Nelson Burruss A Special thank you to Catherine & Lewis Burruss for their contribution to this page.

At the age of 20, Nelson married Lucy Burnley Duke, the 16 year old daughter of Cliveures and Ann Overton Pettus Duke. Nelson and Lucy were married in Albemarle County, Va. on December 26, 1797, the day after Christmas.  They were married by the Reverend Matthew Maury, an Episcopal minister.  Nelson and Lucy lived in Louisa County during their 13 year marriage.  They were the parents of six sons:  John Pettus Burruss; Cleavears Duke Burruss; Richard Henry Burruss; Chiles Terrell Burruss; James Thomas Burruss; and Nelson Burruss, Jr.   Lucy died on September 30, 1810, 29 days after the birth of Nelson, Jr., likely from  complications of childbirth.

Nelson Burruss was the youngest son of the Reverend John Burruss and Rachel Terrell. He was born in Caroline County, Virginia on April 12, 1777.  When his father died on April 8, 1778, Nelson was barely a year old.  The only father he would ever know, was Thomas Hackett, who his mother married two years after his father's death.  He grew up near many Burruss relatives and attended the church established  by his father, then called Burruss' Church.  Nelson's brothers, John and Thomas Burruss, were leaders and lay ministers for the church.  Nelson was literate, and therefore received an education, perhaps at home.  He was raised with his three Burruss brothers and the Hackett children.  Nelson was the middle child of his mother's eight children.

It can only be assumed that the next several years were difficult ones for Nelson. He was a single father, trying to support six children, all under the age of 9. Nelson is recorded as a substitute in the Virginia Militia during the War of 1812.  He served in the companies of John Rothwells and Guyless from Albemarle County, Virginia.   As was the custon, Nelson was probably paid to substitute. He  served in place of a man named James M. True of Albemarle County.   It is not known who cared for the children during Nelson's military service.  From the 1810 Census it appears that it may have been the Rev. William Crawford and his wife.  Their daughter, Lavinia Crawford, later became Nelson's second wife.

On December 1,  1816,  the 39 year old Nelson married the 21 year old Lavinia Crawford in Louisa County, Virginia. They were married by the Baptist minister, John Lastly. Lavinia and Nelson had six children.  Four are known to have survived infancy; Lucy Jane Burruss, William Byons Burruss, Louisa Ann Burruss, and Roger DeCoverly Burruss. Sadly, in 1821, the same year that Nelson and Lavinia's son, William Byons was born, Nelson and Lucy's son, Chiles Terrell, died at the age of 14.  The Family Bible does not tell the cause of his early death.  His funeral was preached by the Rev. William Crawford, Lavinia's father.

Nelson sold a number of slaves in May of 1833 to his half brother, Pleasant Hackett and another gentleman.  Shortly after this sale, he purchased 635 acres known as the Bibb Place, from the estate of David Bullock, located on the south side of the Anna River, in Louisa County. By 1850, Nelson's grandchildren, Virginia  and Victoria Burruss ages 15 and  12 had moved into his Louisa home.  They were the children of Nelson's son Richard Henry and his first wife Louisa Wingo Burruss. Louisa Wingo Burruss died August 20, 1845  in Nottoway County, Virginia.

Nelson Burruss owned property in Albemarle and Louisa County, Virginia. The early 1820's were financially difficult. Details of some of his difficulties can be found in the Burruss Family letters on the Web Site. Still Nelson apprenticed his sons to carpentry and tanning trades. He was a concerned and caring father, worrying about the futures of his children.

In 1851, Nelson wrote his will. He was 74 years old, and Lavinia was 57. From the will document, it is known that Nelson had deeded a majority of his estate over to his son Nelson, Jr.   It appears Nelson thought he had retained a  life interest in the home place, for himself and wife Lavinia.   For details, please read Nelson's Last Will and Codicils, to learn about the obvious turmoil, Nelson experienced. Apparently, Nelson lost his farm to his son Nelson, Jr.   Nelson and Lavinia spent their last few years living in the Goochland County home of his son Roger D. and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Ragland Burruss. Nelson and Lavinia were married for 37 years.  Nelson died on May 6, 1853 at the age of 76 years, 25 days.  Lavinia lived a little less than two years after his death.  She died on February 22, 1855 at the age of 60.

For the biographies of the children - Click on their name

Children of Nelson Burruss and Lucy Burnley Duke:

Nelson A. Burruss

John Pettus Burruss

Richard Henry Burruss

Cleavears Duke Burruss

James Thomas Burruss born Dec 30, 1808

Chiles Terrell Burruss born December 25, 1806 died July 9, 1821

Children of Nelson Burruss and Lavinia Crawford

Lucy Jane Burruss

William Byons Burruss

Louisa Ann Burruss

Roger DeCoverly Burruss

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