William Burt, son of William Burt and Salumith Ballard, was born 11 Nov 1782 [3] in Warren Co., NC. He was married on 3 Nov 1812 in Mecklenburg Co., VA [7] to Susan Sims. Susan Sims was born 13 Mar 1797 in Granville Co., NC [6], a daughter of Leonard Henly Sims and Sarah Swepson. [5]
In 1838 the family moved to Franklin Co., Tennessee.
On 30 May 1848, William Burt of Winchester Springs, Franklin County, Tennessee made his will, summarized as follows: [1]
[To] ... my beloved wife Susan Burt ... Cuffy, Barbary, Lucy and her child Kearney together with her increase (Lucy's increase) ... one negro boy named Howell but generally called Howard, son of Mary ... one negro boy named Anthony, son of Delsey.
I give to my wife Susan six Beds and furniture and three Hair matresses including thirty six pair of sheets, choice Beds etc. ... all the earthern, China, and glassware ... four sets knives and forks all the spoons except the silver ones ... one of the bureaus now in the house and one other ... the newest clock of the two I now have, and Eighteen sitting chairs ... four Toilet Looking glasses ... four Toilet tables and covers ... as many tables as she may need such as I now have on hand - I also give her as much of the Kitchen ware and furniture as may be deemed necessary for her use and convenience.
I give to wife Susan two of my choice horses and one two horse waggon and the old carriage and harness and four cows and calves and one years provisions - also as many stock hogs as may be deemed necessary for the use of her family for one year.
[To] ... my four sons ... William H., John L., Nash H. and Richard Burt four hundred and fifty dollars Each payable two years after my Executor is duly authorized to act as such together with one Bed and furniture Each...
... to my son Thomas I. Burt one hundred dollars - the reason why I give him only the hundred dollars is not for want of affection, but because I have lost and paid much on his account - the above sum payable two years after my Executor qualifies to act Legally etc.
[To] ... my daughter Mary B. Burt, one negro girl named Sue (or Susan) daughter of Mary - also one Bureau and one Bed and furniture Susan's (or Sue's) increase included.
[To] ... my Daughter Cassandra L. Burt one negro girl named Hannah daughter of Delsay together with one Bureau and Bed and furniture (Hannah's increase increase included).
[To] ... my two youngest daughters, Lucy and Solumeth (sp?) Burt four hundred and fifty dollars each payable two years after my Executor qualifies to act legally etc. together with one Bureau, and one Bed and furniture Each, my wife to keep the Bureaus, Beds etc. until they marry or a division [of Estate] takes place...
I have previously given my two Daughters who reside in North Carolina as much as will amount to a distributive share of my estate. I allude to Sally Ann Arrington wife of Peter Arrington, and to my daughter Harriett A. Philips. But if after my death my estate should be worth more than I now anticipate, and what I have given them should be less than a distributive share, I wish them to share or draw enough of my Estate to make them equal with ten of my children who will be hereafter named they rendering a schedule of what I have already given them.
My deceased daughter Elizabeth J. Horne had received of me and my gifts to John R. Horne her husband including his trespasses to my injury a full distributive share of my Estate, and in as much her heirs are not entitled to any further share or portion of my estate in the way of legacy, but will hereinafter notice her sons in a devise etc.
... [already gave] ... daughter Susan A. Streetor a negro girl named Judy now in her possession with her increase to her and her heirs and assigns forever including one Bureau and one bed and furniture (delivered).
I give to my daughter Francis S. Davis one negro girl named Judy now in her possession with her increase to her and her heirs and assigns forever including one Bureau and one Bed and furniture (delivered).
I have also given to my Daughter Susan A. Streetor one bureau and one Bed and furniture which is now in her possession.
[To] ... my three grandsons Leonidas, Oscar, and Clarence Horne, sons of my deceased daughter Eliza Jane Horne One Hundred Dollars each ... to be paid out of the proceeds of what their father John R. Horne ... [owes me ] ... on the account of the late firms of Burt & Horne and William Burt and Son ...
... I wish all my lands sold first selling my interest on the Springs tract, hoping that Joseph Sims will concur in selling his interest at the same time ... I have four tracts of land distinct and apart from the Spring tract viz. one Tract where Theophilus Rose now lives, the BurnComb tract, 300 acres on the west side of Willis Burt, and one Tract on the north side of the Shelbyville Road about 4 miles from here containing about lO4 acres which lands it will be advisable to sell separately etc.
