DANIEL BURGESS (JOSEPH4, JOSEPH3, SAMUEL2, EDWARD1), farmer,
was born March 08, 1771 in Falls Twp., Buck Co, PA, and died June 20, 1872 in Bridges, Fairfield twp., Highland County, Ohio (101 yrs-3-12). Burial: Fairfield Quaker Cemetery - Fairfield twp, HC, OH. Son of Joseph Burgess Jr., & Deborah Fisher.
He married November 14, 1805 Southriver Meeting House, in Campbell County, Lynchburgh, VA,
RUTH ANN MILNER, b. April 27, 1783, Halifax Co., VA; d. March 15, 1858, Bridges, Fairfield twp., Highland County, Ohio. Burial: Fairfield Quaker Cemetery, Fairfield Twp, Highland Co., Ohio, daughter of BEVERLY MILNER SR and OLIVE "ANNA" HENDRICKS.
There are 550 Decendants that I know of. Many lines are not complete so there are more out there. It is my hope to find them - or for them to find me. Here is an outline of those I have:
Children 10
Ruth's age of death, 74-11-10, doesn't figure with her birthdate. A birth date of 4-5-1783 would.
Notes for DANIEL BURGESS: Daniel reached the oldest age so far that I found among the Burges family. His age at death was 101 years, 3 months and 12 days.
Daniel Burgess was born the 8th of March 1771 in Falls Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was the 9th child and 5th son of Joseph Burgess and Deborah Fisher. His parent and children attended the Falls & Buckingham Meetings there. His parents and ten children left Buckingham Meeting and went to Maryland. They arrived at the Stony Run Meeting on Charles Street near Belvedere Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland on a certificate dated 24 April 1775. Daniel being only 4 perhaps remembers not much of Pennsylvania. This family was on its way to Gun Powder Meeting in MD. Next entry in the Quaker records I find is at the Deer Creek Meeting in MD. It appears Daniel spent most his youth in Maryland. Daniel, age 21, and brothers Thomas & John left Deer Creek on a cert. dated 27 Sept 1792 for the South River Meeting in Campbell County, Virginia. Thirteen years later, at the age of 34, Daniel married on the 14th day of November 1805 at the South River Meeting House. His bride, Ruth Milner, age 22, was born 27 April 1783 the daughter of Beverly Milner and Olive "Anna" Hendricks of Halifax County, Virginia. Family history says Daniel made several trips to Ohio before finally deciding to bring his family here. The History of 1880 says Daniel purchased his land in 1806 or 1807. Ruth's parents moved to Ohio in 1808 as did all her brothers and sisters and their families. Highland County History puts the year at 1807. Daniel, Ruth and three children, Anna, John and Sarah were on certificate of removal dated 11 Aug 1810 from South River Meeting to go to Fairfield Meeting, Ohio. Fairfield Monthly Meeting, opened July 18, 1807. But the Meeting had been established there two years prior for worship. The Fairfield Meeting, south of Leesburg, Ohio received them 24, November 1810. John's name was omited on this cert. but we know he came to Ohio with his parents. Daniel land was very near to his father-in-laws land. The property was first owned by widow, Mrs. Sarah (Rev. Thomas) Beals and her family in 1802, the second family in this area. 1880 History says that the Hardin's Creek Settlement was the first in Fairfield Township. That in 1801, Alexander Crawford, pioneer, came to the site of what is now Centerfield, a locality which was long known as "Crawford's Thicket". Centerfield wasn't laid out until 1830. The Quaker's in the area attended the Fairfield Meeting House which was south of Leesburg, Ohio but northwest of Daniel Homestead. About 1804, the Quaker's in the area of what is now "Bridges" selected a site for their own church, south of the Fairfield Meeting House, on a beautiful knoll over looking the waterways. When the church, made of logs, was ready for use, the congregation decided to name it for the branch that trickled past the church yard. The "Hardins Creek Friends Meeting House" is west of Daniel's Homestead about half way between it and what is now known as the community of Bridges. A number of the very early settlers in the community attended meetings at the Fairfield Meeting House. The Hardins Creek Meeting House became the center of activity for the Quaker community. Land was set aside for a burial plot several years after the church was erected. Many of the members of the early Hardins Creek Church continued to use the burial grounds at the Fairfield Meeting House. There are some burials in the cemetery at Hardin's Creek Cemetery, which is also known as the "Milner Family Cemetery" and now as Bridges Cemetery. At least 20 member of the Milner are buried in the cemetery on a hillside among the many bridges. The small community of Bridges with its large school and Friends Meeting House has exerted a great influence on the county. It was established by Quakers in their own manner, amid a wild country and many streams. They reared large families and found their way to follow God's will. Their church meetings were held on the basis of silence until a person was moved to speak. They worked hard, lived simply and prudently, but many were the people who sought their advice. At one time the community of Bridges had nearly 200 people living in the immediate area. But by, 1960, the mills are gone, the school and post office are closed, leaving one house, a store building and the Hardins Creek Church. Hardins Creek was a favorite range for bear in the early years of the settlement in 1802. Daniel Burges gave an early history of Quaker times to Daniel Scott for his County History as he retained his mental faculties until his death. He died the 20th of June 1872 at the ripe old age of 101 years, 3 months and 12 days. Ruth died the 15th of March 1858 at the age of 74. The are both buried in Fairfield's Quaker Cemtery.
