Frances Anne GIBSON

     Frances Anne GIBSON, daughter of Col. Jonathan Catlett GIBSON and Martha Dandridge BALL, was born in April 1818 in Culpeper Courthouse, Virginia. She was also known as Fanny. She was a direct descendent of Charles Washington, the brother of President George Washington.

Frances married first John Mallory WELCH, son of Rev. Oliver WELCH and Elizabeth Mallory, on 6 October 1842 in Culpeper, Culpeper County, Virginia. The service was performed by Rev. John W. Woodville, the rector of St. Mark's Parish Episcopal Church.¹

Frances Ann returned frequently to Virginia with her father-in-law, Oliver Welch. James Mallory notes in his journal that the pair left March 24, 1844 and returned October 3rd. Along with Mary Mallory, they left again for Virginia April 12, 1847.²

John died on 8 September 1847 in Talladega, Talladega County, Alabama, of a congestive chill leaving Frances Anne GIBSON as a widow.³

Frances Anne WELCH appeared in a newspaper article 15 March 1848 in the Democratic Watchtower, published in Talladega, Alabama. She was listed as the administratrix of the estate of her husband, John M. Welsch, deceaed.

Frances married second James Creth BURT, son of Joseph BURT Jr. and Ann READ, on 13 February 1849 in Mardisville, Talladega County, Alabama. H. E. Taliferro performed the marriage ceremony.⁴

Frances Anne GIBSON and James Creth BURT appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1850 in Mardisville, Talladega County, Alabama. The household was listed as James C. Burt, age 41, born North Carolina; Frances A. Burt, age 30, born Virginia; Henry Burt, age 5, born Alabama; Fanny C. Burt, age 4, born Alabama; Martha D. Welch, age 5, born Alabama; J. Tapley Burt, age 34, born Georgia; and Elizabeth Billing, age 50, born Virginia. James and J. Tapley Burt, a cousin, were listed as farmers. James' estate was valued at $7,000. The identity of Elizabeth Billing is unknown.^5,6

Frances and James appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 2 June 1860 in Mardisville, Talledega County, Alabama, the household was listed as Jas. C. Burt, age 50, farmer, born North Carolina; Francis[Frances] A. Burt, age 40, born Virginia; Henry M. Burt, age 15, born Alabama; Martha D. Welch, age 14; John Burt, age 7; Anna Burt, age 5; and Pierre Burt, age 2. James had real estate valued at $15,000 and personal estate valued at $50,000. Martha D. Welch had real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate of $16,300. All of the children, except Pierre, were attendng school. J. C. Burt appears to have been one of the wealthiest men in Mardisville. He had about 60 slaves in eleven houses in 1860. The agricultural census listed him with 600 improved and 1100 unimproved acres, a farm with cash value of $15,000, $800 worth of farm implements and machinery, eight horses, 10 mules, 20 milk cows, 8 oxen, 50 head of cattle, and 200 swine. The value of his livestock was $3,000. He had 300 bushels of wheat, 3,000 bushels of corn, 700 bushels of oats, 100 bales of cotton, 100 bushels of peas and beans, 10 bushels of Irish potatoes, 500 bushels of sweet potatoes, 20 bushels of barley, 300 pounds of butter, and $1200 worth of slaughtered animals. This last may have been from Mr. Burt's tannery. It is believed that he also made shoes and may have supplied leather goods to the Confederacy.^7,8

Confederate soldier, John Magee, whose artillery battery passed through Talladega County between August 6 and August 8, 1862, recorded in his diary the hospitality shown the soldiers by the citizens: "Wednesday Aug. 6, 1862. Started early came 23 miles to Talladega. At a small town by the name of Mardisville, a gentleman by the name of J. C. Burt gave dinner to all who would stop. His most estimable lady, who is a Virginian, assisted by her younger sister welcomed the soldiers in-- acting as ushers from the gate to the table. The young lady's name is Miss [Susan?] Gibson from Culpepper Courthouse, Va. The old gentleman is from N. Carolina. What a difference between Alabama and Mississippi hospitality. I stayed 3 or 4 hours, had a long talk-- read poetry-- heard music on the Piano and enjoyed myself very much."⁹

