Caroline Elizabeth BURT

     Caroline Elizabeth BURT, daughter of Martin Ross BURT and Delilah Anne GRIFFIS, was born on 3 October 1832 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama.

She was probably the female age 5 to 10 listed in the household of her father, Martin Ross BURT, in the 1840 Federal Census of Autauga County, Alabama.¹

Caroline married Calvin COBB on 21 March 1850 at the home of Martin Burt in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. Ferdinand EllisSmith describes their wedding in his journal: "We got there about dark, found quite a concourse of people there. The house built of timber, and of course not very large. The ladies went into the house, the gentlemen gathered around a large fire out of doors, it being pretty cool, but presently the time arrived for the ceremony, when all rushed into the house that could get in. The balance looked in after the ceremony was over. Then came supper. The table I think was filled, I think, five times. A rich and bountiful supper was provided. After supper was over a large party, as they could not all be accommodated with seats, and being satisfied with seeing and eating, mounted their horses and left. The balance of the crowd might be discribed thus. In one corner sat a group of old women, with one or two of the more plain sort of girls who did not have the advantage of a boarding school education, with their pipes smoking and eagerly watching the maneuvering of the rest of the company. And in another corner there might be a group of more polished and fashionable ladies entertaining themselves with the novelty of the scene, perhaps at the expense of some of the peculiarities of some of the more plain and simple folk."

Caroline Elizabeth BURT contributed a square to a quilt being put together by her sister, Harriett E. BURT. From about 1853 to about 1868 Hattie, along with her sisters and friends, produced a patchwork quilt that was passed down from mother to daughter. The quilt is made up of 30 6x5 inch squares containing the names and dates of the contributors. Among the names are Sarah F. Underwood, 3 October 1853; Mattie Burt, 7 July 1860; Mary L. Whetstone, 1858; Caroline E. Houser, 20 February 1855; [Ann Rebecca Whetstone] Debardeleben, 2 September 1853; __anlie(?) Burt, 18 July 1860; R. Thomas; C[aroline] Cobb,1860; Bettie Houser; Amanda [Whetstone] McNeil; Mary [Whetstone] Houser, 22 September 1855; Sallie Burt; Elizabeth [Whetstone] Stoudenmire; 18 September 1855; Edna [Whetstone] Dodson; L. M. Whetstone, Sr; Martha L. Herrmann, 9 October 1855; Callie Houser; Maggie [Burt] Smith, 10 February 1860; Rachel P. Whetstone, 1855; Sophia Murph, 5 October 1855; Sylina Alking, 19 February 1860; M. A. Ramsey, 12 February 1868; P. Y. Whetstone, 5 October 1855; Mary A. [Burt] Bateman, 11 January 1867; and Hattie [Burt] Whetstone, 10 January 1867. Hattie passed the quilt down to her daughter, L. M. Whetstone McWilliams, who passed it to her daughter, Hattie McWilliams Musgrove, and from her to Nona Musgrove Covington. In 2001 the quilt was still in the possesion of Maury and Nona Covington.²

Caroline Elizabeth BURT died on 18 February 1907 in Elmore County, Alabama, at age 74.³ She was buried in Rocky Mount Cemetery.