John Dunbar Burgess, a descendant through Daniel's son, Oliver, comments (1983) on a picture taken of Daniel in 1871. He says, "I have the original tin type and frame which are 112 years old and well preserved. Daniel's picture is unusual because it is rare that anyone has a picture of a person who was born in 1771 when our country was under British rule. The first photos were made in the 1840's but photography shops didn't appear until the 1850's, and of course, our modern cameras didn't exist. You had to go to a professional and pose for a tin type photo. Bernice Johnson Nutt, who descends through Beverly wrote, "I recall seeing a larger tin type picture of the original Burgess Home. I was told at the time that the photographer who copied the picture used the wrong side of the film which caused the entrance to be on the left side of the house instead of the right side. I remember the entrance or doorway to the house was on the right side of the house and I actually used it. It was closed off when Harvey remodeled the old house and a porch was added. Centainly spoiled a landmark! The original tin type, owned by John D. Burgess shows an addition at the back of the house, which wasn't on the original structure. It doesn't show on the copies.
John Burgess's obituary in 1880, son of Daniel, stated that the father of the deceased was old enough to vote for Washington for President the second time he make the race and lived long enough to vote for General Grant the first time he made the race.
Marriage Notes for DANIEL BURGESS and RUTH MILNER:
First 3 children born in VA, probably Campbell Co, South River area, all others born in Fairfield twp, Hardin's Creek, Highland Co., Ohio.
Children of DANIEL BURGESS and RUTH MILNER are:
1. ANNA BURGESS, b. October 01, 1806, Campbell Co, VA; d. Aft. 1880, Iowa?;
2. JOHN BURGESS, b. January 10, 1808, Campbell Co, VA; d. January 23, 1880, Noblesville, Hamilton Co, IND (72 yrs). Never married.
3. SARAH BURGESS, b. April 28, 1810, Campbell Co, VA;
4. OLIVER BURGESS, b. February 06, 1812, Fairfield twp., Highland County, Ohio; d. October 28, 1895, Westfield, Hamilton Co, IND (83 yrs); m. July 28, 1835, Highland County, Ohio; to RACHEL LITLER, b. January 15, 1819, Madison Twp., Highland Co., Ohio; d. January 01, 1901, Westfield, Hamilton Co, IND (81 yrs). ( 9 ch )
5. JOSEPH FISHER BURGESS, b. March 31, 1814, Hardin's Creek, Fairfield twp., Highland County, Ohio; d. October 16, 1900, Madison twp, Greenfield, Highland Co., Ohio, (86 yrs); m. June 19, 1844, Clinton Co., Ohio; to PHEBE BALLARD, b. April 15, 1816, Clinton Co, OH; d. September 02, 1907, (91 yrs). ( 8 ch )
6. DEBORAH BURGESS, b. April 26, 1816, Fairfield twp., Highland County, Ohio; d. March 09, 1828, Fairfield twp., Highland County, Ohio (11 yrs).
7. TACY JEANETTE BURGESS, b. October 31, 1818, Fairfield Twp., Highland County, Ohio; m. (1) August 26, 1835, Fairfield twp, Highland Co., Ohio; to ELI STALKER, b. January 09, 1812; d. August 19, 1853, (41 yrs). ( 5 ch )
8. BEVERLY BURGESS, b. July 31, 1821, Hardins Creek, Fairfield Twp., Highland County, Ohio; d. February 25, 1901, Bridges, Fairfield twp., Highland County, Ohio (79-6-25); m. MELINDA LEONARD, October 28, 1846, Clinton Co., Ohio; b. September 22, 1825, Todd's Fork, Union Twp, Clinton Co., Ohio; d. January 06, 1907, Bridges, Fairfield Twp, Highland Co., Ohio (81-3-15). ( 5 ch )
9. Tisha Burgess b. 1821-1822. A Tisha Burgess died 1834 at 12 yrs of age of diptheria. She could have been a twin sister of Beverly's. She could have been born May of 1822 but I feel it's more likely she was a twin named after her Aunt Letishia Burgess. Daniel's brother Thomas was in the area but the last child I have for them, child 8 was born in 1813 and by 1822 Betty was 52. Of the two couples I think it's more likely Tisha is Daniel's daughter.
10. MAHALA BURGESS, b. May 17, 1823, Hardin's Creek, Fairfield Twp., Highland County, Ohio; d. July 01, 1853, Fairfield twp., Highland County, Ohio (30yrs-1-14); m. February 28, 1844, Fairfield twp, Highland Co., Ohio to MAHLON JOHNSON, b. July 15, 1817, Fairfield Twp., Highland Co., Ohio; d. March 21, 1879, IND, (61 yrs). ( 2 ch )
Things I learned from Uncle "John's Diary".