On 22 April 1863 Frances Anne GIBSON in Mardisville, Alabama, wrote a letter to her step-mother Mary Williams GIBSON in Culpeper, Virginia as follows:


Note from the newspaper article-- Frances’ quote “in the midst of life are we in death” would prove too true for the Gibson family in the coming years. Mentioned in her letter were three siblings who died soon after: Pierre Gibson, a member of the Little Fork Rangers, killed on duty in 1863; Sue Gibson, a schoolteacher in Alabama who died in 1864; and Ned Gibson who died in Culpeper in 1869. Minnie was the two year old daughter of sister Ann “Nannie” Gibson Welch, who also died young, in 1872, at around the age of 38.^10,11

Frances Anne GIBSON and James Creth BURT appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1870 in Mardisville, Talladega County, Alabama, the household was listed as James C. Burt, age 61, farmer, born North Carolina; Fanny A. Burt, age 51, born Virginia; and Henry M. Burt, age 25, farmer; Mattie [Margie] Burt, age 24; Anna, age 16; John, age 14; and Pierre, age 12, in school. Also in the household was Tilla Smoot, a 43 year old white housekeeper from Virginia.¹²

Frances Anne GIBSON and James Creth BURT appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1880 in Talledega County, Alabama. The household was listed as James C. Burt, age 71, farmer, born North Carolina; Frances A. Burt (wife), age 65, born Virginia; and Emily Holliman, age 16, Domestic Servant, born Alabama. The parents of James were both born in North Carolina, while the parents of Frances were born in Virginia. The birth place of Emily's parents was not given.¹³

Frances Anne GIBSON appeared in a newspaper article 10 May 1882 in the Our Mountain Home, published in Talladega, Alabama. Mrs. J. C. Burt will shortly leave for San Jose, California, to visit her son, John Burt, Esq., a prominent lawyer of the Pacific slope. We wish her a pleasant journey and safe return.

Frances Anne GIBSON and James Creth BURT gave a tract of land to Ambrose Burt on 26 April 1889 in Talladega County, Alabama, The deed read "in consideration of the affection which I bear toward Ambrose Burt, my former slave, who has been faithful to me since his emancipation" and gave him the south half of the northeast quarter of section 19, township 19, range 5. It was signed by both James and Frances Burt.¹⁴

Frances Anne GIBSON appeared on a census, enumerated 5 June 1900, in the household of her daughter Martha Dandridge WELCH in Ward 2, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. She was enumerated as Effie Frances Burt, age 82, and born April 1818 in Virginia.

In in 1901 Frances Anne GIBSON and Martha Dandridge WELCH were listed in the Los Angeles city directory at 213 North Grand Avenue. Martha D. Stone (widow of Jordan) and Fanny E. Burt (widow of James C.) resided at that address along with Miss Fannie J. Stone stenographer with the Southern California Railroad and Jordan Stone a clerk at Coulter Dry Goods.

Frances Anne BURT died on 14 September 1901 in Los Angeles, California, at age 83. She died at the home of her daughter, Mattie Stone and her death certificate reports that she had lived in Los Angeles County for eleven years.¹⁵ She was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles, California.

Frances's obituary was printed in September 1901 in the Talledega Exchange newspaper, published in Talledega, Alabama. It appeared under the heading, "Asleep in Jesus" and written by B. F. Coulter.

"Mrs. Frances Ann Burt fell asleep September 14, 1901, in Los Angeles, California, at the home of her daughter Mrs. M. D. Stone, aged 83 years and 5 months.

She had the distinction of being the nearest living relative of the First President of the United States, General George Washington. In early life she was married to Mr. Mallory Welsh, at her home in Culpepper, Virginia, and they at once moved to Alabama, where Reverend Oliver Welsh had preceded them, and bought large tracts of land.

His children settled around him, forming a large and influential community. Oliver Welch was one of the best known and beloved men of the state and one of the oldest pastors. His pastorate covered a period of about forty years. Among his congregation were is children, grand and great-grandchildren. Mrs. Burt was baptized by him, and was a devoted member of Alpine Baptist Church of Talladega.

