The
Burnop family is the latest of the Howell-Burnop family ancestors to immigrate
to America. What little we know is
based on a photocopy of a document that appears to be an eulogy to Richard
Thompson Burnop but is typewritten. It
is unknown whether it was published in a newspaper. It appears to have been handed down from Elbert Howell to his
daughter Margaret Howell then to her daughter Betty Jean Keister. Other family members may also have copies.
A
copy of this document follows. The
mention of Nannie Burnop’s death forty‑seven years ago indicate that it was
probably written in April 1937 shortly
after Richard T. Burnop’s death.
Richard
Thompson Burnop, son of the late Richard and Margaret Burnop, was born in
Westmoreland, England, on September 7, 1856; and departed this life at his home
at Chatham Hill, Virginia on April 12, 1937 at the age of 80 years, 7 months
and 5 days.
His
parents came to America when he was only eighteen months old. They came across
in a sailboat. They settled in Pennsylvania, later moving to Virginia. He was
converted at an early age under the labors of Rev. Bob Sheffey. He joined the
Methodist Church and was a faithful Christian for over 65 years. He was never
known to be absent from a service until he was stricken blind three years ago.
He also had a cancer on his face of which he suffered great agony. But he was
always patient through his suffering, never complaining. He often expressed
himself as ready, willing, and anxious to go. He often sang and rejoiced while
on his bed of affliction and conducted family worship until about two weeks
before his death, when he became too ill to do so.
He
was married to Miss Nannie Vaughn of Carroll County at the age of 18. To this
union were born six children. Mary, the wife of the late A. S. Oaks, and George
Burnop died several years ago. Those living are Mrs. Gussie Richardson, and
Mrs. Bertha Howell, of Radford, Mr. Bill Burnop, and Mrs. Flora Goodwin of
Bluefield, W. Virginia. His wife died forty‑seven years ago. Later he
married Miss Sue Crabtree of Ridgedale and to this union were born seven
children; Charles, John, Claude, Robert and Misses Myrtle and Bessie Burnop and
Mrs. Myrtle Ferguson, Charles and Robert preceded him in death. His widow also
survives. He also leaves two sisters‑‑Mrs. W. G. Webb and Mrs. M.
B. Maylord. Several grand children and great grand children, and a host of
friends mourn their loss. He was never known to have an enemy. He was the
leading man in church work in our community and is missed by everyone. While we
mourn our loss we know and realize that our loss is his gain, and that he is
enjoying the splendor of that beautiful land where no sickness, pain or
blindness enters.
Interment
was made at the Chatham Hill Cemetery by his faithful pastor Rev. Debusk.
Pallbearers were; Rudolph, Thomas and Ray Howell, Bill Richardson, Campbell
Burnop and Charles H. Webb. Flower girls were Mrs. Mable Otey, Misses Edith
Richardson, Julia Howell, Margaret Deboard, Eva Lennis, Carrie Sheffield and
Mrs. Elizabeth Neel.
A precious one from us is gone,
A voice we loved is still,
A place is vacant in our hearts,
That never can be filled.
From an 1870 Carroll County Census, we learn that
Richard (the father) and his wife Margaret were born in England, Richard in
1828 and Margaret in 1835. At the birth
of their son, Richard T. Burnop, they were living in Westmoreland,
England. Eighteen months after his
birth or in 1858 the family emigrated from England to America first settling in
Pennsylvania. It would have been nice
if the name of the “sailboat” had been given also.
They later moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia no doubt
coming down the Shenandoah Valley like so many before them. By 1870 they were living in Carroll County,
VA and their family had grown by 1 more son and two daughters. This census shows James Burnop, 11, with his
birthplace listed as Virginia therefore the stay in Pennsylvania could not have
been long as they immigrated in 1858 and were already in Virginia in 1859.
Both Richard (the father) and Richard (the son-only 13)
were listed on the 1870 census as miners.
The 1880 census only shows
Richard (the son) with his wife Nancy E. who the eulogy names as Nannie Vaughn
of Carroll County. They married in 1874
probably in Carroll County but by 1880 were living in Smyth County where they
remained until their deaths.
Richard (the father) and Margaret Burnop are not found
in the 1880 census but in 1900 the Smyth County census of the Rich Valley
District lists Margaret Burnop of England.
Carroll County Will Books show that Richard (the father) died in April
1879.
Richard (the son) Thompson Burnop and his second wife,
Susan S. are also found in the 1900 Smyth Co., VA census with a family of 1
daughter and 4 sons. The Carroll County
death registry shows that Nancy Vaughn Burnop died in 1889. Richard later remarried, this time to Miss
Sue Crabtree of Ridgedale.
Bertha Burnop, Richard Thompson Burnop’s daughter by
his first marriage, was born in Smyth County and married Elbert Eden Howell in
1901 in Radford, VA where they lived the rest of their lives.
