Mary Burns

Mary "Polly" Burns was born about 1800 in Kentucky. She may or may not have borne the Webster name. Her parentage and function within the Webster families is unknown. The Burns and Webster families were connected through Henry Webster's widow, Margaret (Franks) Webster, who, after Henry's death in 1813, married David Burns in Fayette County, Kentucky on August 28, 1816. It is a fact that Polly raised four children who, in their childhood, were known by Burns, but when they became adults chose to be called Webster. Who was Polly Burns? She is listed on the 1850 Grant County, Kentucky Census as 50 years of age, with 18 year old America Burns, 11 year old John Burns, 8 year old Milly Burns, and 4 year old Adam Burns in her household. Was Polly a divorced Webster wife who took back her maiden name or was she a childless widow or maiden lady who raised orphaned children? Guess we will never know. But, we know that Mary Burns is buried in Concord Baptist Church Cemetery in Gallatin County, Kentucky. The children Polly raised:

1. Lucinda Burns was born about 1828 in Grant County, Kentucky. She married Woodford Hall August 17, 1853 in Grant County, the son of Robert Hall.

2. America Burns was born August 25, 1833 and died February 22, 1880. She married Alexander Stafford on July 23, 1852 in Grant County, son of Samuel Stafford. Alexander, born in Grant County, Kentucky was 21 years of age at marriage and America Burns was 19 years of age. Their children were: Martha Ann Stafford, Elizabeth Stafford, Mary E. Stafford, John Stafford, and George Stafford. Their son, George, married Malinda Belle Beach on February 19, 1880, daughter of Thomas Beach and Louisiana Delph. She was born 1862 and died May 9, 1911 in Gallatin County, Kentucky. The children of George and Malinda Beach Stafford were: George Alexander Stafford, Charles Franklin Stafford, Margaret Stafford, Lula May Stafford, and Maude Stafford.

3. James William Burns was born about 1833 in Kentucky. He married Zerilda Hall, sister of Woodford Hall, on January 2, 1857 in Grant County, Kentucky. A certificate from A. H. Vawter, guardian of Zerilda Hall, was proven by the oaths of Woodford Hall and George Burns, attesting witnesses. Although he married under the name of Burns and was listed in the 1870 census as a Burns, he assumed the name Webster and lived as a Webster after 1880. Their known children were: Thomas Marshall Webster, Minnie Lee Webster, and Hendricks Webster.

4. John Wiley Burns was born January 26, 1848 in Kentucky and died March 26, 1875. He was listed with Polly Burns in the 1850 Census of Grant County, Kentucky. He was married under the name of Webster to Louisa Alexander on December 30, 1863 in Grant County, Kentucky. Consent of Mary Alexander, mother of Louisa, was given the same day. Records show that Louisa was previously married to a Mr. Haight by whom she had six children. John enlisted in the Civil War on October 8, 1862 under the name of Webster and was a member of the Confederate unit called the Orphan Brigade. John Wiley Webster is buried in Concord Baptist Church Cemetery in Gallatin County, Kentucky. After John's death, Louisa married a Mr. McKinley and later married Woodford Hall, the widower of her sister-in-law, Lucinda. She is buried in Concord Baptist Church Cemetery in Gallatin County, Kentucky as Louisa Hall. The children of John Wiley and Louisa Webster were: Edward O. Webster, Charles Franklin Webster, Ollie Webster and Ira Webster.

5. Milly Burns was born 1842 in Kentucky and died June 9, 1880. She married James L. Beach on July 11, 1859 in Grant County, Kentucky at the residence of Polly Burns. The witnesses were Emauel Webster and Griffin Vaughn.

6. Adam Lewis Burns was born 1846 in Kentucky and died in 1918. He married Artemesia Stephenson, daughter of Thomas Stephenson, December 21, 1865 in Grant County, Kentucky. She was born 1845 in Grant County, Kentucky and died May 21, 1924 in Gallatin County, Kentucky. Adam Lewis was listed as a Burns in the 1850 Grant County, Kentucky Census, however he married and thereafter lived as a Webster. Their children were: Emma Webster, Hannah Webster, Artrusa Webster, Ida May Webster, Jane Webster, Lucian Webster, Carl Washington Webster, and Price Webster.

Researched by Vicki Walsh, June 2001.
If you can help with this family
please contact Vicki

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Beulah Wiley Franks
Grant County Coordinator, KY/ALHN