Daniel and sons, John and Beverly sold wheat and cattle. They owned horses and oxen.
A horse was sold. They bought hogs, which were butchered and the meat sold.
Daniel's Homestead about the years 1909-1912
The Homestead in 1991
In the year 1825, Daniel found that his house was no longer big enough for his family. He had nine children and they were all still living at home. The eldest, Annie was 19 and the youngest Mahala was 2 years old. The new house was two stories and all stone construction. The old house became a shed. Daniel had added a shed to the old house to accommodate his mother who came to Ohio in 1812. A picture taken in 1872 show all 3 buildings. One taken in 1909 shows only 2. The house is located about 5 miles south of Leesburg.
1846 Beverly Burgess marries Malinda Leonard and according to Uncle John's diary Beverly was bringing his wife to the Homestead to live.
1850, 1860 & 1870 census's list Beverly Burgess as head of house, Daniel was residing with him. In 1850, Ruth must have been there too, as she didn't die until 1858. Daniel died in 1872. So Beverly and Malinda must have lived in the homestead until their deaths in 1901 and 1907.
1880 census
Entry #139 has Eli 26, Ida May 23 and Maud 3. (was Eli living on the spot marked D. Burgess 10 acres?) When did he move back to the homestead? Or was that picture in 1909-1912 just taken on a visit to the homestead? "Just thoughts".
An 1880 map shows a B. Burgess, 141 acres, 1 house and fairly far away a D. Burgess, 10 acres, 1 house. I assume Beverly is in the homestead but who is D. Burgess? Perhaps another house & land Daniel owned?
The map shows Joseph Burgess with his own land of 261 1/2 acres and two homes.
Harvey had 5 children the youngest 9, at the time of his mothers death, 1907. Did Harvey always live in the Homestead? Or did he move in after Eli moved to Centerfield? Harvey died in 1939 and past the Homestead to his daughter, Blangie Belle Burgess Ross. Her daughter, Beverly Jane Ross Harper lived there from 1950 until 1956 when because of failing health, Blangie sold it to Willard Morris. At this time the Homestead had been in the Burgess Family for 149 consecutive years. Willard Morris sold it to Chance Ringer. Chance Ringer left it to Beverley Burgess Reeves. She descends through the Joseph Burgess line.
John Burgess's Diary
This is a copy of JOHN BURGESS'S DIARY.
JOHN BURGESS, age 36, wrote the diary beginning 1844 and kept it about 3 years to 1847.
It has many deaths and other community news of the Bridges or Hardin's Creek area which is about 3 miles southwest if Leesburg and half way between Leesburg and Centerfield all these places in Fairfield Township, Highland County, Ohio. Though there is news of other places as well. This diary is about 160 years old. It's really interesting to read so I hope many take the time to check it out.
I'm missing a page or two which I shall find and add to the diary when I can.
Right now the diary is 32 pages counting the index. Without an index it would be very tedious and nearly impossible to find someone quickly. I have added the dates preceding the entries. The copy I received was pages and pages of continueous typing with no punctuation and almost no capitalization. I have tried in most cases to leave the spelling as is and have place the correct word in brackets [like so]. Since I have no clue what mistakes Bernice made and I'm sure she made some but I certainly am not finding fault with her; I've taken the liberty to spell some words correctly and to add punctuation. If Bernice hadn't sent me a copy I probably would never have seen the diary. A copy is available at the Ohio State Library in the genealogical department. Bernice Johnson Nutt, was almost 90 when she sent me this copy which she had retyped or I assume she had just retyped it. She should have just xeroxed her copy but there must have been a reason why she didn't. Anyway, Bernice was very kind to get a copy to me. I am most grateful and very thankful she did.
Sources:
Hinshaw, Encyclopedia Of American Quaker Genealogy, Volume V, OHIO.
Quaker Friends Of Ye Olden Time, Bell.
m. January 27, 1841, Fairfield twp, Highland Co., Ohio to JOHN STALKER, b. September 18, 1810; d. April 19, 1862, Westfield, IND (51 yrs). ( 8 ch )
m. March 11, 1862, Highland County, Ohio; to SAMUEL FERGUSON, b. October 01, 1808.
m. (2) August 20, 1863, Highland County, Ohio to JOHN A. COWMAN (no ch)
Beverly & Malinda's Page
HOMESTEAD PHOTOS
His grandson, Eli Burgess, who married in 1876 and Family were residing there at that time. Least it appears so. They moved to Centerfield, OH in 1915, so this must be when Harvey moved in the homestead or perhaps his family was always there too.
Still owned by a descendant. Beverley Burgess Reeves descends through Daniel's son, Joseph Burgess's branch.
Entry #138 Beverly, 58, Malinda 54, Harvey A. 22, Emma E, 14, Lydia A. Parker, 32, Adam Parker, 34, Walter F. 10, Beverly B 9, Charley 7 and Samuel O. 2 all as entry #138.
