Lauderdale-Randolph-Cullman County AlArchives Biographies.....James Ceborn Burch January 15 1848 - June 23 1932 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Betty Cash cashbetty@hotmail.com January 7, 2004, 10:00 pm Author: Betty L Cash Submitted by Betty Cash Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm JAMES CEBURN BURCH, 15 Jan 1848 - 23 Jun 1932 The story of James' life begins not with his birth but with all the ancesters so far found from whom he descended. The earliest documentable Burch ancester found is his father John C. Burch who was born 1812 in Georgia and died 10 Aug 1858 in Randolph County, Al. He was riding either a horse or mule that ran under a low tree limb. John C. died of a broken neck. James' mother was Mary Ann Burroughs, daughter of Joshua Burroughs and Mary Barnhill. (Depending on census year the Burroughs name has also been spelled Burris, Burress, and Burrows. The final spelling of Burroughs was used from 1850 onward.) Mary Barnhill was the daughter of Mary Clancy Barnhill. An 1840 census for Georgia (Meriwether County, image 59) has Joshua Burris living next door to the household of James Barnhill his wife, their 2 young children, a teen age male too old to be his child, and an older woman who can only be his mother Mary Clancy Barnhill then aged 60-70. (Mary Clancy lived 107 years, and daughter Mary Barnhill Burroughs lived 105 years.) Also, depending on census year Mary Ann Burroughs Burch birth place listed as Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Her mother and grandmother are both listed on the 1870 census as being born in North Carolina. Georgia marriage records have John C. Burch and Mary Burris wed on 15 December 1842 in Meriwether County. They moved almost immediately to Randolph County, Alabama. Many members of their extended families also moved there about the same time. The 1850 census, Al, Randolph County, Weedower Beat 12, image 9, shows John C. and Mary Ann as parents of Berry (Little Berry) age 7, Seaborn (James Ceburn) age 5, and Edward (Anderson) 2. Martha Sousan was born 1851, William Thomas was born 10 Apr 1855. The 1860 census shows Mary Ann Burch and her 4 sons still living in Randolph County. Daughter Martha Sousan died 1853 and is buried next to her father. At the same time in 1860 Randolph County, (Randolph P O , image 18) the household of William and Sarah Eubanks includes Matilda and her daughter Adeline age 5. Matilda's relationship to other members of this household has never been determined. There is a son of William and Sarah named Thomas Griffin age 10. A very small bible passed down to this writer records Matilda's full name as Katherine Matilda Eubanks, born 12 Mar 1828, and her daughter as Adeline Josephine Eubanks, born 12 Feb 1856. With permission, follows a piece written by the g-g-grand daughter of Edward Anderson Burch which details the service of Little Berry and James Ceburn Burch in the War between the States. "Our Confederate Ancestors By Kathy Burch Spit Pvt. Berry Burch (b 2 Feb 1845 - d 20 Dec 1911) Company 'F' Berry Burch was the son of John C. Burch (b 1812) and Mary Ann Burris (Burroughs). He joined the 25th Alabama Infantry at age 16. The "Census of Enumeration of Confederate soldiers residing in Alabama, 1907" states the following: "First entered military service as a Private on 30 Oct 1861 [Nat'l Archives information states the date was 19 Oct 1861] in Wesobulga, Alabama in the 25 Alabama Infantry Company F. Paroled and discharged April 26 1865 at Greensboro, North Carolina." Under "Other service" Berry stated, "The 25th Alabama Regiment consolidated with the 22 Alabama Regiment between 1st and 15th April 1865 and my company was Co. F. After the consolidation it became Co. D and I was paroled under Co. D 22 Alabama Reg. on 26 Apr 1865." Military records obtained from the Alabama Department of Archives and History reflect that Berry Burch received payroll dated near Dalton, GA February 29, 1864. Military records obtained from the National Archives in Washington, D. C. reflect that Berry Burch was present Sept. and Oct., 1863 and reenlisted in the service of the Confederate States on March 14, 1864 near Dalton, GA James Ceburn Burch (b 15 Jan 1848 - d 23 Jun 1932) Company 'F' James Ceburn Burch was the son of John C. Burch (b 1812) and Mary Ann Burris (Burroughs) and younger brother to Berry Burch. Military records for James Ceburn Burch are as follows: "BURCH, James, Private, age 16. Eyes: Blue Hair: Light Height 5 Ft. 8 inches. Complexion Fair, Born in Randolph Co. Alabama. Occupation: Farmer Captain Jefferson Falkner Company Mounted Infantry. Home GuardSupplemental Roll Dated Wedowee Ala. Oct 20th, 1864" Also on record - "Burch, James Coborn (or Ceburn) Co. F. 25th Ala. Private. Born Feb 18, 1848 at Blake's Ferry in Randolph County, State of Alabama. Enlisted Spring of 1864 at Columbia S. C. and continued until Spring of 1865. Paroled at Raleigh N. Carolina. Served as Home Guard about 12 months before enlisting in regular service as above stated. Address Anderson Ala. Census Tax Assessor, Lauderdale County. 