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HENRY BURRUSS |
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Henry Burruss was born December 23, 1769 in Caroline County, Virginia. He was the eldest son of the Rev. John Burruss and Rachel Terrell. Henry had three younger brothers.
In April of 1778, his father Reverend John Burruss died; Henry was only seven years old. Less than two years later, his mother married Thomas Hackett. It appears that Henry Burruss inherited the Burruss Mill, previously owned by his father John and grandfather Jacob which was located along Polecat Creek. (1) |
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On October 9, 1794, Henry married the widow, Elizabeth Johnson, the daughter of John Johnson and Elizabeth Dismukes and widow of Henry's distant cousin Jennings Burruss. (2)(3) Elizabeth Johnson was born November 18, 1768. |
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Henry and Elizabeth had five girls; Sarah "Sally" T. Burruss born March 25, 1797; Nancy Burruss born August 18, 1798; Rachel Burruss born July 27, 1800; Elizabeth Guinea Burruss born September 25, 1802, and Margaret "Peggy" Burruss born April 10, 1804. Elizabeth Johnson, Henry's wife died shortly after the last girl was born and was buried
on the home place. (4) |
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With five young girls to raise, Henry married Sarah "Sally" Tompkins Wortham on November 13, 1805. Sally was the eldest child of Charles Wortham and Jane Chandler, born November 28, 1782 in Caroline County, Virginia. Henry and Sally had at least six children; John Henry Burruss born September 21, 1806; an infant girl that did not survive born March 11, 1809; Mary Jane Burruss born April 4, 1810; Charles Cotesworth Penckney Burruss born September 18, 1812; Elliott W. Burruss born January 13, 1815; a son born 1820 who died of "an unfortunate scald in 1823" (5) Details about the lives of Henry's surviving children are available below. |
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Henry was a well respected gentleman farmer in Caroline County. He was witness to the construction and marvel of the first railroad through Caroline. A portion of the tracts ran through his plantation. On at least one record, Henry was given the title of "Dr". This title in the early 1830's didn't mean he necessarily had a formal medical education. He had been well educated but the details of his education have escaped this author. Much can be learned about the man, Henry Burruss, through his letters, and I encourage reading them. They are available on my home page. |
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Farming in Caroline County was not easy. Unstable prices for wheat, corn, tobacco, were of constant concern, as was the weather. Crop rotation was unheard of in the early 1800's. When the land "played out" it was necessary to purchase additional acreage, but this meant land located further from home. In years when demand or production of crops was low, it became necessary to hire out the negroes to raise money. Sometimes fields were rented. Always there was the worry of failure, and that money saved during abundant years, would not out-last the lean ones. |
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| The young daughters and sons were encouraged to travel. Visits to the homes of family and friends in adjoining counties or states, often lasted several weeks or months. Henry like his father before him, recognized the value of education. At least one son and likely more, were sent away to boarding school. Education for the sons, and dowries for the girls were a concern to Henry. |
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Henry's daughter Margaret Burruss married John Burruss, her first cousin, and son of Henry's brother, Thomas Burruss. Margaret died in 1835 from complications of childbirth. She left behind, two small children, a girl, Elizabeth Johnson Burruss and a son, James Taylor Burruss. In addition to successfully raising his own children, Henry assumed responsibility for raising his grandson, James Taylor Burruss. His daughter Sally and her husband, Robert Terrell, took the girl, Elizabeth Johnson Burruss. |
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Henry Burruss died December 6, 1839 just two weeks before his 70th birthday.(6) Henry's Will left his widow the family home place, his one-half of the Mill, and her choice of stock and household items for life. He instructed that his negroes were to be divided between his wife, Sally, and her four children and his four children and two grandchildren by his first wife, Elizabeth Johnson. Henry specified that negroes Maria and her son Spencer were to go to his wife, the negro girl Isabella was to go to daughter Rachel, the negro Lucy Ann was to go to Elizabeth G. Burruss, the negro Kitty was to go to Mary Jane Burruss. Henry desired that his wife Sally T. Burruss, was to receive a life interest in the homeplace, and one-half my mill, choice of stock . His two grandchildren (Elizabeth Johnson and James Taylor Burruss) were to have the negro Alice. The balance of his estate was to be divided into five equal parts to; Mary Jane, wife Sally, John, Charles C. P., and Elliott W. Burruss. Henry further stated that the other one half of his negroes were to be divided equally among his first four daughters and his two grandchildren, James T. Burruss and Elizabeth Johnson Burruss, who were to receive one fifth part of half of my negroes assigned my children. By 1850, Elliott W. Burruss and his family were living on the Burruss home place and his mother, Sally Wortham Burruss was living with them. (6) Sally died in 1862 at the age of 79. (7) |
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Children of Henry Burruss and Elizabeth Johnson - Click on Name Below
1. Sally T. Burruss 2. Nancy Burruss 3. Rachel Burruss
4. Elizabeth Guinea Burruss 5. Margaret Burruss |
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Children of Henry Burruss and Sarah "Sally" Tompkins - Click on Name Below
1. John Henry Burruss 2. Mary Jane Burruss
3.Charles C. P. Burruss 4. Elliott W. Burruss
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| SOURCES |
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| 1. Caroline County Will Book, Henry Burruss |
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| 2. Caroline County Marriages, Pt 1. Page 5 |
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| 3. Virginia Wills and Platts, 1742-1830 Reel 7. page 53. |
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| 4. Henry Burruss Journal, Burruss Family Letters, Kate Proctor. |
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| 5. Burruss Family Letters, Proctor |
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| 6. 1850 Census of Caroline County |
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| 7. Religious Herald, publication 3-27-1862 |
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GO TO THOMAS BURRUSS |
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