaining.

     I also desire that the balance of my land at Kentucky, which is 500 acres, be equally divided between my five daughters, Fanny Embry, Mildred Embry, Sallie Tribble, Jane Quisenberry, and Frances Tandy Bush, to them and their heirs forever.

I give unto my daughter Mourning Burrus the land whereon I now live, at the death of my wife, Frances Burrus, to her and her heirs forever.

     Also, my will and desire is that after the death or widowhood of my wife, Frances Burrus, is that the balance of my negroes then remaining, with stock and household furniture of all kinds may be equally divided between my sons and daughters above named, except one equal child’s part of the last balance of negroes and household furniture and stock to be equally divided between my two grand-daughters and grandson,

 

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Elijah Perry, Dicey Perry and Mary Perry, to them and their heirs, etc.

And I do hereby nominate and appoint my wife Frances Burrus Executrix, and Henry Tandy and Thomas Burros, Executors of this my last will and testament. As witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 2nd day of October 1788.

                                                                             Thomas Burrus.

Witnesses: Caleb Lindsay, Thomas Belt, James Daniel.

     Probated and admitted to record on Monday, March 23, 1798, the Executrix and Executors named herein qualifying as such with Joseph Duncan and William: Tandy Burris as their securities."

     From this will of Thomas Burris we find that he and his wife, Frances Tandy Burris, were the parents of eleven children.

     1. Thomas Burris II, who at the time of his father's death was married and had a son, Thomas Burris III.

     2. William Tandy Burris, who seems not to have been of age at the time the will was made.

     3. Roger Tandy Burris. Who also seems not to have been of age at the time the will was made.

     4. …….Burris (daughter), who had married a Mr. Perry and had died leaving three children, Elijah, Dicey and Mary.

     5. Fanny Burris, who married …… Embry and probably moved to Kentucky.

     6. Mildred Burris, who married …… Embry and probably moved to Kentucky.

     7. Elizabeth Burris, who married - Brockman and probably moved onto her, land In Kentucky.

     8. Sarah Ann Burris, b. 30 September, 1753; d. 15 December, 1830; m. 1768, Rev. Andrew Tribble (b. 22 March, 1741; d.30 (?) December, 1822).

They were Kentucky pioneers. (See sketch on. Andrew Tribble for their history and the list of their descendants.) *

     9. Jane Burris, b. 5 July, 1759, in Orange County, Virginia; d. 3 November, 1811; m. 4 December, 1776, Rev. James Quisenberry (b. 13 June, 1759, In Spottsylvania County, Virginia; d.5 August, 1830, in Clark County, Kentucky). James Quisenberry was the son of Aaron and Joyce Quisenberry. At the age of ten their family moved from Spottslyvania to Orange County. When he was only 17 he was married to Jane Burns, who was the same age, and in 1783, near the close of the Revolutionary War they went to Kentucky and settled. He saw some service in the Revolutionary War in the Militia of Orange County. Later he became a Baptist preacher. They had seven sons and six daughters. (See “Genealogical Memoranda of the Quisenberry Family and Other Families. ")

     10. Frances Tandy Burris, m. William Bush, better known as Captain Billy Bush (b. 29 October, 1746; d. 26 July, 1815). He was the son of Philip Bush, Sr., and Mary Bush, and was the grandson of John Bush of St. Thomas Parish, Orange County, Virginia (his will was probated in 1746), and Bridget Bush. Captain Billy Bush was with Daniel Boone on his second trip to Kentucky in 1770, and was a great Indian fighter. He served under George Rogers Clark. In his Illinois campaign, which won the Northwest Territory for the United States. He was the founder of the famous Bush settlement in Clark. County, Kentucky, The inscription on his tombstone reads, "He was the friend and companion of Daniel Boone." (See "Genealogical Memoranda of the Quisenberry Family" and the "Boone Family,” by Hazel A. Spraker.)

     11. Mourning Burris, who was not of age at the time her father made his will.

     All honor, then, to Thomas and Frances Tandy Burris, who, although not themselves pioneers of Kentucky,

*See Genealogies of Kentucky Families (Vol. o-y), 521-524.

 

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were nevertheless the parents or grand parents of many members of the van- guard of her early settlers. Having the good fortune to be one of their descendants, it gives me great pleasure to pay this slight tribute to their memory.

 

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