1907" James C. Burch applied for Soldier's Pension in September, 1923, at the age of 75 years, 8 months, and 25 days. His application is signed by him on September 26th. On it he states he enlisted in Georgia. The application contains a "Certificate As To Service By A Confederate Veteran" signed by Capt. F. M. Handley, Roanoke, Alabama, notarized by W. H. Welch, Notary Public for the State of Alabama, Lauderdale County. It also contains affidavits of T. L. Howard and T. R. Gurley of Anderson, Alabama (Lauderdale County) attesting that they have known the applicant "20 and 30 years respectively," and that they "consider him to be a truthful and reliable person and do not believe that he would make a false statement for the purpose of securing a pension." This affidavit is notarized by W. J. Hammond, Notary Public. James Ceburn did not give any specific dates on his pension application. He only states his enlistment as "January, 1865," and the length of service as, "something over 3 months." He also states that his parole papers were, "lost in some way." (None of this is surprising, considering he was a 78 year-old man trying to recall specific dates and locate papers nearly 60 years after the war!) He also states that he was paroled in May, 1865 because the "war was over," that he was married in "1878 or 9" but his wife was dead, and that he lived with his two daughters. When asked if he belonged to a Camp of United Confederate Veterans he answered he belonged to "Camp Hobbs No. 400." When asked if he had taken the oath of allegiance to any other government than the Confederate States before April 9, 1865, he wrote an emphatic "NO!" He also stated that was a registered voter of "Beat #1 Lauderdale Co. Ala." He did not list any occupation. It is evident that James Ceburn tried to sign his full name at least twice on this application, eventually signing the application a mark. The signature/mark is witnessed by J. I. McClure, a Judge of Probate for Lauderdale County, Alabama. The application is stamped as received by the Pension Commission on October 4, 1923. It appears that James C. had trouble proving his military service when he applied for Pension because of the lost parole papers. This is evident through correspondence with the Alabama Pension Commission, in October, 1923, which is on file with the Alabama State Archives. The first letter from the Pension Commission, dated October 11, 1923, is to the Adjutant General, War Department, Washington, D. C. and asks for James Ceburn's record of service, capture, or parole, naming Capt. F. M. Handley as first officer, Col. Johnson, and Col Rouse. Capt. F.M. Handley is named as a witness to the certificate. The reply, in memo form from Robert C. Davis, Adjutant General, U.S. War Department dated October 19, 1923 states the following: "The name James C. Burch, has not been found on the only roll on file in this office of Co. F (Capt. F.M. Hendley) 25th Regt. Ala. Inf. C.S.A. covering the period Sept. & Oct 1863 and no record has been found of the enlistment, capture, or parole of a man of that name and orgn. [organization]. The name J.C. Burch, prt. [part] of above orgn. appears on a Register of Pettigrew Gen. Hosp. No. 13. Raleigh, N.C. showing him admitted Apr. 10, 1865 and transferred Apr. 12, 1865. No later record has been found. George D. Johnston was Col. of above Regt. Col. Rouse has not been identified." On October 23, 1923, the Alabama Pension Commission wrote a letter to James C. Burch, requesting the following: "Dear Sir: Will you please inform us whether after enlisting as a soldier you were sent to a Hospital while in North Carolina and give if you can the name of the hospital and where it was located. Were you in the Hospital when the war ended?" James C.'s reply on October 25, 1923 was a hand-written note, written directly on the Pension Commission's letter: "Gentlemen: I was in a Hospital in North Carolina two or three days, but do not remember name of the town, or the name of the Hospital, but it was somewhere between Kingston and Raleigh N.C. My company was retreating before the enemy, and I was placed on a box car and moved to Raleigh, N.C. and remained there till the surrender, Respectfully, James C. Burch" Another letter from the Alabama Pension Commission, also written on October 23, 1923 was to Capt. F. M. Handley, Roanoke, Alabama. It states: "Your name appears as a witness to the pension application of Mr. James C. Burch, who states he served about three months and was paroled in May 1865, in North Caroline (sic). Will you please inform us whether your company was surrendered at Greensboro or Salisbury, North Carolina, or where it was surrendered? Do you recall whether Mr. Burch was in a hospital at the time of the surrender? Do you recall a Hospital called Pettigrew Hospital and where it was located? Please give us the information requested at your earliest convenience." The reply, again hand-written on the bottom of the original letter and dated October 28. 