In keeping with the eulogy we learn that Richard
Thompson Burnop was converted by the Rev. Bob Sheffey at an early age. Rev. Sheffey was a well known circuit
preacher in Southwest Virginia. From
here the account moves to his last years of life, a cancer of his face,
blindness and eventual death.
1870
VA Census-Carroll County, p.516
258-253
Burnop, Richard 42 Miner Eng
Margaret 35 Eng
Richard 13 Miner Eng
James
11 VA
Margaret
3 VA
Mary Nov 8/12 VA
1880
VA Census-Smyth County, B651
Burnop,
R. S. vol 30 ed
83
W M
23 POB-Eng sheet 2 Ln
4
Nancy
E. W 25 VA
Wm.
H. S 3 VA
Mary
E. D 1 VA
James P. BURNOP Self M S W 21 VA
Occ: Farmer Fa:
ENG Mo: ENG
Margaret BURNOP Mother F W W 40 ENG
Occ: Keeping House Fa:
ENG Mo: ENG
Margaret A. BURNOP Sister F S W 13 VA
Mary Belle BURNOP Sister F S W 10 VA
Macie A. BURNOP Sister F S W 8 VA
Elizabeth BURNOP Sister F S W 4 VA
James PARKINS Uncle M S W 65 ENG
Fa: ENG Mo: ENG
1900
VA Census- (Soundex)
Burnop,
Bertha vol 51 ed
85
W F Sept
1882 17 VA sheet 8 Ln
84
Smyth Co. Rich Valley District
Enumerated with Daugherty,
Robert B.
Servant
Burnop, Jas. P. vol-51/ed-78/sheet-6/ln-
25
W M Aug 1858 41 VA
Smyth
Co. Marion
District
Rhoda W May 1855 44 VA
Annie D Sep 1883 16 VA
Maggie D Jul 1885 14 VA
Richard
H. S Aug 1887 12 VA
George
R. S Nov 1889 10 VA
Burnop,
Margaret vol-51/ed-85/sheet-4/Ln-94
W F Feb?1835 65 Eng
Smyth Co. Rich
Valley District
Burnop,
Bettie D Nov 1875 24 VA
McGhee,
Estelle S. (GD) Jul 1892 7 VA
Burnop,
R. Thompson vol-51/ ed-85/
sheet-5/Ln-19
W M Sept 1856 43
Eng
Smyth Co. Rich
Valley District
Susan S. Apr 1869 31 VA
Flora R. Sep 1886 13 VA
George R. Jun 1889 10 VA
John N. Jan 1892 8 VA
Claude E. Sep 1894 5 VA
Robert F. Sep 1898 1 VA
1910
VA Census- (Soundex)
Smyth
Co. 091 0089
0161
Burnop,
George H M 20 VA VA
Enumerated
with Gaddy, Richard M. H W
Smyth
Co. 091 0085 0309
Burnop,
George R. H W 20 VA VA
Mary J. W 23 VA
Smyth
Co. 091 0085 0308
Burnop,
Henry R. S 21 VA VA
Enumerated
with Birnop, James P. H W
Smyth
Co. 091 0085 0308
Birnop,
James P. H W 53 VA VA
Frances S. W 56 VA
Southered,
Margaret V. D 24 VA
Burnop,
Henry R. S 21 VA
Southered,
Fannie M. GD
8 VA
Hallie L. GD 2 VA
Smyth
Co. 091 0089 0156
Burnop,
Thompson H W 53 England
Sue W 40 VA
John S 18 VA
Claude S 15 VA
Robert S 11 VA
Myrtle D 8 VA
Bessie D 5 VA
May D 2 VA
1920
VA Census- (Soundex)
Smyth
Co. vol-76/
ed-108/ sheet-6/ ln- 80
Burnop,
George R. M W 31 VA
Jessie W F W 35 VA
Ruth H. D F W 9 VA
Minnie F. D F W 8 VA
Robert F. S M W 7 VA
Annie D F W 5 VA
Guy S M W 3
3/12 VA
Walter S M W 10/12
VA
Smyth
Co. vol-76/
ed-119/ sheet-2/ ln-35
Burnip,
George W. M W 32 VA
May W F W 36 VA
Florence E. D F W 3
11/12 VA
George C. S M W 1
2/12 VA
Bailey,
B. B. Bo M W 22 VA
Smyth
Co. vol-76/
ed-109/ sheet-1/ ln-95
Burnop,
Henry M W 32 VA
Margie W F W 23 NC
Lee S M W 6 VA
Carl S M W 4 VA
Virgil S M W 4/12 VA
Smyth
Co. vol-76/
ed-108/ sheet-7/ ln-2
Burnop,
James M W 61 VA
Burnop,
Francis W 64 VA
Wymer,
Hallie GD 12 VA
Smyth
Co. vol-76/
ed-119/ sheet-1/ ed-8
Burnip,
Joan W 9/12 VA
Enumerated
with Tolten, Napoleon B. as GD
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