Delilah Anne GRIFFIS

     Delilah Anne GRIFFIS, daughter of John GRIFFIS and Catherine (?), was born on 21 August 1814 in South Carolina.¹

Delilah married Martin Ross BURT, son of Joseph BURT Jr. and Ann READ, 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.² Delilah and Martin 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.

She was probably the female age 20 to 30 listed in the household of her husband, Martin Ross BURT, in the 1840 Federal Census of Autauga County, Alabama.³ She lived with Martin Ross BURT in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama.⁴

Delilah Anne GRIFFIS and Martin Ross BURT 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.⁵

Delilah Anne GRIFFIS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 10 July 1870 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. The household was listed as Delilah A. Burt, 55, keeping house, born South Carolina, real estate valued $3000, personal estate valued $500. Also, Fannie Burt, 23; Martha Burt, 21; and Susan Burt, 19. All of the girls were born in Alabama and listed as without occupation.⁶

Delilah Anne GRIFFIS appeared in a newspaper article 19 October 1894 in the Prattville Progress, published in Prattville, Alabama. A Family Group -- Not long since a number of descendants of Mrs. D. A. Burt, including children, grand-children, and great-grand-children met at the residence of Mr. T. W. Smith a short distance northwest of Prattville. The family met together to celebrate the eightieth birthday of Mrs. Burt, who is at the head of one of the largest families in the county. Notwithstanding her old age, Mrs. Burt is still active and assists in all the household duties. Seven of [her] children are still living, namelyy: Mrs. E. Carolne Cobb, Mrs. M. A. Bateman, Mrs. Maggie C. Smith, Mrs. Hattie E. Jones, Mrs. L. F. Cloud, Mrs. Sudie B. Smith and Mr. Wm. M. Burt.

Mrs. Burt has thirty-three grandchildren living and fifteen dead and sixty great-grandchildren [living] and fourteen dead.

Delilah Anne GRIFFIS died on 4 March 1896 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama, at age 81.⁷ She was buried in Burt Family Cemetery, Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama.