Martin Ross BURT

     Martin Ross BURT, son of Joseph BURT Jr. and Ann READ, was born on 17 October 1804 in Halifax County, North Carolina.

He was probably one of the 4 males under age 10 listed in the household of his father, Joseph BURT Jr., in the 1810 Federal Census of Halifax County, North Carolina.¹

He was probably the male age 16 to 18 listed in the household of his father, Joseph BURT Jr., in the 1820 Federal Census of Halifax County, North Carolina.²

In 1822 Martin arrived with his parents in Autauga County, Alabama. They traveled in covered wagons down the Old Federal Road to Montgomery and crossed the Alabama River on a ferry. He would have been about 18 years old. The family settled near Old Washington.

Martin Ross BURT purchased a government land patent 26 July 1827 in Autauga County, Alabama. This land was located in the east half of the northeast quarter of section 6 of township 17N, range 16E. The 78.65 acres on County Road 80 (Durden Road) contains the site of the Burt Cemetery. It was purchased from the Cahaba Land Office.^3,4

Martin married Delilah Anne GRIFFIS, daughter of John GRIFFIS and Catherine (?), on 12 February 1830 in Autauga County, Alabama. The couple rode from their wedding to their new home in a special gig (wagon) built by his brother-in-law, Thomas Coleman. It was the first of it's kind built in Autauga County and created quite a stir in the community.⁵ Martin and Delilah settled in in Prattville, Alabama, after their marriage and Martin became wealty as a cotton buyer for his thread factory. He produced thread for the Daniel Pratt cotton mill to make cloth. He also owned several large farms.

Martin Ross BURT appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1830 in Autauga County, Alabama, the household was listed as one male age 15-20 [Henry Coleman?], one male 20-30 [Martin], and one female age 15-20 [Delilah]. Henry Coleman, Martin's nephew, is thought to be living with him at this time. Living nearby was Joseph Burt.⁶

Martin purchased a government land patent 15 April 1835 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. This 39.32 acres purchased from the Cahaba Land Office was located off County Road 80 (Durden Road). The legal description is the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 6, township 17N, range 16E.⁷ He purchased two tracts of land from James Creth BURT in Autauga County, Alabama. This land was part of an allotment originally patented by James C. Burt on 12 Aug 1835. On 1 Mar 1836 he sold this land to his brother, Martin R. Burt, for $225. The sale included the east half of the northeast quarter of section 35, township 15, range 8 and the west half of the northwest quarter of section 36 of the same township and range. It contained 160 acres.^8,9,10

He purchased a government land patent 10 April 1837 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. The 39.33 acres is located in northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 5, township 17N, range 16E. This is just north of Prattville on the west side of Upper Kingston Road, just short of the turn off to Prattville High School.¹¹

Martin purchased a government land patent 20 May 1837 in Dallas County, Alabama. He purchased two parcells of land, the first was 79.93 acres located in the east half of the southeast quarter of section 26, township 15N, range 8E. The second involved 80.45 acres in the west half of the northeast quarter of section 35, township 15N, 8E.¹²

He purchased a government land patent 7 August 1837 in Dallas County, Alabama. The four lots of land purchased were all located in section 25, township 15N, range 8E. First, was 127.90 acres of west half of southeast quarter. Then another 127.90 acres of east half of southwest quarter. He also bought 31.975 acres of northeast quarter of southeast quarter and 63.95 acres of west half of southwest quarter.¹³

He purchased a government land patent 9 August 1837 in Lowndes County, Alabama. This plat of land contained 80.675 acres in the west half of the southwest quarter of section 24, township 13N, range 13E.¹⁴

He purchased a government land patent 14 August 1837 in near Deatsville, Autauga (now Elmore) County, Alabama. On this date Martin purchased five plats of land at the Cahaba Land Office. They included 148.625 acres of southeast quarter, 148.625 acres of Northeast quarter, and 74.31 acres of east half of northwest quarter all of section 24, township 19N, range 17E. Also, there was 160.30 acres in southwest quarter of section 19 and 80.15 acres in west half of southeast quarter of section 18 of township 19N, range 18E.¹⁵

Martin Ross BURT appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Autauga County, Alabama, One Male under 5 [Washington], two males 5-9 [Thomas, John], one male 30-39 [Martin], two females under 5 [Mary Ann, Sarah], one female 5-9 [Caroline], one female 20-29 [Delilah], and 10 slaves.¹⁶