Some time after the death of her first husband she was married to Captain James Burt, of Mardisvillle, and there are many who remember well the pleasant 'Burt Home' of that place and its happy household, where friends were ever welcomed and hospitality dispensed. It was a typical southern home of antebellum days. Five of the children of that home are living-- the Honorable H. M. Burt, of Talladega, Alabama; Eustace Pierre Burt, of Bibb County, Alabama; Attorney J. J. Burt, of San Francisco, California; Mrs. Buckner, of Sperryville, Virginia; and Mrs. Stone, of Los Angeles, California.

Mrs. Burt was a daughter of Colonel Catlett Gibson and Martha Dandridge Ball Gibson, of Culpepper, Virginia, and her grandfather was Colonel Burgess Ball, of the Revolutionary Army. Her grandmother was Frances Washington, a niece of General Washington. She was a devoted wife and mother, a loyal friend, sincere, candid, honest, sympathetic, uncomplaining; a truly strong, noble character. She enjoyed the brightness that fell into her life and was brave under all circumstances, always having words of cheer for those around her.

Her husband, Captain Burt, highly esteemed where he lived, preceded her to the grave a few years ago. Her last conscious act was to gather the family at her bedside and have her son, J. J. Burt, read the 14th chapter of John, the first Bible lesson taught them in childhood and her comfort at the close of her beautiful life. A noble type of Christian womanhood, she sweetly rests. 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.'

Her daughter, Mrs. Stone with whom she lived, was untiring in her devotion, and most tenderly did she and her children render every possible service. Her funeral services were largely attended and many beautiful floral offerings tenderly laid upon her coffin, after which she was gently placed in her resting place until the glad resurrection morn."

Frances Anne BURT's obituary also appeared on 15 September 1901 in the Los Angeles Herald newspaper. Was Descended From Washington -- Mrs. Frances Burt Dies at Home of Her Daughter. Mrs. Frances Burt, a great-grandniece of General Washington, died yesterday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. M. D. Stone.

Mrs. Burt before her death, was the oldest living relative of General Washington. She was the granddaughter of Burgess Ball and Frances Washington, who was a niece of George Washington. Colonel Ball served country valiantly during the war of the revolution, in which he equipped a regiment at his own expense. Mrs. Burt's parents, Colonel and Mrs. Gibson, of Virginia, belonged to one of the oldest southern families. She came to Southern California eleven years ago, and has been slowly failing ever siince. At the time of her death she was 83 year's of age.

Those of the family who survive her are J. J. Burt, an attorney of San Francisco; Pierre Burt, a son of Alabama; Mrs. Bucknell of Virginia, a daugher and a stepson. H. M. Burt of Alabama, J. J. Burt left for San Fransciso Thursday after a visit to his mother.

The funeral services will be held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the late residence of the departed. Rev. B. F. Coulter will officiate. The pall-bearers will be Gen. Johnstone Jones, Messrs. Harry Stewart, Leroy Siville, A. J. Harraclough and Varcoe.

Her obituary appeared 25 September 1901 in the Our Mountain Home, published in Talladega, Alabama. Mrs. F. A. Burt Dead-- September 14, Mrs. F. A. Burt, widow of the late Capt. J. C. Burt, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Stone, in Los Angeles, Cal., with whom she had been residing for several years. The deceased was 83 years of age. She was a native of Virginia, though she resided in this community for a long period of years.

Mrs. Burt's first marriage was to Mr. Mallory Welch. After his death she was united in marriage with Capt. J. C. Burt, who died several years ago. Capt. and Mrs. Burt resided at Mardisville, five miles from town, for almost a half-century and they had one of the largest estates in the county.

Of her family Mrs. Burt leaves two sons and two daughters-- Jno. J. Burt, Esq., of San Francisco, E. P. Burt, of Bibb county, Ala., Mrs. Stone, of Los Angeles, and Anna Buckner, of Virginia. Hon. Henry M. Burt, of Talladega, is a step-son, and he was reared under the guiding hand of his stepmother, between whom there was a great devotion. For many years Mrs. Burt was a member of the Alpine Baptist Church, an organization to which she was greatly devoted. Truly a good and much beloved lady has passed over the River.