... my wife Susan [to] have the benefit of one third of the proceeds of all my land when sold during her natural life to purchase land for a home during her lifetime and at her death the land to be sold and the proceeds divided as hereafter named...
... all my perishable property not willed away, sold together with as many negroes as will raise assets sufficient to pay all my just debts...
I wish Mons and Aron together with or without their Tools, as my executors may think advisable (Tools are sometimes destroyed) together with the Balance of my negroes not sold to / hired out yearly until December Eighteen Hundred and fifty five say 25th December.
... soon after the 25th December Eighteen Hundred and fifty five ... I wish a division of my Property ... between my Ten Children as here named (to wit) William H. Burt, John L. Burt, Nash H. Burt, Richard Burt, Susan Streetor, Francis L. Davis, Mary B. Burt, Cassandra S. Burt, Lucy Burt and Salunith (sp?) Burt, not forgetting that if my daughters Sally Ann Arrington, and Harriett A. Phillips have not received a full distributive share they are to be made equal when the division of property may take place after the 25th December 1855.
... at my wifes death [third that I lend her] ... divided among the first ten children and their heirs as named above...
[If] ... two of my youngest children die previous to the 25th December 1855 then in that case a division may take place sooner if thought divisable, but not until my son Nash H. shall attain the age of twenty years.
William Burt named his son William H. Burt executor; witnesses to this will were [Bescherrer?] Crisman, Thomas L. Logan, and William L. Hudson. The will was proved in Franklin County court on 7 Feb 1849.
William Burt died 31 Dec 1848 at Winchester Springs, Tennessee [3]. Susan Sims Burt then moved to Bedford Co., TN, where she died 1 Dec 1876 [6]. She is buried at Willow Mount Cemetery, Shelbyville, Tennessee.
WB16 p204 P 26 Nov 1811 P Joseph Sims, Gdn. To Susanna Sims, minor orphan. Bond for 3000 lbs. To Dudley Clanton, Buckner Davis, and Robert Jones, Justices, Co. Ct. P&G (?)
WB16 p246 P 2 Dec 1811/Feb 1812. Div. Est. of Leonard Sims, dec'd among his sister Susanna Sims, Sr. (bequeathed to her at death of his wife Sarah), his dtr. Susanna Sims and William Langley in right of his wife Jean Jeffrees; sons: Richard, John, Swepson, Leonard Henley, Thomas, Joseph and Henry (the last three named as youngest sons) by Richard Bullock, B. Davis, Sol. Green, Richard Russell, David Darcy.
ARRINGTON- Peter 46 FMR 10,000 NC
Sallie A. 35
Susan 17
Harriett 14
Peter 12
William 11
Kearney W. 7 (M)
Lucy 3
BURT, Susan 53 NC
John 19 NC
Richard 14
Lucy 12
Saluma 10
Cassandra 21
Burt, J.L. Vol. 1 ED 15 Sheet 15 Line 26 Color: W Sex: M Age: 49 Birthplace: N.C. County: Bedford Dist 21 Other family members: Burt, Cassie Sister 47 yrs Born: NC Burt, Richard Brother 43 NC Burt, Luna Sister 38 TN Burt, Hardy Nephew 11 TN Burt, N.H. Nephew 9 TN
Sims, W. E. Vol. 1 ED 3 Sheet 14 Line 45 Color: W Sex: M Age: 45 BP: TN Co: Bedford Dist. 3 City: Wartrace Sims, Lucey B. Wife Age 41 BP: TN Sims, Louie (sic, Luna) Dau 9 TN Sims, Burt Son 6 TN Sims, Ola Son 3 TN
Burt, J.L. Vol. 1 ED 15 Sheet 15 LIne 26 Color: W Sex: M Age: 49 Birthplace: N.C. County: Bedford Dist 21 Other family members: Burt, Cassie Sister 47 yrs Born: NC Burt, Richard Brother 43 NC Burt, Luna Sister 38 TN Burt, Hardy Nephew 11 TN Burt, N.H. Nephew 9 TN