Martin Ross BURT was named executor and an heir in the will of Joseph BURT Jr. dated on 30 November 1840 in Autauga County, Alabama.¹⁷

Martin Ross BURT witnessed the probate of the estate of Joseph BURT Jr. on 18 January 1841 in Autauga County, Alabama. For a total of $1,215.75. The estate included four lots of books, saddle bags, rifle, shotgun, bedstead, arm chair, watch, chest, a Negro man, and a Negro Woman. On 20 January 1841 Martin R. Burt approved the appraisel and administered the sale of the property. James C. Burt purchased three lots of books, the saddle, rifle, shotgun, chair, watch, bed, and Negro man. S. R. [Stephen R.] Burt bought one lot of books, some tools, and a bedstead. M. R. [Martin] Burt bought some books and bags[?]. J. Burt bought one trunk. The total sale amounted to $1,398.91.¹⁷

Martin Ross BURT witnessed the probate of the estate of Joseph BURT Jr. on 17 October 1842 in Autauga County, Alabama. $172.37 1/2 each was distributed to the following heirs: Nancy Coleman, Thomas Coleman in right of his wife Martha, Barrett Vincent in right of his wife Elizabeth, Stephen R. Burt, Martin R. Burt (administrator), Henry Hunt in right of his wife Sarah, James C. Burt, and Joseph J. Burt.¹⁸

Martin was appointed by the Commisisioners court overseer of the Rocky Mount Road in beat 5 from the head of the hollow near Brevards to Bridge Creek Road in February 1845. He was appointed again in 1849. Rocky Mount Road ran from Rocky Mount probably along the path of present Old Farm Road and Old Ridge Road to Bridge Creek.¹⁹

In December 1849 the county commissioners allowed Martin the sum of 75 dollars for building a bridge across Autauga Creek near William Rives' place.²⁰

Martin Burt was known to have built at least two houses-- one of these known as the "Rice Place". As their family increased, Martin and Delilah built a large house on Booth's Hill on Lower Kingston Road in 1850. The house, which still exists, had a wide hall, two large rooms on each side, two smaller rooms on the front porch for visitors, a large back porch, dining room and kitchen. They had fifteen children, nine girls and six boys. The stairway to the upper floor, where the girls slept, was in Martin's bedroom, so he could count them as they retired. The boys and visiting beaux slept in the two small front porch rooms. Built of heart pine, the house is listed on the Alabama Register of Historic Places.^21,22 (For a map of this location see map.)

Martin Ross BURT appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 22 October 1850 in Huddleston Beat, Autauga County, Alabama, the household was listed as Martin R. Burt, 45, Farmer, $10,000 real estate, born NC; Delila A., 35, born SC; John, 19, farmer; Thomas, 16, farmer; Mary A., 13; Sarah J., 11; Margarett C., 9; Harriett E., 9; Henry C., 5; Laura H., 4; Martha D., 3; and Susan R., 6/12. All the children were born in Alabama.²³

Autauga County historian Shadrack Mims in discribing the area northwest of Prattville along what is presently Lower Kingston Road states that "after crossing Autauga Creek the first farm you came to belonged to Charles Booth, then Thomas Smith, then Thomas Coleman who had a mill on a creek two miles west of Prattville. Further on was the farm of Martin R. Burt who married Miss Griffice. She was a Methodist and the whole family joined." Martin Burt was discribed as an "industrious, thrifty, moneymaking man of good character. His children all did well".²⁴

Martin purchased a government land patent 2 February 1852 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. This 40.10 acre plot of land lies where present day Upper Kingston Road crosses Breakfast Creek, a little south of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. The legal description of the land is the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 30, township 18N, range 16E.²⁵

Martin Ross BURT and Delilah Anne GRIFFIS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1860 in Kingston, Autauga County, Alabama, the household was listed as M. R. Burt, 55, planter, $12,000 personal property, $50,000 real estate, born NC; Delila, 46, born SC; Sallie, 21; Margaret, 19; Henry, 15, student; Frances, 14; Martha, 12; Susan, 10; Ellen, 8; and Willie, 5. All of the children were born in Alabama.²⁶

David Edelen commented on Facebook's "I Grew Up in Prattville" that an old man told him a story about a family on Lower Kingston Road, near the Booth turnoff, that had 300 bales of cotton stored behind their house planning to use it to get back on their feet after the War. The Yankees found out and burned it. According to David his ex-wfe's gr-gr-grandmother Rebecah Belle Deramus, wife of John Lewis Rawlinson, said that "from the top of Rawlinson Hill near Booth as far as the eye could see she could see were columns of smoke in that direction from burned homes and farms."