1923, states: "Cant (sic) answer any of the above questions. Wasn't with company when it surrendered. Off on a wounded furlough." This note is signed "T.M. Handley for M.H" (assuming that M.H. is Capt. Handley and T.M. is possibly a relative writing on his behalf). Another note written on the same letter which appears to be in a different handwriting reveals, "M. Handley died. Can't attach thought or incidents." 1870, Alabama, Randolph County (Blake's Ferry) Township 20 Wedowee, image 120. James is back home with his mother and younger brother William Thomas. Edward has married Elizabeth K Taylor and has a 1 year old son John. Little Berry has married Nancy J Ogletree and has one son born Mar 1870. Meanwhile, Katherine Matilda Eubanks, her daughter Adeline age 14, and Griffin Eubanks age 20 are still residing in Randolph County. Adeline Josephine Eubanks became the bride of James Ceburn Burch on 19 November 1874. James and Adeline became the parents of: Robert Lee, born 11 Oct 1875 Lela Jane, born 6 Feb 1877 Dora Montana, born 13 Mar 1879 Ada Dixie, born 17 Apr 1881 Julia Ann, born 23 Dec 1882 Della Lee, born 2 Apr 1885 Gustus, born Aug 1887 Lavada, born 27 Jun 1890 Cora Josephine, born 7 Oct 1892, died 19 Mar 1896 James William, born 23 Dec 1894. In 1880 James, Adeline, their 3 oldest children, and Katherine Matilda make up one household in Randolph County, Flat Rock, house 271/290. Edward and his wife are in house 223/238 with 4 children and his mother Mary Ann Burch. In the next house are Little Berry Burch, his wife and their 6 children. Sometime before 1890 James, Edward, and Little Berry moved their entire households to Cullman, Alabama. It was there that Cora Josephine died and was buried in 1896. Little Berry settled in Cullman County where he died 20 Dec 1911 and his wife died 17 Dec 1913. Edward and his wife also stayed in Cullman County. She died 20 Dec 1904. Edward eventually moved on to Lawrence County, TN where he died Jan 1940. Their brother William Thomas married Cinthia Reed Sanders and they settled in Morgan County, Al. where they raised their family of 15 children. The mothers, Mary Ann Burch and Katherine Matilda Eubanks, both died and were buried in Cullman County. Before 1900 James Ceburn and Adeline moved on to the little town of Anderson near the Tennessee border in Lauderdale County, Alabama. (1900 census, Lauderdale, Mitchell Beat, image 9) There James owned and operated a cotton ginning mill and another member of the family owned and operated a water- driven grist mill on the little creek that flows through the town. One by one, the children of James and Adeline married and moved on to their own homes. Robert Lee married 7 Dec 1898 to Cinthia Adeline Griffin and lived to 16 Dec 1955, seven children. Lela Jane married Aug 1902 to Jasper Newton Hammond and died 29 Apr 1947, five children. Dora Montana married 25 Dec 1901 to Stephen D Howard and died 5 Dec 1956, one child. Julia Ann married about 1906 to Mack Lonnis Ingram and died 27 May 1940, three children. Della Lee married 19 Jul 1903 to Jesse Lee Eastep and died 22 Apr 1926, ten children. Gustus married Jane Ellen Lee and died 28 Sep 1956, twelve children Lavada married Sam Threet, died 19 Jan 1932, her only child a son. James William married 7 Aug 1915 to Edna Mae Thornton and died 2 Nov 1961, two children Ada Dixie, known in the family as Aunt Dixie, never married, remained in the old home place at Anderson, and raised Lavada's son. She died 29 Mar 1967. Adeline died 13 June 1922 at Anderson, Alabama. In 1932 James Ceburn Burch attended a reunion of Confederate Soldiers in Richmond, Va. The quarters assignment receipt says he was assigned to cot # 1253 in Johnston Hall at Camp DeSaussure, was from Florence, Al, served in Co F, 25th, rank Private. Attendants were Mrs W.B. Burch (as yet not identified within the family) and Lillian Hammond, the 29 year old daughter of Lela Jane Burch Hammond. Mrs Burch was given cot # 1254, room 1, Johnston Hall, Lillian Hammond had cot # 1360, room 3, Johnston Hall. At the end of the reunion the family group departed and headed for Washignton DC. There was a vehicle accident and James Ceburn died of his injuries 23 Jun 1932 at the Quantico military hospital. His body was returned to Anderson, Al where he was buried at Mitchell Cemetery. He had lived 84 years, 5 months and 8 days. Many members of his family and descendants are buried nearby. Sadly, we still don't know if James Ceburn ever got his pension! This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 15.2 Kb