Edward Burgess

EDWARD "EDWIN" BURGESS
(1764?-1798)
OF CULPEPER (LATER RAPPAHANNOCK) COUNTY, VIRGINIA

Edward (III) "Edwin" [son of Garner (I)]. He was evidently nicknamed "Edwin" to distinguish him from his many cousins named Edward. Bom about 1764 in Stafford or Fauquier Co., VA. Married Francis Porter (the odd spelling of her given name was carried down by her descendants) on 29 Nov. 1787 in Fauquier Co., VA (bond date; the marriage bond is signed "Edwin"). Listed on the 1785 and 1787 tax rolls for Fauquier Co., VA, and from 1789-1798 in Culpeper Co. (the section that later became Rappahannock Co.). On 26 Apr. 1795 Samuel Porter gave his son-in-law a 200-acre farm, "Pleasant Valley," in Culpeper (later Rappahannock) Co., VA, two miles northeast of the present-day village of Washington, VA (the county seat of Rappahannock Co.), encompassing Wolf Mountain, and now located at the back of the late Sally Ward's farm, "Echo Hill" (Culpeper Co. Deed Book #S, p. 194). Edwin had probably already been living on this estate since 1789, clearing and developing raw farmland. His relationship to his grandfather, Edward Burgess Sr., is proven through his participation (acting as co-executor of Gamer Burges's estate) in the 1797 sale of the original Burgess lands in King George Co. Edwin was a farmer in Culpeper Co.; he died there between 19 Mar. 1798, when he last appeared on the personal property tax rolls, and 26 Oct. 1798, when his estate was inventoried (Culpeper Co. Will Book #D, p. 300). Francis Burgess was born about 1765 in VA, daughter of Samuel Porter and Eve Weaver; she never remarried, but continued to farm at Pleasant Valley for more than a half century after her husband's untimely death. She is listed in the 1810-30 censuses for Culpeper Co., VA, in the tax lists there from 1799, and in the 1840-50 censuses of Rappahannock Co., VA (Rappahannock Co. having been split off from Culpeper Co. in Feb. 1833). A Fauquier Co. guardian bond dated 24 Feb. 1806 (Minute Book 180506, unpaginated) mentions the six children of Edwin Burgess in the following order: Elizabeth, Dawson, Caty, Alexander, Gamer, and Nancy. Francis Burgess died on her farm in Sept./Oct. 1851; her will (Rappahannock Co. Will Book #C, p. 195-200, inventories on p. 203, 213, and 215, sales on p. 369) was dated May 1847 with codicil dated Sept. 1851, was recorded on 13 Oct. 1851, and was probated on 22 Nov. 1851; a settlement deed was recorded on 1 Apr. 1853 (Deed Book #/, p. 387-388). Six of her letters to various relatives survive in the possession of her descendant, Mrs. Francis Trenary of Front Royal, VA.