A Union foraging party appeared at her house and her mother, who had bad eyes, mistook their dust covered uniforms for "our boys" and told them were all the corn. horse feed, and other food were. They thanked her and spared their house.

This author asked David for details and he said that an old man from that area told him that as the war ended this house on Lower Kingston had 350 bales hidden behind it. It was to be their post war stake. A slave told patrolling Federals about the hidden cotton and the Yankees burned it out of meanness. He thought the family name was Burt.

According to a history of the Burt house by Erin Chapman, at the end of the War Between the States the Yankees confiscated all of Martin's cotton-- the yard on the east side of the house had several hundred bales. Edelen's story matches this family history, but makes more sense than the cotton being confiscated. The Yankees were on the march and only in the area briefly. They would have burned rather than confiscating heavy cotton bales. This must have been a devastating blow to a man who had already lost two sons in the war and had another seriously wounded. Martin was ruined financially and had to sell his home to Dank Booth and after living at several different places, moved to a two-story house at Allenville across Autauga Creek.

From period documents in The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies [aka the OR] the force that entered Autauga county was part of the 16th Army Corps commanded by Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Smith. As part of the Mobile Campaign, they had on 1 Apr 1865 taken part in the siege and surrender of Spanish Fort. On April 9th they moved on to Fort Blakeley which had been under siege and surrendered on that day. On that same date the army of Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House.

The 2nd Brigade of the First Division, commanded by Col. Lucius F. Hubbard, on April 13, 1865 – "Took up line of march for Montgomery, Ala. arriving 20th, at which place the command is at present [April 30] encamped. May 10 – The brigade left Montgomery and marched, via Prattville and Autaugaville, for Selma, Ala., arriving on the 14th instant."

The Battle of Selma had taken place on 1 Apr 1865, but Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest was still on the loose and would not surrender until May 9th at Gainsville, Alabama. On April 13th Gen. Smith's force left Blakeley and marched toward Montgomery arriving there on April 25th and going into camp. From the OR, Series 1 - Volume 49 (Part II), pg. 127 we find the following:

30 Apr 1865 Demopolis, Ala.
Lt. McConnell of Henderson’s scouts, 27 April: “The larger portion of Smith’s forces is camped one mile above Jackson’s Ferry, Alabama River. They have pontooned the river to the west side, and commit all manner of depredations. Smith says he is officially informed of the surrender of R. E. Lee with his whole army. I am almost certain that Lee has surrendered, but with only a small portion of his army, the balance scattering all directions, while some have gone to Johnston. The truce only applies to the respective armies of each, and does not reach this department. Federals say that Johnston has surrendered, but not official notice is given. No gunboats or transports yet arrived. Smith’s army is short of provisions, and with subsist on the country if their boats do not get up. Wilson is encamped six miles from Macon, awaiting resumption of hostilities. Lt. McConnell wishes instructions from General Forrest. His boats reported in the Bigbee." -- S. Jones, Lt. Colonel commanding post.

So at this point word has reached the area about Lee's surrender, but the details are still sketchy. Smith's army is camped around Montgomery and without a source of supplies is raiding the surrounding farms and committing "all manner of depredations."

On May 10th Col. Lucius F. Hubbard's 2nd Brigade, consisting of the 47th Illinois, 5th Minnesota, 9th Minnesota, 11tlh Missouri and 8th Wisconsin, leaves Montgomery passing through Prattville and Autaugaville on their way to Selma where they arrive on May 14th, This is from the OR Series I - Volume 49 (Part I), pg. 127.

We know that Forrest had surrendered May 9th at Gainsville so perhaps they were being sent to guard Forrest's troops or to maintain order in the area.

From Larry Nobles' Old Autauga: Portrait of a Deep South County, pg. 163 and from Mary Ann Neeley's paper on the History of the First Presbyterian Church in Prattville, we learn about Clara, a slave servant of A. K. McWilliams. On 11 Dec 1864 Clara had "presented herself for membership in the church and after a brief satisfactory examination was received."

In May 1865, the church records note the death of Clara. Neeley, a McWilliams descendant, revealed that when the McWilliams family heard that Union Soldiers were near, they moved some of their livestock to a canebrake near the Alabama River. When the Union soldiers rode into their yard, they took Clara away with them. The last time that they saw her alive she was on the back of a soldier's horse. The next day, her body was found near the canebrake and all the livestock was gone. Clara's death was duly reported in the church records as "shot by Federal soldiers." According to Nobles, this was perhaps the only death of a civilian death by Federal troops in Autauga County.^{27,28,29,30,31}

Martin Ross BURT died on 29 June 1870 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama, at age 65.^32,33 He was buried in Burt Family Cemetery.

Conflicting evidence indicates Martin died in May 1870 in Autauga County, Alabama, at age 65. The 1870 U. S. Census Mortality Schedule for Autauga county lists Martin Burt, white male age 66, married, farmer, born North Carolina, died May 1870 of an enlarged heart.^34,35

Martin left a will dated 14 April 1870 in Autauga County, Alabama.


His estate was probated on 18 July 1870 in Prattville, Alabama. Samuel P. Smith petitioned the court that Martin R. Burt, who died 26 Jun 1870, left a will witnessed by C. A. Edwards, James W. Narrimore, and S. C. Smith. It named Samuel P. Smith his executor. It stated that his widow was Delilah A. Burt, and his next of kin are his children and the children of his children. These included the children of Joseph J. Burt, deceased, who reside in Lowndes county. The children of Thomas W. Burt, deceased, who reside in Dallas county. The child of Sarah Jane Norris who resides in Lowndes county. Caroline Cobb, wife of Calvin Cobb, who is over twenty-one and resides in Elmore county. Mary A. Bateman, wife of ___ Bateman, deceased, who is over 21 and resides in Autauga county. Margaret Smith, wife of Thomas W. Smith, who is over 21 and resides in Autauga county. Harriet Jones, wife of Thos. Jones, who is over 21 and resides in Lowndes county. Frances Burt, who resides with her mother in Autauga county and is over 18 years of age. Mattie Burt, who reside with her mother in Autauga and is over 18 years of age. Susan and William M. Burt who reside with their mother in Autauga and are under 18 years of age.

The application was amended in December to include the names and ages of the children of Martin's deceased children. The children of Joseph J. Burt were Martha E., 16; Mary S., 12; and Albert S. J., age 8.

The children of Thomas W. Burt, were George W., 8; Julia, 4; Nancy, 3; and Mary Thomas, 1.

Charlie Norris, age 8, was the son of the said William Martin Burt [Error. Should be Tom Norris] and Susan R. Burt [correction - Sarah J. Burt].

Samuel P. Smith, on a later date, petitioned that William Martin Burt and Susan R. Burt are minors, over age 14, and reside with their mother, Delilah A. Burt in Autauga. He stated that both had received inheritances of $500 from the estate of their father and petitioned the court to be named guardian.³⁷ His estate was probated on 30 November 1870 in Prattville, Alabama. S. P. Smith, executor of the estate of M. R. Burt, paid $109.65 as taxes due to the state of Alabama and Autauga county for 1870. Martin Burt had 1197 acres of land valued at $7000, but reduced to $6000 by the Board of Equalization. He had personal property valued $1260. Total value was $7260 and taxes were split evenly between state and county. James H. Booth was tax collector.³⁷ His estate was probated on 14 September 1871 in Prattville, Alabama. Samuel P. Smith, executor of the estate of Martin R. Burt, deceased, delivered his accounts of the estate debts and stated that the heirs were now the three children of Joseph J. Burt, deceased, who reside in Lowndes county and are under 21; the four children of Thomas W. Burt, deceased, who reside in Dallas and are under 21; the child of Sarah J. Norris who resides in Lowndes and is under 21; Caroline Cobb, wife of Calvin Cobb who reside in Elmore; Mary A. Bateman who resides in Autauga; Margaret Smith, wife of Thos. W. Smith, residing in Autauga; Harriet Jones, wife of Thos. Jones, who resides in Lowndes; Mattie, wife of D. E. Holt and Frances, wife of James Cloud, who reside in Autauga county; and Susan and William M. Burt who are minors and reside in Autauga county. All are of sound mind.³⁷

The Burt plantation appeared in a newspaper article 11 February 1881 in the The Southern Signal, published in Prattville, Alabama. Plantation for Sale-- The plantation known as the "Burt Place," one and a half miles of Prattville, containing about 920 acres, with a good seven room dwelling and all necessary out buildings and good well of water; together with two mules, one mare, farm wagon, cart, buggy, all harness complete and all necessary farming tools and implements, are offered for sales at a low price to a cash purchaser, or part cash and at twelve months for balance. Apply to Ira C. Monach, on the place.